Locating method and locating device for energy-obtaining Internet of Things device and energy-obtaining Internet of Things device

Abstract

The invention provides an energy-obtaining Internet of Things equipment positioning method, positioning equipment and energy-obtaining Internet of Things equipment. The method comprises the following steps: receiving a reflection signal sent by the energy-obtaining Internet of Things equipment; based on the reflection signal, determining position information of the energy-obtaining Internet of Things equipment; and sending the position information to network equipment. According to the method and the device provided by the invention, the positioning device determines the position information of the energy-obtaining Internet of Things device based on the reflection signal sent by the energy-obtaining Internet of Things device, and sends the position information to the network device, so that the positioning of the energy-obtaining Internet of Things device is completed, and in the process, the energy-obtaining Internet of Things device only needs to perform signal reflection, and the positioning efficiency is improved. And the complexity and the cost of the energy-obtaining Internet of Things equipment are prevented from being increased.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a method for locating a powered Internet of Things (IoT) device, a positioning device, and a powered IoT device. Background Technology

[0002] With the active exploration of 5G (5th Generation Mobile Communication Technology) technology in the Internet of Things, Ambient IoT has emerged.

[0003] Energized IoT devices possess ultra-low energy reserves, or none at all, thereby achieving ultra-low cost and ultra-low power consumption. These devices cannot proactively initiate services; they rely on network signals as incentives to perform simple signal processing and uplink transmission. For example, these devices can reflect signals or carry a small amount of information while reflecting signals.

[0004] In applications involving powered IoT devices, servers / networks often need to obtain the location information of these devices. However, due to the cost and complexity limitations of powered IoT devices, traditional positioning methods relying on the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) or various uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) positioning methods defined by 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) are not applicable. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a method for locating powered IoT devices, a positioning device, and a powered IoT device to solve the positioning problem of powered IoT devices.

[0006] In a first aspect, this application provides a method for locating an IoT device, applied to a positioning device, the method comprising:

[0007] Receive reflected signals sent by powered IoT devices;

[0008] Based on the reflected signal, the location information of the powered IoT device is determined;

[0009] The location information is sent to the network device.

[0010] According to the positioning method for a powered Internet of Things (IoT) device provided in this application, the step of sending the location information to a network device includes:

[0011] The device receives a location information request sent by the network device. The location information request includes at least one of the information type, reporting method, and distance classification conditions of the location information. The distance classification conditions are used to classify the distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device.

[0012] Based on the location information request, the location information is sent to the network device.

[0013] According to the positioning method for a powered Internet of Things (IoT) device provided in this application, when the positioning device is a relay node, the step of receiving the location information request sent by the network device includes:

[0014] Receive location information requests sent by the core network and forwarded by the base station;

[0015] Alternatively, receive a downlink non-access stratum message sent by the core network, wherein the downlink non-access stratum message carries the location information request;

[0016] The relay node includes terminal equipment with relay capabilities.

[0017] According to the positioning method for a powered IoT device provided in this application, determining the location information of the powered IoT device based on the reflected signal includes:

[0018] The location information of the powered IoT device is determined based on at least one of the signal measurement results of the reflected signal, the round-trip time of the reflected signal, and the device information of the positioning device.

[0019] According to the positioning method for a powered IoT device provided in this application, determining the location information of the powered IoT device based on at least one of the signal measurement result of the reflected signal, the round-trip time of the reflected signal, and the device information of the positioning device includes:

[0020] The distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device is determined based on at least one of the reference signal receiving power, the reference signal receiving quality, and the round-trip time of the reflected signal from the signal measurement results.

[0021] Based on the angle of arrival in the signal measurement results, the direction of the powered IoT device from the positioning device is determined;

[0022] The location information of the powered IoT device is determined based on at least one of the following: the distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device, the direction of the powered IoT device from the positioning device, and the device information of the positioning device.

[0023] According to the positioning method for a powered Internet of Things (IoT) device provided in this application, when the positioning device is a relay node, the step of sending the location information to the network device includes:

[0024] The location information is sent to the base station, which then forwards it to the core network.

[0025] Alternatively, an uplink non-access stratum message is sent to the core network, the uplink non-access stratum message carrying the location information;

[0026] The relay node includes terminal equipment with relay capabilities.

[0027] According to the power-generating IoT device positioning method provided in this application, the location information includes the device location information of the power-generating IoT device and / or the device information of the positioning device;

[0028] The device location information includes the absolute location information of the powered IoT device and / or the relative location information between the powered IoT device and the positioning device.

[0029] According to the positioning method for a powered IoT device provided in this application, the relative position information includes at least one of the following: distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device, direction, distance level, round-trip time, and signal measurement results of the reflected signal. The distance level is determined based on the signal measurement results of the reflected signal and one of the distances, along with a distance classification condition. The distance classification condition is used to classify the distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device into different levels.

[0030] According to the positioning method for a powered IoT device provided in this application, the absolute location information includes the area information where the powered IoT device is located, and the area information includes at least one of wireless service area information and geographic area information.

[0031] According to the positioning method for an IoT device provided in this application, if the positioning device is a base station, then the network device is a core network;

[0032] If the positioning device is a relay node, then the network device includes at least one of a core network and a base station; wherein, the relay node includes terminal devices with relay capabilities.

[0033] Secondly, this application also provides a method for locating a powered IoT device, applied to a powered IoT device, the method comprising:

[0034] Acquire the excitation signal;

[0035] Based on the excitation signal, a reflected signal is sent, which is used to determine the location information of the powered IoT device.

[0036] Thirdly, this application also provides a positioning device, including a memory, a transceiver, and a processor;

[0037] A memory for storing computer programs; a transceiver for sending and receiving data under the control of the processor; and a processor for reading the computer programs from the memory and performing the following operations:

[0038] Receive reflected signals sent by powered IoT devices;

[0039] Based on the reflected signal, the location information of the powered IoT device is determined;

[0040] The location information is sent to the network device.

[0041] According to a positioning device provided in this application, the step of sending the location information to a network device includes:

[0042] The device receives a location information request sent by the network device. The location information request includes at least one of the information type, reporting method, and distance classification conditions of the location information. The distance classification conditions are used to classify the distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device.

[0043] Based on the location information request, the location information is sent to the network device.

[0044] According to a positioning device provided in this application, when the positioning device is a relay node, the step of receiving a location information request sent by the network device includes:

[0045] Receive location information requests sent by the core network and forwarded by the base station;

[0046] Alternatively, receive a downlink non-access stratum message sent by the core network, wherein the downlink non-access stratum message carries the location information request;

[0047] The relay node includes terminal equipment with relay capabilities.

[0048] According to a positioning device provided in this application, determining the location information of the powered Internet of Things device based on the reflected signal includes:

[0049] The location information of the powered IoT device is determined based on at least one of the signal measurement results of the reflected signal, the round-trip time of the reflected signal, and the device information of the positioning device.

[0050] According to a positioning device provided in this application, determining the location information of the powered Internet of Things (IoT) device based on at least one of the signal measurement result of the reflected signal, the round-trip time of the reflected signal, and the device information of the positioning device includes:

[0051] The distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device is determined based on at least one of the reference signal receiving power, the reference signal receiving quality, and the round-trip time of the reflected signal from the signal measurement results.

[0052] Based on the angle of arrival in the signal measurement results, the direction of the powered IoT device from the positioning device is determined;

[0053] The location information of the powered IoT device is determined based on at least one of the following: the distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device, the direction of the powered IoT device from the positioning device, and the device information of the positioning device.

[0054] According to a positioning device provided in this application, when the positioning device is a relay node, the step of sending the location information to a network device includes:

[0055] The location information is sent to the base station, which then forwards it to the core network.

