A method and apparatus for determining device proximity, a network device, and a storage medium

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a device proximity determination method and apparatus, a network device and a storage medium. In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a control network element determines the proximity of a device relative to at least one first network element based on a first proximity parameter sent by the at least one first network element, the first proximity parameter comprising transmission information of a first signal and / or a reception status indication of a second signal, the reception status indication of the second signal being used to indicate whether the second signal scattered or reflected by the device is received by the first network element. Without defining a new measurement quantity, the accuracy of the determined device proximity can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of communication technology, specifically to a method, apparatus, network device, and storage medium for determining device proximity. Background Technology

[0002] In IoT communication technology, barcodes or Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technologies are typically used for device identification. These devices can be battery-free and without energy storage, or they may have energy storage capabilities and require no manual replacement or charging. However, due to limited identification range, effective ranging and positioning of devices is not possible, resulting in poor accuracy. Furthermore, the lack of interference management solutions leads to severe interference in high-density device deployment scenarios, thus limiting capacity.

[0003] Ambient Internet of Things (A-IoT) communication technology emphasizes the interaction between devices and their environment, enabling devices to sense and respond to their environment, thus making the environment more intelligent. A-IoT devices have a higher connection count and / or greater deployment density compared to traditional IoT.

[0004] Determining the proximity of A-IoT devices without defining new measurements is a solution that urgently needs to be provided. Summary of the Invention

[0005] At least one embodiment of this disclosure provides a method, apparatus, network device, and storage medium for determining device proximity, which can improve the accuracy of the determined device proximity without defining new measurements.

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of this disclosure propose a method for determining device proximity, applied to a first network element, the method comprising:

[0007] Send the first signal;

[0008] A first proximity parameter is sent to the control network element. The first proximity parameter includes the transmission information of a first signal and / or the reception status indication of a second signal. The reception status indication of the second signal is used to indicate whether the first network element receives the second signal scattered or reflected by the device.

[0009] Secondly, this disclosure also proposes a method for determining device proximity, applied to a control network element, the method comprising:

[0010] Obtain at least one first proximity parameter transmitted by a first network element. The first proximity parameter includes transmission information of a first signal and / or a reception status indication of a second signal. The reception status indication of the second signal is used to indicate whether the first network element receives the second signal scattered or reflected by the device.

[0011] Based on the first proximity parameter, the proximity of the device to the at least one first network element is determined.

[0012] Thirdly, embodiments of this disclosure also propose a device for determining device proximity, applied to a first network element, the device comprising:

[0013] The first transmitting unit is used to transmit the first signal;

[0014] The second transmitting unit is used to transmit a first proximity parameter to the control network element. The first proximity parameter includes transmission information of a first signal and / or a reception status indication of a second signal. The reception status indication of the second signal is used to indicate whether the first network element receives the second signal scattered or reflected by the device.

[0015] Fourthly, embodiments of this disclosure also propose a device for determining device proximity, applied to a control network element, the device comprising:

[0016] The acquisition unit is configured to acquire a first proximity parameter transmitted by at least one first network element. The first proximity parameter includes transmission information of a first signal and / or a reception status indication of a second signal. The reception status indication of the second signal is used to indicate whether the first network element receives the second signal scattered or reflected by the device.

[0017] The determining unit is configured to determine the proximity of the device to the at least one first network element based on the first proximity parameter.

[0018] Fifthly, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a network device, wherein the network device includes a memory, a transceiver, and a processor;

[0019] The memory is used to store computer programs; the transceiver is used to send and receive data under the control of the processor; the processor is used to read the computer programs in the memory and execute them.

[0020] Send the first signal;

[0021] A first proximity parameter is sent to the control network element. The first proximity parameter includes the transmission information of a first signal and / or the reception status indication of a second signal. The reception status indication of the second signal is used to indicate whether the first network element receives the second signal scattered or reflected by the device.

[0022] Sixthly, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a network device, wherein the network device includes a memory, a transceiver, and a processor;

[0023] The memory is used to store computer programs; the transceiver is used to send and receive data under the control of the processor; the processor is used to read the computer programs in the memory and execute them.

[0024] Obtain at least one first proximity parameter transmitted by a first network element. The first proximity parameter includes transmission information of a first signal and / or a reception status indication of a second signal. The reception status indication of the second signal is used to indicate whether the first network element receives the second signal scattered or reflected by the device.

[0025] Based on the first proximity parameter, the proximity of the device to the at least one first network element is determined.

[0026] In a seventh aspect, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a processor-readable storage medium, wherein the processor-readable storage medium stores a program for causing a processor to execute a device proximity determination method as described in any embodiment of the first aspect, or to execute a device proximity determination method as described in any embodiment of the second aspect.

[0027] Eighthly, this disclosure also provides a chip, which includes a processor coupled to a memory for executing a computer program or instructions stored in the memory. When the processor executes the computer program or instructions, it executes a device proximity determination method as described in any embodiment of the first aspect, or executes a device proximity determination method as described in any embodiment of the second aspect.

[0028] In at least one embodiment of this disclosure, the control network element acquires a first proximity parameter sent by at least one first network element. The first proximity parameter includes transmission information of a first signal and / or a reception status indication of a second signal. The reception status indication of the second signal is used to indicate whether the first network element receives a second signal scattered or reflected by the device. Furthermore, based on the first proximity parameter, the control network element can determine the proximity of the device relative to at least one first network element. This eliminates the need to define new measurements, thereby improving the accuracy of the determined device proximity. Attached Figure Description

[0029] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings.

[0030] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of an A-IoT scenario provided by an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0031] Figure 2 A flowchart illustrating a method for determining device proximity provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0032] Figure 3 A flowchart illustrating another method for determining device proximity provided in this embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0033] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a device for determining device proximity provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0034] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of another device proximity determination apparatus provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0035] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a network device provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0036] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of another network device provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0037] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of a chip system provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0038] In this disclosure, the term "and / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent three cases: A alone, A and B simultaneously, and B alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0039] In this disclosure, the term "multiple" refers to two or more, and other quantifiers are similar.

[0040] To better understand the above-described objectives, features, and advantages of this disclosure, the present disclosure will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It is to be understood that the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this disclosure. The specific embodiments described herein are merely for explaining this disclosure and are not intended to limit it. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the described embodiments of this disclosure are within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

[0041] It should be noted that in this article, relational terms such as “first” and “second” are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations.

[0042] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an A-IoT scenario provided by an embodiment of this disclosure. Figure 1 In this context, the three user equipment (UEs) acting as A-IoT readers—UE1, UE2, and UE3—can all transmit A-IoT carrier wave (CW) signals and A-IoT reader-to-device (R2D) signals, and can all receive A-IoT device-to-reader (D2R) signals.

[0043] In this context, the A-IoT reader is both a transmitter and receiver of positioning signals, and can be either a base station (gNB) or a user equipment (UE). The A-IoT device is the device to be located in the A-IoT scenario; it is a backscattering or reflecting device. The A-IoT device itself does not have the ability to generate CW signals; it needs to modulate the information to be transmitted onto an external signal and transmit it through its antenna. The external signal is typically the CW signal generated by the A-IoT reader. After receiving the incident external signal, the A-IoT device modulates it and transmits the modulated signal through its transmitting antenna.

[0044] A-IoT devices have two positioning modes: single-base mode (i.e., transceiver integrated mode) and dual-base mode.

[0045] Single-base mode refers to the A-IoT reader actively sending a CW signal, and the A-IoT device modulates the CW signal to obtain a positioning reference signal, and then performs backscattering or reflection, with the same A-IoT reader receiving the reflected positioning reference signal.

[0046] Dual-base mode refers to the CW excitation source actively sending CW signals, and the A-IoT device modulates the CW signals to obtain positioning reference signals, and then performs backscattering or reflection, so that other A-IoT readers can receive the positioning reference signals.

[0047] exist Figure 1 In the A-IoT scenario shown, it is assumed that the positioning mode of the A-IoT device is single-base mode, that is, the A-IoT reader transmits and receives on its own, such as UE1 transmitting and receiving on its own; or, it is assumed that the positioning mode of the A-IoT device is dual-base mode, that is, one A-IoT reader transmits and the other A-IoT reader receives, such as UE1 transmitting and UE2 receiving.

[0048] exist Figure 1In this context, R1, R2, and R3 represent the maximum range at which the A-IoT device can receive CW and R2D signals when the A-IoT reader transmits CW and R2D signals using three different transmission powers P1, P2, and P3, and the maximum range at which the A-IoT reader can correctly receive the backscattered or reflected D2R signals from the A-IoT device (it should be noted that in practical applications, the transmission powers of CW and R2D signals may be the same or different).

[0049] 1) When the gNB is configured so that UE1, UE2 and UE3 all transmit CW and R2D signals using P1 power, all three UEs can receive D2R signals from A-IoT device 1 (Device1) and A-IoT device 2 (Device2).

[0050] 2) When the gNB is configured so that UE1, UE2 and UE3 all use P2 power to transmit CW signal and R2D signal, UE3 can receive D2R signal from A-IoT device 2 (Device2), and UE1 and UE2 can receive D2R signal from A-IoT device 1 (Device1).

[0051] 3) When the gNB is configured so that UE1, UE2 and UE3 all use P3 power to transmit CW and R2D signals, UE3 cannot receive D2R signals from A-IoT device 1 (Device1) and A-IoT device 2 (Device2), UE2 can receive D2R signals from A-IoT device 1 (Device1), and UE1 cannot receive D2R signals from A-IoT device 1 (Device1) and A-IoT device 2 (Device2).

[0052] Therefore, it can be concluded that A-IoT device 1 is closest to UE2, and A-IoT device 2 is closest to UE3.

[0053] If the A-IoT reader uses a fixed power to transmit the signal, the above conclusion cannot be reached, for example:

[0054] When the signal is transmitted using a fixed power of P1, all three UEs can receive the D2R signal from A-IoT device 1 (Device1) and A-IoT device 2 (Device2). That is, Device1 and Device2 are both located within the union of the three circles. Circle 1 has UE1 as its center and R1 as its radius; Circle 2 has UE2 as its center and R1 as its radius; and Circle 3 has UE3 as its center and R1 as its radius.

[0055] When a fixed power P3 is used to transmit the signal, only UE2 can receive the D2R signal from A-IoT device 1 (Device1). That is, Device1 is only located within a circle with UE2 as the center and R3 as the radius. The proximity of A-IoT device 2 (Device2) to UE2 cannot be determined.

[0056] Therefore, the A-IoT reader / writer's fixed use of a single power signal transmission scheme, i.e., the Reader-ID proximity determination scheme, has the following problems:

[0057] When a higher fixed power is used, the proximity range is also larger, but the positioning accuracy is lower; conversely, when a lower fixed power is used, the proximity range is smaller, the positioning accuracy is higher, but the proximity cannot be determined. A scheme that uses multiple levels of signals with different power levels can improve the accuracy of proximity determination.

[0058] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating a method for determining device proximity according to an embodiment of this disclosure. The method is applied to a control network element. The control network element can be a Location Management Function (LMF), where an LMF represents a network element that provides different location services to a user, or an undefined network element that performs the same function. The control network element can also be a base station.

[0059] like Figure 2 As shown, the method for determining the proximity of the device includes, but is not limited to, steps 201 and 202:

[0060] In step 201, a first proximity parameter transmitted by at least one first network element is obtained. The first proximity parameter includes transmission information of a first signal and / or a reception status indication of a second signal. The reception status indication of the second signal is used to indicate whether the first network element receives a second signal scattered or reflected by the device.

[0061] For example, the reception status indication of the second signal is used to indicate whether the first network element receives the second signal scattered or reflected by the device. For example, the reception status indication can be used to indicate that the first network element has received the second signal scattered or reflected by the device, or the reception status indication can be used to indicate that the first network element has not received the second signal scattered or reflected by the device.

[0062] The first network element can be an A-IoT reader or a CW excitation source node. The A-IoT reader can be a base station or a UE (e.g., a terminal). The first signal can be an R2D signal and / or a CW signal. The second signal is a D2R signal.

[0063] The transmission information of the first signal includes at least one of the following (1) and (2), or the transmission information of the first signal is any one of the following:

[0064] (1) The minimum transmission power of the first signal or its index in the predefined power set.

[0065] (2) The transmission timestamp corresponding to the minimum transmission power of the first signal.

[0066] The minimum transmission power of the first signal includes any one of the following A to C:

[0067] A. Minimum transmit power of the reader-to-device R2D signal.

[0068] B. Minimum transmission power of the carrier CW signal.

