Positioning information sending method, device, apparatus and storage medium

Abstract

This application provides a method, device, apparatus, and storage medium for transmitting location information. The method, applied to a first terminal, includes: determining a terminal group, wherein the terminal group includes the first terminal and at least one second terminal, wherein the first terminal is used to acquire the location information of the second terminal; and using the terminal group as a location information transmitting unit, transmitting the location information of each terminal included in the terminal group to a location function entity. Through the location information transmitting method, device, apparatus, and storage medium provided in this application, multiple terminals form a terminal group, and the terminal group serves as the location information transmitting unit. The first terminal in the terminal group transmits the location information of all terminals included in the terminal group to the location function entity, satisfying the location needs of each terminal while avoiding extensive interaction between a large number of terminals and the network, thereby reducing the power consumption of most terminals and the resource consumption of the network.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of wireless communication, and in particular to a positioning information sending method, device, apparatus and storage medium. BACKGROUND

[0002] With the wide application of the 5th generation mobile communication (5G) network, in some special scenarios such as low power high accuracy positioning (LPHAP) scenarios, the network is required to perform high-frequency positioning on user equipment (UE) (or also known as terminal equipment, hereinafter referred to as terminal).

[0003] High-frequency positioning requires the terminal to report positioning information to the network at a high frequency, which results in high power consumption of the terminal. And such terminals are similar to Internet of Things (IoT) terminals, which have limited power, and high power consumption will significantly reduce the endurance of the terminal. For the network, a large number of terminals reporting positioning information at a high frequency will also consume a large amount of network resources. Therefore, how to meet the demand of high-frequency positioning of the terminal while reducing the power consumption of the terminal and reducing the consumption of network resources is an important issue that needs to be solved in the industry at present. SUMMARY

[0004] The embodiments of the present application provide a positioning information sending method, device, apparatus and storage medium to reduce the power consumption of the terminal and reduce the consumption of network resources.

[0005] In a first aspect, the embodiments of the present application provide a positioning information sending method applied to a first terminal, comprising:

[0006] determining a terminal group, the terminal group containing the first terminal and at least one second terminal, wherein the first terminal is configured to obtain positioning information of the second terminal;

[0007] sending the positioning information of each terminal contained in the terminal group to a positioning function entity as a positioning information sending unit.

[0008] Optionally, the determining the terminal group specifically comprises:

[0009] receiving terminal group configuration information sent by a first network side device, and determining a terminal group according to the terminal group configuration information, wherein the terminal group configuration information carries terminal information of each terminal contained in the terminal group and a terminal identifier of the first terminal used for sending positioning information to a positioning function entity.

[0010] or,

[0011] receiving negotiation indication information sent by the first network side device, and determining a terminal group according to the negotiation indication information, wherein the negotiation indication information is used to indicate that a terminal receiving the negotiation indication information determines a terminal group by negotiation.

[0012] Optionally, the terminal group configuration information further comprises any one or more of the following:

[0013] a sending mode of sending positioning information by each terminal in the terminal group;

[0014] a sending period of sending positioning information by each terminal in the terminal group;

[0015] rotation information of a first terminal in the terminal group for sending positioning information to a positioning function entity, the rotation information comprising rotation order, time length of a rotation timer, or rotation mode;

[0016] out-of-contact timer information, the out-of-contact timer being used to determine whether out-of-contact occurs between each second terminal in the terminal group and the first terminal;

[0017] hierarchical information of sending positioning information by each terminal in the terminal group.

[0018] Optionally, the determining a terminal group according to the negotiation indication information comprises:

[0019] sending a first terminal group negotiation message according to the negotiation indication information, the first terminal group negotiation message carrying terminal identification of the first terminal and indication information of requesting to establish a terminal group;

[0020] receiving a negotiation response message and / or a second terminal group negotiation message sent by another terminal;

[0021] determining to establish a terminal group with the another terminal and determining the first terminal as a terminal for sending positioning information to a positioning function entity according to the negotiation response message and / or the second terminal group negotiation message.

[0022] Optionally, the first terminal acquires positioning information of the second terminal by the following way:

[0023] receiving positioning information of the second terminal sent by the second terminal through a direct interface between the first terminal and the second terminal;

[0024] or,

[0025] receiving positioning information of the second terminal sent by an access network device through a Uu interface between the first terminal and the access network device.

[0026] Optionally, sending the location information of each terminal in the terminal group to the location function entity includes:

[0027] According to the location information sending cycle, the location information of each terminal in the terminal group is sent to the location function entity.

[0028] Optionally, the method further includes:

[0029] Adjust the terminal information used to send location information to the positioning function entity according to the terminal rotation information.

[0030] Optionally, the method further includes:

[0031] When the disconnection timer expires, the terminal information of the second terminal that has lost contact with the first terminal is determined, and the determined terminal information of the second terminal is sent to the first network-side device.

[0032] Optionally, before determining the terminal group, the method further includes:

[0033] Send registration information or terminal subscription information to the first network-side device, wherein the registration information or terminal subscription information includes the location requirement information of the first terminal;

[0034] The location requirement information includes any one or more of the following:

[0035] Positioning method; positioning area; positioning accuracy; positioning cycle; positioning start and end time; number of positioning attempts; positioning trigger conditions; positioning termination conditions; Quality of Service (QoS); positioning report address; terminal group function support identifier.

[0036] Optionally, the method further includes:

[0037] If it is determined that the terminal group is to be removed, a first exit message is sent to the first network-side device, the first exit message being used to request to leave the terminal group;

[0038] or,

[0039] A second exit message is sent to each second terminal in the terminal group, the second exit message being used to instruct each second terminal in the terminal group to determine a new terminal group through negotiation.

[0040] Secondly, embodiments of this application also provide a method for transmitting location information, applied to a second terminal, comprising:

[0041] A terminal group is determined, the terminal group including a first terminal and at least one second terminal, wherein the first terminal is used to send the location information of each terminal included in the terminal group to the location function entity using the terminal group as a location information sending unit;

[0042] The location information of the second terminal is sent to the first terminal.

[0043] Optionally, sending the location information of the second terminal to the first terminal includes:

[0044] During one transmission cycle in which the second terminal transmits location information, the location information of the second terminal is transmitted to the first terminal at least once.

[0045] Optionally, sending the location information of the second terminal to the first terminal includes:

[0046] The location information of the second terminal is sent to the first terminal through a direct connection interface with the first terminal;

[0047] or,

[0048] The location information is sent to the access network device via the Uu interface between the device and the access network device, so that the access network device sends the location information to the first terminal.

[0049] Optionally, sending the location information of the second terminal to the first terminal includes:

[0050] Based on the hierarchical information of the location information sent by the second terminal, the location information of the second terminal is sent to the first terminal through the terminal at the next higher level of the second terminal.

[0051] Thirdly, embodiments of this application also provide a method for transmitting location information, applied to a first network-side device, comprising:

[0052] First information is determined, which is used to instruct the terminal receiving the first information to trigger the establishment of a terminal group. The terminal group includes a first terminal and at least one second terminal. The first terminal is used to obtain the location information of the second terminal and send the location information of each terminal included in the terminal group to the location function entity using the terminal group as the location information sending unit.

[0053] The first information is sent to each terminal.

[0054] Optionally, determining the first information includes:

[0055] The system receives registration information or terminal subscription information sent by each terminal. The registration information or terminal subscription information includes the location requirement information of each terminal. The location requirement information includes any one or more of the following: location method; location area; location accuracy; location cycle; location start and end time; number of location attempts; location trigger condition; location termination condition; Quality of Service (QoS); location report address; and terminal group function support identifier.

[0056] Based on the received location request information, a first terminal for sending location information to the location function entity is determined from among the terminals.

[0057] A terminal group configuration information is generated as the first information, wherein the terminal group configuration information carries the terminal information of each terminal included in the terminal group and the terminal identifier of the first terminal.

[0058] Optionally, sending the first information to each terminal includes:

[0059] Based on the terminal information of each terminal included in the terminal group carried in the terminal group configuration information, the terminal group configuration information is sent to each terminal.

[0060] Optionally, determining the first information includes:

[0061] The system receives registration information or terminal subscription information sent by each terminal. The registration information or terminal subscription information includes the location requirement information of each terminal. The location requirement information includes any one or more of the following: location method; location area; location accuracy; location cycle; location start and end time; number of location attempts; location trigger condition; location termination condition; Quality of Service (QoS); location report address; and terminal group function support identifier.

[0062] Based on the received location request information, negotiation instruction information is generated as the first information, wherein the negotiation instruction information is used to instruct the terminal receiving the negotiation instruction information to determine the terminal group through negotiation.

[0063] Optionally, the method further includes:

[0064] If it is determined that a terminal in the terminal group has changed, then terminal change information is sent to each terminal in the terminal group;

[0065] The terminal change information includes any one or more of the following:

[0066] The terminal identifier of newly added terminals; the terminal identifier of lost terminals; the terminal identifier of withdrawn terminals; the terminal identifier of terminals whose location request information has changed, and the corresponding changed location request information.

[0067] Fourthly, embodiments of this application also provide a terminal, including a memory, a transceiver, and a processor:

[0068] A memory for storing computer programs; a transceiver for sending and receiving data under the control of the processor; and a processor for reading the computer programs from the memory and performing the following operations:

[0069] A terminal group is determined, the terminal group including a first terminal and at least one second terminal, wherein the first terminal is used to obtain the location information of the second terminal;

[0070] Using the terminal group as a location information sending unit, the location information of each terminal contained in the terminal group is sent to the location function entity.

[0071] Optionally, determining the terminal group specifically includes:

[0072] The terminal group configuration information sent by the first network-side device is received, and the terminal group is determined according to the terminal group configuration information. The terminal group configuration information carries the terminal information of each terminal included in the terminal group and the terminal identifier of the first terminal used to send positioning information to the positioning function entity.

[0073] or,

[0074] The system receives negotiation instruction information sent by a first network-side device and determines a terminal group based on the negotiation instruction information, wherein the negotiation instruction information is used to instruct the terminals that receive the negotiation instruction information to determine the terminal group through negotiation.

[0075] Optionally, the terminal group configuration information may further include any one or more of the following:

[0076] The method by which each terminal in the terminal group sends location information;

[0077] The transmission cycle of location information sent by each terminal in the terminal group;

[0078] The rotation information of the first terminal in the terminal group used to send positioning information to the positioning function entity includes the rotation order, the duration of the rotation timer, or the rotation method.

[0079] Loss of connection timer information, wherein the loss of connection timer is used to determine whether a loss of connection has occurred between each second terminal in the terminal group and the first terminal;

[0080] The hierarchical information of the location information sent by each terminal in the terminal group.

[0081] Optionally, determining the terminal group based on the negotiation instruction information includes:

[0082] According to the negotiation instruction information, a first terminal group negotiation message is sent, which carries the terminal identifier of the first terminal and the instruction information to request the establishment of a terminal group.

[0083] Receive negotiation response messages and / or second terminal group negotiation messages sent by other terminals;

[0084] Based on the negotiation response message and / or the second terminal group negotiation message, it is determined that a terminal group is established with the other terminals, and the first terminal is determined to be the terminal used to send location information to the location function entity.

[0085] Optionally, the first terminal obtains the location information of the second terminal in the following manner:

[0086] The system receives location information sent by the second terminal via a direct connection interface with the second terminal.

[0087] or,

[0088] The location information of the second terminal sent by the access network device is received through the Uu interface between the access network device and the access network device.

[0089] Optionally, sending the location information of each terminal in the terminal group to the location function entity includes:

[0090] According to the location information sending cycle, the location information of each terminal in the terminal group is sent to the location function entity.

[0091] Optionally, the operation further includes:

[0092] Adjust the terminal information used to send location information to the positioning function entity according to the terminal rotation information.

[0093] Optionally, the operation further includes:

[0094] When the disconnection timer expires, the terminal information of the second terminal that has lost contact with the first terminal is determined, and the determined terminal information of the second terminal is sent to the first network-side device.

