Method and communication device for determining location information

Abstract

Provided are a method for determining location information and a communication device, in the method, a positioning management function device can receive a first message, the first message is used for requesting location information of a terminal device, and the positioning management function device can send a second message to a first access network device according to the first message, the second message is used for indicating the positioning of the terminal equipment, the first access network equipment can return the positioning measurement data of the terminal equipment to the positioning management function equipment, and the positioning management function equipment can determine the position information of the terminal equipment according to the positioning measurement data. Therefore, the need of forwarding of access and mobility management equipment in the positioning process is avoided, and the flexibility of deployment can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communications, and more particularly to a method and a communication device for determining location information in the field of communications. Background Art

[0002] In the existing communication system, the positioning management function device can locate the terminal device. In the prior art, the positioning management function device needs to go through the access and mobility management device to locate the terminal device. For example, the positioning management function device sends a measurement instruction to the access and mobility management device, the terminal device measures the positioning reference signal sent by the access network device, the terminal device sends the measurement result to the access and mobility management function through the access network device, and the access and mobility management device sends the measurement result to the positioning management function device; for another example, the positioning management function device sends a measurement instruction to the access network device through the access and mobility management device, the access network device measures the positioning reference signal sent by the terminal device, and the access network device can send the measurement result to the positioning management function device through the access and mobility management function device. In other words, the positioning management function device relies on the forwarding of the access and mobility management device in the process of locating the terminal device, which will make the deployment of the positioning management function device inflexible. Summary of the invention

[0003] The embodiments of the present application provide a method and a communication device for determining location information, which can improve the flexibility of deployment.

[0004] In a first aspect, a method for determining location information is provided, which is applied to a positioning management function device, comprising: receiving a first message, the first message being used to request positioning of a terminal device; sending a second message to a first access network device according to the first message, the second message being used to indicate positioning of the terminal device, the first access network device being an access network device to which the terminal device accesses; receiving positioning measurement data from the first access network device, the positioning measurement data being used to determine the location information of the terminal device; and determining the location information of the terminal device according to the positioning measurement data.

[0005] In the above scheme, the positioning management function device can receive a first message, where the first message is used to request the location information of the terminal device. The positioning management function device can send a second message to the first access network device based on the first message, where the second message is used to indicate the positioning of the terminal device. The first access network device can return the positioning measurement data of the terminal device to the positioning management function device. The positioning management function device can determine the location information of the terminal device based on the positioning measurement data, thereby avoiding the need for forwarding of access and mobility management devices during the positioning process, and improving the flexibility of deployment.

[0006] In some possible implementations, the method also includes: obtaining a first identifier of the terminal device; the second message includes the first identifier; wherein, receiving positioning measurement data from the first access network device includes: receiving the positioning measurement data and the first identifier from the first access network device, the first identifier corresponding to the positioning measurement data.

[0007] In the above scheme, the positioning management function can obtain the first identifier of the terminal device, and the second message sent to the first access network device can include the first identifier. The first access network device can send the first identifier and positioning measurement data to the positioning management device. In this way, the positioning management function device can determine that the positioning measurement data is the positioning measurement data of the terminal device identified by the first identifier. Optionally, the first identifier is a temporary identifier of the terminal device. That is to say, the positioning management function device uses the temporary identifier of the terminal device in the process of sending information with the first access network device to avoid being attacked when using the permanent identifier of the terminal device, thereby improving security.

[0008] In some possible implementations, sending the second message to the first access network device according to the first message includes: sending the second message and a positioning event identifier to the first access network device according to the first message, and the positioning event identifier is used to identify a positioning event in which the terminal device performs a positioning; wherein, receiving the first identifier and the positioning measurement data from the first access network device includes: receiving the first identifier, the positioning event identifier and the positioning measurement data from the first access network device.

[0009] In the above solution, the positioning management function device can determine that the positioning measurement data is data corresponding to the positioning event identified by the positioning event identifier according to the positioning event identifier, so as to avoid the first terminal device being unable to determine which positioning event the positioning measurement data corresponds to.

[0010] Optionally, the positioning measurement data is obtained by measuring the first access network device, that is, the terminal device can send a positioning reference signal, and the first access network device can measure the positioning reference signal sent by the terminal device to obtain the positioning measurement data.

[0011] In some possible implementations, sending the second message to the first access network device according to the first message includes: sending the second message and the identifier of the positioning management function device to the first access network device according to the first message; wherein, receiving the first identifier and the positioning measurement data from the first access network device includes: receiving from the first access network device the first identifier and the positioning measurement data sent by the first access network device according to the identifier of the positioning management function device.

[0012] In the above solution, the first access network device determines to which device the second message is to be sent according to the identifier of the positioning management function device, so as to avoid the first access network device not knowing to which device the second message is to be sent, thereby improving the reliability of transmission.

[0013] Optionally, the positioning measurement data can be obtained by measuring the terminal device, that is, the first access network device can send a positioning reference signal, the terminal device can measure the positioning reference signal to obtain the positioning measurement data, and the terminal device sends the positioning measurement data and the identifier of the positioning management function device to the first access network device, so that the first access network device can know which device to send the positioning measurement data.

[0014] In some possible implementations, the method further includes: acquiring a positioning capability of the terminal device from a unified data storage device according to the first identifier; and determining a positioning method according to the positioning capability, wherein the positioning method corresponds to the positioning measurement data.

[0015] In the above solution, the positioning management function device can determine the positioning method according to the positioning capability, so that the obtained positioning measurement data corresponds to the positioning method.

[0016] In some possible implementations, the first message is also used to indicate the positioning type for positioning the terminal device; if the positioning type is the last known location of the terminal device, the method further includes: sending the first identifier to a unified data storage device to obtain the location information of the terminal device; wherein, determining the location information of the terminal device based on the positioning measurement data includes: if the location information of the terminal device is not obtained from the unified data storage device, determining the location information of the terminal device based on the positioning measurement data.

[0017] If the first message indicates that the positioning type for positioning the terminal device is the last position, the positioning management function device can first send the first identifier of the terminal device to the unified data storage device. If the unified data storage device saves the location information of the terminal device, the location information of the terminal device can be sent to the positioning management function device. At this time, the method ends. Optionally, if the unified data storage device does not save the location information of the terminal device, that is, the positioning management function device does not obtain the location information of the terminal device from the unified data storage device, the location information of the terminal device can be determined based on the positioning measurement data.

[0018] In some possible implementations, the receiving the first message includes: receiving the first message from the first access network device; wherein, the obtaining the first identifier includes: obtaining the first identifier from the first message.

[0019] In the above solution, the first message sent by the first access network device may include the first identifier of the terminal device, and the positioning management function device may obtain the first identifier from the first message.

[0020] In some possible implementations, the receiving the first message includes:

[0021] receiving the first message from a gateway mobile positioning center, where the first message includes a second identifier of the terminal device;

[0022] The obtaining of the first identifier includes:

[0023] Sending the second identifier to the unified data storage device;

[0024] Receiving, from the unified data storage device, the first identifier corresponding to the second identifier, where the first identifier is a temporary identifier of the terminal device, and the second identifier is a permanent identifier of the terminal device; or comprising:

[0025] Receiving the first identifier from the gateway mobile positioning center; or comprising:

[0026] Sending the second identifier to the first access network device;

[0027] The first identifier corresponding to the second identifier is received from the first access network device.

[0028] In the above scheme, the positioning management function device can obtain the second identifier from the first message from the gateway mobile positioning center, and obtain the first identifier corresponding to the second identifier from the unified data storage device according to the second identifier, or can receive the first identifier from the gateway mobile positioning center, or can obtain the first identifier from the first access network device according to the second identifier, the second identifier is a permanent identifier, and the first identifier is a temporary identifier. In other words, in order to improve the security of the terminal device and avoid using the permanent identifier of the terminal device for communication all the time, the temporary identifier of the terminal device can be used for communication, so that the security can be improved and the problem of leakage of the permanent identifier of the terminal device can be avoided.

[0029] In some possible implementations, the method further includes: acquiring an identifier of the first access network device;

[0030] The sending a second message to the first access network device according to the first message includes:

[0031] The second message is sent to the first access network device identified by the identifier of the first access network device according to the first message.

[0032] In the above scheme, if the positioning management function device has not communicated with the first access network device, the positioning management function device does not know to which access network device to send the second message. Therefore, the positioning management function can first obtain the identifier of the first access network device, and then send the second message to the first access network device identified by the identifier of the first access network device.

[0033] In some possible implementations, the acquiring the identifier of the first access network device includes:

[0034] Receiving an identifier of the first access network device from the gateway mobile positioning center; or comprising:

[0035] Sending the second identifier to the unified data storage device;

[0036] Receiving, from a unified data storage device, an identifier of the first access network device corresponding to the second identifier, where the second identifier is a permanent identifier of the terminal device; or comprising:

[0037] If the identifier of the first access network device is not obtained from the unified data storage device, paging is initiated to at least one access network device in the registration area of ​​the terminal device to obtain the identifier of the first access network device, and the at least one access network device includes the first access network device.

[0038] In the above scheme, the positioning management function device can obtain the identifier of the first access network device from the gateway mobile positioning center, or the positioning management function device can obtain the second identifier of the terminal device from the gateway mobile positioning center, the gateway mobile positioning center obtains the identifier of the first access network device from the unified data storage device according to the second identifier, or the positioning management function device can initiate paging within the registration area of ​​the terminal device to obtain the identifier of the first access network device, thereby providing several methods for obtaining the identifier of the first access network device.

[0039] In some possible implementations, the method further includes: sending first indication information to the first access network device, where the first indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to maintain a radio resource control RRC connection state.

[0040] In the above scheme, for periodic positioning services, it is necessary to periodically position the terminal device, and the first access network device needs to periodically report positioning measurement data. Therefore, the positioning management function device can send a first indication message to the first access network device, and the first indication message is used to instruct the terminal device to maintain an RRC connection state. The first access network device keeps the terminal device in an RRC connection state according to the first indication message, so that the power consumption problem caused by the terminal device constantly establishing an RRC connection with an access network device can be avoided.

[0041] In a second aspect, a method for determining location information is provided, which is applied to a first access network device, including: receiving a third message, wherein the third message is used to request the location information of a terminal device; determining a positioning management function device based on the third message; and sending a first message to the positioning management function device, wherein the first message is used to request positioning of the terminal device.

[0042] In the above solution, the first access network device can determine the positioning management function device according to the third message used to request the location information of the terminal device, thus avoiding the problem of being unable to locate due to the inability to determine the positioning management function device.

[0043] In some possible implementations, the third message includes second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the third message is used to request positioning.

[0044] That is to say, the second indication information in the third message may directly indicate that the third message is used to request positioning, so that the first access network device may learn that a network element for positioning needs to be determined according to the second indication information.

[0045] In some possible implementations, determining the positioning management function device based on the third message includes: sending a fourth message to a network element selection function device based on the second indication information included in the third message, the fourth message being used to request discovery of the positioning management function device; and receiving a third identifier from the network element selection function device, the third identifier being used to identify the positioning management function device.

[0046] In the above solution, the first access network device may request the network element selection function device to discover the positioning management function device, thereby providing a method for discovering the positioning management function device.

[0047] In some possible implementations, the receiving the third message includes: receiving the third message from a terminal device or a gateway mobile positioning center.

[0048] In the above solution, if the third message is received from the terminal device, it means that the terminal device initiates a positioning request, and if the third message is received from the gateway mobile positioning center, it means that the gateway mobile positioning center initiates a positioning request.

[0049] In some possible implementations, the method further includes: acquiring a first identifier of the terminal device; and the first message includes the first identifier.

[0050] In the above scheme, the first access device can obtain the first identifier of the terminal device, and can carry the first identifier of the terminal device in the first message and send it to the positioning management function device, so that the positioning management function device can know how to locate the terminal device with the first identifier.

[0051] In some possible implementations, the obtaining the first identifier of the terminal device includes:

[0052] Receive a first identification of the terminal device from a gateway mobile positioning center; or,

[0053] Receive the second identifier of the terminal device from the network element mobile center, and determine the first identifier based on the second identifier, wherein the first identifier is a temporary identifier of the terminal device and the second identifier is a permanent identifier of the terminal device.

[0054] In the above scheme, the first access network device can receive the first identifier of the terminal device from the gateway mobile positioning center, or can obtain the first identifier of the terminal device based on the second identifier of the terminal device received from the gateway positioning center. The first identifier can be a temporary identifier. In this way, the first access network device can use the first identifier to communicate with other network elements, thereby improving the security of communication.

[0055] In some possible implementations, the method further includes: receiving a second message from a positioning management function device, the second message including a first identifier, and the second message is used to indicate positioning of the terminal device; sending the first identifier and positioning measurement data to the positioning management function device according to the second message, the positioning measurement data corresponding to the first identifier, and the positioning measurement data is used to determine the location information of the terminal device.

[0056] In some possible implementations, the receiving the second message from the positioning management function device includes: receiving the second message and a positioning event identifier from the positioning management function device, where the positioning event identifier is used to identify a positioning event for positioning the terminal device once;

[0057] The sending the first identifier and the positioning measurement data to the positioning management function device according to the second message includes:

[0058] The first identifier, the positioning measurement data and the positioning event identifier are sent to a positioning management function device.

[0059] In some possible implementations, the method further includes: receiving, from a positioning management function device, the second message sent by the positioning management function device, the first identifier and an identifier of the positioning management function device, the second message being used to instruct to locate the terminal device;

[0060] Sending the second message and the identifier of the positioning management function device to the terminal device;

[0061] receiving, from the terminal device, an identifier of the positioning management function device and positioning measurement data of the terminal device;

[0062] The first identifier and the positioning measurement data of the terminal device are sent to the positioning management function device according to the identifier of the positioning management function device.

[0063] In some possible implementations, the method further includes: receiving first indication information from the positioning management function device, the first indication information being used to instruct the terminal device to maintain a radio resource control RRC connection state; and maintaining the terminal device in a radio resource RRC connection state according to the first indication information.

[0064] The description of the second aspect may refer to the description of the first aspect, and will not be described in detail to avoid redundancy.

[0065] According to a third aspect, a method for determining location information is provided, which is applied to a gateway mobile positioning center, and includes: receiving a fifth message, wherein the fifth message is used to request the location information of a terminal device; determining a positioning management function device according to the information of the terminal device; and sending a first message to the positioning management function device based on the fifth message, wherein the first message is used to request positioning of the terminal device.

[0066] In the above solution, the gateway mobile positioning center can determine the positioning management function device according to the information of the terminal device, thus avoiding the problem of being unable to locate due to the inability to determine the positioning management function device.

[0067] Optionally, the fifth message is used to request the location information of which device, and the positioning management function device can be determined based on the information of which device.

[0068] In some possible implementations, the information of the terminal device indicates a registration area of ​​the terminal device or an identifier of a first access network device accessed by the terminal device.

[0069] In the above solution, the gateway mobile positioning center can determine the positioning management function device according to the registration area of ​​the terminal device or the identifier of the first access network device accessed by the terminal device, and a method for determining the positioning management function device is provided.

[0070] In some possible implementations, the method further includes: sending a second identifier of the terminal device to a unified data storage device; and receiving information of the terminal device sent by the unified data storage device according to the second identifier.

[0071] In the above scheme, the gateway mobile positioning center can send the second identifier of the terminal device to the unified data storage device, and the unified data storage device can save the information of the terminal device corresponding to the second identifier. In this way, the unified data storage device can send the information of the terminal device corresponding to the second identifier to the gateway mobile positioning center.

[0072] In some possible implementations, the first message includes an identifier of the first access network device.