[0069] The first transmission power of the C and R2D signals and the second transmission power of the CW signal.

[0070] If the reception status indication of the second signal is used to indicate that the first network element has received the second signal scattered or reflected by the device, it indicates that the device can receive the first signal when the first network element transmits the first signal at the minimum transmission power of the first signal in (1); or,

[0071] If the reception status indication of the second signal is used to indicate that the first network element has not received the second signal scattered or reflected by the device, it means that the device cannot receive the first signal when the first network element transmits the first signal at the minimum transmission power of the first signal in (1).

[0072] For example, the control network element receives the first proximity parameter sent by the A-IoT reader: the value of the minimum transmission power (P_Tx_min) of the R2D signal and / or CW signal or its index in a predefined power set, the transmission timestamp of the minimum transmission power (P_Tx_min), and the reception status indication of the D2R signal (i.e., whether the A-IoT reader has received the D2R signal scattered or reflected by the corresponding A-IoT device).

[0073] If the D2R signal reception status indicator is used to indicate that the A-IoT reader has received the D2R signal scattered or reflected by the A-IoT device, it means that the A-IoT device is able to receive the R2D signal and / or CW signal when the A-IoT reader transmits the R2D signal and / or CW signal at the minimum transmission power of the R2D signal and / or CW signal in (1); or,

[0074] If the D2R signal reception status indicator is used to indicate that the A-IoT reader has not received the D2R signal scattered or reflected by the A-IoT device, it means that the A-IoT device cannot receive the R2D signal and / or CW signal when the A-IoT reader transmits the R2D signal and / or CW signal at the minimum transmission power of the R2D signal and / or CW signal in (1).

[0075] In step 202, the proximity of the device to at least one first network element is determined based on a first proximity parameter. For example, the control network element can determine the proximity of the A-IoT device to the A-IoT reader / writer based on the first proximity parameter sent by the A-IoT reader / writer. Alternatively, the control network element can determine the proximity of the A-IoT device to the A-IoT reader / writer based on the minimum transmit power (P_Tx_min) of the R2D signal and / or the CW signal, the minimum receive power of the A-IoT device and / or the minimum receive power of the A-IoT reader / writer, and the receive status indication of the D2R signal. Detailed embodiments are described below.

[0076] As can be seen, in this embodiment, the control network element acquires a first proximity parameter sent by at least one first network element. The first proximity parameter includes transmission information of a first signal and / or a reception status indication of a second signal. The reception status indication of the second signal is used to indicate whether the first network element receives a second signal scattered or reflected by the device. Therefore, based on the first proximity parameter, the control network element can determine the proximity of the device relative to at least one first network element. This eliminates the need to define new measurement quantities and improves the accuracy of the determined device proximity.

[0077] In some embodiments, the control network element may also notify at least one first network element of the transmission configuration information of the first signal.

[0078] The transmission configuration information of the first signal includes at least one of the following (1) to (3), or the transmission configuration information of the first signal is any one of the following:

[0079] (1) Send timestamp.

[0080] (2) Transmission power.

[0081] (3) Time and frequency resources.

[0082] If a transmission timestamp is agreed upon in advance, the transmission configuration information of the first signal may not include the transmission timestamp configuration information. That is, the transmission configuration information of the first signal only includes (2) and (3).

[0083] If the location of the time and frequency resources is agreed upon in advance, the transmission configuration information of the first signal may not include the configuration information of the time and frequency resources. That is, the transmission configuration information of the first signal only includes (1) and (2).

[0084] If the transmission timestamp and the location of the time-frequency resources are agreed upon in advance, the transmission configuration information of the first signal will only include (2).

[0085] If the transmission power is agreed upon in advance, the transmission configuration information of the first signal may not include the transmission power configuration information. That is, the transmission configuration information of the first signal includes (1) and / or (3).

[0086] The transmission power is configured using either method A or B:

[0087] A. The control network element can directly configure the value of the transmission power or the index in the power set predefined in the protocol.

[0088] B. The control network element indirectly configures the value of the transmission power or the index in the power set predefined by the protocol.

[0089] For Method A: The protocol predefines the power set for R2D and / or CW signals. The power set is, for example, Power_set = [P_min:P_Delta:P_Max], or Power_set = [P_Max – NUM * P_Delta:P_Delta:P_Max], in dBm. Here, the colon is the separator, [P_min:P_Delta:P_Max] represents a discretized numerical sequence starting from P_min and increasing in fixed power steps of P_Delta until P_Max is reached or exceeded. [P_Max – NUM * P_Delta:P_Delta:P_Max] represents a discretized numerical sequence starting from P_Max – NUM * P_Delta and increasing in fixed power steps of P_Delta until P_Max is reached or exceeded. P_Max represents the maximum transmit power value of the R2D signal and / or CW signal, for example: P_Max = 23, 30, 38, or 46dBm; P_min represents the minimum transmit power value of the R2D signal and / or CW signal, for example: P_min = -23, -30, or -10dBm; P_Delta represents the power step size, for example: P_Delta = 2 / 3 / 4 / 5dB; NUM is the total number of power adjustment steps, for example: NUM = 20 or 30. The control network element directly configures the specific power value or index. Example 1: When the control network element is LMF and the A-IoT reader is a base station or UE, the LMF is directly configured to the base station reader or UE reader. Example 2: When the control network element is the serving base station and the A-IoT reader is the UE, the serving base station directly configures the specific power value or index to the UE reader, for example, through Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, Medium Access Control (MAC) signaling, or Private Line (PL) signaling.

[0090] For Method B: The protocol predefines the power set of R2D and / or CW signals, and the control network element indirectly configures the specific power value or index. For example, when the control network element is LMF and the A-IoT reader is UE, LMF first configures to the serving base station, and then the serving base station configures to the UE reader via R2D signals.

[0091] As can be seen, in this embodiment, the control network element can notify at least one A-IoT reader or CW excitation source node to transmit R2D signals and / or CW signals at different power levels at different transmission times (i.e., different transmission timestamps). Each A-IoT reader reports the reception status indication of the D2R signal to the control network element, that is, whether the A-IoT reader has received the backscattered or reflected D2R signal from the A-IoT device. Based on the transmission configuration information of each A-IoT reader and the reported information of each A-IoT reader, the control network element can determine the proximity of the A-IoT device relative to one or more A-IoT readers.

[0092] In some embodiments, to improve the performance of determining the proximity of A-IoT devices, the control network element may also acquire at least one second proximity parameter sent by the first network element. The second proximity parameter includes at least one of the following (1) to (8), or the second proximity parameter is any one of the following:

[0093] (1) The position of the first network element at different times.

[0094] (2) Configuration parameters of the first signal or the second signal.

[0095] (3) Path loss (PL) and / or distance estimate from the first network element to the device.

[0096] (4) Type of equipment.

[0097] (5) Receiver sensitivity of the equipment.

[0098] (6) Receiver sensitivity of the first network element.

[0099] (7) Wireless channel model.

[0100] (8) Road loss model.

[0101] For example, the control network element can also receive the second proximity parameters sent by the A-IoT reader: the location information of the A-IoT reader at different times (especially when the UE is the A-IoT reader and the UE is in motion); the configuration parameters of the D2R signal or R2D signal; the path loss and distance estimate from the A-IoT reader to the A-IoT device; the type of the A-IoT device; and the receiver sensitivity of the A-IoT device (e.g., SINR_R2D_min + P_device_noise_dBm, where SINR_R2D_min represents the minimum signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio at which the A-IoT device can correctly detect the R2D signal; P_device_noise_dBm represents the A-IoT device's receiver sensitivity). - The thermal noise power of the IoT device within the R2D signal bandwidth, in dBm; the reported value of the receiver sensitivity of the A-IoT device can be in absolute or quantized form; the receiver sensitivity of the A-IoT reader (e.g., SINR_D2R_min + P_reader_noise_dBm, where SINR_D2R_min represents the minimum signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio at which the A-IoT reader can correctly detect the D2R signal; P_reader_noise_dBm represents the thermal noise power of the A-IoT reader within the D2R signal bandwidth, in dBm; the reported value of the receiver sensitivity of the A-IoT reader can be in absolute or quantized form); wireless channel type; path loss model.

[0102] In some embodiments, in step 202, determining the proximity of the device to the first network element based on the first proximity parameter includes:

[0103] Based on the minimum transmit power of the first signal and the minimum receive power of the device and / or the first network element, the proximity of the device to the first network element can be determined using any one of the following methods (CASE 1 to CASE 3):

[0104] Method 1 (CASE 1):

[0105] If the minimum transmit power of the first signal is the minimum transmit power of the R2D signal, and the minimum receive power is the minimum receive power of the device, then the proximity of the device to the first network element is the one-way distance from the first network element to the device.

[0106] In this embodiment, the CW signal transmission power is fixed at different times, while the R2D signal transmission power is adjusted:

[0107] Assume the A-IoT device is within the coverage area of ​​the A-IoT reader. If the A-IoT device receives the R2D signal from the A-IoT reader, the A-IoT reader can receive the D2R signal from the A-IoT device. By adjusting the transmission power of the R2D signal on the A-IoT reader side, when the transmission power of the R2D signal decreases to a certain level, the path loss (PL) caused by the signal propagation distance makes the power of the R2D signal reaching the A-IoT device too low, thus preventing the A-IoT device from receiving the R2D signal. Consequently, the A-IoT device stops transmitting the corresponding D2R signal, and the A-IoT reader cannot receive the D2R signal from the A-IoT device. At this point, by using the minimum transmission power of the R2D signal that can be received and the assumed minimum receiving power of the A-IoT device, the one-way distance between the A-IoT reader and the A-IoT device can be estimated, i.e., the proximity of the A-IoT device to the A-IoT reader.

[0108] Method 2 (CASE 2):

[0109] If the minimum transmit power of the first signal is the minimum transmit power of the carrier CW signal, and the minimum receive power is the minimum receive power of the first network element, then the proximity of the device to the first network element is the bidirectional distance between the device and the first network element.

[0110] In this embodiment, the R2D signal transmission power is fixed at different times, while the CW signal transmission power is adjusted:

[0111] For a transceiver integrated architecture, assuming the A-IoT device is within the coverage area of ​​the A-IoT reader, i.e., under normal CW signal transmission power, the A-IoT reader can receive the D2R signal from the A-IoT device. The D2R signal is modulated by the A-IoT device based on the CW signal. By adjusting the CW signal transmission power, when the CW signal transmission power decreases to a certain level, the path loss (PL) due to the signal propagation distance makes the CW signal power reaching the A-IoT device too low, further reducing the D2R signal power reaching the A-IoT reader. Ultimately, the A-IoT reader cannot receive the D2R signal back-reflected or scattered by the A-IoT device modulated onto the CW. At this point, the bidirectional distance between the A-IoT device and the A-IoT reader is estimated by using the minimum transmission power of the CW signal corresponding to the D2R signal that the A-IoT reader can receive and the assumed minimum receiving power of the A-IoT reader. In the transceiver integrated architecture, since the A-IoT reader is the CW excitation source, the distance from the CW excitation source to the A-IoT device is equal to the distance from the A-IoT device to the A-IoT reader.

[0112] Method 3 (CASE 3):

[0113] If the minimum transmission power of the first signal includes the first transmission power of the R2D signal and the second transmission power of the CW signal, then the proximity of the device to the first network element is the third distance.

[0114] The third distance is the distance determined based on the first distance and the second distance. The first distance is the distance determined based on the first transmit power of the R2D signal and the minimum receive power of the device. The second distance is the distance determined based on the second transmit power of the CW signal and the minimum receive power of the first network element.

[0115] The third distance is the average, minimum, or maximum value of half the second distance and the first distance.

[0116] In this embodiment, the transmission power of the R2D signal and the CW signal are adjusted simultaneously at different times:

[0117] For a transceiver integrated architecture, assuming the A-IoT device is within the coverage area of ​​the A-IoT reader, that is, under normal CW and R2D signal transmission power, the A-IoT device can correctly receive the R2D signal from the A-IoT reader, and the A-IoT device modulates and transmits a D2R signal based on the CW signal, which the A-IoT reader can receive. However, by adjusting the transmission power of the CW and R2D signals and applying the same analysis as in CASE 1 and CASE 2, it can be seen that when the transmission power of the R2D and CW signals decreases to a certain level, the A-IoT reader can no longer receive the D2R signal from the A-IoT device. At this point, by using the minimum transmit power of the R2D signal corresponding to the D2R signal that can be received and the assumed minimum receive power of the A-IoT device, the unidirectional distance D1 from the A-IoT reader to the A-IoT device can be estimated. Similarly, by using the minimum transmit power of the CW signal corresponding to the D2R signal that the A-IoT reader can receive and the assumed minimum receive power of the A-IoT reader, the bidirectional distance D2 from the A-IoT device to the A-IoT reader can be estimated. Based on D1 and D2, D3 can be obtained by combining them. For example: D3 = fun(D1, D2 / 2). Here, the fun function can take the average, minimum, or maximum value.

