Communication method and device

Abstract

The invention provides a communication method and device, and relates to the field of mobile communication, according to the method, a sensing network element can acquire capability information of a device supporting non-3GPP (Non-3rd Generation Partnership Project) sensing capability, and performs selection of a first device in response to the capability information and sensing demand information from a requesting device. The perception network element may also send a first message to the selected first device for requesting perception data perceived by the N3GPP, the perception network element may also receive first perception data from the first device, the first perception data including the perception data perceived by the N3GPP. The perception data based on N3GPP perception can improve the perception performance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of mobile communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and device. Background Art

[0002] With the continuous development of mobile communication technology and the continuous enhancement of air interface capabilities, mobile networks have made a qualitative leap from providing only simple voice, SMS, and data services to realizing the Internet of Everything. In addition, the continuous innovation of information technology has spawned new demands and new services such as artificial intelligence, immersive experience, and digital twins, and has also put forward higher information interaction requirements for communication networks. In addition to the improvement of traditional communication capabilities, computing, perception, artificial intelligence, and security capabilities will also be provided; among them, perception capabilities will become an important capability and feature of future mobile communication networks.

[0003] In order to support perception capabilities, the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) describes the use cases and potential requirements of perception services. For example, the application scenarios of perception involve highways, railways, home invasion scenarios, drone invasion scenarios, smart parking scenarios, drone collision perception, drone route tracking, and pedestrian and vehicle flow perception. Currently, 3GPP supports the perception of target objects through 3GPP access technology. At present, based on 3GPP perception, the core network in the fifth generation (5th generation, 5G) mobile communication system can obtain perception data based on the perception of terminal devices and / or access network devices. Limited by the coverage range of perception devices, device capabilities, and the upper limit of the accuracy that can be achieved by the technology, the perception accuracy based on 3GPP perception, a single perception technology, may not meet the requirements of applications and services. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present application provides a communication method and apparatus for enhancing perception performance through N3GPP perception technology.

[0005] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided. The method may be implemented by a perception network element. The perception network element may be a SF or a component of a SF, such as a SF-C or a SF-U, or a perception server. Among them, the components in the present application may include, for example, at least one of a chip, a chip system, a processor, a transceiver, a processing unit, or a transceiver unit. Taking the execution subject as an example, the method may be implemented by the following steps: the perception network element obtains the capability information of a device supporting N3GPP perception capability; the perception network element receives a perception request message from a requesting device, and the perception request message is used to request perception data; the perception network element responds to the perception request message and determines a first device according to the capability information, and the first device is one or more devices supporting N3GPP perception capability; the perception network element sends a first message to the first device, and the first message is used to request perception data perceived by N3GPP; the perception network element receives first perception data from the first device, and the first perception data includes perception data perceived by N3GPP.

[0006] Based on the method shown in the first aspect, the perception network element can obtain the capability information of the device that supports N3GPP perception capability, and select the first device according to the capability information and the perception requirement information from the requesting device, thereby obtaining the perception data of N3GPP perception through the selected first device, and the perception performance can be improved based on the perception data of N3GPP perception.

[0007] In a possible implementation, the perception network element may select the first device according to the first perception requirement information and the capability information, so that the selected first device meets the perception requirement. As a possible embodiment, the first perception requirement information may be the same as the fourth perception requirement information carried in the perception request message, or may be obtained based on the fourth perception requirement information.

[0008] In a possible implementation, the first message includes the second perception requirement information. Therefore, the first device can perform N3GPP perception according to the second perception requirement information to provide N3GPP perception data that meets the requirements. As a possible embodiment, the second perception requirement information can be the same as the fourth perception requirement information carried in the perception request message, or can be obtained based on the fourth perception requirement information.

[0009] In a possible implementation, the perception network element may obtain the capability information from the device supporting the N3GPP perception capability, the application function, the normalized data warehouse network element, the normalized data management network element, the N3GPP perception capability storage function network element or the access and mobility management network element. Among them, the N3GPP perception capability storage function network element may be a dedicated N3GPP perception-related storage network element. The access and mobility management network element may be the AMF corresponding to the area of ​​the device supporting the 3GPP perception capability.

[0010] In one possible implementation, the perception network element sends a device request message and / or a device subscription message to the device, application function, normalized data warehouse network element, normalized data management network element, N3GPP perception capability storage function network element or access and mobility management network element that supports N3GPP perception capability; wherein the device request message and / or the device subscription message includes third perception requirement information, and the third perception requirement information is used to discover devices that support N3GPP perception capability. Therefore, the perception network element can request capability information of devices that support N3GPP perception capability and meet the perception requirements through the third perception requirement information. As a possible embodiment, the third perception requirement information may be the same as the fourth perception requirement information carried in the perception request message, or may be obtained on the basis of the fourth perception requirement information.

[0011] In a possible implementation, the perception network element may further send second perception data to the requesting device. The second perception data may be further perception data obtained based on the first perception data, for example, the second perception data may be used to determine the perception result. In addition, the second perception data may also include the perception result.

[0012] In a possible implementation, the perception network element receives 3GPP-perceived perception data from a second device, the second device being a device supporting 3GPP perception capability; the perception network element generates the second perception data based on the first perception data and the 3GPP-perceived perception data. Based on this implementation, when the perception network element is a SF, the perception network element can obtain 3GPP perception data from a temporary device supporting 3GPP perception (i.e., the second device), and fuse and / or analyze the 3GPP perception data with the first perception data to obtain the second perception data.

[0013] In a possible implementation, in the above implementation, the first message is also used by the first device to obtain the 3GPP-perceived perception data. At this time, the second device and the first device are the same device, or in other words, the second device may include but is not limited to the first device.

[0014] In a possible implementation, the perception network element may receive 3GPP-perceived perception data from a perception function network element. The perception network element generates the second perception data based on the first perception data and the 3GPP-perceived perception data. Based on this implementation, when the perception network element is a perception server, the perception network element may obtain 3GPP perception data from the SF, and perform processing such as fusing and / or analyzing the 3GPP perception data with the first perception data to obtain the second perception data. This application does not make specific requirements on the way in which the SF obtains the 3GPP perception data.

[0015] In a possible implementation manner, the perception network element sends a second message to the perception function network element, where the second message is used to request perception data perceived by 3GPP.

[0016] In a possible implementation, the first perception data is generated according to the perception data perceived by the N3GPP and the perception data perceived by the 3GPP. That is, the first perception device may fuse the 3GPP perception data and the N3GPP perception data.

[0017] In a possible implementation, the awareness request message includes fourth awareness requirement information. The fourth awareness requirement information represents the awareness requirement of the requesting device.

[0018] In a possible implementation, the perception network element may also send an address and / or data tag information for receiving the first perception data to the first device; the perception network element receives the first perception data from the first device whose destination address is the address; and / or the perception network element receives the first perception data from the first device including the data tag information. The address and / or tag may be used by the perception network element to identify that the received perception data includes N3GPP-perceived perception data.

[0019] In a second aspect, a communication method is provided. The method may be implemented by a first device. The first device may include a terminal or a base station, or may be a component of a terminal or a base station. Among them, the components in the present application may include, for example, at least one of a chip, a chip system, a processor, a transceiver, a processing unit, or a transceiver unit. Taking the execution subject as the first device as an example, the method can be implemented by the following steps: the first device receives a first message from a perception network element, the first message is used to request perception data perceived by N3GPP, and the first device is a device that supports N3GPP perception; the first device obtains first perception data in response to the first message, and the first perception data includes perception data perceived by N3GPP; the first device sends the first perception data to the perception network element.

[0020] In a possible implementation, the first device may also send the capability information of the first device to the perception network element, application function, normalized data warehouse network element, normalized data management network element, N3GPP perception capability storage function network element or access and mobility management network element, and the capability information is used by the perception network element to determine the first device.

[0021] In one possible implementation, the first device may also receive a device request message and / or a device subscription message from the perception network element; wherein the device request message and / or the device subscription message includes third perception requirement information, and the third perception requirement information is used to discover devices that support N3GPP perception capabilities.

[0022] In a possible implementation, the first message is also used to request 3GPP-perceived perception data, and the first device may also send 3GPP-perceived perception data to the perception network element; or; the first device may also generate the first perception data based on the 3GPP-perceived perception data and N3GPP-perceived perception data.

[0023] In a possible implementation, the first device may also receive an address and / or data tag information for receiving the first perception data from the perception network element; in addition, the first device may also send the first perception data with the destination address being the address to the perception network element; and / or, the first device may also send the first perception data containing the data tag information to the perception network element.

[0024] In any possible implementation of the first aspect and / or the second aspect, the device supporting N3GPP awareness capability includes: a device with N3GPP awareness capability, and / or a device connected to a device with N3GPP awareness capability.

[0025] In any possible implementation of the first aspect and / or the second aspect, the capability information of the device supporting N3GPP perception capability includes one or more of the following: supported perception area; location; indication of support for N3GPP perception capability; supported perception type; device identification; supported perception capability indicators; supported perception data fusion capability information, used to indicate support for fusion of N3GPP-perceived perception data and 3GPP-perceived perception data, and / or, used to indicate a fusion indicator of supported N3GPP-perceived perception data and 3GPP-perceived perception data.

[0026] In any possible implementation of the first aspect and / or the second aspect, one or more of the first perception demand information, the second perception demand information, the third perception demand information and the fourth perception demand information include one or more of the following information: a perception area of ​​the demand; a perception capability indicator of the demand; fusion demand information, used to indicate the fusion of N3GPP-perceived perception data and 3GPP-perceived perception data, and / or, used to indicate a fusion indicator of the N3GPP-perceived perception data and the 3GPP-perceived perception data of the demand; a perception type of the demand; perception service information, the perception service information is used to determine one or more of the perception area of ​​the demand, the perception capability indicator of the demand, the fusion demand and the perception type of the demand.

[0027] The beneficial effects of the above second aspect and its various possible implementations can be found in the description of the beneficial effects of the first aspect and its corresponding implementations, and the repeated parts will be omitted.

[0028] In a third aspect, a communication method is provided. The method can be implemented by a perception network element or a component in a perception network element, and by a perception server or a component of a perception server, wherein the perception network element is a SF. The method can be implemented by the following steps: obtaining capability information of a device supporting N3GPP perception capability; receiving a perception request message from a requesting device, wherein the perception request message is used to request perception data; in response to the perception request message, determining a first device according to the capability information, wherein the first device is one or more devices supporting N3GPP perception capability; sending a first message to the first device, wherein the first message is used to request perception data perceived by N3GPP; receiving first perception data from the first device, wherein the first perception data includes perception data perceived by N3GPP.

[0029] The difference from the first aspect is that in the method shown in the third aspect, the perception network element may receive a perception message from a requesting device, and the perception server may send a first message to the first device to request the first device to perform N3GPP perception. Optionally, the first device may be selected by the perception network element and / or the perception server, and the method of selecting the first device may refer to the first aspect.

[0030] In a possible implementation manner, the device supporting N3GPP awareness capability includes: a device with N3GPP awareness capability, and / or a device connected to the device with N3GPP awareness capability.

[0031] In a possible implementation manner, the receiving the first perception data from the first device includes: a perception server receiving the first perception data from the first device; and the perception server sending the first perception data to a perception network element.

[0032] In one possible implementation, the obtaining of capability information of a device supporting N3GPP perception capability includes: a perception server obtaining capability information of a device supporting N3GPP perception capability; the receiving of a perception request message from a requesting device includes: the perception network element receiving the perception request message; the responding to the perception request message and determining the first device according to the capability information includes: the perception network element sending a third message to the perception server in response to the perception request message, the third message being used to request perception data perceived by N3GPP; the perception server responds to the third message and determines the first device according to the capability information.

[0033] In a possible implementation, determining the first device according to the capability information includes: selecting the first device according to first perceived requirement information and the capability information.

[0034] In a possible implementation manner, the third message includes second perception requirement information.

[0035] In one possible implementation, the obtaining of capability information of a device supporting N3GPP perception capability includes: a perception server obtaining the capability information from the device supporting N3GPP perception capability, application function, normalized data warehouse network element, normalized data management network element, N3GPP perception capability storage function network element or access and mobility management network element.

[0036] In one possible implementation, the perception server sends a device request message and / or a device subscription message to the device, application function, normalized data warehouse network element, normalized data management network element, N3GPP perception capability storage function network element or access and mobility management network element that supports N3GPP perception capability; wherein the device request message and / or the device subscription message includes third perception requirement information, and the third perception requirement information is used to discover devices that support N3GPP perception capability.

[0037] In one possible implementation, the capability information includes one or more of the following: supported perception areas; locations; indications of supported N3GPP perception capabilities; device identification; supported perception types; supported perception capability indicators; supported perception data fusion capability information, used to indicate support for fusion of N3GPP-perceived perception data with 3GPP-perceived perception data, and / or, used to indicate fusion indicators of supported N3GPP-perceived perception data with 3GPP-perceived perception data.

[0038] In a possible implementation, a perception network element receives a perception request message from a requesting device, where the perception request message is used to request a perception result, and the first perception request message includes fourth perception requirement information; the method also includes: the perception network element sends second perception data to the requesting device.

[0039] In a possible implementation manner, the perception network element may also generate the second perception data according to the first perception data and the perception data perceived by 3GPP.

[0040] In a possible implementation, the perception network element generates second perception data based on the first perception data and the 3GPP-perceived perception data, including: the perception network element receives the 3GPP-perceived perception data from the second device, and receives the first perception data from the perception server; the perception network element generates the second perception data based on the first perception data and the 3GPP-perceived perception data.

[0041] In a possible implementation, the first message is also used by the first device to obtain the 3GPP-perceived perception data, and the second device is the same device as the first device.

[0042] In a possible implementation manner, the first perception data is generated according to the N3GPP-perceived perception data and the 3GPP-perceived perception data.

[0043] In a possible implementation, the perception network element generates the second perception data based on the first perception data and the 3GPP-perceived perception data, including: the perception network element processes the first perception data and the 3GPP-perceived perception data according to the fourth perception requirement information to generate the second perception data.

[0044] In a possible implementation manner, the perception request message includes fourth perception requirement information.

[0045] In one possible implementation, one or more of the first perception demand information, the second perception demand information, the third perception demand information and the fourth perception demand information include one or more of the following information: a perception area of ​​the demand; a perception capability indicator of the demand; fusion demand information, used to indicate the fusion of N3GPP-perceived perception data and 3GPP-perceived perception data, and / or, used to indicate a fusion indicator of the N3GPP-perceived perception data and the 3GPP-perceived perception data of the demand; the perception type of the demand; perception service information, the perception service information is used to determine one or more of the perception area of ​​the demand, the perception capability indicator of the demand, the fusion demand and the perception type of the demand.

