WO2023070481A1

WO2023070481A1 - Devices, methods and computer readable media for positioning in rrc inactive

Info

Publication number: WO2023070481A1
Application number: PCT/CN2021/127238
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jianguo Liu; Yan Meng; Tao Tao; Ping-Heng Kuo
Original assignee: Nokia Shanghai Bell Co Ltd; Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy; Nokia Technologies Oy
Current assignee: Nokia Shanghai Bell Co Ltd; Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy; Nokia Technologies Oy
Priority date: 2021-10-29
Filing date: 2021-10-29
Publication date: 2023-05-04
Anticipated expiration: 2024-04-29
Also published as: EP4424080A1; CN118160373A; EP4424080A4

Abstract

Disclosed are methods and apparatus for reducing sounding reference signal switching interruptions. A terminal device in a communication network may comprise at least one processor and at least one memory having computer program code stored thereon and configured, with the at least one processor, cause the terminal device to perform: receiving, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with a second base station for the terminal device, wherein the terminal device is in a radio resource control inactive state and being located under coverage of a first base station; and activating the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station when a first event is triggered.

Description

DEVICES, METHODS AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR POSITIONING IN RRC INACTIVE

TECHNICAL FIELD

Various example embodiments described herein generally relate to communication technologies, and more particularly, to devices, methods, and computer readable media for positioning a terminal device in a radio recourse control (RRC) inactive state.

BACKGROUND

In 5G New Radio, for support of UL-TDOA positioning, it’s required to configure positioning reference signal (PRS) , such as uplink (UL) sounding reference signals (SRS) or physical random access channel (PRACH) preambles including reference signal sequence and transmission occasions for positioning user equipment (UE) . Normally, PRS parameters for UL positioning is generally configured by the serving gNB. When positioning UE moves from one serving gNB to a new serving gNB, the new serving gNB needs to re-configure UL PRS according to its own preference in RRC CONNECTED state. For UL positioning in RRC INACTIVE, when a positioning UE moves from one serving gNB to a new serving gNB within the radio access network (RAN) -based Notification Area (RNA) , it needs to re-setup RRC connection with the new serving gNB and obtain UL PRS update from the new serving gNB. The related procedure would cause high power consumption at the UE and large positioning latency due to handover and RRC connection state transition.

SUMMARY

A brief summary of exemplary embodiments is provided below to provide basic understanding of some aspects of various embodiments. It should be noted that this summary is not intended to identify key features of essential elements or define scopes of the embodiments, and its sole purpose is to introduce some concepts in a simplified form as a preamble for a more detailed description provided below.

In a first aspect, an example embodiment of a terminal device in a communication network is provided. The terminal device may comprise at least one processor and at least one memory. At least one memory includes computer program code stored thereon. At least one memory and the computer program code may be configured to, with at least one processor, cause the terminal device to perform: receiving, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with a second base station for the terminal device, wherein the terminal device is in a radio resource control inactive state and being located under coverage of a first base station; and activating the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station when a first event is triggered.

In some embodiments, the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the terminal device to perform: transmitting, to a location management function, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration request when a second event is triggered before receiving the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station.

In some embodiments, the second event is triggered when a difference of reference signals received power and/or reference signals received quality from the first base station and from the second base station is lower than a first threshold.

In some embodiments, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration request is transmitted through an uplink small data transmission procedure.

In some embodiments, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration request comprises at least a cell identifier of the second base station.

In some embodiments, the first event is triggered when a difference of reference signals received power and/or reference signals received quality from the second base station and from the first base station is larger than a second threshold.

In some embodiments, the first event is triggered at a preconfigured time.

In some embodiments, activating the uplink positioning reference signal configuration comprises at least one of following: performing transmission of uplink positioning reference signal associated with the second base station; and performing transmission of uplink positioning reference signal associated with the first base station.

In some embodiments, activating the uplink positioning reference signal configuration further comprises: prioritizing the transmission of the uplink positioning reference signal associated with the second base station; or prioritizing the transmission of the uplink positioning reference signal associated with the first base station.

In some embodiments, the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the terminal device to further perform: triggering an uplink positioning reference signal configuration release procedure when a third event is triggered.

In some embodiments, the triggering the uplink positioning reference signal configuration release procedure comprises: transmitting an uplink positioning reference signal configuration release message to a location management function through an uplink small data transmission procedure

In some embodiments, the third event is triggered when reference signals received power of the second base station minus reference signals received power of the first base station is larger than a third threshold, or reference signals received quality of the second base station minus reference signals received quality of the first base station is larger than a third threshold.

In some embodiments, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration release message releases an uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the first base station.

In some embodiments, the third event is triggered in a case where reference signals received power of the first base station minus reference signals received power of the second base station is larger than a third threshold, or reference signals received quality of the first base station minus reference signals received quality of the second base station is larger than a third threshold.

In some embodiments, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration release message releases the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station.

In some embodiments, the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the terminal device to further perform: receiving, from the location management function, an acknowledgement indicating a successful reception of the uplink positioning reference signal configuration release message.

In some embodiments, the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the terminal device to further perform: transmitting, to a location management function, an activation indication indicating activation of the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station after the first event is triggered.

In some embodiments, the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the terminal device to further perform: receiving, from the network device, an acknowledgement indicating a successful reception of the activation indication.

In a second aspect, an example embodiment of a network device in a communication network is provided. The network device may comprise at least one processor and at least one memory. At least one memory includes computer program code stored thereon. At least one memory and the computer program code may be configured to, with at least one processor, cause the network device as a location management function to perform: transmitting, to a terminal device or a first base station, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with a second base station for the terminal device before the terminal device enters the coverage of the second base station, wherein the terminal device is in a radio resource control inactive state and being located within the coverage of the first base station.

In some embodiments, the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the network device to further perform: receiving, from the terminal device, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration request for configuring uplink positioning reference signal associated with the second base station; and transmitting an uplink positioning reference signal configuration request to the second base station to configure the uplink positioning reference signal for the terminal device, and receiving, from the second base station, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station for the terminal device.

In some embodiments, the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the network device to perform: transmitting, to the second base station, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration request to configure the uplink positioning reference signal associated with the second base station for the terminal device based on location tracking of the terminal device; and receiving, from the second base station, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station for the terminal device.

In some embodiments, the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the network device to perform: transmitting, to the terminal device, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station in response to the receiving the uplink positioning reference signal configuration from the second base station.

In some embodiments, the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the network device to perform: receiving, from the terminal device, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration release message associated with the second base station; and transmitting, to the second base station, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration release request to release the uplink positioning reference signal configuration for the terminal device.

In some embodiments, the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the network device to perform: transmitting, to the second base station, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration release request to release the uplink positioning reference signal configuration for the terminal device based on location tracking of the terminal device.

In some embodiments, the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the network device to further perform: transmitting, to the terminal device, an acknowledgement indicating a successful reception of the uplink positioning reference signal configuration release message.

