MEC-based positioning method, equipment and wireless communication system

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides a positioning method and device based on MEC and a wireless communication system. The positioning time delay of a terminal can be shortened. The method comprises: a first network element receiving first positioning request information sent by a positioning requester, the first positioning request information being used for requesting to position a terminal, the first positioning request information carrying identification information of the terminal; the first network element determines a positioning function entity for positioning the terminal according to the first positioning request information, and the positioning function entity is a positioning server; and the first network element obtains second positioning request information according to the first positioning request information, and sends the second positioning request information to the positioning server. And after receiving the second positioning request information, the positioning server sends measurement request information to the terminal through a user plane, and requests the terminal to report measurement data. And then, the positioning server positions the terminal according to the measurement data reported by the terminal through the user plane.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application. The application number of the original application is 202080100134.4, and the original application date is April 27, 2020. The entire content of the original application is incorporated into this application by reference. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of mobile communication network technology, and in particular to a positioning method, device and wireless communication system based on mobile edge computing (MEC). Background Art

[0003] Currently, both 5G and 4G evolved packet core networks (EPC) support open positioning services for specific user equipment (UE). Specifically, the core network can provide positioning services for specific terminals to external clients or application functions (AF) through network exposure function (NEF) elements, service capability exposure function (SCEF) elements, and gateway mobile location center (GMLC) elements.

[0004] In the existing positioning process, when the terminal interacts with the location management function (LMF) network element selected in the core network, that is, the positioning function entity, for example, when interacting with measurement data, all uplink and downlink data are forwarded through the control plane channel. For example, when the LMF network element sends a measurement request message to the terminal (for requesting the terminal to report measurement data), and when the terminal reports measurement data to the LMF network element, both the measurement request message and the measurement data need to be forwarded by the access and mobility management function (AMF) network element. However, since the AMF network element is deployed in a high-level core network (for example, in the middle of the core network), when the data interaction between the terminal and the LMF network element is forwarded through the AMF network element, the transmission time corresponding to the data transmission between the terminal and the LMF network element will be longer, thereby increasing the positioning delay of the terminal. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The embodiments of the present application provide a positioning method, device, and wireless communication system based on MEC, which are used to shorten the positioning delay of a terminal.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides a positioning method based on mobile edge computing MEC, the method including: a first network element receives a first positioning request message sent by a positioning requester, the first positioning request message is used to request positioning of a terminal, and the first positioning request message carries identification information of the terminal; the first network element determines a positioning function entity for positioning the terminal based on the first positioning request message, and the positioning function entity is a positioning server; the first network element obtains a second positioning request message based on the first positioning request message, and sends the second positioning request message to the positioning server to trigger the positioning server to locate the terminal through the user.

[0007] By adopting the above design, in the process of positioning the terminal, the positioning function entity for positioning the terminal can be determined as the positioning server based on the first positioning request information, so that the subsequent positioning server can locate the terminal through the user according to the second positioning request information sent by the first network element, avoiding the problem of large positioning delay caused by interaction through the control plane transmission path, that is, forwarding through the first network element, so that a positioning server close to the terminal and the access device can be selected to locate the terminal, which can shorten the transmission distance between the terminal and the positioning server, thereby reducing the transmission time required for data transmission between the terminal and the positioning server, and further shortening the positioning delay of the terminal, which helps to improve the user experience.

[0008] In one possible design, the method further includes: the first network element determines that the positioning requesting party has high requirements for delay based on the positioning delay requirement or first indication information carried in the first positioning request information.

[0009] With the above design, the first network element can determine the delay requirement for terminal positioning based on the positioning delay requirement or the first indication information carried in the first positioning request information, thereby meeting the positioning requester's demand for rapid positioning of the terminal.

[0010] In one possible design, the first network element determines the positioning server for locating the terminal based on the first positioning request information, including: the first network element obtains the first location information of the terminal and the configuration information of at least one positioning server based on the identification information of the terminal, the configuration information of the at least one positioning server including the area information under the jurisdiction of the at least one positioning server; the first network element determines the positioning server for locating the terminal based on the first location information of the terminal and the configuration information of the at least one positioning server.

[0011] With the above design, the first network element can determine the positioning server for locating the terminal from at least one positioning server based on the first location information of the terminal and the configuration information of at least one positioning server, thereby ensuring that the determined positioning server is close to the terminal and the access network device, thereby shortening the transmission distance between the positioning server and the terminal, and further reducing the transmission time required for data transmission between the terminal and the positioning server, thereby shortening the positioning delay of the positioning server to the terminal.

[0012] In a possible design, the first location information of the terminal is the target tracking area identifier TAI information; the area information under the jurisdiction of the at least one positioning server is the tracking area identifier TAI information under the jurisdiction of the at least one positioning server.

[0013] In one possible design, the first network element obtains second positioning request information based on the first positioning request information, including: the first network element obtains the network address of the terminal based on the identification information of the terminal; the first network element obtains the second positioning request information based on the first positioning request information and the network address of the terminal, wherein the second positioning request information includes the network address of the terminal.

[0014] With the above design, the first network element can obtain the network address of the terminal based on the identification information of the terminal, so that the subsequent positioning server can locate the terminal through the user according to the network address of the terminal, thereby shortening the transmission distance between the positioning server and the terminal, and further reducing the transmission time required for data transmission between the terminal and the positioning server, thereby shortening the positioning delay of the positioning server to the terminal.

[0015] In one possible design, the first network element obtains the network address of the terminal based on the identification information of the terminal, including: the first network element sends the identification information of the terminal and the information of the positioning server to the session management function SMF network element; the first network element obtains the network address of the terminal sent by the SMF network element.

[0016] With the above design, the first network element can obtain the network address of the terminal through the SMF network element when the data connection corresponding to the terminal has been successfully established, so that the subsequent positioning server can locate the terminal through the user according to the network address of the terminal, thereby shortening the transmission distance between the positioning server and the terminal, and further reducing the transmission time required for data transmission between the terminal and the positioning server, thereby shortening the positioning delay of the positioning server to the terminal.

[0017] In one possible design, the first network element obtains the network address of the terminal based on the identification information of the terminal, including: the first network element sends the information of the positioning server to the terminal, triggering the terminal to establish a data connection between the terminal and the positioning server; the first network element obtains the network address of the terminal sent by the SMF network element, and the network address is allocated to the terminal by the network during the data connection establishment process.

[0018] With the above design, the first network element can trigger the terminal to establish a data connection between the terminal and the positioning server when the data connection corresponding to the terminal is not established, so as to obtain the network address assigned to the terminal by the network during the data connection establishment process, so as to facilitate the subsequent positioning server to locate the terminal through the user according to the network address of the terminal, thereby shortening the transmission distance between the positioning server and the terminal, and further reducing the transmission time required for data transmission between the terminal and the positioning server, thereby shortening the positioning delay of the positioning server to the terminal.

[0019] In a possible design, the first network element sends the second positioning request information to the positioning server, including: the first network element sends the second positioning request information to the positioning server through a network open function NEF network element.

[0020] In one possible design, the first network element determines, based on the positioning delay requirement carried in the first positioning request information, that the positioning requester has a high delay requirement, including: when the first network element determines that the positioning delay requirement is less than or equal to a preset duration threshold, determining that the positioning requester has a high delay requirement. The high delay requirement of the positioning requester indicates that the delay required by the positioning requester to request positioning of the terminal is low.

[0021] With the above design, the first network element determines the delay requirement for terminal positioning when it determines that the positioning delay requirement carried in the first positioning request information is less than or equal to the preset duration threshold, thereby meeting the positioning requester's demand for rapid positioning of the terminal.

[0022] In one possible design, the first network element determines, based on first indication information carried in the first positioning request information, that the positioning requester has a high latency requirement, including: the first indication information indicating a low-latency positioning service, and the first network element determining, based on the first indication information, that the positioning requester has a high latency requirement. The low-latency service indicates that the positioning service requested by the positioning requester to locate the terminal has a low latency requirement.

[0023] With the above design, the first network element determines the delay requirement for terminal positioning based on the first indication information indicating the low-latency positioning service carried in the first positioning request information, thereby meeting the positioning requester's demand for rapid positioning of the terminal.

[0024] In one possible design, the information of the positioning server is the data network name DNN or Internet Protocol IP address corresponding to the positioning server.

[0025] In one possible design, the positioning requester is the terminal or an external client with positioning requirements.

[0026] With the above design, the first network element can support the terminal positioning requirements of different positioning requesters.

[0027] In a second aspect, the present application also provides a positioning method based on MEC, which includes: a terminal receives a measurement request message sent by a positioning server through a data connection between the terminal and the positioning server, and the measurement request message carries the network address of the terminal; the terminal reports the measurement data obtained by measurement to the positioning server through the data connection, so that the positioning server calculates the second location information of the terminal based on the measurement data.

[0028] With the above design, during the process of positioning the terminal, the terminal can interact with the positioning server through the user plane transmission path of the terminal, thereby avoiding the problem of large positioning delay caused by interaction through the control plane transmission path, that is, forwarding through the first network element. It can further shorten the transmission distance between the terminal and the positioning server, and achieve the purpose of reducing the transmission time required for data transmission between the terminal and the positioning server, thereby shortening the positioning delay of the terminal and helping to improve the user experience.

[0029] In one possible design, before the terminal receives the measurement request information sent by the positioning server through the data connection between the terminal and the positioning server, it also includes: the terminal receives network trigger information sent by the first network element, and the network trigger information includes information of the positioning server; the terminal sends an establishment request information for establishing a data connection between the terminal and the positioning server to the SMF network element according to the network trigger information to establish the data connection.

[0030] With the above design, when the data connection corresponding to the terminal is not established, the terminal can send a request message to the SMF network element to establish a data connection between the terminal and the positioning server, so as to trigger the SMF network element to create a data connection corresponding to the terminal, so as to facilitate the subsequent interaction between the positioning server and the terminal through the data connection, thereby shortening the transmission distance between the positioning server and the terminal, and further reducing the transmission time required for data transmission between the terminal and the positioning server, thereby shortening the positioning delay of the positioning server to the terminal.

[0031] In a third aspect, the present application also provides a positioning method based on MEC, which includes: a positioning server receives a second positioning request message sent by a first network element, where the second positioning request message carries the network address of the terminal; the positioning server sends a measurement request message to the terminal through a data connection between the terminal and the positioning server based on the network address of the terminal carried in the second positioning request message, where the measurement request message is used to request the terminal to report measurement data; the positioning server receives the measurement data reported by the terminal through the data connection, and calculates the second location information of the terminal based on the measurement data.