[0118] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating another method for determining device proximity provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. The method is applied to a first network element. The first network element can be an A-IoT reader / writer or a CW excitation source node. The A-IoT reader / writer can be a base station or a UE. Figure 3 As shown, the method includes, but is not limited to, steps 301 and 302:

[0119] In step 301, the first signal is sent.

[0120] The first signal can be an R2D signal and / or a CW signal.

[0121] In step 302, a first proximity parameter is sent to the control network element. The first proximity parameter includes the transmission information of the first signal and / or the reception status indication of the second signal. The reception status indication of the second signal is used to indicate whether the first network element has received the second signal scattered or reflected by the device.

[0122] The transmission information of the first signal includes at least one of the following (1) and (2), or the transmission information of the first signal is any one of the following:

[0123] (1) The minimum transmission power of the first signal or its index in the predefined power set.

[0124] (2) The transmission timestamp corresponding to the minimum transmission power of the first signal.

[0125] The minimum transmission power of the first signal includes any one of the following A to C:

[0126] A. Minimum transmit power of the reader-to-device R2D signal.

[0127] B. Minimum transmission power of the carrier CW signal.

[0128] The first transmission power of the C and R2D signals and the second transmission power of the CW signal.

[0129] For example, the A-IoT reader sends the first proximity parameter to the control network element: the value of the minimum transmission power (P_Tx_min) of the R2D signal and / or CW signal or its index in the predefined power set, the transmission timestamp of the minimum transmission power (P_Tx_min), and the reception status indication of the D2R signal (i.e., whether the A-IoT reader has received the D2R signal scattered or reflected by the corresponding A-IoT device).

[0130] The control network element can determine the proximity of the A-IoT device to the A-IoT reader / writer based on the first proximity parameter. For detailed process information, please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 2 Related embodiments will not be described again to avoid repetition.

[0131] In some embodiments, the first network element may also obtain transmission configuration information for the first signal. Accordingly, in step 301, transmitting the first signal includes: transmitting the first signal based on the transmission configuration information for the first signal.

[0132] The transmission configuration information of the first signal includes at least one of the following (1) to (3), or the transmission configuration information of the first signal is any one of the following:

[0133] (1) Send timestamp.

[0134] (2) Transmission power.

[0135] (3) Time and frequency resources.

[0136] The transmission power is configured using any one of the following methods, A through C:

[0137] A. The control network element can directly configure the value of the transmission power or the index in the power set predefined in the protocol.

[0138] B. The control network element indirectly configures the value of the transmission power or the index in the power set predefined by the protocol.

[0139] C. The first network element determines the value or index of the transmission power based on the power set predefined in the protocol.

[0140] For Method A: The protocol predefines the power set for R2D and / or CW signals. The power set is, for example, Power_set = [P_min:P_Delta:P_Max] or Power_set = [P_Max – NUM * P_Delta:P_Delta:P_Max], in dBm. Where P_Max represents the maximum transmit power value of the R2D and / or CW signals, for example: P_Max = 23, 30, 38, or 46 dBm; P_min represents the minimum transmit power value of the R2D and / or CW signals, for example: P_min = -23, -30, or -10 dBm; P_Delta represents the power step size, for example: P_Delta = 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 dB; NUM is the total number of power adjustment steps, for example: NUM = 20 or 30. The control network element directly configures the specific power value or index. Example 1: When the control network element is an LMF (Light Filter Function) and the A-IoT reader / writer is a base station or a UE (User Equipment), the LMF is directly configured to the base station reader / writer or the UE reader / writer. Example 2: When the control network element is a serving base station and the A-IoT reader / writer is a UE, the serving base station directly configures the specific power value or index to the UE reader / writer, for example, through Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, Medium Access Control (MAC) signaling, or Private Line (PL) signaling.

[0141] For Method B: The protocol predefines the power set of R2D and / or CW signals, and the control network element indirectly configures the specific power value or index. For example, when the control network element is LMF and the A-IoT reader is UE, LMF first configures to the serving base station, and then the serving base station configures to the UE reader via R2D signals.

[0142] For method C: The protocol predefines the power set of R2D signals and / or CW signals, and the A-IoT reader / writer / CW excitation source node determines the specific power value or index.

[0143] In some embodiments, in order to improve the performance of determining the proximity of A-IoT devices, the first network element may also send a second proximity parameter to the control network element. The second proximity parameter includes at least one of the following (1) to (8), or the second proximity parameter is any one of the following:

[0144] (1) The position of the first network element at different times.

[0145] (2) Configuration parameters of the first signal or the second signal.

[0146] (3) Path loss (PL) and / or distance estimate from the first network element to the device.

[0147] (4) Type of equipment.

[0148] (5) Receiver sensitivity of the equipment.

[0149] (6) Receiver sensitivity of the first network element.

[0150] (7) Wireless channel model.

[0151] (8) Road loss model.

[0152] For example, the A-IoT reader can also send a second proximity parameter to the control network element: the location information of the A-IoT reader at different times (especially when the UE is the A-IoT reader and the UE is in motion); the configuration parameters of the D2R or R2D signal; the path loss and distance estimate from the A-IoT reader to the A-IoT device; the type of the A-IoT device; the receiver sensitivity of the A-IoT device (e.g., SINR_R2D_min+P_device_noise_dBm, the reported value of the receiver sensitivity of the A-IoT device can be an absolute value or a quantized value); the receiver sensitivity of the A-IoT reader (e.g., SINR_D2R_min+P_reader_noise_dBm, the reported value of the receiver sensitivity of the A-IoT reader can be an absolute value or a quantized value); the wireless channel type; and the path loss model.

[0153] Example 1

[0154] This embodiment describes scheme 1, namely CASE1 mentioned in the previous embodiments:

[0155] In step 202, determining the proximity of the device to the first network element includes:

[0156] If the minimum transmission power of the first signal is the minimum transmission power of the R2D signal, and the minimum reception power is the minimum reception power of the device (i.e., the A-IoT device), then the proximity of the device to the first network element (e.g., the A-IoT reader) is the one-way distance from the first network element (e.g., the A-IoT reader) to the device (i.e., the A-IoT device).

[0157] Scheme 1 takes a transceiver integrated architecture as an example. It assumes that N A-IoT readers (gNBs and / or UEs) with known locations are needed, {R1,…,RN}, to jointly locate a specific A-IoT device, where N>=1. Each A-IoT reader transmits CW and R2D signals and receives D2R signals from the A-IoT device, operating on a self-transmitting and self-receiving basis. It should be noted that Scheme 1 is applicable not only to the self-transmitting and self-receiving scenario of each A-IoT reader, but also to scenarios where one A-IoT reader transmits R2D / CW signals, and all A-IoT readers receive backscattered / reflected D2R signals from the A-IoT device.

[0158] Option 1:

[0159] Assume the A-IoT device is within the coverage area of ​​the A-IoT reader. If the A-IoT device receives the R2D signal from the A-IoT reader, the A-IoT reader can also receive the D2R signal from the A-IoT device. By adjusting the transmission power of the R2D signal on the A-IoT reader side, when the transmission power of the R2D signal decreases to a certain level, the path loss (PL) caused by the signal propagation distance makes the power of the R2D signal reaching the A-IoT device too low, thus preventing the A-IoT device from receiving the R2D signal. Consequently, the A-IoT device stops transmitting the corresponding D2R signal, and the A-IoT reader cannot receive the D2R signal from the A-IoT device. At this point, by using the minimum transmission power of the R2D signal that can be received and the assumed minimum receiving power of the A-IoT device, the one-way distance between the A-IoT reader and the A-IoT device can be estimated, i.e., the proximity of the A-IoT device to the A-IoT reader.

[0160] The following is a detailed description of Scheme 1.

[0161] One or more A-IoT readers each transmit CW signals at a constant maximum power, but transmit R2D signals sequentially with different powers from high to low (or low to high), where P_Tx_R2D_(1)>P_Tx_R2D_(2)>…>P_Tx_R2D_(N). If the A-IoT reader can receive the corresponding D2R signal of the A-IoT device when transmitting the R2D signal with power P_Tx_R2D_(i), then the A-IoT reader continues to transmit the R2D signal with power P_Tx_R2D_(i+1). If the A-IoT reader cannot receive the corresponding D2R signal of the A-IoT device when transmitting the R2D signal with power P_Tx_R2D_(i+1), then the A-IoT reader determines the minimum transmission power P_Tx_R2D_min for receiving the R2D signal corresponding to the D2R signal of the A-IoT device. For example: P_Tx_R2D_min = (P_Tx_R2D_(i) + P_Tx_R2D_(i+1)) / 2. Using the P_Tx_R2D_min recorded by each A-IoT reader, and estimating the distance using this transmit power P_Tx_R2D_min and the assumed minimum receive power P_Rx_R2D_min, the approximate distance range from the A-IoT device to each A-IoT reader can be estimated. Then, based on the known locations of the A-IoT readers, the location of the A-IoT device can be further estimated.

[0162] It should be noted that Scheme 1 can be used in both transceiver integrated architecture and transceiver separate architecture (RF carrier transmitter and D2R signal receiver are different devices), assuming there is only a CW excitation source node (RF carrier transmitter, power supply device).

[0163] Specifically, for the transceiver integrated architecture, multiple A-IoT readers use TDM to send CW and R2D signals to avoid mutual interference; for the transceiver separated architecture, multiple A-IoT readers use TDM to send R2D signals to avoid mutual interference.

[0164] It should be noted that the distance can be estimated using the path loss PL = P_Tx_R2D_min - P_Rx_R2D_min. Here, P_Rx_R2D_min represents the minimum received power at which an A-IoT device can normally receive an R2D signal. For example:

[0165] P_Rx_R2D_min = SINR_R2D_min + P_device_noise_dBm. Where SINR_R2D_min represents the minimum signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SNR) that the A-IoT device can correctly detect the R2D signal (the specific value depends on parameters such as wireless channel type, A-IoT device type, and R2D signal format), and P_device_noise_dBm = -174 + 10*log10(BW_in_Hz) + Noise_figure_in_dB represents the thermal noise power of the A-IoT device within the R2D signal bandwidth, where BW_in_Hz represents the R2D signal bandwidth in Hz; and Noise_figure_in_dB represents the noise figure in dB.

[0166] The following is a detailed introduction to Scheme 1 based on three different equipment types.

[0167] The first network element is, for example, an A-IoT reader / writer (UE / gNB):

[0168] Step 1: For a transceiver integrated architecture, each A-IoT reader sequentially transmits CW signals at a fixed maximum power on predefined or network-configured time-frequency resources. For a transceiver separated architecture, the CW excitation source node transmits CW signals at a fixed maximum power. "Sequentially" means that multiple A-IoT readers transmit sequentially using time-division multiplexing (TDM) according to predefined protocols, network pre-configuration, or real-time coordination between base stations. Because an A-IoT device can only receive the R2D signal from one A-IoT reader at a time, if two A-IoT readers transmit intermittently, the A-IoT device cannot distinguish which A-IoT reader is transmitting.

[0169] Step 2: Each A-IoT reader / writer can obtain the transmission configuration information of the first signal (e.g., the R2D signal). The transmission configuration information includes: transmission timestamp (i.e., transmission time), transmission power, and time-frequency resources. Each A-IoT reader / writer transmits the R2D signal at different transmission times t(n) (i.e., different transmission timestamps) using different transmission powers P_Tx_R2D_(n) from large to small (or from small to large). Among them, the transmission power values ​​P_Tx_R2D_(1)>P_Tx_R2D_(2)>…>P_Tx_R2D_(N). The specific correspondence between the transmission time t(n) and the transmission power P_Tx_R2D_(n) and time-frequency resources R_TF(n) of the R2D signal is notified by the A-IoT control network element or predefined by the protocol. For example, when the A-IoT control network element is the LMF of the core network, the LMF notifies multiple A-IoT readers of the TDM time division multiplexing order to avoid interference problems caused by one A-IoT device receiving multiple A-IoT readers at the same time.

