Communication method and communication apparatus

Abstract

The embodiment of the application provides a communication method and a communication device, in which the first device sends a first message to an access management network element. The first device is used for positioning measurement, and the first message comprises second information indicating the capability of the first device. Further, the access management network element sends a second message to a network storage network element. The second message comprises first information, which is used for indicating that the access management network element exists the first device, or is used for registering the information of the first device to the network storage network element, or is used for indicating that the type of network function is the first device. On this basis, the network storage network element receives a fourth message sent by a second network element and used for discovering the access management network element or the first device. The method can realize effective selection of the first device for positioning measurement, and can improve the positioning measurement result precision of the positioned device by combining the measurement result of the first device with the measurement result of a base station and a satellite.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communications, and more specifically, to a communication method and a communication device. Background Technology

[0002] With the rise of the smart technology wave, the demand for positioning services in vertical industries is becoming increasingly urgent. Version 16 of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), frozen in June 2020, introduced positioning functionality for 5G base stations. Its application scenarios are mainly divided into two categories: wide-area positioning scenarios and local-area positioning scenarios. Typical wide-area scenarios include smart IoT (e.g., elderly positioning and pet tracking), smart policing (e.g., firefighter safety positioning, 110 / 119 emergency caller positioning, and police vehicle positioning); typical local-area positioning scenarios include smart manufacturing (e.g., personnel and material location management), smart chemical industry (e.g., personnel location management, electronic fences, and one-click alarms), and smart retail (e.g., product push and smart operation, customer flow analysis and mall management, navigation and shopping guides, and parking location).

[0003] To improve positioning accuracy in the aforementioned scenarios, the industry has proposed using positioning reference units to enhance positioning accuracy. However, how to utilize suitable positioning reference units remains unknown. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, embodiments of this application provide a communication method and a communication device for improving the accuracy of position measurement.

[0005] In this application, the second device can be a device being positioned, a device being located, a device to be located, a target device, etc.

[0006] In this application, "network element" can be replaced by network function instance, network function, or network function entity, etc., and this application does not limit it in this way.

[0007] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided, comprising: an access management network element acquiring information of a first device; the access management network element sending a second message to a network storage network element, the second message including or carrying first information, the first information being used to indicate, notify / inform, represent, or characterize the existence of the first device in the access management network element, or the first information being used to register or configure information of the first device in the network storage network element, or the first information being used to indicate that the type of network function is the first device, wherein the first device is used for positioning measurement.

[0008] Optionally, the second message may also include the relationship between the access management network element and the first device.

[0009] Optionally, the relationship between the access management network element and the first device may include one or more of the following:

[0010] The identifier of the access management network element and one or more first device identifiers; the relationship between the identifier of the access management network element and one or more first device identifiers; the information of the access management network element and the information of one or more first devices; the identifiers of one or more first devices; the information of one or more first devices. Specific descriptions of the identifier of the access management network element, the first devices, the information of the first devices, and the identifiers of the first devices are provided in the corresponding sections below.

[0011] Furthermore, the relationship between the access management network element and the first device may include other relationships besides those mentioned above, and this application does not limit this relationship.

[0012] It should be understood that the information obtained by the access management network element from the first device can be replaced with any one or more of the following descriptions, and this application does not limit it:

[0013] The access management network element receives the capability or capability information of the first device.

[0014] Access management network elements obtain the capabilities or capability information of the first device.

[0015] The access management network element receives a first message sent by the first device, the first message including one or more of the following: registration request, service request, and uplink non-access layer transmission.

[0016] The access management network element receives a first message sent by the first device. The first message can be any of the messages included in the first message in this document, or it can be other messages. This application does not limit the types of messages.

[0017] The access management network element receives a first message sent by the first device. The first message carries information about the first device. The first message can be any of the messages included in the first message in this document, or it can be other messages. This application does not limit the types of messages.

[0018] The access management network element receives a first message sent by the first device. The first message includes one or more of the following: a registration request, a service request, and an uplink non-access layer transmission. The first message also includes second information, which is used to indicate the capabilities of the first device.

[0019] The access management network element receives a first message sent by the first device. The first message can be any type of message included in this document, or other messages, which are not limited herein. The first message also includes second information, which is used to indicate the capabilities of the first device.

[0020] The access management network element receives a first message sent by the first device. The first message includes one or more of the following: a registration request, a service request, and an uplink non-access stratum transmission. The first message also includes second information indicating the capabilities of the first device. The first message further includes the location information of the first device.

[0021] The access management network element receives a first message sent by the first device. The first message can be any of the messages included in this document, or other messages, and this application does not limit its scope. The first message also includes second information, which indicates the capabilities of the first device. The first message also includes the location information of the first device.

[0022] The access management network element obtains one or more first devices from the unified data management network element (UDM). Obtaining one or more first devices may involve obtaining information about one or more first devices.

[0023] The access management network element receives information from one or more first devices of the unified data management network element. The one or more first devices receiving information from the unified data management network element may be receiving information from one or more first devices.

[0024] The information configuration of the first device is located in the access management network element. It should be understood that the information configuration of the first device in the access management network element can be through operation administration and maintenance (OAM) configuration, operator configuration, pre-configuration, etc., without limitation. In short, the information configuration of the first device can be located in the access management network element.

[0025] The access management network element obtains information about the first device through configuration. It should be understood that the access management network element obtains the information about the first device through configuration in various ways, such as OAM configuration, carrier configuration, pre-configuration, etc., and is not limited to these methods.

[0026] It should be understood that the information of the first device may include one or more of the following: the identification information of the first device, part or all of the registration information of the first device, part or all of the subscription information of the first device, part or all of the network function configuration information (NF profile) of the first device, part or all of the configuration information (profile) of the first device, part or all of the context of the first device, the capabilities of the first device, the capability information of the first device, the location information of the first device, the reference area information of the first device, etc., without limitation. In short, all of these can be used to characterize the first device.

[0027] Optionally, "acquire / get / obtain" can be replaced with "get," "obtain," "extract," or "get." It should be understood that the presence of a first device within the access management network element can be information about the presence of a first device within that access management network element. The information of the first device may include one or more of the following: the first device's identification information, part or all of the first device's registration information, part or all of the first device's subscription information, part or all of the first device's network function configuration information (NFprofile), part or all of the first device's configuration information (profile), related information of the first device, etc., without limitation; in short, all of these can be used to characterize the first device.

[0028] Optionally, the second message may also include a network function update request (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFUpdateRequest) or a network function registration request (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFRegister Request).

[0029] It should be understood that in this application, the access management network element can be an access and mobility management function (AMF) network element, or other network elements with the same or similar functions; this application does not limit the name. The network storage network element can be a network function repository function (NRF) network element, or other network elements with the same or similar functions; this application does not limit the name.

[0030] It should be understood that in this application, the location management network element can be a location management function (LMF), a location server, an evolved location management function (eLMF), or other network elements with the same or similar functions. This application does not limit the name.

[0031] It should be understood that in this application, the term "first device" can be replaced with any one or more of the following terms, without limitation on the name, but all of which can have the same or related functions. Furthermore, the following terms can also be interchanged. Moreover, all other "first devices" in this application can be replaced in this way. Additionally, the "first device" can also be replaced with the name of a device that may appear in the future and has the same or similar functions as the "first device." This is a unified explanation here, and for the sake of brevity, it will not be elaborated further when the "first device" appears in subsequent embodiments. The following are some examples of terms:

[0032] Positioning reference device; reference device; reference UE; reference node (which can be either a gNB or UE); reference transmission reception point (reference TRP); correction device; correction UE; calibration UE; calibration device; reference point; positioning reference unit (PRU); positioning reference device (PRD); differential device; differential unit; positioning differential device (PDD); positioning differential unit (PDU); correction point; calibration UE; etc.

[0033] Optionally, in this application, the first device can be used for positioning measurement. The first device being used for positioning measurement can be understood as the first device being able to perform one or more operations among positioning measurement, positioning calculation, position measurement, position estimation, position calculation, and position estimation. Specifically, it can mean that the first device has the following functions:

[0034] 1. The first device can measure the downlink positioning reference signal and report the relevant measurement information to the location management network element. The location management network element can be the location management function network element LMF (Measure DL PRS (downlink positioning reference signal) and report associated measurements to the LMF).

[0035] The reported measurement information may include, for example, reference signal time difference (RSTD), receive-to-transmit time difference (Rx-Tx time difference), reference signal received power (RSRP), etc.

[0036] 2. The first device may send a channel sounding reference signal (SRS) to an access network device (e.g., gNB, eNB) or a portion of the access network device (e.g., a transmission reception point, TRP) to enable the access network device or a portion of the access network device to measure and report measurement information related to the positioning reference device to a location management network element, which may be a location management function network element. The reported measurement information may include, for example, relative time of arrival (RTOA), Rx-Tx time difference, angle of arrival (AoA), etc.

[0037] The first device may be a user equipment (UE) and / or an access network device and / or a part of the access network device (e.g., NG-RAN, EUTRAN, gNB, eNB, central unit (CU), distributed unit (DU), transmission reception point (TRP), etc.).

[0038] The device (e.g., a first device or a second device) may have known location information, which may be pre-configured: for example, it may be geographic coordinate information (the location of the reference UE may be some predefined or fixed geographic coordinate point). For example, the location information can be obtained through one or more positioning methods or techniques, such as Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), Real-time Kinematic (RTK), LiDAR, Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA), Uplink Time Difference of Arrival (UL-TDOA), Downlink Time Difference of Arrival (DL-TDOA), Uplink Angle of Arrival (UL-AoA), Downlink Angle-of-Departure (DL-AoD), WLAN-based positioning, Bluetooth-based positioning, Multi-round Trip Time (Multi-RTT), Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA), Enhanced Cell ID (ECID), and Terrestrial Beacon System positioning. Positioning (TBS positioning), sensor-based positioning, etc. The location information of the first device can be reported to the location management network element (e.g., LMF).

[0039] 3. The first device can report the antenna orientation information to the location management network element (e.g., LMF).

[0040] 4. The first device can be used for timing error estimation and compensation; or, the positioning reference device can be used to mitigate the Rx / Tx timing error; or, the first device can be used to calculate the Rx / Tx timing error difference; or, the first device can be used for assisted calibration; or, the first device can be used to assist in generating calibration information / correction information / differential information; or, the first device itself can generate calibration information / correction information / differential information; or, the first device can be used to assist in generating timing calibration information / timing correction information / timing differential information; or, the first device itself can generate timing calibration information / timing correction information / timing differential information. Alternatively, the first device can estimate and correct the effective timing error to support R-17 timing calibration, using reference points (UE / gNB) with precise location information known to the network.Alternatively, the first device may assist other UEs, or the first device itself, or the location management network element in generating correction terms to help other UEs, or the first device, or the location management network element correct the location measurements or location calculation results. Alternatively, the first device may mitigate and calibrate timing errors. Alternatively, the first device may be used to improve the positioning performance or accuracy of an angle-based positioning method, which may include the uplink arrival angle (UL-AoA) positioning method and the downlink departure angle (DL-AoD) positioning method described above.

[0041] 5. The first device can be used for or support a user equipment-assisted positioning method; or the first device can be used for or support a user equipment-based positioning method; or the first device can be used for or support a network-based positioning method. UE-assisted positioning can be understood as the first device reporting measurement information to assist the LMF in calculating the final positioning result; UE-based positioning can be understood as the first device performing the final calculation of the positioning result based on auxiliary measurement information provided by the network (e.g., access network equipment, other UEs, or the first device, LMF) and / or measurement information obtained by itself; network-based positioning can be understood as the network (e.g., LMF) performing the final positioning result based on measurement information provided by access network equipment and / or UEs and / or the first device.

[0042] 6. The first device may be used for positioning measurement, positioning estimate, positioning computation, location computation, location measurement, location estimate, or measurement.

[0043] In this embodiment, the access management network element can send a first device or its information that can be used for positioning measurement to the network storage network element. When there is a need to locate a device, the second network element (which can be an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) or a Location Management Function (LMF)) can obtain the first device or its information that can be used for positioning measurement through interaction with the network storage network element. Thus, when locating the second device, in addition to the location measurement results based on 5G base stations and satellites, the accuracy of the final location measurement result of the second device can be improved based on the measurement results of the first device that can be used for positioning measurement.

[0044] In conjunction with the first aspect, some implementations of the first aspect further include: the access management network element receiving a first message sent by the first device, the first message including one or more of a registration request, a service request, and an uplink non-access stratum transport (UL NAS (Non-Access Stratum) transport).

[0045] Optionally, the first message may also include any of the following messages:

[0046] Registration complete, Deregistration accept, Deregistration request, Service reject, Service accept, Control plane service request, Uplink NAS transport, Mobile-originated location request (MO-LR), Authentication response, Authentication failure, Configuration update complete, Identity response, Notification response, Security mode complete, Security mode reject, Security protected 5GS NAS message, 5G mobility management status (5GMM status), Network slice-specific authentication complete, LPP protocol packet data unit (LPP PDU), NR protocol data unit (NRpositioning protocol packet data unit).NPP PDU / NRPP PDU, LPP message, request capabilities, provide capabilities, request assistance data, provide assistance data, request location information, provide location information, LPP request / provide location information message, LPP capability transfer, LPP request / provide assistance data message, LPP request / provide capability message, LPP procedure, LPP capability transfer, NR message, NR request / provide location information message, NR capability transfer, NR request / provide assistance data message, NR request / provide capability message, NR procedure, NR capability transfer, PDU session establishment request. PDU session modification request, PDU session release request,Remote UE report, NG setup request, TRP (transmission reception point) information response, capability exchange, etc.

[0047] It should be understood that the first message may also include other messages besides those mentioned above, and this application does not limit this.

[0048] In this embodiment of the application, the first device needs to send its own capabilities to the network. In this way, the network can select a suitable access management network element or the first device based on the presence of the first device, thereby saving network resources.

[0049] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the second message also includes reference area information of the first device.

[0050] Optionally, in this application, the reference area information of the device (e.g., the terminal device / user equipment (UE) to be located or the first device) may include, for example, at least one of the following:

[0051] The location area information of the device under the access network equipment providing services to it may include the identifier of the cell where the device is located and / or the identifier of the access network equipment; the location area information of the device under its target access network equipment; the cell global identifier (CGI); the identifier of the access network equipment; the identifier of the tracking area; the identifier of the public land mobile network (PLMN); the global positioning system (GPS) geographic location information; the sector identifier; the physical cell identifier (PCI); the antenna identifier; the distributed unit (DU) identifier; the centralized unit (CU) identifier; the transmission reception point (TRP) identifier; etc.

[0052] The identifiers for access network equipment can be next-generation nodeB identifiers (gNB ID), next-generation radio access network identifiers (NG-RAN ID), etc., while the identifiers for tracking areas can be tracking area identifiers (TAI), tracking area codes (TAC), etc.

[0053] Optionally, in this application, the terminal device to be located may be a device being located (UE being positioned), a device being located, or a target device (target UE).

[0054] Optionally, the first information is specifically used to indicate to the access management network element that the first device exists in the reference area of ​​the first device.

[0055] In this embodiment of the application, the indication function of the first information enables the second network element to select the first device more effectively. Thus, when there is a positioning requirement for the target device, the second network element can find a suitable first device based on the reference area of ​​the target device, thereby improving the positioning efficiency.

[0056] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first message also includes second information used to indicate / represent the capabilities of the first device.

[0057] Optionally, the capability (or capability information) of the first device is used to indicate whether the first device can be used as a positioning reference unit or whether the device can support the functions of the first device described above.

[0058] Optionally, the capabilities or capability information of the first device described in this application, or the indication of the capabilities or capability information of the first device described in this application, may include: indicating whether the device can be used as the first device; or, indicating that the device can be used as the first device; or, indicating that the device cannot be used as the first device; or, indicating whether the device can possess the functions of the first device; or, indicating that the device possesses the functions of the first device; or, indicating that the device does not possess the functions of the first device; or, indicating whether the device supports the functions of the first device; or, indicating that the device supports the functions of the first device; or, indicating that the device does not support the functions of the first device; etc. It should be understood that the functions of the first device are as described above and will not be repeated here.

[0059] Alternatively, "indicating the capability of the first device" can be replaced with "indicating whether the capability of the first device is available";

[0060] Whether a device can be considered a first device can be understood as whether the device possesses the aforementioned functions of a first device. The indication can be provided using binary bits. For example, a bit position of 1 indicates possession of the first device's capabilities, while a bit position of 0 indicates a lack of these capabilities; or, a bit position of 0 indicates possession of the first device's capabilities, while a bit position of 1 indicates a lack of these capabilities; or, carrying a bit indicating whether or not the device possesses the first device's capabilities indicates possession of these capabilities, while not carrying such a bit indicates a lack of these capabilities; or, not carrying such a bit indicates possession of the first device's capabilities, while carrying such a bit indicates a lack of these capabilities. Alternatively, the indication can be provided by carrying other relevant information. For example, carrying one or more information elements (IEs) indicates possession of the first device's capabilities, while not carrying one or more IEs indicates a lack of these capabilities; or, not carrying one or more IEs indicates possession of the first device's capabilities, while carrying one or more IEs indicates a lack of these capabilities.