[0095] Optionally, before determining the terminal group, the operation further includes:

[0096] Send registration information or terminal subscription information to the first network-side device, wherein the registration information or terminal subscription information includes the location requirement information of the first terminal;

[0097] The location requirement information includes any one or more of the following:

[0098] Positioning method; positioning area; positioning accuracy; positioning cycle; positioning start and end time; number of positioning attempts; positioning trigger conditions; positioning termination conditions; Quality of Service (QoS); positioning report address; terminal group function support identifier.

[0099] Optionally, the operation further includes:

[0100] If it is determined that the terminal group is to be removed, a first exit message is sent to the first network-side device, the first exit message being used to request to leave the terminal group;

[0101] or,

[0102] A second exit message is sent to each second terminal in the terminal group, the second exit message being used to instruct each second terminal in the terminal group to determine a new terminal group through negotiation.

[0103] Fifthly, embodiments of this application also provide a terminal, including a memory, a transceiver, and a processor:

[0104] A memory for storing computer programs; a transceiver for sending and receiving data under the control of the processor; and a processor for reading the computer programs from the memory and performing the following operations:

[0105] A terminal group is determined, the terminal group including a first terminal and at least one second terminal, wherein the first terminal is used to send the location information of each terminal included in the terminal group to the location function entity using the terminal group as a location information sending unit;

[0106] The location information of the second terminal is sent to the first terminal.

[0107] Optionally, sending the location information of the second terminal to the first terminal includes:

[0108] During one transmission cycle in which the second terminal transmits location information, the location information of the second terminal is transmitted to the first terminal at least once.

[0109] Optionally, sending the location information of the second terminal to the first terminal includes:

[0110] The location information of the second terminal is sent to the first terminal through a direct connection interface with the first terminal;

[0111] or,

[0112] The location information is sent to the access network device via the Uu interface between the device and the access network device, so that the access network device sends the location information to the first terminal.

[0113] Optionally, sending the location information of the second terminal to the first terminal includes:

[0114] Based on the hierarchical information of the location information sent by the second terminal, the location information of the second terminal is sent to the first terminal through the terminal at the next higher level of the second terminal.

[0115] Sixthly, embodiments of this application also provide a network-side device, including a memory, a transceiver, and a processor:

[0116] A memory for storing computer programs; a transceiver for sending and receiving data under the control of the processor; and a processor for reading the computer programs from the memory and performing the following operations:

[0117] First information is determined, which is used to instruct the terminal receiving the first information to trigger the establishment of a terminal group. The terminal group includes a first terminal and at least one second terminal. The first terminal is used to obtain the location information of the second terminal and send the location information of each terminal included in the terminal group to the location function entity using the terminal group as the location information sending unit.

[0118] The first information is sent to each terminal.

[0119] Optionally, determining the first information includes:

[0120] The system receives registration information or terminal subscription information sent by each terminal. The registration information or terminal subscription information includes the location requirement information of each terminal. The location requirement information includes any one or more of the following: location method; location area; location accuracy; location cycle; location start and end time; number of location attempts; location trigger condition; location termination condition; Quality of Service (QoS); location report address; and terminal group function support identifier.

[0121] Based on the received location request information, a first terminal for sending location information to the location function entity is determined from among the terminals.

[0122] A terminal group configuration information is generated as the first information, wherein the terminal group configuration information carries the terminal information of each terminal included in the terminal group and the terminal identifier of the first terminal.

[0123] Optionally, sending the first information to each terminal includes:

[0124] Based on the terminal information of each terminal included in the terminal group carried in the terminal group configuration information, the terminal group configuration information is sent to each terminal.

[0125] Optionally, determining the first information includes:

[0126] The system receives registration information or terminal subscription information sent by each terminal. The registration information or terminal subscription information includes the location requirement information of each terminal. The location requirement information includes any one or more of the following: location method; location area; location accuracy; location cycle; location start and end time; number of location attempts; location trigger condition; location termination condition; Quality of Service (QoS); location report address; and terminal group function support identifier.

[0127] Based on the received location request information, negotiation instruction information is generated as the first information, wherein the negotiation instruction information is used to instruct the terminal receiving the negotiation instruction information to determine the terminal group through negotiation.

[0128] Optionally, the operation further includes:

[0129] If it is determined that a terminal in the terminal group has changed, then terminal change information is sent to each terminal in the terminal group;

[0130] The terminal change information includes any one or more of the following:

[0131] The terminal identifier of newly added terminals; the terminal identifier of lost terminals; the terminal identifier of withdrawn terminals; the terminal identifier of terminals whose location request information has changed, and the corresponding changed location request information.

[0132] Seventhly, embodiments of this application also provide a location information transmitting device, applied to a first terminal, comprising:

[0133] A first determining unit is configured to determine a terminal group, the terminal group including a first terminal and at least one second terminal, wherein the first terminal is configured to obtain the location information of the second terminal;

[0134] The first sending unit is used to send the location information of each terminal included in the terminal group to the location function entity, using the terminal group as the location information sending unit.

[0135] Eighthly, embodiments of this application also provide a location information transmitting device, applied to a second terminal, comprising:

[0136] The second determining unit is used to determine a terminal group, wherein the terminal group includes a first terminal and at least one second terminal, wherein the first terminal is used to send the positioning information of each terminal included in the terminal group to the positioning function entity using the terminal group as a positioning information sending unit.

[0137] The second sending unit is used to send the location information of the second terminal to the first terminal.

[0138] Ninthly, embodiments of this application also provide a location information transmitting device, applied to a first network-side device, comprising:

[0139] The third determining unit is used to determine first information, which is used to instruct the terminal receiving the first information to trigger the establishment of a terminal group. The terminal group includes a first terminal and at least one second terminal. The first terminal is used to obtain the location information of the second terminal and send the location information of each terminal included in the terminal group to the location function entity using the terminal group as the location information sending unit.

[0140] The third sending unit is used to send the first information to each terminal.

[0141] In a tenth aspect, embodiments of this application also provide a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program configured to cause a computer to perform the steps of the location information transmission method described in the first aspect, or the steps of the location information transmission method described in the second aspect, or the steps of the location information transmission method described in the third aspect.

[0142] Eleventhly, embodiments of this application also provide a communication device, wherein the communication device stores a computer program, the computer program being configured to cause the communication device to perform the steps of the location information transmission method described in the first aspect above, or to perform the steps of the location information transmission method described in the second aspect above, or to perform the steps of the location information transmission method described in the third aspect above.

[0143] In a twelfth aspect, embodiments of this application also provide a processor-readable storage medium storing a computer program configured to cause a processor to perform the steps of the location information transmission method described in the first aspect, or the steps of the location information transmission method described in the second aspect, or the steps of the location information transmission method described in the third aspect.

[0144] In a thirteenth aspect, embodiments of this application also provide a chip product, wherein the chip product stores a computer program, the computer program being configured to cause the chip product to perform the steps of the positioning information transmission method described in the first aspect above, or to perform the steps of the positioning information transmission method described in the second aspect above, or to perform the steps of the positioning information transmission method described in the third aspect above.

[0145] The location information transmission method, device, apparatus, and storage medium provided in this application embodiment use multiple terminals to form a terminal group, with the terminal group as the location information transmission unit. The first terminal in the terminal group sends the location information of all terminals in the terminal group to the location function entity, which not only meets the location needs of each terminal, but also avoids a large number of terminals interacting with the network, thereby reducing the power consumption of most terminals and the resource consumption of the network. Attached Figure Description

[0146] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0147] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the network architecture for proximity communication provided by existing technologies;

[0148] Figure 2 This is one of the flowcharts illustrating the location information sending method provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0149] Figure 3 This is a second flowchart illustrating the location information sending method provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0150] Figure 4 This is the third flowchart illustrating the location information sending method provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0151] Figure 5 This is the fourth flowchart illustrating the location information sending method provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0152] Figure 6 This is the fifth flowchart illustrating the location information sending method provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0153] Figure 7 This is the sixth flowchart illustrating the location information sending method provided in this application embodiment;

[0154] Figure 8 This is the seventh flowchart illustrating the location information transmission method provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0155] Figure 9 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of the terminal provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0156] Figure 10 This is a second schematic diagram of the terminal structure provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0157] Figure 11This is a schematic diagram of the network-side device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0158] Figure 12 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of the positioning information transmitting device provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0159] Figure 13 This is a second schematic diagram of the structure of the positioning information transmitting device provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0160] Figure 14 This is the third structural schematic diagram of the positioning information sending device provided in the embodiments of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0161] In the embodiments of this application, the term "and / or" describes the relationship between associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent three cases: A alone, A and B simultaneously, and B alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following associated objects have an "or" relationship.

[0162] In the embodiments of this application, the term "multiple" refers to two or more, and other quantifiers are similar.

[0163] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0164] To facilitate a clearer understanding of the various embodiments of this application, the relevant background technology involved in this application will first be introduced.

[0165] I. Positioning Technology

[0166] In the current positioning technology of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the terminal itself or a third-party application (such as an Application Function (AF) or a Location Services (LCS) client) needs to initiate a positioning request for the terminal. The former is called a Mobile Originated-Location Request (MO-LR), and the latter is called a Mobile Terminated-Location Request (MT-LR).

[0167] The general process of MO-LR is as follows:

[0168] 1. The terminal completes registration on the network through the registration process;

[0169] 2. The terminal initiates a service request to establish a signaling channel with the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF);

[0170] 3. The terminal initiates an MO-LR request process to request the network to locate it;

[0171] 4. The AMF selects the appropriate Location Management Function (LMF) and requests the LMF to locate the terminal;

[0172] 5. The LMF locates the terminal and returns the location result to the AMF;

[0173] 6. The AMF sends the location results to the Gateway Mobile Location Centre (GMLC);

[0174] 7. GMLC sends the location results directly to the LCS client or to the AF via the Network Exposure Function (NEF);

[0175] 8. The LCS client / AF returns a response message, which is then sent to the AMF via GMLC and further sent to the terminal.

[0176] The general process of MT-LR is as follows:

[0177] 1. The terminal completes registration on the network through the registration process;

[0178] 2. The LCS client / AF initiates an MT-LR request process, sends it to the GMLC, and requests the network to locate the relevant terminal;

[0179] 3. GMLC queries the terminal's context information and privacy check information by sending a request to Unified Data Management (UDM);

[0180] 4. UDM returns relevant information, including the AMF information currently serving this terminal;

[0181] 5. GMLC sends the location request to the corresponding AMF;

[0182] 6. The AMF selects a suitable LMF and requests the LMF to locate the terminal;

[0183] 7. The LMF locates the terminal and returns the location result to the AMF;

[0184] 8. AMF sends the location results to GMLC;

[0185] 9. GMLC sends the location results directly to the LCS client or to the AF via NEF.

[0186] II. Proximity-based Services (ProSe)

[0187] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the network architecture for proximity communication provided for existing technologies, such as Figure 1 As shown, 3GPP ProSe includes Layer 2 / Layer 3 communication between terminals via the Proximity Communication Port 5 (PC5) interface, and Layer 2 / Layer 3 communication between terminals and the network via the Uu interface. The terminal can act as a relay UE to provide relay communication between remote UEs and the network.

[0188] In current LCS technology, each terminal is an independent entity, measuring and reporting its own location information. In high-frequency reporting scenarios, under the existing technological framework, no matter how simplified the network architecture or signaling interaction method is, reporting must still be performed at the required frequency. This behavior is unavoidable, leading to higher terminal power consumption and greater network resource consumption.

[0189] To address the aforementioned issues, the embodiments of this application provide a solution that combines the LCS reporting process with the ProSe mechanism. By forming a terminal group from multiple terminals and using the terminal group as the information reporting unit, the reporting frequency of each terminal (or most terminals) is reduced, thereby reducing the power consumption of the terminals and the resource consumption of the network.

[0190] Figure 2 This is one of the flowcharts illustrating a location information sending method provided in an embodiment of this application. The method is applied to a first terminal, such as... Figure 2 As shown, the method includes the following steps:

[0191] Step 200: Determine the terminal group, which includes a first terminal and at least one second terminal, wherein the first terminal is used to obtain the location information of the second terminal;

[0192] Step 201: Using the terminal group as the location information sending unit, send the location information of each terminal contained in the terminal group to the location function entity.

