Method, program, storage medium, apparatus and system for positioning in a network

Abstract

System (100), apparatus (102) and a method (300) for positioning in a network are disclosed. The method (300) includes receiving a threshold indicative of positioning error; determining whether a current positioning error exceeds the threshold; establishing a measurement report if the current positioning error exceeds the threshold; and configuring a signal pattern based on the measurement report for positioning in the network.

Description

202502110 1SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING IN A NETWORK AND A METHOD IN ASSOCIATION THERETOField Of Invention

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to one or both of a system and an apparatus for positioning in a network in association with, for example, a User Equipment (UE) usable for communication. The present disclosure further relates a method which can be associated with the system and / or the apparatus.Background

[0002] Generally, energy efficiency and energy savings would be helpful or desired in communication networks. An example of a communication network would be a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) 5G (fifth generation) New Radio (NR) standard-based telecommunications network.

[0003] Conventional Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) comb patterns use uniform frequency-domain allocation, where PRS symbols are transmitted on every N-th subcarrier across a physical resource block (PRB). However, uniform PRS comb patterns do not exploit channel spectral variation, which leads to suboptimal positioning accuracy and excessive resource overhead in many deployment scenarios.

[0004] The present disclosure contemplates that it would be helpful to address (or at least mitigate) one or more issues in relation to conventional techniques for facilitating energy efficiency and energy savings.Summary of the Invention

[0005] In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for positioning in a network comprising: receiving a threshold indicative of positioning error; determining whether a current positioning error exceeds the threshold; establishing a measurement report if the current positioning error exceeds202502110 2the threshold; and configuring a signal pattern based on the measurement report for positioning in the network.

[0006] Advantageously, the method as described herein may enhance positioning accuracy and reduce overhead.

[0007] In an embodiment, the method further includes initiating a position model, wherein the position model is initiated periodically or at a pre-configured time.

[0008] In an embodiment, the method further includes communicating the measurement report periodically if the threshold is exceeded.

[0009] In an embodiment, the method further comprises communicating the measurement report comprises communicating via at least one of: physical layer (L1), data link layer (L2) and / or network layer (L3) signaling.

[0010] In an embodiment, the method further comprises configuring the threshold indicative of positioning error; and transmitting the threshold to a user device.

[0011] In an embodiment, the threshold is configured based on User Equipment (UE) specific and / or cell specific.

[0012] In an embodiment, the signal pattern comprises a Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) signal pattern.

[0013] In an embodiment, the method further includes transmitting the signal pattern based on a resource allocation density.

[0014] In an embodiment, there is provided a computer program (not shown) which can include instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer (not shown), cause the computer to carry out the method of the first aspect.202502110 3

[0015] In an embodiment, there is provided a computer readable storage medium having data stored therein representing software executable by a computer, the software including instructions, when executed by the computer, to carry out the method of the first aspect.

[0016] In accordance with a second aspect of the disclosure, there is provided an apparatus for positioning in a network comprising a first module configured to receive at least one input signal relating to a threshold indicative of positioning error; a second module configured to at least one of process and facilitate the method of the first aspect to generate at least one output signal; and a third module configured to communicate at least one output signal, wherein the output signal corresponds to a control signal for positioning in the network.

[0017] In an embodiment, the apparatus can correspond to a User Equipment (UE) which can communicate with a device corresponding to a base station. The base station can, for example, correspond to a Next generation Node B (gNB) which can be configured to communicate one or more signals (e.g., input signal(s)) to the UE.

[0018] In an embodiment, there is provided a system comprising one or more apparatuses and one or more devices. The apparatus(es) and the device(s) can, for example, be capable of being coupled via wired coupling and / or wireless coupling.