[0061] Optionally, the access management network element determines whether the first device can be used as a positioning reference unit based on the second information.

[0062] Optionally, if the first device can be used as a positioning reference unit, the access management network element stores the second information in the information of the first device.

[0063] Optionally, the information of the first device may be related information of the first device, such as all or part of the registration information of the first device, or all or part of the contract information of the first device, etc.

[0064] Optionally, if the first device cannot be used as a positioning reference unit, the access management network element sends third information to the first device. The third information is used to notify / inform or indicate the reason, such as that the first device cannot be used as a positioning reference unit.

[0065] It should be noted that in the current protocol, the subject name corresponding to the positioning reference unit is not yet clearly defined. In future protocols or network architectures, any subject name with the same or similar function should be considered equivalent to it. For example, the positioning reference unit can also be called the positioning reference device, or it can be any of the replacement terms for the first device mentioned above. This application does not limit this.

[0066] In this embodiment, the first device needs to send its own capabilities to the network. In this way, the network can select a suitable access management network element or the first device based on the presence of the first device, thereby saving network resources and improving the positioning accuracy of the located device.

[0067] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first message also includes the location information of the first device.

[0068] Optionally, if the access management network element determines or determines that the location information of the first device meets the first condition, the access management network element stores the location information of the first device in the information of the first device.

[0069] It should be understood that the location information of the first device in this application may be pre-configured geographic coordinate information configured by the operator (may be some predefined or fixed or preconfigured or configured geographic coordinate point); or it may be location information measured, calculated or estimated by a positioning method or positioning technique, for example, it may be location information measured, calculated or estimated by one or more of the following positioning methods:

[0070] Global navigation satellite system (GNSS), real-time kinematic (RTK), radar (LIDAR), observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA), uplink time difference of arrival (UL-TDOA), downlink time difference of arrival (DL-TDOA), uplink angle of arrival (UL-AoA), downlink angle-of-departure (DL-AoD), WLAN-based positioning, Bluetooth-based positioning, multi-round trip time (Multi-RTT), time difference of arrival (TDOA), enhanced cell ID (ECID), terrestrial beacon system positioning (TBS positioning), sensor-based positioning; etc.

[0071] The location information of the positioning reference device can be reported to the location management network element (e.g., LMF).

[0072] It should be understood that the first condition described in the embodiments of this application, for example, may refer to: the location information of the first device being greater than, less than or equal to a certain specific value; or, the location information of the first device belonging to or not belonging to a certain range; or, the error between the location information of the first device and the location information in the contract information or pre-configuration information of the first device being greater than, less than or equal to a certain specific value or a certain specific range, etc., which are not limited in this application.

[0073] In this embodiment, before using the first device for positioning measurement, the access management network element can first determine whether the first device can be used as a positioning reference unit. If the access management network element determines that the first device can be used as a positioning reference unit, the first device can be used for positioning measurement. Furthermore, based on this, the access management network element can further determine whether the location information of the first device meets a first condition. If the access management network element determines that the location information of the first device meets the first condition, the location information of the first device can be stored in the information of the first device. In this way, before using the first device for positioning measurement, the first device can be registered and / or authenticated, and the accuracy of the location information of the first device can be verified, thereby improving the accuracy of positioning measurement using the first device.

[0074] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the access management network element sends a third message to the second network element, the third message being used to request the location information of the first device; after obtaining the location information of the first device, the access management network element stores the location information of the first device in the information of the first device.

[0075] Optionally, the second network element can be an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) network element, or the second network element can be a Location Management Function (LMF) network element.

[0076] Optionally, the third message can be a location determination request message (Nlmf_Location_DetermineLocationRequest).

[0077] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the access management network element obtains one or more first devices from the unified data management network element (UDM). Obtaining one or more first devices may involve obtaining information about one or more first devices. The information about the first devices is as described above and will not be repeated here.

[0078] In this embodiment, the access management network element can obtain the latest location information of the first device by interacting with the second network element, which can ensure the reliability of the location information of the first device to a certain extent. The access management network element can store the latest location information of the first device in the information of the first device. In this way, the reliability of the positioning measurement results is also improved.

[0079] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the access management network element obtains one or more first devices from the unified data management network element.

[0080] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the access management network element sends a ninth message to the first device, the ninth message being used for positioning measurement of the first device, or the ninth message being used to request positioning measurement of the first device.

[0081] It should be understood that the positioning measurement of the first device may refer to the first device performing the functions of the first device mentioned above, and this application does not limit it.

[0082] The ninth message may include one or more of the following, which are not limited by this application:

[0083] Authentication request, authentication result, authentication reject, registration accept, registration reject, deregistration accept, service accept, service reject, configuration update command, identity request, notification, security mode command, security protected 5GS NAS message, 5GMM status, 5GSM status, remote UE report response, service-level authentication command, network slice-specific authentication command, network slice-specific authentication result, PDU session establishment accept, PDU session establishment reject, PDU session authentication command, PDU session authentication result, PDU session establishment response. Session establishment response, PDU session modification reject, PDU session modification command, PDU session release reject, PDU session release command.Command), PDU session release complete, downlink non-access stratum transport, LPP protocol data unit (LTE positioning protocol packet data unit, LPP PDU), NR protocol data unit (NRpositioning protocol packet data unit, NPP PDU / NRPP PDU), LPP message, request capabilities, provide capabilities, request assistance data, provide assistance data, request location information, provide location information, LPP request / provide location information message, LPP capability transfer, LPP request / provide assistance data message, LPP request / provide capability message, LPP procedure, LPP capability transfer, NR message, NR request / provide location information message, NR capability transfer. NR request / provide assistance data message, NR request / provide capability message, NR procedure, NR capability transfer, and NG setup response.Response, capability exchange, positioning information request, positioning activation request, measurement request, measurement update, measurement abort, etc.

[0084] Secondly, a communication method is provided, comprising: a network storage element receiving a fourth message sent by a second network element, the fourth message being used to acquire, discover, retrieve, or provide access management network elements.

[0085] Optionally, obtaining the access management network element may involve obtaining information about the access management network element, such as part or all of the network function profile (NF profile) information; or, for example, part or all of the subscription information of the access management network element; or, for example, part or all of the registration information of the access management network element, etc.

[0086] Optionally, the fourth message includes fifth information, which is used to indicate that the access management network element is an access management network element with a first device present. The explanation of the presence of the first device is as described above and will not be repeated here.

[0087] Optionally, the first device includes a positioning reference unit, and may also include one or more of the alternative terms for the first device mentioned above, which are not limited in this application.

[0088] Optionally, the fourth message includes a Network Function Discovery Request (Nnrf_NFDiscovery_Request);

[0089] Optionally, the fourth message may also include a network function list retrieval (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFListRetrieval Request) or a network function configuration retrieval (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFProfileRetrieval Request);

[0090] Optionally, the fourth message can also be other messages with the same function. For example, it can be other messages with different names but the same or similar functions. This application does not limit this.

[0091] Optionally, the network storage element sends one or more of the access management network elements to the second network element. The network storage element sending one or more of the access management network elements to the second network element can refer to the network storage element sending a feedback message of a fourth message to the second network element, the feedback message of which includes or carries one or more of the access management network elements, and the access management network elements are present in the first device.

[0092] Optionally, the network storage element sending one or more access management network elements to the second network element may refer to the network storage element sending one or more network function instances (NF instances) of the access management network elements to the second network element.

[0093] Optionally, the inclusion or carrying of the access management network element mentioned above may refer to including or carrying information of the access management network element. For example, it may be related information of the access management network element, such as all or part of the network function profile information of the access management network element, or part or all of the registration information of the access management network element, or part or all of the subscription information of the access management network element, or part or all of the configuration information of the access management network element, or part or all of the context information of the access management network element, or other related information of the access management network element. This application does not limit this.

[0094] Optionally, in this application, "feedback" can be replaced with "reply", and this application is not limited to this.

[0095] Optionally, the access management network element of the first device includes information about the access management network element of the first device.

[0096] In this embodiment, the network storage element queries the access management element to be discovered based on the information carried in the fourth message, and returns the query result to the second element, so that the second element can accurately and efficiently find the access management element required for positioning, thereby improving the efficiency of positioning measurement.

[0097] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the fourth message also includes reference area information of the second device, which is as described above and will not be repeated here.

[0098] Optionally, the second device includes the first device, which has been described in detail above and will not be repeated here.

[0099] Optionally, the fifth piece of information can be used to indicate that the access management network element of the first device exists in the reference area of ​​the second device.

[0100] Optionally, the second device includes the device being located.

[0101] In this embodiment of the application, the indication function of the fifth information enables the second network element to select the first device more effectively. Thus, when a positioning requirement for the device to be located occurs, the second network element can find a suitable first device based on the reference area of ​​the device to be located, thereby improving positioning efficiency.

[0102] In conjunction with the second aspect, some implementations of the second aspect further include: the network storage network element receiving a second message sent by the access management network element, the second message including first information, the first information being used to indicate that the access management network element has a first device, or the first information being used to register the information of the first device to the network storage network element, or the first information being used to indicate that the type of network function is the first device.

[0103] It should be understood that the information of the first device is as described above and will not be repeated here.

[0104] Optionally, the first device can be used for one or more of the following operations: positioning measurement, positioning calculation, location measurement, location estimation, location calculation, and positioning estimation. The functions of the first device are described above and will not be repeated here.

[0105] In this embodiment, the access management network element can send a first device or its related information that can be used for positioning measurement to the network storage network element. When there is a positioning requirement for a device to be located, the second network element (including the access and mobility management network element (AMF) and the location management function network element (LMF)) can obtain the first device or its related information that can be used for positioning measurement through interaction with the network storage network element. In this way, when locating the second device, in addition to the location measurement results of the second device based on 5G base stations and satellites, the measurement results of the first device that can be used for positioning measurement can also be used, which can improve the accuracy of the final location measurement result of the second device.

[0106] Thirdly, a communication method is provided, comprising: a network storage element receiving a fourth message sent by a second network element, the fourth message being used to acquire a first device.

[0107] Optionally, the fourth message includes fourth information indicating that the type of network function to be acquired or discovered is the first device.

[0108] Optionally, the first device includes a positioning reference unit, and the first device may also include any one or more of the above-mentioned replacement words, but all of them have the same or similar functions.

[0109] Optionally, the fourth message includes a Network Function Discovery Request (Nnrf_NFDiscovery_Request);

[0110] Optionally, the fourth message may also include a network function list retrieval (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFListRetrieval Request) or a network function configuration retrieval (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFProfileRetrieval Request);

[0111] Optionally, the fourth message can also be other messages with the same function. For example, it can be other messages with different names but the same or similar functions. This application does not limit this.

[0112] Optionally, the network storage element sends one or more of the first devices to the second network element. The network storage element sending one or more of the first devices to the second network element may refer to the network storage element sending a feedback message of a fourth message to the second network element, the feedback message of which includes or carries one or more of the first devices.

[0113] Optionally, including or carrying the first device may include or carry information about the first device. The information about the first device may be part or all of the registration information of the first device, for example, part or all of the contract information of the first device, for example, part or all of the configuration information of the first device, for example, part or all of the context information of the first device, or for example, other relevant information about the first device, which will not be elaborated here.

[0114] In this embodiment, the network storage element queries the first device to be obtained based on the relevant information carried in the fourth message, and returns the query result to the second network element, so that the second network element can accurately and efficiently find the first device required for positioning, thereby improving the efficiency and accuracy of positioning measurement.

[0115] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the fourth message also includes reference area information of the second device.

[0116] Optionally, the fourth message may also include a sixth message indicating that the first device is present in the reference area of ​​the second device.

[0117] Optionally, the second device includes the first device, which has been described in detail above and will not be repeated here.

[0118] Optionally, the second device includes the device being located.

[0119] In this embodiment of the application, the first device can be selected more effectively through the indication function of the sixth information. In this way, when a positioning requirement occurs, the second network element can find the first device more effectively, further improving the positioning efficiency.

[0120] In conjunction with the third aspect, some implementations of the third aspect further include: the network storage network element receiving a second message sent by the access management network element, the second message including first information, the first information being used to indicate that the access management network element has a first device, or the first information being used to register the relevant information of the first device to the network storage network element, or the first information being used to indicate that the type of network function is the first device.

[0121] Optionally, the information of the first device may be related information of the first device, such as part or all of the registration information of the first device, part or all of the subscription information of the first device, part or all of the network configuration information (network profile) of the first device, etc.

[0122] Optionally, the first device is used to perform one or more of the following operations: positioning measurement, positioning calculation, location measurement, location estimation, location calculation, and positioning estimation.

[0123] In this embodiment, the access management network element can send a first device or its information that can be used for positioning measurement to the network storage network element. When there is a need to locate a second device, the second network element (including the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) and the Location Management Function (LMF)) can obtain the first device or its information that can be used for positioning measurement through interaction with the network storage network element. Thus, when locating the second device, in addition to the location measurement results based on 5G base stations and satellites, the accuracy of the final location measurement result of the second device can be improved based on the measurement results of the first device that can be used for positioning measurement.

[0124] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the second message also includes reference area information of the first device.

[0125] Optionally, the first information is specifically used to indicate to the access management network element that the first device exists in the reference area of ​​the first device.

[0126] In this embodiment of the application, the reference area range where the first device is located is further refined by the indication function of the first information. In this way, when a positioning requirement occurs, the access management network element can find the first device more effectively, thereby improving positioning efficiency and accuracy.

[0127] Fourthly, a communication method is provided, comprising: a first device sending a first message to an access management network element, the first message including second information used to indicate the capabilities of the first device; the first device receiving a ninth message sent by the access management network element, the ninth message being used for positioning measurement by the first device;

[0128] The capabilities of the first device are as described above and will not be repeated here. The ninth message is as described in the first aspect above and will not be repeated here.

[0129] It should be understood that the first device positioning measurement may refer to the first device performing the function of the first device described in this application.

[0130] It should be noted that in the current protocol, the subject name corresponding to the positioning reference unit is not yet clearly defined. In future protocols or network architectures, any subject name with the same or similar function should be considered equivalent to it. For example, the positioning reference unit can also be called the positioning reference device, or any alternative term for the first device mentioned above, but all have the same function.

[0131] Optionally, the first device includes the positioning reference unit.

[0132] Optionally, the first message may also include the location information of the first device.

[0133] Optionally, if the first device cannot be used as a positioning reference unit, the first device receives third information sent by the access management network element. The third information is used to notify the reason, for example, the reason may be that the first device cannot be used as a positioning reference unit.

[0134] In this embodiment, the first device needs to send its own capabilities to the network. In this way, the network can select a suitable access management network element based on the access management network element that contains the first device, which can save network resources and improve the positioning accuracy of the located device.

[0135] Fifthly, a communication method is provided, comprising: a second network element sending a fourth message to a network storage network element, the fourth message being used to discover an access management network element.

[0136] Optionally, the fourth message includes fifth information, which is used to indicate that the discovered access management network element exists in the first device.

[0137] Optionally, the second network element receives one or more access management network elements sent by the network storage network element. The second network element receiving one or more access management network elements sent by the network storage network element may refer to the second network element receiving a feedback message of a fourth message sent by the network storage network element, where the feedback message of the fourth message includes the one or more access management network elements present in the first device. Optionally, the second network element receiving one or more access management network elements sent by the network storage network element may refer to the second network element receiving a network function instance (NF instance) of one or more access management network elements sent by the network storage network element.

[0138] Optionally, the feedback message sent by one or more of the access management network elements or the fourth message by the network storage network element mentioned above may refer to information from one or more of the access management network elements from the network storage network element. The information of the access management network element may refer to the relevant information of the access management network element. For example, it may refer to all or part of the network function profile (NF Profile) of the access management network element, or part or all of the registration information of the access management network element, or part or all of the subscription information of the access management network element, or part or all of the context of the access management network element, or part or all of the configuration information of the access management network element, or relevant information of the access management network element. This application does not limit this.

[0139] Optionally, the first device includes a positioning reference unit.

[0140] Optionally, the term "response" in this application may be replaced with "reply".

[0141] Optionally, the fourth message includes a network function discovery request (Nnrf_NFDiscovery_Request), and the fourth message also includes a network function list retrieval request (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFListRetrieval Request) or a network function configuration retrieval request (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFProfileRetrieval Request). The fourth message can also be other messages with the same function, for example, other messages with different message names but the same or similar functions. This application does not limit this.

[0142] Optionally, the method further includes: the second network element receiving a fifth message, the fifth message being used to request the location of the second device, or to request the acquisition of the location information of the second device, or to request the determination of the location of the second device.

[0143] Optionally, the second device includes the device being located.

[0144] Optionally, the fifth message may include a request to provide location information (Namf_Location_ProvidePositioningInfo Request, Nlmf_Location) or a request to determine the location (Nlmf_Location_DetermineLocation Request).

