8.14 UL-AoA positioning

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

Tools: ARFCN - Frequency Conversion for 5G NR/LTE/UMTS/GSM

8.14.1 General

In the UL-AoA positioning method, the UE position is estimated based on UL-AoA (and optionally UL-SRS-RSRP and/or UL-SRS-RSRPP) of uplink radio signals taken at different TRPs, along with other configuration information.

The specific of any UL-AoA positioning methods or techniques used to estimate the UE’s location from these measurements are beyond the scope of this specification.

In order to obtain uplink measurements, the TRPs need to know the characteristics of the SRS signal transmitted by the UE for the time period required to calculate uplink measurement. These characteristics should be static over the periodic transmission of SRS during the uplink measurements. Hence, the LMF will indicate to the serving gNB the need to direct the UE to transmit SRS signals for uplink positioning. It is up to the gNB to make the final decision on resources to be assigned and to communicate this configuration information back to the LMF so that LMF can configure the TRPs. The gNB may decide (e.g., in case no resources are available) to configure no resources for the UE and fail the corresponding NRPPa procedure.

8.14.2 Information to be transferred between NG-RAN/5GC Elements

This clause defines the information that may be transferred between LMF and gNB/TRPs.

8.14.2.0 Assistance Data that may be transferred from the gNB to the LMF

The assistance data that may be transferred from the gNB to the LMF is listed in Table 8.14.2.0-1.

Table 8.14.2.0-1: Assistance data that may be transferred from gNB to the LMF

Information

PCI, GCI, and TRP IDs of the TRPs served by the gNB

SSB information of the TRPs (the time/frequency occupancy of SSBs)

Geographical coordinates information of the DL-PRS Resources of the TRPs served by the gNB

TRP type

8.14.2.1 Configuration Data that may be transferred from the gNB to the LMF

The configuration data for a target UE that may be transferred from the serving gNB to the LMF is listed in Table 8.14.2.1-1.

Table 8.14.2.1-1: UE configuration data that may be transferred from serving gNB to the LMF

UE configuration data

UE SRS configuration

Timing information of the TRP, which configured the UE SRS transmission

8.14.2.2 Location Information that may be transferred from the gNBs to LMF

The information that may be transferred from gNBs to the LMF include measurement results are listed in Table 8.14.2.2-1. The individual measurements are defined in TS 38.215 [37].

Table 8.14.2.2-1: Measurement results that may be transferred from gNBs to the LMF

Measurement results

NCGI and TRP ID of the measurement

UL Angle of Arrival (azimuth and/or elevation)

Multiple UL Angle of Arrival (azimuth and/or elevation)

SRS Resource Type

UL-SRS-RSRP

UL-SRS-RSRPP

Time stamp of the measurement

Quality for each measurement

Beam information for each measurement

LoS/NLoS information for each measurement

ARP ID of the measurement

8.14.2.3 Information that may be transferred from the LMF to gNB

The requested UL-SRS transmission characteristics information that may be signalled from the LMF to the gNB is listed in Table 8.14.2.3-1.

Table 8.14.2.3-1: Requested UL-SRS transmission characteristics information that may be transferred from LMF to gNB.

Information

Number Of Transmissions/duration for which the UL-SRS is requested

Bandwidth

Resource type (periodic, semi-persistent, aperiodic)

Number of requested SRS resource sets and SRS resources per set

Pathloss reference:

– PCI, SSB Index, SSB configuration (time/frequency occupancy of SSBs)

– DL-PRS ID, DL-PRS Resource Set ID, DL-PRS Resource ID

Spatial relation info

– PCI, SSB Index, SSB configuration (time/frequency occupancy of SSBs)

– DL-PRS ID, DL-PRS Resource Set ID, DL-PRS Resource ID

– NZP CSI-RS Resource ID

– SRS Resource ID

– Positioning SRS Resource ID

SSB Information

Periodicity of the SRS for each SRS resource set

Carrier frequency of SRS transmission bandwidth

The TRP measurement request information that may be signalled from the LMF to the gNB is listed in table 8.14.2.3-2.

Table 8.14.2.3-2: TRP Measurement request information that may be transferred from LMF to gNB.

Information

TRP ID, cell ID of the TRP to receive UL-SRS

UE-SRS configuration

UL timing information together with timing uncertainty, for reception of SRS by candidate TRPs

Report characteristics for the measurements

Measurement Quantities

Measurement periodicity

Measurement beam information request

Expected UL AoA/ZoA and uncertainty range

Response time

Measurement characteristics request indicator

Measurement time occasions for a measurement instance

The Positioning Activation/Deactivation request information that may be signalled from the LMF to the gNB is listed in Table 8.14.2.3-3.

