Communication method and communication device

Abstract

Provided are a communication method and a communication device, the method comprising: a first network element receiving first information from a second network element, the first information being used for determining whether a positioning mode of a first electronic tag device is a simplified positioning mode; according to the method in the embodiment of the invention, the resource overhead of a communication system can be reduced.

Description

Communication method and communication device Technical Field

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

[0002] With the development of communication technology, some communication systems have introduced electronic tag devices to reduce system power consumption. However, the positioning of electronic tag devices consumes a large amount of system resources.

[0003] Summary of the Invention

[0004] The embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and a communication device. The following describes various aspects of the embodiments of the present application.

[0005] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided, including: a first network element receiving first information from a second network element, where the first information is used to determine whether a positioning mode of a first electronic tag device is a simplified positioning mode.

[0006] In a second aspect, a communication method is provided, including: a second network element sends first information to a first network element, where the first information is used to determine whether a positioning mode of a first electronic tag device is a simplified positioning mode.

[0007] According to a third aspect, a communication device is provided, including: a receiving unit, configured to receive first information from a second network element, wherein the first information is used to determine whether a positioning mode of a first electronic tag device is a simplified positioning mode.

[0008] In a fourth aspect, a communication device is provided, including: a sending unit, configured to send first information to a first network element, wherein the first information is used to determine whether a positioning mode of a first electronic tag device is a simplified positioning mode.

[0009] In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a memory, a transceiver and a processor, wherein the memory is used to store programs, the processor sends and receives data through the transceiver, and the processor is used to call the program in the memory so that the communication device executes the method described in the first aspect.

[0010] In the sixth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a memory, a transceiver and a processor, wherein the memory is used to store programs, the processor sends and receives data through the transceiver, and the processor is used to call the program in the memory so that the communication device executes the method described in the second aspect.

[0011] In a seventh aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a processor configured to call a program from a memory so that the communication device executes the method described in the first aspect.

[0012] In an eighth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a processor for calling a program from a memory, so that the communication device executes the method described in the second aspect.

[0013] In a ninth aspect, a chip is provided, comprising a processor for calling a program from a memory so that a device equipped with the chip executes the method described in the first aspect.

[0014] In a tenth aspect, a chip is provided, comprising a processor for calling a program from a memory so that a device equipped with the chip executes the method described in the second aspect.

[0015] In an eleventh aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, on which a program is stored, wherein the program enables a computer to execute the method described in the first aspect.

[0016] In a twelfth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, on which a program is stored, wherein the program enables a computer to execute the method described in the second aspect.

[0017] In a thirteenth aspect, a computer program product is provided, comprising a program, wherein the program enables a computer to execute the method described in the first aspect.

[0018] In a fourteenth aspect, a computer program product is provided, comprising a program, wherein the program enables a computer to execute the method described in the second aspect.

[0019] In a fifteenth aspect, a computer program is provided, which enables a computer to execute the method described in the first aspect.

[0020] In a sixteenth aspect, a computer program is provided, which enables a computer to execute the method described in the second aspect.

[0021] In an embodiment of the present application, the first information is used to determine whether the positioning method of the first electronic tag device is a simplified positioning method. By transmitting the first information between network elements, it helps the communication system to locate the first electronic tag device using a simplified positioning method, thereby helping to reduce the resource overhead of the communication system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG1 is an example diagram of a wireless communication system used in an embodiment of the present application.

[0023] FIG2 is an example diagram of a 5GS architecture in an embodiment of the present application.

[0024] FIG3 is an example diagram of a positioning method in one embodiment of the present application.

[0025] FIG4 is an example diagram of the direct mode in an embodiment of the present application.

[0026] FIG5 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided in one embodiment of the present application.

[0027] FIG6 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided in another embodiment of the present application.

[0028] FIG7 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided in yet another embodiment of the present application.

[0029] FIG8 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided in yet another embodiment of the present application.

[0030] FIG9 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in one embodiment of the present application.

[0031] FIG10 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in another embodiment of the present application.

[0032] FIG11 is a schematic structural diagram of a device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] The technical solution in this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0034] FIG1 illustrates a wireless communication system 100 used in an embodiment of the present application. The wireless communication system 100 may include a network device 110 and a user equipment (UE) 120. The network device 110 may communicate with the UE 120. The network device 110 may provide communication coverage for a specific geographic area and may communicate with the UE 120 within the coverage area. The UE 120 may access a network (e.g., a wireless network) through the network device 110.

[0035] Figure 1 exemplarily shows a network device and two UEs. Optionally, the wireless communication system 100 may include multiple network devices, and each network device may include a different number of terminal devices within its coverage area, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application. Optionally, the wireless communication system 100 may also include other network entities such as a network controller and a mobility management entity, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0036] It should be understood that the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as: fifth generation (5G) system or new radio (NR), long term evolution (LTE) system, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, LTE time division duplex (TDD), etc. The technical solutions provided in this application can also be applied to future communication systems, such as the sixth generation mobile communication system, satellite communication system, etc.

[0037] The UE in the embodiments of the present application may also be referred to as a terminal device, an access terminal, a user unit, a user station, a mobile station, a mobile station (MS), a mobile terminal (MT), a remote station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a user terminal, a terminal, a wireless communication device, a user agent, or a user apparatus. The UE in the embodiments of the present application may refer to a device that provides voice and / or data connectivity to a user and can be used to connect people, objects, and machines, such as a handheld device or an in-vehicle device with wireless connection capabilities. The UE in the embodiments of the present application can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a PDA, a mobile internet device (MID), a wearable device, a virtual reality (VR) device, an augmented reality (AR) device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self-driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical surgery, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in a smart city, a wireless terminal in a smart home, etc. Optionally, the UE can be used to act as a base station. For example, the UE can act as a scheduling entity that provides sidelink signals between UEs in V2X or D2D, etc. For example, a cellular phone and a car communicate with each other using sidelink signals. The cellular phone and smart home devices communicate without relaying the communication signal through a base station. Optionally, the UE in the embodiments of the present application can also be an electronic tag device or other zero-power device. Optionally, the electronic tag device may be called a zero-power device or an electronic tag (Tag), etc.

