Positioning method and device

Abstract

The invention provides a positioning method and device, relates to the field of communication, and is helpful for enabling the accuracy of positioning terminal equipment to be relatively high. The method comprises: sending first information and fourth information, the first information being used for indicating a plurality of grids, the correlation between third channel feature information corresponding to each of the plurality of grids and first channel feature information corresponding to a first communication device being greater than or equal to a first threshold, the fourth information is used for indicating first channel characteristic information corresponding to the first communication device; third information is received, the third information is used for indicating a first grid in the multiple grids, the first grid indicates the position of the first communication device, the first grid is determined based on the first channel characteristic information and multiple pieces of second channel characteristic information corresponding to multiple second communication devices, and the multiple second communication devices are determined based on the multiple grids.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communications, and particularly to positioning methods and apparatus in the field of communications. Background Technology

[0002] A channel map can be understood as a database storing channel features related to geographic location information. Therefore, given the location of a terminal device, the channel features corresponding to that location can be used to assist communication between the terminal device and network devices, improving communication quality. Currently, the geographic location of a terminal device can be determined by combining information such as the angle of arrival (AOA) or time of arrival (TOA) measured by the terminal device or network device with the geographic location information of the network device. However, the accuracy of locating terminal devices in this way is not high enough. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application provides a positioning method and apparatus that enables positioning terminal devices to achieve higher accuracy.

[0004] In a first aspect, a positioning method is provided, the method comprising: transmitting first information and fourth information, the first information being used to indicate a plurality of grids, wherein the correlation between third channel feature information corresponding to each grid and first channel feature information corresponding to a first communication device is greater than or equal to a first threshold, and the fourth information being used to indicate the first channel feature information corresponding to the first communication device; receiving third information, the third information being used to indicate a first grid among the plurality of grids, the first grid indicating the position of the first communication device, the first grid being determined based on the first channel feature information and multiple second channel feature information corresponding to multiple second communication devices, the multiple second communication devices being determined based on the plurality of grids.

[0005] In one possible implementation, the method is performed by a first communication device. The first communication device may be a first terminal or a chip or circuit that can be applied to the first terminal.

[0006] The device receiving the first and fourth information can be a third communication device; and the device sending the third information to the first communication device can also be a third communication device. That is, the first grid can be determined by the third communication device based on the first and fourth information from the first communication device. The third communication device can be a network device or a chip or circuit that can be applied to a network device.

[0007] It should be understood that, since the correlation between channel feature information is distance-dependent, if the correlation between the third channel feature information corresponding to each grid and the first channel feature information is greater than or equal to the first threshold, the geographical area where the first communication device is located is relatively close to the geographical area indicated by the multiple grids. That is, the first communication device may be located in one of the multiple grids.

[0008] In the positioning method of this application, a third communication device (e.g., a network device) can determine a grid in which the first communication device is located from multiple grids based on first channel feature information and multiple second channel feature information corresponding to multiple second communication devices. The multiple grids can be grids in which the first communication device may be located.

[0009] Thus, on the one hand, the way the third communication device determines the grid in which the first communication device is located is not affected by obstacles between the first and third communication devices. Even under NLOS conditions, the third communication device can accurately determine the grid in which the first communication device is located. On the other hand, for the multiple grids in which the first communication device may be located, the third communication device can further match them using user-level channel feature information to accurately determine the first grid in which the first communication device is located.

[0010] Furthermore, in this method, the first grid is determined by the third communication device, which does not need to indicate multiple second channel feature information to the first communication device, thus reducing the signaling overhead for locating the first communication device.

[0011] Secondly, a relocation method is provided, comprising: sending first information, the first information indicating multiple grids, wherein the correlation between third channel feature information corresponding to each grid and first channel feature information corresponding to a first communication device is greater than or equal to a first threshold; receiving second information, the second information indicating multiple second channel feature information corresponding to multiple second communication devices, the multiple second communication devices being determined based on multiple grids; and determining a first grid among the multiple grids based on the first channel feature information corresponding to the first communication device and the multiple second feature information, the first grid indicating the location of the first communication device.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the method is performed by a first communication device. The first communication device may be a first terminal or a chip or circuit that can be applied to the first terminal.

[0013] The difference between the positioning method provided in the second aspect and the positioning method provided in the first aspect is that the first grid is determined by the first communication device among multiple grids.

[0014] The positioning method of this application, when the first communication device matches multiple grids in which it may be located, allows the first communication device to perform further matching based on channel feature information corresponding to multiple second communication devices and its own channel feature information. This allows the first communication device to determine the grid in which it is located among the multiple grids. Thus, the method by which the first communication device determines the grid in which it is located is not affected by obstacles between the first and third communication devices, and even under NLOS conditions, the first communication device can accurately determine the grid in which it is located.

[0015] Furthermore, for the multiple grids that the first communication device may be matched by, the first communication device further matches based on the channel feature information corresponding to the user. Compared with matching based on the grid-level map basis, the first communication device performs further matching based on the channel feature information at the user level, thereby enabling the first communication device to accurately locate the grid it is in.

[0016] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some embodiments of the second aspect, the method further includes: sending third information, the third information being used to indicate the first grid.

[0017] In this way, after the first communication device determines that the first communication device is in the first grid, it can indicate the first grid to the third communication device through the third information, so that the third communication device can determine that the first communication device is in the first grid.

[0018] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some embodiments of the second aspect, the second information is used to indicate the grid in which each of the plurality of second communication devices is located, as well as the plurality of second channel characteristic information.

[0019] The second information may be sent from the third communication device to the first communication device.

[0020] In this way, based on the indication information of the grid in which each of the multiple second communication devices is located, the first communication device can determine the grid in which each second communication device is located, and thus determine the geographical area in which each second communication device is located. This facilitates the first communication device in determining the first grid from multiple grids by combining the geographical area in which each second communication device is located with multiple second channel feature information.

[0021] In conjunction with the first aspect and the second aspect, in some embodiments of the first aspect or the second aspect, the first grid is determined based on the correlation between the first channel feature information and each of the plurality of second channel feature information.

[0022] It is understandable that the correlation between channel feature information is related to the distance between communication devices. This allows the first or third communication device to accurately determine the first grid from multiple grids based on the correlation between the first channel feature information and each of the multiple second channel feature information.

[0023] In conjunction with the first aspect and the second aspect, in some embodiments of the first aspect or the second aspect, the first grid is the grid that is closest to the grid where the target second communication device is located among a plurality of grids, the target second communication device is a communication device among a plurality of second communication devices, and the second channel feature information corresponding to the target second communication device has the greatest correlation with the first channel feature information among a plurality of second channel feature information.

[0024] It is understandable that the geographical area where the second communication device is located can be determined based on the grid where the second communication device is located. Since the correlation between channel feature information can represent the dependence or similarity between different channel path characteristics, the smaller the distance between communication devices, the greater the correlation between the channel feature information corresponding to the communication devices. Therefore, the first grid is the grid closest to the grid where the target second communication device is located among multiple grids; that is, the geographical area corresponding to the first grid is closest to the geographical area corresponding to the grid where the target second communication device is located.

[0025] In conjunction with the first aspect and the second aspect, in some embodiments of the first aspect or the second aspect, the method further includes: receiving fifth information, the fifth information being used to indicate each grid in the first grid set and a plurality of third channel feature information, the plurality of third channel feature information including third channel feature information corresponding to each grid in the first grid set, the first grid set including a plurality of grids, and the plurality of third channel feature information including third channel feature information corresponding to each grid in the plurality of grids.

[0026] In this way, the first communication device can determine the multiple grids in which the first communication device may be located based on each grid in the first grid set, multiple third channel feature information, and the first channel feature information.

[0027] In conjunction with the first aspect and the second aspect, in some embodiments of the first aspect or the second aspect, the first channel feature information, the second channel feature information and the plurality of third channel feature information include one or more of the following: spatial basis, frequency basis, space-frequency joint basis, power angle spectrum (PAS) or power delay spectrum (PDP).

[0028] In this way, the first communication device or the third communication device can determine the first grid where the first communication device is located based on various types of channel characteristic information.

[0029] In conjunction with the first aspect and the second aspect, in some embodiments of the first aspect or the second aspect, the method further includes: receiving a first signal and determining first channel characteristic information based on the first signal.

[0030] In this way, the first communication device can perform channel measurement based on the first signal from the third communication device and determine the first channel characteristic information.

[0031] Thirdly, another positioning method is provided, which includes: receiving first information and fourth information, wherein the first information is used to indicate multiple grids, and the correlation between the third channel feature information corresponding to each grid and the first channel feature information corresponding to the first communication device is greater than or equal to a first threshold, and the fourth information is used to indicate the first channel feature information corresponding to the first communication device; and determining a first grid among multiple grids based on the first channel feature information corresponding to the first communication device and multiple second channel feature information corresponding to multiple second communication devices, wherein the first grid indicates the position of the first communication device, and the multiple second communication devices are determined based on the multiple grids.

[0032] In one possible implementation, the method is performed by a third communication device. The third communication device may be a network device or a chip or circuit that can be applied to a network device.

[0033] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some embodiments of the third aspect, the method further includes: sending third information, the third information being used to indicate the first grid.

[0034] Fourthly, another positioning method is provided, comprising: receiving first information, the first information indicating multiple grids, wherein the correlation between third channel feature information corresponding to each grid and first channel feature information corresponding to a first communication device is greater than or equal to a first threshold; sending second information, the second information indicating multiple second channel feature information corresponding to multiple second communication devices, the multiple second communication devices being determined based on the multiple grids; and receiving third information, the third information indicating a first grid among the multiple grids, the first grid being determined based on the first channel feature information corresponding to the first communication device and the multiple second channel feature information, the first grid indicating the location of the first communication device.

[0035] In one possible implementation, the method is performed by a third communication device. The third communication device may be a network device or a chip or circuit that can be applied to a network device.

[0036] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in some embodiments of the fourth aspect, the second information is used to indicate the grid in which each of the plurality of second communication devices is located, as well as the plurality of second channel characteristic information.

[0037] In conjunction with the third and fourth aspects, in some implementations of the third or fourth aspect, the first grid is determined based on the correlation between the first channel feature information and each of the plurality of second channel feature information.

[0038] In conjunction with the third and fourth aspects, in some embodiments of the third or fourth aspect, the first grid is the grid that is closest to the grid where the target second communication device is located among a plurality of grids, the target second communication device is a communication device among a plurality of second communication devices, and the second channel feature information corresponding to the target second communication device has the greatest correlation with the first channel feature information among a plurality of second channel feature information.

[0039] In conjunction with the third and fourth aspects, in some embodiments of the third or fourth aspect, the method further includes: receiving fifth information, the fifth information being used to indicate each grid in the first grid set and a plurality of third channel feature information, the plurality of third channel feature information including third channel feature information corresponding to each grid in the first grid set, the first grid set including a plurality of grids, and the plurality of third channel feature information including third channel feature information corresponding to each grid in the plurality of grids.

[0040] In conjunction with the third and fourth aspects, in some embodiments of the third or fourth aspect, the first channel feature information, the second channel feature information, and the plurality of third channel feature information include one or more of the following: spatial basis, frequency basis, space-frequency joint basis, power angle spectrum (PAS), or power delay spectrum (PDP).

[0041] In conjunction with the third and fourth aspects, in some embodiments of the third or fourth aspect, the method further includes: transmitting a first signal for measuring first channel characteristic information.

[0042] Fifthly, a communication apparatus is provided for performing the method in any one of the possible implementations of the first, second, third, or fourth aspects described above. Specifically, the communication apparatus includes a module for performing the method in any one of the possible implementations of the first or second aspect described above.

[0043] Sixthly, this application provides another communication device, including a processor coupled to a memory, which can be used to execute instructions in the memory to implement the methods in any of the possible implementations of the first, second, third, or fourth aspects described above. Optionally, the communication device further includes a memory. Optionally, the communication device further includes a communication interface, to which the processor is coupled.

[0044] In one implementation, the communication device is a terminal device or a network device. When the communication device is a terminal device or a network device, the communication interface can be a transceiver, or an input / output interface.

[0045] In another implementation, the communication device is a chip applicable to terminal devices or network devices. When the communication device is a chip applicable to terminal devices or network devices, the aforementioned communication interface can be an input / output interface.

[0046] A seventh aspect provides a processor, comprising: an input circuit, an output circuit, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive signals through the input circuit and transmit signals through the output circuit, causing the processor to execute the method in any one of the possible implementations of the first, second, third, or fourth aspects described above.

[0047] In the specific implementation process, the processor can be a chip, the input circuit can be an input pin, the output circuit can be an output pin, and the processing circuit can be a transistor, gate circuit, flip-flop, and various logic circuits. The input signal received by the input circuit can be received and input by, for example, but not limited to, a receiver, and the signal output by the output circuit can be output to, for example, but not limited to, a transmitter and transmitted by the transmitter. Furthermore, the input circuit and the output circuit can be the same circuit, which is used as the input circuit and the output circuit at different times. This application does not limit the specific implementation of the processor and various circuits.

[0048] Eighthly, a communication device is provided, including a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to read instructions stored in the memory, receive signals via a receiver, and transmit signals via a transmitter to execute the methods in any of the possible implementations of the first, second, third, or fourth aspects described above.

[0049] Optionally, the processor may be one or more, and the memory may be one or more.

[0050] Optionally, the memory may be integrated with the processor, or the memory may be separated from the processor.

[0051] In the specific implementation process, the memory can be a non-transitory memory, such as read-only memory (ROM), which can be integrated with the processor on the same chip or set on different chips. This application does not limit the type of memory or the way the memory and processor are set.

[0052] It should be understood that the relevant data interaction process, such as sending instruction information, can be a process of outputting instruction information from the processor, and receiving capability information can be a process of the processor receiving input capability information. Specifically, the processed output data can be output to the transmitter, and the input data received by the processor can come from the receiver. Here, the transmitter and receiver can be collectively referred to as transceivers.

[0053] The communication device in the eighth aspect above can be a chip. The processor can be implemented in hardware or software. When implemented in hardware, the processor can be a logic circuit, integrated circuit, etc. When implemented in software, the processor can be a general-purpose processor that reads software code stored in memory. The memory can be integrated into the processor or located outside the processor and exist independently.

[0054] Ninthly, a computer program product is provided, the computer program product comprising: a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions), which, when the computer program is run, causes a computer to perform the method in any of the possible implementations of the first, second, third, or fourth aspects described above.

[0055] In a tenth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided that stores a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions) that, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform the methods in any of the possible implementations of the first, second, third, or fourth aspects described above. Attached Figure Description

[0056] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a channel spectrum;

[0057] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the interaction between core network equipment and access network equipment.

