Positioning-triggered interface selection

1 . A method for a wireless device (WD) for selecting a communication interface, the WD supporting communication with a network node, the method comprising:

determining a WD positioning information status and a cellular coverage status;

determining a WD state based on the determined WD positioning information status and the cellular coverage status;

transmitting position information based on the determined WD state; and

selecting the communication interface based at least in part on the determined WD state, wherein the cellular coverage status is one of in coverage and out of coverage, and the WD positioning information status is one of up-to-date and obsolete, and wherein the determined WD state is:

state 1 when the cellular coverage status is in coverage and the WD positioning information status is up-to-date;

state 2 when the cellular coverage status is in coverage and the WD positioning information status is obsolete;

state 3 when the cellular coverage status is out of coverage and the WD positioning information status is up-to-date; and

state 4 when the cellular coverage status is out of coverage and the WD positioning information status is obsolete.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a configuration that specifies how the WD positioning information status, the cellular coverage status, and the WD state are determined; and

creating a state information table based at least on the received configuration.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the configuration further specifies transmitting the position information in accordance with a reporting mode selected from one of single-report request, periodic, event triggered, and event-triggered-periodic.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the received configuration is one of a configuration received from the network node, a configuration based at least on subscription data, and a configuration based at least on preconfigured data.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the position information further includes:

when the WD state is state 1, transmitting a position report including a WD position;

when the WD state is state 2, transmitting a position warning and a network support request;

when the WD state is state 3, transmitting an estimated WD position using a Mode 2 broadcast and scanning for positions of surrounding wireless devices; and

when the WD state is state 4, transmitting a warning signal using the Mode 2 broadcast, the warning signal indicating that the WD position is unknown.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein selecting the communication interface further includes:

when the WD state is state 1, selecting as the communication interface one of a cellular interface (Uu), a Direct Communication (PC5) Mode 1 interface, and a PC5 Mode 2 interface, the communication interface selection being based at least in part on one of a received selection made by the network node and a selection made by the WD, the communication interface being selected to transmit at least the position report;

when the WD state is state 2, selecting as the communication interface one of the Uu interface, the PC5 Mode 1 interface, and the PC5 Mode 2 interface, the communication interface selection being based at least in part on one of the received selection made by the network node and the selection made by the WD, the communication interface being selected to transmit at least the position warning and the network support request;

when the WD state is state 3, selecting as the communication interface the PC5 Mode 2 interface, the communication interface selection being made by the WD, the communication interface being selected to transmit at least the estimated WD position using a Mode 2 broadcast and to scan for positions of surrounding wireless devices; and

when the WD state is state 4, selecting as the communication interface the PC5 Mode 2 interface, the communication interface selection being made by the WD, the communication interface being selected to transmit at least the warning signal indicating that the WD position is unknown using the Mode 2 broadcast.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the network support request includes a request to the network node to transmit one of a Down Link Positioning Reference Signal (DL PRS) and Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) assistance data.

8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the WD position is determined based at least on information provided by a position-determining source including at least one of a Down Link Positioning Reference Signal (DL PRS), a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), and at least one WD sensor.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the transmitted position information further includes the WD state and the position-determining source utilized to determine the WD position.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the cellular coverage status is based at least in part on a predefined threshold.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a request from the network node to listen to Mode 2 signals from WDs surrounding the WD; and

receiving indications of sidelink resources pools.

12 . A method for a network node for selecting a communication interface of a wireless device (WD), the network node supporting communication with the WD, the method comprising:

determining a WD positioning information status and a cellular coverage status of the WD;

determining a WD state based on the determined WD positioning information status and the cellular coverage status;

performing a network action based on the determined WD state; and

selecting the WD communication interface based at least in part on the determined WD state, wherein the cellular coverage status is one of in coverage and out of coverage, and the WD positioning information status is one of up-to-date and obsolete, and wherein the determined WD state is:

state 1 when the cellular coverage status is in coverage and the WD positioning information status is up-to-date;

state 2 when the cellular coverage status is in coverage and the WD positioning information status is obsolete;

state 3 when the cellular coverage status is out of coverage and the WD positioning information status is up-to-date; and

state 4 when the cellular coverage status is out of coverage and the WD positioning information status is obsolete.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

transmitting to the WD a configuration that specifies how the WD positioning information status, the cellular coverage status, and the WD state are determined.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the configuration further specifies transmitting position information by the WD in accordance with a reporting mode selected from one of single-report request, periodic, event triggered, and event-triggered-periodic.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein performing the network action further includes:

when the WD state is state 1, requesting the WD to send a position report including a WD position;

when the WD state is state 2, marking the WD position as uncertain and providing a network support;

when the WD state is state 3, marking the WD position as unknown; and

when the WD state is state 4, marking the WD position as unknown.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein selecting the WD communication interface further includes:

when the WD state is state 1, selecting as the WD communication interface one of a cellular interface (Uu), a Direct Communication (PC5) Mode 1 interface, and a PC5 Mode 2 interface, the selected WD communication interface being signalable to the WD to cause the WD to transmit at least the position report; and

when the WD state is state 2, selecting as the WD communication interface one of the Uu interface, the PC5 Mode 1 interface, and the PC5 Mode 2 interface, the selected WD communication interface being signalable to the WD to cause the WD to transmit at least a position warning and a network support request.