In some embodiments, the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the network device to further perform: transmitting, to the terminal device, a preconfigured time indicating when the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associate with the second base station is to be activated.

In some embodiments, the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the network device to further perform: receiving, from the terminal device, an activation indication indicating activation of the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station.

In some embodiments, the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the network device to further perform: transmitting, to the terminal device, an acknowledgement indicating a successful reception of the activation indication.

In a third aspect, an example embodiment of a network device in a communication network is provided. The network device may comprise at least one processor and at least one memory. At least one memory includes computer program code stored thereon. At least one memory and the computer program code may be configured to, with at least one processor, cause the network device as a first base station to perform: receiving, from a location management function, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration of a terminal device, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration being associated with a second base station; and transmitting, to the terminal device, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration, wherein the terminal device is in a radio resource control inactive state and being located within the coverage of the first base station.

In some embodiments, the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the network device to further perform: receiving, from the terminal device, a message associated with the second base station through an uplink small data transmission procedure; and transmitting, to the location management function, the message associated with the second base station, wherein the message comprises at least one of the following: an uplink positioning reference signal configuration request, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration release message, and an activation indication indicating activation of the uplink positioning reference signal configuration at the terminal device.

In some embodiments, the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the network device to further perform: receiving, from the location management function, a message associated with the second base station; and transmitting, to the terminal device, the message, wherein the message comprises at least one of the following: an acknowledgement indicating a successful reception of an uplink positioning reference signal configuration release message, and an acknowledgement indicating a successful reception of an activation indication indicating activation of the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station at the terminal device.

In some embodiments, the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the network device as a first base station to further perform: receiving, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with a second base station, wherein the terminal device is in a radio resource control inactive state and being located under coverage of a first base station; and activating the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station when a first event is triggered.

In a fourth aspect, an example embodiment of a method implemented at a terminal device in a communication network is provided. The method may comprise: receiving, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with a second base station for the terminal device, wherein the terminal device is in a radio resource control inactive state and being located under coverage of a first base station; and activating the configuration associated with the second base station when a first event is triggered.

In some embodiments, the method comprises transmitting, to a location management function, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration request when a second event is triggered before receiving the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station.

In some embodiments, the first event is triggered at a preconfigured time.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises triggering an uplink positioning reference signal configuration release procedure when a third event is triggered.

In some embodiments, the triggering the uplink positioning reference signal configuration release procedure comprises: transmitting an uplink positioning reference signal configuration release message to a location management function through an uplink small data transmission procedure.

In some embodiments, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration release message releases an uplink positioning reference signal associated configuration with the first base station.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving, from the location management function, an acknowledgement indicating a successful reception of the uplink positioning reference signal configuration release message.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises transmitting, to a location management function, an activation indication indicating activation of the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station after the first event is triggered.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving, from the location management function, an acknowledgement indicating a successful reception of the activation indication.

In a fifth aspect, an example embodiment of a method implemented at a network device as a location management function in a communication network is provided. The method may comprise transmitting, to a terminal device or a first base station, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with a second base station for the terminal device before the terminal device enters the coverage of the second base station, wherein the terminal device is in a radio resource control inactive state and being located within the coverage of the first base station.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving, from the terminal device, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration request for configuring uplink positioning reference signal associated with the second base station; and transmitting an uplink positioning reference signal configuration request to the second base station to configure the uplink positioning reference signal for the terminal device, and receiving, from the second base station, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station for the terminal device.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises transmitting, to the second base station, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration request to configure uplink positioning reference signal associated with the second base station for the terminal device based on location tracking of the terminal device; and receiving, from the second base station, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station for the terminal device.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises transmitting, to the terminal device, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station in response to the receiving the uplink positioning reference signal configuration from the second base station.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving, from the terminal device, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration release message associated with the second base station; and transmitting, to the second base station, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration release request to release the uplink positioning reference signal configuration for the terminal device.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises transmitting, to the second base station, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration release request to release the uplink positioning reference signal configuration for the terminal device based on location tracking of the terminal device.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises transmitting, to the terminal device, an acknowledgement indicating a successful reception of the uplink positioning reference signal configuration release message.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises transmitting, to the terminal device, a preconfigured time indicating when the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associate with the second base station is to be activated.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving, from the terminal device, an activation indication indicating activation of the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises transmitting, to the terminal device, an acknowledgement indicating a successful reception of the activation indication.

In a sixth aspect, an example embodiment of a method implemented at a network device as a first base station in a communication network is provided. The method may comprise receiving, from a location management function, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration of a terminal device, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration being associated with a second base station; and transmitting, to the terminal device, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration, wherein the terminal device is in a radio resource control inactive state and being located within the coverage of the first base station.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving, from the location management function, a message associated with the second base station; and transmitting, to the terminal device, the message, wherein the message comprises at least one of the following: an acknowledgement indicating a successful reception of an uplink positioning reference signal configuration release message, and an acknowledgement indicating a successful reception of an activation indication indicating activation of the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station at the terminal device.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with a second base station, wherein the terminal device is in a radio resource control inactive state and being located under coverage of a first base station; and activating the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station when a first event is triggered.

In a seventh aspect, an example embodiment of an apparatus in a communication network is provided. Apparatus may comprise means for receiving, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with a second base station for the terminal device, wherein the terminal device is in a radio resource control inactive state and being located under coverage of a first base station; and means for activating the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station when a first event is triggered.

In an eighth aspect, an example embodiment of an apparatus in a communication network is provided. Apparatus may comprise means for transmitting, to a terminal device or a first base station, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with a second base station for the terminal device before the terminal device enters the coverage of the second base station. The terminal device is in a radio resource control inactive state and being located within the coverage of the first base station.

In a ninth aspect, an example embodiment of an apparatus in a communication network is provided. Apparatus may comprise means for receiving, from a location management function, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration of a terminal device, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration being associated with a second base station; and means for transmitting, to the terminal device, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration. The terminal device is in a radio resource control inactive state and being located within the coverage of the first base station.

In a tenth aspect, an example embodiment of a computer program is provided. The computer program may comprise instructions stored on a computer readable medium. The instructions may, when executed by at least one processor of a terminal device in a communication network, cause the terminal device to perform: receiving, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with a second base station for the terminal device, , wherein the terminal device is in a radio resource control inactive state and being located under coverage of a first base station; and activating the configuration associated with the second base station when a first event is triggered.

In an eleventh aspect, an example embodiment of a computer program is provided. The computer program may comprise instructions stored on a computer readable medium. The instructions may, when executed by at least one processor of a network device as a location management function in a communication network, cause the network device to perform: transmitting, to a terminal device or a first base station, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with a second base station for the terminal device, before the terminal device enters the coverage of the second base station, wherein the terminal device is in a radio resource control inactive state and being located within the coverage of the first base station.

