WO2024200904A1

WO2024200904A1 - Controlling sounding reference signals for positioning

Info

Publication number: WO2024200904A1
Application number: PCT/FI2024/050080
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ryan Keating; Hyun-Su Cha
Original assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
Current assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
Priority date: 2023-03-28
Filing date: 2024-03-01
Publication date: 2024-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 2025-09-28
Also published as: CN120858550A

Abstract

There is provided an apparatus comprising means for determining a time period of a forthcoming collision of one or more sounding reference signals for positioning with one or more other signals or channels, whilst the apparatus is in an inactive or idle mode and whilst the apparatus is operating outside of an initial bandwidth part; means for, in response to the determining the time period of the forthcoming collision, switching the apparatus to operate in the initial bandwidth part before communication of the one or more other signals or channels; and means for dropping one or more symbols of the one or more sounding reference signals for positioning scheduled during the switching

Description

CONTROLLING SOUNDING REFERENCE SIGNALS FOR POSITIONING

FIELD

The present application relates to a method, apparatus, system and computer program. In particular, but not exclusively, the present application relates to controlling communication of sounding reference signals for positioning.

BACKGROUND

A communication system can be seen as a facility that enables communication sessions between two or more entities such as user terminals, base stations and/or other nodes by providing carriers between the various entities involved in the communications path. A communication system can be provided for example by means of a communication network and one or more compatible communication devices. The communication sessions may comprise, for example, communication of data for carrying communications such as voice, video, electronic mail (email), text message, multimedia and/or content data and so on. Nonlimiting examples of services provided comprise two-way or multi-way calls, data communication or multimedia services and access to a data network system, such as the Internet.

In a wireless communication system at least a part of a communication session between at least two stations occurs over a wireless link. Examples of wireless systems comprise public land mobile networks (PLMN), satellite based communication systems and different wireless local networks, for example wireless local area networks (WLAN). Some wireless systems can be divided into cells, and are therefore often referred to as cellular systems.

A user can access the communication system by means of an appropriate communication device or terminal. A communication device of a user may be referred to as user equipment (UE) or user device. A communication device is provided with an appropriate signal receiving and transmitting apparatus for enabling communications, for example enabling access to a communication network or communications directly with other users. The communication device may access a carrier provided by a station, for example a base station of a cell, and transmit and/or receive communications on the carrier.

The communication system and associated devices typically operate in accordance with a given standard or specification which sets out what the various entities associated with the system are permitted to do and how that should be achieved. Communication protocols and/or parameters which shall be used for the connection are also typically defined. One example of a communications system is UTRAN (3G radio). Other examples of communication systems are the long-term evolution (LTE) of the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) radio-access technology and so-called 5G or New Radio (NR) networks. NR is being standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect there is provided an apparatus comprising: means for determining a time period of a forthcoming collision of one or more sounding reference signals for positioning with one or more other signals or channels, whilst the apparatus is in an inactive or idle mode and whilst the apparatus is operating outside of an initial bandwidth part; means for, in response to the determining the time period of the forthcoming collision, switching the apparatus to operate in the initial bandwidth part before communication of the one or more other signals or channels; and means for dropping one or more symbols of the one or more sounding reference signals for positioning scheduled during the switching.

According to some examples, the means for dropping is further arranged to drop one or more symbols of the one or more sounding reference signals for positioning scheduled during the time period of the forthcoming collision.

According to some examples, the means for switching is arranged for autonomous switching.

According to some examples, the apparatus comprises means for determining a time period for switching outside of the initial bandwidth part.

According to some examples, the means for switching is arranged to cause the apparatus to switch to the initial bandwidth part at a time dependent on the determined time period of the forthcoming collision.

According to some examples, the apparatus comprises means for determining whether there is sufficient time to transmit any remaining sounding reference signals for positioning after the communication of the one or more other signals or channels.

According to some examples, when it is determined that there is sufficient time to transmit at least part of the remaining sounding reference signals for positioning, the means for switching is arranged to cause the apparatus to switch back outside of the initial bandwidth part and the apparatus is arranged to transmit the at least part of the remaining sounding reference signals for positioning.

According to some examples, when it is determined that there is not sufficient time, the means for switching is arranged to cause the apparatus to remain in the initial bandwidth part.

According to some examples, the apparatus comprises means for sending a report to a network node, the report comprising information of any one or more of: dropped sounding reference signals for positioning; collision time; switching time of switching out of the initial bandwidth part; switching time of switching back into the initial bandwidth part; whether the apparatus intends to resume transmission of sounding reference signals for positioning; symbol index(es) of the dropped sounding reference signal for positioning; resource identifier(s) of the dropped sounding reference signal for positioning; resource set identifiers of the dropped sounding reference signal for positioning.

According to some examples, the one or more other signals or channels comprise one or more of: one or more uplink or downlink reference signals; msg3; msg4; physical downlink control channel; physical downlink shared channel; physical uplink control channel; physical uplink shared channel.

According to some examples, the apparatus comprises a user equipment.

