5 NG-RAN UE Positioning Architecture

38.3053GPPNG Radio Access Network (NG-RAN)Release 17Stage 2 functional specification of User Equipment (UE) positioning in NG-RANTS

5.1 Architecture

Figure 5.1-1 shows the architecture in 5GS applicable to positioning of a UE with NR or E-UTRA access.

The AMF receives a request for some location service associated with a particular target UE from another entity (e.g., GMLC or UE) or the AMF itself decides to initiate some location service on behalf of a particular target UE (e.g., for an IMS emergency call from the UE) as described in TS 23.502 [26] and TS 23.273 [35]. The AMF then sends a location services request to an LMF. The LMF processes the location services request which may include transferring assistance data to the target UE to assist with UE-based and/or UE-assisted positioning and/or may include positioning of the target UE. The LMF then returns the result of the location service back to the AMF (e.g., a position estimate for the UE. In the case of a location service requested by an entity other than the AMF (e.g., a GMLC or UE), the AMF returns the location service result to this entity.

An NG-RAN node may control several TRPs/TPs, such as remote radio heads, or DL-PRS-only TPs for support of PRS-based TBS.

An LMF may have a proprietary signalling connection to an E-SMLC which may enable an LMF to access information from E‑UTRAN (e.g. to support the OTDOA for E-UTRA positioning method using downlink measurements obtained by a target UE of signals from eNBs and/or PRS-only TPs in E-UTRAN). Details of the signalling interaction between an LMF and E-SMLC are outside the scope of this specification.

An LMF may have a proprietary signalling connection to an SLP. The SLP is the SUPL entity responsible for positioning over the user plane. Further details of user-plane positioning are provided in [15][16]. Details of the signalling interaction between an LMF and SLP are outside the scope of this specification.

Figure 5.1-1: UE Positioning Overall Architecture applicable to NG-RAN

NOTE 1: Void

NOTE 2: Void

NOTE 3: Void

In case of split gNB architecture, a gNB-DU may include TRP functionality where the TRP functionality may support functions for a TP, RP or both TP and RP. A gNB-DU which includes TRP functionality does not need to offer cell services.

5.2 UE Positioning Operations

To support positioning of a target UE and delivery of location assistance data to a UE with NG-RAN access in 5GS, location related functions are distributed as shown in the architecture in Figure 5.1-1 and as clarified in greater detail in TS 23.501 [2] and TS 23.273 [35]. The overall sequence of events applicable to the UE, NG-RAN and LMF for any location service is shown in Figure 5.2-1.

Note that when the AMF receives a Location Service Request in case of the UE is in CM-IDLE state, the AMF performs a network triggered service request as defined in TS 23.502 [26] and TS 23.273 [35] in order to establish a signalling connection with the UE and assign a specific serving gNB or ng-eNB. The UE is assumed to be in connected mode before the beginning of the flow shown in the Figure 5.2-1; that is, any signalling that might be required to bring the UE to connected mode prior to step 1a is not shown. The signalling connection may, however, be later released (e.g. by the NG-RAN node as a result of signalling and data inactivity) while positioning is still ongoing.

Figure 5.2-1: Location Service Support by NG-RAN

1a. Either: some entity in the 5GC (e.g. GMLC) requests some location service (e.g. positioning) for a target UE to the serving AMF.

1b. Or: the serving AMF for a target UE determines the need for some location service (e.g. to locate the UE for an emergency call).

1c. Or: the UE requests some location service (e.g. positioning or delivery of assistance data) to the serving AMF at the NAS level.

2. The AMF transfers the location service request to an LMF.

3a. The LMF instigates location procedures with the serving and possibly neighbouring ng-eNB or gNB in the NG-RAN – e.g. to obtain positioning measurements or assistance data.

3b. In addition to step 3a or instead of step 3a, the LMF instigates location procedures with the UE – e.g. to obtain a location estimate or positioning measurements or to transfer location assistance data to the UE.