[0073] In the above solution, the first message sent by the gateway mobile positioning center to the positioning management function device may include the identifier of the first access network device, so that the positioning management device can send the second message to the first access network device identified by the identifier of the first access network device.

[0074] In some possible implementations, the method further includes: the fifth message includes a second identifier of the terminal device; and / or,

[0075] The first message includes a first identifier of the terminal device and / or a second identifier of the terminal device, where the second identifier is a permanent identifier of the terminal device and the first identifier is a temporary identifier of the terminal device.

[0076] In the above scheme, the fifth message received by the gateway mobile positioning center may include the permanent identification of the terminal device. The gateway mobile positioning center can determine the temporary identification of the terminal device based on the permanent identification of the terminal device, and can include the temporary identification of the terminal device in the first message sent to the positioning management function device. In this way, the positioning management function device can determine the located terminal device based on the temporary identification of the terminal device, which can improve the security of positioning.

[0077] In some possible implementations, the first message includes a first identifier of the terminal device, and the method further includes:

[0078] Sending the second identifier to the unified data storage device;

[0079] Receive a first identifier corresponding to the second identifier sent by the unified data storage device.

[0080] In the above scheme, the gateway mobile positioning center can send the second identifier to the unified data storage device, the unified data storage device can save the first identifier corresponding to the second identifier, and the unified data storage device can return the first identifier to the gateway mobile positioning center. In this way, the third message sent by the gateway mobile positioning center to the first access network device can include the first identifier.

[0081] In a fourth aspect, a method for determining location information is provided, which is applied to a gateway mobile positioning center, and includes: receiving a fifth message, the fifth message being used to request location information of a terminal device, the fifth message including a second identifier of the terminal device; obtaining an identifier of a first access network device based on the second identifier of the terminal device; and sending a third message to the first access network device based on the identifier of the first access network device, the third message being used to request location information of the terminal device.

[0082] In the above scheme, the gateway mobile positioning center can determine the identifier of the first access network device to which the terminal device accesses based on the second identifier of the terminal device included in the fifth message, and can send a third message to the first access network device based on the identifier of the first access network device, so that the first access network device can send a first message to the positioning management function device based on the third message, thereby locating the terminal device.

[0083] In some possible implementations, obtaining the identifier of the first access network device based on the second identifier of the terminal device includes: if the identifier of the first access network device is not obtained from the unified data storage device, obtaining the registration area of ​​the terminal device based on the second identifier; initiating paging to at least one access network device within the registration area of ​​the terminal device to obtain the identifier of the first access network device, the at least one access network device including the first access network device.

[0084] In the above scheme, the gateway mobile positioning center can try to obtain the identifier of the first access network device from the unified data storage device. If the identifier of the first access network device is not obtained from the unified data storage device, paging can be initiated to at least one access network device in the registration area of ​​the terminal device. If a certain access network device is paged, the identifier of the first access network device can be obtained. In other words, the gateway mobile positioning center is not sure whether the unified data storage device has stored the identifier of the first access network device. It can try to obtain the identifier of the first access network device from the unified data storage device. If the identifier of the first access network device is not obtained from the unified data storage device, the identifier of the first access network device can be obtained by paging.

[0085] In some possible implementations, obtaining the identifier of the first access network device based on the second identifier of the terminal device includes: sending the second identifier of the terminal device to a unified data storage device; and receiving the identifier of the first access network device corresponding to the second identifier sent by the unified data storage device.

[0086] In the above scheme, the gateway mobile positioning center can send the second identifier of the terminal device to the unified data storage device. If the unified data storage device saves the identifier of the first access network device corresponding to the second identifier, the identifier of the first access network device can be sent to the gateway mobile positioning center.

[0087] In some possible implementations, the third message includes a first identifier of the terminal device and / or a second identifier of the terminal device, the first identifier is a temporary identifier of the terminal device, and the second identifier is a permanent identifier of the terminal device.

[0088] In the above scheme, the third message sent by the gateway mobile positioning center to the first access network device identified by the identifier of the first access network device may include the first identifier and / or the second identifier. If the third message includes the first identifier, the first access network device can be informed of the positioning of the terminal device corresponding to the first identifier; if the third message includes the second identifier, the first access network device can obtain the first identifier of the terminal device according to the second identifier, thereby obtaining the positioning of the terminal device corresponding to the first identifier.

[0089] In some possible implementations, the third message includes the first identifier, and the method further includes: sending the second identifier in the fifth message to a unified data storage device; and receiving the first identifier of the terminal device corresponding to the second identifier sent by the unified data storage device.

[0090] In the above scheme, the gateway mobile positioning center can send the second identifier to the unified data storage device, the unified data storage device can save the first identifier corresponding to the second identifier, and the unified data storage device can return the first identifier to the gateway mobile positioning center. In this way, the third message sent by the gateway mobile positioning center to the first access network device can include the first identifier.

[0091] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device having the function of implementing any one of the above aspects. The function can be implemented by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules or units corresponding to the above functions. For example, a transceiver module or unit, a processing module or unit, an acquisition module or unit, etc.

[0092] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, comprising: a memory and a processor, the memory being used to store a computer program; the processor being used to enable the communication device to execute any one of the methods described in the above aspects when calling the computer program.

[0093] In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip system, which includes a processor, the processor is coupled to a memory, and the processor executes a computer program stored in the memory to implement any of the methods described in the above aspects.

[0094] The chip system may be a single chip or a chip module composed of multiple chips.

[0095] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, the method described in any one of the above aspects is implemented.

[0096] In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product, which, when executed on a communication device, enables the communication device to execute any of the methods described in the above aspects.

[0097] It can be understood that the beneficial effects of the fifth to ninth aspects mentioned above can be found in the relevant descriptions of the first to fourth aspects mentioned above, and will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0098] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the system architecture provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0099] Figure 2 It is another system architecture schematic diagram provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0100] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of a method for determining location information provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0101] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of another method for determining location information provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0102] Figure 5 This is another schematic diagram of a method for determining location information provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0103] Figure 6 This is another schematic diagram of a method for determining location information provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0104] Figure 7 This is another schematic diagram of a method for determining location information provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0105] Figure 8 This is another schematic diagram of a method for determining location information provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0106] Fig. 9 It is a schematic block diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0107] Fig.10 It is a schematic block diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0108] 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.

[0109] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, for example: global system for mobile communications (GSM) system, code division multiple access (CDMA) system, wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) system, general packet radio service (GPRS), long term evolution (LTE) system, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, LTE time division duplex (TDD), universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication system, future fifth generation (5G) system or new radio (NR), etc.

[0110] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a system architecture applied to an embodiment of the present application is shown. Figure 1As shown, the system 100 includes: user equipment (UE) 101, radio access network (RAN) 102, user plane function network element (UPF) 103, data network (DN) 104, core access and mobility management function (AMF) 105, session management function network element (SMF) 106, policy control function (PCF) 107, unified data management (UDM) 108, positioning management function device (LMF) 109, authentication server function (AUSF) 110, network repository function (NRF) 111, gateway mobile location center (GMLC) 112 or unified data storage (UDR) 113 device at least one.

[0111] UE 101, also known as terminal equipment, mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication equipment, user agent or user device, etc.

[0112] UE 101 may be a device that provides voice / data connectivity to a user, such as a handheld device or a vehicle-mounted device with a wireless connection function. At present, some examples of terminal devices include: mobile phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, PDAs, mobile internet devices (MIDs), wearable devices, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals in self driving, wireless terminals in remote medical surgery, wireless terminals in smart grids, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart cities, wireless terminals in smart homes, cellular phones, cordless phones, session initiation protocol (SIP) phones, wireless local loop (WLL) stations, personal digital assistants (PDAs), handheld devices with wireless communication functions, computing devices or other processing devices connected to wireless modems, vehicle-mounted devices, wearable devices, terminal devices in 5G networks or future evolved public land mobile communication networks (public land mobile The present application does not limit this, or UE 101 may be a communication chip in these terminal devices.

[0113] RAN 102 can be a device that communicates with UE 101. The RAN 102 can also be called an access network device or a wireless access network device. It can be a transmission reception point (TRP), an evolved NodeB (eNB or eNodeB) in an LTE system, a home base station (for example, homeevolved NodeB, or home Node B, HNB), a baseband unit (BBU), or a wireless controller in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario, or the RAN 102 can be a relay station, an access point, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a network device in a 5G network, or a network device in a future evolved PLMN network, etc. It can also be an access point (AP) in a WLAN, or a gNB in ​​an NR system. The above-mentioned RAN 102 can also be a city base station, a micro base station, a micro-micro base station, a femto-micro base station, etc., and this application does not limit this.

[0114] UPF 103 is mainly used for user-plane service processing, such as service routing, forwarding, billing, service quality (QoS) mapping and execution, uplink identification and routing to the data network, downlink packet buffering and notification triggering of downlink data arrival, connection with external data network, etc. UPF 103 can also be called user-plane network element or user-plane device in 5G, which may be the name in future communications, and this application does not limit it.

[0115] DN 104 provides data transmission services for UE 101 and may be a public data network (PDN) such as the Internet, that is, data for the service requested by UE 101 originates from DN 104 .

[0116] AMF 105 is mainly used for mobility management and access management, etc. It can be used to implement other functions of the mobility management entity (MME) except session management, such as lawful interception, or access authorization (or authentication), registration of UE 101, mobility management, tracking area update process, reachability detection, selection of session management network element, mobile state transition management, etc. AMF 105 can also be called access and mobility management function, access and mobility management device, access and mobility management network element, access management device, mobility management device, etc. In future communication systems, AMF 105 can also have other names. The name of the network element with the mobility function of managing UE 101 in the embodiment of the present application is not limited.

[0117] SMF 106 is responsible for selecting or reselecting UPF, and is also responsible for the management of session-related services, such as IP address allocation for session establishment and release, and is responsible for session establishment, modification and release, and quality of service (QoS) control. SMF 106 may also be called session management function, session management device, session management function device, session management function network element, session management network element, etc. In future communication systems, SMF 106 may also have other names, and the name of the network element with session management function in the embodiment of the present application is not limited.

[0118] PCF 107 is used to implement policy control functions, charging policy control functions, quality of service (QoS) control, etc. In the process of PCF 107 performing QoS control, PCF 107 can generate QoS rules. PCF 107 can also be called policy control function, policy control device, policy control function device, policy control function network element, policy control network element, etc. In future communication systems, PCF 107 can also have other names, and the name of the network element with policy control function in the embodiment of the present application is not limited.

[0119] UDM 108 is responsible for managing the contract information of UE 101. UDM 108 may also be called data management function, data management device, data management function device, data management function network element, data management network element, unified data management function, unified data management device, unified data management function device, unified data management function network element, unified data management network element, etc. In future communication systems, UDM 108 may also have other names, and the name of the network element with data management function in the embodiment of the present application is not limited.

[0120] LMF 109 is used to locate UE 101, and can control other network elements to perform measurements on UE 101. LMF 109 can also be called positioning management function, positioning management device, positioning management function device, positioning management function network element, positioning management network element, positioning management function, positioning management device, positioning management function device, positioning management function network element, positioning management network element, etc. In future communication systems, LMF 109 can also have other names, and the embodiment of the present application does not limit the name of the network element with positioning management function device.

[0121] AUSF 110 is used to authenticate the UE. AUSF 110 can be called authentication service function, authentication service device, authentication service function device, authentication service function network element, authentication service network element, etc. In future communication systems, AUSF 110 can also have other names. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the name of the network element with the authentication service function.

[0122] NRF 111 supports registration and discovery of network functions. NRF 111 can be called network storage function, network storage device, network storage function device, network storage function network element, network storage network element, etc. In future communication systems, NRF111 can also have other names. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the name of the network element with network storage.

[0123] GMLC 112 is a gateway for managing positioning. GMLC 112 may be referred to as a gateway mobile positioning center function, a gateway mobile positioning center device, a gateway mobile positioning center device, a gateway mobile positioning center network element, a gateway mobile positioning center network element, etc. In future communication systems, GMLC 112 may also have other names. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the name of the network element with network storage.

[0124] UDR 113 is used to store data, for example, to store the corresponding management of the permanent identification and temporary identification of UE 101, or to store the corresponding relationship between the permanent identification of UE 101, the temporary identification and the identification of RAN 102. UDR 113 may also be called unified data storage function, unified data storage function device, unified data storage device, unified data storage network element, unified data storage library, etc. In future communication systems, UDR 113 may also have other names, and the embodiment of the present application does not limit the name of the network element with network storage.

[0125] It should be noted that Figure 1The naming of each network element included in (such as UE 101, RAN 102, UPF 103, DN 104, AMF 105, SMF 106, PCF 107, UDM 108, LMF 109, AUSF 110, NRF 111, GMLC 112 and UDR 113, etc.) is only a name, and the name does not limit the function of the network element itself. In 5G networks and other future networks, the above-mentioned network elements may also have other names, and the embodiments of the present application do not make specific limitations on this. For example, in a 6G network, some or all of the above-mentioned network elements may use the terminology in 5G, or may be other names, etc., which are uniformly explained here and will not be repeated below.

[0126] It should be noted that Figure 1 The network elements in the network do not have to exist at the same time, and the required network elements can be determined based on the needs. Figure 1 The connection relationship between each network element in the network is not uniquely determined and can be adjusted according to needs.

[0127] It should also be noted that Figure 1 In addition to UE 101, other network elements can be referred to as network devices. In other words, network devices may include Figure 1 One or more network elements other than UE 101. The network equipment may include access network equipment and core network equipment. Figure 1 The RAN 102 in the example may be referred to as an access network device. Figure 1 The network elements except RAN 102, UE 101 and DN 105 are called core network devices.

[0128] like Figure 1 As shown, there is an interface between UE 101 and AMF 105, there is an interface between RAN 102 and AMF 105, there is an interface between AMF 105 and other core network elements, and the interaction between other core network elements and UE 101 or RAN 102 needs to rely on the forwarding of AMF 105, which will lead to inflexible deployment of core network elements. For example, in a positioning scenario, the information sent by UE 101 to LMF 109 needs to be forwarded by AMF 105, or the information that LMF 109 needs to send to UE 101 also needs to be forwarded by AMF 105, which will lead to inflexible deployment of LMF 109. In some scenarios, RAN can directly interface with other core network elements, for example, Figure 2As shown, there can be interfaces between RAN 102 and UPF 103, SMF 106, AMF 105, PCF 107, LMF 109 and selected functional network elements. In this way, flexibility can be improved and the core network elements do not depend on the deployment of AMF 105.

[0129] Below Figure 2 The network elements in FIG. 100 are described in detail. For the introduction of UE 101, RAN 102, UPF 103, DN 104, AMF 105, SMF 106, PCF 107, UDM 108, and LMF 109, please refer to Figure 1 This section describes how to select functional network elements and identify storage functional network elements.

[0130] (1) The selection function network element is used to select a core network element for UE 101, which can be Figure 1 NRF 111 shown. The core network elements in the network can register with the selection function element, and then the selection function element can select the target core network element for the terminal device from the registered core network elements. The selection function element can obtain the subscription data of the terminal device from UDM108, and then select the target core network element for UE 101 based on the core network element registration information and subscription data.

[0131] (2) The identification storage function network element is used to store information of UE 101, for example, to store identification information of UE 101. The identification information of UE 101 may be a temporary identification of the UE, or a permanent identification of the UE, or a correspondence between a temporary identification of UE 101 and a permanent identification, or a correspondence between a temporary identification of UE 101, a permanent identification of UE 101 and an identification of RAN 102. Optionally, the identification storage function network element may also be referred to as a storage function entity or a storage device. It is understandable that the identification storage function network element may also be replaced by other possible names, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. Optionally, the function of the identification storage function network element may be implemented by other network elements, for example, by UDM 108 or UDR. That is to say, at this time Figure 2 The identification storage function network element in can be integrated with UDM 108.