According to a second aspect there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: determine a time period of a forthcoming collision of one or more sounding reference signals for positioning with one or more other signals or channels, whilst the apparatus is in an inactive or idle mode and whilst the apparatus is operating outside of an initial bandwidth part; in response to the determining the time period of the forthcoming collision, switch the apparatus to operate in the initial bandwidth part before communication of the one or more other signals or channels; and drop one or more symbols of the one or more sounding reference signals for positioning scheduled during the switching.

According to a third aspect there is provided an apparatus comprising: circuitry for determining a time period of a forthcoming collision of one or more sounding reference signals for positioning with one or more other signals or channels, whilst the apparatus is in an inactive or idle mode and whilst the apparatus is operating outside of an initial bandwidth part; circuitry for, in response to the determining the time period of the forthcoming collision, switching the apparatus to operate in the initial bandwidth part before communication of the one or more other signals or channels; and circuitry for dropping one or more symbols of the one or more sounding reference signals for positioning scheduled during the switching.

According to a fourth aspect there is provided a method comprising: determining a time period of a forthcoming collision of one or more sounding reference signals for positioning with one or more other signals or channels, whilst the apparatus is in an inactive or idle mode and whilst the apparatus is operating outside of an initial bandwidth part; in response to the determining the time period of the forthcoming collision, switching the apparatus to operate in the initial bandwidth part before communication of the one or more other signals or channels; and dropping one or more symbols of the one or more sounding reference signals for positioning scheduled during the switching.

According to some examples, the method comprises dropping one or more symbols of the one or more sounding reference signals for positioning scheduled during the time period of the forthcoming collision. According to some examples, the switching comprises autonomous switching.

According to some examples, the method comprises determining a time period for switching outside of the initial bandwidth part.

According to some examples, the method comprises switching to the initial bandwidth part at a time dependent on the determined time period of the forthcoming collision.

According to some examples, the method comprises determining whether there is sufficient time to transmit any remaining sounding reference signals for positioning after the communication of the one or more other signals or channels.

According to some examples, when it is determined that there is sufficient time to transmit at least part of the remaining sounding reference signals for positioning, the method comprises switching back outside of the initial bandwidth part and transmitting the at least part of the remaining sounding reference signals for positioning.

According to some examples, when it is determined that there is not sufficient time, the method comprises causing the apparatus to remain in the initial bandwidth part.

According to some examples, the method comprises sending a report to a network node, the report comprising information of any one or more of: dropped sounding reference signals for positioning; collision time; switching time of switching out of the initial bandwidth part; switching time of switching back into the initial bandwidth part; whether the apparatus intends to resume transmission of sounding reference signals for positioning; symbol index(es) of the dropped sounding reference signal for positioning; resource identifier(s) of the dropped sounding reference signal for positioning; resource set identifiers of the dropped sounding reference signal for positioning.

According to a fifth aspect, there is provided a computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: : determining a time period of a forthcoming collision of one or more sounding reference signals for positioning with one or more other signals or channels, whilst the apparatus is in an inactive or idle mode and whilst the apparatus is operating outside of an initial bandwidth part; in response to the determining the time period of the forthcoming collision, switching the apparatus to operate in the initial bandwidth part before communication of the one or more other signals or channels; and dropping one or more symbols of the one or more sounding reference signals for positioning scheduled during the switching.

According to a sixth aspect, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: determining a time period of a forthcoming collision of one or more sounding reference signals for positioning with one or more other signals or channels, whilst the apparatus is in an inactive or idle mode and whilst the apparatus is operating outside of an initial bandwidth part; in response to the determining the time period of the forthcoming collision, switching the apparatus to operate in the initial bandwidth part before communication of the one or more other signals or channels; and dropping one or more symbols of the one or more sounding reference signals for positioning scheduled during the switching.

According to a seventh aspect there is provided an apparatus comprising: means for receiving, from a user equipment that is in an inactive or idle mode and is operating outside of an initial bandwidth part, information relating to a forthcoming collision determined by the user equipment of one or more sounding reference signals for positioning with one or more other signals or channels; and means for sending, to a network node, information of the determined forthcoming collision.

According to some examples the information sent to the network node of the determined forthcoming collision comprises one or more of: indication of the collision; collision time or period; switching time of the user equipment to switch out of the initial bandwidth part; switching time of the user equipment to switch back into the initial bandwidth part.

According to some examples, the received information relating to the forthcoming collision comprises information of one or more of: dropped sounding reference signals for positioning; collision time; switching time of switching out of the initial bandwidth part; switching time of switching back into the initial bandwidth part; whether the user equipment intends to resume transmission of sounding reference signals for positioning; symbol index(es) of the dropped sounding reference signal for positioning; resource identifier of the dropped sounding reference signal positioning; or resource set identifiers of the dropped sounding reference signal for positioning.

According to some examples, the apparatus comprises means for sending, to the user equipment, a message indicating that the network node has been informed of the forthcoming collision.

