IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,574,811
Granted Patent B2
US 12,574,811 · App. 18/284,613 · Granted Mar 10, 2026

Methods and apparatus for supporting positioning service continuity

Inventors: Jaya Rao (Montreal, CA); Fumihiro Hasegawa (Westmount, CA); Tuong Hoang (Montreal, CA); Aata El Hamss (Laval, CA); Moon Il Lee (Melville, NY); Ghyslain Pelletier (Montréal, CA); Paul Marinier (Brossard, CA)
Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc.
H04W36/0058H04L5/0048H04W64/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,574,811
App. No.
18/284,613
Granted
Mar 10, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The disclosure pertains to methods and apparatus for supporting positioning service continuity. One representative method includes receiving, by a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), a configuration for supporting positioning service continuity during a handover. The method additionally includes supporting, by the WTRU, positioning service continuity according to the configuration at least in part by determining one or more transmissions to be performed. The method also includes assisting a radio access network with a data link handover by performing the one or more transmissions according to the configuration.

Claims (100)

1 . A method implemented by a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the method comprising:

receiving information indicating: (1) a first Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) configuration associated with a first cell, (2) a second PRS configuration associated with a second cell, and (3) a measurement gap (MG) configuration;

performing first PRS measurements on a first transmission from the first cell using the first PRS configuration and the MG configuration;

sending, to a first Network Entity (NE) associated with the first cell, a request including information indicating to maintain, after a mobility event (ME) associated with the second cell is performed, the MG configuration; and

receiving information indicating: (1) to perform the ME associated with the second cell, and (2) to maintain, after the ME is performed, the MG configuration.

2 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:

performing, after the ME is performed, second PRS measurements on the first transmission or a further transmission from the first cell using the first PRS configuration and the MG configuration.

3 . The method of claim 2 , comprising:

sending, to a second NE associated with the first cell, information indicating the second PRS measurements.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining to send the request to the first cell indicating to maintain, after the ME is performed, the MG configuration.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the first NE associated with the first cell and the second NE associated with the first cell are one base station or the first NE is a first base station and the second NE is a Location Management Function (LMF) entity.

6 . The method of claim 2 , wherein, on condition that the second PRS measurements do not satisfy a PRS ME threshold:

sending, to a first NE associated with the second cell, a request for a further MG configuration;

receiving, information indicating the further MG configuration;

performing third PRS measurements on a transmission from the second cell using the second PRS configuration and the further MG configuration; and

sending, to a second NE associated with the second cell, further information indicating any of: (1) the third PRS measurements, (2) the second PRS configuration, and/or (3) a time when the WTRU started to use the second PRS configuration.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein:

the first NE associated with the first cell and the second NE associated with the first cell are a single base station or the first NE associated with the first cell is a first base station and the second NE associated with the first cell is a Location Management Function (LMF) entity; and

the first NE associated with the second cell and the second NE associated with the second cell are another single base station or the first NE associated with the second cell is a second base station and the second NE associated with the second cell is the Location Management Function (LMF) entity.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the ME is any of: (1) a hand over; or (2) a reselection; and

the method includes performing the handover or the reselection of the WTRU to the second cell.

9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein:

the further information is included in a positioning service continuity report; and

the method includes receiving a new PRS configuration or an updated PRS configuration in response to the positioning service continuity report, wherein the new PRS configuration or the updated PRS configuration is associated with a target NE or the first NE associated with the second cell.

10 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the performing of second PRS measurements on the first transmission or the further transmission from the first cell, after the ME is performed, using the first PRS configuration and the MG configuration includes performing of the first PRS measurements on the first transmission from the first cell using the first PRS configuration associated with the first cell after a data link handover in a coverage area of the second cell.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing, before the ME is performed, further PRS measurements on a transmission from the second cell using the second PRS configuration associated with the second cell in a coverage area of the first cell.

12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing, during the ME, further PRS measurements: (1) on the transmission from the first cell using the first PRS configuration of the first cell and (2) on a transmission from the second cell using the second PRS configuration associated with the second cell.

13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising switching, during the ME, from a first positioning method to a second positioning method.

14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the WTRU, information indicating to use, activate or deactivate one or more of the PRS configurations.

15 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

triggering the performing of the second PRS measurements in response to the ME, wherein:

the performing of: (1) the first PRS measurements uses the first PRS configuration and the MG configuration before the ME is performed and (2) the second PRS measurements uses the first PRS configuration and the MG configuration during at least a first part of the ME,

the method includes performing further PRS measurements using the second PRS configuration and the MG configuration (1) during at least a second part of the ME and (2) after the ME is performed.