[0046] In a possible implementation, the perception server may also send an address and / or data tag information for receiving the first perception data to the first device; the receiving of the first perception data from the first device includes: the perception server receives the first perception data from the first device with the destination address being the address; or, the perception server receives the first perception data from the first device containing the data tag information.

[0047] The beneficial effects of the third aspect and its various possible implementations can be found in the description of the beneficial effects of the first aspect and its corresponding implementations, and the repeated parts will be omitted.

[0048] In a fourth aspect, a communication device is provided. The device can implement the method described in any aspect of the first to third aspects and any possible implementation methods thereof. The device has the functions of the above-mentioned perception network element, first device or perception server. For example, when implementing the method shown in the first aspect, the device is, for example, a perception network element or a functional module of a perception network element, or can be a processor in a perception network element. For another example, when implementing the method shown in the second aspect and any possible implementation method thereof, the device is, for example, a first device, a perception module in the first device or a processor. For another example, when implementing the method shown in the third aspect and any possible direction thereof, the device is, for example, a perception network element or a perception server, or can be a functional module of a perception network element or a functional module of a perception server, or a component such as a processor of a perception network element or a perception server.

[0049] In an optional implementation, the device may include a module corresponding to the method / operation / step / action described in any aspect of the first to third aspects and any possible implementation thereof, and the module may be a hardware circuit, or software, or a hardware circuit combined with software. In an optional implementation, the device includes a processing unit (sometimes also referred to as a processing module) and a communication unit (sometimes also referred to as a transceiver module, a communication module, etc.). The transceiver unit can implement a sending function and a receiving function. When the transceiver unit implements the sending function, it may be referred to as a sending unit (sometimes also referred to as a sending module), and when the transceiver unit implements the receiving function, it may be referred to as a receiving unit (sometimes also referred to as a receiving module). The sending unit and the receiving unit may be the same functional module, which is called a transceiver unit, and the functional module can implement a sending function and a receiving function; or, the sending unit and the receiving unit may be different functional modules, and the transceiver unit is a general term for these functional modules.

[0050] Exemplarily, when the device is used to execute the method described in any aspect of the first to third aspects and any possible implementation thereof, the device may include a communication unit and a processing unit.

[0051] In the fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application also provides a communication device, comprising a processor, for executing a computer program (or computer executable instructions) stored in a memory. When the computer program (or computer executable instructions) is executed, the device executes a method performed by a perception network element, a first device or a perception server in any aspect of the first to third aspects and any possible implementation thereof.

[0052] In one possible implementation, the processor and the memory are integrated together;

[0053] In another possible implementation, the memory is located outside the communication device.

[0054] The communication device also includes a communication interface, which is used for the communication device to communicate with other devices, such as sending or receiving data and / or signals. Exemplarily, the communication interface can be a transceiver, circuit, bus, module or other type of communication interface.

[0055] In a sixth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, wherein the computer-readable storage medium is used to store a computer program or instruction, which, when executed, enables the method shown in any aspect of the first to third aspects and any possible implementation thereof to be implemented.

[0056] In a seventh aspect, a computer program product comprising instructions is provided, which, when executed on a computer, enables the method shown in any aspect from the first to the third aspect and any possible implementation thereof to be implemented.

[0057] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device for executing the method in any aspect of the first to third aspects above and any possible implementation manner thereof.

[0058] In the ninth aspect, a chip system is provided, which includes a logic circuit (or understood as, the chip system includes a processor, the processor may include a logic circuit, etc.), and may also include an input and output interface. The input and output interface can be used to input messages or to output messages. The input and output interfaces may be the same interface, that is, the same interface can realize both the sending function and the receiving function; or, the input and output interface includes an input interface and an output interface, the input interface is used to realize the receiving function, that is, for receiving messages; the output interface is used to realize the sending function, that is, for sending messages. The logic circuit can be used to perform operations other than the sending and receiving functions in the method shown in any aspect of the first to third aspects and any possible implementation thereof; the logic circuit can also be used to transmit messages to the input and output interface, or to receive messages from other communication devices from the input and output interface. The chip system can be used to implement the method shown in any aspect of the first to third aspects and any possible implementation thereof. The chip system can be composed of a chip, or it can include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0059] Optionally, the chip system may further include a memory, which may be used to store instructions, and the logic circuit may call the instructions stored in the memory to implement corresponding functions.

[0060] In a tenth aspect, a communication system is provided, which may include a perception network element and a first device, wherein the perception network element may be used to execute the method shown in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof, and the first device may be used to execute the method shown in the second aspect and any possible implementation thereof. Alternatively, the communication system may include a perception network element, a perception server, and a first device, wherein the perception network element and the perception server may be used to execute the method shown in the third aspect and any possible implementation thereof, and the first device may be used to execute the method shown in the second aspect and any possible implementation thereof.

[0061] The technical effects brought about by the fourth to tenth aspects above can be found in the description of the first aspect above, and will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0062] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the architecture of a wireless communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0063] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the architecture of another wireless communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0064] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the architecture of another wireless communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0065] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the architecture of another wireless communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0066] Figure 5 A flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0067] Figure 6 A flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0068] Figure 7 A flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0069] Figure 8 A flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0070] Fig. 9 A flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0071] Fig.10 A flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0072] Fig.11 A flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0073] Fig.12 A flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0074] Fig.13 A schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0075] Fig.14 A schematic diagram of the structure of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0076] Fig.15 A schematic diagram of the structure of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0077] The technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application can be applied to various communication systems. For example, it can be applied to LTE system or 5G system, and it can also be applied to other new systems facing the future. The embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit this. In addition, the term "system" can be interchangeable with "network". The following is only an example of the communication system architecture of 5G.

[0078] like Figure 1As shown in the figure, the 5G communication system is formulated by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standard. The communication system includes terminal equipment (e.g., user equipment (UE)), access network (AN) (e.g., radio access network (RAN)), and core network (CN). Logically, the network elements of the core network (DN) can be divided into two parts: the user plane and the control plane. The control plane is responsible for the management of the mobile network, and the user plane is responsible for the transmission of service data.

[0079] Among them, the terminal device is the entrance for mobile users to interact with the network, which can provide basic computing power, storage capacity, display service windows to users, and receive user operation input. The next generation terminal equipment (NextGen UE) can use new air interface technology to establish signal connection and data connection with RAN, thereby transmitting control signals and service data to the mobile network. The terminal device can include various handheld devices with wireless communication functions, vehicle-mounted devices, wearable devices, computing devices or other processing devices connected to wireless modems, as well as various forms of terminals, mobile stations (MS), terminals, soft terminals, etc., such as water meters, electricity meters, sensors, etc.

[0080] RAN: Deployed near the terminal device, it provides network access for authorized users in a specific area and can determine transmission tunnels of different qualities to transmit user data according to the user level and business requirements. RAN can manage its own resources, use them reasonably, provide access services to terminal devices on demand, and is responsible for forwarding control signals and user data between terminal devices and the core network.

[0081] Core network: responsible for maintaining the subscription data of the mobile network, managing the network elements of the mobile network, and providing functions such as session management, mobility management, policy management, and security authentication for terminal devices. When the terminal device is attached, it provides network access authentication for the terminal device; when the terminal device has a service request, it allocates network resources for the terminal device; when the terminal device moves, it updates network resources for the terminal device; when the terminal device is idle, it provides a fast recovery mechanism for the terminal device; when the terminal device detaches, it releases network resources for the terminal device; when the terminal device has service data, it provides data routing functions for the terminal device, such as forwarding uplink data to the data network; or receiving downlink data of the terminal device from the data network and forwarding it to the RAN, which is then sent to the terminal device by the RAN.

[0082] Data network (DN): A data network that provides business services to users. Generally, the client is located in the terminal device and the server is located in the data network. The data network can be a private network, such as a local area network, or an external network that is not controlled by the operator, such as the Internet, or a proprietary network jointly deployed by operators, such as a network that provides Internet Protocol (IP) multimedia core network subsystem (IMS) services.

[0083] Among them, the core network user plane includes the user plane function (UPF), the core network control plane includes the access and mobility management function (AMF), the session management function (SMF), the network exposure function (NEF), the network function repository function (NRF), the unified data repository (UDR) network element, the unified data management (UDM) network element, the policy control function (PCF), the application function (AF), the authentication server function (AUSF), the network slice selection function (NSSF), the location management function (LMF) network slice selection authentication and authorization function (NSSAAF), etc.

[0084] The core network control plane adopts a service-oriented architecture, and the interaction between control plane network elements adopts the service call method to replace the point-to-point communication method in the traditional architecture. In the service-oriented architecture, the control plane network elements will open services to other control plane network elements for other control plane network elements to call; in point-to-point communication, the communication interface between control plane network elements will store a set of specific messages, which can only be used by the control plane network elements at both ends of the interface when communicating.

[0085] The following is an introduction to the functions of the functional entities in the core network:

[0086] 1. Session management network element: mainly used for session management, IP address allocation and management of terminal devices, selection of endpoints for manageable user equipment plane functions, policy control, or charging function interfaces, and downlink data notification. In 5G communications, the session management network element can be an SMF network element. In future communications such as 6G communications, the session management function network element can still be an SMF network element, or have other names, which is not limited in this application. Nsmf is a service-based interface provided by SMF, and SMF can communicate with other network functions through Nsmf.

[0087] 2. Access management network element, or access and mobility management network element: mainly used for mobility management and access management, etc. For example, it can be the mobility management entity (MME) function in the 4G communication network or the AMF network element in the 5G network. In future communications such as 6G communications, the access management network element can still be an AMF network element, or have other names, which is not limited in this application. Namf is a service-based interface provided by AMF, and AMF can communicate with other network functions through Namf.

[0088] 3. Network open network element: used to securely open the services and capabilities provided by 3GPP network functions to the outside. In 5G communication, the network open network element can be a NEF network element. In future communications such as 6G communication, the network open function network element can still be a NEF network element, or have other names, which are not limited in this application. Among them, Nnef is a service-based interface provided by NEF, and NEF can communicate with other network functions through Nnef.

[0089] 4. Network storage network element: used to provide service registration, discovery and authorization, and maintain available network function (NF) instance information, which can realize on-demand configuration of network functions and services and interconnection between NFs. In 5G communications, the network storage network element can be an NRF network element. In future communications such as 6G communications, the network storage function network element can still be an NRF network element, or have other names, which is not limited in this application. Nnrf is a service-based interface provided by NRF. NRF can communicate with other network functions through Nnrf.

[0090] 5. Policy control network element: A unified policy framework for guiding network behavior, providing policy rule information for control plane functional network elements (such as AMF, SMF, etc.). In 5G communication, the policy control network element can be a PCF network element. In future communications such as 6G communication, the policy control network element can still be a PCF network element, or have other names, which are not limited in this application. Among them, Npcf is a service-based interface provided by PCF, and PCF can communicate with other network functions through Npcf.

[0091] 6. Data management network element: used to process user identification, contract signing, access authentication, registration, or mobility management. In 5G communication, the data management network element can be a UDM network element. In future communications such as 6G communication, the data management network element can still be a UDM network element, or have other names, which are not limited in this application. Nudm is a service-based interface provided by UDM, and UDM can communicate with other network functions through Nudm.

[0092] 7. Application function network element: used for data routing affected by applications, access to network open functions, or interacting with the policy framework for policy control, etc. In 5G communications, the application function network element can be an AF network element. In future communications such as 6G communications, the application function network element can still be an AF network element, or have other names, which are not limited in this application. Naf is a service-based interface provided by AF, and AF can communicate with other network functions through Naf. AF can be a third-party functional entity or an application server deployed by an operator.

[0093] 8. User plane network element: used for packet routing and forwarding, or quality of service (QoS) processing of user plane data. In 5G communication, the user plane network element may be a user plane function (UPF) network element. In future communications such as 6G communication, the user plane network element may still be a UPF network element, or have other names, which is not limited in this application.

[0094] 9. Authentication service network element: mainly used for user authentication, etc. In 5G communication, the authentication service network element can be an AUSF network element. In future communications such as 6G communication, the authentication service network element can still be an AUSF network element, or have other names, which are not limited in this application. Nausf is a service-based interface provided by AUSF, and AUSF can communicate with other network functions through Nausf.

[0095] 10. Network slice selection function network element: used to select network slices for terminal devices. In 5G communications, the network slice selection function network element may be an NSSF network element. In future communications such as 6G communications, the network slice selection function network element may still be an NSSF network element, or may have other names, which is not limited in this application.

[0096] It is understandable that the core network may also include other network elements, which is not limited in this application.

[0097] It should be noted that Figure 1 The names of the network elements and the interfaces between the network elements are only examples. In a specific implementation, the names of the network elements and the interfaces between the network elements may be other names, and the embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this.

[0098] like Figure 1 As shown, the terminal device can access the 5G system through access network devices such as RAN. The terminal device can communicate with the AMF network element through the next generation network (Next generation, NG) 1 interface (referred to as N1), the access network device communicates with the AMF network element through the N2 interface (referred to as N2), the access network device communicates with the UPF network element through the N3 interface (referred to as N3), the AMF network element communicates with the SMF network element through the N11 interface (referred to as N11), the AMF network element communicates with the UDM network element through the N8 interface (referred to as N8), the AMF network element communicates with the AUSF network element through the N12 interface (referred to as N12), the AMF network element communicates with the PCF network element through the N15 interface (referred to as N15), the SMF network element communicates with the PCF network element through the N7 interface (referred to as N7), the SMF network element communicates with the UPF network element through the N4 interface (referred to as N4), the NEF network element communicates with the SMF network element through the N29 interface (referred to as N29), and the UPF network element accesses the data network through the N6 interface (referred to as N6). network, DN).

[0099] It should be noted that Figure 1 The names of the network elements and the interfaces between the network elements are only examples. In a specific implementation, the names of the network elements and the interfaces between the network elements may be other names, and the embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this.

[0100] Access network equipment can be an access device that is wirelessly connected to the communication system and can be used to provide wireless access functions for terminal devices. It can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next generation NodeB (gNB) in the fifth generation (5G) mobile communication system, a next generation base station in the sixth generation (6G) mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, a WiFi system, a long range radio (LoRa) system, or an access node in a vehicle networking system. Access network equipment can also be a module or unit that completes some of the functions of a base station.