[0193] Specifically, in this embodiment, multiple terminals form a terminal group, which serves as the location information sending unit. The first terminal in the terminal group sends the location information of all terminals in the terminal group to the location function entity (e.g., LMF) in the core network. Only the first terminal in the terminal group interacts with the network, while the other terminals (i.e., each second terminal) only send the location information to the first terminal without interacting with the network. This reduces the power consumption of most terminals and the resource consumption of the network.

[0194] There can be one or more terminal groups. Each terminal group contains a first terminal and at least one second terminal. The first terminal in each terminal group is responsible for sending the location information of all terminals in its terminal group to the location function entity, so as to meet the location needs of each terminal and avoid a large number of terminals interacting with the network.

[0195] The aforementioned positioning information may include relevant information for calculating the terminal's location, such as measurement information of the terminal for multiple received reference signals. Typically, this information may be the reference signal time difference value measured by the terminal based on downlink reference signals (DL RS) sent to the terminal by multiple base stations.

[0196] It should be noted that the embodiments of this application are illustrated using location information reporting as an example. Of course, those skilled in the art will understand that the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application are not limited to the location information reporting scenario, and can also be applied to any other information reporting scenario. For the sake of convenience in the following discussion, the embodiments of this application are only illustrated using location information reporting as an example.

[0197] The location information sending method provided in this application embodiment uses multiple terminals to form a terminal group, with the terminal group as the location information sending unit. The first terminal in the terminal group sends the location information of all terminals in the terminal group to the location function entity. This satisfies the location needs of each terminal and avoids a large number of terminals interacting with the network, thereby reducing the power consumption of most terminals and the resource consumption of the network.

[0198] Optionally, determining the terminal group specifically includes:

[0199] The terminal group configuration information sent by the first network-side device is received, and the terminal group is determined according to the terminal group configuration information. The terminal group configuration information carries the terminal information of each terminal in the terminal group and the terminal identifier of the first terminal used to send positioning information to the positioning function entity.

[0200] Specifically, the first network-side device can be an AMF or other core network element.

[0201] In this embodiment, the first network-side device can configure the terminal group to which the terminal belongs and send the configured terminal group information to each terminal.

[0202] The terminal group configuration information sent by the first network-side device to a certain terminal includes the terminal group information configured by the network for that terminal, indicating the terminal group to which the terminal belongs, as well as the first terminal and the second terminal in the terminal group. After receiving the terminal group configuration information sent by the first network-side device, the terminal can determine the terminal information (such as terminal identifier) ​​of the first terminal and the terminal information of the second terminal in its terminal group, thereby determining whether it is the first terminal or the second terminal. If it is the first terminal, it receives the location information sent by other terminals (i.e., each second terminal) and sends its own location information and the location information of all other terminals in the terminal group to the location function entity. If it is the second terminal, it sends its own location information to the first terminal in the terminal group.

[0203] Optionally, the terminal group configuration information may also include any one or more of the following:

[0204] The method by which each terminal in the terminal group sends location information;

[0205] The transmission cycle for each terminal in the terminal group to send location information;

[0206] The rotation information of the first terminal in the terminal group used to send positioning information to the positioning function entity includes the rotation order, the duration of the rotation timer, or the rotation method.

[0207] The disconnection timer information is used to determine whether a second terminal in the terminal group has lost contact with the first terminal. For example, if the disconnection timer expires and a second terminal has not sent location information to the first terminal, the first terminal determines that the second terminal has lost contact.

[0208] The hierarchical information of location information sent by each terminal in a terminal group; for example, if a hierarchical information reporting mechanism is set up, the terminal group configuration information can include the hierarchical information of location information sent by each terminal in the terminal group. Thus, each terminal in the terminal group can determine its next-level and upper-level terminals based on this hierarchical information. It can be understood that the uppermost terminal is the first terminal in the terminal group; the lowermost terminal only sends its own location information to its upper-level terminal; while terminals in the middle levels can receive location information from their lower-level terminals and send their own location information along with the received location information from their lower-level terminals to their upper-level terminals. Through this hierarchical reporting method, the location information of all second-level terminals in the terminal group is eventually sent to the first terminal.

[0209] Optionally, the terminal group configuration information may also include any one or more of the following: the time of terminal group establishment (i.e., indicating when the terminal starts to establish the terminal group); the time of terminal group termination (i.e., indicating when the terminal disbands the terminal group); the conditions for terminal group establishment (i.e., indicating under what conditions the terminal triggers the establishment of the terminal group); the conditions for terminal group termination (i.e., indicating under what conditions the terminal triggers the disbandment of the terminal group); and the terminal's location reporting address (i.e., indicating the destination address that the terminal needs to report the location calculation results).

[0210] Optionally, determining the terminal group specifically includes:

[0211] The system receives negotiation instruction information sent by the first network-side device and determines the terminal group based on the negotiation instruction information. The negotiation instruction information is used to instruct the terminals that receive the negotiation instruction information to determine the terminal group through negotiation.

[0212] Specifically, in this embodiment, the terminal group to which the terminal belongs is not configured by the network, but is determined by the first network-side device sending negotiation instruction information (e.g., an identifier confirming support for terminal negotiation to establish a terminal group) to the terminal, instructing the terminal that receives the negotiation instruction information to determine the terminal group through negotiation.

[0213] Optionally, the negotiation instruction information may also include any one or more of the following: the method by which each terminal in the terminal group sends location information; the period at which each terminal in the terminal group sends location information; the rotation information of the first terminal in the terminal group used to send location information to the location function entity, the rotation information including the rotation order, the duration of the rotation timer, or the rotation method; disconnection timer information, the disconnection timer being used to determine whether a disconnection has occurred between each second terminal in the terminal group and the first terminal; the hierarchical information of the location information sent by each terminal in the terminal group; the time when the terminal group was established; the time when the terminal group was terminated; the conditions for establishing the terminal group; the conditions for terminating the terminal group; and the location report address of the terminal. It should be noted that the content included in the negotiation instruction information differs from that included in the terminal group configuration information in the following ways: 1) The method of determining the terminals included in the terminal group is different. The negotiation instruction information does not specify which terminals are specifically included in the terminal group. The specific terminals included in the terminal group and the roles of each terminal are determined through negotiation between the terminals; 2) The content included in the negotiation instruction information does not specifically refer to a certain terminal group or a certain terminal, but is general. For example, after negotiation between the terminals, it is determined which terminal is the first terminal, and that first terminal reports the location information according to the sending method or sending period in the negotiation instruction information; 3) The content included in the negotiation instruction information can also be determined through negotiation between the terminals.

[0214] Optionally, taking the first terminal (which can be understood as not having determined itself as the first terminal at this point) as an example, the first terminal determines the terminal group according to the negotiation instruction information, including:

[0215] According to the negotiation instruction information, a first terminal group negotiation message is sent, which carries the terminal identifier of the first terminal and the instruction information to request the establishment of a terminal group.

[0216] Receive negotiation response messages and / or second terminal group negotiation messages sent by other terminals;

[0217] Based on the negotiation response message and / or the second terminal group negotiation message, it is determined that a terminal group is established with other terminals, and the first terminal is determined to be the terminal used to send location information to the positioning function entity.

[0218] Specifically, after receiving the negotiation instruction information, if the first terminal determines that a terminal group can be established through negotiation with other terminals, then the first terminal can send a first terminal group negotiation message to the other terminals to negotiate. The first terminal group negotiation message carries the terminal identifier of the first terminal and the instruction information requesting the establishment of a terminal group. After receiving the first terminal group negotiation message sent by the first terminal, the other terminals can send a negotiation response message to the first terminal. The negotiation response message may contain information such as whether it supports the establishment of a terminal group or the temporarily determined terminal group members. At the same time, the other terminals will also send a second terminal group negotiation message to the first terminal to negotiate. The second terminal group negotiation message carries the terminal identifier of the other terminal and the instruction information requesting the establishment of a terminal group.

[0219] Therefore, the first terminal can determine which terminals it will establish a terminal group with based on the received negotiation response message and / or the second terminal group negotiation message, and determine the first terminal in the terminal group used to send location information to the location function entity.

[0220] The methods for negotiating and determining the first terminal in the terminal group may include any one or more of the following:

[0221] Voting election; that is, each terminal elects the first terminal through voting. For example, one implementation is that the terminal gives priority to casting its vote for the terminal closest to it.

[0222] Priority comparison; that is, each terminal determines the first terminal by comparing the priorities of the terminals. For example, the priority of each terminal can be pre-configured according to the work content of each terminal. Terminals with more important work content need to prioritize ensuring battery life and can be configured with higher priority. During the negotiation process, each terminal determines the terminal with the lowest priority as the first terminal by comparing the priorities.

[0223] Weighted comparison; that is, each terminal determines the first terminal by comparing the weights of the terminals. For example, different comprehensive weight values ​​can be pre-configured for each terminal based on the importance of its work content, battery capacity, and power consumption rate. For example, a terminal with very important work content but small battery capacity and fast power consumption rate can be set to a comprehensive weight value of 1 (the comprehensive weight value of each terminal ranges from 0 to 1), and the normal operation of such terminals will be given priority. During the negotiation process, each terminal determines the terminal with the lowest comprehensive weight value as the first terminal by comparing the comprehensive weight values.

[0224] Time order takes precedence; each terminal can determine the first terminal by comparing the order in which they joined the network or the terminal group. For example, each terminal can report the start time of its network connection during the negotiation process, and the terminal that connected to the network latest will be given priority as the first terminal.

[0225] When negotiating between terminals, each terminal can send terminal group negotiation messages to other terminals either through the direct connection interface between terminals (i.e., the PC5 interface) or through the Uu interface between the terminal and the access network equipment (e.g., the base station).

[0226] Those skilled in the art should understand that the above method for determining the terminal group applies not only to the first terminal but also to the second terminal. Therefore, the situation of determining the terminal group for the second terminal will not be described in detail below.

[0227] Optionally, the first terminal can obtain the location information of the second terminal in the following ways:

[0228] Receive location information sent by the second terminal through a direct connection interface with the second terminal;

[0229] or,

[0230] The location information of the second terminal sent by the access network device is received through the Uu interface between the access network device and the access network device.

[0231] Specifically, the second terminal can send location information to the first terminal either through a direct connection interface between the terminals (i.e., the PC5 interface) or through the Uu interface between the terminal and the access network device (e.g., a base station). That is, the second terminal sends the location information to the access network device via the Uu interface, and the access network device then forwards the location information to the first terminal via the Uu interface between itself and the first terminal. When sending location information, the second terminal needs to include its own terminal information, such as a terminal identifier, in the corresponding message.

[0232] Optionally, sending the location information of each terminal in the terminal group to the location function entity includes:

[0233] According to the location information sending cycle, the location information of each terminal in the terminal group is sent to the location function entity.

[0234] Specifically, after receiving the location information sent by each of the second terminals, the first terminal can periodically send the location information of each terminal in the terminal group to the location function entity in the core network according to the sending cycle of its location information, so that the location function entity can perform location calculations for each terminal.

[0235] Optionally, the method further includes:

[0236] Adjust the terminal information used to send location information to the positioning function entity according to the terminal rotation information.

[0237] Specifically, to avoid excessive power consumption by a single terminal due to prolonged interaction with the network, which could affect its normal operation, this embodiment employs a rotation system where each terminal takes turns acting as the first terminal to send location information to the positioning function entity, thereby balancing the power consumption of each terminal. For example, the current first terminal can determine the rotation order, rotation timer duration, and rotation method based on the terminal rotation information. When the rotation timer expires, the current first terminal can determine a new first terminal according to the determined rotation order and rotation method.

[0238] Optionally, the method further includes:

[0239] When the disconnection timer expires, the terminal information of the second terminal that has lost contact with the first terminal is determined, and the determined terminal information of the second terminal is sent to the first network-side device.

