Communication method and device

Abstract

According to the communication method and device, in the method, a sensing function network element receives first information from a service requester, the first information comprises an identifier list and a sensing area, and the identifier list comprises identifiers of one or more terminal devices; the perception function network element receives perception data aiming at the perception area from the perception equipment, wherein the perception data comprises position information of one or more objects; the perception function network element determines an association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the position information of the one or more terminal devices and the position information of the one or more objects; and the perception function network element indicates the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects to the service requester through the second information. The mode is beneficial for the service requester to determine the terminal device cooperating with the service requester and / or the terminal device not cooperating with the service requester in the one or more terminal devices.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communication technologies, and in particular, to a communication method and apparatus. Background Art

[0002] In a mobile communication system, a network device may use a higher radio frequency band, such as millimeter wave or even terahertz, to sense and identify a specific area / object / event.

[0003] The sensing area may include terminal devices that cooperate with a service requester (such as terminal devices authorized by a regulatory platform or registered with a regulatory platform), and non-cooperating terminal devices (such as terminal devices not authorized by a regulatory platform or not registered with a regulatory platform). Distinguishing between terminal devices that cooperate with a service requester and non-cooperating terminal devices is an important requirement of the service requester.

[0004] Therefore, how a service requester distinguishes between terminal devices that cooperate with the service requester and non-cooperating terminal devices is a problem that needs to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Embodiments of this application provide a communication method and apparatus, which are beneficial for a service requester to distinguish between cooperating terminal devices and / or non-cooperating terminal devices.

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication method. This method may be executed by a sensing function network element, where the sensing function network element may refer to the sensing function network element itself, or may refer to a processor, module, chip, or chip system in the sensing function network element that implements this method. In this method, the sensing function network element receives first information from a service requester. The first information includes an identifier list and a sensing area. The identifier list includes identifiers of one or more terminal devices. The sensing function network element receives sensing data from a sensing device for the sensing area. The sensing data includes position information of one or more objects. The sensing function network element determines an association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the position information of one or more terminal devices and the position information of one or more objects. The sensing function network element sends second information to the service requester. The second information is used to indicate the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects.

[0007] In an embodiment of the present application, the sensing function network element determines the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the location information of one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects obtained by the sensing device for the sensing area, and indicates the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects to the service requester through the second information. This method is beneficial for the service requester to determine the terminal devices that cooperate with the service requester and / or the terminal devices that do not cooperate based on the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects.

[0008] In an alternative embodiment, the identification list includes the identification of one terminal device. In this case, the sensing function network element determines the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the location information of one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects, including: determining whether one terminal device is associated with the one or more objects based on the location information of one terminal device and the location information of one or more objects. Thus, the second information is specifically used to indicate whether the one terminal device is associated with the objects among the one or more objects, and further facilitates the service requester to determine whether the one terminal device is a terminal device that cooperates with the service requester based on whether the one terminal device is associated with the objects among the one or more objects.

[0009] In another alternative embodiment, the identification list includes the identifications of multiple terminal devices. In this case, the sensing function network element determines the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the location information of one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects, including: determining the terminal devices among the multiple terminal devices that are associated with and / or not associated with the objects among the one or more objects based on the location information of the multiple terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects. Thus, the second information is specifically used to indicate the identifications of the associated terminal devices and / or the identifications of the non-associated terminal devices among the multiple terminal devices, and further facilitates the service requester to determine the terminal devices that cooperate with and / or do not cooperate with the service requester based on the terminal devices among the multiple terminal devices that are associated with and / or not associated with the objects.

[0010] In an alternative embodiment, the second information includes an association indication and the identification of the terminal device corresponding to the association indication, and / or, a non-association indication and the identification of the terminal device corresponding to the non-association indication. Among them, the association indication is used to indicate that the terminal device corresponding to the association indication is associated with the object, and the non-association indication is used to indicate that the terminal device corresponding to the non-association indication is not associated with the object.

[0011] In an alternative implementation, before determining the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the location information of one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects, the sensing functional network element further obtains the location information of one or more terminal devices based on the positioning service.

[0012] In another alternative implementation, before determining the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the location information of one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects, the sensing functional network element also obtains the location information of one or more terminal devices from the service requester.

[0013] It can be seen that the sensing functional network element can obtain the location information of one or more terminal devices based on the positioning service by itself, or obtain the location information of one or more terminal devices from the service requester.

[0014] In an alternative implementation, when the sensing functional network element obtains the location information of one or more terminal devices from the service requester, it can also obtain a first timestamp associated with the location information of one or more terminal devices from the service requester. The first timestamp is associated with the location information of one or more terminal devices, which can be understood as: the location information of one or more terminal devices is obtained by the service requester at the moment or within the time range indicated by the first timestamp.

[0015] In addition, if the sensing functional network element obtains the first timestamp from the service requester, then when determining the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the location information of one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects, it includes: determining the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the location information of one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects at the moment or within the time range indicated by the first timestamp.

[0016] It can be seen that the sensing functional network element determines the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the location information of one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects obtained at the same moment or within the same time range. This method can improve the accuracy of the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects.

[0017] In another alternative implementation, the sensing functional network element also obtains a second timestamp associated with the identification list from the service requester, where the second timestamp represents the moment when one or more terminal devices are present in the sensing area. Thus, the sensing functional network element determines the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the location information of one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects, including: determining the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the location information of one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects at the moment or within the time range indicated by the second timestamp. This method can also improve the accuracy of the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects.

[0018] In an alternative implementation, the sensing functional network element also obtains an association operation instruction from the service requester, where the association operation instruction is used to indicate determining the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects in the sensing data obtained by the sensing functional network element. Thus, the sensing functional network element determines the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the association operation instruction.

[0019] In an alternative implementation, the second information is also used to indicate the moment corresponding to the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects. This method enables the service requester to know the moment when the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects exists.

[0020] In an alternative implementation, the second information also includes the characteristic information of the terminal devices associated with the objects among one or more terminal devices, and / or the characteristic information of the terminal devices not associated with the objects. This method is beneficial for the service requester to re-determine whether each of the one or more terminal devices is associated with the object based on the second information and the characteristic information of one or more terminal devices configured in the service requester.

[0021] In an alternative implementation, the second information also includes the characteristic information of the objects associated with one or more terminal devices among one or more objects, and / or the characteristic information of the objects not associated with any of the one or more terminal devices. This method is beneficial for the service requester to perform type recognition on each of the one or more objects in the sensing area based on the second information.

[0022] In an alternative implementation, the characteristic information is used to indicate at least one of the following: contour, type, trajectory, orientation, or speed.

[0023] In an alternative embodiment, the sensing function network element determines whether a terminal device is associated with an object based on the location information of a terminal device and the location information of one or more objects, including: when the location information of a terminal device is the same as that of one of the location information of one or more objects, determining that the terminal device is associated with the object; when the location information of a terminal device is not the same as any of the location information of one or more objects, determining that the terminal device is not associated with the object. Herein, "the same" can be understood as completely the same, or can also be understood as the same within a preset range.

[0024] In an alternative embodiment, the sensing function network element determines the terminal devices associated with the object and / or the terminal devices not associated with the object among multiple terminal devices based on the location information of multiple terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects, including: determining the terminal devices corresponding to the location information that is the same as the location information of one or more objects among the location information of multiple terminal devices as the terminal devices associated with the object; and / or, determining the terminal devices corresponding to the location information that is not the same as any of the location information of one or more objects among the location information of multiple terminal devices as the terminal devices not associated with the object.

[0025] In an alternative embodiment, the first information is carried in a sensing request, and the sensing request is used to request the sensing function network element to sense a sensing area. This approach helps save signaling overhead.

[0026] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a service requestor. Here, the service requestor can refer to the service requestor itself, or can also refer to a processor, module, chip, or chip system in the service requestor that implements this method. In this method, the service requestor sends first information to a first sensing function network element, and the first information includes a first identifier list and a sensing area, and the first identifier list includes the identifiers of one or more terminal devices. The service requestor receives second information from the first sensing function network element, and the second information is used to indicate the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects in the sensing area.

[0027] In an embodiment of the present application, the service requestor obtains the association relationship between one or more terminal devices indicated to the first sensing function network element and one or more objects in the sensing area, which helps the service requestor determine the terminal devices that cooperate with the service requestor and / or the terminal devices that do not cooperate based on the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects.

[0028] In an alternative embodiment, the first information is used to trigger the first sensing function network element to determine the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the location information of one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects in the sensing data obtained by the first sensing function network element. This approach facilitates the first sensing function network element to determine the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the first information.

[0029] In an alternative embodiment, the first identification list includes the identification of one terminal device. In this case, the second information is specifically used to indicate whether the one terminal device is associated with an object among one or more objects.

[0030] In another alternative embodiment, the first identification list includes the identifications of multiple terminal devices. In this case, the second information is specifically used to indicate the identifications of the terminal devices among the multiple terminal devices that are associated with an object among one or more objects, and / or the identifications of the terminal devices that are not associated with an object among one or more objects.

[0031] In an alternative embodiment, the second information includes an association indication and the identification of the terminal device corresponding to the association indication, and / or a non - association indication and the identification of the terminal device corresponding to the non - association indication. Among them, the association indication is used to indicate that the terminal device corresponding to the association indication is associated with the object, and the non - association indication is used to indicate that the terminal device corresponding to the non - association indication is not associated with the object.

[0032] In an alternative embodiment, the service requester also determines, based on the second information, the terminal devices that cooperate with the service requester and / or the terminal devices that do not cooperate with the service requester within the sensing area. This approach facilitates the service requester to track or counter the terminal devices that do not cooperate with the service requester.

[0033] In an alternative embodiment, the service requester also sends the location information of one or more terminal devices to the first sensing function network element, so that the first sensing function network element obtains the location information of one or more terminal devices.

[0034] In an alternative embodiment, before the service requester sends the location information of one or more terminal devices to the first sensing function network element, it also obtains the location information of one or more terminal devices based on the positioning service.

[0035] In another alternative embodiment, before the service requester sends the location information of one or more terminal devices to the first sensing function network element, it also obtains the location information from each of the one or more terminal devices.

[0036] It can be seen that the service requester obtains the location information of one or more terminal devices, including: obtaining the location information of one or more terminal devices based on a positioning service, or including: receiving the location information reported by each of the one or more terminal devices.

[0037] In an optional implementation manner, the service requester also sends a first timestamp associated with the location information of one or more terminal devices to the first sensing function network element. The first timestamp is associated with the location information of one or more terminal devices, which can be understood as: the location information of one or more terminal devices is obtained by the service requester at the moment or within the time range indicated by the first timestamp.

[0038] If the location information of one or more terminal devices is obtained by the service requester based on a positioning service, the first timestamp is the moment or time range when the service requester obtains the location information. If the location information of one or more terminal devices is reported by each of the one or more terminal devices to the service requester, the first timestamp can be reported to the service requester together with the location information reported by each terminal device, or can be the moment or time range when the service requester receives the location information of the one or more terminal devices.

[0039] In an optional implementation manner, the service requester also sends a second timestamp associated with the first identifier list to the first sensing function network element, and the second timestamp represents the moment when one or more terminal devices in the first identifier list are present in the sensing area. This way is beneficial for the first sensing function network element to know the moment when one or more terminal devices are present in the sensing area.

[0040] In an optional implementation manner, the service requester also sends an association operation instruction to the first sensing function network element, and the association operation instruction is used to indicate determining the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects in the sensing data obtained by the first sensing function network element. This way is beneficial for the first sensing function network element to determine the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the association operation instruction.

[0041] In an optional implementation manner, the second information is also used to indicate the moment corresponding to the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects.

[0042] In an optional implementation manner, the second information further includes the characteristic information of the terminal devices associated with the object and / or the characteristic information of the terminal devices not associated with the object among the one or more terminal devices. Thus, the service requester can also determine whether each of the one or more terminal devices is associated with the object based on the second information and the characteristic information of the one or more terminal devices configured in the service requester.

[0043] In an alternative embodiment, the second information further includes the feature information of the object(s) associated with one or more terminal devices among one or more objects, and / or the feature information of the object(s) not associated with any of the one or more terminal devices. This approach facilitates the service requester to identify the type of each object among the one or more objects.

[0044] In an alternative embodiment, the feature information is used to indicate at least one of the following: contour, type, trajectory, orientation, speed.

[0045] In an alternative embodiment, the service requester may further perform: sending third information to the second sensing functional network element, where the third information includes a second identifier list and the sensing area, the second identifier list includes the identifiers of one or more terminal devices, the identifiers of the one or more terminal devices included in the second identifier list are different from the identifiers of the one or more terminal devices included in the first identifier list, and the second sensing functional network element and the first sensing functional network element belong to different operators; receiving fourth information from the second sensing functional network element, where the fourth information is used to indicate the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices in the second identifier list and the one or more objects.

[0046] It can be seen that when there are also terminal devices managed by an operator different from the operator to which the first sensing functional network element belongs within the sensing area, the service requester can indicate to the second sensing functional network element corresponding to the operator different from the operator to which the first sensing functional network element belongs the one or more terminal devices managed by this operator within the sensing area, so as to obtain the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects within the sensing area.

