Systems and methods of providing new radio positioning

1. A user equipment (UE), comprising:

one or more processors configured to:

provide a positioning request to a node while the UE is in a radio resource control idle (RRC_IDLE) or inactive (RRC_INACTIVE) state, the positioning request implemented in a random access channel (RACH) message A (MsgA);

receive an uplink (UL) positioning reference signal (PRS) resource configuration from the node;

provide UL PRS data to the node based at least in part on the UL PRS resource configuration; and

receive a positioning response from the node, the positioning response implemented in a RACH message B (MsgB),

wherein the UL PRS data is provided to the node prior to receipt of the positioning response.

2. The UE of claim 1 , wherein the MsgA comprises a physical random access channel (PRACH) preamble.

3. The UE of claim 1 , wherein the MsgA comprises at least one of a requested type of positioning procedure, a request for additional allocation of reference signals, one or more signal location parameter measurements, a UE identification, and a requested type of positioning reference resources.

4. The UE of claim 1 , wherein the requested type of positioning procedure comprises a downlink (DL) only positioning technique, a UL only positioning technique, or a DL and UL positioning technique.

5. The UE of claim 1 , wherein the positioning response comprises an estimated coordinate of the UE, a metric characterizing coordinate estimation quality, timestamps indicative of a time of reception of one or more reference signals, a request for additional positioning measurements, a configuration or activation of additional resources for transmission of positioning reference signals, or location information associated with downlink (DL) positioning reference resources.

6. The UE of claim 1 , wherein the MsgB comprises at least one of an estimated location of the UE, a metric characterizing a quality or uncertainty of the estimated location, a timestamp indicating a time of reception of the MsgA by the node, a timestamp indicating a time of transmission of the MsgB by the node, a request for additional positioning measurements, or location information associated with downlink (DL) positioning reference resources.

7. The UE of claim 6 , wherein the estimated location of the UE is determined by a location function entity, and provided to the node.

8. The UE of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to, prior to providing the positioning request, receive a downlink (DL) PRC resource configuration from the node, and wherein the MsgA comprises a DL PRS measurement report, the DL PRS measurement report determined based at least in part on the DL PRC resource configuration.

9. The UE of claim 1 , wherein the UL PRS resource configuration is implemented in a second RACH MsgB or through upper layer signaling.

10. The UE of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to provide the UL PRS data to one or more other nodes.

11. A method for determining an estimated location of a user equipment (UE) in a wireless network, the method comprising:

providing, by the UE, a positioning request to a node while the UE is in a radio resource control idle (RRC_IDLE) or inactive (RRC_INACTIVE) state, the positioning request implemented in a random access channel (RACH) message A (MsgA);

receiving, by the UE, an uplink (UL) positioning reference signal (PRS) resource configuration from the node;

providing, by the UE, UL PRS data to the node based at least in part on the UL PRS resource configuration; and

receiving, by the UE, from the node, a positioning response implemented in a RACH message B (MsgB),

wherein the UL PRS resource configuration is received prior to receipt of the positioning response.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the MsgA comprises a physical random access channel (PRACH) preamble.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising, prior to providing the positioning request, receiving, by the UE, a downlink (DL) PRC resource configuration from the node, wherein the MsgA comprises a DL PRS measurement report, the DL PRS measurement report determined based at least in part on the DL PRC resource configuration.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the UL PRS resource configuration is implemented in a second RACH MsgB or through upper layer signaling.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising providing, by the UE, the UL PRS data to one or more other nodes.

16. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media (CRM) comprising instructions to, upon execution of the instructions by one or more processors of a user equipment (UE), cause the UE to:

provide a positioning request to a node while the UE is in a radio resource control idle (RRC_IDLE) or inactive (RRC_INACTIVE) state, the positioning request implemented in a random access channel (RACH) message A (MsgA);

receive an uplink (UL) positioning reference signal (PRS) resource configuration from the node;

provide UL PRS data to the node based at least in part on the UL PRS resource configuration; and

receive a positioning response from the node, the positioning response implemented in a RACH message B (MsgB),

wherein the UL PRS data is provided to the node prior to receipt of the positioning response.

17. The one or more non-transitory CRM of claim 16 , wherein the instructions further cause the UE to, prior to providing the positioning request, receive a downlink (DL) PRC resource configuration from the node, and wherein the MsgA comprises a DL PRS measurement report, the DL PRS measurement report determined based at least in part on the DL PRC resource configuration.

18. The one or more non-transitory CRM of claim 16 , wherein the MsgB comprises at least one of an estimated location of the UE, a metric characterizing a quality or uncertainty of the estimated location, a timestamp indicating a time of reception of the MsgA by the node, a timestamp indicating a time of transmission of the MsgB by the node, a request for additional positioning measurements, or location information associated with downlink (DL) positioning reference resources.

19. The one or more non-transitory CRM of claim 16 , wherein the UL PRS resource configuration is implemented in a second RACH MsgB or through upper layer signaling.

20. The one or more non-transitory CRM of claim 16 , wherein the instructions further cause the UE to provide the UL PRS data to one or more other nodes.