Patent Description:
3GPP new study item (SI) "Study on NR (New Radio) Positioning Support" has been agreed in RP-<NUM>. In this SI, NR shall not only support regulatory positioning requirements but also commercial positioning use cases. According to the justification part in this SI description, NR design targeting for commercial positioning use cases includes at least the support of accuracy and latency as defined in TR <NUM> for some use cases.

The 3GPP TR <NUM> complements existing work on <NUM> use cases involving positioning needs in order to identify potential requirements for <NUM> positioning services. For some use cases (e.g., machine control), there will be stringent latency requirement for positioning service. As analyzed in <NUM>, time-related KPIs for positioning include:
Time to First Fix (TTFF): time elapsed between the event triggering for the first time the determination of the position-related data and the availability of the position-related data at the positioning system interface. TTTF is greater or equal to Latency.

Update rate: the rate at which the position-related data is generated by the positioning system. It is the inverse of the time elapsed between two successive position-related data.

Latency: time elapsed between the event that triggers the determination of the position-related data and the availability of the position-related data at the positioning system interface. At initialisation of the positioning system, the latency is also defined as the Time to First Fix.

These time-related KPI (Key Performance Indicators related to the location server and measurement point become.

TTFF_RAN (Radio Access Network): The time elapsed between the location server sending the location information/request and receiving the first whole position-related data for UE (user equipment) positioning purpose.

Update_Time_RAN: The time elapsed between two successive whole position-related data received by the location server.

Latency_RAN: The time elapsed between the location server receiving the position-related data from the measurement point and the measurement point generating a measurement position-related data. At initialisation of the positioning system, the latency is also defined as the TTFF_RAN.

Measurement_Time_RAN: The time to complete the position-related data measurement at the measurement point.

The above-mentioned time-related KPIs for NR positioning are illustrated in <FIG>.

So how to reduce some latency components in "latency RAN" to meet stringent latency requirement in some positioning use cases is the problem to be solved.

In LTE system, the report event for positioning measurement from a UE to a location server by LPP (LTE positioning protocol) is transparent to the serving base station. The nature of transparent may result in some latencies for LTE positioning, especially in the procedure of positioning measurement report. Taking observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) technology as an example, the latency of positioning measurement report in the LTE system low layer is illustrated in <FIG>.

The whole reference signal time difference (RSTD) report procedure in low layer may include the following steps:.

UE's MAC triggers scheduling request (SR) when RSTD data becomes available for transmission in UL (uplink). During SR procedure, the UE performs either transmission of SR over the PUCCH (Physical uplink control channel) or initiates random access procedure, depending on whether the UE has valid PUCCH resources for SR (SR is either not configured or released). Since the PUCCH resource for SR transmission and PRACH (Physical random access channel) resource may be configured by the base station in a periodic manner, the UE may wait for additional time for SR or PRACH transmission according to configured periodicity. We would like to notate such latency as SR_delay in this disclosure.

When the base station receives the SR from the UE, it shall transmit a UL grant to assign the time and frequency resource for UL transmission of RSTD message. The time between receiving the SR and transmitting UL grant (UL_grant_delay) is according to eNB implementation. The timing (scheduling_delay) between the UL grant transmission and corresponding UL transmission is <NUM> in LTE.

Based on above analysis, the low layer (PHY and MAC) latency for positioning service consists of at least "SR_delay", "UL_grant_delay", and "scheduling_delay" (from measured data generation to the RSTD report in UL). With stringent latency requirement in NR positioning, design to reduce these latencies (which are components of the whole positioning service latency) is required. In the most extreme case, it would be better the UE has the opportunity to report measured RSTD just after the measurement data being generated.

So how to reduce "SR_delay" and "scheduling_delay" for positioning measurement report in NR framework is the problem to be solved.

<CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> disclose methods for performing positioning in wireless communication system and devices therefor.

This disclosure introduces an enhanced measurement report mechanism for NR positioning, in order to reduce the latency of reporting positioning measurement in low layer (PHY and MAC). More specifically, the proposed idea is to minimize the latency between measurement report generation and measurement report transmission in NR positioning.