[0240] Specifically, in this embodiment, the first terminal can determine whether a second terminal has lost contact based on the disconnection timer. For example, if a second terminal has not sent location information to the first terminal when the disconnection timer expires, the first terminal determines that a second terminal has lost contact, and the first terminal can send the terminal information of the determined disconnected second terminal to the first network-side device.

[0241] Optionally, before determining the terminal group, the method further includes:

[0242] Send registration information or terminal subscription information to the first network-side device. The registration information or terminal subscription information contains the location requirement information of the first terminal.

[0243] Specifically, in this embodiment, each terminal (which may be a first terminal or a second terminal) may carry its own location requirement information in the registration information or terminal subscription information when sending registration information or terminal subscription information to the first network-side device. Thus, the first network-side device can obtain the location requirement information of each terminal through the registration information of each terminal or by querying the terminal subscription information of each terminal in the UDM.

[0244] The location requirement information may include any one or more of the following: location method; location area; location accuracy; location cycle; location start and end time; number of location attempts; location trigger conditions; location termination conditions; quality of service (QoS); location report address; and terminal group function support identifier.

[0245] Optionally, the method further includes:

[0246] If it is determined that the terminal group is to be removed, a first exit message is sent to the first network-side device. The first exit message is used to request to leave the terminal group.

[0247] or,

[0248] A second exit message is sent to each second terminal in the terminal group. The second exit message is used to instruct each second terminal in the terminal group to determine a new terminal group through negotiation.

[0249] Specifically, in this embodiment, when the first terminal determines to leave the terminal group—for example, if the first terminal no longer needs positioning or to join the terminal group due to changes in its positioning requirements—it can send a first exit message to the first network-side device, requesting to leave the terminal group. Upon receiving this message, the first network-side device is aware that the first terminal is about to leave the group and can promptly perform corresponding processing operations, such as sending new terminal group configuration information or new negotiation instruction information to other terminals in the group. After processing, the first network-side device can send a request-response message to the first terminal, confirming that it can leave the terminal group, thereby preventing the sudden exit of the first terminal from affecting the positioning information reporting of other terminals in the group.

[0250] If the first terminal decides to leave the terminal group, it may not notify the first network-side device, but instead send a second exit message to each second terminal in the terminal group, instructing each second terminal in the terminal group to re-establish a new terminal group through negotiation, and determine the first and second terminals in the new terminal group.

[0251] Figure 3 This is a second flowchart illustrating the location information sending method provided in this application embodiment. The method is applied to a second terminal, such as... Figure 3 As shown, the method includes the following steps:

[0252] Step 300: Determine a terminal group, which includes a first terminal and at least one second terminal. The first terminal is used to send the location information of each terminal in the terminal group to the location function entity using the terminal group as the location information sending unit.

[0253] Step 301: Send the location information of the second terminal to the first terminal.

[0254] Specifically, in this embodiment, multiple terminals form a terminal group, which serves as the location information sending unit. The first terminal in the terminal group sends the location information of all terminals in the terminal group to the location function entity (e.g., LMF) in the core network. The second terminal (i.e., the other terminals in the terminal group besides the first terminal) only needs to send its location information to the first terminal. Thus, only the first terminal in the terminal group interacts with the network, thereby reducing the power consumption of most terminals and the resource consumption of the network.

[0255] The location information sending method provided in this application embodiment uses multiple terminals to form a terminal group, with the terminal group as the location information sending unit. The first terminal in the terminal group sends the location information of all terminals in the terminal group to the location function entity. This satisfies the location needs of each terminal and avoids a large number of terminals interacting with the network, thereby reducing the power consumption of most terminals and the resource consumption of the network.

[0256] Optionally, sending the location information of the second terminal to the first terminal includes:

[0257] Within one transmission cycle of the second terminal sending location information, the location information of the second terminal is sent to the first terminal at least once.

[0258] Specifically, when the second terminal sends location information to the first terminal, it can send location information to the first terminal at least once within one of its sending cycles, in order to ensure that the first terminal can receive the location information from the second terminal in a timely manner and send it to the location function entity in the core network.

[0259] Optionally, sending the location information of the second terminal to the first terminal includes:

[0260] The location information of the second terminal is sent to the first terminal through a direct connection interface with the first terminal.

[0261] or,

[0262] The location information is sent to the access network device via the Uu interface, so that the access network device can send the location information to the first terminal.

[0263] Specifically, the second terminal can send location information to the first terminal either through a direct connection interface between the terminals (i.e., the PC5 interface) or through the Uu interface between the terminal and the access network device (e.g., a base station). That is, the second terminal sends the location information to the access network device via the Uu interface, and the access network device then forwards the location information to the first terminal via the Uu interface between itself and the first terminal. When sending location information, the second terminal needs to include its own terminal information, such as a terminal identifier, in the corresponding message.

[0264] Optionally, if the second terminal cannot connect to either the first terminal or the access network device, for example, due to a change in location causing the second terminal to fall out of coverage, the second terminal can search for nearby terminals and determine that it can communicate with a target terminal. In this case, it can establish a PC5 connection with the target terminal and send a request message to the target terminal, requesting the target terminal to send the location information of the second terminal to the first terminal or the access network device in the terminal group to which the second terminal belongs. The request message carries the terminal identifier of the second terminal, the location information of the second terminal, and the terminal identifier of the first terminal, so that the location information of the second terminal can be sent to the first terminal in a timely manner.

[0265] Optionally, sending the location information of the second terminal to the first terminal includes:

[0266] Based on the hierarchical information of the location information sent by the second terminal, the location information of the second terminal is sent to the first terminal through the terminal at the next higher level of the second terminal.

[0267] Specifically, in this embodiment, if a hierarchical information reporting mechanism is set up, such as if the terminal group configuration information or negotiation instruction information contains the hierarchical information of the location information sent by each terminal in the terminal group, or if the terminal groups are determined through negotiation, and the hierarchical information of the location information sent by each terminal in the terminal group is determined, then each terminal in the terminal group can determine its next-level terminal and its previous-level terminal based on this hierarchical information. The top-level terminal is the first terminal in the terminal group; and each second terminal can send its own location information to the first terminal through its previous-level terminal based on its own hierarchical information for sending location information.

[0268] For example, the lowest-level terminal only sends its own location information to the terminal above it; while terminals in the middle level can receive location information from terminals below them and then send their own location information along with the received location information from the lower-level terminals to their higher-level terminals. Through this hierarchical reporting method, the location information of all second-level terminals in the terminal group is eventually sent to the first terminal. It can be understood that second-level terminals below the first terminal can directly send their location information to the first terminal without needing to forward the location information through other terminals.

[0269] It should be noted that in the embodiments of this application, in scenarios where a hierarchical reporting mechanism is set, the location information sent by the second terminal can be understood as including the location information of the second terminal itself and the location information received by the next level terminal.

[0270] Figure 4 This is the third flowchart illustrating the location information transmission method provided in this application embodiment. The method is applied to a first network-side device, such as...Figure 4 As shown, the method includes the following steps:

[0271] Step 400: Determine the first information. The first information is used to instruct the terminal that receives the first information to trigger the establishment of a terminal group. The terminal group includes a first terminal and at least one second terminal. The first terminal is used to obtain the location information of the second terminal and send the location information of each terminal included in the terminal group to the location function entity using the terminal group as the location information sending unit.

[0272] Step 401: Send the first information to each terminal.

[0273] Specifically, in this embodiment of the application, in order to reduce the power consumption and network resource consumption caused by the terminal sending location information to the network, multiple terminals can use a terminal group as the location information sending unit, and the first terminal in the terminal group can send the location information of all terminals in the terminal group to the location function entity in the core network.

[0274] To this end, the first network-side device can send the first information to each terminal after determining the first information used to instruct each terminal to trigger the establishment of a terminal group. This allows each terminal to establish a terminal group based on the first information and determine the first terminal in the terminal group used to send location information to the location function entity. Thus, the first terminal in the terminal group sends the location information of all terminals in the terminal group to the location function entity in the core network, while other terminals (i.e., each second terminal) only send the location information to the first terminal without needing to interact with the network. This reduces the power consumption of most terminals and the resource consumption of the network.

[0275] The location information sending method provided in this application embodiment uses multiple terminals to form a terminal group, with the terminal group as the location information sending unit. The first terminal in the terminal group sends the location information of all terminals in the terminal group to the location function entity. This satisfies the location needs of each terminal and avoids a large number of terminals interacting with the network, thereby reducing the power consumption of most terminals and the resource consumption of the network.

[0276] Optionally, determining the first information includes:

[0277] Receive registration information or terminal subscription information sent by each terminal. The registration information or terminal subscription information contains the location requirement information of each terminal. The location requirement information includes any one or more of the following: location method; location area; location accuracy; location cycle; location start and end time; number of location attempts; location trigger condition; location termination condition; quality of service (QoS); location report address; terminal group function support identifier.

[0278] Based on the received location request information, the first terminal to send location information to the location function entity is determined from among the terminals.

[0279] Generate terminal group configuration information as the first information, wherein the terminal group configuration information carries the terminal information of each terminal included in the terminal group and the terminal identifier of the first terminal.

[0280] Specifically, when sending registration information or terminal subscription information to the first network-side device, each terminal can include its own location requirement information in the registration information or terminal subscription information. Thus, the first network-side device can obtain the location requirement information of each terminal through the registration information of each terminal or by querying the terminal subscription information of each terminal in the UDM.

[0281] The location requirement information may include any one or more of the following: location method; location area; location accuracy; location cycle; location start and end time; number of location attempts; location trigger conditions; location termination conditions; QoS; location report address; and terminal group function support identifier.

[0282] After obtaining the location request information of each terminal, the first network-side device can determine whether each terminal supports the establishment of a terminal group function or the various location requests of the terminal. Based on the location request information of each terminal, the device can group the terminals, determine different terminal groups, identify the first terminal in each terminal group used to send location information to the location function entity, generate terminal group configuration information, and send it to each terminal.

[0283] Optionally, sending the first information to each terminal includes:

[0284] Based on the terminal information of each terminal in the terminal group carried in the terminal group configuration information, the terminal group configuration information is sent to each terminal.

[0285] Specifically, the first network-side device can generate different terminal group configuration information for different terminals or terminal groups. After generating a certain terminal group configuration information, it can send the terminal group configuration information to the corresponding terminal based on the terminal information of each terminal in the terminal group carried in the terminal group configuration information.

[0286] Optionally, determining the first information includes:

[0287] Receive registration information or terminal subscription information sent by each terminal. The registration information or terminal subscription information contains the location requirement information of each terminal. The location requirement information includes any one or more of the following: location method; location area; location accuracy; location cycle; location start and end time; number of location attempts; location trigger condition; location termination condition; quality of service (QoS); location report address; terminal group function support identifier.

[0288] Based on the received location request information, negotiation instruction information is generated as the first information. The negotiation instruction information is used to instruct the terminal receiving the negotiation instruction information to determine the terminal group through negotiation.

[0289] Specifically, in this embodiment, the terminal group to which a terminal belongs is not determined by the first network-side device. Instead, after obtaining the location requirement information of each terminal, the first network-side device generates negotiation instruction information (such as an identifier that confirms support for terminal negotiation to establish a terminal group) based on the location requirement information of each terminal and sends it to each terminal to instruct the terminal that receives the negotiation instruction information to determine the terminal group through negotiation.

[0290] Unlike sending terminal group configuration information, in this embodiment, since the information in the negotiation instruction information does not specify a particular terminal or terminal group, the first network-side device can send the same negotiation instruction information to each terminal, instructing the terminal receiving the negotiation instruction information to determine the terminal group through negotiation.

[0291] Optionally, in this embodiment of the application, after the first network-side device obtains the location requirement information of each terminal, it can send the location requirement information to the location function entity, such as by sending it in the location request, so that the location function entity can locate each terminal based on the location requirement information.

[0292] After receiving the positioning request information from each terminal, the positioning function entity can perform multiple positioning operations on each terminal according to the positioning request information (such as positioning cycle or number of positioning operations). Compared with the existing technology where each positioning operation of a terminal requires the first network-side device to send a positioning request to the positioning function entity, the solution provided in this application can ensure the timeliness of high-frequency positioning of the terminal and reduce network signaling overhead.

