Communication method and device

Abstract

The invention provides a communication method and device, and relates to the technical field of wireless communication. A first network element receives a first positioning request, wherein the first positioning request comprises identification information of a first terminal belonging to a public land mobile network (PLMN) different from the first network element; and the first network element acquires private data of the first terminal through a second network element of a PLMN to which the first terminal belongs, wherein the private data of the first terminal is used for determining whether the first terminal allows ranging / side chain positioning. The invention provides a scheme for acquiring the privacy data of the terminal and determining whether the terminal allows ranging / side chain positioning or not under the condition that the terminal requesting positioning and the first network element belong to different PLMNs (Public Land Mobile Network).

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the China Patent Office on August 5, 2023, with application number 202310983167.3 and application name “A Communication Method and Device”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of wireless communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and device. Background Art

[0003] Ranging / Sidelink positioning services can be used to obtain the absolute position of a terminal, or the relative position, angle, and / or distance between two terminals. A positioning requesting device can initiate a positioning request, which can carry identification information for a group of terminals, including a target terminal and at least one reference terminal. The position information of the reference terminals can be known. Ranging / sidelink positioning technology can be used to determine the absolute position of the target terminal or the relative position, distance, and / or angle between the target terminal and each reference terminal.

[0004] During ranging / sidelink positioning, the Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) receives a positioning request from a positioning requesting device and performs ranging / sidelink positioning on a group of terminals based on the terminal identification information included in the positioning request. However, if the privacy configuration data of the terminal requesting positioning does not allow positioning or requires user confirmation, the GMLC directly performing ranging / sidelink positioning on the terminal may result in privacy leakage. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present application provides a communication method and apparatus for obtaining privacy data of a terminal and determining whether ranging / sidelink positioning is allowed for the terminal when a group of terminals carried in a positioning request belong to different PLMNs.

[0006] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a first network element or a module (such as a chip) applied to the first network element. Taking the execution of the method by the first network element as an example, the method includes: the first network element receives a first positioning request, the first positioning request includes identification information of a first terminal belonging to a different PLMN than the first network element, and the first positioning request is used to request the result of ranging / sidelink positioning associated with the first terminal; the first network element obtains the privacy data of the first terminal through the second network element of the PLMN to which the first terminal belongs, and the privacy data of the first terminal is used to determine whether the first terminal is allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning. Exemplarily, the first network element can be a GMLC.

[0007] The above method provides a solution for the case where the terminal requesting positioning and the first network element belong to different PLMNs. When the first network element receives the first positioning request and needs to perform ranging / sidechain positioning associated with the first terminal, if the first terminal and the first network element belong to different PLMNs, the first network element can obtain the privacy data of the first terminal through a second network element belonging to the same PLMN as the first terminal. Based on the obtained privacy data of the first terminal, the first network element can determine whether the first terminal allows ranging / sidechain positioning. The first network element can perform ranging / sidechain positioning on the first terminal if the first terminal allows ranging / sidechain positioning; and not perform ranging / sidechain positioning on the first terminal if the first terminal does not allow ranging / sidechain positioning, thereby protecting user privacy.

[0008] In one possible design, the first positioning request also includes identification information of a second terminal belonging to the same PLMN as the first network element, and the first positioning request is used to request the ranging / sidelink positioning results of the first terminal and the second terminal; the first network element obtains the privacy data of the second terminal, and the privacy data of the second terminal is used to determine whether the second terminal is allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning.

[0009] Through the above method, when the first positioning request also includes the identification information of the second terminal belonging to the same PLMN as the first network element, since the first network element and the second terminal belong to the same PLMN, the first network element can obtain the privacy data of the second terminal, and thus, based on the obtained privacy data of the second terminal, the first network element can determine whether the second terminal allows ranging / side chain positioning.

[0010] In one possible design, the first network element determines the PLMN to which the first terminal belongs based on the identification information of the first terminal; or, the first network element determines the PLMN to which the first terminal belongs based on the PLMN identification information corresponding to the first terminal contained in the first positioning request.

[0011] The above method provides a plurality of optional ways for the first network element to determine the PLMN to which the first terminal belongs. The first network element can flexibly determine the PLMN to which the first terminal belongs.

[0012] In one possible design, the first network element sends first indication information to the second network element, where the first indication information is used to indicate the acquisition of privacy data of the first terminal; the first network element receives the privacy data of the first terminal from the second network element.

[0013] The above method provides a specific solution for a first network element to obtain the private data of a first terminal through a second network element. Based on this solution, the private data of the first terminal can be accurately obtained.

[0014] In one possible design, the privacy data of the first terminal includes privacy configuration data of the first terminal.

[0015] In one possible design, the first network element determines whether the first terminal is allowed to perform ranging / side-link positioning according to the following method: if the privacy configuration data of the first terminal indicates that the user needs to be notified, or the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed, the first network element determines that the first terminal is not allowed to perform ranging / side-link positioning.

[0016] Through the above method, when the privacy configuration data of the first terminal indicates that the user needs to be notified, or the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed, the first network element directly determines that the first terminal does not allow ranging / side chain positioning, thereby quickly determining whether the first terminal allows ranging / side chain positioning.

[0017] In one possible design, the first network element determines whether the first terminal is allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning according to the following method: when the privacy configuration data of the first terminal indicates that the user needs to be notified, or the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed, the first network element sends a first privacy verification indication information for the first terminal to the third network element; wherein the first privacy verification indication information is used to indicate positioning notification or confirmation for the first terminal; the first network element receives a privacy verification result from the third network element to determine whether the first terminal is allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning, and the privacy verification result represents the result of positioning notification or confirmation by the first terminal.

[0018] Through the above method, when the privacy configuration data of the first terminal indicates that the user needs to be notified, or the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed, the first network element can notify or confirm the positioning of the first terminal through the third network element, so as to accurately determine whether the first terminal allows ranging / side chain positioning.

[0019] In one possible design, the privacy data of the first terminal includes a privacy verification result of the first terminal, where the privacy verification result represents a result of positioning notification or confirmation performed by the first terminal.

[0020] Through the above method, the first terminal can accurately determine whether the first terminal is allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning according to the privacy verification result of the first terminal.

[0021] In one possible design, the first network element is a GMLC network element.

[0022] Through the above method, since the GMLC network element is the first network element for the positioning request device to access the core network, the terminal can be accurately positioned by ranging / side chain based on the GMLC network element.

[0023] In one possible design, the third network element is an access and mobility management function (AMF) network element, or the third network element is a GMLC network element in the roaming network where the first terminal is located.

[0024] Through the above method, the third network element can be an AMF network element, or when the first terminal is in a roaming scenario, the third network element is a GMLC network element in the roaming network where the first terminal is located, so that the first terminal can be accurately located or confirmed, thereby obtaining the privacy verification result of the first terminal.

[0025] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a second network element or a module (such as a chip) applied to the second network element. Taking the second network element executing the method as an example, the method includes: the second network element receives first indication information from the first network element, and the first indication information is used to indicate the acquisition of privacy data of the first terminal; the first positioning request received by the first network element contains identification information of the first terminal, and the first positioning request is used to request the result of ranging / sidelink positioning associated with the first terminal, and the first terminal and the first network element belong to different PLMNs; the second network element sends the privacy data of the first terminal to the first network element, and the privacy data of the first terminal is used to determine whether the first terminal allows ranging / sidelink positioning.

[0026] Through the above method, a specific scheme is provided for a first network element to obtain the privacy data of a first terminal through a second network element. Based on this scheme, the privacy data of the first terminal can be accurately obtained, so that the first network element can determine whether the first terminal allows ranging / side chain positioning based on the privacy data of the first terminal.

[0027] In one possible design, the first positioning request also includes identification information of a second terminal belonging to the same PLMN as the first network element, and the first positioning request is used to request the ranging / side link positioning results of the first terminal and the second terminal.

[0028] In one possible design, the privacy data of the first terminal includes privacy configuration data of the first terminal.

[0029] In one possible design, the privacy data of the first terminal includes a privacy verification result of the first terminal, where the privacy verification result represents a result of positioning notification or confirmation performed by the first terminal.

[0030] In one possible design, the second network element determines the privacy verification result of the first terminal according to the following method:

[0031] When the privacy configuration data of the first terminal indicates that the user needs to be notified or the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed, the second network element sends second privacy verification indication information for the first terminal to the third network element; wherein the second privacy verification indication information is used to indicate positioning notification or confirmation for the first terminal; the second network element receives the privacy verification result from the third network element.

[0032] Through the above method, the second network element notifies or confirms the positioning of the first terminal through the third network element, obtains the privacy verification result of the first terminal, and thus can accurately determine whether the first terminal allows ranging / side chain positioning.

[0033] In one possible design, the second network element is a GMLC network element in the PLMN to which the first terminal belongs.

[0034] In one possible design, the third network element is an AMF network element, or the third network element is a GMLC network element in the roaming network where the first terminal is located.

[0035] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by an AMF network element or a module (such as a chip) applied to the AMF network element. Taking the AMF network element executing the method as an example, the method includes: the AMF network element receives privacy verification indication information for a first terminal from a positioning network element, and the privacy verification indication information is used to indicate positioning notification or confirmation for the first terminal; the AMF network element skips positioning measurement according to the privacy verification indication information; the AMF network element sends a privacy verification result to the positioning network element, and the privacy verification result represents the result of positioning notification or confirmation performed by the first terminal.

[0036] Through the above method, after receiving the privacy verification indication information of the positioning network element for the first terminal, the AMF network element skips the positioning measurement process and sends the privacy verification result to the positioning network element, so that only the positioning notification or confirmation is performed on the first terminal without performing ranging / side chain positioning, which can reduce unnecessary signaling overhead.

[0037] In one possible design, the positioning network element includes a first network element or a second network element; the first network element is a network element that receives a first positioning request, the first positioning request includes identification information of the first terminal, the first positioning request is used to request the ranging / side chain positioning result associated with the first terminal, and the first network element and the first terminal belong to different PLMNs; the second network element is a network element in the PLMN to which the first terminal belongs.

[0038] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a first network element or a module (such as a chip) applied to the first network element. Taking the first network element executing the method as an example, the method includes: the first network element receives a first positioning request, the first positioning request includes identification information of a first terminal belonging to a different PLMN than the first network element, and the first positioning request is used to request the result of ranging / sidelink positioning associated with the first terminal; the first network element obtains privacy configuration data of the first terminal from a network device, and the privacy configuration data is used to determine whether the first terminal allows ranging / sidelink positioning.

[0039] Through the above method, when the first network element receives a first positioning request and needs to perform ranging / sidelink positioning associated with the first terminal, if the first terminal and the first network element belong to different PLMNs, the first network element can obtain the privacy configuration data of the first terminal from the network device, so that based on the obtained privacy configuration data of the first terminal, the first network element can determine whether the first terminal is allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning. The present application provides a solution for situations where the terminal requesting positioning and the first network element belong to different PLMNs, or where the first network element cannot know the PLMN to which the first terminal belongs, thereby improving system performance.

[0040] In one possible design, the network device is a preconfigured UDM network element or server, or the network device is a UDM network element in the PLMN to which the first network element belongs.

[0041] Through the above method, when the terminal requesting positioning and the first network element belong to different PLMNs, or the first network element cannot know the PLMN to which the first terminal belongs, the first network element can obtain the privacy configuration data of the first terminal from a pre-configured UDM network element or server, or a UDM network element in the PLMN to which the first network element belongs, so as to determine whether the first terminal is allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning based on the obtained privacy configuration data.

[0042] In one possible design, if the privacy configuration data of the first terminal is not obtained, the first network element determines that the first terminal is not allowed to perform ranging / side link positioning.

[0043] Through the above method, when the privacy configuration data of the first terminal is not obtained, it is determined that the first terminal does not allow ranging / side chain positioning, thereby avoiding the problem of user privacy leakage caused by performing ranging / side chain positioning on the first terminal when the first terminal does not allow positioning.

[0044] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a first network element or a module (such as a chip) applied to the first network element. Taking the first network element executing the method as an example, the method includes: the first network element receives a first positioning request, the first positioning request includes identification information of at least two terminals; the first positioning request is used to request the results of ranging / sidechain positioning of the at least two terminals; the first network element generates a second positioning request based on the terminals that are allowed to perform ranging / sidechain positioning among the at least two terminals, and the terminals that are not allowed to perform ranging / sidechain positioning among the at least two terminals, the second positioning request is used to request the results of ranging / sidechain positioning of the terminals that are allowed to perform ranging / sidechain positioning among the at least two terminals.

[0045] Through the above method, after receiving the first positioning request, the first network element generates a second positioning request based on whether at least two terminals allow ranging / sidelink positioning, thereby accurately and specifically performing ranging / sidelink positioning on the terminals. For example, the second positioning request may only include terminals that allow ranging / sidelink positioning, so that ranging / sidelink positioning can be performed only for terminals that allow ranging / sidelink positioning.

[0046] In one possible design, the second positioning request does not include identification information of the terminal among the at least two terminals that is not allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning.

[0047] Through the above method, since it is impossible to locate the terminal that does not allow ranging / sidelink positioning, the identification information of the terminal that does not allow ranging / sidelink positioning among at least two terminals is not included in the second positioning request, which can reduce the amount of data of the identification information carried in the second positioning request and reduce signaling overhead.

[0048] In one possible design, the first network element sends a positioning response message to the positioning requesting device, and the positioning response message includes a positioning failure reason parameter of the terminal among the at least two terminals that is not allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning.

[0049] Through the above method, the first network element reports the positioning failure reason parameter of the terminal that is not allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning to the positioning request device, so that the positioning request device can know the reason for the terminal positioning failure.

[0050] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a first network element or a module (such as a chip) applied to the first network element. Taking the first network element executing the method as an example, the method includes: the first network element sends a second positioning request to the AMF network element, the second positioning request includes identification information of at least two terminals requested to be positioned by the positioning request device, and the second positioning request is used to request the results of ranging / sidechain positioning of the at least two terminals; the first network element sends a positioning response message to the positioning request device, and the positioning response message includes the results of ranging / sidechain positioning of the terminal that is allowed to perform ranging / sidechain positioning among the at least two terminals, and the positioning failure reason parameter of the terminal that is not allowed to perform ranging / sidechain positioning among the at least two terminals.

[0051] Through the above method, after receiving the first positioning request, the first network element generates a second positioning request based on whether at least two terminals allow ranging / sidechain positioning. When the first network element reports a positioning response message to the positioning request device, only the ranging / sidechain positioning results of the terminals that allow ranging / sidechain positioning are reported, thereby avoiding privacy leakage of terminals that do not allow positioning. In addition, the first network element reports the positioning failure reason parameters of the terminals that do not allow ranging / sidechain positioning to the positioning request device, so that the positioning request device can be informed of the reason for the terminal positioning failure.

[0052] In the seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a first network element or a module (such as a chip) applied to the first network element. Taking the first network element executing the method as an example, the method includes: the first network element receives a first positioning request, the first positioning request includes identification information of at least two terminals, and the first positioning request is used to request the ranging / side chain positioning results of the at least two terminals; the first network element sends a fourth privacy verification indication information for a candidate terminal among the at least two terminals to a fourth network element, wherein the fourth privacy verification indication information is used to indicate positioning notification or confirmation for the candidate terminal; wherein the privacy configuration data of the candidate terminal indicates that the user needs to be notified, or the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed; the first network element receives a privacy verification result from the fourth network element, and the privacy verification result represents the result of positioning notification or confirmation performed by the candidate terminal.