[0032] With the above design, during the process of locating the terminal, the positioning server can interact with the terminal through the user plane transmission path of the terminal, thereby avoiding the problem of large positioning delay caused by interaction through the control plane transmission path, that is, forwarding through the first network element. It can further shorten the transmission distance between the terminal and the positioning server, and achieve the purpose of reducing the transmission time required for data transmission between the terminal and the positioning server, thereby shortening the positioning delay of the terminal and helping to improve the user experience.

[0033] In one possible design, the positioning server sends measurement request information to the terminal through the data connection between the terminal and the positioning server according to the network address of the terminal carried in the positioning request information, including: the positioning server sends the network address of the terminal and the measurement request information to the user plane function UPF network element, so that the UPF forwards the measurement request information to the terminal through the data connection according to the network address of the terminal.

[0034] With the above design, the positioning server forwards the measurement information to the terminal through the UPF network element according to the network address information of the terminal, so that the measurement information can be sent to the terminal through the user plane transmission path of the terminal, thereby avoiding the problem of large positioning delay caused by interaction through the control plane transmission path, that is, forwarding through the AMF network element. This can further shorten the positioning delay of the terminal and help improve the user experience.

[0035] In one possible design, the method also includes: if the positioning requester is the terminal, the positioning server feeds back the second location information to the terminal through the network open function NEF network element; or, if the positioning requester is an external client with positioning requirements, the positioning server feeds back the second location information to the external client through the business capability open function GMLC network element.

[0036] With the above design, the positioning server can support the positioning requirements of different positioning requesters for the terminal.

[0037] In a fourth aspect, the present application further provides a first network element, wherein the first network element has the function of implementing the first aspect or any possible design method of the first aspect, wherein the function can be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions, such as a receiving unit, a processing unit, and a sending unit.

[0038] In one possible design, the first network element may also be a chip or an integrated circuit.

[0039] In one possible design, the first network element may include a memory and a processor, the memory is used to store a program executed by the processor, and when the program is executed by the processor, the first network element may execute the method described in the above-mentioned first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect.

[0040] In a fifth aspect, the present application also provides a first network element, comprising: at least one processor and a memory; the memory stores one or more computer programs; when the one or more computer programs stored in the memory are executed by the at least one processor, the first network element executes the above-mentioned first aspect or any possible design method of the above-mentioned first aspect.

[0041] In a sixth aspect, the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which includes a computer program. When the computer program runs on a computer, it enables the computer to execute the method of the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect.

[0042] In a seventh aspect, the present application also provides a program product, which, when run on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method of the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect.

[0043] In an eighth aspect, the present application also provides a chip, which can be coupled to a memory in a first network element, and is used to call a computer program stored in the memory and execute the above-mentioned first aspect and any possible design method thereof.

[0044] The beneficial effects of the fourth to eighth aspects and their possible designs can refer to the description of the beneficial effects of the method described in the first aspect and any one of its possible designs.

[0045] In a ninth aspect, the present application further provides a terminal having a function of implementing the method in the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect, wherein the function can be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions, such as a receiving unit and a sending unit.

[0046] In a possible design, the terminal may also be a chip or an integrated circuit.

[0047] In one possible design, the terminal may include a memory and a processor, the memory is used to store a program executed by the processor, and when the program is executed by the processor, the terminal may execute the method described in the above-mentioned second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect.

[0048] In the tenth aspect, the present application also provides a terminal, comprising: at least one processor and a memory; the memory stores one or more computer programs; when the one or more computer programs stored in the memory are executed by the at least one processor, the terminal executes the method of the above-mentioned second aspect or any possible design of the above-mentioned second aspect.

[0049] In the eleventh aspect, the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which includes a computer program. When the computer program runs on a computer, it enables the computer to execute the method of the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect.

[0050] In a twelfth aspect, the present application also provides a program product, which, when run on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method of the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect.

[0051] In the thirteenth aspect, the present application also provides a chip, which can be coupled to the memory in the terminal, and is used to call the computer program stored in the memory and execute the above-mentioned second aspect and any possible design method thereof.

[0052] The beneficial effects of the above-mentioned ninth to thirteenth aspects and their possible designs can refer to the description of the beneficial effects of the method described in the above-mentioned second aspect and any possible design thereof.

[0053] In a fourteenth aspect, the present application further provides a positioning server, wherein the positioning server has the function of implementing the third aspect or any possible design method of the third aspect, wherein the function can be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions, such as a receiving unit, a processing unit, and a sending unit.

[0054] In a possible design, the positioning server may also be a chip or an integrated circuit.

[0055] In one possible design, the positioning server may include a memory and a processor, the memory is used to store a program executed by the processor, and when the program is executed by the processor, the positioning server may execute the method described in the above-mentioned third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect.

[0056] In the fifteenth aspect, the present application also provides a positioning server, comprising: at least one processor and a memory; the memory stores one or more computer programs; when the one or more computer programs stored in the memory are executed by the at least one processor, the positioning server executes the above-mentioned third aspect or any possible design method of the above-mentioned third aspect.

[0057] In the sixteenth aspect, the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which includes a computer program. When the computer program runs on a computer, it enables the computer to execute the above-mentioned third aspect or any possible design method of the above-mentioned third aspect.

[0058] In the seventeenth aspect, the present application also provides a program product, which, when run on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method of the third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect.

[0059] In the eighteenth aspect, the present application also provides a chip, which can be coupled to the memory in the positioning server, and is used to call the computer program stored in the memory and execute the method of the above third aspect and any possible design thereof.

[0060] The beneficial effects of the above-mentioned fourteenth to eighteenth aspects and their possible designs can refer to the description of the beneficial effects of the method described in the above-mentioned third aspect and any one of its possible designs.

[0061] In a nineteenth aspect, the present application further provides a wireless communication system, comprising a first network element and a positioning server. The first network element is configured to execute the steps performed by the first network element in the first aspect or the solution provided in the embodiments of the present application; and the positioning server is configured to execute the steps performed by the positioning server in the third aspect or the solution provided in the embodiments of the present application.

[0062] In one possible design, the wireless communication system may further include a terminal, which is used to execute the steps performed by the terminal in the above-mentioned second aspect or the solution provided in the embodiment of the present application.

[0063] In one possible design, the wireless communication system may also include other devices that interact with the first network element, the positioning server or the terminal in the solution provided in the embodiment of the present application, such as a session management network element, an access device, etc., which is not specifically limited in the embodiment of the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0064] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the architecture of a wireless communication system applicable to embodiments of the present application;

[0065] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the architecture of another wireless communication system applicable to the embodiments of the present application;

[0066] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a 5G wireless communication system applicable to embodiments of the present application;

[0067] Figure 4 A flowchart of a MEC-based positioning method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0068] Figure 5 A flowchart of another MEC-based positioning method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0069] Figure 6 A flowchart of another MEC-based positioning method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0070] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the architecture of another 5G wireless communication system applicable to the embodiments of the present application;

[0071] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a first network element applicable to an embodiment of the present application;

[0072] Figure 9 This is a schematic structural diagram of another first network element applicable to the embodiments of the present application;

[0073] Figure 10A schematic diagram of the structure of a terminal applicable to an embodiment of the present application;

[0074] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of another terminal applicable to the embodiments of the present application;

[0075] Figure 12 A schematic diagram of the structure of a positioning server applicable to an embodiment of the present application;

[0076] Figure 13 This is a structural diagram of another positioning server applicable to the embodiments of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0077] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of this application clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of this application.

[0078] like Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an architecture of a wireless communication system applicable to an embodiment of the present application, wherein the wireless communication system 100 may include a first network element 101 and a positioning function entity 102 .

[0079] It should be understood that the wireless communication system 100 provided in the embodiment of the present application is applicable to both low-frequency scenarios (sub 6G) and high-frequency scenarios (above 6G). The application scenarios of the wireless communication system 100 provided in the embodiment of the present application include but are not limited to the global system of mobile communication (GSM) system, code division multiple access (CDMA) system, wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) system, general packet radio service (GPRS), long term evolution (LTE) system, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, LTE time division duplex (TDD), universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication system, future fifth generation (5G) system or new radio (NR) communication system, etc.

[0080] It should be understood that in the embodiment of the present application, the first network element 101 and the positioning function entity 102 can communicate directly or through forwarding by other devices; this embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit this.

[0081] The first network element 101 is configured to receive first positioning request information sent by a positioning requester, where the first positioning request information is used to request positioning of a terminal, wherein the first positioning request information carries identification information of the terminal.

[0082] The first network element 101 is further configured to determine, according to the first positioning request information, a positioning function entity 102 for positioning the terminal, where the positioning function entity 102 is a positioning server;

[0083] The first network element 101 is further configured to obtain second positioning request information according to the first positioning request message, and send the second positioning request information to the positioning server to trigger the positioning server to perform positioning through the user facing the terminal.

[0084] The positioning function entity 102 is configured to receive the second positioning request information sent by the first network element 101, and perform positioning through the user facing terminal according to the second positioning request information.

[0085] In the wireless communication system provided by the embodiment of the present application, after the first network element receives the first positioning request information sent by the positioning requester for requesting the positioning of the terminal, it can obtain the second positioning request information and send the second positioning request information to the positioning server to trigger the positioning server to locate the terminal through the user. Based on the wireless communication system provided by the embodiment of the present application, since the positioning server can locate the terminal through the user, the data interaction between the positioning server and the terminal does not need to be forwarded through the control plane channel, but is forwarded through the first network element, thereby shortening the transmission distance between the positioning server and the terminal, further reducing the transmission time required for data transmission between the terminal and the positioning server, and thus shortening the positioning delay of the positioning server to the terminal.

[0086] In the embodiment of the present application, the first network element 101 may include but is not limited to a mobility management network element and a gateway mobile location center. When the first network element 101 is a mobility management network element, in addition to having the above functions, it can also be used for mobility management in the mobile network, such as user location update, user registration network, user switching, etc. In the fifth generation (5G) communication system, the network element or entity corresponding to the mobility management network element can be the access and mobility management function (AMF) network element in the 5G network architecture. NAMF is a service-based interface provided by the AMF network element. The AMF network element can communicate with other network functions through NAMF. In future communications such as the sixth generation (6G) communication system, the mobility management network element can still be an AMF network element, or the mobility management network element can have other names, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. When the first network element 101 is a gateway mobile location center, in addition to having the above functions, the first network element 101 can also be used for positioning service positioning request processing and selecting a suitable mobility management network element for the positioning service. In a 5G communication system, a gateway mobile location center may be a gateway mobile location center (GMLC). In future communication systems such as a 6G communication system, the gateway mobile location center may still be a GMLC, or the gateway mobile location center may have other names, which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application. In the following, the first network element 101 is taken as an example as a mobility management network element.

[0087] In some embodiments, in addition to the aforementioned functions, the positioning function entity 102 may also be used for positioning service positioning request management, positioning resource allocation, obtaining terminal location information, and returning the location information to relevant network elements. In a 5G wireless communication system, the network element or entity corresponding to the positioning function entity 102 may be a positioning server in the 5G wireless communication system.

