Positioning methods and devices

Abstract

This disclosure proposes a positioning method, apparatus, device, and storage medium. The method includes: receiving a first message sent by an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), wherein the first message includes positioning information; sending a second message to a First Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC), wherein the second message includes the positioning information; receiving response information sent by the first GMLC in response to the second message, wherein the response information includes user identification information corresponding to the positioning information; determining a positioning result corresponding to the first message based on the user identification information; and sending the positioning result to the AMF. This disclosure can improve the executability of ranging services or SL positioning services and improve the accuracy of positioning result determination.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a positioning method, apparatus, device and storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] In communication systems, ranging services and Sinlink (SL) positioning services can be applied to various vertical industries. Ranging services, for example, can determine the distance between two terminals and / or the orientation of one terminal relative to another via a PC5 link. SL positioning services, for example, can enable terminals to use a PC5 link to obtain absolute positioning, relative positioning, and ranging information. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This disclosure proposes a positioning method, apparatus, device, and storage medium to address the problem that the inability to obtain user identification information prevents the execution of ranging services and lateral link positioning services.

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a positioning method is provided, the method being performed by a positioning management function (LMF), the method comprising:

[0005] Receive a first message sent by the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), wherein the first message includes location information;

[0006] Send a second message to the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC), wherein the second message includes the location information;

[0007] Receive response information sent by the first GMLC in response to the second message, wherein the response information includes user identification information corresponding to the location information;

[0008] Based on the user identification information, determine the location result corresponding to the first message;

[0009] The location result is sent to the AMF.

[0010] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a positioning method is provided, the method being executed by a first gateway mobile location center (GMLC), the method comprising:

[0011] Receive a second message sent by the Location Management Function (LMF), wherein the second message includes location information;

[0012] Send response information for the second message to the LMF, wherein the response information includes user identification information corresponding to the location information.

[0013] According to a third aspect of the embodiments of this disclosure, a positioning method is provided, the method being executed by a second gateway mobile location center (GMLC), the method comprising:

[0014] Receive the seventh message sent by the first gateway mobile location center GMLC;

[0015] The seventh message sends the second user identification information corresponding to the second identity information to the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC).

[0016] According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, a location management function (LMF) is provided, the apparatus comprising:

[0017] The transceiver module is used to receive a first message sent by the AMF, wherein the first message includes location information;

[0018] The transceiver module is further configured to send a second message to the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC), wherein the second message includes location information;

[0019] The transceiver module is further configured to receive response information sent by the first GMLC in response to the second message, wherein the response information includes user identification information corresponding to the location information;

[0020] The processing module is used to determine the location result corresponding to the first message based on the user identification information;

[0021] The transceiver module is also used to send the positioning result to the AMF.

[0022] According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, a first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) is provided, the apparatus comprising:

[0023] The transceiver module is used to receive a second message sent by the LMF, wherein the second message includes location information;

[0024] The transceiver module is further configured to send response information for the second message to the LMF, wherein the response information includes user identification information corresponding to the location information.

[0025] According to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, a second gateway mobile location center (GMLC) is provided, the apparatus comprising:

[0026] The transceiver module is used to receive the seventh message sent by the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC).

[0027] The transceiver module is further configured to send the second user identification information corresponding to the second identity information to the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) in response to the seventh message.

[0028] According to a seventh aspect of the embodiments of this disclosure, a first network element is proposed, comprising:

[0029] One or more processors;

[0030] The first network element is used to execute the message sending method described in any of the first aspects.

[0031] According to an eighth aspect of the embodiments of this disclosure, a second network element is proposed, comprising:

[0032] One or more processors;

[0033] The second network element is used to execute the message sending method described in any of the second aspects.

[0034] According to a ninth aspect of the embodiments of this disclosure, a third network element is proposed, comprising:

[0035] One or more processors;

[0036] The third network element is used to execute the message sending method described in any of the third aspects.

[0037] According to a tenth aspect of the present disclosure, a communication system is provided, including a terminal and a core network device, wherein the core network device is configured to implement the positioning method described in any one of the first to third aspects.

[0038] According to an eleventh aspect of the present disclosure, a storage medium is provided that stores instructions, which, when executed on a communication device, cause the communication device to perform a positioning method as described in any of the first, second, or third aspects. Attached Figure Description

[0039] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of this disclosure will become apparent and readily understood from the following description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0040] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0041] Figure 2 An interactive schematic diagram of a positioning method provided in yet another embodiment of this disclosure;

[0042] Figure 3A A schematic flowchart illustrating a positioning method provided in yet another embodiment of this disclosure;

[0043] Figure 4AA schematic flowchart illustrating a positioning method provided in yet another embodiment of this disclosure;

[0044] Figure 5A A schematic flowchart illustrating a positioning method provided in yet another embodiment of this disclosure;

[0045] Figure 6A A schematic flowchart illustrating a positioning method provided in yet another embodiment of this disclosure;

[0046] Figure 7A A schematic flowchart illustrating a positioning method provided in yet another embodiment of this disclosure;

[0047] Figure 8A A schematic flowchart illustrating a positioning method provided in yet another embodiment of this disclosure;

[0048] Figure 9A A schematic diagram illustrating an example of a positioning system provided in yet another embodiment of this disclosure;

[0049] Figure 10A An interactive schematic diagram of a positioning method provided in yet another embodiment of this disclosure;

[0050] Figure 11A This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an LMF provided in yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0051] Figure 11B A schematic diagram of the structure of a first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) provided in yet another embodiment of this disclosure;

[0052] Figure 11C A schematic diagram of the structure of a second gateway mobile location center (GMLC) provided in yet another embodiment of this disclosure;

[0053] Figure 12A This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0054] Figure 12B This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a chip provided in one embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0055] This disclosure proposes a positioning method, apparatus, device, and storage medium to address the problem that the inability to obtain user identification information prevents the execution of ranging services and lateral link positioning services.

[0056] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a positioning method is provided, the method being performed by a positioning management function (LMF), the method comprising:

[0057] Receive a first message sent by the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), wherein the first message includes location information;

[0058] Send a second message to the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC), wherein the second message includes the location information;

[0059] Receive response information sent by the first GMLC in response to the second message, wherein the response information includes user identification information corresponding to the location information;

[0060] Based on the user identification information, determine the location result corresponding to the first message;

[0061] The location result is sent to the AMF.

[0062] In the above embodiments, a mechanism for determining the mapping relationship between location information and user identification information can be provided. The LMF can receive the user identification information provided by the first GMLC, reducing the situation where the LMF cannot obtain the user identification information, resulting in the inability to determine the terminal involved in the ranging service or SL positioning service. This enables the GMLC to perform authorization checks, improves the executability of the ranging service or SL positioning service, and improves the accuracy of the positioning result determination.

[0063] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the positioning information includes at least one of the following:

[0064] The first identity information of the first terminal;

[0065] The second identity information of the second terminal.

[0066] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first identity information includes at least one of the following:

[0067] The first terminal's User Hidden Identifier (SUCI);

[0068] The first terminal's user permanent identifier (SUbscription Permanent Identifier, SUPI);

[0069] The first application layer identifier (Application Layer ID) of the first terminal.

[0070] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the positioning information further includes at least one of the following:

[0071] The first network information corresponding to the first terminal;

[0072] The second network information corresponding to the second terminal.

[0073] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the network information includes at least one of the following:

[0074] Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) address;

[0075] Home Public Land Mobile Network Identifier (HPLMN ID);

[0076] Routing Indicator.

[0077] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the user identification information includes at least one of the following:

[0078] User permanent identifier SUPI;

[0079] Generic Public Subscription Identifier (GSPI).

[0080] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first user identification information includes at least one of the following:

[0081] First user permanent identifier SUPI;

[0082] First general public user identifier.

[0083] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0084] Store the correspondence between the location information and the user identification information.

[0085] In the above embodiments, the LMF can store the correspondence between the user identification information and the positioning information, and can directly determine the terminal involved in the next ranging service or SL positioning service through the correspondence, thereby reducing the determination time of the terminal and improving the determination efficiency of the positioning result.

[0086] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a positioning method is provided, the method being executed by a first gateway mobile location center (GMLC), the method comprising:

[0087] Receive a second message sent by the Location Management Function (LMF), wherein the second message includes location information;

[0088] Send response information for the second message to the LMF, wherein the response information includes user identification information corresponding to the location information.

[0089] In the above embodiments, a mechanism for determining the mapping relationship between positioning information and user identification information can be provided, enabling the LMF to receive the user identification information provided by the first GMLC. This reduces the situation where the LMF cannot obtain user identification information, thus preventing the determination of the terminal involved in the ranging service or SL positioning service, thereby improving the executability of the ranging service or SL positioning service and improving the accuracy of the positioning result determination.

[0090] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the positioning information includes at least one of the following:

[0091] The first identity information of the first terminal;

[0092] The second identity information of the second terminal.

[0093] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the positioning information further includes:

[0094] The first network information corresponding to the first terminal;

[0095] The second network information corresponding to the second terminal.

[0096] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the network information includes at least one of the following:

[0097] Mobile Location Center Gateway (GMLC) address;

[0098] Local Public Land Mobile Network Identifier (HPLMN ID);

[0099] Route indicator.

[0100] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0101] Send a third message to the first unified data management function UDM, wherein the PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is the same as the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal, and the sixth message includes at least one of the first identity information and the second identity information;

[0102] The user identification information sent by the first UDM in response to the third message is received, wherein the user identification information includes first user identification information corresponding to the first identity information and second user identification information corresponding to the second identity information.

[0103] In the above embodiments, the user identification information corresponding to the terminal can be determined through UDM, which can provide a mechanism for determining user identification information, reduce the situation where the terminal involved in the ranging service or SL positioning service cannot be determined due to the inability to obtain user identification information, improve the executability of the ranging service or SL positioning service, and improve the accuracy of the positioning result determination.

[0104] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0105] Send a fourth message to the second GMLC corresponding to the second network information, wherein the PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is different from the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal;

[0106] Receive the second user identifier information corresponding to the second identity information sent by the second GMLC in response to the fourth message.

[0107] In the above embodiments, the user identification information corresponding to the terminal can be determined through information interaction between the second GMLC corresponding to the second network information. This can provide a mechanism for determining user identification information, reduce the situation where the inability to obtain user identification information leads to the inability to determine the terminal involved in the ranging service or SL positioning service, improve the executability of the ranging service or SL positioning service, and improve the accuracy of the positioning result determination.

[0108] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0109] Send a fifth message to the second GMLC, wherein the PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is different from the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal;

[0110] Receive the second user identifier information corresponding to the second identity information sent by the second GMLC.

[0111] In the above embodiments, the user identification information corresponding to the terminal can be determined through information interaction with the second GMLC. This can provide a mechanism for determining user identification information, reduce the situation where the inability to obtain user identification information leads to the inability to determine the terminal involved in the ranging service or SL positioning service, improve the executability of the ranging service or SL positioning service, and improve the accuracy of the positioning result determination.

[0112] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, sending the fifth message to the second GMLC includes:

[0113] Determine the second network information;

[0114] Send a fifth message to the second GMLC that is connected to the second network information.

[0115] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, determining the second network information includes at least one of the following:

[0116] The second network information is obtained through the configured GMLC address mapping table;

[0117] Send a sixth message to the NRF and receive the second network information sent by the NRF in response to the sixth message.

[0118] In the above embodiments, if the second network information is not received, the second network information can be determined through at least one of the above methods, reducing the situation where the user identification information cannot be determined due to the inability to determine the second network information, improving the executability of the ranging service or SL positioning service, and improving the accuracy of the positioning result determination.

