Assistance data update based on positioning reference signals and synchronization signal block signals

An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory, said at least one memory stored with computer program code thereon, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:

• configure, by an access node of a radio access network, one or more criteria for a positioning assistance data update to a wireless device based on monitoring Positioning Reference Signals, PRSs, and/or Synchronization Signal Block, SSB, signals of at least one cell of a wireless communications network;
• receive, by the access node, a request for positioning assistance data update from the wireless device;
• and
• deliver, by the access node, a positioning assistance data update to the wireless device based on the received request,
• the apparatus further caused to:
• reject, by the access node, the received request for positioning assistance data update based on a lack of response from a network entity and approved based on a context retrieval after expiry of assistance data has been confirmed based on Radio Access Network based Notification Area Update.

A user equipment method, comprising

• monitoring Positioning Reference Signals, PRSs, and/or Synchronization Signal Block, SSB, signals of at least one cell of a wireless communications network based on one or more criteria for a positioning assistance data update to the user equipment;
• transmitting, based on at least one of the criteria has been met, a request for positioning assistance data update to the wireless communications network, the request comprising a Radio Access Network based Notification Area Update including a cause value indicating the wireless device requires positioning assistance data update, the Radio Access Network based Notification Area Update triggered upon a cell re-selection within a same RAN Notification Area while the wireless device is in a Radio Resource Control protocol Inactive state with an ongoing positioning session;
• evaluating, unknown Positioning Reference Signal, PRS, resources with indicated Synchronization Signal Block, SSB, quasi co-location information by performing substitution measurements of the quasi co-located SSB signals, wherein the request for positioning assistance data update is transmitted based on the substitution measurements indicating a need for configuration information of the unknown PRS resources;
• and
• receiving, in response to the request for positioning assistance data update, one of:
• a positioning assistance data update, or an indication to use the same positioning assistance data configuration.