[0019] Advantageously, the system can allow efficient resource allocation for PRC to enhance positioning accuracy.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020] Embodiments of the disclosure are described hereinafter with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0021] Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram illustrating a system for positioning in a network which can include at least one apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.202502110 4

[0022] Fig. 2 shows a schematic diagram illustrating the apparatus of Fig. 1 in further detail, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0023] Fig. 3 shows a method in association with the system of Fig. 1 , according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0024] Fig. 4A to Fig. 4B show schematic diagrams illustrating example scenarios in association with the method of Fig. 3, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.Detailed Description

[0025] The detailed description set forth below, with reference to annexed drawings, is intended as a description of various configurations and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In particular, although terminology from 3GPP 5G NR may be used in this disclosure to exemplify embodiments herein, this should not be seen as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0026] In addition, some of the embodiments contemplated herein will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. Other embodiments, however, are contained within the scope of the subject matter disclosed herein, the disclosed subject matter should not be construed as limited to only the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example to convey the scope of the subject matter to those skilled in the art.

[0027] Generally, all terms used herein are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the relevant technical field, unless a different meaning is clearly given and / or is implied from the context in which it is used. All references to a / an / the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc. are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means, step,202502110 5etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any methods disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless a step is explicitly described as following or preceding another step and / or where it is implicit that a step must follow or precede another step. Any feature of any of the embodiments disclosed herein may be applied to any other embodiment, wherever appropriate. Likewise, any advantage of any of the embodiments may apply to any other embodiments, and vice versa. Other objectives, features and advantages of the enclosed embodiments will be apparent from the following description.

[0028] In some embodiments, the non-limiting term User Equipment (UE) or wireless device or user device may be used and may refer to any type of wireless device communicating with a network node and / or with another UE in a cellular or mobile communication system. Examples of UE are target device, device-to-device (D2D) UE, machine type UE or UE capable of machine to machine (M2M) communication, PDA, PAD, Tablet, mobile terminals, smart phone, laptop embedded equipped (LEE), laptop mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, UE category Ml, UE category M2, ProSe UE, V2V UE, V2X UE, etc.

[0029] In some embodiments, a more general term “network node” may be used and may correspond to any type of radio network node or any network node, which communicates with a User Equipment (directly or via another node) and / or with another network node. Examples of network nodes are NodeB, MeNB, ENB, a network node belonging to MCG or SCG, base station (BS), multi-standard radio (MSR) radio node such as MSR BS, eNodeB, gNodeB, network controller, radio network controller (RNC), base station controller (BSC), relay, donor node controlling relay, base transceiver station (BTS), access point (AP), transmission points, transmission nodes, RRU, RRH, nodes in distributed antenna system (DAS), core network node (e.g. Mobile Switching Center (MSC), Mobility Management Entity (MME), etc), Operations & Maintenance (O&M), Operations Support System (OSS), Self Optimized Network (SON), positioning node (e.g. Evolved- Serving Mobile Location Centre (E-SMLC)), Minimization of Drive Tests (MDT), test equipment (physical node or software), etc.202502110 6

[0030] Additionally, terminologies such as base station / gNodeB and UE should be considered non-limiting and do in particular not imply a certain hierarchical relation between the two; in general, “gNodeB” could be considered as device 1 and “UE” could be considered as device 2 and these two devices communicate with each other over some radio channel. And in the following the transmitter or receiver could be either gNodeB (gNB), or UE.

[0031] Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the embodiments may be combined in any suitable manner. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of programming, software modules, user selections, network transactions, database queries, database structures, hardware modules, hardware circuits, hardware chips, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that embodiments may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of an embodiment. Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment, but mean “one or more but not all embodiments” unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms “including,” “comprising,” “having,” and variations thereof mean “including but not limited to,” unless expressly specified otherwise. An enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms “a,” “an,” and “the” also refer to “one or more” unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0032] The following explanation will provide the detailed description of the method for providing a hybrid Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) comb pattern for positioning in a network. The present disclosure contemplates that Positioning Reference Signals (PRS) are configured by the network to assist UEs in time-based202502110 7and angle-based positioning. PRS can be transmitted with different comb patterns (e.g. comb2, comb4, comb6, combi 2) to control frequency-domain density. The frequency-domain allocation for PRS can be either comb-based where the PRS is transmitted on every Nth subcarrier or bitmap-based where explicit RE allocation is via a 12-bit or 24-bit mask (per 15 or 30 kHz SCS). The purpose of Comb Patterns can include dense PRS (e.g., comb2) where there is higher correlation quality and better accuracy, and also sparse PRS (e.g., combi 2) where it can reduce overhead but have worse accuracy.

