# US 11,910,349 B2 · Physical layer signaling by devices for requesting positioning-resources > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,910,349 B2 - Document ID: US11910349B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/496,207 - Filed: 2021-10-07 - Published: 2022-04-14 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2020-10-08 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Seyed Ali Akbar Fakoorian; Wei Zeng; Dawei Zhang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11910349B2 ## CPC - H04W 64/003: {locating network equipment} - H04L 5/0048: {Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver (allocation of control signalling H04L5/0053; use of control signalling H04L5/0091)} - H04L 5/0053: {Allocation of signalling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals} - H04L 5/0094: {Indication of how sub-channels of the path are allocated} - H04W 36/06: Reselecting a communication resource in the serving access point - H04W 72/23: in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal - H04L 5/005: {of common pilots, i.e. pilots destined for multiple users or terminals} - H04W 72/04: Wireless resource allocation - Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract Improved positioning resolution and latency may be achieved via physical layer signaling between a mobile device (UE) and a base station. The physical layer procedures may aid target UEs in enhancing their positioning accuracy and latency, and/or reducing network overhead while boosting UE power efficiency. Accordingly, a UE may transmit, via physical layer signaling to a base station, a request for positioning-resources, for example in response to a determination that current positioning-resources of the UE need to be adjusted. The UE may in turn receive, via physical layer signaling from the base station, an indication of adjusted positioning-resources, and may optionally receive an indication of corresponding allocated grant-resources. The UE may use the adjusted positioning-resources to perform new positioning measurements, and may use the corresponding allocated grant-resources to transmit, via physical layer signaling to the base station, positioning information resulting from the new positioning measurements. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: a memory; and at least one processor in communication with the memory and configured to perform operations comprising: transmitting, via physical layer signaling to a base station, a request for positioning-resources responsive to a determination to adjust current positioning-resources; receiving, via physical layer signaling from the base station and responsive to the request, an indication of adjusted positioning-resources; and transmitting, to the base station via physical layer signaling, positioning information on uplink resources starting at a specified number of symbols after an end of a measurement period during which the positioning measurements are performed, wherein the positioning information is indicative of one or more of: positioning measurements using the adjusted positioning-resources; or a location determined using the adjusted positioning-resources. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the determination to adjust the current positioning-resources comprises one of: a determination that the current positioning-resources are insufficient for required positioning accuracy and/or positioning latency; a determination that the current positioning-resources exceed what is necessary for required positioning accuracy and/or positioning latency; or a determination that the apparatus intends to reduce its power consumption. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the request is either implicitly indicated in specific positioning measurement and/or location information transmitted to the base station via the physical layer signaling, or explicitly indicated as resource information transmitted on one or more physical uplink channels via the physical layer signaling. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the resource information is included as part of one or more of: control state information transmitted on a physical uplink control channel; or data payload transmitted on a physical uplink data channel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the specific positioning measurement and/or location information comprises one or more of: an indication of a change in serving cell; or a current positioning resolution. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the resource information comprises one or more of: an index of positioning-resources and/or resource sets requested by the apparatus; a spatial receive direction preferred by the apparatus; a transmit/receive panel index corresponding to where the apparatus expects to receive positioning reference signals (PRSs) from; PRS bandwidth; PRS duration per slot; PRS periodicity; number of PRS repetitions per periodicity; a PRS demand transmitted via a special scheduling request (SR) on a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH); a PRS demand transmitted via a special physical random access control channel (PRACH); or time duration for which the PRS is required. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein receiving the indication of adjusted positioning-resources comprises receiving the indication of adjusted positioning-resources via one of: physical layer signaling from the base station; or from a location management function according to a long term evolution positioning protocol (LPP). ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein receiving the indication of adjusted positioning-resources via physical layer signaling from the base station comprises receiving the indication of adjusted positioning-resources as part of one or more of: device specific downlink control information (DCI); group-common DCI; or a media access control (MAC) control element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise: receiving, from the base station and responsive to the request, an indication of grant-resources on which to transmit the positioning information, wherein receiving the indication of grant-resources comprises receiving the indication of grant-resources together with the indication of adjusted positioning-resources, and wherein the indication of grant-resources and the indication of adjusted positioning-resources are indicated by downlink control information received from the base station on a physical downlink control channel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the specified number is determined based on a capability. ### Claim 11 A user equipment device (UE), comprising: at least one antenna; at least one radio, wherein the at least one radio is configured to perform communication using at least one radio access technology (RAT); and one or more processors coupled to the at least one radio, wherein the one or more processors and the at least one radio are configured to perform voice and/or data communications; wherein the one or more processors are configured to cause the UE to: transmit, via physical layer signaling to a base station, a request for positioning-resources responsive to a determination to adjust current positioning-resources; receive, via physical layer signaling from the base station and responsive to the request, an indication of adjusted positioning-resources; and transmit, to the base station via physical layer signaling, positioning information on uplink resources starting at a specified number of symbols after an end of a measurement period during which the positioning measurements are performed, wherein the positioning information is indicative of one or more of: positioning measurements using the adjusted positioning-resources; or a location determined using the adjusted positioning-resources. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The UE of claim 11, wherein the specified number is determined based on a capability. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The UE of claim 11, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the UE to: perform the positioning measurements during one of: a preconfigured measurement period reserved for performing measurements; or a measurement period specifically allocated for performing the positioning measurements. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The UE of claim 13, wherein no downlink communications other than positioning reference signals are expected by the UE during the specified measurement period. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The UE of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the UE to: prioritize to receive positioning reference signals (PRSs) during the specified measurement period when downlink communications other than the PRSs also occur during the specified measurement period. ### Claim 16 A non-transitory computer readable memory medium storing program instructions executable by processing circuitry to cause a user equipment device (UE) to: transmit, via physical layer signaling to a base station, a request for positioning-resources responsive to a determination to adjust current positioning-resources; receive, via physical layer signaling from the base station and responsive to the request, an indication of adjusted positioning-resources; and transmit, to the base station via physical layer signaling, positioning information on uplink resources starting at a specified number of symbols after an end of a measurement period during which the positioning measurements are performed, wherein the positioning information is indicative of one or more of: positioning measurements using the adjusted positioning-resources; or a location determined using the adjusted positioning-resources. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer readable memory medium of claim 16, wherein the determination to adjust the current positioning-resources comprises one of: a determination that the current positioning-resources are insufficient for required positioning accuracy and/or positioning latency; a determination that the current positioning-resources exceed what is necessary for required positioning accuracy and/or positioning latency; or a determination that the UE intends to reduce its power consumption. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer readable memory medium of claim 16, wherein the request is either implicitly indicated in specific positioning measurement and/or location information transmitted to the base station via the physical layer signaling, or explicitly indicated as resource information transmitted on one or more physical uplink channels via the physical layer signaling. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The non-transitory computer readable memory medium of claim 18, wherein the resource information is included as part of one or more of: control state information transmitted on a physical uplink control channel; or data payload transmitted on a physical uplink data channel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer readable memory medium of claim 16, wherein, to receive the indication of adjusted positioning-resources, the program instructions are further executable by the processing circuitry of the UE to receive the indication of adjusted positioning-resources via one of: physical layer signaling from the base station; or from a location management function according to a long term evolution positioning protocol (LPP).