[0038] The network device in the embodiments of the present application may be a device for communicating with a UE, and may also be referred to as an access network device or a radio access network device. For example, the network device may be a base station. The network device in the embodiments of the present application may refer to a radio access network (RAN) node (or device) that connects a UE to a wireless network. A base station may broadly cover various names as follows, or be replaced with the following names, such as: NodeB, evolved NodeB (eNB), next generation NodeB (gNB), relay station, access point, transmitting and receiving point (TRP), transmitting point (TP), master station MeNB, secondary station SeNB, multi-standard radio (MSR) node, home base station, network controller, access node, wireless node, access point (AP), transmission node, transceiver node, baseband unit (BBU), remote radio unit (RRU), active antenna unit (AAU), remote radio head (RRH), central unit (CU), distributed unit (DU), positioning node, etc. A base station may be a macro base station, a micro base station, a relay node, a donor node, or the like, or a combination thereof.

[0039] In some embodiments, the network device can be fixed or mobile. For example, a helicopter or drone can be configured to act as a mobile network device, and one or more cells can move according to the location of the mobile network device. In other examples, the helicopter or drone can be configured to act as a device for communicating with another network device. In some embodiments, the network device can refer to a CU or a DU, or the network device can include a CU and a DU, or the network device can also include an AAU.

[0040] It should be understood that network devices can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; can also be deployed on water; and can also be deployed in the air on aircraft, balloons, and satellites. The embodiments of this application do not limit the network devices and the scenarios in which they are used.

[0041] It should also be understood that all or part of the functions of the network device and UE in this application can also be implemented through software functions running on hardware, or through virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (such as a cloud platform).

[0042] The solution in the embodiment of the present application is described below using FIG2 as an example.

[0043] Figure 2 is a diagram of the 5G system (5GS) architecture, which includes: network slice selection function (NSSF), authentication server function (AUSF), unified data management (UDM), access and mobility management function (AMF), session management function (SMF), policy control function (PCF), application function (AF), UE, access network (AN) (or radio access network (RAN)), user plane function (UPF), data network (DN) and other network elements.

[0044] As shown in Figure 2, the UE can establish an access layer connection with the AN through the Uu interface, exchange access layer messages and wireless data transmission, and the UE can establish a non-access layer (NAS) connection with the AMF through the N1 interface, and exchange NAS messages. AMF is the mobility management function in the core network, and SMF is the session management function in the core network. In addition to managing the mobility of the UE, the AMF is also responsible for forwarding session management-related messages between the UE and the SMF. PCF is the policy management function in the core network, which is responsible for formulating policies related to UE mobility management, session management, billing, etc. The UPF is a user plane function in the core network, which can transmit data with the external data network through the N6 interface and with the AN through the N3 interface. After the UE accesses the 5G network through the Uu interface, it can establish a PDU session under the control of the SMF for data transmission.

[0045] The embodiments of the present application involve the UE in Figure 2 (for example, electronic tag device, etc.), access network network elements (for example, gNB, etc.), control plane network elements (for example, AMF, AF, etc.), UDM, and other network elements (for example, location management function (LMF), gateway mobile location center (GMLC), etc.).

[0046] In a radio frequency identification (RFID) system, a reader / writer is a device that reads or writes information from an electronic tag (also called an RFID tag). During operation, the reader / writer transmits radio frequency energy within an area, creating an electromagnetic field. The size of this area depends on the transmission power. Electronic tags within the reader / writer's coverage area are triggered to transmit stored data or modify it according to the reader / writer's instructions. The reader / writer uses radio frequency (RF) to conduct contactless, two-way data communication with the electronic tag, reading and writing to the tag, thereby achieving target identification and data exchange. Electronic tags generally consume little power and may not even require a power source or battery. For example, passive electronic tags can receive microwave signals from the reader / writer and obtain energy through electromagnetic induction coils to temporarily power themselves and complete information exchange. RFID has a short transmission range and is used for local management and communication of items, such as inventory management within warehouses, file management, access card management, and electronic highway toll payment.

[0047] In order to reduce the power consumption of the system, electronic tag devices (also referred to as electronic tags) are introduced into some communication systems. These electronic tag devices can also be RFID tags, passive IoT tags, or ambient IoT tags. Electronic tag devices can also use the frequency resources of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) network for communication. The electronic tag devices in the implementation of this application include but are not limited to RFID tags, passive IoT tags, ambient IoT tags, other electronic tags, or other zero-power devices.

[0048] Electronic tag devices can be used in a variety of scenarios, such as warehousing and logistics, and item retrieval. These scenarios all require the location of the electronic tag device. Once the electronic tag device is introduced into the 3GPP network, it can be remotely located using the 3GPP network, allowing third parties to accurately determine the location of the electronic tag device. However, existing positioning methods in 3GPP networks are relatively complex (existing positioning methods require at least three base stations to locate the UE), requiring significant resources to locate the UE and meet high accuracy requirements.

[0049] Typically, the number of electronic tag devices is very large, and the need for their positioning is high and frequent. Furthermore, electronic tag devices often have simple functions and do not require high positioning accuracy. In this situation, using existing positioning methods consumes a large amount of network resources, increasing the burden on the system and wasting resources. Therefore, reducing the system resource overhead during the positioning process has become a pressing technical issue.

[0050] In order to solve one or more of the above-mentioned technical problems, the present application proposes a communication method and a communication device, which helps to determine whether the positioning method of the first electronic tag device is a simplified positioning method by transmitting first information between network elements (such as the first information is used to determine whether the positioning method of the first electronic tag device is a simplified positioning method), thereby helping to reduce the resource overhead of the communication system.

[0051] Ranging may refer to determining the distance between two or more terminals and / or the direction between one terminal (i.e., a target terminal) and another terminal (i.e., a reference terminal) through a PC5 interface; sidelink positioning may refer to locating a UE through a PC5 interface, for example, locating the relative position, absolute position, or ranging-related information of the UE. In embodiments of the present application, the relative position between two UEs and the absolute position of one UE may be used to calculate the absolute position of another UE.