In a twelfth aspect, an example embodiment of a computer program is provided. The computer program may comprise instructions stored on a computer readable medium. The instructions may, when executed by at least one processor of a network device in a communication network, cause the network device as a first base station to perform: receiving, from a location management function, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration of a terminal device, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration being associated with a second base station; and transmitting, to the terminal device, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration, wherein the terminal device is in a radio resource control inactive state and being located within the coverage of the first base station.

Other features and advantages of the example embodiments of the present disclosure will also be apparent from the following description of specific embodiments when read in conjunction with accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of example embodiments of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some example embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary sequence diagram for positioning a terminal device 110 in a radio recourse control inactive state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows a flow chart illustrating an example method 200 for positioning a terminal device in a radio recourse control inactive state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart illustrating an example method 300 for positioning a terminal device in a radio recourse control inactive state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart illustrating an example method 400 for positioning a terminal device in a radio recourse control inactive state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram illustrating an example apparatus 500 for positioning a terminal device in a radio recourse control inactive state according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram illustrating an example apparatus 600 or positioning a terminal device in a radio recourse control inactive state according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram illustrating an example apparatus 700 for positioning a terminal device in a radio recourse control inactive state according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram illustrating an example apparatus 800 for positioning a terminal device in a radio recourse control inactive state according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram illustrating an example apparatus 900 for positioning a terminal device in a radio recourse control inactive state according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 shows a block diagram illustrating an example apparatus 1000 for positioning a terminal device in a radio recourse control inactive state according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

Throughout the drawings, same or similar reference numbers indicate same or similar elements. A repetitive description on the same elements would be omitted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Herein below, some example embodiments are described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings. The following description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well known circuits, techniques and components are shown in block diagram form to avoid obscuring the described concepts and features.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary sequence diagram for positioning a terminal device in a radio recourse control (RRC) inactive state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to the FIG. 1, the terminal device 110 may be a terminal device or user equipment (UE) , or refer to any entities or devices that can wirelessly communicate with the network devices or with each other. Examples of the terminal device can include a mobile phone, a mobile terminal, a mobile station, a subscriber station, a portable subscriber station, an access terminal, a computer, a wearable device, an on-vehicle communication device, a machine type communication (MTC) device, an internet of things (IoT) device, an internet of everything (IoE) device, a device-to-device (D2D) communication device, a vehicle to everything (V2X) communication device, a sensor and the like. The term "terminal device" can be used interchangeably with UE, a user terminal, a mobile terminal, a mobile station, or a wireless device. The terminal device 110 may be configured to transmit reference signals, such as positioning reference signals, on RS resources.

The

network device

120 and 130 may be devices on the network side, through which the terminal device can access the network or receive services. The network device 120 may be commonly referred to as a base station and may be entities or devices that can provide cells or coverage. The term "base station" used herein can represent a node B (NodeB or NB) , an evolved node B (eNodeB or eNB) , or a gNB or an ng-eNB. The network device 130 may be associated with and may function as a location management function (LMF) or a location server.

As shown in FIG. 1, in an operation 210, the terminal device 110 may receive, an uplink positioning reference signal (UL PRS) configuration associated with a second base station for the terminal device 110. Herein, the terminal device 110 may be in an RRC inactive state and located under coverage of the network device 120 as a first base station. In one embodiment, the network device 120 may be a serving gNB and the second base station may be a target gNB. In one embodiment, the terminal device 110 may receive the uplink positioning reference signal configuration directly from the network device 130. In another embodiment, the terminal device 110 may receive the uplink positioning reference signal configuration directly from the network device 120. On the other hand, the network device 130 may transmit the uplink positioning reference signal (UL PRS) configuration, also known as positioning sounding reference signal (SRS) configuration, associated with the second base station for the terminal device 110 directly to the terminal device 110 before the terminal device 110 enters the coverage of the second base station in a radio resource control inactive state. In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the network device 130 may transmit the UL PRS configuration associated with the second base station to the network device 120, and then the network device 120 may transmit the UL PRS configuration associated with the second base station to the terminal device 110.

In one embodiment, in an operation 205, the terminal device 110 may transmit, to the network device 130 as a location management function (LMF) , an UL PRS configuration request when a second event is triggered before, in operation 210, the terminal device 110 receives the UL PRS configuration associated with the second base station. The terminal device 110 may transmit the UL PRS configuration request as an LTE positioning protocol (LPP) message through uplink small data transmission (UL SDT) . In one embodiment, the second event may be triggered when a difference of reference signals received power (RSRP) and/or reference signals received quality (RSRQ) from the first base station and from the second base station is lower than a first threshold. For example, when the RSRP from the first base station minus the RSRP from the second base station is lower than a first threshold, and/or when the RSRQ from the first base station minus the RSRQ from the second base station is lower than a first threshold, it can be concluded that the terminal device 110 is moving closer to the cell edge of the second base station and the second event may be triggered.

In another embodiment, the terminal device 110 may transmit, to the network device 120 as a first base station, an UL PRS configuration request when a second event is triggered, and then the network device 120 transmit the UL PRS configuration request to the network device 130. For example, the terminal device 110 may transmit the UL PRS configuration request to the network device 120 through UL SDT in the RRC inactive state, and then the network device 120 may forward to the network device 130 the UL PRS configuration request associated with the second base station as a NR Positioning Protocol A (NRPPa) message for UL positioning of the terminal device 110 in the RRC inactive state. In an embodiment, the request message can be signaled to the first base station along with RRC connection resume request message through UL SDT procedure. As an example, the request message can be sent to the first base station as the serving gNB through at least one of the following UL SDT procedure: in the case of a 2-step RACH, the terminal device 110 may include an RRC Resume Request message and the request message in the PUSCH payload through MsgA; in the case of a 4-step RACH, the terminal device may send an RRC Resume Request message and the request message through msg3 to the gNB; and if configured grant (CG) SDT resources are configured on the selected UL carrier and are valid, the terminal device 110 may send an RRC Resume Request message and the request message in the CG transmission to the network device 120. In one embodiment, the UL PRS configuration request comprises at least a cell ID of the second base station. For example, a request indication and a cell identifier of the second base station may be included in the request message.

On the other hand, upon receiving the UL PRS configuration request associated with the second base station from the terminal device 110, the network device 130 may transmit the UL PRS configuration request to the second base station and receive from the second base station, the UL PRS configuration associated with a second base station for the terminal device 110. For example, the upon receiving the UL PRS configuration request from the UE 110, the network device 130 may request an UL PRS configuration to the second base station. Then the second base station may determine and deliver an UL PRS configuration to the network device 130 though a NR Positioning Protocol A (NRPPa) message.