[0170] The different transmission power of the R2D signal of the A-IoT reader at different transmission times can be configured by different methods, including:

[0171] First, the protocol predefines the total power range of the R2D signal (e.g., Power_set = [P_min:P_Delta:P_Max], or Power_set = [P_Max – NUM * P_Delta:P_Delta:P_Max], in dBm. Here, P_Max represents the maximum power value of the R2D signal transmitted by the A-IoT reader, for example: P_Max = 23, 30, 38, or 46 dBm; P_min represents the minimum power value of the R2D signal transmitted by the A-IoT reader, for example: P_Max = -23, -30, or -10 dBm; P_Delta represents the power step size, for example: P_Delta = 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 dB; NUM is the total number of power adjustment steps, for example: NUM = 20 or 30). The control network element directly configures the specific power value or index. Example 1: When the A-IoT control network element is an LMF and the A-IoT reader is a base station or a UE, the LMF directly configures the base station reader or the UE reader. Example 2: When the A-IoT control network element is a serving base station and the A-IoT reader is a UE, the serving base station directly configures the specific power value or index to the UE reader, for example, through RRC signaling, MAC signaling or PL signaling.

[0172] Second, the protocol predefines the total power range, and the specific power value or index is indirectly configured by the control network element. For example, when the A-IoT control network element is LMF and the A-IoT reader is UE, LMF first configures to the serving base station, and then the serving base station configures to the UE reader via R2D signal.

[0173] Third, the protocol predefines the total power range, and the specific power value is determined by the A-IoT reader / CW excitation source node itself.

[0174] Step 3: Each A-IoT reader detects the D2R signal on the time-frequency resource of the candidate D2R signal indicated by the R2D signal. If the corresponding D2R signal of the A-IoT device can be detected, update the power P_Tx_R2D_(i)->P_Tx_R2D_(i+1) and proceed to step 2; otherwise, proceed to step 4.

[0175] Step 4: If the A-IoT reader can receive the backscattered / reflected D2R signal from the A-IoT device when transmitting the R2D signal with power P_Tx_R2D_(i), and cannot receive the backscattered / reflected D2R signal from the A-IoT device when transmitting the R2D signal with power P_Tx_R2D_(i+1), then the A-IoT reader records the minimum transmission power P_Tx_R2D_min of the current R2D signal, for example: P_Tx_R2D_min=(P_Tx_R2D_(i)+P_Tx_R2D_(i+1)) / 2.

[0176] Step 5: Multiple A-IoT readers report the first proximity parameters to the control network element, including the transmission information of R2D signals and the reception status indication of D2R signals.

[0177] The transmission information of the R2D signal includes the following (1) and (2):

[0178] (1) The specific value of the minimum transmission power P Tx R2D min of the R2D signal or its index in the predefined power set.

[0179] (2) The transmission timestamp of the minimum transmission power P_Tx_R2D_min of the R2D signal.

[0180] D2R signal reception status indication: Whether the A-IoT reader has received the D2R signal corresponding to the minimum transmission power P_Tx_R2D_min of the above R2D signal.

[0181] In some embodiments, to improve the performance of determining the proximity of A-IoT devices, the A-IoT reader may also report at least one second proximity parameter or any combination thereof to the control network element:

[0182] Location information of A-IoT readers at different times (especially when the UE is acting as an A-IoT reader and the UE is in motion);

[0183] Configuration parameters in D2R and / or R2D formats;

[0184] The estimated PL (Power Placement) from the A-IoT reader to the A-IoT device;

[0185] Types of A-IoT devices;

[0186] The receiver sensitivity of A-IoT devices (e.g., P_Rx_R2D_min = SINR_R2D_min + P_device_noise_dBm, where the reported value of receiver sensitivity can be an absolute value or a quantized value).

[0187] Among them, the wireless channel type and path loss model can be pre-stored based on the A-IoT control network element, without the need for A-IoT reader to report.

[0188] A-IoT control network element (LMF / gNB):

[0189] Step 1: Notify one or an A-IoT reader of the correspondence between the specific transmission time t(n) (i.e., the transmission timestamp), the transmission power value P_Tx_R2D_(n) of the R2D signal, and the time-frequency resource R_TF(n).

[0190] Step 2: Receive the first proximity parameter reported by one or more A-IoT readers:

[0191] The specific value of the minimum transmit power P_Tx_R2D_min of the R2D signal or its index in the predefined power set;

[0192] The transmission timestamp of the minimum transmission power P_Tx_R2D_min of the R2D signal;

[0193] Does the A-IoT reader receive the D2R signal corresponding to the minimum power P_Tx_R2D_min of the aforementioned R2D signal?

[0194] In some embodiments, the control network element may also receive at least one of the following second proximity parameters or combinations:

[0195] Location information of A-IoT readers at different times (especially when the UE is acting as an A-IoT reader and the UE is in motion);

[0196] Configuration parameters in D2R or R2D format;

[0197] The estimated PL (Power Placement) from the A-IoT reader to the A-IoT device;

[0198] Types of A-IoT devices;

[0199] The receiver sensitivity of A-IoT devices (e.g., P_Rx_R2D_min = SINR_R2D_min + P_device_noise_dBm, where the reported value of receiver sensitivity can be an absolute value or a quantized value).

[0200] Among them, the wireless channel type and path loss model can be stored in advance by the A-IoT control network element, without the need for the A-IoT reader to report them.

[0201] Step 3: Based on the first proximity parameter set reported by one or more A-IoT readers (and in some embodiments, a second proximity parameter set), estimate the distance from the A-IoT reader to the A-IoT device. Further, combine this with the known location information of multiple A-IoT readers to calculate the location of the A-IoT device. For example, when the A-IoT control network element pre-stores the path loss model of the wireless channel and the receiver sensitivity of the A-IoT device, it is not necessary for the A-IoT reader to report a second proximity parameter set. It can directly use the above information and the first proximity parameter set reported by the A-IoT reader to calculate the location of the A-IoT device more accurately than the proximity calculation using traditional Reader-ID.

[0202] A-IoT devices:

[0203] Step 1: Receive the R2D signal indication from the nth A-IoT reader / writer, and obtain the CW signal time-frequency resources and D2R signal indication information;

[0204] Step 2: The A-IoT device transmits the D2R signal using amplitude modulation / frequency modulation / phase modulation on the D2R time and frequency resources obtained in Step 1 for the CW signal.

[0205] It should be noted that if N A-IoT readers are each independently transmitting and receiving signals, the A-IoT device needs to iterate through all N A-IoT readers, performing steps 1 and 2 as described above for each reader. If only one A-IoT reader is transmitting an R2D / CW signal, the A-IoT device will only perform steps 1 and 2 as described above for the nth A-IoT reader.

[0206] Example 2

[0207] This embodiment describes scheme 2, namely CASE2 mentioned in the previous embodiments:

[0208] In step 202, determining the proximity of the device to the first network element includes:

[0209] If the minimum transmission power of the first signal is the minimum transmission power of the CW signal, and the minimum reception power is the minimum reception power of the first network element (e.g., the A-IoT reader), then the proximity of the device (i.e., the A-IoT device) to the first network element (e.g., the A-IoT reader) is the bidirectional distance between the device (i.e., the A-IoT device) and the first network element (e.g., the A-IoT reader).

[0210] Scheme 2 is only applicable to the scenario where each A-IoT reader transmits and receives signals independently. Assume that N A-IoT readers (gNB and / or UE), {R1,…,RN}, whose own locations are known, are needed to jointly locate a specific A-IoT device, where N>=1. Each A-IoT reader transmits CW and R2D signals respectively, and receives D2R signals from the A-IoT device.

[0211] Option 2:

[0212] For a transceiver integrated architecture, assuming the A-IoT device is within the coverage area of ​​the A-IoT reader, i.e., under normal CW transmission power, the A-IoT reader can receive the D2R signal from the A-IoT device. The D2R signal is modulated by the A-IoT device based on the CW signal. By adjusting the CW signal transmission power, when the CW signal transmission power decreases to a certain level, the path loss (PL) due to the signal propagation distance results in excessively low CW signal power reaching the A-IoT device. This further reduces the D2R signal power reaching the A-IoT reader, ultimately preventing the A-IoT reader from receiving the back-reflected / scattered D2R signal from the A-IoT device loaded on the CW. At this point, the minimum transmit power of the CW signal corresponding to the D2R signal that the A-IoT reader can receive and the assumed minimum receive power of the A-IoT reader are used to estimate the bidirectional distance between the A-IoT device and the A-IoT reader (for transceiver integrated architectures, since the A-IoT reader is the CW excitation source, the distance from the CW excitation source to the A-IoT device is equal to the distance from the A-IoT device to the A-IoT reader).

[0213] The following is a detailed description of Scheme 2.

[0214] Each A-IoT reader transmits R2D signals at a constant maximum power (including two cases: one R2D signal corresponds to one D2R signal, or one R2D signal corresponds to N D2R signals), and transmits CW signals with different powers from high to low (or low to high) {P_Tx_CW_(1)>P_Tx_CW_(2)>…>P_Tx_CW_(N)}. If the A-IoT reader can receive the corresponding D2R signal from the A-IoT device when transmitting the CW signal with power P_Tx_CW_(i), then the A-IoT reader continues to transmit the CW signal with power P_Tx_CW_(i+1). If, when transmitting a CW signal with power P_Tx_CW_(i), the A-IoT reader cannot receive the D2R signal reflected / scattered by the A-IoT device, then the A-IoT reader obtains the minimum transmit power P_Tx_CW_min required to receive the corresponding CW signal from the A-IoT device. Using the P_Tx_CW_min obtained by each A-IoT reader, and estimating the distance using this transmit power P_Tx_CW_min and the assumed minimum receive power P_Rx_D2R_min, the approximate bidirectional distance from the A-IoT device to each A-IoT reader can be estimated. Using the known locations of the A-IoT readers, the location of the A-IoT device can be further estimated.

[0215] It should be noted that in Scheme 2, the A-IoT reader can obtain P_Tx_CW_min in different ways, such as sending CW signals with different powers from small to large.

[0216] It should be noted that Scheme 2 requires an integrated transceiver architecture, meaning that the RF carrier transmitting device and the D2R signal receiving device are the same device. Specifically, for this integrated transceiver architecture, multiple A-IoT readers use TDM to transmit CW and R2D signals to avoid mutual interference.

[0217] It should be noted that the bidirectional distance between the A-IoT device and the A-IoT reader can be estimated using the road loss PL = P_Tx_CW_min - P_Rx_D2R_min (dB). Wherein, P_Rx_D2R_min represents the minimum received power at which the A-IoT reader can normally receive D2R signals. For example: P_Rx_D2R_min=SINR_D2R_min+P_reader_noise_dBm; where SINR_D2R_min represents the minimum signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SNR) at which the A-IoT reader can correctly detect D2R signals (the specific value is related to the wireless channel type, A-IoT reader type, and D2R signal format), and P_reader_noise_dBm=-174+10*log10(BW_in_Hz)+Noise_figure_in_dB represents the thermal noise power of the A-IoT reader within the D2R signal bandwidth, where BW_in_Hz represents the D2R signal bandwidth in Hz; and Noise_figure_in_dB represents the noise figure in dB. This involves reporting the receiver sensitivity of the A-IoT reader (i.e., SINR_D2R_min+P_reader_noise_dBm), where the reporting format can be either an absolute value or a quantized value.

[0218] The following is a detailed description of Scheme 2 based on three different equipment types.

[0219] The first network element is, for example, an A-IoT reader / writer (UE / gNB):

[0220] Step 1: For the transceiver integrated architecture, each A-IoT reader transmits R2D signals at a fixed maximum power on predefined or network-configured time-frequency resources.

[0221] Step 2: Each A-IoT reader / writer can obtain the transmission configuration information of the first signal (e.g., the CW signal). The transmission configuration information includes: transmission timestamp (i.e., transmission time), transmission power, and time-frequency resources. Each A-IoT reader / writer transmits the CW signal at different transmission times t(n) (i.e., different transmission timestamps) using different transmission powers P_Tx_CW(n) from large to small (or from small to large). Among them, the power values ​​P_Tx_CW(1)>P_Tx_CW(2)>…>P_Tx_CW(N). The specific correspondence between the transmission time t(n) and the transmission power P_Tx_CW(n) and time-frequency resources R_TF(n) of the CW signal is notified by the A-IoT control network element or predefined by the protocol.