[0293] Optionally, the method further includes:

[0294] If it is determined that a terminal in the terminal group has changed, then the terminal change information is sent to each terminal in the terminal group.

[0295] Specifically, in this embodiment, if it is determined that a terminal in the terminal group has changed, the first network-side device can send terminal change information to each terminal in the terminal group so that the terminals in the terminal group can renegotiate and establish a new terminal group. The terminal change information may include any one or more of the following:

[0296] The terminal identifier of newly added terminals; the terminal identifier of lost terminals; the terminal identifier of withdrawn terminals; the terminal identifier of terminals whose location request information has changed, and the corresponding changed location request information.

[0297] Changes in terminals within a terminal group can include any one or more of the following scenarios:

[0298] A new terminal joins the terminal group; a lost terminal rejoins the terminal group; a terminal leaves the terminal group; the location request information of a terminal changes.

[0299] A terminal leaving a terminal group can include any one or more of the following situations: the terminal loses connection; the terminal no longer needs to locate or join the terminal group due to changes in location requirements; the terminal malfunctions; or the network malfunctions.

[0300] Optionally, in this embodiment, the first network-side device may also determine new first information, such as updated terminal group configuration information or updated negotiation instruction information, when it determines that the terminals in the terminal group have changed, and send the updated first information to each terminal in the terminal group, instructing each terminal in the terminal group to establish a new terminal group, and determine the first terminal and the second terminal in the new terminal group.

[0301] Figure 5 This is the fourth flowchart illustrating the location information sending method provided in the embodiments of this application. Figure 5 As shown, the method mainly includes the following steps:

[0302] Step 500: Each terminal sends a registration request to the AMF, including initial registration, mobility registration, periodic registration, or emergency registration.

[0303] Step 501: The terminal provides its positioning request information to the network, including any one or more of the following: positioning method, positioning area, positioning accuracy, positioning cycle, positioning start and end time, number of positioning attempts, positioning trigger conditions, positioning termination conditions, QoS, positioning report address, or terminal group function support identifier. The provision method may include any one or more of the following:

[0304] (1) The terminal carries relevant location requirement information in the registration message.

[0305] (2) AMF queries relevant location requirements information by querying user contract information in UDM.

[0306] (3) The LCS client / AF calls the NEF (Network Exposure Function) services such as Nnef_ParameterProvision_Ceate / Update / Delete, carrying the terminal's location request information in the request message. The NEF calls the UDM's Nudm_ParameterProvision_Ceate / Update / Delete services to send the location request information to the UDM. After confirmation, the UDM creates, updates, or deletes the information in the terminal's subscription information and notifies the AMF.

[0307] Step 502: The AMF determines the terminal group configuration information based on its own configuration information or by requesting the PCF (Policy Control Function) to issue a policy. This information includes one or more of the following: terminal information of each terminal in the terminal group; terminal identifier of the first terminal used to send location information to the LMF; the method by which each terminal in the terminal group sends location information; the sending cycle of each terminal in the terminal group sending location information; rotation information of the first terminal in the terminal group used to send location information to the location function entity; disconnection timer information; hierarchical information of each terminal in the terminal group sending location information; the time the terminal group was established; the time the terminal group was terminated; the conditions for establishing the terminal group; the conditions for terminating the terminal group; and the terminal's location report address, etc. The methods by which each terminal in the terminal group sends location information include, but are not limited to:

[0308] (1) Select the first terminal as the terminal to report location information to the LMF. The second terminal sends location information to the first terminal of its respective terminal group at least once during its transmission period. The first terminal sends the location information of all terminals in its terminal group to the LMF during its transmission period. If the second terminal fails to send location information to the first terminal before the disconnection timer expires, the first terminal sends the information of the disconnected second terminal, such as the terminal identifier, to the AMF.

[0309] (2) The first terminal is selected as the terminal to report location information to the LMF. The second terminal sends location information to the first terminal in its respective terminal group at least once during its transmission period. The first terminal sends the location information of all terminals in its terminal group to the LMF during its transmission period. After the rotation timer expires, the first terminal is re-determined according to the rotation order, and then the location information reporting continues according to the above method. If the second terminal fails to send location information to the first terminal before the disconnection timer expires, the first terminal sends the information of the disconnected second terminal, such as the terminal identifier, to the AMF.

[0310] (3) Based on the above (1) or (2) method, a hierarchical reporting mechanism is set up. The top-level terminal is the first terminal in the terminal group; the bottom-level terminal only sends its own location information to the terminal above it; while the terminal in the middle level can receive the location information of the terminal below it and send its own location information and the location information of the terminal below it received together to the terminal above it. Through the hierarchical reporting method, the location information of all the second terminals in the terminal group is finally sent to the first terminal.

[0311] Step 503: The AMF sends terminal group configuration information to the terminal in the registration response and other messages.

[0312] Step 504: The AMF sends a location request to the LMF, which contains the terminal's location requirement information.

[0313] Step 505: After receiving the terminal group configuration information, the terminal establishes a terminal group according to the terminal group configuration information and reports location information as instructed in the terminal group configuration information. The second terminal sends location information to the first terminal, either through the PC5 interface between terminals or through the Uu interface between the terminal and the base station. The second terminal needs to include its own identity information, such as the terminal identifier, and its own location information in the corresponding message (if it also receives location information from the next-level terminals, it should also include the location information of the next-level terminals it has received). When a second terminal is unable to connect to the first terminal and the base station in its terminal group, for example, due to a change in location causing it to be out of coverage, the second terminal can establish a PC5 connection with other reachable terminals in the vicinity and request other terminals to send location information to the first terminal or the base station in the terminal group to which the second terminal belongs. If so, the request message should carry the identity information of the second terminal, such as the terminal identifier, and the location information of the second terminal itself (if it also receives location information from the next level terminal, it should also include the location information of the next level terminal it receives), as well as the relevant information of the first terminal in the terminal group to which the second terminal belongs, such as the terminal identifier of the first terminal.

[0314] Step 506: LMF performs positioning calculations on the terminal.

[0315] Step 507: The LMF returns the positioning results to the AMF.

[0316] Step 507a: If the terminal's location request information includes a location report address, the LMF can also directly send the location result to the relevant LCS client / AF.

[0317] Step 508: AMF sends the positioning results to GMLC.

[0318] Step 509: GMLC sends the location results directly to the LCS client or to the AF via NEF.

[0319] LMF will perform multiple location searches based on the location requirement information, without AMF needing to send a location request to it each time. LMF must send the location results of each search to the location report address as described in steps 507-509 above, until the termination condition is triggered or a subsequent notification is received from AMF.

[0320] Figure 6 This is the fifth flowchart illustrating the location information sending method provided in the embodiments of this application, as shown below. Figure 6 As shown, this method addresses scenarios where terminals within a terminal group change, and it mainly includes the following steps (and...). Figure 5 (The repeated content in the illustrated embodiments will not be described again):

[0321] Step 600: Trigger an event indicating a change in the terminals within the terminal group.

[0322] Specifically, events that trigger changes in terminals within a terminal group include the following:

[0323] (1) A new terminal joins the terminal group, or a lost terminal rejoins the terminal group.

[0324] (2) The terminal's positioning requirements have changed.

[0325] (3) The terminal leaves the terminal group under the following circumstances:

[0326] a. Terminal loses connection (the second terminal fails to send location information to the first terminal before the timer expires);

[0327] b. The terminal no longer needs to be located or no longer needs to be added to the terminal group due to changes in location requirements;

[0328] c. The terminal malfunctioned;

[0329] d. The network is malfunctioning.

[0330] Step 601: AMF determines the new terminal group configuration information.

[0331] Step 602: The AMF sends updated terminal group configuration information to the terminal.

[0332] Step 603: The AMF sends an updated location request to the LMF, which contains updated location requirement information.

[0333] Step 604: After receiving the updated terminal group configuration information, the terminal establishes a new terminal group based on the updated terminal group configuration information and reports the location information.

[0334] Step 605: LMF locates and sends the location result.

[0335] LMF will perform multiple location searches based on the location requirement information, without AMF sending a location request to it each time. LMF is required to send the location results of each search to the location report address as described in steps 507-509 of the above embodiment, until the termination condition is triggered or a subsequent notification is received from AMF.

[0336] Figure 7 This is the sixth flowchart illustrating the location information sending method provided in the embodiments of this application, as shown below. Figure 7 As shown, the method mainly includes the following steps:

[0337] Step 700: Each terminal sends a registration request to the AMF, including initial registration, mobility registration, periodic registration, or emergency registration.

[0338] Step 701: The terminal provides its positioning request information to the network, including any one or more of the following: positioning method, positioning area, positioning accuracy, positioning cycle, positioning start and end time, number of positioning attempts, positioning trigger conditions, positioning termination conditions, QoS, positioning report address, or terminal group function support identifier. The provision method may include any one or more of the following:

[0339] (1) The terminal carries relevant location requirement information in the registration message.

[0340] (2) AMF queries relevant location requirements information by querying user contract information in UDM.

[0341] (3) The LCS client / AF calls the NEF (Network Exposure Function) services such as Nnef_ParameterProvision_Ceate / Update / Delete, carrying the terminal's location request information in the request message. The NEF calls the UDM's Nudm_ParameterProvision_Ceate / Update / Delete services to send the location request information to the UDM. After confirmation, the UDM creates, updates, or deletes the information in the terminal's subscription information and notifies the AMF.

[0342] Step 702: The AMF decides whether to support terminal negotiation to establish a terminal group based on its own configuration information or by requesting the PCF to issue a policy.

[0343] Step 703: The AMF sends an identifier confirming support for the terminal to negotiate and establish a terminal group in the registration response and other messages.

[0344] Step 704: The AMF sends a location request to the LMF, which contains the terminal's location requirement information.

[0345] Step 705: After receiving the identifier confirming support for establishing a terminal group, the terminals coordinate with each other to determine relevant information about the terminal group. This information includes any one or more of the following: terminal information of each terminal in the terminal group; terminal identifier of the first terminal used to send location information to the LMF; the method by which each terminal in the terminal group sends location information; the sending cycle of each terminal in the terminal group sending location information; rotation information of the first terminal in the terminal group used to send location information to the location function entity; disconnection timer information; hierarchical information of each terminal in the terminal group sending location information; the time of establishment of the terminal group; the time of termination of the terminal group; the conditions for establishment of the terminal group; the conditions for termination of the terminal group; and the location report address of the terminal, etc. The method by which each terminal in the terminal group sends location information includes, but is not limited to:

[0346] (1) Select the first terminal as the terminal to report location information to the LMF. The second terminal sends location information to the first terminal of its respective terminal group at least once during its transmission period. The first terminal sends the location information of all terminals in its terminal group to the LMF during its transmission period. If the second terminal fails to send location information to the first terminal before the disconnection timer expires, the first terminal sends the information of the disconnected second terminal, such as the terminal identifier, to the AMF.

[0347] (2) The first terminal is selected as the terminal to report location information to the LMF. The second terminal sends location information to the first terminal in its respective terminal group at least once during its transmission period. The first terminal sends the location information of all terminals in its terminal group to the LMF during its transmission period. After the rotation timer expires, the first terminal is re-determined according to the rotation order, and then the location information reporting continues according to the above method. If the second terminal fails to send location information to the first terminal before the disconnection timer expires, the first terminal sends the information of the disconnected second terminal, such as the terminal identifier, to the AMF.

[0348] (3) Based on the above (1) or (2) method, a hierarchical reporting mechanism is set up. The top-level terminal is the first terminal in the terminal group; the bottom-level terminal only sends its own location information to the terminal above it; while the terminal in the middle level can receive the location information of the terminal below it and send its own location information and the location information of the terminal below it received together to the terminal above it. Through the hierarchical reporting method, the location information of all the second terminals in the terminal group is finally sent to the first terminal.

[0349] When terminals negotiate policies, they can do so either through the PC5 interface between terminals or through the Uu interface between a terminal and a base station. During negotiation, the terminal's own identity information, such as its identifier, must be included in the corresponding message. Negotiation methods include, but are not limited to, voting, priority comparison, weight comparison, or time-order priority.