Per the request from the terminal device 110, the network may pre-configure a candidate UL PRS to the terminal device 110 before the terminal device 110 enters coverage of the second base station. In an embodiment, the second base station may determine an UL PRS configuration according to its own preference. In another embodiment, in cases where the second base station is unable to assist or participate in the UL positioning (e.g. the second base station is overloaded with insufficient resources) , the second base station responds to the network device 130 as an LMF with an indication that it cannot handle any UL PRS from this terminal device 110. Upon receiving the indication from the second base station, the network device 130 as LMF can request other neighboring base station to provide a candidate UL PRS configuration for the terminal device 110 which resource will not collide with the second base station as an example. As another example, the network device 130 as LMF can further forward to the indication to the first base station and then the first base station could inform the terminal device 110 not to try to camp onto that second base station because UL positioning cannot be continued. Essentially, the network may prevent the terminal device 110 from performing a handover to this second base station if seamless UL positioning is needed from the network perspective.

In another embodiment, the third network device 130 may transmit to the second base station 120 an UL PRS configuration request associated with the second base station for the terminal device 110 by tracking the location of the terminal device 110 without receiving the UL PRS configuration request from the terminal device 110, and then the network device 130 may receive from the second base station the UL PRS configuration associated with a second base station for the terminal device 110 after the second base station determines an UL PRS configuration.

In an operation 220, the terminal device 110 may activate the UL PRS configuration associated with the second base station when a first event is triggered. In one embodiment, the first event may be triggered when the difference of RSRP and/or RSRQ from the second base station and from the first base station is larger than a second threshold. For example, when the RSRP from the second base station minus the RSRP from the first base station is larger than a second threshold, and/or when the RSRQ from the second base station minus the RSRQ from the first base station is larger than a second threshold, it can be concluded that the terminal device 110 is moving into the coverage of the second base station and thus the first event may be triggered. The second threshold can be configured by the

network device

120 or 130. In another embodiment, the first event is triggered at a preconfigured time. In one embodiment, the network device 120 may transmit to the terminal device 110 a preconfigured time indicating when the UL PRS configuration associated with the second base station is to be activated. For example, the first event can be triggered after the staring transmission time configured by the network device 130 or only if receiving the UL PRS configuration.

After the second event is fulfilled, the terminal device 110 can activate the UL PRS configuration and transmit the UL PRS configuration associated with the second base station in the RRC inactive state based on one of the following ways. In an embodiment, the terminal device 110 may transmit both the UL PRS associated with the second base station and the UL PRS associated with the first base station if the second event is triggered. In cases there is a conflict or collision between the resource of UL PRS associated with the second base station and the UL PRS associated with the first base station, for example, when these UL PRS overlaps in time, the terminal device 110 may be configured to either prioritize the transmission of the UL PRS associated with the second base station, or prioritize the transmission of the UL PRS associated with the first base station. Alternatively, the terminal device 110 may prioritize one of these the transmissions of UL PRS based on implementation. In another embodiment, the terminal device 110 may stop the UL PRS transmission associated with the first base station and start to transmit the UL PRS associated with the second base station for UL positioning.

In another embodiment, after the first event is triggered, the terminal device 110 may also transmit an activation indication indicating activation of the UL PRS configuration associated with the second base station at the terminal device 110 to the network device 130. In one embodiment, the terminal device 110 may transmit the activation indication directly to the network device 130. On the other hand, the network device 130 may receive, from the terminal device 110, an activation indication indicating activation of the UL PRS configuration associated with the second base station. In another embodiment, the terminal device 110 may transmit the activation indication to the network device 120, and then the network device 120 may further transmit the activation indication to the network device 130. Then, in one embodiment, upon receiving the activation indication indicating activation of the UL PRS configuration associated with the second base station, the network device 130 may transmit to the terminal device 110 an acknowledgement indicating a successful reception of the activation indication. In another embodiment, the network device 130 may transmit to the network 120 as the first base station the acknowledgement indicating a successful reception of the activation indication, and then the network 120 may transmit the acknowledgement indicating a successful reception of the activation indication to the terminal device 110.

In one embodiment, the terminal device 130 may also transmit to the terminal device 110 the UL PRS configuration associated with the second base station in response to the receiving the UL PRS configuration from the second base station as discussed earlier. In another embodiment, upon receiving the activation indication from the terminal device 110 as discussed earlier, the network device 130 may transmit the UL configuration associated with the second base station to the terminal device 110. In one embodiment, the network device 130 may transmit the UL configuration associated with the second base station to the terminal device 110 with a starting transmission or activation time. And then, the network device 130 may indicate the second base station to activate the UL PRS configuration and reserve the UL PRS resource for UE positioning with the starting transmission or activation time. In an embodiment, the network device 130 may further request the location measurement units (LMU) to measure both the UL PRS configurations associated with the first base station and the UL PRS configurations associated with the second base station.

In one embodiment, the terminal device 110 may trigger an UL PRS configuration release procedure when a third event is triggered. In one embodiment, the third event is triggered when RSRP of the second base station minus RSRP of the first base station is larger than a third threshold, or RSRQ of the second base station minus RSRQ of the first base station is larger than a third threshold. In another embodiment, the third event is triggered in a case where RSRP of the first base station minus RSRP of the second base station is larger than a third threshold, or RSRQ of the first base station minus RSRQ of the second base station is larger than a third threshold.

In one embodiment, the UL PRS configuration may release message releases the UL PRS associated with the first base station. In another embodiment, UL PRS configuration release message may release the UL PRS associated with the second base station. For example, if RSRP of the second base station minus RSRP of the first base station or RSRQ of the second base station minus RSRQ of the first base station is larger than a third threshold configured by the network device and thus the terminal device 110 moves away from the coverage of the first base station and enters the coverage of the second base station, the third event would be triggered to release the activated UL PRS associated with the first base station. Herein, the second base station would be the new serving base station. In another example, if RSRP of the first base station minus RSRP of the second base station or RSRQ of the first base station minus RSRQ of the second base station is larger than a third threshold configured by the network and thus the terminal device 110 moves away from the coverage of the second base station and return to the coverage of the first base station, the third event would be triggered to release U L PRS of the second base station. Herein, the serving base station would keep unchanged. In a further example, the third threshold can be set to the same value as the first threshold.

In one embodiment, the terminal device 110 may transmit an UL PRS configuration release message to the network device 130 as an LTE positioning protocol (LPP) message through an uplink small data transmission (UL SDT) procedure. On the other hand, the network device 130 may receive from the terminal device 110, an UL PRS configuration release message; and then the network device 130 may transmit to the second base station as the new serving base station, an UL PRS configuration release request to release the UL PRS configuration.

In another embodiment, the terminal device 110 may transmit an UL PRS configuration release message to the second base station or the network device 120 through an uplink small data transmission (UL SDT) , and then the second base station or the network device 120 may transmit to the network device 130 the UL PRS configuration release message. For example, at first, the terminal device 110 may transmit the UL PRS configuration release message to the (new) serving base station through UL SDT in the RRC inactive state, and then, the (new) serving base station may forward the UL PRS configuration release message to the location management function (LMF) as a NR positioning protocol A (NRPPa) message.