[0222] The different transmission power of the CW signal of the A-IoT reader at different transmission times can be configured by different methods, including:

[0223] First, the protocol predefines the total power range of the CW signal (e.g., Power_set = [P_min:P_Delta:P_Max], or Power_set = [P_Max – NUM * P_Delta:P_Delta:P_Max], in dBm. Here, P_Max represents the maximum power value of the CW signal transmitted by the A-IoT reader, for example: P_Max = 23, 30, 38, or 46 dBm; P_min represents the minimum power value of the CW signal transmitted by the A-IoT reader, for example: P_Max = -23, -30, or -10 dBm; P_Delta represents the power step size, for example: P_Delta = 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 dB; NUM is the total number of power adjustment steps, for example: NUM = 20 or 30). The control network element directly configures the specific power value or index. Example 1: When the A-IoT control network element is an LMF and the A-IoT reader is a base station or a UE, the LMF directly configures the base station reader or the UE reader. Example 2: When the A-IoT control network element is a serving base station and the A-IoT reader is a UE, the serving base station directly configures the specific power value or index to the UE reader, for example, through RRC signaling, MAC signaling or PL signaling.

[0224] Second, the protocol predefines the total power range, and the specific power value or index is indirectly configured by the control network element (for example, when the A-IoT control network element is LMF and the A-IoT reader is UE, the LMF first configures to the serving base station, and then the serving base station configures to the UE reader through R2D signal).

[0225] Third, the protocol predefines the total power range, and the specific power value is determined by the A-IoT reader / CW excitation source node itself.

[0226] Step 3: Each A-IoT reader detects the D2R signal on the candidate D2R signal time-frequency resource corresponding to the CW signal power P_Tx_CW(n). If the corresponding D2R signal of the A-IoT device can be detected, the power P_Tx_CW_(i)->P_Tx_CW_(i+1) is updated, and the process proceeds to Step 2; otherwise, the process proceeds to Step 4.

[0227] Step 4: If the A-IoT reader can receive the backscattered / reflected D2R signal from the A-IoT device when transmitting the CW signal with power P_Tx_CW_(i), and cannot receive the backscattered / reflected D2R signal from the A-IoT device when transmitting the CW signal with power P_Tx_CW_(i+1), then the A-IoT reader records the minimum transmission power P_Tx_CW_min of the current CW signal, for example: P_Tx_CW_min=(P_Tx_CW_(i)+P_Tx_CW_(i+1)) / 2.

[0228] Step 5: Multiple A-IoT readers report the first proximity parameters to the control network element, including CW signal transmission information and D2R signal reception status indication.

[0229] The CW signal transmission information includes the following (1) and (2):

[0230] (1) The specific value of the minimum transmission power P_Tx_CW_min of the CW signal or its index in the predefined power set.

[0231] (2) The transmission timestamp of the minimum transmission power P_Tx_CW_min of the CW signal.

[0232] D2R signal reception status indication: Whether the A-IoT reader has received the D2R signal corresponding to the minimum transmission power P_Tx_CW_min of the CW signal mentioned above.

[0233] In some embodiments, to improve the performance of determining the proximity of A-IoT devices, the A-IoT reader may also report at least one second proximity parameter or any combination thereof to the control network element:

[0234] Location information of A-IoT readers at different times (especially when the UE is acting as an A-IoT reader and the UE is in motion);

[0235] Configuration parameters in D2R and / or R2D formats;

[0236] The estimated PL (Power Placement) from the A-IoT reader to the A-IoT device;

[0237] Types of A-IoT readers;

[0238] The receiver sensitivity of an A-IoT reader (e.g., P_Rx_D2R_min = SINR_D2R_min + P_reader_noise_dBm, where the reported value of the receiver sensitivity can be an absolute value or a quantized value).

[0239] Among them, the wireless channel type and path loss model can be pre-stored based on the A-IoT control network element, without the need for separate reporting by the A-IoT reader / writer.

[0240] A-IoT control network element (LMF / gNB):

[0241] Step 1: Notify all A-IoT readers of the correspondence between the specific transmission time t(n) (i.e., the transmission timestamp) and the transmission power value P_Tx_CW(n) and time-frequency resource R_TF(n) of the CW signal.

[0242] Step 2: Receive the first proximity parameters reported by multiple A-IoT readers:

[0243] The specific value of the minimum transmission power P_Tx_CW_min for the CW signal or its index in a predefined power set;

[0244] The transmission timestamp of the minimum transmission power P_Tx_CW_min of the CW signal;

[0245] Does the A-IoT reader receive the D2R signal corresponding to the minimum transmission power P_Tx_CW_min of the aforementioned CW signal?

[0246] In some embodiments, to improve the performance of determining the proximity of A-IoT devices, the control network element may also receive at least one second proximity parameter or any combination thereof reported by the A-IoT reader:

[0247] Location information of A-IoT readers at different times (especially when the UE is acting as an A-IoT reader and the UE is in motion);

[0248] Configuration parameters in D2R and / or R2D formats;

[0249] The estimated PL (Power Placement) from the A-IoT reader to the A-IoT device;

[0250] Types of A-IoT readers;

[0251] The receiver sensitivity of an A-IoT reader (e.g., P_Rx_D2R_min = SINR_D2R_min + P_reader_noise_dBm, where the reported value of the receiver sensitivity can be an absolute value or a quantized value).

[0252] Among them, the wireless channel type and path loss model can be pre-stored based on the A-IoT control network element, without the need for A-IoT reader to report.

[0253] Step 3: Based on the target power P_Tx_R2D_min and at least one or more pieces of information reported by multiple A-IoT readers, estimate the bidirectional distance between the A-IoT readers and the A-IoT device. Then, combine the known location information of multiple A-IoT readers to calculate the location of the A-IoT device.

[0254] For example, the bidirectional distance between an A-IoT reader and an A-IoT device can be estimated based on the path loss PL = P_Tx - P_Rx_D2R_min. Here, P_Rx_D2R_min represents the minimum received power at which the A-IoT reader can normally receive the D2R signal, for example: P_Rx_D2R_min = SINR_D2R_min + P_noise_dBm; where SINR_D2R_min represents the minimum signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SNR) at which the A-IoT reader can correctly detect the D2R signal (the specific value depends on the wireless channel type, A-IoT reader type, and D2R signal format), and P_reader_noise_dBm = -174 + 10*log10(BW_in_Hz) + Noise_figure_in_dB represents the thermal noise power of the A-IoT reader within the D2R signal bandwidth. This involves reporting the receiver sensitivity (i.e., SINR_D2R_min+P_noise_dBm), either in absolute or quantized form.

[0255] For example, when the A-IoT control network element stores the path loss model of the wireless channel and the receiver sensitivity of the A-IoT device in advance, it can directly use the above information and the first proximity parameter set reported by the A-IoT reader to calculate the location of the A-IoT device, which is more accurate than the proximity of the traditional Reader-ID, without the need for the A-IoT reader to report the second proximity parameter set.

[0256] A-IoT devices:

[0257] Step 1: Receive the R2D signal indication from the nth A-IoT reader / writer, and obtain the CW signal time-frequency resources and D2R signal configuration information;

[0258] Step 2: The A-IoT device transmits a D2R signal using amplitude modulation / frequency modulation / phase modulation on the CW carrier signal based on the D2R time-frequency resources obtained in Step 1.

[0259] It should be noted that if N A-IoT readers are each independently transmitting and receiving signals, the A-IoT device needs to iterate through all N A-IoT readers, performing steps 1 and 2 as described above for each reader. If only one A-IoT reader is transmitting an R2D / CW signal, the A-IoT device will only perform steps 1 and 2 as described above for the nth A-IoT reader.

[0260] Example 3

[0261] This embodiment describes scheme 3, namely CASE3 mentioned in the previous embodiments:

[0262] In step 202, determining the proximity of the device to the first network element includes:

[0263] If the minimum transmission power of the first signal includes the first transmission power of the R2D signal and the second transmission power of the CW signal, then the proximity of the device (i.e., the A-IoT device) to the first network element (e.g., the A-IoT reader) is the third distance.

[0264] The third distance is determined based on the first distance and the second distance. The first distance is determined based on the first transmission power of the R2D signal and the minimum receiving power of the device (i.e., the A-IoT device). The second distance is determined based on the second transmission power of the CW signal and the minimum receiving power of the first network element (e.g., the A-IoT reader).

[0265] The third distance is the average, minimum, or maximum value of half the second distance and the first distance.

[0266] Scheme 3 is only applicable to the scenario where each A-IoT reader transmits and receives signals independently. Assume that N A-IoT readers (gNB and / or UE), {R1,…,RN}, whose own locations are known, are needed to jointly locate a specific A-IoT device, where N>=1. Each A-IoT reader transmits CW and R2D signals respectively, and receives D2R signals from the A-IoT device.

[0267] Option 3 (Adjusting the transmission power of R2D and CW signals simultaneously at different times):

[0268] For a transceiver integrated architecture, assuming the A-IoT device is within the coverage area of ​​the A-IoT reader, that is, under normal CW and R2D signal transmission power, the A-IoT device can correctly receive the R2D signal from the A-IoT reader, and the A-IoT device modulates and transmits a D2R signal based on the CW signal, which the A-IoT reader can receive. However, by adjusting the transmission power of the CW and R2D signals and using the same analysis method as in CASE 1 and CASE 2, it can be seen that when the transmission power of the R2D and CW signals decreases to a certain level, the A-IoT reader will no longer be able to receive the D2R signal from the A-IoT device. At this point, by using the minimum transmit power of the R2D signal corresponding to the D2R signal that can be received and the assumed minimum receive power of the A-IoT device, the unidirectional distance D1 from the A-IoT reader to the A-IoT device can be estimated. Similarly, by using the minimum transmit power of the CW signal corresponding to the D2R signal that the A-IoT reader can receive and the assumed minimum receive power of the A-IoT reader, the bidirectional distance D2 from the A-IoT device to the A-IoT reader can be estimated. Based on D1 and D2, D3 can be obtained by combining them. For example: D3 = fun(D1, D2 / 2). Here, the fun function can take the average, minimum, or maximum value.

[0269] The following is a detailed description of Scheme 3 based on three different equipment types.

[0270] The first network element is, for example, an A-IoT reader / writer (UE / gNB):

[0271] Step 1: For the transceiver integrated architecture, each A-IoT reader transmits R2D and CW signals at a fixed power on predefined or network-configured time-frequency resources.

[0272] Step 2: Each A-IoT reader / writer can obtain the transmission configuration information of the first signal (including R2D and CW signals). The transmission configuration information includes: transmission timestamp (i.e., transmission time), transmission power, and time-frequency resources. Each A-IoT reader / writer transmits the CW signal at different transmission times t(n) (i.e., different transmission timestamps) using different transmission powers P_Tx_CW(n) from large to small (or small to large), and transmits the R2D signal at different transmission powers P_Tx_R2D_(n). Among them, the transmission power values ​​of CW signal P_Tx_CW(1)>P_Tx_CW(2)>…>P_Tx_CW(N), and the transmission power values ​​of R2D signal P_Tx_R2D_(1)>P_Tx_R2D_(2)>…>P_Tx_R2D_(N). The specific transmission time t(n) and the correspondence between the transmission power values ​​of CW signal and R2D signal and the time-frequency resource R_TF(n) are notified by the A-IoT control network element or predefined by the protocol.

[0273] The different transmission powers of the CW and R2D signals of the A-IoT reader at different transmission times can be configured by different methods, including:

[0274] First, the protocol predefines the total power range of the CW and R2D signals (e.g., Power_set = [P_min:P_Delta:P_Max], or Power_set = [P_Max – NUM * P_Delta:P_Delta:P_Max], in dBm. Here, P_Max represents the maximum power value of the CW signal transmitted by the A-IoT reader, for example: P_Max = 23, 30, 38, or 46 dBm; P_min represents the minimum power value of the CW signal transmitted by the A-IoT reader, for example: P_Max = -23, -30, or -10 dBm; P_Delta represents the power step size, for example: P_Delta = 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 dB; NUM is the total number of power adjustment steps, for example: NUM = 20 or 30). The control network element directly configures the specific power value or index. Example 1: When the A-IoT control network element is an LMF and the A-IoT reader is a base station or a UE, the LMF directly configures the base station reader or the UE reader. Example 2: When the A-IoT control network element is a serving base station and the A-IoT reader is a UE, the serving base station directly configures the specific power value or index to the UE reader, for example, through RRC signaling, MAC signaling or PL signaling.

[0275] Second, the protocol predefines the total power range, and the specific power value or index is indirectly configured by the control network element (for example, when the A-IoT control network element is LMF and the A-IoT reader is UE, the LMF first configures to the serving base station, and then the serving base station configures to the UE reader through R2D signal).

[0276] Third, the protocol predefines the total power range, and the specific power value is determined by the A-IoT reader / CW excitation source node itself.