16 . The method of claim 2 , comprising:

receiving, by the WTRU, information associated with: (1) a first positioning operation, (2) a second positioning operation and (3) one or more trigger conditions for starting and/or stopping usage of the second positioning operation; and

on condition that the one or more trigger conditions are satisfied to start using the second positioning operation, initiating use of the second positioning operation,

wherein:

the performing of the first PRS measurements uses the first PRS configuration associated with the first positioning operation, and

the performing of the second PRS measurements uses the second PRS configuration associated with the second positioning operation.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

triggering the performing of the second PRS measurements using the second PRS configuration associated with the second positioning operation in response to the ME,

wherein:

the performing of the first PRS measurements uses the first PRS configuration: (1) before the ME is performed and (2) during at least a first part of the ME,

the performing of the second PRS measurements uses the second PRS configuration (1) during at least a second part of the ME and (2) after the ME is performed.

18 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the WTRU, reporting configuration information indicating a plurality of reporting configurations, wherein each indicated reporting configuration is associated with a type of trigger condition associated with the ME; and

sending, to a Location Management Function (LMF) Entity, a positioning report in accordance with the type of trigger condition associated with the ME.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the type of trigger condition associated with the ME includes any of: (1) a speed-related trigger condition associated with the WTRU; (2) a velocity-related trigger condition associated with the WTRU; (3) a direction of movement-related trigger condition associated with the WTRU; (4) an orientation-related trigger condition associated with the WTRU; (5) an environment-related trigger condition associated with the WTRU; (6) an indoor/outdoor status-related trigger condition associated with the WTRU; and/or (7) a neighbouring cell detection/discover-related trigger condition.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein a first reporting configuration of the indicated plurality of reporting configurations includes first periodicity information and a second reporting configuration of the indicated plurality of reporting configurations includes second, different periodicity information.

21 . A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) comprising circuitry including any of a processor, a transceiver and memory, the circuitry configured to:

receive information indicating: (1) a first Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) configuration associated with a first cell, (2) a second PRS configuration associated with a second cell, and (3) a measurement gap (MG) configuration;

perform first PRS measurements on a first transmission from the first cell using the first PRS configuration and the MG configuration;

send, to a first Network Entity (NE) associated with the first cell, a request including information indicating to maintain, after a mobility event (ME) associated with the second cell is performed, the MG configuration; and

receive information indicating: (1) to perform the ME associated with the second cell, and (2) to maintain, after the ME is performed, the MG configuration.

22 . The WTRU of claim 21 , wherein the circuitry is configured to:

perform, after the ME is performed, second PRS measurements on the first transmission or a further transmission from the first cell using the first PRS configuration and the MG configuration.

23 . The WTRU of claim 22 , wherein the circuitry is configured to:

send, to a second NE associated with the first cell, information indicating the second PRS measurements.

24 . The WTRU of claim 21 , wherein the circuitry is configured to determine to send the request to the first cell indicating to maintain, after the ME is performed, the MG configuration.

25 . The WTRU of claim 23 , wherein the first NE associated with the first cell and the second NE associated with the first cell are one base station or the first NE is a first base station and the second NE is a Location Management Function (LMF) entity.

26 . The WTRU of claim 22 , wherein, on condition that the second PRS measurements do not satisfy a PRS ME threshold, the circuitry is configured to:

send, to a first NE associated with the second cell, a request for a further MG configuration;

receive, information indicating the further MG configuration;

perform third PRS measurements on a transmission from the second cell using the second PRS configuration and the further MG configuration; and

send, to a second NE associated with the second cell, further information indicating any of: (1) the third PRS measurements, (2) the second PRS configuration, and/or (3) a time when the WTRU started to use the second PRS configuration.

27 . The WTRU of claim 26 , wherein:

the first NE associated with the first cell and the second NE associated with the first cell are a single base station or the first NE associated with the first cell is a first base station and the second NE associated with the first cell is a Location Management Function (LMF) entity; and

the first NE associated with the second cell and the second NE associated with the second cell are another single base station or the first NE associated with the second cell is a second base station and the second NE associated with the second cell is the Location Management Function (LMF) entity.

28 . The WTRU of claim 21 , wherein:

the ME is any of: (1) a hand over; or (2) a reselection; and

the circuitry is configured to perform the handover or the reselection of the WTRU to the second cell.