[0058] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a communication system applicable to an embodiment of this application;

[0059] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of another communication system applicable to an embodiment of this application;

[0060] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a channel map construction process;

[0061] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a positioning terminal device;

[0062] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of another positioning terminal device;

[0063] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of another type of positioning terminal device.

[0064] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of a positioning terminal device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0065] Figure 10 A flowchart illustrating a positioning method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0066] Figure 11 A flowchart illustrating another positioning method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0067] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of another communication system to which this application applies;

[0068] Figure 13 A schematic diagram of a communication system to which an embodiment of this application applies;

[0069] Figure 14 A schematic block diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0070] Figure 15 A schematic block diagram of another communication device provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0071] Figure 16 A schematic block diagram of an open wireless access network system provided in this application embodiment;

[0072] Figure 17 This is a schematic block diagram of another wireless access network system provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0073] The technical solutions in this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0074] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of this application, the following points are explained first:

[0075] First, in the embodiments of this application, the terms "first" and "second" are used to distinguish identical or similar items with essentially the same function and effect. For example, the first value and the second value are only used to distinguish different values ​​and do not limit their order. Those skilled in the art will understand that the terms "first" and "second" do not limit the quantity or execution order, and the terms "first" and "second" do not necessarily imply that they are different.

[0076] It should be noted that in the embodiments of the present application, words such as "exemplarily" or "for example" are used to give examples, illustrations or explanations. Any embodiment or design solution described as "exemplarily" or "for example" in the present application should not be construed as being more preferred or more advantageous than other embodiments or design solutions. Rather, the use of words such as "exemplarily" or "for example" is intended to present relevant concepts in a specific manner.

[0077] In the embodiments of the present application, "at least one" means one or more, and "a plurality" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the associated objects before and after are in an "or" relationship. "At least one (item)" or similar expressions below refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single item (item) or plural items (items). For example, at least one (item) of a, b, or c can mean: a, b, c, a - b, a - c, b - c, or a - b - c, where a, b, c can be single or multiple.

[0078] Second, in the embodiments of the present application, "send" and "receive" represent the direction of signal transmission. For example, "sending information to a second device" can be understood as the destination of the information being the second device, which can include directly sending through the air interface, and also include indirect sending through the air interface by other units or modules. "Receiving configuration information from the charging" can be understood as the source of the configuration information being the second device, which can include directly receiving from the second device through the air interface, and can also include indirectly receiving from the second device through the air interface from other units or modules. "Send" can also be understood as the "output" of the chip interface, and "receive" can also be understood as the "input" of the chip interface.

[0079] In other words, sending and receiving can be carried out between devices. For example, between a second device and a first device; it can also be carried out within a device. For example, sending or receiving between components within a device, between modules, between chips, between software modules or hardware modules through a bus, trace or interface.

[0080] It can be understood that before the information is sent from the source end to the destination end, necessary processing may be performed, such as encoding, modulation, etc. After the destination end receives the information from the source end, corresponding processing can also be performed, such as decoding, demodulation, etc., so as to interpret the valid information from the source end. Similar expressions in the present application can be understood similarly and will not be elaborated.

[0081] Third, for ease of understanding, this document provides several examples of message structures, such as RRC messages and UE capability information. The positions, names, and data types of the fields shown in these examples are merely illustrative and should not constitute any limitation on this application.

[0082] Furthermore, RRC messages and UE capability information are just examples; these messages can be replaced by other signaling. For instance, UE capability information can be replaced by uplink control information (UCI), and so on. This application does not limit the names of the signaling messages.

[0083] Fourth, in the embodiments of this application, "instruction" can include direct instruction and indirect instruction, as well as explicit instruction and implicit instruction. The information indicated by a certain piece of information (as described below, the instruction information) is called the information to be instructed. In the specific implementation process, there are many ways to indicate the information to be instructed, such as, but not limited to, directly indicating the information to be instructed, such as the information to be instructed itself or its index. It can also indirectly indicate the information to be instructed by indicating other information, where there is a correlation between the other information and the information to be instructed; or it can only indicate a part of the information to be instructed, while the other parts of the information to be indicated are known or pre-agreed upon. For example, the instruction of specific information can be achieved by using a pre-agreed (e.g., protocol predefined) arrangement of various pieces of information, thereby reducing the instruction overhead to a certain extent. This application does not limit the specific method of instruction.

[0084] It is understandable that, for the sender of the instruction information, the instruction information can be used to indicate the information to be indicated, and for the receiver of the instruction information, the instruction information can be used to determine the information to be indicated.

[0085] Fifth, the tables in the embodiments of this application are merely examples. The values ​​of the information in each table are only examples and can be configured to other values; this application is not limited thereto. The tables do not limit the scope of protection of this application. For example, appropriate modifications and adjustments can be made based on the tables described above, such as splitting, merging, etc. Furthermore, the parameter names shown in the headings of each table can also use other names understandable to the communication device, and the values ​​or representations of the parameters can also be other values ​​or representations understandable to the communication device. Moreover, in the implementation of the above tables, other data structures can also be used, such as arrays, queues, containers, stacks, linear lists, pointers, linked lists, trees, graphs, structures, classes, heaps, hash tables, or hash tables, etc.

[0086] Sixth, in the embodiments of this application, descriptions such as "when," "under the circumstances," "if," and "if" all refer to the fact that the device (e.g., network device or terminal device) will make corresponding processing under certain objective circumstances. They are not time limits, nor do they require the device (e.g., network device or terminal device) to make a judgment action when implementing it, nor do they mean that there are other limitations.

[0087] Seventh, the predefined terms in this application can be understood as: definition, pre-defined, storage, pre-storage, pre-negotiation, pre-configuration, solidification, or pre-firing.

[0088] Eighth, the term "storage" in this application can refer to storage in one or more memory devices. These memory devices can be separate installations or integrated into an encoder, decoder, processor, or communication device. Alternatively, some memory devices can be separately installed, while others can be integrated into the decoder, processor, or communication device. The type of memory can be any form of storage medium, and this application does not limit this.

[0089] The technical solutions of this application can be applied to various communication systems, such as: Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) systems, LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD) systems, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) communication systems, 5th Generation (5G) systems or New Radio (NR) systems, and future communication systems.

[0090] The terminal equipment in this application embodiment can also be referred to as: user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication equipment, user agent, or user device, etc.

[0091] Terminal devices can be devices that provide voice / data connectivity to users, such as handheld devices with wireless connectivity, in-vehicle devices, etc. Currently, examples of terminal devices include: mobile phones, tablets, laptops, PDAs, mobile internet devices (MIDs), wearable devices, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals in self-driving vehicles, wireless terminals in remote medical surgery, wireless terminals in smart grids, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart cities, wireless terminals in smart homes, cellular phones, cordless phones, session initiation protocol (SIP) phones, wireless local loop (WLL) stations, personal digital assistants (PDAs), handheld devices with wireless communication capabilities, computing devices or other processing devices connected to wireless modems, in-vehicle devices, wearable devices, terminal devices in 5G networks, or future public land mobile communication networks. This application does not limit the scope to terminal devices in network (PLMN), etc.

[0092] By way of example and not limitation, in this application, the terminal device can be a terminal device in an Internet of Things (IoT) system. The Internet of Things is an important component of future information technology development. Its main technical characteristic is connecting objects to networks through communication technologies, thereby realizing an intelligent network of human-machine interconnection and object-to-object interconnection. Exemplarily, the terminal device in the embodiments of this application can be a wearable device. Wearable devices, also known as wearable smart devices, are a general term for devices that apply wearable technology to intelligently design and develop everyday wearables, such as glasses, gloves, watches, clothing, and shoes. Wearable devices are portable devices that can be worn directly on the body or integrated into a user's clothing or accessories. Wearable devices are not merely hardware devices; they can also achieve powerful functions through software support, data interaction, and cloud interaction. Broadly defined, wearable smart devices include those with comprehensive functions, large size, and the ability to achieve complete or partial functions without relying on a smartphone, such as smartwatches or smart glasses, as well as those focused on a specific application function and requiring the use of other devices such as smartphones, such as various smart bracelets and smart jewelry for vital sign monitoring.

[0093] By way of example and not limitation, in the embodiments of this application, the terminal device can also be a terminal device in machine-type communication (MTC). Furthermore, the terminal device can also be an on-board module, on-board component, on-board chip, or on-board unit, etc., built into a vehicle as one or more components or units. The vehicle can implement the methods provided in this application through the built-in on-board module, on-board component, on-board chip, or on-board unit, etc. Therefore, the embodiments of this application can also be applied to vehicle networking, such as vehicle-to-everything (V2X), long-term evolution-vehicle (LTE-V) technology, and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) technology.

[0094] The network equipment involved in this application may include access network equipment and core network equipment.

[0095] Access network equipment, also known as radio access network (RAN) equipment, is a device that communicates with terminal devices and has wireless transceiver capabilities. RAN equipment provides wireless communication services, allowing terminals to access the wireless network. RAN equipment can be a node in the radio access network, often referred to as a RAN node.

[0096] In one possible scenario, a RAN node can be a base station (BS), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmission reception point (TRP), a home evolved NodeB (or home Node B, HNB), a Wi-Fi access point (AP), a mobile switching center, a next-generation NodeB (gNB) in a 5G mobile communication system, a next-generation base station in a 6G mobile communication system, or a base station in a future mobile communication system. A RAN node can also be a device that performs base station functions in device-to-device (D2D) communication systems, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication systems, machine-to-machine (M2M) communication systems, and internet-to-things (IoT) communication systems. A RAN node can also be a RAN node in a non-terrestrial network (NTN), meaning that a RAN node can be deployed on a high-altitude platform or a satellite. RAN nodes can be macro base stations, micro base stations, indoor stations, relay nodes, donor nodes, etc., or radio controllers in cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenarios, or nodes in open radio access network (O-RAN or ORAN) scenarios. Optionally, RAN nodes can also be servers, wearable devices, vehicles, or in-vehicle equipment. For example, in V2X technology, RAN nodes can be roadside units (RSUs). Of course, RAN nodes can also be nodes in the core network.

[0097] In another possible scenario, multiple RAN nodes collaborate to assist the terminal in achieving wireless access, with different RAN nodes each implementing a portion of the base station's functions. For example, RAN nodes can be central units (CUs), distributed units (DUs), CU-control plane (CPs), CU-user plane (UPs), or radio units (RUs), etc. CUs and DUs can be set up separately or included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). RUs can be included in radio frequency equipment or radio frequency units, such as remote radio units (RRUs), active antenna units (AAUs), or remote radio heads (RRHs).

[0098] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU, or RU may have different names, but those skilled in the art will understand their meaning. For example, in the ORAN system, CU can also be called open CU (O-CU), DU can also be called open DU (O-DU), CU-CP can also be called open CU-CP (O-CU-CP), CU-UP can also be called open CU-UP (O-CU-UP), and RU can also be called open RU (O-RU).

[0099] Any one of the CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU, and RU units can be implemented through software modules, hardware modules, or a combination of software and hardware modules. That is, the wireless access network device in this application can be a virtualized device, for example, implemented through general-purpose hardware and instantiated virtualization functions, or dedicated hardware and instantiated virtualization functions. The general-purpose hardware can be a server, such as a cloud server.

[0100] The core network equipment in this application embodiment can be a core network equipment in a 4G system, such as a mobile management entity (MME) or a serving gateway (SGW), or a core network equipment in a 5G system, such as an access and mobility management function (AMF) network element or a user plane function (UPF) network element. It can also be a core network equipment with other names, or it can be a core network equipment in a future communication system. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0101] First, let's introduce some of the technical terms and symbols used in this application.

[0102] 1. Channel sounding

[0103] This can be understood as a database storing channel feature information. The stored channel feature information can be categorized using methods such as feature clustering, or it can be related to location information. For example, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the coverage area of ​​a physical cell is divided into two-dimensional grid points. Channel feature information corresponding to each grid point can be stored in the form of a matrix, vector, or scalar. Each grid point can represent a specific geographical area; this grid point can be called a raster.

[0104] It should be understood that channel characteristic information may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: channel statistical covariance matrix information, angle spectrum information, delay spectrum information, or path loss information. Furthermore, channel characteristic information may also be referred to as channel characteristics, channel state information, or channel information, etc. This application does not specifically limit this terminology.

[0105] The channel statistical covariance matrix is ​​a matrix used to describe the statistical characteristics of the channel. It reflects the correlation between channel gains. The elements in the channel statistical covariance matrix are typically the covariances of the channel gains, representing the correlation between different antennas or different subcarriers. This matrix is ​​particularly important in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems because it can help optimize antenna array design and channel estimation.

[0106] An angular spectrum describes the angle of arrival (AOA) or angle of departure (AOD) of a signal. It reflects the direction of signal propagation in space. The angular spectrum is crucial in beamforming and spatial multiplexing techniques because it helps determine the optimal beam direction to maximize the efficiency of signal reception or transmission.

[0107] The time delay spectrum describes the time delay distribution of a signal along different paths. It reflects the time delay characteristics of each path in a multipath propagation environment. The time delay spectrum is crucial for understanding the multipath effects of a channel and designing a suitable equalizer to counteract delay spread.

[0108] Path loss refers to the power attenuation of a signal during propagation due to factors such as distance and obstacles. It is a key parameter in the channel model, directly affecting the signal coverage and communication quality.

[0109] 2. Map Management Function (MMF) network element

[0110] Core network elements responsible for building, managing, and maintaining channel maps.

[0111] For example, such as Figure 2 As shown, the core network side can be equipped with MMF network elements, access and mobility management function (AMF) network elements, and location management function (LMF) network elements.

[0112] Specifically, AMF network elements can communicate with access network devices through the next-generation core control plane interface (NG-C); MMF network elements can communicate with AMF network elements through network location service interfaces (NLs); and LMF network elements can communicate with AMF network elements through NLs. An AMF network element acts as a router for communication between access network devices and MMF or LMF network elements; MMF network elements can be used to construct and update channel maps; and LMF network elements can be used to estimate the location of terminal devices.

[0113] 3. Channel sounding reference signal (SRS)

[0114] SRS is an uplink reference signal primarily used for channel measurement and estimation in wireless communication systems. It is transmitted by terminal equipment and received and used by access network equipment to evaluate the characteristics of the uplink channel.

[0115] 4. Positioning reference signal (PRS)

[0116] A Reference Signal (PSS) is a specialized signal used for location services, primarily for locating terminal devices in wireless communication systems. PSS is transmitted by access network equipment, and terminal devices receive and use these signals to calculate their location.

[0117] 5. Angle of arrival (AOA)

[0118] This refers to the angle at which a signal reaches the receiving antenna. By measuring the angles at which a signal reaches multiple antennas, the location of the signal source can be deduced.

