Using non-positioning signals for positioning in downlink and/or uplink
Systems and methods of a wireless communications system using signals not traditionally used for positioning purposes for positioning measurements in both uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) are described herein. A user equipment (UE) may generate a UE capability information message indicating one or more signal types that the LE can process for DL positioning measurements and/or that the UE can send for UL positioning measurements. The one or more signal types so indicated may include signals not traditionally used for positioning measurements. The UE may send, to the base station, the UE capability information message. The wireless communications system may then configure the base station and/or the UE to use such signal types with one or more positioning methods. In some embodiments, the base station may also indicate to the UE a subset of signals of an indicated type which should be processed for DL measurements/sent for UL measurements.
1. A method of a user equipment (UE), comprising:
generating a UE capability information message indicating one or more signal types that the UE can process for downlink (DL) positioning measurements;
sending, to a base station, the UE capability information message;
receiving, from the base station, one or more signals of the one or more signal types; and
performing a DL positioning measurement using the one or more signals;
wherein the UE capability information message further indicates that signals of each of at least two signal types can be processed by the UE for DL positioning measurements when received in one of a same time resource, a same frequency resource, and a same time and frequency resource, the at least two signal types comprising at least one of the indicated one or more signal types.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the DL positioning measurement is performed by the UE as part of one of an observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) positioning method, an enhanced cell-ID (EID) positioning method, a DL angle of departure (DL-AoD) positioning method, a DL-time difference of arrival (DL-TDOA) positioning method, and a multi-round trip time (Multi-RTT) positioning method.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more signal types comprises one of synchronization signal block (SSB), primary synchronization signal (PSS), secondary synchronization signal (SSS) and physical broadcast channel (PBCH).
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising receiving, from the base station, an indication of a subset of SSBs sent by the base station that may be processed at the UE for DL positioning measurements.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more signal types comprises demodulation reference signal (DMRS).
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more signal types comprises channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS).
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more signal types comprises tracking reference signal (TRS).
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the UE capability information message further indicates a maximum supported number of signals of the at least two signal types that can be processed by the UE for DL positioning measurements when received in the one of the same time resource, the same frequency resource, and the same time and frequency resource.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the UE capability information message further indicates an upper timing limitation on the signals of the at least two signal types that can be processed by the UE for DL positioning measurements when received in the one of the same time resource, the same frequency resource, and the same time and frequency resource.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the UE capability information message further indicates a band for which the indication of the maximum supported number of the signals of the at least two signal types that can be processed by the UE for DL positioning measurements when received in the one of the same time resource, the same frequency resource, and the same time and frequency resource applies.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the UE capability information message further indicates a maximum supported number of signals of a first of the at least two signal types that can be processed by the UE for DL positioning measurements when received in the one of the same time resource, the same frequency resource, and the same time and frequency resource.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the UE capability information message further indicates a maximum supported number of signals of a second of the at least two signal types that can be processed by the UE for DL positioning measurements when received in the one of the same time resource, the same frequency resource, and the same time and frequency resource.
13. A method of a base station, comprising:
receiving, from a user equipment (UE), a UE capability information message indicating one or more signal types that that the UE can process for downlink (DL) positioning measurements;
sending, to the UE, one or more signals of the one or more signal types; and
cancelling a transmission of a DL positioning signal to the UE in response to receiving the indication of the one or more signal types that the UE can process for DL positioning measurements in the UE capability information message;
wherein:
the UE capability information message further indicates that signals of each of at least two signal types can be processed by the UE for DL positioning measurements when received in one of a same time resources, a same frequency resource, and a same time and frequency resource, the at least two signal types comprising at least one of the indicated one or more signal types; and
the sending, to the UE, the one or more signals of the one or more signal types comprises sending at least one signal of each of the at least two signal types to the UE in the one of the same time resource, the same frequency resource, and the same time and frequency resource.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the one or more signal types comprises one of synchronization signal block (SSB), primary synchronization signal (PSS), secondary synchronization signal (PSS), and physical broadcast channel (PBCH).
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising sending, to the UE, an indication of a subset of SSBs sent by the base station that may be processed at the UE for DL positioning measurements.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the one or more signal types comprises demodulation reference signal (DMRS).
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the one or more signal types comprises channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS).
18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the one or more signal types comprises tracking reference signal (TRS).
19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the UE capability information message further indicates a maximum supported number of signals of the at least two signal types that can be processed by the UE for DL positioning measurements when received in the one of the same time resource, the same frequency resource, and the same time and frequency resource.