[0053] Through the above method, after receiving the first positioning request, the first network element initiates a privacy check on the candidate terminal among the at least two terminals requested for positioning (such as the first network element sending a fourth privacy check indication message to the fourth network element in the above method) to determine whether the terminal requested for positioning by the first positioning request is allowed to be positioned, thereby avoiding privacy leakage caused by direct positioning of the terminal when the privacy configuration of the terminal is not to allow positioning or requires user confirmation whether positioning is allowed; at the same time, when the first positioning request makes positioning requests to multiple terminals, it is determined separately whether each terminal is allowed to be positioned, which can also avoid positioning termination due to a single terminal not allowing positioning.

[0054] In one possible design, the at least two terminals include a second terminal, the second terminal and the first network element belong to the same public land mobile network PLMN, and the first network element obtains the privacy configuration data of the second terminal; the first network element determines, based on the privacy configuration data of the second terminal, the second terminal that the privacy configuration data indicates needs to notify the user or requires the user to confirm whether positioning is allowed as a candidate terminal.

[0055] Through the above method, the first network element initiates a privacy check for the second terminal that the privacy configuration data indicates needs to notify the user or requires the user to confirm whether positioning is allowed. Therefore, for such terminals that need to notify the user or require the user to confirm whether positioning is allowed, it can accurately determine whether positioning is allowed, ensure the normal execution of the positioning process, and avoid user privacy leakage.

[0056] In one possible design, the first network element determines the positioning initiating terminal; wherein the positioning initiating terminal is a terminal that performs the initiated ranging / sidelink positioning service, and the positioning initiating terminal is a terminal among the at least two terminals that is allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning.

[0057] By using the above method, the first network element determines the positioning initiating terminal from the terminals that allow ranging / sidelink positioning, thereby avoiding positioning termination caused by a single terminal of at least two terminals requesting positioning not allowing positioning.

[0058] In one possible design, the first network element determines the terminal among the at least two terminals that is allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning and obtains the address information of the serving AMF network element as the positioning initiating terminal.

[0059] In one possible design, the first network element sends a privacy notification service message for the candidate terminal to the fourth network element, where the privacy notification service message includes identification information of the candidate terminal and the fourth privacy verification indication information.

[0060] Through the above method, the first network element can send the fourth privacy verification indication information to each candidate terminal through a privacy notification service message, thereby accurately determining whether the candidate terminal is allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning.

[0061] In one possible design, the fourth network element is the service access and mobility management function AMF network element of the candidate terminal, or the fourth network element is the GMLC network element in the roaming network where the candidate terminal is located.

[0062] In an eighth aspect, the present application further provides a communication device having the function of implementing any of the above-mentioned aspects 1 to 7, or any possible design thereof. The communication device can be implemented by hardware, or can be implemented by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more units or modules corresponding to the above-mentioned functions.

[0063] In one possible design, the communication device includes: a processor configured to support the communication device in executing the corresponding functions of the terminal device in the method shown above. The communication device may also include a memory (or storage medium), which may be coupled to the processor and stores the necessary program instructions and data for the communication device. Optionally, the communication device also includes an interface circuit, which is used to support communication between the communication device and a network device or other device. The interface circuit may also be a transceiver, and the transceiver may include a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter and receiver may be different devices, or the same device but capable of performing different functions.

[0064] In one possible design, the communication device includes corresponding functional modules for implementing the steps in the above method. The functions can be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software implementations. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0065] In one possible design, the structure of the communication device includes a processing unit (or processing module) and a communication unit (or communication module), which can perform the corresponding functions in the above method examples. For details, please refer to the description of the methods provided in the first to seventh aspects, which will not be repeated here. The communication unit (or communication module) can also be a transceiver unit (or transceiver module), which can include a sending unit and a receiving unit. The sending unit and the receiving unit can be different units, or they can be the same unit but can perform different functions.

[0066] The communication device may be a terminal device or a chip or chip system in the terminal device. If the communication device is a terminal device, the transceiver may be a radio frequency transceiver component in the terminal device. If the communication device is a chip or chip system provided in the terminal device, the transceiver may be a communication interface in the chip or chip system, which is connected to the radio frequency transceiver component in the terminal device to enable information transmission and reception via the radio frequency transceiver component.

[0067] In the ninth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, which stores a computer program or instruction. When the computer program or instruction is executed by a processor, it implements any aspect of the first to seventh aspects, or any possible design thereof.

[0068] In a tenth aspect, a computer program product storing instructions is provided, which, when executed by a processor, implements any one of the aforementioned first to seventh aspects, or a method in any possible design thereof.

[0069] In an eleventh aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a processor and a storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, implement the method of any of the aforementioned aspects 1 to 7, or any possible design thereof. The communication device may be a system-on-a-chip. The system-on-a-chip may consist of a chip or may include a chip and other discrete components.

[0070] In the twelfth aspect, a communication system is provided, which includes the first network element described in the first aspect, the second network element described in the second aspect, and the AMF network element described in the third aspect.

[0071] In the thirteenth aspect, the present application also provides a chip, including a processor, which is coupled to a memory and is used to read and execute program instructions stored in the memory, so that the chip implements any aspect of the above-mentioned first to seventh aspects, or any possible design method thereof.

[0072] For each of the above-mentioned aspects 8 to 13 and the technical effects that may be achieved in each of the aspects, please refer to the above-mentioned description of the technical effects that can be achieved by various possible solutions in any of the aspects 1 to 7, or in each aspect, and no further details will be given here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0073] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a communication system architecture provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0074] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of initiating a positioning request provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0075] Figures 3 to 14 A flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0076] Figure 15 A schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0077] Figure 16 A schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0078] The communication method provided in this application can be applied to various communication systems, for example, the Internet of Things (IoT), passive IoT (P-IoT; or ambient IoT, A-IoT), semi-passive IoT, semi-active IoT, active IoT, narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT), long-term evolution (LTE), fifth-generation (5G) communication systems, hybrid architectures of LTE and 5G, 6G or new communication systems emerging in future communication developments, etc. The communication system can also be a machine-to-machine (M2M) network, a machine type communication (MTC) or other network.

[0079] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a possible communication system architecture applicable to an embodiment of the present application, including: at least two terminals, an access network device, a positioning device, and a positioning request device.

[0080] Among them, the positioning requesting device can be one or more of a core network element (network function, NF), an application function entity (application function, AF), and a positioning client. At least two terminals can communicate based on the side link, and at least two terminals can be located in the same PLMN, or at least two terminals can be located in different PLMNs. Side link communication refers to a communication method in which devices communicate directly with each other in a wireless communication network without the need for transit through a base station. It can be used for direct communication between devices, or for communication between devices and vehicles. For example, device-to-device (D2D) communication, vehicle to everything (V2X) communication, etc.

[0081] Exemplarily, the positioning device may be a network element in the core network. The positioning requesting device may initiate a positioning request to the network element in the core network, requesting ranging / sidelink positioning results for at least two terminals. The network element in the core network communicates with the at least two terminals via access network devices and returns the ranging / sidelink positioning results for the at least two terminals to the positioning requesting device.

[0082] The embodiment of the present application can initiate a positioning request in a variety of different ways. Figure 2 As shown in the figure, in method 1, the positioning request device can actively send a positioning request to the core network element; in method 2, the positioning request device receives a positioning request from a third-party terminal (except Figure 2 Method 3: A third-party terminal sends a positioning request to Terminal 1 or Terminal 2. The third-party terminal can communicate with Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 via a sidelink.

[0083] Terminals can be user equipment (UE), mobile stations, or mobile terminals. They can be widely used in various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), the Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grids, smart furniture, smart offices, smart wearables, smart transportation, and smart cities. Terminal devices can be mobile phones, tablets, computers with wireless transceiver capabilities, wearable devices, vehicles, urban air vehicles (such as drones and helicopters), ships, robots, robotic arms, and smart home devices.

[0084] Access network equipment is used to implement access-related functions. It provides network access for authorized users in a specific area and can determine transmission links of varying quality to transmit user data based on user level and service requirements. Access network equipment forwards control signals and user data between terminals and the core network. Access network equipment can be equipment that provides access to terminals and can include radio access network (RAN) equipment and wired access network equipment. RAN equipment is primarily responsible for radio resource management, quality of service (QoS) management, data compression and encryption, and other functions on the air interface side. RAN equipment can include various types of base stations, such as macro base stations, micro base stations (also known as small cells), relay stations, access points, and balloon stations. In systems using different radio access technologies, the names of devices with base station functions may vary. For example, in 5G systems, they are called RAN or next-generation node base stations (gNBs), and in long-term evolution (LTE) systems, they are called evolved NodeBs (eNBs or eNodeBs).

[0085] Access network equipment and terminals can be fixed or mobile. They can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; on water; and in the air on aircraft, balloons, and satellites. The embodiments of this application do not limit the application scenarios of access network equipment and terminals.

[0086] The core network is responsible for maintaining mobile network subscription data and providing terminal session management, mobility management, policy management, and security authentication functions. The core network includes but is not limited to one or more of the following network elements: UDM network element, unified data repository (UDR) network element, policy control function (PCF) network element, session management function (SMF) network element, AMF network element, network repository function (NRF) network element, authentication server function (AUSF) network element, network exposure function (NEF) network element, GMLC network element, user plane function (UPF) network element, and location management function (LMF) network element.

[0087] The AMF network element is mainly responsible for mobility management in the mobile network, such as terminal location update, terminal registration network, terminal switching, etc.

[0088] The SMF network element is primarily responsible for session management in mobile networks, such as session establishment, modification, and release. Specific functions include allocating Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to terminals and selecting the UPF that provides packet forwarding capabilities.

[0089] The UPF network element is mainly responsible for forwarding and receiving terminal data. It can receive terminal data from the data network and transmit it to the terminal through the access network device; it can also transmit user plane data from the terminal to the target network.

[0090] UDM network element, including execution and management of contract data, terminal access authorization and other functions.

[0091] The UDR network element includes the access functions for executing contract data, policy data, application data and other types of data.

[0092] NEF network element is mainly used to support the opening of capabilities and events.

[0093] The AF network element conveys application-side requirements to the network, such as QoS requirements or terminal status event subscriptions. The AF can be a third-party functional entity or an application service deployed by the operator, such as the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) voice call service.

[0094] The PCF network element primarily supports providing a unified policy framework to control network behavior, provides policy rules to the control layer network functions, and is responsible for obtaining terminal subscription information related to policy decisions. The PCF network element can provide policies such as QoS policy and slice selection policy to the AMF network element and SMF network element.

[0095] NRF network elements can be used to provide network element discovery capabilities, providing network element information corresponding to the network element type based on requests from other network elements. NRF also provides network element management services such as network element registration, update, and deregistration, as well as network element status subscription and push.

[0096] The AUSF network element is responsible for authenticating the terminal and verifying its legitimacy.

[0097] The GMLC network element, a gateway mobile location center, supports location-based services in mobile networks. It is the first network element that a location-requesting device accesses in the core network, performing registration and authentication tasks. The GMLC network element can be a standalone element within a core network or included in an NEF network element. It supports location-based services in mobile networks, provides location information to mobile terminals, and ensures the security of this information.

[0098] The roles and functions of GMLC may include:

[0099] 1. Location service support: GMLC supports location services in mobile networks and can provide location information of mobile terminals.

[0100] 2. Location request processing: GMLC can process location requests, including quality of service-based location requests and emergency location requests.

[0101] 3. Location information processing: GMLC can process location information, including location calculation, location verification and location reporting.

[0102] 4. Location information storage: GMLC can store location information, including location reports and historical location information.

[0103] 5. Location information transmission: GMLC can transmit location information to other network elements, such as the home location register (HLR), visitor location register (VLR), mobile switching center (MSC), etc.

[0104] 6. Location information security: GMLC can ensure the security of location information, including the confidentiality, integrity and availability of location information.

[0105] Location management function (LMF) network element: Mainly responsible for managing the location information of mobile users so that the network can correctly route and transmit user communication requests.

[0106] Among them, AF network element, UDM network element, UDR network element, PCF network element, SMF network element, AMF network element, NRF network element, AUSF network element, NEF network element, UPF network element, GMLC network element, and LMF network element can also be abbreviated as AF, UDM, UDR, PCF, SMF, AMF, NRF, AUSF, NEF, UPF, GMLC, and LMF respectively.

[0107] It is understood that a network element may also be referred to as a "device," "entity," etc. The aforementioned network element or function may be a network component in a hardware device, a software function running on dedicated hardware, or a virtualized function instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform). As a possible implementation method, the aforementioned network element or function may be implemented by a single device, may be implemented by multiple devices, or may be a functional module within a single device, and this is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0108] It should be understood that Figure 1 This is only an example of an applicable communication system architecture. The actual communication system architecture may include more than Figure 1 More or fewer network elements. The names of the network elements used in the embodiments of the present application may remain the same in future communication systems, but the names may be changed.

[0109] In this application, ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" are used to distinguish multiple objects and are not used to define the size, content, order, timing, priority, or importance of the multiple objects. For example, the first network element and the second network element are only used to distinguish different network elements and do not indicate a difference in priority or importance between the two network elements; the first positioning request and the second positioning request are only used to distinguish different request messages and do not indicate a difference in message content, message priority, or importance between the two requests.

[0110] The character " / " in this application can be used to indicate that the preceding and following associated objects are in an "and / or" relationship. For example, performing ranging / sidelink positioning on a terminal includes performing ranging on a terminal, performing sidelink positioning on a terminal, and performing ranging and sidelink positioning on a terminal.

[0111] "Sidelink positioning" in this application: It can also be called sidelink positioning. Terminals can communicate with each other through sidelink (SL), so that the terminal can interact with other terminals based on the sidelink communication to determine the terminal's positioning information. Exemplarily, when sidelink positioning is performed on a target terminal, when the location information of at least one reference terminal is known, the target terminal can perform sidelink communication with at least one reference terminal to determine the positioning information of the target terminal.

[0112] "Ranging" in this application refers to measuring the relative positions of terminals based on side-by-side communication between the terminals. For example, a target terminal communicates with at least one reference terminal to determine the relative positions of the target terminal and each reference terminal, such as the distance and / or angle between the target terminal and each reference terminal.

[0113] The "privacy configuration data" in this application can be data related to user privacy stored in the UDM network element, so that network operators and service providers can process and share data according to the user's privacy configuration. Exemplarily, the privacy configuration data in this application can be configuration data related to positioning, such as privacy configuration data such as not allowing positioning, allowing positioning without notifying the user, allowing positioning with notification of the user, positioning requiring notification of the user and user confirmation, and allowing positioning with user authorization or no response, positioning requiring notification of the user and user confirmation, and allowing positioning with user authorization, etc.

[0114] The "privacy verification result" in this application may be the result of initiating a privacy verification on the terminal when the privacy configuration data of the terminal indicates that the user needs to be notified or the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed; the privacy verification process may include notifying the user to perform positioning or confirming with the user whether positioning is allowed, and the privacy verification result is the result of notifying or confirming the positioning of the terminal.

[0115] “Privacy data” in this application may include privacy configuration data or privacy verification results.

[0116] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0117] Example 1:

[0118] In Example 1, a scheme is provided for determining whether a terminal is permitted to perform ranging / sidelink positioning. In this scheme, the first positioning request may also include identification information of the PLMN to which the first terminal belongs. The first network element may determine that the first terminal belongs to a second PLMN based on the identification information of the PLMN to which the first terminal belongs. The first network element obtains the first terminal's private data through the second network element of the PLMN to which the first terminal belongs.

[0119] Figure 3 A flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application may include the following steps:

[0120] Step 301: A positioning requesting device sends a first positioning request; correspondingly, a first network element receives the first positioning request.

[0121] Optionally, the first network element may be a GMLC network element.

[0122] The first positioning request may be a positioning request initiated by a positioning requesting device; illustratively, the positioning requesting device may be one or more of a network element NF in a core network, an application server, and a positioning client.

[0123] Optionally, the first positioning request includes identification information of the first terminal. The first terminal and the first network element may belong to different PLMNs. The first positioning request is used to request a ranging / sidelink positioning result associated with the first terminal.