[0033] The present disclosure also contemplates that PRS comb patterns can be applied uniformly across the physical resource block (PRB) regardless of subcarrier signal to noise ratio (SNR). In wideband or urban macro environments, subcarriers may experience non-uniform fading, making uniform allocation inefficient. There may also be no support for allocating PRS preferentially in high-SNR frequency regions, which can be a missed opportunity to exploit better propagation at the center of band. Comb pattern can be defined as static 2, 4, 6 and 12. The comb pattern 2 can have a better accuracy but high resource element usage while comb pattern 12 can have low overhead but the performance may not be good. The present disclosure thus contemplates that existing PRS comb patterns do not adapt to per-subcarrier SNR variations, resulting in either excessive overhead or suboptimal positioning accuracy.

[0034] The present disclosure further contemplates that PRS comb patterns may use uniform frequency-domain allocation, where PRS symbols are transmitted on every Nth subcarrier across a physical resource block (PRB). Uniform PRS comb patterns may not exploit channel spectral variation, which can lead to suboptimal positioning accuracy and excessive resource overhead in many deployment scenarios.

[0035] The present disclosure generally contemplates the facilitation of, for example, network (e.g., in association with 3GPP based standard / specification etc.) and / or user equipment (UE) efficiency (e.g., energy / power efficiency), in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.202502110 8

[0036] The present disclosure contemplates the possibility of a method to enhance positioning accuracy by having efficient resource allocation for PRS. Specifically, a User Equipment (UE) may receive a threshold for positioning error for the UE side model from the gNB (or base station).

[0037] In the above manner, power and energy consumption efficiency can be possibly facilitated, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0038] The foregoing will be discussed in further detail with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig.4 hereinafter.

[0039] Referring to Fig. 1, a system 100 for positioning in a network is shown, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The system 100 can, for example, be suitable for energy savings and facilitating energy / power efficiency in a network, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0040] As shown, the system 100 can include one or more apparatuses 102, at least one device 104 and, optionally, a communication network 106, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0041] The apparatus(es) 102 can be coupled to the device(s) 104. Specifically, the apparatus(es) 102 can, for example, be coupled to the device(s) 104 via the communication network 106, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0042] In one embodiment, the apparatus(es) 102 can be coupled to the communication network 106 and the device(s) 104 can be coupled to the communication network 106. Coupling can be by manner of one or both of wired coupling and wireless coupling. The apparatus(es) 102 can, in general, be configured to communicate with the device(s) 104 via the communication network 106, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0043] The apparatus(es) 102 can, for example, be associated with / correspond to / include one or more user equipment (UE) which can carry one or more computers,202502110 9in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. For example, an apparatus 102 can correspond to a UE carrying at least one computer (e.g., an electronic device / module having computing capabilities such as an electronic mobile device which can be carried into a vehicle or an electronic module which can be installed in a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure) which can be configured to perform one or more processing tasks in association with adaptive / dynamic / gradual control, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. In a more specific example, the apparatus(es) 102 can, in one embodiment, include one or more processors (not shown) which can be configured to perform one or more processing tasks in association with dynamic / adaptive / gradual control, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. In one embodiment, the apparatus(es) 102 can, for example, be configured to receive one or more input signals and perform at least one processing task based on the input signal(s) in a manner to generate one or more output signals. The input signal(s) can, for example, be communicated from the device(s) 104 and received by the apparatus(es) 102, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. As a possible option, the output signal(s) can, for example, be communicated from the apparatus(es) 102, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. The apparatus(es) 102 will be discussed later in further detail with reference to Fig. 2, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0044] The device(s) 104 can, for example, be associated with / correspond to at least one base station (e.g., at least one gNB). Moreover, the device(s) 104 can, for example, be configured to carry / be associated with / include one or more computers (e.g., an electronic device / module having computing capabilities) which can, for example, be configured to perform one or more processing tasks in association with the base station. The device(s) 104 can be configured to generate one or more input signals which can be communicated to the apparatus(es) 102, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. This will be discussed later in further detail in the context of an example scenario, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0045] The communication network 106 can, for example, correspond to an Internet communication network, a cellular-based communication network, a wired-based communication network, a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) based202502110 10communication network, a wireless-based communication network, or any combination thereof. Communication (e.g., between the apparatuses 102 and / or between the apparatus(es) 102 and the device(s) 104) via the communication network 106 can be by manner of one or both of wired communication and wireless communication.