[0056] Alternatively, an uplink non-access stratum message is sent to the core network, the uplink non-access stratum message carrying the location information;

[0057] The relay node includes terminal equipment with relay capabilities.

[0058] According to a positioning device provided in this application, the location information includes the device location information of the powered Internet of Things device and / or the device information of the positioning device;

[0059] The device location information includes the absolute location information of the powered IoT device and / or the relative location information between the powered IoT device and the positioning device.

[0060] According to a positioning device provided in this application, the relative position information includes at least one of the following: distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device, direction, distance level, round-trip time, and signal measurement results of the reflected signal. The distance level is determined based on the signal measurement results of the reflected signal and one of the distances, along with a distance classification condition. The distance classification condition is used to classify the distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device into different levels.

[0061] According to a positioning device provided in this application, the absolute location information includes the area information where the powered Internet of Things device is located, and the area information includes at least one of wireless service area information and geographic area information.

[0062] According to a positioning device provided in this application, if the positioning device is a base station, then the network device is a core network;

[0063] If the positioning device is a relay node, then the network device includes at least one of a core network and a base station; wherein, the relay node includes terminal devices with relay capabilities.

[0064] Fourthly, this application also provides an enabled Internet of Things (IoT) device, including a memory, a transceiver, and a processor;

[0065] A memory for storing computer programs; a transceiver for sending and receiving data under the control of the processor; and a processor for reading the computer programs from the memory and performing the following operations:

[0066] Acquire the excitation signal;

[0067] Based on the excitation signal, a reflected signal is sent, which is used to determine the location information of the powered IoT device.

[0068] Fifthly, this application also provides a power-enabled IoT device positioning device, applied to a positioning device, the device comprising:

[0069] A reflection receiving unit is used to receive reflected signals sent by powered IoT devices;

[0070] A location determination unit is used to determine the location information of the powered Internet of Things device based on the reflected signal;

[0071] The information reporting unit is used to send the location information to the network device.

[0072] Sixthly, this application also provides a positioning device for powered IoT devices, applied to powered IoT devices, the device comprising:

[0073] Acquisition unit, used to acquire excitation signals;

[0074] A reflection unit is used to send a reflected signal based on the excitation signal, the reflected signal being used to determine the location information of the powered IoT device.

[0075] In a seventh aspect, this application also provides a non-transiently readable storage medium storing a computer program, the computer program being configured to cause a processor to execute the location method for a powered Internet of Things (IoT) device provided in the first aspect as described above, or to execute the location method for a powered IoT device provided in the second aspect as described above.

[0076] Eighthly, this application also provides a communication device, wherein the communication device stores a computer program, the computer program being used to cause the communication device to perform the power IoT device positioning method described in the first aspect above, or to perform the power IoT device positioning method described in the second aspect above.

[0077] Ninthly, this application also provides a processor-readable storage medium storing a computer program for causing a processor to execute the power IoT device location method described in the first aspect above, or to execute the power IoT device location method described in the second aspect above.

[0078] In a tenth aspect, this application also provides a chip product, wherein the chip product stores a computer program, the computer program being used to cause the chip product to perform the power IoT device positioning method described in the first aspect above, or to perform the power IoT device positioning method described in the second aspect above.

[0079] The positioning method, positioning device, and empowered IoT device provided in this application determine the location information of the empowered IoT device based on the reflected signal sent by the empowered IoT device, and send the location information to the network device, thereby completing the positioning of the empowered IoT device. In this process, the empowered IoT device only needs to reflect the signal, avoiding the increase in complexity and cost of the empowered IoT device. Attached Figure Description

[0080] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in this application or related technologies, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments or related technologies will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0081] Figure 1 It is one of the network architecture topologies for enabling the Internet of Things in related technologies;

[0082] Figure 2 This is the second network architecture topology diagram for enabling the Internet of Things in related technologies;

[0083] Figure 3This is one of the flowcharts illustrating the method for locating powered IoT devices provided in this application;

[0084] Figure 4 This is one of the flowcharts illustrating the location method for powered IoT devices using a base station as the positioning device provided in this application;

[0085] Figure 5 This is the second flowchart illustrating the location method for powered IoT devices using a base station as the positioning device provided in this application.

[0086] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating the location method for an enabled IoT device that uses an intermediate node as the location device, as provided in this application.

[0087] Figure 7 This is the second flowchart illustrating the method for locating powered IoT devices provided in this application;

[0088] Figure 8 This is a structural schematic diagram of the positioning device provided in this application;

[0089] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the powered Internet of Things device provided in this application;

[0090] Figure 10 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of the power-enabled IoT device positioning device provided in this application;

[0091] Figure 11 This is the second structural schematic diagram of the IoT device positioning device provided in this application. Detailed Implementation

[0092] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the technical solutions of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0093] With the active exploration of 5G technology in the Internet of Things, the Energized Internet of Things has emerged.

[0094] Enabling IoT, also known as passive IoT or environmental IoT, is a highly simplified IoT technology designed to describe a vast IoT ecosystem where every object is connected to a wireless sensor network via low-cost, self-powered sensor nodes.

[0095] Currently, the network architecture of the Internet of Things can be represented by two topologies. Figure 1 and Figure 2These are network architecture topologies for enabling the Internet of Things (IoT) in related technologies.

[0096] Figure 1 In this process, the powered IoT device communicates directly with the base station in two directions. The communication between the powered IoT device and the base station includes powered IoT data and / or signals. Figure 1 The topology shown includes the possibility that the base station transmitting to the powered IoT device is different from the base station receiving data from the powered IoT device.

[0097] Figure 2 In this topology, powered IoT devices and base stations communicate bidirectionally through relay nodes. Relay nodes can be relays, IAB (Integrated Access and Backhaul) nodes, UEs (User Equipment), repeaters, etc. Relay nodes transmit powered IoT data and / or signaling between the base station and the powered IoT devices.

[0098] Energized IoT devices possess ultra-low energy reserves, or none at all, thereby achieving the ultra-low cost and ultra-low power consumption characteristics of powered IoT. These devices cannot proactively initiate services; they rely on network signals as incentives to perform simple signal processing and uplink transmission. For example, these devices can reflect signals, or carry a small amount of information while reflecting signals.

[0099] In applications involving powered IoT devices, servers / networks often need to obtain the location information of these devices. However, due to the cost and complexity of powered IoT devices, traditional positioning methods relying on the Global Navigation Satellite System, or various uplink and downlink positioning methods defined by 3GPP, are not applicable.

[0100] Currently, research on the technology of powered IoT is still in its early stages, and there is no solution for obtaining the location information of powered IoT devices in the relevant technologies.

[0101] To address the aforementioned problems, this application provides a method for locating powered IoT devices. This method can be applied to positioning devices. See [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 1 , Figure 2 The network architecture topology diagram shown is for the positioning of powered IoT devices. The positioning device can be a base station or a relay node.

[0102] Figure 3 This is one of the flowcharts illustrating the method for locating powered IoT devices provided in this application, such as... Figure 3 As shown, the method includes:

[0103] Step 310: Receive the reflected signal sent by the powered IoT device.

[0104] Specifically, when a powered IoT device receives a signal, it can reflect the signal. In this embodiment, the reflected signal is referred to as the reflected signal. It can be understood that the reflected signal is the signal emitted by the powered IoT device under signal excitation, that is, the signal reflected by the powered IoT device in response to the received excitation signal.

[0105] In this embodiment, the positioning device can receive reflected signals sent by the enabled IoT device. It should be noted that during the process of the enabled IoT device receiving an excitation signal and then emitting a reflected signal, the signal received by the enabled IoT device can be emitted by the positioning device or by other devices. The reflected signal emitted by the enabled IoT device is received by the positioning device and can also be received by other devices. That is, the transmitting end receiving the signal and the receiving end emitting the signal can be the same device or different devices; this embodiment does not specifically limit this.