[0124] The identification information of the terminal included in the first positioning request in the embodiment of the present application may include multiple different types of identification information; illustratively, the identification information of the terminal may be a user permanent identifier (SUPI) or a generic public subscription identifier (GPSI).

[0125] SUPI can have a variety of different formats. For example, the SUPI can be in the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) format; an IMSI-formatted SUPI includes a Mobile Country Code (MCC), a Mobile Network Code (MNC), and a Mobile Subscriber Identification Number (MSIN). Alternatively, the SUPI can be in the Network Access Identifier (NAI) format; for example, the NAI format can be username@realm, where username can be a string defined by the operator, a mobile phone number, an IMSI, etc., and @realm can be a domain name, which can be customized by the operator.

[0126] The GPSI is a public identifier used within the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) system to identify users. As the subscription data for the SUPI, the GPSI format can be a mobile subscriber ISDN number (Mobile Subscriber ISDN Number). Its numbering format consists of the following three parts: country code (CC), national destination code (NDC) (which can be a network access number; each PLMN can be assigned multiple NDCs), and subscriber number (SN). The GPSI format can also be an external identifier, referring to the NAI format.

[0127] In implementation, when the terminal identification information included in the first positioning request message is a SUPI in IMSI format, the first positioning request message may not carry the identification information of the terminal's home PLMN. It should be noted that when the terminal identification information is a SUPI in IMSI format, the terminal's home PLMN can be determined using the SUPI in IMSI format.

[0128] When the identification information of the terminal included in the first positioning request information is SUPI or GPSI in NAI format, optionally, the identification information of the PLMN to which the terminal belongs is carried in the first positioning request information.

[0129] Exemplarily, the identification information of the PLMN (PLMN ID) may be MCC+MNC, or a PLMN name in character form, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0130] In a possible implementation, the first network element determines the PLMN to which the first terminal belongs based on the identification information of the first terminal; or, the first network element determines the PLMN to which the first terminal belongs based on the PLMN identification information corresponding to the first terminal included in the first positioning request.

[0131] Exemplarily, if the identification information of the first terminal is a SUPI in IMSI format, since the SUPI in IMSI format includes MCC+MNC+MSIN, the first network element can determine the PLMN to which the first terminal belongs based on the MCC+MNC in the identification information of the first terminal; or, if the identification information of the first terminal is a SUPI in NAI format, since the username in NAI is information defined by the operator, and the domain name in NAI is also customized by the operator, the operator can define the username field or domain name as the identification information of the PLMN, so the first terminal can determine the PLMN to which the first terminal belongs based on the username field or domain name in NAI; if the identification information of the first terminal is GPSI, the first positioning request also includes the identification information of the PLMN to which the first terminal belongs, and the first network element can determine the PLMN to which the first terminal belongs based on the identification information of the PLMN to which the first terminal belongs.

[0132] Step 302: The first network element obtains the privacy data of the first terminal through the second network element of the PLMN to which the first terminal belongs.

[0133] The privacy data is used to determine whether the first terminal is allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning.

[0134] In an embodiment of the present application, the first positioning request initiated by the positioning request device is for ranging / sidelink positioning of a terminal, and may be ranging / sidelink positioning for a group of terminals. Optionally, the first positioning request includes identification information of at least two terminals, where the at least two terminals include a first terminal and a second terminal, and the second terminal and the first network element belong to the same PLMN; the first positioning request is used to request ranging / sidelink positioning results for the at least two terminals.

[0135] The PLMN to which the second terminal belongs may be determined according to the identification information of the second terminal included in the first positioning request or the PLMN identification information corresponding to the second terminal; for a specific determination method, reference may be made to the above method for determining the first PLMN to which the first terminal belongs.

[0136] It should be noted that the number of the first terminal and the second terminal can be one or more, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0137] Exemplarily, the first request message carries UE IDs (identities) of n terminals; or, the first request message carries UE IDs and PLMN IDs of n terminals, where n is a positive integer greater than 1.

[0138] In an embodiment of the present application, before the first network element performs ranging / sidelink positioning on at least two terminals included in the first positioning request, the first network element needs to obtain privacy data of each terminal and determine whether positioning is allowed for the terminal based on the privacy data corresponding to each terminal.

[0139] The following describes, for the first terminal and the second terminal, the process in which the first network element determines whether ranging / sidelink positioning is allowed.

[0140] 1. Regarding the first terminal.

[0141] The following description is made by taking an example where the first network element belongs to the first PLMN and the first terminal belongs to the second PLMN.

[0142] For the first terminal, the embodiments of the present application provide multiple solutions for the first network element to determine whether ranging / sidelink positioning is allowed.

[0143] The following is combined with Figure 4 , introduces the first solution provided by an embodiment of the present application, in which the first network element determines whether the first terminal is allowed to perform ranging / side link positioning.

[0144] like Figure 4 The communication method flow diagram shown may include the following steps:

[0145] Step 401: A first network element sends first indication information to a second network element.

[0146] It should be noted that before the first network element sends the first indication information, the first network element receives the first positioning request sent by the positioning request device and determines, based on the identification information of the first terminal in the first positioning request, that the first terminal belongs to the second PLMN. Because the first network element belongs to the first PLMN, if the first terminal and the first network element belong to different PLMNs, the first network element cannot directly obtain the privacy configuration data of the first terminal. In this case, the first network element can obtain the privacy data of the first terminal through the second network element of the second PLMN.

[0147] Optionally, the second network element may be a GMLC network element in the second PLMN.

[0148] The first indication information is used to instruct to obtain the private data of the first terminal. Optionally, the first indication information sent by the first network element to the second network element includes identification information of the first terminal.

[0149] Step 402: The second network element sends the private data of the first terminal to the first network element.

[0150] After receiving the privacy data of the first terminal, the first network element determines whether the first terminal is allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning according to the privacy data of the first terminal.

[0151] In response to the first indication information, the second network element obtains the privacy configuration data of the first terminal from the UDM network element in the second PLMN. Exemplarily, the second network element sends a data request to the UDM network element in the second PLMN to obtain the privacy configuration data of the first terminal; wherein the data request includes identification information of the first terminal.

[0152] The second network element determines, based on the acquired privacy configuration data of the first terminal, the privacy data of the first terminal to be sent to the first network element.

[0153] Optionally, the second network element may use the privacy configuration data of the first terminal as the privacy data; or, the second network element may also perform positioning notification or confirmation on the first terminal based on the privacy configuration data of the first terminal, thereby obtaining a privacy verification result, and use the privacy verification result as the privacy data.

[0154] In addition, the first network element can also obtain the identification information of the AMF network element that provides services to the first terminal through the second network element.

[0155] Optionally, the first network element sends a second indication message to the second network element, and the second indication message is used to indicate the acquisition of identification information of the AMF network element providing services to the first terminal; in response to the second indication message, the second network element can obtain the AMF network element of the first terminal from the UDM network element of the second PLMN, and send the identification information of the AMF network element providing services to the first terminal to the first network element.

[0156] The following describes different types of privacy data:

[0157] Scenario 1: The private data of the first terminal is private configuration data.

[0158] The privacy configuration data of the terminal in the embodiment of the present application can be configured in a variety of different ways.

[0159] Configuration mode 1: privacy configuration data may include allowing positioning or not allowing positioning.

[0160] Configuration method 2: Privacy configuration data includes any of the following:

[0161] 1. Positioning is not allowed;

[0162] 2. Allow positioning without notifying the user;

[0163] 3. Allow positioning and notify the user;

[0164] 4. Positioning requires notification and confirmation from the user. Positioning is allowed only when the user authorizes or there is no response.

[0165] 5. Positioning requires notification to the user and confirmation from the user, and positioning is allowed with user authorization.

[0166] It should be noted that the fourth type of privacy configuration data mentioned above means that the terminal can be located when user authorization is confirmed, or after sending a message to the terminal for user confirmation, the terminal can be located if a response message from the terminal is received within a certain period of time. The fifth type of privacy configuration data mentioned above means that positioning is allowed only when the user responds (the user confirms that positioning is allowed).

[0167] In scenario 1, in response to the first indication information, the second network element sends the privacy configuration data of the first terminal to the first network element.

[0168] The first network element determines whether the first terminal is allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning according to the privacy configuration data of the first terminal.

[0169] Among them, determination method 1: if the privacy configuration data of the first terminal indicates that positioning is allowed, the first network element determines that the first terminal is allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning; or, if the privacy configuration data of the first terminal indicates that positioning is not allowed, the first network element determines that the first terminal is not allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning.

[0170] In an embodiment of the present application, if the privacy configuration data adopts the above-mentioned configuration method 1, the first network element directly determines based on the privacy configuration data of the first terminal that the first terminal is allowed to perform ranging / sidechain positioning when the privacy configuration data indicates that positioning is allowed; and when the privacy configuration data indicates that positioning is not allowed, the first network element determines that the first terminal is not allowed to perform ranging / sidechain positioning. Alternatively, if the privacy configuration data adopts the above-mentioned configuration method 2, if the privacy configuration data of the first terminal is the above-mentioned first type of privacy configuration data, it is determined that the privacy configuration data of the first terminal indicates that positioning is not allowed; if the privacy configuration data of the first terminal is the above-mentioned second, third, fourth, or fifth type of privacy configuration data, it is determined that the privacy configuration data of the first terminal indicates that positioning is allowed.

[0171] Determination method 2: If the privacy configuration data of the first terminal indicates that positioning is allowed and the user does not need to be notified, the first network element determines that the first terminal allows ranging / side chain positioning; or, if the privacy configuration data of the first terminal indicates that positioning is not allowed, or the user needs to be notified, or the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed, the first network element determines that the first terminal does not allow ranging / side chain positioning.

[0172] Under this determination method, the privacy configuration method of the first terminal can adopt the above-mentioned configuration method 2. When the privacy configuration data of the first terminal is the above-mentioned second privacy configuration data, the first network element determines that the first terminal is allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning; when the privacy configuration data of the first terminal is the above-mentioned first, third, fourth, and fifth privacy configuration data, the first network element determines that the first terminal is not allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning.

[0173] It should be noted that when the privacy configuration data of the first terminal indicates that the user needs to be notified, or the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed (such as the above-mentioned privacy configuration data 3, 4, and 5), one way is to adopt the above-mentioned determination method 2, and directly determine based on the privacy configuration data that the first terminal is not allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning. Another way is that the first network element notifies or confirms the positioning of the first terminal, and determines whether the first terminal is allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning based on the privacy verification result.

[0174] Optionally, the first network element notifies or confirms the location of the first terminal in the following manner:

[0175] The first network element sends a first privacy verification indication message for the first terminal to the third network element; wherein the privacy verification indication message may also be referred to as a privacy check action indication or privacy check result data, which is an indication determined by the first network element based on the privacy configuration data; and is used by the third network element to notify the first terminal of the location, or to notify and confirm the location of the first terminal by the third network element.

[0176] Among them, the third network element is an AMF network element, or the third network element is a GMLC network element in the roaming network where the first terminal is located.

[0177] When the third network element is an AMF network element, the AMF network element can be a service AMF network element of the first terminal.

[0178] Optionally, the AMF network element skips the positioning measurement after receiving the first privacy verification indication information. It should be noted that the first privacy verification indication information can also be used to indicate that positioning ranging / side chain positioning is not required in this positioning notification or confirmation process.

[0179] Exemplarily, the first privacy verification indication information may be carried in a first notification message. The first notification message may be an Ngmlc_Location_ProvideLocation_reques message, which carries the first privacy verification indication information and identification information of the first terminal; or the first notification message may be a new service-based message specifically used for positioning notification or confirmation without the need for positioning ranging / sidelink positioning.

[0180] As another example, the first privacy verification indication information may be carried in a privacy notification service message, wherein the privacy notification service message may be a Namf_Location_privacy_notification message, which carries the first privacy verification indication information and identification information of the first terminal.

[0181] If the third network element is an AMF network element, after receiving the first privacy verification indication information, if it is determined that the current first terminal is in an idle state, the AMF network element triggers the paging process and establishes a network connection with the first terminal.

[0182] Exemplarily, if the third network element determines based on the first privacy verification indication information that only the user needs to be notified, the third network element sends a non-access stratum (NAS) message to the first terminal, and the NAS message carries the identification information of the positioning requesting device that initiated the first positioning request; if the third network element determines based on the first privacy verification indication information that user confirmation is required, the NAS message sent by the third network element to the first terminal carries the identification information of the positioning requesting device and the indication information that user confirmation is required.

[0183] The third network element receives a first response message returned by the first terminal. The first response message may carry a positioning notification or confirmation result; the positioning notification or confirmation result may indicate positioning is permitted or not permitted. Optionally, the positioning notification or confirmation result may also carry an applicable time range. For example, the positioning notification or confirmation result indicates positioning is permitted, and the applicable time range for permitted positioning is 8:00-9:00.

[0184] The third network element determines a privacy verification result based on the result of the positioning notification or confirmation of the first terminal, and sends the privacy verification result to the first network element, where the privacy verification result represents the result of the positioning notification or confirmation of the first terminal. The first network element determines whether the first terminal is allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning based on the privacy verification result.

[0185] Exemplarily, when the privacy check result indicates that positioning is allowed, the first network element determines that the first terminal is allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning; when the privacy check result indicates that positioning is not allowed, the first network element determines that the first terminal is not allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning.

[0186] Scenario 2: The private data of the first terminal is the privacy verification result of the first terminal.

[0187] The privacy check result represents the result of the positioning notification or confirmation performed by the first terminal.

[0188] Scenario 2 can be applicable to the case where the second network element obtains the privacy configuration data of the first terminal from the UDM network element in the second PLMN, and determines that the privacy configuration data of the first terminal indicates that the user needs to be notified, or that the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed (such as the above-mentioned third, fourth, and fifth types of privacy configuration data); the privacy data of the first terminal obtained by the first network element through the second network element can be the privacy verification result of the first terminal.

[0189] When the second network element determines that the privacy configuration data of the first terminal indicates that the user needs to be notified, or that the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed, the second network element performs positioning notification or confirmation on the first terminal.

[0190] The second network element sends a second privacy verification indication message for the first terminal to the third network element; the privacy verification indication message may also be called a privacy check action indication or privacy check result data, which is an indication determined by the second network element based on the privacy configuration data; it is used by the third network element to notify the first terminal of the location, or used by the third network element to notify and confirm the location of the first terminal.

[0191] Among them, the third network element is the AMF network element in the second PLMN, or the third network element is the GMLC network element in the roaming network where the first terminal is located.

[0192] When the third network element is an AMF network element, the AMF network element can be a service AMF network element of the first terminal.

[0193] Optionally, the AMF network element skips the positioning measurement after receiving the second privacy verification indication information. It should be noted that the second privacy verification indication information can also be used to indicate that positioning ranging / side chain positioning is not required in this positioning notification or confirmation process.

[0194] Exemplarily, the second privacy verification indication information may be carried in a second notification message. The second notification message may be an Ngmlc_Location_ProvideLocation_reques message, which carries the second privacy verification indication information and the identification information of the first terminal; or the second notification message may be a new service-based message specifically used for positioning notification or confirmation without the need for positioning ranging / sidelink positioning.

[0195] As another example, the second privacy verification indication information may be carried in a privacy notification service message, wherein the privacy notification service message may be a Namf_Location_privacy_notification message, which carries the second privacy verification indication information and the identification information of the first terminal.

[0196] If the third network element is an AMF network element, after receiving the second privacy verification indication information, if it is determined that the current first terminal is in an idle state, the AMF network element triggers the paging process and establishes a network connection with the first terminal.