[0047] Optionally, when there are also terminal devices managed by an operator different from the operators to which the first sensing functional network element and the second sensing functional network element belong within the sensing area, the service requester may also indicate to the sensing functional network element corresponding to the operator different from the operators to which the first sensing functional network element and the second sensing functional network element belong the one or more terminal devices managed by this operator within the sensing area, so as to obtain the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects within the sensing area.

[0048] In an alternative embodiment, the service requester determines the terminal devices that cooperate with the service requester and / or the terminal devices that do not cooperate with the service requester within the sensing area based on the second information, including: determining the terminal devices that cooperate with the service requester and / or the terminal devices that do not cooperate with the service requester within the sensing area based on the second information and the fourth information.

[0049] It can be seen that when the service requester receives the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects fed back by each of the first sensing function network element and the second sensing function network element, the service requester determines the terminal devices that cooperate with the service requester and / or the terminal devices that do not cooperate with the service requester within the sensing area based on the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects fed back by each sensing function network element.

[0050] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device. The communication device has some or all of the functions of the sensing function network element described in the first aspect above, or some or all of the functions of the service requester described in the second aspect above. For example, the functions of the communication device may have some or all of the functions in the embodiments of the sensing function network element described in the first aspect of the present application embodiment, or may have the functions of any one embodiment of the present application embodiment implemented alone. The functions can be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more units or modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0051] In a possible design, the structure of the communication device may include a processing unit and a communication unit. The processing unit is configured to support the communication device to execute the corresponding functions in the above method. The communication unit is used to support the communication between the communication device and other communication devices. The communication device may further include a storage unit, and the storage unit is used to be coupled with the processing unit and the communication unit, and stores the necessary program instructions and data of the communication device.

[0052] In one implementation, the communication device includes: a processing unit and a communication unit, and the device is applied to the sensing function network element;

[0053] The communication unit is configured to receive first information from the service requester. The first information includes an identifier list and a sensing area, and the identifier list includes identifiers of one or more terminal devices;

[0054] The communication unit is further configured to receive sensing data from the sensing device for the sensing area. The sensing data includes position information of one or more objects;

[0055] The processing unit is configured to determine the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the position information of the one or more terminal devices and the position information of the one or more objects;

[0056] The communication unit is further configured to send second information to the service requester, and the second information is used to indicate the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects.

[0057] In addition, in this aspect, for other optional embodiments of the communication device, reference may be made to the relevant content of the first aspect above, which will not be elaborated here.

[0058] In another embodiment, the communication device includes a processing unit and a communication unit. The device is applied to a service requester, and the processing unit is configured to process signals / signaling.

[0059] The communication unit is configured to send first information to a first sensing function network element. The first information includes a first identifier list and a sensing area, and the first identifier list includes identifiers of one or more terminal devices.

[0060] The communication unit is further configured to receive second information from the first sensing function network element. The second information is used to indicate the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and one or more objects within the sensing area.

[0061] In addition, in this aspect, for other optional embodiments of the communication device, reference may be made to the relevant content of the first aspect above, which will not be elaborated here.

[0062] As an example, the communication unit may be a transceiver or a communication interface, the storage unit may be a memory, and the processing unit may be a processor.

[0063] In one embodiment, the communication device includes a processor and a transceiver. The device is applied to a sensing function network element.

[0064] The transceiver is configured to receive first information from a service requester. The first information includes an identifier list and a sensing area, and the identifier list includes identifiers of one or more terminal devices.

[0065] The transceiver is further configured to receive sensing data from a sensing device for the sensing area. The sensing data includes location information of one or more objects.

[0066] The processor is configured to determine the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices and the location information of the one or more objects.

[0067] The transceiver is further configured to send second information to the service requester. The second information is used to indicate the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects.

[0068] In addition, in this aspect, for other optional embodiments of the communication device, reference may be made to the relevant content of the first aspect above, which will not be elaborated here.

[0069] In another embodiment, the communication device includes: a processor and a transceiver. The device is applied to a service requestor, and the processor is configured to process signals / signaling.

[0070] The transceiver is configured to send first information to a first sensing function network element. The first information includes a first identifier list and a sensing area. The first identifier list includes identifiers of one or more terminal devices.

[0071] The transceiver is further configured to receive second information from the first sensing function network element. The second information is used to indicate the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and one or more objects within the sensing area.

[0072] In addition, in this aspect, for other optional embodiments of the communication device, reference may be made to the relevant content of the second aspect above, which will not be elaborated here.

[0073] In another embodiment, the communication device is a chip or a chip system. The processing unit may also be embodied as a processing circuit or a logic circuit; the communication unit may be an input / output interface, an interface circuit, an output circuit, an input circuit, a pin, or a related circuit on the chip or the chip system.

[0074] In the implementation process, the processor may be used for, for example but not limited to, baseband-related processing, and the transceiver may be used for, for example but not limited to, radio frequency transceiver. The above-mentioned devices may be respectively disposed on independent chips, or at least partially or entirely disposed on the same chip. For example, the processor may be further divided into an analog baseband processor and a digital baseband processor. Among them, the analog baseband processor may be integrated with the transceiver on the same chip, and the digital baseband processor may be disposed on an independent chip. With the continuous development of integrated circuit technology, more and more devices can be integrated on the same chip. For example, the digital baseband processor may be integrated with multiple application processors (such as but not limited to a graphics processor, a multimedia processor, etc.) on the same chip. Such a chip may be referred to as a system on a chip (SoC). Whether to independently dispose the various devices on different chips or integrate them on one or more chips often depends on the needs of product design. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the implementation forms of the above-mentioned devices.

[0075] Fourthly, an embodiment of the present application further provides a processor for executing the various methods described above. During the execution of these methods, the processes of sending and receiving the above information in the above methods can be understood as the process of the processor outputting the above information and the process of the processor receiving the input above information. When outputting the above information, the processor outputs the above information to the transceiver for transmission by the transceiver. After the above information is output by the processor, other processing may be required before it reaches the transceiver. Similarly, when the processor receives the input above information, the transceiver receives the above information and inputs it to the processor. Further, after the transceiver receives the above information, the above information may need to be processed otherwise before being input to the processor.

[0076] For operations such as sending and receiving involved in the processor, without special instructions, or if it does not conflict with its actual role or internal logic in the relevant description, they can generally be understood as operations of the processor for outputting, receiving, and inputting, rather than the sending and receiving operations directly performed by the radio frequency circuit and the antenna.

[0077] In the implementation process, the above processor can be a processor dedicated to executing these methods, or a processor that executes computer instructions in the memory to execute these methods, such as a general-purpose processor. The above memory can be a non-transitory memory, such as a read only memory (ROM), which can be integrated with the processor on the same chip or separately provided on different chips. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the type of the memory and the setting manner of the memory and the processor.

[0078] Fifthly, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, which includes a sensing function network element and a service requester. Optionally, the system further includes a sensing device. In another possible design, the system may further include other devices / function network elements that interact with the sensing function network element, the service requester, and the sensing device.

[0079] Sixthly, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing instructions, which, when run on a computer, implement the methods described in the first or second aspect above.

[0080] Seventhly, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product including instructions, which, when run on a computer, implement the methods described in the first or second aspect above.

[0081] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip system, which includes a processor and an interface. The interface is used to obtain programs or instructions, and the processor is used to call the programs or instructions to implement or support the perception functional entity to implement the functions involved in the first aspect, or to implement or support the service requester to implement the functions involved in the second aspect. For example, determining or processing at least one of the data and information involved in the above methods. In a possible design, the chip system further includes a memory, and the memory is used to store necessary program instructions and data of the terminal. This chip system can be composed of chips or can include chips and other discrete devices.

[0082] In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which includes a processor for executing a computer program or executable instructions stored in a memory. When the computer program or executable instructions are executed, the device is caused to execute the methods in various possible implementations of the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0083] In a possible implementation, the processor and the memory are integrated together;

[0084] In another possible implementation, the above-mentioned memory is located outside the communication device.

[0085] The beneficial effects of the third aspect to the ninth aspect can refer to the beneficial effects of the first aspect or the second aspect, which will not be elaborated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0086] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a system architecture;

[0087] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of perception;

[0088] Figure 3 is an interaction schematic diagram of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0089] Figure 4 is an interaction schematic diagram of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0090] Figure 5 is an interaction schematic diagram of yet another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0091] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0092] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of another communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0093] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0094] To better understand the embodiments of the present application, the system architecture involved in the embodiments of the present application will be introduced first below:

[0095] The embodiments of the present application can be applied to fourth-generation (4G) communication systems such as long term evolution (LTE) systems, fifth-generation (5G) communication systems such as new radio (NR) systems, and with the continuous development of communication technologies, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can also be used in subsequent evolved communication systems, such as sixth-generation (6G) mobile communication technology systems, seventh-generation (7G) mobile communication technology systems, etc.

[0096] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 1 which is a schematic diagram of a system architecture provided by the embodiments of the present application. The system architecture includes network function entities such as terminal devices, (radio) access network ((R)AN), user plane function (UPF), data network (DN), access and mobility management function (AMF), etc. As Figure 1 shown, the terminal device can access the wireless network to obtain services from the external network (such as data network (DN)) through the wireless network, or communicate with other devices through the wireless network, such as communicating with other terminal devices. The devices / function network elements involved in the system architecture in Figure 1 will be described in detail below.

[0097] The terminal device may include various handheld devices, vehicle-mounted devices, wearable devices, computing devices, or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem that have wireless communication capabilities. The terminal device may also be referred to as a terminal. The terminal device may also refer to a user equipment (UE), an access terminal, a subscriber unit, a user agent, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a wireless data card, a personal digital assistant (PDA) computer, a tablet computer, a wireless modem, a handset, a laptop computer, a smart point of sale (POS) machine, a customer-premises equipment (CPE), a machine type communication (MTC) terminal, a communication device carried on a high-altitude aircraft, a wearable device, a drone, a robot, a terminal in device to device (D2D), a terminal in vehicle to everything (V2X), a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self-driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical, a wireless terminal in smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in smart city, a wireless terminal in smart home, or a terminal device in a future communication network, etc., and the present application does not make any restrictions.

[0098] RAN is a network composed of multiple 5G-RAN nodes, which is used to implement radio physical layer functions, resource scheduling and radio resource management, radio access control, and mobility management functions. 5G-RAN is connected to the UPF through the user plane interface N3 to transmit data of terminal devices; 5G-RAN establishes a control plane signaling connection with the AMF through the control plane interface N2 to implement functions such as radio access bearer control. The RAN node can be a base station in a 5G network or a base station in a future evolved communication system, a broadband network gateway (BNG), an aggregation switch, or a non-3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) access device, etc. Optionally, the RAN nodes in the embodiments of the present application may include various forms of base stations, such as: macro base stations, micro base stations (also known as small stations), relay stations, access points, devices that implement base station functions in a communication system evolved after 5G, transmitting and receiving points (TRP), transmitting points (TP), integrated access and backhaul nodes (IAB nodes), mobile switching centers, and devices that undertake base station functions in D2D and machine-to-machine (M2M) communications, etc. The embodiments of the present application do not make specific limitations on this.

[0099] The following network function entities can be understood as core network devices:

[0100] The AMF network element is mainly responsible for functions such as UE authentication, UE mobility management, network slice selection, and session management function (SMF) selection; the AMF network element serves as the anchor point of the N1 and N2 signaling connections and provides routing for N1 / N2 SM messages for the SMF network element; the AMF network element maintains and manages the status information of the UE.

[0101] The SMF network element is mainly responsible for all control plane functions of UE session management, including UPF selection, Internet Protocol (IP) address allocation, quality of service (QoS) management of the session, obtaining policy and charging control (PCC) policies (from the policy control function (PCF)), etc.

[0102] The UPF network element serves as the anchor point for the protocol data unit (PDU) session connection and is responsible for filtering user equipment data packets, data transmission / forwarding, rate control, generating charging information, etc.

[0103] The unified data management (UDM) network element mainly manages user data, such as the management of subscription information, including obtaining subscription information from the unified data repository (UDR) network element and providing it to other network elements (such as the AMF network element); generating 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) authentication credentials for the UE; registering and maintaining the network elements currently serving the UE (for example, the AMF represented by AMF ID1 is the current serving AMF for the UE).

[0104] The UDR network element is mainly used to store user data, including subscription data called by the UDM network element, policy information called by the PCF network element, structured data for capability open, and application data called by the network element function (NEF) network element.

[0105] The NEF network element is a network capability open network element used to connect the interaction between other internal network elements of the core network and external application servers of the core network, so as to provide network capability information to external application servers or provide information of external application servers to core network elements.

[0106] The application function (AF) network element interacts with core network elements to provide some services. For example, it interacts with the PCF network element for service policy control, interacts with the NEF network element to obtain some network capability information or provide some application information to the network, and provides some data network access point information to the PCF network element to generate corresponding routing information for data services.

[0107] The authentication service function (AUSF) network element is used to perform security authentication on the UE when the UE accesses the network.