[0119] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the user identification information includes at least one of the following:

[0120] User permanent identifier SUPI;

[0121] General public user identifier.

[0122] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0123] Store the correspondence between the location information and the user identification information.

[0124] According to a third aspect of the embodiments of this disclosure, a positioning method is provided, the method being executed by a second gateway mobile location center (GMLC), the method comprising:

[0125] Receive the seventh message sent by the first gateway mobile location center GMLC;

[0126] The seventh message sends the second user identification information corresponding to the second identity information to the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC).

[0127] In the above embodiments, by providing the second user identification information corresponding to the second identity information to the first GMLC, the situation where the ranging service or SL positioning service cannot be executed due to the inability to determine the second user identification information can be reduced, thereby improving the executability of the ranging service or SL positioning service and improving the accuracy of the positioning result determination.

[0128] In conjunction with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0129] Send an eighth message to the second unified data management function UDM, wherein the eighth message includes the second identity information;

[0130] Receive the second user identifier information corresponding to the second identity information sent by the second UDM in response to the eighth message.

[0131] In the above embodiments, the second user identification information corresponding to the second identity information can be obtained through the second UDM, which reduces the situation where the ranging service or SL positioning service cannot be executed due to the inability to determine the second user identification information, improves the executability of the ranging service or SL positioning service, and improves the accuracy of the positioning result determination.

[0132] In conjunction with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, the second user identification information includes at least one of the following:

[0133] Second user permanent identifier SUPI;

[0134] Second general public user identifier.

[0135] In conjunction with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, the seventh message is the fourth message or the fifth message.

[0136] According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, a location management function (LMF) is provided, the apparatus comprising:

[0137] The transceiver module is used to receive a first message sent by the AMF, wherein the first message includes location information;

[0138] The transceiver module is further configured to send a second message to the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC), wherein the second message includes location information;

[0139] The transceiver module is further configured to receive response information sent by the first GMLC in response to the second message, wherein the response information includes user identification information corresponding to the location information;

[0140] The processing module is used to determine the location result corresponding to the first message based on the user identification information;

[0141] The transceiver module is also used to send the positioning result to the AMF.

[0142] According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, a first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) is provided, the apparatus comprising:

[0143] The transceiver module is used to receive a second message sent by the LMF, wherein the second message includes location information;

[0144] The transceiver module is further configured to send response information for the second message to the LMF, wherein the response information includes user identification information corresponding to the location information.

[0145] According to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, a second gateway mobile location center (GMLC) is provided, the apparatus comprising:

[0146] The transceiver module is used to receive the seventh message sent by the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC).

[0147] The transceiver module is further configured to send the second user identification information corresponding to the second identity information to the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) in response to the seventh message.

[0148] According to a seventh aspect of the embodiments of this disclosure, a first network element is proposed, comprising:

[0149] One or more processors;

[0150] The first network element is used to execute the message sending method described in any of the first aspects.

[0151] According to an eighth aspect of the embodiments of this disclosure, a second network element is proposed, comprising:

[0152] One or more processors;

[0153] The second network element is used to execute the message sending method described in any of the second aspects.

[0154] According to a ninth aspect of the embodiments of this disclosure, a third network element is proposed, comprising:

[0155] One or more processors;

[0156] The third network element is used to execute the message sending method described in any of the third aspects.

[0157] According to a tenth aspect of the present disclosure, a communication system is provided, including a terminal and a core network device, wherein the core network device is configured to implement the positioning method described in any one of the first to third aspects.

[0158] According to an eleventh aspect of the present disclosure, a storage medium is provided that stores instructions, which, when executed on a communication device, cause the communication device to perform a positioning method as described in any of the first, second, or third aspects.

[0159] This disclosure provides a positioning method. In some embodiments, the terms "positioning method" and "information processing method" and "communication method" can be used interchangeably; the terms "positioning device" and "information processing device" and "communication device" can be used interchangeably; and the terms "information processing system" and "communication system" can be used interchangeably.

[0160] This disclosure is not exhaustive, but merely illustrative of some embodiments, and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this disclosure. Unless otherwise specified, each step in a particular embodiment can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the steps can be arbitrarily combined. For example, a solution after removing some steps in a particular embodiment can also be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the order of the steps in a particular embodiment can be arbitrarily interchanged. Furthermore, the optional implementation methods in a particular embodiment can be arbitrarily combined; moreover, the embodiments can be arbitrarily combined, for example, some or all steps of different embodiments can be arbitrarily combined, and a particular embodiment can be arbitrarily combined with the optional implementation methods of other embodiments.

[0161] In each of the disclosed embodiments, unless otherwise specified or in case of logical conflict, the terminology and / or descriptions of the embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. Technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments based on their inherent logical relationships.

[0162] The terminology used in the embodiments of this disclosure is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure.

[0163] In this disclosure, unless otherwise stated, elements expressed in the singular form, such as "a," "an," "the," "the," "the," "the," "the," "the," "this," etc., can mean "one and only one," or "one or more," "at least one," etc. For example, when using articles such as "a," "an," "the," etc. in translation, the noun following the article can be understood as either a singular or a plural expression.

[0164] In the embodiments disclosed herein, "multiple" refers to two or more.

[0165] In some embodiments, the terms “at least one of,” “one or more,” “a plurality of,” and “multiple” may be used interchangeably.

[0166] In some embodiments, the notation "at least one of A and B", "A and / or B", "A in one case, B in another", "in response to one case A, in response to another case B", etc., may include the following technical solutions depending on the situation: in some embodiments, A (executes A regardless of B); in some embodiments, B (executes B regardless of A); in some embodiments, execution is selected from A and B (A and B are selectively executed); in some embodiments, both A and B are executed. The same applies when there are more branches such as A, B, C, etc.

[0167] In some embodiments, the notation "A or B" may include the following technical solutions, depending on the situation: in some embodiments, A (execution of A regardless of B); in some embodiments, B (execution of B regardless of A); in some embodiments, selective execution from A and B (A and B are selectively executed). The same applies when there are more branches such as A, B, and C.

[0168] The prefixes "first," "second," etc., used in the embodiments of this disclosure are merely for distinguishing different descriptive objects and do not impose restrictions on the position, order, priority, quantity, or content of the descriptive objects. The description of the descriptive objects is found in the claims or the context of the embodiments, and the use of prefixes should not constitute unnecessary restrictions. For example, if the descriptive object is a "field," the ordinal numbers preceding "field" in "first field" and "second field" do not restrict the position or order of the "fields." "First" and "second" do not restrict whether the "fields" they modify are in the same message, nor do they restrict the order of "first field" and "second field." Similarly, if the descriptive object is a "level," the ordinal numbers preceding "level" in "first level" and "second level" do not restrict the priority between "levels." Furthermore, the number of descriptive objects is not limited by ordinal numbers and can be one or more. For example, in "first device," the number of "devices" can be one or more. Furthermore, the objects modified by different prefixes can be the same or different. For example, if the object being described is "device", then "first device" and "second device" can be the same device or different devices, and their types can be the same or different. Similarly, if the object being described is "information", then "first information" and "second information" can be the same information or different information, and their content can be the same or different.

[0169] In some embodiments, “including A,” “containing A,” “for indicating A,” and “carrying A” can be interpreted as directly carrying A or indirectly indicating A.

[0170] In some embodiments, the terms “in response to…”, “in response to determining…”, “in the case of…”, “when…”, “if…”, “if…”, etc., can be used interchangeably.

[0171] In some embodiments, the terms “greater than,” “greater than or equal to,” “not less than,” “more than,” “more than or equal to,” “not less than,” “higher than,” “higher than or equal to,” “not lower than,” and “above” can be used interchangeably, as can the terms “less than,” “less than or equal to,” “not greater than,” “less than,” “less than or equal to,” “not more than,” “lower than,” “lower than or equal to,” “not higher than,” and “below”.

[0172] In some embodiments, the apparatus and device may be interpreted as physical or virtual, and their names are not limited to the names recorded in the embodiments. In some cases, they may also be understood as "equipment", "device", "circuit", "network element", "node", "function", "unit", "section", "system", "network", "chip", "chip system", "entity", "body", etc.

[0173] In some embodiments, "network" can be interpreted as devices included in the network, such as access network devices, core network devices, etc.

[0174] In some embodiments, "access network device (AN device)" may also be referred to as "radio access network device (RAN device)," "base station (BS)," "radio base station," or "fixed station." In some embodiments, it may also be understood as "node," "access point," "transmission point (TP)," "reception point (RP)," "transmission and / or reception point (TRP)," "panel," "antenna panel," "antenna array," "cell," "macro cell," "small cell," "femto cell," "pico cell," "sector," "cellgroup," "serving cell," "carrier," "component carrier," or "bandwidth part (BWP)," etc.

[0175] In some embodiments, "terminal" or "terminal device" may be referred to as "user equipment (UE)," "user terminal," "mobile station (MS)," "mobile terminal (MT)," "subscriber station," "mobile unit," "subscriber unit," "wireless unit," "remote unit," "mobile device," "wireless device," "wireless communication device," "remote device," "mobile subscriber station," "access terminal," "mobile terminal," "wireless terminal," "remote terminal," "handset," "user agent," "mobile client," "client," etc.

[0176] In some embodiments, the acquisition of data, information, etc., may comply with the laws and regulations of the country where the location is situated.

[0177] In some embodiments, data, information, etc., may be obtained with the user's consent.

[0178] Furthermore, each element, each row, or each column in the table of this disclosure can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and any combination of any element, any row, or any column can also be implemented as an independent embodiment.

[0179] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system according to embodiments of this disclosure. Figure 1 As shown, the communication system 100 includes a terminal 101 and a network device 102.

[0180] In some embodiments, terminal 101 includes, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: mobile phone, wearable device, Internet of Things device, car with communication function, smart car, tablet computer, computer with wireless transceiver function, virtual reality (VR) terminal device, augmented reality (AR) terminal device, wireless terminal device in industrial control, wireless terminal device in self-driving, wireless terminal device in remote medical surgery, wireless terminal device in smart grid, wireless terminal device in transportation safety, wireless terminal device in smart city, and wireless terminal device in smart home.

[0181] In some embodiments, network device 102 may include at least one of access network device and core network device.

[0182] In some embodiments, the access network device is, for example, a node or device that connects a terminal to a wireless network. The access network device may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following in a 5G communication system: evolved Node B (eNB), next-generation eNB (ng-eNB), next-generation Node B (gNB), node B (NB), home node B (HNB), home evolved node B (HeNB), radio backhaul device, radio network controller (RNC), base station controller (BSC), base transceiver station (BTS), base band unit (BBU), mobile switching center, base station in a 6th generation mobile networks (6G) communication system, open RAN, cloud RAN, base station in other communication systems, and access node in a Wi-Fi system.

[0183] In some embodiments, the technical solutions of this disclosure can be applied to the Open RAN architecture. In this case, the interfaces between or within access network devices involved in the embodiments of this disclosure can be transformed into internal interfaces of Open RAN. The processes and information interactions between these internal interfaces can be implemented by software or programs.

[0184] In some embodiments, the access network device may be composed of a central unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU). The CU may also be called a control unit. The CU-DU structure can separate the protocol layer of the access network device. Some of the protocol layer functions are centrally controlled by the CU, while the remaining part or all of the protocol layer functions are distributed in the DU and centrally controlled by the CU. However, this is not the only possibility.

[0185] In some embodiments, a core network device may be a single device comprising one or more network elements, or it may be multiple devices or a group of devices, each comprising all or part of the aforementioned one or more network elements. Network elements may be virtual or physical. The core network may include, for example, at least one of an Evolved Packet Core (EPC), a 5G Core Network (5GCN), or a Next Generation Core (NGC).