[0052] For example, as shown in Figure 3, when the LMF is unable to locate UE1 through the Uu interface using the existing positioning method under the 3GPP network, or the positioning accuracy of UE1 is insufficient, and the LMF can accurately locate UE2, in this case, the LMF can calculate the absolute position of UE1 based on the relative position between UE1 and UE2 and the accurate position of UE2. When UE1 is under network coverage, the absolute position result between UE1 and UE2 can be reported to the LMF by UE1; when UE1 is not under network coverage, it can also be reported to the LMF by UE2. The relative position between UE1 and UE2 can be determined by ranging and / or sidelink positing.

[0053] In an embodiment of the present application, the electronic tag device can be connected to the network through a direct mode, or the electronic tag device can be connected to the network through other modes or methods. For example, the architecture of the direct mode can be as shown in Figure 4. As shown in Figure 4, the direct mode can refer to that the electronic tag device is directly connected to the base station, so that the data of the electronic tag device can interact through the base station, the core network (for example, the 5G core network (5GC)) and the corresponding server (for example, the ambient IoT server). Optionally, a reader / writer function of the electronic tag can be added to the base station, and the base station can send the electronic tag information that it can collect to the core network. A network element with a storage function in the core network, or a dedicated network element, can save the association relationship between the base station and the electronic tag identifier.

[0054] The embodiments of the present application are described in detail below with reference to FIG5 to FIG9 .

[0055] FIG5 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. The method 500 shown in FIG5 may include step S510, which is as follows:

[0056] S510: A first network element receives first information from a second network element.

[0057] Optionally, the first electronic tag device may be an RFID tag, a passive IoT tag, an ambient IoT tag, or other electronic tags or other zero-power devices, etc. The first electronic tag device may also be referred to as an electronic tag (Tag).

[0058] Optionally, the first information may be used to determine whether the positioning mode of the first electronic tag device is a simplified positioning mode.

[0059] By simplifying the positioning method, only one base station is needed to locate the electronic tag device, while in the traditional positioning method, at least three base stations are needed to locate the UE. Therefore, compared with the traditional positioning method (the traditional positioning method uses the positioning method under the existing 3GPP network), the simplified positioning method can use fewer resources to locate the UE.

[0060] For example, when locating an electronic tag device using a simplified positioning method, the first network element can transmit a physical layer signal to the electronic tag device. Accordingly, the electronic tag device will transmit (such as reflect) a backscattered signal to the first network element. At this time, the first network element can calculate the relative distance and / or angle between the first network element and the electronic tag device based on the signal phase difference and transmission time difference between the physical layer signal and the reflected scattered signal (for example, the ranging and / or sidelink positing mentioned in the aforementioned embodiment can be used). Furthermore, the first network element (or the second network element) can calculate the position of the electronic tag based on the relative distance and / or angle between the first network element and the electronic tag device, as well as the position of the first network element.

[0061] The first information may include a simplified positioning indication and / or an identifier of the first electronic tag device (e.g., a tag ID). Optionally, the simplified positioning indication may be used to indicate whether the positioning method of the first electronic tag device is a simplified positioning method, or the simplified positioning indication may also be used to indicate whether the first electronic tag device supports the simplified positioning method.

[0062] In an embodiment of the present application, the first information is used to determine whether the positioning method of the first electronic tag device is a simplified positioning method. By transmitting the first information between network elements, it helps to determine that the first electronic tag device is positioned using a simplified positioning method, thereby helping to reduce the resource overhead of the communication system.

[0063] In the present application, the first network element may receive the first information from the second network element in a variety of ways, which are described below respectively.

[0064] In a first mode, the first network element may receive a first message from the second network element. Optionally, the first message may carry the first information. For example, the first message may be a contract information reply message.

[0065] The second network element may store the subscription data of the first electronic tag device. For example, the format and content of the subscription data may be as shown in Table 1 below:

[0066] Table 1 Definition of contract data

[0067]

[0068] In Table 1, the domain of the subscription data may indicate whether the positioning mode of the electronic tag device supports the simplified positioning mode. For example, the simplified positioning indication value may be 1 bit, where a value of 1 indicates support for the simplified positioning mode, and a value of 0 indicates non-support for the simplified positioning mode.

[0069] The second network element can determine the contract information reply message based on the contract data.

[0070] Optionally, before the second network element sends the contract information reply message, the first network element may send a contract information query message to the second network element. Optionally, the contract information query message may carry the identifier of the first electronic tag device.

[0071] Optionally, the first network element may be an AMF (or AMF network element). Correspondingly, the second network element may be a UDM (or UDM network element).

[0072] 6 , taking the first network element as AMF and the second network element as UDM as an example, the first method is described below in conjunction with the registration process of the electronic tag.

[0073] S610: The electronic tag sends a registration request message to the AMF.

[0074] The registration request may be used to request registration with a network (eg, a core network).

[0075] When the AMF receives the request, the AMF can interact with the network element that stores the contract data (or contract information) to obtain a simplified positioning indication of the electronic tag.

[0076] For example, as shown in S620, the network element storing the subscription data may be a UDM.

[0077] S620: AMF sends a contract information query message to UDM.

[0078] The contract information query message may include the identifier of the electronic tag.

[0079] S630, UDM sends a contract information reply message to AMF.

[0080] The contract information reply message may include simplified positioning instructions.

[0081] The UDM can store the contract information of the electronic tag. For example, the format and content of the contract data can be as shown in Table 1 above. Optionally, the UDM can determine a contract information reply message based on the contract data.

[0082] S640, the AMF sends a registration request acceptance message to the electronic tag.

[0083] The AMF may save the simplified positioning indication of the electronic tag and send a registration request acceptance message to the electronic tag.

[0084] In an embodiment of the present application, the first network element (for example, AMF) can obtain a simplified positioning indication through the registration process of the electronic tag. Therefore, when the first network element subsequently receives a positioning request, it can send the simplified positioning indication to the LMF so that the LMF triggers the simplified positioning method, thereby helping to reduce the resource overhead of the communication system.