[0106] Understandably, in this process, the powered IoT device only needs to reflect signals. It is not required that the powered IoT device itself has GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) capabilities, nor is it required that the powered IoT device perform the complex operations in the various uplink and downlink positioning methods under 3GPP positioning.

[0107] Step 320: Determine the location information of the powered IoT device based on the reflected signal.

[0108] Specifically, after receiving the reflected signal, the positioning device can determine the approximate location of the powered IoT device based on the reflected signal, that is, obtain the location information. Specifically, it can be expressed as at least one of the following forms: the approximate distance and direction of the powered IoT device relative to the positioning device, the distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device, the beam or cell information of the base station where the powered IoT device is located, etc. This application embodiment does not specifically limit this.

[0109] In the process of determining the location information of a powered IoT device, the positioning device can determine the location information of the powered IoT device based on the signal strength and orientation of the received reflected signal, or based on the signal strength and orientation of the received reflected signal and the location of the positioning device itself. This application embodiment does not specifically limit this.

[0110] Step 330: Send the location information to the network device.

[0111] Specifically, after obtaining the location information of the enabled IoT device, the positioning device can send the location information to the network device. The network device receives the location information of the enabled IoT device, and the positioning of the enabled IoT device is completed. The location information of the enabled IoT device can then be used in the scenario application of the enabled IoT device through the network device.

[0112] The network device here can be a base station or a core network. For example, if the positioning device is a base station, the network device can be a core network; or if the positioning device is a relay node, the network device can be either a base station or a core network. This application does not specifically limit this.

[0113] The method provided in this application embodiment involves a positioning device determining the location information of an enabled IoT device based on a reflected signal sent by the enabled IoT device, and then sending the location information to a network device, thereby completing the positioning of the enabled IoT device. In this process, the enabled IoT device only needs to reflect the signal, avoiding the increase in complexity and cost of the enabled IoT device.

[0114] Based on any of the above embodiments, step 330 of the method includes:

[0115] The device receives a location information request sent by the network device. The location information request includes at least one of the reporting type, reporting method and distance classification conditions of the location information. The distance classification conditions are used to classify the distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device.

[0116] Based on the location information request, the location information is sent to the network device.

[0117] Specifically, in step 330, the positioning device can receive a location information request sent by the network device. Here, the location information request is used to request the positioning device to report the location information of the enabled IoT device to the network device. The location information request may carry at least one of the following: the information type, the reporting method, and the distance classification conditions for the location information to be reported by the positioning device, as indicated by the network device.

[0118] The location information type refers to the type of information used to reflect the location of the IoT device. This information type can include one or more types, such as the absolute distance between the IoT device and the positioning device, the direction of the IoT device from the positioning device, the distance level between the IoT device and the positioning device, the round-trip time between the IoT device and the positioning device, the signal measurement results of the reflected signal, the identifier of the positioning device, the location of the positioning device, the area information where the IoT device is located, and the approximate location information of the IoT device.

[0119] The reporting method reflects when the positioning device reports location information. The reporting method can include at least one of event reporting and periodic reporting. Event reporting refers to triggering location information reporting when a specified event is detected, while periodic reporting refers to reporting location information regularly at specified time intervals. When the reporting method for the location information of a powered IoT device includes periodic reporting, the location information request can include a reporting period, which reflects the frequency with which the positioning device reports location information.

[0120] The distance classification criteria are the conditions or thresholds for classifying the distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device. The distance classification can be two levels (far and near), three levels (far, medium, and near), or other classification methods; this application does not specifically limit this. The criteria for classifying the distance levels can be based on the signal measurement results of the reflected signals measured by the positioning device. These signal measurement results can be the RSRP (Reference Signal Receiving Power) or the RSRQ (Reference Signal Received Quality) of the reflected signals; alternatively, the criteria for classifying the distance levels can be based on the distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device.

[0121] Upon receiving a location information request, the positioning device can send the location information to the network device based on the format of the location information requested in the location information request. For example, it can send location information containing the corresponding information type to the network device based on the information type of the location information included in the location information request; or, based on the reporting method included in the location information request, it can send the location information to the network device according to the actual reporting indicated by the reporting method; or, based on the distance classification conditions included in the location information request, it can classify the measured distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device, and send the classified distance level as part of the location information to the network device. This application embodiment does not specifically limit this.

[0122] The method provided in this application embodiment allows a network device to send a location information request and constrain at least one of the following: the information type, reporting period, and distance classification conditions of the location information of the IoT device, in order to ensure the effectiveness of the location of the IoT device.

[0123] Based on any of the above embodiments, when the positioning device is a relay node, receiving the location information request sent by the network device includes:

[0124] Receive location information requests sent by the core network and forwarded by the base station;

[0125] Alternatively, receive a downlink non-access stratum message sent by the core network, wherein the downlink non-access stratum message carries the location information request;

[0126] The relay node includes terminal equipment with relay capabilities.

[0127] Specifically, see Figure 2 The illustrated network architecture topology for the empowered Internet of Things (IoT) can include two scenarios for receiving location information requests from network devices:

[0128] One approach is for the relay node to communicate directly with the core network. For example, a UE acting as a relay node can communicate with the core network via NAS (Non-Access Stratum). In this case, the core network can directly send location information requests to the relay node; that is, the core network can send location information requests to the relay node via downlink non-access stratum messages.

[0129] Alternatively, relay nodes communicate with the core network through base stations. In this case, the core network can send location information requests to the base station, which then forwards the location information requests to the relay nodes.

[0130] Based on any of the above embodiments, step 320 includes:

[0131] The location information of the powered IoT device is determined based on at least one of the signal measurement results of the reflected signal, the round-trip time of the reflected signal, and the device information of the positioning device.

[0132] Specifically, the positioning device can perform signal measurement on the reflected signal to obtain the signal measurement result. This signal measurement result can include at least one of the RSRP and RSRQ of the reflected signal, thereby determining the distance between the positioning device and the enabled IoT device. The distance between the positioning device and the enabled IoT device can then be used as the location information of the enabled IoT device. Alternatively, the distance between the positioning device and the enabled IoT device can be classified according to proximity to obtain a distance level, and the distance level can be used as the location information of the enabled IoT device. Or, the signal measurement result can also include the angle of arrival (AoA) of the reflected signal. By measuring the angle of arrival of the reflected signal, the orientation of the enabled IoT device relative to the positioning device can be determined, and the orientation can be used as the location information of the enabled IoT device. Alternatively, the distance and orientation of the enabled IoT device relative to the positioning device can be combined with the position of the positioning device to obtain the absolute position of the enabled IoT device, which can then be used as the location information of the enabled IoT device.

[0133] In addition, the positioning device can measure the round-trip time of the reflected signal, which is the round-trip time (RTT) between the signal and the empowered IoT device. This determines the distance between the positioning device and the empowered IoT device, and then uses the distance between the positioning device and the empowered IoT device as the location information of the empowered IoT device. Alternatively, the distance between the positioning device and the empowered IoT device can be classified according to its proximity to obtain a distance level, and the distance level can be used as the location information of the empowered IoT device.

[0134] In addition, the positioning device can reflect its own position through its own device information, thereby reflecting the approximate position of the powered IoT device. Thus, the device information can be directly used as positioning information; or the position of the positioning device reflected by the device information can be combined with the relative position between the powered IoT device and the positioning device determined by the signal measurement results and / or round-trip time to obtain the absolute position of the powered IoT device, and the absolute position of the powered IoT device can be used as the position information of the powered IoT. This application does not specifically limit this.