[0186] In some embodiments, the core network equipment can be a single device, including a first network element, a second network element, etc., or it can be multiple devices or a group of devices, each including all or part of the first network element, the second network element, etc. Network elements can be virtual or physical. The core network includes, for example, at least one of the Evolved Packet Core (EPC), 5G Core Network (5GCN), and Next Generation Core (NGC).

[0187] In some embodiments, the first network element is, for example, a Location Management Function (LMF).

[0188] In some embodiments, the first network element is used as "a core network element in 5GC that provides control plane positioning, completes the calculation and feedback of location information in the 5G network, and provides functions such as positioning process management, terminal capability acquisition, auxiliary data provision, and terminal location estimation," and the name is not limited to this.

[0189] In some embodiments, the second and third network elements are, for example, Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC).

[0190] In some embodiments, the second or third network element may be used, for example, to “perform registration authorization checks and request routing information from the Home Location Register (HLR),” and the name is not limited thereto.

[0191] In some embodiments, the fourth network element is, for example, the Unified Data Management (UDM) function.

[0192] In some embodiments, the fourth network element is used to "manage user identifiers, subscription data, authentication data, and user service network element registration management," and the name is not limited to this.

[0193] In some embodiments, the fifth network element is, for example, the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF).

[0194] In some embodiments, the fifth network element is used to "be responsible for functions such as terminal authentication, authorization, registration, mobility management and connection management", and the name is not limited to this.

[0195] In some embodiments, the third network element can be independent of the core network equipment.

[0196] In some embodiments, the third network element may be part of the core network equipment.

[0197] It is understood that the communication system described in this disclosure is for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solutions of this disclosure, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions proposed in this disclosure. As those skilled in the art will know, with the evolution of system architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions proposed in this disclosure are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0198] The following embodiments of this disclosure can be applied to Figure 1 The communication system 100 shown, or a part thereof, but not limited to it. Figure 1 The entities shown are illustrative; a communication system may include... Figure 1 All or part of the main body, or may include Figure 1 Other entities besides the main body, the number and form of each entity are arbitrary, each entity can be physical or virtual, the connection relationship between the entities is illustrative, the entities can be unconnected or connected, and the connection can be in any way, it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection, it can be a wired connection or a wireless connection.

[0199] The embodiments disclosed herein can be applied to Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), LTE-Beyond (LTE-B), SUPER 3G, IMT-Advanced, 4th generation mobile communication system (4G), 5th generation mobile communication system (5G), 5G new radio (NR), Future Radio Access (FRA), New-Radio Access Technology (RAT), New Radio (NR), New radio access (NX), Futuregeneration radio access (FX), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), CDMA2000, Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), and IEEE 802.20, Ultra-Wideband (UWB), Bluetooth (a registered trademark), Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) networks, Device-to-Device (D2D) systems, Machine-to-Machine (M2M) systems, Internet of Things (IoT) systems, Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) systems, systems utilizing other communication methods, and next-generation systems built upon them, etc. Furthermore, multiple systems can be combined (e.g., a combination of LTE or LTE-A with 5G).

[0200] Optionally, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the ranging service refers to determining the distance between two terminals and / or the direction between one terminal and another via a PC5 link. The Sindlink (SL) positioning service enables terminals to use PC5 to obtain absolute, relative, or ranging information. The ranging / SL positioning service can be applied to various vertical industries, such as consumer electronics, smart homes, smart cities, smart transportation, smart retail, and Industry 4.0.

[0201] Optionally, in one embodiment of this disclosure, for example, an application layer ID is transmitted between two ranging / SL positioning terminals and provided to the 5th Generation Mobile Communication Technology Core (5GC) in the ranging / SL location request. This ID can be a Generic Public Subscription Identifier (GPSI) or a terminal identifier provided by the ranging application. The application layer ID needs to be mapped to a SUPI, which is a unique identifier used internally by the 5GC. Based on the mapped SUPI, a corresponding 5GC Network Function (NF) can be selected, or the 5GC NF (i.e., LMF) can identify the UE involved to perform the ranging / SL positioning process.

[0202] However, how to map application layer IDs to GPSI is unclear; that is, there is no mapping mechanism from application layer IDs to GPSI. If network devices cannot map application layer IDs to SUPI, the 5GC NF (e.g., AMF, LMF) will not be able to identify the involved terminal, thus the GMLC cannot check authorization and cannot select the appropriate LMF to perform the ranging / SL positioning measurement process.

[0203] During a 5GC-MO-LR or SL-MO-LR process, a terminal connected to the 5GC sends an LCS request, which includes the application layer ID of the terminal involved. However, the LMF cannot obtain the terminal's SUPI or GPSI based on the terminal's application layer ID and cannot provide ranging / SL positioning services, making ranging or SL positioning services unavailable.

[0204] The following is a detailed description of a positioning method, apparatus, device, and storage medium provided in the embodiments of this disclosure, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0205] Figure 2 This is an interactive schematic diagram of a positioning method provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown below. Figure 2 As shown, the method may include the following steps:

[0206] Step S2101: The first terminal sends a ninth message to the AMF, wherein the ninth message includes location information, which is used to determine the user identification information used when performing location.

[0207] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the first terminal is a terminal among at least one terminals involved in the ranging service or SL positioning service that can interact with the core network equipment. The first terminal does not specifically refer to any one terminal. For example, when the terminal identifier corresponding to the first terminal changes, the first terminal may also change accordingly. The second terminal is any terminal among the at least one terminals other than the first terminal. For example, the number of terminals corresponding to the at least one terminal may be two. For example, the number of terminals corresponding to the at least one terminal may also be three.

[0208] Optionally, in one embodiment of this disclosure, ranging may be performed using a ranging service. In this ranging service, the first terminal may be, for example, a target terminal, and the second terminal may be, for example, a reference terminal. In a sidechain positioning service, the first terminal may be, for example, at least one of a positioning terminal and a target terminal, and the second terminal may be, for example, at least one of a positioning terminal and a target terminal.

[0209] In one embodiment of this disclosure, in some embodiments, the names of information, etc., are not limited to the names recorded in the embodiments. Terms such as "information", "message", "signal", "signaling", "report", "configuration", "indication", "instruction", "command", "channel", "parameter", "domain", "field", "symbol", "symbol", "codebook", "codeword", "codepoint", "bit", "data", "program", and "chip" can be used interchangeably.

[0210] In some embodiments, “get,” “obtain,” “receive,” “transmit,” “bidirectional transmission,” and “send and / or receive” can be used interchangeably and can be interpreted as receiving from other entities, obtaining from protocols, obtaining from higher layers, obtaining through self-processing, or autonomous implementation, among other meanings.

[0211] In some embodiments, terms such as “send,” “transmit,” “report,” “distribute,” “transfer,” “bidirectional transmission,” “send and / or receive” can be used interchangeably.

[0212] In some embodiments, terms such as "certain", "preset", "default", "set", "indicated", "a certain", "any", and "first" can be used interchangeably. "Certain A", "preset A", "default A", "set A", "indicated A", "a certain A", "any A", and "first A" can be interpreted as A pre-defined in a protocol or the like, or as A obtained through setting, configuration, or instruction, or as specific A, a certain A, any A, or first A, but are not limited thereto.

[0213] When the first terminal and the second terminal perform at least one of ranging and sidechain SL positioning, a corresponding discovery process can be performed, and a PC5 link for the corresponding positioning can be established. For example, when the first terminal and the second terminal perform ranging, ranging discovery can be performed, and a PC5 link for ranging can be established. For example, when the first terminal and the second terminal perform sidechain SL positioning, sidechain SL positioning discovery can be performed, and a PC5 link for sidechain SL positioning can be established.

[0214] Optionally, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the ninth message may be, for example, a message sent by the terminal to the AMF. The first message in this ninth message is only used to distinguish it from the remaining messages. The ninth message may, for example, be an uplink network-attached storage transport (UL NAS TRANSPORT) message.

[0215] In some embodiments, the terms "uplink", "uplink", and "physical uplink" can be used interchangeably, as can the terms "downlink", "downlink", and "physical downlink", as well as the terms "sidelink", "sidelink", "sidelink communication", "sidelink communication", "direct connection", "direct link", "direct communication", and "direct link communication".

[0216] Optionally, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the location information includes at least one of the following:

[0217] The first identity information of the first terminal;

[0218] The second identity information of the second terminal.

[0219] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the first terminal sends a ninth message to the AMF, wherein the ninth message includes location information, and the location information includes the first identity information of the first terminal and the second identity information of the second terminal.

[0220] Optionally, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the location information further includes at least one of the following:

[0221] Other distance measurement related parameters;

[0222] Other SL positioning-related parameters.

[0223] In one embodiment of this disclosure, other ranging-related parameters may refer, for example, parameters related to the ranging service. Other SL positioning-related parameters may refer, for example, parameters related to SL positioning.

[0224] Optionally, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the location information may include, for example:

[0225] The first identity information of the first terminal;

[0226] Second identity information of the second terminal;

[0227] Other distance measurement related parameters.

[0228] Optionally, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the location information may include, for example:

[0229] The first identity information of the first terminal;

[0230] Second identity information of the second terminal;

[0231] Other SL positioning-related parameters.

[0232] Optionally, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the identity information is used to indicate the identity of a terminal, wherein different terminals correspond to different identity information. The first identity information refers to the identity information corresponding to the first terminal, and the "first" in the first identity information is distinguished only from the second identity information. The second identity information refers to the identity information corresponding to the second terminal. The second identity information does not specifically refer to any fixed identity information. For example, when the terminal identifier of the second terminal changes, the second identity information may also change accordingly.

[0233] Optionally, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the first identity information includes at least one of the following:

[0234] The user-hidden identifier SUCI for the first terminal;

[0235] The user's permanent identifier SUPI for the first terminal;

[0236] The first application layer identifier (Application Layer ID) of the first terminal.

[0237] Optionally, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the first identity information includes the user-hidden identifier (SUCI) of the first terminal.

[0238] Optionally, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the first identity information includes the user permanent identifier (SUPI) of the first terminal.

[0239] Optionally, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the first identity information includes the first application layer identifier ID of the first terminal.

[0240] Optionally, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the second identity information includes the second application layer identifier ID of the second terminal.

[0241] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the location information further includes at least one of the following:

[0242] The first network information corresponding to the first terminal;

[0243] The second network information corresponding to the second terminal.

[0244] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the first terminal sends a ninth message to the AMF, wherein the ninth message includes location information, the location information including the first identity information of the first terminal, the second identity information of the second terminal, the first network information corresponding to the first terminal, and the second network information corresponding to the second terminal.

[0245] Optionally, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the network information includes at least one of the following:

[0246] Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) address;

[0247] Local Public Land Mobile Network Identifier (HPLMN ID);

[0248] Route indicator.

[0249] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the first network information corresponding to the first terminal may include at least one of a first GMLC address, a first HPLMN ID, and a first routing indicator. For example, the first network information corresponding to the first terminal may include a first GMLC address. For example, the first network information corresponding to the first terminal may include a first HPLMN ID. For example, the first network information corresponding to the first terminal may include a first routing indicator.

[0250] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the second network information corresponding to the second terminal may include at least one of a second GMLC address, a second HPLMN ID, and a second routing indicator. For example, the second network information corresponding to the second terminal may include a second GMLC address. For example, the second network information corresponding to the second terminal may include a second HPLMN ID. For example, the second network information corresponding to the second terminal may include a second routing indicator.