[0085] In a second approach, the first network element may receive a response message from the second network element. Optionally, the response message may include the first information. For example, the response message may be a contract information query response message.

[0086] The second network element may store the contract data of the first electronic tag device. Optionally, the second network element may send a response message to the first network element based on the contract data of the first electronic tag device. For example, as shown in Table 1 above, the contract data may include at least one of the following fields: contract data type, contract data domain, and contract data description.

[0087] Optionally, the first network element may be a gateway mobile location center (GMLC). Correspondingly, the second network element may be a UDM.

[0088] In a third approach, the first network element may receive a location request message of the first electronic tag device from the second network element. Optionally, the location request message may carry the first information.

[0089] In a third approach, the first network element may receive a first message from the second network element. Optionally, the first message may carry first information. For example, the first message may be a location request message for the first electronic tag device. Optionally, the first message may also carry second information, which may indicate the serving base station of the first electronic tag device.

[0090] The first network element may be an AMF, and correspondingly, the second network element may be a GMLC.

[0091] In a fourth approach, the first network element may receive a second message from the second network element. Optionally, the second message may carry the first information. For example, the second message may be a location request message for the first electronic tag device. Optionally, the second message may also carry second information, which may indicate the serving base station of the first electronic tag device.

[0092] The first network element may be a location management function (LMF). Correspondingly, the second network element may be an AMF.

[0093] In a fifth approach, the first network element may receive a positioning method indication message of the first electronic tag device from the second network element. Optionally, the positioning method indication message may include the first information.

[0094] Optionally, the first network element may be a base station, for example, the first network element may be a serving base station of the first electronic tag device. Correspondingly, the second network element may be a LMF.

[0095] 7 , the following describes the second, third, fourth, and fifth methods with examples in conjunction with the process of selecting a simplified positioning method in the core network.

[0096] S710: The AF sends a positioning request message to the GMLC.

[0097] For example, when a third-party AF wants to obtain the location of a certain electronic tag (for example, a target electronic tag), the AF can send a positioning request message of the target electronic tag to the GMLC. The positioning request message can include the identifier of the target electronic tag and the positioning accuracy requirement.

[0098] S720, GMLC sends a contract information query message to UDM.

[0099] The contract information query message can be used to query the positioning-related contract information of the target electronic tag.

[0100] S730, UDM sends a contract information query response message to GMLC.

[0101] The UDM can send a contract information query response message to the GMLC based on the stored contract data. The contract information query response message can include a simplified location indication of the target electronic tag and an identifier of the target electronic tag.

[0102] S740, GMLC sends a location request message of the target electronic tag to AMF.

[0103] The positioning request message may be used to request simplified positioning of the target electronic tag. The positioning request message may include a simplified positioning indication of the target electronic tag and may also include an identifier of the target electronic tag.

[0104] S750: The AMF determines the LMF that supports the simplified positioning method.

[0105] The AMF may select an LMF that supports the simplified positioning method according to the simplified positioning indication (which may be sent by the GMLC in S740 or the UDM in S630).

[0106] S760, AMF sends a positioning request message to LMF.

[0107] The LMF may be the LMF that supports the simplified positioning mode selected in S750. The positioning request message may include at least one of the following: an identifier of the target electronic tag, positioning accuracy requirements, a simplified positioning instruction, and an identifier of a serving base station corresponding to the target electronic tag.

[0108] Optionally, the AMF may maintain the correspondence between the electronic tag and its corresponding serving base station during the electronic tag registration process. Therefore, the AMF may determine the identifier of the serving base station corresponding to the electronic tag.

[0109] S770, LMF selects the simplified positioning method.

[0110] LMF can select a simplified positioning method based on the simplified positioning indication.

[0111] If the LMF does not receive a simplified positioning instruction, the LMF may determine a simplified positioning method based on its own configuration according to the positioning accuracy requirement carried in the positioning request message. For example, if the positioning accuracy requirement indicates a positioning accuracy of 10 meters (indicating that the accuracy requirement is not high), the LMF may determine to select a simplified positioning method to locate the electronic tag.

[0112] S780, the LMF sends a positioning method indication message to the base station.

[0113] Optionally, the positioning method indication message may include the simplified positioning method selected in S770.

[0114] In the embodiment of the present application, the network side determines that locating the electronic tag through a simplified positioning method can avoid triggering the traditional positioning method and causing waste of resources, thereby helping to reduce the resource overhead of the communication system.

[0115] In some embodiments, the first network element may send a first signal to the first electronic tag device based on the first information. Accordingly, the first network element may receive a backscattered signal of the first signal from the first electronic tag device. Optionally, the first network element may be a base station, for example, a serving base station for the first electronic tag device.

[0116] Optionally, the first network element may determine the distance and / or angle between the first network element and the first electronic tag device based on the backscatter signal. For example, the first network element may determine the distance and / or angle between the first network element and the first electronic tag device using ranging and / or sidelink positing as described above. Optionally, the first network element may be a base station, for example, a serving base station for the first electronic tag device.

[0117] Optionally, the first network element may send third information to the second network element. Optionally, the third information may indicate the distance and / or angle between the first network element and the first electronic tag device. Optionally, the first network element may be a base station, for example, a serving base station for the first electronic tag device. Correspondingly, the second network element may be a LMF.

[0118] Furthermore, the second network element may calculate the position of the electronic tag according to the distance and / or angle between the first network element and the first electronic tag device, and the position of the first network element.

[0119] Optionally, the first network element determines the position of the first electronic tag device according to the distance and / or angle between the first network element and the first electronic tag device and the position of the first network element.

[0120] Furthermore, the first network element may send third information to the second network element. Optionally, the third information may indicate the location of the first electronic tag device. Optionally, the first network element may be a base station, for example, a serving base station of the first electronic tag device. Accordingly, the second network element may be a LMF.

[0121] Optionally, the first network element may send a location request reply message of the first electronic tag device to the second network element. Optionally, the location request reply message may include third information.