[0108] The network slice selection function (NSSF) network element selects a set of slice instances for the UE, determines the AMF set and the allowed network slice selection assistance information (NSSAI) for the UE.

[0109] The PCF network element provides configuration policy information for the UE and provides policy information for controlling the UE to the control plane network elements of the network (such as the AMF network element and the SMF network element).

[0110] It can be understood that when the solution of the embodiment of the present application is applied to a 6G or future communication system, the names of the corresponding network function entities may change, and the present application does not make any limitations in this regard.

[0111] In a mobile communication system, when the base station uses wireless frequency bands (such as 4G frequency band, 5G frequency band, 6G frequency band, millimeter wave frequency band, terahertz frequency band, etc.), similar radar functions can be realized through the mobile communication system, such as detecting targets similar to radar. Specifically, the mobile communication system can use the transmission, reflection, and scattering of radio waves to perceive the physical world. For example, perception measurement information can be obtained by acquiring distance, speed, and angle information from wireless signals, so as to be used for sensing and identifying specific regions / objects / events, etc.

[0112] The sensing function can be used for object positioning, detection, and tracking, human gesture capture and action recognition, target imaging, etc. One possible application is in the field of security / supervision, detecting and monitoring the corresponding areas of important infrastructure. For example, the railway department continuously monitors foreign object intrusion such as debris flow / landslide by deploying base stations, and the power station park detects drone intrusion over its park by deploying base stations. Another possible application is in the scenarios of vehicle-road cooperation / automatic driving / assisted driving / drone route planning. The sensing ability of the base stations beside the road is used to provide over-the-horizon sensing ability for vehicles or drones, and timely provide road environment information for the driving end, such as detecting pedestrians / non-motor vehicles breaking into the road ahead and obstacles appearing on the planned route.

[0113] Based on different application scenarios, when deploying base stations with sensing functions, the sensing ability of the base stations may be planned based on the application purpose and the specific deployment environment. The specific metrics of the sensing ability include but are not limited to: distance resolution α, speed resolution β, angle measurement accuracy θ, and horizontal field of view (FOV). Among them, the distance resolution α refers to the ability to distinguish adjacent targets in terms of distance, usually measured by the minimum resolvable distance interval, and can be used to identify different vehicles. The speed resolution β refers to the ability to distinguish targets in terms of radial speed, usually measured by the minimum resolvable speed interval, and can be used to distinguish vehicles with different speeds. The angle measurement accuracy θ refers to the error between the measured value and the true value of the measured target in terms of angle, and can be used to determine the lane where the vehicle is located. The horizontal field of view FOV refers to the range that the sensing device can cover (including horizontal and vertical viewing angles), expressed in degrees.

[0114] When the base station in the 5G system has sensing capabilities, the 5G system can be used for sensing application services. The types of sensing application services can include, but are not limited to, object speed measurement in a target area, target area monitoring (providing the trajectory, target recognition, target counting, etc. of objects in the target area), object imaging in the target area (depicting the target contour and identifying the target type), etc.

[0115] Please refer to Figure 2 , Figure 2 as a sensing schematic diagram. As Figure 2 shown, the sensing network element obtains sensing requirements based on the internal requirements of the network or the requirements of the demand side of the sensing service. The sensing network element performs detection configuration on the radio access network device based on the sensing requirements. The radio access network device detects and / or collects sensing data in the sensing area. After obtaining the sensing data through detection, the radio access network device provides the sensing data to the sensing network element. The sensing network element processes the sensing data and provides the processing result to the demand side of the sensing service, such as providing it to the AF network element.

[0116] Among them, the sensing network element can be, for example, a sensing function (SF) network element, or can also be other names such as a sensing network function (SNF) network element. For the convenience of description, the following takes the sensing network element as an SF network element as an example for description. In addition, the SF network element can be an architecture with separated user plane and control plane, that is, the SF network element can include a user plane module and a control plane module. In some implementation manners, the SF network element in the embodiments of the present application can refer to a sensing function control plane (SF-C), or can refer to a sensing function user plane (SF-U).

[0117] It should be noted that the SF network element can be one of the network elements in the 5G core network (5GC), or can also be a non-core network element. The present application does not make special limitations on this. When the SF network element is one of the network elements in the 5G core network, the SF network element can be connected to other network elements in the 5G core network through a service based architecture (SBA) interface, that is, it can communicate with other network elements in the 5G core network through the SBA interface. When the SF network element is a non-core network element, the SF network element cannot be connected to other network elements in the 5G core network through the SBA interface. At this time, it may be necessary to interact with other 5G core network elements through the transfer of the NEF. Optionally, the SF network element can be implemented by other network elements in the core network.

[0118] In addition, the SF may be a network element deployed independently or co-located with other devices. For example, the SF may be a network element independently deployed in the core network or a network element co-located with other core network devices.

[0119] UE targets and non-UE targets may exist in the sensing area. Non-UE targets are also known as passive targets / devices, non-UE targets / devices, targets / devices without a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, targets without UE association, objects, etc. That is, non-UE targets are not a UE and are not associated with a UE device, and the existing positioning services of the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) system cannot be used to locate non-UE targets. UE targets can often be identified by regulators through the 3GPP system and the identity of the UE. Sensing technology can identify the presence of non-UE targets in the sensing area. There may be an association between UE targets and non-UE targets in the sensing area. For example, in a warehousing scenario, to facilitate logistics tracking of goods, tags are often attached to the goods. The tag is regarded as a UE target, and the goods are regarded as non-UE targets. The tag is attached to the goods, so the tag is a UE target associated with the goods.

[0120] For some regulatory agencies, it may be necessary to identify the terminal devices that cooperate with the regulatory agency and the non-cooperating terminal devices in the sensing area. For example, the cellular-connected drones defined by 3GPP need to use the control plane of the mobile network to forward the authentication and authorization requests of the drones and can only perform flight control operations after being authorized by the regulatory platform. The regulatory platform can use the positioning services defined by 3GPP to track the drones, obtain the location information of the drones, and implement functions such as electronic fences. However, non-cooperating (unauthorized) drones may appear in the regulatory area, such as unauthorized drones mixed in during drone swarm flight performances, aerial photography of major events, etc. In another case, some UE targets in the target area are not allowed by the regulatory platform or have not been registered with and authorized by the regulatory platform, and these UE targets are also regarded as non-cooperating targets.

[0121] Therefore, for regulatory agencies, it is an important requirement to know the actual target situation in the target area, such as the number, location, trajectory, etc. of cooperative and non-cooperative targets. For example, it is a necessary requirement for regulatory agencies to distinguish non-cooperative drones and certified and authorized drones in the target area and further track, monitor, and / or counter non-cooperative drones.

[0122] The embodiments of the present application can be applied to certain regulatory scenarios, such as tracking the UE devices bound to materials, and realizing remote material safety confirmation by confirming the association relationship between the UE devices and the material targets. The embodiments of the present application can also be applied to the scenario of networked UAV supervision, that is, when there are authorized UAVs and non-cooperative UAVs in the target area, it can assist the regulatory agency to perceive the existence of non-cooperative UAVs and determine which targets are non-cooperative UAVs.

[0123] The embodiments of the present application can also be applied to other scenarios, such as smart transportation / home / factory scenarios. When the supervision / security application needs to know whether there is an association relationship between the monitored UE and the target object, whether it exists in the target area (such as whether the person carrying the UE is moving by a certain means of transportation / whether it is a pedestrian, whether the person wearing a smart watch / pet is in a safe area), which UEs are not associated as expected, and which targets may be non-cooperative targets.

[0124] The embodiments of the present application provide a communication method 100. In this method, the service requestor sends first information to the SF network element. The first information includes an identifier list and a sensing area. The identifier list includes the identifiers of one or more terminal devices. The SF network element receives sensing data for the sensing area from the sensing device. The sensing data includes the location information of one or more objects. The SF network element determines the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the location information of one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects. The SF network element indicates the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects to the service requestor through second information. This way is beneficial for the service requestor to determine the terminal devices that cooperate with the service requestor and / or the non-cooperating terminal devices among one or more terminal devices based on the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects.

[0125] An embodiment of the present application provides a communication method 200. Compared with the communication method 100, the communication method 200 reflects a multi-operator scenario. In the communication method 200, a service request party sends a first piece of information to a first sensing function network element and a third piece of information to a second sensing function network element. The first piece of information includes a first identification list and a sensing area. The first identification list includes location information of one or more terminal devices. The third piece of information includes a second identification list and a sensing area. The second identification list includes location information of one or more terminal devices. The one or more terminal devices included in the first identification list are different from the one or more terminal devices included in the second identification list. The first sensing function network element and the second sensing function network element belong to different operators. The first sensing function network element receives first sensing data of a first sensing device for the sensing area. The first sensing data includes location information of one or more objects. The first sensing function network element determines an association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices in the first identification list and the location information of the one or more objects in the first sensing data, and indicates the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects to the service request party through a second piece of information. The second sensing function network element receives second sensing data of a second sensing device for the sensing area. The second sensing data includes location information of one or more objects. The second sensing function network element determines an association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices in the second identification list and the location information of the one or more objects in the second sensing data, and indicates the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects to the service request party through a fourth piece of information. Thus, it is beneficial for the service request party to determine the terminal devices that cooperate with the service request party and / or the terminal devices that do not cooperate based on the second piece of information and the fourth piece of information.

[0126] An embodiment of the present application proposes a communication method 100, Figure 3 which is an interaction schematic diagram of the communication method 100. The communication method 100 is described from the perspective of the interaction between the sensing function network element and the service request party. The communication method 100 includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0127] S301. The service request party sends a first piece of information to the sensing function network element. The first piece of information includes an identification list and a sensing area. The identification list includes identifications of one or more terminal devices. Correspondingly, the sensing function network element receives the first piece of information from the service request party.

[0128] Among them, the sensing area is the area where the service request party requests the SF network element to perform sensing.

[0129] In an alternative implementation, before the service requester sends the first information to the SF network element, one or more terminal devices managed by the operator to which the SF network element belongs within the sensing area are determined. Therefore, the one or more terminal devices are the terminal devices managed by the operator to which the SF network element belongs within the sensing area.

[0130] It can be seen that the service requester indicates one or more terminal devices managed by the operator to which the SF network element belongs within the sensing area to the SF network element through the identification list in the first information.

[0131] In addition, the first information is used to trigger the SF network element to determine the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects in the sensing data obtained by the SF network element. Thus, the manner in which the service requester sends the first information to the SF network element is conducive to the SF network element determining the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects in the sensing data obtained by the SF network element.

[0132] In an alternative implementation, the first information is carried in a sensing request, and the sensing request is used to request the sensing functional network element to sense the sensing area. It can be seen that the service requester can send the identification list and the sensing area to the SF network element through the sensing request, thereby reducing signaling overhead.

[0133] In an alternative implementation, the service requester also sends an association operation instruction to the sensing functional network element, and the association operation instruction is used to indicate to determine the association relationship between one or more terminal devices in the identification list and one or more objects in the sensing data obtained by the sensing functional network element. Correspondingly, the sensing functional network element obtains the association operation instruction from the service requester. This method enables the SF network element to determine the association relationship between one or more terminal devices in the identification list and one or more objects in the sensing data obtained by the SF network element based on the association operation instruction after receiving the first information.

[0134] The embodiments of this application do not limit the naming of the "associated operation indication". Optionally, the naming of the "associated operation indication" can be replaced with one of the following: target association verification indication, target identification indication, target verification indication, target perception indication, target existence indication, or target compliance indication. Optionally, the naming of the "associated operation indication" can also be replaced with one of the following: UE target association verification indication, UE target identification indication, UE target verification indication, UE target perception indication, UE target existence indication, or UE target compliance indication. Among them, the target identification indication, target verification indication, target perception indication, target existence indication, target compliance indication, UE target identification indication, UE target verification indication, UE target perception indication, UE target existence indication, or UE target compliance indication are used to indicate the determination of the association relationship between one or more terminal devices in the identification list and one or more objects in the perception data obtained by the perception function network element.

[0135] Optionally, the "indication" in the "associated operation indication" can also be replaced with "request" or "request type", that is, the purpose represented by the above indication can also be expressed in the form of "request type" in the perception request. For example, the "associated operation indication" can be replaced with "associated operation request", or the request type is set to 'associated operation', and the associated operation request is used to request the determination of the association relationship between one or more terminal devices in the identification list and one or more objects in the perception data obtained by the perception function network element. Similarly, the target association verification indication, target identification indication, target verification indication, target perception indication, target existence indication, target compliance indication, UE target association verification indication, UE target identification indication, UE target verification indication, UE target perception indication, UE target existence indication, or UE target compliance indication can all be replaced with: target association verification request, target identification request, target verification request, target perception request, target existence request, target compliance request, UE target association verification request, UE target identification request, UE target verification request, UE target perception request, UE target existence request, or UE target compliance request.

[0136] S302. The perception function network element receives perception data from the perception device for the perception area, and the perception data includes the location information of one or more objects.