Table 8.14.2.3-3: Requested positioning activation/deactivation information that may be transferred from LMF to gNB.

Information

SP UL-SRS:

– Activation or Deactivation request

– Positioning SRS Resource Set ID which is to be activated/deactivated

– Spatial relation for Resource ID_i

– Activation Time

Aperiodic UL-SRS:

– Aperiodic SRS Resource Trigger list

– Activation time

UL-SRS:

– Release all

8.14.3 UL-AoA Positioning Procedures

The procedures described in this clause support UL-AoA positioning measurements obtained by the gNB and provided to the LMF using NRPPa.

8.14.3.1 Capability Transfer Procedure

The Capability Transfer procedure for UL-AoA positioning is described in clause 7.1.2.1.

8.14.3.2 Assistance Data Transfer Procedure

8.14.3.2.1 Assistance Data Delivery between LMF and gNB

The purpose of these procedures is to enable the gNB to provide assistance data described in Table 8.14.2.0-1 to the LMF, for subsequent delivery to the gNB using the procedures of clause 8.14.3.3 or for use in the calculation of positioning estimates at the LMF or enable the LMF to request UL-SRS configuration information from the serving gNB of a target UE.

Figure 8.14.3.2.1-1 shows the UL information Delivery operation from the serving gNB to the LMF.

Figure 8.14.3.2.1-1: LMF-initiated UL Information Request Procedure

(1) The LMF sends a NRPPa message POSITIONING INFORMATION REQUEST to the serving gNB of the target UE to request UE SRS configuration information. If the message includes the Requested UL-SRS Transmission Characteristics as listed in Table 8.14.2.3-1, the gNB should take this information into account when configuring UL-SRS transmissions for the UE.

(2) The serving gNB determines the UE SRS configuration to be allocated for the UE and sends NRPPa message POSITIONING INFORMATION RESPONSE to the LMF that includes the UE SRS configuration defined in Table 8.14.2.1-1. If the serving gNB is not able to provide the requested information, it returns a failure message indicating the cause of the failure.

(3) If a change has occurred in the UE SRS configuration during the UE SRS time duration requested at step 1, the gNB sends a POSITIONING INFORMATION UPDATE message to the LMF. This message contains, in the case of a change in UE SRS configuration parameters, the UE SRS configuration information for all cells with UE SRS configured, or an indication that the UE SRS configuration has been released in the UE.

Figure 8.14.3.2.1-2 shows the TRP Information Exchange operation from the gNB to the LMF for the UL-AoA positioning method.

Figure 8.14.3.2.1-2: LMF-initiated TRP Information Exchange Procedure

(1) The LMF determines that certain TRP configuration information is desired (e.g., as part of a periodic update or as triggered by OAM) and sends an NRPPa TRP INFORMATION REQUEST message to the gNB. This request includes an indication of which specific TRP configuration information is requested.

(2) The gNB provides the requested TRP information in an NRPPa TRP INFORMATION RESPONSE message, if available at the gNB. If the gNB is not able to provide any information, it returns an TRP INFORMATION FAILURE message indicating the cause of the failure.

8.14.3.3 Location Information Transfer/Assistance Data Transfer Procedure

The purpose of this procedure is to enable the LMF to request position measurements from a gNB for position calculation of the UE and also provide necessary assistance data to the gNB.

Figure 8.14.3.3-1 shows the messaging between the LMF and the gNB to perform this procedure.

Figure 8.14.3.3-1: LMF-initiated Location Information Transfer Procedure

(1) The LMF sends a NRPPa message to the selected gNB to request UL-AoA measurement information. The message includes any information required for the gNB to perform the measurements as defined in Table 8.14.2.3-2.

(2) If the report characteristics in step 1 is set to "on demand", the gNB obtains the requested UL-AoA measurements and returns them in a Measurement Response message to the LMF. The Measurement Response message includes the obtained UL-AoA measurements as defined in Table 8.14.2.2-1.

If the report characteristics in step 1 is set to "periodic", the gNB replies with a Measurement Response message without including any measurements in the message. The gNB then periodically initiates the Measurement Report procedure in step 3 for the UL-AoA measurements, with the requested reporting periodicity.

If the gNB is not able to accept the Measurement Request message in step 1, the gNB returns a failure message indicating the cause of the failure.

(3) The gNB periodically provides the UL-AoA measurements as defined in Table 8.14.2.2-1 to the LMF if that was requested at step 1.