[0122] Optionally, prior to the above embodiment, the second network element may send a positioning method indication message for the first electronic tag device to the first network element. Optionally, the positioning method indication message may include the first information. Optionally, the first network element may be a base station, for example, a serving base station for the first electronic tag device. Correspondingly, the second network element may be a LMF.

[0123] The above embodiment is described below with reference to FIG8 and the execution flow of the simplified positioning method.

[0124] S810, LMF sends a positioning method indication message to the base station.

[0125] Optionally, the positioning method indication message may include a simplified positioning method selected by the LMF.

[0126] For example, as shown in Figure 7, when the LMF selects the simplified positioning method, the LMF can only send the simplified positioning method to the electronic tag's serving base station, that is, only the serving base station and the electronic tag are required for positioning. Traditional positioning methods require at least three base stations to locate the UE to ensure positioning accuracy. Therefore, the positioning method in this application can reduce the resource overhead of the communication system.

[0127] S820: The base station sends a physical layer signal to the electronic tag.

[0128] After receiving the simplified positioning indication and positioning request message, the base station may send a physical layer signal to the electronic tag.

[0129] S830: The base station calculates the relative distance and angle between itself and the electronic tag.

[0130] The base station can calculate the relative distance and angle between the base station and the electronic tag based on the backscattered signal of the physical layer signal.

[0131] At this time, the position of the electronic tag can be calculated by LMF, for example, as shown in S840 and S850 below.

[0132] S840, the base station sends a positioning request reply message to the LMF.

[0133] The positioning request reply message may carry the relative distance and angle between the base station and the electronic tag.

[0134] S850: LMF calculates the position of the electronic tag.

[0135] LMF can calculate the absolute position of the electronic tag based on the base station location, the relative distance between the base station and the electronic tag, and the angle.

[0136] Alternatively, the base station may calculate the position of the electronic tag, for example, as shown in S860 and S870 below.

[0137] S860: The base station calculates the location of the electronic tag.

[0138] The base station can calculate the absolute position of the electronic tag based on its own position, the relative distance between the base station and the electronic tag, and the angle.

[0139] S870, the base station sends a positioning request reply message to the LMF.

[0140] The positioning request reply message can carry the absolute position of the electronic tag.

[0141] S880: LMF sends the positioning result of the electronic tag to AF.

[0142] Based on the existing process, LMF can send the positioning results of the electronic tag to AF through AMF and GMLC.

[0143] In the embodiments of the present application, only one base station is required to locate the electronic tag, effectively saving resources in the communication system. Furthermore, the use of base station-based or LMF-based positioning calculation methods eliminates the need for the electronic tag to possess positioning calculation capabilities, reducing the electronic tag's energy consumption and capability requirements, and conforming to the design principles of the electronic tag.

[0144] The method embodiment of the present application is described in detail above in conjunction with Figures 1 to 8 . The device embodiment of the present application is described in detail below in conjunction with Figures 9 to 11 . It should be understood that the description of the method embodiment corresponds to the description of the device embodiment. Therefore, for portions not described in detail, reference can be made to the above method embodiment.

[0145] FIG9 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG9 , the device 900 includes a receiving unit 910, which is specifically as follows:

[0146] The receiving unit 910 is configured to receive first information from a second network element, where the first information is used to determine whether the positioning mode of the first electronic tag device is a simplified positioning mode.

[0147] Optionally, the first information includes a simplified positioning indication and / or an identifier of the first electronic tag device.

[0148] Optionally, the receiving unit 910 is specifically configured to: receive a response message from the second network element, where the response message includes the first information.

[0149] Optionally, the device 900 is a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) network element.

[0150] Optionally, the second network element is a unified data management function UDM network element.

[0151] Optionally, the receiving unit 910 is specifically configured to: receive a first message from the second network element, where the first message carries the first information.

[0152] Optionally, the first message is a contract information reply message.

[0153] Optionally, the second network element is a unified data management function UDM network element.

[0154] Optionally, the first message is a positioning request message of the first electronic tag device.

[0155] Optionally, the second network element is a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) network element.

[0156] Optionally, the device 900 is an access and mobility management function AMF network element.

[0157] Optionally, the second network element is an AMF network element.

[0158] Optionally, the device 900 is a location management function LMF network element.

[0159] Optionally, the receiving unit 910 is specifically configured to: receive a positioning method indication message of the first electronic tag device from the second network element, where the positioning method indication message includes the first information.

[0160] Optionally, the device 900 is a base station.

[0161] Optionally, the apparatus 900 further includes a sending unit 920, configured to send a first signal to the first electronic tag device according to the first information; and the receiving unit 910 is further configured to receive a backscattered signal of the first signal from the first electronic tag device.

[0162] Optionally, the apparatus 900 further includes a determining unit 930, configured to determine a distance and / or angle between the apparatus and the first electronic tag device based on the backscattered signal.

[0163] Optionally, the sending unit 920 is further configured to: send third information to the second network element, where the third information indicates the distance and / or angle between the apparatus and the first electronic tag device.

[0164] Optionally, the determining unit 930 is further configured to determine the position of the first electronic tag device according to the distance and / or angle between the apparatus and the first electronic tag device.

[0165] Optionally, the sending unit 920 is further configured to send third information to the second network element, where the third information indicates the location of the first electronic tag device.

[0166] Optionally, the sending unit 920 is specifically configured to: send a location request reply message of the first electronic tag device to the second network element, where the location request reply message includes the third information.

[0167] Optionally, the second network element is a positioning management function LMF network element.

[0168] Optionally, the LMF network element supports a simplified positioning method.

[0169] FIG10 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG10 , the device 1000 includes a sending unit 1010, which is specifically as follows:

[0170] The sending unit 1010 is configured to send first information to the first network element, where the first information is used to determine whether the positioning mode of the first electronic tag device is a simplified positioning mode.

[0171] Optionally, the first information includes a simplified positioning indication and / or an identifier of the first electronic tag device.