[0132] It should be noted that Figure 1 and Figure 2The naming of each network element included in (such as UE, RAN, UPF, DN, AMF, SMF, PCF and UDM, etc.) is only a name, and the name does not limit the function of the network element itself. In 5G networks and other future networks, the above-mentioned network elements may also have other names, and the embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this. For example, in a 6G network, some or all of the above-mentioned network elements may use the terminology in 5G, or may be other names, etc., which are uniformly explained here and will not be repeated below.

[0133] It should be noted that Figure 1 and Figure 2 The network elements in the network do not have to exist at the same time. The network elements required can be determined according to the needs, and can also include Figure 1 and Figure 2 More or fewer network elements. Figure 1 and Figure 2 The connection relationship between each network element in the network is not uniquely determined and can be adjusted according to needs.

[0134] The network elements in the embodiments of the present application may also be referred to as entities or functional entities. For example, AMF may also be referred to as an AMF entity or an AMF device, and SMF may also be referred to as an SMF entity or an SMF device. The above network elements may be network elements in hardware devices, software functions running on dedicated hardware, or virtualized functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform). Optionally, the above network elements may be implemented by one device, or by multiple devices, or may be a functional module within a device, and the embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this.

[0135] For the convenience of description in the following embodiments, LMF 109 is used as a positioning management function device, RAN 102 is used as a first access network device, UE 101 is used as a terminal device, UDM 104 is used as a unified data storage device, AMF 105 is used as an access and mobility management device, and GMLC 112 is used as a gateway mobile positioning center.

[0136] In existing communication systems, positioning management function devices can locate terminal devices. In the prior art, the positioning management function device needs to go through the access and mobility management device to locate the terminal device. For example, the positioning management function device sends a measurement instruction to the terminal device through the access and mobility management device, the terminal device measures the positioning reference signal sent by the access network device, the terminal device sends the measurement result to the access and mobility management function through the access network device, and the access and mobility management device sends the measurement result to the positioning management function device; for another example, the positioning management function device sends a measurement instruction to the access network device through the access and mobility management device, the access network device measures the positioning reference signal sent by the terminal device, and the access network device can send the measurement result to the positioning management function device through the access and mobility management function device. In other words, the positioning management function device relies on the forwarding of the access and mobility management device in the process of locating the terminal device, which will make the deployment of the positioning management function device inflexible. Therefore, in Figure 2 In the scenario shown, there is an interface between the access network equipment and the core network element, so a positioning method is urgently needed to meet Figure 2 Positioning in the scenario shown. Figure 3 As shown, a method 300 for determining location information provided by an embodiment of the present application is shown, such as Figure 3 As shown, the method 300 includes:

[0137] S310, the terminal device sends a third message to the first access network device, and the first access network device receives the third message from the terminal device. The third message is used to request location information of the terminal device.

[0138] That is, the need of the terminal device to determine the location information of the terminal device may trigger the execution of S310.

[0139] Among them, the first access network device may be an access network device to which the terminal device accesses.

[0140] Optionally, S310 is an optional step and may not exist. That is to say, when the first access network device has a positioning requirement for the terminal device or the first access network device receives a request for the terminal device from other network devices, S320 may be directly executed. In other words, the positioning requirement may be initiated by the terminal device or by the first access network device.

[0141] Optionally, the third message includes a second identifier of the terminal device, and optionally, the second identifier may be a permanent identifier of the terminal device or an identifier assigned to the terminal device by a first access network device or a core network element such as an access and mobility management device. For example, the second identifier may be a generic public subscription identity (GPSI) or a subscription permanent identifier (SUPI).

[0142] Optionally, the third message may include second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the third message is used to request location information.

[0143] Optionally, the message type of the third message may also indicate that the third message is used to request location information.

[0144] Optionally, the third message is a positioning request message.

[0145] Optionally, the third message may be a radio resource control (RRC) message.

[0146] S320, the first access network device sends a first message to the positioning management function device, and the positioning management function device receives the first message from the first access network device, where the first message is used to request positioning of the terminal device.

[0147] Optionally, before S320, the method 300 further includes: the first access network device determines the positioning management function device according to the received third message, so that the first message can be sent to the determined positioning management function device in S320.

[0148] Optionally, if the third message may be a second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate that the third message is used to request location information, the first access network device may determine that the third message is used to request location information based on the second indication information, so the first access network device needs to determine the positioning management function device, and therefore, the first access network device may send a fourth message to the network element selection function device based on the second indication information, and the fourth message is used to request the discovery of the positioning management function device, and the network element selection function device sends a third identifier to the first access network device, and the third identifier is used to identify the positioning management function device. Or the first access network device may determine the positioning management function device based on the positioning management function device configured locally. In other words, the first access network device learns that the third message is used to request location information, so the first access network device needs to determine a network element for positioning, and the first access network device sends a fourth message to the network element selection function device for requesting the discovery of the network element for positioning, and the network element selection function device selects a suitable positioning management function device based on the identifier of the first access network device that sends the fourth message, and sends the identifier of the positioning management function device to the first access network device. Optionally, if the third message includes the second identifier, the fourth message may also include the second identifier. After receiving the second identifier, the network element selection function device obtains the registration area of ​​the terminal device according to the second identifier. The network element selection function selects the positioning management function device according to the registration area of ​​the terminal device, and sends the identifier of the positioning management function device to the first access network device. Optionally, the network element selection function device may be as follows: Figure 2 The network element selection function shown may also be Figure 1 The NRF 111 shown.

[0149] Optionally, if the message type of the third message can indicate that the third message is used to request location information or the third message is a positioning request message, the first access network device can determine that the third message is used to request location information according to the message type of the third message or the name of the positioning request message, so the first access network device needs to determine the positioning management function device. Therefore, the first access network device can send a fourth message to the network element selection function device according to the message type of the third message, and the fourth message is used to request the discovery of the positioning management function device. The network element selection function device sends a third identifier to the first access network device, and the third identifier is used to identify the positioning management function device. Or the first access network device can determine the positioning management function device according to the locally configured positioning management function device. In other words, the first access network device learns that the third message is used to request location information, so the first access network device needs to determine a network element for positioning, and the first access network device sends a fourth message to the network element selection function device for requesting the discovery of the network element for positioning. The network element selection function device selects a suitable positioning management function device according to the identifier of the first access network device that sends the fourth message, and sends the identifier of the positioning management function device to the first access network device. Optionally, if the third message includes the second identifier, the fourth message may also include the second identifier. After receiving the second identifier, the network element selection function device obtains the registration area of ​​the terminal device according to the second identifier. The network element selection function selects the positioning management function device according to the registration area of ​​the terminal device, and sends the identifier of the positioning management function device to the first access network device. Optionally, the network element selection function device may be as follows: Figure 2 The network element selection function shown may also be Figure 1 The NRF 111 shown.

[0150] Optionally, the first access network device may obtain the first identifier of the terminal device. Optionally, the first message may include the first identifier of the terminal device, and the first identifier is used to identify the terminal device. The first identifier may be a temporary identifier assigned to the terminal device by the first access network device or the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device. That is, after the first access network device obtains the first identifier of the terminal device, the first message sent to the positioning management function device may carry the first identifier. Optionally, the first access network device obtains or receives the first identifier of the terminal device from the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device. Optionally, if the third message includes the second identifier of the terminal device, the first access network device may determine the first identifier based on the second identifier. For example, the first access network device stores the correspondence between the second identifier and the first identifier of the terminal device. For another example, the first access network device may assign a first identifier to the terminal device based on the second identifier, the second identifier being a permanent identifier, and the first identifier being a temporary identifier. Optionally, if the third message includes the second identifier of the terminal device, the first access network device can send the second identifier to the unified data storage device, the unified data storage device stores the correspondence between the second identifier and the first identifier of the terminal device, and the unified data storage device can send the first identifier to the first access network device, wherein the second identifier is a permanent identifier and the first identifier is a temporary identifier. In other words, in order to improve the security of the terminal device and avoid always using the permanent identifier of the terminal device for communication, the first access network device can obtain the temporary identifier of the terminal device based on the permanent identifier of the terminal device, so that the temporary identifier can be used for communication, which can improve security and avoid the problem of leakage of the permanent identifier of the terminal device.

[0151] Optionally, if the third message includes the second identifier, the first message sent by the first access network device to the positioning management function device may also include the second identifier.

[0152] Optionally, the first message is also used to indicate the type of positioning for locating the terminal device, or the first message may further include positioning type indication information. If the first message indicates or the positioning type indication information indicates that the type of positioning for locating the terminal device is the last position, the positioning management function device may first request the unified data storage device to obtain the location information of the terminal device or send the first identifier of the terminal device. If the unified data storage device saves the location information of the terminal device, the location information of the terminal device may be sent to the positioning management function device. At this time, method 300 ends and S330-S350 may not be executed. Optionally, if the unified data storage device does not save the location information of the terminal device, that is, the positioning management function device does not obtain the location information of the terminal device from the unified data storage device, then S330-S350 may continue to be executed.

[0153] S330, the positioning management function device sends a second message to the first access network device according to the first message, and the first access network device receives the second message from the positioning management function device, where the second message is used to instruct positioning of the terminal device.

[0154] The second message may include information such as the positioning method, positioning accuracy, and positioning period of the terminal device.

[0155] Optionally, S330 includes: the positioning management function device sends a second message and a positioning event identifier to the first access network device according to the first message, the positioning event identifier is used to identify a positioning event in which the terminal device performs a positioning, and the first access network device receives the second message and the positioning event identifier sent by the positioning management function device. Optionally, the positioning management function device can locate the terminal device once or multiple times, and different positioning event identifiers can be sent for different positioning events. In this way, after the positioning management function device receives the positioning measurement data and the positioning event identifier from the first access network device, it can determine that the positioning measurement data is the positioning measurement data corresponding to the positioning event identifier according to the positioning event identifier.

[0156] Optionally, S330 includes: the positioning management function device sends a second message and an identifier of the positioning management function device to the first access network device according to the first message, and the first access network device receives the second message and the identifier of the positioning management function device from the positioning management function device. Optionally, the second message and the identifier of the positioning management function device are encapsulated through a container, that is, after the first access network device receives the second message and the identifier of the positioning management function device, it also directly forwards them to the terminal device without parsing.

[0157] Optionally, the positioning management function device can obtain the first identifier of the terminal device. In S330, the positioning management function device can include the first identifier of the terminal device in the second message sent to the first access network device, so that the first access network device can determine to locate the terminal device identified by the first identifier. For example, if the first message includes the first identifier of the first terminal device, the first identifier of the first terminal device can be obtained in the first message. Optionally, if the first message includes the second identifier of the first terminal device, the positioning management function device can obtain the first identifier based on the second identifier. For example, the positioning management function device sends the second identifier to the unified data storage device, and the unified data storage device stores the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier. The unified data storage device can send the first identifier corresponding to the second identifier to the positioning management function device.

[0158] Optionally, if the first message includes the second identifier of the first terminal device, in S330, the second message that the positioning management function device can send to the first access network device can also include the second identifier of the terminal device, that is, the second identifier is a permanent identifier of the terminal device, and the second message that the positioning management function device can send to the first access network device includes the permanent identifier of the terminal device, so that the first access network device can determine to locate the terminal device identified by the second identifier. In other words, the first access network device can receive the first identifier and / or the second identifier from the positioning management function device, so that the first access network device can determine to locate the terminal device with the first identifier and / or the second identifier.

[0159] S340: The first access network device sends positioning measurement data to the positioning management function device, and the positioning management function device receives the positioning measurement data from the first access network device.

[0160] Optionally, if the second message sent by the positioning management function device to the first access network device includes a first identifier, S340 includes: the first access network device sends positioning measurement data and a first identifier to the positioning management function device, and the positioning management function device receives the positioning measurement data and the first identifier from the first access network device, wherein the first identifier corresponds to the positioning measurement data, that is, the positioning measurement data is the positioning measurement data of the terminal device identified by the first identifier, thereby avoiding the positioning management function device being unable to identify which terminal device the positioning measurement data belongs to.

[0161] Optionally, if the positioning management function device in S330 sends the positioning event identifier and the second message to the first access network device, then S340 includes: the first access network device sends the positioning measurement data and the positioning event identifier to the positioning management function device, and the positioning management function device receives the positioning measurement data and the positioning event identifier from the first access network device, so that the positioning management function device can determine that the positioning measurement data is data corresponding to the positioning event identified by the positioning event identifier based on the positioning event identifier. Optionally, the positioning measurement data is measured by the first access network device, that is, the terminal device can send a positioning reference signal, and the first access network device can measure the positioning reference signal sent by the terminal device and obtain the positioning measurement data. Optionally, if the second message sent by the positioning management function device to the first access network device includes the first identifier, S340 includes: the first access network device sends positioning measurement data, a positioning event identifier and a first identifier to the positioning management function device, and the positioning management function device receives positioning measurement data, a positioning event identifier and a first identifier from the first access network device, wherein the first identifier corresponds to the positioning measurement data and the positioning event identifier, and the positioning management function device can determine, based on the first identifier and the positioning event identifier, that the positioning measurement data is positioning measurement data corresponding to a positioning event identified by the positioning event identifier of the terminal device identified by the first identifier.

[0162] Optionally, if the positioning management function device in S330 sends a second message and an identifier of the positioning management function device to the first access network device according to the first message, then S340 includes: the first access network device sends a second message to the positioning management function device according to the identifier of the positioning management function device, that is, the first access network device determines to send the second message to the positioning management function device corresponding to the identifier according to the identifier of the positioning management function device, so as to avoid the first access network device not knowing to which device to send the second message. Optionally, the positioning measurement data can be measured by the terminal device, that is, the first access network device can send a positioning reference signal, the terminal device can measure the positioning reference signal to obtain the positioning measurement data, and the terminal device sends the positioning measurement data and the identifier of the positioning management function device to the first access network device, so that the first access network device can know to send the positioning measurement data to the positioning management function device corresponding to the identifier. Optionally, if the second message sent by the positioning management function device to the first access network device includes a first identifier, S340 includes: the first access network device sends positioning measurement data and the first identifier to the positioning management function device according to the identifier of the positioning management function device, and the positioning management function device receives the positioning measurement data and the first identifier from the first access network device, wherein the first identifier corresponds to the positioning measurement data, and the positioning management function device can determine, based on the first identifier, that the positioning measurement data is the positioning measurement data corresponding to the terminal device identified by the first identifier.

[0163] Optionally, if the second message sent by the positioning management function device to the first access network device includes the first identifier, the method 300 further includes: the positioning management function device may obtain the positioning capability of the terminal device from the unified data storage device according to the first identifier, the positioning management function device may determine the positioning method according to the positioning capability of the terminal device, and the positioning measurement data in S340 may correspond to the positioning method. Optionally, the second message sent by the positioning management function device to the first access network device may include indication information indicating the positioning method, if the positioning measurement data is measured by the first access network device, the first access network device may obtain the positioning measurement data according to the indication information indicating the positioning method, if the positioning measurement data is measured by the terminal device, the first access network device may send the indication information indicating the positioning method to the terminal device, and the terminal device may obtain the positioning measurement data according to the indication information indicating the positioning method. Optionally, the positioning management function device may not send the indication information indicating the positioning method to the first access network device. The positioning management function device may configure the positioning parameters to the first access network device according to the positioning method. If the positioning measurement data is obtained by measuring the first access network device, the first access network device may obtain the positioning measurement data corresponding to the positioning parameters based on the positioning parameters, so that the positioning management function device can receive the positioning measurement data corresponding to the positioning parameters. If the positioning measurement data is obtained by measuring the terminal device, the first access network device may send the positioning parameters to the terminal device, the terminal device obtains the positioning measurement data corresponding to the positioning parameters based on the positioning parameters, and sends the positioning measurement data corresponding to the positioning parameters to the positioning management function device through the first access network device, and the positioning management function device can receive the positioning measurement data corresponding to the positioning parameters.