According to an aspect of the invention, there are provided methods of claims <NUM> and <NUM>.

According to an aspect of the invention, there are provided apparatuses of claims <NUM> and <NUM>.

The key idea of this disclosure is requesting UL resources for positioning measurement report in advance by transmitting a report assisted message. Consequently, the UE can transmit the positioning measurement report just after the measurement data being generated.

The proposed scheme is suitable to not only one-shot positioning measurement reporting but also periodic positioning measurement reporting. For one-shot positioning measurement report, the UE will indicate the expected transmit time of positioning measurement report in report assisted message. For periodic positioning measurement reporting, the UE can additionally request configured grant or SPS (Semi-persistence scheduling) transmission mode for positioning measurement report in report assisted message. In addition, the UE indicates the periodicity and offset of the report. The serving base station can hence allocate periodic UL resource to the UE for reporting positioning measurement periodically.

One implementation of proposed scheme could be OTDOA (observed time difference of arrival) positioning in NR system. In such implementation, our proposal is used to reduce the latency of the RSTD (reference signal time difference) report. Other implementations of proposed scheme could be other downlink positioning technologies in NR system.

The proposed idea can minimize the delay from positioning measurement data generation to the positioning measurement report. Short latency is required for many commercial use cases in NR positioning.

Other features, purposes and advantages of the invention will become more explicit by means of reading the detailed statement of the non-restrictive embodiments made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The same or similar reference signs in the drawings represent the same or similar component parts.

The present disclosure will now be discussed in detail with regard to the attached drawing figures which are briefly described above. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth illustrating the applicant's best mode for practicing the disclosure and enabling one of ordinary skill in the art of making and using the disclosure. It will be obvious, however, to one skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without many of these specific details. In other instances, well-known machines and method steps have not been described in particular detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure. Unless otherwise indicated, like parts and method steps are referred to with like reference numerals.

References in the specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "an example embodiment," etc. indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but it is not necessary that every embodiment includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic.

For example, the term "user equipment" used herein may refer to any terminal device or user equipment (UE) having wireless communication capabilities, including but not limited to, mobile phones, cellular phones, smart phones, or personal digital assistants (PDAs), portable computers, and the like. Furthermore, user equipment that is not mobile may also readily employ embodiments of the present invention. In the following description, the terms "user equipment", "UE" and "terminal device" may be used interchangeably. Similarly, the term "base station" may represent a base station (BS), a node B (NodeB or NB), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), a gNodeB (gNB) and a relay node (RN), and so forth. The term "transmission point" may represent an apparatus for transmitting any information or data, including PRS signals.

For illustrative purposes, several embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in the context of a NR system. Those skilled in the art will appreciate, however, that the concept and principle of the several embodiments of the present disclosure may be more generally applicable to other wireless networks, for example a third generation Long Term Evolution (<NUM>-LTE) network, a fourth generation (<NUM>) network, <NUM> LTE, or a future network (e.g. <NUM> network).

Referring to <FIG>, an embodiment of a method for transmitting positioning measurement report in a UE (user equipment), comprising:.

Specifically, at step <NUM>, the UE receives a location information request from a serving base station or from a location server, the location information request indicating the UE to provide location information. Besides the location information request, the location server indicates configurations of positioning reference signal transmitted from multiple transmission points.

At step <NUM>, the UE determines timing for transmitting positioning measurement report. For example, the UE determines the transmit timing according to the information such as the UE's processing capability or other necessary information.

Preferably, at step <NUM>, the UE determines the timing for transmitting positioning measurement report according to at least any one of:.

For example, at step <NUM>, the UE determines the timing for transmitting positioning measurement report according to the configuration of positioning reference signal received from the base station or from the location server.

Also, the UE determines the timing for transmitting positioning measurement report according to the other information such as request positioning accuracy and/or the UE's processing capability.

At step <NUM>, the UE generates a report assisted message according to the timing for transmitting the positioning measurement report determined in step <NUM>.