[0135] Based on any of the above embodiments, in step 320, determining the location information of the powered IoT device based on at least one of the signal measurement result of the reflected signal, the round-trip time of the reflected signal, and the device information of the positioning device includes:

[0136] The distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device is determined based on at least one of the reference signal receiving power, the reference signal receiving quality, and the round-trip time of the reflected signal from the signal measurement results.

[0137] Based on the angle of arrival in the signal measurement results, the direction of the powered IoT device from the positioning device is determined;

[0138] The location information of the powered IoT device is determined based on at least one of the following: the distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device, the direction of the powered IoT device from the positioning device, and the device information of the positioning device.

[0139] Specifically, the reference signal received power (RSRP), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), and round-trip time (RTT) of the reflected signal in the signal measurement results can all be used to determine the distance between the positioning device and the enabled IoT device. For example, the larger the RSRP and / or RSRQ, the closer the positioning device and the enabled IoT device are; the smaller the RSRP and / or RSRQ, the farther the positioning device and the enabled IoT device are. Conversely, the larger the RTT, the farther the positioning device and the enabled IoT device are; the smaller the RSRP and / or RSRQ, the closer the positioning device and the enabled IoT device are.

[0140] The angle of arrival (AoA) in the signal measurement results can be used to characterize the direction of the propagation path of the reflected signal, that is, the orientation of the powered IoT device relative to the positioning device.

[0141] By obtaining the distance between the positioning device and the empowered IoT device and / or the orientation of the empowered IoT device relative to the positioning device, the relative position information between the positioning device and the empowered IoT device can be determined, thereby determining the location information of the empowered IoT device; or the relative position information between the positioning device and the empowered IoT device can be combined with the position of the positioning device itself to determine the absolute position information of the empowered IoT device, thereby determining the location information of the empowered IoT device.

[0142] Alternatively, the location information of the powered IoT device can be determined by any one or a combination of the distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device, the direction of the powered IoT device from the positioning device, and the device information of the positioning device. This application embodiment does not specifically limit this.

[0143] Based on any of the above embodiments, when the positioning device is a relay node, step 330, sending the location information to the network device, includes:

[0144] The location information is sent to the base station, which then forwards it to the core network.

[0145] Alternatively, an uplink non-access stratum message is sent to the core network, the uplink non-access stratum message carrying the location information;

[0146] The relay node includes terminal equipment with relay capabilities.

[0147] Specifically, see Figure 2 The illustrated network architecture topology for empowered IoT, in which sending location information to network devices can include two scenarios:

[0148] One approach is for relay nodes to communicate directly with the core network. In this case, the relay node can directly send its location information to the core network; that is, the relay node can send its location information to the core network via uplink non-access stratum messages.

[0149] Another approach is for relay nodes to communicate with the core network via base stations. In this case, the relay node can send its location information to the base station, which then forwards it to the core network. For example, the base station can send location information to the core network via the NG (NextGeneration) interface.

[0150] Based on any of the above embodiments, the location information includes the device location information of the powered IoT device and / or the device information of the positioning device;

[0151] The device location information includes the absolute location information of the powered IoT device and / or the relative location information between the powered IoT device and the positioning device.

[0152] Specifically, the location information sent to the network device for enabling the Internet of Things can include at least one of the following two types:

[0153] The device location information of the powered IoT device may include the relative location information between the powered IoT device and the positioning device and / or the absolute location information of the powered IoT device.

[0154] The relative position information between the powered IoT device and the positioning device refers to the position information of the powered IoT device relative to the positioning device itself. This information may include at least one of the following: the distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device; the direction of the powered IoT device from the positioning device; the distance level between the powered IoT device and the positioning device; the round-trip time (RTT) between the powered IoT device and the positioning device; and the signal measurement result of the reflected signal measured by the positioning device. The signal measurement result of the reflected signal may be at least one of the RSRP and RSRQ of the reflected signal. It is understood that the magnitudes of both RSRP and RSRQ can reflect the distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device.

[0155] The absolute location information of a powered IoT device refers to the specific location of the powered IoT device in a fixed reference frame. Unlike relative location information, the representation of absolute location information does not depend on the location of the positioning device. Absolute location information may include at least one of the following: area information where the powered IoT device is located, and approximate location information of the powered IoT device. It is understood that the approximate location information here is the location information predicted through reflected signals, specifically calculated GNSS information; however, this application does not specifically limit this.

[0156] The device information of the positioning device reflects its own location information. Firstly, combining the location information with the aforementioned relative location information yields the absolute location information of the IoT device. Secondly, the distance between the positioning device itself, capable of receiving the reflected signal from the enabled IoT device, and the enabled IoT device must be within the transmission range of the reflected signal. Therefore, the location information of the positioning device itself can reflect the approximate location of the enabled IoT device. The device information may include at least one of the device identifier and the location information of the positioning device. For example, in the case where the positioning device is a relay node, the relay node can send at least one of its own node identifier and its own location information as the location information of the enabled IoT device to the base station, which then sends it to the core network. Alternatively, the relay node can directly send at least one of its own node identifier and its own location information as the location information of the enabled IoT device to the core network. It should be noted that the specific types of location information sent to the network device for the enabled IoT device can be determined based on the information type carried in the location information request received by the positioning device, or based on the positioning device's own configuration. This application embodiment does not specifically limit this.

[0157] Based on any of the above embodiments, in the location information, the relative location information includes at least one of the following: distance, direction, distance level, round-trip time, and signal measurement results of reflected signals between the powered IoT device and the positioning device. The distance level is determined based on the signal measurement results of the reflected signals and one of the distances and distance classification conditions.

[0158] Specifically, the relative location information may include at least one of the following: distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device, direction, distance class, round-trip time, and signal measurement results of reflected signals.

[0159] The distance level is used to reflect the distance between the IoT device and the positioning device. The distance level can be two levels (far and near), three levels (far, medium and near), or other distance levels. This application does not specifically limit this.

[0160] Furthermore, the distance level can be determined based on either the signal measurement result of the reflected signal or the distance, along with a distance grading condition. Specifically, the distance level can be determined based on the signal measurement result of the reflected signal and the distance grading condition, or based on the distance between the enabled IoT device and the positioning device and the distance grading condition. For example, the positioning device can compare the RSRP of its measured reflected signal with the range or threshold of RSRP belonging to different distance levels in the distance grading condition to determine the distance level of the enabled IoT device. Alternatively, the positioning device can compare the RSRQ of its measured reflected signal with the range or threshold of RSRQ belonging to different distance levels in the distance grading condition to determine the distance level of the enabled IoT device. Another example is that the positioning device can compare the distance it determines between the enabled IoT device and the positioning device with the range or threshold of distance belonging to different distance levels in the distance grading condition to determine the distance level of the enabled IoT device. This application does not specifically limit this approach.

[0161] Here, the distance classification conditions used to determine the distance level can be the distance classification conditions carried in the location information request received by the positioning device, or they can be determined based on the positioning device's own configuration. This application embodiment does not specifically limit this.

[0162] For example, when the positioning device is a base station, the distance classification conditions can be pre-configured to the core network and the base station through OAM (Operation, Administration, and Maintenance), or sent to the base station by the core network via signaling; when the positioning device is a relay node, the distance classification conditions can be pre-configured to the relay node through OAM, or sent to the base station by the core network and then sent to the relay node by the base station, or directly configured to the relay node by the core network through NAS.

[0163] Based on any of the above embodiments, in the location information, the absolute location information includes the area information where the powered IoT device is located, and the area information includes at least one of wireless service area information and geographic area information.

[0164] Specifically, absolute location information may include information about the area where the powered IoT device is located.

