Virtual positioning reference unit for positioning

A method of wireless communication at a network entity, comprising:

• receiving an indication to perform user equipment (UE)-based positioning for a UE;
• configuring, for the UE, assistance data that includes a list of virtual anchors and a list of virtual positioning reference units (VPRUs) for the UE-based positioning;
• transmitting the assistance data including the list of virtual anchors and the list of VPRUs;
• estimating or tracking one or more error sources based on a set of raw measurements received from a set of physical PRUs, wherein the one or more error sources include at least one of:
• an anchor clock bias, a group delay, an atmospheric effect or delay, a non-line-of-sight (NLOS) effect, or at least one environmental effect;
• generating a set of measurements or correction data for the list of VPRUs based on (1) a virtual location for each VPRU in the list of VPRUs and the list of virtual anchors and (2) the one or more error sources;
• and
• transmitting the set of measurements or the correction data for the UE-based positioning.

An apparatus for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE), comprising:

• a transceiver;
• at least one memory;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to the transceiver and the at least one memory, and the at least one processor is configured to:
• transmit, via the transceiver, to a network entity, an indication to perform UE-based positioning;
• receive, from the network entity and via the transceiver, assistance data that includes a list of virtual anchors and a list of virtual positioning reference units (VPRUs) for the UE-based positioning;
• receive, from the network entity and via the transceiver, a set of measurements or correction data for the list of VPRUs based on a virtual location for each VPRU in the list of VPRUs and the list of virtual anchors, wherein the set of measurements or the correction data is generated based on estimation or tracking of one or more error sources associated with a set of raw measurements from a set of physical PRUs, wherein the one or more error sources include at least one of:
• an anchor clock bias, a group delay, an atmospheric effect or delay, a non-line-of-sight (NLOS) effect, or at least one environmental effect;
• and
• perform the UE-based positioning using at least one virtual anchor and at least one VPRU in the assistance data and based on the set of measurements or the correction data.

A method of wireless communication at a user equipment (UE), comprising:

• transmitting, to a network entity, an indication to perform UE-based positioning;
• receiving, from the network entity, assistance data that includes a list of virtual anchors and a list of virtual positioning reference units (VPRUs) for the UE-based positioning;
• receiving, from the network entity and via the transceiver, a set of measurements or correction data for the list of VPRUs based on a virtual location for each VPRU in the list of VPRUs and the list of virtual anchors, wherein the set of measurements or the correction data is generated based on estimation or tracking of one or more error sources associated with a set of raw measurements from a set of physical PRUs, wherein the one or more error sources include at least one of:
• an anchor clock bias, a group delay, an atmospheric effect or delay, a non-line-of-sight (NLOS) effect, or at least one environmental effect;
• and
• performing the UE-based positioning using at least one virtual anchor and at least one VPRU in the assistance data and based on the set of measurements or the correction data.