[0119] 6. Time of Arrival (TOA)

[0120] Also known as time delay (TOA), it refers to the time it takes for a signal to travel from the transmitter to the receiver. Because the speed of electromagnetic waves in free space is known, the distance between the transmitter and receiver can be calculated by measuring the arrival time of the signal.

[0121] 7. Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA)

[0122] Also known as differential time difference, it refers to the time difference between the arrival of a signal at different receiving points. By measuring the time difference of a signal arriving at multiple receiving points, the location of the signal source can be determined. TDOA does not require precise time synchronization, but it does require the coordinated operation of multiple receiving points.

[0123] 8. Angle of departure (AOD)

[0124] This refers to the angle at which a signal is emitted from the transmitting antenna. By measuring the angle at which the signal is emitted, we can help determine the direction of signal propagation and thus calculate the location of the receiver.

[0125] 9. Multiple round-trip times (multi-RTT)

[0126] In a wireless communication system, round-trip time refers to the multiple times a signal travels from the transmitter to the receiver and back in a wireless communication system. This phenomenon typically occurs in multipath propagation environments, where a signal reaches the receiver through multiple paths, each with a different propagation time, thus creating multiple round-trip times.

[0127] 10. Frequency Domain Unit

[0128] The unit of frequency domain resources can represent different granularities of frequency domain resources. A frequency domain unit can be, for example, a sub-band, a resource element (RE), a resource block (RB), a resource block group (RBG), a precoding resource block group (PRG), etc. This application does not limit this.

[0129] 11. Channel Matrix

[0130] It is a complex matrix representing the channel gain from multiple transmit antennas to multiple receive antennas. In a MIMO system, the channel matrix describes the channel gain between all transmit and receive antennas.

[0131] 12. Channel Vector

[0132] It is usually represented by h, which can be understood as different representations of the channel matrix, and can be obtained by conversion from the channel matrix.

[0133] 13. Channel covariance matrix

[0134] It can also be called the covariance matrix R h This describes the statistical properties of the channel vectors, particularly their autocorrelation. The covariance matrix R... h The channel vector h satisfies the following formula:

[0135] R h =E{h×h H},

[0136] Among them, h H It is the conjugate transpose of h.

[0137] 14. Base

[0138] The spatial basis, frequency basis, spatial-frequency basis, angle basis, time delay basis, time basis, or Doppler basis used by terminal devices in a communication system to obtain channel state information (CSI).

[0139] In the embodiments of this application, the various bases described above may also be referred to as spatial domain matrix, frequency domain matrix, spatial-frequency domain matrix, angular domain matrix, time delay domain matrix, time domain matrix, or Doppler domain matrix, respectively. This application does not impose specific limitations on these terms.

[0140] 15. Airspace Base

[0141] It can also be called an angle domain matrix, beam matrix, or spatial domain matrix. The spatial basis can be understood as a precoding vector used for beamforming the reference signal. Through beamforming, the reference signal emitted by the transmitting device (such as a network device) can have a certain spatial directionality. Therefore, the process of precoding the reference signal based on the spatial basis can also be regarded as a spatial domain (or simply, spatial domain) precoding process.

[0142] Optionally, the length of the spatial basis can be the number of transmit antenna ports M in one polarization direction, where M is a positive integer greater than 1. For example, the spatial basis can be a column vector or row vector of length M, then the M column vectors or row vectors correspond to M transmit antenna ports respectively, and this application does not limit this.

[0143] Each element in the spatial basis can represent the weight of each antenna port. Based on the weights of each antenna port represented by the elements in the spatial basis, the signals from each antenna port are linearly superimposed, which can form a region with a strong signal in one or more directions in space.

[0144] Optionally, the spatial basis can be determined based on a discrete fourier transform (DFT) matrix. In other words, the spatial basis can be a DFT matrix. This spatial basis can, for example, be a DFT matrix defined in the type II codebook of the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) technical specification TS 38.214, release 15 (R15).

[0145] It should be understood that spatial vector is a form proposed in this application for representing spatial angles. The name "spatial vector" is used only for ease of distinction from frequency domain basis, spatial frequency domain basis, Doppler domain matrix, etc., and should not constitute any limitation on this application. This application does not preclude the possibility of defining other names to represent the same or similar meanings in future agreements.

[0146] 16. Frequency domain basis

[0147] It can also be called a time-delay domain matrix or a frequency domain matrix. The frequency domain basis can be used to represent the variation of the channel in the frequency domain. Multipath delay leads to frequency-selective fading. As can be seen from the Fourier transform, the time delay spread of the signal in the time-delay domain can be equivalent to the phase transition in the frequency domain.

[0148] Since the phase variation of the channel in each frequency domain cell is related to the time delay, the phase variation pattern of the channel in each frequency domain cell can be represented by a time delay vector. In other words, this frequency domain basis can be used to represent the time delay characteristics of the channel.

[0149] Precoding a reference signal based on a frequency domain basis essentially involves performing phase rotation on each frequency domain cell based on elements of the frequency domain basis. This precoded reference signal is then used to pre-compensate for the frequency domain characteristics caused by multipath delay. Therefore, the process of precoding a reference signal based on a frequency domain basis can be considered as a frequency domain precoding process.

[0150] It should also be understood that the frequency domain basis is a form proposed in this application for representing time delay. The term "frequency domain basis" is used only for ease of distinction from spatial basis, spatial-frequency basis, Doppler domain basis, etc., and should not constitute any limitation on this application. This application does not preclude the possibility of defining other names in future agreements to represent the same or similar meanings.

[0151] 17. Spatial-Frequency Joint Basis

[0152] It can also be called an angular time delay pair, a space-frequency basis, or a space-frequency domain matrix. A space-frequency domain joint basis can be a combination of a spatial basis and a frequency basis. At least one of the spatial basis and the frequency basis contained in any two space-frequency domain joint bases is different. In other words, each space-frequency domain joint basis can be uniquely determined by a spatial basis and a frequency basis.

[0153] 18. Power angular spectrum (PAS)

[0154] It is used to describe the power distribution of a signal in different angular directions and can be used to reflect the spatial characteristics of a channel, especially in multipath propagation environments, where the power distribution of a signal arriving at the receiving antenna from different directions is shown.

[0155] 19. Power Delay Profile (PDP)

[0156] It is used to describe the power distribution of a signal under different time delays and can be used to reflect the time characteristics of a channel, especially in multipath propagation environments, where the time delay and power distribution of a signal arriving at the receiver through different paths are shown.

[0157] 20. Upward Reference Signal

[0158] This can refer to a reference signal sent by a terminal device to a network device. For example, the uplink reference signal may include, but is not limited to: SRS, uplink control channel demodulation reference signal (DMRS), uplink data channel demodulation reference signal (PUSCH-DMRS), uplink phase noise tracking reference signal (PTRS), and uplink positioning signal, etc.

[0159] 21. Downlink Reference Signal

[0160] This can refer to reference signals sent by network devices to terminal devices. For example, downlink reference signals may include, but are not limited to: downlink control channel demodulation reference signals (PDCCH-DMRS), downlink data channel demodulation reference signals (PDSCH-DMRS), phase noise tracking signals, channel status information reference signals (CSI-RS), time / frequency tracking reference signals (TRS), cell reference signals (CRS), and LTE / NR positioning signals (positioning RS), etc.

[0161] It should be understood that the uplink and downlink reference signals shown above are merely examples and should not be construed as limiting this application in any way. Uplink or downlink reference signals may also include more reference signals, and this application does not preclude the possibility of defining other reference signals in future protocols to achieve the same or similar functions.

[0162] 22. Kronecker product

[0163] It is a special type of matrix operation in linear algebra, which can be used... This operation is represented by multiplying each element of the first matrix by the second complete matrix to obtain a larger matrix.

[0164] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of this application, firstly, in conjunction with Figure 3 and Figure 4 The communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application will be described in detail.

[0165] Figure 3This is a schematic diagram of a communication system 300 used in an embodiment of this application. The communication system 300 may include a core network; at least one access network device, such as... Figure 3 The access network equipment shown; and at least one terminal device, such as Figure 3 Terminals 310, 320, 330, 340, 350, and 360 are shown.

[0166] The core network side may include at least one core network device, such as AMF, MMF, and LMF network elements. AMF, MMF, and LMF network elements may be integrated into one device or may be separate devices.

[0167] The access network equipment can transmit data with the core network equipment on the core network side. Furthermore, the access network equipment can provide communication coverage for a specific geographical area and can establish wireless link communication with terminal devices located within that coverage area (cell). For example, terminals 310, 320, 330, 340, 350, and 360 can be located within the coverage area of ​​the access network equipment; these six terminals can be fixed or mobile. The access network equipment can communicate with terminals 310, 320, 330, 340, 350, and 360 respectively.

[0168] For example, the six terminal devices from terminal 310 to terminal 360 can send uplink data to the access network device, and correspondingly, the access network device receives uplink data from the six terminal devices. The access network device can also send downlink data to the six terminal devices, and correspondingly, the six terminal devices can receive downlink data from the access network device.

[0169] Furthermore, the terminals 340, 350, and 360 included in the communication system 300 can also form a communication system. This communication system does not include network equipment; for example, it is a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) system. In this communication system, the terminals can communicate with each other, that is, terminals 340, 350, and 360 can communicate with each other, and terminals 340 and 350 can also communicate with each other.

[0170] Figure 3 An access network device and six terminal devices are illustrated exemplarily. Optionally, the communication system 300 may also include multiple network devices and / or more or fewer terminal devices. This application does not limit the scope of the embodiments.

[0171] Each communication device in the aforementioned communication system 300 can be configured with multiple antennas. These multiple antennas may include at least one transmitting antenna for transmitting signals and at least one receiving antenna for receiving signals. Additionally, each communication device also includes a transmitter chain and a receiver chain, which, as will be understood by those skilled in the art, may include multiple components related to signal transmission and reception (e.g., processors, modulators, multiplexers, demodulators, demultiplexers, or antennas). Therefore, access network devices and terminal devices can communicate via multi-antenna technology.

[0172] Optionally, the communication system 300 may also include other network entities such as a network controller and a mobility management entity, but the embodiments of this application are not limited thereto.

[0173] It should also be understood that the method provided in this application embodiment can be applied to a variety of communication systems, including 5G new radio (NR) systems. Communication system 300 is only an example. This application does not limit the specific architecture of the applicable system, nor does it limit the number and form of various devices contained in each communication system.

[0174] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the architecture of another communication system 400 applicable to the positioning method provided in this application. This architecture can be understood as a positioning network architecture based on a next-generation radio access network (NG-RAN).

[0175] like Figure 4 As shown, the communication system 400 includes terminals, a radio access network (RAN), and a core network. Terminals can connect wirelessly to RAN devices, and RAN devices can connect wirelessly or via wired connections to the core network. Core network devices and RAN devices can be independent, separate physical devices, or they can integrate the functions of the core network devices and the logical functions of the RAN devices onto the same physical device. Alternatively, a single physical device can integrate some core network device functions and some RAN device functions. Terminals can connect to each other, and RAN devices can connect to each other, via wired or wireless connections.

[0176] For example, such as Figure 4As shown, taking eNB and gNB as examples of radio access network devices, the terminal and eNB can communicate via the LTE-Uu interface, the terminal and gNB can communicate via the NR-Uu interface, and the eNB and gNB can communicate via the Xn interface. Here, eNB and gNB can also be called TP, etc., and this application does not limit their names. The terminal can be, for example, a secure user plane location enabled terminal (SET).

[0177] The LMF (Location-Based Function) network element is a network element (or module, component) in the NR core network used to provide positioning functions, while the AMF (Access Management Function) network element is a network element in the NR core network used to provide access management functions. The LMF network element is responsible for processing received positioning requests and initiating related positioning procedures. The Enhanced Serving Mobile Location Center (E-SMLC) is a network element in the 4G core network used to provide positioning functions, and the Secure User Plane Location Protocol (SLP) network element is a network element in the 4G core network used to process the SLP. Access network devices and AMF network elements can communicate via the NG-C interface. The LMF network element can be used to build and maintain channel maps.

[0178] For example, an AMF network element can receive a location service request for a specific terminal device initiated by other network elements in the network; the AMF network then sends the received request to the LMF positioning server network element, which is responsible for processing the received positioning request and initiating the relevant positioning process. The NG-RAN access network includes 4G sites (ng-eNB) and 5G sites (gNB) connected to the 5G core network. NG-RAN is responsible for sending and receiving positioning reference signals and acquiring relevant measurement information.

[0179] It should be understood that Figure 4 This is just a schematic diagram. The communication system may also include other network elements. For example, the core network may also include an SMF network element, which can be used to indicate information about the target to be measured to the terminal, such as the target's identifier and location.

[0180] A channel map can include channel feature information corresponding to multiple grids, where a grid is a two-dimensional lattice. Each grid can be identified using specific indicator information (such as an index or ID). When a terminal device enters a grid, it can assist in communication based on the channel feature information corresponding to that grid stored in the channel map.

[0181] For example, such as Figure 5As shown, channel maps can be constructed through environment awareness. The channel feature information used to construct channel maps comes from two sources.

[0182] One approach is to acquire channel characteristic information through a twin environment combined with ray tracing (RT). For example, network devices can construct the foundation of a twin environment using point cloud modeling; they can then sense changes in the physical environment in real time and dynamically update the twin environment to ensure consistency with the physical environment; furthermore, within the twin environment, the transmitter can send rays to the receiver to simulate the propagation path of electromagnetic waves and track the ray's propagation within the twin environment, such as calculating path loss and phase changes. In this way, network devices can obtain channel characteristic information by acquiring the ray tracing results.

[0183] Another method is to obtain channel characteristic information through historical databases. Historical databases can include channel characteristic information measured at historical moments. The methods for measuring the channel at historical moments can include, but are not limited to, model interpolation and artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) virtual scatterer mapping.

[0184] In this context, model interpolation can also be understood as channel simulation based on a physical model. This involves using techniques such as ray tracing, physical optics, and full-wave simulation to perform channel simulation based on a physical environment model. By comparing the simulation results with actual measurement data, errors are calculated and corrected. Furthermore, network devices can use interpolation and extrapolation techniques to extend limited measurement data to unmeasured areas.

[0185] AI / ML can be understood as using training data to train AI / ML models, enabling network devices to accurately predict channel characteristics based on these models. Virtual scatterers, on the other hand, use AI / ML models to predict the location and characteristics of virtual scatterers in the environment. These virtual scatterers can simulate reflection, refraction, and diffraction phenomena in the real environment. By mapping virtual scatterers onto a physical environment model and combining techniques such as ray tracing or full-wave simulation, network devices can simulate the propagation path and channel characteristics of electromagnetic waves.