[0137] Among them, the perception device is determined by the SF network element and is used to perceive the perception area. The perception device can be a radio access network device or a terminal device, etc. In addition, one or more objects are the objects perceived by the perception device for the perception area, and the location information of one or more objects is obtained by the perception device for the perception area.

[0138] In an alternative embodiment, before the SF network element obtains the sensing data of the sensing device for the sensing area, it sends a sensing request to the sensing device to request the sensing device to sense the sensing area. Thus, the sensing device senses the sensing area, obtains the sensing data, and sends the sensing data to the SF network element. Furthermore, the SF network element receives the sensing data of the sensing area from the sensing device.

[0139] In another alternative embodiment, after the SF network element receives the sensing request from the service requester, it controls the sensing device to sense the sensing area. The sensing device continuously senses the sensing area for a long time and sends the sensing data to the SF network element. Thus, the SF network element continuously receives the sensing data of the sensing area from the sensing device for a long time.

[0140] Optionally, the sensing data includes the location information of one or more objects, which can be understood as: the sensing data directly includes the location information of each of the one or more objects. For example, one or more objects in the sensing area include object A and object B, and the sensing data includes the location information of object A and the location information of object B.

[0141] Optionally, the sensing data includes the location information of one or more objects, which can be understood as: the sensing data includes information related to the location information of each of the one or more objects, that is, the sensing data includes unprocessed information related to the location information of the one or more objects. The SF network element processes the information related to the location information of each object to obtain the location information of each object, and further obtains the location information of the one or more objects. For example, the sensing data includes the raw data of one or more objects obtained by the sensing device sensing the sensing area. The raw data can be in-phase / orthogonal data (i.e., I / Q data) of a radio frequency signal, or can also be understood as the time-domain digital signal obtained by the sensing device after analog-to-digital (A / D) conversion of the received reflected signal (or echo signal). The SF network element processes the raw data of the one or more objects to obtain the location information of the one or more objects.

[0142] For another example, the sensing data includes the spectral information of one or more objects obtained by the sensing device sensing the sensing area. The spectral information includes range velocity (RV) spectrum, range Doppler (RD) spectrum, range velocity angle (RVA) spectrum, and range Doppler angle (RDA) spectrum. The SF network element processes the spectral information of the one or more objects to obtain the location information of the one or more objects.

[0143] For another example, the sensing data includes point cloud information of one or more objects obtained by the sensing device sensing the sensing area. The point cloud information can be understood as the position information and speed of the scattering points detected by the sensing device. The SF network element processes the point cloud information of one or more objects to obtain the position information of one or more objects.

[0144] In addition, the location information of one or more objects can be understood as: the geographical location of each object in the one or more objects, and can also be understood as: a trajectory composed of multiple locations of each object in the one or more objects. For example, the one or more objects include object a and object b, and the location information of object a and object b are the geographical location of object a and the geographical location of object b, respectively, or the location information of object a refers to trajectory 1 determined based on the location of object a at location 1 and location 2, and the location information of object b refers to trajectory 2 determined based on the location of object b at location 3 and location 4.

[0145] S303. The perception function network element determines the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices and the location information of the one or more objects.

[0146] In an optional implementation, the SF network element obtains the location information of the one or more terminal devices based on a location service (LCS) before determining the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices and the location information of the one or more objects. Similar to the location information of the one or more objects, the location information of the one or more terminal devices can be understood as: the geographical location of each of the one or more terminal devices, and can also be understood as: a trajectory composed of multiple locations of each of the one or more terminal devices.

[0147] It can be understood that the SF network element obtains one or more terminal devices based on the identification list, and thus obtains the location information of the one or more terminal devices based on the positioning service.

[0148] In another optional implementation, the SF network element obtains the location information of one or more terminal devices from the service requester before determining the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the location information of one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects.

[0149] Understandably, before the SF network element determines the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the location information of one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects, the service request party sends the location information of one or more terminal devices to the SF network element, so that the SF network element receives the location information of one or more terminal devices from the service request party.

[0150] Among them, the location information of one or more terminal devices may be carried in the first information or not carried in the first information. When the location information of one or more terminal devices is carried in the first information, the signaling overhead can be reduced.

[0151] Optionally, before the service request party sends the location information of one or more terminal devices to the SF network element, it also obtains the location information of one or more terminal devices based on the positioning service. Optionally, before the service request party sends the location information of one or more terminal devices to the SF network element, it receives the location information reported by each of the one or more terminal devices, so as to obtain the location information of one or more terminal devices.

[0152] It can be seen that when the service request party sends the location information of one or more terminal devices to the SF network element, the location information of one or more terminal devices can be obtained by the service request party itself based on the positioning service, or can be reported by each of the one or more terminal devices to the service request party itself. Thus, the service request party can send the obtained location information of one or more terminal devices to the SF network element.

[0153] In an optional implementation manner, when the SF network element obtains the location information of one or more terminal devices from the service request party, it can also obtain the first timestamp associated with the location information of one or more terminal devices from the service request party. The first timestamp is associated with the location information of one or more terminal devices, which can be understood as: the location information of one or more terminal devices is obtained by the service request party at the moment or within the time range indicated by the first timestamp. For example, the location information of one or more terminal devices is obtained by the service request party based on the positioning service at the moment or within the time range indicated by the first timestamp. For another example, the location information of one or more terminal devices is reported by each of the one or more terminal devices to the service request party itself at the moment or within the time range indicated by the first timestamp.

[0154] Optionally, if the location information of one or more terminal devices is reported by each of the one or more terminal devices to the service request party itself, the first timestamp can be reported together with the location information reported by each terminal device to the service request party, or can be the moment or time range when the service request party receives the location information of one or more terminal devices.

[0155] If the SF network element obtains a first timestamp associated with the location information of one or more terminal devices, the SF network element determines the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the location information of one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects, including: determining the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the location information of one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects at the moment or within the time range indicated by the first timestamp.

[0156] It can be seen that the location information of one or more objects adopted by the SF network element is obtained by the sensing device sensing the sensing area at the moment or within the time range indicated by the first timestamp, and the location information of one or more terminal devices adopted is also obtained based on the moment or within the time range indicated by the first timestamp. Therefore, the SF network element determines the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the location information of one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects at the same moment or within the same time range. This method can improve the accuracy of the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects.

[0157] In another alternative embodiment, the SF network element obtains a second timestamp associated with an identification list from a service requester, and the second timestamp indicates the moment when one or more terminal devices are present in the sensing area. Among them, the second timestamp associated with the identification list can be carried in the first information, or can be carried in information different from the first information.

[0158] Optionally, when the SF network element does not obtain a second timestamp associated with the identification list from the service requester, the SF network element uses the time when it receives the identification list as the second timestamp associated with the identification list.

[0159] If the SF network element obtains or determines a second timestamp associated with the identification list, and the SF network element independently obtains the location information of one or more terminal devices based on the positioning service, then the SF network element obtains the location information of one or more terminal devices based on the positioning service at the moment or within the time range indicated by the second timestamp.

[0160] When the SF network element obtains or determines a second timestamp associated with the identification list, based on the location information of one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects, determining the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects includes: determining the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the location information of one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects at the moment or within the time range indicated by the second timestamp.

[0161] It can be seen that if the SF network element obtains or determines the second timestamp associated with the identification list, the SF network element also determines the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the location information of one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects at the same moment or within the same time range, which can improve the accuracy of the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects.

[0162] It can be understood that when the number of identifications of the terminal devices included in the identification list is different, the implementation manners for the SF network element to determine the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the location information of one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects are different. The following elaborates on the implementation manners for the SF network element to determine the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the number of identifications of the terminal devices included in the identification list:

[0163] Implementation manner 1: The identification list includes the identification of one terminal device. The SF network element determines whether one terminal device is associated with an object among one or more objects based on the location information of one terminal device and the location information of one or more objects.

[0164] It can be seen that when the identification list includes the identification of one terminal device, the SF network element determines the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the location information of one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects, including: determining whether one terminal device is associated with an object among one or more objects based on the location information of one terminal device and the location information of one or more objects.

[0165] In an optional implementation manner, the SF network element determines whether one terminal device is associated with an object among one or more objects based on the location information of one terminal device and the location information of one or more objects, including: when the location information of one terminal device is the same as one of the location information of one or more objects, determining that one terminal device is associated with an object among one or more objects; when the location information of one terminal device is not the same as any of the location information of one or more objects, determining that one terminal device is not associated with an object among one or more objects.

[0166] Among them, the association between the terminal device and the object can be understood as that there is an association relationship between the terminal device and the object. For example, the terminal device is set, or bound, or installed on the object. Similarly, the non - association between the terminal device and the object can be understood as that there is no association relationship between the terminal device and the object. For example, the terminal device is not set, or not bound, or not installed on the object.

[0167] In addition, the location information of a terminal device being the same as one of the location information of one or more objects can be understood as: the location information of the terminal device being exactly the same as or exactly matching one of the location information of one or more objects.

[0168] Optionally, the location information of a terminal device being the same as one of the location information of one or more objects can be understood as: the location information of the terminal device being the same as or matching one of the location information of one or more objects within a preset range. The preset range can be configured by the service requestor for the SF network element, or can be pre-negotiated between the service requestor and the SF network element.

[0169] Similarly, the location information of a terminal device being different from the location information of one or more objects can be understood as: the location information of the terminal device not being exactly the same as or exactly matching the location information of one or more objects, or can be understood as: the location information of the terminal device being different from or not matching the location information of one or more objects within a preset range.

[0170] For example, the identification list includes the identification of UE1, and the sensing data of the sensing device received by the SF network element for the sensing area includes the location information of object 1 and the location information of object 2. If the location information of UE1 is exactly the same as the location information of object 2, the SF network element determines that UE1 is associated with object 2. If the location information of UE1 is the same as the location information of object 2 within a preset range, the SF also determines that UE1 is associated with object 2. If the location information of UE1 is different from the location information of object 1 and the location information of object 2, or is different within a preset range, the SF determines that UE1 is not associated with object 1 and object 2.

[0171] Embodiment 2: The identification list includes the identifications of multiple terminal devices. The SF determines the terminal devices associated with and / or not associated with the objects among the one or more objects based on the location information of the multiple terminal devices and the location information of the one or more objects.

[0172] It can be seen that when the identification list includes the identifications of multiple terminal devices, the SF network element determines the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices and the location information of the one or more objects, including: the SF determines the terminal devices associated with and / or not associated with the objects among the one or more objects based on the location information of the multiple terminal devices and the location information of the one or more objects.

[0173] In an alternative implementation, the SF network element determines, based on the location information of multiple terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects, the terminal devices among the multiple terminal devices that are associated with and / or not associated with the objects among the one or more objects, including: determining, as the terminal devices associated with the objects among the one or more objects, the terminal devices corresponding to the location information that is the same as the location information of the one or more objects among the location information of the multiple terminal devices; and / or determining, as the terminal devices not associated with the objects among the one or more objects, the terminal devices corresponding to the location information that is not the same as the location information of any of the one or more objects among the location information of the multiple terminal devices.

[0174] It can be understood that the SF network element determines whether the location information of each terminal device is the same as the location information of one or more objects based on the location information of the multiple terminal devices. If the location information of the terminal device is the same as the location information of one or more objects, the SF network element determines that the terminal device is a terminal device associated with the objects among the one or more objects; if the location information of the terminal device is not the same as the location information of any of the one or more objects, the SF network element determines that the terminal device is a terminal device not associated with the objects among the one or more objects. The SF network element determines the terminal devices among the multiple terminal devices that are associated with and / or not associated with the objects based on whether each terminal device is associated with an object.

[0175] It can be seen that the terminal devices among the multiple terminal devices that are associated with an object are the terminal devices whose location information is the same as the location information of a certain object among the one or more objects, and the terminal devices among the multiple terminal devices that are not associated with an object are the terminal devices whose location information is not the same as the location information of each object among the one or more objects.

[0176] Among them, the location information that is the same as the location information of one or more objects among the location information of the multiple terminal devices can be understood as: the location information that is exactly the same or completely matches the location information of one or more objects among the location information of the multiple terminal devices, or can be understood as: the location information that is the same or matches within a preset range as the location information of one or more objects among the location information of the multiple terminal devices. Among them, the preset range can be configured by the service requester for the SF network element, or can be pre-negotiated between the service requester and the SF network element.

[0177] For example, the identifier list includes the identifiers of UE1 and UE2, and the one or more objects include object 1, object 2, and object 3. The location information of UE1 is exactly the same as the location information of object 1, and the location information of UE2 is not the same as the location information of object 2 and the location information of object 3. Then the SF network element determines that the UE associated with the object among UE1 and UE2 is UE1, and the UE not associated is UE2.

[0178] In an alternative implementation, the SF network element does not obtain the location information of one or more terminal devices, but obtains a second timestamp associated with an identification list. In this case, the identification list may include the number of terminal devices. Accordingly, the SF network element determines whether there is an abnormality in the sensing area based on the number of terminal devices included in the identification list and the number of one or more objects sensed by the sensing device in the moment or time range indicated by the second timestamp. For example, if the number of terminal devices included in the identification list is greater than the number of one or more objects in the sensing area, the SF network element determines that there is an abnormality in the sensing area at the moment or within the time range indicated by the second timestamp. For example, there may be an illegally intruded terminal device among the terminal devices in the sensing area.