[0164] Optionally, for periodic positioning services, it is necessary to periodically position the terminal device, and the first access network device needs to periodically report positioning measurement data. Therefore, the positioning management function device can send a first indication message to the first access network device, and the first indication message is used to instruct the terminal device to maintain an RRC connection state. The first access network device maintains the terminal device in an RRC connection state according to the first indication message, so that the power consumption problem caused by the terminal device constantly establishing an RRC connection with an access network device can be avoided.

[0165] S350: The positioning management function device determines the location information of the terminal device according to the positioning measurement data.

[0166] S360, the positioning management function device sends the location information of the terminal device to the first access network device, and the first access network device receives the location information of the terminal device from the positioning management function device.

[0167] Optionally, if S310 exists, the method 300 further includes S370:

[0168] S370, the first access network device sends the location information of the terminal device to the terminal device, and the terminal device receives the location information of the terminal device from the first access network device.

[0169] That is to say, if the terminal device requests location information, the first access network device can send the location information of the terminal device to the terminal device.

[0170] Optionally, the positioning management function device sends the location information of the terminal device and the first identifier of the terminal device to the first access network device, and then the first access network device sends the location information to the terminal device corresponding to the first identifier.

[0171] Optionally, S370 includes: the first access network device sends a response message to the third message to the terminal device, and the terminal device can receive a response message to the third message from the first access network device, and the response message to the third message may include location information of the terminal device.

[0172] In the above method 300, after the first access network device receives the third message, it can determine the positioning management function device according to the third message, and send a first message to the positioning management function device, the first message is used to request the location information of the terminal device, the positioning management function device can send a second message to the first access network device according to the first message, the second message is used to indicate the positioning of the terminal device, the first access network device can return the positioning measurement data of the terminal device to the positioning management function device, the positioning management function device can determine the location information of the terminal device according to the positioning measurement data, and return it to the terminal device through the first access network device, avoiding the need for the access and mobility management device to forward the information of the positioning management device, and can improve the flexibility of deployment.

[0173] The method 300 is described below by way of example in combination with the method 400. In the method 400, the terminal device is a UE, the first access network device is a RAN, and the positioning management function device is a LMF. Figure 4 As shown, the method 400 includes:

[0174] S401, UE sends a UL NAS message to RAN, and RAN receives a UL NAS message from UE, where the UL NAS message is used to request location information of the UE, and the UL NAS message includes second indication information, where the second indication information indicates that the UL NAS message is used to request location information of a terminal device or request positioning of the terminal device.

[0175] Alternatively, the UL NAS message may not include the second indication information, and the message type of the UL NAS message may indicate that the UL NAS message is used to request the location information of the terminal device, or the UL NAS message is replaced by a location request message.

[0176] For example, the third message in method 300 may be a UL NAS message.

[0177] Optionally, the UL NAS message may include a mobile originated location request (MO-LR) message. The MO-LR message may request different types of location services. For example, type A indicates that the UE requests the UE's location information, and type B indicates that the UE's location information needs to be sent to the UE, and may also be sent to a location services (LCS) client or an application function (AF).

[0178] The UE currently accesses the RAN.

[0179] Optionally, the UL NAS message may include the GPSI or SUPI of the UE, wherein the GPSI or SUPI is used to identify the UE, and the GPSI or SUPI may be a permanent identifier of the UE.

[0180] S402, RAN sends a fourth message to NRF, and NRF receives the fourth message from RAN, where the fourth message is used to request discovery of a location management function device.

[0181] Optionally, the network element selection function device in method 300 may be an NRF.

[0182] Optionally, the RAN may determine that the UL NAS message is used to request location information according to the second indication information or the message type of the UL NAS message, and thus may execute S402. If the UL NAS message includes the GPSI or SUPI of the UE, the fourth message may also include the GPSI or SUPI of the UE.

[0183] S403, NRF sends the LMF identifier to RAN, and RAN receives the LMF identifier.

[0184] The identifier of the LMF may be an Internet Protocol (IP) address or fully qualified domain name (FQDN) information of the LMF.

[0185] Optionally, if the fourth message includes the SUPI or GPSI of the UE, before S403, the NRF can obtain the identifier of the RAN to which the UE accesses based on the SUPI or GPSI of the UE, and the NRF can determine the identifier of the LMF based on the identifier of the RAN. For example, the NRF can determine the area covered by the RAN based on the identifier of the RAN, and determine the identifier of the LMF that is closer to the area covered by the RAN.

[0186] Optionally, if the fourth message includes the SUPI or GPSI of the UE, before S403, the NRF may obtain the registration area of ​​the UE according to the SUPI or GPS of the UE, and determine the identifier of the LMF according to the registration area of ​​the UE.

[0187] Among them, S402 and S403 may be the process of RAN discovering LMF. In some scenarios, if RAN has already known LMF, S402 and S403 may not be executed. For example, LMF has previously located UE, so in the current positioning process, the previously located LMF can be used as the currently located LMF, so RAN does not need to discover LMF again.

[0188] Optionally, if the RAN can select the LMF according to the locally configured LMF information, S402-S403 are not performed.

[0189] S404, RAN obtains a temporary identity of the UE.

[0190] Optionally, the temporary identifier of the UE is used to identify the UE between the RAN and the core network elements.

[0191] Optionally, the RAN may allocate a temporary ID (temp ID) to the UE, that is, if the fourth message includes the SUPI or GPSI of the UE, the temporary ID allocated by the RAN to the UE corresponds to the SUPI or GPSI of the UE. The RAN may store the correspondence between the temporary ID of the UE and the permanent ID (SUPI or GPSI) of the UE in the UDR.

[0192] Optionally, other devices may allocate a temporary identifier to the UE and send the temporary identifier of the UE to the RAN. For example, the temporary identifier may be allocated to the UE by the AMF. The AMF may send the temporary identifier allocated to the UE to the RAN, so that the RAN may obtain the temporary identifier of the UE and store the temporary identifier of the UE. Alternatively, the AMF may store the correspondence between the temporary identifier of the UE and the permanent identifier of the UE in the UDR.

[0193] For example, the first identifier in the method 300 may be a temporary identifier of the UE. The second identifier in the method 300 may be a permanent identifier of the UE, for example, the second identifier is a SUPI or a GPSI.

[0194] It can be understood that S404 is an optional step, that is, the RAN may not obtain the temporary identifier of the UE, and the permanent identifier of the UE may be used during the communication between the RAN and the core network element.

[0195] Optionally, there is no restriction on the order of S403 and S402, and S404 can be performed before, after, or simultaneously with S402.

[0196] S405, RAN sends a first message to the LMF corresponding to the identifier of the LMF in S403, and the LMF receives the first message from the RAN, where the first message is used to request location information of the terminal device.

[0197] Optionally, if S404 exists, the first message may include a temporary identifier of the UE.

[0198] Optionally, if the UL NAS message in S401 includes a MO-LR message, the first message in S405 may also include a MO-LR message.

[0199] Optionally, if S404 does not exist, the first message may also include the permanent identifier (SUPI or GPSI) of the UE.

[0200] S406, LMF sends a second message to RAN, and RAN receives the second message from LMF, where the second message is used to instruct positioning of the UE.

[0201] Optionally, if the first message includes the temporary identifier of the UE, the second message in S406 may also include the temporary identifier of the UE, indicating that the UE identified by the temporary identifier of the UE is positioned.

[0202] Optionally, S406 includes: the LMF may send a second message and a positioning event identifier to the RAN, and the RAN receives the second message and the positioning event identifier from the LMF, where the positioning event identifier is used to identify a positioning event for a UE to perform positioning. For example, the positioning event identifier may be an LCS correlation identifier.

[0203] Optionally, S406 includes: the LMF may send the second message and the LMF identifier to the RAN, and the RAN receives the second message and the LMF identifier from the LMF. Optionally, the second message and the LMF identifier may be container encapsulated. The LMF identifier is used to identify the LMF. For example, the LMF identifier may be a routing identifier.

[0204] Optionally, the second message may be an N1 message transfer. Optionally, the second message may include a downlink positioning message and a temporary identifier of the UE. The DL positioning message is used to indicate that the temporary identifier of the UE is used to locate the identified UE.

[0205] Optionally, the second message may include a network positioning message, or include a network positioning message and a temporary identifier of the UE, and the network positioning message may indicate to locate the UE identified by the temporary identifier of the UE.

[0206] S407a: RAN obtains positioning measurement data according to the second message.

[0207] Optionally, if S406 includes: LMF may send a second message and a positioning event identifier to RAN, and RAN receives the second message and the positioning event identifier from LMF, then the positioning measurement data in S407a is identified as the positioning measurement data corresponding to the positioning event identifier.

[0208] Optionally, in S407a, the UE may send a positioning reference signal, and the RAN measures the positioning reference signal sent by the RAN according to the second message to obtain positioning measurement data, also called uplink measurement.

[0209] If S407a exists, S408a may exist.

[0210] S408a, RAN sends positioning measurement data to LMF, and LMF receives positioning measurement data from RAN. S411 may be executed after S408a.

[0211] Optionally, if in S406, LMF can send a second message and a positioning event identifier to RAN, and RAN receives the second message and the positioning event identifier from LMF, then S408a includes: RAN sends the positioning event identifier and positioning measurement data to LMF, and the positioning measurement data corresponds to the positioning event identifier.

[0212] S407b: RAN sends a second message to the UE, and the UE receives the second message.

[0213] Optionally, if the LMF sends the second message and the LMF identifier to the RAN in S406, then in S407b, the RAN sends the second message and the LMF identifier to the UE.

[0214] Optionally, if the second message includes a downlink positioning message and a temporary identifier of the UE, the second message in S407b may also include a downlink positioning message and a temporary identifier of the UE. The downlink positioning message is used to indicate that the UE identified by the temporary identifier of the UE is positioned. The downlink positioning message is used to indicate that the UE identified by the temporary identifier of the UE is positioned. Optionally, the RAN may send a radio resource control (RRC) message to the UE, and the RRC message may include the second message.

[0215] If S407b exists, S408b may exist.

[0216] S408b: The UE obtains positioning measurement data through measurement according to the second message.

[0217] Optionally, in S408b, the RAN may send a positioning reference signal, and the UE measures the positioning reference signal sent by the RAN according to the second message to obtain positioning measurement data, which may also be called downlink measurement.

[0218] If S408b exists, S409b may also exist.

[0219] S409b, the UE sends positioning measurement data to the RAN, and the RAN receives the positioning measurement data from the UE.

[0220] Optionally, in S407b, the RAN sends the second message and the LMF identifier to the UE, then in S409b, the UE sends the positioning measurement data and the LMF identifier to the RAN, and the RAN receives the LMF identifier and the positioning measurement data from the UE.

[0221] Optionally, if the second message in S407b includes the temporary identifier of the UE, S409b includes: the UE sends the positioning measurement data and the temporary identifier of the UE to the RAN, indicating that the positioning measurement data is the positioning measurement data of the UE identified by the temporary identifier of the UE.

[0222] Optionally, S409b includes: the UE may send an RRC message to the RAN, and the RRC message may include positioning measurement data. Or if the second message in S407b includes the temporary identifier of the UE, then in S409b the UE may send an RRC message to the RAN, and the RRC message includes the positioning measurement data and the identifier of the LMF. Or if in S407b, the RAN sends the second message and the identifier of the LMF to the UE, then in S409b the UE sends an RRC message to the RAN, and the RRC message includes the positioning measurement data and the identifier of the LMF. Or if in S407b, the second message includes the temporary identifier of the UE, and the RAN sends the second message and the identifier of the LMF to the UE, then in S409b the UE sends an RRC message to the RAN, and the RRC message includes the positioning measurement data, the identifier of the LMF and the temporary identifier of the UE.

[0223] Optionally, the UE may send an uplink positioning message to the RAN, and the uplink positioning message may include positioning measurement data. Optionally, the RRC message sent by the UE to the RAN may include an uplink positioning message. The uplink positioning message corresponds to the downlink positioning message.

[0224] S410b may also exist when S409b exists.

[0225] S410b, RAN sends positioning measurement data to LMF, and LMF receives positioning measurement data from RAN. S411 may be executed after S409b.

[0226] Optionally, if S409b, RAN sends the positioning measurement data and the LMF identifier to the UE, then S410b includes: RAN sends the positioning measurement data to the LMF with the LMF identifier.

[0227] Optionally, S407a and S408a may exist, and S407b, S408b, S409b and S410b may not exist. Optionally, S407a and S408a may not exist, and S407b, S408b, S409b and S410b may exist. Optionally, S407a and S408a may exist, and S407b, S408b, S409b and S410b may also exist. That is, S406, S407a and S408a may be a branch, and the branch is the positioning measurement data obtained by RAN measurement, and S406, S407b, S408b, S409b and S410 may be a branch, and the branch is the positioning measurement data obtained by UE measurement. One of the two branches may exist or both branches may exist, and the embodiment of the present application is not limited to this.

[0228] S411, LMF determines the location information of the UE according to the positioning measurement data.

[0229] Optionally, if S408a exists, and in S408a, RAN sends a positioning event identifier and positioning measurement data to LMF, and the positioning measurement data corresponds to the positioning event identifier. Then in S411, LMF can determine, based on the positioning event identifier, that the positioning measurement data is the positioning measurement data corresponding to the positioning event identified by the positioning event identifier, and therefore, LMF can determine the location information of the UE of the positioning event.

[0230] Optionally, in the case where S407a and S408a exist, and S407b, S408b, S409b, and S410b do not exist, the positioning measurement data used by the LMF in S411 to determine the location information of the UE may be sent by the RAN in S408a. In the case where S407a and S408a do not exist, and S407b, S408b, S409b, and S410b exist, the positioning measurement data used by the LMF in S411 to determine the location information of the UE may be sent by S410b. Optionally, when S407a and S408a exist, and S407b, S408b, S409b and S410b also exist, the positioning measurement data used by LMF in S411 to determine the location information of the UE may be sent by S407b and sent by S410b. For example, the positioning measurement data in S407b may be the first positioning measurement data, and the positioning measurement data in S410b may be the second positioning measurement data. In S411, LMF may determine the location information of the UE based on the first positioning measurement data and the second positioning measurement data.

[0231] S412, LMF sends the UE location information to RAN, and RAN receives the UE location information from LMF.

[0232] Optionally, the LMF may send the location information of the UE and the temporary identifier of the UE to the RAN, so that the RAN may learn that the location information of the UE is the location information of the UE identified by the temporary identifier of the UE.

[0233] S413, the RAN sends the location information of the UE to the UE, and the UE receives the location information of the UE from the RAN.

[0234] Optionally, S413 includes: the RAN sends an RRC message to the UE, the UE receives the RRC message from the RAN, and the RRC message includes the location information of the UE. Optionally, if the LMF sends the location information of the UE and the temporary identifier of the UE to the RAN in S412, then in S413 the RAN sends an RRC message to the UE according to the temporary identifier of the UE, and the UE receives the RRC message from the RAN, and the RRC message includes the location information of the UE.