At step <NUM>, the UE transmits the report assisted message to the serving base station to request resource for a UL transmission in advance, wherein the report assisted message facilitating positioning measurement.

Preferably, the report assisted message comprising at least any one of:.

For example, the UE generates a report assisted message according to the timing for transmitting the positioning measurement report determined in step <NUM> and the estimated payload size of the positioning measurement report. Then, the serving base station can assign UL resource for positioning measurement report to the UE according to the received report assisted message.

Preferably, the timing for transmitting the positioning measurement report indicating at least one of:.

Specifically, the proposed scheme is suitable to not only one-shot positioning measurement reporting but also periodic positioning measurement reporting. For one-shot positioning measurement report, the UE will indicate the expected transmit time of positioning measurement report in report assisted message. For periodic positioning measurement reporting, the UE can additionally request configured grant or SPS (Semi-persistence scheduling) transmission mode for positioning measurement report in report assisted message.

Preferably, the report assisted message may further comprising:
request for configured grant transmission mode or semi-persistence scheduling transmission mode to report positioning measurement.

For example, the UE may transmit the positioning measurement report periodically, so the timing for transmitting the positioning measurement report may indicate multiple periodic occasions for transmitting the positioning measurement report. Therefore, the UE determines the timing for transmitting the positioning measurement report and the report periodicity.

For example, the UE generates a report assisted message according to the timing for transmitting the positioning measurement report, the estimated payload size of the positioning measurement report, request for configured grant transmission mode or semi-persistence scheduling transmission mode to report positioning measurement. In addition, the UE indicates the periodicity and offset of the report. Then the UE transmits the report assisted message to the serving base station. The serving base station can hence allocate periodic UL resource by configuring configured grant transmission mode or semi-persistence scheduling transmission mode to the UE for reporting positioning measurement periodically.

Those skilled in the art should understand that, the above-mentioned information included in the report assisted message is merely provided as an example.

Preferably, the UE transmits a scheduling request to the base station or initiates random access to request resource for a UL transmission; then the UE receives UL grant from the base station to schedule UL resource for transmitting the report assisted message; then the UE transmits the report assisted message in assigned UL resource to the base station.

Preferably, each occasion for transmitting the positioning measurement report further comprising multiple consecutive time resources.

As an embodiment, for each occasion for transmitting the positioning measurement report, the base station can allocate multiple consecutive time resources for transmitting the positioning measurement report to increase the transmission opportunity of the report. The base station can schedule contiguous slots, i.e., a time window, for positioning measurement report. This approach can increase the robustness of positioning measurement report, in case the report procedure is done in an unlicensed carrier or the UE has unclear measurement and processing capability.

Then, the UE receives UL grant from the serving base station to schedule UL resource for transmitting positioning measurement report.

For example, the serving base station assigns UL resource for positioning measurement report to the UE according to the received report assisted message. The UE receives UL grant from the serving base station to schedule UL resource for transmitting positioning measurement report. Then, the UE performs reference signal time difference measurement and generates the positioning measurement report. Subsequently, the UE transmits the positioning measurement report in assigned UL resource to the base station and then the positioning measurement report is further conveyed to the location server, for example, via LPP like protocol.

For example, when the timing for transmitting the positioning measurement report indicates multiple periodic occasions for transmitting the positioning measurement report, the UE determines the timing for transmitting the positioning measurement report, wherein the timing including the report periodicity. The UE generates a report assisted message according to the timing for transmitting the positioning measurement report, the estimated payload size of the positioning measurement report, and request for configured grant transmission mode or semi-persistence scheduling transmission mode to report positioning measurement, wherein the timing for transmitting the positioning measurement report including report periodicity. Then the UE transmits the report assisted message to the serving base station.

Therefore, the base station can assign UL resource by configuring configured grant transmission mode or semi-persistence scheduling transmission mode to the UE. The UE then receives periodic UL grant from the serving base station to schedule UL resource for reporting positioning measurement report periodically.

In another embodiment, an aspect of this disclosure relates to a method for transmitting positioning measurement report in a base station, wherein said method comprising:.