4. The LMF provides a location service response to the AMF and includes any needed results – e.g. success or failure indication and, if requested and obtained, a location estimate for the UE.

5a. If step 1a was performed, the AMF returns a location service response to the 5GC entity in step 1a and includes any needed results – e.g. a location estimate for the UE.

5b. If step 1b occurred, the AMF uses the location service response received in step 4 to assist the service that triggered this in step 1b (e.g. may provide a location estimate associated with an emergency call to a GMLC).

5c. If step 1c was performed, the AMF returns a location service response to the UE and includes any needed results – e.g. a location estimate for the UE.

Location procedures applicable to NG-RAN occur in steps 3a and 3b in Figure 5.2-1 and are defined in greater detail in this specification. Other steps in Figure 5.2-1 are applicable only to the 5GC and are described in greater detail and in TS 23.502 [26] and TS 23.273 [35].

Steps 3a and 3b can involve the use of different position methods to obtain location related measurements for a target UE and from these compute a location estimate and possibly additional information like velocity. Positioning methods supported in this release are summarized in clause 4.3 and described in detail in clause 8.

The case that the NG-RAN node functions as an LCS client is not supported in this version of the specification.

5.3 NG-RAN Positioning Operations

5.3.1 General NG-RAN Positioning Operations

Separately from location service support for particular UEs, an LMF may interact with elements in the NG-RAN in order to obtain measurement information to help assist one or more position methods for all UEs. An LMF may also interact with NG-RAN node to provide assistance data information for broadcasting.

5.3.2 OTDOA Positioning Support

An LMF can interact with any ng-eNB reachable from any of the AMFs with signalling access to the LMF in order to obtain location related information to support the OTDOA for E-UTRA positioning method, including PRS-based TBS for E-UTRA. The information can include timing information for the TP in relation to either absolute GNSS time or timing of other TPs and information about the supported cells and TPs including PRS schedule.

Signalling access between the LMF and ng-eNB may be via any AMF with signalling access to both the LMF and ng‑eNB.

An LMF can also interact with any gNB reachable from any of the AMFs with signalling access to the LMF in order to obtain NR cell timing information to support the OTDOA for E-UTRA positioning method, in case the UE is served by a NR cell.

5.3.3 Assistance Information Broadcast Support

An LMF can interact with any NG-RAN node reachable from any of the AMFs with signalling access to the LMF in order to provide assistance data information for broadcasting. The information can include positioning System Information Blocks (posSIBs) together with assistance information meta data, broadcast cells and broadcast periodicity.

Signalling access between the LMF and NG-RAN node is via any AMF with signalling access to both the LMF and NG-RAN node.

5.3.4 NR RAT-Dependent Positioning Support

An LMF can interact with any gNB reachable from any of the AMFs with signalling access to the LMF in order to obtain location related information to support the NR RAT-Dependent positioning methods. The information can include timing information for the TRP in relation to either absolute GNSS time or timing of other TRPs and information about the supported cells and TRPs including PRS schedule.

When an LMF determines a positioning method for a UE, which requires gNB measurements, the LMF can interact with the gNB to support the positioning method. The LMF can request the gNB for SRS configuration for the UE and the gNB can respond with the SRS configuration to the LMF. The gNB can provide an updated SRS configuration to the LMF when the SRS configuration changes. If semi-persistent or aperiodic SRS is configured to the UE, the LMF may activate/deactivate the SRS. When the SRS is transmitted by the UE, the LMF can request multiple TRPs to perform uplink measurements and report the results.

Signalling access between the LMF and gNB for non-UE associated NRPPa procedure in Clause 7.2.1 may be via any AMF with signalling access to both the LMF and gNB. Signalling access between the LMF and gNB for UE associated NRPPa procedure in Clause 7.2.1 is via the serving AMF, as in TS 23.273 [35].