[0145] In this embodiment, the second device is located with the assistance of the first device, which can save network resources and improve positioning performance. Furthermore, the network storage element can query the required access management element based on the relevant information carried in the fourth message and return the query result to the second element, so that the second element can accurately and efficiently find the access management element required for positioning, thereby improving the efficiency of positioning measurement.

[0146] In conjunction with the fifth aspect, in some implementations of the fifth aspect, the fourth message also includes reference area information of the second device.

[0147] Optionally, the fifth piece of information is specifically used to indicate that the access management network element of the first device exists in the reference area of ​​the second device.

[0148] In this embodiment of the application, the reference area range where the access management network element containing the first device is located is further refined by the indication function of the fifth information. In this way, when a positioning requirement occurs, the second network element can more effectively find the access management network element containing the first device, thereby finding the first device more effectively and further improving positioning efficiency and accuracy.

[0149] In a sixth aspect, a communication method is provided, comprising: a second network element sending a fourth message to a network storage network element, the fourth message being used to acquire a first device.

[0150] Optionally, the fourth message includes fourth information indicating that the type of network function discovered is the first device.

[0151] Optionally, the first device includes a positioning reference unit.

[0152] Optionally, the fourth message may include one or more of the following: Network Function Discovery Request (Nnrf_NFDiscovery_Request), Network Function List Retrieval Request (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFListRetrieval Request), and Network Function Configuration Retrieval Request (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFProfileRetrieval Request). The fourth message may also be other messages with the same function, such as other messages with different names but the same or similar functions. This application does not limit the scope of the message.

[0153] Optionally, the method further includes: the second network element receiving a fifth message, the fifth message being used to request the location of the second device, or to request the acquisition of the location information of the second device, or to request the determination of the location of the second device.

[0154] Optionally, the second device includes the device being located, the target terminal device, or the device to be located.

[0155] Optionally, the fifth message may include a request to provide location information (Namf_Location_ProvidePositioningInfo Request, Nlmf_Location) or a request to determine the location (Nlmf_Location_DetermineLocation Request).

[0156] Optionally, the second network element receives one or more of the first devices from the network storage network element. The second network element receiving one or more of the first devices from the network storage network element may refer to the second network element receiving a feedback message of a fourth message sent by the network storage network element, where the feedback message of the fourth message includes the one or more first devices.

[0157] Optionally, the one or more first devices from the network storage element mentioned above may refer to information from one or more first devices from the network storage element. The information of the first device may refer to the relevant information of the first device. For example, it may refer to all or part of the network function profile (NF Profile) of the first device, or part or all of the registration information of the first device, or part or all of the subscription information of the first device, or part or all of the context of the first device, or part or all of the configuration information of the first device. This application does not limit this.

[0158] In this embodiment, the second device is located with the assistance of the first device, which can save network resources and improve positioning performance. Furthermore, the network storage element queries the first device to be obtained based on the relevant information carried by the fourth message and returns the query result to the second element, so that the second element can accurately and efficiently find the first device required for positioning, thereby improving the efficiency and accuracy of positioning measurement.

[0159] In conjunction with the sixth aspect, in some implementations of the sixth aspect, the fourth message includes sixth information for indicating that the first device is a first device present in the reference area of ​​the second device.

[0160] In this embodiment of the application, the reference area range where the first device is located is further refined by the indication function of the sixth information. In this way, when performing positioning measurement, combined with the first information, the access management network element can effectively find the first device, thereby improving positioning efficiency and accuracy.

[0161] A seventh aspect provides a communication apparatus comprising: a module for performing the method of the first aspect or any possible implementation thereof; or a module for performing the method of the second aspect or any possible implementation thereof; or a module for performing the method of the third aspect or any possible implementation thereof; or a module for performing the method of the fourth aspect or any possible implementation thereof; or a module for performing the method of the fifth aspect or any possible implementation thereof; or a module for performing the method of the sixth aspect or any possible implementation thereof.

[0162] Eighthly, a communication device is provided, including a processor. The processor is coupled to a memory and can be used to execute instructions in the memory to implement the methods in any possible implementation of the first aspect described above. Optionally, the device further includes a memory. Optionally, the device further includes a communication interface, to which the processor is coupled.

[0163] In one implementation, the device is an AMF (Advanced Feature Controller). When the device is an AMF, the communication interface can be a transceiver or an input / output interface.

[0164] In another implementation, the device is a chip configured in the AMF. When the device is a chip configured in the AMF, the communication interface can be an input / output interface.

[0165] Optionally, the transceiver can be a transceiver circuit. Optionally, the input / output interface can be an input / output circuit.

[0166] A ninth aspect provides a communication device including a processor. The processor is coupled to a memory and can be used to execute instructions in the memory to implement the methods in any possible implementation of the second or third aspect described above. Optionally, the device further includes a memory. Optionally, the device further includes a communication interface, to which the processor is coupled.

[0167] In one implementation, the device is an NRF. When the device is an NRF, the communication interface can be a transceiver, or an input / output interface.

[0168] In another implementation, the device is a chip configured within an NRF. When the device is a chip configured within an NRF, the communication interface can be an input / output interface.

[0169] Optionally, the transceiver can be a transceiver circuit. Optionally, the input / output interface can be an input / output circuit.

[0170] In a tenth aspect, a communication device is provided, including a processor. The processor is coupled to a memory and can be used to execute instructions in the memory to implement the method in any possible implementation of the fourth aspect described above. Optionally, the device further includes a memory. Optionally, the device further includes a communication interface, to which the processor is coupled.

[0171] In one implementation, the device is a UE. When the device is a UE, the communication interface can be a transceiver or an input / output interface.

[0172] In another implementation, the device is a chip configured in the UE. When the device is a chip configured in the UE, the communication interface can be an input / output interface.

[0173] Optionally, the transceiver can be a transceiver circuit. Optionally, the input / output interface can be an input / output circuit.

[0174] Eleventhly, a communication device is provided, including a processor. The processor is coupled to a memory and can be used to execute instructions in the memory to implement the method in any possible implementation of the fifth or sixth aspect described above. Optionally, the device further includes a memory. Optionally, the device further includes a communication interface, to which the processor is coupled.

[0175] In one implementation, the device is an LMF (Low-Level Function). When the device is an LMF, the communication interface can be a transceiver or an input / output interface.

[0176] In another implementation, the device is a chip configured within an LMF. When the device is a chip configured within an LMF, the communication interface can be an input / output interface.

[0177] Optionally, the transceiver can be a transceiver circuit. Optionally, the input / output interface can be an input / output circuit.

[0178] In a twelfth aspect, a processor is provided, comprising: an input circuit, an output circuit, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive signals through the input circuit and transmit signals through the output circuit, causing the processor to execute a method in any possible implementation of any of the first to sixth aspects described above.

[0179] In specific implementation, the processor can be a chip, the input circuit can be an input pin, the output circuit can be an output pin, and the processing circuit can be a transistor, gate circuit, flip-flop, and various logic circuits. The input signal received by the input circuit can be received and input by, for example, but not limited to, a receiver, and the signal output by the output circuit can be output to, for example, but not limited to, a transmitter and transmitted by the transmitter. Furthermore, the input circuit and the output circuit can be the same circuit, which is used as the input circuit and the output circuit at different times. This application does not limit the specific implementation of the processor and various circuits.

[0180] In a thirteenth aspect, an apparatus is provided, including a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to read instructions stored in the memory and to receive signals via a receiver and transmit signals via a transmitter to perform a method in any possible implementation of any of the first to sixth aspects.

[0181] Optionally, the processor may be one or more, and the memory may be one or more.

[0182] Optionally, the memory may be integrated with the processor, or the memory may be separated from the processor.

[0183] In specific implementation, the memory can be a non-transitory memory, such as read-only memory (ROM), which can be integrated with the processor on the same chip or set on different chips. The embodiments of this application do not limit the type of memory or the way the memory and processor are set.

[0184] It should be understood that related data interaction processes, such as sending indication information, can be the process of outputting indication information from the processor, and receiving capability information can be the process of the processor receiving input capability information. Specifically, the processed output data can be output to the transmitter, and the input data received by the processor can come from the receiver. Here, the transmitter and receiver can be collectively referred to as transceivers.

[0185] The device in the thirteenth aspect above can be a chip. The processor can be implemented in hardware or software. When implemented in hardware, the processor can be a logic circuit, an integrated circuit, etc. When implemented in software, the processor can be a general-purpose processor that reads software code stored in a memory. The memory can be integrated into the processor or located outside the processor and exist independently.

[0186] In a fourteenth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided that stores a computer program or instructions which, when executed, implement the method in any possible implementation of any of the first to sixth aspects described above.

[0187] In a fifteenth aspect, a computer program product comprising instructions is provided, which, when executed, implements the method in any possible implementation of any of the first to sixth aspects.

[0188] In a sixteenth aspect, a communication chip is provided, wherein instructions are stored that, when executed on a computer device, cause the communication chip to perform the methods of any possible implementation of the first to sixth aspects described above.

[0189] In a seventeenth aspect, a communication system is provided, comprising one or more of AMF, NRF, and LMF. Optionally, the communication system may further comprise UDM. Optionally, the communication system may further comprise GMLC.

[0190] Optionally, the communication system may also include other devices that communicate with the aforementioned network elements. Attached Figure Description

[0191] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the application scenarios applicable to this application;

[0192] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a network architecture provided in this application;

[0193] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the network architecture provided by 3GPP to support positioning;

[0194] Figure 4This is a schematic interactive diagram of a communication method 400 provided in this application;

[0195] Figure 5 This is a schematic interactive diagram of a communication method 500 provided in this application;

[0196] Figure 6 This is a schematic interactive diagram of a communication method 600 provided in this application;

[0197] Figure 7 This is a schematic interactive diagram of a communication method 700 provided in this application;

[0198] Figure 8 This is a schematic interactive diagram of a communication method 800 provided in this application;

[0199] Figure 9 This is a schematic interactive diagram of a communication method 1000 provided in this application;

[0200] Figure 10 A schematic block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of this application;

[0201] Figure 11 A schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0202] In this application, "at least one" means one or more, and "more" means two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, "A and / or B" can represent three cases: only A exists, only B exists, and both A and B exist simultaneously, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c", where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0203] It should be noted that the message names between network elements or the names of parameters in the messages in the following embodiments of this application are just examples. Other names may be used in the specific implementation. This application does not limit them in this respect.

[0204] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0205] The technical solutions of this application embodiment can be applied to various communication systems, such as: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) system, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) system, LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD) system, Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) communication system, 5th Generation (5G) system, or New Radio (NR), etc.

[0206] To address the challenges of wireless broadband technology and maintain the leading advantage of 3GPP networks, the 3GPP standards group developed a next-generation mobile communication network architecture, known as the 5G network architecture. This architecture not only supports wireless technologies defined by the 3GPP standards group (such as LTE) to access the 5G core network (5GC), but also supports non-3GPP access technologies to access the 5GC through non-3GPP interworking functions (N3IWF), trusted non-3GPP gateway functions (TNGF), trusted WLAN interworking functions (TWIF), or next-generation packet data gateways (NG-PDG). The core network functions are divided into user plane functions (UPF) and control plane functions (CP). The UPF is mainly responsible for packet forwarding, quality of service (QoS) control, and billing information statistics. The CP is mainly responsible for user registration and authentication, mobility management, and issuing packet forwarding policies and QoS control policies to the UPF. It can be further subdivided into access and mobility management function (AMF) and session management function (SMF).

[0207] The first or second device in the embodiments of this application may refer to user equipment (UE), terminal, access terminal, terminal in V2X communication, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication equipment, user agent, or user device. The positioning reference unit may also be a cellular phone, cordless phone, session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, wireless local loop (WLL) station, personal digital assistant (PDA), handheld device with wireless communication capabilities, computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, vehicle-mounted device, wearable device, terminal device in a future 5G network, or terminal device in a future evolved public land mobile network (PLMN), etc., and this application embodiment is not limited to these. The terminal may also include V2X equipment, such as a vehicle or an on-board unit (OBU) in a vehicle.

[0208] The first device in this embodiment is wirelessly connected to a radio access network (RAN) device, and the RAN element is wirelessly or wiredly connected to the core network device. The core network device and the RAN element can be independent physical devices, or the functions of the core network device and the logical functions of the RAN element can be integrated onto the same physical device, or a single physical device can integrate some of the core network device's functions and some of the RAN element's functions. The terminal can be fixed in location or mobile.

[0209] Core network equipment includes, for example, the Mobility Management Entity (MME) and the Broadcast Multicast Service Center (BMSC), or it may include corresponding functional entities in the 5G system, such as core network control plane (CP) or user plane (UP) network functions, such as SMF and Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF). The core network control plane can also be understood as the core network control plane function (CPF) entity.

[0210] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the application scenarios applicable to this application, such as... Figure 1 As shown, this application embodiment is applied to the location positioning scenario of the device to be positioned. When calculating the final location information of the device to be positioned, the location management function (LMF) is based not only on the location measurement results of the device to be positioned by 5G base stations and satellites, but also on the location measurement results of the device to be positioned through authorized positioning reference units. The LMF network element can summarize the results measured by 5G base stations, satellites and authorized positioning reference units respectively, and comprehensively analyze them to obtain the final location measurement result of the device to be positioned, thereby improving the accuracy of the final result of the location measurement of the device to be positioned, and thus better meeting the positioning needs of vertical industries.

[0211] It should be noted that the solutions in this application embodiment can also be applied to scenarios of fusion perception and positioning. That is, "positioning" in this application embodiment can be replaced with "perception".

[0212] It should be noted that in the current protocol, the subject name corresponding to the positioning reference unit is not yet clearly defined. In future protocols or network architectures, any subject name with the same or similar function should be considered equivalent to it. For example, the positioning reference unit can also be called the positioning reference device, or the positioning reference unit can also be called any one or more of the alternative terms for the first device mentioned above.

[0213] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a network architecture provided in an embodiment of this application is shown, such as... Figure 2 As shown, the network architecture may include: user equipment, access management network elements, session management network elements, user plane network elements, unified data management network elements, policy control network elements, authentication server, network slicing selection function, application network elements, (wireless) access network equipment, data network, network open network elements, and some network elements not shown, such as network storage network elements.

[0214] It should be understood that the network architecture involved in the embodiments of this application can be a 5th generation system (5GS), and the network elements in 5GS can also be called 5G core network elements.

[0215] The following describes each network element involved in the network architecture. 1. User Equipment (UE): User equipment can also be called terminal, access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, wireless communication equipment, user agent, or user device. The terminals in the embodiments of this application may be mobile phones, tablets, computers with wireless transceiver capabilities, virtual reality (VR) terminals, augmented reality (AR) terminals, wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals in self-driving, wireless terminals in remote medical care, wireless terminals in smart grids, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart cities, wireless terminals in smart homes, cellular phones, cordless phones, session initiation protocol (SIP) phones, wireless local loop (WLL) stations, personal digital assistants (PDAs), handheld devices with wireless communication capabilities, computing devices or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem, in-vehicle devices, wearable devices, terminals in 5G networks, or terminals in future evolved networks, etc.

[0216] Wearable devices, also known as wearable smart devices, are a general term for devices that utilize wearable technology to intelligently design and develop everyday wearables, such as glasses, gloves, watches, clothing, and shoes. Wearable devices are portable devices worn directly on the body or integrated into the user's clothing or accessories. Wearable devices are not merely hardware devices; they achieve powerful functions through software support, data interaction, and cloud interaction. Broadly defined, wearable smart devices include those with comprehensive functions, large sizes, and the ability to perform complete or partial functions without relying on a smartphone, such as smartwatches or smart glasses. They also include devices focused on a specific application function that require the use of other devices, such as smart bracelets and smart jewelry for vital sign monitoring.

[0217] 2. Access Management Network Element: Primarily used for mobility management and access management. In 5G communication systems, this access management network element can be the access and mobility management function (AMF), mainly performing mobility management, access authentication / authorization, and other functions. Furthermore, it is responsible for transmitting user policies between the terminal and the policy control function (PCF) network element. It can receive non-access stratum (NAS) signaling from terminal equipment (including mobility management (MM) and session management (SM) signaling) and related signaling from access network equipment (e.g., base station-level N2 (next generation (NG) 2 interface) signaling interacting with the AMF), completing the user registration process, forwarding SM signaling, and managing mobility.

[0218] 3. Session Management Network Element: Primarily used for session management, allocation and management of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses for user equipment, selection of endpoints for manageable user plane functions, policy control, and billing function interfaces, as well as downlink data notification. For example, it could be an SMF network element responsible for session management functions, completing processes related to PDU session establishment, release, and update.

[0219] 4. Policy control network elements: These include user subscription data management functions, policy control functions, billing policy control functions, quality of service (QoS) control, etc., which form a unified policy framework to guide network behavior and provide policy rule information to control plane function network elements (such as AMF, SMF, etc.).

[0220] In 5G communication systems, this policy control network element can be a policy control function (PCF) network element. It can be responsible for user policy management, including both mobility-related policies and PDU session-related policies, such as QoS policies and charging policies.

