Method for idle-mode positioning of UEs using observed time difference of arrival

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to at least:
• receive positioning configuration information from a base station or location server while in a radio resource control connected mode;
• receive a suspend identification via a radio resource control suspend or release procedure, wherein the suspend identification is reserved for positioning when the apparatus is in a radio resource control idle or inactive mode;
• transition to the radio resource control idle or inactive mode, while saving said positioning configuration information;
• receive, by the apparatus in the radio resource control idle or inactive mode, a paging message comprising an indication to perform positioning measurement;
• receive a reference signal for positioning from the base station;
• perform positioning measurements based at least in part on the positioning configuration information and the reference signal, while in the radio resource control idle or inactive mode;
• and
• send a location report to the base station or location server while remaining in the radio resource control idle or inactive mode.

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to at least:
• send positioning configuration information to a user equipment in a radio resource control connected mode;
• assign a suspend identification via a radio resource control suspend or release procedure, wherein the suspend identification is reserved for positioning when the user equipment is in a radio resource control idle or inactive mode;
• cause the user equipment to transition to the radio resource control idle or inactive mode by a radio resource control release or suspend procedure;
• send, to the user equipment in the radio resource control idle or inactive mode, a paging message comprising an indication to perform positioning measurement;
• send a reference signal for positioning to the user equipment;
• receive a location report from the user equipment in the radio resource control idle or inactive mode;
• and
• forward the location report to a location server.