[0277] Step 3: Each A-IoT reader detects the D2R signal on the candidate D2R signal time-frequency resources corresponding to the CW signal power P_Tx_CW(n) and the R2D signal power P_Tx_R2D_(n). If the corresponding D2R signal of the A-IoT device can be detected, the power P_Tx_CW_(i)->P_Tx_CW_(i+1) and the power P_Tx_R2D_(i)->P_Tx_R2D_(i+1) are updated, and the process proceeds to Step 2; otherwise, the process proceeds to Step 4.

[0278] Step 4: If the A-IoT reader / writer can receive the backscattered / reflected D2R signal from the A-IoT device when transmitting CW and R2D signals using power P_Tx_CW_(i) and P_Tx_R2D_(i), but cannot receive the backscattered / reflected D2R signal from the A-IoT device when transmitting CW and R2D signals using power P_Tx_CW_(i+1) and P_Tx_R2D_(i+1), then The A-IoT reader records the minimum transmission power P_Tx_CW_min of the current CW signal, for example: P_Tx_CW_min=(P_Tx_CW_(i)+P_Tx_CW_(i+1)) / 2, and the minimum transmission power P_Tx_R2D_min of the R2D signal, for example: P_Tx_R2D_min=(P_Tx_R2D_(i)+P_Tx_R2D_(i+1)) / 2.

[0279] Step 5: Multiple A-IoT readers report the first proximity parameters to the control network element, including the transmission information of R2D and CW signals and the reception status indication of D2R signals.

[0280] The transmission information of the R2D signal and the CW signal includes the following (1) to (4):

[0281] (1) The specific value of the minimum transmission power P_Tx_CW_min of the CW signal or its index in the predefined power set.

[0282] (2) The transmission timestamp of the minimum transmission power P_Tx_CW_min of the CW signal.

[0283] (3) The specific value of the minimum transmission power P_Tx_R2D_min of the R2D signal or its index in the predefined power set.

[0284] (4) The transmission timestamp of the minimum transmission power P_Tx_R2D_min of the R2D signal.

[0285] D2R signal reception status indication: Whether the A-IoT reader has received the D2R signal corresponding to the minimum transmission power P_Tx_CW_min of the CW signal and the minimum transmission power P_Tx_R2D_min of the R2D signal.

[0286] In some embodiments, to improve the performance of determining the proximity of A-IoT devices, the A-IoT reader may also report at least one second proximity parameter or any combination thereof to the control network element:

[0287] Location information of A-IoT readers at different times (especially when the UE is acting as an A-IoT reader and the UE is in motion);

[0288] Configuration parameters in D2R and / or R2D formats;

[0289] The estimated PL (Power Placement) from the A-IoT reader to the A-IoT device;

[0290] Types of A-IoT readers;

[0291] The receiver sensitivity of an A-IoT reader (e.g., P_Rx_D2R_min = SINR_D2R_min + P_reader_noise_dBm, where the reported value of the receiver sensitivity can be an absolute value or a quantized value).

[0292] The receiver sensitivity of A-IoT devices (e.g., P_Rx_R2D_min = SINR_R2D_min + P_device_noise_dBm, where the reported value of receiver sensitivity can be an absolute value or a quantized value).

[0293] Among them, the wireless channel type and path loss model can be pre-stored based on the A-IoT control network element, without the need for separate reporting by the A-IoT reader / writer.

[0294] A-IoT control network element (LMF / gNB):

[0295] Step 1: Notify all A-IoT readers of the correspondence between the specific transmission time t(n) (i.e., the transmission timestamp) and the transmission power values ​​P_Tx_CW(n) of the CW signal, P_Tx_R2D_(n) of the R2D signal, and the time-frequency resource R_TF(n).

[0296] Step 2: Receive the first proximity parameters reported by multiple A-IoT readers:

[0297] The specific value of the minimum transmission power P_Tx_CW_min for the CW signal or its index in a predefined power set;

[0298] The transmission timestamp of the minimum transmission power P_Tx_CW_min of the CW signal;

[0299] The specific value of the minimum transmit power P_Tx_R2D_min of the R2D signal or its index in the predefined power set;

[0300] The transmission timestamp of the minimum transmission power P_Tx_R2D_min of the R2D signal;

[0301] Does the A-IoT reader receive the D2R signal corresponding to the minimum transmission power P_Tx_CW_min of the CW signal and the minimum transmission power P_Tx_R2D_min of the R2D signal?

[0302] In some embodiments, to improve the performance of determining the proximity of A-IoT devices, the control network element may also receive at least one second proximity parameter or any combination thereof reported by the A-IoT reader:

[0303] Location information of A-IoT readers at different times (especially when the UE is acting as an A-IoT reader and the UE is in motion);

[0304] Configuration parameters in D2R and / or R2D formats;

[0305] The estimated PL (Power Placement) from the A-IoT reader to the A-IoT device;

[0306] Types of A-IoT readers;

[0307] The receiver sensitivity of an A-IoT reader (e.g., P_Rx_D2R_min = SINR_D2R_min + P_reader_noise_dBm, where the reported value of the receiver sensitivity can be an absolute value or a quantized value).

[0308] The receiver sensitivity of A-IoT devices (e.g., P_Rx_R2D_min = SINR_R2D_min + P_device_noise_dBm, where the reported value of receiver sensitivity can be an absolute value or a quantized value).

[0309] Among them, the wireless channel type and path loss model can be pre-stored based on the A-IoT control network element, without the need for A-IoT reader to report.

[0310] Step 3: Based on the target power P_Tx_CW_min, P_Tx_R2D_min and at least one or more pieces of information reported by multiple A-IoT readers, estimate the one-way or two-way distance from the A-IoT reader to the A-IoT device. Then, combine the known location information of multiple A-IoT readers to calculate the location of the A-IoT device.

[0311] For example, by using the minimum transmit power of the R2D signal corresponding to the D2R signal that can be received and the assumed minimum receive power of the A-IoT device, PL1 = P_Tx - P_Rx_D2R_min, the unidirectional distance D1 from the A-IoT reader to the A-IoT device can be estimated. Here, P_Rx_D2R_min represents the minimum receive power at which the A-IoT reader can normally receive the D2R signal, for example: P_Rx_D2R_min = SINR_D2R_min + P_noise_dBm; where SINR_D2R_min represents the minimum signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SNR) at which the A-IoT reader can correctly detect the D2R signal (the specific value depends on the wireless channel type, A-IoT reader type, and D2R signal format), and P_reader_noise_dBm = -174 + 10*log10(BW_in_Hz) + Noise_figure_in_dB represents the thermal noise power of the A-IoT reader within the D2R signal bandwidth. This involves reporting the receiver sensitivity (i.e., SINR_D2R_min+P_noise_dBm), either in absolute or quantized form.

[0312] Similarly, by using the minimum transmit power of the CW signal corresponding to the D2R signal that the A-IoT reader can receive and the assumed minimum receive power of the A-IoT reader, the bidirectional distance D2 between the A-IoT device and the A-IoT reader can be estimated.

[0313] Based on D1 and D2 above, D3 can be obtained by combining them. For example: D3 = fun(D1, D2 / 2). The fun function can be used to calculate the average, minimum, or maximum value.

[0314] When the A-IoT control network element stores the path loss model of the wireless channel and the receiver sensitivity of the A-IoT device in advance, it can directly use the above information and the first proximity parameter set reported by the A-IoT reader to calculate the location of the A-IoT device, which is more accurate than the proximity of the traditional Reader-ID, without the need for the A-IoT reader to report the second proximity parameter set.

[0315] It should be noted that, for the sake of simplicity, the foregoing method embodiments are all described as a series of actions. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to the described order of actions, because according to the embodiments of this disclosure, some steps can be performed in other orders or simultaneously. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments described in the specification are all optional embodiments.

[0316] Figure 4 This diagram illustrates a device for determining device proximity according to an embodiment of this disclosure. The device is applied to a control network element. The control network element can be a Location Management Function (LMF), where an LMF represents a network element that provides different location services to a user, or an undefined network element that performs the same function. The control network element can also be a base station. Figure 4 As shown, the device includes, but is not limited to, an acquisition unit 41 and a determination unit 42.

[0317] The acquisition unit 41 is used to acquire at least one first proximity parameter sent by a first network element. The first proximity parameter includes the transmission information of a first signal and / or the reception status indication of a second signal. The reception status indication of the second signal is used to indicate whether the first network element receives the second signal scattered or reflected by the device.

[0318] The determining unit 42 is used to determine the proximity of the device to at least one first network element based on the first proximity parameter.

[0319] In some embodiments, the device further includes a notification unit for:

[0320] The first signal transmission configuration information is notified to at least one first network element.

[0321] In some embodiments, the transmission configuration information of the first signal includes at least one of the following:

[0322] Send timestamp;

[0323] Transmission power;

[0324] Time and frequency resources.

[0325] In some embodiments, the transmit power is configured in any of the following ways:

[0326] The control network element can directly configure the value of the transmission power or the index in the predefined power set of the protocol;

[0327] The control network element indirectly configures the value of the transmit power or the index in the predefined power set of the protocol.

[0328] In some embodiments, the obtaining unit 41 is further configured to:

[0329] Obtain at least one second proximity parameter sent by a first network element, wherein the second proximity parameter includes at least one of the following:

[0330] The position of the first network element at different times;

[0331] Configuration parameters for the first or second signal;

[0332] Path loss and / or distance estimate from the first network element to the device;

[0333] Type of equipment;

[0334] The receiver sensitivity of the device;

[0335] The receiver sensitivity of the first network element;

[0336] Wireless channel model;

[0337] Road loss model.

[0338] In some embodiments, the transmission information of the first signal includes at least one of the following:

[0339] The minimum transmission power of the first signal or its index in a predefined power set;

[0340] The transmission timestamp corresponding to the minimum transmission power of the first signal.

[0341] In some embodiments, the determining unit 42 is configured to:

[0342] The proximity of the device to the first network element is determined based on the minimum transmit power of the first signal and the minimum receive power of the device and / or the first network element.

[0343] In some embodiments, the determining unit 42 is configured to:

[0344] If the minimum transmit power of the first signal is the minimum transmit power of the R2D signal from the reader to the device, and the minimum receive power is the minimum receive power of the device, then the proximity of the device to the first network element is the one-way distance from the first network element to the device.

[0345] In some embodiments, the determining unit 42 is configured to:

[0346] If the minimum transmit power of the first signal is the minimum transmit power of the carrier CW signal, and the minimum receive power is the minimum receive power of the first network element, then the proximity of the device to the first network element is the bidirectional distance between the device and the first network element.

[0347] In some embodiments, the determining unit 42 is configured to:

[0348] If the minimum transmission power of the first signal includes the first transmission power of the R2D signal and the second transmission power of the CW signal, then the proximity of the device to the first network element is the third distance.

[0349] The third distance is the distance determined based on the first distance and the second distance. The first distance is the distance determined based on the first transmit power of the R2D signal and the minimum receive power of the device. The second distance is the distance determined based on the second transmit power of the CW signal and the minimum receive power of the first network element.

[0350] In some embodiments, the third distance is half of the second distance and the average, minimum, or maximum value of the first distance.

[0351] Figure 4 For details of the various embodiments of the device proximity determination apparatus shown, please refer to [reference needed]. Figure 2 The various embodiments of the device proximity determination method shown are not described again to avoid repetition.

[0352] Figure 5 This diagram illustrates another device proximity determination apparatus provided in an embodiment of this disclosure, applied to a first network element. The first network element can be an A-IoT reader / writer or a CW excitation source node, and the A-IoT reader / writer can be a base station or a UE. Figure 5 As shown, the device includes, but is not limited to: a first transmitting unit 51 and a second transmitting unit 52.

[0353] The first transmitting unit 51 is used to transmit a first signal;

[0354] The second transmitting unit 52 is used to transmit a first proximity parameter to the control network element. The first proximity parameter includes the transmission information of the first signal and / or the reception status indication of the second signal. The reception status indication of the second signal is used to indicate whether the first network element has received the second signal scattered or reflected by the device.

[0355] In some embodiments, the device further includes:

[0356] The acquisition unit is used to acquire the transmission configuration information of the first signal;

[0357] The first transmitting unit 51 is used to transmit the first signal based on the transmission configuration information of the first signal.

[0358] In some embodiments, the transmission configuration information of the first signal includes at least one of the following:

[0359] Send timestamp;

[0360] Transmission power;

[0361] Time and frequency resources.