[0221] 5. Network Slice Selection Function Network Element: Responsible for selecting network slices for the UE. In 5G communication systems, this application network element can be the Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF) network element. That is, NSSF can be understood as the naming convention for the Network Slice Selection Function network element in the 5G architecture. The Network Slice Selection Function network element mainly includes the following functions: selecting a set of network slice instances for the UE, determining allowed network slice selection assistance information (NSSAI), and determining the AMF set that can serve the UE, etc.

[0222] 6. Authentication Server: Performs user security authentication. In a 5G communication system, this authentication server can be an authentication server function (AUSF), which mainly includes the following functions: authenticating server functions, interacting with the UDM to obtain user information, and performing authentication-related functions, such as generating intermediate keys.

[0223] 7. Unified Data Management Network Element: Responsible for the management of user identifiers, subscription data, authentication data, and user service network element registration management. In 5G communication systems, this unified data management network element can be Unified Data Management (UDM), which mainly includes the following functions: unified data management, supporting authentication trust letter processing in 3GPP authentication and key negotiation mechanisms, user identity processing, access authorization, registration and mobility management, subscription management, and SMS management, etc.

[0224] 8. Network Open Element: In a 5G communication system, this network open element can be a network element function (NEF) element, mainly used to expose the services and capabilities of 3GPP network functions to the AF, and also allowing the AF to provide information to 3GPP network functions. Specifically, NEF can be understood as the naming of the capability open element in the 5G architecture. The capability open element mainly includes the following functions: securely opening the services and capabilities provided by 3GPP network functions, such as internal opening or opening to third parties; converting or translating information interacting with the AF and information interacting with internal network functions, such as AF service identifiers and internal 5G core network information such as data network name (DNN) and single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI).

[0225] 9. Network Storage Element: Provides storage and selection functions for network function entity information for other core network elements. In 5G communication systems, this element can be a network function repository function (NRF), which mainly includes the following functions: service discovery, maintaining the NF text of available network function (NF) instances and the services they support.

[0226] 10. Application Network Element: In a 5G communication system, the application network element can be an application function (AF) network element, which represents the application function of a third party or operator. It is the interface for the 5G network to obtain external application data and is mainly used to convey the application side's requirements to the network side. The AF network element mainly includes the following functions: interacting with the 3GPP core network to provide services, including: interacting with NEF, policy architecture interaction, etc.

[0227] 11. User Plane Network Element: Serving as the interface with the data network, this element performs functions such as user plane data forwarding, session / flow-level billing and statistics, and bandwidth limiting. Specifically, it handles packet routing and forwarding, as well as Quality of Service (QoS) processing for user plane data. In 5G communication systems, this element can be a UPF (User Plane Function) element.

[0228] 12. Radio access network (R)AN: Access network equipment can also be called access device. R)AN can manage radio resources, provide access services for user equipment, and complete the forwarding of user equipment data between user equipment and core network. R)AN can also be understood as base station in network.

[0229] For example, the access network device in this application embodiment can be any communication device with wireless transceiver function for communicating with user equipment. The access network equipment includes, but is not limited to: evolved NodeB (eNB), radio network controller (RNC), Node B (NB), base station controller (BSC), base transceiver station (BTS), home evolved NodeB (HeNB, or home Node B, HNB), baseband unit (BBU), access point (AP), wireless relay node, wireless backhaul node, transmission point (TP), or transmission and reception point (TRP) in a wireless fidelity (WIFI) system. It can also be a gNB in ​​a 5G system, or a transmission point (TRP or TP), one or a group of antenna panels (including multiple antenna panels) of a base station in a 5G system, or a network node constituting a gNB or transmission point, such as a baseband unit (BBU) or a distributed unit (DU).

[0230] In some deployments, a gNB may include a centralized unit (CU) and a dedicated unit (DU). The gNB may also include an active antenna unit (AAU). The CU implements some of the gNB's functions, and the DU implements others. For example, the CU handles non-real-time protocols and services, implementing radio resource control (RRC) and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer functions. The DU handles physical layer protocols and real-time services, implementing radio link control (RLC), media access control (MAC), and physical (PHY) layer functions. The AAU implements some physical layer processing functions, radio frequency processing, and active antenna-related functions. RRC layer information is generated by the CU and is ultimately encapsulated by the DU's PHY layer to become PHY layer information, or it may be derived from PHY layer information. Therefore, in this architecture, higher-layer signaling, such as RRC layer signaling, can be considered as being sent by the DU, or by the DU+AAU. It is understood that access network equipment can be one or more of the following: CU nodes, DU nodes, and AAU nodes. Furthermore, a CU can be classified as an access network device in the radio access network (RAN) or as an access network device in the core network (CN); this application does not impose any limitations on this classification.

[0231] 13. Data Network: Provides services such as carrier services, internet access, or third-party services, including servers. The server side implements video source encoding, rendering, etc. In a 5G communication system, this data network can be a data network (DN).

[0232] The aforementioned functional network elements can be network components in hardware devices, software functions running on dedicated hardware, or virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform). These functional network elements can be divided into one or more services; furthermore, services existing independently of network functions may also exist. In this application, instances of the aforementioned functional network elements, instances of services included in the aforementioned functional network elements, or instances of services existing independently of network functions can all be referred to as service instances.

[0233] It should be understood that, for the sake of clarity, if the above-mentioned network elements appear in the architecture below, the description of the functions of each network element described above will also apply. For the sake of brevity, they will not be repeated here next time.

[0234] From the perspective of those skilled in the art Figure 2 As can be seen, terminal devices can access 5GS through access network devices. Terminal devices can communicate with AMF network elements through the next-generation (NG) 1 interface (N1). Access network devices communicate with AMF network elements through the NG2 interface (N2), and with UPF network elements through the NG3 interface (N3). AMF network elements communicate with SMF network elements through the NG11 interface (N11), with UDM network elements through the NG8 interface (N8), with AUSF network elements through the NG12 interface (N12), with PCF network elements through the NG15 interface (N15), with SMF network elements through the NG7 interface (N7), with PCF network elements through the NG4 interface (N4), with UPF network elements through the NG29 interface (N29), and UPF network elements access the data network through the NG6 interface (N6). network (DN).

[0235] certainly, Figure 2 The system architecture involved may also include other network elements, such as network slice selection function (NSSF), unified data repository (UDR), or network repository function (NRF), etc., without specific limitations.

[0236] It should be understood that Figure 2 The names given for each network element shown are merely names and do not limit the function of the network element itself. In 5G networks and other future networks, the aforementioned network elements may also have other names, and this application embodiment does not specifically limit this. For example, in 6G networks, some or all of the aforementioned network elements may use the terminology from 5G, or they may have other names, etc. This is explained uniformly here and will not be elaborated further below.

[0237] It should also be understood that the embodiments of this application are not limited to those described herein. Figure 2 In the system architecture shown. For example, a communication system to which this application can be applied may include more or fewer network elements or devices. Figure 2 The devices or network elements in the network can be hardware, software based on function, or a combination of both. Figure 2 Devices or network elements within the network can communicate with each other through other devices or network elements.

[0238] Figure 3 This diagram illustrates the network architecture provided by 3GPP for supporting positioning. Figure 3 As shown, the architecture includes UDM, UE, AMF, RAN, NEF, AF, gateway mobile location center (GMLC), location retrieval function (LRF), location service client (LCS client), and LMF. This architecture diagram is based on... Figure 2 An extension based on the architecture shown, Figure 2 The architecture diagram shown has been expanded to include GMLC, LRF, LCS client, and LMF to support location service functionality.

[0239] exist Figure 3 In this configuration, the UE connects to the AMF via the N1 interface and to the RAN via the radio resource control (RRC) protocol. The RAN connects to the AMF via the N2 interface, the AMF connects to the UDM via the N8 interface to obtain user subscription data from the UDM, the AMF connects to the LMF via NL1, the AMF connects to the NEF via N51, the AMF connects to the GMLC via NL2, the NEF connects to the GMLC via NL5, the UDM connects to the GMLC via NL6, the UDM connects to the NEF via N52, the NEF connects to the AF via N33, and the GMLC and LRF connect to the LCS Client via Le.

[0240] It should be understood that Figure 3 The interface or service interface between network elements shown is only an example. In 5G networks and other future networks, the interface or service interface between network elements may not be the interface shown in the figure. This application does not limit this.

[0241] For example, Figure 4 A schematic interactive diagram of a communication method 400 provided in this application is shown, such as... Figure 4 As shown, the method 400 includes:

[0242] Step S401: The first device sends a first message to the access management network element. The first message includes second information, which indicates the capabilities of the first device. The capabilities of the first device are described in the above invention description section and will not be repeated here.

[0243] Optionally, the first device is used to perform one or more of the following operations: positioning measurement, positioning calculation, location measurement, location calculation, and positioning estimate.

[0244] Optionally, the positioning calculation or positioning measurement can be one or more of the following: positioning-assisted measurement, positioning-assisted calculation, positioning measurement of the terminal device, positioning calculation of the terminal device, auxiliary positioning measurement of the terminal device, and auxiliary positioning calculation of the terminal device. Among these, positioning-assisted measurement can be the position measurement of the second device by any of the following: auxiliary base station, LMF network element, or second device.

[0245] The function of the first device is as described in the invention description section above, and will not be repeated here.

[0246] Optionally, the first message may also include one or more of the following: a registration request, a service request, and an uplink non-access stratum transmission; it may also include one or more other messages exemplified in the foregoing description of the invention regarding the first message.

[0247] Step S402: The access management network element sends a second message to the network storage network element. The second message includes first information, which indicates that the access management network element has a first device, or that the first information is used to register the relevant information of the first device with the network storage network element, or that the network function type is the first device.

[0248] Optionally, the existence of the first device mentioned in this step may be information about the existence of the first device. For example, it may be related information about the existence of the first device, part or all of the registration information of the first device, or part or all of the subscription information of the first device, or part or all of the network function profile (NF profile) of the first device. Among these, the related information about the existence of the first device may be the context information of the first device, etc.

[0249] Optionally, the second message may also include reference area information for the first device.

[0250] Optionally, the reference area information of the first device can be used to characterize the reference location of the first device. The reference area information can be the area information of the first device under the access network device currently providing services to it, and may include the identifier of the cell where the current terminal is located. The reference area information can also be the location information of the first device under its target access network device, and may include at least one of the following: cell identifier (e.g., CGI), access network device identifier (e.g., gNB ID, NG-RAN ID, etc.), tracking area identifier (e.g., TAI, TAC, etc.), and public land mobile network (e.g., PLMN) identifier. It may also include global positioning system (GPS) geographic location information, sector identifier, PCI, antenna identifier, DU identifier, etc.

[0251] Further, optionally, the first information is specifically used to indicate to the access management network element that the first device exists in the reference area of ​​the first device.

[0252] Optionally, the second message may also include a network function update request, the English signaling name of which may be Nnrf_NFManagement_NFUpdate Request; the second message may also include a network function registration request, the English signaling name of which may be Nnrf_NFManagement_NFRegisterRequest.

[0253] Optionally, the second message may also include fourth information, which indicates / represents / characterizes that the type of network function is the first device.

[0254] Step S403: The network storage element receives a fourth message sent by the second network element. The fourth message is used to acquire or discover the access management network element, or to discover or acquire the first device.

[0255] It should be understood that the discovery or acquisition of access management network elements described in the embodiments of this application can be the discovery or acquisition of information about access management network elements. For example, it can be related information about access management network elements, such as part or all of the configuration information of access management network elements. Similarly, the discovery or acquisition of the first device described in the embodiments of this application can also be the discovery or acquisition of information about the first device. For example, it can be related information about the first device, such as the registration information of the first device or the subscription information of the first device.

[0256] Optionally, the fourth message may also include reference area information of the second device, wherein the second device includes the terminal device to be located or the device being located.

[0257] Optionally, the second network element can be an access management network element (e.g., an access and mobility management function network element AMF) or a location management function network element LMF.

[0258] Optionally, the fourth message includes fifth information, which is used to indicate that the access management network element to be discovered or obtained is an access management network element present in the first device;

[0259] Optionally, the fourth message may include fourth information indicating that the type of network function to be discovered or acquired is the first device; additionally, the fourth message may also include sixth information indicating that the first device is a first device present in the reference area of ​​the second device.

[0260] Optionally, the fourth message includes a Network Function Discovery Request (Nnrf_NFDiscovery_Request);

[0261] Optionally, the fourth message may also include a network function list retrieval (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFListRetrieval Request) or a network function configuration retrieval (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFProfileRetrieval Request);

[0262] Optionally, the fourth message can also be other messages with the same function. For example, it can be other messages with different names but the same or similar functions. This application does not limit this.

[0263] Optionally, the fifth information is specifically used to indicate that the access management network element of the first device exists in the reference area of ​​the second device. That is, the fifth information is specifically used to indicate that the access management network element to be discovered or obtained exists in the first device, and the first device is located in the reference area of ​​the second device.

[0264] It should be understood that step S401 in the embodiments of this application is optional. The access management network element can also obtain the information carried by the first message in other ways, such as by configuration.

[0265] It should be understood that the reference area of ​​the second device is the same as the explanation of the reference area of ​​the device in the description of the invention and the explanation of the reference area of ​​the first device described in step S402. For the sake of brevity, it will not be repeated here.

[0266] It should be understood that "acquisition" in the embodiments of this application includes any term with acquisition function such as query, discovery, extraction, etc., and this application does not limit it.

[0267] It should be understood that the access management network element in the embodiments of this application can be an access and mobility management function network element, and the network storage network element can be a network storage function network element (NRF). In future 5G or 6G networks, it can also be other names, and this application does not limit it.

[0268] It should be understood that the verbs such as "instruct" and "exist" appearing in the embodiments of this application do not constitute a limitation on this application, and can be replaced by any term that is the same as or similar to them. For example, "instruct" can also be replaced by "notify", and "exist" can be replaced by "including, contain, registered, registered", etc. This application does not limit them.

[0269] In this embodiment, the access management network element can send a first device or its information that can be used for positioning measurement to the network storage network element. When there is a need to locate a second device, the access management network element can obtain the first device or its information that can be used for positioning through interaction with the network storage network element. In this way, when locating the second device, in addition to the location measurement results of the second device based on 5G base stations and satellites, the location measurement results of the first device that can be used for positioning can also be used, which can improve the accuracy of the final location measurement result of the second device.

[0270] The following is combined Figures 5-9 Regarding the above Figure 4 The communication method in the illustrated embodiment will be described in detail.

[0271] exist Figure 4 Within the framework of the illustrated embodiment, exemplarily, Figure 5 A schematic interactive diagram of a communication method 500 provided in this application is shown, such as... Figure 5 As shown, the method 500 includes:

[0272] Step S501: The first device sends a first message to the access network device. The first message may include one or more of the following: a registration request, a service request, and uplink non-access stratum transmission. The first message also includes second information, which is used to indicate the capabilities of the first device. The capability information of the first device is used to indicate or determine whether the first device can be used as a positioning reference unit. Furthermore, the first message also includes the location information of the first device.

[0273] Optionally, the first message may also include any one or more messages listed in the summary of the invention, and this application does not limit this.

[0274] Optionally, the interpretation of the location information of the first device is as described in the summary of the invention, and will not be repeated here.

[0275] Optionally, the capabilities of the first device are explained as described in the summary section and will not be repeated here.

[0276] Optionally, the first device includes a positioning reference unit, which may be a first device that is authenticated or authorized and capable of performing positioning measurements. The positioning reference unit may also be referred to as a positioning reference device. Furthermore, as described in the description of the alternative terms for positioning reference device in the summary of the invention, the positioning reference unit may be replaced with any device name that has the same or similar function as it may appear in the future, and this application does not limit it in this regard.

[0277] It should be noted that in the current protocol, the subject name corresponding to the positioning reference unit is not yet clearly defined. In future protocols or network architectures, any subject name with the same or similar function should be considered equivalent to it.

[0278] Optionally, the first message may also include the identification information of the first device and / or the reference area information of the second device (e.g., UE location information (ULI)).

[0279] Step S502: After receiving the first message sent by the first device, the access network device forwards the first message to the access management network element.

[0280] Step S503: After receiving the first message sent by the access network device, the access management network element determines or judges that the first device can be used as a positioning reference unit based on the second information carried in the first message.

[0281] Optionally, the access management network element determines that the first device can become a positioning reference unit based on the subscription information of the first device.

[0282] Optionally, the subscription information of the first device may be the subscription information of the first device stored by the access management network element itself, or the subscription information of the first device obtained by the access management network element from the UDM.

[0283] Optionally, if the access management network element determines that the first device can be used as a positioning reference unit, the access management network element stores the second information in the information of the first device.

[0284] It should be understood that the access management network element can also make a judgment based on other relevant information besides the first device's subscription information when determining whether the first device can be used as a positioning reference unit. This application does not limit this.

[0285] Step S504: The access management network element determines that the location information of the first device carried in the first message meets the first condition.

[0286] It should be noted that the explanation of the first condition is as described in the summary of the invention and will not be repeated here.

