Uplink positioning reference signal configuration

An apparatus comprising at least one processor, and at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:

• transmit a random-access preamble to a network node providing a target cell while the apparatus is still in a source cell;
• receive, from the network node, a random-access response in response to the random-access preamble while the apparatus is still in the source cell, the random-access response comprises a timing advance value, wherein only the target cell can issue the timing advance for the apparatus;
• based on the timing advance value, determine a timing advance between uplink and downlink to be applied by the apparatus for communication with the target cell;
• transmit, to the network node, a request message requesting an uplink positioning reference signal configuration for uplink positioning reference signal transmission in the target cell, wherein the request message is transmitted in a radio resource control inactive state, while the apparatus is in a source cell;
• receive, from the network node, a message indicative of the uplink positioning reference signal configuration, wherein the message indicative of the uplink positioning reference signal configuration is received while that apparatus is in the source cell;
• transmit, to the network node, an activation request for activating the uplink positioning reference signal configuration, wherein the activation request is transmitted based on target cell entry;
• receive, from the network node, an activation command while in the target cell and while at an edge area between the source cell and the target cell;
• activate the uplink positioning reference signal configuration based on the activation command from the network node;
• and
• based on the activated uplink positioning reference signal configuration, transmit one or more uplink positioning reference signal transmissions based at least partly on the uplink positioning reference signal configuration.

A system comprising:

• an apparatus;
• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:
• transmit a random-access preamble to a network node providing a target cell while the apparatus is still in a source cell;
• receive, from the network node, a random-access response in response to the random-access preamble while the apparatus is still in the source cell, the random-access response comprises a timing advance value, wherein only the target cell can issue the timing advance for the apparatus;
• based on the timing advance value, determine a timing advance between uplink and downlink to be applied by the apparatus for communication with the target cell;
• transmit, to the network node providing a target cell, a request message requesting an uplink positioning reference signal configuration for uplink positioning reference signal transmission in the target cell, wherein the request message is transmitted in a radio resource control inactive state, while the apparatus is in a source cell;
• receive, from the network node, a message indicative of the uplink positioning reference signal configuration, wherein the message indicative of the uplink positioning reference signal configuration is received while that apparatus is in the source cell;
• transmit, to the network node, an activation request for activating the uplink positioning reference signal configuration, wherein the activation request is transmitted based on target cell entry;
• receive, from the network node, an activation command while in the target cell and while at an edge area between the source cell and the target cell;
• activate the uplink positioning reference signal configuration based on the activation command from the network node;
• and
• based on the activated uplink positioning reference signal configuration, transmit one or more uplink positioning reference signal transmissions based at least partly on the uplink positioning reference signal configuration.

A method comprising:

• transmitting, by a user equipment, a random-access preamble to a network node providing a target cell while the apparatus is still in a source cell;
• receiving, from the network node, a random-access response in response to the random-access preamble while the apparatus is still in the source cell, the random-access response comprises a timing advance value, wherein only the target cell can issue the timing advance for the apparatus;
• based on the timing advance value, determining a timing advance between uplink and downlink to be applied by the apparatus for communication with the target cell;
• transmitting, to the network node providing a target cell, a request message requesting an uplink positioning reference signal configuration for uplink positioning reference signal transmission in the target cell, wherein the request message is transmitted in a radio resource control inactive state, while the apparatus is in a source cell;
• receiving, from the network node, a message indicative of the uplink positioning reference signal configuration, wherein the message indicative of the uplink positioning reference signal configuration is received while that apparatus is in the source cell;
• transmit, to the network node, an activation request for activating the uplink positioning reference signal configuration, wherein the activation request is transmitted based on target cell entry;
• receiving, from the network node, an activation command while in the target cell and while at an edge area between the source cell and the target cell;
• activating the uplink positioning reference signal configuration based on the activation command from the network node;
• and
• based on the activated uplink positioning reference signal configuration, transmitting one or more uplink positioning reference signal transmissions based at least partly on the uplink positioning reference signal configuration.