According to some examples, the apparatus comprises means for causing the apparatus not to measure sounding reference signals for positioning received from the user equipment during a time period of the collision.

According to some examples, the network node comprises a location management function.

According to some examples the apparatus comprises a base station.

According to an eighth aspect there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: receive, from a user equipment that is in an inactive or idle mode and is operating outside of an initial bandwidth part, information relating to a forthcoming collision determined by the user equipment of one or more sounding reference signals for positioning with one or more other signals or channels; send, to a network node, information of the determined forthcoming collision.

According to a ninth aspect there is provided an apparatus comprising: circuitry for receiving, from a user equipment that is in an inactive or idle mode and is operating outside of an initial bandwidth part, information relating to a forthcoming collision determined by the user equipment of one or more sounding reference signals for positioning with one or more other signals or channels; and circuitry for sending, to a network node, information of the determined forthcoming collision.

According to a tenth aspect there is provided a method performed by an apparatus, comprising: receiving, from a user equipment that is in an inactive or idle mode and is operating outside of an initial bandwidth part, information relating to a forthcoming collision determined by the user equipment of one or more sounding reference signals for positioning with one or more other signals or channels; and sending, to a network node, information of the determined forthcoming collision.

According to some examples, the method comprises sending, to the user equipment, a message indicating that the network node has been informed of the forthcoming collision.

According to some examples, the method comprises causing the apparatus not to measure sounding reference signals for positioning received from the user equipment during a time period of the collision.

According to some examples the apparatus comprises a base station. According to an eleventh aspect, there is provided a computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: receiving, from a user equipment that is in an inactive or idle mode and is operating outside of an initial bandwidth part, information relating to a forthcoming collision determined by the user equipment of one or more sounding reference signals for positioning with one or more other signals or channels; and sending, to a network node, information of the determined forthcoming collision.

According to a twelfth aspect, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: receiving, from a user equipment that is in an inactive or idle mode and is operating outside of an initial bandwidth part, information relating to a forthcoming collision determined by the user equipment of one or more sounding reference signals for positioning with one or more other signals or channels; and sending, to a network node, information of the determined forthcoming collision.

In the above, many different embodiments have been described. It should be appreciated that further embodiments may be provided by the combination of any two or more of the embodiments described above.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying Figures in which:

Figure 1 shows a representation of a network system according to some example embodiments;

Figure 2 schematically depicts SRS communication;

Figure 3 schematically depicts SRS communication when a conflict arrives;

Figure 4 schematically depicts SRS communication when a conflict arrives and a switching time is required;

Figure 5 is a flow-chart of a method according to an example;

Figure 6 is a signalling diagram schematically showing communication between some entities, according to an example;

Figure 7 schematically shows a representation of a UE according to an example;

Figure 8 schematically shows a representation of a control apparatus according to an example;

Figure 9 is a flow chart of a method according to an example, viewed from the perspective of an apparatus such as a user equipment;

Figure 10 is a flow chart of a method according to an example, viewed from the perspective of an apparatus such as a base station; Figure 11 shows a schematic representation of non-volatile memory media.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following, certain embodiments are explained with reference to mobile communication devices capable of communication via a wireless cellular system and mobile communication systems serving such mobile communication devices. Before explaining in detail the exemplifying embodiments, certain general principles of a wireless communication system are briefly explained with reference to Figure 1 to assist in understanding the technology underlying the described examples.

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a 5G system (5GS) 100. The 5GS may comprises a device 102 such as user equipment or terminal, a 5G access network (5G-AN) 106, a 5G core network (5GC) 104, one or more network functions (NF), one or more application function (AF) 108 and one or more data networks (DN) 110.

The 5G-AN 106 may comprise one or more gNodeB (gNB) distributed unit functions connected to one or more gNodeB (gNB) centralized unit functions.

The 5GC 104 may comprise an access management function (AMF) 112, a session management function (SMF) 114, an authentication server function (ALISF) 116, a user data management (UDM) 118, a user plane function (UPF) 120, a network exposure function (NEF) 122, a location management function (LMF), and/or other NFs. Some of the examples as shown below may be applicable to 3GPP 5G standards. However, some examples may also be applicable to 6G, 4G, 3G and other 3GPP standards.

In a communication system, such as that shown in Figure 1 , mobile communication devices/terminals or user apparatuses, and/or user equipment (UE), and/or machine-type communication devices are provided with wireless access via at least one base station (gNB) or similar wireless transmitting and/or receiving node or point. The terminal is provided with an appropriate signal receiving and transmitting apparatus for enabling communications, for example enabling access to a communication network or communications directly with other devices. The communication device may access a carrier provided by a station or access point, and transmit and/or receive communications on the carrier.