[0172] Optionally, the sending unit 1010 is specifically used to: send a response message to the first network element, where the response message includes the first information.

[0173] Optionally, the sending unit 1010 is specifically used to: send the response message to the first network element according to the contract data of the first electronic tag device, and the contract data includes at least one of the following fields: contract data type, contract data domain and contract data description.

[0174] Optionally, the first network element is a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) network element.

[0175] Optionally, the sending unit 1010 is specifically used to: send a first message to the first network element, where the first message carries the first information.

[0176] Optionally, the first message is a contract information reply message.

[0177] Optionally, the first network element is an access and mobility management function AMF network element

[0178] Optionally, the device 1000 is a unified data management function UDM network element.

[0179] Optionally, the first message is a positioning request message of the first electronic tag device.

[0180] Optionally, the first message further carries second information, where the second information indicates a serving base station of the first electronic tag device.

[0181] Optionally, the device 1000 is a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) network element.

[0182] Optionally, the first network element is an AMF network element.

[0183] Optionally, the device 1000 is an AMF network element.

[0184] Optionally, the first network element is a positioning management function LMF network element.

[0185] Optionally, the sending unit 1010 is specifically configured to: send a positioning method indication message of the first electronic tag device to the first network element, where the positioning method indication message carries the first information.

[0186] Optionally, the first network element is a base station.

[0187] Optionally, the device 1000 is a LMF network element.

[0188] Optionally, the LMF network element supports a simplified positioning method.

[0189] Optionally, the sending unit 1010 is specifically configured to: when the apparatus receives a simplified positioning indication of the first electronic tag device from another network element, send the first information to the first network element.

[0190] Optionally, the sending unit 1010 is specifically configured to: when the apparatus does not receive a simplified positioning indication of the first electronic tag device from other network elements, send the first information to the first network element according to a positioning accuracy requirement of the first electronic tag device.

[0191] Optionally, the apparatus 1000 further includes a receiving unit 1020, configured to: receive third information from the first network element, where the third information is used to indicate a distance and / or angle between a serving base station of the first electronic tag device and the first electronic tag device.

[0192] Optionally, the apparatus 1000 further includes a determining unit 1030, configured to determine the location of the first electronic tag device according to the location of the serving base station of the first electronic tag device and the third information.

[0193] Optionally, the apparatus 1000 further includes a receiving unit 1020, configured to: receive third information from the first network element, where the third information indicates a location of the first electronic tag device.

[0194] Optionally, the receiving unit 1020 is specifically configured to: receive a positioning request reply message of the first electronic tag device from the first network element, where the positioning request reply message includes the third information.

[0195] FIG11 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an apparatus provided in one embodiment of the present application. The dotted lines in FIG11 indicate that the unit or module is optional. Apparatus 1100 may be used to implement the method described in the above method embodiment. Apparatus 1100 may be a chip or a communication device.

[0196] The device 1100 may include one or more processors 1110. The processor 1110 may support the device 1100 to implement the method described in the method embodiment above. The processor 1110 may be a general-purpose processor or a special-purpose processor. For example, the processor may be a central processing unit (CPU). Alternatively, the processor may be another general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, discrete hardware component, etc. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may be any conventional processor, etc.

[0197] The apparatus 1100 may further include one or more memories 1120. The memories 1120 store programs that can be executed by the processor 1110, causing the processor 1110 to perform the methods described in the above method embodiments. The memories 1120 may be independent of the processor 1110 or integrated into the processor 1110.

[0198] The apparatus 1100 may further include a transceiver 1130. The processor 1110 may communicate with other devices or chips via the transceiver 1130. For example, the processor 1110 may transmit and receive data with other devices or chips via the transceiver 1130.

[0199] The present invention also provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing a program. The computer-readable storage medium can be applied to the communication device provided in the present invention, and the program enables a computer to execute the method performed by the communication device in each embodiment of the present invention.

[0200] The present application also provides a computer program product. The computer program product includes a program. The computer program product can be applied to the communication device provided in the present application, and the program causes a computer to execute the method performed by the communication device in each embodiment of the present application.

[0201] The embodiments of the present application also provide a computer program. The computer program can be applied to the communication device provided in the embodiments of the present application, and the computer program enables a computer to execute the method performed by the communication device in each embodiment of the present application.

[0202] It should be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, "B corresponding to A" means that B is associated with A and B can be determined based on A. However, it should also be understood that determining B based on A does not mean determining B based solely on A, but B can also be determined based on A and / or other information.

[0203] It should be understood that the term "and / or" in this document simply describes a relationship between related objects, indicating that three possible relationships exist. For example, "A and / or B" can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, or B exists alone. Furthermore, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the related objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0204] It should be understood that in the various embodiments of the present application, the size of the serial numbers of the above-mentioned processes does not mean the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0205] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely schematic. For example, the division of the units is merely a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0206] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of these units may be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0207] In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0208] 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 program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the process or function described in the embodiment of the present application is generated in whole or in part. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server or data center to another website, computer, server or data center via a wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) method. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be read by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more available media integrated therein. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (eg, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (eg, a digital versatile disc (DVD)), or a semiconductor medium (eg, a solid state disk (SSD)).

[0209] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present application, but the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included in the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The first network element receives first information from the second network element, where the first information is used to determine whether the positioning mode of the first electronic tag device is a simplified positioning mode.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The first information includes a simplified positioning indication and / or an identification of the first electronic tag device.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The first network element receiving first information from the second network element includes: The first network element receives a response message from the second network element, where the response message includes the first information.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The first network element is a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) network element.

5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that The second network element is a unified data management function UDM network element.

6. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The first network element receiving first information from the second network element includes: The first network element receives a first message from the second network element, where the first message carries the first information.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that The first message is a contract signing information reply message.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that The second network element is a unified data management function UDM network element.

9. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that The first message is a positioning request message of the first electronic tag device.

10. The method according to claim 6 or 9, characterized in that The second network element is a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) network element.

11. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that The first network element is an access and mobility management function AMF network element.

12. The method according to claim 6 or 9, characterized in that The second network element is an access and mobility management function AMF network element.