Specifically, the base station sends a location information request to a corresponding UE and then receives a report assisted message from the corresponding UE. Then the base station assigns UL resource for positioning measurement report to the UE according to the received report assisted message. Subsequently, the base station receives the positioning measurement report in assigned UL resource and then convey the positioning measurement report to the location server, for example, via LPP like protocol.

Here, when the base station interprets the received information as report assisted message, the base station shall assign UL resource for positioning measurement report accordingly.

The base station assigns UL resource for positioning measurement report to the UE according to the timing for transmitting the positioning measurement report and/or the estimated payload size of the positioning measurement report included in the received report assisted message.

Therefore, the report assisted message may further comprising:
request for configured grant transmission mode or semi-persistence scheduling transmission mode to report positioning measurement.

For example, the UE generates a report assisted message according to the timing for transmitting the positioning measurement report, the estimated payload size of the positioning measurement report, and request for configured grant transmission mode or semi-persistence scheduling transmission mode to report positioning measurement, wherein the timing including report periodicity. Then the UE transmits the report assisted message to the serving base station.

Therefore, the base station can assign UL resource by configuring configured grant transmission mode or semi-persistence scheduling transmission mode to the UE.

Preferably, assigning UL resource can be done by transmitting a UL grant to the UE. Preferably, when the timing for transmitting the positioning measurement report indicating multiple periodic occasions for transmitting the positioning measurement report, assigning UL resource can be done by configuring configured grant transmission mode or semi-persistence scheduling transmission mode to the UE.

Preferably, assigning UL resource may further comprising:
allocating multiple consecutive time resources for reporting the positioning measurement report.

As an embodiment, the base station can allocate multiple consecutive time resources for transmitting the positioning measurement report to increase the transmission opportunity of the report. The base station can schedule contiguous slots, i.e., a time window, for positioning measurement report. This approach can increase the robustness of positioning measurement report, in case the report procedure is done in an unlicensed carrier or the UE has unclear measurement and processing capability.

<FIG> shows the corresponding procedure of proposed report assisted message transmitted from the UE to the serving base station.

First, the serving base station indicates UE to provide location information by sending a location information request.

Then the UE transmits report assisted message to the base station to facilitate positioning measurement report. Herein, the report assisted message may include at least anyone of:.

Here, the report assisted message is encapsulated as a high layer message, for example a MAC or RRC (Radio Resource Control) message.

Then, the serving base station transmits a UL grant to the UE schedule UL resource for the positioning measurement report according to received report assisted message.

Then, the positioning measurement report is transmitted from the UE to the base station and further conveyed to the location server, for example, via LPP like protocol.

<FIG> shows the detailed procedure of transmitting positioning measurement report from the UE to the serving base station.

At the UE side, the detailed procedure of proposed mechanism includes the following steps and illustrated in <FIG>.

Step <NUM>: Receiving location information request.

A UE may receive a request from location server or directly from serving base station to provide location information.

Step <NUM>: Preparing report assisted message.

The UE estimates transmit timing for positioning measurement report. The estimation is based on the request positioning accuracy, the configuration of positioning reference signal, and UE's processing capability. Then, the UE prepares a report assisted message accordingly. Within the report assisted message, the UE shall indicate one or multiple periodic transmit timing, request for configured grant or SPS transmission mode for positioning measurement report, and expected report periodicity and offset.

Step <NUM>: Transmitting report assisted message.

When the UE receives the location information request, the UE will transmit a report assisted message to the serving base station. This message may trigger scheduling request procedure. If so, UE has the following sub-steps to transmit report assisted message:
Step <NUM>: scheduling request procedure.

The UE transmits a SR to the base station or initiates random access to request resource for a UL transmission.

After SR transmission, the UE shall expect a UL grant to schedule the transmission of report assisted message.

The UE transmits report assisted message in assigned UL resource.

Step <NUM>: Measuring positioning reference signal.

The UE measures positioning reference signal according to configuration received from the location server.

Step <NUM>: Receiving UL grant for measurement report.