3GPP Rel-17 NR specifies support of SRS for positioning transmission in RRC Inactive mode. Two different methods for SRS for positioning transmissions were supported:

• SRS for positioning transmission inside initial uplink bandwidth part (LIL BWP)

• SRS for positioning transmission outside initial UL BWP

Bandwidth part (BWP) is a concept in 5G NR, where a set of contiguous resource blocks are configured within a channel bandwidth. Initial downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) BWPs are used at least for initial access before radio resource control (RRC) connection is established. As a UE may have other signals or channels which conflict with SRS for positioning transmission in RRC inactive mode, some dropping rules were specified in Rel-17. SRS for positioning is a reference signal based on the SRS for communication. Although the signals have a lot in common, SRS for positioning and for communication may be configured separately and with different properties specific to their usage.

Figure 2 depicts an example of how SRS for positioning can be transmitted by a UE outside of initial UL BWP.

The time zones shown at 202 and 204 represent times where a UE performs RF switching, and the time zone 206 shows where the UE transmits SRS for positioning outside of the initial BWP. The initial BWP is shown at 208 and 210.

A problem with the current specification of the SRS for positioning outside of initial UL BWP in RRC Inactive mode, identified in the present disclosure, is that some conflicts may arise between the SRS and some other signals/channels (e.g., paging DCI). In some examples, “collision” may be considered to mean that the SRS for positioning and some other signals and/or channels are scheduled on the same symbols. Therefore, in some examples the collision may be between SRS for positioning and another signal, and/or between SRS for positioning and one or more channels. For example, and with respect to channels, the collision for a symbol could be between a channel that the SRS for positioning is to be sent on and one or more other channels. Current specifications says that SRS should be dropped in symbols where the collision occurs.

Figure 3 represents a current state of the specification where the time shown at 312 is where the SRS for positioning would be dropped and the UE is expected to receive the conflicting signal. The time zones shown at 302 and 304 represent times where a UE performs RF switching, and the time zone 306 shows where the UE transmits SRS for positioning outside of the initial BWP. The initial BWP is shown at 308 and 310.

An issue with the example of Figure 3, identified in the present disclosure, is that the UE needs to also switch back to the initial BWP in order to receive the arriving conflicting signal/channel. The UE needs time to do the RF switching in order to prepare for receiving the conflict and also needs time to switch back to the RF of the SRS for positioning to resume the transmission. Currently the specification says that the UE needs to do two things simultaneously: switch back to receive the conflict and transmit the SRS for positioning outside initial BWP. Therefore, the UE may have no choice but to switch back to the initial UL BWP without specification support, and the network does not know what happened during the conflict.

Therefore, the present disclosure proposes a method for UE RF switching to handle conflicts arriving during SRS for positioning transmission in RRC inactive mode and outside initial UL BWP. According to some examples, the LIE performs the switching autonomously. Figure 4 schematically represents certain aspects of the proposed concept.

In the concept, the LIE is configured for SRS for positioning transmission outside of initial UL BWP in RRC Inactive mode. In some examples the UE may also be so configured in RRC idle mode. According to some examples it may be considered that switching outside the initial BWP to transmit configured SRS outside of the initial UL BWP can be considered, in a way, of BWP switching from the initial BWP to another UL BWP dedicated to SRS transmission. The transmission of SRS for positioning outside initial BWP is shown for example at 406, 414, 416.

The UE switches outside the initial BWP, shown for example at 402, and starts transmitting SRS for positioning as shown at 406.

The UE determines that a conflicting signal or channel 412 is or will be arriving during the SRS for positioning outside initial BWP. For example, the arriving conflicting signal or channel may be other DL/UL signals or channels (e.g., paging DCI, msg2, msg3, msg4, physical downlink control channel; physical downlink shared channel; physical uplink control channel; and PUSCH for small data transmission). For example, the network (NW) may indicate the incoming signal or other channel, and the UE uses that indication to determine the conflict with SRS for positioning. In other words, the conflict may be considered a forthcoming or impending conflict. In some examples, even if other physical channels or reference signals are orthogonally configured with SRS, if they are on the same symbols, this may be considered as constituting a forthcoming collision. The UE calculates the arrival time of the conflicting signal 412. According to some examples the UE knows or calculates the arrival time of the conflicting signal based on NW indication including time domain allocation of the conflicting signal. The UE then determines what time it needs to start switching its RF to be able to transmit/receive the arriving conflict.

The UE then autonomously switches back to the initial UL BWP at 404. In some examples the UE drops any SRS for positioning symbols that overlap with the switching time 404.

The UE then receives/transmits the conflicting signal in the initial BWP, as shown at 412. In some examples the UE also drops any SRS for positioning symbols during the period when the conflicting signal is being transmitted/received.

Then, the UE autonomously switches back outside the initial BWP, as shown for example at 418, in the case that the UE has time to still switch and transmit before the end of the SRS for positioning transmission time is over. In some examples, the UE determines whether or not it still has time to switch. In some examples the UE drops the SRS for positioning signals during the autonomous switching time 418. On the other hand, if the UE does not have time to switch back in time to continue the transmission of SRS, the UE may simply stay at the initial UL BWP and drop the rest of the SRS for positioning.