[0197] Exemplarily, if the third network element determines based on the second privacy verification indication information that only the user needs to be notified, the third network element sends a NAS message to the first terminal, and the NAS message carries the identification information of the positioning requesting device that initiated the first positioning request; if the third network element determines based on the second privacy verification indication information that user confirmation is required, the NAS message sent by the third network element to the first terminal carries the identification information of the positioning requesting device and the indication information that user confirmation is required.

[0198] The third network element receives a second response message returned by the first terminal. The second response message may carry a positioning notification or confirmation result; the positioning notification or confirmation result may be positioning allowed or not allowed. Optionally, the positioning notification or confirmation result may also carry an applicable time range.

[0199] The third network element determines a privacy verification result based on the result of the positioning notification or confirmation of the first terminal, and sends the privacy verification result to the first network element, where the privacy verification result represents the result of the positioning notification or confirmation of the first terminal. The first network element determines whether the first terminal is allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning based on the privacy verification result.

[0200] Exemplarily, when the privacy check result indicates that positioning is allowed, the first network element determines that the first terminal is allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning; when the privacy check result indicates that positioning is not allowed, the first network element determines that the first terminal is not allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning.

[0201] The following is combined with Figure 5 , the following introduces the second solution provided by the embodiment of the present application, in which the first network element determines whether the first terminal is allowed to perform ranging / side link positioning.

[0202] like Figure 5 The communication method flow diagram shown may include the following steps:

[0203] Step 501: A positioning requesting device sends a first positioning request; correspondingly, a first network element receives the first positioning request.

[0204] The first positioning request may be the positioning request initiated by the positioning request device described above.

[0205] Step 502: The first network element obtains privacy configuration data of the first terminal from the network device.

[0206] The privacy configuration data is used to determine whether the first terminal is allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning.

[0207] Exemplarily, the first network element sends a data request to the network device, and in response to the data request, the network device sends the privacy configuration data of the first terminal to the first network element.

[0208] In this solution, the first network element determines that the first terminal belongs to the second PLMN, or the first network element is unable to determine the PLMN to which the first terminal belongs.

[0209] Optionally, the network device is a pre-configured UDM network element or server; illustratively, the network device may be a UDM network element of the first PLMN.

[0210] Alternatively, in a possible implementation, if the first positioning request contains identification information of at least two terminals, the first network element does not need to determine the PLMN to which each terminal belongs, and directly obtains the privacy configuration data of each terminal from the UDM network element of the first PLMN where the first network element is located.

[0211] In an embodiment of the present application, if the first network element fails to obtain the privacy configuration data of the first terminal, it can be determined that the first terminal is not allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning.

[0212] Correspondingly, if the privacy configuration data of the first terminal is acquired, the first network element determines whether the first terminal is allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning according to the privacy configuration data of the first terminal.

[0213] It should be noted that, in this scheme, the way in which the first network element determines whether the first terminal is allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning based on the privacy configuration data of the first terminal can refer to the method introduced in the first scheme above, including but not limited to the first network element directly determining whether the first terminal is allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning based on the privacy configuration data, and the first network element determining whether the first terminal is allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning based on the privacy verification result.

[0214] 2. For the second terminal:

[0215] The following description is made by taking the case where the first network element and the second terminal belong to the first PLMN as an example.

[0216] Since the first network element and the second terminal belong to the same PLMN, the first network element can obtain the privacy configuration data of the second terminal from the UDM network element of the first PLMN.

[0217] For the configuration method of the privacy configuration data of the second terminal, reference may be made to the above introduction to the configuration method of the terminal privacy configuration data.

[0218] One possible implementation manner is that the first network element determines whether the second terminal is allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning according to the privacy configuration data of the second terminal.

[0219] Among them, determination method 1: if the privacy configuration data of the second terminal indicates that positioning is allowed, the first network element determines that the second terminal is allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning; or, if the privacy configuration data of the second terminal indicates that positioning is not allowed, the first network element determines that the second terminal is not allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning.

[0220] In an embodiment of the present application, if the privacy configuration data adopts the above-mentioned configuration method 1, the first network element directly determines based on the privacy configuration data of the second terminal that the second terminal is allowed to perform ranging / sidechain positioning when the privacy configuration data indicates that positioning is allowed; and when the privacy configuration data indicates that positioning is not allowed, the first network element determines that the second terminal is not allowed to perform ranging / sidechain positioning. Alternatively, if the privacy configuration data adopts the above-mentioned configuration method 2, if the privacy configuration data of the second terminal is the above-mentioned first privacy configuration data, it is determined that the privacy configuration data of the second terminal indicates that positioning is not allowed; if the privacy configuration data of the second terminal is the above-mentioned second, third, fourth, or fifth privacy configuration data, it is determined that the privacy configuration data of the second terminal indicates that positioning is allowed.

[0221] Determination method 2: If the privacy configuration data of the second terminal indicates that positioning is allowed and the user does not need to be notified, the first network element determines that the second terminal is allowed to perform ranging / sidechain positioning; or, if the privacy configuration data of the second terminal indicates that positioning is not allowed, or the user needs to be notified, or the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed, the first network element determines that the second terminal is not allowed to perform ranging / sidechain positioning.

[0222] Under this determination method, the privacy configuration method of the second terminal can adopt the above-mentioned configuration method 2. When the privacy configuration data of the second terminal is the above-mentioned second privacy configuration data, the first network element determines that the second terminal is allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning; when the privacy configuration data of the second terminal is the above-mentioned first, third, fourth, and fifth privacy configuration data, the first network element determines that the second terminal is not allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning.

[0223] It should be noted that when the privacy configuration data of the second terminal indicates that the user needs to be notified, or the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed (such as the above-mentioned privacy configuration data 3, 4, and 5), one way is to adopt the above-mentioned determination method 2, and directly determine based on the privacy configuration data that the second terminal is not allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning. Another way is that the first network element notifies or confirms the positioning of the second terminal, and determines whether the second terminal is allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning based on the privacy verification result.

[0224] Optionally, the first network element notifies or confirms the location of the second terminal in the following manner:

[0225] The first network element sends a third privacy verification indication message for the second terminal to the fourth network element; wherein the privacy verification indication message may also be referred to as a privacy check action indication or privacy check result data, which is an indication determined by the first network element based on the privacy configuration data; and is used by the fourth network element to notify the second terminal of the location, or to notify and confirm the location of the second terminal by the fourth network element.

[0226] Among them, the fourth network element is an AMF network element, or the fourth network element is a GMLC network element in the roaming network where the second terminal is located.

[0227] When the fourth network element is an AMF network element, the AMF network element can be a service AMF network element of the second terminal.

[0228] Optionally, the AMF network element skips the positioning measurement after receiving the third privacy verification indication information. It should be noted that the third privacy verification indication information is also used to indicate that positioning ranging / side chain positioning is not required in this positioning notification or confirmation process.

[0229] Exemplarily, the third privacy verification indication information may be carried in a third notification message. The third notification message may be an Ngmlc_Location_ProvideLocation_reques message, which carries the third privacy verification indication information and the identification information of the second terminal. Alternatively, the third notification message may be a new service-based message specifically used for positioning notification or confirmation, without the need for positioning ranging / sidelink positioning.

[0230] As another example, the third privacy verification indication information may be carried in a privacy notification service message, wherein the privacy notification service message may be a Namf_Location_privacy_notification message, which carries the third privacy verification indication information and identification information of the second terminal.

[0231] If the fourth network element is an AMF network element, after receiving the third privacy verification indication information, if it is determined that the current second terminal is in an idle state, the AMF network element triggers the paging process and establishes a network connection with the second terminal.

[0232] Exemplarily, if the fourth network element determines based on the third privacy verification indication information that only the user needs to be notified, the fourth network element sends a NAS message to the second terminal, and the NAS message carries the identification information of the positioning requesting device that initiated the first positioning request; if the fourth network element determines based on the third privacy verification indication information that user confirmation is required, the NAS message sent by the fourth network element to the second terminal carries the identification information of the positioning requesting device and the indication information that user confirmation is required.

[0233] The fourth network element receives a third response message returned by the second terminal, wherein the third response message may carry a positioning notification or confirmation result; wherein the positioning notification or confirmation result may be positioning allowed or not allowed. Optionally, the positioning notification or confirmation result may also carry an applicable time range.

[0234] The fourth network element determines a privacy verification result based on the result of the positioning notification or confirmation of the second terminal, and sends the privacy verification result to the first network element, where the privacy verification result represents the result of the positioning notification or confirmation of the second terminal. The first network element determines whether the second terminal is allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning based on the privacy verification result.

[0235] Exemplarily, when the privacy check result indicates that positioning is allowed, the first network element determines that the second terminal is allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning; when the privacy check result indicates that positioning is not allowed, the first network element determines that the second terminal is not allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning.

[0236] Example 2:

[0237] In embodiment 2, a scheme for ranging / sidechain positioning of multiple terminals is provided. In this scheme, for the ranging / sidechain positioning service authorization of AF or 5G core network (5GC) NF, if all terminals do not allow ranging / sidechain positioning, the GMLC shall reject the ranging / sidechain positioning service request of AF / 5GC NF. If only some terminals do not allow positioning, the GMLC shall delete the identifiers of these terminals that do not allow positioning when calling the positioning (Namf_Location_ProvidePositioningInfo) service operation to the AMF.

[0238] Ranging / sidechain positioning solution 1:

[0239] like Figure 6 As shown, a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application may include the following steps:

[0240] Step 601: A positioning requesting device sends a first positioning request; correspondingly, a first network element receives the first positioning request.

[0241] The first positioning request includes identification information of at least two terminals; the first positioning request is used to request ranging / side-link positioning results of the at least two terminals.

[0242] Step 602: The first network element generates a second positioning request.

[0243] Optionally, the first network element generates a second positioning request based on a terminal that is allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning among the at least two terminals and a terminal that is not allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning among the at least two terminals.

[0244] After receiving the first positioning request, the first network element determines whether ranging / sidelink positioning is allowed for at least two terminals requested for positioning in the first positioning request. The manner in which the first network element determines whether ranging / sidelink positioning is allowed for at least two terminals requested for positioning in the first positioning request may refer to the manner provided in Example 1, or the first network element may determine whether ranging / sidelink positioning is allowed for at least two terminals requested for positioning in the first positioning request by other means.

[0245] After determining the terminals that are allowed to be located and the terminals that are not allowed to be located among the at least two terminals, the first network element generates a second positioning request to be sent to the AMF network element. When the first network element generates the second positioning request, the identification information of the terminal that is allowed to be located among the at least two terminals can be included in the second positioning request.

[0246] Optionally, the first network element carries only the identification information of the terminal that is allowed to be positioned among the at least two terminals in the second positioning request, and the second positioning request does not include the identification information of the terminal that is not allowed to be positioned among the at least two terminals. Exemplarily, the first positioning request includes the identification information of UE1, UE2, and UE3. If UE1 and UE2 are terminals that are allowed to be positioned, and UE3 is a terminal that is not allowed to be positioned, the first network element carries the identification information of UE1 and UE2 in the second positioning request, that is, the second positioning request includes the identification information of UE1 and UE2, and does not include the identification information of UE3.

[0247] Alternatively, after the first network element generates a second positioning request including identification information of at least two terminals, the identification information of the terminal that is not allowed to be positioned among the at least two terminals is removed from the second positioning request. Exemplarily, the first positioning request includes identification information of UE1, UE2, and UE3. If UE1 and UE2 are terminals that are allowed to be positioned, and UE3 is a terminal that is not allowed to be positioned, the first network element first generates a second positioning request including identification information of UE1, UE2, and UE3, and then removes the identification information of UE3 from the second positioning request, thereby obtaining a second positioning request including identification information of UE1 and UE2.

[0248] In one possible implementation, the first network element sends a second positioning request to the AMF network element.

[0249] Optionally, the AMF network element is the service AMF network element of the terminal requested for positioning in the second positioning request.

[0250] Exemplarily, if UE1 and UE2 are terminals that allow positioning, the first network element sends a second positioning request to the serving AMF network element of UE1, and sends a second positioning request to the serving AMF network element of UE2.

[0251] In response to the second positioning request, the AMF network element performs ranging / sidelink positioning on the terminal included in the second positioning request and obtains the ranging / sidelink positioning result of the terminal.

[0252] The AMF network element sends the obtained ranging / side link positioning result of the terminal to the first network element.

[0253] The first network element sends a positioning response message to the positioning request device, wherein the positioning response message includes the ranging / sidechain positioning result of the terminal that is allowed to perform ranging / sidechain positioning among the at least two terminals, and the positioning failure reason parameter of the terminal that is not allowed to perform ranging / sidechain positioning among the at least two terminals.

[0254] Optionally, the positioning failure cause parameter may be a character indicating that the terminal is not allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning, or that the terminal cannot establish a connection with the core network. Exemplarily, the positioning failure cause parameter may be a numerical value, which may be a pre-agreed numerical value indicating that the terminal is not allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning, or that the terminal cannot establish a connection with the core network, such as a positioning failure cause parameter being a numerical value between 1 and 100. Alternatively, the positioning failure cause parameter may be a letter or symbol. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific form of the positioning failure cause parameter.

[0255] Exemplarily, the positioning response message includes the ranging / sidelink positioning results of UE1 and UE2, and the positioning failure reason parameter of UE3 (for example, the positioning failure reason parameter may be description information indicating that UE3 is not allowed to be positioned).

[0256] Ranging / sidechain positioning solution 2:

[0257] like Figure 7 As shown, a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application may include the following steps:

[0258] Step 701: A positioning requesting device sends a first positioning request; correspondingly, a first network element receives the first positioning request.

[0259] The first positioning request includes identification information of at least two terminals; the first positioning request is used to request ranging / side-link positioning results of the at least two terminals.

[0260] Step 702: The first network element sends a second positioning request to the AMF network element.

[0261] The second positioning request includes identification information of at least two terminals, and the second positioning request is used to request ranging / side chain positioning results of the at least two terminals.

[0262] It should be noted that the first positioning request and the second positioning request may contain the same content. For example, the first positioning request contains identification information of UE1, UE2, and UE3, and the second positioning request also contains identification information of UE1, UE2, and UE3.

[0263] After receiving the first positioning request, the first network element determines whether ranging / sidelink positioning is allowed for at least two terminals requested for positioning in the first positioning request. The manner in which the first network element determines whether ranging / sidelink positioning is allowed for at least two terminals requested for positioning in the first positioning request may refer to the manner provided in Example 1, or the first network element may determine whether ranging / sidelink positioning is allowed for at least two terminals requested for positioning in the first positioning request by other means.

[0264] After receiving the second positioning request, the AMF network element performs ranging / sidechain positioning on each terminal included in the second positioning request to obtain the ranging / sidechain positioning result of the terminal. For example, if the second positioning request contains the identification information of UE1, UE2, and UE3, the AMF network element performs ranging / sidechain positioning on UE1, UE2, and UE3 to obtain the ranging / sidechain positioning results of UE1, UE2, and UE3.

[0265] The AMF network element sends the obtained ranging / side link positioning results of each terminal to the first network element.

[0266] The first network element sends a positioning response message to the positioning request device, wherein the positioning response message includes the ranging / sidechain positioning result of the terminal that is allowed to perform ranging / sidechain positioning among the at least two terminals, and the positioning failure reason parameter of the terminal that is not allowed to perform ranging / sidechain positioning among the at least two terminals.

[0267] For example, after the first network element receives the ranging / side chain positioning results of UE1, UE2, and UE3 sent by the AMF network element, if UE1 and UE2 are terminals that allow positioning and UE3 is a terminal that does not allow positioning, the positioning response message includes the ranging / side chain positioning results of UE1 and UE2, and the positioning failure reason parameter of UE3 (for example, the positioning failure reason parameter can be a description information that UE3 does not allow positioning).

