Lower layer control signal for downlink positioning reference signal

1. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media (NTCRM) having instructions that, when executed, cause processing circuitry to:

receive configuration information to configure downlink-positioning reference signal (DL-PRS) resources;

receive a control signal that includes an indication of the DL-PRS resources, wherein the control signal is at a media access control (MAC) layer or a layer below the MAC layer; and

perform a positioning operation with respect to the DL-PRS resources based on the control signal.

2. The one or more NTCRM of claim 1 , wherein to perform the positioning operation, the processing circuitry is to:

detect an activation of the DL-PRS resources;

measure the DL-PRS resources to obtain measurements; and

transmit a report to a base station based on the measurements.

3. The one or more NTCRM of claim 2 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processing circuitry to:

determine a length of a window in which the DL-PRS resources are activated based on the control signal or the configuration information.

4. The one or more NTCRM of claim 2 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processing circuitry to:

configure, based on the configuration information, the DL-PRS resources in an inactive state; and

transition the DL-PRS resources from the inactive state to an active state based on the activation of the DL-PRS resources.

5. The one or more NTCRM of claim 2 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processing circuitry to:

determine a reference signal received power (RSRP) or reference signal time difference (RSTD) based on the measurements; and

transmit the report based on the RSRP or RSTD.

6. The one or more NTCRM of claim 1 , wherein the indication of the DL-PRS resources comprises an indication of a DL-PRS resource index or a DL-PRS resource set index.

7. The one or more NTCRM of claim 1 , wherein the configuration information is a user equipment (UE)-specific configuration information to configure one or more UEs with the DL-PRS resources.

8. The one or more NTCRM of claim 1 , wherein the control signal comprises downlink control information (DCI) and the instructions, when executed, further cause the processing circuitry to:

descramble cyclic-redundancy check (CRC) bits attached to a payload of the DCI to detect a radio-network temporary identifier (RNTI);

determine the DCI is of a DL-PRS type to activate or release DL-PRS resources based on the RNTI; and

process one or more fields of the DCI based on determination that the DCI is of the DL-PRS type.

9. The one or more NTCRM of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processing circuitry to:

transmit, to a base station, an indication of a minimum period after receipt of a DL-PRS activation signal that a user equipment is capable of receiving a corresponding DL-PRS; and

receive, in the control signal, an indication of a period after receipt of the control signal that a user equipment is to receive first occasion of activated DL-PRS resources, wherein the period is equal to or greater than the minimum period.

10. The one or more NTCRM of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processing circuitry to:

transmit, to a base station, an acknowledgment of receipt of the control signal, wherein the acknowledgement comprises a media access control (MAC) control element (CE) or physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) transmission.

11. The one or more NTCRM of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processing circuitry to:

transmit, to a base station, a capability message to indicate a maximum number of DL PRS resources supported by a user equipment for reference signal received power (RSRP) or reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurements,

wherein to indicate the maximum number the capability message is to indicate: a first number of DL-PRS resources supported when no dynamic DL-PRS resources are in an active state, a second number of dynamic DL-PRS resources supported in an inactive state, and a third number of dynamic DL-PRS resources supported in an active state; or one number of DL-PRS resources that are supported for broadcast DL-PRS resources and dynamic DL-PRS resources.

12. An apparatus to be implemented in a base station, the apparatus comprising:

memory to store priority information; and

processing circuitry, coupled with the memory, to:

determine a potential collision between a dynamic downlink-positioning reference signal (DL-PRS) and another downlink transmission;

determine, based on the priority information, a first transmission of the dynamic DL-PRS and the other downlink transmission includes a relatively higher priority;

determine, based on the priority information, a second transmission of the dynamic DL-PRS and the other downlink transmission includes a relatively lower priority;

transmit the first transmission to a user equipment (UE); and

cancel at least a portion of the second transmission.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the other downlink transmission includes broadcast or semi-persistent DL-PRS, the first transmission is the dynamic DL-PRS, and the processing circuitry is further to: cancel transmission of all symbols of the second transmission or only a set of symbols of the second transmission that overlap with the first transmission.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the other downlink transmission includes a channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS) or a semi-persistent scheduled (SPS) physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) transmission, the first transmission is the dynamic DL-PRS, and the processing circuitry is further to: drop transmission of the CSI-RS or the SPS PDSCH transmission.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the other downlink transmission includes a dynamic physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) transmission, the first transmission is the dynamic DL-PRS, and the processing circuitry is further to: drop transmission of the dynamic PDSCH transmission.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the other downlink transmission includes a dynamic physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) transmission, the first transmission is the dynamic PDSCH transmission, and the processing circuitry is further to:

drop transmission of the dynamic DL-PRS.

17. A method of operating a base station, the method comprising:

activating downlink-positioning reference signal (DL-PRS) resources;

detecting interference with respect to at least some of the DL-PRS resources; and

transmitting, based on said detecting interference, a control signal to indicate the at least some of the DL-PRS resources are to be muted, wherein the control signal is at a media access control (MAC) layer or lower layer.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the at least some of the DL-PRS resources comprises: all of the DL-PRS resources within a muting window; or a specific subset of all of the DL-PRS resources.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the DL-PRS resources are broadcast DL-PRS resources or dynamic DL-PRS resources.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the control signal includes an indication of a muting duration for the at least some of the DL-PRS resources.