[0088] like Figure 2 FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of another wireless communication system applicable to the embodiment of the present application. The wireless communication system 200 may include Figure 1 The first network element 101 in the mobile management network element 101 ( Figure 2 In addition to the positioning function entity 102 (i.e., the positioning server 102), the positioning function entity 102 may further include a terminal 201, an access device 202, a user plane network element 203, a session management network element 204, a data management network element 205, a network open function network element 206, an application function network element 207, an external client 209, and a location management network element 210. Among them:

[0089] Terminal 201 can be a device with wireless transceiver capabilities and can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; can also be deployed on water (such as a ship); or can be deployed in the air (such as on an airplane, balloon, or satellite). Terminal 201 can communicate with one or more network devices of one or more communication systems and receive network services provided by access device 202. For example, the terminal 201 in the embodiment of the present application can be a mobile phone (or "cellular" phone), a computer with a mobile terminal, etc. The terminal 201 can also be user equipment (UE), a terminal, a mobile station (MS), a mobile phone, a tablet computer (pad), a computer with wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal, an augmented reality (AR) terminal, 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, etc. The terminal 201 can also be a communication chip with a communication module.

[0090] The access device 202 includes, but is not limited to, a next-generation base station (gnodeB, gNB) in 5G, an evolved node B (eNB), a radio network controller (RNC), a node B (NB), a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a home base station (e.g., home evolved nodeB, or home node B, HNB), a baseband unit (BBU), a transmission point (TRP), a transmitting point (TP), a mobile switching center, etc., and is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. The access device 202 may also be a communication chip with a communication module. During the execution of the MEC-based positioning method provided in an embodiment of the present application, the access device 202 can serve as a radio access network (RAN) base station to provide a wireless network connection to the terminal 201. For example, the access device 202 can serve as an access network base station in a 4G access network - an evolved universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (Evolved UMTS terrestrial radio access network, E-UTRAN), or the access device 202 can serve as an access network base station in a 5G access network - a 5G RAN, or the access device 202 can serve as an access network base station in a future wireless communication system.

[0091] The user plane network element 203 is used for packet routing and forwarding, quality of service (QoS) processing of user plane data, etc. In a 5G communication system, the network element or entity corresponding to the user plane network element 203 may be a user plane function (UPF) network element in the 5G wireless communication system. In future communication systems such as the 6th generation (6G) communication system, the user plane network element 203 may still be a UPF network element, or the user plane network element 203 may have other names, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0092] The session management network element 204 is used for session management in the mobile network, such as session establishment, modification, and release. In a 5G communication system, the network element or entity corresponding to the session management network element 304 may be a session management function (SMF) network element in the 5G wireless communication system. In future communications, such as the 6th generation (6G) communication system, the session management network element 204 may still be an SMF network element, or the session management network element 204 may have other names, which are not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0093] The data management network element 205 is used to process user identification, access authentication, registration, or mobility management. In a 5G communication system, the network element or entity corresponding to the data management network element can be a unified data management (UDM) network element in the 5G network architecture, where Nudm is a service-based interface provided by the UDM network element. The UDM network element can communicate with other network functions through Nudm. In future communication systems such as 6G communication systems, the data management network element 205 can still be a UDM network element, or the data management network element 205 can have other names, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0094] The network exposure function network element 206 mainly provides services that enable the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) network to securely provide network service capabilities to the third-party service provider application function network element 207. In the 5G communication system, the network exposure function network element 206 can be a network exposure function (NEF) network element. Nnef is a service-based interface provided by the NEF network element. The NEF network element can communicate with other network functions through Nnef. In future communication systems such as 6G communication systems, the network exposure function network element 206 can still be an NEF network element or have other names, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0095] The application function network element 207 is mainly used to provide application layer information to the 3GPP network. In the 5G communication system, the application function network element 207 can be an application function (AF) network element. Naf is a service-based interface provided by the AF network element. The AF network element can communicate with other network functions through Naf. In future communication systems such as 6G communication systems, the application function network element 207 can still be an AF network element, or have other names. This embodiment of the present application does not limit this. Exemplarily, the AF network element may include a services capability server (SCS) or an application server (AS).

[0096] The external client 209 may be a requester of the location information of the terminal 201 , and may also be referred to as an external client.

[0097] The location management network element 210 can be used for positioning request management, positioning resource allocation, obtaining location information of terminal devices, and returning location information to relevant network elements. In a 5G wireless communication system, the network element or entity corresponding to the location management network element 210 can be a location management function (LMF) network element in the 5G wireless communication system. Nlmf is a service-based interface provided by the AMF network element. The LMF network element can communicate with other network functions through Nlmf. In future communication systems such as 6G communication systems, the location management network element 210 can still be an LMF network element, or the location management network element 210 can have other names, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0098] In addition, if Figure 3As shown, taking the 5G wireless communication system as an example, it is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a 5G wireless communication system applicable to the embodiment of the present application. The wireless communication system includes the above-mentioned AMF network element, LMF network element, terminal, gNB, UPF network element, SMF network element, UDM network element, NEF network element, AF network element, GMLC and external client. In addition, it can also include an authentication server function (AUSF) network element, a network slice selection function (NSSF) network element, a network function storage function (NRF) network element, or a policy control function (PCF) network element, a unified data repository (UDR) network element, an unstructured data storage function (UDSF), etc., which are not specifically limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0099] in, Figure 3 The N1 interface is the reference point between the terminal and the AMF network element; the N2 interface is the reference point between the gNB and the AMF network element, used for sending non-access stratum (NAS) messages and next generation application protocol (NGAP) messages; the N3 interface is the reference point between the gNB and the UPF network element, used for transmitting user plane data; the N4 interface is the reference point between the SMF and the UPF, used for transmitting information such as tunnel identification information of the N3 connection, data cache indication information, and downlink data notification messages; the N6 interface is the reference point between the UPF network element and the data network (DN), used for transmitting user plane data.

[0100] also, Figure 3The control plane network elements shown, such as the AUSF network element, AMF network element, SMF network element, LMF network element, NSSF network element, NEF network element, NRF network element, PCF network element, UDM network element, UDR network element, UDSF network element or AF network element, can also interact using service-based interfaces. For example, the service-based interface provided by the AUSF network element to the outside world may be Nausf; the service-based interface provided by the AMF network element to the outside world may be Namf; the service-based interface provided by the SMF network element to the outside world may be Nsmf; the service-based interface provided by the NSSG network element to the outside world may be Nnssf; the service-based interface provided by the NEF network element to the outside world may be Nnef; the service-based interface provided by the NRF network element to the outside world may be Nnrf; the service-based interface provided by the PCF network element to the outside world may be Npcf; the service-based interface provided by the UDM network element to the outside world may be Nudm; and the service-based interface provided by the AF network element to the outside world may be Naf. For related descriptions, please refer to the 5G system architecture diagram in the 23501 standard, which will not be repeated here.

[0101] It is understandable that the above-mentioned network elements or functions can be network elements in hardware devices, software functions running on dedicated hardware, or virtualized functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform). The above-mentioned network elements or functions can be divided into one or more services. Furthermore, there may be services that exist independently of the network functions. In this application, instances of the above-mentioned functions, or instances of services included in the above-mentioned functions, or service instances that exist independently of the network functions may all be referred to as service instances.

[0102] Before introducing the embodiments of the present application, some terms in the present application are first explained to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0103] Carrying can refer to a message being used to carry certain information or data, or it can refer to a message being composed of certain information.

[0104] Positioning request information, in the embodiment of the present application, refers to information used to request a positioning service for a specific terminal. The positioning service may be an immediate request (LIR) service or a delayed location request (LDR) service. Through the positioning service, the mobile communication network may inform the requester of the positioning service, i.e., the positioning requester, of the terminal's location information or location-related positioning events. The positioning server or location management network element may be used to manage positioning request information for a specific terminal. Specifically, managing positioning request information means that the positioning server or location management network element may be used to feed back the terminal's location information to the positioning requester based on the positioning request information sent by the positioning requester, or to indicate to the positioning requester that the terminal has encountered a positioning event indicated by the positioning request information.

[0105] The instant request service is an "instant request, instant response" positioning service, and its positioning request may include a LIR. In the implementation of this application, the positioning requester sends the LIR to the core network element where the terminal is located, such as the mobility management network element or the gateway mobile location center. The mobility management network element or the gateway mobile location center forwards it to the positioning server or other network elements in the core network, such as the location management network element, so that the positioning server or location management network element can immediately feedback the terminal's location information to the positioning requester based on the LIR.

[0106] The location delay request service has a delay. The positioning requester is equivalent to subscribing to the terminal's positioning report to the terminal, the core network element where the terminal is located, or other related network elements. The report can be triggered after a certain positioning event is met. Positioning events, for example, the terminal moves out of or moves to a certain area, the terminal movement distance reaches a threshold distance, or meets a preset reporting period, etc. The report can carry the terminal's location information, and / or, the report can be used to indicate the satisfaction of the above location events, such as indicating that the terminal moves out of or moves to a certain area, etc.

[0107] The location information of the terminal, based on the positioning service, the core network network element where the terminal is located, such as the location management network element or the positioning server, can calculate the location information of the terminal. For example, the location management network element or the positioning server can calculate the location information of the terminal based on the positioning request information sent by the positioning requester and the measurement data reported by the terminal, and feedback the location information of the terminal to the positioning requester. Specifically, the location management network element or the positioning server can generate the above-mentioned positioning event report based on the location information. Among them, the location information of the terminal can be the geographical location coordinates in a certain positioning system (for example, the global positioning system (GPS) or the Beidou satellite system).

[0108] In the embodiment of the present application, the terminal refers to the object of the positioning service requested by the positioning requester. For example, in the 3GPP specification, a secure user plane location enabled terminal (SET) is a client of the positioning service, that is, the object of the positioning service requested by the positioning requester, such as an Android smartphone, which is also a terminal defined by 3GPP. The network element of the core network where the terminal is located, such as the LMF network element or the positioning server, can provide the terminal's location information to the positioning requester based on the positioning request of the positioning requester, or inform the positioning requester that the terminal has satisfied the positioning event indicated by the positioning request information.

[0109] In the embodiment of the present application, the positioning requester refers to a communication device that requests a core network element, such as a location management network element or a positioning server, to provide a positioning service for a terminal. It can be a terminal or an external client with positioning requirements, such as a server, a network element in a wireless communication network, or other carrier with the need to locate the terminal. For example, a secure user plane location (SUPL) agent is an application that needs to obtain location information, that is, a location service client defined by 3GPP. The SUPL agent can run in a SET or in a SUPL network. If the SUPL agent runs in a SET, the positioning requester is the terminal. If the SUPL agent runs in a SUPL network, the positioning requester is the external client with positioning requirements.

