Methods and apparatus for low latency location via scheduling in advance

A Location Management Function (LMF) configured to support a location session for a user equipment (UE), comprising:

• an external interface configured to wirelessly communicate with a wireless network;
• at least one memory;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to the external interface and the at least one memory and configured to:
• receive, via the external interface, a positioning message for the UE from a first entity, the positioning message indicating a time at which a location for the UE is to be measured;
• and
• send, via the external interface, request messages to a plurality of entities, the request messages scheduling location measurements for the UE by each of the plurality of entities at or near to the time, wherein the location measurements enable the location for the UE to be measured at the time based on at least one position method.

A method performed by a location server in a radio access network (RAN) for supporting a location session for a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:

• receiving an assignment message from a Location Management Function (LMF), the assignment message comprising an assignment for the location server to enable a measurement of a location of the UE and indicating a time at which the location of the UE is to be measured;
• returning an acknowledgment to the LMF indicating the assignment is accepted;
• receiving location measurements for the UE from a plurality of entities, the location measurements scheduled in the plurality of entities by the LMF, the location measurements obtained by the plurality of entities at or near to the time;
• enabling the location for the UE to be determined by the location server or by the UE based on the location measurements and at least one position method;
• and
• sending a release message to the LMF releasing the assignment of the location server after the location of the UE has been determined.

A method performed by a user equipment (UE) for supporting a location session for the UE, the method comprising:

• receiving a location request message from a Location Management Function (LMF) in a wireless network, wherein the location request message requests location measurements by the UE at or near to a time;
• obtaining the location measurements at or near to the time, wherein the location measurements enable a location for the UE to be determined by the UE or by a location server based at least in part on the location measurements and at least one position method;
• and
• sending the location measurements or the location to the location server.