[0350] Step 706: Each terminal reports its location information based on the terminal group information determined in Step 705. The second terminal sends location information to the first terminal, either via the PC5 interface between terminals or via the Uu interface between the terminal and the base station. The second terminal needs to include its own identity information, such as its terminal identifier, and its own location information in the corresponding message (if it also receives location information from lower-level terminals, it should also include the location information received from those lower-level terminals). When a second terminal cannot connect to the first terminal and the base station in its terminal group, for example, due to a change in location causing it to lose coverage, the second terminal can establish a PC5 connection with other reachable terminals in the vicinity and request other terminals to send location information to the first terminal or the base station in its terminal group. If so, the request message should include the second terminal's identity information, such as its terminal identifier, and its own location information (if it also receives location information from lower-level terminals, it should also include the location information received from those lower-level terminals), as well as relevant information about the first terminal in its terminal group, such as the first terminal's terminal identifier.

[0351] Step 707: LMF performs positioning calculations on the terminal.

[0352] Step 708: The LMF returns the positioning results to the AMF.

[0353] Step 708a: If the terminal's location request information includes a location report address, the LMF can also directly send the location result to the relevant LCS client / AF.

[0354] Step 709: AMF sends the location results to GMLC.

[0355] Step 710: GMLC sends the location results directly to the LCS client or to the AF via NEF.

[0356] LMF will perform multiple location searches based on the location requirement information, without AMF sending a location request to it each time. LMF is required to send the location results of each search to the location report address as described in steps 708-710 above, until the termination condition is triggered or a subsequent notification is received from AMF.

[0357] Figure 8This is the seventh flowchart illustrating the location information sending method provided in the embodiments of this application, as shown below. Figure 8 As shown, this method addresses scenarios where terminals within a terminal group change, and it mainly includes the following steps (and...). Figure 7 (The repeated content in the illustrated embodiments will not be described again):

[0358] Step 800: Trigger an event indicating a change in a terminal within the terminal group.

[0359] Specifically, events that trigger changes in terminals within a terminal group include the following:

[0360] (1) A new terminal joins the terminal group, or a lost terminal rejoins the terminal group.

[0361] (2) The terminal's positioning requirements have changed.

[0362] (3) The terminal leaves the terminal group under the following circumstances:

[0363] a. Terminal loses connection (the second terminal fails to send location information to the first terminal before the timer expires);

[0364] b. The terminal no longer needs to be located or no longer needs to be added to the terminal group due to changes in location requirements;

[0365] c. The terminal malfunctioned;

[0366] d. The network is malfunctioning.

[0367] Step 801: AMF reconfirms support for terminal negotiation to establish a terminal group.

[0368] Step 802: The AMF sends a new confirmation to the terminal to support the terminal in negotiating the establishment of a terminal group.

[0369] Step 803: The AMF sends an updated location request to the LMF, which contains updated location requirement information.

[0370] Step 804: After receiving the new confirmation identifier that supports the establishment of a terminal group, the terminal re-negotiates to establish a new terminal group and reports the location information.

[0371] Step 805: LMF locates and sends the location result.

[0372] LMF will perform multiple positioning operations according to the positioning requirement information, without AMF sending a positioning request to it each time. LMF is required to send the positioning results of each operation to the positioning report address as described in steps 708-710 of the above embodiment, until the termination condition is triggered or a subsequent notification is received from AMF.

[0373] The methods and apparatuses provided in the various embodiments of this application are based on the same concept. Since the methods and apparatuses solve problems in similar ways, the implementations of the apparatuses and methods can refer to each other, and repeated details will not be repeated.

[0374] Figure 9 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of the terminal provided in the embodiments of this application, such as... Figure 9 As shown, the terminal includes a memory 920, a transceiver 910, and a processor 900; wherein the processor 900 and the memory 920 can also be physically arranged separately.

[0375] The memory 920 is used to store computer programs; the transceiver 910 is used to send and receive data under the control of the processor 900.

[0376] Specifically, the transceiver 910 is used to receive and send data under the control of the processor 900.

[0377] Among them, Figure 9 In this application, the bus architecture can include any number of interconnected buses and bridges, specifically linking various circuits of one or more processors represented by processor 900 and memory represented by memory 920 together. The bus architecture can also link various other circuits such as peripheral devices, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art and therefore will not be further described herein. The bus interface provides an interface. The transceiver 910 can be multiple components, including a transmitter and a receiver, providing a unit for communicating with various other devices over a transmission medium, including wireless channels, wired channels, optical fibers, etc. For different user equipment, the user interface 930 can also be an interface capable of connecting external or internal devices, including but not limited to keypads, displays, speakers, microphones, joysticks, etc.

[0378] The processor 900 is responsible for managing the bus architecture and general processing, while the memory 920 can store the data used by the processor 900 during operation.

[0379] The processor 900 can be a central processing unit (CPU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or a complex programmable logic device (CPLD). The processor can also adopt a multi-core architecture.

[0380] The processor 900 calls a computer program stored in the memory 920 to execute any of the methods provided in the embodiments of this application according to the obtained executable instructions, such as: determining a terminal group, the terminal group including a first terminal and at least one second terminal, wherein the first terminal is used to obtain the location information of the second terminal; and using the terminal group as a location information sending unit, sending the location information of each terminal included in the terminal group to the location function entity.

[0381] Optionally, determining the terminal group specifically includes: receiving terminal group configuration information sent by the first network-side device, and determining the terminal group according to the terminal group configuration information, wherein the terminal group configuration information carries terminal information of each terminal included in the terminal group and a terminal identifier of the first terminal used to send positioning information to the positioning function entity; or, receiving negotiation instruction information sent by the first network-side device, and determining the terminal group according to the negotiation instruction information, wherein the negotiation instruction information is used to instruct the terminal receiving the negotiation instruction information to determine the terminal group through negotiation.

[0382] Optionally, the terminal group configuration information may further include any one or more of the following: the method by which each terminal in the terminal group sends location information; the period by which each terminal in the terminal group sends location information; the rotation information of the first terminal in the terminal group used to send location information to the location function entity, wherein the rotation information includes the rotation order, the duration of the rotation timer, or the rotation method; disconnection timer information, wherein the disconnection timer is used to determine whether a disconnection has occurred between each second terminal in the terminal group and the first terminal; and the hierarchical information of the location information sent by each terminal in the terminal group.

[0383] Optionally, determining the terminal group based on the negotiation instruction information includes: sending a first terminal group negotiation message based on the negotiation instruction information, wherein the first terminal group negotiation message carries the terminal identifier of the first terminal and instruction information requesting the establishment of a terminal group; receiving negotiation response messages and / or second terminal group negotiation messages sent by other terminals; determining, based on the negotiation response messages and / or second terminal group negotiation messages, establishing a terminal group with other terminals, and determining that the first terminal is a terminal used to send location information to the location function entity.

[0384] Optionally, the first terminal obtains the location information of the second terminal in the following ways: by receiving the location information sent by the second terminal through a direct connection interface between the first terminal and the second terminal; or by receiving the location information of the second terminal sent by the access network device through a Uu interface between the first terminal and the access network device.

[0385] Optionally, sending the location information of each terminal in the terminal group to the location function entity includes: sending the location information of each terminal in the terminal group to the location function entity according to the location information sending cycle.

[0386] Optionally, the method further includes: adjusting the terminal information used to send positioning information to the positioning function entity according to the terminal rotation information.

[0387] Optionally, the method further includes: when the disconnection timer expires, determining the terminal information of the second terminal that has lost contact with the first terminal, and sending the determined terminal information of the second terminal to the first network-side device.

[0388] Optionally, before determining the terminal group, the method further includes: sending registration information or terminal subscription information to a first network-side device, wherein the registration information or terminal subscription information contains the positioning requirement information of the first terminal; the positioning requirement information includes any one or more of the following: positioning method; positioning area; positioning accuracy; positioning cycle; positioning start and end time; number of positioning attempts; positioning trigger condition; positioning termination condition; quality of service (QoS); positioning report address; and terminal group function support identifier.

[0389] Optionally, the method further includes: if it is determined that the terminal group is to be exited, sending a first exit message to a first network-side device, the first exit message being used to request to exit the terminal group; or, sending a second exit message to each second terminal in the terminal group, the second exit message being used to instruct each second terminal in the terminal group to determine a new terminal group through negotiation.

[0390] Figure 10 This is a second schematic diagram of the terminal structure provided in the embodiments of this application, as shown below. Figure 10 As shown, the terminal includes a memory 1020, a transceiver 1010, and a processor 1000; wherein the processor 1000 and the memory 1020 can also be physically arranged separately.

[0391] The memory 1020 is used to store computer programs; the transceiver 1010 is used to send and receive data under the control of the processor 1000.

[0392] Specifically, the transceiver 1010 is used to receive and send data under the control of the processor 1000.

[0393] Among them, Figure 10In this application, the bus architecture can include any number of interconnected buses and bridges, specifically linking various circuits of one or more processors represented by processor 1000 and memory represented by memory 1020 together. The bus architecture can also link various other circuits such as peripheral devices, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art and therefore will not be further described herein. The bus interface provides an interface. The transceiver 1010 can be multiple components, including a transmitter and a receiver, providing a unit for communicating with various other devices over a transmission medium, including wireless channels, wired channels, optical fibers, etc. For different user equipment, the user interface 1030 can also be an interface capable of connecting external or internal devices, including but not limited to keypads, displays, speakers, microphones, joysticks, etc.

[0394] The processor 1000 is responsible for managing the bus architecture and general processing, while the memory 1020 can store the data used by the processor 1000 when performing operations.

[0395] The processor 1000 can be a CPU, ASIC, FPGA or CPLD, and the processor can also adopt a multi-core architecture.

[0396] The processor 1000 calls a computer program stored in the memory 1020 to execute any of the methods provided in the embodiments of this application according to the obtained executable instructions. For example, it determines a terminal group, which includes a first terminal and at least one second terminal. The first terminal is used to send the location information of each terminal in the terminal group to the location function entity using the terminal group as the location information sending unit; and sends the location information of the second terminal to the first terminal.

[0397] Optionally, sending the location information of the second terminal to the first terminal includes: sending the location information of the second terminal to the first terminal at least once within a sending cycle of the second terminal sending location information.

[0398] Optionally, sending the location information of the second terminal to the first terminal includes: sending the location information of the second terminal to the first terminal through a direct connection interface between the second terminal and the first terminal; or, sending the location information to the access network device through a Uu interface between the access network device and the access network device, so that the access network device sends the location information to the first terminal.

[0399] Optionally, sending the location information of the second terminal to the first terminal includes: sending the location information of the second terminal to the first terminal through the next higher-level terminal of the second terminal, according to the hierarchical information of the location information sent by the second terminal.

[0400] Figure 11This is a schematic diagram of the network-side device provided in the embodiments of this application, such as... Figure 11 As shown, the network-side device includes a memory 1120, a transceiver 1110, and a processor 1100; wherein the processor 1100 and the memory 1120 can also be physically arranged separately.

[0401] The memory 1120 is used to store computer programs; the transceiver 1110 is used to send and receive data under the control of the processor 1100.

[0402] Specifically, transceiver 1110 is used to receive and send data under the control of processor 1100.

[0403] Among them, Figure 11 In this application, the bus architecture may include any number of interconnected buses and bridges, specifically linking various circuits of one or more processors represented by processor 1100 and memory represented by memory 1120 together. The bus architecture may also link various other circuits such as peripheral devices, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art and therefore will not be further described herein. The bus interface provides an interface. The transceiver 1110 may be multiple elements, including a transmitter and a receiver, providing a unit for communicating with various other devices over a transmission medium, including wireless channels, wired channels, optical fibers, and other transmission media.

[0404] The processor 1100 is responsible for managing the bus architecture and general processing, and the memory 1120 can store the data used by the processor 1100 when performing operations.

[0405] The processor 1100 can be a CPU, ASIC, FPGA or CPLD, and the processor can also adopt a multi-core architecture.