[0235] Optionally, if the first message in S405 includes an MO-LR message, and the MO-LR message requests type A, S412 and S413 may be executed; if the MO-LR message requests type B, then after S411, method 400 further includes: LMF sends the location information of the UE to the LCS client or AF through GMLC. Optionally, LMF sends the location information of the UE to the LCS client or AF through GMLC, including: LMF selects GMLC and obtains the identifier of AF, for example, LMF can obtain the identifier of AF from UDM, LMF sends the location information of the UE and the identifier of AF to the selected GMLC, or, when LMF obtains the temporary identifier of UE in the first message, it can send the temporary identifier of UE to UDR, UDR sends the permanent identifier corresponding to the temporary identifier of UE to UE, LMF can send the permanent identifier of UE, the location information of UE and the identifier of AF to GMLC, GMLC sends the location information of UE and the permanent identifier of UE (SUPI or GPSI) to AF according to the identifier of AF, so that AF can know that the location information of UE is the location information of UE identified by SUPI or GPSI. Or LMF can send the UE's location information, the UE's temporary identifier and the AF's identifier to GMLC, GMLC can send the UE's temporary identifier to UDR, UDR discovers the UE's permanent identifier corresponding to the UE's temporary identifier from GMLC, and GMLC sends the UE's location information and the UE's permanent identifier to AF based on the AF's identifier.

[0236] The positioning initiated by the terminal device in the above method 300 and the positioning initiated by the UE in the method 400 may also be referred to as the MO-LR process under the RAN service interface. In some cases, the application function (AF) may also initiate positioning. The positioning initiated by the application function is described below in conjunction with the method 500 and the method 600.

[0237] S510, the application function sends a fifth message to the gateway mobile positioning center, and the gateway mobile positioning center receives the fifth message from the application function, and the fifth message is used to request the location information of the terminal device.

[0238] That is, the application function's need to determine the location information of the terminal device may trigger the execution of S510.

[0239] Optionally, S510 is an optional step and may not exist, and other network elements may trigger the execution of S510.

[0240] Optionally, the fifth message includes a second identifier of the terminal device, and optionally, the second identifier may be a permanent identifier of the terminal device. For example, the second identifier may be a GPSI or a SUPI.

[0241] Optionally, the message type of the fifth message may also indicate that the fifth message is used to request location information.

[0242] S520: The gateway mobile positioning center determines the positioning management function device according to the information of the terminal device.

[0243] Optionally, S510 may trigger execution of S520, that is, the gateway mobile positioning center determines that it needs to request the location information of the terminal device according to the fifth message, so the gateway mobile positioning center may obtain the information of the terminal device and execute S520.

[0244] Optionally, the information of the terminal device may indicate a registration area of ​​the terminal device. That is, the gateway mobile positioning center determines the positioning management function device according to the registration area of ​​the terminal device. Specifically, the gateway mobile positioning center determines the positioning management function device serving the registration area according to the registration area of ​​the terminal device.

[0245] Optionally, the information of the terminal device may indicate the identifier of the first access network device to which the terminal device is connected. That is, the gateway mobile positioning center determines the positioning management function device according to the identifier of the first access network device to which the terminal device is connected. Specifically, the gateway mobile positioning center determines the location of the first access network device according to the identifier of the first access network device, and determines the positioning management function device serving the location of the first access network device.

[0246] Optionally, the information of the terminal device may indicate the registration area of ​​the terminal device and the identifier of the terminal device accessing the first access network device. That is, the gateway mobile positioning center determines the positioning management function device according to the identifier of the first access network device accessed by the terminal device and the registration area of ​​the terminal device. Specifically, the gateway mobile positioning center determines the location of the first access network device according to the identifier of the first access network device, and the gateway mobile center determines the positioning management function device that serves the registration area and the location of the first access network device.

[0247] Optionally, if the fifth message includes a second identifier, the second identifier may be a permanent identifier of the terminal device. Before S520, the method further includes: the gateway mobile positioning center sends the second identifier of the terminal device to the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device, and the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device sends the information of the terminal device to the gateway mobile positioning center according to the second identifier of the terminal device, and the information of the terminal device may indicate the registration area of ​​the terminal device and / or the identifier of the first access network device to which the terminal device accesses. In other words, the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device may save the information of the terminal device, and the gateway mobile positioning center may send the information of the terminal device to the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device according to the second identifier.

[0248] Optionally, if the information of the terminal device indicates the registration area of ​​the terminal device, the gateway mobile center can also obtain the identifier of the first access network device to which the terminal device accesses, the gateway mobile positioning center can send a second identifier to the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device, the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device can store the corresponding relationship of the identifier of the first access network device corresponding to the second identifier, the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device can send the identifier of the first access network device to which the terminal device accesses to the gateway mobile center, wherein the second identifier can be a permanent identifier of the terminal device. In other words, the identifier of the first access network device can not only determine the positioning management function device, but also send the identifier of the first access network device to the positioning management function device. Therefore, even if the gateway mobile positioning center determines the positioning management function device according to the registration area of ​​the terminal device, the gateway mobile positioning center can continue to obtain the identifier of the first access network device. On the contrary, if the gateway mobile positioning center determines the positioning management function device according to the identifier of the first access network device, the registration area of ​​the terminal device may not be obtained from the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device.

[0249] Optionally, method 500 also includes: the gateway mobile positioning center can obtain the first identifier of the terminal device. Optionally, if the fifth message includes the second identifier of the terminal device, the gateway mobile positioning center can send the second identifier to the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device, the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device stores the correspondence between the second identifier and the first identifier of the terminal device, and the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device can send the first identifier to the gateway mobile positioning center, wherein the second identifier is a permanent identifier and the first identifier is a temporary identifier. In other words, in order to improve the security of the terminal device and avoid using the permanent identifier of the terminal device to communicate all the time, the gateway mobile positioning center can obtain the temporary identifier of the terminal device based on the permanent identifier of the terminal device, so that the temporary identifier can be used for communication, which can improve security and avoid the problem of leakage of the permanent identifier of the terminal device.

[0250] Optionally, if the fifth message includes the second identifier of the terminal device, and the gateway mobile positioning center needs to obtain the first identifier of the terminal device and the identifier of the first access network device to which the terminal device accesses, the gateway mobile positioning center may send the second identifier to the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device, the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device may store the first identifier corresponding to the second identifier and the identifier of the first access network device, and the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device may send the first identifier and the identifier of the first access network device to the gateway mobile positioning center. In other words, the gateway mobile positioning center may send the second identifier once, and the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device may return the first identifier corresponding to the second identifier and the identifier of the first access network device to the gateway mobile positioning center. Optionally, the first access network device or the access and mobility management function device may assign the first identifier to the terminal device, the first identifier is used to identify the terminal device between the first access network device and the core network device, and the first access network device or the access and mobility management function device may store the correspondence between the second identifier, the first identifier and the identifier of the first access network device in the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device. Optionally, if the gateway mobile positioning center also needs to obtain the registration area information of the terminal device, the gateway mobile positioning center can send a second identifier to the unified data storage device, the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device can store the first identifier corresponding to the second identifier, the registration area and the identifier of the first access network device, and the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device sends the first identifier, the identifier of the first access network device and information indicating the registration area to the gateway mobile positioning center.

[0251] S530: The gateway mobile positioning center sends a first message to the positioning management function device, and the positioning management function device receives the first message from the gateway mobile positioning center, where the first message is used to request positioning of the terminal device.

[0252] Optionally, if the gateway mobile positioning center obtains the identifier of the first access network device in S520, the first message in S530 may also include the identifier of the first access network device. Optionally, if the gateway mobile positioning center does not obtain the identifier of the first access network device, the first message in S530 may not include the identifier of the first access network device. Optionally, the first message may include the second identifier of the first terminal device.

[0253] Optionally, if the gateway mobile positioning center obtains the first identifier of the terminal device in S520, the first message in S530 may include the first identifier of the terminal device. Optionally, the first message may also include the second identifier of the first terminal device.

[0254] Optionally, if the gateway mobile positioning center obtains the identifier of the first access network device and the first identifier of the terminal device in S520, the first message in S530 may include the identifier of the first access network device and the first identifier of the terminal device. Optionally, the first message in S530 may also include the second identifier of the first terminal device.

[0255] S540: The positioning management function device obtains an identifier of the first access network device.

[0256] The following describes three ways in which the positioning management function device obtains the identifier of the first access network device.

[0257] Method 1: if the first message in S530 includes the identifier of the first access network device, the positioning management function device may obtain the identifier of the first access network device from the first message.

[0258] Method 2: If the first message includes the first identifier or the second identifier of the terminal device, the positioning management function device sends the first identifier or the second identifier of the terminal device to the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device, the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device can save the identifier of the first access network device accessing the terminal device, the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device obtains the identifier of the first access network device according to the first identifier or the second identifier, and the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device can send the identifier of the first access network device to the positioning management function device. The first identifier can be a temporary identifier of the terminal device, and the second identifier can be a permanent identifier of the terminal device.

[0259] Optionally, in mode 2, the first message in S530 does not include the identifier of the first access network device. Alternatively, if the first message in S530 does not include the identifier of the first access network device, the positioning management function device uses mode 2 to obtain the identifier of the first access network device.

[0260] Method three, the positioning management function device can send the second identifier of the terminal device to the unified data storage device. If the unified data storage device saves the identifier of the first access network device corresponding to the second identifier, the identifier of the first access network device is sent to the positioning management device. This is method two. If the unified data storage device does not save the identifier of the first access network device corresponding to the second identifier, the positioning management device cannot obtain the identifier of the first access network device from the unified data storage device according to the second identifier. Therefore, the positioning management function device can initiate paging to at least one access network device in the registration area of ​​the terminal device to obtain the identifier of the first access network device. The at least one access network device includes the first access network device. Optionally, the positioning management function device can send the first identifier or the second identifier to the access and mobility management device or the unified data storage device. The unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device can send the registration area information to the positioning management device according to the first identifier or the second identifier. The registration area information is used to indicate the registration area of ​​the terminal device. Among them, the second identifier can be a permanent identifier of the terminal device.

[0261] Optionally, in mode three, the first message in S530 does not include an identifier of the first access network device.

[0262] Optionally, the method 500 further includes: the positioning management function device may obtain a first identifier of the first terminal device. Two ways in which the positioning management function device obtains the first identifier of the first terminal device are described below.

[0263] Method 1: The first message in S530 may include the first identifier of the terminal device, and the positioning management function device can obtain the first identifier of the terminal device from the first message from the gateway mobile positioning center. That is, the gateway mobile positioning center can obtain the first identifier and carry the first identifier in the first message and send it to the positioning management function device.

[0264] In the second method, the first message in S530 may include the second identifier of the terminal device, the positioning management function device may send the second identifier to the unified data storage device, and the unified data storage device may send the first identifier corresponding to the second identifier to the positioning management function device according to the second identifier, wherein the second identifier is the permanent identifier of the terminal device, and the first identifier is the temporary identifier of the terminal device. That is to say, at this time, the first message in S530 may not include the first identifier of the terminal device.

[0265] Method three, the first message in S530 may include the second identifier of the terminal device and the identifier of the first access network device. The positioning management function device may send the second identifier to the first access network device identified by the first access network device. The first access network device may assign the first identifier to the terminal device according to the second identifier and send the first identifier of the terminal device to the positioning management function device.

[0266] Optionally, if the first message received by the positioning management function device from the gateway mobile positioning center includes the second identifier of the terminal device, and the positioning management function device needs to obtain the first identifier of the terminal device and the identifier of the first access network device to which the terminal device is connected from the unified data storage device, the positioning management function device can send the second identifier to the unified data storage device, the unified data storage device can save the first identifier and the identifier of the first access network device corresponding to the second identifier, and send the first identifier and the identifier of the first access network device to the positioning management function device. In other words, the positioning management function device can send the second identifier to the unified data storage device once, and the unified data storage device can return the first identifier and the identifier of the first access network device at the same time.

[0267] It can be understood that the above description is that the positioning management function device can obtain the first identifier and the identifier of the first access network device from the unified data storage device according to the second identifier. In some cases, the positioning management function device can obtain the first identifier from the unified data storage device according to the second identifier, and the positioning management function device can obtain the identifier of the first access network device from the unified data management device according to the second identifier; or, the positioning management function device can obtain the first identifier from the unified data management device according to the second identifier, and the positioning management function device can obtain the identifier of the first access network device from the unified data storage device according to the second identifier. In other words, the positioning management function device can obtain the first identifier and the identifier of the first access network device from one device, or can obtain the first identifier and the identifier of the first access network device from two different devices respectively.

[0268] S550: The positioning management function device sends a second message to the first access network device identified by the identifier of the first access network device according to the first message, and the first access network device receives the second message from the positioning management function device. The second message is used to instruct the terminal device to be positioned.

[0269] Optionally, if the positioning management function device obtains the first identifier, the second message in S550 may include the first identifier of the terminal device, where the first identifier is used to identify the terminal device.

[0270] Optionally, S550 includes: the positioning management function device sends a second message and a positioning event identifier to the first access network device identified by the identifier of the first access network device according to the first message, the positioning event identifier is used to identify a positioning event of a terminal device performing a positioning, and the first access network device receives the second message and the positioning event identifier sent by the positioning management function device. Optionally, the positioning management function device can locate the terminal device once or multiple times, and different positioning event identifiers can be sent for different positioning events. In this way, after the positioning management function device receives the positioning measurement data and the positioning event identifier from the first access network device, it can determine that the positioning measurement data is the positioning measurement data corresponding to the positioning event identifier according to the positioning event identifier.

[0271] Optionally, S550 includes: the positioning management function device sends a second message and an identifier of the positioning management function device to the first access network device identified by the identifier of the first access network device according to the first message, and the first access network device receives the second message and the identifier of the positioning management function device from the positioning management function device. Optionally, the second message and the identifier of the positioning management function device are encapsulated through a container, that is, after the first access network device receives the second message and the identifier of the positioning management function device, it also directly forwards them to the terminal device without parsing.

[0272] Optionally, if the positioning management function device can obtain the first identifier of the terminal device, in S550, the positioning management function device can include the first identifier of the terminal device in the second message sent to the first access network device, so that the first access network device can determine the location of the terminal device identified by the first identifier.

[0273] Optionally, if the first message includes the second identifier of the first terminal device, in S550, the second message that the positioning management function device can send to the first access network device can also include the second identifier of the terminal device, that is, the second identifier is a permanent identifier of the terminal device, and the second message that the positioning management function device can send to the first access network device includes the permanent identifier of the terminal device, so that the first access network device can determine to locate the terminal device identified by the second identifier. In other words, the first access network device can receive the first identifier and / or the second identifier from the positioning management function device, so that the first access network device can determine to locate the terminal device with the first identifier and / or the second identifier.

[0274] S560, same as S340.

[0275] S570, same as S350.

[0276] S580, the positioning management function device sends the location information of the terminal device to the gateway mobile positioning center, and the gateway mobile positioning center receives the location information of the terminal device from the positioning management function device.

[0277] Optionally, S580 includes: the positioning management function device can send a response message of the first message to the gateway mobile positioning center, and the gateway mobile positioning center receives the response message of the first message from the positioning management function device, and the response message of the first message includes the location information of the terminal device.

[0278] S590, the gateway mobile positioning center sends the location information of the terminal device to the application function, and the application function receives the location information of the terminal device from the gateway mobile positioning center. The application function receives the location information of the terminal device from the gateway mobile center.

[0279] Optionally, S590 includes: the gateway mobile positioning center sends a response message to the fifth message to the application function, and the application function receives a response message to the fifth message from the gateway mobile positioning center, and the response message to the fifth message includes the location information of the terminal device.

[0280] In the above method 500, the gateway mobile positioning center may be replaced by other network elements, such as a network exposure function (NEF).