[0251] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the first terminal can also receive second network information sent by the second terminal. For example, when the first terminal establishes a PC5 link with the second terminal, the second terminal can send its second network information to the first terminal. The first terminal can receive the second network information sent by the second terminal. When the first terminal receives the second network information, it can add it to a ninth message. The ninth message can be, for example, an uplink network auxiliary storage transmission (UL NAS TRANSPORT) message. For example, the first terminal can add the second network information of the second terminal to the uplink network auxiliary storage transmission (UL NAS TRANSPORT) message.

[0252] Optionally, the second network information may include, for example, at least one of the second gateway mobile location center (GMLC) address of the second terminal, the second local public land mobile network identifier (HPLMN ID), and the routing indicator of the second terminal.

[0253] The user identification information includes at least one of the following:

[0254] User permanent identifier SUPI;

[0255] General public user identifier.

[0256] The first user identification information includes at least one of the following:

[0257] First user permanent identifier SUPI;

[0258] First general public user identifier.

[0259] The second user identification information includes at least one of the following:

[0260] Second user permanent identifier SUPI;

[0261] Second general public user identifier.

[0262] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the first terminal sends a ninth message to the AMF, wherein the ninth message includes location information used to determine the SUPI used when performing location. The SUPI may be, for example, a list of SUPIs.

[0263] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the first terminal sends a ninth message to the AMF, wherein the ninth message includes location information used to determine the GSPI used when performing location. The GSPI can be, for example, a GSPI list.

[0264] In one embodiment of this disclosure, a first terminal establishes a PC5 link with a second terminal. The first terminal can store at least one of the second terminal's second identity information and second network information. The second identity information may be a second application layer identifier. The first terminal, for example, can store the second application layer identifier of the second terminal when establishing the PC5 link with the second terminal. The first terminal, for example, can store the second network information of the second terminal when establishing the PC5 link with the second terminal. The first terminal establishes a PC5 link with the second terminal and stores the second identity information and second network information of the second terminal. When storing the second identity information and second network information of the second terminal, the first terminal may, for example, store the second identity information and the second network information together.

[0265] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the number of second terminals may be, for example, three. The second identity information and second network information received by the first terminal from the three second terminals may be, for example, identity information A1, network information A2, identity information B1, network information B2, identity information C1, and network information C2. The first terminal may associate and store the second identity information and the second network information, for example, the first terminal may associate and store identity information A1 and network information A2, identity information B1 and network information B2, and identity information C1 and network information C2.

[0266] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the first terminal sending the ninth message to the AMF can be, for example, by the first terminal sending the ninth message to the AMF via an access network device. The access network device can be, for example, a radio access network (RAN).

[0267] In some embodiments, the terms “radio”, “wireless”, “radioaccess network (RAN)”, “access network (AN)”, and “RAN-based” can be used interchangeably.

[0268] In step S2102, the AMF receives the ninth message sent by the first terminal, wherein the ninth message includes location information;

[0269] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the location information includes at least one of the following:

[0270] The first identity information of the first terminal;

[0271] The second identity information of the second terminal.

[0272] Optionally, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the location information includes first identity information and second identity information. The AMF can receive the first identity information and second identity information sent by the first terminal.

[0273] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the location information further includes at least one of the following:

[0274] The first network information corresponding to the first terminal;

[0275] The second network information corresponding to the second terminal.

[0276] Optionally, in one embodiment of this disclosure, when the location information further includes first network information corresponding to the first terminal and first and second network information corresponding to the second terminal, the AMF can receive first identity information, second identity information, first network information corresponding to the first terminal, and first and second network information corresponding to the second terminal sent by the first terminal.

[0277] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the method further includes at least one of the following:

[0278] The second network information corresponding to the second terminal is obtained through the configured terminal identifier mapping table;

[0279] Send the eleventh message to the Network Repository Function (NRF) and receive the second network information corresponding to the second terminal sent by the NRF in response to the eleventh message.

[0280] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, when the AMF receives location information sent by a first terminal, including the first identity information of the first terminal and the second identity information of the second terminal, the AMF can obtain the first network information corresponding to the first terminal and the first and second network information corresponding to the second terminal through a configured terminal identifier mapping table. The terminal identifier mapping table may, for example, include the correspondence between terminal identity information and network information.

[0281] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, when the AMF can receive location information sent by the first terminal, including the first identity information of the first terminal and the second identity information of the second terminal, the AMF can send an eleventh message to the network storage function NRF and receive the first network information corresponding to the first terminal and the second network information corresponding to the second terminal sent by the NRF in response to the eleventh message.

[0282] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the AMF can receive location information sent by a first terminal. If the AMF determines that the location information does not include first network information corresponding to the first terminal and first / second network information corresponding to the second terminal, the AMF can obtain the first network information corresponding to the first terminal and the first / second network information corresponding to the second terminal through a configured terminal identifier mapping table.

[0283] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the terminal identifier mapping table may be a mapping table of Mobile Subscriber International ISDN / PSTN number (MSISDN) and GMLC address.

[0284] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the network information includes at least one of the following:

[0285] Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) address;

[0286] Local Public Land Mobile Network Identifier (HPLMN ID);

[0287] Route indicator.

[0288] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, before sending the first message to the LMF, the method further includes:

[0289] According to the ninth message, LMF has been confirmed.

[0290] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the AMF may, for example, determine the LMF based on the services required by the ninth message, so that the determined LMF can provide the service.

[0291] Step S2103: AMF sends a first message to the location management function LMF, wherein the first message includes location information, which is used to determine the user identification information used when performing location.

[0292] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the first message may be, for example, a location determination request. This first message may be used to obtain location results. The "first" in the first message is only used to distinguish it from other messages and does not specifically refer to a particular fixed message. For example, when the sending time of the first message changes, the first message may also change accordingly.

[0293] The user identification information includes at least one of the following:

[0294] User permanent identifier SUPI;

[0295] General public user identifier.

[0296] In step S2104, the LMF receives a first message sent by the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), wherein the first message includes location information;

[0297] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) can send a first message to the Location Management Function (LMF), wherein the first message includes location information. The LMF receives the first message sent by the AMF, wherein the first message includes location information. The LMF can receive the location information sent by the AMF.

[0298] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the location information includes at least one of the following:

[0299] The first identity information of the first terminal;

[0300] The second identity information of the second terminal.

[0301] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the first terminal is one of at least one terminals involved in ranging or SL positioning that can interact with the core network equipment. The second terminal is any one of the at least one terminals other than the first terminal.

[0302] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the AMF can send a first message to the LMF. The first message includes location information, which includes first identity information of a first terminal and second identity information of a second terminal. The location information may also include, for example, at least one of other ranging-related parameters and other SL positioning-related parameters.

[0303] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the location information further includes:

[0304] The first network information corresponding to the first terminal;

[0305] The second network information corresponding to the second terminal.

[0306] Optionally, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the first identity information includes at least one of the following:

[0307] The user-hidden identifier SUCI for the first terminal;

[0308] The user's permanent identifier SUPI for the first terminal;

[0309] The first application layer identifier (Application Layer ID) of the first terminal.

[0310] Optionally, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the first identity information includes the user-hidden identifier (SUCI) of the first terminal.

[0311] Optionally, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the first identity information includes the user permanent identifier (SUPI) of the first terminal.

[0312] Optionally, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the first identity information includes the first application layer identifier ID of the first terminal.

[0313] Optionally, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the second identity information includes the second application layer identifier ID of the second terminal.

[0314] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the location information further includes at least one of the following:

[0315] The first network information corresponding to the first terminal;

[0316] The second network information corresponding to the second terminal.

[0317] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the method further includes:

[0318] Receive the first network information corresponding to the first terminal and the second network information corresponding to the second terminal sent by the AMF.

[0319] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the AMF can send a first message to the LMF. The first message includes location information, which includes first identity information of a first terminal, second identity information of a second terminal, first network information corresponding to the first terminal, and second network information corresponding to the second terminal.

[0320] In step S2105, the LMF sends a second message to the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC), wherein the second message includes location information;

[0321] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the second message may be, for example, a first mapping request. The first mapping request refers to a request sent by the LMF to the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC). This second message may be used, for example, to obtain user identification information.

[0322] The user identification information includes at least one of the following:

[0323] User permanent identifier SUPI;

[0324] General public user identifier.

[0325] Where the location information sent by the first terminal to the AMF includes the first SUPI or first GSPI of the first terminal, the LMF does not need to send a second message to the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC). This second message is used only to obtain the first user identification information of the first terminal.

[0326] Optionally, the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) refers to the gateway corresponding to the first network information. The first network information can be, for example, a first GMLC address, in which case the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) refers to the gateway corresponding to the first GMLC address. When the first network information is a first local public land mobile network identifier (HPLMN ID) or a first routing indicator, the first GMLC address can be obtained based on the first local public land mobile network identifier (HPLMN ID) or the first routing indicator, and then the second message can be sent to the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) corresponding to the first GMLC address.

[0327] Step S2106: The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) receives a second message sent by the LMF, wherein the second message includes location information;

[0328] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the location information included in the second message may include at least one of the first identity information of the first terminal and the second identity information of the second terminal, at least one of the first network information of the first terminal and the second network information of the second terminal, and the PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is the same as the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal.

[0329] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the location information included in the second message may include, for example, at least one of the first identity information of the first terminal and the second identity information of the second terminal, and the second network information of the second terminal. The PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is different from the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal. The first identity information of the first terminal included in the first message sent by the AMF to the LMF may, for example, be a first SUPI or a first GSPI.

[0330] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the location information may include, for example, at least one of a first identity information of a first terminal and a second identity information of a second terminal, and at least one of a first network information of a first terminal and a second network information of a second terminal, wherein the PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is different from the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal. The first identity information of the first terminal included in the first message sent from the AMF to the LMF may, for example, be a first application layer identifier.

[0331] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the location information and second identity information of the second terminal included in the second message differ from the PLMN corresponding to the first terminal. The first identity information of the first terminal included in the first message sent by the AMF to the LMF may be, for example, a first SUPI or a first GSPI.

[0332] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the location information includes at least one of a first identity information of a first terminal and a second identity information of a second terminal, wherein the PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is different from the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal. The first identity information of the first terminal included in the first message sent from the AMF to the LMF may, for example, be a first application layer identifier.

[0333] Step S2107: The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) sends a response message to the LMF in response to the second message. The response message includes user identification information corresponding to the location information.

[0334] The user identification information includes at least one of the following:

[0335] User permanent identifier SUPI;

[0336] General public user identifier.

[0337] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the method further includes:

[0338] Store the correspondence between location information and user identification information.

[0339] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC), upon determining the user identification information corresponding to all identity information, can send a response message to the LMF for the second message.

[0340] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the method further includes:

[0341] Send a third message to the first unified data management function UDM, wherein the PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is the same as the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal, and the third message includes at least one of the first identity information and the second identity information;

[0342] Receive user identification information sent by the first UDM in response to the third message, wherein the user identification information includes first user identification information corresponding to the first identity information and second user identification information corresponding to the second identity information.

[0343] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the third message may be, for example, a message sent from the first Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) to the first UDM to obtain user identification information. This third message does not specifically refer to a single, fixed message. For example, when the identity information included in the third message changes, the third message may also change accordingly.

[0344] The user identification information includes at least one of the following:

[0345] User permanent identifier SUPI;

[0346] General public user identifier.

[0347] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the first identity information may be, for example, a first application layer identifier ID1, and the second identity information may be, for example, a second application layer identifier ID2. The PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is the same as the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal. When the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) determines the user identification information corresponding to the location information, it may, for example, send a third message to the first UDM. The number of times the third message is sent corresponds to the number of terminals. For example, each third message sent may include one piece of identity information.

[0348] In one embodiment of this disclosure, a first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) can send a third message to a first UDM. The third message includes first identity information. The GMLC can receive first user identification information corresponding to the first identity information from the first UDM in response to the third message. This first user identification information may be, for example, a first permanent user identifier (SUPI) or a first general public user identifier (GPUI).