13. The method according to claim 6, 9 or 12, characterized in that The first network element is a location management function LMF network element.

14. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The first network element receiving first information from the second network element includes: The first network element receives a positioning method instruction message for the first electronic tag device from the second network element, where the positioning method instruction message includes the first information.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The first network element is a base station.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first network element sends a first signal to the first electronic tag device according to the first information; The first network element receives a backscattered signal of a first signal from the first electronic tag device.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first network element determines the distance and / or angle between the first network element and the first electronic tag device based on the backscattered signal.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first network element sends third information to the second network element, where the third information indicates the distance and / or angle between the first network element and the first electronic tag device.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein The method further comprises: The first network element determines the position of the first electronic tag device according to the distance and / or angle between the first network element and the first electronic tag device.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first network element sends third information to the second network element, where the third information indicates the location of the first electronic tag device.

21. The method according to claim 18 or 20, characterized in that The first network element sending third information to the second network element includes: The first network element sends a location request reply message of the first electronic tag device to the second network element, where the location request reply message includes the third information.

22. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 21, characterized in that The second network element is a location management function LMF network element.

23. The method according to claim 13 or 22, characterized in that The LMF network element supports a simplified positioning method.

24. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The second network element sends first information to the first network element, where the first information is used to determine whether the positioning mode of the first electronic tag device is a simplified positioning mode.

25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that The first information includes a simplified positioning indication and / or an identification of the first electronic tag device.

26. The method according to claim 24 or 25, characterized in that The second network element sending the first information to the first network element includes: The second network element sends a response message to the first network element, where the response message includes the first information.

27. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that The second network element sending a response message to the first network element includes: The second network element sends the response message to the first network element according to the subscription data of the first electronic tag device, where the subscription data includes at least one of the following fields: subscription data type, subscription data domain, and subscription data description.

28. The method according to claim 26 or 27, characterized in that The first network element is a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) network element.

29. The method according to claim 24 or 25, characterized in that The second network element sending the first information to the first network element includes: The second network element sends a first message to the first network element, where the first message carries the first information.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein The first message is a contract signing information reply message.

31. The method according to claim 29 or 30, characterized in that The first network element is an access and mobility management function AMF network element.

32. The method according to any one of claims 26 to 31, characterized in that The second network element is a unified data management function UDM network element.

33. The method according to claim 29, wherein The first message is a positioning request message of the first electronic tag device.

34. The method according to claim 29 or 33, characterized in that The first message also carries second information, where the second information indicates a serving base station of the first electronic tag device.

35. The method according to claim 29, 33 or 34, characterized in that The second network element is a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) network element.

36. The method of claim 29, 33, 34 or 35, wherein: The first network element is an access and mobility management function AMF network element.

37. The method according to claim 29, 33 or 34, characterized in that The second network element is an access and mobility management function AMF network element.

38. The method of claim 29, 33, 34 or 37, wherein: The first network element is a location management function LMF network element.

39. The method according to claim 24 or 25, characterized in that The second network element sending the first information to the first network element includes: The second network element sends a positioning method instruction message for the first electronic tag device to the first network element, where the positioning method instruction message carries the first information.

40. The method according to claim 39, wherein The first network element is a base station.

41. The method according to claim 39 or 40, characterized in that The second network element is a LMF network element.

42. The method according to claim 38 or 41, characterized in that The LMF network element supports a simplified positioning method.

43. The method according to any one of claims 24 to 42, characterized in that The second network element sending the first information to the first network element includes: When the second network element receives the simplified positioning instruction of the first electronic tag device from another network element, the second network element sends the first information to the first network element.

44. The method according to any one of claims 24 to 43, characterized in that The second network element sending first information to the first network element includes: When the second network element does not receive the simplified positioning instruction of the first electronic tag device from other network elements, the second network element sends the first information to the first network element according to the positioning accuracy requirement of the first electronic tag device.

45. The method according to any one of claims 24 to 44, characterized in that The method further comprises: The second network element receives third information from the first network element, where the third information is used to indicate the distance and / or angle between the serving base station of the first electronic tag device and the first electronic tag device.

46. ​​The method according to claim 45, characterized in that The method further comprises: The second network element determines the location of the first electronic tag device according to the location of the serving base station of the first electronic tag device and the third information.

47. The method according to any one of claims 24 to 44, characterized in that The method further comprises: The second network element receives third information from the first network element, where the third information indicates a location of the first electronic tag device.

48. The method according to any one of claims 45 to 47, characterized in that The second network element receiving third information from the first network element includes: The second network element receives a location request reply message of the first electronic tag device from the first network element, where the location request reply message includes the third information.

49. A communication device, characterized in that include: The receiving unit is configured to receive first information from a second network element, where the first information is used to determine whether the positioning mode of the first electronic tag device is a simplified positioning mode.

50. The device according to claim 49, characterized in that The first information includes a simplified positioning indication and / or an identification of the first electronic tag device.

51. The device according to claim 49 or 50, characterized in that The receiving unit is specifically configured to receive a response message from the second network element, where the response message includes the first information.

52. The device according to claim 51, characterized in that The device is a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) network element.

53. The device according to claim 51 or 52, characterized in that The second network element is a unified data management function UDM network element.

54. The device according to claim 49 or 50, characterized in that The receiving unit is specifically configured to receive a first message from the second network element, where the first message carries the first information.

55. The device according to claim 54, characterized in that The first message is a contract signing information reply message.

56. The device according to claim 54 or 55, characterized in that The second network element is a unified data management function UDM network element.

57. The device according to claim 54, characterized in that The first message is a positioning request message of the first electronic tag device.

58. The device according to claim 54 or 57, characterized in that The second network element is a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) network element.

59. The device according to any one of claims 54 to 58, characterized in that The device is an access and mobility management function AMF network element.

60. The device according to claim 54 or 57, characterized in that The second network element is an access and mobility management function AMF network element.

61. The device according to claim 54, 57 or 60, characterized in that The device is a location management function LMF network element.