[0101] In some deployments, the access network equipment may include a centralized unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU), or a remote radio unit (RRU) and an active antenna unit (AAU). The access network equipment may also include a radio unit (RU). The CU implements some functions of the access network equipment, and the DU implements some functions of the access network equipment, for example, the CU implements the functions of the radio resource control (RRC) and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layers, and the DU implements the functions of the radio link control (RLC), media access control (MAC) and physical (PHY) layers. Since the information of the RRC layer will eventually become the information of the PHY layer, or be converted from the information of the PHY layer, under this architecture, high-level signaling, such as RRC layer signaling or PHCP layer signaling, can also be considered to be sent by the DU, or by the DU+RU. It is understandable that the network device may be a CU node, or a DU node, or a device including a CU node and a DU node. In addition, the CU may be classified as a network device in the access network RAN, or the CU may be classified as a network device in the core network CN, which is not limited here.

[0102] The access network device may also include an active antenna unit (AAU) and / or a baseband unit (BBU). Among them, the BBU is mainly responsible for baseband signal processing. The AAU implements some physical layer processing functions, radio frequency processing and related functions of the active antenna. Since the information of the RRC layer will eventually become the information of the PHY layer, or, it is converted from the information of the PHY layer, therefore, under this architecture, high-level signaling such as RRC layer signaling can also be considered to be sent by the DU, or, sent by the DU+AAU. It can be understood that the access network device can be a device including one or more of a CU node, a DU node, and an AAU node.

[0103] In addition, the core network element may also include a sensing function (SF) element, referred to as SF. The SF may use access network equipment and / or terminal equipment for sensing. It can be understood that the sensing in this application includes 3GPP sensing and N3GPP sensing, and the current SF mainly involves 3GPP sensing.

[0104] Optionally, SF can be co-located with other network elements, or the functions of SF can be specifically implemented by other network elements, or SF can be set separately, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. SF can also be called sensing control function (SCF) or other possible names. Optionally, SF can also be deployed in a non-core network, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0105] like Figure 2 As shown, the perception control signaling between SF and access network equipment and / or terminal equipment is transmitted through AMF. The perception measurement data obtained by the access network equipment / terminal equipment can be transmitted to SF via the control plane or the user plane, wherein the user plane can be forwarded via UPF or directly transmitted to SF. In addition, it is also necessary to support the perception billing in the terminal equipment execution perception and the access network equipment execution perception scenario.

[0106] Optional, such as Figure 2 As shown in the figure, SF sets interfaces and interacts with core network elements such as AMF, NEF, UDM, NWDAF, PCF and UPF. The specific definitions are as follows:

[0107] NS1: An NS1 interface is set between SF and AMF, which can transmit perception control signaling; for scenarios where the control plane uploads perception measurement data, this interface can also transmit perception measurement data.

[0108] NS2: An NS2 interface is set between the SF and the NEF. This interface can transmit the signaling messages between the SF and the service-side AF through the NEF, and open the perception information to the AF.

[0109] NS3: An NS3 interface is set between SF and UDM, through which authentication or authorization can be achieved to obtain terminal device perception contract information, service AMF information or other information.

[0110] NS4: An NS4 interface is set between SF and NWDAF. Through this interface, SF can work with NWDAF to complete artificial intelligence (AI) processing related to perception services.

[0111] NS5: An NS5 interface is set between SF and PCF. Through this interface, SF can transmit messages or signaling such as perception requirements, QoS requirements or perception information of perception services to PCF. PCF decides and generates policies and charging control (PCC) policies related to perception services.

[0112] NS6: SF sets up NS6 interface with user plane function. The perception measurement data can be directly transmitted from the access network device to SF via the user plane function, or indirectly forwarded to SF via UPF. If the access network device forwards the data via UPF in the perception scenario, UPF needs to be modified to support data transmission at the granularity of access network devices.

[0113] In addition to the above-mentioned interfaces, existing communication interfaces (such as N1, N2, N5, N8, N33, etc.) can also support the transmission of perception service related information, such as authentication information, perception service type, perception service quality requirements, perception measurement data or perception information, etc.

[0114] In addition, SF can also be connected with LMF through an interface. In addition, SF can also be co-installed with LMF.

[0115] In addition, Figure 3 As shown, in the case where SF adopts a control plane-user plane separation architecture, there are SF control plane (SF-controlplain, SF-C) network elements and SF user plane (SF-user plain, SF-U) network elements, where the SF-C network element can be referred to as SF-C, and the SF-U network element can be referred to as SF-U. It can be understood that when SF adopts a control plane-user plane separation architecture, SF-U can be used to perform processing of perception data, for example, generating or obtaining perception information based on perception data provided by the access network device; SF-C can be used to perform other control plane signaling processing, such as obtaining perception requests, or for SF to perform signaling and data interaction and transmission with other network elements.

[0116] Another example Figure 4 As shown, SF can also be connected to the access network device through the NS1 interface.

[0117] SF can obtain the perception demand from the requesting device (or demander, requester) of the perception service. The requesting device of the perception service can be an AF network element, an external application server (AS), an access network device or a terminal device. After SF obtains the perception demand, it can control the execution object of the perception service to detect and / or collect perception data. Among them, the execution object of the perception service may include one or more access network devices, and / or, one or more terminal devices. Among them, the perception demand of AF or AS can be sent to SF through NEF.

[0118] Taking the access network device as an example, the access network device can perform 3GPP perception operations to obtain perception data. The perception operation may include sending perception signals and receiving echo signals. Among them, the perception signal is a signal used to perceive (or detect) the perceived target (or target object). The perception signal is also called a detection signal, a linear frequency modulation signal, an optical frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) wave, a frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW), etc. The echo signal refers to the reflection signal of the target object to the perception signal. For example, the access network device can generate (or replace it with determination or acquisition, etc.) perception data according to certain processing of the echo signal. After the access network device obtains the perception data through detection, it can send the perception data to SF, which processes the perception data to obtain perception information, and provides the perception information to the requesting device of the perception service. The perception information can also be called a perception result. For example, SF can process the perception data according to the perception requirements of the requesting device of the perception service to obtain perception information.

[0119] Among them, the perception data includes, for example, point cloud data collected / collected / acquired by the access network device and / or the terminal device. The perception data may include at least one of the following information: speed, distance, angle, coordinates, time, energy, etc. That is, the perception data provided by the access network device to the SF may specifically be point cloud data, or the above-mentioned speed, distance, etc. information obtained after the access network device and / or the terminal device processes the point cloud data. Among them, the coordinates in this application may include longitude and latitude and / or geographic coordinates. The time in this application may include the timestamp of each sampling point data. The energy in this application may include the echo energy contained in each sampling point data. The perception information can be obtained on the basis of the point cloud information through data processing methods such as cluster analysis. The perception information may include the presence or absence of a target, the type of target, the number of targets, target characteristics (such as shape, etc.), trajectory, position, speed, direction / angle, environmental reconstruction, or environmental imaging, the position relationship of multiple targets, whether the target invades a specific area, whether the target deviates from the predetermined trajectory, whether the distance between targets is less than a specific threshold, whether there is a risk of collision between multiple targets, etc.

[0120] Among them, there are many ways for the access network device to provide the perception data to the SF. As a possible implementation, the SF can establish a perception data transmission channel for the access network device, and then the access network device can send the perception data to the SF through the perception data transmission channel. Further, the SF obtains the perception information after processing the perception data according to the perception requirements, and sends the perception information to the requesting device of the perception service. For example, the perception data transmission channel may include: a channel between the access network device and the UPF network element, a channel between the UPF network element and the SF, and a channel between the SF and the requesting device of the perception service; that is, the transmission path of the perception data can be: the access network device sends the perception data to the UPF network element, the SF obtains the perception information based on the perception data, and then sends the perception information to the requesting device of the perception service. In the above transmission path, the data in brackets represents data transmission or processing. Exemplarily, in the transmission path of the above example, other network elements may be included between the network elements, for example, other possible network elements such as NEF may be included between the SF and the requesting device of the perception service, which are not specifically limited. In the embodiment of the present application, the specific implementation of establishing the perception data transmission channel is not limited, and "channel" may also be replaced by "tunnel" or other possible names.

[0121] It can be understood that the SF in the above transmission path can be replaced by a perception data processing functional network element or a perception function network element, that is, the perception data processing functional network element can convert the perception data into perception information that can be sent to the requesting device of the perception service. Specifically, SF can establish a perception data transmission channel for the access network device, and then the access network device can send the perception data to SF. Further, SF processes the perception data according to the perception requirements to obtain the perception information, and sends the perception information to the requesting device of the perception service. In other words, the transmission path of the perception data can be: the access network device collects the perception data and sends the perception data to UPF, UPF sends the perception data to SF, SF obtains the perception information based on the perception data, and then sends the perception information to the requesting device of the perception service.

[0122] In addition, as perception scenarios continue to enrich, the perception accuracy based on 3GPP perception, a single perception technology, may not meet the requirements of applications and services due to the coverage of perception devices, device capabilities, and the upper limit of the accuracy that the technology can achieve. Therefore, it is considered to improve the perception performance by combining N3GPP perception with 3GPP perception.

[0123] In this application, N3GPP perception may include perception performed by devices such as cameras, radars, wireless fidelity (WIFI), Bluetooth, zigbee, near field communication (NFC), temperature sensors, and humidity sensors. In N3GPP perception, the perception device can be used to perform N3GPP perception measurements to obtain perception data. For example, in a scenario where a radar performs N3GPP perception measurements, the radar is an N3GPP perception device, and the radar can be used to send radar signals and perform perception measurements based on the echo signals of the radar signals. This application does not require a specific method for performing N3GPP perception measurements and obtaining N3GPP perception.

[0124] In order to improve the perception performance, the present application provides a communication method for realizing the acquisition of perception data perceived by N3GPP, so as to improve the performance of 3GPP perception through the perception data perceived by N3GPP.

[0125] The execution subject of the communication method shown in the present application may include a perception network element and a device supporting N3GPP perception capability. Among them, the perception network element can be used to request, instruct or control the device supporting N3GPP perception capability to perform N3GPP perception. The device supporting N3GPP perception capability can perform N3GPP perception and provide perception data of N3GPP perception to the perception network element.

[0126] In this application, the perception network element may be a SF, a perception server, or the function of the perception network element may be implemented by two entities, the SF and the perception server. The perception server may be a server for supporting or providing perception services, such as an AS, AF, cloud platform or edge platform for supporting or providing perception services.

[0127] In addition, the device supporting N3GPP perception capability may include a device having N3GPP perception capability and / or a device connected to a device having / equipped with N3GPP perception capability. The device having N3GPP perception capability refers to a device that supports performing N3GPP perception measurement and obtaining N3GPP perception data.

[0128] Exemplarily, the device supporting N3GPP perception capability may be a 3GPP device, or include a 3GPP device and an N3GPP device. The 3GPP device supports accessing the network via a 3GPP mode to connect with the perception network element. The 3GPP device is, for example, a terminal device or an access network device.

[0129] N3GPP devices may have N3GPP perception capabilities, and N3GPP devices themselves may not support access to the network through 3GPP, but can only connect to the perception network element or the network where the perception network element is located through the 3GPP device connected to the N3GPP device. Exemplarily, the N3GPP device can be connected to the 3GPP device through 3GPP and / or N3GPP, for example, it can be connected through wired, Bluetooth, etc. Among them, the N3GPP device can perform N3GPP perception through cameras, radars, WIFI, Bluetooth, zigbee, NFC, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, etc., and provide the perception data to the 3GPP device, and then the 3GPP device provides the perception data perceived by N3GPP to the perception network element.

[0130] In one possible scenario, the 3GPP device itself may have N3GPP awareness capabilities, so when not connected to an N3GPP device, the 3GPP device with N3GPP awareness capabilities may be used as a device with N3GPP awareness capabilities. In another possible scenario, the 3GPP device with N3GPP awareness capabilities may also be connected to an N3GPP device, i.e., the N3GPP device may be used as a device with N3GPP awareness capabilities, and the 3GPP device may also be used as a device connected to a device with N3GPP awareness capabilities (i.e., the N3GPP device), in which case the devices supporting N3GPP awareness capabilities are the 3GPP device and the N3GPP device. In another possible scenario, when the 3GPP device itself does not have a 3GPP awareness capability, and the 3GPP device is connected to an N3GPP device, the 3GPP device may be used as a device connected to a device with N3GPP awareness capabilities, in which case the device supporting N3GPP awareness capabilities may be the 3GPP device.

[0131] like Figure 5 As shown, taking the sensing network element as SF as an example, a communication method provided by the present application may include the following steps:

[0132] S101: SF obtains capability information of a device supporting N3GPP perception capability.

[0133] Hereinafter, the capability information of a device supporting N3GPP perception capability will be referred to as capability information.

[0134] It can be understood that the capability information in the present application may include the capability information of a device with N3GPP perception capability, so when a 3GPP device has N3GPP perception capability, the capability information reported by the 3GPP device may include the capability information of the 3GPP device; and / or, when a 3GPP device is connected to an N3GPP device, the capability information reported by the 3GPP device is the capability information of the N3GPP device. In other words, when a device supporting N3GPP perception capability is a 3GPP device, the capability information may include the capability information of the 3GPP device; when a device supporting N3GPP perception capability is a 3GPP device and an N3GPP device, the capability information may include the capability information of the 3GPP device and the N3GPP device, respectively. It can be understood that 3GPP devices and N3GPP devices may be collectively referred to as devices.

[0135] Optionally, the capability information may include one or more of the following information:

[0136] (1) An indication of whether the N3GPP perception capability is supported, which can be used to indicate whether the 3GPP device and / or the N3GPP device supports the N3GPP perception capability. For example, when the 3GPP device is not connected to the N3GPP device, if the 3GPP device supports the N3GPP perception capability, the capability information reported by the 3GPP device may carry an indication indicating support for the N3GPP perception capability; when the 3GPP device does not support the N3GPP perception capability, the capability information may carry an indication indicating that the N3GPP perception capability is not supported. For another example, when the 3GPP device is connected to one or more N3GPP devices, since the N3GPP device supports the N3GPP perception capability, the capability information may carry an indication indicating support for the N3GPP perception capability.

[0137] For example, the capability information may include a field indicating whether the N3GPP awareness capability is supported as the indication. For example, the field may include 1 bit, and when the value is 0, it may indicate that the N3GPP awareness capability is not supported; when the value is 1, it may indicate that the N3GPP awareness capability is supported.