It has also been identified in the present disclosure that one or more network nodes may need information on any dropped SRS. For example, the serving gNB and one or more neighbor gNBs may need the information on SRS dropping. Otherwise, the network nodes such as the serving and neighboring gNBs may use those dropped symbols as SRS symbols, which may affect a measurement result. Thus, the UE may report information of any dropped symbols. For example, the report of dropped symbols could be in the form “Dropped symbols X, Y, Z of SRS resource A”.

In some examples the UE reports information of dropped SRS symbols to a location management function (LMF). In some examples the information is reported to the LMF via one or more of small data transmission (SDT); configured grant; or RACH procedure. According to some examples this enables the UE to remain in RRC Inactive mode. Remaining in inactive mode can lead to power saving at the UE.

In some examples the report may include information of one or more of: the arrival time of the conflict; the length or duration of the conflict (e.g., number of symbols/slots); the switching times; and whether the UE plans to resume the SRS for positioning transmission.

In some examples the report may include the SRS resource IDs or SRS resource set IDs of the dropped SRS. This may assist the LMF in understanding which transmission or transmissions will be impacted.

In some examples the report may be part of an LTE positioning protocol (LPP) message.

In some examples the report may be part of a RRC message.

In some examples, the serving gNB then sends a message to the LMF to indicate that a conflict has arrived. This message may also indicate the time of the conflict plus the autonomous switching time.

In one example, the serving gNB may inform the UE (e.g., via paging DCI) that the LMF has already been alerted to the conflict. Then, the UE knows it is not necessary for the UE to directly inform the LMF about the SRS dropping information.

The LMF then forwards this information to the neighbor gNBs/TRPs (transmission points) so that they know not to measure SRS for positioning during the time window of the conflict, or to exclude measurements from the time window of the conflict in case the gNB already made the measurements.

The UE can then transmit SRS for positioning outside of initial BWP as already discussed above.

Figure 5 is a flow-chart that schematically shows some steps of the concept, according to an example. Figure 5 is viewed from the perspective of a UE. As shown at S501 , the UE is configured for SRS for positioning, when in RRC inactive state and when outside of initial UL BWP.

At S502, the UE determines that a conflicting signal is due to arrive during communication of SRS for positioning. For example, the communication of SRS for positioning may comprise UL SRS. In some examples it may be considered that the UE determines a time period of a forthcoming collision. For example, the determined time period may include a start time of the collision. The determined time period may also include an end time of the collision. The determined time period may also include the duration of the collision.

At S503, the UE autonomously switches back to UL BWP. The UE drops any SRS scheduled during the switching time. Therefore, in some examples it may be considered that the UE is arranged to drop one or more symbols of the one or more sounding reference signals for positioning that are scheduled during the switching.

Then, at S504 the UE receives or transmits the conflicting signal. Also, in examples the UE may drop SRS for positioning scheduled for communication during the collision time. That is it may be considered in some examples that the UE is arranged to drop one or more symbols of the one or more sounding reference signals for positioning scheduled during the time period of the forthcoming collision.

At S505, the UE determines whether there is enough remaining time to switch back out of initial UL BWP to continue communication of SRS for positioning. In some examples, the UE knows (e.g. based on timer or earlier indication) the time remaining for SRS transmission and determines whether the time remaining is larger than the switching time.

If it has been determined at S505 that there is enough time to switch, then the UE proceeds to S506. At S506, the UE autonomously switches back outside initial UL BWP and resumes SRS for positioning communication.

If on the other hand it has been determined at S505 that there is not enough time to switch, then the UE proceeds to S507. At S507 the UE stays at initial UL BWP, and drops any remaining SRS for positioning symbols.

Figure 6 is a simplified signaling diagram that schematically shows some communication between a UE 602, a serving gNB 606, a neighboring gNB 626, and an LMF 624 according to some examples. Figure 6 schematically shows the communication of messages between these entities, and for example isn’t intended to show the method steps at the UE as already shown in Figure 5.

At S601 , the UE sends a message or report of any dropping of SRS for positioning to serving gNB 606. Additionally or alternatively this message may also be sent to LMF 624, either directly from UE 602 or via serving gNB 606.

At S602 the serving gNB sends a message to LMF 624 of any conflicts at the UE between SRS for positioning and any other signals or channels. For example, the information in this message may indicate time of a conflict. This message may also include information of autonomous switching time at the UE.

In one example, and as shown at S603, the serving gNB 606 informs or notifies the UE 602 that the LMF 624 has been alerted to or notified of the conflict. In such a case the UE then knows that it does not need to separately inform the LMF 624 of the SRS dropping.

At S604, the LMF 624 sends or forwards information to neighboring gNB(s) or TRPs of the collision. Then, the neighboring gNB(s) or TRPs know not to measure SRS for positioning during the time window of the collision, or know to exclude such measurements if they have already been made.