[0268] It should be noted that both Example 1 and Example 2 of the present application can be implemented separately; when Example 1 is implemented separately, it can be determined whether the terminal requested by the positioning request device to be positioned is allowed to perform ranging / sidechain positioning according to the scheme provided in Example 1; when Example 2 is implemented separately, ranging / sidechain positioning can be performed on the terminal requested by the positioning request device according to the scheme provided in Example 2. In addition, Example 1 and Example 2 of the present application can also be combined; when Example 1 and Example 2 are implemented in combination, after the first network element receives the first positioning request sent by the positioning request device, it can determine whether the terminal requested by the positioning request device to be positioned is allowed to perform ranging / sidechain positioning according to the scheme provided in Example 1, and can perform ranging / sidechain positioning on the terminal requested by the positioning request device according to the scheme provided in Example 2, and then report the ranging / sidechain positioning results of the terminals that are allowed to be positioned to the positioning request device.

[0269] The following describes a solution combining Example 1 and Example 2 of the present application with several examples.

[0270] Example 1:

[0271] like Figure 8 As shown, a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application may include the following steps:

[0272] Step 801: A positioning requesting device sends a first positioning request to a first network element; correspondingly, the first network element receives the first positioning request.

[0273] The first positioning request includes identification information of at least two terminals.

[0274] In Example 1, the identification information of UE1, UE2, and UE3 included in the first positioning request is used as an example. It is assumed that UE2, UE3, and the first network element belong to the first PLMN, and UE1 belongs to the second PLMN. For example, UE1 is the reference UE, and UE2 and UE3 are the target UEs. The target UE can perform ranging based on the location of the reference UE. This can be understood as measuring the distance between the target UE and the reference UE given the location of the reference UE.

[0275] It should be noted that the identification information of UE1, UE2, and UE3 included in the first positioning request is an example of the first positioning request. The first positioning request may include identification information of at least two terminals. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific number of identification information of the terminals included in the first positioning request. Exemplarily, the first positioning request may include identification information of two terminals (for example, identification information of UE1 and UE2, or identification information of UE1 and UE3); or the first positioning request may also include identification information of four terminals.

[0276] Step 801 corresponds to step 301 above. The specific implementation of step 801 can refer to the introduction of step 301 above.

[0277] Optionally, the first network element may be a GMLC network element in the first PLMN.

[0278] Step 802: The first network element sends a data request to the first UDM, and obtains the privacy configuration data of UE2 and UE3 from the first UDM; wherein the data request includes identification information of UE2 and UE3.

[0279] The first UDM and the first network element belong to the first PLMN.

[0280] Optionally, based on step 802, the first network element can also obtain the address of the service AMF network element of UE2 and UE3 from the first UDM.

[0281] The specific implementation of step 802 can refer to the above introduction of the first network element acquiring the privacy configuration data of the second terminal.

[0282] Step 803: The first network element sends first indication information to the second network element, where the first indication information is used to instruct to obtain the private data of UE1.

[0283] The second network element belongs to the second PLMN; optionally, the second network element may be a GMLC network element in the second PLMN.

[0284] Step 803 corresponds to step 401 above. The specific implementation of step 803 can refer to the introduction of step 401 above.

[0285] Step 804: The second network element sends a data request to the second UDM, and obtains the privacy configuration data of UE1 from the second UDM; wherein the data request includes the identification information of UE1.

[0286] Optionally, based on step 804, the second network element can also obtain the address of the serving AMF network element of UE1 from the second UDM.

[0287] Step 805: The second network element sends the privacy configuration data of UE1 to the first network element.

[0288] Optionally, the second network element may carry the privacy configuration data of UE1 through a response message; illustratively, the response message may be a new service response message, such as Ngmlc_location_UEdata_response, or may be an existing Ngmlc_Location_ProvideLocation_response message newly carrying the privacy configuration data of UE1.

[0289] The second UDM and the second network element belong to the second PLMN.

[0290] Step 804 and step 805 correspond to step 402 mentioned above. The specific implementation of steps 804 and 805 can refer to the introduction of step 402 mentioned above.

[0291] Step 806: The first network element determines whether UE1, UE2, UE3 are allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning according to the privacy configuration data of UE1, UE2, UE3.

[0292] An optional method is that if the privacy configuration data of the terminal indicates that positioning is allowed, the first network element determines that the terminal allows ranging / side chain positioning; if the privacy configuration data of the terminal indicates that positioning is not allowed, the first network element determines that the terminal does not allow ranging / side chain positioning.

[0293] Alternatively, another optional method is that if the privacy configuration data of the terminal indicates that positioning is allowed, the first network element determines that the terminal allows ranging / side chain positioning; if the privacy configuration data of the terminal indicates that positioning is not allowed, or the user needs to be notified, or the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed, the first network element determines that the terminal does not allow ranging / side chain positioning.

[0294] The specific implementation of step 806 can refer to the above introduction of determination method 1 and determination method 2 in scenario 1.

[0295] Step 807: The first network element generates a second positioning request.

[0296] Optionally, the first network element generates a second positioning request based on the terminals among UE1, UE2, and UE3 that are allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning, and the terminals among UE1, UE2, and UE3 that are not allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning.

[0297] Exemplarily, the second positioning request may include identification information of terminals that are allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning, but does not include identification information of terminals that are not allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning.

[0298] Assuming that UE1 and UE2 are terminals that allow positioning, and UE3 is a terminal that does not allow positioning, the second positioning request includes identification information of UE1 and UE2, but does not include identification information of UE3.

[0299] It should be noted that, for the case of ranging between UE1 and UE2, assuming that UE1 is a terminal that allows positioning and UE2 is a terminal that does not allow positioning, since ranging between UE1 and UE2 is required, when UE2 does not allow positioning, the second positioning request may not include the identification information of UE1 and UE2.

[0300] Step 807 corresponds to step 602 above. The specific implementation of step 807 can refer to the introduction of step 602 above.

[0301] Step 808: The first network element sends a second positioning request to the AMF network element.

[0302] Step 809: The AMF network element performs ranging / sidelink positioning on UE1 and UE2, and obtains the ranging / sidelink positioning results for UE1 and UE2.

[0303] Step 810: The AMF network element sends the ranging / sidelink positioning results of UE1 and UE2 to the first network element.

[0304] For the specific implementation of steps 808 to 810, please refer to the introduction of the ranging / side chain positioning solution 1 above, in which the first network element performs ranging / side chain positioning on the terminal through the AMF network element.

[0305] It should be noted that during the execution of steps 808 to 810, the serving AMF network element of UE1 is different from the serving AMF network element of UE2. During the execution of step 808, the first network element sends a second positioning request to the serving AMF network element of UE1 and the serving AMF network element of UE2 respectively. During the execution of step 809, the serving AMF network element of UE1 performs ranging / sidechain positioning on UE1, and the serving AMF network element of UE2 performs ranging / sidechain positioning on UE2; in the case where UE1 is the positioning initiating terminal (i.e., it is necessary to determine the distance and / or angle of UE1 relative to UE2, the distance and / or angle of UE1 relative to UE3, or determine the absolute position of UE1), the serving AMF network element of UE2 sends the results of ranging / sidechain positioning to the serving AMF network element of UE1. During the execution of step 810, the serving AMF network element of UE1 can send the results of ranging / sidechain positioning of UE1 and UE2 to the first network element.

[0306] Step 811: The first network element sends a positioning response message to the positioning requesting device.

[0307] The positioning response message includes the ranging / sidelink positioning results of UE1 and UE2, and the positioning failure reason parameter of UE3.

[0308] The specific implementation of step 811 can refer to the introduction of the positioning response message in the above ranging / side chain positioning solution 1.

[0309] Example 2:

[0310] like Figure 9 As shown, a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application may include the following steps:

[0311] Steps 901 to 905 can be found in Figure 8 Introduction to steps 801 to 805.

[0312] The following is an example in which the privacy configuration data of UE2 and UE3 indicates that positioning is allowed, while the privacy configuration data of UE1 indicates that the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed.

[0313] Step 906: The first network element sends first privacy verification indication information for UE1 to the third network element.

[0314] Among them, the third network element can be the serving AMF network element of UE1, or the third network element can be the GMLC network element in the roaming network where UE1 is located (such as the GMLC network element in the second PLMN).

[0315] Optionally, when the third network element is an AMF network element, the first network element may send the first privacy verification indication information to the third network element through the second network element.

[0316] Exemplarily, the first privacy check indication information may be carried in a GMLC location request (Ngmlc_Location_ProvideLocation_reques) message. The first privacy check indication information is used to indicate that the current first positioning request is only used for positioning notification or confirmation of the terminal, and no ranging / sidelink positioning-related measurements and calculations are required. The AMF skips the positioning measurement and calculation process based on the first privacy check indication information. Exemplarily, the LMF is not selected, and measurements and calculations for the sidelink positioning / ranging service are not performed.

[0317] The first privacy verification indication information can also be implemented by two indication information; one of the indication information is a privacy check action indication, which is used to indicate the positioning notification or confirmation of the terminal; the other indication information is used to indicate that the current first positioning request is only used for positioning notification or confirmation of the terminal, and no ranging / side chain positioning related measurements and calculations are required.

[0318] Exemplarily, the first privacy verification indication information may be in a privacy notification service message sent by a first network element (such as a GMLC network element), for example, the privacy notification service message is Namf_Location_privacy_notification, and the privacy notification service message is used to notify or confirm the location of the terminal. The privacy notification service message includes the terminal's identification information and the first privacy verification indication information (wherein the privacy verification indication information may also be referred to as a privacy check action indication or privacy check result data); the AMF skips the positioning measurement and calculation process according to the privacy notification service message.

[0319] Step 907: The third network element confirms the location of UE1;

[0320] Exemplarily, if the privacy configuration data of UE1 indicates that the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed, the third network element sends a query request to UE1, asking the user whether positioning is allowed; accordingly, UE1 sends a verification result of whether positioning is allowed to the third network element.

[0321] Step 908: The third network element sends the privacy verification result to the first network element.

[0322] The privacy verification result represents the result of UE1's positioning confirmation; for example, UE1's privacy configuration data indicates that the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed, then UE1 sends the verification result of whether positioning is allowed to the third network element, and the privacy verification result sent by the third network element to the first network element can be to allow positioning or not allow positioning.

[0323] Steps 906 to 908 correspond to the content of the first network element notifying or confirming the positioning of the first terminal in Scenario 1 of the above first solution in which the first network element determines whether the second terminal is allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning.

[0324] Step 909: The first network element determines whether UE1, UE2, and UE3 are allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning according to the privacy configuration data of UE2 and UE3 and the privacy verification result of UE1.

[0325] Optionally, the first network element determines that positioning is allowed for UE2 and UE3, and the privacy check result of UE1 is that positioning is not allowed.

[0326] Step 909 corresponds to the content of scenario 1 of the above first solution in which the first network element determines whether the second terminal is allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning, in which the first network element determines whether the terminal is allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning.

[0327] Step 910: The first network element generates a second positioning request.

[0328] Optionally, the first network element generates a second positioning request based on the terminals among UE1, UE2, and UE3 that are allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning, and the terminals among UE1, UE2, and UE3 that are not allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning.

[0329] Exemplarily, the second positioning request may include identification information of UE2 and UE3.

[0330] Step 910 corresponds to step 602 above. The specific implementation of step 910 can refer to the introduction of step 602 above.

[0331] Step 911: The first network element sends a second positioning request to the AMF network element.

[0332] Among them, the AMF network element is the service AMF network element of UE2 and UE3.

[0333] Step 912: The AMF network element performs ranging / sidelink positioning on UE2 and UE3, and obtains the ranging / sidelink positioning results for UE2 and UE3.

[0334] Step 913: The AMF network element sends the ranging / sidelink positioning results of UE2 and UE3 to the first network element.

[0335] For the specific implementation of steps 911 to 913, please refer to the introduction of the AMF network element performing ranging / side chain positioning on the terminal above.

[0336] Step 914 can be found in Figure 8 814 in the introduction.

[0337] Example 3:

[0338] like Figure 10 As shown, a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application may include the following steps:

[0339] Steps 1001 to 1004 can be found in Figure 8 Introduction to steps 801 to 804.

[0340] The following is an example in which the privacy configuration data of UE2 indicates that positioning is allowed, the privacy configuration data of UE3 indicates that positioning is allowed and the user needs to be notified, and the privacy configuration data of UE1 indicates that the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed.

[0341] Step 1005: The second network element sends second privacy verification indication information for UE1 to the third network element.

[0342] Among them, the third network element can be the service AMF network element of UE1.

[0343] Exemplarily, the second privacy check indication information can be carried in the GMLC location request (Ngmlc_Location_ProvideLocation_reques) message. The second privacy check indication information is used to indicate that the current first positioning request is only used for positioning notification or confirmation of the terminal, and no ranging / sidelink positioning-related measurements and calculations are required. In the case where the third network element is an AMF network element, the AMF network element skips the positioning measurement and calculation process according to the second privacy check indication information. Exemplarily, LMF is not selected, and measurements and calculations for sidelink positioning / ranging services are not performed.

[0344] The second privacy verification indication information can also be implemented by two indication information; one of the indication information is a privacy check action indication, which is used to indicate the positioning notification or confirmation of the terminal; the other indication information is used to indicate that the current first positioning request is only used for positioning notification or confirmation of the terminal, and no ranging / side chain positioning related measurements and calculations are required.

[0345] Exemplarily, the second privacy verification indication information may be in a privacy notification service message sent by a second network element (such as a GMLC network element). For example, the privacy notification service message is Namf_Location_privacy_notification. The privacy notification service message is used to notify or confirm the location of the terminal. The privacy notification service message includes the terminal's identification information and the second privacy verification indication information (wherein the privacy verification indication information may also be referred to as a privacy check action indication or privacy check result data); the AMF skips the positioning measurement and calculation process according to the privacy notification service message.

[0346] Step 1006: The third network element confirms the location of UE1.

[0347] Exemplarily, if the privacy configuration data of UE1 indicates that the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed, the third network element sends a query request to UE1, asking the user whether positioning is allowed; accordingly, UE1 sends a verification result of whether positioning is allowed to the third network element.

[0348] Step 1007: The third network element sends the privacy verification result for UE1 to the second network element;

[0349] The privacy verification result represents the result of UE1's positioning confirmation; for example, UE1's privacy configuration data indicates that the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed, then UE1 sends the verification result of whether positioning is allowed to the third network element, and the privacy verification result sent by the third network element to the first network element can be to allow positioning or not allow positioning.

[0350] Step 1008: The second network element sends the privacy verification result for UE1 to the first network element.

[0351] Steps 1005 to 1008 correspond to the content of the second network element notifying or confirming the positioning of the first terminal in Scenario 2 of the above first solution in which the first network element determines whether the second terminal is allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning.

[0352] Step 1009: The first network element sends third privacy verification indication information for UE3 to the fourth network element.

[0353] Among them, the fourth network element can be the serving AMF network element of UE3, or when UE3 is roaming, the fourth network element is the GMLC in the roaming network where UE3 is located.

[0354] Step 1010: The fourth network element notifies UE3 of the location;

[0355] Exemplarily, the privacy configuration data of UE3 indicates that the user needs to be notified, so the fourth network element sends a positioning notification message to UE1 to notify the user to perform positioning.

[0356] Step 1011: The fourth network element sends the privacy verification result for UE3 to the first network element.

[0357] Optionally, the privacy verification result sent by the fourth network element to the first network element may be confirmation that UE3 has received the notification.

[0358] It should be noted that steps 1005 to 1008 are the privacy verification process of the second network element for UE1, and steps 1009 to 1011 are the privacy verification process of the second network element for UE3. The order of executing steps 1005 to 1008 and steps 1009 to 1011 is not limited.