[0179] S304. The sensing function network element sends second information to the service requester, and the second information is used to indicate the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects. Correspondingly, the service requester receives the second information from the sensing function network element.

[0180] It can be understood that when the implementation manners for the SF network element to determine the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the location information of one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects are different, the specific form of the second information is also different. The following describes the specific manner of the second information in combination with the implementation manners for the SF network element to determine the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the location information of one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects:

[0181] Mode a: The second information is specifically used to indicate whether a terminal device is associated with an object among one or more objects.

[0182] As described in the above implementation manner 1, when the identification list includes the identification of a terminal device, the SF network element determines whether a terminal device is associated with an object among one or more objects based on the location information of the terminal device and the location information of one or more objects. Accordingly, when the identification list includes the identification of a terminal device, the second information is specifically used to indicate whether the terminal device is associated with an object among one or more objects.

[0183] In an alternative implementation, the second information includes an association indication and the identification of a terminal device, or the second information includes a non-association indication and the identification of a terminal device. Among them, the association indication is used to indicate that the terminal device is associated with an object among one or more objects, and the non-association indication is used to indicate that the terminal device is not associated with an object among one or more objects.

[0184] Specifically, when the SF network element determines that a terminal device is associated with an object among one or more objects, the second information includes an association indication and the identifier of the terminal device; when the SF determines that a terminal device is not associated with an object among one or more objects, the second information includes a non - association indication and the identifier of the terminal device.

[0185] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific forms of the association indication and the non - association indication. For example, the association indication is "1" and the non - association indication is "0". Another example is that the association indication is "0" and the non - association indication is "1". For the convenience of description, the following takes the association indication as "1" and the non - association indication as "0" as an example for description.

[0186] For example, the identifier list includes the identifier of UE1. If the second information includes "1" and the identifier of UE1, it means that UE1 is associated with an object among one or more objects; if the second information includes "0" and the identifier of UE1, it means that UE1 is not associated with an object among one or more objects.

[0187] In another alternative embodiment, the second information includes an association indication and does not include the identifier of a terminal device; or, the second information includes a non - association indication and does not include the identifier of a terminal device. It can be seen that the second information includes an association indication or a non - association indication.

[0188] When the second information includes an association indication, the service requestor defaults to indicating that a terminal device associated by the SF network element is associated with an object among one or more objects in the sensing area. When the second information includes a non - association indication, the service requestor defaults to indicating that a terminal device associated by the SF network element is not associated with an object among one or more objects in the sensing area.

[0189] For example, the identifier list includes the identifier of UE1. If the second information includes "1", the service requestor defaults that UE1 is associated with an object among one or more objects in the sensing area; if the second information includes "0", the service requestor defaults that UE1 is not associated with an object among one or more objects in the sensing area.

[0190] Mode b: The second information is specifically used to indicate the identifiers of the terminal devices associated with an object among one or more objects and / or the identifiers of the terminal devices not associated among multiple terminal devices.

[0191] As described in the above Embodiment 2, when the identification list includes the identifications of multiple terminal devices, the SF network element determines the terminal devices associated with and / or not associated with the object among the one or more objects based on the location information of the multiple terminal devices and the location information of the one or more objects. Thus, when the identification list includes the identifications of multiple terminal devices, the second information is specifically used to indicate the identifications of the terminal devices associated with the object among the one or more objects and / or the identifications of the terminal devices not associated with the object.

[0192] In an alternative embodiment, the second information includes an association indication and the identification of the terminal device corresponding to the association indication, and / or, a non-association indication and the terminal device corresponding to the non-association indication. Among them, the association indication and the non-association indication are as described above and will not be elaborated further.

[0193] Optionally, the identifications of one or more terminal devices associated with the object among the multiple terminal devices and the association indication are carried in one cell, and the identifications of one or more terminal devices not associated with the object among the multiple terminal devices and the non-association indication are carried in one cell. Thus, if the service requester receives a cell carrying the association indication, it determines that the one or more terminal devices corresponding to the identifications of the one or more terminal devices in the cell are the terminal devices associated with the object; if the SF network element receives a cell carrying the non-association indication, it determines that the one or more terminal devices corresponding to the identifications of the one or more terminal devices in the cell are the terminal devices not associated with the object.

[0194] For example, if the second information includes the identification of UE1, the identification of UE2, and "1", it means that UE1 and UE2 are the terminal devices associated with the object. For another example, if the second information includes the identification of UE3, the identification of UE4, and "0", it means that UE3 and UE4 are the terminal devices not associated with the object. For still another example, if the second information includes Cell 1 and Cell 2, Cell 1 includes the identification of UE1, the identification of UE2, and "1", and Cell 2 includes the identification of UE3, the identification of UE4, and "0", it means that UE1 and UE2 are the terminal devices associated with the object, and UE3 and UE4 are the terminal devices not associated with the object.

[0195] Optionally, the identifications of one or more terminal devices associated with the object among the multiple terminal devices and the association indication are carried in different cells, and the identifications of one or more terminal devices not associated with the object among the multiple terminal devices and the non-association indication are also carried in different cells. The service requester determines the terminal devices associated with the object and / or the terminal devices not associated with the object among the multiple terminal devices based on the association indication and the identification of the terminal device included in the multiple cells received, and / or, the non-association indication and the identification of the terminal device included in the cell.

[0196] In another alternative implementation, the second information includes the identifiers of the terminal devices associated with the objects in one or more objects among the multiple terminal devices, and / or the identifiers of the unassociated terminal devices, and does not include the association indication and the unassociation indication. It can be understood that the identifiers of one or more terminal devices associated with the objects in one or more objects among the multiple terminal devices are carried in the same cell, and this cell implicitly indicates the association between the terminal device and the object. Thus, when the service requester receives this cell, it can determine that the one or more terminal devices corresponding to the identifiers of one or more terminal devices in this cell are associated with the object. Additionally, the identifiers of one or more terminal devices not associated with the objects in one or more objects among the multiple terminal devices are carried in another cell, and this cell implicitly indicates that the terminal device is not associated with the object. Then, when the service requester receives this cell, it can determine that the one or more terminal devices corresponding to the identifiers of one or more terminal devices in this cell are not associated with the object.

[0197] Optionally, the service requester and the SF network element can pre - negotiate the cell used to implicitly indicate the association between the terminal device and the object, and the cell used to implicitly indicate the non - association between the terminal device and the object.

[0198] Exemplarily, the service requester and the SF network element pre - negotiate that cell #a is used to implicitly indicate the association between the terminal device and the object, and cell #b is used to implicitly indicate that the terminal device is not associated with the object. The identifier list includes the identifiers of UE1, UE2, UE3, and UE4. The SF network element receives the sensing data of the sensing device for the sensing area, including the location information of objects 1, 2, and 3. The SF network element determines, based on the location information of UE1, UE2, UE3, and UE4 and the location information of objects 1, 2, and 3, that UE1 is associated with object 2, UE2 is associated with object 3, and UE3 and UE4 are not associated with the objects among objects 1, 2, and 3. Then, the second information includes cell a and cell b. Cell a includes the identifiers of UE1 and UE2, and cell b includes the identifiers of UE3 and UE4.

[0199] In an alternative implementation, the second information is further used to indicate the moment corresponding to the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects. That is to say, the moment indicated by the second information is the moment when the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects exists. This method enables the service requester to know the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects at the moment indicated by the second information, and further helps the service requester to determine whether each terminal device in one or more terminal devices is legal based on the information of the terminal devices configured in the service requester at this moment, or to determine whether the terminal device associated with the object at this moment deviates from the expected trajectory.

[0200] Specifically, when the identification list includes the identification of a terminal device, the second information is further used to indicate the moment when the one terminal device is associated with an object among one or more objects. When the identification list includes the identifications of multiple terminal devices, the second information is further used to indicate the moment corresponding to the terminal device associated with an object among one or more objects among the multiple terminal devices, and / or the moment corresponding to the terminal device not associated.

[0201] For example, the identification list includes the identification of UE1. The SF network element determines that UE1 is associated with object 1 based on the location information of UE1 at moment t1 and the location information of object 1 and object 2 in the sensing area at moment t1. Then the second information includes the identification of UE1, moment t1, and "1".

[0202] For another example, the identification list includes the identifications of UE1, UE2, and UE3. The SF network element determines that UE1 is associated with object 2, and UE2 and UE3 are not associated with either object 1 or object 2 based on the location information of UE1, UE2, and UE3 at moment t2 and the location information of object 1 and object 2 in the sensing area at moment t2. Then the second information includes "1", the identification of UE1 corresponding to "1", "0", the identifications of UE2 and UE3 corresponding to "0", and moment t2.

[0203] In an optional implementation manner, the second information further includes the feature information of the terminal device(s) associated with an object among one or more terminal devices, and / or the feature information of the terminal device(s) not associated with an object. Among them, the feature information can be used to indicate at least one of the following: contour, type, trajectory, orientation, speed.

[0204] Optionally, when the second information further includes the feature information of the terminal device(s) associated with an object among one or more terminal devices, and / or the feature information of the terminal device(s) not associated with an object, the service requester can also determine whether each terminal device among one or more terminal devices is associated with an object based on the second information and the feature information of one or more terminal devices configured in the service requester. It can be seen that the service requester can double-check whether each terminal device among one or more terminal devices is associated with an object.

[0205] Optionally, the second information further includes the feature information of the object(s) associated with one or more terminal devices among one or more objects, and / or the feature information of the object(s) not associated with any of the one or more terminal devices. In this case, the service requester can also perform type recognition on the object(s) associated with the terminal device and the object(s) not associated with the terminal device based on the received feature information of the object, and further can determine whether there is an abnormality in the object not associated with the terminal device.

[0206] For example, the identification list includes the identifications of UE1 and UE2, one or more objects include Object 1, Object 2, and Object 3, UE1 is associated with Object 1, UE2 is associated with Object 3, the second information further includes the feature information of Object 1 and Object 3 respectively associated with UE1 and UE2, and the feature information of Object 2 that is not associated with UE1, UE2, and UE3.

[0207] Optionally, the second information further includes the identifications of the objects in one or more objects that are associated with the terminal device, and / or the identifications of the objects that are not associated with the terminal device. This way enables the service requester to know the objects in one or more objects in the sensing area that are associated with the terminal device, and / or the objects that are not associated with the object, which is conducive to the service requester to determine whether the devices in one or more terminal devices are associated as expected. For example, whether a certain terminal device is associated with a specific object as expected.

[0208] Optionally, the second information can be carried in the sensing result sent by the SF network element to the service requester, that is, the sensing result includes the second information, and the sensing result further includes the identifications of one or more objects in the sensing area. The way of carrying the second information in the sensing result can save signaling overhead.

[0209] In an optional implementation manner, after receiving the second information from the SF network element, the service requester further determines the terminal devices that cooperate with the service requester and / or the terminal devices that do not cooperate with the service requester in the sensing area, which is conducive to the service requester to further track, monitor, and / or counter the non-cooperating terminal devices. Among them, the cooperating terminal device can be understood as the terminal device authorized by the service requester, or the terminal device registered with the service requester; the non-cooperating terminal device can be understood as the terminal device not authorized by the service requester, or the terminal device not registered with the service requester.

[0210] For example, the identification list includes the identification of UE1, the second information indicates that UE1 is not associated with the objects in one or more objects, and there are no UEs of other operators in the sensing area, then the service requester determines that UE1 is a non-cooperating UE, and thus the service requester can track or counter UE1, or determine whether UE1 is not associated with the object as expected.

[0211] For another example, the identification list includes the identifications of UE1, UE2, and UE3, the second information indicates that UE1 and UE2 are associated with the object, UE3 is not associated with the object, and there are no UEs of other operators in the sensing area, then the service requester determines that UE1 and UE2 are the terminal devices that cooperate with the service requester, and UE3 is the terminal device that does not cooperate with the service requester. Thus, the service requester can track or counter UE3, or determine whether UE3 is not associated with the object as expected.

[0212] It can be seen that in the embodiment of the present application, the service request party sends the first information to the SF network element. The first information includes an identifier list and a sensing area, and the identifier list includes identifiers of one or more terminal devices. The SF network element receives sensing data for the sensing area from the sensing device, and the sensing data includes location information of one or more objects. The SF network element determines the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the location information of one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects, and indicates the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects to the service request party through the second information. This method is beneficial for the service request party to determine the terminal devices that cooperate with the service request party and / or the terminal devices that do not cooperate among one or more terminal devices based on the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects, which is conducive to the service request party to track or counter the terminal devices that do not cooperate, or is beneficial for the service request party to determine whether a certain terminal device exists in the sensing area and determine whether a certain terminal device is not associated with an object as expected.