[0046] Earlier mentioned, the apparatus(es) 102 can, for example, be configured to receive at least one input signal and perform at least one processing task in association with dynamic / adaptive / gradual control on the input signal(s) in a manner so as to generate at least one output signal. Moreover, the device(s) 104 can, for example, be configured to generate (and communicate) the input signal(s) to the apparatus(es) 102, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0047] The present disclosure contemplates, as will be discussed further in detail in the context of an example scenario associated with the system 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, that it may be helpful to consider some form of dynamic / adaptive / gradual configuration / determination strategy which will aid in power / energy consumption efficiency, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. The dynamic / adaptive / gradual control configuration / determination strategy can, for example, be in relation to dynamic / adaptive / gradual control based on positioning in a network, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0048] The above-described advantageous aspect(s) of the system 100 of the present disclosure can also apply analogously (all) the aspect(s) of a below described apparatus 102 of the present disclosure. Likewise, all below described advantageous aspect(s) of the apparatus 102 of the disclosure can also apply analogously (all) the aspect(s) of above described system 100 of the disclosure.

[0049] The aforementioned apparatus(es) 102 will be discussed in further detail with reference to Fig. 2 hereinafter.

[0050] Referring to Fig. 2, an apparatus 102 is shown in further detail in the context of an example implementation 200, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.202502110 11

[0051] In the example implementation 200, the apparatus 102 can correspond to an electronic module 200a. The electronic module 200a can, in one example, correspond to a mobile device which can, for example, be carried into the vehicle by a user, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. In another example, the electronic module 200a can correspond to an electronic device which can be installed / mounted in the vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. In this regard, the electronic module 200a can be considered to be carried by the vehicle (e.g., either carried into the vehicle by a user or installed / mounted in the vehicle).

[0052] It is contemplated that the electronic module 200a can be capable of performing one or more processing tasks in association with adaptive / dynamic / gradual control related processing, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0053] The electronic module 200a can, for example, include a casing 200b. Moreover, the electronic module 200a can, for example, carry any one of a first module 202, a second module 204, a third module 206, or any combination thereof.

[0054] In one embodiment, the electronic module 200a can carry a first module 202, a second module 204 and / or a third module 206. In a specific example, the electronic module 200a can carry a first module 202, a second module 204 and a third module 206, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0055] In this regard, it is appreciable that, in one embodiment, the casing 200b can be shaped and dimensioned to carry any one of the first module 202, the second module 204 and the third module 206, or any combination thereof.