[0406] The processor 1100 calls a computer program stored in the memory 1120 to execute any of the methods provided in the embodiments of this application according to the obtained executable instructions. For example, it determines first information, which is used to instruct the terminal receiving the first information to trigger the establishment of a terminal group. The terminal group includes a first terminal and at least one second terminal. The first terminal is used to obtain the location information of the second terminal and send the location information of each terminal included in the terminal group to the location function entity using the terminal group as the location information sending unit; and sends the first information to each terminal.

[0407] Optionally, determining the first information includes: receiving registration information or terminal subscription information sent by each terminal, wherein the registration information or terminal subscription information contains positioning requirement information of each terminal, wherein the positioning requirement information includes any one or more of the following: positioning method; positioning area; positioning accuracy; positioning cycle; positioning start and end time; number of positioning attempts; positioning trigger condition; positioning termination condition; quality of service (QoS); positioning report address; terminal group function support identifier; determining, based on the received positioning requirement information, a first terminal for sending positioning information to the positioning function entity from among the terminals; generating terminal group configuration information as the first information, wherein the terminal group configuration information carries terminal information of each terminal included in the terminal group and the terminal identifier of the first terminal.

[0408] Optionally, sending the first information to each terminal includes: sending terminal group configuration information to each terminal according to the terminal information of each terminal included in the terminal group carried in the terminal group configuration information.

[0409] Optionally, determining the first information includes: receiving registration information or terminal subscription information sent by each terminal, wherein the registration information or terminal subscription information contains positioning requirement information of each terminal, wherein the positioning requirement information includes any one or more of the following: positioning method; positioning area; positioning accuracy; positioning cycle; positioning start and end time; number of positioning attempts; positioning trigger condition; positioning termination condition; quality of service (QoS); positioning report address; terminal group function support identifier; generating negotiation instruction information based on the received positioning requirement information as the first information, wherein the negotiation instruction information is used to instruct the terminal receiving the negotiation instruction information to determine the terminal group through negotiation.

[0410] Optionally, the method further includes: if it is determined that a terminal in the terminal group has changed, then sending terminal change information to each terminal in the terminal group; wherein the terminal change information includes any one or more of the following: the terminal identifier of a newly added terminal; the terminal identifier of a lost terminal; the terminal identifier of a withdrawn terminal; the terminal identifier of a terminal whose location request information has changed and the corresponding changed location request information.

[0411] It should be noted that the terminal and network-side device provided in this application embodiment can implement all the method steps implemented in the above method embodiment and can achieve the same technical effect. Therefore, the parts and beneficial effects that are the same as those in the method embodiment will not be described in detail here.

[0412] Figure 12 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of a location information transmitting device provided in an embodiment of this application. The device is applied to a first terminal, such as... Figure 12 As shown, the device includes:

[0413] The first determining unit 1200 is used to determine a terminal group, which includes a first terminal and at least one second terminal, wherein the first terminal is used to obtain the location information of the second terminal.

[0414] The first sending unit 1210 is used to send the location information of each terminal in the terminal group to the positioning function entity, using the terminal group as the location information sending unit.

[0415] Optionally, the first determining unit 1200 is specifically configured to: receive terminal group configuration information sent by the first network-side device, and determine the terminal group according to the terminal group configuration information, wherein the terminal group configuration information carries terminal information of each terminal included in the terminal group and a terminal identifier of the first terminal used to send positioning information to the positioning function entity; or, receive negotiation instruction information sent by the first network-side device, and determine the terminal group according to the negotiation instruction information, wherein the negotiation instruction information is used to instruct the terminal receiving the negotiation instruction information to determine the terminal group through negotiation.

[0416] Optionally, the terminal group configuration information may further include any one or more of the following: the method by which each terminal in the terminal group sends location information; the period by which each terminal in the terminal group sends location information; the rotation information of the first terminal in the terminal group used to send location information to the location function entity, wherein the rotation information includes the rotation order, the duration of the rotation timer, or the rotation method; disconnection timer information, wherein the disconnection timer is used to determine whether a disconnection has occurred between each second terminal in the terminal group and the first terminal; and the hierarchical information of the location information sent by each terminal in the terminal group.

[0417] Optionally, determining the terminal group based on the negotiation instruction information includes: sending a first terminal group negotiation message based on the negotiation instruction information, wherein the first terminal group negotiation message carries the terminal identifier of the first terminal and instruction information requesting the establishment of a terminal group; receiving negotiation response messages and / or second terminal group negotiation messages sent by other terminals; determining, based on the negotiation response messages and / or second terminal group negotiation messages, establishing a terminal group with other terminals, and determining that the first terminal is a terminal used to send location information to the location function entity.

[0418] Optionally, the device further includes:

[0419] The first receiving unit 1220 is configured to: receive location information sent by the second terminal through a direct connection interface with the second terminal; or receive location information of the second terminal sent by the access network device through a Uu interface with the access network device.

[0420] Optionally, the first sending unit 1210 is configured to: send the location information of each terminal included in the terminal group to the positioning function entity according to the location information sending cycle.

[0421] Optionally, the first determining unit 1200 is further configured to: adjust the terminal information used to send positioning information to the positioning function entity according to the terminal rotation information.

[0422] Optionally, the first sending unit 1210 is further configured to: determine the terminal information of the second terminal that has lost contact with the first terminal when the disconnection timer expires, and send the determined terminal information of the second terminal to the first network side device.

[0423] Optionally, the first sending unit 1210 is further configured to: send registration information or terminal subscription information to the first network-side device, wherein the registration information or terminal subscription information includes the positioning requirement information of the first terminal; the positioning requirement information includes any one or more of the following: positioning method; positioning area; positioning accuracy; positioning cycle; positioning start and end time; number of positioning attempts; positioning trigger condition; positioning termination condition; quality of service (QoS); positioning report address; and terminal group function support identifier.

[0424] Optionally, the first sending unit 1210 is further configured to: send a first exit message to a first network-side device when it is determined to exit the terminal group, the first exit message being used to request to exit the terminal group; or send a second exit message to each second terminal in the terminal group, the second exit message being used to instruct each second terminal in the terminal group to determine a new terminal group through negotiation.

[0425] Figure 13 This is a second schematic diagram of the structure of the positioning information transmitting device provided in the embodiments of this application. This device is applied to a second terminal, such as... Figure 13 As shown, the device includes:

[0426] The second determining unit 1300 is used to determine a terminal group, which includes a first terminal and at least one second terminal. The first terminal is used to send the positioning information of each terminal in the terminal group to the positioning function entity using the terminal group as the positioning information sending unit.

[0427] The second sending unit 1310 is used to send the location information of the second terminal to the first terminal.

[0428] Optionally, the second sending unit 1310 is configured to: send the location information of the second terminal to the first terminal at least once during a sending cycle of the second terminal sending location information.

[0429] Optionally, the second sending unit 1310 is configured to: send the location information of the second terminal to the first terminal through a direct connection interface with the first terminal; or send the location information to the access network device through a Uu interface with the access network device, so that the access network device sends the location information to the first terminal.

[0430] Optionally, the second sending unit 1310 is configured to: send the location information of the second terminal to the first terminal through the next higher level terminal of the second terminal, according to the hierarchical information of the location information sent by the second terminal.

[0431] Figure 14 This is the third schematic diagram of the structure of the positioning information sending device provided in the embodiments of this application. This device is applied to a first network-side device, such as... Figure 14 As shown, the device includes:

[0432] The third determining unit 1400 is used to determine first information, which is used to instruct the terminal receiving the first information to trigger the establishment of a terminal group. The terminal group includes a first terminal and at least one second terminal. The first terminal is used to obtain the location information of the second terminal and send the location information of each terminal included in the terminal group to the location function entity using the terminal group as the location information sending unit.

[0433] The third sending unit 1410 is used to send the first information to each terminal.

[0434] Optionally, the third determining unit 1400 is configured to: receive registration information or terminal subscription information sent by each terminal, wherein the registration information or terminal subscription information includes positioning requirement information of each terminal, wherein the positioning requirement information includes any one or more of the following: positioning method; positioning area; positioning accuracy; positioning cycle; positioning start and end time; number of positioning attempts; positioning trigger condition; positioning termination condition; quality of service (QoS); positioning report address; terminal group function support identifier; determine, based on the received positioning requirement information, a first terminal from among the terminals for sending positioning information to the positioning function entity; and generate terminal group configuration information as the first information, wherein the terminal group configuration information carries terminal information of each terminal included in the terminal group and the terminal identifier of the first terminal.

[0435] Optionally, the third sending unit 1410 is configured to: send terminal group configuration information to each terminal according to the terminal information of each terminal included in the terminal group carried in the terminal group configuration information.

[0436] Optionally, the third determining unit 1400 is configured to: receive registration information or terminal subscription information sent by each terminal, wherein the registration information or terminal subscription information includes positioning requirement information of each terminal, wherein the positioning requirement information includes any one or more of the following: positioning method; positioning area; positioning accuracy; positioning cycle; positioning start and end time; number of positioning attempts; positioning trigger condition; positioning termination condition; quality of service (QoS); positioning report address; terminal group function support identifier; and generate negotiation instruction information based on the received positioning requirement information as first information, wherein the negotiation instruction information is used to instruct the terminal receiving the negotiation instruction information to determine the terminal group through negotiation.

[0437] Optionally, the third sending unit 1410 is further configured to: if it is determined that a terminal in the terminal group has changed, send terminal change information to each terminal in the terminal group; wherein the terminal change information includes any one or more of the following: terminal identifier of a newly added terminal; terminal identifier of a lost terminal; terminal identifier of a withdrawn terminal; terminal identifier of a terminal whose location requirement information has changed and the corresponding changed location requirement information.

[0438] It should be noted that the division of units in the embodiments of this application is illustrative and only represents one logical functional division. In actual implementation, other division methods may be used. Furthermore, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit. The integrated units described above can be implemented in hardware or as software functional units.

[0439] If the integrated unit is implemented as a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a processor-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or all or part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) or processor to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0440] It should be noted that the apparatus provided in this application embodiment can implement all the method steps implemented in the above method embodiment and can achieve the same technical effect. Here, the parts that are the same as those in the method embodiment and the beneficial effects will not be described in detail.

[0441] On the other hand, embodiments of this application also provide a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, the computer program being used to cause a processor to execute the location information sending method provided in the above embodiments, including: determining a terminal group, the terminal group including a first terminal and at least one second terminal, wherein the first terminal is used to obtain the location information of the second terminal; and using the terminal group as a location information sending unit, sending the location information of each terminal included in the terminal group to a location function entity.

[0442] On the other hand, embodiments of this application also provide a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program. The computer program is used to cause a processor to execute the location information sending method provided in the above embodiments, including: determining a terminal group, the terminal group including a first terminal and at least one second terminal, wherein the first terminal is used to send the location information of each terminal included in the terminal group to a location function entity using the terminal group as a location information sending unit; and sending the location information of the second terminal to the first terminal.

[0443] On the other hand, embodiments of this application also provide a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program. The computer program is used to cause a processor to execute the location information sending method provided in the above embodiments, including: determining first information, the first information being used to instruct a terminal receiving the first information to trigger the establishment of a terminal group, wherein the terminal group includes a first terminal and at least one second terminal, the first terminal being used to obtain the location information of the second terminal, and sending the location information of each terminal included in the terminal group to a location function entity using the terminal group as the location information sending unit; and sending the first information to each terminal.

[0444] The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium or data storage device that a computer can access, including but not limited to magnetic storage (e.g., floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes, magneto-optical disks (MOs), etc.), optical storage (e.g., CDs, DVDs, BDs, HVDs, etc.), and semiconductor storage (e.g., ROMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, non-volatile memory (NAND flash), solid-state drives (SSDs)).

[0445] The technical solutions provided in this application can be applied to various systems, especially 5G systems. For example, applicable systems may include Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD), Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE-A), Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), and 5G New Radio (NR). All of these systems include terminal equipment and network equipment. The systems may also include a core network component, such as Evolved Packet System (EPS) and 5G system (5GS).