[0213] Taking the service request party as the AF network element, the sensing device as the radio access network device, the first information carried in the sensing request, and the second information carried in the sensing result as an example in the embodiment of the present application, the above communication method 100 is illustrated by way of example. Figure 4 FIG. is a schematic diagram of the interaction among the radio access network device, the SF network element, and the AF network element. The interaction among the radio access network device, the SF network element, and the AF network element includes but is not limited to S401 to S405:

[0214] S401. The AF network element sends a sensing request to the SF network element. The sensing request is used to request sensing of the sensing area. The sensing request includes the first information, and the first information includes an identifier list and a sensing area. The identifier list includes identifiers of one or more terminal devices. Correspondingly, the SF network element receives the sensing request from the AF network element.

[0215] In an optional implementation manner, the AF network element sending a sensing request to the SF network element includes: the AF network element sending a sensing request to the SF network element through the NEF network element. The AF network element sending a sensing request to the SF network element through the NEF network element can be understood as: the AF network element sending a sensing request to the NEF network element, and the NEF network element then transparently transmits the sensing request to the SF network element, or it can be understood as: the AF network element sending a sensing request to the NEF network element, and the NEF network element parses the sensing request and sends the parsed cell to the SF network element. Optionally, the AF network element sending a sensing request to the SF network element may also be that the AF network element sends a sensing request to the SF network element through other network elements other than the NEF network element, or it may also be that the AF network element directly sends a sensing request to the SF network element.

[0216] In an alternative implementation, before the AF network element sends a sensing request to the SF network element, the AF network element obtains one or more terminal devices managed by the operator to which the SF network element belongs in the sensing area, so as to determine that the identification list sent to the SF network element includes the identifications of the one or more terminal devices.

[0217] In an alternative implementation, the SF network element also sends an association operation instruction to the SF network element, and the association operation instruction is used to instruct the SF network element to determine the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects in the sensing data obtained by the SF network element. Optionally, the association operation instruction is carried in the sensing request, which can reduce signaling overhead. In addition, the implementation manner of the association operation instruction can be referred to that described in S301 and will not be elaborated here.

[0218] S402. The SF network element sends information for indicating the sensing area, sensing requirements, and sensing service to the radio access network device. Correspondingly, the access network device receives the information for indicating the sensing area, sensing requirements, and sensing service from the SF network element.

[0219] Optionally, the sensing request sent by the AF network element to the SF network element further includes information for indicating the sensing requirements and sensing service. Among them, the information for indicating the sensing requirements is, for example, information for indicating the quality of service (QoS) requirements of the sensing service, and the information for indicating the sensing service is, for example, information for indicating the sensing service identification.

[0220] After receiving the sensing request from the AF network element, the SF network element determines the sensing device for performing the sensing service based on the sensing requirements, sensing service, etc. indicated in the sensing request. For example, it determines that a certain radio access network device performs the sensing service. Furthermore, the SF network element sends information for indicating the sensing area, sensing requirements, and sensing service to the determined radio access network device, so that the radio access network device performs the sensing service on the sensing area based on the sensing requirements.

[0221] S403. The radio access network device sends sensing data for the sensing area to the SF network element, and the sensing data includes the location information of one or more objects. Correspondingly, the SF network element receives the sensing data for the sensing area from the radio access network device.

[0222] It can be understood that the radio access network device performs the sensing service on the sensing area based on the sensing requirements, obtains the sensing data, and sends the sensing data to the SF. The sensing data includes the location information of one or more objects. Among them, the location information of the one or more objects can be referred to that described in the above S302 and will not be elaborated here.

[0223] S404. The SF network element determines the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the location information of one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects.

[0224] In an optional implementation, before the SF network element determines the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the location information of one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects, it obtains the location information of one or more terminal devices. For the implementation in which the SF network element obtains the location information of one or more terminal devices, reference can be made to that described in S303 above and will not be elaborated here.

[0225] Optionally, when the location information of one or more terminal devices comes from the AF network element, the location information of one or more terminal devices is carried in the sensing request, or the location information of one or more terminal devices is carried in other cells different from the sensing request.

[0226] In an optional implementation, if the SF network element obtains the location information of one or more terminal devices from the AF network element, the SF network element may also obtain a first timestamp associated with the location information of one or more terminal devices from the AF network element. Among them, the first timestamp associated with the location information of one or more terminal devices can be carried in the sensing request or in other cells different from the sensing request. For the first timestamp associated with the location information of one or more terminal devices, reference can be made to that described in S303 above and will not be elaborated here.

[0227] If the SF network element obtains the first timestamp associated with the location information of one or more terminal devices, the SF network element determines the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the location information of one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects, including: determining the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the location information of one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects at the moment or within the time range indicated by the first timestamp. This method can improve the accuracy of the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects.

[0228] In another optional implementation, if the SF network element does not obtain the first timestamp associated with the location information of one or more terminal devices from the AF network element, the SF network element may also obtain a second timestamp associated with the identification list, and the second timestamp indicates the moment when one or more terminal devices are present in the sensing area. Among them, the second timestamp associated with the identification list can be carried in the sensing request or in other cells different from the sensing request.

[0229] Optionally, if the SF network element fails to obtain the second timestamp associated with the identification list from the AF network element, the SF network element may use the time when it receives the identification list as the second timestamp associated with the identification list.

[0230] If the SF network element obtains or determines the second timestamp associated with the identification list, the SF network element determines the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the location information of one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects, including: determining the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the location information of one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects at the moment or within the time range indicated by the second timestamp. This method can also improve the accuracy of the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects.

[0231] In addition, for the SF network element to determine the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects based on the location information of one or more terminal devices and the location information of one or more objects, reference can be made to Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2 above, which will not be elaborated here.

[0232] S405. The SF network element sends the sensing result to the AF network element. The sensing result includes the second information, which is used to indicate the association relationship between one or more terminal devices and one or more objects. Correspondingly, the AF network element receives the sensing result from the SF network element.

[0233] In an optional embodiment, the SF network element sending the sensing result to the AF network element includes: the SF network element sending the sensing result to the AF network element through the NEF network element. The SF network element sending the sensing result to the AF network element through the NEF network element can be understood as: the SF network element sending the sensing result to the NEF network element, and the NEF network element transparently transmitting the sensing result to the AF network element, or it can be understood as: the SF network element sending the sensing result to the NEF network element, and the NEF network element parsing the sensing result and sending the parsed information element to the AF network element. Optionally, the SF network element sending the sensing result to the AF network element can also be that the SF network element sends the sensing result to the AF network element through other network elements other than the NEF network element, or it can also be that the SF network element directly sends the sensing result to the AF network element.

[0234] In addition, for the specific manner of the second information, reference can be made to Manner a and Manner b in S304 above, which will not be elaborated here.

[0235] Optionally, the AF network element also determines the terminal devices that cooperate with the AF network element and / or the terminal devices that do not cooperate based on the second information. For the specific implementation manner, reference can be made to that described in S304 above, which will not be elaborated here.

[0236] Optionally, the SF network element may also obtain a sensing request update from the AF network element. The sensing request update includes the identifiers of one or more updated terminal devices. Thus, the SF network element may determine the association relationship between the one or more updated terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more updated terminal devices and the location information of the one or more objects obtained by the sensing device for sensing the sensing area.

[0237] It can be seen that the AF network element sends a sensing request to the SF network element to request the SF network element to sense the sensing area. The sensing request includes an identifier list and a sensing area, and the identifier list includes the identifiers of one or more terminal devices. The SF network element sends information for indicating sensing requirements, a sensing area, and a sensing service to the radio access network device that performs sensing. Thus, the radio access network device performs a sensing service on the sensing area based on the sensing requirements, obtains sensing data including the location information of one or more objects, and sends the sensing data to the SF network element. The SF network element determines the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices and the location information of the one or more objects, and feeds back the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects to the AF network element through a sensing result. This method is beneficial for the AF network element to determine the terminal devices that cooperate with the AF network element and / or the terminal devices that cooperate, and further beneficial for the AF to track or counter the uncooperated terminal devices, determine whether a certain terminal device exists in the sensing area, and determine whether a certain terminal device is not associated with an object as expected.

[0238] An embodiment of the present application proposes a communication method 200, Figure 5 which is an interaction schematic diagram of the communication method 200. The communication method 200 is described from the interaction perspective of a first sensing function network element, a second sensing function network element, and a service requester. The communication method 200 includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0239] S501. The service requester sends first information to the first sensing function network element. The first information includes a first identifier list and a sensing area, and the first identifier list includes the identifiers of one or more terminal devices. Correspondingly, the first sensing function network element receives the first information from the service requester.

[0240] It can be understood that S501 can refer to the above S301 and will not be elaborated here.

[0241] S502. The service requester sends third information to the second sensing function network element. The third information includes a second identifier list and a sensing area, and the second identifier list includes the identifiers of one or more terminal devices. Correspondingly, the second sensing function network element receives the third information from the service requester.

[0242] Among them, the identities of one or more terminal devices included in the second identity list are different from the identities of one or more terminal devices included in the first identity list, that is, the one or more terminal devices in the second identity list are different from the one or more terminal devices in the first identity list. In addition, the second perception function network element and the first perception function network element belong to different operators. The one or more terminal devices in the first identity list are one or more terminal devices managed by the operator to which the first perception function network element belongs within the perception area, and the one or more terminal devices in the second identity list are one or more terminal devices managed by the operator to which the second perception function network element belongs within the perception area.

[0243] In an optional implementation manner, before the service requester executes S501 and S502, it determines the operator to which each terminal device among multiple terminal devices in the perception area belongs, and then determines the identity list to be sent to the perception function network element corresponding to the operator based on the terminal devices managed by each operator in the perception area.

[0244] For example, the perception area a includes terminal device 1, terminal device 2, and terminal device 3. Terminal device 1 and terminal device 2 belong to operator 1, and terminal device 3 belongs to operator 2. The SF network elements corresponding to operator 1 and operator 2 are SF network element #a and SF network element #b respectively. Thus, the service requester determines that the first identity list sent to SF network element #a includes the identities of terminal device 1 and terminal device 2, and the second identity list sent to SF network element #b includes the identity of terminal device 3.

[0245] Optionally, the third information is used to trigger the second perception function network element to determine the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices in the second identity list and the location information of the one or more objects in the perception data obtained by the second perception function network element. This method enables the second SF network element to determine the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices in the second identity list and the location information of the one or more objects in the perception data obtained by the second SF network element.

[0246] Optionally, the third information is carried in the perception request sent by the service requester to the second perception function network element, which can reduce signaling overhead.

[0247] Optionally, the service requester also sends an association operation instruction to the second perception function network element. The association operation instruction is used to indicate the determination of the association relationship between one or more terminal devices in the second identification list and one or more objects in the perception data obtained by the second perception function network element. Correspondingly, the second perception function network element obtains the association operation instruction from the service requester. This method enables the second perception function network element to determine the association relationship between one or more terminal devices in the second identification list and one or more objects in the perception data obtained by the second SF network element based on the association operation instruction after receiving the first information. Among them, the implementation manner of the association operation instruction can refer to that described in S301 above and will not be elaborated here.

[0248] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the execution order of S501 and S502. S501 can be executed before S502 or after S502.

[0249] S503. The first perception function network element receives first perception data from the first perception device for the perception area. The first perception data includes the position information of one or more objects.

[0250] S504. The first perception function network element determines the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the position information of the one or more terminal devices in the first identification list and the position information of the one or more objects in the first perception data.

[0251] S505. The first perception function network element sends second information to the service requester. The second information is used to indicate the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices in the first identification list and the one or more objects in the first perception data. Correspondingly, the service requester receives the second information from the first perception function network element.

[0252] It can be understood that S503 to S504 can refer to S302 to S304 above and will not be elaborated here.

[0253] S506. The second perception function network element receives second perception data from the second perception device for the perception area. The second perception data includes the position information of one or more objects.

[0254] Among them, the second perception device is the perception device determined by the second perception function network element to perceive the perception area. The second perception device can be a radio access network device or a terminal device, etc. The form of the position information of one or more objects in the second perception data can refer to the form of the position information of one or more objects in S302 and will not be elaborated here.

[0255] In addition, other implementation manners of the second sensing function network element can refer to the implementation manner of the SF network element in S302, which will not be elaborated herein. For example, before the second sensing function network element obtains the sensing data of the second sensing device for the sensing area, it sends a sensing request to the second sensing device to request to obtain the sensing data of the second sensing device for the sensing area.

[0256] S507. The second sensing function network element determines the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices in the second identification list and the location information of the one or more objects in the second sensing data.

[0257] It can be understood that the implementation manner in which the second sensing function network element determines the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices in the second identification list and the location information of the one or more objects in the second sensing data can refer to the implementation manner in S303 above, in which the SF network element determines the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices and the location information of the one or more objects, which will not be elaborated herein.

[0258] In addition, other implementation manners of the second sensing function network element can also refer to the implementation manner in S303, which will not be elaborated herein. For example, before the second sensing function network element determines the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices in the second identification list and the location information of the one or more objects in the second sensing data, it obtains the location information of the one or more terminal devices based on the positioning service. For another example, before the second sensing function network element determines the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices in the second identification list and the location information of the one or more objects in the second sensing data, it obtains the location information of the one or more terminal devices from the service requester. For another example, the second sensing function network element also obtains the time stamp associated with the location information of the one or more terminal devices in the second identification list. For another example, the second sensing function network element also obtains the time stamp associated with the second identification list from the service requester.