[0165] The area information referred to here may include area information at the wireless service coverage layer, i.e., wireless service area information, which can be specifically represented as the base station beam information where the IoT device is located, or the cell information where the IoT device is located.

[0166] In addition, regional information can also include regional information at the geographical level, i.e., geographical regional information. For example, it can be represented as the road segment or block where the IoT device is located, or it can be identified as the workshop or production line where the IoT device is located. For example, geographical regional information can be workshop A production line 3 or workshop B production line 1.

[0167] It is understandable that the specific locations reflected by the aforementioned wireless service area information and geographic area information can be pre-configured to positioning and network devices through OAM (Operation, Administration, and Maintenance).

[0168] Based on any of the above embodiments, the above-described method for locating powered IoT devices is based on Figure 1 The illustrated network architecture topology implementation for the Internet of Things (IoT) is shown in which, if the positioning device is a base station, then the network device is the core network.

[0169] For example, Figure 4 This is one of the flowcharts illustrating the location method for powered IoT devices using a base station as the positioning device provided in this application, such as... Figure 4 As shown, a base station can act as a positioning device and communicate directly with powered IoT devices. The base station can receive reflected signals from the powered IoT devices and determine the approximate distance and direction between the device and the base station based on these signals. This determines the distance level between the powered IoT device and the base station, i.e., whether the distance is "near" or "far-medium-near". The base station can report the distance level of the powered IoT device to the core network as its location information, or it can calculate the location information of the powered IoT device based on the distance level and report it to the core network.

[0170] For example, Figure 5 This is the second flowchart illustrating the IoT device positioning method using a base station as the positioning device provided in this application. Figure 5 As shown, the base station can act as a positioning device to communicate directly with the enabled IoT device. The base station can receive reflected signals from the enabled IoT device and determine the approximate distance and direction between the device and the base station based on these signals. This determines the distance level between the enabled IoT device and the base station—that is, whether the distance is "near" or "far-medium-near"—and identifies the beam / cell where the enabled IoT device is located. The base station can report at least one of the distance level and the beam / cell as location information to the core network, or it can calculate the location information of the enabled IoT device based on the distance level and the beam / cell and report it to the core network.

[0171] Based on any of the above embodiments, the above-described method for locating powered IoT devices is based on Figure 2 The illustrated network architecture topology implementation for the Internet of Things (IoT) is such that, if the positioning device is a relay node, the network device includes at least one of a core network and a base station, wherein the relay node includes terminal devices with relay capabilities.

[0172] Specifically, when the positioning device acts as a relay node, receiving location information requests from network devices can include two scenarios:

[0173] One approach is for the relay node to communicate directly with the core network. For example, a UE acting as a relay node can communicate with the core network via NAS. In this case, the core network can directly send location information requests to the relay node.

[0174] Alternatively, relay nodes communicate with the core network through base stations. In this case, the core network can send location information requests to the base station, which then forwards the location information requests to the relay nodes.

[0175] In addition, for the case where the positioning device acts as a relay node, sending location information to the network device can include two scenarios:

[0176] One approach is for relay nodes to communicate directly with the core network. In this case, the relay node can directly send its location information to the core network.

[0177] Another approach is for relay nodes to communicate with the core network via base stations. In this case, the relay node can send its location information to the base station, which then forwards it to the core network. For example, the base station can send location information to the core network via the NG interface.

[0178] For example, Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating the location method for powered IoT devices using relay nodes as positioning devices provided in this application. Figure 6 As shown, relay nodes can act as positioning devices and communicate directly with powered IoT devices. Relay nodes can receive reflected signals from powered IoT devices and determine the device's location information based on these signals. This location information may include the approximate location of the powered IoT device, the distance between the powered IoT device and the relay node, and the distance level between them. After determining the location of the powered IoT device, the relay node can report this location information to network devices via signaling or data. For example, the relay node can directly report the location information to the core network via NAS.

[0179] Based on any of the above embodiments, this application also provides a method for locating powered IoT devices. This method can be applied to powered IoT devices. Figure 7 This is the second flowchart illustrating the method for locating powered IoT devices provided in this application, as shown below. Figure 7 As shown, the method includes:

[0180] Step 710: Obtain the excitation signal.

[0181] Specifically, the excitation signal is the signal sent by the relevant devices involved in the positioning of the IoT device, and the IoT device to be located can obtain the excitation signal.

[0182] Step 720: Based on the excitation signal, a reflected signal is sent, the reflected signal being used to determine the location information of the powered IoT device.

[0183] Specifically, the powered IoT device can reflect the received excitation signal, that is, the powered IoT device can emit a transmission signal based on the received excitation signal. It can be understood that the reflected signal is the signal emitted by the powered IoT device under the excitation of the signal, that is, the signal reflected by the powered IoT device in response to the received excitation signal.

[0184] Subsequently, the positioning device can receive the reflected signal sent by the powered IoT device. Based on the reflected signal, it can determine the approximate location of the powered IoT device, that is, obtain the location information. Specifically, it can be expressed as at least one of the following forms: the approximate distance and direction of the powered IoT device relative to the positioning device, the distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device, the beam or cell information of the base station where the powered IoT device is located, etc. This application embodiment does not specifically limit this.

[0185] In the process of determining the location information of a powered IoT device, the positioning device can determine the location information of the powered IoT device based on the signal strength and orientation of the received reflected signal, or based on the signal strength and orientation of the received reflected signal and the location of the positioning device itself. This application embodiment does not specifically limit this.

[0186] Subsequently, the positioning device can also send the location information of the powered IoT device to the network device. The network device receives the location information of the powered IoT device, completes the positioning of the powered IoT device, and the location information of the powered IoT device can be put into the scenario application of the powered IoT device through the network device.

[0187] The network device here can be a base station or a core network. For example, if the positioning device is a base station, the network device can be a core network; or if the positioning device is a relay node, the network device can be either a base station or a core network. This application does not specifically limit this.

[0188] It should be noted that in the location method for the powered IoT device provided in the above embodiments, the powered IoT device only needs to reflect signals. It is not required that the powered IoT device itself has GNSS capability, nor is it required that the powered IoT device perform the complex operations in the various uplink and downlink location methods under 3GPP positioning.

[0189] In addition, during the process of the powered IoT device receiving signal excitation and then emitting a reflected signal, the signal received by the powered IoT device can be emitted by the positioning device or by other devices. The reflected signal emitted by the powered IoT device is received by the positioning device and can also be received by other devices. That is, the transmitting end of the powered IoT device that receives the signal and the receiving end of the signal that emits the signal can be the same device or different devices. This application does not specifically limit this.

[0190] The method provided in this application embodiment involves an activated IoT device emitting a reflected signal based on an excitation signal, and a positioning device determining the location information of the activated IoT device based on the reflected signal and sending the location information to a network device, thereby completing the positioning of the activated IoT device. In this process, the activated IoT device only needs to reflect the signal, avoiding the increase in complexity and cost of the activated IoT device.

[0191] Based on any of the above embodiments, for the case where the positioning device is a base station and the network device is a core network, the positioning method for enabling IoT devices may include the following steps:

[0192] like Figure 4 or Figure 5 As shown, the core network can send a location information request to the base station and in the location information request, indicate the type of information and the reporting method of the location information to be reported by the base station.

[0193] After receiving a location information request, the base station can determine the location information of each enabled IoT device according to the requirements of the request and report it to the core network. The location information here may include the GNSS information of the enabled IoT device, the distance between the enabled IoT device and the base station, the distance level between the enabled IoT device and the base station, the beam / cell / downlink physical channel in which the enabled IoT device is located, and the location information of the base station, etc.