[0186] By combining the channel feature information obtained from the above two methods with the grid of geographical regions, network devices (such as MMF network elements) can construct channel maps.

[0187] In this way, when a terminal device enters a specific grid, such as when terminal device 501 enters grid 502, the communication between terminal device 501 and network device can be assisted based on the channel feature information corresponding to grid 502, thereby improving the communication quality between terminal device 501 and network device.

[0188] To obtain the channel characteristic information corresponding to the grid where the terminal device is located, accurate positioning of the terminal device is required. Currently, terminal device positioning can be achieved through the following two methods.

[0189] Method 1: Locate the terminal device based on information such as TDOA, AOA, multi-RTT, or TOA.

[0190] In one example, such as Figure 6 As shown, the terminal device can send SRS to network device 1 and network device 2 respectively. Network device 1 or network device 2 can obtain: TOA1 of the SRS sent by the terminal device to network device 1, TOA2 of the SRS sent by the terminal device to network device 2, and the geographical location information of network device 1 and network device 2. The geographical location information can be coordinates (e.g., latitude and longitude coordinates). Based on TOA1, TOA2, and the coordinates of network device 1 and network device 2, network device 1 or network device 2 can calculate the coordinates of the terminal device.

[0191] In another example, such as Figure 7 As shown, the terminal device can send SRS to network device 1 and network device 2 respectively; network device 1 or network device 2 can obtain: AOA1 of the SRS sent by the terminal device to network device 1, AOA2 of the SRS sent by the terminal device to network device 2, and the coordinates of network device 1 and network device 2; network device 1 or network device 2 can calculate the coordinates of the terminal device based on AOA1, AOA2, and the coordinates of network device 1 and network device 2.

[0192] In this way, based on the geographical area indicated by each grid, the grid in which the terminal device is located can be determined.

[0193] Optionally, in addition to the terminal device sending uplink signals to the network device, the network device can also send downlink signals (such as PRS) to the terminal device to determine TDOA, AOA, multi-RTT, or TOA, thereby determining the geographical location of the terminal device.

[0194] In Method 1, data obtained from measurements such as TDOA, AOA, multi-RTT, or TOA typically contain errors. For example, in non-line-of-sight (NLOS) conditions, the signal encounters obstacles during propagation and cannot directly reach the receiver. The signal propagation path is longer than in line-of-sight (LOS) conditions, leading to time delay errors. This error affects the measurement accuracy of TOA, AOA, and other data, thus impacting positioning accuracy. Consequently, the accuracy of the grid where the positioning terminal is located is poor, causing the channel characteristic information used for auxiliary communication to potentially mismatch with the actual geographical location of the terminal, affecting communication quality.

[0195] To improve the accuracy of positioning terminal devices, the following method can also be used to position the terminal devices.

[0196] Method 2: Locate the terminal device using a two-level positioning and matching scheme based on the geographic map.

[0197] Here, "two levels" can be understood as two levels of grid. For example, combining... Figure 8 The coverage area of ​​network devices can be divided according to different granularities. For example, the coverage area can be divided into multiple large grids, such as 50m × 50m, with large grids including grid 801, grid 802, and grid 803. Alternatively, the coverage area can be divided into multiple small grids, such as 5m × 5m. Each large grid can include multiple small grids; for example, large grid 801 includes small grids 8011 and 8012.

[0198] Each large grid and each small grid can be identified by a unique index.

[0199] It should be understood that in the embodiments of this application, the large grid and the small grid can be understood as two different levels of grids. The large grid can also be referred to as a first-level grid, and the small grid as a second-level grid; or, a small grid within a large grid can also be referred to as a sub-grid, etc. This application does not specifically limit the names of the large grid and the small grid.

[0200] Based on this, the terminal device can first be positioned using the first level of positioning, that is, by using methods such as method 1, fingerprint positioning, or twin environment + RT to perform coarse positioning of the terminal device and determine the large grid in which the terminal device is located.

[0201] Then, the smaller grids within the larger grid where the terminal device is located can be matched to determine the smaller grid in which the terminal device is located.

[0202] For example, the MMF network element can distribute the spectral base corresponding to all small grids in the large grid where the terminal device is located. The spectral base can be, but is not limited to, a spatial domain base, a frequency domain base, or a combined spatial-frequency base.

[0203] In this way, the terminal device can determine the small grid in which it is located based on the measured channel characteristic information and the spectral basis corresponding to all small grids in the large grid.

[0204] For example, the terminal device can determine the channel feature vector v based on the pilot signal or reference signal. i and based on v i And the spectral basis corresponding to all small grids in the large grid where the terminal device is located, calculate the correlation between the channel feature information corresponding to the terminal device and the spectral basis corresponding to each small grid, and this correlation R p Satisfy the following formula:

[0205]

[0206] Wherein, the channel feature vector v i This refers to the i-th column of the channel feature information corresponding to the terminal device. The channel feature information corresponding to the terminal device can be a spatial basis, a frequency basis, or a joint spatial-frequency basis, etc.; μ i v is the i-th channel feature vector i The correlation with the spectral basis corresponding to each small grid, i∈{1,2,3}.

[0207] μ i Satisfy the following formula:

[0208]

[0209] in, For v i The conjugate transpose of G is given, where G is a matrix calculated based on the spectral basis of each small grid, and G satisfies the following formula:

[0210] G = U × U H ,

[0211] Where U is the matrix formed by the first 3 eigenvectors in the spectral basis corresponding to each small grid, U H It is the conjugate transpose of U.

[0212] In this way, the terminal device can calculate the correlation between the channel feature information corresponding to the terminal device and the spectral basis corresponding to each small grid in the large grid.

[0213] It is understandable that in wireless communication systems, the correlation between channel feature information can represent the dependence or similarity between the characteristics of different channel paths. Therefore, for a small grid closer to the terminal device, the correlation between its corresponding spectral basis and the channel feature information corresponding to the terminal device is greater. Thus, the small grid where the terminal device is located can be the small grid corresponding to the spectral basis with the highest correlation.

[0214] For example, combining Figure 8 Assuming that the terminal device is located in grid 801 through the first-level positioning, the terminal device calculates the correlation between its channel feature information and the spectral base corresponding to each small grid in grid 801. If the correlation between the terminal device's channel feature information and the spectral base corresponding to small grid 8011 in grid 801 is the largest, then the terminal device can be determined to be located in small grid 8011.

[0215] However, if the channel feature information corresponding to the terminal device is highly correlated with the spectral base corresponding to multiple small grids through the above method 2, and these multiple correlations are relatively close, the terminal device may be matched with the wrong small grid, resulting in poor accuracy in locating the terminal device and thus affecting the communication quality.

[0216] For example, combining Figure 8 If v i Correlation 1 and v with small grid 8011 in grid 801 i If the correlation 2 with small grid 8012 is relatively large, and the correlation 1 and correlation 2 are equal or very close, it may be impossible to accurately determine whether the terminal device is in small grid 8011 or small grid 8012.

[0217] In view of this, embodiments of this application provide a positioning method. When a terminal device, such as a first terminal, matches multiple grids with high correlation, the grid in which the first terminal is located can be determined from among the multiple grids based on the correlation between the channel feature information of multiple second terminals in grids near the multiple grids and the channel feature information of the first terminal.

[0218] The grids in which these multiple second terminals reside are all known. For example, the correlation (ρ) between the channel feature information corresponding to different terminals and the distance (d) between the terminals satisfy the following formula:

[0219]

[0220] Where dλ is the correlation distance, which can be understood as a predefined coefficient.

[0221] Therefore, the correlation between channel feature information corresponding to different terminals decreases as the distance between terminals increases, and increases as the distance between terminals decreases. This allows us to determine the relative distances between the first terminal and the multiple second terminals based on the correlation between the channel feature information corresponding to multiple second terminals and the channel feature information measured by the first terminal. Furthermore, by combining the relative distances between the first terminal and the multiple second terminals, we can determine the grid in which the first terminal is located within these multiple grids.

[0222] In this way, if the first terminal matches multiple grids with high correlation, the correlation between the channel feature information of the second terminal and the first terminal can be combined for further matching, which helps to accurately determine the grid in which the terminal device is located, thus making the matching accuracy of the terminal device higher.

[0223] For example, such as Figure 9 As shown, assume that the multiple highly correlated grids matched by UE1 (the first terminal) include grids 901 and 902. The multiple second terminals can be UE2 and UE3 located in grids near grids 901 and 902, and it is known that UE2 is located in grid 903 and UE3 in grid 904. Based on the formula satisfied by the correlation (ρ) between the channel feature information corresponding to the terminals and the distance (d) between the terminals, when the correlation between the channel feature information corresponding to UE1 and the channel feature information corresponding to UE2 is greater than the correlation between the channel feature information corresponding to UE1 and the channel feature information corresponding to UE3, UE1 is located in grid 901, which is closer to grid 903; when the correlation between the channel feature information corresponding to UE1 and the channel feature information corresponding to UE2 is less than the correlation between the channel feature information corresponding to UE1 and the channel feature information corresponding to UE3, UE1 is located in grid 902, which is closer to grid 904. If the correlation between the channel feature information measured by UE1 and the channel feature information measured by UE2 is greater than the correlation between the channel feature information measured by UE1 and the channel feature information measured by UE3, then it can be determined that UE1 is in grid 901, which is closer to grid 903.

[0224] Therefore, the positioning method of this application can further combine user-level channel feature information to accurately determine the grid in which the terminal is located from multiple possible grids determined by the terminal device.

[0225] Below, in conjunction with Figures 10 to 11This application provides a detailed description of the positioning method. The embodiments shown in this application illustrate the positioning method provided by this application from the perspective of device interaction. The specific forms and quantities of the devices shown are merely examples and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation of the method provided in this application. For ease of understanding, the positioning method of the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below using network devices, a first terminal, and a second terminal as examples.

[0226] It should be understood that the first terminal can also be replaced by the first communication device, and the second terminal can also be replaced by the second communication device. The first or second communication device can be the terminal device itself, or a chip, chip system, or processor that supports the terminal device in implementing the positioning method, or a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the terminal device; the network device can also be replaced by the third communication device, which can be the network device itself, or a chip, chip system, or processor that supports the network device in implementing the positioning method, or a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the network device. This application does not make specific limitations in this regard.

[0227] Figure 10 This is a flowchart illustrating the positioning method 1000 provided in an embodiment of this application. Method 1000 is applicable to system 300 or system 400, and includes the following steps:

[0228] S1001, the first terminal sends first information to the network device. The first information indicates multiple grids, wherein the correlation between the third channel feature information corresponding to each grid and the first channel feature information corresponding to the first terminal is greater than or equal to a first threshold. Correspondingly, the network device receives the first information from the first terminal.

[0229] The third channel feature information can be understood as grid-level channel feature information. The third channel feature information corresponding to each grid may include, but is not limited to, the spatial basis, frequency basis, joint spatial-frequency basis, PAS, or PDP corresponding to each grid. For example, the third channel feature information can be a spectral basis, i.e., channel feature information obtained from a channel map. Multiple grids are the grids where the first terminal may be located, and these multiple grids can be determined by the first terminal. These multiple grids can also be called multiple small grids, for example,... Figure 9 The grids 901 and 902 are shown in the diagram. The first terminal is located in one of these grids.

[0230] It is understandable that multiple grids can be understood as the grids in which the first terminal may be matched, and the way the first terminal matches multiple grids (determines multiple grids) is similar to the way of determining the small grid in method 2 above.

[0231] It should be noted that the first threshold can be a predefined value or a value indicated by the network device through signaling. Furthermore, the statement that the correlation between the third channel feature information corresponding to each of the multiple grids and the first channel feature information corresponding to the first terminal is greater than or equal to the first threshold can also be understood as: the multiple grids are grids where the correlation between the third channel feature information and the first channel feature information is relatively high. Therefore, the first terminal may be located in the geographical area indicated by the multiple grids.

[0232] It should be understood that the specific method by which the first terminal determines multiple grids can be referred to in the following description, and will not be detailed here.

[0233] Optionally, the first information is used to indicate the indication information of each of the multiple grids, such as the index or ID of each grid. That is, each grid can be indicated by a unique indication information. Therefore, when the first terminal determines the multiple grids, the first terminal can indicate to the network device the multiple grids that the terminal device may be in by reporting the indication information of the multiple grids.

[0234] S1002, the network device sends second information to the first terminal. The second information indicates multiple second channel feature information corresponding to multiple second terminals, which are determined based on multiple grids. Correspondingly, the first terminal receives the second information from the network device.

[0235] Here, the multiple second terminals are multiple devices different from the first terminal. The multiple second terminals can be terminals located in multiple grids, or terminals located in other locations, other areas, or other grids. The locations, areas, or grids of the multiple second terminals can be adjacent to multiple grids. Adjacency, for example, can be a distance less than or equal to a threshold of 1.

[0236] It is understood that in the embodiments of this application, each grid can indicate a specific geographical area. For example, each grid in a plurality of grids can indicate a geographical area of ​​5m×5m within the coverage area of ​​the network device. Therefore, when the network device determines the indication information (e.g., the grid index) of the plurality of grids based on the first information, it can also determine the geographical area indicated by each of the plurality of grids based on the indication information of each of the plurality of grids.

[0237] For example, a network device can obtain the correspondence between grid indication information (e.g., index) and geographic region information. Based on this correspondence and the indication information of each grid in a plurality of grids, the network device can determine the geographic region indicated by each grid in the plurality of grids. The geographic region information is information used to indicate the geographic region, such as the coordinates of the four corners of each grid, the coordinates of the two opposite corners, or the coordinates of the center of each grid.

[0238] In this way, by combining the geographical areas indicated by multiple grids, the network device can determine the target grids adjacent to these multiple grids, and the number of target grids can be multiple. Furthermore, the network device can acquire multiple second channel feature information corresponding to multiple second terminals located in the target grids. The multiple second terminals can be located in different grids, or some of the second terminals can be located in the same grid. Adjacent, for example, can be grids with a distance less than a threshold of 1.

[0239] It should be understood that the multiple second channel feature information includes the second channel feature information corresponding to each of the multiple second terminals. The multiple second channel feature information can be obtained by the network device based on uplink reference signals or pilot signals from the multiple second terminals respectively; or, the multiple second channel feature information can be obtained by the multiple second terminals based on downlink reference signals or pilot signals from the network device respectively, and the multiple second terminals respectively indicate the measured multiple second channel feature information to the network device. This application does not specifically limit the method by which the network device obtains the multiple second channel feature information.

