Abstract: A method, network node and wireless device for position reference signal (PRS) design by extending a base signal are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method in a wireless device (WD) includes obtaining extended reference signal, RS, configurations from the network node. The method also includes determining a waveform associated with the extended RS. The method also includes detecting a RS and estimate an associated time of arrival. The method further includes sending a measurement report to the network node based on the estimated time of arrival.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods, performed by a network node in a wireless network, for positioning a user equipment (UE) based on beams transmitted by the wireless network. Such methods include receiving, from the UE, first positioning measurements of first reference signals (RS) transmitted by the wireless network on a first plurality of beams. Such methods include, based on the first positioning measurements and transmission directions of the first plurality of beams, determining a second plurality of beams that differs from the first plurality of beams by at least one beam (e.g., subset, superset, partially overlapping, etc.). Various ways of obtaining the second plurality of beams are disclosed. Such methods also include obtaining second positioning measurements made by the UE on the second plurality of beams. Other embodiments include complementary methods performed by a UE, as well as network nodes and UEs configured to perform such methods.

Abstract: A method of operating a wireless communication device of a radio communication network includes obtaining information identifying at least one of: 1) how often the wireless communication device requests assistance data be provided by a network node of the radio communication network for positioning by the wireless communication device; and 2) how often the wireless communication device performs positioning. The method can further include sending a request for assistance data containing the information toward the network node. Another method of operating a serving node that communicates with wireless communication devices and a network node of a radio communication network, includes requesting the network node to provide assistance information that identifies wireless communication devices that are configured to use assistance data from the network node for positioning and/or identifies wireless communication devices that have requested assistance data from the network node for positioning.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for scatterer localization and material identification. The method performed by an identification apparatus may comprise: determining (S101) a reflection loss of a power of a wireless signal caused by a reflection at an object, for the purpose of identifying a material of the object and localizing a position of the object. The method performed by a reception apparatus may comprise: receiving (S201) a wireless signal transmitted from a transmission apparatus and reflected by an object; and transmitting (S202), to an identification apparatus, information about the wireless signal. The method performed by a transmission apparatus may comprise: receiving (S301) an indication for identifying a material of an object; and transmitting (S302) a wireless signal reflected by the object to a reception apparatus.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing the secure transmission of positioning integrity KPIs and associated information are provided. A network node provides a key configured to decode positioning integrity assistance information. A wireless device can receive encrypted positioning integrity assistance information and use the key to decrypt the information and perform positioning method(s) in accordance with the decrypted positioning integrity assistance information.

Abstract: A wireless communication device, WCD, transmits one or more uplink transmissions, obtains backscattering measurements for the one or more uplink transmissions, and reports the backscattering measurements to a wireless communication network. A network node in the wireless communication network receives the backscattering measurements, and estimates an environment of the WCD based on the backscattering measurements. The one or more uplink transmissions may for example include a sounding reference signal, SRS. The network node may for example schedule a transmission, select beamforming, or adapt a positioning reference signal configuration based on the estimated environment of the WCD. The network node may for example receive positioning measurements and estimate a position of the WCD based on the positioning measurements. The estimation of a position of the WCD and the estimation of an environment of the WCD may for example be performed jointly via simultaneous localization and mapping, SLAM.

Abstract: A wireless device (12A) is configured to determine, for each of one or more links (14), one or more characteristics associated with wireless device positioning performance on the link. In some embodiments, the one or more characteristics include one or more of: geometric dilution of precision, GDOP, characteristics associated with the link; or line-of-sight, LOS, characteristics or non-LOS characteristics of the link. Regardless, the wireless device (12A) may also be configured to transmit control signaling (22) indicating the one or more characteristics determined for each of the one or more links (14). Based on this control signaling (22), a network node (16) may adapt positioning reference signal, PRS, configuration on at least one of the one or more links (14).

Abstract: A method performed by a User Equipment (UE) for determining an integrity level of an estimated position of the UE in a radio communications network. The UE obtains information from a network node operating in the radio communications network. The information is about service levels of positioning assistance information provided in the radio communications network. The service levels are related to any one or more out of Integrity (I) Availability (A), and Continuity (C). The UE further obtains positioning assistance information from the network node. The positioning assistance information relates to the established service levels. The UE then determines a positioning strategy based on the information about the service levels. The UE estimating the position of the UE according to the determined positioning strategy, and based on the obtained positioning assistance information, and determines an integrity level of the estimated position of the UE.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses provide a mechanism to account for timing errors of a wireless device (12) in positioning measurements. In one example, a wireless device (12) performs reference-signal transmissions or measurements and sends information to a network node (20) that is involved in positioning of the wireless device (12). The information indicates associations of the reference-signal transmissions or measurements with respective timing groups of the wireless device (12). Each timing group represents a related set of transmission or reception timing errors within the wireless device (12). Based on the information, the network node (20) accounts for the different timing-group associations when performing positioning calculations that are based on the reference-signal transmissions or measurements performed by the wireless device (12).