[0349] In one embodiment of this disclosure, if the first identity information of the first terminal included in the first message sent by the AMF to the LMF can be, for example, the first SUPI or the first GSPI, the first gateway mobile location center GMLC may not send a third message to the first UDM.

[0350] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) can send a third message to the first UDM. The third message includes second identity information. The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) can receive second user identification information corresponding to the second identity information sent by the first UDM in response to the third message.

[0351] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) can send a third message to the first UDM, wherein the location information includes at least one of the second identity information of the second terminal, the first network information of the first terminal, and the second network information of the second terminal, the PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is the same as the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal, and the third message includes the second identity information; and the first UDM receives the second user identification information corresponding to the second identity information sent by the first UDM in response to the third message.

[0352] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the method further includes:

[0353] Send a fourth message to the second GMLC corresponding to the second network information, wherein the PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is different from the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal; receive the second user identification information corresponding to the second identity information sent by the second GMLC in response to the fourth message.

[0354] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the fourth message refers to a message sent by the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) to the second gateway mobile location center (GMLC), which is used to obtain the second user identification information corresponding to the second identity information. The fourth message may, for example, be a second mapping request.

[0355] The user identification information includes at least one of the following:

[0356] User permanent identifier SUPI;

[0357] General public user identifier.

[0358] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the second user identification information may be, for example, a second permanent user identifier (SUPI) or a second general public user identifier. The second identity information may be, for example, a user permanent identifier (SUPI). The second identity information may be, for example, a second general public user identifier.

[0359] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the identity information may be, for example, an application layer identifier. The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) can send a fourth message to the second GMLC, wherein the PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is different from the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal; and receive a second user permanent identifier (SUPI) corresponding to the second application layer identifier sent by the second GMLC. The first identity information of the first terminal included in the first message sent by the AMF to the LMF may be, for example, a first SUPI. The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) can send response information to the second message to the LMF, wherein the response information includes the second user permanent identifier (SUPI) corresponding to the second application layer identifier. The LMF can obtain a list of SUPIs corresponding to all application layer identifiers.

[0360] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the identity information may be, for example, an application layer identifier. The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) can send a fourth message to the second GMLC, wherein the PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is different from the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal; and receive the second GSPI corresponding to the second application layer identifier sent by the second GMLC. The first identity information of the first terminal included in the first message sent by the AMF to the LMF may be, for example, the first GSPI. The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) can send response information to the second message to the LMF, wherein the response information includes the second GSPI corresponding to the second application layer identifier. The LMF can obtain a list of GSPIs corresponding to all application layer identifiers.

[0361] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the first identity information of the first terminal included in the first message sent from the AMF to the LMF may be, for example, a first application layer identifier. The location information includes at least one of the second identity information of the second terminal, the first network information of the first terminal, and the second network information of the second terminal. The PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is different from the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal. The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) can send a third message to the first UDM, wherein the third message includes the first application layer identifier. The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) can receive a first user permanent identifier (SUPI) corresponding to the first application layer identifier sent by the first UDM in response to the third message. The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) can send a fourth message to the second GMLC; the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) can receive a second user permanent identifier (SUPI) corresponding to the second identity information sent by the second GMLC in response to the fourth message. The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) can send response information for the second message to the LMF, wherein the response information includes user identifier information corresponding to at least one application layer identifier, and the user identifier information includes the first user permanent identifier (SUPI) and the second user permanent identifier (SUPI). The LMF can obtain a list of SUPIs corresponding to all application layer identifiers.

[0362] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the first identity information of the first terminal included in the first message sent from the AMF to the LMF may be, for example, a first application layer identifier. The location information includes at least one of the second identity information of the second terminal, the first network information of the first terminal, and the second network information of the second terminal. The PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is different from the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal. The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) can send a third message to the first UDM, wherein the third message includes the first application layer identifier. The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) can receive a first GSPI corresponding to the first application layer identifier sent by the first UDM in response to the third message. The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) can send a fourth message to the second GMLC; the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) can receive a second GSPI corresponding to the second identity information sent by the second GMLC in response to the fourth message. The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) can send response information to the LMF in response to the second message, wherein the response information includes user identifier information corresponding to at least one application layer identifier, and the user identifier information includes the first GSPI and the second GSPI. The LMF can obtain a list of GSPIs corresponding to all application layer identifiers.

[0363] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the method further includes:

[0364] Send a fifth message to the second GMLC, wherein the PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is different from the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal; receive the second user identifier information corresponding to the second identity information sent by the second GMLC.

[0365] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the fifth message may be, for example, a third mapping request.

[0366] The user identification information includes at least one of the following:

[0367] User permanent identifier SUPI;

[0368] General public user identifier.

[0369] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the location information includes the second identity information of the second terminal, and the PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is different from the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal. The identity information may be, for example, an application layer identifier. The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) can send a fifth message to the second GMLC. The second GMLC may be, for example, the GMLC corresponding to the second network information. The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) can receive the second user permanent identifier (SUPI) corresponding to the second identity information sent by the second GMLC. The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) can send a response message to the second message to the LMF, wherein the response message includes the second user permanent identifier (SUPI) corresponding to the second identity information. The first identity information of the first terminal included in the first message sent by the AMF to the LMF may be, for example, a first SUPI. The LMF can obtain a list of SUPIs corresponding to all application layer identifiers.

[0370] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the location information includes the second identity information of the second terminal, and the PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is different from the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal. The identity information may be, for example, an application layer identifier. The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) can send a fifth message to the second GMLC. The second GMLC may be, for example, the GMLC corresponding to the second network information. The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) can receive the second GSPI corresponding to the second identity information sent by the second GMLC. The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) can send response information for the second message to the LMF, wherein the response information includes the second GSPI corresponding to the second identity information. The first identity information of the first terminal included in the first message sent by the AMF to the LMF may be, for example, the first GSPI. The LMF can obtain a list of GSPIs corresponding to all application layer identifiers.

[0371] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the first identity information of the first terminal included in the first message sent from the AMF to the LMF may be, for example, a first application layer identifier. The location information includes the first identity information of the first terminal and the second identity information of the second terminal, wherein the PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is different from the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal. The identity information may be, for example, an application layer identifier. The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) may send a third message to the first UDM, wherein the third message includes the first application layer identifier. The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) may receive a first user permanent identifier (SUPI) corresponding to the first application layer identifier sent by the first UDM in response to the third message. The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) may send a fifth message to the second GMLC. The second GMLC may be, for example, a GMLC corresponding to the second network information. The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) may receive a second user permanent identifier (SUPI) corresponding to the second identity information sent by the second GMLC. The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) may send response information for the second message to the LMF, wherein the response information includes user identifier information corresponding to at least one identity information. The LMF may obtain a list of SUPIs corresponding to all application layer identifiers.

[0372] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the first identity information of the first terminal included in the first message sent from the AMF to the LMF may be, for example, a first application layer identifier. The location information includes the first identity information of the first terminal and the second identity information of the second terminal, wherein the PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is different from the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal. The identity information may be, for example, an application layer identifier. The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) may send a third message to the first UDM, wherein the third message includes the first application layer identifier. The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) may receive a first GSPI corresponding to the first application layer identifier sent by the first UDM in response to the third message. The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) may send a fifth message to the second GMLC. The second GMLC may be, for example, a GMLC corresponding to the second network information. The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) may receive a second GSPI corresponding to the second identity information sent by the second GMLC. The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) may send response information for the second message to the LMF, wherein the response information includes user identifier information corresponding to at least one identity information. The LMF may obtain a list of GSPIs corresponding to all application layer identifiers.

[0373] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, sending a fifth message to the second GMLC includes:

[0374] Determine the second network information;

[0375] Send the fifth message to the second GMLC with the second network information.

[0376] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) can determine the second network information and send a fifth message to the second GMLC with the second network information.

[0377] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, determining the second network information includes at least one of the following:

[0378] Obtain the second network information through the configured GMLC address mapping table;

[0379] Send the sixth message to the NRF and receive the second network information sent by the NRF in response to the sixth message.

[0380] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the sixth message may be, for example, an address query request. The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) can send the sixth message to the NRF and receive second network information sent by the NRF in response to the sixth message.

[0381] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) can obtain the second network information through a configured GMLC address mapping table.

[0382] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the positioning technology solution further includes the following method, which is executed by a second gateway mobile location center (GMLC), comprising:

[0383] Receive the seventh message sent by the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC); send the second user identification information corresponding to the second identity information to the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) in response to the seventh message.

[0384] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the seventh message may be, for example, the fourth message or the fifth message.

[0385] The second user identification information includes at least one of the following:

[0386] Second user permanent identifier SUPI;

[0387] The Second General Public User Identifier (GSPI)

[0388] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the second gateway mobile location center (GMLC) receives a fourth message sent by the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC); and sends second user identification information corresponding to the second identity information to the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) in response to the fourth message.

[0389] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the second gateway mobile location center (GMLC) receives a fourth message sent by the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC); and sends a second SUPI corresponding to the second identity information to the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) in response to the fourth message.

[0390] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the second gateway mobile location center (GMLC) receives a fourth message sent by the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC); and sends a second GSPI corresponding to the second identity information to the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) in response to the fourth message.

[0391] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the second gateway mobile location center (GMLC) receives a fifth message sent by the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC); and sends second user identification information corresponding to the second identity information to the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) in response to the fifth message.

[0392] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the second gateway mobile location center (GMLC) receives a fifth message sent by the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC); and sends a second SUPI corresponding to the second identity information to the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) in response to the fifth message.

[0393] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the second gateway mobile location center (GMLC) receives a fifth message sent by the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC); and sends a second GSPI corresponding to the second identity information to the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) in response to the fifth message.

[0394] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the second gateway mobile location center (GMLC) can send an eighth message to the second unified data management function (UDM), wherein the eighth message includes second identity information; the second gateway mobile location center (GMLC) can receive second user identification information corresponding to the second identity information sent by the second UDM in response to the eighth message.

[0395] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the eighth message may be, for example, a message sent from the second GMLC to the second UDM. This eighth message may be, for example, a message used to obtain a second SUPI or a second GSPI.

[0396] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the positioning technology solution further includes the following method, which is executed by a first unified data management function (UDM), including:

[0397] Receive a third message sent by the first gateway mobile location center GMLC, wherein the third message includes at least one of the first identity information of the first terminal and the second identity information of the second terminal;

[0398] Send the user identification information corresponding to the third message to the first GMLC, wherein the user identification information includes the user identification information corresponding to the identity information included in the third message.

[0399] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the user identification information includes at least one of the following:

[0400] User permanent identifier SUPI;

[0401] General Public User Identifier (GSPI)

[0402] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the first unified data management function (UDM) can receive a third message sent by the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC), wherein the third message includes at least one of first identity information of the first terminal and second identity information of the second terminal, and the PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is the same as the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal; the first unified data management function (UDM) can send user identification information corresponding to the identity information included in the third message to the first GMLC. The number of times the third message is sent can be, for example, the same as the number of identity information items.

[0403] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the first unified data management function UDM can send a SUPI corresponding to the identity information included in the third message to the first GMLC.

[0404] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the first unified data management function UDM can send a GSPI corresponding to the identity information included in the third message to the first GMLC.

[0405] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the first unified data management function UDM can receive a third message sent by the first gateway mobile location center GMLC, wherein the third message includes the first identity information of the first terminal; the first unified data management function UDM can send the first user permanent identifier SUPI corresponding to the first identity information to the first GMLC.