[0110] The positioning server is deployed in an MEC manner in the embodiment of the present application, and it can be a MEC platform or a server. The specific deployment form of the positioning server is not limited in this application, and it can be a cloud deployment, or an independent computer device or chip, etc. Among them, the data interaction between the positioning server and the terminal can be directly carried out through the user plane. For example, SUPL is a positioning protocol defined by the operation administration and maintenance (OAM) organization. The positioning server can interact with the terminal through the user plane based on the SUPL protocol, that is, the terminal can transmit SUPL messages through the user plane. The SUPL message can encapsulate the positioning request information, measurement data and other information reported by the terminal, as well as the measurement request information issued by the positioning server to the terminal.

[0111] Additionally, it should be understood that the terms "system" and "network" in the embodiments of this application are used interchangeably. "At least one" refers to one or more, and "plurality" refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between associated objects, indicating that three possible relationships exist. For example, "A and / or B" can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the associated objects are in an "or" relationship. The singular expressions "a," "an," "the," "the," and "the" are intended to include expressions such as "one or more," unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, unless otherwise indicated, ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" in the embodiments of this application are used to distinguish multiple objects and are not intended to limit the order, timing, priority, or importance of the multiple objects. For example, the first positioning request information and the second positioning request information are simply used to distinguish the different positioning request information and do not indicate a difference in priority or importance between the two positioning request information.

[0112] References to "one embodiment" or "some embodiments" in the embodiments of the present application mean that one or more embodiments of the present application include specific features, structures or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment. Therefore, the phrases "in one embodiment", "in some embodiments", "in some other embodiments", "in some other embodiments", etc. that appear in different places in this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, but mean "one or more but not all embodiments", unless otherwise specifically emphasized. The terms "including", "comprising", "having" and their variations all mean "including but not limited to", unless otherwise specifically emphasized.

[0113] The following will be combined Figures 1 to 3 The MEC-based positioning method provided in the embodiments of the present application is described in detail.

[0114] It should be understood that the method shown in the embodiments of the present application is not only applicable to wireless communication systems as shown in 1-3, but can also be applied to other future communication systems, such as 6G communication systems, etc. In future communication systems, the functions may remain the same, but the names may change.

[0115] In some embodiments, Figure 1 or Figure 2 The wireless communication system shown is applied to Figure 3 As an example, the 5G wireless communication system shown in FIG. Figure 4 FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a positioning method based on MEC provided in an embodiment of the present application. The method flow includes the following steps:

[0116] S401: The location requester sends a first location request message to the AMF network element. Accordingly, the AMF network element receives the first location request message sent by the location requester. The first location request message is used to request positioning of the terminal and carries the terminal's identification information.

[0117] In some embodiments, if the positioning requester needs to locate a terminal, it may send a first positioning request message carrying the identification information of the terminal to the AMF network element. The identification information of the terminal may be the international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) of the terminal, or the subscription permanent identifier (SUPI), or the general public subscription identifier (GPSI), or other information that can identify the terminal, which is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0118] S402: The AMF network element determines, based on the first positioning request information, that the positioning function entity for positioning the terminal is the positioning server.

[0119] In some embodiments, the first positioning request information may carry a positioning delay requirement. After the AMF network element receives the first positioning request information sent by the positioning requester, it may determine that the positioning requester has a high requirement for delay based on the first positioning request information. For example, before sending the first positioning request information to the AMF network element, the positioning requester may insert the positioning delay requirement into the first positioning request information. Accordingly, after receiving the first positioning request information, the AMF network element may obtain the positioning delay requirement carried in the first positioning request information, and thus may determine that the positioning requester has a high requirement for delay based on the positioning delay requirement.

[0120] For example, when the AMF network element determines that the positioning delay requirement carried in the first positioning request information is less than or equal to the preset duration threshold, it determines that the positioning requester has high requirements for delay, that is, the AMF network element determines that the terminal needs to be quickly located, and at this time, the positioning server can be selected to locate the terminal. Among them, the positioning delay requirement can be set by the positioning requester according to demand, or it can be the positioning delay requirement corresponding to the value-added positioning service. For example, the positioning requester has activated a certain positioning service that requires payment. When the positioning requester locates the terminal by using the positioning service, the first positioning request information sent by the positioning requester to the AMF network element can carry the positioning delay requirement corresponding to the value-added positioning service. Afterwards, the AMF network element can determine that the positioning requester has high requirements for delay based on the positioning delay requirement corresponding to the value-added positioning service.

[0121] In some other embodiments, the first positioning request message may carry first indication information, where the first indication information indicates a low-latency positioning service. After receiving the first positioning request message sent by the positioning requester, the AMF network element may determine, based on the first indication information carried in the first positioning request message, that the positioning requester has a high requirement for latency. Optionally, the first indication information may be an indicator.

[0122] It should be noted that the above example uses the first indication information to directly indicate a low-latency service. Of course, in the specific implementation process, the first indication information can also be used to indirectly indicate a low-latency service, and this embodiment of the present application does not limit this. For example, the first indication information can be identification information of a positioning service. After the AMF network element receives the first positioning request information sent by the positioning requester, it can indirectly determine that the positioning service identified by the first indication information is a low-latency service based on the first indication information carried in the first positioning request information. For example, the AMF network element can store at least one first correspondence between a positioning service and identification information and at least one second correspondence between a positioning service and a latency requirement. After the AMF network element receives the first positioning request information sent by the positioning requester, it can determine the positioning service identified by the first indication information based on the first indication information and the first correspondence. Thereafter, when the AMF network element determines that the latency requirement of the positioning service identified by the first indication information is high based on the positioning service identified by the first indication information and the second correspondence, it can determine that the positioning service identified by the first indication information is a low-latency service.

[0123] In a specific implementation process, the positioning delay requirement and the first indication information in the above embodiment can be used in combination, and the embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit this.

[0124] It should be noted that in the embodiments of the present application, a high latency requirement by the positioning requester can be represented by a low latency requirement for the positioning requester to locate the terminal. For example, assuming a preset duration threshold of 8 milliseconds, if the latency required by the positioning requester to locate the terminal is 5 milliseconds, the positioning requester can be represented by a high latency requirement. Correspondingly, a low latency service can be represented by a low latency requirement for the positioning service requested by the positioning requester to locate the terminal.

[0125] In an embodiment of the present application, the AMF network element determines the delay requirement for terminal positioning based on the positioning delay requirement or the first indication information carried in the first positioning request information, thereby meeting the positioning requester's demand for rapid positioning of the terminal.

[0126] In some embodiments, the AMF network element may determine that the positioning function entity for positioning the terminal is a positioning server when it determines that the positioning requester has high requirements for latency.

[0127] In an embodiment of the present application, the AMF network element can determine that the positioning function entity for locating the terminal is a positioning server based on the first positioning request information, so that the subsequent positioning server can locate the terminal through the user according to the second positioning request information sent by the AMF network element, avoiding the problem of large positioning delay caused by interaction through the control plane transmission path, that is, forwarding through the AMF network element, so that a positioning server close to the terminal and the access device can be selected to locate the terminal, which can shorten the transmission distance between the terminal and the positioning server, and further reduce the transmission time required for data transmission between the terminal and the positioning server, thereby shortening the positioning delay of the terminal, which helps to improve the user experience.

[0128] In the specific implementation process, after the AMF network element determines that the positioning function entity for locating the terminal is a positioning server, it can select a positioning server for locating the terminal from at least one positioning server. Figure 3 The configuration information of at least one positioning server can be pre-stored in the UDM network element in the AMF. The AMF network element can determine the positioning server for positioning the terminal based on the first location information of the terminal and the configuration information of at least one positioning server. Optionally, the configuration information of at least one positioning server may include the area information under the jurisdiction of at least one positioning server, the area information under the jurisdiction of at least one positioning server is the tracking area identity (TAI) information under the jurisdiction of at least one positioning server, and the first location information of the terminal is the target TAI information. In the following, in order to distinguish the target TAI information and the geographic location information of the terminal, the first location information represents the target TAI information of the terminal, and the second location information represents the geographic location information of the terminal.

[0129] For example, after the AMF network element receives the first positioning request information sent by the positioning requester, it can obtain the target TAI information of the terminal from the UDM network element according to the identification information of the terminal carried in the first positioning request information, and obtain the configuration information of at least one positioning server stored in the UDM network element. Afterwards, when the AMF network element determines that the configuration information of a positioning server among at least one positioning server includes the target TAI information of the terminal, the AMF network element can determine that the positioning server is the positioning server for locating the terminal.

[0130] Among them, at least one positioning server can be a positioning server in the access network where the terminal is located, or it can be a positioning server under the jurisdiction of the wireless communication system where the terminal is located. This embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit this.

[0131] In the embodiment of the present application, the AMF network element determines the positioning server for locating the terminal from at least one positioning server according to the target TAI information of the terminal and the configuration information of at least one positioning server, and can ensure that the determined positioning server is close to the terminal and the access network device (such as Figure 3 The gNB in ​​the positioning server can shorten the transmission distance between the positioning server and the terminal, further reducing the transmission time required for data transmission between the terminal and the positioning server, thereby shortening the positioning delay of the positioning server to the terminal.

[0132] S403: The AMF network element obtains second positioning request information according to the first positioning request information, wherein the second positioning request information carries the network address of the terminal.

[0133] In some embodiments, the AMF network element may obtain the network address of the terminal based on the identification information of the terminal, and then obtain the second positioning request information based on the first positioning request information and the network address of the terminal. The second positioning request information includes the network address of the terminal. After the AMF network element obtains the network address of the terminal, it may obtain the second positioning request information based on the first positioning request information. In the embodiment of the present application, the specific implementation method for the AMF network element to obtain the second positioning request information based on the first positioning request information is not limited. For example, the AMF network element may extract the positioning delay requirement or the first indication information carried in the first positioning request information, and then insert the network address of the terminal into the first positioning request information to obtain the second positioning request information, and so on. The network address of the terminal may include but is not limited to: Internet Protocol (IP) address, Media Access Control (MAC) address, etc.

[0134] In an embodiment of the present application, the AMF network element can obtain the network address of the terminal based on the identification information of the terminal, so that the subsequent positioning server can locate the terminal through the user facing the terminal based on the network address of the terminal, thereby shortening the transmission distance between the positioning server and the terminal, and further reducing the transmission time required for data transmission between the terminal and the positioning server, thereby shortening the positioning delay of the positioning server to the terminal.

[0135] S404: The AMF network element sends the second positioning request information to the positioning server. Correspondingly, the positioning server can receive the second positioning request information sent by the AMF network element. The second positioning request information is used to trigger the positioning server to perform positioning through the user-facing terminal.