62. The device according to claim 49 or 50, characterized in that The receiving unit is specifically configured to receive a positioning method instruction message of the first electronic tag device from the second network element, where the positioning method instruction message includes the first information.

63. The device according to claim 62, characterized in that The device is a base station.

64. The device according to claim 63, characterized in that The apparatus further includes a sending unit configured to send a first signal to the first electronic tag device according to the first information; and the receiving unit is further configured to receive a backscattered signal of the first signal from the first electronic tag device.

65. The device according to claim 64, characterized in that The apparatus further includes a determining unit configured to determine a distance and / or an angle between the apparatus and the first electronic tag device based on the backscattered signal.

66. The device according to claim 65, characterized in that The sending unit is further configured to send third information to the second network element, where the third information indicates a distance and / or angle between the apparatus and the first electronic tag device.

67. The device according to claim 65, characterized in that The determining unit is further configured to determine the position of the first electronic tag device according to the distance and / or angle between the apparatus and the first electronic tag device.

68. The device according to claim 67, characterized in that The sending unit is further configured to send third information to the second network element, where the third information indicates the location of the first electronic tag device.

69. The device according to claim 66 or 68, characterized in that The sending unit is specifically configured to send a location request reply message of the first electronic tag device to the second network element, where the location request reply message includes the third information.

70. The device according to any one of claims 62 to 69, characterized in that The second network element is a location management function LMF network element.

71. The device according to claim 61 or 70, characterized in that The LMF network element supports a simplified positioning method.

72. A communication device, characterized in that include: The sending unit is configured to send first information to the first network element, where the first information is used to determine whether the positioning mode of the first electronic tag device is a simplified positioning mode.

73. The device according to claim 72, characterized in that The first information includes a simplified positioning indication and / or an identification of the first electronic tag device.

74. The device according to claim 72 or 73, characterized in that The sending unit is specifically configured to send a response message to the first network element, where the response message includes the first information.

75. The device according to claim 74, characterized in that The sending unit is specifically configured to send the response message to the first network element according to the contract data of the first electronic tag device, where the contract data includes at least one of the following fields: contract data type, contract data domain, and contract data description.

76. The device according to claim 74 or 75, characterized in that The first network element is a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) network element.

77. The device according to claim 72 or 73, characterized in that The sending unit is specifically configured to send a first message to the first network element, where the first message carries the first information.

78. The device according to claim 77, characterized in that The first message is a contract signing information reply message.

79. The device according to claim 77 or 78, characterized in that The first network element is an access and mobility management function AMF network element.

80. The device according to any one of claims 74 to 79, characterized in that The device is a unified data management function UDM network element.

81. The device according to claim 77, characterized in that The first message is a positioning request message of the first electronic tag device.

82. The device according to claim 77 or 81, characterized in that The first message also carries second information, where the second information indicates a serving base station of the first electronic tag device.

83. The device according to claim 77, 81 or 82, characterized in that The device is a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) network element.

84. The device according to claim 77, 81, 82 or 83, characterized in that The first network element is an access and mobility management function AMF network element.

85. The device according to claim 77, 81 or 82, characterized in that The device is an access and mobility management function AMF network element.

86. The device of claim 77, 81, 82 or 85, wherein: The first network element is a location management function LMF network element.

87. The device according to claim 72 or 73, characterized in that The sending unit is specifically configured to send a positioning method indication message of the first electronic tag device to the first network element, where the positioning method indication message carries the first information.

88. The device according to claim 87, characterized in that The first network element is a base station.

89. The device according to claim 87 or 88, characterized in that The device is a LMF network element.

90. The device according to claim 86 or 89, characterized in that The LMF network element supports a simplified positioning method.

91. The device according to any one of claims 72 to 90, characterized in that The sending unit is specifically configured to: when the apparatus receives a simplified positioning instruction of the first electronic tag device from another network element, send the first information to the first network element.

92. The device according to any one of claims 72 to 91, characterized in that The sending unit is specifically configured to: when the apparatus does not receive a simplified positioning instruction of the first electronic tag device from other network elements, send the first information to the first network element according to a positioning accuracy requirement of the first electronic tag device.

93. The device according to any one of claims 72 to 92, characterized in that The apparatus further includes a receiving unit configured to receive third information from the first network element, where the third information is used to indicate a distance and / or angle between a serving base station of the first electronic tag device and the first electronic tag device.

94. The device according to claim 93, characterized in that The apparatus further includes a determining unit configured to determine the location of the first electronic tag device according to the location of the serving base station of the first electronic tag device and the third information.

95. The device according to any one of claims 72 to 92, characterized in that The apparatus further includes a receiving unit configured to receive third information from the first network element, where the third information indicates a location of the first electronic tag device.

96. The device according to any one of claims 93 to 95, characterized in that The receiving unit is specifically configured to receive a positioning request reply message of the first electronic tag device from the first network element, where the positioning request reply message includes the third information.

97. A communication device, characterized in that It includes a memory, a transceiver and a processor, the memory is used to store programs, the processor sends and receives data through the transceiver, and the processor is used to call the program in the memory so that the communication device executes the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 23.

98. A communication device, characterized in that It includes a memory, a transceiver and a processor, the memory is used to store programs, the processor sends and receives data through the transceiver, and the processor is used to call the program in the memory so that the communication device executes the method as described in any one of claims 24 to 48.

99. A chip, characterized in that The device comprises a processor configured to call a program from a memory so that a device equipped with the chip executes the method according to any one of claims 1 to 23.

100. A chip, characterized in that: The device comprises a processor configured to call a program from a memory so that a device equipped with the chip executes the method according to any one of claims 24 to 48.

101. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that A program is stored thereon, the program causing a computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 23.

102. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that A program is stored thereon, the program causing a computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 24 to 48.

103. A computer program product, characterized in that The method comprises a program for causing a computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 23.

104. A computer program product, characterized in that A program is included, the program causing a computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 24 to 48.

105. A computer program, characterized in that The computer program causes a computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 23.

106. A computer program, characterized in that The computer program causes a computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 24 to 48.

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