[0406] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the first unified data management function UDM can receive a third message sent by the first gateway mobile location center GMLC, wherein the third message includes the first identity information of the first terminal; the first unified data management function UDM can send the first GSPI corresponding to the first identity information to the first GMLC.

[0407] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the first unified data management function UDM can receive a third message sent by the first gateway mobile location center GMLC, wherein the third message includes the second identity information of the second terminal, and the PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is the same as the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal; the first unified data management function UDM can send the second user permanent identifier SUPI corresponding to the second identity information to the first GMLC.

[0408] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the first unified data management function UDM can receive a third message sent by the first gateway mobile location center GMLC, wherein the third message includes the second identity information of the second terminal, and the PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is the same as the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal; the first unified data management function UDM can send a second GSPI corresponding to the second identity information to the first GMLC.

[0409] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the second unified data management function UDM can receive an eighth message sent by the second gateway mobile location center GMLC, wherein the eighth message includes the second identity information of the second terminal, and the PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is different from the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal; the second unified data management function UDM can send the second user identification information corresponding to the second identity information to the second GMLC.

[0410] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the second unified data management function UDM can send a second SUPI corresponding to the second identity information to the second GMLC.

[0411] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the second unified data management function UDM can send a second GSPI corresponding to the second identity information to the second GMLC.

[0412] In step S2108, the LMF receives response information sent by the first GMLC in response to the second message, wherein the response information includes user identification information corresponding to the location information;

[0413] In one embodiment of this disclosure, when the first GMLC determines the user identification information corresponding to the location information, the first GMLC may send response information to the LMF, wherein the response information includes the user identification information corresponding to the location information.

[0414] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the user identification information includes at least one of the following:

[0415] User permanent identifier SUPI;

[0416] General Public User Identifier (GSPI)

[0417] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the method further includes:

[0418] Store the correspondence between location information and user identification information.

[0419] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the location information includes first identity information of a first terminal and second identity information of a second terminal. Specifically, for example, the LMF may store a correspondence between at least one identity information and user identification information. For example, the AMF may associate and store identity information and the user permanent identifier SUPI based on the user permanent identifier SUPI. For example, the AMF may associate and store identity information and the GSPI based on the GSPI.

[0420] Step S2109: The LMF determines the location result corresponding to the first message based on the user identification information;

[0421] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the positioning result may include at least one of a ranging result and an SL positioning result. The at least one of the ranging result and the SL positioning result refers to the result corresponding to the first message.

[0422] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the first message may be a ranging service request, and the LMF determines the ranging result corresponding to the first message based on the user identification information.

[0423] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the first message may be, for example, a ranging service request, and the LMF determines the ranging result corresponding to the first message based on the SUPI list.

[0424] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the first message may be, for example, a ranging service request, and the LMF determines the ranging result corresponding to the first message based on the GSPI list.

[0425] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the first message may be an SL location service request, and the LMF determines the SL location result corresponding to the first message based on the user identification information.

[0426] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the first message may be, for example, an SL location service request, and the LMF determines the SL location result corresponding to the first message based on the SUPI list.

[0427] For example, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the first message may be, for example, an SL location service request, and the LMF determines the SL location result corresponding to the first message based on the GSPI list.

[0428] Step S2110: The LMF sends the location result to the AMF;

[0429] Step S2111: AMF receives the positioning result sent by LMF in response to the first message;

[0430] In step S2112, the AMF sends the tenth message to the terminal, wherein the tenth message includes the location result;

[0431] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the tenth message may be, for example, a downlink network attached storage transmission (DL NAS TRANSPORT) message.

[0432] In some embodiments, the terms “downlink control information (DCI),” “downlink (DL) assignment,” “DL DCI,” “uplink (UL) grant,” and “UL DCI” can be used interchangeably.

[0433] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the AMF sending the tenth message to the terminal may be, for example, via an access network device. The access network device may be, for example, a RAN.

[0434] In step S2113, the first terminal receives the tenth message sent by the AMF in response to the ninth message, wherein the tenth message includes the location result.

[0435] The positioning method involved in the embodiments of this disclosure may include at least one of steps S2101 to S2113. For example, step S2101 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S2103 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, steps S5101 and S5113 may be implemented as independent embodiments, and steps S2102, S2111 and S2112 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0436] In some embodiments, steps S2103 to S2113 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0437] In some embodiments, see Figure 2 Other optional implementation methods described before or after the corresponding instruction manual.

[0438] Figure 3A This is a flowchart illustrating a positioning method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 3A As shown, this disclosure relates to a positioning method, executed by a first terminal, the method comprising:

[0439] Step S3101: Send a ninth message to AMF, wherein the ninth message includes location information, which is used to determine the user identification information used when performing location;

[0440] Step S3102: Receive the tenth message sent by AMF regarding the location information, wherein the tenth message includes the location result.

[0441] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the positioning result includes at least one of ranging result and SL positioning result. This positioning result corresponds to the positioning information in the ninth message.

[0442] The following steps may also be included before step S3101:

[0443] Step S3103: Receive the second identity information and the second network information sent by the second terminal;

[0444] Step S3104: The first terminal establishes a PC5 link with the second terminal and stores the second identity information and the second network information of the second terminal.

[0445] Optional implementations of steps S3101 to S3104 can be found in [reference]. Figure 2 Optional implementation methods of steps S2101 and S2113, and Figure 2 Other related parts in the embodiments involved will not be described in detail here.

[0446] The positioning method involved in the embodiments of this disclosure may include at least one of steps S3101 to S3104. For example, step S3101 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, steps S3101 to S3102 may be implemented as independent embodiments, and step S3103 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, but is not limited thereto.

[0447] In some embodiments, steps S3101 and 3104 may be performed in an alternate order or simultaneously, and steps S3102 and 3104 may be performed in an alternate order or simultaneously.

[0448] In some embodiments, steps S3102 to S3104 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0449] In some embodiments, see Figure 3A Other optional implementation methods described before or after the corresponding instruction manual.

[0450] Figure 4A This is a flowchart illustrating a positioning method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 4A As shown, this disclosure relates to a positioning method performed by the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), the method comprising:

[0451] Step S4101: Send a first message to the location management function LMF, wherein the first message includes location information, which is used to determine the user identification information used when performing location;

[0452] Step S4102: Receive the positioning result sent by LMF in response to the positioning information;

[0453] Step S4103: Send the tenth message to the terminal, wherein the tenth message includes the location result.

[0454] The steps prior to step S4101 may include, for example, the following steps:

[0455] Step S4104: Receive the ninth message sent by the first terminal, wherein the ninth message includes location information.

[0456] Step S4105: Determine LMF based on the ninth message.

[0457] Optional implementations of steps S4101 to S4105 can be found in [reference]. Figure 2 Optional implementation methods of steps S2102, S2111, and S2112, and Figure 2 Other related parts in the embodiments involved will not be described in detail here.

[0458] The positioning method involved in the embodiments of this disclosure may include at least one of steps S4101 to S4105. For example, step S4101 may be implemented as a standalone embodiment, steps S4101 to S4103 may be implemented as standalone embodiments, and step S4104 may be implemented as a standalone embodiment, but is not limited thereto.

[0459] In some embodiments, steps S4102 to S4105 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0460] In some embodiments, see Figure 4A Other optional implementation methods described before or after the corresponding instruction manual.

[0461] Figure 5A This is a flowchart illustrating a positioning method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 5A As shown, this disclosure relates to a positioning method, executed by a positioning management function (LMF), the method comprising:

[0462] Step S5101: Receive a first message sent by the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), wherein the first message includes location information;

[0463] Step S5102: Send a second message to the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC), wherein the second message includes location information;

[0464] Step S5103: Receive response information sent by the first GMLC in response to the second message, wherein the response information includes user identification information corresponding to the location information;

[0465] Step S5104: Determine the location result corresponding to the first message based on the user identification information;

[0466] Step S5105: Send the location result to AMF.

[0467] Step S5103 may be followed by, for example, the following steps:

[0468] Step S5106: Store the correspondence between location information and user identification information.

[0469] Optional implementations of steps S5101 to S5106 can be found in [reference needed]. Figure 2 Optional implementation methods for steps S2104, S2105, S2108, S2109, and S2110, and Figure 2 Other related parts in the embodiments involved will not be described in detail here.

[0470] Steps S5106 and S5104 can be performed simultaneously or interchangeably.

[0471] The positioning method involved in the embodiments of this disclosure may include at least one of steps S5101 to S5106. For example, step S5101 may be implemented as a standalone embodiment, steps S5101 to S5102 may be implemented as standalone embodiments, and step S5106 may be implemented as a standalone embodiment, but is not limited thereto.

[0472] In some embodiments, steps S5102 to S5106 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0473] In some embodiments, see Figure 5A Other optional implementation methods described before or after the corresponding instruction manual.

[0474] Figure 6A This is a flowchart illustrating a positioning method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 6AAs shown, this disclosure relates to a positioning method, in which the method is executed by a first gateway mobile location center (GMLC), including:

[0475] Step S6101: Receive a second message sent by the location management function (LMF), wherein the second message includes location information;

[0476] Step S6102: Send response information for the second message to LMF, wherein the response information includes user identification information corresponding to the location information.

[0477] After step S6102, the following steps may also be included:

[0478] Step S6103: Store the correspondence between location information and user identification information.

[0479] Step S6102 may include further operational procedures, for example, the following steps:

[0480] Step S6104: Send a third message to the first unified data management function UDM, wherein the PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is the same as the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal, and the sixth message includes at least one of the first identity information and the second identity information.

[0481] Step S6105: Receive user identification information sent by the first UDM for the third message. The user identification information includes first user identification information corresponding to the first identity information and second user identification information corresponding to the second identity information.

[0482] Step S6102 may include further operational procedures, for example, the following steps:

[0483] Step S6106: Send a fourth message to the second GMLC corresponding to the second network information, wherein the PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is different from the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal;

[0484] Step S6107: Receive the second user identifier information corresponding to the second identity information sent by the second GMLC in response to the fourth message.

[0485] Step S6102 may include further operational procedures, for example, the following steps:

[0486] Step S6108: Send the fifth message to the second GMLC, wherein the PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is different from the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal;

[0487] Step S6109: Receive the second user identifier information corresponding to the second identity information sent by the second GMLC.

[0488] Step S6108 may include further operational procedures, for example, the following steps:

[0489] Step S6110: Determine the second network information;

[0490] Step S6111: Send the fifth message to the second GMLC with the second network information.

[0491] Optional implementations of steps S6101 to S6111 can be found in [reference]. Figure 2 Optional implementation methods for steps S2106 and S2107, and Figure 2 Other related parts in the embodiments involved will not be described in detail here.

[0492] The positioning method involved in the embodiments of this disclosure may include at least one of steps S6101 to S6111. For example, step S6101 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, steps S6101 to S6102 may be implemented as independent embodiments, and step S6103 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, but is not limited thereto.

[0493] In some embodiments, steps S6104 to S6106 and steps S6107 to S6109 may be performed in an alternate order or simultaneously, and steps S6102 and S6103 may be performed in an alternate order or simultaneously.

[0494] In some embodiments, steps S6102 to S6111 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0495] In some embodiments, see Figure 6A Other optional implementation methods described before or after the corresponding instruction manual.

[0496] Figure 7A This is a flowchart illustrating a positioning method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 7A As shown, this disclosure relates to a positioning method, in which the first unified data management function (UDM) performs the above method, including:

[0497] Step S7101: Receive a third message sent by the first gateway mobile location center GMLC, wherein the third message includes at least one of the first identity information of the first terminal and the second identity information of the second terminal;

[0498] Step S7102: Send the user identification information corresponding to the third message to the first GMLC, wherein the user identification information includes the user identification information corresponding to the identity information included in the third message.

