Initiating Positioning or Sensing Measurements by an Assisting User Equipment (UE)

A method for a user equipment (UE) configured to assist with positioning and/or sensing operations in a communication network, the method comprising:

• receiving, from a radio access network (RAN) node, a first indication that assisting UEs are needed for positioning or sensing operations related to a target other than the UE;
• in response to the first indication, sending one or more of the following information to a network function (NF) configured to manage positioning and/or sensing operations in the communication network:
• a second indication that the UE is available to assist with the positioning or sensing operations related to the target,
• the UE's location, and
• one or more measurements related to the target.

User equipment (UE) configured to assist with positioning and/or sensing operations in a communication network, the UE comprising:

• communication interface circuitry configured to communicate with a radio access network (RAN) node and with a network function (NF) configured to manage the positioning and/or sensing operations;
• and
• processing circuitry operatively coupled to the communication interface circuitry, wherein the processing circuitry and the communication interface circuitry are configured to:
• receive, from the RAN node, a first indication that assisting UEs are needed for positioning or sensing operations related to a target other than the UE;
• in response to the first indication, send one or more of the following information to the NF:
• a second indication that the UE is available to assist with the positioning or sensing operations related to the target,
• the UE's location, and
• one or more measurements related to the target.

Radio access network (RAN) node configured to facilitate positioning and/or sensing operations in a communication network, the RAN node comprising:

• communication interface circuitry arranged to communicate with a network function (NF) configured to manage the positioning and/or sensing operations and with user equipment (UEs) configured to assist with the positioning and/or sensing operations;
• and
• processing circuitry operatively coupled to the communication interface circuitry, wherein the processing circuitry and the communication interface circuitry are configured to:
• receive, from the NF, a first indication that assisting UEs are needed for positioning or sensing operations related to a target;
• and
• transmit, in one or more cells served by the RAN node, a further first indication that assisting UEs are needed by the NF for positioning or sensing operations related to the target.