[0194] Based on any of the above embodiments, for the case where the positioning device is a relay node and the network equipment includes a core network and base stations, the positioning method for enabling IoT devices may include the following steps:

[0195] like Figure 6 As shown, the core network sends a location information request to the base station, and in the location information request, it instructs the base station on the type of information to be reported and the reporting method.

[0196] After receiving a location information request, the base station can determine that the IoT device to be located is under a certain relay node based on the location information of each IoT device reported by each relay node. Then, it will report at least one of the relay node's identifier and the relay node's location information as the location information of the IoT device to the core network.

[0197] In addition, after receiving location information and determining the relay node where the powered IoT device is located, the core network can also obtain the specific location information of the relay node through OAM configuration or LCS (Location Services) positioning method.

[0198] Based on any of the above embodiments, for the case where the positioning device is a relay node and the network equipment includes the core network, the positioning method for the IoT device can include the following steps:

[0199] Assuming the core network knows the service range of the relay node where the powered IoT device is located, it can send a location information request to the relay node through NAS to request the relay node to report more granular location information of the powered IoT terminal.

[0200] After receiving the location information request, the relay node can report the location information of the enabled IoT device to the core network via UL NAS. This information may include at least one of the following:

[0201] The absolute distance of the powered IoT device from the relay node, the direction of the powered IoT device from the relay node, the distance level identifier of the powered IoT terminal from the relay node, the location information of the relay node, and the approximate location information (GNSS coordinates) of the powered IoT terminal.

[0202] Based on any of the above embodiments Figure 8 This is a structural schematic diagram of the positioning device provided in this application, such as... Figure 8 As shown, the positioning device includes a memory 820, a transceiver 810, and a processor 800; wherein the processor 800 and the memory 820 can also be physically arranged separately.

[0203] The memory 820 is used to store computer programs; the transceiver 810 is used to send and receive data under the control of the processor 800.

[0204] Specifically, the transceiver 810 is used to receive and send data under the control of the processor 800.

[0205] Among them, Figure 8 In this application, the bus architecture can include any number of interconnected buses and bridges, specifically linking various circuits of one or more processors represented by processor 800 and memory represented by memory 820 together. The bus architecture can also link various other circuits such as peripheral devices, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art and therefore will not be further described herein. The bus interface provides an interface. The transceiver 810 can be multiple elements, including a transmitter and a receiver, providing a unit for communicating with various other devices over a transmission medium, including wireless channels, wired channels, optical fibers, and other transmission media.

[0206] The processor 800 is responsible for managing the bus architecture and general processing, while the memory 820 can store the data used by the processor 800 during operation.

[0207] The processor 800 can be a central processing unit (CPU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or a complex programmable logic device (CPLD). The processor can also adopt a multi-core architecture.

[0208] The processor 800 executes any of the methods described in the embodiments of this application according to the obtained executable instructions by calling the computer program stored in the memory 820. For example:

[0209] Receive reflected signals sent by powered IoT devices;

[0210] Based on the reflected signal, the location information of the powered IoT device is determined;

[0211] The location information is sent to the network device.

[0212] In some embodiments, sending the location information to the network device includes:

[0213] The device receives a location information request sent by the network device. The location information request includes at least one of the information type, reporting method, and distance classification conditions of the location information. The distance classification conditions are used to classify the distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device.

[0214] Based on the location information request, the location information is sent to the network device.

[0215] In some embodiments, when the positioning device is a relay node, receiving the location information request sent by the network device includes:

[0216] Receive location information requests sent by the core network and forwarded by the base station;

[0217] Alternatively, receive a downlink non-access stratum message sent by the core network, wherein the downlink non-access stratum message carries the location information request;

[0218] The relay node includes terminal equipment with relay capabilities.

[0219] In some embodiments, determining the location information of the powered IoT device based on the reflected signal includes:

[0220] The location information of the powered IoT device is determined based on at least one of the signal measurement results of the reflected signal, the round-trip time of the reflected signal, and the device information of the positioning device.

[0221] In some embodiments, determining the location information of the powered IoT device based on at least one of the signal measurement result of the reflected signal, the round-trip time of the reflected signal, and the device information of the positioning device includes:

[0222] The distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device is determined based on at least one of the reference signal receiving power, the reference signal receiving quality, and the round-trip time of the reflected signal from the signal measurement results.

[0223] Based on the angle of arrival in the signal measurement results, the direction of the powered IoT device from the positioning device is determined;

[0224] The location information of the powered IoT device is determined based on at least one of the following: the distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device, the direction of the powered IoT device from the positioning device, and the device information of the positioning device.

[0225] In some embodiments, when the positioning device is a relay node, sending the location information to the network device includes:

[0226] The location information is sent to the base station, which then forwards it to the core network.

[0227] Alternatively, an uplink non-access stratum message is sent to the core network, the uplink non-access stratum message carrying the location information;

[0228] The relay node includes terminal equipment with relay capabilities.

[0229] In some embodiments, the location information includes the device location information of the powered IoT device and / or the device information of the positioning device;

[0230] The device location information includes the absolute location information of the powered IoT device and / or the relative location information between the powered IoT device and the positioning device.

[0231] In some embodiments, the relative position information includes at least one of the following: distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device, direction, distance class, round-trip time, and signal measurement results of the reflected signal. The distance class is determined based on the signal measurement results of the reflected signal and one of the distances, along with a distance classification condition. The distance classification condition is used to classify the distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device into different levels.

[0232] In some embodiments, the absolute location information includes the area information where the powered IoT device is located, and the area information includes at least one of wireless service area information and geographic area information.

[0233] In some embodiments, if the positioning device is a base station, then the network device is a core network;

[0234] If the positioning device is a relay node, then the network device includes at least one of a core network and a base station; wherein, the relay node includes terminal devices with relay capabilities.

[0235] Based on any of the above embodiments Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the powered IoT device provided in this application, such as... Figure 9 As shown, the powered IoT device includes a memory 920, a transceiver 910, and a processor 900; the processor 900 and the memory 920 can also be physically arranged separately.

[0236] The memory 920 is used to store computer programs; the transceiver 910 is used to send and receive data under the control of the processor 900.

[0237] Specifically, the transceiver 910 is used to receive and send data under the control of the processor 900.

[0238] Among them, Figure 9 In this application, the bus architecture can include any number of interconnected buses and bridges, specifically linking various circuits of one or more processors represented by processor 900 and memory represented by memory 920 together. The bus architecture can also link various other circuits such as peripheral devices, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art and therefore will not be further described herein. The bus interface provides an interface. The transceiver 910 can be multiple elements, including a transmitter and a receiver, providing a unit for communicating with various other devices over a transmission medium, including wireless channels, wired channels, optical fibers, and other transmission media.

[0239] The processor 900 is responsible for managing the bus architecture and general processing, while the memory 920 can store the data used by the processor 900 during operation.

[0240] The processor 900 can be a CPU, ASIC, FPGA or CPLD, and the processor can also adopt a multi-core architecture.

[0241] The processor 900 executes any of the methods described in the embodiments of this application according to the obtained executable instructions by calling the computer program stored in the memory 920, for example:

[0242] Acquire the excitation signal;

[0243] Based on the excitation signal, a reflected signal is sent, which is used to determine the location information of the powered IoT device.

[0244] Based on any of the above embodiments Figure 10 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of the power-enabled IoT device positioning device provided in this application, such as... Figure 10 As shown, the power-enabled IoT device positioning device is used in positioning equipment, and the device includes:

[0245] The reflection receiving unit 1010 is used to receive the reflected signal sent by the powered Internet of Things device;

[0246] The location determination unit 1020 is used to determine the location information of the powered Internet of Things device based on the reflected signal;

[0247] The information reporting unit 1030 is used to send the location information to the network device.