[0362] In some embodiments, the transmit power is configured in any of the following ways:

[0363] The control network element can directly configure the value of the transmission power or the index in the predefined power set of the protocol;

[0364] The control network element indirectly configures the value of the transmission power or the index in the predefined power set of the protocol;

[0365] The first network element determines the value or index of the transmission power based on the power set predefined in the protocol.

[0366] In some embodiments, the second transmitting unit 52 is further configured to:

[0367] Send a second proximity parameter to the control network element. The second proximity parameter includes at least one of the following:

[0368] The position of the first network element at different times;

[0369] Configuration parameters for the first or second signal;

[0370] Path loss and / or distance estimate from the first network element to the device;

[0371] Type of equipment;

[0372] The receiver sensitivity of the device;

[0373] The receiver sensitivity of the first network element;

[0374] Wireless channel model;

[0375] Road loss model.

[0376] In some embodiments, the transmission information of the first signal includes at least one of the following:

[0377] The minimum transmission power of the first signal or its index in a predefined power set;

[0378] The transmission timestamp corresponding to the minimum transmission power of the first signal.

[0379] In some embodiments, the minimum transmission power of the first signal includes any of the following:

[0380] Minimum transmit power for reader-to-device R2D signal;

[0381] Minimum transmit power of CW carrier signal;

[0382] The first transmission power of the R2D signal and the second transmission power of the CW signal.

[0383] Figure 5For details of the various embodiments of the device proximity determination apparatus shown, please refer to [reference needed]. Figure 3 The various embodiments of the device proximity determination method shown are not described again to avoid repetition.

[0384] It should be noted that the division of units in the embodiments of this disclosure is illustrative and only represents one logical functional division. In actual implementation, other division methods may be used. Furthermore, the functional units in the various embodiments of this disclosure can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit. The integrated units described above can be implemented in hardware or as software functional units.

[0385] If the integrated units described above are implemented as software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a processor-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solutions of this disclosure, in essence, or the parts that contribute to the prior art, or all or part of the technical solutions, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) or processor to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this disclosure.

[0386] Based on the same concept, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a processor-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a processor to execute steps of various embodiments of the method for determining device proximity. The processor-readable storage medium can be any available medium or data storage device accessible to a processor, including but not limited to RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical storage (e.g., CD, DVD, BD, HVD, etc.), magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices (e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, magneto-optical disk (MO), or any other medium capable of carrying or storing desired program code having an instruction or data structure form and accessible by a computer.

[0387] Figure 6 This diagram illustrates a network device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The network device implements a control network element. The control network element can be a Location Management Function (LMF), where LMF represents a network element providing different location services to a user, or an undefined network element performing the same function. The control network element can also be a base station. For example... Figure 6 As shown, the network device provided in this embodiment includes a memory 601, a transceiver 602, and a processor 603.

[0388] Memory 601 is used to store computer programs; transceiver 602 is used to send and receive data under the control of processor 603; processor 603 is used to read the computer program in memory 601 and execute it.

[0389] Obtain at least one first proximity parameter transmitted by a first network element. The first proximity parameter includes transmission information of a first signal and / or a reception status indication of a second signal. The reception status indication of the second signal is used to indicate whether the first network element receives a second signal scattered or reflected by the device.

[0390] Based on the first proximity parameter, the proximity of the device to at least one first network element is determined.

[0391] In some embodiments, the processor 603 is further configured to:

[0392] The first signal transmission configuration information is notified to at least one first network element.

[0393] In some embodiments, the transmission configuration information of the first signal includes at least one of the following:

[0394] Send timestamp;

[0395] Transmission power;

[0396] Time and frequency resources.

[0397] In some embodiments, the transmit power is configured in any of the following ways:

[0398] You can directly configure the transmit power value or the index in the predefined power set of the protocol;

[0399] The transmit power value can be indirectly configured or indexed in a predefined power set in the protocol.

[0400] In some embodiments, the processor 603 is further configured to:

[0401] Obtain at least one second proximity parameter sent by a first network element, wherein the second proximity parameter includes at least one of the following:

[0402] The position of the first network element at different times;

[0403] Configuration parameters for the first or second signal;

[0404] Path loss and / or distance estimate from the first network element to the device;

[0405] Type of equipment;

[0406] The receiver sensitivity of the device;

[0407] The receiver sensitivity of the first network element;

[0408] Wireless channel model;

[0409] Road loss model.

[0410] In some embodiments, the transmission information of the first signal includes at least one of the following:

[0411] The minimum transmission power of the first signal or its index in a predefined power set;

[0412] The transmission timestamp corresponding to the minimum transmission power of the first signal.

[0413] In some embodiments, determining the proximity of a device to at least one first network element based on a first proximity parameter includes:

[0414] The proximity of the device to the first network element is determined based on the minimum transmit power of the first signal and the minimum receive power of the device and / or the first network element.

[0415] In some embodiments, determining the proximity of the device relative to the first network element based on the minimum transmit power of the first signal and the minimum receive power of the device and / or the first network element includes:

[0416] If the minimum transmit power of the first signal is the minimum transmit power of the R2D signal from the reader to the device, and the minimum receive power is the minimum receive power of the device, then the proximity of the device to the first network element is the one-way distance from the first network element to the device.

[0417] In some embodiments, determining the proximity of the device relative to the first network element based on the minimum transmit power of the first signal and the minimum receive power of the device and / or the first network element includes:

[0418] If the minimum transmit power of the first signal is the minimum transmit power of the carrier CW signal, and the minimum receive power is the minimum receive power of the first network element, then the proximity of the device to the first network element is the bidirectional distance between the device and the first network element.

[0419] In some embodiments, determining the proximity of the device relative to the first network element based on the minimum transmit power of the first signal and the minimum receive power of the device and / or the first network element includes:

[0420] If the minimum transmission power of the first signal includes the first transmission power of the R2D signal and the second transmission power of the CW signal, then the proximity of the device to the first network element is the third distance.

[0421] The third distance is the distance determined based on the first distance and the second distance. The first distance is the distance determined based on the first transmit power of the R2D signal and the minimum receive power of the device. The second distance is the distance determined based on the second transmit power of the CW signal and the minimum receive power of the first network element.

[0422] In some embodiments, the third distance is half of the second distance and the average, minimum, or maximum value of the first distance.

[0423] Figure 6 For details of the various embodiments of the network devices shown, please refer to Figure 2 The various embodiments of the device proximity determination method shown are not described again to avoid repetition.

[0424] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of another network device provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. The network device is used to implement a first network element. The first network element can be an A-IoT reader / writer or a CW excitation source node. The A-IoT reader / writer can be a base station or a UE. Figure 7 As shown, the network device provided in this embodiment includes a memory 701, a transceiver 702, and a processor 703.

[0425] Memory 701 is used to store computer programs; transceiver 702 is used to send and receive data under the control of processor 703; processor 703 is used to read the computer program from memory 701 and execute it.

[0426] Send the first signal;

[0427] A first proximity parameter is sent to the control network element. The first proximity parameter includes the transmission information of the first signal and / or the reception status indication of the second signal. The reception status indication of the second signal is used to indicate whether the first network element has received the second signal scattered or reflected by the device.

[0428] In some embodiments, the processor 703 is further configured to:

[0429] Obtain the transmission configuration information for the first signal;

[0430] Sending the first signal includes: sending the first signal based on the sending configuration information of the first signal.

[0431] In some embodiments, the transmission configuration information of the first signal includes at least one of the following:

[0432] Send timestamp;

[0433] Transmission power;

[0434] Time and frequency resources.

[0435] In some embodiments, the transmit power is configured in any of the following ways:

[0436] The control network element can directly configure the value of the transmission power or the index in the predefined power set of the protocol;

[0437] The control network element indirectly configures the value of the transmission power or the index in the predefined power set of the protocol;

[0438] The first network element determines the value or index of the transmission power based on the power set predefined in the protocol.

[0439] In some embodiments, the processor 703 is further configured to:

[0440] Send a second proximity parameter to the control network element. The second proximity parameter includes at least one of the following:

[0441] The position of the first network element at different times;

[0442] Configuration parameters for the first or second signal;

[0443] Path loss and / or distance estimate from the first network element to the device;

[0444] Type of equipment;

[0445] The receiver sensitivity of the device;

[0446] The receiver sensitivity of the first network element;

[0447] Wireless channel model;

[0448] Road loss model.

[0449] In some embodiments, the transmission information of the first signal includes at least one of the following:

[0450] The minimum transmission power of the first signal or its index in a predefined power set;

[0451] The transmission timestamp corresponding to the minimum transmission power of the first signal.

[0452] In some embodiments, the minimum transmission power of the first signal includes any of the following:

[0453] Minimum transmit power for reader-to-device R2D signal;

[0454] Minimum transmit power of CW carrier signal;

[0455] The first transmission power of the R2D signal and the second transmission power of the CW signal.

[0456] Figure 7 For details of the various embodiments of the network devices shown, please refer to Figure 3 The various embodiments of the device proximity determination method shown are not described again to avoid repetition.

[0457] In the above embodiments, the transceiver is used to receive and transmit data under the control of the processor. The bus architecture can include any number of interconnected buses and bridges, specifically linking various circuits of one or more processors (represented by the processor) and memories (represented by the memory). The bus architecture can also link various other circuits such as peripheral devices, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art and therefore will not be described further herein. The bus interface provides an interface. The transceiver can be multiple components, including a transmitter and a receiver, providing a unit for communicating with various other devices over a transmission medium, including wireless channels, wired channels, optical fibers, and other transmission media.

[0458] The processor manages the bus architecture and general processing, while the memory stores the data used by the processor during operation. The processor can be a central processing unit (CPU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or a complex programmable logic device (CPLD). Processors can also employ a multi-core architecture.

[0459] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the terminal may be a device that provides voice and / or data connectivity to a user, a handheld device with wireless connectivity, or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem. The name of the terminal may differ in different systems; for example, in a 5G system, the terminal may be called User Equipment (UE). The wireless terminal device may be a USB storage device, other personal computer memory devices, or a dongle. It may also communicate with one or more core networks (CNs) via a Radio Access Network (RAN). The wireless terminal device may be a mobile terminal device, such as a mobile phone (or "cellular" phone) and a computer with a mobile terminal device, for example, a portable, pocket-sized, handheld, computer-embedded, or vehicle-mounted mobile device that exchanges voice and / or data with the radio access network. Examples of such devices include Personal Communication Service (PCS) phones, cordless phones, Session Initiated Protocol (SIP) phones, Wireless Local Loop (WLL) stations, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), personal computers, tablets, and Machine-type Communication (MTC) terminal devices. Wireless terminal devices can also be referred to as systems, subscriber units, subscriber stations, mobile stations, mobile devices, remote stations, access points, remote terminals, access terminals, user terminals, user agents, user devices, and wireless access devices and routers / modems that meet the limitations of this definition, but are not limited to these in the embodiments of this disclosure.

[0460] The technical solutions provided in this disclosure are applicable to a variety of systems. For example, applicable systems may include Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE-A) systems, Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) systems, 5G New Radio (NR) systems and their evolved communication systems, and 6G (sixth generation mobile communication technology) systems. These systems may include terminal equipment and network equipment. The systems may also include a core network component, such as Evolved Packet Core (EPC) and 5G Core Network (5GC).

[0461] Based on the same concept, this disclosure also provides a chip including a processor coupled to a memory for executing a computer program or instructions stored in the memory, such that when the processor executes the computer program or instructions, the method provided in the above embodiments is implemented.

[0462] It should also be understood that the memory mentioned in the embodiments of this disclosure can be volatile memory and / or non-volatile memory. Non-volatile memory can be read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory can be random access memory (RAM). For example, RAM can be used as an external cache. By way of example and not limitation, RAM includes various forms such as: static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchronous linked dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct rambus RAM (DR RAM). It should be noted that when the processor is a general-purpose processor, DSP, ASIC, FPGA, or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, or discrete hardware component, the memory (storage module) can be integrated into the processor.

[0463] like Figure 8 This disclosure provides a chip system 800. The chip system 800 (or processing system) includes a logic circuit 801 and an input / output interface 802. The logic circuit 801 can be a processing circuit within the chip system 800. The logic circuit 801 can be coupled to a memory unit, calling instructions from the memory unit, enabling the chip system 800 to implement the methods and functions of the embodiments of this disclosure. The input / output interface 802 can be an input / output circuit within the chip system 800, outputting processed information or inputting data or signaling information to be processed into the chip system 800 for processing.