[0138] Among them, the indication of whether to support N3GPP perception capability can be a mandatory content of capability information reported by a 3GPP device.

[0139] (2) Location information, or simply referred to as location, can be used to indicate the location of the 3GPP device and / or N3GPP device. The location information may include geographic coordinate information or area information. For example, the geographic coordinate information may be the location of the 3GPP device and / or N3GPP device represented by latitude and longitude information and / or distance information. For another example, the area information is the 3GPP area information or identifier (e.g., cell identifier, tracking area ID (TAI), access network device identifier) ​​where the 3GPP device and / or N3GPP device is located.

[0140] (3) Supported perception areas may indicate areas that the 3GPP device and / or N3GPP device supports for perception, for example, the area includes the 3GPP perception area and / or the N3GPP perception area that the 3GPP device supports for perception, and / or, includes the N3GPP perception area that the N3GPP device supports for perception. The perception area may be represented by geographic range information and / or area information. For example, the geographic range information may be an area range represented by latitude and longitude information and / or distance information. The area information may be information or identification of the 3GPP area where the perception range of the 3GPP device and / or N3GPP device is located, for example, the area information may be a cell identification list, a TRP identification list, a CU identification list, a DU identification list, an RRU identification list, an AAU identification list, an access network device identification or a TAI list, and other information. In the present application, the list may include one or more items of information, for example, the cell identification list may include one or more cell identifications.

[0141] It can be understood that there is a certain correlation between the location information and the supported perception area, so the perception area supported by the device can be inferred based on the location information of the device. In addition, when the capability information includes area information, the area information can represent both the location information and the supported perception area.

[0142] (4) Supported perception types, which can be used to indicate what type of perception the 3GPP device and / or N3GPP device supports. For example, it can be used to indicate support for 3GPP perception and / or support for N3GPP perception.

[0143] In addition, if N3GPP perception is supported, the perception type may be used to indicate what type of N3GPP perception is supported by the 3GPP device and / or the N3GPP device. For example, the supported N3GPP perception type may be used to indicate support for N3GPP perception through a camera, support for N3GPP perception through a radar, or support for other types of N3GPP perception. In this case, the supported perception type may not explicitly indicate support for N3GPP perception, but may indicate support for N3GPP perception by indicating the specific supported N3GPP perception type.

[0144] The supported perception types may include fields or information corresponding to the perception types, which are used to implicitly indicate the supported perception types. For example, field 00 indicates support for 3GPP perception, field 01 indicates support for N3GPP perception, and field 10 indicates support for 3GPP perception and N3GPP perception; in addition, when N3GPP perception is supported, the supported N3GPP perception types may be indicated by additional fields, for example, by indicating supported or unsupported types among multiple N3GPP perception types through a bitmap.

[0145] (5) Supported perception capability indicators, which may also be referred to as perception capability key performance indicators (KPIs). Supported perception capability indicators may be used to indicate 3GPP perception performance and / or N3GPP perception performance supported by 3GPP devices. And / or, supported perception capability indicators may also indicate N3GPP perception performance supported by N3GPP devices. The supported perception performance may be a performance parameter indicating supported perception accuracy. For example, if the 3GPP device and / or N3GPP device supports N3GPP perception, the perception capability indicator may include parameters such as camera pixels, resolution, or rotation angle, or may include performance parameters such as radar accuracy.

[0146] (6) Supported perception data fusion capability information can be used to indicate whether the 3GPP device and / or N3GPP device supports fusion of N3GPP-perceived data and 3GPP-perceived data; on the other hand, when data fusion is supported, it can be used to indicate the data fusion indicators supported by the 3GPP device and / or N3GPP device.

[0147] Among them, the data fusion index can indicate the level of data fusion, that is, it is used to indicate which levels of perception data are supported for fusion. Among them, the level can also be replaced by, protocol layer, level or level. For example, the data fusion index can be used to indicate support for data fusion at the point cloud data level, that is, to perform deduplication, noise reduction and other operations on the original N3GPP perception data and 3GPP perception data to obtain point cloud data in the form of three-dimensional coordinates, and to fuse the point cloud data in the form of three-dimensional coordinates, for example, to merge the point cloud data in the form of N3GPP three-dimensional coordinates with the point cloud data in the form of 3GPP three-dimensional coordinates. For another example, the data fusion index can be used to indicate support for fusion at the perception object drawing level (such as two-dimensional and three-dimensional image display layers), for example, to perform cluster analysis on the N3GPP point cloud data to obtain analysis results at the object level, and to perform cluster analysis on the 3GPP point cloud data to obtain analysis results or perception results at the object level, and then merge the analysis results to obtain, for example, two-dimensional and three-dimensional image layer data. It can be understood that the perception object drawing level can be the perception information or data obtained by performing cluster analysis and other processing processes based on point cloud data.

[0148] As an example, the data fusion at the point cloud data level is performed on the point cloud data in the form of three-dimensional coordinates. As shown in Table 1, the point cloud data in the form of three-dimensional coordinates may include the information elements (IEs) or information groups (groups) shown in Table 1.

[0149] IE / Information Group Name Semantics description >Measurement Response >>Distance (range) Distance range, for example, 0 to 500 meters >>Azimuth angle Azimuth range, for example, 0 to 120.0 degrees >>Elevation angle Pitch angle range, for example, 0 to 30.0 degrees >> Velocity Speed ​​range, for example, 0 to 180.0 kilometers per hour >>Direction Radial velocity direction (away from / towards the receiver) >>>Speed ​​direction azimuth Speed ​​direction azimuth range, for example, 0 to 360.0 degrees >>>Pitch angle in speed direction Velocity direction pitch angle range, for example, 0 to 30.0 degrees >Time stamp

[0150] Table 1

[0151] When fusing point cloud data in the form of three-dimensional coordinates, point cloud data in the form of three-dimensional coordinates can be obtained respectively based on the perception data perceived by 3GPP and the perception data perceived by N3GPP, and then the point cloud data in the form of three-dimensional coordinates can be fused.

[0152] As another example, the fusion of point cloud data at the object drawing level can be, for example, the fusion of measurement results such as the presence or absence of a target, target type, number of targets, target characteristics, trajectory, position, speed, direction / angle, environmental reconstruction, or environmental imaging, the position relationship of multiple targets, whether the target has invaded a specific area, whether the target has deviated from a predetermined trajectory, whether the distance between targets is less than a specific threshold, and whether there is a risk of collision between multiple targets.

[0153] Taking the trajectory as an example, the fusion of point cloud data at the object drawing level may be the fusion of one or more of the information shown in Table 2.

[0154]

[0155] Table 2

[0156] In addition, the data fusion index may also indicate which types of data are supported for fusion. For example, when only the fusion of point cloud data collected by the camera and the perception data of 3GPP perception is supported, the data fusion index may indicate that only the fusion of the perception data collected by the camera is supported.

[0157] (7) Supported perception service information. The supported perception service information is used to indicate or determine the perception service supported by the 3GPP device and / or the N3GPP device. The perception service may correspond to, be used to indicate or determine one or more of the perception area, supported perception type, supported perception capability index, and supported data fusion capability information supported by the 3GPP device and / or the N3GPP device. For example, the perception service information is associated with one or more of the perception area, supported perception type, supported perception capability index, and supported data fusion capability information supported by the 3GPP device and / or the N3GPP device. Therefore, the supported perception service information may be used to deduce or determine one or more of the perception area, supported perception type, supported perception capability index, and supported data fusion capability information supported by the required 3GPP device and / or the N3GPP device. The association relationship may be predefined, or may be indicated by a network element such as a SF or a server, or may be indicated by a device supporting the N3GPP perception capability. This application does not make specific requirements. Optionally, the perception service information may include an identifier of the perception service, device information, information of the N3GPP device, or type information of the perception service.

[0158] (8) Device identification, which can be used to identify 3GPP devices and / or N3GPP devices. The device identification may include the identification of the 3GPP device and / or the identification of the N3GPP device. For example, when the 3GPP device is a terminal device, the device identification may be the UE identification of the terminal device, such as a generic public subscription identifier (GPSI); or, when the 3GPP device is an access network device, it may be the access network device identification, IP address, control plane protocol address, user plane tunnel protocol address, etc. of the 3GPP device. Optionally, the device identification may also include the identification of the N3GPP device to distinguish different N3GPP devices, such as the device MAC address, the data link layer, i.e., layer 2 (layer 2, L2) address, the device SN number, etc.

[0159] Optionally, when a 3GPP device is connected to an N3GPP device, the capability information may carry an identifier of the 3GPP device and an identifier of the N3GPP device, which are used to mark the capability information of the 3GPP device and the capability information of the N3GPP device, respectively. For example, when the capability information includes a capability information set of a 3GPP device (such as an indication of whether the 3GPP device supports N3GPP perception capability, location information, supported perception areas, supported perception types, supported perception data fusion capability information, supported perception capability indicators, or supported perception service information) and a capability information set of an N3GPP device (such as an indication of whether the N3GPP device supports N3GPP perception capability, location information, supported perception areas, supported perception types, supported perception data fusion capability information, supported perception capability indicators, or supported perception service information), the capability information set of the 3GPP device may also include an identifier of the 3GPP device, and the capability information set of the N3GPP device may also include an identifier of the N3GPP device.

[0160] As an example in the present application, regardless of whether N3GPP perception is supported, the 3GPP device may send capability information after going online or the perception capability changes. Wherein, going online may refer to the 3GPP device being turned on and accessing the network through the 3GPP method. In addition, the changed perception capability may be caused by a change in the N3GPP device to which the 3GPP device is connected, or by a change in the perception capability information such as the registered perception area, location, supported perception capability indicator, or supported fusion capability of the 3GPP device and / or N3GPP device.

[0161] It is understandable that, in a possible case, the device supporting N3GPP awareness capability may include a 3GPP device and an N3GPP device, wherein the 3GPP device itself may not have the N3GPP awareness capability, but one or more N3GPP devices connected thereto have the N3GPP awareness capability, and the capability information reported by the 3GPP device includes the capability information of the N3GPP device. In addition, the capability information may also include an identifier or information (such as a MAC address, etc.) of each N3GPP device, and / or an identifier of a 3GPP device supporting the N3GPP awareness capability.

[0162] Optionally, a device supporting N3GPP perception capability can be connected to multiple N3GPP devices, and these N3GPP devices can support the same type of N3GPP perception type, such as radar perception. In addition, the perception capabilities of these N3GPP devices can be the same or different. In addition, a device supporting N3GPP perception capability can also be connected to multiple N3GPP devices supporting different types of N3GPP perception. The type of N3GPP device here refers to the mode or type of N3GPP perception supported by the N3GPP device.

[0163] In another possible scenario, the 3GPP device itself may have N3GPP perception capability, and the device supporting N3GPP perception capability is the 3GPP device. In this case, the capability information reported by the device supporting N3GPP perception capability may be the N3GPP perception capability information of the device supporting N3GPP perception capability itself.

[0164] Another possible situation can be understood as a combination of the above two situations, that is, the device supporting N3GPP perception capability can include 3GPP devices and N3GPP devices, wherein the 3GPP device supports both the N3GPP perception type and is also connected to one or more N3GPP devices. At this time, the capability information reported by the 3GPP device includes its own N3GPP perception capability information and the N3GPP perception capability information of one or more N3GPP devices connected to it. Optionally, the capability information at this time may also include 3GPP perception capability information of the 3GPP device.

[0165] In a possible implementation of S101, the SF may obtain capability information from a 3GPP device and / or a capability information storage device. The capability information storage device may be a network element or device for collecting and storing capability information. For example, the capability information storage device may be an application function, UDM, UDR, N3GPP-aware capability storage function network element, or AMF.

[0166] Among them, the N3GPP perception capability storage function network element may also be referred to as the N3GPP perception warehouse, N3GPP-NRF, which may be independent of existing core network elements such as AMF, UDR, UDM, NRF or AF, or may be co-located with existing core network elements such as NRF, etc., without specific limitation. The 3GPP device may be predefined or preconfigured to report capability information to the N3GPP perception capability storage function network element.

[0167] Optionally, SF may send a device request message, or a perception device request message, to the 3GPP device and / or the capability information storage device. The perception device request message is used to request a device that supports N3GPP perception capabilities, and the request triggers the 3GPP device and / or the capability information storage device to send information about the device that supports N3GPP perception capabilities to SF, for example, the device information includes a device identifier and device capability information, wherein the device identifier is used to distinguish different devices, and at this time, the capability information may include an indication of whether N3GPP perception capabilities are supported, location information, supported perception areas, supported perception types, supported perception capability indicators, supported perception data fusion capability information, and supported perception service information. At least one of the following. Alternatively, the device information may include capability information, in which case the capability information includes a device identifier to distinguish different devices. In addition, the capability information may also include an indication of whether N3GPP perception capabilities are supported, location information, supported perception areas, supported perception types, supported perception capability indicators, supported perception data fusion capability information, and at least one of supported perception service information, so that after receiving a perception device request message from the SF, the collected capability information or device identifier and capability information can be sent to the SF.

[0168] In addition, SF can send a device subscription message, or a perception device subscription message, to the 3GPP device and / or the capability information storage device. The perception device subscription message can be used to subscribe to devices that support N3GPP perception capabilities. For example, for a 3GPP device, if capability information has been provided to SF before, after receiving the perception device subscription message, the 3GPP device can provide the changed capability information to SF when the perception capability changes. For another example, for a capability information storage device, if a perception device subscription message is received, the capability information collected within a period of time after receiving the perception device subscription message can be sent to SF.

[0169] In addition, in the scenario where there is an interface between the SF and the access network device, the SF can obtain the capability information of the 3GPP device through the interface between the SF and the access network device, wherein the 3GPP device can be the access network device or a terminal device connected to the access network device.

[0170] Taking the capability information storage device as AMF as an example, the terminal device and / or access network device, as a 3GPP device, can provide capability information to AMF during the registration process with AMF. As an example of SF obtaining capability information from AMF, SF can send a perception device request message to AMF, and AMF can provide the capability information obtained from the terminal device and / or access network device to SF. As another example of SF obtaining capability information from AMF, SF can send a subscription message to AMF, and AMF can provide SF with the capability information of 3GPP devices that are newly online or whose perception capabilities have changed after accepting the subscription.