It may therefore be considered that, in some examples, if the transmission of SRS for positioning outside the initial BWP in RRCJNACTIVE mode along with the switching time, indicated in higher layer parameter “switchingTimeSRS-TX-OtherTX”, in unpaired spectrum, subject to UE capability, collides in time domain with other DL signals or channels or UL signals or channels, the SRS for positioning transmission is dropped in the symbol(s) where the collision occurs and in the symbol(s) necessary for the UE to switch to and from the initial BWP. The UE should autonomously perform switching in order to receive or transmit the colliding signal or channels.

It is noted that if the specification for the UE does not guarantee the switching time, then switching time may be up to UE implementation. It has been suggested above to drop SRS symbols or SRS resource(s) to perform the RF switching. In one example, the UE may transmit all of the configured SRS symbols. Once the UE completes SRS transmission, the UE may perform switching back to the initial BWP, so the UE may miss the transmission of the all or a part of the UL signals and/or UL channels within the initial UL BWP. Furthermore, the UE may selectively report the dropping information. For example, if the UE missed all or a part of the random access channel (RACH) preamble transmission, the UE may not report it to the gNB, and the UE may try to transmit the RACH preamble on another occasion.

Overall, it will be understood that examples according to the present disclosure set-out clear UE behaviour in terms of communication of SRS for positioning signals when there is potential collision with one or more other signals or channels. This may lead to improved UE reliability. It may also lead to improved positioning performance, for example due to not having unclear UE transmission behaviour.

A possible wireless communication device will now be described in more detail with reference to Figure 7 showing a schematic, partially sectioned view of a communication device 700. Such a communication device is often referred to as user equipment (UE) or terminal. An appropriate mobile communication device may be provided by any device capable of sending and receiving radio signals. Non-limiting examples comprise a mobile station (MS) or mobile device such as a mobile phone or what is known as a ’smart phone’, a computer provided with a wireless interface card or other wireless interface facility (e.g., USB dongle), personal data assistant (PDA) or a tablet provided with wireless communication capabilities, or any combinations of these or the like. A mobile communication device may provide, for example, communication of data for carrying communications such as voice, electronic mail (email), text message, multimedia and so on. Users may thus be offered and provided numerous services via their communication devices. Non-limiting examples of these services comprise two-way or multi-way calls, data communication or multimedia services or simply an access to a data communications network system, such as the Internet. Users may also be provided broadcast or multicast data. Non-limiting examples of the content comprise downloads, television and radio programs, videos, advertisements, various alerts and other information.

A wireless communication device may be for example a mobile device, that is, a device not fixed to a particular location, or it may be a stationary device. The wireless device may need human interaction for communication, or may not need human interaction for communication. In the present teachings the terms UE or “user” are used to refer to any type of wireless communication device.

The wireless device 700 may receive signals over an air or radio interface 707 via appropriate apparatus for receiving and may transmit signals via appropriate apparatus for transmitting radio signals. In Figure 7 transceiver apparatus is designated schematically by block 706. The transceiver apparatus 706 may be provided for example by means of a radio part and associated antenna arrangement. The antenna arrangement may be arranged internally or externally to the wireless device. A wireless device is typically provided with at least one data processing entity 701 , at least one memory 702 and other possible components 703 for use in software and hardware aided execution of tasks it is designed to perform, including control of access to and communications with access systems and other communication devices. The data processing, storage and other relevant control apparatus can be provided on an appropriate circuit board and/or in chipsets. This feature is denoted by reference 704. The user may control the operation of the wireless device by means of a suitable user interface such as key pad 705, voice commands, touch sensitive screen or pad, combinations thereof or the like. A display 708, a speaker and a microphone can be also provided. Furthermore, a wireless communication device may comprise appropriate connectors (either wired or wireless) to other devices and/or for connecting external accessories, for example hands-free equipment, thereto. For example, UE 602 schematically shown in Figure 6 may comprise the features of UE 700 in Figure 7.

Figure 8 shows an example of a control apparatus for a communication system, for example to be coupled to and/or for controlling a station of an access system, such as a RAN node, e.g. a base station, gNB, a central unit of a cloud architecture ora node of a core network such as an MME or S-GW, a scheduling entity such as a spectrum management entity, or a server or host, or a location entity such as an LMF. The control apparatus may be integrated with or external to a node or module of a core network or RAN. In some embodiments, base stations comprise a separate control apparatus unit or module. In other embodiments, the control apparatus can be another network element such as a radio network controller or a spectrum controller. In some embodiments, each base station may have such a control apparatus as well as a control apparatus being provided in a radio network controller. The control apparatus 800 can be arranged to provide control on communications in the service area of the system. The control apparatus 800 comprises at least one memory 801 , at least one data processing unit 802, 803 and an input/output interface 804. Via the interface the control apparatus can be coupled to a receiver and a transmitter of the base station. The receiver and/or the transmitter may be implemented as a radio front end or a remote radio head. For example, the control apparatus 800 can be configured to execute an appropriate software code to provide the control functions. For example, the gNBs 606 and 626 and LMF 624 of Figure 6 may be in the form of control apparatus 800 of Figure 8.

It is noted inactive mode refers to RRC inactive mode, idle mode refers to RRC idle mode in the foregoing description.

