Methods for Aggregating Resources for Positioning Measurements

A method for a user equipment (UE) configured for positioning in a radio access network (RAN) the method comprising:

• receiving from a positioning node a configuration of a plurality of positioning reference signal (PRS) resources, wherein:
• each PRS resource is associated with one of a plurality of different carrier frequencies or positioning frequency layers (PFLs) transmitted by a RAN node;
• and
• the configuration includes one or more aggregation identifiers indicating one or more relationships between the plurality of carrier frequencies or PFLs;
• selectively performing positioning measurements jointly and/or coherently on PRS resources associated with two or more of the carrier frequencies or PFLs, based on one or more of the following:
• the one or more aggregation identifiers, and an arrangement of the UE's plurality of receiver (Rx) chains;
• and
• sending to the positioning node a report including the positioning measurements.

A method for a positioning node configured to facilitate positioning of user equipment (UE)s, operating in a radio access network (RAN) the method comprising:

• sending, to a UE having a plurality of receiver (Rx) chains, a configuration of a plurality of positioning reference signal (PRS) resources, wherein:
• each PRS resource is associated with one of a plurality of different carrier frequencies or positioning frequency layers (PFLs) transmitted by a RAN node;
• and
• the configuration includes one or more aggregation identifiers indicating one or more relationships between the plurality of carrier frequencies or PFLs;
• and
• receiving from the UE a report including positioning measurements performed by the UE, using the plurality of Rx chains, on PRS resources associated with two or more of the carrier frequencies or PFLs.

A method for a radio access network (RAN) node configured to support positioning of user equipment (UEs), in the RAN, the method comprising:

• sending to a positioning node a configuration of a plurality of positioning reference signal (PRS) resources in which PRS are transmitted by the RAN node, wherein:
• each PRS resource is associated with one of a plurality of different carrier frequencies or positioning frequency layers (PFLs);
• and
• the configuration includes one or more aggregation identifiers indicating one or more relationships between the plurality of carrier frequencies or PFLs;
• and
• transmitting PRS in one or more cells in accordance with the configuration, wherein the plurality of carrier frequencies or PFLs are transmitted using a plurality of transmit (Tx) chains, with each of the plurality of Tx chains transmitting at least one of the carrier frequencies or PFLs.