[0359] Steps 1009 to 1011 correspond to the above content of positioning notification or confirmation for the second terminal.

[0360] Step 1012: The first network element determines whether UE1, UE2, and UE3 are allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning based on the privacy configuration data of UE2 and the privacy verification results of UE1 and UE3.

[0361] Optionally, the first network element determines that positioning is allowed for UE2 and UE3, and the privacy check result of UE1 is that positioning is not allowed.

[0362] Step 1012 corresponds to the content of scenario 1 of the above first solution in which the first network element determines whether the second terminal is allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning, in which the first network element determines whether the terminal is allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning.

[0363] Step 1013: The first network element generates a second positioning request.

[0364] Exemplarily, the second positioning request may include identification information of UE1, UE2, and UE3.

[0365] Step 1014: The first network element sends a second positioning request to the AMF network element.

[0366] Step 1015: The AMF network element performs ranging / sidelink positioning on UE1, UE2, and UE3, and obtains the ranging / sidelink positioning results for UE1, UE2, and UE3.

[0367] Step 1016: The AMF network element sends the ranging / sidelink positioning results of UE1, UE2, and UE3 to the first network element.

[0368] It should be noted that during the execution of steps 1014 to 1016, since the serving AMF network element of UE1 is different from the serving AMF network elements of UE2 and UE3, during the execution of step 1014, the first network element sends a second positioning request to the serving AMF network element of UE1, and the serving AMF network elements of UE2 and UE3, respectively. During the execution of step 1015, the serving AMF network element of UE1 performs ranging / sidelink positioning on UE1, and the serving AMF network elements of UE2 and UE3 perform ranging / sidelink positioning on UE2 and UE3. If UE2 is the positioning initiating terminal (i.e., it is necessary to determine the distance and / or angle of UE2 relative to UE1, the distance and / or angle of UE2 relative to UE3, or the absolute position of UE2), the serving AMF network element of UE1 sends the ranging / sidelink positioning results to the serving AMF network element of UE2. During the execution of step 1016, the serving AMF network element of UE2 can send the ranging / sidelink positioning results of UE1, UE2, and UE3 to the first network element.

[0369] For the specific implementation of steps 1013 to 1016, please refer to the introduction of the ranging / side chain positioning scheme 2 above, in which the first network element performs ranging / side chain positioning on the terminal through the AMF network element.

[0370] Step 1017: The first network element sends a positioning response message to the positioning requesting device.

[0371] Since the first network element determines that UE1 does not allow positioning, the positioning response message may include the ranging / sidelink positioning results of UE2 and UE3, and the positioning failure reason parameter of UE1.

[0372] The specific implementation of step 1017 can refer to the introduction of the positioning response message in the second ranging / side chain positioning solution above.

[0373] Example 4:

[0374] like Figure 11 As shown, a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application may include the following steps:

[0375] For steps 1101 to 1102, please refer to the introduction of steps 801 to 802 in the figure.

[0376] Step 1103: The first network element obtains the privacy configuration data of UE1 from the network device.

[0377] Optionally, the network device is a preconfigured UDM network element or a server; illustratively, the preconfigured UDM network element may be a first UDM network element.

[0378] Step 1103 corresponds to step 502 above. The specific implementation of step 1103 can refer to the introduction of step 502 above.

[0379] Step 1104: The first network element determines whether UE1, UE2, UE3 are allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning according to the privacy configuration data of UE1, UE2, UE3.

[0380] Assuming that the first network element does not obtain the privacy configuration data of UE1 from the network device, the first network element may determine that UE1 does not allow positioning.

[0381] The specific implementation of step 1104 can be found above. Figure 5 In the corresponding communication method process, the first network element determines whether the terminal is allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning.

[0382] The following takes the case where the privacy configuration data of UE2 and UE3 indicates that positioning is allowed as an example for introduction.

[0383] Step 1105: The first network element generates a second positioning request.

[0384] Optionally, the first network element generates a second positioning request based on the terminals among UE1, UE2, and UE3 that are allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning, and the terminals among UE1, UE2, and UE3 that are not allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning.

[0385] Exemplarily, the second positioning request may include identification information of UE2 and UE3.

[0386] Step 1105 corresponds to step 602 above. The specific implementation of step 1105 can refer to the introduction of step 602 above.

[0387] Step 1106: The first network element sends a second positioning request to the AMF network element.

[0388] Among them, the AMF network element is the service AMF network element of UE2 and UE3.

[0389] Step 1107: The AMF network element performs ranging / sidelink positioning on UE2 and UE3, and obtains the ranging / sidelink positioning results for UE2 and UE3.

[0390] Step 1108: The AMF network element sends the ranging / sidelink positioning results of UE2 and UE3 to the first network element.

[0391] For the specific implementation of steps 1106 to 1108, please refer to the introduction of the ranging / side chain positioning scheme 1 above, in which the first network element performs ranging / side chain positioning on the terminal through the AMF network element.

[0392] Step 1109: The first network element sends a positioning response message to the positioning requesting device.

[0393] The positioning response message includes the ranging / sidelink positioning results of UE2 and UE3, and the positioning failure reason parameter of UE1.

[0394] The specific implementation of step 1109 can refer to the introduction of the positioning response message in the above ranging / side chain positioning solution 1.

[0395] Example 3:

[0396] In Example 3, a scheme for ranging / sidechain positioning of multiple terminals is provided. In this scheme, when GMLC receives a ranging / sidechain positioning service request from AF or 5GC NF, if it is determined based on the privacy configuration data of the terminal that the terminal needs to notify the user or needs the user to confirm whether positioning is allowed, the GMLC interacts with AMF to determine whether the terminal allows ranging / sidechain positioning.

[0397] Figure 12 A flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application may include the following steps:

[0398] Step 1201: A first network element receives a first positioning request.

[0399] Optionally, the first network element may be a GMLC network element.

[0400] The first positioning request may be a positioning request initiated by a positioning requesting device; illustratively, the positioning requesting device may be one or more of a network element NF in a core network, an application server, and a positioning client.

[0401] Optionally, the first positioning request includes identification information of at least two terminals, and the first positioning request is used to request ranging / sidelink positioning results of the at least two terminals.

[0402] The type of the terminal identification information included in the first positioning request can be found in the above introduction and will not be repeated here.

[0403] In an embodiment of the present application, the at least two terminals that make the first positioning request may include terminals belonging to the same PLMN, or the at least two terminals may include terminals belonging to different PLMNs. After receiving the first positioning request, the first network element may determine the PLMN to which each terminal belongs based on the identification information of the at least two terminals included in the first positioning request, or based on the PLMNs to which the at least two terminals belong carried in the first positioning request.

[0404] Exemplarily, the at least two terminals making the first positioning request may include terminals belonging to the same PLMN as the first network element. For example, the first positioning request includes identification information of UE1, UE2, UE3, and UE4, and UE1, UE2, UE3, and UE4 all belong to the same PLMN as the first network element.

[0405] As another example, the at least two terminals making the first positioning request may include terminals belonging to different PLMNs than the first network element. For example, the first positioning request includes identification information of UE1, UE2, UE3, and UE4, and UE1, UE2, UE3, and UE4 all belong to different PLMNs than the first network element.

[0406] The at least two terminals making the first positioning request may include a terminal belonging to the same PLMN as the first network element and a terminal belonging to a different PLMN than the first network element. For example, the first positioning request includes identification information of UE1, UE2, UE3, and UE4, where UE1 and UE2 belong to the same PLMN as the first network element, and UE3 and UE4 belong to different PLMNs than the first network element.

[0407] In the following description, the terminal among the at least two terminals that make the first positioning request and belongs to a different PLMN than the first network element is referred to as the first terminal, and the terminal among the at least two terminals that make the first positioning request and belongs to the same PLMN as the first network element is referred to as the second terminal.

[0408] After receiving the first positioning request, the first network element obtains the privacy data of each terminal that makes the positioning request in the first positioning request.

[0409] Because the first terminal and the first network element belong to different PLMNs, the first network element cannot directly obtain the first terminal's privacy configuration data from the UDM network element. Alternatively, the first network element can obtain the first terminal's privacy data through a second network element. For example, the second network element may be a GMLC network element that belongs to the same PLMN as the first terminal. If the second terminal belongs to the same PLMN as the first network element, the first network element can directly obtain the first terminal's privacy configuration data from the UDM network element. The following describes the first and second terminals separately.

[0410] For the first terminal:

[0411] In the case where the at least two terminals that make the first positioning request include the first terminal (including the case where some of the at least two terminals are the first terminal, or all of the terminals are the first terminal), the privacy data of the first terminal can be obtained through the following content, and the positioning notification or confirmation of the first terminal can be performed according to the following content.

[0412] The first network element belongs to the first PLMN, and the first terminal belongs to the second PLMN. Since the first network element cannot directly obtain the privacy configuration data of the first terminal from the UDM network element in the first PLMN, the first network element can optionally obtain the privacy data of the first terminal through the second network element in the second PLMN.

[0413] Exemplarily, the second network element is a GMLC network element in the second PLMN.

[0414] Optionally, the step of the first network element obtaining the private data of the first terminal includes:

[0415] Step a: The first network element sends first indication information to the second network element, where the first indication information is used to instruct to obtain the privacy data of the first terminal.

[0416] Optionally, the first indication information sent by the first network element to the second network element includes identification information of the first terminal.

[0417] Step b: In response to the first indication information, the second network element obtains the privacy configuration data of the first terminal from the UDM network element in the second PLMN.

[0418] Exemplarily, the second network element sends a data request to the UDM network element in the second PLMN, thereby obtaining the privacy configuration data of the first terminal; wherein the data request includes identification information of the first terminal.

[0419] Exemplarily, the first indication information may be sent via the Ngmlc_Location_PrivacyCheck service message.

[0420] Step c: The second network element sends the private data of the first terminal to the first network element.

[0421] In step c, the second network element may send the privacy configuration data of the first terminal to the first network element; alternatively, the second network element may also perform positioning notification or confirmation on the first terminal based on the privacy configuration data of the first terminal, thereby obtaining a privacy verification result, and the second network element may send the privacy verification result of the first terminal to the first network element.

[0422] Regarding the solution in which the second network element notifies or confirms the location of the first terminal, when the privacy configuration data of the first terminal indicates that the user needs to be notified, or the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed (such as the above-mentioned privacy configuration data 3, 4, and 5), the second network element initiates positioning notification or confirmation for the first terminal.

[0423] Optionally, the second network element sends the fifth privacy verification indication information for the first terminal to the third network element, where the fifth privacy verification indication information is used to instruct positioning notification or confirmation of the first terminal.

[0424] Exemplarily, the fifth privacy notification service message may be a Namf_Location_privacy_notification message.

[0425] Among them, the third network element can be the service AMF of the first terminal, or the third network element can be the GMLC network element in the roaming network where the first terminal is located.

[0426] Optionally, when the third network element is an AMF network element, the AMF network element skips the positioning measurement after receiving the fifth privacy check indication information. It should be noted that the fifth privacy check indication information can also be used to indicate that this positioning notification or confirmation process does not require positioning ranging / side chain positioning.

[0427] In this embodiment, after receiving the fifth privacy verification indication, the third network element notifies or confirms the location of the first terminal; the process of the third network element notifying or confirming the location of the first terminal can be referred to the process of the third network element notifying or confirming the location of the first terminal in the above embodiment 1, and will not be repeated here.

[0428] The second network element obtains a privacy verification result of positioning notification or confirmation of the first terminal through the third network element, and the second network element sends the privacy verification result of the first terminal to the first network element.

[0429] The first network element may determine whether the first terminal is allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning according to the privacy check result.

[0430] For the second terminal:

[0431] In the case where the at least two terminals that make a positioning request in the first positioning request include a second terminal (including the case where some of the at least two terminals are the second terminal, or all of the terminals are the second terminal), the privacy data of the second terminal can be obtained through the following content, and the positioning notification or confirmation of the second terminal can be performed according to the following content.

[0432] The first network element belongs to a first PLMN, and the first terminal belongs to a second PLMN. Since the first network element and the second terminal belong to the same PIMN, the first network element can obtain the privacy configuration data of the second terminal from the UDM network element in the first PLMN.

[0433] After acquiring the privacy configuration data of the second terminal, the first network element determines, according to the privacy configuration data of the second terminal, the second terminal that the privacy configuration data indicates needs to notify the user or requires the user to confirm whether positioning is allowed as a candidate terminal.

[0434] For the candidate terminal, the first network element may perform the following steps 1202 and 1203 .

[0435] Step 1202: The first network element sends fourth privacy verification indication information for a candidate terminal among the at least two terminals to a fourth network element.

[0436] Optionally, the fourth privacy verification indication information is used to instruct positioning notification or confirmation of the candidate terminal; wherein the privacy configuration data of the candidate terminal indicates that the user needs to be notified, or the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed.

[0437] Based on the above introduction, after obtaining the privacy configuration data of the second terminal, the first network element can generate a candidate terminal set. The candidate terminals in the candidate terminal set can meet at least one of the following conditions:

[0438] Condition 1: The privacy configuration data of the candidate terminal indicates that the user needs to be notified or the user needs to confirm whether to allow positioning.

[0439] Condition 2: The first network element obtains the identification information of the candidate terminal's serving AMF network element. Exemplarily, the identification information of the AMF network element may be address information. When the candidate terminal meets condition 2, it indicates that the candidate terminal is reachable to the first network element. This means that the first network element can exchange information with the candidate terminal's serving AMF network element.

[0440] For each candidate terminal in the candidate terminal set, the first network element may send fourth privacy verification indication information for the candidate terminal to the fourth network element.

[0441] The first network element may send fourth privacy verification indication information to a fourth network element corresponding to each candidate terminal in the candidate terminal set.

[0442] Optionally, the first network element sends a privacy notification service message for the candidate terminal to the fourth network element, where the privacy notification service message includes identification information of the candidate terminal and fourth privacy verification indication information.

[0443] Exemplarily, the privacy notification service message may be a Namf_Location_privacy_notification message.

[0444] Among them, the fourth network element can be the service AMF network element of the candidate terminal, or the fourth network element can be the GMLC network element in the roaming network where the candidate terminal is located.

[0445] Optionally, when the fourth network element is an AMF network element, the AMF network element skips the positioning measurement after receiving the fourth privacy verification indication information. It should be noted that the fourth privacy verification indication information can also be used to indicate that this positioning notification or confirmation process does not require positioning ranging / side chain positioning.

[0446] Step 1203: The first network element receives the privacy verification result from the fourth network element.

[0447] The privacy check result represents the result of the positioning notification or confirmation performed by the candidate terminal.

[0448] In this embodiment, after receiving the fourth privacy verification indication, the fourth network element notifies or confirms the location of the candidate terminal; the process of the fourth network element notifying or confirming the location of the candidate terminal can be referred to the process of the third network element notifying or confirming the location of the first terminal in the above embodiment 1, and will not be repeated here.

[0449] The first network element may determine whether ranging / side chain positioning is allowed for the candidate terminal based on the privacy verification result of the positioning notification or confirmation of the candidate terminal through the fourth network element.

[0450] In addition, after receiving the first positioning request, the first network element in the embodiment of the present application can also determine the positioning initiating terminal from at least two terminals that make positioning requests for the first positioning request; wherein the positioning initiating terminal is the terminal that executes the initiated ranging / side chain positioning service.

[0451] The first network element can determine the positioning initiating terminal in the following ways:

[0452] Determination method 1: The first network element determines the positioning initiating terminal according to whether the terminal requesting ranging / sidelink positioning in the first positioning request allows ranging / sidelink positioning.

[0453] Optionally, the first network element may determine as the positioning initiating terminal the terminal that allows ranging / side chain positioning and obtains the address information of the serving AMF network element among the at least two terminals that request ranging / side chain positioning in the first positioning request.