[0136] In some embodiments, the AMF network element can be opened through the network function network element (such as Figure 3 The NEF network element in the network sends the second positioning request information to the positioning server.

[0137] S405: The positioning server sends a measurement request message to the terminal via the user interface based on the second positioning request message. In response, the terminal receives the measurement request message from the positioning server. The measurement request message carries the terminal's network address and instructs the terminal to report measurement data. The measurement data is used by the positioning server to calculate the second location information of the terminal.

[0138] In some embodiments, after receiving the second positioning request information from the AMF network element, the positioning server may select a suitable positioning calculation method, and then determine the measurement data that needs to be provided by the terminal based on the positioning calculation method, and send a measurement request information to the terminal device through the user to instruct the terminal to report the measurement data. For example, the positioning server may send a measurement request information to the terminal through the data connection corresponding to the terminal based on the second positioning request information. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the measurement request information from the positioning server through the data connection. The data connection may include but is not limited to a packet data unit (PDU) session.

[0139] For example, the positioning server may determine that the destination address of the measurement request information is the network address of the terminal according to the network address of the terminal carried in the second positioning request information, and then send a message to the user plane network element (such as Figure 3 The UPF network element in the data connection sends the terminal's network address and measurement request information, so that the UPF network element forwards the measurement request information to the terminal through the data connection according to the terminal's network address. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the measurement request information from the positioning server through the data connection. For example, see Figure 3As shown, the transmission path of the measurement request information can be "positioning server-UPF network element-access network device-terminal", that is, the data connection is made by the positioning server, UPF network element, access network device (such as Figure 3 It consists of gNB) and terminal.

[0140] In an embodiment of the present application, the positioning server forwards the measurement information to the terminal through the UPF network element according to the network address information of the terminal, so that the measurement information can be sent to the terminal through the user plane transmission path of the terminal, thereby avoiding the problem of large positioning delay caused by interaction through the control plane transmission path, that is, forwarding through the AMF network element, and further shortening the positioning delay of the terminal, which helps to improve the user experience.

[0141] Among them, the data connection corresponding to the terminal can be expressed as the user plane transmission path through the terminal, and accordingly, the UPF network element located in the data connection corresponding to the terminal can be expressed as the UPF network element located in the user plane transmission path of the terminal. The embodiment of the present application does not make specific limitations on this.

[0142] In an embodiment of the present application, during the process of positioning the terminal, the positioning server can interact with the terminal through the user plane transmission path of the terminal, thereby avoiding the problem of large positioning delay caused by interaction through the control plane transmission path, that is, forwarding through the AMF network element. Therefore, a positioning server close to the terminal and the access device can be selected to locate the terminal, which can shorten the transmission distance between the terminal and the positioning server, and further reduce the transmission time required for data transmission between the terminal and the positioning server, thereby shortening the positioning delay of the terminal, which helps to improve the user experience.

[0143] Optionally, in an implementation scenario of an embodiment of the present application, the MEC-based positioning method further includes the following steps S406-S409:

[0144] S406: The terminal performs measurement to obtain measurement data.

[0145] In some embodiments, when a terminal receives a measurement request from a positioning server, it may obtain measurement data based on the measurement request. For example, the terminal may measure and collect data (e.g., measuring the signal quality of the terminal's serving cell and neighboring cells) according to measurement parameters configured for the terminal by the network (e.g., the gNB) to obtain the measurement data.

[0146] S407: The terminal sends the measurement data to the positioning server. Correspondingly, the positioning server receives the measurement data from the terminal.

[0147] In some embodiments, the terminal can send measurement data to the positioning server through the data connection corresponding to the terminal. For example, the terminal can send the measurement data to the UPF network element located in the data connection corresponding to the terminal, so that the UPF network element forwards the measurement data to the positioning server through the data connection according to the network address of the terminal. Figure 3 As shown, the transmission path of the measurement data can be "terminal-gNB-UPF network element-positioning server".

[0148] S408: The positioning server calculates second location information of the terminal according to the measurement data.

[0149] In some embodiments, after receiving the measurement data, the positioning server may calculate the second location information of the terminal according to the positioning calculation method selected in S405 above.

[0150] S409: The positioning server sends the second location information of the terminal to the positioning requester.

[0151] In some embodiments, after the positioning server calculates and obtains the second location information of the terminal, it can send the location information to the mobile location center network element (such as Figure 3 The GMLC network element in the network feeds back the terminal location information to the positioning requester.

[0152] It should be noted that Figure 4 The positioning requester is an external client with positioning requirements. When the positioning requester is a terminal, the positioning server can calculate the second location information of the terminal through the network open function network element (such as Figure 3 The NEF network element in the network feeds back the second location information of the terminal to the terminal.

[0153] In the embodiment of the present application, the positioning server can support the positioning requirements of different positioning requesting parties for the terminal.

[0154] In the embodiment of the present application, during the process of positioning the terminal, the terminal can interact with the positioning server through the terminal's user plane transmission path, and can also avoid forwarding through the AMF network element, that is, interacting through the control plane transmission path. This can shorten the transmission distance between the terminal and the positioning server, and further reduce the transmission time required for data transmission between the terminal and the positioning server. This can further shorten the positioning delay of the terminal, which helps to improve the user experience.

[0155] The following is a specific embodiment Figure 5 , for the above Figures 1 to 4 The illustrated embodiment will be described in detail.

[0156] In other embodiments, Figure 1 or Figure 2The wireless communication system shown is applied to Figure 3 As an example, the 5G wireless communication system shown in FIG. Figure 5 As shown, another MEC-based positioning method provided in an embodiment of the present application includes the following steps:

[0157] S501: The location requester sends a first location request message to the AMF network element. Accordingly, the AMF network element receives the first location request message sent by the location requester. The first location request message is used to request positioning of a terminal and carries identification information of the terminal.

[0158] S502: The AMF network element determines, based on the first positioning request information, that the positioning function entity for positioning the terminal is a positioning server.

[0159] S503: The AMF network element obtains second positioning request information according to the first positioning request information, wherein the second positioning request information carries the network address of the terminal.

[0160] S504: The AMF network element sends the second positioning request information to the positioning server. Correspondingly, the positioning server can receive the second positioning request information sent by the AMF network element. The second positioning request information is used to trigger the positioning server to perform positioning through the user-facing terminal.

[0161] S505: The positioning server sends a measurement request message to the terminal via the user interface based on the second positioning request message. In response, the terminal receives the measurement request message from the positioning server. The measurement request message carries the terminal's network address and instructs the terminal to report measurement data, which is used by the positioning server to obtain the terminal's location information.

[0162] Among them, steps S501-S505 and Figure 4 Steps S401-S405 in the embodiment shown are the same, and the related description can be referred to. Figure 4 The embodiments shown are not described in detail here.

[0163] In an embodiment of the present application, during the process of positioning the terminal, the positioning server and the terminal can interact through the user plane transmission path of the terminal, and can avoid forwarding through the AMF network element, that is, interaction through the control plane transmission path. Therefore, the AMF network element can select a positioning server close to the terminal and the access device to perform positioning calculations for the terminal, thereby shortening the message transmission distance between the terminal and the positioning server, and further reducing the transmission time required for data transmission between the terminal and the positioning server, thereby shortening the positioning delay of the terminal, and helping to improve the user experience.

[0164] It should be noted that Figure 5The illustrated embodiment is described by taking the case where the data connection corresponding to the terminal is not established before step S503 as an example.

[0165] Optionally, before the positioning server sends the measurement request information to the terminal through the data connection corresponding to the terminal, since the data connection of the terminal has not yet been established, before step S503, the AMF needs to instruct the SMF network element to establish a data connection for the terminal. In addition, the AMF network element can also obtain the network address of the terminal, which is assigned by the network to the terminal during the process of establishing the terminal's data connection. Optionally, the SMF network element can assign a network address to the terminal during the process of establishing the terminal's data connection, and then send the network address to the AMF network element. Among them, the SMF network element is a session management network element serving the terminal.

[0166] Among them, in the embodiment of the present application, there are multiple ways for the SMF network element to send the network address of the terminal to the AMF. For example, the network address of the terminal can be sent by the SMF network element to the AMF network element after the AMF network element requests it, or it can be sent by the AMF network element to the AMF network element by instructing the SMF network element, etc. This embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit this.

[0167] Based on this, in some other embodiments, before step S503, the AMF network element may determine whether the data connection corresponding to the terminal has been successfully established. At this time, Figure 5 The illustrated embodiment may further include the following steps:

[0168] S503a: The AMF network element sends detection information to the UDM network element. Correspondingly, the UDM network element receives the detection information from the AMF network element. The detection information is used to detect whether the data connection corresponding to the terminal exists in the UDM network element.

[0169] In some other embodiments, the detection information may include identification information of the terminal, so that the UDM network element can detect whether a data connection corresponding to the terminal already exists based on the identification information of the terminal.

[0170] In some other embodiments, the UDM network element may store a record of the data connection corresponding to the terminal. After receiving the detection information, the UDM network element may detect whether the record of the PDDU session corresponding to the terminal has been stored based on the identification information of the terminal carried in the detection information. When the UDM network element detects that there is no record of the data connection corresponding to the terminal in the stored data connection records, it may not respond to the detection information or send a prompt message to the AMF network element to prompt the AMF network element that the terminal currently does not have a corresponding data connection. Afterwards, the AMF network element may execute the following step S503b.

[0171] S503b: The AMF network element sends network trigger information to the terminal to trigger the terminal to establish a data connection between the terminal and the positioning server.

[0172] Among them, the network trigger information includes information of the positioning server, which is used to trigger the terminal to send a request information for establishing a data connection between the terminal and the positioning server to the SMF network element.

[0173] S503c: The terminal sends a setup request message to the SMF network element according to the network triggering information, wherein the setup request message carries the data network name (DNN) of the positioning server.

[0174] In other embodiments, if the positioning server information received by the terminal is the DNN of the positioning server, the terminal may send a request message for establishing the DNN of the positioning server to the SMF network element. Alternatively, if the positioning server information received by the terminal is an IP address, the terminal may obtain the DNN of the positioning server from the UDM network element based on the IP address of the positioning server, and then send a request message for establishing the DNN of the positioning server to the SMF network element. That is, in this embodiment, the DNN of the positioning server received by the SMF network element is sent by the AMF network element through the terminal.

[0175] In an embodiment of the present application, when the terminal determines that the received positioning server information is an IP address, it can obtain the DNN of the positioning server from the UDM network element according to the IP address of the positioning server, thereby ensuring that the positioning server information carried in the establishment request information sent to the SMF network element is the DNN of the positioning service, so that the subsequent SMF network element can establish a data connection between the terminal and the positioning server according to the DNN of the positioning server.

[0176] S503d: The SMF network element establishes a data connection between the terminal and the positioning server according to the establishment request information.