[0281] In the above method 500, after receiving the fifth message, the gateway mobile positioning center can determine the positioning management function device according to the information of the terminal device, and send a first message to the positioning management function device, the first message is used to request the location information of the terminal device, the positioning management function device can obtain the identifier of the first access network device, the positioning management function device can send a second message to the first access network device identified by the identifier of the first access network device according to the first message, the second message is used to indicate the positioning of the terminal device, the first access network device can return the positioning measurement data of the terminal device to the positioning management function device, the positioning management function device can determine the location information of the terminal device according to the positioning measurement data, and return it to the terminal device through the first access network device, avoiding the need for the access and mobility management device to forward the information of the positioning management device, and can improve the flexibility of deployment.

[0282] The method 500 is described below in combination with the method 600. In the method 600, the terminal device is UE, the first access network device is RAN, the positioning management function device is LMF, the gateway mobile positioning center is GMLC, and the application function is AF. Figure 6 As shown, the method 600 includes:

[0283] S601, AF sends an LCS request message to GMLC, and GMSC receives the LCS request message from AF. The LCS request message includes the GPSI or SUPI of the UE.

[0284] The fifth message in method 500 may be an LCS request message.

[0285] Optionally, the AF may trigger the execution of S601 if it needs to locate the UE.

[0286] S602, GMLC determines LMF according to UE information.

[0287] Optionally, the GMLC may obtain UE information from the UDR based on the GPSI or SUPI of the UE in the LCS request message, where the UE information indicates the registration area of ​​the UE and / or the identifier of the RAN to which the UE accesses.

[0288] Optionally, the GMLC may obtain the UE information from the UDM according to the GPSI or SUPI of the UE in the LCS request message, where the UE information indicates the registration area of ​​the UE and / or the identifier of the RAN to which the UE accesses.

[0289] Optionally, S602 includes: GMLC determines LMF according to the registration area of ​​UE indicated by the UE information and / or the identifier of the RAN accessing the UE, and details may refer to the description of method 500.

[0290] S603a, GMLC determines the RAN identifier and the temporary identifier of the UE according to the GPSI or SUPI.

[0291] Optionally, S603a includes: GMLC sends GPSI or SUPI to UDR, UDR can save the RAN identifier corresponding to GPSI or SUPI and the temporary identifier of UE, UDR sends the RAN identifier and the temporary identifier of UE to GMLC, and GMLC obtains the RAN identifier and the temporary identifier of UE from UDR.

[0292] Optionally, S603a includes: GMLC sends GPSI or SUPI to UDM, UDM can save the RAN identifier corresponding to the GPSI or SUPI and the temporary identifier of the UE, UDM sends the RAN identifier and the temporary identifier of the UE to GMLC, and GMLC obtains the RAN identifier and the temporary identifier of the UE from UDM.

[0293] Optionally, S603a includes: GMLC sends GPSI or SUPI to UDR, UDR can save the identifier of RAN corresponding to GPSI or SUPI, UDR sends the identifier of RAN to GMLC, GMLC obtains the identifier of RAN from UDR; GMLC sends GPSI or SUPI to UDM, UDM can save the temporary identifier of UE corresponding to GPSI or SUPI, UDM sends the temporary identifier of UE to GMLC, GMLC obtains the temporary identifier of UE from UDR. Alternatively, S603a includes: GMLC sends GPSI or SUPI to UDR, UDR can save the temporary identifier of UE corresponding to GPSI or SUPI, UDR sends the temporary identifier of UE to GMLC, GMLC obtains the temporary identifier of UE from UDR; GMLC sends GPSI or SUPI to UDM, UDM can save the identifier of RAN corresponding to GPSI or SUPI, UDM sends the identifier of RAN to GMLC, GMLC obtains the identifier of RAN from UDR.

[0294] S604a, GMLC sends a determine location request to LMF, and LMF receives the determine location request from GMLC. The determine location request includes the identifier of RAN and the temporary identifier of UE.

[0295] Optionally, the location determination message may further include the GPSI or SUPI of the UE.

[0296] That is to say, if the GMLC determines the identifier of the RAN to which the UE accesses and the temporary identifier of the UE based on the GPSI or SUPI, the identifier of the RAN and the temporary identifier of the UE can be sent to the LMF by determining the location message.

[0297] Optionally, the first message in method 500 may be the position determination message in S604a.

[0298] S603b, GMLC determines the identifier of RAN according to GPSI or SUPI.

[0299] Optionally, S603b includes: GMLC sends GPSI or SUPI to UDR, UDR can save the RAN identifier corresponding to GPSI or SUPI, UDR sends the RAN identifier to GMLC, and GMLC obtains the RAN identifier from UDR.

[0300] Optionally, S603b includes: GMLC sends GPSI or SUPI to UDM, UDM can save the identifier of RAN corresponding to GPSI or SUPI, UDM sends the identifier of RAN to GMLC, and GMLC obtains the identifier of RAN from UDM.

[0301] S604b, GMLC sends a determine location request to LMF, and LMF receives the determine location request from GMLC. The determine location request includes the identifier of RAN and the GPSI or SUPI of UE.

[0302] That is to say, if GMLC determines the identifier of the RAN to which the UE accesses based on GPSI or SUPI, it can send the identifier of the RAN and the GPSI or SUPI of the UE to the LMF through a location determination message, so that the LMF can determine the temporary identifier of the UE based on the GPSI or SUPI of the UE.

[0303] Optionally, the first message in method 500 may be the location determination message in S604b.

[0304] S605b, LMF obtains the temporary identity of the UE according to the GPSI or SUPI of the UE.

[0305] Optionally, in S604b, the LMF receives a location determination message from the GMLC including the RAN identifier and the GPSI or SUPI of the UE, and the LMF may obtain the RAN identifier in the location determination message in S604b, and the LMF may obtain the temporary identifier of the UE according to the GPSI or SUPI of the UE in the location determination message of S604b. Optionally, the LMF obtains the temporary identifier of the UE according to the GPSI or SUPI of the UE in the location determination message of S604b, including: the LMF sends the GPSI or SUPI of the UE to the UDR or UDM, the UDR or UDM may save the temporary identifier of the UE corresponding to the GPSI or SUPI, and the UDR or UDM sends the temporary identifier of the UE to the LMF, so that the LMF can obtain the temporary identifier of the UE.

[0306] S603c, GMLC determines the temporary identifier of the UE according to the GPSI or SUPI.

[0307] Optionally, S603c includes: GMLC sends GPSI or SUPI to UDR, UDR can save the temporary identifier of the UE corresponding to GPSI or SUPI, UDR sends the temporary identifier of the UE to GMLC, and GMLC obtains the temporary identifier of the UE from UDR.

[0308] Optionally, S603c includes: GMLC sends GPSI or SUPI to UDM, UDM can save the temporary identifier of the UE corresponding to the GPSI or SUPI, UDM sends the temporary identifier of the UE to GMLC, and GMLC obtains the temporary identifier of the UE from UDM.

[0309] Among them, there can be one step of S603a, S603b or S603c. If S603a exists, S604a can exist; if S603b exists, S604b can exist; if S603c exists, S604c can exist.

[0310] S604c, GMLC sends a determine location request to LMF, and LMF receives the determine location request from GMLC. The determine location request includes the temporary identifier of the UE and the GPSI or SUPI of the UE.

[0311] That is to say, if the GMLC determines the temporary identifier of the UE based on the GPSI or SUPI, the temporary identifier of the UE and the GPSI or SUPI of the UE can be sent to the LMF by determining the location message.

[0312] Optionally, the first message in method 500 may be the position determination message in S604c.

[0313] S605c, LMF obtains the RAN identifier according to the GPSI or SUPI of the UE.

[0314] Optionally, in S604c, the LMF receives a location determination message from the GMLC including the temporary identifier of the UE and the GPSI or SUPI of the UE, and the LMF may obtain the temporary identifier of the UE in the location determination message in S604c, and the LMF may obtain the identifier of the RAN to which the UE accesses according to the GPSI or SUPI of the UE in the location determination message of S604c. Optionally, the LMF obtains the identifier of the RAN to which the UE accesses according to the GPSI or SUPI of the UE in the location determination message of S604c, including: the LMF sends the GPSI or SUPI of the UE to the UDR or UDM, the UDR or UDM may save the identifier of the RAN corresponding to the GPSI or SUPI, and the UDR or UDM sends the identifier of the RAN to the LMF, so that the LMF can obtain the identifier of the RAN.

[0315] S604d, GMLC sends a determine location request to LMF, and LMF receives the determine location request from GMLC, where the determine location request includes the GPSI or SUPI of the UE.

[0316] That is to say, if GMLC can send the UE's GPSI or SUPI to LMF, LMF can obtain the UE's temporary identity and RAN identity based on the UE's GPSI or SUPI.

[0317] Among them, there may be a step in S603a, S603b or S603c or S604d. If S603a, S603b or S603c does not exist, S604d may exist. That is to say, if the GMLC does not obtain the RAN identifier and the temporary identifier of the UE, the location determination message sent to the LMF may include the GPSI or SUPI of the UE, so that the LMF can determine the location based on the GPSI or SUPI of the UE or the temporary identifier of the UE and the identifier of the RAN.

[0318] Optionally, the first message in method 500 may be the determined position message in S604d.

[0319] S606, LMF sends a second message to the RAN identified by the RAN identifier, and the RAN receives the second message from the LMF. The second message includes the temporary identifier of the UE, and the second message is used to indicate the positioning of the UE identified by the temporary identifier of the UE.

[0320] Optionally, S606 includes: the LMF may send a second message and a positioning event identifier to the RAN, and the RAN receives the second message and the positioning event identifier from the LMF, where the positioning event identifier is used to identify a positioning event for a UE to perform positioning. For example, the positioning event identifier may be an LCS correlation identifier.

[0321] Optionally, S606 includes: the LMF may send the second message and the LMF identifier to the RAN, and the RAN receives the second message and the LMF identifier from the LMF. Optionally, the second message and the LMF identifier may be container encapsulated. The LMF identifier is used to identify the LMF. For example, the LMF identifier may be a routing identifier.

[0322] Optionally, the second message may be an N1 message transfer. Optionally, the second message may include a downlink positioning message and a temporary identifier of the UE. The DL positioning message is used to indicate that the temporary identifier of the UE is used to locate the identified UE.

[0323] Optionally, the second message may include a network positioning message, or include a network positioning message and a temporary identifier of the UE, and the network positioning message may indicate to locate the UE identified by the temporary identifier of the UE.

[0324] Among them, S603a, S604a and S606 can be a branch; S603b, S604b, S605b and S606 can be a branch; S603c, S604c, S605c and S606 can be a branch; S604d, S605d and S606 can be a branch. Among them, the protocol can specify which method to use for implementation. In other words, in the specific implementation, there can be one branch, and there can be multiple branches at different times.

[0325] S607a is the same as S407a.

[0326] S608a is the same as S408a.

[0327] S607b is the same as S407b.

[0328] S608b is the same as S408b.

[0329] S609b is the same as S409b.

[0330] S610b is the same as S410b.

[0331] S611 is the same as S411.

[0332] S612, LMF sends the UE location information to GMLC, and GMLC receives the UE location information from LMF.

[0333] Optionally, S612 includes: LMF sends a response message of the location determination message to GMLC, and GMLC receives a response message of the location determination message from LMF, and the response message of the location determination message may include the location information of the UE.

[0334] S613, GMLC sends the UE location information to AF, and AF receives the UE location information from GMLC.

[0335] Optionally, S613 includes: the GMLC sends a response message of the LCS request message to the AF, and the AF receives a response message of the LCS request message from the GMLC, where the response message of the LCS request message includes the location information of the UE.

[0336] In the above method 600, the GMLC may be replaced by other network elements, such as NEF.

[0337] In the above-mentioned method 500 and method 600, positioning is initiated by the application function or AF. Method 500 and method 600 may also be referred to as mobile terminated location request (mobile terminated location request, MT-LR). In method 500 and method 600, the gateway mobile positioning center may determine the network element of the positioning management function device based on the information of the terminal device. In some scenarios, the gateway mobile positioning center may determine the identifier of the first access network device, and send a third message to the first access network device based on the identifier of the first access network device. The first access network device may determine the positioning management function device based on the third message, and send the first message to the positioning management function device. That is to say, in method 700 and method 800, the gateway mobile positioning center cannot communicate directly with the positioning management function device, and the gateway mobile positioning center may communicate with the positioning management function device through the first access network device. The following describes the situation where the first access network device determines the positioning management function device in combination with method 700 and method 800. Figure 7 As shown, the method 700 includes:

[0338] S701, the application function sends a fifth message to the gateway mobile positioning center, and the gateway mobile positioning receives the fifth message from the application function. The fifth message is used to request the location information of the terminal device, and the fifth message includes the second identifier of the terminal device.

[0339] That is to say, the application function may trigger the execution of S701 if it has a need to determine the location information of the terminal device.

[0340] Optionally, S701 is an optional step and may not exist, and other network elements may trigger the execution of S701.

[0341] Optionally, the second identifier may be a permanent identifier of the terminal device. For example, the second identifier may be a GPSI or a SUPI.

[0342] Optionally, the message type of the fifth message may also indicate that the fifth message is used to request location information.

[0343] S702: The gateway mobile positioning center obtains the identifier of the first access network device according to the second identifier of the terminal device.

[0344] Optionally, S702 includes: the gateway mobile positioning center sends the second identifier of the terminal device to the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device, the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device can receive the second identifier of the terminal device from the gateway mobile positioning center, the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device can store the identifier of the first access network device corresponding to the second identifier of the terminal device, the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device sends the identifier of the first access network device corresponding to the second identifier of the terminal device to the gateway mobile positioning center, and the gateway mobile positioning center receives the identifier of the first access network device corresponding to the second identifier sent by the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device.

[0345] Optionally, S702 includes: if the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device cannot send the identifier of the first access network device to the gateway mobile positioning center, for example, the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device does not store the identifier of the first access network device, then the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device sends the registration area information of the terminal device to the gateway mobile positioning center, and the registration area information is used to indicate the registration area of ​​the terminal device. In this way, the gateway mobile positioning center can initiate paging to one or more access network devices within the registration area, so that the terminal device can access the network through the first access network device. After the terminal device accesses the network through the first access network device, the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device sends the identifier of the first access network device to the gateway mobile positioning center again.

[0346] Optionally, S702 includes: if the gateway mobile positioning center fails to obtain the identifier of the first access network device from the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device, obtaining the registration area of ​​the terminal device according to the second identifier; the gateway mobile positioning center initiates paging to at least one access network device in the registration area of ​​the terminal device to obtain the identifier of the first access network device, and the at least one access network device includes the first access network device. That is, the gateway mobile positioning center attempts to obtain the device of the first access network device from the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device according to the second identifier of the terminal device. If the gateway mobile positioning center fails to obtain the identifier of the first access network device from the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device, the second identifier may be sent to the unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device. The unified data storage device or the access and mobility management device may send the registration area information of the terminal device to the gateway mobile positioning center. The registration area information is used to indicate the registration area of ​​the terminal device. Therefore, the gateway mobile positioning center may initiate paging to one or more access network devices in the registration area to determine whether a certain access network device responds. If a certain access network device responds, the access network device may be determined as the first access network device, and thus the identifier of the first access network device may be obtained.

[0347] Optionally, the gateway mobile positioning center may also obtain the first identification of the terminal device according to the second identification of the terminal device, where the first identification is a temporary identification of the terminal device and the second identification is a permanent identification of the terminal device.