[0259] S508. The second sensing function network element sends the fourth information to the service requester, and the fourth information is used to indicate the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices in the second identification list and the one or more objects in the second sensing data. Correspondingly, the service requester receives the fourth information from the second sensing function network element.

[0260] When the second identifier list includes the identifier of a terminal device, the fourth information is specifically used to indicate whether the terminal device in the second identifier list is associated with an object among one or more objects; when the second identifier list includes the identifiers of multiple terminal devices, the fourth information is specifically used to indicate the identifiers of the terminal devices associated with the objects among one or more objects and / or the identifiers of the terminal devices not associated with the objects in the second identifier list. For the specific form of the fourth information, reference may be made to the specific form of the second information in S304 above, which will not be elaborated here.

[0261] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the execution order of S503 to S505 and S506 to S508. S503 to S505 may be executed before S506 to S508, or may be executed after S506 to S508.

[0262] In an optional implementation manner, the service requester further determines the terminal devices that cooperate with the service requester and / or the terminal devices that do not cooperate based on the second information and the fourth information. The service requester determines the terminal devices that cooperate with the service requester and / or the terminal devices that do not cooperate based on the association relationship between one or more terminal devices indicated by the second information and one or more objects, and the association relationship between one or more terminal devices indicated by the fourth information and one or more objects. This method is beneficial for the service requester to track or counter the terminal devices that do not cooperate.

[0263] Exemplarily, the second information is used to indicate that UE1 and UE2 are associated with an object, and UE3 is not associated with the object, and the fourth information is used to indicate that UE1 and UE3 are associated with the object, and UE4 is not associated with the object. The service requester determines that UE1, UE2, and UE are cooperative terminal devices, and UE is a non - cooperative terminal device based on the second information and the fourth information.

[0264] Exemplarily, the second information is used to indicate that tag1 is associated with the goods, the second information is used to indicate that tag2 and tag3 are associated with the goods, and tag4 is not associated with the object. The service requester determines that tag1, tag2, and tag3 are cooperative terminal devices, and tag4 is a non - cooperative terminal device, and tag4 may be a tag that has been decoupled from the goods.

[0265] Optionally, if there are still terminal devices managed by an operator different from the operators corresponding to the first SF network element and the second SF network element in the sensing area, the service requester may also indicate to other SF network elements, such as the third SF network element and / or the fourth SF network element, one or more terminal devices managed by the operator corresponding to the SF network element in the sensing area. Thus, the SF network elements that receive the indication of one or more terminal devices from the service requester can all perform the relevant operations performed by the first SF network element or the second SF network element, such as performing the operations in S503 to S505 above. Furthermore, the service requester can determine the terminal devices that cooperate with the service requester and / or the terminal devices that do not cooperate based on the second information, the fourth information, and the association relationships between the terminal devices and the objects fed back by other SF network elements.

[0266] It can be seen that in the embodiments of the present application, the service requester indicates to the first SF network element one or more terminal devices managed by the operator to which the first SF network element belongs, and indicates to the second SF network element one or more terminal devices managed by the operator to which the second SF network element belongs. Thus, the first SF network element determines the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices obtained, and the location information of the one or more objects in the first sensing data, and indicates the determined association relationship to the service requester through the second information. The second SF network element determines the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices obtained, and the location information of the one or more objects in the second sensing data, and indicates the association relationship to the service requester through the fourth information. Furthermore, the service requester determines the terminal devices that cooperate with the service requester and / or the terminal devices that do not cooperate based on the association relationship between the terminal devices and the objects indicated by the first SF network element, and the association relationship between the terminal devices and the objects indicated by the second SF network element. This method is beneficial for the service requester to track or counter the terminal devices that do not cooperate, determine whether a certain terminal device exists in the sensing area, determine whether a certain terminal device is not associated with an object as expected, etc.

[0267] For the technical solutions described above, the corresponding apparatus implementation solutions are further described below.

[0268] To implement the various functions in the method provided in the embodiments of the present application above, the sensing function network element and the service requester may include a hardware structure and / or a software module, and implement the above various functions in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a combination of a hardware structure and a software module. Whether a certain function among the above various functions is executed in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a combination of a hardware structure and a software module depends on the specific application and design constraint conditions of the technical solution.

[0269] AsFigure 6 As shown in the figure, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device 600. The communication device 600 may be a component of a sensing function network element (e.g., an integrated circuit, a chip, etc.), or a component of a service requester (e.g., an integrated circuit, a chip, etc.). The communication device 600 may also be other communication units for implementing the method in the method embodiment of the present application. The communication device 600 may include: a communication unit 601 and a processing unit 602. Optionally, a storage unit 603 may also be included.

[0270] In a possible design, Figure 6 one or more of the units may be implemented by one or more processors, or by one or more processors and a memory; or by one or more processors and a transceiver; or by one or more processors, a memory and a transceiver. The embodiments of the present application do not make any limitations in this regard. The processor, the memory, and the transceiver may be provided separately or integrated.

[0271] The communication device 600 has the function of implementing the sensing function network element described in the embodiments of the present application, or the function of the service requester. For example, the communication device 600 includes a reader / writer to execute the modules, units or means corresponding to the steps involved in the sensing function network element in the above method embodiments. The function, unit or means may be implemented by software, or by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software, or by a combination of software and hardware. For details, reference may be further made to the corresponding descriptions in the foregoing corresponding method embodiments.

[0272] In a possible design, the communication device 600 may include: a processing unit 602 and a communication unit 601, and the device is applied to a sensing function network element;

[0273] The communication unit 601 is configured to receive first information from a service requester, where the first information includes an identifier list and a sensing area, and the identifier list includes identifiers of one or more terminal devices;

[0274] The communication unit 601 is further configured to receive sensing data from a sensing device for the sensing area, where the sensing data includes location information of one or more objects;

[0275] The processing unit 602 is configured to determine an association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices and the location information of the one or more objects;

[0276] The communication unit 601 is further configured to send second information to the service requester, where the second information is used to indicate the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects.

[0277] In an alternative embodiment, the identification list includes the identification of one terminal device. Based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices and the location information of the one or more objects, the processing unit 602 determines the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects, including: based on the location information of one terminal device and the location information of the one or more objects, determining whether the one terminal device is associated with the objects among the one or more objects; the second information is specifically used to indicate whether the one terminal device is associated with the objects among the one or more objects.

[0278] In another alternative embodiment, the identification list includes the identifications of multiple terminal devices. Based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices and the location information of the one or more objects, the processing unit 602 determines the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects, including: based on the location information of the multiple terminal devices and the location information of the one or more objects, determining the terminal devices among the multiple terminal devices that are associated with the objects among the one or more objects and / or the terminal devices that are not associated; the second information is specifically used to indicate the identifications of the associated terminal devices and / or the identifications of the non-associated terminal devices among the multiple terminal devices.

[0279] In an alternative embodiment, the second information includes an association indication and the identification of the terminal device corresponding to the association indication, and / or, a non-association indication and the identification of the terminal device corresponding to the non-association indication.

[0280] In an alternative embodiment, before the processing unit 602 determines the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices and the location information of the one or more objects, the location information of the one or more terminal devices is further obtained based on a positioning service.

[0281] In an alternative embodiment, before the processing unit 602 determines the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices and the location information of the one or more objects, the location information of the one or more terminal devices from the service requester is further obtained.

[0282] In an alternative embodiment, the processing unit 602 is further configured to obtain a first timestamp from the service requester that is associated with the location information of the one or more terminal devices; the processing unit 602 determines an association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices and the location information of the one or more objects, including: determining an association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices and the location information of the one or more objects at the moment or within the time range indicated by the first timestamp.

[0283] In an alternative embodiment, the location information of the one or more terminal devices is obtained by the service requester at the moment or within the time range indicated by the first timestamp.

[0284] In an alternative embodiment, the processing unit 602 is further configured to obtain a second timestamp from the service requester that is associated with the identification list, where the second timestamp represents the moment when the one or more terminal devices are present in the sensing area; the processing unit 602 determines an association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices and the location information of the one or more objects, including: determining an association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices and the location information of the one or more objects at the moment or within the time range indicated by the second timestamp.

[0285] In an alternative embodiment, the processing unit 602 is further configured to obtain an association operation instruction from the service requester, where the association operation instruction is used to indicate determining an association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and one or more objects in the sensing data obtained by the sensing functional network element.

[0286] In an alternative embodiment, the second information is further used to indicate the moment corresponding to the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects.

[0287] In an alternative embodiment, the second information further includes feature information of the terminal devices associated with objects among the one or more terminal devices, and / or feature information of the terminal devices not associated with objects.

[0288] In an alternative embodiment, the second information further includes feature information of the objects associated with the one or more terminal devices among the one or more objects, and / or feature information of the objects not associated with any of the one or more terminal devices.

[0289] In an alternative embodiment, the feature information is used to indicate at least one of the following: contour, type, trajectory, orientation, or speed.

[0290] In an alternative embodiment, the processing unit 602 determines whether the one terminal device is associated with the one or more objects based on the location information of the one terminal device and the location information of the one or more objects, including: when the location information of the one terminal device is the same as one of the location information of the one or more objects, determining that the one terminal device is associated with the object among the one or more objects; when the location information of the one terminal device is not the same as any of the location information of the one or more objects, determining that the one terminal device is not associated with the object among the one or more objects.

[0291] In an alternative embodiment, the processing unit 602 determines the terminal devices associated with and / or not associated with the object among the one or more objects based on the location information of the multiple terminal devices and the location information of the one or more objects, including: determining the terminal devices corresponding to the location information that is the same as the location information of the one or more objects among the location information of the multiple terminal devices as the terminal devices associated with the object among the one or more objects; and / or, determining the terminal devices corresponding to the location information that is not the same as any of the location information of the one or more objects among the location information of the multiple terminal devices as the terminal devices not associated with the object among the one or more objects.

[0292] In an alternative embodiment, the first information is carried in a sensing request, and the sensing request is used to request the sensing function network element to sense the sensing area.

[0293] The embodiments of the present application and the method embodiments shown above are based on the same concept and have the same technical effects. For the specific principle, please refer to the description of the embodiments shown above and will not be elaborated here.

[0294] In another possible design, the communication device 600 may include: a processing unit 602 and a communication unit 601. The device is applied to a service requester, and the processing unit 602 is used to process signals / signals.

[0295] The communication unit 601 is used to send first information to the first sensing function network element. The first information includes a first identifier list and a sensing area, and the first identifier list includes the identifiers of one or more terminal devices.

[0296] The communication unit 601 is further configured to receive second information from the first sensing functional network element, where the second information is used to indicate an association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and one or more objects within the sensing area.

[0297] In an alternative embodiment, the first information is used to trigger the first sensing functional network element to determine an association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices and the location information of the one or more objects obtained from the sensing data of the first sensing functional network element.

[0298] In an alternative embodiment, the first identification list includes the identification of one terminal device, and the second information is specifically used to indicate whether one terminal device is associated with an object among the one or more objects.

[0299] In an alternative embodiment, the first identification list includes the identifications of multiple terminal devices, and the second information is specifically used to indicate the identifications of the terminal devices among the multiple terminal devices that are associated with an object among the one or more objects, and / or the identifications of the terminal devices that are not associated with an object among the one or more objects.

[0300] In an alternative embodiment, the second information includes an association indication and the identification of the terminal device corresponding to the association indication, and / or a non - association indication and the identification of the terminal device corresponding to the non - association indication.

[0301] In an alternative embodiment, the processing unit 602 is configured to determine, based on the second information, the terminal devices within the sensing area that cooperate and / or do not cooperate with the service requester.

[0302] In an alternative embodiment, the communication unit 601 is further configured to send the location information of the one or more terminal devices to the first sensing functional network element.

[0303] Before the communication unit 601 sends the location information of the one or more terminal devices to the first sensing functional network element, in an alternative embodiment, it is further configured to: obtain the location information of the one or more terminal devices based on a positioning service; or obtain the location information from each of the one or more terminal devices.

[0304] In an alternative embodiment, the communication unit 601 is further configured to send a first timestamp associated with the location information of the one or more terminal devices to the first sensing functional network element.

[0305] In an alternative embodiment, the location information of the one or more terminal devices is obtained by the service requester at the moment or within the time range indicated by the first timestamp.

[0306] In an alternative embodiment, the communication unit 601 is further configured to send a second timestamp associated with the first identifier list to the first sensing functional network element, where the second timestamp represents the moment when the one or more terminal devices are present in the sensing area.

[0307] In an alternative embodiment, the communication unit 601 is further configured to send an association operation instruction to the first sensing functional network element, where the association operation instruction is used to indicate determining an association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and one or more objects in the sensing data obtained by the first sensing functional network element.

[0308] In an alternative embodiment, the second information is further used to indicate the moment corresponding to the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects.

[0309] In an alternative embodiment, the second information further includes feature information of the terminal devices associated with the objects among the one or more terminal devices, and / or feature information of the terminal devices not associated with the objects.

