Method and apparatus for supporting positioning for terminals in a wireless network

An apparatus for positioning a target device, comprising:

• at least one processing unit;
• and
• a memory coupled to the at least one processing unit, the memory storing instructions that when executed by the at least one processing unit cause the at least one processing unit to:
• receive, from a location server, a Request Location Information message that indicates at least a first positioning method from a plurality of positioning methods, the plurality of positioning methods including the first positioning method and a second positioning method, wherein the Request Location Information message comprises a first field containing information specific to the first positioning method and a second field containing common parameters, wherein the common parameters are applicable to the first positioning method and the second positioning method and also applicable to all positioning methods indicated in the Request Location Information message, and wherein the common parameters comprise a quality-of-service (QoS), an indication of whether periodic location information is requested, an indication of whether triggered location information is requested, or any combination thereof, and wherein the plurality of positioning methods comprises:
• an uplink time difference based positioning method, a downlink time difference based positioning method, a propagation time based positioning method, a signal direction based positioning method, a path loss based positioning method, a radio frequency pattern matching positioning method, assisted Global Navigation Satellite System positioning method, enhanced cell identity positioning method or any combination thereof;
• and
• perform positioning in response to the Request Location Information message.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for positioning a target device, wherein the instructions when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to:

• receive, from a location server, a Request Location Information message that indicates at least a first positioning method from a plurality of positioning methods, the plurality of positioning methods including the first positioning method and a second positioning method, wherein the Request Location Information message comprises a first field containing information specific to the first positioning method and a second field containing common parameters, wherein the common parameters are applicable to the first positioning method and the second positioning method and also applicable to all positioning methods indicated in the Request Location Information message, and wherein the common parameters comprise a quality-of-service (QoS), an indication of whether periodic location information is requested, an indication of whether triggered location information is requested, or any combination thereof, and wherein the plurality of positioning methods comprises:
• an uplink time difference based positioning method, a downlink time difference based positioning method, a propagation time based positioning method, a signal direction based positioning method, a path loss based positioning method, a radio frequency pattern matching positioning method, assisted Global Navigation Satellite System positioning method, enhanced cell identity positioning method or any combination thereof;
• and
• perform positioning in response to the Request Location Information message.