In one embodiment, the network device 130 may transmit to the second base station or the network device 120 the UL PRS configuration release request to release the UL PRS configuration upon receiving the UL PRS configuration release message from the terminal device 110. In another embodiment, the terminal device may transmit to the to the second base station or the network device 120, an UL PRS configuration release request to release the UL PRS configuration based on location tracking of the terminal device 110. For example, the network device 130 as a location management function may indicate the (new) serving base station to release the associated UL PRS configuration through a NR positioning protocol A (NRPPa) message. In another embodiment, the location management function may indicate the location measurement unit to stop the activated UL PRS measurement associated with the (new) serving base station.

Finally, in one embodiment, the network device 130 may transmit to the terminal device 110 an acknowledgement indicating a successful reception of the UL PRS configuration release message. On the other hand, the terminal device 110 may receive from the network device 130 the acknowledgement indicating a successful reception of the UL PRS configuration release message. In another embodiment, the network device 130 may transmit to the second base station or the network device 120 an acknowledgement indicating a successful reception of the UL PRS configuration release message, and then the second base station or the network device 120 may forward the acknowledgement indicating a successful reception of the UL PRS configuration release message to the terminal device. For example, the location management function may transmit the ACK indication as an LPP message to the terminal device 110 along with the RRC release message. In another embodiment, the LMF may transmit the ACK indication to the (target) serving base station at first, and then the (target) serving base station forwards the indication to the terminal device 110 along with the RRC release message. In a further embodiment, the LMF may track the latest location of the terminal device 110 and indicate the base station to release the corresponding UL PRS configuration when the terminal device 110 leaves the coverage of the base station. Furthermore, the LMF may further indicate the LMUs to stop the activated UL PRS measurement associated with the base station.

FIG. 2 shows a flow chart illustrating an example method 200 for positioning a terminal device in a radio recourse control inactive state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The example method 200 may be performed for example at a terminal device such as the terminal device 110.

Referring to the FIG. 2, the example method 200 may include an operation 210 of receiving, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with a second base station for the terminal device 110, wherein the terminal device is in a radio resource control inactive state and being located under coverage of a first base station; and an operation 220 of activating the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station when a first event is triggered.

Details of the operation 210 have been described in the above descriptions with respect to at least the terminal device 110, the network device 120, and the network device 130, and repetitive descriptions thereof are omitted here.

Details of the operation 220 have been described in the above descriptions with respect to at least the terminal device 110, the network device 120, and the network device 130, and repetitive descriptions thereof are omitted here.

In an embodiment, the method comprises transmitting, to a location management function, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration request when a second event is triggered before receiving the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station.

In an embodiment, the second event is triggered when a difference of reference signals received power and/or reference signals received quality from the first base station and from the second base station is lower than a first threshold.

In an embodiment, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration request is transmitted through an uplink small data transmission procedure.

In an embodiment, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration request comprises at least a cell ID of the second base station.

In an embodiment, the first event is triggered when the difference of reference signals received power and/or reference signals received quality from the second base station and from the first base station is larger than a second threshold.

In an embodiment, the first event is triggered at a preconfigured time.

In an embodiment, activating the uplink positioning reference signal configuration comprises at least one of following: performing transmission of uplink positioning reference signal associated with the second base station; and performing transmission of uplink positioning reference signal associated with the first base station.

In an embodiment, activating the uplink positioning reference signal configuration further comprises: prioritizing the transmission of the uplink positioning reference signal associated with the second base station; or prioritizing the transmission of the uplink positioning reference signal associated with the first base station.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises triggering an uplink positioning reference signal configuration release procedure when a third event is triggered.

In an embodiment, the triggering of the uplink positioning reference signal configuration release procedure comprises: transmitting an uplink positioning reference signal configuration release message to a location management function through an uplink small data transmission procedure

In an embodiment, the third event is triggered when reference signals received power of the second base station minus reference signals received power of the first base station is larger than a third threshold, or reference signals received quality of the second base station minus reference signals received quality of the first base station is larger than a third threshold.

In an embodiment, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration release message releases an uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the first base station.

In an embodiment, the third event is triggered in a case where reference signals received power of the first base station minus reference signals received power of the second base station is larger than a third threshold, or reference signals received quality of the first base station minus reference signals received quality of the second base station is larger than a third threshold.

In an embodiment, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration release message releases the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises receiving, from the location management function, an acknowledgement indicating a successful reception of the uplink positioning reference signal configuration release message.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises transmitting, to the location management function, an activation indication indicating activation of the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station after the first event is triggered.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises receiving, from the location management function, an acknowledgement indicating a successful reception of the activation indication.

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart illustrating an example method 300 for positioning a terminal device in a radio recourse control inactive state according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The example method 300 may be performed for example at a network device such as the network device 130.

Referring to the FIG. 3, the example method 300 may include an operation 310 of transmitting, to a terminal device or a first base station, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration (UL PRS) associated with a second base station for the terminal device 110 before the terminal device enters the coverage of the second base station.

Details of the operation 310 have been described in the above descriptions with respect to at least the terminal device 110, the network device 120, and the network device 130, and repetitive descriptions thereof are omitted here.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises receiving, from the terminal device, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration request for configuring uplink positioning reference signal associated with the second base station; and transmitting an uplink positioning reference signal configuration request to the second base station to configure the uplink positioning reference signal for the terminal device, and receiving, from the second base station, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station for the terminal device.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises transmitting, to the second base station, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration request to configure uplink positioning reference signal associated with the second base station for the terminal device based on location tracking of the terminal device; and receiving, from the second base station, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station for the terminal device.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises transmitting, to the terminal device, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station in response to the receiving the uplink positioning reference signal configuration from the second base station.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises receiving, from the terminal device, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration release message associated with the second base station for the terminal device; and transmitting, to the second base station, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration release request to release the uplink positioning reference signal configuration for the terminal device.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises transmitting, to the second base station, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration release request to release the uplink positioning reference signal configuration for the terminal device based on location tracking of the terminal device

In an embodiment, the method further comprises transmitting, to the terminal device, an acknowledgement indicating a successful reception of the uplink positioning reference signal configuration release message

In an embodiment, the method further comprises transmitting, to the terminal device, a preconfigured time indicating when the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associate with the second base station is to be activated.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises receiving, from the terminal device, an activation indication indicating activation of the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises transmitting, to the terminal device, an acknowledgement indicating a successful reception of the activation indication.

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart illustrating an example method 400 for positioning a terminal device in a radio recourse control inactive state according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The example method 400 may be performed for example at a network device such as the network device 120.

Referring to the FIG. 4, the example method 400 may include an operation 410 of receiving, from the network device 130 as a location management function (LMF) , an uplink positioning reference signal (UL PRS) configuration of a terminal device, the UL PRS configuration being associated with a second base station; and an operation 420 of transmitting, to the terminal device, the UL PRS configuration. The terminal device is in a radio resource control (RRC) inactive state and being located under the coverage of the first base station

Details of the operation 410 have been described in the above descriptions with respect to at least the operation 210, and repetitive descriptions thereof are omitted here.