[0287] Step S505: The access management network element stores the location information of the first device into the information of the first device.

[0288] Optionally, the information of the first device may include relevant information of the first device, such as part or all of the registration information of the first device, or, for example, part or all of the contract information of the first device, or, for example, part or all of the context information of the first device.

[0289] Optionally, the access management network element may also perform the operation of storing the second information into the information of the first device in this step. That is, the access management network element may not perform this operation in step S503, but instead, after further determining that the location information of the first device meets the first condition, store the second information and the location information of the first device together into the information of the first device.

[0290] It should be understood that before executing step S505, the purpose of the access management network element determining or judging whether the location information of the first device meets the first condition is to detect whether the first device has been moved by an external force, or, even if it has been moved by an external force, whether the position after the movement is still within the allowable error range. More specifically, for example, if the first device has been moved by an external force, it may cause the position of the second device measured by the first device to be inaccurate. For example, assuming the coordinates of the first device itself are (X1, Y1), and the coordinates of the second device measured by the first device are (X2, Y2), the LMF notifies the base station that the coordinates of the second device measured are (X3, Y3), and the coordinates of the base station itself are (X4, Y4). If there is a relationship between the coordinates of the base station and the coordinates of the first device (X1+Y=X4, Y1+Y=Y4), then the LMF can further calibrate and summarize the above coordinate values ​​to obtain the final position measurement result for the second device. Therefore, if the first device has been moved by an external force, it may affect the LMF's calculation of the final position information of the second device.

[0291] Step S506: The access management network element sends a second message to the network storage network element.

[0292] Optionally, the second message may be a network function management update request, used to update relevant information of the access management network element. When the first message is a network function management update request, it may include first information, which is used to indicate that the access management network element has a first device. It may also include reference area information of the first device and / or an indication that the first device exists in the reference area of ​​the first device.

[0293] Optionally, the reference area information of the first device is as described in the summary of the invention and will not be repeated here.

[0294] Optionally, the first message may also be a network function management registration request, used to create or register relevant information of the first device, the first message carrying the identification information of the first device and / or the reference area information of the first device.

[0295] Optionally, the first message may also be a network function management update request, used to update the relevant information of the first device itself, and the message carries the identification information of the first device and / or the reference area information of the first device.

[0296] Optionally, the identification information of the first device may be the NF (network function) instance ID corresponding to the first device, and the reference area information of the first device may be as explained in the content of the invention, and will not be repeated here.

[0297] It should be understood that steps S501 to S502 are optional, and the access management network element can also obtain the information carried by the first message through other means.

[0298] It should be understood that the embodiments of this application are only preferred embodiments provided by this application. Any omission, splitting or adjustment of the order of steps made on the basis of this embodiment that do not affect the implementation of the technical solution are within the scope of this application. For example, when step S503 and / or step S504 are omitted, the overall implementation of the technical solution is not affected, and the presented technical solution is also within the scope of disclosure of this application.

[0299] In this embodiment, before using the first device for positioning, the access management network element first determines whether the first device can be used as a positioning reference unit. When the access management network element determines that the first device can be used as a positioning reference unit, the first device is then used for positioning measurement. Furthermore, based on this, the access management network element can further determine whether the location information of the first device meets a first condition. When the access management network element determines that the location information of the first device meets the first condition, the location information of the first device is then stored in the information of the first device. In this way, it is equivalent to authenticating the positioning function of the first device and verifying the accuracy of the location information of the first device before using it for positioning measurement, which can improve the accuracy of positioning measurement.

[0300] and Figure 5 The illustrated embodiments are presented side by side, exemplarily, Figure 6 A schematic interactive diagram of a communication method 600 provided in this application is shown, such as... Figure 6 As shown, the method 600 includes:

[0301] Step S601: The first device sends a first message to the access network device. The first message includes one or more of the following: a registration request, a service request, and uplink non-access stratum transmission. The first message also includes second information, which is used to indicate the capabilities of the first device. The capabilities of the first device are as explained in the corresponding description of the invention and will not be repeated here.

[0302] Optionally, as described in the first aspect of the summary portion of the invention, the first message may further include any one or more of the following messages:

[0303] Registration complete, accept registration, accept registration request, service rejection, service acceptance, control plane service request, uplink non-access stratum transmission, mobile-initiated location request, authentication reply, authentication failure, configuration update complete, identity reply, notification reply, security mode complete, security mode rejected, 5G non-access stratum message protected by security, 5G mobile management status, network slice specific authentication complete, LPP protocol data unit, NR protocol data unit, LPP message, request capability, provide capability, request auxiliary data, provide auxiliary data, request location information, provide location information, LPP request or provide location information message, LPP capability transmission, LPP request or provide auxiliary data message, LPP request or provide capability message, LPP procedure, LPP capability transmission, NR message, NR request or provide location information message, NR capability transmission, NR request or provide auxiliary data message, NR request or provide capability message, NR procedure, NR capability transmission, PDU session establishment request, PDU session modification request, PDU session release request, remote UE reporting, NG establishment request, transmit / receive point information reply, capability exchange, etc. Optionally, the first message may also include other messages besides those mentioned above, and this application does not limit this.

[0304] It should be understood that the difference between step S601 and step S501 is that the first message in step S601 does not include the location information of the first device.

[0305] Optionally, the first device includes a positioning reference unit, which may be a first device that has been authenticated or authorized and is capable of performing positioning measurements. The positioning reference unit may also be referred to as a positioning reference device. Furthermore, the positioning reference unit may be replaced with any one or more of the alternative terms for positioning reference unit in the first aspect of the invention, or it may be replaced with any device name that may appear in the future with the same or similar function. This application does not limit this.

[0306] It should be noted that in the current protocol, the subject name corresponding to the positioning reference unit is not yet clearly defined. In future protocols or network architectures, any subject name with the same or similar function should be considered equivalent to it.

[0307] Optionally, the first message may also include identification information of the first device (e.g., the identification information of the first device may include a generic public subscription identifier (GPSI), a subscription permanent identifier (SUPI), an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), a permanent equipment identifier (PEI), or a subscription concealed identifier (SUCI), etc.).

[0308] Step S602: After receiving the first message sent by the first device, the access network device forwards the first message to the access management network element.

[0309] Step S603: After receiving the first message sent by the access network device, the access management network element determines or judges that the first device can be used as a positioning reference unit based on the second information carried in the first message.

[0310] Optionally, the access management network element can determine whether the first device can become a positioning reference unit based on the subscription information of the first device.

[0311] Optionally, the subscription information of the first device may be the subscription information of the first device stored by the access management network element itself, or the subscription information of the first device obtained by the access management network element from the UDM.

[0312] Optionally, if the access management network element determines that the first device can be used as a positioning reference unit, the access management network element stores the second information in the information of the first device.

[0313] Optionally, the information of the first device may be related information of the first device, such as part or all of the registration information of the first device, or part or all of the contract information of the first device, or part or all of the context of the first device, or part or all of other related information of the first device, etc.

[0314] It should be understood that the access management network element can also make a judgment based on other relevant information besides the first device's subscription information when determining whether the first device can be used as a positioning reference unit. This application does not limit this.

[0315] It should be noted that in the current protocol, the subject name corresponding to the positioning reference unit is not yet clearly defined. In future protocols or network architectures, any subject name that has the same or similar function should be considered equivalent to it. For example, the positioning reference unit can also be called the positioning reference device. Alternatively, the positioning reference unit can be replaced with any one or more of the alternative terms for the positioning reference unit in the first aspect of the invention, or it can be replaced with any device name that has the same or similar function that may appear in the future. This application does not limit this.

[0316] Step S604: The access management network element sends a third message to the second network element, which is used to request the location information of the first device.

[0317] Optionally, the second network element can be a location management network element.

[0318] Optionally, the third message includes a location determination request message (Nlmf_Location_DetermineLocationRequest), which is used to request the location information of the first device.

[0319] The location management network element can be an LMF network element, and the location management network element can be replaced with any network element name that has the same or similar function in future 5G, 6G or other network architectures. This application does not limit this.

[0320] Step S605: The second network element obtains the location information of the first device through a positioning method.

[0321] Optionally, as described in the first aspect of the specification, the location information of the first device may be pre-configured geographic coordinate information configured by the operator; or it may be location information measured, calculated, or estimated by a positioning method, for example, by one or more of the following positioning methods:

[0322] Global Navigation Satellite System, dynamic real-time differential, radar, observational time difference of arrival, uplink time difference of arrival, downlink time difference of arrival, uplink angle of arrival, downlink angle of departure, WLAN-based positioning methods, Bluetooth-based positioning methods, multiple round-trip time delay, time difference of arrival, enhanced cell identification, ground beacon system positioning, sensor-based positioning; etc.

[0323] Step S606: The first device receives a reply message to the third message sent by the location management network element, the reply message of the third message including the obtained location information of the first device.

[0324] Step S607: The access management network element stores the location information of the first device into the information of the first device.

[0325] Optionally, the information of the first device includes relevant information about the first device. For example, the relevant information about the first device may be part or all of the registration information of the first device; or it may be part or all of the contract information of the first device; or it may be part or all of the context information of the first device; or it may be other relevant information about the first device, etc.

[0326] Optionally, the access management network element may also perform the operation of storing the second information into the information of the first device in this step. That is, the access management network element may not perform this operation in step S603, but instead, after obtaining the location information of the first device, store the second information and the location information of the first device together into the information of the first device.

[0327] Optionally, steps S604 to S607 can be omitted, and step S608 can be executed directly after step S603.

[0328] Step S608: The access management network element sends a second message to the network storage network element.

[0329] Among them, the second message and Figure 5 The second message in the illustrated embodiment is the same, and for the sake of brevity, it will not be described again here.

[0330] It should be understood that steps S601 to S602 are optional, and the access management network element can also obtain the information carried by the first message in other ways, such as by configuration.

[0331] It should be understood that the embodiments of this application are only preferred embodiments provided by this application. Any omission, splitting or adjustment of the order of steps that do not affect the implementation of the technical solution based on these embodiments are within the scope of this application. For example, when one or more of steps S601 to S606 are omitted, the overall implementation of the technical solution is not affected, and the presented technical solution is also within the scope of this application.

[0332] In this embodiment, the first device needs to send its own capabilities to the network. In this way, the network can select a suitable access management network element or the first device based on the presence of the first device. Furthermore, the access management network element obtains the latest location information of the second device and applies it to the positioning measurement or calculation. This can save network resources and improve the positioning accuracy of the located device.

[0333] and Figure 5 or Figure 6 The illustrated embodiment corresponds to, exemplarily, Figure 7 A schematic interactive diagram of a communication method 700 provided in this application is shown, such as... Figure 7 As shown, the method 700 includes:

[0334] Step S701: The first device sends a first message to the 5G access network device. The first message includes one or more of the following: a registration request, a service request, and uplink non-access stratum transmission. The first message also includes second information, which is used to indicate the capabilities of the first device. The explanation of the capabilities of the first device is as described in the first aspect of the invention summary, and will not be repeated here.

[0335] Optionally, the first message may also include, for example: Figure 6 The first message described in the illustrated embodiment or the first aspect of the invention summary may include one or more of the following messages:

[0336] Optionally, the first message may include the location information of the first device.

[0337] Optionally, the first device includes a positioning reference unit, which may be a first device that has been authenticated or authorized and is capable of performing positioning measurements. The positioning reference unit may also be referred to as a positioning reference device. Furthermore, the positioning reference unit may be replaced with any one or more of the alternative terms for positioning reference unit in the first aspect of the invention, or it may be replaced with any device name that may appear in the future with the same or similar function. This application does not limit this.

[0338] Optionally, the first message may further include identification information of the first device. The interpretation of the identification information of the first device and... Figure 6 The explanations in the illustrated embodiments are the same.

[0339] Step S702: After receiving the first message sent by the first device, the access network device forwards the first message to the access management network element.

[0340] Step S703: After receiving the first message sent by the access network device, the access management network element determines or judges that the first device cannot be used as a positioning reference unit based on the second information carried in the first message.

[0341] Optionally, the access management network element can determine that the first device cannot be used as a positioning reference unit based on the first device's subscription information.

[0342] Optionally, the subscription information of the first device may be the subscription information of the first device stored by the access management network element itself, or the subscription information of the first device obtained by the access management network element from the UDM.

[0343] It should be understood that the access management network element can also make a judgment based on other relevant information besides the first device's subscription information when determining whether the first device can be used as a positioning reference unit. This application does not limit this.

[0344] Step S704: The access management network element sends third information to the first device.

[0345] Optionally, the third information is used to notify the reason, for example, the reason could be that the first device cannot be used as a positioning reference unit.

[0346] Optionally, the third piece of information can be registration failure information, used to notify the first device that the initial registration failed. The registration failure information may include a reason value for the registration failure.

[0347] It should be understood that, with Figure 5 or Figure 6 The embodiments shown are the same, but steps S701 to S702 in this embodiment are optional. The access management network element can also obtain the information carried by the first message in other ways, such as by configuration. It should be noted that in the current protocol, the subject name corresponding to the positioning reference unit is not yet clearly defined. In future protocols or network architectures, any subject name with the same or similar function should be considered equivalent to it. For example, the positioning reference unit can also be called the positioning reference device, or the positioning reference unit can be replaced with any one or more of the alternative terms for the positioning reference unit in the first aspect of the invention, or it can be replaced with any device name with the same or similar function that may appear in the future. This application does not limit this.

[0348] In this embodiment, before using the first device for positioning measurement, the access management network element can first determine whether the first device can be used as a positioning reference unit. When the access management network element determines that the first device cannot be used as a positioning reference unit, it will not select the first device for positioning measurement. This is equivalent to authenticating the first device before using it for positioning, thus preventing unauthorized first devices from performing positioning measurements on the second device, thereby avoiding the impact of inaccurate positioning measurements by the first device on the final positioning result of the second device.

[0349] exist Figures 5-6 Based on the illustrated embodiments, by way of example, Figure 8 A schematic interactive diagram of a communication method 800 provided in this application is shown, such as... Figure 8 As shown, the method 800 includes:

[0350] Step S801: The location service client (LCS client) sends a location service request message to the GMLC. The location service request message includes the identification information of the second device and / or the required QoS information.

[0351] Optionally, the second device is the device to be located, the device being located, or the target device, and may include a terminal device or the first device.

[0352] Optionally, the identification information of the second device includes one or more of the following: general public subscription identifier (GPSI), subscription permanent identifier (SUPI), international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), permanent equipment identifier (PEI), and subscription concealed identifier (SUCI).

[0353] Optionally, the required QoS information may include one or more of the following: the accuracy of the location measurement results of the second device (e.g., centimeters, decimeters, meters, etc.), the feedback time of the location measurement results of the second device (e.g., immediate feedback or feedback after a certain period of time, etc.), and the supported geographical area description (GAD) (e.g., GPS location coordinates expressed in latitude and longitude, etc.).

[0354] Step S802: The GMLC sends a service function network element acquisition request (Nudm_UECM_Get request) to the UDM to obtain the identification information of the function network elements required to serve the second device.

[0355] Optionally, the service function network element acquisition request message includes the identification information of the second device and / or the type of the required function network element.

[0356] It should be understood that the type of functional network element obtained by the GMLC in this embodiment is the type of functional network element required to carry the identification information of the second device. In this embodiment, the type of functional network element required is an access management network element (e.g., an access and mobility management function network element, AMF). Therefore, the identification information of the functional network element serving the second device obtained by the GMLC in this embodiment is the identification information of the access management network element. However, this does not constitute a substantial limitation on this application, and the type of functional network element required can be adjusted according to actual needs.

[0357] Step S803: The GMLC sends a fifth message to the second network element. This fifth message includes the identification information of the second device.

[0358] Optionally, the fifth message may be a location information request message (Namf_Location_ProvidePositioningInfo Request).

[0359] In this step, if the access management network element finds that the second device is in the idle state CM-IDLE, it triggers a network triggered service request to page the second device back to the connected state CM-CONNECTED.

[0360] Optionally, the second network element can be an access management network element (e.g., an AMF network element) or an LMF network element.

[0361] Optionally, the identification information of the second device includes one or more of the following: a general public subscription identifier (GPSI), a subscription permanent identifier (SUPI), and the type of LCS client.

[0362] Step S804: The second network element sends a fourth message to the network storage network element. This fourth message is used to discover or acquire the access management network element.

[0363] It should be understood that the discovery or acquisition of access management network elements described in the embodiments of this application can be the discovery or acquisition of information about access management network elements. The information about access management network elements can be related information about access management network elements, such as the identification information of access management network elements, or part or all of the configuration information (network function profile, NF profile) of access management network elements, etc.

[0364] Optionally, the fourth message is used to discover or query the presence of one or more access management network elements of the first device in the reference area (e.g., cell) where the second device is located. The fourth message contains information about the reference area where the second device is located (e.g., cell identification information (e.g., it may be CGI)).