[0171] Optionally, the above perception device request message and / or perception device subscription message may carry perception requirement information of N3GPP perception (for the convenience of distinguishing multiple perception requirement information in this application, the perception requirement information here may be referred to as third perception requirement information), which is used to indicate the discovery of devices that support N3GPP perception capabilities. Accordingly, the 3GPP device and / or capability information storage device may provide the SF with capability information of devices that meet the requirements based on the third perception requirement information. For example, the capability information provided to the SF by the 3GPP device and / or capability information storage device is capability information that meets the third perception requirement information, so that the SF can obtain capability information that meets the requirements and improve perception reliability.

[0172] It can be understood that the first perceived demand information, the second perceived demand information, the third perceived demand information and the fourth perceived demand information involved in the present application may be the same or different.

[0173] Among them, the third perception demand information can be determined according to the fourth perception demand information, such as the third perception demand information can be the same as the fourth perception demand information, or can be obtained on the basis of the fourth perception demand information, and the fourth perception demand information can be optionally included in the perception request message shown in S102, that is, the fourth perception demand information can represent the perception demand of the requesting device. The third perception demand information can also be independent of the fourth perception demand information, for example, it is generated by the SF according to its own decision and / or configuration information, which is not specifically limited.

[0174] Taking the third perceived demand information as an example, the perceived demand information in this application may include one or more of the following information:

[0175] (1) The required sensing area, which may be referred to as the target area, may be used to indicate the area, location or range that needs to be sensed. For example, the required sensing area may include geographic coordinate information or regional information of the required perception. For example, the geographic coordinate information may be longitude and latitude information. For another example, the regional information is 3GPP regional information or identification, such as a cell identification, a TRP identification, a CU identification, a DU identification, an RRU identification, an AAU identification, an access network device identification or TAI information.

[0176] (2) The required perception type, which may be referred to as the target perception type, may be used to indicate the required perception type and / or the type of perception data. For example, the required perception type may be used to indicate that 3GPP perception and / or N3GPP perception is required, or the required perception type may be used to indicate that the required perception data is 3GPP-perceived perception data and / or N3GPP-perceived perception data. In addition, 3GPP perception and / or N3GPP perception may be performed by default. For example, when the requirement for 3GPP perception or N3GPP perception is not explicitly indicated, 3GPP perception and / or N3GPP perception may be used by default to obtain perception data that meets other perception requirement information.

[0177] Optionally, the required sensing type may further indicate the type of N3GPP sensing that needs to be performed, such as indicating that radar sensing needs to be performed. For example, a bitmap may be used to indicate the supported or unsupported types among multiple N3GPP sensing types.

[0178] (3) A required perception capability indicator, which may be referred to as a target KPI, may be used to indicate required 3GPP-perceived performance and / or N3GPP-perceived performance. For example, the required perception capability indicator may indicate required perception accuracy.

[0179] (4) Fusion requirement information, used to indicate whether it is necessary to fuse the perception data perceived by N3GPP and the perception data perceived by 3GPP, and / or used to indicate a required fusion index of the N3GPP perception data and the 3GPP perception data.

[0180] Among them, the data fusion index can indicate the level at which data fusion is required.

[0181] In addition, the data fusion index may also indicate which types of data need to be fused. For example, when only the point cloud data collected by the camera needs to be fused with the perception data of 3GPP perception, the data fusion index may indicate that only the perception data collected by the camera needs to be fused.

[0182] (5) Perception service information, or called perception service information of demand, the perception service information is used to indicate or determine the perception service requested by the requesting device, and the perception service may correspond to, be used to indicate or be used to determine one or more of the perception area of ​​demand, the perception type of demand, the perception capability index of demand, the fusion demand and the perception type of demand. For example, the perception service is associated with one or more of the perception area of ​​demand, the perception type of demand, the perception capability index of demand, the fusion demand and the perception type of demand, so the perception service information may represent one or more of the perception area of ​​demand, the perception type of demand, the perception capability index of demand, the fusion demand and the perception type of demand. Among them, the association relationship may be predefined, or may be indicated by a network element such as a SF or a server, or may be indicated by a perception requesting device such as a terminal device, an access network device or a server, and this application does not make specific requirements. Optionally, the perception service information may include an identifier of the perception service, information of the requesting device, or information of the type of the perception service.

[0183] (6) Device identification, which can be used to indicate the device that needs to be sensed. Referring to the description of the device identification in the capability information, the device identification here can include the identification of the 3GPP device and / or the identification of the N3GPP device, which are used to indicate the 3GPP device and / or the N3GPP device that performs N3GPP perception, respectively.

[0184] It can be understood that one or more of the above-required device identification, selected perception area, fusion requirement information and required perception service information can also be independent of the perception requirement information, that is, as perception requirements parallel to the perception requirement information.

[0185] In addition, optionally, if the third perception requirement information is not carried in the perception device request message and / or the perception device subscription message, then in the present application, it can be required by default that any device that supports N3GPP perception capability provides N3GPP perception. In addition, default perception requirement information can also be used. Among them, the default perception requirement information can be predefined, such as defined by a protocol or defined in the factory configuration of the device; the default perception requirement information can also be pre-configured, for example, the default perception requirement information can be obtained by the device based on the configuration information sent by network elements such as SF and servers, or it can be obtained in a previous perception process or configuration process.

[0186] S102: The SF receives a perception request message from a requesting device, for requesting to obtain perception data.

[0187] Or, in other words, the perception request message may be used to request a perception result.

[0188] The requesting device may be a terminal device, access network device, AF or AS, etc., for requesting a perception service. At this time, the requesting device may send the perception request message based on the perception-related service. In addition, it is not excluded that the perception is performed based on the need for network optimization. At this time, the requesting device may be a core network element such as SMF. It is understood that the SF may send the perception data or perception result to the requesting device according to the perception request message.

[0189] Optionally, the perception request message may include perception requirement information (for the convenience of distinction, the perception requirement information may be referred to as fourth perception requirement information). The fourth perception requirement information may include one or more of the required perception area, required perception capability indicators, fusion requirement information, required perception type, and perception service information.

[0190] S103: The SF determines the first device according to the capability information of the device supporting the N3GPP perception capability in response to the perception request message.

[0191] The first device may be a 3GPP device. For example, in S103, the SF may select a 3GPP device that meets the requirements as the first device according to the capability information of the 3GPP device. In addition, the SF may also select a N3GPP device that meets the requirements according to the capability information of the N3GPP device, and use the 3GPP device connected to the N3GPP device as the first device.

[0192] In a possible embodiment, the SF may determine the first device according to the first perception requirement information and capability information, and thus may reasonably determine the first node to obtain perception data that meets the requirement. The first perception requirement information may include one or more of the required perception area, the required perception capability index, the fusion requirement information, the required perception type, and the perception service information. The description of each information may refer to the description of the third perception requirement information.

[0193] Among them, the first perceived demand information may be the same as or different from the fourth perceived demand information. If the first perceived demand information is the same as the fourth perceived demand information, SF may select the first device according to the perceived demand. If the first perceived demand information is different from the fourth perceived demand information, SF may perform certain processing based on the fourth perceived demand information provided by the requesting device, and select the first device based on the first perceived demand information obtained by the processing. Optionally, the first perceived demand information may be the same as or different from the third perceived demand information, which is not specifically limited in this application.

[0194] As an example, the processing of the fourth perception requirement information by the SF may include: determining whether N3GPP perception is required based on the fourth perception requirement information, and determining whether to indicate the perception type and other requirement information of N3GPP perception in the first perception information based on the result, for example, determining whether it is necessary to improve the perception performance through N3GPP perception based on the required perception performance indicators. Optionally, if the SF decides that N3GPP perception is required, and the fourth perception requirement information does not explicitly indicate the need for N3GPP perception, the first perception requirement information may and indicates the need for N3GPP perception, that is, the first perception requirement information may carry perception type information indicating the need for N3GPP perception. Similarly, the SF may also determine the required performance indicators of N3GPP perception when deciding to perform N3GPP perception based on the fourth perception information, and carry the performance indicators of N3GPP perception in the first perception requirement information.

[0195] Optionally, in S103, the manner in which the SF determines the first device according to the first perception requirement information and the capability information of the device supporting the N3GPP perception capability may include any one or more of the following:

[0196] A. The SF selects the first device according to the required perception area contained in the first perception requirement information and the supported perception area indicated by the capability information of the device supporting the N3GPP perception capability. For example, the SF may select a device supporting the N3GPP perception capability whose supported perception area falls within the required perception area as the first device.

[0197] B. SF selects the first device according to the required N3GPP perception data type contained in the first perception requirement information and the supported N3GPP perception type indicated by the capability information of the device supporting N3GPP perception capability, so that the first device supports the requested type of N3GPP perception.

[0198] C. SF selects the first device according to the fusion requirement information for indicating whether data fusion is required contained in the first perception requirement information and the capability information of the device supporting the N3GPP perception capability indicating whether data fusion is supported. If the first perception requirement information indicates that data fusion is required and the device supporting the N3GPP perception capability supports data fusion, the device can be used as the first device.

[0199] D. SF selects the first device according to the fusion index of the required data contained in the first perception requirement information and the supported data fusion index indicated by the capability information of the device supporting the N3GPP perception capability. For example, if the fusion index of the requirement requires data fusion at the point cloud data level, the selected first device at least supports data fusion at the point cloud data level.

[0200] E. SF selects the first device according to the perception service information included in the first perception requirement information and the capability information of the device supporting the N3GPP perception capability. For example, a device whose supported perception service information includes the perception service information included in the first perception requirement information is selected as the first device. For another example, SF can determine the area to be perceived, the required perception type, the required perception capability indicators and the required data fusion indicators according to the perception service information, and then match them with the capability information of the device supporting the N3GPP perception capability, and select a device matching the above parameters as the first device. Among them, when there are multiple parameters that need to be matched, a device matching all multiple parameters, at least one parameter, or at least a specific parameter (such as perception area information) can be selected as the first device.

[0201] It can be understood that the perception area of ​​the demand, the N3GPP perception data type of the demand, the fusion requirement information for indicating whether data fusion is required, and the fusion index of the data of the demand contained in the above-mentioned first perception requirement information can also be replaced by the perception area of ​​the demand indicated by the perception service information in the first perception requirement information, the N3GPP perception data type of the demand, the fusion requirement information for indicating whether data fusion is required, and the fusion index of the data of the demand. Alternatively, the SF can determine one or more of the perception requirement information of the perception area of ​​the cell, the perception type of the demand, the perception capability index of the demand, the fusion requirement and the perception type of the demand based on the perception service information contained in the first perception requirement information, and select a device that supports the one or more perception requirement information as the first device based on the perception requirement information and the capability information of the device that supports the N3GPP perception capability. Among them, when there are multiple parameters that need to be matched, a device that matches all multiple parameters, at least one parameter, or at least a specific parameter (such as perception area information) can be selected as the first device.

[0202] S104: The SF sends a first message to the first device, where the first message may be used to request perception data perceived by N3GPP.

[0203] Optionally, the first message may include second perception requirement information.

[0204] The second perceived demand information may include one or more of the perceived area of ​​demand, perceived capability index of demand, fused demand information, perceived type of demand, and perceived business information. The description of each piece of information can refer to the description of the third perceived demand information.

[0205] It can be understood that the second perceived demand information may be the same as any one or more of the first perceived demand information, the third perceived demand information and the fourth perceived demand information, or may be different from the first perceived demand information, the third perceived demand information and the fourth perceived demand information.

[0206] For example, the perception area of ​​the requirement contained in the second perception requirement information may be a perception area associated with the first device (generally equal to or slightly larger than the perception area supported by the first device), which is used to request the first device to perceive the area, while the perception area contained in the first perception requirement information may not be associated with a specific device supporting N3GPP perception capabilities, for example, it may be an area corresponding to the perception range representing the requirement; in addition, the perception area contained in the second perception requirement information may be determined based on the perception area contained in the first perception requirement information, for example, the perception area contained in the second perception requirement information may be a smaller range of perception area determined from the perception area contained in the first perception requirement information based on the perception area supported by the first device.

[0207] For another example, the second perception requirement information may also include information of the selected N3GPP device, such as an identifier of the N3GPP device, which is used to indicate that the corresponding N3GPP device performs N3GPP perception, or an identifier that requires perception data of the corresponding N3GPP device. The identifier of the N3GPP device may not be included in the first perception requirement information and / or the fourth perception requirement information, but is determined by the SF after selecting the first device based on the N3GPP device connected to the first device and the perception requirement of N3GPP perception. Therefore, when the SF explicitly requires the N3GPP device to perform N3GPP perception through the second perception requirement information, the first device can request, instruct or control the N3GPP device to perform N3GPP perception.

[0208] In addition, when SF does not explicitly request the N3GPP device to perform N3GPP perception through the second perception requirement information, the first device may also determine whether the N3GPP device needs to perform N3GPP perception based on the second perception requirement information. For example, when the perception area of ​​the requirement indicated by the second perception requirement information is the perception range of the N3GPP device, and / or the perception capability indicator of the requirement indicated by the second perception requirement information requires the N3GPP device to provide N3GPP perception to be realized, the first device may decide that the N3GPP device performs N3GPP perception. For another example, when the first device does not support N3GPP perception and the second perception requirement information indicates that N3GPP perception is required, the first device may decide that the N3GPP device performs N3GPP perception. Among them, when the N3GPP device performs N3GPP perception, the first device may perform 3GPP perception and / or N3GPP perception, or may not perform perception.

[0209] In some cases, the first device may also decide to perform 3GPP perception and / or N3GPP perception by itself without the need for the N3GPP device to provide perception data of N3GPP perception. For example, when the perception capability of the first device itself can meet the perception capability required by the second perception requirement information, the first device may perform 3GPP perception and / or N3GPP perception.

[0210] It can be understood that if the first message contains information of the selected N3GPP device, or the first device determines that the N3GPP device needs to perform N3GPP perception based on the second perception requirement information, the first device can request, instruct or control the N3GPP device to perform N3GPP perception based on the first message, and obtain the perception data of N3GPP perception from the N3GPP device through the connection between the first device and the N3GPP device.

[0211] Optionally, the first message may also carry an address and / or label for SF to receive N3GPP-perceived perception data. Further optionally, the address and / or label may be carried in the first message, that is, when SF requests N3GPP-perceived perception data from the first device, it carries the address and / or label for receiving N3GPP-perceived perception data. In addition, when SF sends a device request message and / or a device subscription message to the first device, it may also carry the address and / or label for receiving N3GPP-perceived perception data.