In an embodiment, the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the network device to further perform: receiving, from the terminal device, a message associated with the second base station through an uplink small data transmission procedure; and transmitting, to the location management function, the message associated with the second base station, wherein the message comprises at least one of the following: an uplink positioning reference signal configuration request, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration release message, and an activation indication indicating activation of the uplink positioning reference signal configuration at the terminal device.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises receiving, from the location management function, a message associated with the second base station; and transmitting, to the terminal device, the message, wherein the message comprises at least one of the following: an acknowledgement indicating a successful reception of an uplink positioning reference signal configuration release message, and an acknowledgement indicating a successful reception of an activation indication indicating activation of the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station at the terminal device.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises receiving, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with a second base station, wherein the terminal device is in a radio resource control inactive state and being located under coverage of a first base station; and activating the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station when a first event is triggered.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram illustrating an example apparatus 500 for positioning a terminal device in a radio recourse control inactive state according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The apparatus, for example, may be at least part of a terminal device such as the terminal device 110 in the above examples.

As shown in the FIG. 5, the example apparatus 500 may include at least one processor 510 and at least one memory 520 that may include computer program code 530. The at least one memory 520 and the computer program code 530 may be configured to, with the at least one processor 510, cause the apparatus 500 at least to perform the example method 200 described above.

In various example embodiments, the at least one processor 510 in the example apparatus 500 may include, but not limited to, at least one hardware processor, including at least one microprocessor such as a central processing unit (CPU) , a portion of at least one hardware processor, and any other suitable dedicated processor such as those developed based on for example Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) . Further, the at least one processor 510 may also include at least one other circuitry or element not shown in the FIG. 5.

In various example embodiments, the at least one memory 520 in the example apparatus 500 may include at least one storage medium in various forms, such as a volatile memory and/or a non-volatile memory. The volatile memory may include, but not limited to, for example, a random-access memory (RAM) , a cache, and so on. The non-volatile memory may include, but not limited to, for example, a read only memory (ROM) , a hard disk, a flash memory, and so on. Further, the at least memory 520 may include, but are not limited to, an electric, a magnetic, an optical, an electromagnetic, an infrared, or a semiconductor system, apparatus, or device or any combination of the above.

Further, in various example embodiments, the example apparatus 500 may also include at least one other circuitry, element, and interface, for example at least one I/O interface, at least one antenna element, and the like.

In various example embodiments, the circuitries, parts, elements, and interfaces in the example apparatus 500, including the at least one processor 510 and the at least one memory 520, may be coupled together via any suitable connections including, but not limited to, buses, crossbars, wiring and/or wireless lines, in any suitable ways, for example electrically, magnetically, optically, electromagnetically, and the like.

It is appreciated that the structure of the apparatus on the side of the terminal device 110 is not limited to the above example apparatus 500.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram illustrating an example apparatus 600 for positioning a terminal device in a radio recourse control inactive state according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The apparatus, for example, may be at least part of a network device such as the network device 130 in the above examples.

As shown in the FIG. 6, the example apparatus 600 may include at least one processor 610 and at least one memory 620 that may include computer program code 630. The at least one memory 620 and the computer program code 630 may be configured to, with the at least one processor 610, cause the apparatus 600 at least to perform the example method 300 described above.

In various example embodiments, the at least one processor 610 in the example apparatus 600 may include, but not limited to, at least one hardware processor, including at least one microprocessor such as a central processing unit (CPU) , a portion of at least one hardware processor, and any other suitable dedicated processor such as those developed based on for example Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) . Further, the at least one processor 610 may also include at least one other circuitry or element not shown in the FIG. 6.

In various example embodiments, the at least one memory 620 in the example apparatus 600 may include at least one storage medium in various forms, such as a volatile memory and/or a non-volatile memory. The volatile memory may include, but not limited to, for example, a random-access memory (RAM) , a cache, and so on. The non-volatile memory may include, but not limited to, for example, a read only memory (ROM) , a hard disk, a flash memory, and so on. Further, the at least memory 620 may include, but are not limited to, an electric, a magnetic, an optical, an electromagnetic, an infrared, or a semiconductor system, apparatus, or device or any combination of the above.

Further, in various example embodiments, the example apparatus 600 may also include at least one other circuitry, element, and interface, for example at least one I/O interface, at least one antenna element, and the like.

In various example embodiments, the circuitries, parts, elements, and interfaces in the example apparatus 600, including the at least one processor 610 and the at least one memory 620, may be coupled together via any suitable connections including, but not limited to, buses, crossbars, wiring and/or wireless lines, in any suitable ways, for example electrically, magnetically, optically, electromagnetically, and the like.

It is appreciated that the structure of the apparatus on the side of the network device 130 is not limited to the above example apparatus 600.

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram illustrating an example apparatus 700 for positioning a terminal device in a radio recourse control inactive state according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The apparatus, for example, may be at least part of a network device such as the network device 120 in the above examples.

As shown in the FIG. 7, the example apparatus 700 may include at least one processor 710 and at least one memory 720 that may include computer program code 730. The at least one memory 720 and the computer program code 730 may be configured to, with the at least one processor 710, cause the apparatus 700 at least to perform the example method 400 described above.

In various example embodiments, the at least one processor 710 in the example apparatus 700 may include, but not limited to, at least one hardware processor, including at least one microprocessor such as a central processing unit (CPU) , a portion of at least one hardware processor, and any other suitable dedicated processor such as those developed based on for example Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) . Further, the at least one processor 710 may also include at least one other circuitry or element not shown in the FIG. 7.

In various example embodiments, the at least one memory 720 in the example apparatus 700 may include at least one storage medium in various forms, such as a volatile memory and/or a non-volatile memory. The volatile memory may include, but not limited to, for example, a random-access memory (RAM) , a cache, and so on. The non-volatile memory may include, but not limited to, for example, a read only memory (ROM) , a hard disk, a flash memory, and so on. Further, the at least memory 720 may include, but are not limited to, an electric, a magnetic, an optical, an electromagnetic, an infrared, or a semiconductor system, apparatus, or device or any combination of the above.

Further, in various example embodiments, the example apparatus 700 may also include at least one other circuitry, element, and interface, for example at least one I/O interface, at least one antenna element, and the like.

In various example embodiments, the circuitries, parts, elements, and interfaces in the example apparatus 700, including the at least one processor 710 and the at least one memory 720, may be coupled together via any suitable connections including, but not limited to, buses, crossbars, wiring and/or wireless lines, in any suitable ways, for example electrically, magnetically, optically, electromagnetically, and the like.

It is appreciated that the structure of the apparatus on the side of the network device 120 is not limited to the above example apparatus 700.