Figure 9 is a flow chart of a method viewed from the perspective of an apparatus. For example, the apparatus may be a user equipment.

As shown at S901 , the method comprises determining a time period of a forthcoming collision of one or more sounding reference signals for positioning with one or more other signals or channels. According to some examples this occurs whilst the apparatus is in an inactive or idle mode and whilst the apparatus is operating outside of an initial bandwidth part.

At S902 the method comprises, in response to the determining the time period of the forthcoming collision, switching the apparatus to operate in the initial bandwidth part before communication of the one or more other signals or channels.

At S903 the method comprises dropping one or more symbols of the one or more sounding reference signals for positioning scheduled during the switching.

Figure 10 is a flow chart of a method viewed from the perspective of an apparatus. For example, the apparatus may be a base station (gNB).

At S1001 the method comprises receiving, from a user equipment that is in an inactive or idle mode and is operating outside of an initial bandwidth part, information relating to a forthcoming collision determined by the user equipment of one or more sounding reference signals for positioning with one or more other signals or channels.

At S1002 the method comprises sending, to a network node, information of the determined forthcoming collision.

Figure 11 shows a schematic representation of non-volatile memory media 1100a (e.g. computer disc (CD) or digital versatile disc (DVD)) and 1200b (e.g. universal serial bus (USB) memory stick) storing instructions and/or parameters 1102 which when executed by a processor allow the processor to perform one or more of the steps of the methods of Figures 9 to 10. In general, the various embodiments may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects of the disclosure may be implemented in hardware, while other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device, although the invention is not limited thereto. While various aspects of the invention may be illustrated and described as block diagrams, flow charts, or using some other pictorial representation, it is well understood that these blocks, apparatus, systems, techniques or methods described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

It should be understood that the apparatuses may comprise or be coupled to other units or modules etc., such as radio parts or radio heads, used in or for transmission and/or reception. Although the apparatuses have been described as one entity, different modules and memory may be implemented in one or more physical or logical entities.

It is noted that whilst some embodiments have been described in relation to 5G networks, similar principles can be applied in relation to other networks and communication systems. Therefore, although certain embodiments were described above by way of example with reference to certain example architectures for wireless networks, technologies and standards, embodiments may be applied to any other suitable forms of communication systems than those illustrated and described herein.

It is also noted herein that while the above describes example embodiments, there are several variations and modifications which may be made to the disclosed solution without departing from the scope of the present invention.

As used herein, “at least one of the following: <a list of two or more elements>” and “at least one of <a list of two or more elements>” and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by “and” or “or”, mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all the elements.

In general, the various embodiments may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuitry, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects of the disclosure may be implemented in hardware, while other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device, although the disclosure is not limited thereto. While various aspects of the disclosure may be illustrated and described as block diagrams, flow charts, or using some other pictorial representation, it is well understood that these blocks, apparatus, systems, techniques or methods described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

As used in this application, the term “circuitry” 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) and

(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 all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, 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 particular 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.

The embodiments of this disclosure may be implemented by computer software executable by a data processor of the mobile device, such as in the processor entity, or by hardware, or by a combination of software and hardware. Computer software or program, also called program product, including software routines, applets and/or macros, may be stored in any apparatus-readable data storage medium and they comprise program instructions to perform particular tasks. A computer program product may comprise one or more computerexecutable components which, when the program is run, are configured to carry out embodiments. The one or more computer-executable components may be at least one software code or portions of it.

Further in this regard it should be noted that any blocks of the logic flow as in the Figures may represent program steps, or interconnected logic circuits, blocks and functions, or a combination of program steps and logic circuits, blocks and functions. The software may be stored on such physical media as memory chips, or memory blocks implemented within the processor, magnetic media such as hard disk or floppy disks, and optical media such as for example DVD and the data variants thereof, CD. The physical media is a non-transitory media.

The term “non-transitory,” as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM vs. ROM).

The memory may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment and may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as semiconductor-based memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory and removable memory. The data processors may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment, and may comprise one or more of general-purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), FPGA, gate level circuits and processors based on multi core processor architecture, as non-limiting examples.

Embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced in various components such as integrated circuit modules. The design of integrated circuits is by and large a highly automated process. Complex and powerful software tools are available for converting a logic level design into a semiconductor circuit design ready to be etched and formed on a semiconductor substrate.

The scope of protection sought for various embodiments of the disclosure is set out by the independent claims. The embodiments and features, if any, described in this specification that do not fall under the scope of the independent claims are to be interpreted as examples useful for understanding various embodiments of the disclosure.

The foregoing description has provided by way of non-limiting examples a full and informative description of the exemplary embodiment of this disclosure. However, various modifications and adaptations may become apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts in view of the foregoing description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. However, all such and similar modifications of the teachings of this disclosure will still fall within the scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims. Indeed, there is a further embodiment comprising a combination of one or more embodiments with any of the other embodiments previously discussed.