[0177] In some other embodiments, the SMF network element can obtain the identification information of the terminal, where the identification information can be carried in the establishment request information sent by the terminal, or the AMF network element can send the identification information of the terminal to the SMF network element, etc. The embodiments of the present application do not make specific limitations on this.

[0178] In some other embodiments, the SMF network element may also obtain the first location information of the terminal, such as the target TAI information. In the embodiments of the present application, there is no specific limitation on the manner in which the SMF network element obtains the first location information of the terminal. For example, the SMF may obtain the first location information of the terminal sent by the AMF network element, or the SMF network element may obtain the first location information of the terminal from the UDM network element based on the identification information of the terminal, and so on.

[0179] In some other embodiments, after receiving the establishment request information, the SMF network element can select the UPF network element close to the terminal side according to the DNN of the positioning server and the first location information of the terminal such as the target TAI information to establish a data connection between the terminal and the positioning server. Figure 3 As shown, the data connection can be composed of the terminal, gNB, UPF network element and positioning server.

[0180] In some other embodiments, the SMF network element may allocate a network address to the terminal according to the identification information of the terminal during the process of establishing a data connection between the terminal and the positioning server.

[0181] In an embodiment of the present application, the SMF network element establishes a data connection between the terminal and the positioning server, so that the terminal and the positioning server can directly interact with each other through the data connection without forwarding through the AMF network element, thereby shortening the transmission distance between the terminal and the positioning server, and further shortening the transmission time required for data transmission between the terminal and the positioning server, which can effectively shorten the positioning delay of the terminal.

[0182] S503e: The SMF network element sends a notification message and the network address of the terminal to the AMF network element. The notification message is used to notify the SMF that a data connection has been established between the terminal and the positioning server.

[0183] In some embodiments, after the SMF network element completes the establishment of the data connection corresponding to the terminal, it can send a notification message to the AMF network element to notify the AMF network element that the data connection corresponding to the terminal has been established.

[0184] In an embodiment of the present application, the AMF network element can obtain the network address of the terminal through the SMF network element, so that the subsequent positioning server can interact with the terminal through the user plane based on the network address of the terminal, thereby shortening the positioning delay of the positioning server to the terminal.

[0185] At this point, the AMF network element can obtain the second positioning request information based on the network address of the terminal and the first positioning request information. The positioning server can send measurement request information to the terminal based on the data connection corresponding to the terminal.

[0186] Optionally, in an implementation scenario of the embodiment of the present application, after step S505, Figure 5 The method shown also includes the following steps S506-S509:

[0187] S506: The terminal performs measurement to obtain measurement data.

[0188] S507: The terminal sends the measurement data to the positioning server. Correspondingly, the positioning server receives the measurement data from the terminal.

[0189] S508: The positioning server calculates second location information of the terminal according to the measurement data.

[0190] S509: The positioning server sends the second location information of the terminal to the positioning requester.

[0191] Among them, steps S506-S509 are respectively Figure 4 Steps S406-S409 in the embodiment shown are the same, and the relevant description can be referred to. Figure 4 The embodiments shown are not described in detail here.

[0192] In an embodiment of the present application, during the process of positioning the terminal, the terminal and the positioning server can interact through the user plane transmission path of the terminal, and can also avoid forwarding through the AMF network element, that is, the control plane transmission path interaction, thereby shortening the transmission distance between the terminal and the positioning server, and further reducing the transmission time required for data transmission between the terminal and the positioning server, thereby shortening the positioning delay of the terminal, and helping to improve the user experience.

[0193] The following is a specific embodiment Figures 6 and 7 , for the above Figures 1 to 5 The illustrated embodiment will be described in detail.

[0194] In other embodiments, Figure 1 or Figure 2 The communication system shown is applied to Figure 3 As an example, the 5G wireless communication system shown in FIG. Figure 6 As shown, another MEC-based positioning method provided in an embodiment of the present application includes the following steps:

[0195] S601: The location requester sends a first location request message to the AMF network element. Accordingly, the AMF network element receives the first location request message sent by the location requester. The first location request message is used to request positioning of the terminal and carries the terminal's identification information.

[0196] S602: The AMF network element determines, based on the first positioning request information, that the positioning function entity for positioning the terminal is the positioning server.

[0197] S603: The AMF network element obtains second positioning request information according to the first positioning request information, wherein the second positioning request information carries the network address of the terminal.

[0198] S604: The AMF network element sends the second positioning request information to the positioning server. Correspondingly, the positioning server can receive the second positioning request information sent by the AMF network element. The second positioning request information is used to trigger the positioning server to perform positioning through the user-facing terminal.

[0199] S605: The positioning server sends a measurement request message to the terminal via the user interface based on the second positioning request message. In response, the terminal receives the measurement request message from the positioning server. The measurement request message carries the terminal's network address and instructs the terminal to report measurement data, which is used by the positioning server to obtain the terminal's location information.

[0200] Among them, steps S601-S605 and Figure 4 Steps S401-S405 in the embodiment shown are the same, and the related description can be referred to. Figure 4 The embodiments shown are not described in detail here.

[0201] In an embodiment of the present application, during the process of positioning the terminal, the positioning server and the terminal can interact through the user plane transmission path of the terminal, and can avoid forwarding through the AMF network element, that is, interaction through the control plane transmission path. Therefore, the AMF network element can select a positioning server close to the terminal and the access device to perform positioning calculations for the terminal, thereby shortening the transmission distance between the terminal and the positioning server, and further reducing the transmission time required for data transmission between the terminal and the positioning server, thereby shortening the positioning delay of the terminal, and helping to improve the user experience.

[0202] It should be noted that Figure 6 The illustrated embodiment is described by taking the case where the data connection corresponding to the terminal has been successfully established before step S603 as an example.

[0203] Optionally, before the positioning server sends a measurement request message to the terminal through the terminal's data connection, since the destination network address of the measurement request message is the terminal's network address, before step S603, the AMF network element obtains the terminal's network address, which is the network address assigned to the terminal by the network during the process of establishing the terminal's data connection. Optionally, the SMF network element assigns a network address to the terminal during the process of establishing the terminal's data connection, and then sends the network address to the AMF network element. The SMF network element is a session management network element serving the terminal.

[0204] Among them, in the embodiment of the present application, there are multiple ways for the SMF network element to send the network address of the terminal to the AMF. For example, the network address of the terminal can be sent by the SMF network element to the AMF network element after the AMF network element requests it, or it can be sent by the AMF network element to the AMF network element by instructing the SMF network element, etc. This embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit this.

[0205] Based on this, in some other embodiments, before step S603, Figure 6 The illustrated embodiment may further include the following steps:

[0206] S603a: The AMF network element sends the terminal's identification information and the positioning server's information to the SMF network element to instruct the SMF network element to establish a data connection between the terminal and the positioning server.

[0207] In step S603a, the AMF network element has determined that there is a record of the data connection corresponding to the terminal in the UDM network element. Figure 7 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of another 5G wireless communication system architecture applicable to the embodiment of the present application. Figure 7 and Figure 3 The architecture of 5G wireless communication system is similar and will not be described here. Among them, the 5G wireless communication system can support the scenario where there are multiple protocol data unit session anchors (PDU session anchor, PSA) in one data connection, for example, Figure 7 As shown, the data connection corresponding to the terminal may include PSA1 and PSA2. In this step, the data connection corresponding to the terminal currently existing in the UDM network element is a data connection consisting of the terminal, gNB, PSA1 and data network (DN).

[0208] In some other embodiments, when the AMF network element determines that there is currently a data connection corresponding to the terminal in the UDM network element, the AMF network element can send the terminal identification information and the positioning server information to the SMF network element. Specifically, the positioning server information can be the IP address of the positioning server or the DNN of the positioning server. In the specific implementation process, when the positioning server information is the IP address of the positioning server, the AMF network element can send the terminal identification information and the positioning server information to the network storage function network element (such as Figure 7The AMF network element (the NRF network element in the positioning server) accesses and obtains the DNN of the positioning server. For example, after the AMF network element determines the IP address of the positioning server according to the configuration information of the positioning server, it sends the IP address of the positioning server to the NRF network element. Afterwards, the NRF network element can determine the DNN of the positioning server based on the received IP address of the positioning server, and send the DNN of the positioning server to the AMF network element. Alternatively, the AMF network element can obtain the relationship between the DNN and the IP address of at least one pre-stored positioning server. After the AMF network element determines the IP address of the positioning server according to the configuration information of the positioning server, it can determine the DNN of the positioning server according to the corresponding relationship. Alternatively, the AMF network element sends the IP address of the positioning server to the SMF network element. Afterwards, the SMF network element converts the IP address of the positioning server into the corresponding DNN, and so on, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0209] S603b: The SMF network element inserts the address of the uplink classifier (UL CL) in the access network where the terminal is located and the address of the PSA into the current data connection corresponding to the terminal according to the identification information of the terminal and the information of the positioning server, and establishes a data connection between the terminal and the positioning server.

[0210] In some other embodiments, after the SMF network element receives the identification information of the terminal and the information of the positioning server sent by the AMF network element, the SMF network element may choose to insert the address of the UL CL in the access network where the terminal is located and the address of the PSA into the data connection currently corresponding to the terminal to establish a data connection between the terminal and the positioning server. Figure 7 As shown, the SMF network element can select a UL CL and PAS2 close to the terminal and / or gNB based on the DNN of the positioning server and the target TAI information of the terminal, and establish a data connection between the terminal and the positioning server. That is, the data connection between the terminal and the positioning server is a data connection composed of the terminal, gNB, PSA2 and positioning server. Among them, the UL CL can play the role of switching the data connection.

[0211] In an embodiment of the present application, the SMF network element establishes a data connection between the terminal and the positioning server by inserting the address of the UL CL in the access network where the terminal is located and the address of the PSA in the data connection currently corresponding to the terminal, so that the UL CL and PSA close to the terminal side and the positioning server can be selected, so that the terminal and the positioning server can directly interact with data through the newly created data connection without forwarding through the AMF network element, thereby shortening the transmission distance between the terminal and the positioning server, and further reducing the transmission time required for data transmission between the terminal and the positioning server, thereby effectively shortening the positioning delay of the terminal.

[0212] S603c: The SMF network element sends a notification message and the network address of the terminal to the AMF network element. The notification message is used to notify the SMF that a data connection has been established between the terminal and the positioning server.

[0213] In some embodiments, after the SMF network element completes the establishment of the data connection corresponding to the terminal, it can send a notification message to the AMF network element to notify the AMF network element that the data connection corresponding to the terminal has been established.

[0214] At this point, the AMF network element can obtain the second positioning request information based on the network address of the terminal and the first positioning request information. The positioning server can send measurement request information to the terminal based on the data connection between the terminal and the positioning server.