[0348] S703, the gateway mobile positioning center sends a third message to the first access network device according to the identifier of the first access network device, and the first access network device receives the third message from the gateway mobile positioning center, where the third message is used to request the location information of the terminal device.

[0349] Optionally, the third message in S730 may also include a second identifier of the terminal device. For example, the second identifier may be a GPSI or a SUPI.

[0350] Optionally, if in S702, the gateway mobile positioning center obtains the first identifier of the terminal device based on the second identifier of the terminal device, the third message in S703 may also include the first identifier of the terminal device, wherein the first identifier is a temporary identifier of the terminal device and the second identifier is a permanent identifier of the terminal device.

[0351] Optionally, if in S702, the gateway mobile positioning center obtains the first identifier of the terminal device, the third message in S703 may include the first identifier of the terminal device and the second identifier of the terminal device, the first identifier being a temporary identifier of the terminal device, and the second identifier being a permanent identifier of the terminal device.

[0352] Optionally, the first access network device may be an access network device to which the terminal device accesses.

[0353] S704: The first access network device determines the positioning management function device according to the third message.

[0354] Optionally, the first access network device may determine that the gateway mobile positioning center needs to request the location information of the terminal device according to the third message, so the first access network device determines that the positioning management function device needs to be determined, so the first access network device may send a fourth message to the network element selection function device, the fourth message is used to request the discovery of the positioning management function device, the network element selection function device sends a third identifier to the first access network device, and the third identifier is used to identify the positioning management function device. In other words, the first access network device may learn that the third message is used to request the location information, so the first access network device needs to determine a network element for positioning, the first access network device sends a fourth message to the network element selection function device for requesting the discovery of the network element for positioning, the network element selection function device selects a suitable positioning management function device according to the identifier of the first access network device that sends the fourth message, and sends the identifier of the positioning management function device to the first access network device. Optionally, if the third message includes the second identifier, the fourth message may also include the second identifier, after the network element selection function device receives the second identifier, it obtains the registration area of ​​the terminal device according to the second identifier, the network element selection function selects the positioning management function device according to the registration area of ​​the terminal device, and sends the identifier of the positioning management function device to the first access network device.

[0355] S705 is the same as S320.

[0356] Optionally, if the third message includes the first identifier, the first message in S705 may also include the first identifier.

[0357] S706-S709 are the same as S330-S360 respectively.

[0358] S710: The first access network device sends location information of the terminal device to the gateway mobile positioning center, and the gateway mobile positioning center receives the location information of the terminal device from the first access network device.

[0359] Optionally, S710 includes: the first access network device sends a response message to the third message to the gateway mobile positioning center, and the gateway mobile positioning center receives a response message to the third message from the first access network device, and the response message to the third message includes location information of the terminal device.

[0360] S711, the gateway mobile positioning center sends the location information of the terminal device to the application function, and the application function receives the location information of the terminal device from the network element mobile positioning center.

[0361] Optionally, S711 includes: the gateway mobile positioning center sends a response message to the fifth message to the application function, and the application function receives a response message to the fifth message from the gateway mobile positioning center. The response message to the fifth message may include location information of the terminal device.

[0362] In the above method 700, the gateway mobile positioning center may be replaced by other network elements, such as a network exposure function (NEF).

[0363] In the above method 700, after receiving the fifth message, the gateway mobile positioning center can determine the first access network device according to the second identifier of the terminal device in the fifth message, and send a third message to the first access network device. The first access network device can determine the positioning management function device according to the third message, and send a first message to the positioning management function device. The first message is used to request the location information of the terminal device. The positioning management function device can send a second message to the first access network device according to the first message. The second message is used to indicate the positioning of the terminal device. The first access network device can return the positioning measurement data of the terminal device to the positioning management function device. The positioning management function device can determine the location information of the terminal device based on the positioning measurement data, and return it to the gateway mobile positioning center through the first access network device, thereby avoiding the need for the access and mobility management device to forward the information of the positioning management device, thereby improving the flexibility of deployment.

[0364] The method 700 is described below by way of example in combination with the method 800. In the method 800, the terminal device is UE, the first access network device is RAN, the positioning management function device is LMF, the gateway mobile positioning center is GMLC, and the application function is AF. Figure 8 As shown, method 800 includes:

[0365] S801, same as S601.

[0366] S802, GMLC determines the RAN identifier and the temporary identifier of the UE according to the GPSI or SUPI of the UE.

[0367] Optionally, GMLC sends GPSI or SUPI to UDR, UDR can save the RAN identifier corresponding to the GPSI or SUPI and the temporary identifier of the UE, UDR sends the RAN identifier and the temporary identifier of the UE to GMLC, GMLC obtains the RAN identifier and the temporary identifier of the UE from UDR, that is, GMLC can send GPSI or SUPI to UDR once, and UDR can send the RAN identifier and the temporary identifier of the UE to GMLC.

[0368] S803, the GMLC sends a provide positioning request message to the RAN identified by the RAN identifier, and the provide positioning request message may include the temporary identifier of the UE.

[0369] Optionally, the third message in method 700 may be the provide location request message in S803.

[0370] Optionally, the provide location request message may further include the GPSI or SUPI of the UE.

[0371] S804: RAN determines the LMF according to the Provide Location Request message.

[0372] S805, RAN sends a location determination message to LMF, and LMF receives the location determination message from RAN, and the location determination message is used to request the location information of the terminal device. The location determination message may include a temporary identifier of the UE.

[0373] Optionally, the first message in method 700 may be the location determination message in S805.

[0374] Optionally, if the provide location request message in S803 does not include the temporary identifier of the UE but includes the permanent identifier of the UE, then the first message in S805 may also include the permanent identifier of the UE but does not include the temporary identifier of the UE.

[0375] S806, same as S406.

[0376] S807a, same as S407a.

[0377] S808a is the same as S408a.

[0378] S807b is the same as S407b.

[0379] S808b is the same as S408b.

[0380] S809b is the same as S409b.

[0381] S810b is the same as S410b.

[0382] S811 is the same as S411.

[0383] S812, LMF sends the UE location information to RAN, and RAN receives the UE location information from LMF.

[0384] Optionally, S812 includes: LMF sends a response message of the location determination message to RAN, and RAN receives the response message of the location determination message, and the response message of the location determination message includes the location information of the UE.

[0385] S813, same as S612.

[0386] S814, same as S613.

[0387] Optionally, in the embodiment of the present application, the steps performed by the unified data storage device can be replaced by the steps performed by the unified data management device, that is, the unified data storage device and the unified data management device can replace each other, that is, UDR and UDM can replace each other.

[0388] Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, a message used to request location information of a terminal device can be interchangeable with a message used to request positioning of the terminal device.

[0389] The above describes the method embodiment provided by the present application, and the following describes the device embodiment provided by the present application. It should be understood that the description of the device embodiment corresponds to the description of the method embodiment, so the content not described in detail can be referred to the method embodiment above, and for the sake of brevity, it will not be repeated here.

[0390] Fig. 9 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. Fig. 9 As shown, the communication device 900 may include a processing unit 910 and a communication unit 920. The communication unit 920 may implement a corresponding communication function, and the communication may be internal communication of the communication device 900 or communication between the communication device 900 and other devices; the processing unit 910 may implement a corresponding processing function. The communication unit 920 may also be referred to as a communication interface or a transceiver unit. Optionally, the communication device 900 may also include a storage unit, which may be used to store instructions and / or data, and the processing unit 910 may read the instructions and / or data in the storage unit, so that the device implements the aforementioned method embodiment.

[0391] In one possible design, the communication device 900 may be the location management function device in the above method 300, method 500 or method 700, or the LMF in method 400, method 600 or method 800, or may be a module or chip applied to the location management function device or LMF. The communication device 900 may be used to execute the steps or processes executed by the management function device or LMF in the above embodiments.

[0392] Specifically, the communication unit 920 is used to: receive a first message, the first message is used to request positioning of the terminal device; send a second message to the first access network device according to the first message, the second message is used to indicate positioning of the terminal device, the first access network device is an access network device to which the terminal device accesses; receive positioning measurement data from the first access network device, the positioning measurement data is used to determine the location information of the terminal device; the processing unit 910 is used to: determine the location information of the terminal device according to the positioning measurement data.

[0393] Optionally, the processing unit 910 is further used to obtain a first identifier of the terminal device; the second message includes the first identifier; the communication unit 920 is specifically used to: receive positioning measurement data and the first identifier from the first access network device, and the first identifier corresponds to the positioning measurement data.

[0394] Optionally, the communication unit 920 is specifically used to: send a second message and a positioning event identifier to the first access network device according to the first message, the positioning event identifier is used to identify a positioning event of a terminal device performing a positioning; receive a first identifier, a positioning event identifier and positioning measurement data from the first access network device.

[0395] Optionally, the communication unit 920 is specifically used to: send a second message and an identifier of the communication device 900 to the first access network device according to the first message; and receive a first identifier and positioning measurement data sent by the first access network device according to the identifier of the communication device 900 from the first access network device.

[0396] Optionally, the processing unit 910 is further configured to: obtain the positioning capability of the terminal device from the unified data storage device according to the first identifier;

[0397] The positioning method is determined according to the positioning capability, and the positioning method corresponds to the positioning measurement data.

[0398] Optionally, the first message is also used to indicate the positioning type for positioning the terminal device; if the positioning type is the last position of the terminal device, the communication unit 920 is also used to: send a first identifier to the unified data storage device to obtain the location information of the terminal device; the processing unit 910 is specifically used to: if the location information of the terminal device is not obtained from the unified data storage device, determine the location information of the terminal device based on the positioning measurement data.

[0399] Optionally, the communication unit 920 is specifically configured to receive a first message from a first access network device; and obtain a first identifier from the first message.

[0400] Optionally, the communication unit 920 is specifically used to: receive a first message from a gateway mobile positioning center, the first message including a second identifier of the terminal device; send the second identifier to a unified data storage device; receive a first identifier corresponding to the second identifier from the unified data storage device, the first identifier is a temporary identifier of the terminal device, and the second identifier is a permanent identifier of the terminal device; or used to: receive a first identifier from a gateway mobile positioning center; or used to: send a second identifier to a first access network device; receive a first identifier corresponding to the second identifier from the first access network device.

[0401] Optionally, the communication unit 920 is further used to: obtain an identifier of the first access network device; the communication unit 920 is specifically used to: send a second message to the first access network device identified by the identifier of the first access network device according to the first message.

[0402] Optionally, the communication unit 920 is specifically used to: receive an identifier of a first access network device from a gateway mobile positioning center; or to: send a second identifier to a unified data storage device; receive an identifier of the first access network device corresponding to the second identifier from the unified data storage device, the second identifier being a permanent identifier of the terminal device; or to: if the identifier of the first access network device is not obtained from the unified data storage device, initiate paging to at least one access network device within a registration area of ​​the terminal device to obtain the identifier of the first access network device, the at least one access network device including the first access network device.

[0403] Optionally, the communication unit 920 is further used to: send first indication information to the first access network device, where the first indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to maintain a radio resource control RRC connection state.

[0404] In one possible design, the communication device 900 may be the first access network device in the above method 300 or method 700, or the RAN in the method 400 or method 800, or may be a module or chip applied to the first access network device or RAN. The communication device 900 may be used to execute the steps or processes executed by the first access network device or RAN in the above embodiments.

[0405] Specifically, the communication unit 920 is used to receive a third message, which is used to request the location information of the terminal device; the processing unit 910 is used to determine the positioning management function device based on the third message; the communication unit 920 is also used to send a first message to the positioning management function device, which is used to request the positioning of the terminal device.

[0406] Optionally, the third message includes second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate that the third message is used to request positioning.

[0407] Optionally, the communication unit 920 is further used to: send a fourth message to the network element selection function device according to the second indication information included in the third message, where the fourth message is used to request to discover the positioning management function device;

[0408] The third identifier is received from the network element selection function device, where the third identifier is used to identify the positioning management function device.

[0409] Optionally, the communication unit 920 is specifically used to: receive a third message from the terminal device or the gateway mobile positioning center.

[0410] Optionally, the communication unit 920 is further used to: obtain a first identifier of the terminal device; and the first message includes the first identifier.

[0411] Optionally, the communication unit 920 is specifically used to: receive a first identifier of the terminal device from a gateway mobile positioning center; or receive a second identifier of the terminal device from a network element mobile center, and determine the first identifier based on the second identifier, the first identifier being a temporary identifier of the terminal device, and the second identifier being a permanent identifier of the terminal device.

[0412] Optionally, the communication unit 920 is also used to: receive a second message from a positioning management function device, the second message includes a first identifier, and the second message is used to indicate the positioning of the terminal device; send the first identifier and positioning measurement data to the positioning management function device according to the second message, the positioning measurement data corresponds to the first identifier, and the positioning measurement data is used to determine the location information of the terminal device.

[0413] Optionally, the communication unit 920 is specifically used to: receive a second message and a positioning event identifier from a positioning management function device, where the positioning event identifier is used to identify a positioning event for positioning a terminal device; and send a first identifier, positioning measurement data and a positioning event identifier to the positioning management function device.

[0414] Optionally, the communication unit 920 is also used to: receive a second message sent by the positioning management function device, a first identifier and an identifier of the positioning management function device from the positioning management function device, the second message being used to indicate positioning of the terminal device; send the second message and the identifier of the positioning management function device to the terminal device; receive the identifier of the positioning management function device and the positioning measurement data of the terminal device from the terminal device; and send the first identifier and the positioning measurement data of the terminal device to the positioning management function device according to the identifier of the positioning management function device.

[0415] Optionally, the communication unit 920 is also used to: receive first indication information from the positioning management function device, the first indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to maintain a wireless resource control RRC connection state; the processing unit 910 is used to keep the terminal device in a wireless resource RRC connection state according to the first indication information.

[0416] In one possible design, the communication device 900 may be the gateway mobile positioning center in the above method 500, or the GMLC in the method 600, or may be a module or chip applied to the gateway mobile positioning center or the GMLC. The communication device 900 may be used to execute the steps or processes executed by the GMLC or the gateway mobile positioning center in the above embodiments.

[0417] Specifically, the communication unit 920 is used to receive the fifth message, which is used to request the location information of the terminal device; the processing unit 910 is used to determine the positioning management function device based on the information of the terminal device; the communication unit 920 is used to send a first message to the positioning management function device based on the fifth message, and the first message is used to request the positioning of the terminal device.

[0418] Optionally, the information of the terminal device indicates a registration area of ​​the terminal device or an identifier of a first access network device accessed by the terminal device.

[0419] Optionally, the communication unit 920 is further configured to: send a second identifier of the terminal device to the unified data storage device; and receive information of the terminal device sent by the unified data storage device according to the second identifier. Optionally, the first message includes an identifier of the first access network device.

[0420] Optionally, the fifth message includes the second identifier of the terminal device; and / or the first message includes the first identifier of the terminal device and / or the second identifier of the terminal device, the second identifier is a permanent identifier of the terminal device, and the first identifier is a temporary identifier of the terminal device.

[0421] Optionally, the first message includes a first identifier of the terminal device, and the communication unit 920 is further used to: send a second identifier to the unified data storage device; and receive a first identifier corresponding to the second identifier sent by the unified data storage device.

[0422] In one possible design, the communication device 900 may be the gateway mobile positioning center in the above method 700, or the GMLC in the method 800, or may be a module or chip applied to the gateway mobile positioning center or the GMLC. The communication device 900 may be used to execute the steps or processes executed by the gateway mobile positioning center or the GMLC in the above embodiments.

[0423] Specifically, the communication unit 920 is used to: receive a fifth message, the fifth message is used to request the location information of the terminal device, the fifth message includes the second identifier of the terminal device; obtain the identifier of the first access network device according to the second identifier of the terminal device; send a third message to the first access network device according to the identifier of the first access network device, and the third message is used to request the location information of the terminal device.