[0310] In an alternative embodiment, the second information further includes feature information of the objects associated with the one or more terminal devices among the one or more objects, and / or feature information of the objects not associated with any of the one or more terminal devices.

[0311] In an alternative embodiment, the feature information is used to indicate at least one of the following: contour, type, trajectory, orientation, or speed.

[0312] In an alternative embodiment, the first information is carried in a sensing request for requesting the first sensing functional network element to sense the sensing area.

[0313] The embodiments of the present application and the method embodiments shown above are based on the same concept and have the same technical effects. For the specific principle, please refer to the description of the embodiments shown above and will not be repeated here.

[0314] The embodiments of the present application further provide a communication device 700. Figure 7It is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 700. The communication device 700 may be a sensing function network element, or a chip, chip system, or processor that supports the sensing function network element to implement the above method; or, it may be a service requester, or a chip, chip system, or processor that supports the service requester to implement the above method. This device can be used to implement the method described in the above method embodiments, and for details, reference can be made to the descriptions in the above method embodiments.

[0315] The communication device 700 may include one or more processors 701. The processor 701 may be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, etc. For example, it may be a baseband processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array, or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, or a central processing unit (CPU). The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processor can be used to control a communication device (such as a base station, a baseband chip, a terminal, a terminal chip, a distributed unit (DU), or a centralized unit (CU), etc.), execute software programs, and process data of software programs.

[0316] Optionally, the communication device 700 may include one or more memories 702, on which there may be instructions 704 that can be run on the processor 701, so that the communication device 700 executes the method described in the above method embodiments. Optionally, data may also be stored in the memory 702. The processor 701 and the memory 702 may be provided separately or integrated together.

[0317] Optionally, the communication device 700 may further include a transceiver 705 and an antenna 706. The transceiver 705 may be referred to as a transceiver unit, a transceiver, or a transceiver circuit, etc., and is used to implement the transceiver function. The transceiver 705 may include a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver may be referred to as a receiver or a receiving circuit, etc., and is used to implement the receiving function; the transmitter may be referred to as a transmitter or a transmitting circuit, etc., and is used to implement the transmitting function.

[0318] In a possible design, the communication device 700 may be applied to a sensing function network element. Specifically, the processor 701 is used to execute S303 in the above communication method 100, and is used to execute S504 and S507 in the above communication method 200; the transceiver 705 is used to execute S301, S302, and S304 in the above communication method 100, and is used to execute S501, S502, S503, S505, S506, and S508 in the above communication method 200.

[0319] In another possible design, the communication device 700 can be applied to the service requester, specifically, the transceiver 705 is used to execute S301 and S304 in the above-mentioned communication method 100, and is used to execute S501, S502, S505 and S508 in the above-mentioned communication method 200.

[0320] Optionally, the processor 701 may store an instruction 703, and the instruction 703 runs on the processor 701, so that the communication device 700 can execute the method described in the above method embodiment. The instruction 703 may be fixed in the processor 701, in which case the processor 701 may be implemented by hardware.

[0321] The embodiments of the present application and the method embodiments shown in the above-mentioned communication method 100 and communication method 200 are based on the same concept and bring the same technical effects. For the specific principles, please refer to the description of the embodiments shown in the above-mentioned communication method 100 and communication method 200 and will not be repeated here.

[0322] The embodiment of the present application also provides a communication system, which may include a perception function network element and a service requester. Optionally, the system also includes a perception device. In another possible design, the system may also include other devices / function network elements that interact with the perception function network element, the service requester, and the perception device.

[0323] The embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing computer software instructions, which, when executed by a communication device, implements the functions of any of the above method embodiments.

[0324] The embodiment of the present application also provides a computer program product for storing computer software instructions, which, when executed by a communication device, implements the functions of any of the above method embodiments.

[0325] The embodiment of the present application also provides a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, implements the functions of any of the above method embodiments.

[0326] The terms "first" and "second" in the specification, claims and drawings of the embodiments of the present application are used to distinguish different objects rather than to describe a specific order. "First", "second" and the like are used for descriptive purposes only and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, features defined as "first", "second" and the like may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of this embodiment, unless otherwise specified, "multiple" means two or more.

[0327] In addition, the terms "comprising" and "having" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product or apparatus that comprises a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but optionally further comprises steps or units not listed, or optionally further comprises other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products or apparatuses.

[0328] In the embodiments of this application, the mention of "embodiment" means that the specific features, structures or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The phrase appearing in various positions in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it an independent or alternative embodiment mutually exclusive with other embodiments. Those skilled in the art will explicitly and implicitly understand that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

[0329] In the embodiments of this application, "at least one (item)" means one or more, "a plurality" means two or more, and "and / or" is used to describe the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, "A and / or B" may mean: only A exists, only B exists, and both A and B exist at the same time. Among them, A and B may be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the associated objects before and after are in an "or" relationship. "At least one (one) of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single item (one) or plural items (ones). For example, at least one (one) of a, b or c may mean: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c", where a, b, c may be single or multiple.

[0330] In the embodiments of this application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations or explanations. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of this application should not be construed as being more preferred or having more advantages than other embodiments or designs. Rather, the use of words such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present relevant concepts in a specific way for easy understanding.

[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 the computer instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are generated in whole or in part. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable devices. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from a website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center in a wired manner (such as coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wirelessly (such as infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.). The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more integrated available media. The available medium can be a magnetic medium (such as a floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium (such as a high-density digital video disc (DVD)), or a semiconductor medium (such as a solid state disk (SSD)), etc.

[0332] As described above, the foregoing are only specific embodiments of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in the present application, and all such changes or substitutions should be covered by the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, the method is applied to a sensing network element, and the method includes: receiving first information from a service requester, the first information including an identifier list and a sensing area, and the identifier list including identifiers of one or more terminal devices; receiving sensing data for the sensing area from a sensing device, the sensing data including position information of one or more objects; determining an association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the position information of the one or more terminal devices and the position information of the one or more objects; sending second information to the service requester, the second information being used to indicate the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, the identifier list includes an identifier of one terminal device, and determining the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the position information of the one or more terminal devices and the position information of the one or more objects includes: determining whether one terminal device among the one or more terminal devices is associated with an object among the one or more objects based on the position information of one terminal device among the one or more terminal devices and the position information of the one or more objects; the second information is specifically used to indicate whether one terminal device is associated with an object among the one or more objects.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, the identifier list includes identifiers of multiple terminal devices, and determining the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the position information of the one or more terminal devices and the position information of the one or more objects includes: determining terminal devices associated with and / or not associated with objects among the one or more objects among the multiple terminal devices based on the position information of the multiple terminal devices and the position information of the one or more objects; the second information is specifically used to indicate the identifiers of the associated terminal devices and / or the identifiers of the non-associated terminal devices among the multiple terminal devices.

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, the second information includes an association indication and the identifier of the terminal device corresponding to the association indication, and / or, a non-association indication and the identifier of the terminal device corresponding to the non-association indication.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, before determining the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the position information of the one or more terminal devices and the position information of the one or more objects, the method further includes: acquiring the position information of the one or more terminal devices based on a positioning service.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, Before determining the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices and the location information of the one or more objects, the method further includes: Obtaining the location information of the one or more terminal devices from the service requester.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein, the method further includes: Obtaining a first timestamp associated with the location information of the one or more terminal devices from the service requester; The determining the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices and the location information of the one or more objects includes: Determining the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices and the location information of the one or more objects at the moment or within the time range indicated by the first timestamp.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein, the location information of the one or more terminal devices is obtained by the service requester at the moment or within the time range indicated by the first timestamp.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, the method further includes: Obtaining a second timestamp associated with the identification list from the service requester, the second timestamp indicating the moment when the one or more terminal devices are present in the sensing area; The determining the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices and the location information of the one or more objects includes: Determining the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices and the location information of the one or more objects at the moment or within the time range indicated by the second timestamp.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein, the method further includes: Obtaining an association operation instruction from the service requester, the association operation instruction being used to indicate determining the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and one or more objects in the sensing data obtained by the sensing functional network element.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein, the second information is further used to indicate the moment corresponding to the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein, the second information further includes the characteristic information of the terminal devices associated with the objects among the one or more terminal devices, and / or, the characteristic information of the terminal devices not associated with the objects.

13. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein, The second information further includes characteristic information of the object(s) associated with the one or more terminal devices among the one or more objects, and / or characteristic information of the object(s) not associated with any of the one or more terminal devices.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the characteristic information is used to indicate at least one of the following: contour, type, trajectory, orientation, or speed.

15. The method according to claim 2, wherein, the determining, based on the location information of the one terminal device and the location information of the one or more objects, whether the one terminal device is associated with the one or more objects includes: when the location information of the one terminal device is the same as one of the location information of the one or more objects, determining that the one terminal device is associated with the object among the one or more objects; when the location information of the one terminal device is not the same as any of the location information of the one or more objects, determining that the one terminal device is not associated with the object among the one or more objects.

16. The method according to claim 3, wherein, the determining, based on the location information of the multiple terminal devices and the location information of the one or more objects, the terminal devices associated with the objects among the one or more objects and / or the terminal devices not associated with the objects among the one or more objects includes: determining the terminal devices corresponding to the location information that is the same as the location information of the one or more objects among the location information of the multiple terminal devices as the terminal devices associated with the objects among the one or more objects; and / or, determining the terminal devices corresponding to the location information that is not the same as any of the location information of the one or more objects among the location information of the multiple terminal devices as the terminal devices not associated with the objects among the one or more objects.

17. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein, the first information is carried in a sensing request, and the sensing request is used to request the sensing function network element to sense the sensing area.

18. A communication method, wherein, the method is applied to a service requester, and the method includes: sending first information to a first sensing function network element, the first information including a first identifier list and a sensing area, and the first identifier list including identifiers of one or more terminal devices; receiving second information from the first sensing function network element, the second information being used to indicate the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and one or more objects within the sensing area.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein, the first information is used to trigger the first sensing function network element to determine the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects based on the location information of the one or more terminal devices and the location information of the one or more objects obtained from the sensing data of the first sensing function network element.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein, The first identification list includes the identification of a terminal device, and the second information is specifically used to indicate whether the one terminal device is associated with an object among the one or more objects.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein, the first identification list includes the identifications of multiple terminal devices, and the second information is specifically used to indicate the identifications of the terminal devices among the multiple terminal devices that are associated with an object among the one or more objects, and / or the identifications of the terminal devices that are not associated with an object among the one or more objects.

22. The method according to claim 20 or 21, wherein, the second information includes an association indication and the identification of the terminal device corresponding to the association indication, and / or a non-association indication and the identification of the terminal device corresponding to the non-association indication.

23. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein, the method further includes: determining, based on the second information, the terminal devices that cooperate with the service requester and / or the terminal devices that do not cooperate within the sensing area.

24. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 23, wherein, the method further includes: sending the location information of the one or more terminal devices to the first sensing function network element.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein, before sending the location information of the one or more terminal devices to the first sensing function network element, the method further includes: acquiring the location information of the one or more terminal devices based on a positioning service; or, acquiring the location information from each of the one or more terminal devices.

26. The method according to claim 24 or 25, wherein, the method further includes: sending a first timestamp associated with the location information of the one or more terminal devices to the first sensing function network element.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein, the location information of the one or more terminal devices is acquired by the service requester at the moment or within the time range indicated by the first timestamp.

28. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 25, the method further includes: sending a second timestamp associated with the first identification list to the first sensing function network element, where the second timestamp represents the moment when the one or more terminal devices are present in the sensing area.

29. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 28, wherein, the method further includes: sending an association operation indication to the first sensing function network element, where the association operation indication is used to indicate determining the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and one or more objects in the sensing data acquired by the first sensing function network element.

30. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 29, wherein, the second information is further used to indicate the moment corresponding to the association relationship between the one or more terminal devices and the one or more objects.

31. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 30, wherein, The second information further includes feature information of the terminal device(s) associated with the object and / or feature information of the terminal device(s) not associated with the object among the one or more terminal devices.

32. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 31, wherein, the second information further includes feature information of the object(s) associated with the one or more terminal devices and / or feature information of the object(s) not associated with any of the one or more terminal devices among the one or more objects.

33. The method according to any one of claims 31 or 32, wherein, the feature information is used to indicate at least one of the following: contour, type, trajectory, orientation, speed.

34. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 33, wherein, the first information is carried in a sensing request for requesting the first sensing function network element to sense the sensing area.

35. A communication device, wherein, the communication device includes a module for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 17 or includes a module for executing the method according to any one of claims 18 to 34.

36. A communication device, wherein, the communication device includes a processor configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 17 or configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 18 to 34.

37. A communication system, wherein, comprises: a device for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 17 and a device for executing the method according to any one of claims 18 to 34.

38. A computer-readable storage medium, wherein, the computer-readable storage medium is used to store instructions which, when running on a computer, cause the method according to any one of claims 1 to 17 to be executed or cause the method according to any one of claims 18 to 34 to be executed.

39. A computer program product containing instructions, wherein, when running on a computer, it causes the method according to any one of claims 1 to 17 to be executed or causes the method according to any one of claims 18 to 34 to be executed.

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