[0215] Optionally, in an implementation scenario of the embodiment of the present application, after step S605, Figure 6 The method shown also includes the following steps S606-S609:

[0216] S606: The terminal performs measurement to obtain measurement data.

[0217] S607: The terminal sends the measurement data to the positioning server. Correspondingly, the positioning server receives the measurement data from the terminal.

[0218] S608: The positioning server calculates the location information of the terminal according to the measurement data.

[0219] S609: The positioning server sends the second location information of the terminal to the positioning requester.

[0220] Among them, steps S606-S609 are respectively Figure 4 Steps S406-S409 in the embodiment shown are the same, and the relevant description can be referred to. Figure 4 The embodiments shown are not described in detail here.

[0221] In an embodiment of the present application, during the process of positioning the terminal, the terminal and the positioning server can interact through the user plane transmission path of the terminal, and can also avoid forwarding through the AMF network element, that is, the control plane transmission path interaction, thereby shortening the transmission distance between the terminal and the positioning server, and further reducing the transmission time required for data transmission between the terminal and the positioning server, thereby shortening the positioning delay of the terminal, and helping to improve the user experience.

[0222] It should be noted that, in the above embodiment, the AMF network element determines that the positioning function entity for locating the terminal is a positioning server based on the first positioning request information. Correspondingly, in some other embodiments, the AMF network element may also determine that the positioning function entity for locating the terminal is an LMF network element based on the first positioning request information. For example, when the AMF network element determines that the positioning delay requirement carried in the first positioning request information is greater than the preset time threshold, or determines that the first positioning request information does not carry the first indication information, or determines that the first positioning request information carries the second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate a high-latency positioning service, the AMF network element determines that a fast positioning calculation is not required for the terminal. At this time, the positioning function entity on the core network side, such as the LMF network element, may be selected to locate the terminal. Among them, the specific process for the LMF network element to locate the terminal can adopt the existing positioning process, and the embodiments of the present application will not be repeated here.

[0223] In an embodiment of the present application, the AMF network element can select different positioning function entities to locate the terminal according to the different requirements of the positioning requester for positioning delay, thereby meeting the different positioning delay requirements of the positioning requester.

[0224] It should be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, each network element and the positioning server may perform some or all of the steps in the embodiments of the present application. These steps are merely examples, and the embodiments of the present application may also perform other steps or variations of various steps. In addition, the steps may be performed in a different order than those presented in the embodiments of the present application, and it is possible that not all of the steps in the embodiments of the present application need to be performed.

[0225] In the various embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified or there is a logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships.

[0226] The above mainly introduces the solution provided by the embodiment of the present application from the perspective of the interaction between each network element and between each network element and the positioning server. It should be understood that in order to implement the above functions, the above-mentioned first network element, positioning server or terminal includes hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the execution of each function. Those skilled in the art should easily realize that, in combination with the units and algorithm steps of each example described in the embodiments disclosed herein, the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in a hardware or computer software-driven hardware manner depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional and technical personnel can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered to exceed the scope of this application.

[0227] In the embodiment of the present application, the first network element, the positioning server, or the terminal can be divided into functional modules according to the above method example. For example, each functional module can be divided according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The above integrated modules can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional modules. It should be noted that the division of modules in the embodiment of the present application is schematic and is only a logical functional division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods.

[0228] In the case of using integrated units (modules), Figure 8 FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a first network element applicable in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 8 As shown, the first network element 800 may include: a receiving unit 801, a processing unit 802 and a sending unit 803.

[0229] The processing unit 802 is used to control and manage the actions of the first network element 800. For example, the processing unit 802 is used to support the first network element 800 to execute Figures 4 to 6 The sending unit 803 and the receiving unit 801 are used to support the communication between the first network element 800 and other network entities, such as Figures 4 to 6 Communication between the positioning server and / or terminal is shown.

[0230] Optionally, the first network element 800 may further include a storage unit 804 for storing program codes and / or data of the first network element 800. For details, please refer to the following description:

[0231] The receiving unit 801 is configured to receive first positioning request information sent by a positioning requester, where the first positioning request information is used to request positioning of a terminal, and the first positioning request information carries identification information of the terminal;

[0232] The processing unit 802 is configured to determine, based on the first positioning request information, a positioning function entity for positioning the terminal, where the positioning function entity is a positioning server; and obtain second positioning request information based on the first positioning request information.

[0233] The sending unit 803 is configured to send the second positioning request information to the positioning server, so as to trigger the positioning server to perform positioning on the terminal when the user faces the terminal.

[0234] In a possible design, the processing unit 802 may also be used to determine whether the positioning requesting party has high requirements for delay based on the positioning delay requirement or first indication information carried in the first positioning request information.

[0235] In one possible design, when the processing unit 802 determines the positioning server for locating the terminal based on the first positioning request information, it can be specifically used to: obtain the first location information of the terminal based on the identification information of the terminal, and obtain the configuration information of at least one positioning server, the configuration information of the at least one positioning server including the area information under the jurisdiction of the at least one positioning server; determine the positioning server for locating the terminal based on the first location information of the terminal and the configuration information of the at least one positioning server.

[0236] The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific content of the first location information of the terminal and the area information under the jurisdiction of the at least one positioning server. For example, the first location information of the terminal is the target tracking area identifier TAI information; the area information under the jurisdiction of the at least one positioning server is the tracking area identifier TAI information under the jurisdiction of the at least one positioning server.

[0237] In one possible design, the receiving unit 801 can also be used to: obtain the network address of the terminal according to the identification information of the terminal; when the processing unit 802 obtains the second positioning request information according to the first positioning request information, it can be specifically used to: obtain the second positioning request information according to the first positioning request information and the network address of the terminal, wherein the second positioning request information includes the network address of the terminal.

[0238] In one possible design, the sending unit 803 can also be used to: send the identification information of the terminal and the information of the positioning server to the session management function SMF network element; when the receiving unit 801 obtains the network address of the terminal according to the identification information of the terminal, it can be specifically used to: obtain the network address of the terminal sent by the SMF network element.

[0239] In one possible design, the sending unit 803 can also be used to: send the information of the positioning server to the terminal, triggering the terminal to establish a data connection between the terminal and the positioning server; when the receiving unit 801 obtains the network address of the terminal based on the identification information of the terminal, it can be specifically used to: obtain the network address of the terminal sent by the SMF network element, and the network address is allocated to the terminal by the network during the data connection establishment process.

[0240] In a possible design, when the sending unit 803 sends the second positioning request information to the positioning server, it can be specifically used to: send the second positioning request information to the positioning server through a network open function NEF network element.

[0241] In one possible design, when the processing unit 802 determines that the positioning requesting party has high requirements for delay based on the positioning delay requirement carried in the first positioning request information, it can be specifically used to: determine that the positioning delay requirement is less than or equal to a preset duration threshold, and determine that the positioning requesting party has high requirements for delay.

[0242] In one possible design, when the processing unit 802 determines that the positioning requester has high requirements for latency based on the first indication information carried in the first positioning request information, it can be specifically used to: the first indication information indicates a low-latency positioning service, and determine that the positioning requester has high requirements for latency based on the first indication information.

[0243] The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific content of the positioning server information. For example, the positioning server information can be a data network name DNN corresponding to the positioning server or an Internet Protocol IP address.

[0244] The embodiment of the present application does not limit the positioning requester. For example, the positioning requester can be the terminal or an external client with positioning requirements.

[0245] It should be understood that the operations and / or functions of the various modules in the first network element 800 are respectively to achieve Figures 4 to 6 The corresponding process of the MEC-based positioning method shown is not repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0246] In the case of using integrated units (modules), Figure 9 FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of another first network element applicable to an embodiment of the present application. Figure 9 As shown, the first network element 900 may include at least one processor 901 and a memory 902. The memory 902 stores one or more computer programs, for example, one or more computer programs necessary for the first network element 900. The processor 901 is used to support the first network element 900 in implementing the above-mentioned MEC-based positioning method. For example, when the one or more computer programs stored in the memory 902 are executed by the at least one processor 901, the first network element 900 can implement Figure 4-Figure 6 Any of the embodiments of the MEC-based positioning method shown may be used, and / or used to implement other embodiments described herein.

[0247] Based on the same concept as the above method embodiment, the embodiment of the present application further provides a first network element, which includes a module / unit that executes the method embodiment of the above MEC-based positioning method, or any possible implementation of the method embodiment. These modules / units can be implemented in hardware, or corresponding software can be implemented in hardware.

[0248] In the case of using integrated units (modules), Figure 10 FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a terminal structure applicable to an embodiment of the present application. Figure 10 As shown, the terminal 1000 may include: a receiving unit 1001 and a sending unit 1002.

[0249] The sending unit 1002 and the receiving unit 1001 are used to support the communication between the terminal 1000 and other network entities, such as Figures 4 to 6 Communication between the first network element and / or the positioning server is shown.

[0250] Optionally, the terminal 1000 further includes a processing unit 1004 for controlling and managing the actions of the terminal 1000. For example, the processing unit 1004 is used to support the terminal 1000 in executing Figures 4 to 6 Process S406 in, and / or other processes for the technology described herein.

[0251] Optionally, the terminal 1000 may further include a storage unit 1003 for storing program codes and / or data of the terminal 1000. For details, please refer to the following description:

[0252] The receiving unit 1001 is configured to receive measurement request information sent by a positioning server through a data connection between the terminal 1000 and the positioning server, where the measurement request information carries a network address of the terminal 1000;

[0253] The sending unit 1002 is configured to report the measurement data obtained by measurement to the positioning server through the data connection, so that the positioning server calculates the second location information of the terminal 1000 according to the measurement data.

[0254] In one possible design, before the receiving unit 1001 receives the measurement request information sent by the positioning server through the data connection between the terminal 1000 and the positioning server, it can also be used to: receive network trigger information sent by the first network element, and the network trigger information includes information of the positioning server; the sending unit 1002 can also be used to: send an establishment request information for establishing a data connection between the terminal 1000 and the positioning server to the SMF network element according to the network trigger information to establish the data connection.

[0255] It should be understood that the operations and / or functions of the various modules in the terminal 1000 are respectively to achieve Figures 4 to 6 The corresponding process of the MEC-based positioning method shown is not repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0256] In the case of using integrated units (modules), Figure 11 FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of another terminal applicable to the embodiment of the present application. Figure 11 As shown, the terminal 1100 may include at least one processor 1101 and a memory 1102; the memory 1102 stores one or more computer programs, for example, one or more computer programs necessary for the terminal 1100. The processor 1101 is used to support the terminal 1100 in implementing the above-mentioned MEC-based positioning method. For example, when the one or more computer programs stored in the memory 1102 are executed by the at least one processor 1101, the terminal 1100 can implement Figure 4-Figure 6 Any of the embodiments of the MEC-based positioning method shown may be used, and / or used to implement other embodiments described herein.