[0454] For example, the privacy configuration data for terminal 1 indicates that positioning is permitted, the privacy configuration data for terminal 2 indicates that positioning requires user notification and confirmation, and the privacy configuration data for terminal 3 indicates that positioning is not permitted. When the first network element determines that the privacy check result for terminal 2 indicates that positioning is permitted, the first network element may determine the positioning initiating terminal from terminal 1 and terminal 2. When the first network element determines that the privacy check result for terminal 2 indicates that positioning is not permitted, the first network element determines terminal 1 as the positioning initiating terminal.

[0455] Based on the above method, it can be ensured that the subsequent positioning process (positioning service request sent by the first network element to the terminal) will not be terminated due to privacy issues of a single terminal (such as the positioning initiating terminal), ensuring that some terminals that allow positioning perform side chain / ranging positioning services.

[0456] Determination method 2: The first network element determines the positioning initiating terminal among the at least two terminals requesting ranging / sidelink positioning in the first positioning request according to the auxiliary information that may be sent by the positioning requesting device.

[0457] When determining the positioning initiating terminal using the above-described determination method 2, the first network element does not include the positioning initiating terminal in the candidate terminal set when determining the candidate terminal set for which positioning notification or confirmation is required. It is understood that if the positioning initiating terminal is a second terminal belonging to the same PLMN as the first network element, and the privacy configuration data of the positioning initiating terminal indicates that a user needs to be notified or that the user needs to confirm whether positioning is permitted, the positioning initiating terminal is not included in the candidate terminal set determined by the first network element.

[0458] Based on this, when the privacy configuration data of the positioning initiating terminal indicates that the user needs to be notified, or the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed, during the ranging / side chain positioning process of the terminal, the second positioning request generated by the first network element may include the sixth privacy verification indication information for the positioning initiating terminal, which is used to instruct the positioning initiating terminal to notify or confirm positioning.

[0459] Correspondingly, after receiving the second positioning request, the AMF network element can notify or confirm the positioning of the positioning initiating terminal to determine whether the positioning initiating terminal allows ranging / side chain positioning.

[0460] When determining the positioning initiating terminal using the above-mentioned method 1, since the first network element determines whether each terminal that makes the first positioning request allows ranging / sidechain positioning, and then determines the positioning initiating terminal from the terminals that allow ranging / sidechain positioning; when the privacy configuration data of the positioning initiating terminal indicates that the user needs to be notified or the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed, the positioning notification or confirmation of the positioning initiating terminal has been completed. Therefore, during the ranging / sidechain positioning process for the terminal, the second positioning request generated by the first network element may not include the sixth privacy verification indication information for the positioning initiating terminal.

[0461] The following describes the solution of Example 3 of this application with several examples.

[0462] Example 5:

[0463] like Figure 13 As shown, a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application may include the following steps:

[0464] Step 1301: The positioning request device sends a first positioning request to a first network element; correspondingly, the first network element receives the first positioning request.

[0465] Example 5 is described by taking the first positioning request including identification information of UE1, UE2, UE3, UE4, and UE5 as an example, wherein UE1, UE2, UE3, and the first network element belong to the first PLMN, and UE4 and UE5 belong to the second PLMN.

[0466] It should be noted that the identification information of UE1, UE2, UE3, UE4, and UE5 included in the first positioning request is an example of the first positioning request. The first positioning request may include identification information of at least two terminals. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific number of terminal identification information included in the first positioning request. Exemplarily, the number of terminal identification information included in the first positioning request may be more or less than five.

[0467] Optionally, the first network element may be a GMLC network element in the first PLMN.

[0468] Step 1302: The first network element sends a data request to the first UDM, and obtains the privacy configuration data of UE1, UE2, and UE3 from the first UDM; wherein the data request includes identification information of UE1, UE2, and UE3.

[0469] The first UDM and the first network element belong to the first PLMN.

[0470] Exemplarily, the privacy configuration data of UE1 is to allow positioning, the privacy configuration data of UE2 is to allow positioning and need to notify the user, and the privacy configuration data of UE3 is to require the user to confirm whether to allow positioning.

[0471] Optionally, the first network element can also obtain the address of the service AMF network element of UE1, UE2, and UE3 from the first UDM.

[0472] For the specific implementation of step 1302, reference may be made to the above description of the first network element acquiring the privacy configuration data of the second terminal.

[0473] Step 1303: The first network element determines a candidate terminal set.

[0474] The candidate terminals in the candidate terminal set may meet at least one of the following conditions:

[0475] Condition 1: The privacy configuration data of the candidate terminal indicates that the user needs to be notified or the user needs to confirm whether to allow positioning.

[0476] Condition 2: The first network element obtains the identification information of the serving AMF network element of the candidate terminal.

[0477] Exemplarily, the first network element determines that the candidate terminal set includes UE2 and UE3.

[0478] Step 1304: The first network element sends fourth privacy verification indication information for UE2 to the fourth network element.

[0479] Among them, the fourth network element can be the serving AMF of UE2, or when UE2 is roaming, the fourth network element is the GMLC network element in the roaming network where UE2 is located.

[0480] Exemplarily, the fourth privacy check indication information may be carried in a privacy notification service (Namf_Location_privacy_notification) message. The fourth privacy check indication information is used to indicate that the current first positioning request is only used for positioning notification or confirmation of the terminal, and no ranging / sidelink positioning-related measurements and calculations are required.

[0481] When the fourth network element is an AMF network element, the AMF network element skips the positioning measurement and calculation process according to the fifth privacy check indication information. For example, LMF is not selected, and measurement and calculation of the side chain positioning / ranging service are not performed.

[0482] Step 1305: The fourth network element notifies UE2 of its location.

[0483] Exemplarily, if the privacy configuration data of UE2 indicates that positioning is allowed and the user needs to be notified, the fourth network element sends a positioning notification message to UE2 to notify the user to perform positioning.

[0484] Step 1306: The fourth network element sends the privacy verification result for UE2 to the first network element.

[0485] Exemplarily, the privacy verification result for UE2 sent by the fourth network element to the first network element may be that UE2 confirms that it has received the notification.

[0486] Step 1307: The first network element sends fourth privacy verification indication information for UE3 to the fourth network element.

[0487] Among them, the fourth network element can be the serving AMF of UE3, or when UE2 is roaming, the fourth network element is the GMLC network element in the roaming network where UE3 is located.

[0488] Exemplarily, the method for sending the fourth privacy verification indication information may refer to the introduction in step 1304 .

[0489] Step 1308: The fourth network element confirms the location of UE3.

[0490] Exemplarily, if the privacy configuration data of UE2 indicates that the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed, the fourth network element sends a query request to UE2, asking the user whether positioning is allowed; accordingly, UE2 sends a verification result of whether positioning is allowed to the fourth network element.

[0491] Step 1309: The fourth network element sends the privacy verification result for UE3 to the first network element.

[0492] The privacy verification result represents the result of UE3's positioning confirmation; for example, UE2's privacy configuration data indicates that the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed, then UE3 sends the verification result of whether positioning is allowed to the fourth network element, and the privacy verification result sent by the fourth network element to the first network element may be to allow positioning or not allow positioning.

[0493] It should be noted that this embodiment does not limit the execution order of steps 1304 to 1306 and steps 1307 to 1309.

[0494] Step 1310: The first network element sends first indication information to the second network element, where the first indication information is used to instruct the acquisition of private data of UE4 and UE5.

[0495] The second network element belongs to the second PLMN; optionally, the second network element may be a GMLC network element in the second PLMN.

[0496] Exemplarily, the first indication information may be sent via the Ngmlc_Location_PrivacyCheck service message.

[0497] Step 1311: The second network element sends a data request to the second UDM, and obtains the privacy configuration data of UE4 and UE5 from the second UDM; wherein the data request includes the identification information of UE4 and UE5.

[0498] Optionally, based on step 1304, the second network element can also obtain the address of the service AMF network element of UE4 and UE5 from the second UDM.

[0499] Exemplarily, the privacy configuration data of UE4 is that positioning is not allowed, and the privacy configuration data of UE5 is that the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed.

[0500] Step 1312: The second network element sends fifth privacy verification indication information for UE5 to the third network element.

[0501] Among them, the third network element can be the service AMF network element of UE5, or when UE5 is roaming, the third network element is the GMLC network element in the roaming network where UE5 is located.

[0502] Exemplarily, the fifth privacy check indication information may be carried in a privacy notification service (Namf_Location_privacy_notification) message. The fifth privacy check indication information is used to indicate that the current first positioning request is only used for positioning notification or confirmation of the terminal, and does not require ranging / sidelink positioning related measurements and calculations.

[0503] When the third network element is an AMF network element, the AMF network element skips the positioning measurement and calculation process according to the fifth privacy check indication information. For example, LMF is not selected, and measurement and calculation of the side chain positioning / ranging service are not performed.

[0504] Step 1313: The third network element confirms the location of UE5.

[0505] Exemplarily, if the privacy configuration data of UE5 indicates that the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed, the third network element sends a query request to UE5, asking the user whether positioning is allowed; accordingly, UE5 sends a verification result of whether positioning is allowed to the third network element.

[0506] Step 1314: The third network element sends the privacy verification result for UE5 to the second network element;

[0507] The privacy verification result represents the result of UE5's positioning confirmation; for example, UE5's privacy configuration data indicates that the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed, then UE5 sends the verification result of whether positioning is allowed to the third network element, and the privacy verification result sent by the third network element to the first network element can be to allow positioning or not allow positioning.

[0508] Step 1315: The second network element sends the privacy verification results for UE4 and UE5 to the first network element.

[0509] Among them, the privacy verification result of UE4 can be privacy configuration data that UE4 does not allow positioning, and the privacy verification result of UE5 is the privacy verification result of confirming the positioning of UE5 through the third network element, for example, the privacy verification result of UE5 is that positioning is allowed.

[0510] Steps 1312 to 1315 correspond to the content of the second network element notifying or confirming the positioning of the first terminal in Scenario 2 of the above first solution in which the first network element determines whether the second terminal is allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning.

[0511] It should be noted that the execution order of steps 1310 to 1315 and steps 1304 to 1309 is not limited.

[0512] Step 1316: The first network element determines the positioning initiating terminal.

[0513] Optionally, the first network element may determine as the positioning initiating terminal the terminal that allows ranging / side chain positioning and obtains the address information of the serving AMF network element among the at least two terminals that request ranging / side chain positioning in the first positioning request.

[0514] For example, the privacy verification result of UE2 is that positioning is allowed, the privacy verification result of UE3 is that positioning is not allowed, and the privacy verification result of UE5 is that positioning is allowed. Since the privacy configuration data of UE1 is that positioning is allowed, the privacy configuration data of UE4 is that positioning is not allowed, and the first network element can obtain the address information of the service AMF network elements of UE1, UE2, UE3, UE4, and UE5, the first network element determines the positioning initiating terminal from UE1, UE2, and UE5.

[0515] Step 1317: The first network element sends a second positioning request to the AMF network element.

[0516] The second positioning request may include identification information of UE1, UE2, and UE5, and is used to request ranging / side chain positioning of UE1, UE2, and UE5.

[0517] Step 1318: The AMF network element performs ranging / sidelink positioning on UE1, UE2, and UE5, and obtains the ranging / sidelink positioning results for UE1, UE2, and UE5.

[0518] Step 1319: The AMF network element sends the ranging / side link positioning results of UE1, UE2, and UE5 to the first network element.

[0519] For the specific implementation of steps 1317 to 1319, please refer to the introduction of the ranging / side chain positioning scheme 1 above, in which the first network element performs ranging / side chain positioning on the terminal through the AMF network element.

[0520] It should be noted that during the execution of steps 1317 to 1319, the serving AMF network elements of UE1 and UE2 are different from the serving AMF network element of UE5. During the execution of step 1317, the first network element sends a second positioning request to the serving AMF network elements of UE1 and UE2, and the serving AMF network element of UE5, respectively. During the execution of step 1318, the serving AMF network elements of UE1 and UE2 perform ranging / sidechain positioning on UE1 and UE2, and the serving AMF network element of UE5 performs ranging / sidechain positioning on UE5; in the case where UE1 is the positioning initiating terminal (i.e., it is necessary to determine the distance and / or angle of UE1 relative to UE2, the distance and / or angle of UE1 relative to UE5, or to determine the absolute position of UE1), the serving AMF network element of UE5 sends the results of ranging / sidechain positioning to the serving AMF network elements of UE1 and UE2. During the execution of step 1319, the serving AMF network element of UE1 and UE2 may send the ranging / side link positioning results of UE1, UE2 and UE5 to the first network element.

[0521] Step 1320: The first network element sends a positioning response message to the positioning requesting device.

[0522] The positioning response message includes the ranging / sidelink positioning results of UE1, UE2, and UE5, as well as the positioning failure reason parameters of UE3 and UE4.

[0523] The specific implementation of step 1320 can refer to the introduction of the positioning response message in the above ranging / side chain positioning solution 1.

[0524] Example 6:

[0525] like Figure 14 As shown, a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application may include the following steps:

[0526] Step 1401 and step 1402 can be found in Figure 13 Introduction to step 1301 and step 1302.

[0527] Example 6 is described by taking the first positioning request including identification information of UE1, UE2, UE3, UE4, and UE5 as an example, wherein UE1, UE2, UE3, and the first network element belong to the first PLMN, and UE4 and UE5 belong to the second PLMN.

[0528] Exemplarily, the privacy configuration data of UE1 is to allow positioning, the privacy configuration data of UE2 is to allow positioning and need to notify the user, and the privacy configuration data of UE3 is to require the user to confirm whether to allow positioning.

[0529] Step 1403: The first network element determines the positioning initiating terminal.

[0530] Optionally, the first network element may determine the positioning initiating terminal according to the auxiliary information sent by the positioning requesting device.

[0531] Exemplarily, UE2 is a positioning initiating terminal.

[0532] Step 1404: The first network element determines a candidate terminal set.

[0533] The candidate terminals in the candidate terminal set may meet at least one of the following conditions:

[0534] Condition 1: The privacy configuration data of the candidate terminal indicates that the user needs to be notified or the user needs to confirm whether to allow positioning.

[0535] Condition 2: The first network element obtains the identification information of the serving AMF network element of the candidate terminal.

[0536] Condition 3: The candidate terminal is not the positioning initiating terminal.

[0537] Exemplarily, the first network element determines that the candidate terminal set includes UE3.

[0538] Step 1405: The first network element sends fourth privacy verification indication information for UE3 to the fourth network element.

[0539] Among them, the fourth network element can be the serving AMF of UE3, or when UE3 is roaming, the fourth network element is the GMLC network element in the roaming network where UE3 is located.

[0540] Exemplarily, the method for sending the fourth privacy verification indication information may refer to the introduction in step 1304 .

[0541] Step 1406: The fourth network element confirms the location of UE3.

[0542] Exemplarily, if the privacy configuration data of UE3 indicates that the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed, the fourth network element sends a query request to UE3, asking the user whether positioning is allowed; accordingly, UE3 sends a verification result of whether positioning is allowed to the fourth network element.

[0543] Step 1407: The fourth network element sends the privacy verification result for UE3 to the first network element.

[0544] The privacy verification result represents the result of the positioning confirmation performed by UE3. For example, if the privacy configuration data of UE3 indicates that user confirmation is required to allow positioning, UE3 sends the verification result of whether positioning is allowed to the fourth network element. The privacy verification result sent by the fourth network element to the first network element may be that positioning is allowed or not. For example, the privacy verification result of UE3 may be that positioning is not allowed.

[0545] Steps 1408 to 1413 can be found in Figure 13 Introduction to steps 1310 to 1315 in .

[0546] The privacy configuration data of UE4 indicates that positioning is not allowed, and the privacy verification result of UE5 is the privacy verification result of confirming the positioning of UE5 through the third network element, for example, the privacy verification result of UE5 is that positioning is allowed.

