INTRODUCTION

Aspects of this disclosure relate generally to telecommunications, and more particularly to synchronization signal block (SSB)-based positioning measurement signals and the like.

Wireless communication systems have developed through various generations, including a first-generation analog wireless phone service (1G), a second-generation (2G) digital wireless phone service (including interim 2.5G and 2.75G networks), a third-generation (3G) high speed data, Internet-capable wireless service and a fourth-generation (4G) service (e.g., LTE or WiMax). There are presently many different types of wireless communication systems in use, including cellular and personal communications service (PCS) systems. Examples of known cellular systems include the cellular Analog Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS), and digital cellular systems based on code division multiple access (CDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), the Global System for Mobile access (GSM) variation of TDMA, etc.

A fifth generation (5G) mobile standard calls for higher data transfer speeds, greater numbers of connections, and better coverage, among other improvements. The 5G standard, according to the Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance, is designed to provide data rates of several tens of megabits per second to each of tens of thousands of users, with 1 gigabit per second to tens of workers on an office floor. Several hundreds of thousands of simultaneous connections should be supported in order to support large sensor deployments. Consequently, the spectral efficiency of 5G mobile communications should be significantly enhanced compared to the current 4G/LTE standard. Furthermore, signaling efficiencies should be enhanced and latency should be substantially reduced compared to current standards.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary relating to one or more aspects disclosed herein. As such, the following summary should not be considered an extensive overview relating to all contemplated aspects, nor should the following summary be regarded to identify key or critical elements relating to all contemplated aspects or to delineate the scope associated with any particular aspect. Accordingly, the following summary has the sole purpose to present certain concepts relating to one or more aspects relating to the mechanisms disclosed herein in a simplified form to precede the detailed description presented below.

In an aspect, a method of utilizing synchronization signal blocks for positioning operations includes receiving, at a user device from a transmission point, a plurality of synchronization signal blocks on a wireless downlink channel, each of the plurality of synchronization signal blocks comprising a primary synchronization signal, a secondary synchronization signal, and one or more physical broadcast channel signals, receiving, by the user device from the transmission point, an indication of a set of the plurality of synchronization signal blocks to be used as positioning measurement signals, and performing, by the user device, a positioning measurement of at least one of the set of the plurality of synchronization signal blocks.

In an aspect, a method of utilizing synchronization signal blocks for positioning operations includes configuring, by a transmission point, a set of synchronization signal blocks to be used as positioning measurement signals, each of the set of synchronization signal blocks comprising a primary synchronization signal, a secondary synchronization signal, and one or more physical broadcast channel signals, and transmitting, by the transmission point, the set of synchronization signal blocks on a wireless downlink channel to enable a user device to perform a positioning measurement of at least one of the set of synchronization signal blocks.

In an aspect, an apparatus for utilizing synchronization signal blocks for positioning operations includes at least one processor of a transmission point configured to: configure a set of synchronization signal blocks to be used as positioning measurement signals, each of the set of synchronization signal blocks comprising a primary synchronization signal, a secondary synchronization signal, and one or more physical broadcast channel signals, and cause a transmitter of the transmission point to transmit the set of synchronization signal blocks on a wireless downlink channel to enable a user device to perform a positioning measurement of at least one of the set of synchronization signal blocks.

In an aspect, an apparatus for utilizing synchronization signal blocks for positioning operations includes at least one processor of a user device configured to: cause a transceiver of the user device to receive, from a transmission point, a plurality of synchronization signal blocks on a wireless downlink channel, each of the plurality of synchronization signal blocks comprising a primary synchronization signal, a secondary synchronization signal, and one or more physical broadcast channel signals, cause the transceiver to receive, from the transmission point, an indication of a set of the plurality of synchronization signal blocks to be used as positioning measurement signals, and cause the transceiver to perform a positioning measurement of at least one of the set of the plurality of synchronization signal blocks.

In an aspect, an apparatus for utilizing synchronization signal blocks for positioning operations includes a means for processing of a transmission point configured to: configure a set of synchronization signal blocks to be used as positioning measurement signals, each of the set of synchronization signal blocks comprising a primary synchronization signal, a secondary synchronization signal, and one or more physical broadcast channel signals, and cause a means for communicating of the transmission point to transmit the set of synchronization signal blocks on a wireless downlink channel to enable a user device to perform a positioning measurement of at least one of the set of synchronization signal blocks.

In an aspect, an apparatus for utilizing synchronization signal blocks for positioning operations includes a means for processing of a user device configured to: cause a means for communicating of the user device to receive, from a transmission point, a plurality of synchronization signal blocks on a wireless downlink channel, each of the plurality of synchronization signal blocks comprising a primary synchronization signal, a secondary synchronization signal, and one or more physical broadcast channel signals, cause the means for communicating to receive, from the transmission point, an indication of a set of the plurality of synchronization signal blocks to be used as positioning measurement signals, and cause the means for communicating to perform a positioning measurement of at least one of the set of the plurality of synchronization signal blocks.

In an aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for utilizing synchronization signal blocks for positioning operations includes computer-executable instructions comprising at least one instruction instructing a transmission point to configure a set of synchronization signal blocks to be used as positioning measurement signals, each of the set of synchronization signal blocks comprising a primary synchronization signal, a secondary synchronization signal, and one or more physical broadcast channel signals, and at least one instruction instructing the transmission point to transmit the set of synchronization signal blocks on a wireless downlink channel to enable a user device to perform a positioning measurement of at least one of the set of synchronization signal blocks.

In an aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for utilizing synchronization signal blocks for positioning operations includes computer-executable instructions comprising at least one instruction instructing a user device to receive, from a transmission point, a plurality of synchronization signal blocks on a wireless downlink channel, each of the plurality of synchronization signal blocks comprising a primary synchronization signal, a secondary synchronization signal, and one or more physical broadcast channel signals, at least one instruction instructing a user device to receive, from the transmission point, an indication of a set of the plurality of synchronization signal blocks to be used as positioning measurement signals, and at least one instruction instructing a user device to perform a positioning measurement of at least one of the set of the plurality of synchronization signal blocks.

Other objects and advantages associated with the aspects disclosed herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art based on the accompanying drawings and detailed description.