[0464] As one solution, the chip system 800 is used to implement the operations described in the various method embodiments above. For example, the logic circuit 801 is used to implement the relevant operations performed by the network device or terminal in the method embodiments above, such as... Figure 2and Figure 3 The relevant operations in any of the illustrated embodiments; the input / output interface 802 is used to implement the sending and / or receiving operations related to the network device or terminal in the above method embodiments, such as... Figure 2 and Figure 3 The sending and / or receiving operations in any of the illustrated embodiments.

[0465] It should be noted that, in this document, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Unless otherwise specified, an element defined by the phrase "comprising..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes that element.

[0466] Those skilled in the art will understand that embodiments of this disclosure can be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Therefore, this disclosure can take the form of a completely hardware embodiment, a completely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, this disclosure can take the form of a computer program product embodied on one or more computer-usable storage media (including, but not limited to, disk storage and optical storage) containing computer-usable program code.

[0467] This disclosure is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of this disclosure. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer-executable instructions. These computer-executable instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, special-purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, generate instructions for implementing the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams. Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A device that provides the functions specified in one or more boxes.

[0468] These processor-executable instructions may also be stored in a processor-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to operate in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the processor-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means, which are implemented in a process Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The function specified in one or more boxes.

[0469] Those skilled in the art will understand that although some embodiments described herein include certain features included in other embodiments but not others, combinations of features from different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of this disclosure and form different embodiments.

[0470] Those skilled in the art will understand that the descriptions of the various embodiments have different focuses, and for parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, reference can be made to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments.

[0471] Although embodiments of this disclosure have been described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this application without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. Therefore, this application also intends to include such modifications and variations if they fall within the scope of the claims of this application and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A method for determining device proximity, applied to a first network element, the method comprising: Send the first signal; A first proximity parameter is sent to the control network element. The first proximity parameter includes the transmission information of a first signal and / or the reception status indication of a second signal. The reception status indication of the second signal is used to indicate whether the first network element receives the second signal scattered or reflected by the device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The method further includes: Obtain the transmission configuration information of the first signal; Sending the first signal includes: sending the first signal based on the sending configuration information of the first signal.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein, The transmission configuration information of the first signal includes at least one of the following: Send timestamp; Transmission power; Time and frequency resources.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein, The transmission power is configured in any of the following ways: The control network element directly configures the value of the transmission power or the index in the power set predefined by the protocol; The control network element indirectly configures the value of the transmission power or its index in a predefined power set in the protocol; The first network element determines the value or index of the transmission power based on a predefined power set in the protocol.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The method further includes: Send a second proximity parameter to the control network element, the second proximity parameter including at least one of the following: The position of the first network element at different times; Configuration parameters of the first signal or the second signal; The estimated path loss and / or distance from the first network element to the device; Type of equipment; The receiver sensitivity of the device; The receiver sensitivity of the first network element; Wireless channel model; Road loss model.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The transmission information of the first signal includes at least one of the following: The minimum transmission power of the first signal or its index in a predefined power set; The transmission timestamp corresponding to the minimum transmission power of the first signal.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein, The minimum transmission power of the first signal includes any one of the following: Minimum transmit power for reader-to-device R2D signal; Minimum transmit power of CW carrier signal; The first transmission power of the R2D signal and the second transmission power of the CW signal.

8. A method for determining device proximity, applied to a control network element, the method comprising: Obtain at least one first proximity parameter transmitted by a first network element. The first proximity parameter includes transmission information of a first signal and / or a reception status indication of a second signal. The reception status indication of the second signal is used to indicate whether the first network element receives the second signal scattered or reflected by the device. Based on the first proximity parameter, the proximity of the device to the at least one first network element is determined.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein, The method further includes: The first network element is notified of the transmission configuration information of the first signal.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein, The transmission configuration information of the first signal includes at least one of the following: Send timestamp; Transmission power; Time and frequency resources.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein, The transmission power is configured in any of the following ways: The control network element directly configures the value of the transmission power or the index in the power set predefined by the protocol; The control network element indirectly configures the value of the transmission power or its index in a predefined power set in the protocol.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein, The method further includes: Obtain the second proximity parameter sent by the at least one first network element, wherein the second proximity parameter includes at least one of the following: The position of the first network element at different times; Configuration parameters of the first signal or the second signal; The estimated path loss and / or distance from the first network element to the device; Type of equipment; The receiver sensitivity of the device; The receiver sensitivity of the first network element; Wireless channel model; Road loss model.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein, The transmission information of the first signal includes at least one of the following: The minimum transmission power of the first signal or its index in a predefined power set; The transmission timestamp corresponding to the minimum transmission power of the first signal.

14. The method according to claim 8, wherein, Determining the proximity of the device to the at least one first network element based on the first proximity parameter includes: Based on the minimum transmit power of the first signal and the minimum receive power of the device and / or the first network element, the proximity of the device to the first network element is determined.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein, Determining the proximity of the device relative to the first network element based on the minimum transmit power of the first signal and the minimum receive power of the device and / or the first network element includes: If the minimum transmit power of the first signal is the minimum transmit power of the reader-to-device R2D signal, and the minimum receive power is the minimum receive power of the device, then the proximity of the device to the first network element is the one-way distance from the first network element to the device.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein, Determining the proximity of the device relative to the first network element based on the minimum transmit power of the first signal and the minimum receive power of the device and / or the first network element includes: If the minimum transmit power of the first signal is the minimum transmit power of the carrier CW signal, and the minimum receive power is the minimum receive power of the first network element, then the proximity of the device to the first network element is the bidirectional distance between the device and the first network element.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein, Determining the proximity of the device relative to the first network element based on the minimum transmit power of the first signal and the minimum receive power of the device and / or the first network element includes: If the minimum transmission power of the first signal includes the first transmission power of the R2D signal and the second transmission power of the CW signal, then the proximity of the device to the first network element is the third distance. The third distance is a distance determined based on the first distance and the second distance. The first distance is a distance determined based on the first transmission power of the R2D signal and the minimum reception power of the device. The second distance is a distance determined based on the second transmission power of the CW signal and the minimum reception power of the first network element.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein, The third distance is half of the second distance and the average, minimum, or maximum value of the first distance.

19. A device for determining device proximity, applied to a first network element, the device comprising: The first transmitting unit is used to transmit the first signal; The second transmitting unit is used to transmit a first proximity parameter to the control network element. The first proximity parameter includes transmission information of a first signal and / or a reception status indication of a second signal. The reception status indication of the second signal is used to indicate whether the first network element receives the second signal scattered or reflected by the device.

20. A device for determining device proximity, applied to a control network element, the device comprising: The acquisition unit is configured to acquire a first proximity parameter transmitted by at least one first network element. The first proximity parameter includes transmission information of a first signal and / or a reception status indication of a second signal. The reception status indication of the second signal is used to indicate whether the first network element receives the second signal scattered or reflected by the device. The determining unit is configured to determine the proximity of the device to the at least one first network element based on the first proximity parameter.

21. A network device, wherein, The network device includes a memory, a transceiver, and a processor; The memory is used to store computer programs; the transceiver is used to send and receive data under the control of the processor; the processor is used to read the computer programs in the memory and execute them. Send the first signal; A first proximity parameter is sent to the control network element. The first proximity parameter includes the transmission information of a first signal and / or the reception status indication of a second signal. The reception status indication of the second signal is used to indicate whether the first network element receives the second signal scattered or reflected by the device.

22. The network device according to claim 21, wherein, The processor is also used for: Obtain the transmission configuration information of the first signal; Sending the first signal includes: sending the first signal based on the sending configuration information of the first signal.

23. The network device according to claim 22, wherein, The transmission configuration information of the first signal includes at least one of the following: Send timestamp; Transmission power; Time and frequency resources.

24. The network device according to claim 23, wherein, The transmission power is configured in any of the following ways: The control network element directly configures the value of the transmission power or the index in the power set predefined by the protocol; The control network element indirectly configures the value of the transmission power or its index in a predefined power set in the protocol; The first network element determines the value or index of the transmission power based on a predefined power set in the protocol.

25. The network device according to claim 21, wherein, The processor is also used for: Send a second proximity parameter to the control network element, the second proximity parameter including at least one of the following: The position of the first network element at different times; Configuration parameters of the first signal or the second signal; The estimated path loss and / or distance from the first network element to the device; Type of equipment; The receiver sensitivity of the device; The receiver sensitivity of the first network element; Wireless channel model; Road loss model.

26. The network device according to claim 21, wherein, The transmission information of the first signal includes at least one of the following: The minimum transmission power of the first signal or its index in a predefined power set; The transmission timestamp corresponding to the minimum transmission power of the first signal.

27. The network device according to claim 26, wherein, The minimum transmission power of the first signal includes any one of the following: Minimum transmit power for reader-to-device R2D signal; Minimum transmit power of CW carrier signal; The first transmission power of the R2D signal and the second transmission power of the CW signal.

28. A network device, wherein, The network device includes a memory, a transceiver, and a processor; The memory is used to store computer programs; the transceiver is used to send and receive data under the control of the processor; the processor is used to read the computer programs in the memory and execute them. Obtain at least one first proximity parameter transmitted by a first network element. The first proximity parameter includes transmission information of a first signal and / or a reception status indication of a second signal. The reception status indication of the second signal is used to indicate whether the first network element receives the second signal scattered or reflected by the device. Based on the first proximity parameter, the proximity of the device to the at least one first network element is determined.

29. The network device according to claim 28, wherein, The processor is also used for: The first network element is notified of the transmission configuration information of the first signal.

30. The network device according to claim 29, wherein, The transmission configuration information of the first signal includes at least one of the following: Send timestamp; Transmission power; Time and frequency resources.

31. The network device according to claim 30, wherein, The transmission power is configured in any of the following ways: The transmission power value can be configured directly or by using an index from a predefined power set in the protocol. The value of the transmission power can be indirectly configured or it can be an index in a predefined power set of the protocol.

32. The network device according to claim 28, wherein, The processor is also used for: Obtain the second proximity parameter sent by the at least one first network element, wherein the second proximity parameter includes at least one of the following: The position of the first network element at different times; Configuration parameters of the first signal or the second signal; The estimated path loss and / or distance from the first network element to the device; Type of equipment; The receiver sensitivity of the device; The receiver sensitivity of the first network element; Wireless channel model; Road loss model.

33. The network device according to claim 28, wherein, The transmission information of the first signal includes at least one of the following: The minimum transmission power of the first signal or its index in a predefined power set; The transmission timestamp corresponding to the minimum transmission power of the first signal.

34. The network device according to claim 28, wherein, Determining the proximity of the device to the at least one first network element based on the first proximity parameter includes: Based on the minimum transmit power of the first signal and the minimum receive power of the device and / or the first network element, the proximity of the device to the first network element is determined.

35. The network device according to claim 34, wherein, Determining the proximity of the device relative to the first network element based on the minimum transmit power of the first signal and the minimum receive power of the device and / or the first network element includes: If the minimum transmit power of the first signal is the minimum transmit power of the reader-to-device R2D signal, and the minimum receive power is the minimum receive power of the device, then the proximity of the device to the first network element is the one-way distance from the first network element to the device.

36. The network device according to claim 34, wherein, Determining the proximity of the device relative to the first network element based on the minimum transmit power of the first signal and the minimum receive power of the device and / or the first network element includes: If the minimum transmit power of the first signal is the minimum transmit power of the carrier CW signal, and the minimum receive power is the minimum receive power of the first network element, then the proximity of the device to the first network element is the bidirectional distance between the device and the first network element.

37. The network device according to claim 34, wherein, Determining the proximity of the device relative to the first network element based on the minimum transmit power of the first signal and the minimum receive power of the device and / or the first network element includes: If the minimum transmission power of the first signal includes the first transmission power of the R2D signal and the second transmission power of the CW signal, then the proximity of the device to the first network element is the third distance. The third distance is a distance determined based on the first distance and the second distance. The first distance is a distance determined based on the first transmission power of the R2D signal and the minimum reception power of the device. The second distance is a distance determined based on the second transmission power of the CW signal and the minimum reception power of the first network element.

38. The network device according to claim 37, wherein, The third distance is half of the second distance and the average, minimum, or maximum value of the first distance.

39. A processor-readable storage medium, wherein, The processor-readable storage medium stores a program for causing the processor to perform the device proximity determination method as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, or to perform the device proximity determination method as described in any one of claims 8 to 18.

40. A chip, wherein, The device includes a processor coupled to a memory for executing a computer program or instructions stored in the memory. When the processor executes the computer program or instructions, it performs a device proximity determination method as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, or performs a device proximity determination method as described in any one of claims 8 to 18.

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