[0212] The address may include the device address and port of the SF. Specifically, the device address may be a user plane tunnel protocol IP address. The label may be an identifier assigned by the SF or a default identifier representing the perception data perceived by N3GPP. Accordingly, when the SF receives the perception data with the destination address being the address, the perception data may be identified as the perception data perceived by N3GPP. Alternatively, when the SF receives the perception data carrying the label or sent together with the label, the perception data may be identified as the perception data perceived by N3GPP.

[0213] S105: The SF receives first perception data from the first device, where the first perception data includes perception data perceived by N3GPP.

[0214] Based on S105, SF can obtain the first perception data.

[0215] The N3GPP-perceived perception data may be obtained by the first device or the N3GPP device connected to the first device through N3GPP perception measurement. If the N3GPP-perceived perception data is obtained by the N3GPP device, the first device may obtain the N3GPP-perceived perception data from the N3GPP device, and then send the first perception data to the SF, thereby reporting the N3GPP-perceived perception data to the SF.

[0216] Optionally, SF may also process the first perception data to obtain second perception data, wherein the second perception data may be perception data obtained on the basis of cluster analysis and other processing on the first perception data, and the perception data may be used to further determine the perception result; in addition, the second perception data may also include the perception result.

[0217] As an example, the first device may include multiple 3GPP devices, and the processing of SF may include fusing the perception data from the multiple 3GPP devices, and the fused second perception data may include the perception data of N3GPP of the multiple 3GPP devices.

[0218] As another example, the SF may also receive 3GPP-perceived perception data from a second device, wherein the second device may include one or more first devices supporting 3GPP perception; or the second device may be a device other than the first device supporting 3GPP perception, such as a terminal device and / or an access network device. At this time, the SF's processing of the first perception data may include the SF fusing the N3GPP-perceived perception data and the 3GPP-perceived perception data to obtain the second perception data, so that the perception accuracy and other performances may be improved by combining 3GPP perception with N3GPP perception.

[0219] Among them, if the second device includes one or more first devices, that is, the second device includes one or more 3GPP devices for providing N3GPP-perceived perception data to SF, then the first message sent by SF to these first devices can also be used for the first device to obtain 3GPP-perceived perception data. For example, the first message can carry 3GPP-perceived perception type indication information to indicate the first device to perform 3GPP perception, or the first device can decide whether to perform 3GPP perception based on the perception requirement information in the first message; for example, when the first device only performs N3GPP perception and cannot meet the perception area, perception capability indicators or fusion requirement information required by the perception requirement information, the first device can decide to perform 3GPP perception.

[0220] In addition, in the combination of the above two examples, SF can also fuse the perception data from multiple 3GPP devices, wherein at least one 3GPP device among the multiple 3GPP devices or the corresponding N3GPP device supports N3GPP perception, and at least one 3GPP device supports 3GPP perception, so the fusion of perception data includes the fusion of perception data from multiple 3GPP devices, and includes the fusion of perception data of N3GPP perception and perception data of 3GPP perception.

[0221] Optionally, SF may send the second perception data to the requesting device, so that the requesting device analyzes and / or processes the second perception data to obtain a final perception result. In addition, the second perception data may also be understood as the final perception result, or as perception data used to determine the perception result, and accordingly, SF may send the perception result to the requesting device.

[0222] It can be understood that SF can fuse perception data according to perception demand information (such as the fourth perception demand information or the first perception demand information), for example, the first perception data and 3GPP perception data are processed according to the fourth perception demand information to obtain the second perception data. The fusion here can be the fusion of perception data from multiple 3GPP devices, or the fusion of 3GPP-perceived perception data and N3GPP-perceived perception data, for example, so that the fused perception data or perception results meet one or more of the perception area, required perception capability indicators, fusion requirement information and perception type required by the perception demand information. Therefore, SF can obtain perception data or perception results that meet the requirements of the requesting device by fusing the perception data, and can improve the perception accuracy.

[0223] Optionally, the first perception data in S105 may be perception data generated based on N3GPP-perceived perception data and 3GPP-perceived data. For example, the first perception data is perception data that is a fusion of N3GPP perception and 3GPP perception. Among them, the perception data perceived by N3GPP and the data perceived by 3GPP may be fused by a first device that supports data fusion to generate the perception data. Therefore, in the present application, the perception data perceived by N3GPP and the data perceived by 3GPP may be fused by the first device, the perception data perceived by N3GPP and the data perceived by 3GPP may be fused by the SF, the perception data perceived by N3GPP and the data perceived by 3GPP may be fused by the first device, the perception data perceived by N3GPP and the data perceived by 3GPP may be alignable by the first device to fuse the acquired N3GPP-perceived perception data and the 3GPP-perceived data, and the fused data, the N3GPP-perceived perception data and the 3GPP-perceived data provided by one or more first devices may be fused by the SF.

[0224] For example, when the first message carries perception requirement information, the first device may fuse the perception data according to the perception requirement information. Specifically, when the perception requirement information contains fusion requirement information indicating the need for data fusion, and / or when the perception requirement information contains fusion indicators, the first device may fuse the perception data perceived by N3GPP and the data perceived by 3GPP to obtain the first perception data. The first device may fuse the data according to the fusion indicator carried in the perception requirement information or the default fusion indicator. The default fusion indicator may be predefined or preconfigured. In addition, the first device may also perform data fusion by default when obtaining the N3GPP perception data and the 3GPP perception data and provide the fused first perception data to the SF. At this time, the data fusion may be performed according to the default fusion indicator.

[0225] In addition, if the perception requirement information carried in the first message does not include fusion requirement information, that is, it does not explicitly instruct, request or require the first device to perform fusion of N3GPP-perceived perception data and 3GPP-perceived data, the first device may default to not performing fusion of N3GPP-perceived perception data and 3GPP-perceived data. In this case, the SF may perform fusion of N3GPP-perceived perception data and 3GPP-perceived data.

[0226] When SF adopts a control plane-user plane separation architecture, S101-104 can be understood as being executed by SF-C, and S105 and the action of sending the second perception data can be understood as being executed by SF-U.

[0227] It can be understood that in the present application, the first device itself may support both the N3GPP perception capability and the fusion of 3GPP-perceived perception data and N3GPP-perceived perception data; or, the first device itself may support the N3GPP perception capability but not support the fusion of 3GPP-perceived perception data and N3GPP-perceived perception data; or, the first device itself may not support the N3GPP perception capability, but may be connected to one or more N3GPP devices. In this case, the first device may optionally support the fusion of 3GPP-perceived perception data and N3GPP-perceived perception data, or may only support reporting of N3GPP-perceived perception data provided by the N3GPP device to the SF.

[0228] based on Figure 5 In the process shown, the SF may obtain capability information of devices supporting N3GPP perception capability, and select one or more first devices supporting N3GPP perception capability according to the capability information. The SF may also send a first message to the first device to request, control or instruct the first device to provide N3GPP-perceived perception data.

[0229] For example, Figure 5 The process shown can be applied in the following Figures 6 to 9 In each embodiment shown in FIG. Figures 6 to 9 The various embodiments shown are described.

[0230] like Figure 6 As shown, in Example 1, the perception network element is SF, and the SF collects and / or stores the capability information of the device supporting N3GPP perception. The way in which the SF collects the capability information may be that the SF receives the capability information reported by the 3GPP device through the network element such as AMF or AF, or the SF receives the capability information through the interface between the SF and the access network device (such as Figure 4 The NS1 interface shown receives capability information from the access network device.

[0231] like Figure 6 The embodiment 1 shown may include the following steps:

[0232] S201: The 3GPP device reports capability information to the SF.

[0233] Accordingly, SF stores capability information.

[0234] For example, the 3GPP device is a terminal device or an access network device.

[0235] As described in this application, when a 3GPP device supports N3GPP perception, the 3GPP device itself may be a device supporting N3GPP perception, in which case the capability information includes N3GPP-perceived capability information of the 3GPP device; and / or, an N3GPP device connected to the 3GPP device may support N3GPP perception, in which case the capability information includes N3GPP-perceived capability information of the N3GPP device.

[0236] In addition, the capability information may include one or more of the supported perception area, location, indication of supported N3GPP perception capability, device identification, supported perception type, supported perception capability index, and supported perception data fusion capability information of the 3GPP device and / or N3GPP device. For a description of the capability information, please refer to the present application at Figure 5 The repeated parts in the process will not be repeated.

[0237] Optionally, in S201, the 3GPP device may report the capability information to the SF through the AMF, AF or through the interface between the access network device and the SF.

[0238] For example, the 3GPP device may report the information of the N3GPP device to the SF via the AMF through the non-access-stratum (NAS) protocol. In addition, the 3GPP device may also report the capability information to the SF through the user plane path, such as using an application layer protocol such as the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) or the session initiation protocol (SIP).

[0239] In addition, in S201, the AF may also report capability information to the SF. For example, the AF may be installed in the terminal device, so the AF may obtain the capability information of the terminal device and / or the capability information of the N3GPP device connected to the terminal device, and provide the capability information to the SF.

[0240] Understandably, S201 can be used as Figure 5 An exemplary implementation of S101 in the illustrated process.

[0241] S202: The device requesting the perception service sends a perception request message.

[0242] Correspondingly, SF receives the perception request message.

[0243] Among them, the requesting device can be a terminal device, access network device, AF or AS and other devices used to request perception services. Figure 6 In the example, a terminal device is used as a requesting device.

[0244] If the AS or the terminal device acts as a requesting device, the NEF and / or AF may receive the perception request message from the requesting device and forward the perception request message to the SF accordingly. One example is that the NEF and / or AF acts as a forwarding node to forward (such as transparently transmit) the perception request message sent by the AS. Another example is that the AF may be mounted in the terminal device, and the AF may obtain the perception request message from the terminal device and then send the perception request message to the SF, or the AF may send the perception request message to the SF through the NEF.

[0245] In addition, if the terminal device or access network device acts as the requesting device, the requesting device can also send a perception request message to the SF through the AMF, or the perception request message can be sent through the interface between the access network device and the SF.

[0246] In S202, the perception request message may include fourth perception demand information, such as one or more of the perception area of ​​the demand, the perception capability index of the demand, the fusion demand information, the perception type of the demand, and the perception service information. For the above-mentioned items of perception demand information, please refer to the introduction of the perception demand information in S101. Among them, the perception demand information can be indicated by the perception service information. For example, the perception service information can also be independent of the perception demand information, and there can be a corresponding relationship or an association relationship between the perception service information and the perception demand information. Therefore, the perception demand information can also be implicitly indicated by indicating the perception service information.

[0247] S203: Optionally, the SF obtains security-aware privacy requirements from the UDM / UDR.

[0248] For example, the privacy requirement is used to indicate or express that the devices and perceived objects supporting N3GPP perception are based on privacy security regulations, that is, SF ensures through S203 that perception cannot be performed privately to avoid leakage of sensitive information.

[0249] S204: The SF selects one or more first devices for N3GPP perception according to the capability information and perception requirement information of the devices supporting N3GPP perception, wherein the perception requirement information is, for example, the first perception requirement information mentioned above.

[0250] Referring to the description of S103, the SF may select one or more first devices from at least one device according to the first perception requirement information and capability information of at least one device, and the first device or an N3GPP device connected to the first device may perform N3GPP perception.

[0251] In addition, optionally, the SF may select one or more N3GPP devices connected to the first device, and indicate information of the N3GPP devices, so that the first device requests, instructs or controls the N3GPP devices to perform N3GPP perception.

[0252] It is understandable that S204 can be used as Figure 5 An exemplary implementation of S103 in the illustrated process.

[0253] S205: The SF sends a first message to the first device.

[0254] The first message may be a perception control message, used to trigger the first device to provide first perception data to the SF, that is, to provide perception data perceived by N3GPP.

[0255] The first message may include second perception requirement information, which may at least be used to indicate the N3GPP perception requirement.

[0256] In addition, SF can also determine whether the first device is required to fuse 3GPP perception data and N3GPP perception data. If the first device is required to perform data fusion, SF can also determine fusion requirement information, which can be understood as fusion requirement information contained in the second requirement information. As described in the present application, the second perception requirement information can be the perception requirement information sent by SF to the first device. The second perception requirement information can be different from the first perception requirement information. For example, the second perception requirement information can be obtained on the basis of the first perception requirement information, and the first perception requirement information and / or the second perception requirement information can be obtained on the basis of the fourth perception requirement information.

[0257] The first message or the second perception requirement information may also include an identifier of the N3GPP device, which is used to indicate that the N3GPP perception is performed by the N3GPP device.

[0258] Optionally, the first message may also include an address and / or identifier of the SF for receiving the first perception data. Accordingly, when the first device sends the first perception data to the SF, it may send the data through the address, or send the identifier together with the data, so that the SF can identify the first perception data according to the address and / or identifier.

[0259] S206: The first device performs perception measurement according to the first message to obtain first perception data, which includes N3GPP perception data.

[0260] Among them, when the first device itself supports N3GPP perception, the perception device can perform N3GPP perception and obtain perception data of N3GPP perception.

[0261] In addition, when the first device itself does not support N3GPP perception but is connected to the N3GPP device, the perception device can obtain the perception data of N3GPP perception from the N3GPP device.

[0262] If the first device itself supports N3GPP perception and is also connected to one or more N3GPP devices, the perception data of N3GPP perception may include the perception data of N3GPP perception obtained by the first device itself performing N3GPP perception, and may also include the perception data of N3GPP perception obtained by the N3GPP device performing N3GPP perception. Optionally, the first device may fuse the perception data of N3GPP perception obtained by performing N3GPP perception with the perception data of N3GPP perception obtained by performing N3GPP perception by the N3GPP device to obtain the first perception data.

[0263] Optionally, the first perception data may be data obtained by the first device by fusing the 3GPP-perceived perception data with the N3GPP-perceived perception data. The 3GPP-perceived perception data may be obtained by the first device through 3GPP perception. The N3GPP-perceived perception data may be obtained by the first device through N3GPP perception, and / or may be obtained by the N3GPP device through N3GPP perception.

[0264] As a possible implementation, if the perception requirement information in the first message includes data fusion requirement information, the first device may default to requiring fusion of 3GPP-perceived perception data and N3GPP-perceived perception data, so if the first device obtains both 3GPP perception data and N3GPP perception data, data fusion is required. In addition, if the perception requirement information in the first message does not include data fusion requirement information, the first device may default to not requiring data fusion, so if the first device obtains both 3GPP perception data and N3GPP perception data, the first device may send 3GPP perception data and N3GPP perception data to the SF without performing data fusion.

[0265] S207: The first device sends first perception data to the SF.