[0499] For optional implementations of step S7101, please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 2 Optional implementation methods of step S2107, and Figure 2 Other related parts in the embodiments involved will not be described in detail here.

[0500] Figure 8A This is a flowchart illustrating a positioning method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 8A As shown, this disclosure relates to a positioning method, executed by a second gateway mobile location center (GMLC). The method includes:

[0501] Step S8101: Receive the seventh message sent by the first gateway mobile location center GMLC;

[0502] Step S8102: Send the second user identification information corresponding to the second identity information to the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) for the seventh message.

[0503] Optional implementations of steps S8101 to S8102 can be found in [reference]. Figure 2 Optional implementation methods of step S2107, and Figure 2 Other related parts in the embodiments involved will not be described in detail here.

[0504] Figure 9A This is an example schematic diagram of a positioning system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 9A As shown, the system includes:

[0505] LMF is used to receive the first message sent by AMF, which includes location information;

[0506] LMF is also used to send a second message to the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC), wherein the second message includes location information;

[0507] The first GMLC is used to receive the second message sent by the LMF, wherein the second message includes location information;

[0508] The first GMLC is also used to send response information to the LMF in response to the second message, wherein the response information includes user identification information corresponding to the location information;

[0509] LMF is also used to receive response information sent by the first GMLC in response to the second message, wherein the response information includes user identification information corresponding to the location information;

[0510] LMF is also used to determine the location result corresponding to the first message based on the user identification information;

[0511] LMF is also used to send location results to AMF.

[0512] For the optional implementation methods of the positioning system, please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 2 Optional implementation methods of steps S2103 to S2111, and Figure 2 Other related parts in the embodiments involved will not be described in detail here.

[0513] Figure 10A This is an interactive schematic diagram illustrating a positioning method according to an embodiment of this disclosure. For example... Figure 10A As shown, the embodiments of this disclosure relate to a positioning method, which includes:

[0514] In ranging services, User Equipment (UE) 1 can be the target UE, and UE2 to UEn can be the reference UE. In sidelink (SL) positioning services, UE1 and UE2 to UEn can be the positioning UE / target UE.

[0515] In step S10101, UE1 and UE2 can perform ranging / SL location discovery and establish a PC5 link for ranging / SL location. Application layer ID1 (UE1), application layer ID2 (UE2), and application layer IDn (UEn) are used for ranging / SL location discovery between UE1 and UE2. After the ranging / SL location discovery process and the link establishment process, UE1 can store application layer ID2 to application layer IDn.

[0516] In step S10102, UE1 can send an uplink network-attached storage transport (UL NAS TRANSPORT) message to its Serving Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) (i.e., AMF1). This message includes its own identity (in the form of a Subscription Concealed Identifier (SUCI) / Subscription Permanent Identifier (SUPI) or Application Layer ID1), UE2's identity (in the form of Application Layer ID2), and UEn's identity (in the form of Application Layer IDn), as well as other ranging / SL positioning related parameters. If UE2 can provide its (H) GMLC address / HPLMN ID / routing indicator to UE1 after the PC5 link is established, then UE1 can also include the (H) Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) GMLC address / Home Public Land Mobile Network Identifier (HPLMN ID) / RoutingIndicator of each UE (UE1, UE2, ... UEn) in the UL NAS TRANSPORT message.

[0517] In step S10103, according to the message, AMF1 can select a Location Management Function (LMF) that supports ranging / SL positioning services.

[0518] In step S10104, AMF1 may send a Location Management Function Interface (Nlmf_Location_Determine Location) request to LMF1. If the (H)GMLC address / HPLMNID / routing indicator for each UE was provided in step S10102, AMF1 includes it in the Nmf_Location_DetermineLocation request.

[0519] Note: Alternatively, AMF1 can provide the GMLC address of each UE to LMF1 using a mapping table of configured UE identifiers (e.g., Mobile Subscriber International ISDN / PSTN number, MSISDN and GMLC address) or an NRF query.

[0520] In step S10105, to map the application layer ID to SUPI, LMF1 can send a mapping request to GMLC1, which includes application layer ID1, application layer ID2, and application layer IDn. If the (H)GMLC address / HPLMN ID / routing indicator was provided in step S10104, LMF1 includes it in the mapping request.

[0521] In step S10106, GMLC1 can call the Unified Data Management (UDM) function interface Nudm_Subscription Data Management (SDM)_Get service operation to retrieve the SUPI corresponding to the provided application layer ID.

[0522] In step S10107, if the (H)GMLC address / HPLMN ID / routing indicator of another UE was provided in step S10105, and the indicated (H)GMLC (e.g., GMLC2) is different from GMLC1, then GMLC1 can send a mapping request to GMLC2.

[0523] If no other UE's (H)GMLC address / HPLMN ID / routing indicator is provided in step S10105, and the PLMN to which UE2 belongs is different from the PLMN to which UE1 belongs, then GMLC1 can determine the address of GMLC2 based on a Network Repository Function (NRF) query or configuration. Then, GMLC1 sends a mapping request to GMLC2.

[0524] If all UEs belong to the same PLMN and can be managed by the same GMLC (i.e., GMLC1), steps S10107-S10109 can be skipped.

[0525] In step S10108, GMLC2 can call the Nudm_SDM_Get service operation to UDM2 to retrieve the SUPI2 corresponding to the provided application layer ID2.

[0526] In step S10109, GMLC2 can return a mapping response including SUPI2 to GMLC1.

[0527] In step S10110, GMLC1 returns a mapping response to LMF1, including SUPI1, SUPI2 and SUPIn.

[0528] In step S10111, LMF can trigger the SL positioning process to locate the measurement between UE / UE1 and UE2 and UEn.

[0529] Step S10112, after the ranging / SL positioning procedure, LMF can return the ranging / SL position result.

[0530] In step S10113, the AMF can send a downlink network auxiliary storage transport (DL NAS TRANSPORT) message to UE1.

[0531] In the embodiments disclosed herein, some or all of the steps and their optional implementations may be arbitrarily combined with some or all of the steps in other embodiments, or may be arbitrarily combined with the optional implementations in other embodiments.

[0532] This disclosure also provides an apparatus for implementing any of the above methods. For example, an apparatus is provided that includes units or modules for implementing the steps performed by the terminal in any of the above methods. Alternatively, another apparatus is provided that includes units or modules for implementing the steps performed by a network device (e.g., an access network device, a core network functional node, a core network device, etc.) in any of the above methods.

[0533] It should be understood that the division of units or modules in the above device is only a logical functional division. In actual implementation, they can be fully or partially integrated into a single physical entity, or they can be physically separated. Furthermore, the units or modules in the device can be implemented by a processor calling software: for example, the device includes a processor connected to a memory containing instructions. The processor calls the instructions stored in the memory to implement any of the above methods or to implement the functions of the units or modules in the above device. The processor can be, for example, a general-purpose processor, such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU) or a microprocessor, and the memory can be internal or external to the device. Alternatively, the units or modules in the device can be implemented in the form of hardware circuits. The functionality of some or all of the units or modules can be achieved through the design of these hardware circuits, which can be understood as one or more processors. For example, in one implementation, the hardware circuit is an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and the functionality of some or all of the units or modules is achieved through the design of the logical relationships between the components within the circuit. In another implementation, the hardware circuit can be implemented using a programmable logic device (PLD), such as a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), which can include a large number of logic gates. The connection relationships between the logic gates are configured through configuration files, thereby achieving the functionality of some or all of the units or modules. All units or modules of the above device can be implemented entirely through processor-called software, entirely through hardware circuits, or partially through processor-called software with the remaining parts implemented through hardware circuits.

[0534] In this embodiment, the processor is a circuit with signal processing capabilities. In one implementation, the processor can be a circuit with instruction read and execute capabilities, such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a graphics processing unit (GPU) (which can be understood as a microprocessor), or a digital signal processor (DSP). In another implementation, the processor can implement certain functions through the logical relationships of hardware circuits. The logical relationships of the aforementioned hardware circuits are fixed or reconfigurable. For example, the processor is a hardware circuit implemented using an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a programmable logic device (PLD), such as an FPGA. In a reconfigurable hardware circuit, the process of the processor loading a configuration document and configuring the hardware circuit can be understood as the process of the processor loading instructions to implement the functions of some or all of the above units or modules. Furthermore, it can also be a hardware circuit designed for artificial intelligence, which can be understood as an ASIC, such as a Neural Network Processing Unit (NPU), a Tensor Processing Unit (TPU), or a Deep Learning Processing Unit (DPU).

[0535] Figure 11A This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the LMF proposed in the embodiments of this disclosure. Figure 11A As shown, the LMF11100 may include a transceiver module 11101 and a processing module 11102. In some embodiments, the transceiver module is configured to receive a first message sent by the AMF, wherein the first message includes location information; the transceiver module is further configured to send a second message to a first gateway mobile location center (GMLC), wherein the second message includes location information; the transceiver module is further configured to receive response information sent by the first GMLC in response to the second message, wherein the response information includes user identification information corresponding to the location information; the processing module is configured to determine a location result corresponding to the first message based on the user identification information; the transceiver module is further configured to send the location result to the AMF. Optionally, the processing module 11102 is configured to perform at least one of the communication steps (such as steps S3101 and S3102, but not limited thereto) performed by the terminal 101 in any of the above methods, which will not be described in detail here.

[0536] Figure 11BThis is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure. Figure 11B As shown, the first gateway mobile location center GMLC11200 may include a transceiver module 11201. In some embodiments, the transceiver module is configured to receive a second message sent by the LMF, wherein the second message includes location information; the transceiver module is further configured to send response information to the second message to the LMF, wherein the response information includes user identification information corresponding to the location information.

[0537] Figure 11C This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second gateway mobile location center (GMLC) proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure. Figure 11C As shown, the second gateway mobile location center GMLC 11300 may include a transceiver module 11301. In some embodiments, the transceiver module is configured to receive a seventh message sent by the first gateway mobile location center GMLC; the transceiver module is also configured to send second user identification information corresponding to the second application layer identifier ID in response to the seventh message.

[0538] In some embodiments, the transceiver module may include a transmitting module and / or a receiving module, which may be separate or integrated. Optionally, the transceiver module may be interchangeable with a transceiver.

[0539] In some embodiments, the processing module may be a single module or may include multiple sub-modules. Optionally, the multiple sub-modules may each perform all or part of the steps required by the processing module. Optionally, the processing module may be interchangeable with a processor.

[0540] Figure 12A This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the communication device 12100 proposed in this embodiment. The communication device 12100 can be a network device (e.g., access network device, core network device, etc.), a terminal (e.g., user equipment, etc.), a chip, chip system, or processor that supports the network device in implementing any of the above methods, or a chip, chip system, or processor that supports the terminal in implementing any of the above methods. The communication device 12100 can be used to implement the methods described in the above method embodiments; for details, please refer to the descriptions in the above method embodiments.

[0541] like Figure 12AAs shown, the communication device 12100 includes one or more processors 12101. The processor 12101 can be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, such as a baseband processor or a central processing unit (CPU). The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, while the CPU can be used to control communication devices (e.g., base stations, baseband chips, terminal devices, terminal device chips, DUs or CUs, etc.), execute programs, and process program data. The communication device 12100 is used to execute any of the above methods.

[0542] In some embodiments, the communication device 12100 further includes one or more memories 12102 for storing instructions. Optionally, all or part of the memories 12102 may also be located outside the communication device 12100.

[0543] In some embodiments, the communication device 12100 further includes one or more transceivers 12103. When the communication device 12100 includes one or more transceivers 12103, the transceivers 12103 perform at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above method (e.g., steps S2101, S2102, S2103, S2104, S2105, S2106, S2107, S2108, S2110, S2111, S2112, S2113, but not limited thereto), and the processor 12101 performs at least one of other steps (e.g., step S2109, but not limited thereto).