[0365] Optionally, the fourth message may also include other reference area information of the second device (e.g., base station identifier (NG-RANID or g NB ID), paging area identifier (e.g., TAC or TAI), etc.), wherein the second device may include the terminal device to be located, the device being located, the first device, or the target device, etc.

[0366] Optionally, the fourth message includes fifth information, which is used to indicate that the access management network element to be acquired or discovered is an access management network element present in the first device.

[0367] Further, optionally, the fifth information is specifically used to indicate that the access management network element to be discovered or acquired exists in the reference area of ​​the second device, meaning that the fifth information is specifically used to indicate that the access management network element to be acquired or discovered exists in the first device, and that the first device is located in the reference area of ​​the second device. It should be understood that the explanation of the reference area of ​​the second device corresponding to the description in the invention section... Figure 4 The explanation of the reference area of ​​the first device described in step S402 of the above embodiments is the same, and will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0368] Optionally, the fourth message includes a network function discovery request (Nnrf_NFDiscovery_RequestRequest); the fourth message also includes a network function list retrieval request ((Nnrf_NFManagement_NFListRetrievalRequest)) or a network function configuration retrieval request (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFProfileRetrieval Request), or the fourth message may be other messages with the same function, for example, other messages with different message names but the same or similar functions, which is not limited in this application.

[0369] It should be understood that "acquisition" in the embodiments of this application includes any term with acquisition function such as query, discovery, extraction, etc., and this application does not limit it.

[0370] It should be understood that the access management network element in the embodiments of this application can be an access and mobility management function network element, and the network storage network element can be a network repository function (NRF). In future 5G or 6G networks, it can also be other names, and this application does not limit it.

[0371] It should be understood that the verbs such as "instruct" and "exist" appearing in the embodiments of this application do not constitute a limitation on this application, and can be replaced by any term that is the same as or similar to them. For example, "instruct" can also be replaced by "notify", and "exist" can be replaced by "including, contain, registered, registered", etc. This application does not limit them.

[0372] Optionally, the fourth message may also include a network function discovery request (Nnrf_NFDiscovery_RequestRequest), or it may be a new message specifically for the function described in the fourth message; this application does not limit this.

[0373] Step S805: The network storage element discovers or queries that one or more access management network elements of the first device exist in the reference area of ​​the second device, and sends a feedback message of the fourth message to the network management network element.

[0374] Optionally, the feedback message of the fourth message includes the network management element discovering or querying that the access management element of the first device exists in the reference area of ​​the second device.

[0375] Optionally, the feedback message of the fourth message may include a network function discovery request response (Nnrf_NFDiscovery_Response), a network function list retrieval response (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFListRetrievalResponse), or a network function configuration retrieval response (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFProfileRetrievalResponse), or it may be a new message that has the same or similar function as the feedback message of the fourth message. This application does not limit this.

[0376] Optionally, in this embodiment... Figure 5 or Figure 6 This embodiment is implemented based on the illustrated embodiment. More specifically, the implementation of steps S804 and S805 in this embodiment relies on... Figure 5 or Figure 6The second message in the illustrated embodiment.

[0377] Step S806: Based on the feedback message of the fourth message, the second network element obtains information about the access management network element (e.g., it may be part or all of the configuration information of the access management network element, and may include the identification information of the access management network element). That is, the information of the access management network element is included in the feedback message of the fourth message. The information of the access management network element may include the identification information of the access management network element, and may also include the configuration information of the access management network element, etc. The second network element sends a first request message (Namf_Location_ProvidePositioningInfo Request) to the access management network element. The first request message includes a location positioning information request, used to request the first device to perform positioning measurement. The first request message includes information about the second network element and information about the second device.

[0378] Optionally, the first request message may also include one or more of the following: reference area information of the second device (e.g., the identification information of the cell where the second device is located), required quality of service information, identification information of the access management network element (e.g., the ID of the access management network element in the park), and LCS correlation ID.

[0379] Optionally, the location management network element can be an LMF (e.g., a campus LMF), and the access management network element can be an AMF (e.g., a campus AMF). The campus AMF can be co-located with the campus LMF. When the campus AMF and the campus LMF are co-located, the first request message can contain only the identification information of the campus LMF or the identification information of the campus AMF.

[0380] Step S807: The access management network element sends downlink non-access stratum data transmission (DL NASTransport) to the second device. The downlink non-access stratum data transmission includes some parameters carried in the first request message described in step S806. That is, the downlink non-access stratum data transmission is used to request the first device to perform positioning measurement. The first request message may include the identification information of the location management network element and the identification information of the second device.

[0381] Optionally, downlink non-access stratum data transmission may also include one or more of the following: required QoS information, LCS association identifier, identification information of the access management network element of the campus, and location information of the first device.

[0382] Step S808: The first device interacts with the location management network element to perform secure user plane location (SUPL) initialization.

[0383] Optionally, the location management network element can be the campus LMF, and the access management network element can be the campus AMF. After the first device receives the identification information of the campus LMF or the campus AMF, the first device performs SUPL initialization with the campus LMF.

[0384] Optionally, for example, the network storage element is an NRF element and the access management element is an AMF element. The first device sends a Secure User Plane Positioning Enabled Terminal Initialization (SUPLSET INIT) message to the campus LMF. The SUPLSET INIT message may include the identification information of the first device (e.g., SUPI). The campus LMF can extract the NF profile of the first device from the NRF based on the identification information of the first device, and further find the AMF element that serves it based on the NF profile of the first device, and then authenticate the first device with the AMF element.

[0385] Optionally, when the authentication result is successful, step S809 is executed.

[0386] It should be understood that in the above optional examples, the authentication refers to the AMF network element (i.e., the access management network element) determining whether the first device can be used as a positioning reference unit. In this embodiment... Figure 4 or Figure 5 When the illustrated embodiment is used as a basis, the authentication process can be regarded as a secondary authentication of the first device.

[0387] Furthermore, optionally, the specific authentication process can be as follows:

[0388] 1. The location management network element sends a sixth message to the access management network element, which instructs the access management network element to authenticate the first device.

[0389] Optionally, the authentication determines whether the relevant information of the first device (e.g., the context information of the first device) contains second information, wherein the second information is used to indicate the capabilities of the first device, and the capability information of the first device is used to indicate whether the first device can be used as a positioning reference unit. When the relevant information of the first device includes the second information, the authentication result of the first device can be considered successful; optionally, the sixth message includes the identification information of the first device.

[0390] 2. The location management network element receives the feedback message of the sixth message sent by the access management network element.

[0391] Optionally, the feedback message of the sixth message includes the authentication result of the first device and the location information of the first device, wherein the location information of the first device is the location information obtained by the access management network element and stored in the relevant information of the first device.

[0392] Optionally, the relevant information of the first device may be the registration information of the first device, or the contract information of the first device, etc.

[0393] Step S809: After the first device performs SUPL initialization with the access management network element, the first device performs positioning measurement.

[0394] Step S810: After the first device performs positioning measurement, it sends a seventh message to the location management network element. The seventh message may include the location information of the second device measured by the first device and / or the location information of the first device and / or the positioning measurement information of the first device.

[0395] The interpretation of the device's location information is as described in the first aspect of the invention summary, and will not be repeated here.

[0396] Optionally, the seventh message may also include identification information of the second device.

[0397] Optionally, the location management network element can be the campus LMF, and the access management network element can be the campus AMF. The campus AMF can be co-located with the campus LMF. When the campus AMF and the campus LMF are co-located, the positioning reference unit can also send the seventh message to the campus AMF.

[0398] Step S811: The location management network element determines whether the location information of the first device meets the first condition. If so, it can be considered that the location information of the second device measured by the first device and / or the positioning measurement information of the first device are correct, and further execute step S812.

[0399] Optionally, the location information of the first device satisfies the first condition, including the location information of the first device satisfying the first error range.

[0400] Optionally, the first condition may include, for example, the location information of the first device being greater than, less than or equal to, a specific value; or, for example, the location information of the first device belonging to or not belonging to a certain range; or, for example, the error between the location information of the first device and the location information in the contract information or pre-configuration information of the first device being greater than, less than or equal to, a specific value or a specific range, etc., which are not limited in this application.

[0401] Optionally, the relevant information of the first device may be the registration information of the first device, or the contract information of the first device, etc.

[0402] Step S812: The access management network element sends an N2 message related to the second device to the access network device, carrying one or more of the following: the identification information of the access management network element (e.g., the campus AMF), the identification information of the location management network element (e.g., the campus LMF), the NR positioning protocol A (NRPPa) message, and the LCS association identifier.

[0403] Optionally, the location management network element can be the campus LMF, and the access management network element can be the campus AMF. The campus AMF can be co-located with the campus LMF. When the campus AMF and the campus LMF are co-located, the N2 message related to the second device carries one or more of the following: the identification information of the AMF or the identification information of the campus LMF, the NRPPa message, and the LCS association identifier.

[0404] Step S813: The access network device performs positioning measurement on the second device.

[0405] Step S814: After the access network device performs positioning measurement on the second device, it sends the positioning measurement result to the access management network element through the N2 message related to the second device. The access management network element then sends the measurement result to the location management network element.

[0406] Step S815: The access management network element sends a downlink non-access stratum data transmission message to the second device, carrying one or more of the following: the identification information of the access management network element, the identification information of the location management network element, the LPP message, and the LCS correlation ID.

[0407] Optionally, the location management network element can be the campus LMF, and the access management network element can be the campus AMF. The campus AMF can be co-located with the campus LMF. When the campus AMF and the campus LMF are co-located, the downlink non-access stratum data transmission message carries one or more of the following: the identification information of the campus AMF or the identification information of the campus LMF, the LPP message, and the LCS correlation ID.

[0408] Step S816: The second device performs positioning measurements on itself.

[0409] Step S817: After the second device performs its own positioning measurement, it sends the positioning result to the access management network element of the park through a user plane SUPL message. The user plane SUPL message carries the identification information of the second device and the positioning measurement result information of the second device.

[0410] Step S818: The location management network element summarizes the location measurement results of the first device to the second device, the positioning measurement results of the first device, the positioning measurement results of the access network device to the second device, and the positioning measurement results of the second device to itself, and obtains the final positioning measurement result of the second device.

[0411] It should be understood that there is no strict order restriction between steps S812-S814 and steps S815-S817. Steps S812-S814 and steps S815-S817 can be performed simultaneously, or steps S812-S814 can be performed first and then steps S815-S817; or steps S815-S817 can be performed first and then steps S812-S814.

[0412] Furthermore, there is no strict order restriction between steps S806 to S811 and steps S812 to S817. Steps S806 to S811 and steps S812 to S817 can be performed simultaneously, or steps S806 to S811 can be performed first and then steps S812 to S817 can be performed; or steps S812 to S817 can be performed first and then steps S806 to S811 can be performed.

[0413] Optionally, the authentication process for the first device in step S808 may not be included in the embodiments of this application.

[0414] It should be understood that the embodiments of this application are merely preferred embodiments provided by this application, and any omission, splitting, or adjustment of the order of steps made based on these embodiments that do not affect the implementation of the technical solution are all within the scope of this application.

[0415] In this embodiment, optionally, the first device, the second device itself, and the wireless access network can each perform positioning measurements on the second device, and the first device itself also performs positioning measurements, resulting in four positioning measurement results. The location management network element can derive the final positioning measurement result for the second device based on these four positioning measurement results. The first device used for positioning measurements can be authorized or authenticated before performing the positioning operation. That is, before using the first device for positioning, its reliability (e.g., including the capabilities and / or location information of the first device) can be assessed. Only when the reliability meets the requirements will it be used to perform the positioning operation. This improves the accuracy of the location measurement results for the second device.

[0416] For example, in Figure 8 Based on the illustrated embodiments, this application provides a communication method 900, which includes:

[0417] Steps S901 to S903 and Figure 8Steps S801 to S803 in the illustrated embodiment are the same and will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0418] Step S904: The second network element sends a fourth message to the network storage network element. This fourth message is used to discover or acquire the first device.

[0419] It should be understood that the discovery or acquisition of the first device described in the embodiments of this application can be the discovery or acquisition of information about the first device. The information about the first device can be related information about the first device, such as part or all of the registration information of the first device, or part or all of the contract information of the first device, or part or all of the context information of the first device, or other related information about the first device, etc. The information about the first device may include the identification information of the first device, etc.

[0420] Optionally, the fourth message is used to discover or query one or more first devices existing in the reference area (e.g., cell) where the second device is located. The fourth message contains reference area information of the second device, such as the identification information of the cell where the second device is located (e.g., CGI).

[0421] Optionally, the fourth message may also include other reference area information of the second device (e.g., base station identifier (NG-RANID or gNB ID), paging area identifier (e.g., TAC or TAI), etc.), wherein the second device may include the terminal device to be located, the device being located, the target device, or the first device, etc.

[0422] Optionally, the fourth message includes fourth information indicating that the type of network function to be discovered or acquired is the first device.

[0423] Furthermore, optionally, the fourth message also includes sixth information, which indicates that the first device is present in the reference area of ​​the second device. It should be understood that the interpretation of the reference area of ​​the second device corresponding to the summary portion of the invention and... Figure 4 The explanation of the reference area of ​​the first device described in step S402 of the above embodiments is the same, and will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0424] Optionally, the fourth message may include a network function discovery request (Nnrf_NFDiscovery_RequestRequest);

[0425] Optionally, the fourth message may include network function list retrieval ((Nnrf_NFManagement_NFListRetrieval Request)) or network function configuration retrieval (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFProfileRetrieval Request);

[0426] Optionally, the fourth message can also be other messages with the same function. For example, it can be other messages with different names but the same or similar functions. This application is not limited in this regard. It should be understood that "acquiring" in the embodiments of this application includes any term with an acquisition function such as querying, discovering, and extracting. This application is not limited in this regard.

[0427] It should be understood that the access management network element in the embodiments of this application may be the access and mobility management function network element (AMF), and the network storage network element may be the network storage function network element (NRF). In future 5G or 6G networks, it may also have other names, and this application does not limit it.

[0428] It should be understood that the verbs such as "instruct" and "exist" appearing in the embodiments of this application do not constitute a limitation on this application, and can be replaced by any term that is the same as or similar to them. For example, "instruct" can also be replaced by "notify", and "exist" can be replaced by "including, contain, registered, registered", etc. This application does not limit them.

[0429] Optionally, the fourth message may also include a network function query request, a network function configuration information extraction request, or a new message specifically for the function described in the fourth message; this application does not limit this.

[0430] Step S905: The network storage element queries the reference area of ​​the second device for one or more first devices and sends a feedback message of the fourth message to the network management element.

[0431] Optionally, the feedback message of the fourth message includes the first device that the network management element has discovered or queried and that exists in the reference area of ​​the second device.

[0432] Optionally, the feedback message of the fourth message may include a network function discovery response (Nnrf_NFDiscovery_Request response), a network function list retrieval response (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFListRetrieval response), or a network function configuration retrieval response (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFProfileRetrieval response). The fourth message may also be a new message, which has the same or similar function as the feedback message of the fourth message; this application does not limit this. Optionally, in this embodiment... Figure 5 or Figure 6 This embodiment is implemented based on the illustrated embodiment. More specifically, the implementation of steps S904 and S905 in this embodiment relies on... Figure 5 or Figure 6 The second message in the illustrated embodiment.

[0433] Step S906: Based on the feedback message of the fourth message, the second network element first obtains information about one or more first devices. This information may be related to the first device, such as part or all of the first device's registration message, part or all of the first device's subscription message, or part or all of the first device's context. The related information of the first device includes the identification information of the access management network element serving it. Further, the second network element obtains the identification information of the access management network element. Then, the second network element sends a first request message to the access management network element. This first request message includes a location information request, used to request the first device to perform location measurement and / or measure the location of the second device. This first request message includes the identification information of the location management network element and the identification information of the second device.

[0434] Optionally, the first request message may also include one or more of the following: reference area information of the second device (e.g., the identification information of the cell where the second device is located), required quality of service information, identification information of the access management network element (e.g., the ID of the access management network element in the park), and LCS correlation ID.

[0435] Optionally, the location management network element can be an LMF (e.g., a campus LMF), and the access management network element can be an AMF (e.g., a campus AMF). The campus AMF can be co-located with the campus LMF. When the campus AMF and the campus LMF are co-located, the first request message can contain only the identification information of the campus LMF or the identification information of the campus AMF.

[0436] Steps S907 to S918 and Figure 8Steps S807 to S818 in the illustrated embodiment are the same and will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0437] It should be understood that there is no strict order restriction between steps S912-S914 and steps S915-S917. Steps S912-S914 and steps S915-S917 can be performed simultaneously, or steps S912-S914 can be performed first and then steps S915-S917; or steps S915-S917 can be performed first and then steps S912-S914.

[0438] Furthermore, there is no strict order restriction between steps S906 to S911 and steps S912 to S917. Steps S906 to S911 and steps S912 to S917 can be performed simultaneously, or steps S906 to S911 can be performed first and then steps S912 to S917; or steps S912 to S917 can be performed first and then steps S906 to S911.