[0056] The first module 202 can be coupled to one or both of the second module 204 and the third module 206. The second module 204 can be coupled to one or both of the first module 202 and the third module 206. The third module 206 can be coupled to one or both of the first module 202 and the second module 204. In one example, the first module 202 can be coupled to the second module 204 and the second module 204 can be coupled to the third module 206, in accordance with an202502110 12embodiment of the disclosure. Coupling between the first module 202, the second module 204 and / or the third module 206 can, for example, be by manner of one or both of wired coupling and wireless coupling. Each of the first module 202, the second module 204 and the third module 206 can correspond to one or both of a hardware-based module and a software-based module, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0057] In one example, the first module 202 can correspond to a hardware-based receiver which can be configured to receive one or more input signals. The input signal(s) can, for example, be communicated from the device(s) 104 (e.g., a gNB), in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0058] The second module 204 can, for example, correspond to a hardware-based processor which can be configured to perform one or more processing tasks (e.g., in a manner so as to generate one or more output signals) as will be discussed later in further detail with reference to Fig. 3, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0059] The third module 206 can correspond to a hardware-based transmitter which can be configured to communicate one or more output signals from the electronic module 200a. The output signal(s) can, for example, include / correspond to one or more instructions / commands / control signals in association with the aforementioned dynamic / adaptive / gradual control configuration / determination strategy so as to facilitate efficiency (e.g., power / energy efficiency and / or communication efficiency), in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0060] The present disclosure contemplates the possibility that the first and second modules 202 / 204 can be an integrated software-hardware based module (e.g., an electronic part which can carry a software program / algorithm in association with receiving and processing functions / an electronic module programmed to perform the functions of receiving and processing). The present disclosure further contemplates the possibility that the first and third modules 202 / 206 can be an integrated softwarehardware based module (e.g., an electronic part which can carry a software program / algorithm in association with receiving and transmitting functions / an202502110 13electronic module programmed to perform the functions of receiving and transmitting). The present disclosure yet further contemplates the possibility that the first and third modules 202 / 206 can be an integrated hardware module (e.g., a hardware-based transceiver) capable of performing the functions of receiving and transmitting.

[0061] The above-described advantageous aspect(s) of the apparatus 102 of the present disclosure can also apply analogously (all) the aspect(s) of a below described processing / communication method of the present disclosure. Likewise, all below described advantageous aspect(s) of the processing / communication method of the disclosure can also apply analogously (all) the aspect(s) of above-described apparatus 102 of the disclosure. It is to be appreciated that these remarks apply analogously to the earlier discussed system 100 of the present disclosure.

[0062] Referring to Fig. 3, a method (also referable to as a processing method) in association with the system 100 is shown, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0063] The method 300 can, for example, be suitable for / capable of facilitating energy efficiency, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0064] The processing method 300 can include any one of an input step 302, a processing step 304 and an output step 306, or any combination thereof, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0065] In one embodiment, the processing method 300 can include the input step 302. In another embodiment, the processing method 300 can include the input step 302 and the processing step 304. In another embodiment, the processing method 300 can include the input step 302, the processing step 304 and the output step 306. In yet another embodiment, the processing method 300 can include the processing step 304 and one or both of the input step 302 and the output step 306. In yet a further embodiment, the processing method 300 can include the input step 302, the processing step 304 and the output step 306. In yet a further additional embodiment, the processing method 300 can include the processing step 304. In yet another202502110 14further additional embodiment, the processing method 300 can include any one of or any combination of the input step 302, the processing step 304 and the output step 306 (i.e. , the input step 302, the processing step 304 and / or the output step 306).

[0066] With regard to the input step 302, one or more input signal(s) can be received. For example, the input signal(s) can be communicated from the device(s) 104 and can be received by an apparatus 102, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0067] The input step 302 can include receiving at least one input signal relating to a threshold indicative of positioning error. In an embodiment, the input signal(s) may be generated by the device 104 and transmitted from the device 104 to the apparatus 102. Alternatively, the input signal(s) may be generated and received by the apparatus 102 to advance to the processing step 304. For example, the input signal(s) may be generated by a transmitting UE (or user device) and received by a receiving UE (or user device).

[0068] With regard to the processing step 304, at least processing task can be performed in association with the received input signal(s) in a manner so as to generate one or more output signals, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0069] The processing step 304 may include receiving a threshold indicative of positioning error; determining whether a current positioning error exceeds the threshold; establishing a measurement report if the current positioning error exceeds the threshold; and configuring a signal pattern based on the measurement report for positioning in the network. The processing step 304 further includes configuring the threshold indicative of positioning error; transmitting the threshold to a user device and transmitting the signal pattern based on a resource allocation density.