Abstract: Methods may be provided to operate a Radio Access Network RAN node of a wireless communication network. Information defining an operational environment in which a wireless device is operating may be obtained. Communication with the wireless device may be managed based on the information defining the operational environment in which the wireless device is operating. Related RAN nodes, computer programs, and computer program products are also discussed.

Abstract: A method performed by a User Equipment (UE) for handling positioning of the UE in a wireless communications network is provided. The UE is capable of working in a number of positioning modes for performing measurements for positioning of the UE. The UE receives (503) from a radio network node operating in the wireless communications 5 network, a configuration to operate in a specific positioning mode out of the number of positioning modes, for a certain duration. The UE then performs (504) positioning of the UE according to the configuration based on positioning assistance data from any one out of: the radio network node, and a core network node operating in the wireless communications network.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods, performed by a network node in a wireless network, for positioning a user equipment (UE) based on beams transmitted by the wireless network. Such methods include receiving, from the UE, first positioning measurements of first reference signals (RS) transmitted by the wireless network on a first plurality of beams. Such methods include, based on the first positioning measurements and transmission directions of the first plurality of beams, determining a second plurality of beams that differs from the first plurality of beams by at least one beam (e.g., subset, superset, partially overlapping, etc.). Various ways of obtaining the second plurality of beams are disclosed. Such methods also include obtaining second positioning measurements made by the UE on the second plurality of beams. Other embodiments include complementary methods performed by a UE, as well as network nodes and UEs configured to perform such methods.

Abstract: A method in a network node and a network is provided to determine line of sight, LOS, base stations for a user equipment (UE) is provided. A request is provided to at least one of the UE and a plurality of base stations to measure and report LOS detection measurements, wherein the plurality of base stations includes base stations of a serving cell of the UE. The LOS detection measurements are received from the at least one of the UE and the plurality of base stations. LOS base stations for the UE are determined based on the LOS detection measurements. An indication of the LOS base stations is transmitted to the UE.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, a method in a wireless device is provided. The wireless device is configured to communicate with a network node. The wireless device receives an extended signal transmitted by the network node. The extended signal includes a base signal and at least one additional signal. The wireless device estimates a time of arrival, TOA, based on the extended signal.

Abstract: A method, network node and wireless device for position reference signal (PRS) design by extending a base signal are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method in a wireless device (WD) includes obtaining extended reference signal, RS, configurations from the network node. The method also includes determining a waveform associated with the extended RS. The method also includes detecting a RS and estimate an associated time of arrival. The method further includes sending a measurement report to the network node based on the estimated time of arrival.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a user equipment (QQ1 10) in a wireless network, the method comprising measuring radio characteristics of a first set of physical resources, the first set of physical resources being available for receiving downlink reference signals for positioning (RSa-RSc) and the first set of physical resources being indicated by a first message (S21 1) received from a network node (QQ160), selecting a second set of physical resources from the first set of physical resources based on the measured radio characteristics, sending a second message (S122), indicative of the selected second set of physical resources to the network node (QQ160).

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for beam based positioning measurements and measurement reporting. In one embodiment, a method in a network node includes communicating information to configure a wireless device (WD) with a plurality of positioning reference signals, the communicated information at least indicating which of the plurality of positioning reference signals are transmitted from the same transmission point. In another embodiment, a method in a WD includes receiving information indicating which of a plurality of positioning reference signals are transmitted from the same transmission point, and performing measurements on each of the plurality of positioning reference signals transmitted from the same transmission point.

Abstract: A wireless device (12A) is configured to determine, for each of one or more links (14), one or more characteristics associated with wireless device positioning performance on the link. In some embodiments, the one or more characteristics include one or more of: geometric dilution of precision, GDOP, characteristics associated with the link; or line-of-sight, LOS, characteristics or non-LOS characteristics of the link. Regardless, the wireless device (12A) may also be configured to transmit control signaling (22) indicating the one or more characteristics determined for each of the one or more links (14). Based on this control signaling (22), a network node (16) may adapt positioning reference signal, PRS, configuration on at least one of the one or more links (14).

Abstract: A method for positioning reference signal configuration comprises receiving, from a network node, one or more first positioning reference signals in a first PRS configuration; performing one or more first measurements on the first PRS to determine one or more first characteristics of the one or more first PRSs; sending, to the network node, a second PRS configuration determined based on the one or more first characteristics; receiving, from the network node, a third PRS configuration, wherein the third PRS configuration comprises one or more third PRSs having at least one different signal characteristic than the one or more first characteristics of the first PRS; and performing one or more second measurements on the one or more third PRSs. The method provides a dynamic configuration for PRS based on the feedback from the UE and a location node, beamforming configuration, or any requirements for physical layer efficiently.