[0439] It should be understood that the embodiments of this application are merely preferred embodiments provided by this application, and any omission, splitting, or adjustment of the order of steps made based on these embodiments that do not affect the implementation of the technical solution are all within the scope of this application.

[0440] In this embodiment, the first device, the second device itself, and the wireless access network can each perform positioning measurements on the second device. The first device itself can also perform positioning measurements, resulting in four positioning measurement results. The location management network element can derive the final positioning measurement result for the second device based on these four results. The first device used for positioning measurements can be authorized or authenticated before performing the positioning operation. That is, before using the first device for positioning, its reliability (e.g., including the capabilities and / or location information of the first device) can be assessed. Positioning operations will only be performed when the reliability meets the requirements. This improves the accuracy of the location measurement results for the second device.

[0441] exist Figures 5-6 Based on the illustrated embodiments, and with Figure 8 The illustrated embodiment corresponds to, exemplarily, Figure 9 A schematic interactive diagram of a communication method 1000 provided in this application is shown, such as... Figure 9 As shown, the method 1000 includes:

[0442] Step S1001: The LCS client sends a location service request message to the GMLC, which includes the identification information of the second device and / or the required QoS information.

[0443] Optionally, the second device is the device to be located, the device being located, or the target device, and may include a terminal device or the first device.

[0444] Optionally, the identification information of the second device may include one or more of GPSI, SUPI, IMSI, PEI, and SUCI.

[0445] Optionally, the required QoS information may include one or more of the following: the accuracy of the location measurement results of the second device (e.g., centimeters, decimeters, meters, etc.), the feedback time of the location measurement results of the second device (e.g., immediate feedback or feedback after a certain period of time, etc.), and the supported geographical area description (GAD) (e.g., GPS location coordinates expressed in latitude and longitude, etc.).

[0446] Step S1002: The GMLC sends a service function network element acquisition request (Nudm_UECM_Get request) to the UDM to obtain the identification information of the function network elements required to serve the second device.

[0447] Optionally, the service function network element acquisition request message includes the identification information of the second device and / or the type of the required function network element.

[0448] It should be understood that the type of functional network element obtained by the GMLC in this embodiment is the type of functional network element required to carry the identification information of the second device. In this embodiment, the type of functional network element required is an access management network element (e.g., an access and mobility management function network element, AMF). Therefore, the identification information of the functional network element serving the second device obtained by the GMLC in this embodiment is the identification information of the access management network element. However, this does not constitute a substantial limitation on this application, and the type of functional network element required can be adjusted according to actual needs.

[0449] Step S1003: The GMLC sends a fifth message to the second network element. This fifth message includes the identification information of the second device.

[0450] Optionally, the fifth message may be a location information request message (Namf_Location_ProvidePositioningInfo request).

[0451] In this step, if the access management network element finds that the second device is in the idle state CM-IDLE, it triggers a network triggered service request to page the second device back to the connected state CM-CONNECTED.

[0452] Optionally, the second network element can be an access management network element (e.g., an AMF network element) or an LMF network element.

[0453] Optionally, the identification information of the second device includes one or more of the following: a general public subscription identifier (GPSI), a subscription permanent identifier (SUPI), and the type of LCS client.

[0454] Step S1004: The second network element sends a fourth message to the network storage network element. This fourth message is used to discover or acquire the access management network element.

[0455] It should be understood that the discovery or acquisition of access management network elements described in the embodiments of this application may be the discovery or acquisition of information about access management network elements. The information about access management network elements may be related information about access management network elements, such as part or all of the configuration information (NF profile) of access management network elements (the configuration information of access management network elements may include the identification information of access management network elements), etc.

[0456] Optionally, the fourth message is used to discover or query the presence of one or more access management network elements of the first device in the reference area (e.g., the cell of the second device) of the second device. The fourth message may contain information about the reference area where the second device is located (e.g., cell identification information (e.g., it may be CGI)).

[0457] Optionally, the fourth message may also include other reference area information of the second device (e.g., base station identifier (e.g., gNB ID), tracking area identifier (e.g., TAC or TAI), public land mobile network identifier (e.g., PLMN), etc.), wherein the second device includes the terminal device to be located, the device being located, the target device, or the first device.

[0458] Optionally, the fourth message includes fifth information, which is used to indicate that the access management network element to be discovered or acquired is an access management network element present in the first device.

[0459] Further, optionally, the fifth information is specifically used to indicate that the access management network element to be acquired exists in the reference area of ​​the second device, meaning that the fifth information is specifically used to indicate that the access management network element to be discovered or acquired exists in the first device, and that the first device is located in the reference area of ​​the second device. It should be understood that the reference area of ​​the second device is different from the explanation of the device reference area in the invention description and... Figure 4The interpretation of the reference area of ​​the first device described in step S402 of the illustrated embodiment is the same, and will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0460] Optionally, the fourth message may include a network function discovery request (Nnrf_NFDiscovery_RequestRequest); optionally, the fourth message may also include a network function list retrieval request (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFListRetrieval Request) or a network function configuration retrieval request (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFProfileRetrieval Request); optionally, the fourth message may also be other messages with the same function, for example, other messages with different message names but the same or similar functions, which is not limited in this application.

[0461] It should be understood that "acquisition" in the embodiments of this application includes any term with acquisition function such as query, discovery, extraction, etc., and this application does not limit it.

[0462] It should be understood that the access management network element in the embodiments of this application may be the access and mobility management function network element (AMF), and the network storage network element may be the network storage function network element (NRF). In future 5G or 6G networks, it may also have other names, and this application does not limit it.

[0463] It should be understood that the verbs such as "instruct" and "exist" appearing in the embodiments of this application do not constitute a limitation on this application, and can be replaced by any term that is the same as or similar to them. For example, "instruct" can also be replaced by "notify", and "exist" can be replaced by "including, contain, registered, registered", etc. This application does not limit them.

[0464] Optionally, the fourth message may also include a network function query request (Nnrf_NFDiscovery_RequestRequest), a network function list retrieval request (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFListRetrieval Request), or a network function configuration retrieval request (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFProfileRetrieval Request), or it may be a new message specifically for the function described in the fourth message. This application does not limit this.

[0465] Step S1005: The network storage element discovers or queries one or more access management network elements existing in the reference area of ​​the second device, and sends a feedback message of the fourth message to the network management network element.

[0466] Optionally, the feedback message of the fourth message includes the network management element discovering or querying that the access management element of the first device exists in the reference area of ​​the second device.

[0467] Optionally, the feedback message of the fourth message may include a response to a network function query request (Nnrf_NFDiscovery_Request Response), a response to a network function list retrieval request (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFListRetrieval Response), or a response to a network function configuration retrieval request (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFProfileRetrieval Response), or it may be a new message that has the same or similar function as the feedback message of the fourth message. This application does not limit this.

[0468] Optionally, in this embodiment... Figure 5 or Figure 6 Based on the illustrated embodiment, and more specifically, the implementation of steps S1004 and S1005 in this embodiment relies on... Figure 5 or Figure 6 The second message in the illustrated embodiment.

[0469] Step S1006: Based on the feedback message of the fourth message, the second network element obtains information about the access management network element (for example, it may be part or all of the configuration information of the access management network element, and may include the identification information of the access management network element), that is, the information of the access management network element is included in the feedback message of the fourth message. The second network element sends a first request message to the access management network element. The first request message includes a location positioning information request, used to request the first device to perform positioning measurement. The first request message includes the identification information of the location management network element and the identification information of the second device.

[0470] Optionally, the first request message may also include one or more of the following: reference area information of the second device (e.g., the identification information of the cell where the second device is located), required quality of service information, identification information of the access management network element of the campus (e.g., the ID of the access management network element of the campus), and LCS correlation ID.

[0471] Optionally, the location management network element can be an LMF (e.g., a campus LMF), and the access management network element can be an AMF (e.g., a campus AMF). The campus AMF can be co-located with the campus LMF. When the campus AMF and the campus LMF are co-located, the first request message can contain only the identification information of the campus LMF or the identification information of the campus AMF.

[0472] Step S1007: The access management network element sends an eighth message to the location management network element. This eighth message includes the identification information of the first device, the location information of the first device, and the identification information of the access management network element. After receiving the eighth message, the location management network element sends a feedback message of the seventh message to the access management network element.

[0473] Step S1008: The access management network element sends a ninth message to the first device, which is used by the first device to perform positioning measurement.

[0474] Optionally, the access management network element sends a downlink non-access stratum data transmission message to the first device. The downlink non-access stratum data transmission message includes the identification information of the second device and the identification information of the location management network element.

[0475] Optionally, the downlink non-access stratum data transmission message may also include the required quality of service information and / or LCS association identifier.

[0476] Step S1009: After receiving the downlink non-access stratum data transmission message, the first device performs positioning measurement.

[0477] Optionally, the first device may perform position measurement on the second device based on the identification information of the second device.

[0478] Step S1010: After the first device completes the positioning measurement, the first device sends an uplink non-access layer data transmission message to the access management network element. The uplink non-access layer data transmission message includes the positioning measurement result of the first device and the location information of the first device.

[0479] Optionally, the uplink non-access stratum data transmission message may also include the identification information of the first device and / or the identification information of the second device.

[0480] Step S1011: After receiving the uplink non-access layer data transmission, the fixed access management network element sends an N1 message notification (Namf_Communication_N1MessageNotify) to the second network element. The N1 message notification includes the positioning measurement results of the first device.

[0481] Optionally, the N1 message notification may also include one or more of the identification information of the second device, the identification information of the first device, and the location information of the first device.

[0482] Step S1012: After receiving the N1 message notification, the access management network element forwards the N1 message notification to the location management network element.

[0483] Optionally, in step S1010, after the first device completes the position measurement of the second device, the first device can directly send an uplink non-access stratum data transmission message to the location management network element. That is, steps S1011 and S1012 can be skipped.

[0484] Step S1013: Based on the identification information of the access management network element obtained in step S1007, the location management network element instructs the access management network element to authenticate the first device and update the location information of the first device, and sends the authentication result and the updated location information of the first device to the location management network element. When the authentication result received by the location management network element is successful, step S1014 is further executed.

[0485] Specifically, updating the location information of the first device by the access management network element means that the access management network element obtains the location information of the first device from the information stored in the first device and sends it to the location management network element, overwriting the location information of the first device received by the location management network element through the eighth message, thereby updating the location information of the first device. The authentication process of the access management network element for the first device is as follows... Figure 8 The authentication process in step S808 of the embodiments described above is the same, and will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0486] Optionally, the information of the first device may be related information of the first device, such as part or all of the registration information of the first device, part or all of the contract information of the first device, part or all of the context of the first device, etc.

[0487] Step S1014: The location management network element determines whether the location information of the first device meets the first condition. If so, the location information of the second device measured by the first device can be considered correct, and step S1015 is further executed.

[0488] Optionally, the first condition may include, for example, the location information of the first device being greater than, less than or equal to, a specific value; or, for example, the location information of the first device belonging to or not belonging to a certain range; or, for example, the error between the location information of the first device and the location information in the contract information or pre-configuration information of the first device being greater than, less than or equal to, a specific value or a specific range, etc., which are not limited in this application.

[0489] Steps S1015 to S1021 and Figure 8 Steps S812 to S818 in the illustrated embodiment are the same and will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0490] It should be understood that there is no strict order restriction between steps S1015-S1017 and steps S1018-S1020. Steps S1015-S1017 and steps S1018-S1020 can be performed simultaneously, or steps S1015-S1017 can be performed first and then steps S1018-S1020; or steps S1018-S1020 can be performed first and then steps S1015-S1017.

[0491] Furthermore, there is no strict order restriction between the processes shown in execution processing box A and execution processing box B. A can be executed first, followed by B; or B can be executed first, followed by A; or A and B can be executed in parallel, without limitation.

[0492] It should be understood that the embodiments of this application are merely preferred embodiments provided by this application, and any omission, splitting, or adjustment of the order of steps made based on these embodiments that do not affect the implementation of the technical solution are all within the scope of this application.

[0493] In this embodiment, the first device, the second device itself, and the wireless access network can each perform positioning measurements on the second device. The first device itself can also perform positioning measurements, resulting in four positioning measurement results. The location management network element can derive the final positioning measurement result for the second device based on these four results. The first device used for positioning measurements can be authorized or authenticated before performing the positioning operation. That is, before using the first device for positioning, its reliability (e.g., including the capabilities and / or location information of the first device) can be assessed. Positioning operations will only be performed when the reliability meets the requirements. This improves the accuracy of the location measurement results for the second device.

[0494] For example, in Figure 9 Based on the illustrated embodiments, this application provides a communication method 1100, which includes:

[0495] Steps S1101 to S1103 and Figure 9 Steps S1001 to S1003 in the illustrated embodiment are the same and will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0496] Step S1104: The second network element sends a fourth message to the network storage network element. This fourth message is used to discover or acquire the first device.

[0497] It should be understood that the discovery or acquisition of the first device described in the embodiments of this application may be the discovery or acquisition of information about the first device. The information about the first device may be related information about the first device, such as part or all of the registration information of the first device, or, for example, part or all of the contract information of the first device, or, for example, part or all of the context of the first device. The information about the first device may also include the identification information of the first device, etc.

[0498] Optionally, the fourth message is used to discover or query one or more first devices existing in the reference area (e.g., the cell of the second device) of the second device. The fourth message may contain information about the reference area where the second device is located (e.g., cell identification information (e.g., it may be CGI)).

[0499] Optionally, the fourth message may also include other reference area information of the second device (e.g., base station identifier (e.g., gNB ID), tracking area identifier (e.g., TAC or TAI), public land mobile network identifier (e.g., PLMN), etc.), wherein the second device includes the terminal device to be located, the device being located, the target device, or the first device.

[0500] Optionally, the fourth message includes fourth information indicating that the type of network function to be acquired is the first device.

[0501] Furthermore, optionally, the fourth message also includes sixth information, which indicates that the first device is present in the reference area of ​​the second device. It should be understood that the reference area of ​​the second device is consistent with the explanation of the device reference area in the invention description and... Figure 4 The explanation of the reference area of ​​the first device described in step S402 of the above embodiments is the same, and will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0502] Optionally, the fourth message may include a network function discovery request (Nnrf_NFDiscovery_RequestRequest);

[0503] Optionally, the fourth message may also include a network function list retrieval (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFListRetrieval Request) or a network function configuration retrieval (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFProfileRetrieval Request);

[0504] Optionally, the fourth message can also be other messages with the same function. For example, it can be other messages with different names but the same or similar functions. This application does not limit this.

[0505] It should be understood that "acquisition" in the embodiments of this application includes any term with acquisition function such as query, discovery, extraction, etc., and this application does not limit it.

[0506] It should be understood that the access management network element in the embodiments of this application can be an access and mobility management function network element, and the network storage network element can be a network storage function network element (NRF). In future 5G or 6G networks, it can also be other names, and this application does not limit it.

[0507] It should be understood that the verbs such as "instruct" and "exist" appearing in the embodiments of this application do not constitute a limitation on this application, and can be replaced by any term that is the same as or similar to them. For example, "instruct" can also be replaced by "notify", and "exist" can be replaced by "including, contain, registered, registered", etc. This application does not limit them.

[0508] Optionally, the fourth message may also include a network function discovery request (Nnrf_NFDiscovery_RequestRequest), a network function configuration information retrieval request (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFProfileRetrieval Request), a network function list retrieval request (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFListRetrieval Request), or a new message specifically for the function described in the fourth message; this application does not limit this.

[0509] Step S1105: The network storage element discovers or queries one or more first devices existing in the reference area of ​​the second device, and sends a feedback message of the fourth message to the network management element.

[0510] Optionally, the feedback message of the fourth message includes the first device that the network management element has discovered / queried and that exists in the reference area of ​​the second device.

[0511] Optionally, the feedback message of the fourth message may include a network function query request response (Nnrf_NFDiscovery_Request Response), a network function configuration information retrieval response (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFProfileRetrieval Response), or a network function list retrieval request response (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFListRetrieval Response), or a new message whose function is the same as or similar to that of the feedback message of the fourth message; this application does not limit this. Optionally, in this embodiment... Figure 5 or Figure 6Based on the illustrated embodiment, and more specifically, the implementation of steps S1104 and S1105 in this embodiment relies on... Figure 5 or Figure 6 The second message in the illustrated embodiment.

[0512] Step S1106: Based on the feedback message of the fourth message, the second network element first obtains information about one or more first devices (for example, it may be part or all of the configuration information of the access management network element, and may include the identification information of the access management network element). Further, the second network element obtains information about the access management network element. Then, the second network element sends a first request message to the access management network element. This first request message includes a location information request, used to request the first device to perform location measurement. This first request message includes the identification information of the location management network element and the identification information of the second device.

[0513] Optionally, the first request message may also include one or more of the following: reference area information of the second device (e.g., the identification information of the cell where the second device is located), required quality of service information, identification information of the access management network element of the campus (e.g., the ID of the access management network element of the campus), and LCS correlation ID.