[0248] In some embodiments, the information reporting unit is specifically used for:

[0249] The device receives a location information request sent by the network device. The location information request includes at least one of the information type, reporting method, and distance classification conditions of the location information. The distance classification conditions are used to classify the distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device.

[0250] Based on the location information request, the location information is sent to the network device.

[0251] In some embodiments, when the positioning device is a relay node, the information reporting unit is specifically used for:

[0252] Receive location information requests sent by the core network and forwarded by the base station;

[0253] Alternatively, receive a downlink non-access stratum message sent by the core network, wherein the downlink non-access stratum message carries the location information request;

[0254] The relay node includes terminal equipment with relay capabilities.

[0255] In some embodiments, the position determination unit is specifically used for:

[0256] The location information of the powered IoT device is determined based on at least one of the signal measurement results of the reflected signal, the round-trip time of the reflected signal, and the device information of the positioning device.

[0257] In some embodiments, the position determination unit is specifically used for:

[0258] The distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device is determined based on at least one of the reference signal receiving power, the reference signal receiving quality, and the round-trip time of the reflected signal from the signal measurement results.

[0259] Based on the angle of arrival in the signal measurement results, the direction of the powered IoT device from the positioning device is determined;

[0260] The location information of the powered IoT device is determined based on at least one of the following: the distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device, the direction of the powered IoT device from the positioning device, and the device information of the positioning device.

[0261] In some embodiments, when the positioning device is a relay node, the information reporting unit is specifically used for:

[0262] The location information is sent to the base station, which then forwards it to the core network.

[0263] Alternatively, an uplink non-access stratum message is sent to the core network, the uplink non-access stratum message carrying the location information;

[0264] The relay node includes terminal equipment with relay capabilities.

[0265] In some embodiments, the location information includes the device location information of the powered IoT device and / or the device information of the positioning device;

[0266] The device location information includes the absolute location information of the powered IoT device and / or the relative location information between the powered IoT device and the positioning device.

[0267] In some embodiments, the relative position information includes at least one of the following: distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device, direction, distance class, round-trip time, and signal measurement results of the reflected signal. The distance class is determined based on the signal measurement results of the reflected signal and one of the distances, along with a distance classification condition. The distance classification condition is used to classify the distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device into different levels.

[0268] In some embodiments, the absolute location information includes the area information where the powered IoT device is located, and the area information includes at least one of wireless service area information and geographic area information.

[0269] In some embodiments, if the positioning device is a base station, then the network device is a core network;

[0270] If the positioning device is a relay node, then the network device includes at least one of a core network and a base station; wherein, the relay node includes terminal devices with relay capabilities.

[0271] Based on any of the above embodiments Figure 11 This is the second structural schematic diagram of the power-enabled IoT device positioning device provided in this application, as shown below. Figure 11 As shown, the powered IoT device positioning device is applied to unpowered IoT devices, and the device includes:

[0272] Acquisition unit 1110 is used to acquire excitation signals;

[0273] The reflection unit 1120 is used to send a reflected signal based on the excitation signal, the reflected signal being used to determine the location information of the powered IoT device.

[0274] It should be noted that the division of units in the embodiments of this application is illustrative and only represents one logical functional division. In actual implementation, other division methods may be used. Furthermore, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit. The integrated units described above can be implemented in hardware or as software functional units.

[0275] If the integrated unit is implemented as a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a processor-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or all or part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) or processor to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0276] It should be noted that the apparatus provided in this application embodiment can implement all the method steps implemented in the above method embodiment and can achieve the same technical effect. Here, the parts that are the same as those in the method embodiment and the beneficial effects will not be described in detail.

[0277] On the other hand, embodiments of this application also provide a non-transiently readable storage medium storing a computer program, the computer program being used to cause a processor to execute the power IoT device positioning method provided in the above embodiments.

[0278] It should be noted that the non-transiently readable storage medium provided in this application embodiment can implement all the method steps implemented in the above method embodiment and can achieve the same technical effect. Here, the parts that are the same as those in the method embodiment and the beneficial effects will not be described in detail.

[0279] The non-transiently readable storage medium can be any available medium or data storage device that a computer can access, including but not limited to magnetic storage (e.g., floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes, magneto-optical disks (MOs), etc.), optical storage (e.g., CDs, DVDs, BDs, HVDs, etc.), and semiconductor storage (e.g., ROMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, non-volatile memory (NAND flash), solid-state drives (SSDs)).

[0280] The technical solutions provided in this application can be applied to various systems, especially 5G systems. For example, applicable systems may include Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD), Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE-A), Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), and 5G New Radio (NR). All of these systems include terminal equipment and base stations. The systems may also include a core network, such as Evolved Packet System (EPS) and 5G system (5GS).

[0281] The relay nodes involved in the embodiments of this application may include terminals. A terminal may be a device that provides voice and / or data connectivity to a user, a handheld device with wireless connectivity, or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem. The name of the terminal may differ in different systems; for example, in a 5G system, a terminal may be called User Equipment (UE). Wireless terminal devices can communicate with one or more core networks (CNs) via a Radio Access Network (RAN). Wireless terminal devices can be mobile terminal devices, such as mobile phones (or "cellular" phones) and computers with mobile terminal devices, for example, portable, pocket-sized, handheld, computer-embedded, or vehicle-mounted mobile devices that exchange voice and / or data with the RAN. Examples include Personal Communication Service (PCS) phones, cordless phones, Session Initiated Protocol (SIP) phones, Wireless Local Loop (WLL) stations, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), and other devices. Wireless terminal equipment can also be referred to as a system, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, access point, remote terminal, access terminal, user terminal, user agent, or user device, but this application does not limit the terminology.

[0282] The base station involved in this application embodiment may include multiple cells providing services to terminals. Depending on the specific application, the base station may also be called an access point, or a device in the access network that communicates with wireless terminal devices through one or more sectors on the air interface, or other names. Network devices can be used to exchange received air frames with Internet Protocol (IP) packets, acting as routers between the wireless terminal devices and the rest of the access network, where the rest of the access network may include an Internet Protocol (IP) communication network. The base station can also coordinate the attribute management of the air interface. For example, the base station involved in the embodiments of this application can be a base transceiver station (BTS) in Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) or Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), a base station (NodeB) in Wide-band Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), an evolved Node B (eNB or e-NodeB) in a long term evolution (LTE) system, a 5G base station (gNB) in a next generation system, a Home evolved Node B (HeNB), a relay node, a femto, a pico, etc., and is not limited in the embodiments of this application. In some network structures, the base station may include centralized unit (CU) nodes and distributed unit (DU) nodes, and the centralized unit and distributed unit may also be geographically separated.

[0283] Base stations and terminals can each use one or more antennas for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission. MIMO transmission can be single-user MIMO (SU-MIMO) or multiple-user MIMO (MU-MIMO). Depending on the configuration and number of antenna combinations, MIMO transmission can be 2D-MIMO, 3D-MIMO, FD-MIMO, or massive-MIMO, and can also be diversity transmission, precoding transmission, or beamforming transmission, etc.

[0284] Those skilled in the art will understand that embodiments of this application can be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Therefore, this application can take the form of a completely hardware embodiment, a completely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, this application can take the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-usable storage media (including, but not limited to, disk storage and optical storage) containing computer-usable program code.

[0285] This application is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of this application. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer-executable instructions. These computer-executable instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, special-purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, generate instructions for implementing the flowchart... Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A device that provides the functions specified in one or more boxes.

[0286] These processor-executable instructions may also be stored in a processor-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to operate in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the processor-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means, which are implemented in a process Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The function specified in one or more boxes.

[0287] These processors can execute instructions that can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device, causing a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process, thereby providing instructions that execute on the computer or other programmable device for implementing the process. Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The steps of the function specified in one or more boxes.