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram illustrating an example apparatus 800 for positioning a terminal device in a radio recourse control inactive state according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The apparatus, for example, may be at least part of a terminal device such as the terminal device 110 in the above examples.

As shown in FIG. 8, the example apparatus 800 may include means 810 for performing the operation 210 of the example method 200, and means 220 for performing the operation 220 of the example method 200. In one or more another example embodiment, at least one I/O interface, at least one antenna element, and the like may also be included in the example apparatus 800.

In some example embodiments, examples of means in the example apparatus 800 may include circuitries. For example, an example of means 810 may include a circuitry configured to perform the operation 210 of the example method 200, and an example of means 220 may include a circuitry configured to perform the operation 220 of the example method 200. In some example embodiments, examples of means may also include software modules and any other suitable function entities.

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram illustrating an example apparatus 900 for positioning a terminal device in a radio recourse control inactive state according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The apparatus, for example, may be at least part of a network device such as the network device 130 in the above examples.

As shown in FIG. 9, the example apparatus 900 may include means 910 for performing the operation 310 of the example method 300. In one or more other example embodiments, at least one I/O interface, at least one antenna element, and the like may also be included in the example apparatus 900.

In some example embodiments, examples of means in the example apparatus 900 may include circuitries. For example, an example of means 910 may include a circuitry configured to perform the operation 310 of the example method 300. In some example embodiments, examples of means may also include software modules and any other suitable function entities.

FIG. 10 shows a block diagram illustrating an example apparatus 1000 for positioning a terminal device in a radio recourse control inactive state according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The apparatus, for example, may be at least part of a network device such as the network device 120 in the above examples.

As shown in FIG. 10, the example apparatus 1000 may include means 1010 for performing the operation 410 of the example method 400, and means 1020 for performing the operation 420 of the example method 400. In one or more other example embodiments, at least one I/O interface, at least one antenna element, and the like may also be included in the example apparatus 1000.

In some example embodiments, examples of means in the example apparatus 1000 may include circuitries. For example, an example of means 1010 may include a circuitry configured to perform the operation 410 of the example method 400, and an example of means 1020 may include a circuitry configured to perform the operation 420 of the example method 400. In some example embodiments, examples of means may also include software modules and any other suitable function entities.

The term “circuitry” throughout this disclosure may refer to one or more or all of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry) ; (b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable) (i) a combination of analog and/or digital hardware circuit (s) with software/firmware and (ii) any portions of hardware processor (s) with software (including digital signal processor (s) ) , software, and memory (ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions) ; and (c) hardware circuit (s) and or processor (s) , such as a microprocessor (s) or a portion of a microprocessor (s) , that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation. This definition of circuitry applies to one or all uses of this term in this disclosure, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this disclosure, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

Another example embodiment may relate to computer program codes or instructions which may cause an apparatus to perform at least respective methods described above. Another example embodiment may be related to a computer readable medium having such computer program codes or instructions stored thereon. In some embodiments, such a computer readable medium may include at least one storage medium in various forms such as a volatile memory and/or a non-volatile memory. The volatile memory may include, but not limited to, for example, a RAM, a cache, and so on. The non-volatile memory may include, but not limited to, a ROM, a hard disk, a flash memory, and so on. The non-volatile memory may also include, but are not limited to, an electric, a magnetic, an optical, an electromagnetic, an infrared, or a semiconductor system, apparatus, or device or any combination of the above.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise, ” “comprising, ” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to. ” The word “coupled” , as generally used herein, refers to two or more elements that may be either directly connected, or connected by way of one or more intermediate elements. Likewise, the word “connected” , as generally used herein, refers to two or more elements that may be either directly connected, or connected by way of one or more intermediate elements. Additionally, the words “herein, ” “above, ” “below, ” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. Where the context permits, words in the description using the singular or plural number may also include the plural or singular number respectively. The word “or” in reference to a list of two or more items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list.

Moreover, conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can, ” “could, ” “might, ” “may, ” “e.g., ” “for example, ” “such as” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or states. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or states are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without author input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or states are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.

As used herein, the term "determine/determining" (and grammatical variants thereof) can include, not least: calculating, computing, processing, deriving, measuring, investigating, looking up (for example, looking up in a table, a database or another data structure) , ascertaining and the like. Also, "determining" can include receiving (for example, receiving information) , accessing (for example, accessing data in a memory) , obtaining and the like. Also, "determine/determining" can include resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, and the like.

While some embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example, and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Indeed, the apparatus, methods, and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. For example, while blocks are presented in a given arrangement, alternative embodiments may perform similar functionalities with different components and/or circuit topologies, and some blocks may be deleted, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and/or modified. At least one of these blocks may be implemented in a variety of different ways. The order of these blocks may also be changed. Any suitable combination of the elements and actions of some embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the disclosure.

Abbreviations used in the description and/or in the figures are defined as follows:

5G fifth generation

BS base station

CSI-RS channel state information reference signal

DL-TDOA downlink time difference of arrival

gNB next generation NodeB /5G base station

LMF location management function

LMU location measurement unit

LPP LTE positioning protocol

NRPPa NR positioning protocol A

PRS positioning reference signal

PRACH physical random access channel

RLM radio link monitoring

RSRP reference signals received power

RSRQ reference signals received quality

RRC radio resource control

SDT small data transmission

UL uplink

UE user equipment

Claims

A terminal device comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the terminal device to perform:

receiving an uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with a second base station for the terminal device, wherein the terminal device is in a radio resource control inactive state and being located under coverage of a first base station; and

activating the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station when a first event is triggered.
The terminal device of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the terminal device to perform:

transmitting, to a location management function, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration request when a second event is triggered before receiving the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station.
The terminal device of claim 2, wherein the second event is triggered when a difference of reference signals received power and/or reference signals received quality from the first base station and from the second base station is lower than a first threshold.
The terminal device of claim 2 or 3, wherein the uplink positioning reference signal configuration request is transmitted through an uplink small data transmission procedure.
The terminal device of any of claims 2 -4, wherein the uplink positioning reference signal configuration request comprises at least a cell identifier of the second base station.
The terminal device of claim 1, wherein the first event is triggered when a difference of reference signals received power and/or reference signals received quality from the second base station and from the first base station is larger than a second threshold.
The terminal device of claim 1, wherein the first event is triggered at a preconfigured time.
The terminal device of any of claims 6 -7, wherein the activating the uplink positioning reference signal configuration comprises at least one of following:

performing transmission of uplink positioning reference signal associated with the second base station; and

performing transmission of uplink positioning reference signal associated with the first base station.
The terminal device of Claim 8, wherein the activating the uplink positioning reference signal configuration further comprises:

prioritizing the transmission of the uplink positioning reference signal associated with the second base station; or

prioritizing the transmission of the uplink positioning reference signal associated with the first base station.
The terminal device of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the terminal device to further perform:

triggering an uplink positioning reference signal configuration release procedure when a third event is triggered.
The terminal device of claim 10, wherein the triggering the uplink positioning reference signal configuration release procedure comprises:

transmitting an uplink positioning reference signal configuration release message to a location management function through an uplink small data transmission procedure.
The terminal device of any of claims 10 -11, wherein the third event is triggered when reference signals received power of the second base station minus reference signals received power of the first base station is larger than a third threshold, or reference signals received quality of the second base station minus reference signals received quality of the first base station is larger than a third threshold.
The terminal device of claim 12, wherein the uplink positioning reference signal configuration release message releases an uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the first base station.
The terminal device of any of claims 10 -11, wherein the third event is triggered in a case where reference signals received power of the first base station minus reference signals received power of the second base station is larger than a third threshold, or reference signals received quality of the first base station minus reference signals received quality of the second base station is larger than a third threshold.
The terminal device of claim 14, wherein the uplink positioning reference signal configuration release message releases the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station.
The terminal device of any of claims 11 -15, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the terminal device to further perform:

receiving, from the location management function, an acknowledgement indicating a successful reception of the uplink positioning reference signal configuration release message.
The terminal device of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the terminal device to further perform:

transmitting, to a location management function, an activation indication indicating activation of the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station after the first event is triggered.
The terminal device of claim 17, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the terminal device to further perform:

receiving, from the location management function, an acknowledgement indicating a successful reception of the activation indication.
A network device comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory comprising computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the network device as a location management function to perform:

transmitting, to a terminal device or a first base station, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with a second base station for the terminal device before the terminal device enters the coverage of the second base station,

wherein the terminal device is in a radio resource control inactive state and being located within the coverage of the first base station.
The network device of claim 19, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the network device to further perform:

receiving, from the terminal device, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration request for configuring uplink positioning reference signal associated with the second base station; and

transmitting an uplink positioning reference signal configuration request to the second base station to configure the uplink positioning reference signal for the terminal device, and

receiving, from the second base station, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station for the terminal device.
The network device of claim 19, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the network device to further perform:

transmitting, to the second base station, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration request to configure uplink positioning reference signal associated with the second base station for the terminal device based on location tracking of the terminal device; and

receiving, from the second base station, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station for the terminal device.
The network device of claim 20 or 21, wherein the transmitting the uplink positioning reference signal configuration comprises:

transmitting, to the terminal device, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station in response to the receiving the uplink positioning reference signal configuration from the second base station.
The network device of claim 19, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the network device to further perform:

receiving, from the terminal device, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration release message associated with the second base station; and

transmitting, to the second base station, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration release request to release the uplink positioning reference signal configuration for the terminal device.
The network device of claim 23, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the network device to further perform:

transmitting, to the terminal device, an acknowledgement indicating a successful reception of the uplink positioning reference signal configuration release message.
The network device of claim 19, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the network device to further perform:

transmitting, to the second base station, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration release request to release the uplink positioning reference signal configuration for the terminal device based on location tracking of the terminal device.
The network device of claim 19, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the network device to further perform:

transmitting, to the terminal device, a preconfigured time indicating when the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associate with the second base station is to be activated.
The network device of claim 19, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the network device to further perform:

receiving, from the terminal device, an activation indication indicating activation of the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station.
The network device of claim 27, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the network device to further perform:

transmitting, to the terminal device, an acknowledgement indicating a successful reception of the activation indication.
A network device, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory comprising computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the network device as a first base station to perform:

receiving, from a location management function, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration of a terminal device, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration being associated with a second base station; and

transmitting, to the terminal device, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration,

wherein the terminal device is in a radio resource control inactive state and being located within the coverage of the first base station.
The network device of claim 29, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the network device to further perform:

receiving, from the terminal device, a message associated with the second base station through an uplink small data transmission procedure; and

transmitting, to the location management function, the message associated with the second base station, wherein the message comprises at least one of the following:

an uplink positioning reference signal configuration request,

an uplink positioning reference signal configuration release message, and

an activation indication indicating activation of the uplink positioning reference signal configuration at the terminal device.
The network device of claim 29, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the network device to further perform:

receiving, from the location management function, a message associated with the second base station; and

transmitting, to the terminal device, the message, wherein the message comprises at least one of the following:

an acknowledgement indicating a successful reception of an uplink positioning reference signal configuration release message, and

an acknowledgement indicating a successful reception of an activation indication indicating activation of the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station at the terminal device.
A method implemented at a terminal device comprising:

receiving, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with a second base station for the terminal device, wherein the terminal device is in a radio resource control inactive state and being located under coverage of a first base station; and

activating the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station when a first event is triggered.
A method implemented at a network device as a location management function in a communication network, comprising:

transmitting, to a terminal device or a first base station, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with a second base station for the terminal device before the terminal device enters the coverage of the second base station,

wherein the terminal device is in a radio resource control inactive state and being located within the coverage of the first base station.
A method implemented at a network device as a first base station in a communication network, comprising:

receiving, from a location management function, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration of a terminal device, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration being associated with a second base station; and

transmitting, to the terminal device, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration;

wherein the terminal device is in a radio resource control inactive state and being located within the coverage of the first base station.
An apparatus in a communication network, comprising:

means for receiving, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with a second base station for the terminal device, wherein the terminal device is in a radio resource control inactive state and being located under coverage of a first base station; and

means for activating the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station when a first event is triggered.
An apparatus in a communication network, comprising:

means for transmitting, to a terminal device or a first base station, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with a second base station for the terminal device before the terminal device enters the coverage of the second base station,

wherein the terminal device is in a radio resource control inactive state and being located within the coverage of the first base station.
An apparatus in a communication network, comprising:

means for receiving, from a location management function, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration of a terminal device, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration being associated with a second base station; and

means for transmitting, to the terminal device, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration;

wherein the terminal device is in a radio resource control inactive state and being located within the coverage of the first base station.
A computer program comprising instructions stored on a computer readable medium, the instructions, when executed by at least one processor of a terminal device in a communication network, causing the terminal device to perform:

receiving, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with a second base station, wherein the terminal device is in a radio resource control inactive state and being located under coverage of a first base station; and

activating the uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with the second base station when a first event is triggered.
A computer program comprising instructions stored on a computer readable medium, the instructions, when executed by at least one processor of a network device in a communication network, causing the network device as a location management function to perform:

transmitting, to a terminal device or a first base station, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration associated with a second base station before the terminal device enters the coverage of the second base station,

wherein the terminal device is in a radio resource control inactive state and being located within the coverage of the first base station.
A computer program comprising instructions stored on a computer readable medium, the instructions, when executed by at least one processor of a network device in a communication network, causing the network device as a first base station to perform:

receiving, from a location management function, an uplink positioning reference signal configuration of a terminal device, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration being associated with a second base station; and

transmitting, to the terminal device, the uplink positioning reference signal configuration;

wherein the terminal device is in a radio resource control inactive state and being located within the coverage of the first base station.