[0446] The terminal involved in the embodiments of this application can be a device that provides voice and / or data connectivity to a user, a handheld device with wireless connectivity, or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem. The name of the terminal may differ in different systems; for example, in a 5G system, the terminal can be called a User Equipment (UE). Wireless terminal devices can communicate with one or more core networks (CNs) via a Radio Access Network (RAN). Wireless terminal devices can be mobile terminal devices, such as mobile phones (or "cellular" phones) and computers with mobile terminal devices, for example, portable, pocket-sized, handheld, computer-embedded, or vehicle-mounted mobile devices that exchange voice and / or data with the RAN. Examples include Personal Communication Service (PCS) phones, cordless phones, Session Initiated Protocol (SIP) phones, Wireless Local Loop (WLL) stations, and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). Wireless terminal equipment can also be referred to as a system, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, access point, remote terminal, access terminal, user terminal, user agent, or user device, but is not limited to these terms in the embodiments of this application.

[0447] Those skilled in the art will understand that embodiments of this application can be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Therefore, this application can take the form of a completely hardware embodiment, a completely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, this application can take the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-usable storage media (including, but not limited to, disk storage and optical storage) containing computer-usable program code.

[0448] This application is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of this application. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer-executable instructions. These computer-executable instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, special-purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, generate instructions for implementing the flowchart... Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A device that provides the functions specified in one or more boxes.

[0449] These processor-executable instructions may also be stored in a processor-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to operate in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the processor-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means, which are implemented in a process Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The function specified in one or more boxes.

[0450] These processors can execute instructions that can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device, causing a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process, thereby providing instructions that execute on the computer or other programmable device for implementing the process. Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The steps of the function specified in one or more boxes.

[0451] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this application without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. Therefore, if such modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims of this application and their equivalents, this application also intends to include such modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting location information, characterized in that, Applied to the first terminal, including: A terminal group is determined, the terminal group including the first terminal and at least one second terminal, wherein the first terminal is used to obtain the location information of the second terminal; Using the terminal group as a location information sending unit, the location information of each terminal in the terminal group is sent to the location function entity. The location information includes relevant information for calculating the terminal location.

2. The location information transmission method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The determination of the terminal group specifically includes: The terminal group configuration information sent by the first network-side device is received, and the terminal group is determined according to the terminal group configuration information. The terminal group configuration information carries the terminal information of each terminal included in the terminal group and the terminal identifier of the first terminal used to send positioning information to the positioning function entity. or, The system receives negotiation instruction information sent by a first network-side device and determines a terminal group based on the negotiation instruction information, wherein the negotiation instruction information is used to instruct the terminals that receive the negotiation instruction information to determine the terminal group through negotiation.

3. The location information transmission method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The terminal group configuration information also includes any one or more of the following: The method by which each terminal in the terminal group sends location information; The transmission cycle of location information sent by each terminal in the terminal group; The rotation information of the first terminal in the terminal group used to send positioning information to the positioning function entity includes the rotation order, the duration of the rotation timer, or the rotation method. Loss of connection timer information, wherein the loss of connection timer is used to determine whether a loss of connection has occurred between each second terminal in the terminal group and the first terminal; The hierarchical information of the location information sent by each terminal in the terminal group.

4. The location information transmission method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The step of determining the terminal group based on the negotiation instruction information includes: According to the negotiation instruction information, a first terminal group negotiation message is sent, which carries the terminal identifier of the first terminal and the instruction information to request the establishment of a terminal group. Receive negotiation response messages and / or second terminal group negotiation messages sent by other terminals; Based on the negotiation response message and / or the second terminal group negotiation message, it is determined that a terminal group is established with the other terminals, and the first terminal is determined to be the terminal used to send location information to the location function entity.

5. The location information transmission method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first terminal obtains the location information of the second terminal in the following way: The system receives location information sent by the second terminal via a direct connection interface with the second terminal. or, The location information of the second terminal sent by the access network device is received through the Uu interface between the access network device and the access network device.

6. The location information transmission method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Sending the location information of each terminal in the terminal group to the location function entity includes: According to the location information sending cycle, the location information of each terminal in the terminal group is sent to the location function entity.

7. The location information transmission method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: Adjust the terminal information used to send location information to the positioning function entity according to the terminal rotation information.

8. The location information transmission method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: When the disconnection timer expires, the terminal information of the second terminal that has lost contact with the first terminal is determined, and the determined terminal information of the second terminal is sent to the first network-side device.

9. The location information transmission method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Before determining the terminal group, the method further includes: Send registration information or terminal subscription information to the first network-side device, wherein the registration information or terminal subscription information includes the location requirement information of the first terminal; The location requirement information includes any one or more of the following: Positioning method; positioning area; positioning accuracy; positioning cycle; positioning start and end time; number of positioning attempts; positioning trigger conditions; positioning termination conditions; Quality of Service (QoS); positioning report address; terminal group function support identifier.

10. The location information transmission method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: If it is determined that the terminal group is to be removed, a first exit message is sent to the first network-side device, the first exit message being used to request to leave the terminal group; or, A second exit message is sent to each second terminal in the terminal group, the second exit message being used to instruct each second terminal in the terminal group to determine a new terminal group through negotiation.

11. A method for transmitting location information, characterized in that, Applied to the second terminal, including: A terminal group is determined, the terminal group including a first terminal and at least one second terminal, wherein the first terminal is used to send the location information of each terminal included in the terminal group to the location function entity using the terminal group as a location information sending unit, and the location information includes relevant information for calculating the terminal location; The location information of the second terminal is sent to the first terminal.

12. The location information transmission method according to claim 11, characterized in that, Sending the location information of the second terminal to the first terminal includes: During one transmission cycle in which the second terminal transmits location information, the location information of the second terminal is transmitted to the first terminal at least once.

13. The location information transmission method according to claim 11, characterized in that, Sending the location information of the second terminal to the first terminal includes: The location information of the second terminal is sent to the first terminal through a direct connection interface with the first terminal; or, The location information is sent to the access network device via the Uu interface between the device and the access network device, so that the access network device sends the location information to the first terminal.

14. The location information transmission method according to claim 11, characterized in that, Sending the location information of the second terminal to the first terminal includes: Based on the hierarchical information of the location information sent by the second terminal, the location information of the second terminal is sent to the first terminal through the terminal at the next higher level of the second terminal.

15. A method for transmitting location information, characterized in that, Applied to the first network-side device, including: First information is determined, which is used to instruct the terminal receiving the first information to trigger the establishment of a terminal group. The terminal group includes a first terminal and at least one second terminal. The first terminal is used to obtain the location information of the second terminal and send the location information of each terminal included in the terminal group to the location function entity using the terminal group as the location information sending unit. The location information includes relevant information for calculating the terminal location. The first information is sent to each terminal.

16. The method for transmitting location information according to claim 15, characterized in that, The determination of the first information includes: The system receives registration information or terminal subscription information sent by each terminal. The registration information or terminal subscription information includes the location requirement information of each terminal. The location requirement information includes any one or more of the following: location method; location area; location accuracy; location cycle; location start and end time; number of location attempts; location trigger condition; location termination condition; Quality of Service (QoS); location report address; and terminal group function support identifier. Based on the received location request information, a first terminal for sending location information to the location function entity is determined from among the terminals. A terminal group configuration information is generated as the first information, wherein the terminal group configuration information carries the terminal information of each terminal included in the terminal group and the terminal identifier of the first terminal.

17. The method for transmitting location information according to claim 16, characterized in that, Sending the first information to each terminal includes: Based on the terminal information of each terminal included in the terminal group carried in the terminal group configuration information, the terminal group configuration information is sent to each terminal.

18. The method for transmitting location information according to claim 15, characterized in that, The determination of the first information includes: The system receives registration information or terminal subscription information sent by each terminal. The registration information or terminal subscription information includes the location requirement information of each terminal. The location requirement information includes any one or more of the following: location method; location area; location accuracy; location cycle; location start and end time; number of location attempts; location trigger condition; location termination condition; Quality of Service (QoS); location report address; and terminal group function support identifier. Based on the received location request information, negotiation instruction information is generated as the first information, wherein the negotiation instruction information is used to instruct the terminal receiving the negotiation instruction information to determine the terminal group through negotiation.

19. The method for transmitting location information according to claim 15, characterized in that, The method further includes: If it is determined that a terminal in the terminal group has changed, then terminal change information is sent to each terminal in the terminal group; The terminal change information includes any one or more of the following: The terminal identifier of newly added terminals; the terminal identifier of lost terminals; the terminal identifier of withdrawn terminals; the terminal identifier of terminals whose location request information has changed, and the corresponding changed location request information.

20. A terminal, characterized in that, Includes memory, transceiver, and processor: The memory is used to store computer programs; the transceiver is used to send and receive data under the control of the processor; the processor is used to read the computer programs in the memory and perform the following operations: determine a terminal group, the terminal group including a first terminal and at least one second terminal, wherein the first terminal is used to obtain the location information of the second terminal; Using the terminal group as a location information sending unit, the location information of each terminal in the terminal group is sent to the location function entity. The location information includes relevant information for calculating the terminal location.

21. The terminal according to claim 20, characterized in that, The determination of the terminal group specifically includes: The terminal group configuration information sent by the first network-side device is received, and the terminal group is determined according to the terminal group configuration information. The terminal group configuration information carries the terminal information of each terminal included in the terminal group and the terminal identifier of the first terminal used to send positioning information to the positioning function entity. or, The system receives negotiation instruction information sent by a first network-side device and determines a terminal group based on the negotiation instruction information, wherein the negotiation instruction information is used to instruct the terminals that receive the negotiation instruction information to determine the terminal group through negotiation.

22. A terminal, characterized in that, Includes memory, transceiver, and processor: A memory for storing computer programs; a transceiver for sending and receiving data under the control of the processor; and a processor for reading the computer programs from the memory and performing the following operations: A terminal group is determined, the terminal group including a first terminal and at least one second terminal, wherein the first terminal is used to send the location information of each terminal included in the terminal group to the location function entity using the terminal group as a location information sending unit, the location information including relevant information for calculating the terminal location; The location information of the second terminal is sent to the first terminal.

23. A network-side device, characterized in that, Includes memory, transceiver, and processor: A memory for storing computer programs; a transceiver for sending and receiving data under the control of the processor; and a processor for reading the computer programs from the memory and performing the following operations: First information is determined, which is used to instruct the terminal receiving the first information to trigger the establishment of a terminal group. The terminal group includes a first terminal and at least one second terminal. The first terminal is used to obtain the location information of the second terminal and send the location information of each terminal included in the terminal group to the location function entity using the terminal group as the location information sending unit. The location information includes relevant information for calculating the terminal location. The first information is sent to each terminal.

24. A positioning information transmitting device, characterized in that, Applied to the first terminal, including: A first determining unit is configured to determine a terminal group, the terminal group including a first terminal and at least one second terminal, wherein the first terminal is configured to obtain the location information of the second terminal; The first sending unit is used to send the location information of each terminal in the terminal group to the positioning function entity, with the terminal group as the location information sending unit. The location information includes relevant information for calculating the terminal location.

25. A positioning information transmitting device, characterized in that, Applied to the second terminal, including: The second determining unit is used to determine a terminal group, the terminal group including a first terminal and at least one second terminal, wherein the first terminal is used to send the positioning information of each terminal included in the terminal group to the positioning function entity using the terminal group as a positioning information sending unit, the positioning information including relevant information for calculating the terminal location; The second sending unit is used to send the location information of the second terminal to the first terminal.

26. A positioning information transmitting device, characterized in that, Applied to the first network-side device, including: The third determining unit is used to determine first information, which is used to instruct the terminal receiving the first information to trigger the establishment of a terminal group. The terminal group includes a first terminal and at least one second terminal. The first terminal is used to obtain the location information of the second terminal and send the location information of each terminal included in the terminal group to the positioning function entity using the terminal group as the location information sending unit. The location information includes relevant information for calculating the terminal location. The third sending unit is used to send the first information to each terminal.

27. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program that causes a computer to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, or the method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, or the method according to any one of claims 15 to 19.

Images