[0266] Optionally, if in S205, the first message includes an address for receiving the first perception data, then in S207, the first device may use the address as the destination address of the first perception data. Accordingly, the SF may recognize that the perception data received through the address includes N3GPP perception data, that is, the first perception data.

[0267] For example, SF may send a channel establishment request to the first device through AMF to request the establishment of a channel, and the channel may be used to transmit the first perception data. The channel establishment request may include an address for receiving the first perception data. Accordingly, the first perception data may be transmitted through the established channel, and accordingly, SF may learn that the data transmitted through the channel is the first perception data.

[0268] In addition, if in S205, the first message includes an identifier for receiving the first perception data, then in S207, the first device may send the first perception data and the identifier. Accordingly, the SF may recognize that the perception data sent together with the identifier includes N3GPP perception data, that is, the first perception data.

[0269] Optionally, the first perception data may also include 3GPP-perceived perception data.

[0270] S208: Optionally, SF performs data fusion.

[0271] Among them, the data fusion in S208 includes the fusion of perception data provided by SF to multiple devices (such as the first device and other devices), and / or, includes the fusion of SF to 3GPP perception data and N3GPP perception data (such as the first perception data).

[0272] It can be understood that in S208, data fusion can be performed based on the fusion requirement information required by the fourth perception requirement information, so that the fusion result meets the requirements of the requesting device.

[0273] S209, SF sends the sensing result to the requesting device.

[0274] The perception result may be obtained by SF processing the perception data including the first perception data according to the fourth perception requirement information. For example, in addition to obtaining the first perception data from the first device, SF may also obtain 3GPP-perceived perception data and / or N3GPP-perceived perception data from other perception devices, and obtain the perception result by clustering analysis and other processing of all the perception data.

[0275] based on Figure 6 In the process shown, the SF can collect and / or store the capability information of the device supporting N3GPP perception, and the SF can select the first device and obtain the first perception data including the perception data of N3GPP perception from the first device, so as to obtain the perception result according to the first perception data. Since the SF can collect the capability information, the SF does not need to request the capability information from other devices when selecting the first device, which can improve the selection efficiency of the N3GPP perception device.

[0276] In embodiment 2, the perception network element is SF, and the capability information is collected and / or stored by the N3GPP perception capability storage functional network element.

[0277] like Figure 7 As shown, the process of Example 2 is the same as Figure 6 Similar, so Figure 7 The S30x steps in Figure 6 The steps of S20x are implemented.

[0278] Figure 7 and Figure 6 The difference is that the 3GPP device in S301 reports the capability information to the N3GPP perception capability storage functional network element instead of reporting the capability information to the SF. Figure 7In the example, N3GPP-NRF is used to represent the N3GPP perception capability storage function network element. When the 3GPP device reports the perception capability to the N3GPP perception capability storage function network element, the 3GPP device can use application layer protocols such as HTTP or SIP through the user plane path to report the capability information to the N3GPP perception capability storage function network element. Alternatively, the 3GPP device can send the capability information to the SF, and then the SF sends the capability information to the N3GPP perception capability storage function network element. Alternatively, the 3GPP device can send the capability information to the AMF, and then the AMF sends the capability information to the N3GPP perception capability storage function network element.

[0279] also, Figure 7 In the process, S304 - a and S304 - b may be executed before S304 .

[0280] In S304-a, SF sends a perception device request message to the N3GPP perception capability storage functional network element. Optionally, the perception device request message may include third perception requirement information for discovering devices that support N3GPP perception capabilities. Therefore, the N3GPP perception capability storage functional network element can filter the capability information of qualified devices according to the third perception requirement information, and feedback the capability information of qualified devices to SF. The N3GPP perception capability storage functional network element can also provide the capability information of all devices after receiving the perception device request message.

[0281] In S304-b, SF may receive capability information of devices supporting N3GPP perception from the N3GPP perception capability storage functional network element. Optionally, the N3GPP perception capability storage functional network element may determine capability information that meets the perception requirements based on the third perception requirement information, and provide the capability information that meets the perception requirements to SF. For example, the N3GPP perception capability storage functional network element may select capability information of devices whose location matches the required perception area in the third perception request information, whose supported N3GPP perception type matches the required N3GPP perception type in the third perception request information in the request, and / or whose supported perception data fusion capability matches the required data fusion capability in the third perception request information.

[0282] In one possible example, the N3GPP awareness capability storage function network element only includes capability information related to the N3GPP device. In another possible example, the N3GPP awareness capability storage function network element only includes capability information of the 3GPP device and capability information of the N3GPP device.

[0283] based on Figure 7In the process shown, the N3GPP perception capability storage functional network element can collect and / or store the capability information of the device supporting N3GPP perception, and the N3GPP perception capability storage functional network element can provide the capability information to the SF according to the perception device request message. In addition, in S304, the SF can also make a secondary selection based on the capability information and the perception requirement information, so as to more reasonably determine the first device, and obtain the first perception data containing the perception data of N3GPP perception from the first device, so as to obtain the perception result according to the first perception data. In this embodiment, the N3GPP perception capability storage functional network element can be an independent functional network element, which can avoid occupying the processing overhead and communication overhead of the SF or other network elements.

[0284] In embodiment 3, the sensing network element is SF, and the capability information is collected and / or stored by UDR / UDM.

[0285] like Figure 8 As shown, the process of Example 3 is the same as Figure 7 Similar, so Figure 8 The S40x steps in Figure 7 The steps of S30x are implemented in the following way, except that Figure 8 In the process, UDR / UDM executes the N3GPP perception capability storage function network element in Figure 7 Actions in the process shown.

[0286] based on Figure 8 In the process shown, the UDR / UDM can collect and / or store the capability information of the device supporting N3GPP perception, and the UDR / UDM can provide the capability information to the SF according to the perception device request message. In addition, in S404, the SF can also make a secondary selection based on the capability information and the perception requirement information, so as to more reasonably determine the first device, and obtain the first perception data containing the perception data of N3GPP perception from the first device, so as to obtain the perception result according to the first perception data. In this embodiment, the UDR / UDM collects and / or stores the capability information of the device supporting N3GPP perception, which can avoid occupying the processing overhead and communication overhead of network elements such as SF or AMF.

[0287] In embodiment 4, the perception network element is SF, and AMF collects and / or stores the capability information reported by the 3GPP device.

[0288] like Fig. 9 As shown, the process of Example 4 is Figure 6 Similar, so Fig. 9 The S50x steps in Figure 6The difference is that in S501, the 3GPP device reports the capability information to the AMF. Therefore, the capability information stored in the AMF is the capability information of the 3GPP devices within the area it manages.

[0289] In addition, optional Fig. 9 In the process shown, before S504, S504-a to S504-c may also be executed: SF determines AMF according to the required perception area. Therefore, SF can request the capability information of 3GPP devices from AMF only according to the required perception area, avoiding requesting capability information from AMF corresponding to the area that does not need to be perceived, which can reduce the processing and communication overhead of AMF in non-required areas.

[0290] In addition, S504-b and S504-c can be found in Figure 7 The description of S304-a and S304-b in the figure is the same as that of S304-a and S304-b, except that the N3GPP perception capability storage function network element in S304-a and S304-b is replaced by AMF.

[0291] based on Fig. 9 According to the process shown, the AMF can collect and / or store the capability information of the devices supporting N3GPP perception in the area under its management, and the AMF can provide the capability information of the devices in the area under its management to the SF according to the perception device request message. In addition, in S504, the SF can also make a secondary selection based on the capability information and the perception requirement information, so as to more reasonably determine the first device, and obtain the first perception data containing the perception data of N3GPP perception from the first device, so as to obtain the perception result according to the first perception data. In this embodiment, 3GPP devices such as terminal devices or access network devices can register the capability information with the AMF corresponding to the area where they are located, and the AMF can manage the capability information as the registration information of the 3GPP devices in the unmanaged area, so as to improve the storage and management efficiency of the capability information.

[0292] In Example 5, the perception network element subscribes to capability information from the AMF, for example, it can provide perception requirement information. If a 3GPP device that meets the N3GPP perception requirement information is accessed, the AMF can provide the capability information to the perception network element.

[0293] like Fig.10 As shown, the process of Example 5 is the same as Fig. 9 Similar, so Fig.10 The S50x steps in Fig. 9 The steps of S50x are implemented in the following way. The differences are:

[0294] (1) Delete or cancel Fig. 9 S504-a in.

[0295] (2) Fig. 9 S504-b in is replaced by S501-a: SF sends a device subscription message to AMF, which can be used to subscribe to the capability information of devices supporting N3GPP perception capabilities. AMF can send a response message to SF to indicate receipt of the subscription.

[0296] Optionally, the device subscription message may include third-party perception demand information.

[0297] (3) Optional, Fig.10 In the specific implementation of S501, the N3GPP-aware device including the first device may send a setup request through the NG interface between the base station and the AMF, and report the capability information of the N3GPP-aware device to the AMF in the setup request message. Optionally, the message may be sent repeatedly when the capability information of the N3GPP-aware device changes.

[0298] (4) Fig. 9 S504-c in the above scheme can be replaced by S501-b: AMF can send the capability information to SF after receiving it.

[0299] In addition, optionally, if the device subscription message contains third perception requirement information, then in S501-b, the AMF can provide the SF with capability information of devices supporting N3GPP perception that meet the perception requirements based on the third perception requirement information.

[0300] In Embodiment 6, the access network device provides capability information to the SF via the interface between the access network device and the SF. The 3GPP device may be an access network device, a terminal device connected to the access network device, or other device.

[0301] The process of Example 6 and Figure 6 Similar, so see Figure 8 The difference is that: when executing the step shown in S201, in Embodiment 6, the first device (or other device supporting N3GPP perception capability) can send capability information to the SF through the interface between the base station and the SF, wherein the first device can be the base station or a device such as a UE connected to the base station. Figure 4 Taking the scenario shown as an example, the interface between the base station and the SF may be the NS1 interface.

[0302] In another embodiment of the present application, Figure 5In the process shown, S101 can be replaced by being executed by a network element such as AMF or NRF that stores capability information. After executing S102, SF can send a perception device request message to the network element that stores capability information (see S304-a, S404-a for details). The selection of the first device is performed by the network element that stores capability information, that is, S103 is replaced by being executed by the network element that stores capability information. The network element that stores capability information sends the information of the selected first device to SF, so that SF executes S104-105 and sends the second perception data action.

[0303] In another embodiment of the present application, Figure 5 The actions performed by the SF in the process shown may also be replaced by actions performed by the perception server. That is, the perception server may be used to obtain capability information and select the first device according to the capability information.

[0304] The way in which the perception server obtains the capability information may refer to the way in which the SF obtains the capability information in S101, for example, Figures 6 to 10 The way in which SF obtains capability information in any possible way. For example, refer to Figure 6 In S201, the 3GPP device may register the capability information with the perception server. In addition, the SF may obtain the capability information in the same manner as the SF obtains the capability information in S101, and the perception server may obtain the capability information from the SF.

[0305] In a possible embodiment, the action of the perception server selecting the first device may be performed in response to a perception request message from a requesting device, and the perception request message may be used to request perception data or perception results. That is, in this embodiment, the requesting device may send a perception request message to the perception server instead of sending a perception request message to the SF. In this embodiment, the perception server may feed back the second perception data or perception result to the requesting device. Optionally, in this embodiment, the perception server may also send a second message to the SF, and the second message may be used to request the SF to perform 3GPP perception, and obtain 3GPP-perceived perception data from the SF, and obtain the second perception data or perception result by combining the 3GPP-perceived perception data and the N3GPP-perceived perception data (such as the first perception data).

[0306] In another possible embodiment, the action of the perception server selecting the first device may be performed in response to an N3GPP perception request from the SF. The SF may receive a perception request message from the requesting device, and send a third message to the perception server to request N3GPP perception and / or request N3GPP-perceived perception data when N3GPP perception is required; the SF may also decide on its own to order the perception server to perform N3GPP perception based on other reasons, such as based on the need for network optimization. At this time, the SF may not perform N3GPP perception based on the perception request message (i.e., at this time, the SF does not need to receive the perception request message). The perception server may also send the N3GPP-perceived perception data (such as the first perception data) to the SF after obtaining the N3GPP-perceived perception data. Therefore, in this embodiment, the SF may feedback the second perception data or the perception result to the perception server. The second perception data may at least be obtained based on the N3GPP-perceived perception data, and in addition, the perception result may at least be obtained based on the N3GPP-perceived perception data. For example, the SF may request a 3GPP-perceived perception device to obtain 3GPP-perceived perception data, and the SF may combine the 3GPP-perceived perception data and the N3GPP-perceived perception data to obtain second perception data or a perception result.

[0307] The following are combined Fig.11 and Fig.12 The illustrated embodiment illustrates both possible embodiments.

[0308] like Fig.11 As shown, in Example 7, the perception network element is a perception server, and the perception server collects and / or stores the capability information reported by the 3GPP device. In Example 7, the requesting device may send a perception request message to the perception server through S602, and the perception server provides the perception data or perception results to the requesting device through S609. When 3GPP perception is required, the perception server may send a second message to the SF through S607-a, and the second message may be used to request the perception data of 3GPP perception. Correspondingly, in S607-b, the SF may send the perception data of 3GPP perception to the perception server, and the server may perform perception data fusion and obtain the perception data or perception results. In Example 7, the perception server may send the perception data or perception results to the requesting device through S609.

[0309] Understandably, Fig.11In the embodiment, the way in which the perception server selects the first device through S604 can refer to the way in which SF selects the first device in S204. S603 can be implemented with reference to S203, so the perception server can obtain the privacy requirements of perception security from UFM / UDR. In addition, this application does not limit the execution timing of S603 and S604. In addition, in S608, the way in which the perception server performs data fusion can refer to S708. Among them, the perception server can perform data fusion according to the fourth perception requirement information carried in the perception request message.

[0310] like Fig.12 As shown, in Example 8, the perception network element is a perception server, and the perception server collects and / or stores capability information. After the SF receives the perception request message from the requesting device through S702, if the SF determines that N3GPP perception is required according to the perception request message, a third message is sent to the perception server through the step shown in S702-a, so that the perception network element selects the first device according to the capability information, and the first device performs N3GPP perception. After obtaining the N3GPP perception data, the perception server can provide the N3GPP perception data to the SF through the step shown in S707-a, and then the SF provides the perception result to the requesting device. Optionally, the SF can also obtain 3GPP-perceived perception data according to the perception requirement information, and obtain the perception data or perception result after fusing the 3GPP-perceived perception data and the N3GPP-perceived perception data. The SF can also provide the perception data or perception result to the requesting device through S709.