[0070] The processing step 304 can also include initiating a position model, wherein the position model is initiated periodically or at a pre-configured time; communicating the measurement report periodically if the threshold is exceeded; and202502110 15communicating the measurement report comprises communicating via at least one of: physical layer (L1), data link layer (L2) and / or network layer (L3) signaling. The threshold may be configured based on User Equipment (UE) specific and / or cell specific and the signal pattern comprises a Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) signal pattern.

[0071] In an embodiment, the network side model may configure a threshold for positioning error and determines the PRS pattern for the UE (or user device).

[0072] In an embodiment, the UE (or user device) receives the threshold for positioning error for the UE side model from the gNB (or base station). The network configures the PRS pattern for the UE (or user device) based on the UE’s measurement report. Specifically, the gNB (or base station) may transmit PRS on resources with dense allocation on the center and sparse allocation on the edges if the threshold for positioning error is crossed, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The threshold may be configured UE specific (RRC Reconfiguration message) or cell specific (System Information Broadcast SIB). The UE report positioning error accuracy may be sent via L1 (physical layer), L2 (data layer) or L3 (network layer) signaling.

[0073] In an embodiment, the UE (or user device) may run the positioning model periodically or at a time configured by the gNB (or base station). The UE (or user device) may also report periodic measurements if the positioning error is higher than the threshold. In an example implementation, the gNB (or base station) may configure the PRS using the parameters as shown in Table 1 below.Parameters Model Inference PRS REUE measurement report Good Low comb (Comb 2) Channel quality Bad Proposed SNR Normal Comb 6 Deployment scenario UMa ProposedTable 1202502110 16

[0074] In another example implementation, the method and system as described herein can be implemented to enhance positioning-based applications for the automobile, for example in a High Performance Computer (HPC). Advantageously, the new comb structure can be used for enhanced positioning and may provide fundamental mechanisms for enhanced positioning by utilizing dynamic resource allocation for PRS.

[0075] With regard to the output step 306, the output signal(s) can, for example, be communicated, as an option, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. For example, the output signal(s) can optionally be communicated from the apparatus 102. In a more specific example, the output signal(s) can optionally be communicated from the apparatus 102 to one or both of at least one device 104 and another apparatus 102, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0076] The present disclosure further contemplates a computer program (not shown) which can include instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer (not shown), cause the computer to carry out the input step 302, the processing step 304 and / or the output step 306 as discussed with reference to the method 300. For example, the computer program can include instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the input step 302 and / or the processing step 304, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0077] The present disclosure yet further contemplates a computer readable storage medium (not shown) having data stored therein representing software executable by a computer (not shown), the software including instructions, when executed by the computer, to carry out the input step 302, the processing step 304 and / or the output step 306 as discussed with reference to the method 300. For example, the computer readable storage medium can have data stored therein representing software executable by a computer, the software including instructions, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to carry out the input step 302 and / or the processing step 304, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.202502110 17

[0078] Further in view of the foregoing, it is appreciable that the present disclosure generally contemplates an apparatus 102 suitable for energy saving in a network which can include a first module 202, a second module 204 and / or a third module 206.

[0079] The first module 202 can be configured to receive one or more input signals. The input signal(s) can, for example, be associated with data indicative of model training.

[0080] The second module 204 can be configured to process and / or facilitate processing of the input signal(s) according to the method 300 as discussed earlier to generate one or more output signals.

[0081] The third module 206 can be configured to communicate one or more output signals. The output signal(s) can, for example, correspond to one or more control signals for positioning in the network.

[0082] In one embodiment, the apparatus 102 can correspond to a User Equipment (UE) which can communicate with a device 104 corresponding to a base station. The base station can, for example, correspond to a Next generation Node B (gNB) which can be configured to communicate one or more signals (e.g., input signal(s)) to the UE.

[0083] Yet further in view of the foregoing, it is appreciable that the present disclosure generally contemplates a system 100 which can include one or more apparatuses 102 and one or more devices 104. The apparatus(es) 102 and the device(s) 104 can, for example, be capable of being coupled via wired coupling and / or wireless coupling.