[0514] Optionally, the location management network element can be an LMF (e.g., a campus LMF), and the access management network element can be an AMF (e.g., a campus AMF). The campus AMF can be co-located with the campus LMF. When the campus AMF and the campus LMF are co-located, the first request message can contain only the identification information of the campus LMF or the identification information of the campus AMF.

[0515] Steps S1107 to S1121 and Figure 9 Steps S1007 to S1021 in the illustrated embodiment are the same and will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0516] It should be understood that there is no strict order restriction between steps S1115 to S1117 and steps S1118 to S1120. Steps S1115 to S1117 and steps S1118 to S1120 can be performed simultaneously, or steps S1115 to S1117 can be performed first and then steps S1118 to S1120; or steps S1118 to S1120 can be performed first and then steps S1115 to S1117.

[0517] Furthermore, there is no strict order restriction between the processes shown in execution processing box A and execution processing box B. A can be executed first, followed by B; or B can be executed first, followed by A; or A and B can be executed in parallel, without limitation.

[0518] It should be understood that the embodiments of this application are merely preferred embodiments provided by this application, and any omission, splitting, or adjustment of the order of steps made based on these embodiments that do not affect the implementation of the technical solution are all within the scope of this application.

[0519] In this embodiment, the first device, the second device itself, and the wireless access network can each perform positioning measurements on the second device. The first device itself can also perform positioning measurements, resulting in four positioning measurement results. The location management network element can derive the final positioning measurement result for the second device based on these four results. The first device used for positioning measurements can be authorized or authenticated before performing the positioning operation. That is, before using the first device for positioning, its reliability (e.g., including the capabilities and / or location information of the first device) can be assessed. Positioning operations will only be performed when the reliability meets the requirements. This improves the accuracy of the location measurement results for the second device.

[0520] It is understood that in the embodiments of this application... Figures 5 to 9 The examples provided are merely to facilitate understanding of the embodiments of this application by those skilled in the art, and are not intended to limit the embodiments of this application to the specific scenarios illustrated. Figures 5 to 9 The examples are obviously subject to various equivalent modifications or changes, and such modifications or changes also fall within the scope of the embodiments of this application.

[0521] It can also be understood that, in the embodiments of this application Figures 5 to 9 The examples in the diagrams are merely illustrative and do not limit the execution order. Those skilled in the art can flexibly adjust the order of the steps based on the examples in the diagrams. Furthermore, the sequence numbers of the processes mentioned above do not imply the order of execution; the execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic.

[0522] It is understood that some optional features in the embodiments of this application can be implemented independently in certain scenarios without relying on other features, such as the current solution on which they are based, to solve the corresponding technical problems and achieve the corresponding effects. Alternatively, they can be combined with other features as needed in certain scenarios. Correspondingly, the apparatus given in the embodiments of this application can also implement these features or functions, which will not be elaborated here.

[0523] It should also be understood that the various solutions in the embodiments of this application can be used in a reasonable combination, and the explanations or descriptions of the various terms appearing in the embodiments can be referenced or explained to each other in the various embodiments, without limitation.

[0524] It should also be understood that, in the various embodiments of this application, the sequence numbers of the above processes do not imply the order of execution; the execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic. The various numerical numbers or sequence numbers involved in the above processes are merely for descriptive convenience and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of this application.

[0525] In the embodiments provided above, the communication methods provided by the embodiments of this application have been described from the perspectives of each network element itself and the interaction between each network element. It is understood that each network element and device includes corresponding hardware structures and / or software modules to perform the above functions. Those skilled in the art should readily recognize that, based on the units and algorithm steps of the examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein, this application can be implemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed by hardware or by computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0526] Figure 10 This is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 1200 provided in an embodiment of this application. The device 1200 includes a receiving module 1201, which can be used to implement corresponding receiving functions. The receiving module 1201 can also be referred to as a receiving unit.

[0527] Optionally, the device 1200 may further include a processing module 1202, which can be used to implement corresponding processing functions, such as determining whether the first device can be used as a positioning reference unit.

[0528] Optionally, the device 1200 may further include a transmitting module 1203, which can be used to implement the corresponding transmitting function. The transmitting module 1203 may also be referred to as a transmitting unit.

[0529] Optionally, the device 1200 further includes a storage unit, which can be used to store instructions and / or data. The processing unit 1202 can read the instructions and / or data in the storage unit so that the device can perform the operation of the relevant devices in the foregoing method embodiments.

[0530] The device 1200 can be used to perform the actions performed by the access management network element or the network storage network element in the above method embodiments. In this case, the device 1200 can be an access management network element or a component of an access management network element, or it can be a network storage network element or a component of a network storage network element. The receiving module 1201 is used to perform receiving-related operations of the access management network element or the network storage network element in the above method embodiments. The processing module 1202 is used to perform processing-related operations of the access management network element or the network storage network element in the above method embodiments. The sending module 1203 is used to perform sending-related operations of the access management network element or the network storage network element in the above method embodiments.

[0531] As a design feature, the device 1200 is used to perform actions performed by any network element or any device in the various method embodiments described above. In one embodiment, the communication device can be used to perform the aforementioned... Figures 4 to 9 Operations of access management network elements. For example:

[0532] The receiving module 1201 is used to send a second message to the network storage element. The second message includes first information, which is used to indicate that a first device exists in the access management element, or to register the information of the first device to the network storage element, or to indicate that the network function type is the first device and the first device is used for positioning measurement.

[0533] Optionally, the receiving module 1201 is used to receive a first message sent by the first device, the first message including one or more of the following: registration request, service request, and uplink non-access layer transmission.

[0534] The processing module 1202 is used to determine whether the first device can be used as a positioning reference unit based on the second information. The second information is used to indicate the capability information of the first device, which in turn indicates whether the first device can be used as a positioning reference unit.

[0535] Optionally, if the first device can be used as a positioning reference unit, the processing module 1202 stores the second information into the information of the first device;

[0536] Optionally, the relevant information of the first device may be the registration information of the first device, or the contract information of the first device, etc.

[0537] Optionally, if the first device cannot be used as a positioning reference unit, the processing module 1202 sends third information to the first device, which is used to notify the first device that it cannot be used as a positioning reference unit.

[0538] Optionally, the processing module 1202 is further configured to store the location information of the first device in the information of the first device if the location information of the first device meets the first condition.

[0539] Optionally, the receiving module 1201 is used to send a third message to the second network element, the third message being used to request the location information of the first device; after obtaining the location information of the first device, the receiving module 1201 stores the location information of the first device in the information of the first device.

[0540] It should be understood that the specific process of each module performing the above-mentioned steps has been described in detail in the above method embodiments, and will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0541] In addition, the receiving module 1201, processing module 1202 and transmitting module 1203 in the communication device can also perform other operations or functions of the access management network element in the above method, which will not be described in detail here.

[0542] In another embodiment, the communication device can be used to perform the above. Figures 4 to 9 Operations of network storage elements in the network. For example:

[0543] The receiving module 1101 is used to receive the fourth message sent by the second network element, which is used to discover the access management network element.

[0544] Optionally, the fourth message includes fifth information, which is used to indicate that the access management network element is an access management network element of the first device.

[0545] Optionally, the first device includes a positioning reference unit.

[0546] Optionally, the fourth message may also include extraction of the network function list or extraction of the network function configuration.

[0547] Optionally, the receiving module 1101 sends a feedback message of the fourth message to the second network element, the feedback message of the fourth message including the access management network element present in the first device.

[0548] Optionally, the above-mentioned inclusion of access management network elements may refer to information including access management network elements, such as all or part of the information in network function configuration information, or related information of access management network elements. This application does not limit this.

[0549] Optionally, the access management network element of the first device includes relevant information about the access management network element of the first device.

[0550] Optionally, the fifth piece of information is specifically used to indicate that the access management network element of the first device exists in the reference area of ​​the second device.

[0551] Optionally, the second device includes a terminal device.

[0552] Optionally, the receiving module 1201 receives a second message sent by the access management network element. The second message includes first information, which is used to indicate that the access management network element has a first device, or to register the relevant information of the first device to the receiving module 1201, or to indicate that the network function type is the first device.

[0553] Optionally, the information of the first device can be related information of the first device, such as registration information or contract information of the first device.

[0554] Optionally, the first device is used for positioning measurement.

[0555] It should be understood that the specific process of each module performing the above-mentioned steps has been described in detail in the above method embodiments, and will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0556] In addition, the receiving module 1101, processing module 1102 and transmitting module 1103 in the communication device can also implement other operations or functions of the network storage element in the above method, which will not be described in detail here.

[0557] It should be understood that the specific process of each module performing the above-mentioned steps has been described in detail in the above method embodiments, and will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0558] In addition, the receiving module 1101, processing module 1102 and transmitting module 1103 in the communication device can also implement the operation or function of the first device, second device, location management network element, GMLC and UDM in the above method, which will not be described in detail here.

[0559] Figure 11 A schematic diagram of another possible structure of the communication device involved in the above embodiments is shown. The communication device includes a processor 1205, such as... Figure 11 As shown, the communication device may further include at least one memory 1206 for storing program instructions and / or data. The memory 1206 is coupled to the processor 1205. The coupling in this embodiment is an indirect coupling or communication connection between devices, units, or modules, and may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms, used for information exchange between devices, units, or modules. The processor 1205 may operate in conjunction with the memory 1206. The processor 1205 may execute program instructions stored in the memory 1206. At least one of the at least one memory may be included in the processor.

[0560] The communication device may further include a transceiver 1204 for communicating with other devices via a transmission medium, thereby enabling the device to communicate with other devices. Optionally, the transceiver 1204 may be an interface, a bus, a circuit, or a device capable of implementing transmit and receive functions. Optionally, the transceiver 1204 may include a receiver and a transmitter.

[0561] This application embodiment does not limit the specific connection medium between the transceiver 1204, processor 1205, and memory 1206. This application embodiment... Figure 11 The memory 1206, processor 1205, and transceiver 1204 are connected via a bus 1207. Figure 11 The connections between other components are shown in bold and are for illustrative purposes only, not as limiting information. The bus can be divided into address bus, data bus, control bus, etc. For ease of illustration, Figure 11 The bus is represented by a single thick line, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

[0562] For example, in one embodiment, the processor 1205 is configured to access other operations or functions of the management network element. The transceiver 1204 is used to enable communication between the communication device and other network elements (e.g., NRF, UE, LMF, UDM).

[0563] In another embodiment, processor 1205 is configured to store other operations or functions of the network element. Transceiver 1204 is used to enable communication between the communication device and other network elements (e.g., AMF, UE, LMF).

[0564] In another embodiment, processor 1205 is configured for other operations or functions of the location management network element. Transceiver 1204 is used to enable communication between the communication device and other network elements (e.g., AMF, UE, LMF, GMLC).

[0565] In another embodiment, processor 1205 is configured for other operations or functions of the first or second device. Transceiver 1204 is used to enable communication between the communication device and other network elements (e.g., AMF, LMF, NRF).

[0566] One or more of the above modules or units can be implemented by software, hardware, or a combination of both. When any of the above modules or units is implemented by software, the software exists as computer program instructions and is stored in memory. The processor can be used to execute the program instructions and implement the above method flow. The processor can include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a microcontroller unit (MCU), or an artificial intelligence processor, etc., and various computing devices that run software. Each computing device may include one or more cores for executing software instructions to perform calculations or processing. The processor can be built into a SoC (System-on-a-Chip) or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or it can be a separate semiconductor chip. In addition to the cores for executing software instructions to perform calculations or processing, the processor may further include necessary hardware accelerators, such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), PLDs (programmable logic devices), or logic circuits that implement dedicated logic operations.

[0567] When the above modules or units are implemented in hardware, the hardware can be any one or any combination of CPU, microprocessor, DSP, MCU, artificial intelligence processor, ASIC, SoC, FPGA, PLD, special purpose digital circuit, hardware accelerator or non-integrated discrete device, which can run the necessary software or perform the above method flow independently of software.

[0568] When the above modules or units are implemented using software, they can be implemented in whole or in part as a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present invention are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available medium can be a magnetic medium (e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., solid-state disk (SSD)).

[0569] The specific embodiments described above further illustrate the purpose, technical solution, and beneficial effects of this application. It should be understood that the above description is only a specific embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made on the basis of the technical solution of this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application.

[0570] According to the method provided in the embodiments of this application, this application also provides a computer program product, which includes: computer program code, which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to execute the method on the access management network element side in the aforementioned method embodiments.

[0571] According to the method provided in the embodiments of this application, this application also provides a computer program product, which includes: computer program code, which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to execute the method on the network storage element side of the aforementioned method embodiments.

[0572] According to the method provided in the embodiments of this application, this application also provides a computer program product, which includes: computer program code, which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to execute the method on the location management network element side in the aforementioned method embodiments.

[0573] According to the method provided in the embodiments of this application, this application also provides a computer program product, which includes: computer program code, which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to execute the GMLC-side method in the foregoing method embodiments.

[0574] According to the method provided in the embodiments of this application, this application also provides a computer program product, which includes: computer program code, which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method on the first device or the second device side in the aforementioned method embodiments.

[0575] According to the method provided in the embodiments of this application, this application also provides a computer-readable medium storing program code, which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method on the access management network element side in the aforementioned method embodiments.

[0576] According to the method provided in the embodiments of this application, this application also provides a computer-readable medium storing program code, which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method on the network storage element side of the aforementioned method embodiments.

[0577] According to the method provided in the embodiments of this application, this application also provides a computer-readable medium storing program code, which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method on the location management network element side in the foregoing method embodiments.

[0578] According to the method provided in the embodiments of this application, this application also provides a computer-readable medium storing program code, which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the GMLC-side method in the foregoing method embodiments.

[0579] According to the method provided in the embodiments of this application, this application also provides a computer-readable medium storing program code, which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method on the first or second device side of the aforementioned method embodiments.

[0580] This application also provides a processing device, including a processor and an interface; the processor is used to execute the communication method in any of the above method embodiments.

[0581] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0582] Those skilled in the art will understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0583] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0584] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0585] In addition, 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.

[0586] If the aforementioned functions are implemented as software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-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 a portion 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.) 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.

[0587] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: The access management network element receives a first message from the first device. The first message includes a registration request, and also includes the location information of the first device and second information, the second information being used to indicate the capabilities of the first device. The access management network element determines whether the first device can be used as a positioning reference unit or a positioning reference device based on the second information; if the first device cannot be used as the positioning reference unit or a positioning reference device, the access management network element sends third information to the first device, the third information being used to notify the first device that it cannot be used as the positioning reference unit or a positioning reference device; if the first device can be used as the positioning reference unit or a positioning reference device, the access management network element obtains the information of the first device and obtains the pre-configured location information of the first device from the unified data management network element. If the access management network element determines that the deviation between the location information of the first device and the pre-configured location information meets the first error range, then the access management network element stores the location information of the first device in the information of the first device; The access management network element sends a second message to the network storage network element. The second message includes first information and reference area information of the first device. The first information is used to indicate that the access management network element has information about the first device, or the first information is used to register the information of the first device to the network storage network element, or the first information is used to indicate that the network function type of the first device is a positioning and measurement device, and the first information is also used to indicate that the access management network element has the first device in the reference area of ​​the first device, and the first device is used for positioning and measurement. The second message is used to cause the network storage network element to send the access management network element to the second network element when it receives a fourth message sent by the second network element. The fourth message includes reference area information of the second device and fifth information. The fifth information is used to indicate that the access management network element to be discovered is the access management network element of the first device that exists in the reference area of ​​the second device.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second message also includes a network function update request or a network function registration request.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The access management network element obtains one or more of the first devices from the unified data management network element.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The method further includes: The access management network element sends a ninth message to the first device, and the ninth message is used by the first device to perform positioning measurement.

5. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: A first device sends a first message to an access management network element. The first message includes a registration request and reference area information of a second device. The first message also includes second information, which is used to indicate the capabilities of the first device. The second information is used by the access management network element to determine whether the first device can serve as a positioning reference unit or a positioning reference device. If the first device cannot serve as the positioning reference unit or a positioning reference device, the first device receives third information sent by the access management network element. The third information is used to notify the first device that it cannot serve as the positioning reference unit or a positioning reference device. If the first device can serve as the positioning reference unit or a positioning reference device, the access management network element obtains the information of the first device and obtains the pre-configured location information of the first device from a unified data management network element. The first device receives a ninth message sent by the access management network element, and the ninth message is used by the first device to perform positioning measurement; The first message also includes the location information of the first device. If the deviation between the location information of the first device and the pre-configured location information meets the first error range, the location information of the first device will be stored in the information of the first device by the access management network element.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first device includes a positioning reference unit or a positioning reference device.

7. A communication device, characterized in that, Includes modules for performing the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, or 5 to 6.

8. A communication device, characterized in that, The device includes a processor and an interface circuit, wherein the interface circuit is used to receive signals from other communication devices besides the communication device and transmit them to the processor, or to send signals from the processor to other communication devices besides the communication device, and the processor is used to implement the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, or 5 to 6, through logic circuits or execution code instructions.

9. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The storage medium stores a program or instructions that, when executed, implement the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, or 5 to 6.

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