[0311] Understandably, Fig.12 In the embodiment, the way in which the perception server selects the first device through S704 can refer to the way in which the SF selects the first device in S204. S703 can be implemented with reference to S203, and the present application does not limit the execution sequence of S703 and S704. If not optional, the perception server can also obtain the privacy requirements of perception security from the UFM / UDR. In S708, the way in which the SF performs data fusion can refer to S208.

[0312] It is understandable. Fig.11 and Fig.12 For the implementation methods of the steps not specifically described in the description, please refer to the introduction of the corresponding steps in other embodiments of the present application, and will not be repeated here.

[0313] The actions of the 3GPP device shown in the various embodiments of the present application may be executed by a chip on the 3GPP device, a processing module of an operating system (OS), or a middleware client on the OS (for example, in the form of a software development kit (SDK)).

[0314] Based on the same concept, the embodiment of the present application also provides a communication device. The communication device may include hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the functions shown in the above method. Those skilled in the art should easily appreciate that, in combination with the units and method steps of each example described in the embodiment disclosed in the present application, the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in the form of hardware or computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application scenario and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0315] Figures 13 to 15 A schematic diagram of the structure of a possible communication device provided for an embodiment of the present application. The communication device can be used to implement the functions of the SF, the perception server, the device supporting N3GPP perception, or the first device in the above method embodiment, and thus can also achieve the beneficial effects possessed by the above method embodiment. In one possible implementation, the communication device may be a component in the SF, the perception server, or the first device involved in the above method, or a component in the third network element. For relevant details and effects, please refer to the description of the above embodiment.

[0316] like Fig.13 As shown, the communication device 1300 includes a processing unit 1310 and a communication unit 1320. The communication unit 1320 can implement corresponding communication functions, and the processing unit 1310 is used to perform data processing, such as parsing / reading policy information and other data or information received by the communication unit 1320, or triggering the communication unit 1320 to send data or information, or generating data or information to be sent. The communication unit 1320 can also be a transceiver unit or an input / output interface, etc., for the communication device 1300 to perform receiving and / or sending actions. The communication device 1300 can be used to implement the above Figures 5 to 12 The functions of the SF, the perception server, the device supporting N3GPP perception or the first device in any of the method embodiments shown, and the actions that can be performed by the communication device can be found in the description of the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0317] It can be understood that the division of modules in the embodiments of the present application is schematic and is only a logical function division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation. In addition, each functional module in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into a processor, or may exist physically separately, or two or more modules may be integrated into one module. The above-mentioned integrated modules may be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional modules.

[0318] like Fig.14The communication device 1400 provided in the embodiment of the present application is shown, which is used to implement the communication method provided in the present application. The communication device 1400 may be a communication device that applies the communication method, or a component in the communication device, or a device that can be used in combination with the communication device. The communication device 1400 may be a first network element, a second network element, or a fourth network element. Among them, the communication device 1400 may be a chip system or a chip. In the embodiment of the present application, the chip system may be composed of a chip, or may include a chip and other discrete devices. The communication device 1400 includes at least one processor 1420, which is used to implement the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application. The communication device 1400 may also include an input and output interface 1410, and the input and output interface may include an input interface and / or an output interface. In the embodiment of the present application, the input and output interface 1410 may be used to communicate with other devices through a transmission medium, and its functions may include sending and / or receiving. For example, when the communication device 1400 is a chip, it is transmitted with other chips or devices through the input and output interface 1410. The processor 1420 may be used to implement the method shown in the above method embodiment.

[0319] Exemplarily, the processor 1420 may be used to execute actions executed by the processing unit 1310 , and the input / output interface 1410 may be used to execute actions executed by the communication unit 1320 , which will not be described in detail.

[0320] Optionally, the communication device 1400 may further include at least one memory 1430 for storing program instructions and / or data. The memory 1430 is coupled to the processor 1420. The coupling in the embodiment of the present application is an indirect coupling or communication connection between devices, units or modules, which may be electrical, mechanical or other forms, and is used for information exchange between devices, units or modules. The processor 1420 may operate in conjunction with the memory 1430. The processor 1420 may execute program instructions stored in the memory 1430. At least one of the at least one memory may be integrated with the processor.

[0321] In an embodiment of the present application, the memory 1430 may be a non-volatile memory, such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD), etc., or a volatile memory (volatile memory), such as a random access memory (RAM). The memory is any other medium that can be used to carry or store a desired program code in the form of an instruction or data structure and can be accessed by a computer, but is not limited thereto. The memory in the embodiment of the present application may also be a circuit or any other device that can implement a storage function, for storing program instructions and / or data.

[0322] In the embodiment of the present application, the processor 1420 may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component, and may implement or execute the methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiment of the present application. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor, etc. The steps of the method disclosed in the embodiment of the present application may be directly embodied as being executed by a hardware processor, or may be executed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor.

[0323] like Fig.15 The communication device 1500 provided in an embodiment of the present application is shown, which is used to implement the communication method provided in the present application. The communication device 1500 may be a communication device that applies the communication method shown in the embodiment of the present application, or it may be a component in the communication device, or it may be a device that can be used in combination with the communication device. The communication device 1500 may be a first network element or a third network element. Among them, the communication device 1500 may be a chip system or a chip. In the embodiment of the present application, the chip system may be composed of a chip, or it may include a chip and other discrete devices. Part or all of the communication methods provided in the above embodiments may be implemented by hardware or by software. When implemented by hardware, the communication device 1500 may include: an input interface circuit 1501, a logic circuit 1502, and an output interface circuit 1503.

[0324] Optionally, taking the device being used to implement the function of the receiving end as an example, the input interface circuit 1501 can be used to execute the above-mentioned receiving action performed by the communication unit 1320, the output interface circuit 1503 can be used to execute the above-mentioned sending action performed by the communication unit 1320, and the logic circuit 1502 can be used to execute the above-mentioned action performed by the processing unit 1310, which will not be repeated.

[0325] Optionally, the communication device 1500 may be a chip or an integrated circuit in a specific implementation.

[0326] Part or all of the operations and functions performed by the communication device described in the above method embodiments of the present application can be completed using a chip or an integrated circuit.

[0327] An embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, wherein the computer program includes instructions for executing the above method embodiment.

[0328] An embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product including instructions, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the above method embodiment.

[0329] The embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, which includes a first network element and a second network element. The communication system can be used to perform Figures 5 to 12 Any one or more processes in .

[0330] It is understood that the processor in the embodiments of the present application may be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0331] In the above embodiments, it 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. When loading and executing computer instructions on a computer, the process or function according to 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 device. 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 (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 high-density digital video disc (DVD)), or a semiconductor medium (eg, an SSD), etc.

[0332] Note: A portion of this patent application document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner reserves all rights reserved except for the production of copies of the material in the patent file or patent record in the Patent Office.

[0333] The SF, the perception server, the device supporting N3GPP perception, or the first device in the above-mentioned device embodiments respectively correspond to the SF, the perception server, the device supporting N3GPP perception, or the first device in the method embodiments, and the corresponding steps are performed by the corresponding modules or units. For example, the communication unit (transceiver) performs the steps of receiving or sending in the method embodiments, and other steps except sending and receiving can be performed by the processing unit (processor). The functions of the specific units can refer to the corresponding method embodiments. Among them, the processor can be one or more.

[0334] 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 media having various data structures stored thereon. Components may, for example, communicate through local and / or remote processes based on 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).

[0335] 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.

[0336] 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 refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0337] 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 units is only a logical function division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation. For example, 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.

[0338] 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.

[0339] 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. If the function is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium.

[0340] The above are only specific implementations of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Any technician familiar with the 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.

[0341] In the description of this application, words such as "first" and "second" are only used for the purpose of distinguishing descriptions, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance, nor can they be understood as indicating or implying order. It should be noted that the order of appearance of first, second, etc. is not limited in this application. For example, the second may appear first and then the first, and this application does not limit this.

[0342] In the description of this application, "at least one (kind)" refers to one (kind) or more (kinds), and more (kinds) refers to two (kinds) or more than two (kinds). "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a and b and c, where a, b, c can be single or multiple. In the description of this application, " / " means "or", for example, a / b means a or b.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The perception network element obtains capability information of devices supporting non-3rd Generation Partnership Project N3GPP perception capabilities; The perception network element receives a perception request message from a requesting device, where the perception request message is used to request perception data; The perception network element determines, in response to the perception request message, a first device according to the capability information, where the first device is one or more devices supporting N3GPP perception capability; The perception network element sends a first message to the first device, where the first message is used to request perception data perceived by N3GPP; The perception network element receives first perception data from the first device, where the first perception data includes perception data perceived by N3GPP.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The device supporting N3GPP perception capability includes: A device having N3GPP awareness capability, and / or a device connected to a device having N3GPP awareness capability.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The sensing network element determines the first device according to the capability information, including: The perception network element selects the first device according to the first perception requirement information and the capability information.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The first message includes second perception requirement information.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The perception network element obtains capability information of a device supporting N3GPP perception capability, including: The perception network element obtains the capability information from the device, application function, normalized data warehouse network element, normalized data management network element, N3GPP perception capability storage function network element or access and mobility management network element that supports N3GPP perception capability.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that The method further comprises: The perception network element sends a device request message and / or a device subscription message to the device, application function, normalized data warehouse network element, normalized data management network element, N3GPP perception capability storage function network element or access and mobility management network element supporting the N3GPP perception capability; The device request message and / or the device subscription message includes third perception requirement information, and the third perception requirement information is used to discover devices that support N3GPP perception capabilities.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The capability information includes one or more of the following: Supported perception areas; Location; Indication of support for N3GPP awareness capabilities; The type of perception supported; Equipment identification; Supported perceived capability indicators; The supported perception data fusion capability information is used to indicate support for fusion of N3GPP-perceived perception data and 3GPP-perceived perception data, and / or to indicate supported fusion indicators of N3GPP-perceived perception data and 3GPP-perceived perception data.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The method further comprises: The perception network element sends second perception data to the requesting device.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The method further comprises: The perception network element receives 3GPP perception data from a second device, where the second device is a device supporting 3GPP perception capability; The perception network element generates the second perception data according to the first perception data and the perception data perceived by the 3GPP.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The first message is also used by the first device to obtain the 3GPP-perceived perception data, and the second device is the same device as the first device.

11. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The method further comprises: The perception network element receives the perception data perceived by 3GPP from the perception function network element; The perception network element generates the second perception data according to the first perception data and the perception data perceived by the 3GPP.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The method further comprises: The perception network element sends a second message to the perception function network element, where the second message is used to request perception data perceived by 3GPP.

13. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that: The first perception data is generated according to the perception data perceived by the N3GPP and the perception data perceived by the 3GPP.

14. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that: The perception request message includes fourth perception requirement information.

15. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that: One or more of the first perceived demand information, the second perceived demand information, the third perceived demand information, and the fourth perceived demand information include one or more of the following information: The perceived area of ​​demand; The perceived ability index of demand; Fusion requirement information, used to indicate the fusion of the perception data perceived by N3GPP and the perception data perceived by 3GPP, and / or used to indicate the fusion index of the required perception data perceived by N3GPP and the perception data perceived by 3GPP; the perceived type of need; Perception service information, where the perception service information is used to determine one or more of a perception area of ​​the demand, a perception capability index of the demand, the fusion demand, and a perception type of the demand.

16. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that: The method further comprises: The perception network element sends, to the first device, address and / or data tag information for receiving the first perception data; The sensing network element receives first sensing data from the first device, including: The perception network element receives the first perception data with the destination address being the address from the first device; and / or, The perception network element receives the first perception data including the data tag information from the first device.

17. A method of communication, characterized in that: include: A first device receives a first message from a perception network element, where the first message is used to request perception data perceived by N3GPP, and the first device is a device supporting N3GPP perception; The first device obtains first perception data in response to the first message, where the first perception data includes perception data perceived by N3GPP; The first device sends the first perception data to the perception network element.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that The first device comprises: A device having N3GPP awareness capability, and / or a device connected to a device having N3GPP awareness capability.

19. The method according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first device sends the capability information of the first device to the perception network element, application function, normalized data warehouse network element, normalized data management network element, N3GPP perception capability storage function network element or access and mobility management network element, and the capability information is used to determine the first device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein: The method further comprises: Receiving a device request message and / or a device subscription message from the perception network element; The device request message and / or the device subscription message includes third perception requirement information, and the third perception requirement information is used to discover devices that support N3GPP perception capabilities.

21. The method according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that The capability information includes one or more of the following: Supported perception areas; Location; Indication of support for N3GPP awareness capabilities; The type of perception supported; Equipment identification; Supported perceived capability indicators; The supported perception data fusion capability information is used to indicate support for fusion of N3GPP-perceived perception data and 3GPP-perceived perception data, and / or to indicate supported fusion indicators of N3GPP-perceived perception data and 3GPP-perceived perception data.

22. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 21, characterized in that: The first message includes second perception requirement information.

23. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 22, characterized in that: The first message is also used to request 3GPP-perceived perception data, and the method further includes: The first device sends 3GPP-perceived perception data to the perception network element; or; The first device generates the first perception data according to the 3GPP-perceived perception data and the N3GPP-perceived perception data.

24. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 23, characterized in that: One or more of the second perceived demand information and the third perceived demand information include one or more of the following information: The perceived area of ​​demand; The perceived ability index of demand; Fusion requirement information, used to indicate the fusion of the perception data perceived by N3GPP and the perception data perceived by 3GPP, and / or used to indicate the fusion index of the required perception data perceived by N3GPP and the perception data perceived by 3GPP; the perceived type of need; Perception service information, where the perception service information is used to determine one or more of a perception area of ​​the demand, a perception capability index of the demand, the fusion demand, and a perception type of the demand.

25. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 24, characterized in that: The method further comprises: The first device receives, from the perception network element, address and / or data tag information for receiving the first perception data; The first device sending the first perception data to the perception network element includes: The first device sends the first perception data with the destination address being the address to the perception network element; and / or, The first device sends the first perception data including the data tag information to the perception network element.

26. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises a processor configured to execute a computer program or an instruction to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 25.

27. The device according to claim 26, characterized in that The device further comprises a memory and / or a transceiver, wherein the memory is used to store the computer program or instructions, and the transceiver is used for the device to communicate.

28. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The storage medium stores a computer program or instruction. When the computer program or instruction is executed by the communication device, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 25 is implemented.

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