[0547] It should be noted that the execution order of steps 1408 to 1413 and steps 1405 to 1407 is not limited.

[0548] Step 1414: The first network element sends a second positioning request to the AMF network element.

[0549] The second positioning request may include identification information of UE1, UE2, and UE5, and is used to request ranging / side chain positioning of UE1, UE2, and UE5.

[0550] Optionally, the second positioning request includes sixth privacy verification indication information for UE2, which is used to instruct to notify UE2 of the positioning.

[0551] Step 1415: The AMF network element notifies UE2 of its location.

[0552] For example, if the privacy configuration data of UE2 allows positioning and needs to notify the user, the AMF network element sends a positioning notification message to UE2 to notify the user to perform positioning.

[0553] Correspondingly, the AMF network element may receive the privacy verification result of UE2. For example, the privacy verification result of UE2 may be that UE2 confirms that it has received the notification.

[0554] Step 1416: The AMF network element performs ranging / sidelink positioning on UE1, UE2, and UE5, and obtains the ranging / sidelink positioning results for UE1, UE2, and UE5.

[0555] Step 1417: The AMF network element sends the ranging / sidelink positioning results of UE1, UE2, and UE5 to the first network element.

[0556] The AMF network element performs ranging / sidelink positioning on UE1, UE2, and UE5, and obtains the ranging / sidelink positioning results for UE1, UE2, and UE5.

[0557] It should be noted that the service AMF network element of UE5 is different from the service AMF network elements of UE1 and UE2. During the execution of step 1414, the first network element sends a second positioning request to the service AMF network element of UE5, and the service AMF network elements of UE1 and UE2 respectively. During the execution of step 1415, the service AMF network element of UE2 notifies UE2 of the positioning. During the execution of step 1416, the service AMF network element of UE5 performs ranging / sidechain positioning on UE5, and the service AMF network elements of UE1 and UE2 perform ranging / sidechain positioning on UE1 and UE2; when UE2 is the positioning initiating terminal (i.e., it is necessary to determine the distance and / or angle of UE2 relative to UE1, the distance and / or angle of UE2 relative to UE5, or determine the absolute position of UE2), the service AMF network element of UE5 sends the results of ranging / sidechain positioning to the service AMF network element of UE2. During the execution of step 1417, the serving AMF network element of UE2 may send the ranging / side chain positioning results of UE1, UE2, and UE5 to the first network element.

[0558] Step 1418: The first network element sends a positioning response message to the positioning requesting device.

[0559] The positioning response message includes the ranging / sidelink positioning results of UE1, UE2, and UE5, as well as the positioning failure reason parameters of UE3 and UE4.

[0560] For the specific implementation of step 1419, please refer to the introduction of the positioning response message in the above ranging / side chain positioning solution 1.

[0561] It is understandable that each network element in the above embodiments may perform some or all of the steps in each embodiment. These steps or operations are merely examples, and the embodiments of the present application may also perform other operations or variations of various operations. In addition, the steps may be performed in different orders as presented in the embodiments, and it is possible that not all operations in the embodiments of the present application need to be performed. Moreover, the size of the sequence number of each step does not mean the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0562] Based on the same inventive concept as the method embodiment, the embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, the structure of which can be as follows: Figure 15As shown, it includes a communication unit 1501 and a processing unit 1502. The communication device can be specifically used to implement the method executed by the first network element, the second network element, or the AMF network element in the above embodiment. The device can be the network element itself, or it can be a chip or chipset in the network element or a part of the chip used to execute the function of the relevant method. Among them, the communication unit 1501 is used to send and receive data / signaling, and the processing unit 1502 is used to process the data / signaling to implement the functions executed by the above-mentioned network elements.

[0563] The division of units in the embodiments of the present application is schematic and is only a logical function division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation. In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of the present application can be integrated into a processor, or can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit. The above-mentioned integrated units can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional modules. It is understood that the functions or implementations of the various units in the embodiments of the present application can be further referred to the relevant description of the method embodiment.

[0564] In one possible approach, the communication device may be as follows: Figure 16 As shown, the apparatus may be a communication device or a chip in a communication device, wherein the communication device may be the first network element, the second network element, or the AMF network element in the above embodiment. The apparatus includes a processor 1601 and a communication interface 1602, and may further include a memory 1603.

[0565] The processor 1601 may be a CPU, a digital processing unit, or the like. The communication interface 1602 may be a transceiver, an interface circuit such as a transceiver circuit, or a transceiver chip, or the like. The device further includes: a memory 1603 for storing programs executed by the processor 1601. The memory 1603 may be a non-volatile memory, such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD), or a volatile memory (volatile memory), such as a random-access memory (RAM). The memory 1603 is any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and can be accessed by a computer, but is not limited thereto.

[0566] The processor 1601 is used to execute the program code stored in the memory 1603, specifically to execute the actions of the processing unit 1502. The communication interface 1602 is specifically used to execute the actions of the communication unit 1501, which will not be described in detail in this application.

[0567] The specific connection medium between the communication interface 1602, the processor 1601 and the memory 1603 is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. Figure 16 The memory 1603, the processor 1601 and the communication interface 1602 are connected via a bus 1604. Figure 16 The connections between the other components are shown in bold lines, which are only for illustration and not intended to be limiting. The bus can be divided into address bus, data bus, control bus, etc. Figure 16 Only one thick line is used in the diagram, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

[0568] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing computer software instructions required to execute the above-mentioned processor, which includes a program required to execute the above-mentioned processor.

[0569] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer program product, comprising a computer program for executing the above-mentioned processor.

[0570] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments of the present application can be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Therefore, the present application can adopt the form of a complete hardware embodiment, a complete software embodiment, or an embodiment in combination with software and hardware. Moreover, the present application can adopt the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-usable storage media (including but not limited to magnetic disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, etc.) that contain computer-usable program code.

[0571] The present application is described with reference to the flowcharts and / or block diagrams of the methods, devices (systems), and computer program products according to the present application. It should be understood that each process and / or block in the flowchart and / or block diagram, as well as the combination of processes and / or blocks in the flowchart and / or block diagram, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, an embedded processor, or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, so that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device generate instructions for implementing the processes in the flowchart and / or block diagram. Figure 1 a process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A device that provides the functions specified in a block or multiple blocks.

[0572] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to work in a specific manner, so that the instructions stored in the computer readable memory produce an article of manufacture comprising an instruction device, which implements the process Figure 1a process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The function specified in one or more boxes.

[0573] These computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device so that a series of operational steps are executed on the computer or other programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process, thereby providing the instructions executed on the computer or other programmable device for implementing the process. Figure 1 a process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A step that specifies a function in one or more boxes.

[0574] Obviously, those skilled in the art may make various changes and modifications to this application without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. Thus, if these modifications and variations of this application fall within the scope of the claims of this application and their equivalents, this application is intended to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: The first network element receives a first positioning request, where the first positioning request includes identification information of a first terminal belonging to a different public land mobile network PLMN from that of the first network element, and the first positioning request is used to request a ranging / sidelink positioning result associated with the first terminal; The first network element obtains the privacy data of the first terminal through the second network element of the PLMN to which the first terminal belongs, and the privacy data of the first terminal is used to determine whether the first terminal is allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The first positioning request also includes identification information of a second terminal belonging to the same PLMN as the first network element, and the first positioning request is used to request ranging / sidelink positioning results of the first terminal and the second terminal; the method further includes: The first network element obtains the privacy data of the second terminal, where the privacy data of the second terminal is used to determine whether the second terminal is allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first network element determines, according to the identification information of the first terminal, the PLMN to which the first terminal belongs; or, The first network element determines the PLMN to which the first terminal belongs according to the PLMN identification information corresponding to the first terminal included in the first positioning request.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The first network element obtains the privacy data of the first terminal through a second network element of a PLMN to which the first terminal belongs, including: The first network element sends first indication information to the second network element, where the first indication information is used to instruct to obtain the privacy data of the first terminal; The first network element receives the privacy data of the first terminal from the second network element.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The privacy data of the first terminal includes privacy configuration data of the first terminal.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that The first network element determines whether the first terminal is allowed to perform ranging / side link positioning according to the following method: If the privacy configuration data of the first terminal indicates that the user needs to be notified, or the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed, the first network element determines that the first terminal is not allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning.

7. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that The first network element determines whether the first terminal is allowed to perform ranging / side link positioning according to the following method: When the privacy configuration data of the first terminal indicates that a user needs to be notified, or that the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed, the first network element sends first privacy verification indication information for the first terminal to a third network element; wherein the first privacy verification indication information is used to indicate positioning notification or confirmation for the first terminal; The first network element receives a privacy check result from the third network element to determine whether the first terminal is allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning, and the privacy check result represents a result of positioning notification or confirmation by the first terminal.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The privacy data of the first terminal includes a privacy verification result of the first terminal, where the privacy verification result represents a result of the positioning notification or confirmation performed by the first terminal.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The first network element is a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) network element.

10. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The third network element is an access and mobility management function AMF network element, or the third network element is a GMLC network element in the roaming network where the first terminal is located.

11. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: The second network element receives first indication information from the first network element, where the first indication information is used to instruct to obtain privacy data of the first terminal; the first positioning request received by the first network element includes identification information of the first terminal, the first positioning request is used to request a ranging / sidelink positioning result associated with the first terminal, and the first terminal and the first network element belong to different public land mobile networks PLMN; The second network element sends the privacy data of the first terminal to the first network element, where the privacy data of the first terminal is used to determine whether the first terminal is allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The first positioning request also includes identification information of a second terminal belonging to the same PLMN as the first network element, and the first positioning request is used to request ranging / sidelink positioning results of the first terminal and the second terminal.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that: The privacy data of the first terminal includes privacy configuration data of the first terminal.

14. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that: The privacy data of the first terminal includes a privacy verification result of the first terminal, where the privacy verification result represents a result of the positioning notification or confirmation performed by the first terminal.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The second network element determines the privacy verification result of the first terminal according to the following method: When the privacy configuration data of the first terminal indicates that a user needs to be notified, or that the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed, the second network element sends second privacy verification indication information for the first terminal to the third network element; wherein the second privacy verification indication information is used to indicate positioning notification or confirmation for the first terminal; The second network element receives a privacy verification result from the third network element.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that The third network element is an access and mobility management function AMF network element, or the third network element is a gateway mobile positioning center GMLC network element in the roaming network where the first terminal is located.

17. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: The access and mobility management function AMF network element receives privacy verification indication information for the first terminal from the positioning network element, where the privacy verification indication information is used to indicate positioning notification or confirmation for the first terminal; The AMF network element skips the positioning measurement according to the privacy verification indication information; The AMF network element sends a privacy verification result to the positioning network element, and the privacy verification result represents the result of the positioning notification or confirmation performed by the first terminal.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that The positioning network element includes a first network element or a second network element; The first network element is a network element that receives a first positioning request, the first positioning request includes identification information of the first terminal, the first positioning request is used to request a ranging / sidelink positioning result associated with the first terminal, and the first network element and the first terminal belong to different public land mobile networks PLMN; The second network element is a network element in the PLMN to which the first terminal belongs.

19. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: The first network element receives a first positioning request, where the first positioning request includes identification information of at least two terminals; the first positioning request is used to request ranging / side chain positioning results of the at least two terminals; The first network element generates a second positioning request based on the terminal that is allowed to perform ranging / sidechain positioning among the at least two terminals and the terminal that is not allowed to perform ranging / sidechain positioning among the at least two terminals, and the second positioning request is used to request the result of ranging / sidechain positioning of the terminal that is allowed to perform ranging / sidechain positioning among the at least two terminals.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein: The second positioning request does not include identification information of a terminal among the at least two terminals that is not allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning.

21. The method according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first network element sends a positioning response message to the positioning request device, where the positioning response message includes a positioning failure reason parameter of a terminal among the at least two terminals that is not allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning.

22. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: The first network element receives a first positioning request, where the first positioning request includes identification information of at least two terminals, and the first positioning request is used to request ranging / side chain positioning results of the at least two terminals; The first network element sends fourth privacy verification indication information for a candidate terminal among the at least two terminals to a fourth network element, wherein the fourth privacy verification indication information is used to indicate notification or confirmation of positioning of the candidate terminal; wherein the privacy configuration data of the candidate terminal indicates that a user needs to be notified, or that the user needs to confirm whether positioning is allowed; The first network element receives a privacy verification result from the fourth network element, where the privacy verification result represents a result of positioning notification or confirmation performed by the candidate terminal.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein: The at least two terminals include a second terminal, the second terminal and the first network element belong to the same public land mobile network PLMN, and the method further includes: The first network element obtains privacy configuration data of the second terminal; The first network element determines, according to the privacy configuration data of the second terminal, a second terminal that the privacy configuration data indicates needs to notify the user or requires the user to confirm whether positioning is allowed as a candidate terminal.

24. The method according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first network element determines a positioning initiating terminal; wherein the positioning initiating terminal is a terminal that performs an initiated ranging / sidelink positioning service, and the positioning initiating terminal is a terminal that is allowed to perform ranging / sidelink positioning among the at least two terminals.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein: The first network element determines the positioning initiating terminal, including: The first network element determines the terminal among the at least two terminals that is allowed to perform ranging / side chain positioning and obtains the address information of the service AMF network element as the positioning initiating terminal.

26. The method according to any one of claims 22 to 25, characterized in that: The first network element sending fourth privacy verification indication information for a candidate terminal among the at least two terminals to the fourth network element includes: The first network element sends a privacy notification service message for the candidate terminal to the fourth network element, where the privacy notification service message includes identification information of the candidate terminal and the fourth privacy verification indication information.

27. The method according to any one of claims 22 to 26, characterized in that: The fourth network element is a service access and mobility management function AMF network element of the candidate terminal, or the fourth network element is a GMLC network element in the roaming network where the candidate terminal is located.

28. A communication device, characterized in that: Comprising a module for executing the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, or a module for executing the method as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 16, or a module for executing the method as claimed in claim 17 or 18, or a module for executing the method as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 21, or a module for executing the method as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 27.

29. A communication device, characterized in that: including a processor and a memory; The processor is used to execute the computer program or instructions stored in the memory, so that the communication device implements the method described in any one of claims 1 to 10, or the communication device implements the method described in any one of claims 11 to 16, or the communication device implements the method described in claim 17 or 18, or the communication device implements the method described in any one of claims 19 to 21, or the communication device implements the method described in any one of claims 22 to 27.

30. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: A computer program or instruction is stored, and when the computer program or instruction is executed on a computer, the computer-readable storage medium implements the method described in any one of claims 1 to 10, or the computer-readable storage medium implements the method described in any one of claims 11 to 16, or the computer-readable storage medium implements the method described in claim 17 or 18, or the computer-readable storage medium implements the method described in any one of claims 19 to 21, or the computer-readable storage medium implements the method described in any one of claims 22 to 27.

31. A computer program product, characterized in that Comprising a computer program, which, when executed by a communication device, implements the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, or when executed by a communication device, implements the method as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 16, or when executed by a communication device, implements the method as claimed in claim 17 or 18, or when executed by a communication device, implements the method as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 21, or causes the computer-readable storage medium to implement the method as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 27.

32. A communication system, characterized in that: It comprises a first network element for executing the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 10, a second network element for executing the method as described in any one of claims 11 to 16, and an access and mobility management function AMF network element for executing the method as described in claim 17 or 18.

33. A chip system, characterized in that: include: A processor, wherein the processor is used to execute the method of any one of claims 1 to 10, or execute the method of any one of claims 11 to 16, or execute the method of claim 17 or 18, or execute the method of any one of claims 19 to 21, or cause the computer-readable storage medium to implement the method of any one of claims 22 to 27.

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