[0257] Based on the same concept as the above method embodiment, an embodiment of the present application further provides a terminal, which includes a module / unit that executes the method embodiment of the above MEC-based positioning method, or any possible implementation of the method embodiment. These modules / units can be implemented in hardware, or corresponding software can be implemented in hardware.

[0258] In the case of using integrated units (modules), Figure 12 FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a positioning server applicable in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 12 As shown, the positioning server 1200 may include: a receiving unit 1201 , a sending unit 1202 and a processing unit 1203 .

[0259] In one possible design, the processing unit 1203 is used to control and manage the actions of the positioning server 1200. For example, the processing unit 1203 is used to support the positioning server 1200 to perform Figures 4 to 6 The sending unit 1202 and the receiving unit 1201 are used to support the communication between the positioning server 1200 and other network entities, such as 4- Figure 6 Communication between the first network element and / or terminal shown.

[0260] Optionally, the positioning server 1200 may further include a storage unit 1204 for storing program codes and / or data of the positioning server 1200. For details, please refer to the following description:

[0261] The receiving unit 1201 is configured to receive second positioning request information sent by a first network element, where the second positioning request information carries the network address of the terminal;

[0262] The sending unit 1202 is configured to send a measurement request message to the terminal through the data connection between the terminal and the positioning server 1200 according to the network address of the terminal carried in the second positioning request message, where the measurement request message is used to request the terminal to report measurement data;

[0263] The receiving unit 1201 is further configured to receive measurement data reported by the terminal through the data connection;

[0264] The processing unit 1203 is configured to calculate the second location information of the terminal according to the measurement data.

[0265] In one possible design, when the sending unit 1202 sends measurement request information to the terminal through the data connection between the terminal and the positioning server 1200 according to the network address of the terminal carried in the positioning request information, it can be specifically used to: send the network address of the terminal and the measurement request information to the user plane function UPF network element, so that the UPF forwards the measurement request information to the terminal through the data connection according to the network address of the terminal.

[0266] In one possible design, the sending unit 1202 can also be used to: if the positioning requester is the terminal, then the second location information is fed back to the terminal through the network open function NEF network element; or, if the positioning requester is an external client with positioning requirements, then the second location information is fed back to the external client through the business capability open function GMLC network element.

[0267] It should be understood that the operations and / or functions of each module in the positioning server 1200 are respectively to achieve Figures 4 to 6 The corresponding process of the MEC-based positioning method shown is not repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0268] In the case of using integrated units (modules), Figure 13 FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of another positioning server applicable to an embodiment of the present application. Figure 13 As shown, the positioning server 1300 may include at least one processor 1301 and a memory 1302. The memory 1302 stores one or more computer programs, for example, one or more computer programs necessary for the positioning server 1300. The processor 1301 is used to support the positioning server 1300 in implementing the above-mentioned MEC-based positioning method. For example, when the one or more computer programs stored in the memory 1302 are executed by the at least one processor 1301, the positioning server 1300 can implement Figure 4-Figure 6Any of the embodiments of the MEC-based positioning method shown may be used, and / or used to implement other embodiments described herein.

[0269] Based on the same concept as the above method embodiment, the present application also provides a positioning server in an embodiment, which includes modules / units that execute the above method embodiment of the MEC-based positioning method or any possible implementation of the method embodiment. These modules / units can be implemented in hardware, or corresponding software implementations can be executed in hardware.

[0270] Based on the same concept as the above method embodiment, the embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon. When the computer program is run on a computer, the computer executes the above method embodiment of the MEC-based positioning method and any possible implementation of the method embodiment, such as executing Figure 4-Figure 6 Any steps of the embodiments of the MEC-based positioning method shown, and / or other processes for performing the techniques described herein.

[0271] Based on the same concept as the above method embodiment, a program product is also provided in the embodiment of the present application. When the program product is run on a computer, the computer executes the method embodiment of the above MEC-based positioning method and any possible implementation of the method embodiment, such as executing Figure 4-Figure 6 Any steps of the embodiments of the MEC-based positioning method shown, and / or other processes for performing the techniques described herein.

[0272] Based on the same concept as the above method embodiment, a chip is also provided in the embodiment of the present application. The chip can be coupled with the memory in the first network element, the terminal or the positioning server, and is used to call the computer program stored in the memory and execute the above method embodiment of the MEC-based positioning method, any possible implementation of the method embodiment, such as executing Figure 4-Figure 6 Any steps of the embodiments of the MEC-based positioning method shown, and / or other processes for performing the techniques described herein.

[0273] It should be understood that the processor or processing unit (such as Figures 8 to 13The processor or processing unit shown) can be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. During implementation, each step of the method embodiment of the above-mentioned MEC-based positioning method can be completed by the hardware integrated logic circuit in the processor or the instructions in the form of software. The above-mentioned processor can be a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processing (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components or any combination thereof; it can also be a combination that implements computing functions, such as a combination of one or more microprocessors, a combination of DSP and microprocessors, etc. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or the processor can also be any conventional processor, etc.

[0274] It should be understood that the memory or storage unit in the embodiments of the present application may be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memories. Among them, the non-volatile memory may be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory may be a random access memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache. By way of example and not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous DRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), synchronous link DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct RAM bus RAM (DR RAM). It should be noted that the memory of the systems and methods described herein is intended to include, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0275] The various illustrative logic units and circuits described in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented or operated by a design of a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor, optionally, the general-purpose processor can also be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller or state machine. The processor can also be implemented by a combination of computing devices, such as a digital signal processor and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a digital signal processor core, or any other similar configuration.

[0276] The steps of the methods or algorithms described in the embodiments of the present application can be directly embedded in hardware, software units executed by a processor, or a combination of the two. The software units can be stored in RAM, flash memory, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, registers, hard disks, removable disks, CD-ROMs, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. For example, the storage medium can be connected to the processor so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. Alternatively, the storage medium can also be integrated into the processor. The processor and the storage medium can be provided in an ASIC, which can be provided in a communication device (such as a terminal, a positioning server, a first network element, etc.), for example, it can be provided in different components in the communication device.

[0277] 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 programs or instructions. When the computer program or instruction is loaded and executed on a computer, the process or function described in the embodiment of the present application is executed in whole or in part. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer program or instruction may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted via the computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server that integrates one or more available media. The available medium may be a magnetic medium, such as a floppy disk, a hard disk, or a tape; it may also be an optical medium, such as a DVD; it may also be a semiconductor medium, such as a solid state disk (SSD).

[0278] The embodiments of the present application are described with reference to the flowcharts and / or block diagrams of the methods, apparatuses, and computer program products involved in the embodiments. It should be understood that each process and / or block in the flowchart and / or block diagram, as well as the combination of processes and / or blocks in the flowchart and / or block diagram, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, an embedded processor, or other programmable data processing device to generate a machine, so that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device generate instructions for implementing the processes in the flowchart and / or block diagram. Figure 1 a process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A device that provides the functions specified in a block or multiple blocks.

[0279] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to work in a specific manner, so that the instructions stored in the computer readable memory produce an article of manufacture comprising an instruction device, which implements the process Figure 1 a process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The function specified in one or more boxes.

[0280] These computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device so that a series of operational steps are executed on the computer or other programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process, thereby providing the instructions executed on the computer or other programmable device for implementing the process. Figure 1 a process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A step that specifies a function in one or more boxes.

[0281] Although the embodiments of the present application have been described with reference to specific features, it is apparent that various modifications and combinations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments of the present application. Accordingly, this specification and the drawings are merely illustrative of the embodiments of the present application as defined by the appended claims and are intended to cover any and all modifications, variations, combinations, or equivalents within the scope of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A positioning method based on MEC, characterized in that: include: The terminal receives network trigger information sent by the first network element, where the network trigger information includes information about the positioning server; The terminal sends, to the SMF network element according to the network trigger information, an establishment request message for establishing a data connection between the terminal and the positioning server to establish the data connection; The terminal receives measurement request information sent by the positioning server through the data connection between the terminal and the positioning server; The terminal reports the measured data to the positioning server through the data connection, so that the positioning server calculates the second location information of the terminal according to the measured data.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The information of the positioning server is the data network name of the positioning server, and the establishment request information carries the network data name of the positioning server.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein The information of the positioning server is the IP address of the positioning server, and the method further includes: The data network name of the positioning server is obtained from a unified data management network element according to the IP address of the positioning server, and the network data name of the positioning server is carried in the request establishment information.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The measurement request information is used to instruct the terminal to report measurement data. After the terminal receives the measurement request information, the method includes: The terminal performs measurement according to the measurement parameters configured for the terminal by the network side, and collects the measurement data.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein The terminal reporting the measured data to the positioning server through the data connection includes: The terminal sends the measurement data to a data plane functional network element located in the data connection, so that the data plane functional network element sends the measurement data to the positioning server through the data connection according to the network address of the terminal.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The data connection comprises a packet data unit session.

7. A terminal, characterized in that: include: a receiving unit, configured to receive network trigger information sent by a first network element, the network trigger information including information of the positioning server, and receive measurement request information sent by the positioning server through a data connection between the terminal and the positioning server, the measurement request information carrying the network address of the terminal; A sending unit is used to send an establishment request message for establishing a data connection between the terminal and the positioning server to the SMF network element according to the network trigger information to establish the data connection; and report the measured measurement data to the positioning server through the data connection, so that the positioning server calculates the second location information of the terminal based on the measurement data.

8. The terminal according to claim 7, wherein: The information of the positioning server is the data network name of the positioning server, and the establishment request information carries the network data name of the positioning server.

9. The terminal according to claim 7, wherein: The information of the positioning server is the IP address of the positioning server, and the method further includes: The data network name of the positioning server is obtained from a unified data management network element according to the IP address of the positioning server, and the network data name of the positioning server is carried in the request establishment information.

10. The terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The measurement request information is used to instruct the terminal to report measurement data. After the terminal receives the measurement request information, the terminal further includes: A unit configured to perform measurement according to measurement parameters configured by the network side for the terminal and collect the measurement data.

11. The terminal according to claim 4, wherein: The sending unit is configured to report the measured data to the positioning server through the data connection, including: The sending unit sends the measurement data to a data plane functional network element located in the data connection, so that the data plane functional network element sends the measurement data to the positioning server through the data connection according to the network address of the terminal.

12. The terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The data connection comprises a packet data unit session.

13. A communication device, characterized in that: include: at least one processor and memory; The memory stores one or more computer programs; When one or more computer programs stored in the memory are executed by the at least one processor, the communication device is caused to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

14. A computer storage medium, characterized in that The computer-readable storage medium comprises a computer program, which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to execute claims 1-6.

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