The UE expects a UL grant for positioning measurement report. The base station will schedule the transmission of positioning measurement report according to received assisted message.

Step <NUM>: Reporting the positioning measurement report.

Positioning measurement report is transmitted from the UE to the base station and further conveyed to the location server, for example, via LPP like protocol.

In another embodiment, an aspect of this disclosure relates to a first apparatus for reporting positioning measurement report in a user equipment, comprising:.

Specifically, means <NUM> in the UE receives a location information request from a serving base station or from a location server, the location information request indicating the UE to provide location information. Besides the location information request, the location server indicates configurations of positioning reference signal transmitted from multiple transmission points.

Means <NUM> in the UE determines timing for transmitting positioning measurement report. For example, the UE determines the transmit timing according to the information such as the UE's processing capability or other necessary information.

Preferably, means <NUM> in the UE determines the timing for transmitting positioning measurement report according to at least any one of:.

For example, means <NUM> in the UE determines the timing for transmitting positioning measurement report according to the configuration of positioning reference signal received from the base station or from the location server.

Means <NUM> in the UE generates a report assisted message according to the timing for transmitting the positioning measurement report determined by the means <NUM>.

Means <NUM> in the UE transmits the report assisted message to the serving base station to request resource for a UL transmission in advance, wherein the report assisted message facilitating positioning measurement.

For example, the UE generates a report assisted message according to the timing for transmitting the positioning measurement report determined by the means <NUM> and the estimated payload size of the positioning measurement report. Then, the serving base station can assign UL resource for positioning measurement report to the UE according to the received report assisted message.

In another embodiment, an aspect of this disclosure relates to a second apparatus for reporting positioning measurement report in a base station, comprising:.

Specifically, the base station sends a location information request to a corresponding UE and then, the means <NUM> in the base station receives a report assisted message from the corresponding UE. Then the means <NUM> in the base station assigns UL resource for positioning measurement report to the UE according to the received report assisted message. Subsequently, the base station receives the positioning measurement report in assigned UL resource and then convey the positioning measurement report to the location server, for example, via LPP like protocol.

The means <NUM> in the base station assigns UL resource for positioning measurement report to the UE according to the timing for transmitting the positioning measurement report and/or the estimated payload size of the positioning measurement report included in the received report assisted message.

In another embodiment, an aspect of this disclosure relates to a system for reporting positioning measurement report, wherein, the system comprises anyone of above first apparatus and anyone of above second apparatus.

Also, a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least:.

And, a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least:.

For a person skilled in the art, it is apparent that the present disclosure is not limited to the details of the above exemplary embodiments, and the present disclosure can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics of the present disclosure. Therefore, the embodiments should be regarded as exemplarily and not restrictive, and the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims rather than the above description, and therefore it is intended that the claims All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the disclosure are encompassed by the disclosure. Any reference signs in the claims should not be regarded as limiting the involved clauses. In addition, it is clear that the word "comprising" does not exclude other units or steps, and the singular does not exclude the plural. The multiple units or devices recited in the system claims may also be implemented by one unit or device through software or hardware. Words such as first, second, etc., are used to indicate a name and do not indicate any specific order.

Claim 1:
A method for transmitting a positioning measurement report by a user equipment, said method comprising:
receiving (<NUM>) a location information request from a serving base station or from a location server;
determining (<NUM>) timing for transmitting a positioning measurement report, wherein the timing indicates one transmission occasion or multiple periodic transmission occasions; characterized in that the method comprises:
generating (<NUM>) a report assisted message comprising the determined timing for transmitting the positioning measurement report;
transmitting a scheduling request to the serving base station or initiating a random access procedure to request resource for transmitting the report assisted message;
receiving a first uplink grant from the serving base station for transmitting the report assisted message;
transmitting (<NUM>) the report assisted message to the serving base station, according to the received first uplink grant for scheduling of transmitting the positioning measurement report;
measuring a positioning reference signal for the positioning measurement report and receiving a second uplink grant for transmitting the positioning measurement report, and
transmitting the positioning measurement report to the serving base station according to the received second uplink grant.