[0240] It should be noted that, in the embodiments of this application, the channel feature information (e.g., the first channel feature information, the second channel feature information, and the third channel feature information hereinafter) may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: channel statistical covariance matrix, eigenvectors obtained by decomposing the channel statistical covariance matrix, spatial basis, frequency basis, space-frequency joint basis, PAS or PDP, etc. That is, channel feature information is information that can be used to characterize channel characteristics or channel-related content. For the sake of brevity, this will not be elaborated further below.

[0241] Taking the second channel feature information as the second basis as an example, the second basis can be a spatial basis, a frequency basis, or a spatial-frequency joint basis, etc. The network device can indicate multiple second bases to the first terminal in the following manner, and the multiple second bases include the second base corresponding to each of the multiple second terminals.

[0242] For a second basis U1, the network device can approximate U1 in the following way, and then indicate to the first terminal multiple matrices (i.e., W hereinafter) that can be used to reconstruct U1. s W f And C4), so that the first terminal can determine U1 based on the multiple matrices.

[0243] For example, a network device can approximate U1 and U2 using an oversampled DFT codebook. Taking U1 as an example, U1 can satisfy the following formula:

[0244]

[0245] Among them, W f It is a matrix consisting of F frequency domain vectors, serving as the frequency domain basis. For W f The inverse matrix or W f The conjugate transpose of W is used to transform a signal from the frequency domain to the time or spatial domain; s It is a spatial basis, and is a matrix composed of B spatial vectors; For W s and The Kronecker product; W1 is W s and The new transformation matrix obtained by the Kronecker product can be used to process spatial and frequency domain information simultaneously; C4 is the coefficient matrix or signal matrix, which contains a certain representation of the original signal or data.

[0246] It can be understood that the signals mentioned can be interpreted as reference signals or pilot signals used to measure channel characteristic information. Furthermore, the matrices in the above formulas satisfy the following formulas respectively.

[0247] U1 satisfies: Let U1 be a complex matrix with dimensions (M×N)×P / 2.

[0248] W s satisfy: W s It is a complex matrix, and W s The dimension is M×B.

[0249] W f satisfy: W f It is a complex matrix, and W f The dimension is N×F.

[0250] C4 satisfies: This indicates that C4 is a complex matrix with a dimension of (B×F)×P / 2.

[0251] Where M is the number of transmit antenna ports, and B is W s The number of spatial vectors included, where N is the number of frequency domain units, and F is the number of W. f The number of frequency domain vectors included is P / 2, which is the number of columns in U1, i.e., P is twice the number of columns in U1. U1 can be the entirety of the second basis, or it can be a matrix composed of the first P / 2 columns of the second basis. For example, P can be 6, and P / 2 can be 3, in which case the second basis can be represented by a matrix composed of the first three columns.

[0252] It should be understood that in the embodiments of this application, the frequency domain unit may also be referred to as the frequency unit, etc., and this application does not specifically limit it in this way.

[0253] Therefore, the second information can be used to indicate the W corresponding to each second basis. s W f And C4, so that the first terminal can be based on W s W f And C4 reconstructs each second basis.

[0254] S1003. Based on the first channel feature information corresponding to the first terminal and multiple second channel feature information, determine the first grid among multiple grids, and the first grid indicates the position of the first terminal.

[0255] In this context, the first grid can be understood as one of multiple grids. Based on the first channel feature information and multiple second channel feature information, the first terminal can match the grid in which it is located. As previously known, the closer the distance between two terminal devices, the greater the correlation between the channel feature information corresponding to those two terminal devices. Therefore, based on the first channel feature information and multiple second channel feature information, the first terminal can determine its relative distance to multiple second terminals, and then, by combining the location or region of the second terminals, determine the first grid from the multiple grids.

[0256] It should be understood that the location of the first terminal indicated by the first grid can also be interpreted as the first terminal being located within the geographical area indicated by the first grid. That is, each grid can indicate a corresponding geographical area, and the first terminal is located within the geographical area indicated by the first grid.

[0257] Optionally, method 1000 further includes: after S1003, the first terminal sends third information to the network device, the third information being used to indicate the first grid. Correspondingly, the network device receives the third information from the first terminal.

[0258] For example, the third information can be used to indicate the indication information of the first grid, such as the index of the first grid, so that the network device can determine that the first terminal is in the first grid based on the indication information of the first grid.

[0259] In the positioning method of this application, when the first terminal is matched to be in multiple grids, the first terminal can perform further matching based on the channel feature information corresponding to multiple second terminals and the channel feature information corresponding to the first terminal, wherein the positions or areas of the multiple second terminals are known; then the first terminal can determine a grid among the multiple grids, and the grid indicates the position of the first terminal.

[0260] In this way, the method by which the first terminal determines its location within a grid is unaffected by obstacles between the first terminal and the network equipment. Even under NLOS conditions, the first terminal can accurately determine its location within a grid. Furthermore, for the multiple grids that the first terminal might be matched with, it further performs matching based on the user's corresponding channel feature information. Compared to matching based on a grid-level spectral basis, the first terminal performs further matching using user-level channel feature information, thereby enabling the first terminal to accurately locate its current grid.

[0261] Furthermore, the multiple second terminals indicated by the network device to the first terminal are determined based on multiple grids. These multiple second terminals are determined by the network device to facilitate the first terminal in identifying a grid from multiple grids, which can reduce the computational load on the first terminal.

[0262] It should be understood that, in the embodiments of this application, the terminal device being in a grid can be understood as the terminal device being in the geographical area indicated by the grid. For the sake of brevity, this will not be elaborated further below.

[0263] The following is a detailed description of how the first terminal determines the first grid from multiple grids.

[0264] It is understandable that before the first terminal determines the first grid, it needs to obtain the location or region of each of the multiple second terminals, the first channel feature information, and multiple second channel feature information.

[0265] It should be understood that the first terminal can acquire the location or region of each of the multiple second terminals, the first channel characteristic information, and multiple second channel characteristic information in any order, or it can acquire these three types of information in parallel. This application does not impose specific limitations on this.

[0266] The method by which the first terminal acquires multiple second channel feature information can be referred to the implementation method of S1002, and will not be repeated here. The method by which the first terminal acquires other information is as follows.

[0267] I. The method by which the first terminal obtains the location or region of each of the multiple second terminals.

[0268] The location of each second terminal can be coordinates. The area where each second terminal is located among multiple second terminals can be, for example, a grid in which each second terminal is located among multiple second terminals, or a geographical area indicated in other forms, such as a geographical area indicated by coordinates.

[0269] For example, the first terminal can determine the grid in which the plurality of second terminals are located by the following method: second information is used to indicate the grid in which each of the plurality of second terminals is located, as well as multiple second channel feature information.

[0270] That is, the network device can use the second information to indicate to the first terminal the grid in which each of the multiple second terminals is located.

[0271] For example, combined Figure 9 The network device uses grids 901 and 902 as multiple grids. Based on the first information sent by the first terminal (UE1), the network device can determine the index of grid 901 and the index of grid 902, and can determine the geographical area indicated by grid 901 and the geographical area indicated by grid 902 based on the correspondence between the grid index and the geographical area information. Furthermore, the network device can identify the second terminals, namely UE2 and UE3, located in the grids adjacent to the multiple grids (grids 901 and 902) (i.e., grids 903 and 904). Then, the network device can obtain the second channel feature information corresponding to each second terminal, i.e., the second channel feature information corresponding to UE2 and the channel feature information corresponding to UE3. The network device then indicates the index of the grid (grids 903 and 904) where the multiple second terminals (UE2 and UE3) are located, as well as the second channel feature information corresponding to each of the multiple second terminals, to the first terminal (UE1).

[0272] 2. The first terminal acquires the first channel feature information.

[0273] For example, method 1000 further includes: the network device sending a first signal to the first terminal, the first signal being a downlink reference signal or pilot signal, such as CSI-RS, and the first signal being used to measure channel characteristic information. Correspondingly, the first terminal receives the first signal from the network device and measures the first channel characteristic information based on the first signal.

[0274] The first channel characteristic information can be used to feed back the channel state or channel characteristics of the downlink channel. Alternatively, in a time division duplex (TDD) system, since the uplink and downlink channels use the same frequency band, they are reciprocal, allowing the first channel characteristic information to be used to feed back the channel state or channel characteristics of either the uplink or downlink channel.

[0275] The first channel feature information can be obtained by the first terminal based on the measurement (or estimation) of the first signal, such as a spatial basis, a frequency basis, a spatial-frequency basis, a PAS, or a PDP. Furthermore, when the first channel feature information is a spatial basis, a frequency basis, or a joint spatial-frequency basis, the first channel feature information can be calculated based on the channel matrix. That is, the first terminal can estimate the channel matrix based on the first signal and then calculate the first channel feature information based on the channel matrix.

[0276] For example, assuming the first channel feature information is a joint spatial-frequency domain basis U, then the joint spatial-frequency domain basis U can be calculated based on the channel vector h included in the channel matrix. Wherein, the channel vector h satisfies: Let h be a complex matrix with dimensions (M×N)×1, where M is the number of transmit antenna ports and N is the number of frequency elements.

[0277] The joint spatial-frequency domain basis U and the channel vector h satisfy the following formula:

[0278] R h =E{h×h H}=UΛU H ,

[0279] Among them, R h Let h be the channel covariance matrix. H Let E{h} be the conjugate transpose of the channel vector h, E{} be the mathematical expectation, and R be the conjugate transpose of the channel vector h. h =UΛU H The channel covariance matrix R h Eigenvalue decomposition (EVD), U H Let Λ be the conjugate transpose of the joint basis U in the spatial and frequency domains, and let Λ be a diagonal matrix, with the diagonal elements of Λ being the channel covariance matrix R. h eigenvalues.

[0280] It should be understood that when the first channel feature information is a spatial basis or a frequency basis, it can also be determined in the above manner. For the sake of simplicity, it will not be listed one by one here.

[0281] Based on the above embodiments, the first grid is determined based on the correlation between the first channel feature information and each of the multiple second channel feature information.

[0282] It is understandable that the correlation between the channel feature information corresponding to the terminal devices is inversely proportional to the distance between the terminal devices. Therefore, based on the correlation between the first channel feature information and each of the multiple second channel feature information, the first terminal can determine the relative distance between itself and the multiple second terminals.

[0283] For example, suppose a plurality of second terminals include second terminal 1 and second terminal 2, where second terminal 1 corresponds to second channel feature information 1 and second terminal 2 corresponds to second channel feature information 2. If the correlation between the first channel feature information and second channel feature information 1 is greater than the correlation between the first channel feature information and second channel feature information 2, the first terminal can determine that the distance between the first terminal and second terminal 1 is less than the distance between the first terminal and second terminal 2.

[0284] It should be noted that, for the purpose of facilitating the calculation of correlation, the first channel feature information and multiple second channel feature information can belong to the same type of channel feature information. For example, the first channel feature information and multiple second channel feature information can all be spatial basis, all be frequency basis, all be space-frequency joint basis, all be PAS, or all be PDP, etc.

[0285] Taking the example where the first channel feature information and multiple second channel feature information are both space-frequency joint basis, the correlation between the first channel feature information and multiple second channel feature information can be calculated in the following way.

[0286] For one of the multiple second channel feature information, U1, U1 can be a complete space-frequency joint basis, or a matrix composed of one or more columns in the space-frequency joint basis, such as a matrix composed of the first x columns in the space-frequency joint basis, where x is a positive integer, such as 3, 4 or 5.

[0287] The first channel feature information is the joint basis U in the spatial and frequency domains. P U P The number of columns can be the same as that of U1. For example, U P Both U1 and U2 are matrices composed of the first x columns in the space-frequency joint basis.

[0288] Since the eigenvalues ​​of the channel covariance matrix are typically arranged in descending order, the eigenvectors corresponding to the larger eigenvalues ​​contain the main information of the channel. Furthermore, the first x columns of the space-frequency joint basis usually correspond to the first x eigenvectors of the channel covariance matrix. These eigenvectors capture the main characteristics of the channel and thus reflect its primary features. Therefore, when calculating correlation, the matrix formed by the first x columns of the space-frequency joint basis can be used, which can reduce the computational load while providing relatively accurate correlation calculations.

[0289] in U P When both U1 and U2 are matrices composed of the first x columns of the space-frequency joint basis, U2 P It can be represented as U P = [s1, s2, ..., s x], where s1 is the first column of the space-frequency joint basis corresponding to the first terminal, s2 is the second column of the space-frequency joint basis corresponding to the first terminal, and so on, s x It is the xth column in the space-frequency joint basis corresponding to the first terminal.

[0290] U P The correlation r with U1 satisfies the following formula:

[0291]

[0292] Among them, u i U P The correlation between the i-th column and U1, where i∈{1,2,...,x}, i is an integer between 1 and x.

[0293] u i Satisfy the following formula:

[0294]

[0295] Among them, s i For U P The i-th column in For s i The conjugate transpose of , i∈{1,2,...,x}, i is an integer between 1 and x, and U1 is the matrix formed by the first x columns of the space-frequency joint basis corresponding to the second terminal.

[0296] By replacing U1 with the matrix formed by the first x columns of the space-frequency joint basis corresponding to each second channel feature information in the above manner, the first terminal can calculate the correlation between the first channel feature information and each of the multiple second channel feature information.

[0297] It should be understood that when the first channel feature information and multiple second channel feature information are spatial or frequency-domain bases, the correlation can also be calculated in the above manner. That is, the first channel feature information and multiple second channel feature information can also be matrices composed of the first few columns of the spatial or frequency-domain bases, respectively. For the sake of simplicity, they will not be shown one by one here.

[0298] When the first channel feature information and multiple second channel feature information are PAS or PDP, the first terminal can calculate the correlation in the following way.

[0299] For example, the correlation (denoted by corr(a,b)) between the first channel feature information (represented by a) and the second channel feature information (represented by b) satisfies the following formula:

[0300]

[0301] Where a represents the first channel feature information, and b represents any one of the multiple second channel feature information. H Let |a|| be the conjugate transpose of b, ||a|| be the norm of a, and ||b|| be the norm of b. Both a and b can be PAS, or both a and b can be PDP.

[0302] Based on the correlation between the first channel feature information and each of the multiple second channel feature information, if the first terminal can determine the grid in which each of the multiple second terminals is located, the first terminal can determine the grid in which the first terminal is located. Specifically, as follows.

[0303] Optionally, the first grid is the grid that is closest to the grid where the target second terminal is located among multiple grids, the target second terminal is a device among multiple second terminals, and the second channel feature information corresponding to the target second terminal has the greatest correlation with the first channel feature information among multiple second channel feature information.