[0544] In some embodiments, a transceiver may include a receiver and / or a transmitter, which may be separate or integrated. Optionally, the terms transceiver, transceiver unit, transceiver, transceiver circuit, etc., may be used interchangeably; the terms transmitter, transmitting unit, transmitter, transmitting circuit, etc., may be used interchangeably; and the terms receiver, receiving unit, receiver, receiving circuit, etc., may be used interchangeably.

[0545] In some embodiments, the communication device 12100 may include one or more interface circuits 12104. Optionally, the interface circuit 12104 is connected to the memory 12102, and the interface circuit 12104 can be used to receive signals from the memory 12102 or other devices, and can be used to send signals to the memory 12102 or other devices. For example, the interface circuit 12104 can read instructions stored in the memory 12102 and send the instructions to the processor 12101.

[0546] The communication device 12100 described in the above embodiments may be a network device or a terminal, but the scope of the communication device 12100 described in this disclosure is not limited thereto, and the structure of the communication device 12100 may vary. Figure 12AThe limitations. The communication device can be a standalone device or part of a larger device. For example, the communication device can be: (1) a standalone integrated circuit IC, or chip, or chip system or subsystem; (2) a collection of one or more ICs, optionally including storage components for storing data and programs; (3) an ASIC, such as a modem; (4) a module that can be embedded in other devices; (5) a receiver, terminal device, smart terminal device, cellular phone, wireless device, handheld device, mobile unit, vehicle device, network device, cloud device, artificial intelligence device, etc.; (6) others, etc.

[0547] Figure 12B This is a schematic diagram of the structure of chip 12200 according to an embodiment of this disclosure. For cases where the communication device 12100 can be a chip or a chip system, please refer to... Figure 12B The diagram shown is a schematic representation of the structure of chip 12200, but it is not limited to this.

[0548] Chip 12200 includes one or more processors 12201, which are used to perform any of the above methods.

[0549] In some embodiments, chip 12200 further includes one or more interface circuits 12202. Optionally, interface circuit 12202 is connected to memory 12203, and interface circuit 12202 can be used to receive signals from memory 12203 or other devices, and interface circuit 12202 can be used to send signals to memory 12203 or other devices. For example, interface circuit 12202 can read instructions stored in memory 12203 and send the instructions to processor 12201.

[0550] In some embodiments, the interface circuit 12202 performs at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above method (e.g., steps S2101, S2102, S2103, S2104, S2105, S2106, S2107, S2108, S2110, S2111, S2112, S2113, but not limited thereto), and the processor 12201 performs at least one of other steps (e.g., steps S3104, S2109, but not limited thereto).

[0551] In some embodiments, the terms interface circuit, interface, transceiver pin, transceiver, etc., can be used interchangeably.

[0552] In some embodiments, chip 12200 further includes one or more memories 12203 for storing instructions. Optionally, all or part of the memories 12203 may be located outside of chip 12200.

[0553] This disclosure also proposes a storage medium storing instructions that, when executed on the communication device 12100, cause the communication device 12100 to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, the storage medium is an electronic storage medium. Optionally, the storage medium is a computer-readable storage medium, but not limited thereto; it may also be a storage medium readable by other devices. Optionally, the storage medium may be a non-transitory storage medium, but not limited thereto; it may also be a temporary storage medium.

[0554] This disclosure also provides a program product that, when executed by the communication device 12100, causes the communication device 12100 to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, the program product is a computer program product.

[0555] This disclosure also proposes a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform any of the above methods.

Claims

1. A positioning method, characterized in that, The method is executed by the Location Management Function (LMF), and the method includes: The system receives a first message sent by the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), wherein the first message includes location information, the location information including network information, and the network information including at least one of the following: Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) address; Local Public Land Mobile Network (HPLMN) ID; and route indicator. Send a second message to the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) corresponding to the network information, wherein the second message includes the location information, and the location information further includes at least one of the following: first identity information of the first terminal; second identity information of the second terminal; The system receives response information sent by the first GMLC in response to the second message. The response information includes user identification information corresponding to the location information. The user identification information includes second user identification information corresponding to the second identity information. The second user identification information is received by the first gateway mobile location center GMLC from the second GMLC. The second GMLC corresponds to the second network information corresponding to the second terminal. The PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is different from the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal. Based on the user identification information, determine the location result corresponding to the first message; The location result is sent to the AMF.

2. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, in, The first identity information includes at least one of the following: The user-hidden identifier SUCI of the first terminal; The user permanent identifier SUPI of the first terminal; The first application layer identifier ID of the first terminal.

3. The method as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, in, The location information also includes at least one of the following: The first network information corresponding to the first terminal; The second network information corresponding to the second terminal.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that, in, The user identification information includes at least one of the following: User permanent identifier SUPI; General public user identifier.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that, The method further includes: Store the correspondence between the location information and the user identification information.

6. A positioning method, characterized in that, The method is executed by the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC), and the method includes: The system receives a second message sent by the Location Management Function (LMF), wherein the second message includes location information, the location information including network information, and the network information including at least one of the following: Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) address; Local Public Land Mobile Network Identifier (HPLMN ID); routing indicator; and the location information includes at least one of the following: first identity information of a first terminal; and second identity information of a second terminal. Send response information for the second message to the LMF, wherein the response information includes user identification information corresponding to the location information; Send a fourth message to the second GMLC corresponding to the second network information corresponding to the second terminal, wherein the PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is different from the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal; Receive the second user identifier information corresponding to the second identity information sent by the second GMLC in response to the fourth message.

7. The method as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The location information also includes: The first network information corresponding to the first terminal; The second network information corresponding to the second terminal.

8. The method as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send a third message to the first unified data management function UDM, wherein the PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is the same as the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal, and the third message includes at least one of the first identity information and the second identity information; The user identification information sent by the first UDM in response to the third message is received, wherein the user identification information includes first user identification information corresponding to the first identity information and second user identification information corresponding to the second identity information.

9. The method as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send a fifth message to the second GMLC, wherein the PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is different from the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal; Receive the second user identifier information corresponding to the second identity information sent by the second GMLC.

10. The method as described in claim 9, characterized in that, Sending the fifth message to the second GMLC includes: Determine the second network information; Send a fifth message to the second GMLC that is connected to the second network information.

11. The method as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The determination of the second network information includes at least one of the following: The second network information is obtained through the configured GMLC address mapping table; Send a sixth message to the NRF and receive the second network information sent by the NRF in response to the sixth message.

12. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that, in, The user identification information includes at least one of the following: User permanent identifier SUPI; General public user identifier.

13. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that, The method further includes: Store the correspondence between the location information and the user identification information.

14. A positioning method, characterized in that, The method is executed by the second gateway mobile location center (GMLC), and the method includes: The system receives a fourth message from the first Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC), wherein the fourth message is sent by the first Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) to the second Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) after receiving a second message from the Location Management Function (LMF). The second message includes location information, which includes second identity information. The second Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) corresponds to the second network information corresponding to the second terminal, and the first Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) corresponds to the first network information corresponding to the first terminal. The network information includes at least one of the following: Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) address; Local Public Land Mobile Network Identifier (HPLMN ID); and routing indicator. In response to the fourth message, the second user identification information corresponding to the second identity information is sent to the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC).

15. The method as described in claim 14, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send an eighth message to the second unified data management function UDM, wherein the eighth message includes the second identity information; Receive the second user identifier information corresponding to the second identity information sent by the second UDM in response to the eighth message.

16. A location management function (LMF), characterized in that, The LMF includes: The transceiver module is used to receive a first message sent by the AMF, wherein the first message includes location information, the location information includes network information, and the network information includes at least one of the following: Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) address; Local Public Land Mobile Network Identifier (HPLMN ID); and routing indicator; the location information includes at least one of the following: first identity information of a first terminal; and second identity information of a second terminal. The transceiver module is further configured to send a second message to the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) corresponding to the network information, wherein the second message includes location information; The transceiver module is further configured to receive response information sent by the first GMLC in response to the second message, wherein the response information includes user identification information corresponding to the location information, the user identification information includes second user identification information corresponding to the second identity information, the second user identification information is received by the first gateway mobile location center GMLC from the second GMLC, the second GMLC corresponds to the second network information corresponding to the second terminal, and the PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is different from the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal; The processing module is used to determine the location result corresponding to the first message based on the user identification information; The transceiver module is also used to send the positioning result to the AMF.

17. A first gateway mobile location center (GMLC), characterized in that, The first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) includes: The transceiver module is used to receive a second message sent by the LMF, wherein the second message includes location information, the location information including network information, and the network information including at least one of the following: Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) address; Local Public Land Mobile Network Identifier (HPLMN ID); routing indicator; the location information includes at least one of the following: first identity information of a first terminal; second identity information of a second terminal; The transceiver module is further configured to send response information for the second message to the LMF, wherein the response information includes user identification information corresponding to the location information; The transceiver module is further configured to send a fourth message to the second GMLC corresponding to the second network information corresponding to the second terminal, wherein the PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is different from the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal; and receive the second user identification information corresponding to the second identity information sent by the second GMLC in response to the fourth message.

18. A second gateway mobile location center (GMLC), characterized in that, The second gateway mobile location center (GMLC) includes: The transceiver module is used to receive a fourth message sent by the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC). The fourth message is sent by the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) to the second gateway mobile location center (GMLC) after receiving a second message from the location management function (LMF). The second message includes location information, which includes second identity information. The second gateway mobile location center (GMLC) corresponds to the second network information corresponding to the second terminal, and the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) corresponds to the first network information corresponding to the first terminal. The network information includes at least one of the following: GMLC address; HPLMN ID; and routing indicator. The transceiver module is further configured to send second user identification information corresponding to the second identity information to the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) in response to the fourth message.

19. A first network element, characterized in that, include: One or more processors; The first network element is used to execute the positioning method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

20. A second network element, characterized in that, include: One or more processors; The second network element is used to perform the positioning method according to any one of claims 6 to 13.

21. A third network element, characterized in that, include: One or more processors; The third network element is used to perform the positioning method according to any one of claims 14 to 15.

22. A communication system, characterized in that, It includes a terminal and a core network device, wherein the core network device is configured to implement the positioning method according to any one of claims 1 to 18.

23. A storage medium storing instructions, characterized in that, When the instruction is executed on the communication device, the communication device performs the positioning method as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, 6 to 13, or 14 to 15.

24. A positioning system, characterized in that, The system includes: LMF is used to receive a first message sent by AMF, wherein the first message includes location information, the location information including network information, and the network information including at least one of the following: Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) address; Local Public Land Mobile Network Identifier (HPLMN) ID; and route indicator. The LMF is further configured to send a second message to the first gateway mobile location center (GMLC) corresponding to the network information, wherein the second message includes the location information; The first GMLC is configured to receive a second message sent by the LMF, wherein the second message includes the location information, and the location information includes at least one of the following: first identity information of the first terminal; and second identity information of the second terminal; The first GMLC is further configured to send response information for the second message to the LMF, wherein the response information includes user identification information corresponding to the location information, the user identification information includes second user identification information corresponding to the second identity information, the second user identification information is received by the first gateway mobile location center GMLC from the second GMLC, the second GMLC corresponds to the second network information corresponding to the second terminal, and the PLMN corresponding to the first terminal is different from the PLMN corresponding to the second terminal; The LMF is further configured to receive response information sent by the first GMLC in response to the second message, wherein the response information includes user identification information corresponding to the location information; The LMF is further configured to determine the location result corresponding to the first message based on the user identification information; The LMF is also used to send the positioning result to the AMF.

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