[0084] It should be appreciated that the embodiments described above can be combined in any manner as appropriate (e.g., one or more embodiments as discussed in the “Detailed Description” section can be combined with one or more embodiments as described in the “Summary of the Invention” section).202502110 18

[0085] It should be further appreciated by the person skilled in the art that variations and combinations of embodiments described above, not being alternatives or substitutes, may be combined to form yet further embodiments.

[0086] In one example, the possibility of the output signal(s) being communicated from the apparatus(es) 102 was discussed. It is appreciable that the output signal(s) need not necessarily be communicated from the apparatus(es) 102. Specifically, the possibility that the output signal(s) need not necessarily be communicated outside of the apparatus(es) 102 is contemplated, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. More specifically, the output signal(s) can, for example, correspond to internal command(s) / instruction(s) (e.g., communicated only within an apparatus 102) for adaptively controlling operational configuration of an apparatus 102, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0087] Fig. 4A to Fig. 4B show schematic diagrams illustrating example scenarios in association with the method 300, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Specifically, Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B shows example contexts of information flow by the gNB (or base station) and the UE (or user device).

[0088] In the example context as shown in Fig. 4A, the base station (or gNB or network) may configure a positioning error threshold while in the example context as shown in Fig. 4B, the UE (or user device) may be configured to report the positioning accuracy to determine the PRS allocation.

[0089] In the foregoing manner, various embodiments of the disclosure are described for addressing at least one of the foregoing disadvantages. Such embodiments are intended to be encompassed by the following claims, and are not to be limited to specific forms or arrangements of parts so described and it will be apparent to one skilled in the art in view of this disclosure that numerous changes and / or modification can be made, which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

Claims

202502110 19Claim(s)1. A method (300) for positioning in a network, the method comprising:receiving a threshold indicative of positioning error;determining whether a current positioning error exceeds the threshold; establishing a measurement report if the current positioning error exceeds the threshold; andconfiguring a signal pattern based on the measurement report for positioning in the network.

2. The method (300) according to claim 1 , further comprising initiating a position model, wherein the position model is initiated periodically or at a pre-configured time.

3. The method (300) according to claim 1, further comprising communicating the measurement report periodically if the threshold is exceeded.

4. The method (300) according to claim 3, wherein communicating the measurement report comprises communicating via at least one of: physical layer (L1), data link layer (L2) and / or network layer (L3) signaling.

5. The method (300) according to claim 1 , further comprising:configuring the threshold indicative of positioning error; andtransmitting the threshold to a user device.

6. The method (300) according to claim 5, wherein the threshold is configured based on User Equipment (UE) specific and / or cell specific.

7. The method (300) according to claim 1, wherein the signal pattern comprises a Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) signal pattern.

8. The method (300) according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting the signal pattern based on a resource allocation density.202502110 209. A computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method (300) according to any of the preceding claims.

10. A computer readable storage medium having data stored therein representing software executable by a computer, the software including instructions, when executed by the computer, to carry out the method (300) according to any one of claims 1-8.

11. An apparatus (102) for positioning in a network comprising:a first module (202) configured to receive at least one input signal relating to a threshold indicative of positioning error;a second module (204) configured to at least one of process and facilitate the method (300) of claim 1 to claim 8 to generate at least one output signal; anda third module (206) configured to communicate at least one output signal, wherein the output signal corresponds to a control signal for positioning in the network.

12. The apparatus (102) according to claim 11 ,wherein the apparatus (102) corresponds to a User Equipment (UE) communicable with a device (104) corresponding to a base station, andwherein the base station corresponds to a Next generation Node B (gNB) configured to communicate the at least one input signal to the UE.

13. A system (100) comprising:at least one apparatus (102) according to any of claims 11 and 12; and at least one device (104) according to claim 12,wherein the apparatus (102) and the device (104) are capable of being coupled via at least one of wired coupling and wireless coupling.

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