[0424] Optionally, the communication unit 920 is specifically used to: if the identifier of the first access network device is not obtained from the unified data storage device, obtain the registration area of ​​the terminal device according to the second identifier; initiate paging to at least one access network device within the registration area of ​​the terminal device to obtain the identifier of the first access network device, and the at least one access network device includes the first access network device.

[0425] Optionally, the communication unit 920 is specifically configured to: send a second identifier of the terminal device to the unified data storage device; and receive an identifier of the first access network device corresponding to the second identifier sent by the unified data storage device.

[0426] Optionally, the third message includes a first identifier of the terminal device and / or a second identifier of the terminal device, the first identifier is a temporary identifier of the terminal device, and the second identifier is a permanent identifier of the terminal device.

[0427] Optionally, the third message includes the first identifier. Optionally, the communication unit 920 is further used to: send the second identifier in the fifth message to the unified data storage device; and receive the first identifier of the terminal device corresponding to the second identifier sent by the unified data storage device.

[0428] It should be understood that the "unit" in the communication device 900 can be implemented by hardware, can be implemented by software, and can also be implemented by hardware executing the corresponding software. For example, the "unit" can refer to an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (such as a shared processor, a dedicated processor or a group processor, etc.) and a memory for executing one or more software or firmware programs, a combined logic circuit and / or other suitable components that support the described functions. For another example, the communication unit 920 can be replaced by a transceiver transceiver circuit (for example, it can include a receiving circuit and a transmitting circuit), and the processing unit 910 can be replaced by a processor or a processing circuit.

[0429] Fig.10 A schematic block diagram of another communication device 1000 provided in an embodiment of the present application is shown. The communication device 1000 may be a positioning management function device or LMF or access network device or RAN or gateway mobile positioning center or GMLC, or may be a chip, chip system, or processor that supports the positioning management function device or LMF or access network device or RAN or gateway mobile positioning center or GMLC to implement the above method. The device may be used to implement the method described in the above method embodiment, and the details may refer to the description in the above method embodiment.

[0430] The device 1000 may include one or more processors 1010, which may also be referred to as processing units, and may implement certain control functions. The processor 1010 may be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, etc. For example, it may be a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor may be used to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processing unit may be used to control a communication device (e.g., a base station, a baseband chip, a user chip, a DU or a CU, etc.), execute a software program, and process data of the software program.

[0431] In an optional design, the processor 1010 may also store instructions and / or data, which can be executed by the processor 1010 so that the device 1000 performs the method described in the above method embodiment. Optionally, the processing unit 910 in the communication device 900 may be the processor 1010.

[0432] In another optional design, the device 1000 may include a communication interface 1020 for implementing the receiving and sending functions. For example, the communication interface 1020 may be a transceiver circuit, an interface, an interface circuit or a transceiver. The transceiver circuit, interface, interface circuit or transceiver for implementing the receiving and sending functions may be separate or integrated. The above-mentioned transceiver circuit, interface, interface circuit or transceiver may be used for reading and writing code / data, or the above-mentioned transceiver circuit, interface, interface circuit or transceiver may be used for transmitting or delivering signals. Optionally, the communication unit 920 in the communication device 900 may be the communication interface 1020.

[0433] Optionally, the device 1000 may include one or more memories 1030, on which instructions may be stored, and the instructions may be executed on the processor 1010, so that the device 1000 performs the method described in the above method embodiment. Optionally, data may also be stored in the memory 1030. Optionally, instructions and / or data may also be stored in the processor 1010. The processor 1010 and the memory 1030 may be provided separately or integrated together.

[0434] It should be understood that in a possible design, each step in the method embodiment provided by the present application can be completed by an integrated logic circuit of hardware in a processor or an instruction in the form of software. The steps of the method disclosed in conjunction with the embodiment of the present application can be directly embodied as a hardware processor executing the completion, or the hardware and software modules in the processor are combined and executed. The software module can be located in a storage medium mature in the art such as a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory or an electrically erasable programmable memory, a register, etc. The storage medium is located in a memory, and the processor reads the information in the memory and completes the steps of the above method in conjunction with its hardware. To avoid repetition, it is not described in detail here.

[0435] It should be noted that the processor in the embodiment of the present application can be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. In the implementation process, each step of the above method embodiment can be completed by an integrated logic circuit of hardware in the processor or an instruction in the form of software. The above processor can be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gates or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components. The methods, steps and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented or executed. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or the processor can also be any conventional processor, etc. The steps of the method disclosed in the embodiment of the present application can be directly embodied as a hardware decoding processor to perform, or the hardware and software modules in the decoding processor can be combined and performed. The software module can be located in a mature storage medium in the field such as a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory or an electrically erasable programmable memory, a register, etc. The storage medium is located in a memory, and the processor reads the information in the memory and completes the steps of the above method in combination with its hardware.

[0436] It can be understood that the memory in the embodiments of the present application can be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or can include both volatile and non-volatile memories. Among them, the non-volatile memory can be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory can be a random access memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache. By way of example and not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), synchronous link DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct RAM (DR RAM). It should be noted that the memory of the systems and methods described herein is intended to include, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0437] The present application also provides a computer program product, which includes: computer program code, when the computer program code runs on a computer, enables the computer to execute the various steps or processes executed by the positioning management function device or LMF or access network device or RAN or gateway mobile positioning center or GMLC in any of the above method embodiments.

[0438] The present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a program code. When the program code runs on a computer, the computer executes the various steps or processes performed by the positioning management function device or LMF or access network device or RAN or gateway mobile positioning center or GMLC in any of the above method embodiments.

[0439] The present application also provides a communication device, including a processor and an interface, which is used to send and / or receive signals, so that the processor executes the various steps or processes performed by the positioning management function device or LMF or access network device or RAN or gateway mobile positioning center or GMLC in any of the above method embodiments.

[0440] The present application also provides a communication system, which includes at least two of a terminal device, a positioning management function device, an access network device, or a gateway mobile positioning center, or includes at least two of a UE, a LMF, a RAN, or a GMLC;

[0441] The above-mentioned various device embodiments and method embodiments completely correspond to each other, and the corresponding steps are executed by the corresponding modules or units. For example, the communication unit or communication interface executes the receiving or sending steps in the method embodiment, and the other steps except sending and receiving can be executed by the processing unit or processor.

[0442] In the embodiments of the present application, each term and English abbreviation is provided for the convenience of description and shall not constitute any limitation to the present application. The present application does not exclude the possibility of defining other terms that can achieve the same or similar functions in existing or future protocols.

[0443] The terms "component", "module", "system", etc. used in this specification are used to represent computer-related entities, hardware, firmware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software in execution. For example, a component can be, but is not limited to, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable file, an execution thread, a program and / or a computer. By way of illustration, both applications running on a computing device and a computing device can be components. One or more components may reside in a process and / or an execution thread, and a component may be located on a computer and / or distributed between two or more computers. In addition, these components may be executed from various computer-readable storage media having various data structures stored thereon. Components may, for example, communicate through local and / or remote processes according to signals having one or more data packets (e.g., data from two components interacting with another component between a local system, a distributed system and / or a network, such as the Internet interacting with other systems through signals).

[0444] Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks and steps described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or in a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional and technical personnel may use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0445] Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices and units described above can be based on the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0446] In the several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are only schematic. For example, the division of the units is only a logical function division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0447] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed on multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of this embodiment.

[0448] In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0449] In the above embodiments, the functions of each functional unit can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions (programs). When the computer program instructions (programs) are loaded and executed on a computer, the process or function described in the embodiment of the present application is generated in whole or in part. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable devices. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium, for example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from a website site, computer, server or data center by wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) mode to another website site, computer, server or data center. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server, data center, etc. that contains one or more available media integrated. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (eg, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (eg, a DVD), or a semiconductor medium (eg, a solid state disk (SSD)).

[0450] If the functions are implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application can be essentially or partly embodied in the form of a software product that contributes to the prior art. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium, including several instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to perform all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: various media that can store program codes, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

[0451] The above is only a specific implementation of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art who is familiar with the present technical field can easily think of changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in the present application, which should be included in the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application should be based on the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for determining location information, characterized in that Applicable to devices with positioning management functions, including: Receiving a first message, where the first message is used to request positioning of a terminal device; Sending a second message to a first access network device according to the first message, where the second message is used to instruct positioning of the terminal device, and the first access network device is an access network device accessed by the terminal device; receiving positioning measurement data from the first access network device, where the positioning measurement data is used to determine the location information of the terminal device; The location information of the terminal device is determined according to the positioning measurement data.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The method further comprises: Obtaining a first identifier of the terminal device; The second message includes the first identifier; The receiving positioning measurement data from the first access network device includes: The positioning measurement data and the first identifier are received from the first access network device, where the first identifier corresponds to the positioning measurement data.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The sending the second message to the first access network device according to the first message includes: Sending the second message and a positioning event identifier to the first access network device according to the first message, where the positioning event identifier is used to identify a positioning event for the terminal device to perform a positioning operation; The receiving the first identifier and the positioning measurement data from the first access network device includes: The first identifier, the positioning event identifier and the positioning measurement data are received from the first access network device.

4. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that: The sending the second message to the first access network device according to the first message includes: Sending the second message and the identifier of the positioning management function device to the first access network device according to the first message; The receiving the first identifier and positioning measurement data from the first access network device includes: The first identifier and the positioning measurement data sent by the first access network device according to the identifier of the positioning management function device are received from the first access network device.

5. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that The method further comprises: Acquiring the positioning capability of the terminal device from a unified data storage device according to the first identifier; A positioning method is determined according to the positioning capability, and the positioning method corresponds to the positioning measurement data.

6. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that The first message is also used to indicate a positioning type for positioning the terminal device; If the positioning type is the last position of the terminal device, the method further includes: Sending the first identifier to a unified data storage device to obtain location information of the terminal device; Wherein, determining the location information of the terminal device according to the positioning measurement data includes: If the location information of the terminal device is not acquired from the unified data storage device, the location information of the terminal device is determined according to the positioning measurement data.

7. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that The receiving of the first message comprises: Receiving the first message from the first access network device; The obtaining of the first identifier includes: The first identifier is obtained from the first message.

8. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that The receiving of the first message comprises: receiving the first message from a gateway mobile positioning center, where the first message includes a second identifier of the terminal device; The obtaining of the first identifier includes: Sending the second identifier to the unified data storage device; Receiving, from the unified data storage device, the first identifier corresponding to the second identifier, where the first identifier is a temporary identifier of the terminal device, and the second identifier is a permanent identifier of the terminal device; or comprising: Receiving the first identifier from the gateway mobile positioning center; or comprising: Sending the second identifier to the first access network device; The first identifier corresponding to the second identifier is received from the first access network device.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that The method further comprises: Obtaining an identifier of the first access network device; The sending a second message to the first access network device according to the first message includes: The second message is sent to the first access network device identified by the identifier of the first access network device according to the first message.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The obtaining the identifier of the first access network device includes: Receiving an identifier of the first access network device from a gateway mobile positioning center; or comprising: Sending a second identifier of the terminal device to the unified data storage device; Receiving, from a unified data storage device, an identifier of the first access network device corresponding to the second identifier, where the second identifier is a permanent identifier of the terminal device; or comprising: If the identifier of the first access network device is not obtained from the unified data storage device, paging is initiated to at least one access network device in the registration area of ​​the terminal device to obtain the identifier of the first access network device, and the at least one access network device includes the first access network device.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that The method further comprises: Send first indication information to the first access network device, where the first indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to maintain a radio resource control RRC connection state.

12. A method for determining location information, characterized in that Applicable to the first access network device, including: receiving a third message, wherein the third message is used to request location information of a terminal device; Determine the location management function device according to the third message; A first message is sent to the positioning management function device, where the first message is used to request positioning of the terminal device.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The third message includes second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the third message is used to request positioning.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that The determining of the positioning management function device according to the third message includes: Sending a fourth message to the network element selection function device according to the second indication information included in the third message, wherein the fourth message is used to request discovery of the positioning management function device; A third identifier is received from the network element selection function device, where the third identifier is used to identify the positioning management function device.

15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that The receiving of the third message comprises: The third message is received from the terminal device or the gateway mobile positioning center.

16. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that The method further comprises: Obtaining a first identifier of the terminal device; The first message includes the first identifier.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that The obtaining of the first identification of the terminal device includes: Receive a first identification of the terminal device from a gateway mobile positioning center; or, A second identifier of the terminal device is received from the gateway mobile center, and the first identifier is determined according to the second identifier, wherein the first identifier is a temporary identifier of the terminal device and the second identifier is a permanent identifier of the terminal device.

18. The method according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that The method further comprises: receiving a second message from a positioning management function device, where the second message includes a first identifier and the second message is used to instruct positioning of the terminal device; The first identifier and positioning measurement data are sent to a positioning management function device according to the second message, where the positioning measurement data corresponds to the first identifier and is used to determine the location information of the terminal device.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that The receiving a second message from the positioning management function device includes: receiving the second message and a positioning event identifier from the positioning management function device, where the positioning event identifier is used to identify a positioning event for positioning the terminal device once; The sending the first identifier and the positioning measurement data to the positioning management function device according to the second message includes: The first identifier, the positioning measurement data and the positioning event identifier are sent to a positioning management function device.

20. The method according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that The method further comprises: receiving, from a positioning management function device, a second message sent by the positioning management function device, the first identifier and the identifier of the positioning management function device, the second message being used to instruct to locate the terminal device; Sending the second message and the identifier of the positioning management function device to the terminal device; receiving, from the terminal device, an identifier of the positioning management function device and positioning measurement data of the terminal device; The first identifier and the positioning measurement data of the terminal device are sent to the positioning management function device according to the identifier of the positioning management function device.

21. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 20, characterized in that The method further comprises: Receive first indication information from the positioning management function device, where the first indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to maintain a radio resource control RRC connection state; According to the first indication information, the terminal device is kept in a wireless resource RRC connection state.

22. A method for determining location information, characterized in that Applied to gateway mobile positioning center, including: receiving a fifth message, where the fifth message is used to request location information of a terminal device; Determine the location management function device according to the information of the terminal device; A first message is sent to the positioning management function device based on the fifth message, where the first message is used to request positioning of the terminal device.

23. The method according to claim 22, characterized in that The information of the terminal device indicates the registration area of ​​the terminal device or the identifier of the first access network device accessed by the terminal device.

24. The method according to claim 23, characterized in that The method further comprises: Sending a second identifier of the terminal device to the unified data storage device; Receive the information of the terminal device sent by the unified data storage device according to the second identifier.

25. The method according to any one of claims 22 to 24, characterized in that The first message includes an identifier of a first access network device, where the first access network device is an access network device to which the terminal device accesses.

26. The method according to any one of claims 22 to 25, characterized in that The fifth message includes the second identifier of the terminal device; and / or, The first message includes a first identifier of the terminal device and / or a second identifier of the terminal device, where the second identifier is a permanent identifier of the terminal device and the first identifier is a temporary identifier of the terminal device.

27. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that The first message includes a first identifier of the terminal device, and the method further includes: Sending the second identifier to the unified data storage device; Receive a first identifier corresponding to the second identifier sent by the unified data storage device.

28. A communication device, characterized in that: Comprising means for carrying out the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 27.

29. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program, and when the computer program is executed, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 27 is implemented.

30. A chip, characterized in that: The chip comprises a processor connected to a memory, the memory is used to store a computer program, and the processor is used to execute the computer program stored in the memory, so that the chip executes the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 27.

Images