29 . The WTRU of claim 26 , wherein:

the further information is included in a positioning service continuity report; and

the circuitry is configured to receive a new PRS configuration or an updated PRS configuration in response to the positioning service continuity report, wherein the new PRS configuration or the updated PRS configuration is associated with a target NE or the first NE associated with the second cell.

30 . The WTRU of claim 22 , wherein the performing of second PRS measurements on the first transmission or the further transmission from the first cell, after the ME is performed, using the first PRS configuration and the MG configuration includes performing of the first PRS measurements on the first transmission from the first cell using the first PRS configuration associated with the first cell after a data link handover in a coverage area of the second cell.

31 . The WTRU of claim 21 , wherein the circuitry is configured to perform, before the ME is performed, further PRS measurements on a transmission from the second cell using the second PRS configuration associated with the second cell in a coverage area of the first cell.

32 . The WTRU of claim 21 , wherein the circuitry is configured to perform, during the ME, further PRS measurements: (1) on the transmission from the first cell using the first PRS configuration of the first cell and (2) on a transmission from the second cell using the second PRS configuration associated with the second cell.

33 . The WTRU of claim 21 , wherein the circuitry is configured to switch, during the ME, from a first positioning method to a second positioning method.

34 . The WTRU of claim 21 , wherein the circuitry is configured to receive information indicating to use, activate or deactivate one or more of the PRS configurations.

35 . The WTRU of claim 22 , wherein the circuitry is configured to:

trigger the performing of the second PRS measurements in response to the ME,

wherein the performing of: (1) the first PRS measurements uses the first PRS configuration and the MG configuration before the ME is performed and (2) the second PRS measurements uses the first PRS configuration and the MG configuration during at least a first part of the ME; and

perform further PRS measurements using the second PRS configuration and the MG configuration (1) during at least a second part of the ME and (2) after the ME is performed.

36 . The WTRU of claim 22 , wherein the circuitry is configured to:

receive information associated with: (1) a first positioning operation, (2) a second positioning operation and (3) one or more trigger conditions for starting and/or stopping usage of the second positioning operation; and

on condition that the one or more trigger conditions are satisfied to start using the second positioning operation, initiate use of the second positioning operation,

wherein:

the performing of the first PRS measurements uses the first PRS configuration associated with the first positioning operation, and

the performing of the second PRS measurements uses the second PRS configuration associated with the second positioning operation.

37 . The WTRU of claim 36 , wherein the circuitry is configured to:

trigger the performing of the second PRS measurements using the second PRS configuration associated with the second positioning operation in response to the ME,

wherein:

the performing of the first PRS measurements uses the first PRS configuration: (1) before the ME is performed and (2) during at least a first part of the ME,

the performing of the second PRS measurements uses the second PRS configuration (1) during at least a second part of the ME and (2) after the ME is performed.

38 . The WTRU of claim 21 , wherein the circuitry is configured to:

receive, by the WTRU, reporting configuration information indicating a plurality of reporting configurations, wherein each indicated reporting configuration is associated with a type of trigger condition associated with the ME; and

send, to a Location Management Function (LMF) Entity, a positioning report in accordance with the type of trigger condition associated with the ME.

39 . The WTRU of claim 38 , wherein the type of trigger condition associated with the ME includes any of: (1) a speed-related trigger condition associated with the WTRU; (2) a velocity-related trigger condition associated with the WTRU; (3) a direction of movement-related trigger condition associated with the WTRU; (4) an orientation-related trigger condition associated with the WTRU; (5) an environment-related trigger condition associated with the WTRU; (6) an indoor/outdoor status-related trigger condition associated with the WTRU; and/or (7) a neighbouring cell detection/discover-related trigger condition.

40 . The WTRU of claim 38 , wherein a first reporting configuration of the indicated plurality of reporting configurations includes first periodicity information and a second reporting configuration of the indicated plurality of reporting configurations includes second, different periodicity information.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 6, 2026
From: IDAC HOLDINGS, INC.
To: INTERDIGITAL PATENT HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 074202/0792 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 5, 2023
From: RAO, JAYA; HASEGAWA, FUMIHIRO; HOANG, TUONG; EL HAMMS, AATA; LEE, MOON IL; PELLETIER, GHYSLAIN; MARINIER, PAUL
To: IDAC HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 065140/0110 →
Continuity (4)
Provisional Application 63257213 · Oct 19, 2021
Provisional Application 63249199 · Sep 28, 2021
Provisional Application 63168195 · Mar 30, 2021
Related Publication 20240179583A1 · May 30, 2024
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