[0288] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this application without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. Therefore, if such modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims of this application and their equivalents, this application also intends to include such modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A method for locating powered Internet of Things (IoT) devices, characterized in that, Applied to a positioning device, the method includes: Receive reflected signals sent by powered IoT devices; Based on the reflected signal, the location information of the powered IoT device is determined; The location information is sent to the network device.

2. The method for locating an IoT device with energy as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Sending the location information to the network device includes: The device receives a location information request sent by the network device. The location information request includes at least one of the information type, reporting method, and distance classification conditions of the location information. The distance classification conditions are used to classify the distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device. Based on the location information request, the location information is sent to the network device.

3. The method for locating an IoT device with energy as described in claim 2, characterized in that, When the positioning device is a relay node, receiving the location information request sent by the network device includes: Receive location information requests sent by the core network and forwarded by the base station; Alternatively, receive a downlink non-access stratum message sent by the core network, wherein the downlink non-access stratum message carries the location information request; The relay node includes terminal equipment with relay capabilities.

4. The method for locating an IoT device with energy as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Determining the location information of the powered IoT device based on the reflected signal includes: The location information of the powered IoT device is determined based on at least one of the signal measurement results of the reflected signal, the round-trip time of the reflected signal, and the device information of the positioning device.

5. The method for locating an IoT device with power according to claim 4, characterized in that, Determining the location information of the powered IoT device based on at least one of the signal measurement result of the reflected signal, the round-trip time of the reflected signal, and the device information of the positioning device includes: The distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device is determined based on at least one of the reference signal receiving power, the reference signal receiving quality, and the round-trip time of the reflected signal in the signal measurement results. Based on the angle of arrival in the signal measurement results, the direction of the powered IoT device from the positioning device is determined; The location information of the powered IoT device is determined based on at least one of the following: the distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device, the direction of the powered IoT device from the positioning device, and the device information of the positioning device.

6. The method for locating an IoT device with power according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the positioning device is a relay node, sending the location information to the network device includes: The location information is sent to the base station, which then forwards it to the core network. Alternatively, an uplink non-access stratum message is sent to the core network, the uplink non-access stratum message carrying the location information; The relay node includes terminal equipment with relay capabilities.

7. The method for locating an IoT device with power according to claim 1, characterized in that, The location information includes the device location information of the powered IoT device and / or the device information of the positioning device; The device location information includes the absolute location information of the powered IoT device and / or the relative location information between the powered IoT device and the positioning device.

8. The method for locating an IoT device with power according to claim 7, characterized in that, The relative position information includes at least one of the following: distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device, direction, distance level, round-trip time, and signal measurement results of the reflected signal. The distance level is determined based on the signal measurement results of the reflected signal and one of the distances, along with a distance classification condition. The distance classification condition is used to classify the distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device into different levels.

9. The method for locating an IoT device with power according to claim 7, characterized in that, The absolute location information includes the area information where the powered IoT device is located, and the area information includes at least one of wireless service area information and geographic area information.

10. The method for locating an IoT device according to any one of claims 1-2, 4-5, and 7-9, characterized in that, If the positioning device is a base station, then the network device is the core network; If the positioning device is a relay node, then the network device includes at least one of a core network and a base station; wherein, the relay node includes terminal devices with relay capabilities.

11. A method for locating an IoT device with power, characterized in that, The method, applied to powered IoT devices, includes: Acquire the excitation signal; Based on the excitation signal, a reflected signal is sent, which is used to determine the location information of the powered IoT device.

12. A positioning device, characterized in that, Includes memory, transceiver, and processor; A memory for storing computer programs; a transceiver for sending and receiving data under the control of the processor; and a processor for reading the computer programs from the memory and performing the following operations: Receive reflected signals sent by powered IoT devices; Based on the reflected signal, the location information of the powered IoT device is determined; The location information is sent to the network device.

13. The positioning device according to claim 12, characterized in that, Sending the location information to the network device includes: The device receives a location information request sent by the network device. The location information request includes at least one of the information type, reporting method, and distance classification conditions of the location information. The distance classification conditions are used to classify the distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device. Based on the location information request, the location information is sent to the network device.

14. The positioning device according to claim 13, characterized in that, When the positioning device is a relay node, receiving the location information request sent by the network device includes: Receive location information requests sent by the core network and forwarded by the base station; Alternatively, receive a downlink non-access stratum message sent by the core network, wherein the downlink non-access stratum message carries the location information request; The relay node includes terminal equipment with relay capabilities.

15. The positioning device according to claim 12, characterized in that, Determining the location information of the powered IoT device based on the reflected signal includes: The location information of the powered IoT device is determined based on at least one of the signal measurement results of the reflected signal, the round-trip time of the reflected signal, and the device information of the positioning device.

16. The positioning device according to claim 15, characterized in that, Determining the location information of the powered IoT device based on at least one of the signal measurement result of the reflected signal, the round-trip time of the reflected signal, and the device information of the positioning device includes: The distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device is determined based on at least one of the reference signal receiving power, the reference signal receiving quality, and the round-trip time of the reflected signal in the signal measurement results. Based on the angle of arrival in the signal measurement results, the direction of the powered IoT device from the positioning device is determined; The location information of the powered IoT device is determined based on at least one of the following: the distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device, the direction of the powered IoT device from the positioning device, and the device information of the positioning device.

17. The positioning device according to claim 12, characterized in that, When the positioning device is a relay node, sending the location information to the network device includes: The location information is sent to the base station, which then forwards it to the core network. Alternatively, an uplink non-access stratum message is sent to the core network, the uplink non-access stratum message carrying the location information; The relay node includes terminal equipment with relay capabilities.

18. The positioning device according to claim 12, characterized in that, The location information includes the device location information of the powered IoT device and / or the device information of the positioning device; The device location information includes the absolute location information of the powered IoT device and / or the relative location information between the powered IoT device and the positioning device.

19. The positioning device according to claim 18, characterized in that, The relative position information includes at least one of the following: distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device, direction, distance level, round-trip time, and signal measurement results of the reflected signal. The distance level is determined based on the signal measurement results of the reflected signal and one of the distances, along with a distance classification condition. The distance classification condition is used to classify the distance between the powered IoT device and the positioning device into different levels.

20. The positioning device according to claim 18, characterized in that, The absolute location information includes the area information where the powered IoT device is located, and the area information includes at least one of wireless service area information and geographic area information.

21. The positioning device according to any one of claims 12-13, 15-16, and 18-20, characterized in that, If the positioning device is a base station, then the network device is the core network; If the positioning device is a relay node, then the network device includes at least one of a core network and a base station; wherein, the relay node includes terminal devices with relay capabilities.

22. A powered Internet of Things (IoT) device, characterized in that, Includes memory, transceiver, and processor; A memory for storing computer programs; a transceiver for sending and receiving data under the control of the processor; and a processor for reading the computer programs from the memory and performing the following operations: Acquire the excitation signal; Based on the excitation signal, a reflected signal is sent, which is used to determine the location information of the powered IoT device.

23. A positioning device for an IoT device with an energy source, characterized in that, Applied to a positioning device, the device includes: A reflection receiving unit is used to receive reflected signals sent by powered IoT devices; A location determination unit is used to determine the location information of the powered Internet of Things device based on the reflected signal; The information reporting unit is used to send the location information to the network device.

24. A positioning device for an IoT device with an energy source, characterized in that, The device is applied to powered Internet of Things (IoT) devices and includes: Acquisition unit, used to acquire excitation signals; A reflection unit is used to send a reflected signal based on the excitation signal, the reflected signal being used to determine the location information of the powered IoT device.

25. A processor-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The processor-readable storage medium stores a computer program that causes the processor to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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