5.4 Functional Description of Elements Related to UE Positioning in NG-RAN

5.4.1 User Equipment (UE)

The UE may make measurements of downlink signals from NG-RAN and other sources such as E-UTRAN, different GNSS and TBS systems, WLAN access points, Bluetooth beacons, UE barometric pressure and motion sensors. The measurements to be made will be determined by the chosen positioning method.

The UE may also contain LCS applications, or access an LCS application either through communication with a network accessed by the UE or through another application residing in the UE. This LCS application may include the needed measurement and calculation functions to determine the UE’s position with or without network assistance. This is outside of the scope of this specification.

The UE may also, for example, contain an independent positioning function (e.g., GPS) and thus be able to report its position, independent of the NG-RAN transmissions. The UE with an independent positioning function may also make use of assistance information obtained from the network.

5.4.2 gNB

The gNB is a network element of NG-RAN that may provide measurement information for a target UE and communicates this information to an LMF.

To support NR RAT-Dependent positioning, the gNB may make measurements of radio signals for a target UE, and provide measurement results for position estimation. A gNB may serve several TRPs, including for example remote radio heads, and UL-SRS only RPs and DL-PRS-only TPs.

A gNB may broadcast assistance data information, received from an LMF, in positioning System Information messages.

5.4.3 ng-eNB

The ng-eNB is a network element of NG-RAN that may provide measurement results for position estimation and makes measurements of radio signals for a target UE and communicates these measurements to an LMF.

The ng-eNB makes its measurements in response to requests from the LMF (on demand or periodically).

An ng-eNB may serve several TPs, including for example remote radio heads and PRS-only TPs for PRS-based TBS positioning for E-UTRA.

An ng-eNB may broadcast assistance data information, received from an LMF, in positioning System Information messages.

5.4.4 Location Management Function (LMF)

The LMF manages the support of different location services for target UEs, including positioning of UEs and delivery of assistance data to UEs. The LMF may interact with the serving gNB or serving ng-eNB for a target UE in order to obtain position measurements for the UE, including uplink measurements made by an NG-RAN and downlink measurements made by the UE that were provided to an NG-RAN as part of other functions such as for support of handover.

The LMF may interact with a target UE in order to deliver assistance data if requested for a particular location service, or to obtain a location estimate if that was requested.

The LMF may interact with multiple NG-RAN nodes to provide assistance data information for broadcasting. The assistance data information for broadcast may optionally be segmented and/or ciphered by the LMF. The LMF may also interact with AMFs to provide ciphering key data information to the AMF as described in greater detail in TS 23.273 [35].

For positioning of a target UE, the LMF decides on the position methods to be used, based on factors that may include the LCS Client type, the required QoS, UE positioning capabilities, gNB positioning capabilities and ng-eNB positioning capabilities. The LMF then invokes these positioning methods in the UE, serving gNB and/or serving ng‑eNB. The positioning methods may yield a location estimate for UE-based position methods and/or positioning measurements for UE-assisted and network-based position methods. The LMF may combine all the received results and determine a single location estimate for the target UE (hybrid positioning). Additional information like accuracy of the location estimate and velocity may also be determined.

The LMF may interact with the AMF to provide (updated) UE Positioning Capability to AMF and to receive stored UE Positioning Capability from AMF as described in TS 23.273 [35].

5.4.5 Positioning Reference Unit (PRU)

A Positioning Reference Unit (PRU) at a known location can perform positioning measurements (e.g., RSTD, RSRP, UE Rx-Tx Time Difference measurements, etc.) and report these measurements to a location server. In addition, the PRU can transmit SRS to enable TRPs to measure and report UL positioning measurements (e.g., RTOA, UL-AoA, gNB Rx-Tx Time Difference, etc.) from PRU at a known location. The PRU measurements can be compared by a location server with the measurements expected at the known PRU location to determine correction terms for other nearby target devices. The DL- and/or UL location measurements for other target devices can then be corrected based on the previously determined correction terms.

From a location server perspective, the PRU functionality is realized by a UE with known location.