(4) At any time after step 2, the LMF may send a Measurement Update message to the gNB providing updated information required for the gNB to perform the UL-AoA measurements as defined in Table 8.14.2.3-2. Upon receiving the message, the gNB overwrites the previously received measurement configuration information.

(5) If the previously requested UL-AoA measurements can no longer be reported, the gNB notifies the LMF by sending a Measurement Failure Indication message.

(6) When the LMF wants to abort an ongoing UL-AoA measurement it sends a Measurement Abort message to the gNB.

8.14.3.3a Positioning Activation/Deactivation Procedure

The purpose of this procedure is to enable the LMF to request activation and deactivation of UL-SRS transmission of the target UE.

Figure 8.14.3.3a-1 shows the messaging between the LMF and the gNB to perform this procedure.

Figure 8.14.3.3a-1: Positioning Activation/Deactivation Procedure.

(1) The LMF sends the NRPPa Positioning Activation Request message to the serving gNB of the target UE to request UL-SRS activation for the target UE. For a semi-persistent UL-SRS, the message includes an indication of an UL-SRS resource set to be activated and may include information that indicates the spatial relation for the semi-persistent UL-SRS resource to be activated, as listed in Table 8.14.2.3-3. For an aperiodic UL-SRS, the message may include aperiodic SRS Resource trigger list to indicate the UL-SRS resource to be activated.

(2) For semi-persistent UL-SRS, the serving gNB may then activate the configured semi-persistent UL-SRS resource sets by sending the SP Positioning SRS Activation/Deactivation MAC CE command as specified in TS 38.321 [39]. For aperiodic UL-SRS, the serving gNB may then activate the configured aperiodic UL-SRS resource sets by sending the DCI as specified in TS 38.212 [40].
If the UL-SRS has been successfully activated as requested in step 1, the gNB sends the NRPPa Positioning Activation Response message to the LMF. If the serving gNB is not able to fulfil the request from step 1, it returns the Positioning Activation Failure message indicating the cause of the failure. The serving gNB includes a system frame number and a slot number in the NRPPa Positioning Activation Response message to the LMF.

(3) If a previously activated UL-SRS should be deactivated, or the UL-SRS transmission should be released, the LMF sends the NRPPa Positioning Deactivation message to the serving gNB of the target device to request deactivation of UL-SRS resource sets, or release all the UL-SRS resources. This message includes an indication of the UL-SRS resource set to be deactivated, or an indication of releasing all UL-SRS resources.

8.14.3.4 Sequence of Procedure for UL-AoA positioning

Figure 8.14.3.4-1 shows the messaging between the LMF, the gNBs and the UE to perform UL-AoA procedure.

Figure 8.14.3.4-1: UL-AoA positioning procedure

0. The LMF may use the procedure in Figure 8.14.3.2.1-2 to obtain the TRP information required for UL-AoA positioning.

1. The LMF may request the positioning capabilities of the target device using the LPP Capability Transfer procedure as described in clause 8.14.3.1.

2. The LMF sends a NRPPa POSITIONING INFORMATION REQUEST message to the serving gNB to request UL-SRS configuration information for the target device as described in Figure 8.14.3.2.1-1.

3. The serving gNB determines the resources available for UL-SRS and configures the target device with the UL-SRS resource sets at step 3a.

4. The serving gNB provides the UL-SRS configuration information to the LMF in a NRPPa POSITIONING INFORMATION RESPONSE message.

5. In the case of semi-persistent or aperiodic SRS, the LMF may request activation of UE SRS transmission by sending the NRPPa Positioning Activation Request message to the serving gNB of the target device as described in clause 8.14.3.3a. The gNB then activates the UL-SRS transmission and sends the NRPPa Positioning Activation Response message. The target device begins the UL-SRS transmission according to the time domain behavior of UL-SRS resource configuration.

6. The LMF provides the UL-SRS configuration to the selected gNBs in a NRPPa MEASUREMENT REQUEST message as described in clause 8.14.3.3. The message includes all information required to enable the gNBs/TRPs to perform the UL measurements.

7. Each gNB configured at step 6 measures the UL-SRS transmissions from the target device.

8. Each gNB reports the UL-SRS measurements to the LMF in a NRPPa Measurement Response message as described in clause 8.14.3.3.

9. The LMF sends a NRPPa POSITIONING DEACTIVATION message to the serving gNB as described in clause 8.14.3.3a.

Annex A (informative): Use of LPP with SUPL

The design goal of LPP is to enable it to be used in user plane location solutions such as OMA SUPL ([15], [16]) and this informative annex shows how LPP can be used in SUPL 2.0.