Claims

1 . An apparatus comprising: means for determining a time period of a forthcoming collision of one or more sounding reference signals for positioning with one or more other signals or channels, whilst the apparatus is in an inactive or idle mode and whilst the apparatus is operating outside of an initial bandwidth part; means for, in response to the determining the time period of the forthcoming collision, switching the apparatus to operate in the initial bandwidth part before communication of the one or more other signals or channels; and means for dropping one or more symbols of the one or more sounding reference signals for positioning scheduled during the switching.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the means for dropping is further arranged to drop one or more symbols of the one or more sounding reference signals for positioning scheduled during the time period of the forthcoming collision

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the apparatus comprises means for determining a time period for switching outside of the initial bandwidth part.

4. An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the means for switching is arranged to cause the apparatus to switch to the initial bandwidth part at a time dependent on the determined time period of the forthcoming collision.

5. An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the apparatus comprises means for determining whether there is sufficient time to transmit any remaining sounding reference signals for positioning after the communication of the one or more other signals or channels.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when it is determined that there is sufficient time to transmit at least part of the remaining sounding reference signals for positioning, the means for switching is arranged to cause the apparatus to switch back outside of the initial bandwidth part and the apparatus is arranged to transmit the at least part of the remaining sounding reference signals for positioning.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein when it is determined that there is not sufficient time, the means for switching is arranged to cause the apparatus to remain in the initial bandwidth part.

8. An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the apparatus comprises means for sending a report to a network node, the report comprising information of any one or more of: dropped sounding reference signals for positioning; collision time; switching time of switching out of the initial bandwidth part; switching time of switching back into the initial bandwidth part; whether the apparatus intends to resume transmission of sounding reference signals for positioning; symbol index(es) of the dropped sounding reference signal for positioning; resource identifier(s) of the dropped sounding reference signal for positioning; resource set identifiers of the dropped sounding reference signal for positioning.

9. An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the one or more other signals or channels comprise one or more of: one or more uplink or downlink reference signals; msg3; msg4; physical downlink control channel; physical downlink shared channel; physical uplink control channel; physical uplink shared channel.

10. An apparatus comprising: means for receiving, from a user equipment that is in an inactive or idle mode and is operating outside of an initial bandwidth part, information relating to a forthcoming collision determined by the user equipment of one or more sounding reference signals for positioning with one or more other signals or channels; and means for sending, to a network node, information of the determined forthcoming collision.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the information sent to the network node of the determined forthcoming collision comprises one or more of: indication of the collision; collision time or period; switching time of the user equipment to switch out of the initial bandwidth part; switching time of the user equipment to switch back into the initial bandwidth part.

12. An apparatus according to claim 10 or claim 11 , wherein the received information relating to the forthcoming collision comprises information of one or more of: dropped sounding reference signals for positioning; collision time; switching time of switching out of the initial bandwidth part; switching time of switching back into the initial bandwidth part; whether the user equipment intends to resume transmission of sounding reference signals for positioning; symbol index(es) of the dropped sounding reference signal for positioning; resource identifier of the dropped sounding reference signal positioning; or resource set identifiers of the dropped sounding reference signal for positioning.

13. An apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 12, comprising means for sending, to the user equipment, a message indicating that the network node has been informed of the forthcoming collision.

14. An apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 13, wherein the apparatus comprises means for causing the apparatus not to measure sounding reference signals for positioning received from the user equipment during a time period of the collision.

15. An apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 14, wherein the network node comprises a location management function.

16. A method performed by an apparatus, comprising: determining a time period of a forthcoming collision of one or more sounding reference signals for positioning with one or more other signals or channels, whilst the apparatus is in an inactive or idle mode and whilst the apparatus is operating outside of an initial bandwidth part; in response to the determining the time period of the forthcoming collision, switching the apparatus to operate in the initial bandwidth part before communication of the one or more other signals or channels; and dropping one or more symbols of the one or more sounding reference signals for positioning scheduled during the switching.

17. A method performed by an apparatus, comprising: receiving, from a user equipment that is in an inactive or idle mode and is operating outside of an initial bandwidth part, information relating to a forthcoming collision determined by the user equipment of one or more sounding reference signals for positioning with one or more other signals or channels; and sending, to a network node, information of the determined forthcoming collision.

18. A computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: determining a time period of a forthcoming collision of one or more sounding reference signals for positioning with one or more other signals or channels, whilst the apparatus is in an inactive or idle mode and whilst the apparatus is operating outside of an initial bandwidth part; in response to the determining the time period of the forthcoming collision, switching the apparatus to operate in the initial bandwidth part before communication of the one or more other signals or channels; and dropping one or more symbols of the one or more sounding reference signals for positioning scheduled during the switching.

19. A computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: receiving, from a user equipment that is in an inactive or idle mode and is operating outside of an initial bandwidth part, information relating to a forthcoming collision determined by the user equipment of one or more sounding reference signals for positioning with one or more other signals or channels; and sending, to a network node, information of the determined forthcoming collision.