[0304] The first grid and the grid where the target second terminal is located can be the same grid; or, the first grid and the grid where the target second terminal is located can be different grids. This application does not impose specific limitations in this regard.

[0305] It is understandable that, since the second channel feature information corresponding to the target second terminal has the greatest correlation with the first channel feature information among multiple second channel feature information, the distance between the first terminal and the target second terminal is the shortest.

[0306] Based on the second information obtained by the first terminal from the network device in S1002, the first terminal can determine the indication information (e.g., index) of the grid where the target second terminal is located. Thus, by obtaining the correspondence between the grid indication information and the geographic area information of the grid, the first terminal can determine the geographic area indicated by the grid where the target second terminal is located. Furthermore, the first terminal can also determine the geographic area indicated by each of the multiple grids based on this correspondence and the indication information of each grid. Further, the first terminal can determine the grid among the multiple grids that is closest to the geographic area indicated by the grid where the target second terminal is located; this grid is the first grid.

[0307] Combination Figure 9The first terminal (UE1) can determine multiple grids, namely the indices of grids 901 and 902, and can determine the geographical area indicated by grid 901 and the geographical area indicated by grid 902 based on the above correspondence, the index of grid 901, and the index of grid 902. Through the second information sent by the network device in S1002, the first terminal can obtain the indices of grid 903 and grid 904 where multiple second terminals (UE2 and UE3) are located. Then, based on the index of grid 903, the index of grid 904, and the above correspondence, the first terminal can determine the geographical area indicated by grid 903 and the geographical area indicated by grid 904.

[0308] Thus, when the first terminal determines that the correlation between the first channel feature information and the second channel feature information corresponding to UE2 is the greatest, the first terminal can determine that the first grid is the grid between grid 901 and grid 902 that is closest to the geographical area indicated by grid 903. Since the geographical area indicated by grid 901 is closer to the geographical area indicated by grid 903, the first terminal can determine that the first terminal is in the first grid (grid 901).

[0309] It should be noted that the indication information of the grid in which each of the multiple second terminals is located and the multiple second channel feature information are indicated by the second information are merely examples. In some possible implementations, the indication information of the grid in which each of the multiple second terminals is located may also be indicated by other information.

[0310] For example, method 1000 further includes: the network device sending information A to the first terminal, information A being indication information indicating the grid in which each of the plurality of second terminals is located. Correspondingly, the first terminal receives information A from the network device. Information A and second information can be carried in the same signaling or in different signaling; and when information A and second information are carried in the same signaling, information A and second information can be carried in the same or different fields. This application does not specifically limit this.

[0311] It should also be noted that the first channel feature information and the multiple second channel feature information may each include one type of channel feature information. For example, the first channel feature information and the multiple second channel feature information may all be spatial basis, frequency basis, joint spatial basis, PAS, or PDP, etc.; or, the first channel feature information and the multiple second channel feature information may each include multiple types of channel feature information. For example, the first channel feature information and the multiple second channel feature information may each include at least two of the following: spatial basis, frequency basis, joint spatial basis, PAS, or PDP. Then, the first terminal can determine one grid from the first grid based on each type of channel feature information. If the grid determined by the first terminal based on each type of channel feature information is the same, that grid is the first grid.

[0312] For example, if the first channel feature information includes a first basis, and the multiple second channel feature information includes multiple second bases, then the first terminal can calculate U as described above. P The correlation with U1 is calculated by determining the correlation between the first basis and each of the multiple second basis bases, and based on the correlation between the first basis and each of the multiple second basis bases, a grid 1 is determined from the multiple grids. Furthermore, the first channel feature information may also include PAS1, and the multiple second channel feature information may include multiple PAS2. Then, the first terminal can calculate the correlation between PAS1 and each of the multiple PAS2 in the same way as corr(a,b) was calculated above, and based on the correlation between PAS1 and each of the multiple PAS2, a grid 2 is determined from the multiple grids. When grid 1 and grid 2 are the same grid, either grid 1 or grid 2 is the first grid.

[0313] Alternatively, the first terminal may determine a grid from the first grid based on each type of channel feature information. If the grids determined by the first terminal based on each type of channel feature information are different, the first terminal may request other types of channel feature information corresponding to multiple second terminals from the network device and obtain other types of channel feature information corresponding to the first terminal. Based on the other types of channel feature information corresponding to multiple second terminals and the other types of channel feature information corresponding to the first terminal, the correlation between the other types of channel feature information corresponding to the first terminal and the other types of channel feature information corresponding to each second terminal can be calculated, and the first grid can be determined from multiple grids based on the correlation.

[0314] For example, if grid 1 and grid 2 are different, the first terminal can request the PDP2 corresponding to each of the multiple second terminals from the network device, and the first terminal can obtain the PDP1 corresponding to the first terminal. It can also calculate the correlation between PDP1 and each of the multiple PDP2 in the manner described above for calculating corr(a,b), and determine a grid 3 from the multiple grids based on the correlation between PDP1 and each of the multiple PDP2. If grid 3 and grid 1 are the same grid, then either grid 1 or grid 3 is the first grid; if grid 3 and grid 2 are the same grid, then either grid 2 or grid 3 is the first grid.

[0315] It is understood that the process of the first terminal requesting other types of channel feature information corresponding to multiple second terminals from the network device and determining a grid from multiple grids based on the other types of channel feature information corresponding to multiple second terminals can be repeated multiple times, and the type of channel feature information obtained each time in the repeated execution can be different, until the first terminal determines the first grid.

[0316] In this way, the first terminal can combine various types of channel feature information to determine the first grid from multiple grids, thus making the accuracy of the first terminal in determining the first grid higher.

[0317] The above illustrates the process by which the first terminal determines the first grid in which it is located from a plurality of grids. Based on the above embodiment, the plurality of grids in which the first terminal may be located can be determined in the following manner.

[0318] As an optional embodiment, prior to S1001, method 1000 further includes: the network device sending fifth information to the first terminal, the fifth information indicating each grid in the first grid set and multiple third channel feature information, the multiple third channel feature information including third channel feature information corresponding to each grid in the first grid set, the first grid set including multiple grids, and the multiple third channel feature information including third channel feature information corresponding to each grid in the multiple grids. Correspondingly, the first terminal receives the fifth information from the network device.

[0319] The multiple grids can be some or all of the grids in the first grid set. Furthermore, the multiple grids are the grids where the first terminal, as determined by the first terminal, may be located within the first grid set. The first grid set can be a large geographic area, encompassing the geographic area indicated by each of the multiple grids; or, the first grid set can be a set of multiple indication information, including the indication information of each of the multiple grids; or, the first grid set can be one or more large grids, each containing multiple grids. This can also be understood as the geographic area indicated by the multiple grids being located within the geographic area indicated by the one or more large grids. Here, a large grid can be understood as a grid with a granularity larger than the granularity (size of the indicated geographic area) of the individual grids. For example, the granularity of each grid in the multiple grids can be 5m × 5m, and the granularity of the large grid can be 50m × 50m. Each grid in the multiple grids can also be called a small grid.

[0320] The fifth information is used to indicate each grid in the first grid set. For example, the fifth information can be indication information for each grid in the first grid set. Multiple third channel feature information can be the spectral base, PAS, or PDP of each grid in the first grid set. The spectral base can be a spatial base, a frequency base, or a joint spatial-frequency base, etc. Furthermore, the multiple third channel feature information can be grid-level channel feature information stored in the channel map.

[0321] Optionally, the multiple third channel feature information may include column indication information (e.g., column index) of the projection of the first basis corresponding to each grid in the first grid set onto the DFT, as well as the coefficients of the spectral basis, etc.; the spectral basis may be a spatial basis, a frequency basis, or a spatial-frequency joint basis.

[0322] Based on multiple third-channel feature information, the first terminal can determine multiple grids from the first grid set by the correlation between the first-channel feature information corresponding to the first terminal and the multiple third-channel feature information.

[0323] It should be understood that the method by which the first terminal calculates the correlation between the first channel feature information and multiple third channel feature information is the same as method 2 above or the method for calculating U above. P The implementation of the correlation r with U1 is similar, as described above, and will not be repeated here.

[0324] Multiple grids can be determined in the following two ways.

[0325] In the first possible implementation, the correlation between the third channel feature information corresponding to each of the multiple grids and the first channel feature information is greater than or equal to a first threshold.

[0326] The first threshold can be a threshold agreed upon by a protocol or configured by the network device through signaling, and the first threshold is greater than 0 and less than 1. For example, method 1000 further includes: the network device sending information indicating the first threshold to the first terminal; correspondingly, the first terminal receiving the information indicating the first threshold from the network device.

[0327] It should be understood that the information used to indicate the first threshold and the fifth information can be carried in the same signaling or in different signaling. Furthermore, when the information used to indicate the first threshold and the fifth information are carried in the same signaling, they can be carried in the same or different fields of that signaling. This application does not specifically limit this.

[0328] Since correlation is inversely proportional to distance, the geographical area indicated by the grid corresponding to the third channel feature information whose correlation with the first channel feature information is greater than the first threshold is closer to the location of the first terminal. Therefore, the first terminal may be located in the grid corresponding to the third channel feature information whose correlation with the first channel feature information is greater than the first threshold, that is, it may be located in multiple grids.

[0329] In the second possible implementation, the multiple grids are the grids corresponding to the Y third channel feature information that have the greatest correlation with the first channel feature information in the first grid set, where Y is an integer greater than 1.

[0330] That is, Y can be determined by the protocol, configured by the network device through signaling, or calculated by the first terminal.

[0331] For example, when Y is configured by signaling for a network device, method 1000 further includes: the network device sending information for indicating Y to a first terminal; correspondingly, the first terminal receiving the information for indicating Y from the network device.

[0332] It should be understood that the information used to indicate Y and the fifth information can be carried in the same signaling or in different signaling. Furthermore, when the information used to indicate Y and the fifth information are carried in the same signaling, they can be carried in the same or different fields of that signaling. This application does not impose specific limitations in this regard.

[0333] When Y is calculated for the first terminal, Y can be determined based on the number of grates Z included in the first grating set. Y can be Z×β, where β is greater than 0 and less than 1, etc.

[0334] In this way, the first terminal can calculate the correlation between the first channel feature information and each of the multiple third channel feature information, where the grids corresponding to the Y third information feature information that have the greatest correlation with the first channel feature information are the multiple grids.

[0335] It should be understood that, in addition to the first and second possible implementations shown above, the multiple grids can also be grids in the first grid set that are otherwise determined and have a high correlation between the channel feature information and the first channel feature information. This application does not specifically limit this.

[0336] It should be noted that the above description uses the example of a first terminal determining a first grid from multiple grids based on multiple second channel feature information corresponding to multiple second terminals and first channel feature information. In some possible implementations, when the first terminal determines G grids from multiple grids based on multiple second channel feature information and first channel feature information, where G is an integer greater than or equal to 2, the first terminal can determine the first grid from the G grids in, for example, the following two methods.

[0337] In the first possible implementation, the first terminal may request the second channel feature information corresponding to the other second terminals from the network device. The other second terminals are terminals other than the multiple second terminals, and the number of the other second terminals may be one or more.

[0338] For example, method 1000 further includes: a first terminal sending a request 1 to a network device, the request 1 being used to request more channel feature information corresponding to the second terminal, and correspondingly, the network device receiving the request 1 from the first terminal; based on the request 1, the network device sending information 3 to the first terminal, the information 3 being used to indicate the grid where each of the remaining second terminals is located, and to indicate the second channel feature information corresponding to each of the remaining second terminals, and correspondingly, the first terminal receiving the information 3 from the network device.

[0339] In this way, the first terminal can further determine the first grid from G grids based on the second channel feature information corresponding to each of the other second terminals and the grid in which each of the other second terminals is located.

[0340] It should be understood that the method by which the first terminal determines the first grid from the G grids based on the second channel feature information corresponding to each of the remaining second terminals and the grid in which each of the remaining second terminals is located is similar to the implementation method of S1003. Please refer to the description above, and it will not be repeated here.

[0341] In the second possible implementation, the first terminal requests other types of channel feature information corresponding to each of the multiple second terminals from the network device. Furthermore, the first terminal also obtains other types of channel feature information corresponding to itself, enabling it to determine a grid from G grids based on the other types of channel feature information corresponding to each second terminal and the other types of channel feature information corresponding to the first terminal.

[0342] For example, method 1000 further includes: a first terminal sending a request 2 to a network device, the request 2 being used to request other types of channel feature information corresponding to each of the plurality of second terminals, and correspondingly, the network device receiving the request 2 from the first terminal; based on the request 2, the network device sending information 4 to the first terminal, the information 4 being used to indicate other types of channel feature information corresponding to each of the plurality of second terminals, and correspondingly, the first terminal receiving the information 4 from the network device.

[0343] In this way, the first terminal can further determine the first grid from G grids based on other types of channel feature information corresponding to each of the multiple second terminals and other types of channel feature information corresponding to the first terminal.

[0344] For example, if the first channel feature information is the first basis and multiple second channel feature information is multiple second basis, then other types of channel feature information can be PAS and / or PDP, etc.

[0345] It should be understood that the way the first terminal determines the first grid from the G grids based on other types of channel feature information corresponding to each second terminal and other types of channel feature information corresponding to the first terminal is similar to the implementation of S1003; please refer to the description above, which will not be repeated here.

[0346] It should be noted that the process of the first terminal requesting more channel feature information corresponding to the second terminal or other types of channel feature information corresponding to each of the multiple second terminals to determine the first grid can be executed repeatedly until the first terminal can determine the first grid from G grids. This application does not impose specific limitations on this.

[0347] It is understood that the network device interacting with the first terminal mentioned above can be an access network device. The fifth piece of information can be sent from the core network device to the first terminal via the access network device. For example, when the core network device sends the fifth piece of information to the access network device, the access network device receives the fifth piece of information from the core network device; when the access network device sends the fifth piece of information to the first terminal, the first terminal receives the fifth piece of information from the access network device.

[0348] Among them, core network equipment can be, for example, MMF network elements.

[0349] It is understandable that the fifth piece of information can be sent by the MMF network element to the access network device after determining that the first terminal has entered the geographical area indicated by the first grid set. For example, the first grid set can be a large grid, and the MMF network element sends the fifth piece of information to the access network device after determining that the first terminal has entered the geographical area indicated by the large grid. In addition, in order for the access network device to identify the first terminal, the core network device can also send information indicating the first terminal to the access network device. This information can be, for example, the device ID of the first terminal.

[0350] Alternatively, the fifth information may be sent by the MMF network element based on a request from the access network device. For example, the access network device sends this request to the core network device after determining that the first terminal has entered the geographical area indicated by the first grid set. The core network device then sends the fifth information, etc., to the access network device based on this request.

[0351] It should be understood that the method by which the MMF network element or access network device determines that the first terminal has entered the geographical area indicated by the first grid set can be referred to, for example, the first-level positioning in method 2 above. This application does not specifically limit the method by which the MMF network element or access network device determines that the first terminal has entered the geographical area indicated by the first grid set.

[0352] The method 1000 shown above describes a method by which a first terminal determines a first grid from multiple grids based on multiple second channel feature information corresponding to multiple second terminals and first channel feature information corresponding to the first terminal. Besides this method, a network device can also determine a first grid from multiple grids based on multiple second channel feature information and first channel feature information corresponding to the first terminal. Details are as follows.

[0353] Figure 11 This is a flowchart illustrating the positioning method 1100 provided in an embodiment of this application. Method 1100 is applicable to system 300 or system 400, and includes the following steps:

[0354] S1101, the first terminal sends first information and fourth information to the network device. The first information is used to indicate multiple grids, wherein the correlation between the third channel feature information corresponding to each grid and the first channel feature information corresponding to the first terminal is greater than or equal to a first threshold. The fourth information is used to indicate the first channel feature information corresponding to the first terminal. Correspondingly, the network device receives the first information and fourth information from the first terminal.

[0355] The way in which the fourth information indicates the first channel feature information is similar to the way the second information indicates the second channel feature information in S1002. That is, the first terminal can also approximate the first basis determined by the first terminal through the sampled DFT codebook to obtain W that can be used to reconstruct the first basis. s W f And C4, and then instructs the network device to use the fourth information to send W. s W f And C4, to enable network devices to be based on W s W f And C4 determines the first substrate. The first terminal determines the W corresponding to the first substrate. s W f The C4 approach can be found in the description above. The first basis can be, but is not limited to, a spatial basis, a frequency basis, or a joint time-frequency basis.

[0356] The first basis can be calculated by the first terminal based on the measured channel matrix. The first terminal can measure the channel matrix based on the first signal from the network device. For details, please refer to the description in method 1000, which will not be repeated here.

[0357] It should be understood that the implementation method of the first terminal sending the first information to the network device is similar to the implementation method of S1001, and can be referred to the description above, which will not be repeated here.

[0358] It should be understood that the first and fourth information can be carried in the same signaling or in different signaling. Furthermore, when the first and fourth information are carried in the same signaling, they can be carried in the same or different fields of that signaling, and this application does not make any specific limitations in this regard.

[0359] S1102. Based on the first channel feature information corresponding to the first terminal and the multiple second channel feature information corresponding to the multiple second terminals, determine the first grid among the multiple grids. The first grid indicates the location of the first terminal. The multiple second terminals are determined by the network device based on the multiple grids.

[0360] It should be understood that the way the network device determines multiple second terminals based on multiple grids is similar to the implementation method of the network device determining multiple second terminals in method 1000, as described above, and will not be repeated here.

[0361] It should also be understood that the way the network device determines the first grid based on the first channel feature information and multiple second channel feature information is similar to the way the first terminal determines the first grid in S1003. Please refer to the description above, which will not be repeated here.

[0362] The first channel feature information and the second channel feature information may include one or more types of channel feature information. When the first channel feature information and the second channel feature information include multiple types of channel feature information, the network device can more accurately determine the first grid based on the multiple types of channel feature information.

[0363] It should be understood that the way the network device determines the first grid based on multiple types of channel feature information is similar to the way the first terminal determines the first grid based on multiple types of channel feature information in method 1000. Please refer to the description above, which will not be repeated here.

[0364] It should be noted that S1102 is described using the example of a network device determining a first grid from multiple grids based on multiple second channel feature information corresponding to multiple second terminals and first channel feature information. In some possible implementations, when the network device determines G grids from multiple grids based on multiple second channel feature information and first channel feature information, G is an integer greater than or equal to 2; the network device can further determine the first grid from the G grids based on the second channel feature information corresponding to the remaining second terminals, and based on the second channel feature information corresponding to each of the remaining second terminals and the grid in which each of the remaining second terminals is located.

[0365] It should be understood that the way the network device determines the first grid from G grids based on the second channel feature information corresponding to each of the remaining second terminals and the grid where each of the remaining second terminals is located is similar to the implementation of S1102. The way the network device obtains the second channel feature information corresponding to the remaining second terminals is similar to the way the network device obtains multiple second channel feature information. Please refer to the description above, which will not be repeated here.

[0366] Furthermore, when the network device determines G grids from multiple grids, the network device can also request other types of channel feature information from the terminal device, and can obtain other types of channel feature information corresponding to each of the multiple second terminals; so that the network device can determine the first grid from the G grids based on the other types of channel feature information corresponding to the first terminal and the other types of channel feature information corresponding to each second terminal.

[0367] It should be understood that the way the network device determines the first grid from the G grids based on other types of channel feature information corresponding to the first terminal and other types of channel feature information corresponding to each second terminal is similar to the way the first terminal determines the first grid in method 1000. Please refer to the description above, which will not be repeated here.

[0368] Optionally, after S1102, method 1100 further includes: the network device sending third information to the first terminal, the third information being used to indicate the first grid. Correspondingly, the first terminal receives the third information from the network device.

[0369] It should be understood that the way the network device sends third information to the first terminal is similar to the way the first terminal sends third information to the network device, as described in method 1000, and will not be repeated here.

[0370] In the positioning method of this application, when the first terminal determines that it may be located in multiple grids, the first terminal can report the first channel feature information corresponding to the first terminal and the indication information of the multiple grids to the network device; the network device can determine the first grid where the first terminal is located from the multiple grids based on the first channel feature information and the multiple second channel feature information corresponding to multiple second terminals, wherein the multiple second terminals can be terminals that the network device can determine based on the multiple grids to determine the grid where the first terminal is located.

[0371] On the one hand, the method by which the network device determines the grid in which the first terminal is located is unaffected by obstacles between the first terminal and the network device. Even under NLOS conditions, the network device can accurately determine the grid in which the first terminal is located. On the other hand, for the multiple grids in which the first terminal may be located, the network device can further match them using user-level channel feature information to accurately determine the first grid in which the first terminal is located. Furthermore, in this method, the first grid is determined by the network device, which does not need to indicate multiple second channel feature information to the first terminal, resulting in lower signaling overhead for locating the first terminal.

[0372] It should be understood that in method 1100, the way the first terminal determines multiple grids is similar to the way the first terminal determines multiple grids in method 1000. That is, multiple grids can also be determined by the first terminal from the first grid set indicated by the network device. Please refer to the description of method 1000, which will not be repeated here.

[0373] It should also be understood that the network device in method 1100 can also be understood as an access network device. The way the access network device indicates the fifth information to the first terminal is similar to the way the access network device indicates the fifth information to the first terminal in method 1000. Please refer to the description above, which will not be repeated here.

[0374] It should be noted that the order of the methods listed above does not imply the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic.

[0375] The above text combined Figures 9 to 11 The positioning method of the embodiments of this application is described in detail below. Figures 12 to 17 This application describes in detail the communication apparatus according to embodiments of the present application. The communication apparatus includes modules or units for performing each part of the above embodiments. The modules or units may be software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. The following is only a brief illustrative example of the communication apparatus; for details of the implementation, please refer to the description of the foregoing method embodiments, which will not be repeated below.

[0376] The methods 1000 and 1100 provided in the embodiments of this application are also applicable to… Figure 12 The communication system 1200 shown is an example. Figure 12 As shown, the communication system 1200 includes core network equipment, access network equipment, and terminal equipment.

[0377] The core network equipment may include MMF, LMF, and AMF network elements. Access network equipment communicates with AMF network elements via NG-C; LMF network elements are used for location estimation of terminal equipment (determining the location of terminal equipment); MMF network elements can be used to construct and update channel maps; and AMF communicates with LMF / MMF via NLs.

[0378] For example, in methods 1000 and 1100, the LMF network element is used to determine the location of the first terminal. When the LMF network element determines that the first terminal has entered the geographical area indicated by the first grid set, the LMF network element instructs the AMF network element that the first terminal has entered the geographical area indicated by the first grid set. The AMF network element can obtain multiple third channel feature information from the MMF network element and send fifth information to the access network device to indicate the first grid set and the multiple third channel feature information.

[0379] Access network equipment may include an RRC signaling interaction module (RRC), a MAC signaling interaction module (MAC), and a PHY signaling and data interaction module (MAC); terminal equipment may also include an RRC signaling interaction module (RRC), a MAC signaling interaction module (MAC), and a PHY signaling and data interaction module (MAC).

[0380] The access network equipment includes a Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling interaction module (RRC) that can perform RRC signaling interaction with the RRC signaling interaction module (RRC) of the terminal equipment; the access network equipment includes a Media Access Control (MAC) signaling interaction module (MAC) that can perform MAC control element (MAC-CE) signaling interaction with the MAC signaling interaction module (MAC) of the terminal equipment; the access network equipment includes a Physical (PHY) signaling and data interaction module (MAC) that can send PDCCH and PDSCH to the terminal equipment including the PHY signaling and data interaction module (MAC), that is, send information through PDCCH and PDSCH; the terminal equipment includes a PHY signaling and data interaction module (MAC) that can send PUCCH and PUSCH to the access network equipment including the PHY signaling and data interaction module (MAC), that is, send information through PUCCH and PUSCH. The terminal equipment can be a first terminal or a second terminal.

[0381] For example, in method 1100, the PHY signaling and data interaction module (MAC) included in the access network device can send PDCCH or PDSCH to the first terminal including the PHY signaling and data interaction module (MAC), and the PDCCH or PDSCH carries third information (for indicating the first grid). And / or, in method 1000, the PHY signaling and data interaction module (MAC) included in the access network device can send PDSCH to the first terminal including the PHY signaling and data interaction module (MAC), and the PDSCH carries second information (for indicating multiple second channel feature information corresponding to multiple second terminals).

[0382] Based on the above embodiments, the MMF network element can be deployed on the core network side, or the MMF network element can also be deployed in the service unit (SU) of the access network equipment (also known as the RAN access network equipment). For example, as shown... Figure 13 As shown, the access network equipment includes SU units, CUs, DUs, and RUs. MMF network elements are deployed in SU units. The MMF network element can send fifth information (used to indicate each grid in the first grid set and multiple third channel feature information) to the CU. The CU can send the fifth information received from the SU unit to the DU, and the DU can send the fifth information received from the CU to the RU. The RU can send the fifth information from the DU to the terminal device (i.e., the first terminal) through the PDSCH.

[0383] Furthermore, the interaction process between the other access network devices and the first terminal in the above method embodiments can also be referred to the process of the access network device sending the fifth information to the first terminal. For the sake of brevity, they will not be shown one by one here.

[0384] Figure 14 This is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 1400 provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 14 As shown, the communication device 1400 includes a transceiver module 1401 and a processing module 1402.

[0385] In one possible implementation, the communication device 1400 is used to implement the steps corresponding to the first terminal (first communication device) in the method 1000 described above.

[0386] The processing module 1402 is used to generate first information; the transceiver module 1401 is used to send the first information, which indicates multiple grids, wherein the correlation between the third channel feature information corresponding to each grid and the first channel feature information corresponding to the device 1400 is greater than or equal to a first threshold; and is also used to receive second information, which indicates multiple second channel feature information corresponding to multiple second communication devices, wherein the multiple second communication devices are determined based on multiple grids; the processing module 1402 is used to determine the first grid among the multiple grids based on the first channel feature information corresponding to the first communication device and the multiple second channel feature information, wherein the first grid indicates the position of the device 1400.

[0387] In another possible implementation, the communication device 1400 is used to implement the steps corresponding to the first terminal (first communication device) in the method 1100 described above.

[0388] The processing module 1402 is used to generate first information and fourth information; the transceiver module 1401 is used to send the first information and the fourth information, wherein the first information is used to indicate multiple grids, and the correlation between the third channel feature information corresponding to each grid and the first channel feature information corresponding to the device 1400 is greater than or equal to a first threshold, and the fourth information is used to indicate the first channel feature information corresponding to the device 1400; the transceiver module 1401 is also used to receive the third information, which is used to indicate the first grid among the multiple grids, the first grid indicating the position of the device 1400, and the first grid is determined based on the first channel feature information and multiple second channel feature information corresponding to multiple second communication devices, and the multiple second communication devices are determined based on the multiple grids.

[0389] Based on the two possible implementations described above, the device 1400 is also used to perform the following steps.

[0390] Optionally, the transceiver module 1401 is also configured to: send third information, the third information being used to indicate the first grid.

[0391] Optionally, the second information is used to indicate the grid in which each of the plurality of second communication devices is located, as well as the plurality of second channel characteristic information.

[0392] Optionally, the first grid is determined based on the correlation between the first channel feature information and each of the multiple second channel feature information.

[0393] Optionally, the first grid is the grid that is closest to the target second communication device among multiple grids, the target second communication device is a communication device among multiple second communication devices, and the second channel feature information corresponding to the target second communication device has the greatest correlation with the first channel feature information among multiple second channel feature information.

[0394] Optionally, the transceiver module 1401 is further configured to: receive fifth information, the fifth information being used to indicate each grid in the first grid set and multiple third channel feature information, the multiple third channel feature information including the third channel feature information corresponding to each grid in the first grid set, the first grid set including multiple grids, and the multiple third channel feature information including the third channel feature information corresponding to each grid in the multiple grids.

[0395] Optionally, the first channel feature information, the second channel feature information, and multiple third channel feature information include one or more of the following: spatial basis, frequency basis, space-frequency joint basis, power angle spectrum (PAS), or power delay spectrum (PDP).

[0396] Optionally, the transceiver module 1401 is further configured to: receive a first signal; and the processing module 1402 is further configured to: determine first channel characteristic information based on the first signal.

[0397] In another possible implementation, the communication device 1400 is used to implement the steps corresponding to the network device in the method 1100 described above.

[0398] Processing module 1402 is used to generate first information and fourth information; transceiver module 1401 is used to receive the first information and fourth information, wherein the first information is used to indicate multiple grids, and the correlation between the third channel feature information corresponding to each grid and the first channel feature information corresponding to the first communication device is greater than or equal to a first threshold, and the fourth information is used to indicate the first channel feature information corresponding to the first communication device; processing module 1402 is used to determine the first grid among multiple grids based on the first channel feature information corresponding to the first communication device and the multiple second channel feature information corresponding to multiple second communication devices, wherein the first communication device is located in the first grid, and the multiple second communication devices are determined based on the multiple grids.

[0399] Optionally, the transceiver module 1401 is also configured to: send third information, the third information being used to indicate the first grid.

[0400] In another possible implementation, the communication device 1400 is used to implement the steps corresponding to the network device in the method 1000 described above.

[0401] The transceiver module 1401 is used to receive first information, which indicates multiple grids, wherein the correlation between the third channel feature information corresponding to each grid and the first channel feature information corresponding to the first communication device is greater than or equal to a first threshold; the processing module 1402 is used to generate second information; to send the second information, which indicates multiple second channel feature information corresponding to multiple second communication devices, wherein the multiple second communication devices are determined based on multiple grids; and to receive third information, which indicates a first grid among the multiple grids, wherein the first grid is determined based on the first channel feature information corresponding to the first communication device and multiple second channel feature information, wherein the first grid indicates the location of the first communication device.

[0402] Optionally, the second information is used to indicate the grid in which each of the plurality of second communication devices is located, as well as the plurality of second channel characteristic information.

[0403] Based on the two possible implementations described above, the device 1400 also performs the following steps.

[0404] Optionally, the first grid is determined based on the correlation between the first channel feature information and each of the multiple second channel feature information.

[0405] Optionally, the first grid is the grid that is closest to the target second communication device among multiple grids, the target second communication device is a communication device among multiple second communication devices, and the second channel feature information corresponding to the target second communication device has the greatest correlation with the first channel feature information among multiple second channel feature information.

[0406] Optionally, the transceiver module 1401 is further configured to: receive fifth information, the fifth information being used to indicate each grid in the first grid set and multiple third channel feature information, the multiple third channel feature information including the third channel feature information corresponding to each grid in the first grid set, the first grid set including multiple grids, and the multiple third channel feature information including the third channel feature information corresponding to each grid in the multiple grids.

[0407] Optionally, the first channel feature information, the second channel feature information, and multiple third channel feature information include one or more of the following: spatial basis, frequency basis, space-frequency joint basis, power angle spectrum (PAS), or power delay spectrum (PDP).

[0408] Optionally, the transceiver module 1401 is further configured to: transmit a first signal, the first signal being used to measure first channel characteristic information.

[0409] It should be understood that the communication device 1400 here is embodied in the form of a functional module. The term "module" here can refer to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), electronic circuitry, a processor (e.g., a shared processor, a proprietary processor, or a group processor, etc.) and memory for executing one or more software or firmware programs, integrated logic circuitry, and / or other suitable components supporting the described functions. In an alternative example, those skilled in the art will understand that the communication device 1400 can specifically be a terminal device or network device as described in the above embodiments. The communication device 1400 can be used to execute the various processes and / or steps corresponding to the terminal device or network device in the above method embodiments; to avoid repetition, these will not be described further here.

[0410] The aforementioned communication device 1400 has the function of implementing the corresponding steps performed by the terminal device or network device in the above method; the above functions can be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions. In embodiments of this application, Figure 14 The communication device 1400 in the middle can also be a chip, such as a SOC.

[0411] Figure 15 A schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device 1500 provided in an embodiment of this application is shown. The communication device 1500 includes a processor 1501, a transceiver 1502, and a memory 1503. The processor 1501, transceiver 1502, and memory 1503 communicate with each other via internal interconnection paths. The memory 1503 stores instructions, such as computer-defined code. The processor 1501 executes the instructions stored in the memory 1503 to control the transceiver 1502 to send and / or receive signals.

[0412] It should be understood that the communication device 1500 may specifically be a network device or a terminal device in the above embodiments, and may be used to execute the various steps and / or processes corresponding to the network device or terminal device in the above method embodiments. Optionally, the memory 1503 may include a read-only memory and a random access memory, and provide instructions and data to the processor. A portion of the memory may also include non-volatile random access memory. For example, the memory may also store device type information. The processor 1501 may be used to execute instructions stored in the memory, and when the processor 1501 executes instructions stored in the memory, the processor 1501 is used to execute the various steps and / or processes of the above method embodiments. The transceiver 1502 may include a transmitter 15021, a receiver 15022, and an antenna 15023. The transmitter 15021 may be used to implement the various steps and / or processes corresponding to the transceiver for performing the transmission action. For example, the transmitter 15021 may be used to transmit information to another device through the antenna 15023. Receiver 15022 can be used to implement the various steps and / or processes corresponding to the transceiver described above for performing the receiving action. For example, receiver 15022 can be used to receive information from another device via antenna 15023.

[0413] It should be understood that, in the embodiments of this application, the processor may be a central processing unit (CPU), or it may be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0414] In implementation, each step of the above method can be completed by integrated logic circuits in the processor's hardware or by instructions in software. The steps of the method disclosed in the embodiments of this application can be directly manifested as execution by a hardware processor, or as a combination of hardware and software modules within the processor. The software modules can reside in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory, registers, or other mature storage media in the art. This storage medium is located in memory, and the processor executes the instructions in the memory, combining them with its hardware to complete the steps of the above method. To avoid repetition, detailed descriptions are omitted here.

[0415] Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram of an O-RAN system illustrated in an embodiment of this application. The O-RAN system may also include... Figure 16 Other components besides those shown.

[0416] like Figure 16 As shown, the network device in this embodiment can also be called an access network device. The access network device (i.e., RAN, such as an eNB, gNB, or next-generation access network device) can communicate with the core network (CN) through a backhaul link, or it can communicate with the terminal device through an air interface.

[0417] Specifically, the baseband unit (BBU) in the access network equipment communicates with the core network equipment via a backhaul link; the radio unit (RU) in the access network equipment communicates with at least one terminal device via an air interface. The BBU communicates with at least one RU via a fronthaul link. The BBU and RU may or may not be co-located.

[0418] The BBU includes at least one control unit (CU) and at least one distributed unit (DU), which can communicate via at least one midhaul link.

[0419] Figure 17 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a wireless access network system according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 17 As shown, the wireless access network system includes RAN equipment, which includes CU, DU and RU.

[0420] The CU (Core Unit) includes platforms that perform upper-layer (L2) and L3 functions. For example, the CU carries traffic between the CU and DU (Dedicated Utility Unit) through the midhaul interface; the CU carries traffic between the CU and core network equipment through the backhaul interface. L2, also known as Layer 2, can include the MAC layer, radio link control (RLC) layer, and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer. L3, also known as Layer 3, can include the RRC (Remote Control Control) layer and the non-access stratum (NAS) layer.

[0421] The DU performs L1 and some L2 functions, while the RU performs L1 computation and radio frequency (RF) digital functions. The fronthaul interface carries traffic between the RU and DU. L1, also known as Layer 1, can represent the physical (PHY) layer.

[0422] Optionally, when the DU is an integrated DU, the integrated DU includes the aforementioned DU and RU functions.

[0423] The CU / DU hardware includes a chassis platform, motherboard, peripherals, and cooling system. The motherboard contains processing units, memory, internal I / O interfaces, and external connection ports. Its hardware accelerator is designed with interfaces, and hardware functional components include: storage for software, hardware, and system debugging interfaces, and a single-board management controller.

[0424] DU systems are typically implemented using multi-core processors and one or more hardware accelerators. Parts of the DU protocol stack can be implemented in software running on the multi-core processor, while computationally intensive L1 and L2 functions can be offloaded to a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) / graphics processing unit (GPU)-based hardware accelerator; or all L1 functions can be offloaded to an FPGA / GPU-based hardware accelerator, while other protocol stack components are implemented in software running on the processor; or the entire protocol stack can be implemented in software running on the processor. The hardware accelerator supports interconnection with the processor. Similarly, the accelerator has a multi-channel peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) interface pointing to the CPU and external connections via gigabit Ethernet (GbE) connectivity.

[0425] The RU comprises three parts: the O-RAN processing unit (OPU), which receives eCPRI frames from the O-RAN fronthaul and performs fronthaul interface operations, the lowest level L1 (coding, scrambling, modulation, layer mapping, precoding), synchronization, beamforming, and resource unit mapping. The OPU can be implemented as a CPU, FPGA, or application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The O-RU's digital processing unit (DPU) performs synchronization, digital down-conversion (DDC) in the UL, digital up-conversion (DUC) in the DL, crest factor reduction (CFR), and digital pre-distortion (DPD). It improves power amplifier efficiency by reducing the peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) / adjacent channel leakage ratio (ACLR) of the RF front-end; the DPU can be implemented as an FPGA or ASIC. The O-RU's RF processing unit includes a transceiver module, up / down converters, power amplifiers (PA), low-noise amplifiers (LNA), and transmit (Tx) / receive (Rx) filters. All conversions between the analog and digital domains, such as digital-to-analog converters (DACs) and analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), RF sampling, frequency conversion using RF during up-conversion and down-conversion, and mixing with the intermediate frequency (IF) and local oscillator (LO), are performed within the transceiver module. Note that the physical and logical partitions within the RF processing unit do not require specific boundaries.

[0426] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program for implementing the methods shown in the above-described method embodiments.

[0427] This application also provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions) that, when run on a computer, allows the computer to perform the methods shown in the above-described method embodiments.

[0428] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the modules and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0429] Those skilled in the art will understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and modules described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0430] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of modules is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple modules or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses or modules may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0431] The modules described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as modules may or may not be physical modules; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network modules. Some or all of the modules can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0432] In addition, the functional modules in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing module, or each module can exist physically separately, or two or more modules can be integrated into one module.

[0433] If the aforementioned functions are implemented as software functional modules and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-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 a portion 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.) 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.

[0434] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the protection scope of the embodiments of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the embodiments of this application should be included within the protection scope of the embodiments of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of the embodiments of this application should be determined by the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A positioning method, characterized by, The method applied to a first communication device comprises: sending first information and fourth information, the first information being used to indicate a plurality of grids, each grid in the plurality of grids having a third channel feature information corresponding to a first channel feature information of the first communication device, the fourth information being used to indicate the first channel feature information; receiving third information, the third information being used to indicate a first grid in the plurality of grids, the first grid indicating a position of the first communication device, the first grid being determined based on the first channel feature information and a plurality of second channel feature information corresponding to a plurality of second communication devices, the plurality of second communication devices being determined based on the plurality of grids.

2. A positioning method characterized by, The method applied to a first communication device comprises: sending first information, the first information being used to indicate a plurality of grids, each grid in the plurality of grids having a third channel feature information corresponding to a first channel feature information of the first communication device; receiving second information, the second information being used to indicate a plurality of second channel feature information corresponding to a plurality of second communication devices, the plurality of second communication devices being determined based on the plurality of grids; determining a first grid in the plurality of grids based on the first channel feature information of the first communication device and the plurality of second channel feature information, the first grid indicating a position of the first communication device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein, The method further comprises: sending third information, the third information being used to indicate the first grid.

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The second information is used to indicate indication information of a grid in which each second communication device in the plurality of second communication devices is located and the plurality of second channel feature information.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The first grid is determined based on a correlation between the first channel feature information and each second channel feature information in the plurality of second channel feature information.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, The first grid is a grid in the plurality of grids closest to a grid in which a target second communication device is located, the target second communication device being a communication device in the plurality of second communication devices, a second channel feature information corresponding to the target second communication device in the plurality of second channel feature information having a maximum correlation with the first channel feature information.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The method further comprises: receiving fifth information, the fifth information being used to indicate each grid in a first grid set and a plurality of third channel feature information, the plurality of third channel feature information including a third channel feature information corresponding to each grid in the first grid set, the first grid set including the plurality of grids, the plurality of third channel feature information including a third channel feature information corresponding to each grid in the plurality of grids.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein, The first channel feature information, the second channel feature information and the plurality of third channel feature information include one or more of a following: a spatial basis, a frequency basis, a spatial-frequency joint basis, a power-angle spectrum (PAS) or a power-delay spectrum (PDP).

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The method further comprises: receiving a first signal and determining the first channel feature information based on the first signal.

10. A positioning method characterized by, The method applied to a third communication device comprises: receiving first information and fourth information, the first information being used for indicating a plurality of grids, each grid in the plurality of grids having a third channel feature information corresponding to a first channel feature information of a first communication device, the fourth information being used for indicating the first channel feature information; determining a first grid in the plurality of grids based on the first channel feature information of the first communication device and a plurality of second channel feature information of a plurality of second communication devices, the first grid being used for indicating a location of the first communication device, the plurality of second communication devices being determined based on the plurality of grids.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein, The method further includes: sending third information, the third information being used for indicating the first grid.

12. A positioning method characterized by, The method applied to a third communication device includes: receiving first information, the first information being used for indicating a plurality of grids, each grid in the plurality of grids having a third channel feature information corresponding to a first channel feature information of a first communication device, the fourth information being used for indicating the first channel feature information; sending second information, the second information being used for indicating a plurality of second channel feature information of a plurality of second communication devices, the plurality of second communication devices being determined based on the plurality of grids; receiving third information, the third information being used for indicating a first grid in the plurality of grids, the first grid being determined based on the first channel feature information and the plurality of second channel feature information, the first grid being used for indicating a location of the first communication device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein, The second information is used for indicating indication information of a grid in which each second communication device in the plurality of second communication devices is located and the plurality of second channel feature information.

14. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that, The first grid is determined based on a correlation between the first channel feature information and each second channel feature information in the plurality of second channel feature information.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, The first grid is a grid in the plurality of grids that is closest to a grid in which a target second communication device is located, the target second communication device being a communication device in the plurality of second communication devices, a second channel feature information corresponding to the target second communication device in the plurality of second channel feature information having a largest correlation with the first channel feature information.

16. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 15, characterized in that, The method further includes: sending fifth information, the fifth information being used for indicating each grid in a first grid set and a plurality of third channel feature information, the plurality of third channel feature information including a third channel feature information corresponding to each grid in the first grid set, the first grid set including the plurality of grids, the plurality of third channel feature information including a third channel feature information corresponding to each grid in the plurality of grids.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein, The first channel feature information, the second channel feature information and the plurality of third channel feature information include one or more of a spatial basis, a frequency basis, a spatial-frequency joint basis, a power-angle spectrum (PAS) or a power-delay spectrum (PDP).

18. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 17, characterized in that, The method further includes: sending a first signal, the first signal being used for measuring the first channel feature information.

19. A communications device, characterized by includes: A module for performing the method of any one of claims 1 to 9, or the method of any one of claims 10 to 18.

20. A communications device, characterized by comprising: a processor coupled with a memory for storing a computer program which, when invoked by the processor, causes the apparatus to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 9, or the method of any one of claims 10 to 18.

21. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, A computer program product for storing a computer program comprising instructions for implementing the method of any one of claims 1 to 9, or the method of any one of claims 10 to 18.

22. A computer program product comprising instructions therein, the computer program product comprising instructions therein, characterized in that, The instructions, when run on a computer, cause the computer to implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 9, or the method of any one of claims 10 to 18.

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