Positioning method and communication device

Abstract

A positioning method and a communication device are provided. The method includes the following. A first terminal device acquires first information. The first information includes synchronization information of a second terminal device. The synchronization information of the second terminal device includes synchronization information between the second terminal device and a synchronization source of the second terminal device. The second terminal device is configured to assist in positioning the position of the first terminal device. The second terminal device communicates with the first terminal device through a sidelink. The first terminal device determines position information of the first terminal device based on the first information. According to this method, the first terminal device can accurately calculate the position information of the first terminal device in a positioning scenario including sidelink communication.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] [Cross - Reference to Related Applications] This application claims the priority of Chinese Patent Application No. 202210728631.X, titled "POSITIONING METHOD AND COMMUNICATION APPARATUS", filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration on June 25, 2022, and Chinese Patent Application No. 202210555591.3, titled "COMMUNICATION METHOD", filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration on May 20, 2022, and incorporates the entire contents of both of them by reference. [Technical Field] This application relates to the field of wireless communication, and more specifically, to a positioning method and a communication apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Current positioning methods are mainly used to position a target terminal device based on the reference signals of the Uu interface in a positioning scenario. When sidelink is used in a positioning scenario, specifically, when at least one network element, terminal or entity (e.g., a road side unit (RSU)) capable of transmitting the reference signals of the PC5 interface is used in a positioning scenario, the target terminal device needs to be positioned based on the reference signals of the Uu interface and the reference signals of the PC5 interface in the positioning scenario, or the target terminal device needs to be positioned based only on the reference signals of the PC5 interface in the positioning scenario. However, since the transmission and reception of the sidelink reference signals of the PC5 interface are different from those of the reference signals of the Uu interface, the location information of the target terminal device cannot be accurately calculated.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] Embodiments of this application provide a positioning method and a communication device. In this method, in a positioning scenario including sidelink communication, the position of a target terminal device can be accurately calculated.

[0004] According to a first aspect, a positioning method is provided. The method may be executed by a first terminal device, or may be executed by a component (such as a chip or a circuit) of the first terminal device. This is not limited. For ease of explanation, an example in which the method is executed by the first terminal device is used hereinafter for explanation.

[0005] The method may include the following. The first terminal device acquires first information. The first information includes synchronization information of a second terminal device. The synchronization information of the second terminal device includes synchronization information between the second terminal device and a synchronization source of the second terminal device. The second terminal device is configured to assist in positioning the position of the first terminal device. The second terminal device communicates with the first terminal device through a sidelink. The first terminal device determines position information of the first terminal device based on the first information.

[0006] Based on the above technical solution, when a second terminal device that assists in positioning the position of the first terminal device communicates with the first terminal device through a sidelink in a positioning scenario, specifically, when the first terminal device needs to be positioned based on a sidelink reference signal of a PC5 interface in a positioning scenario, the first terminal device can accurately calculate the position information of the first terminal device based on the acquired synchronization information of the second terminal device.

[0007] Referring to the first aspect, in some implementation manners of the first aspect, the first terminal device acquiring the first information includes the following. The first terminal device receives the first information from a second network device.

[0008] It should be understood that the second network device in this application is a device having a location management function. For example, the second network device may be a part of the core network, or may be integrated into the network device. For example, the second network device may be a location management function LMF, or a location management component LMC in the serving network device of the positioning target terminal device. The second network device may also be referred to as a location management device or a location center. The name of the location management device is not limited in this application. In future evolved technologies, the location management device may also be assigned other names. Referring to the first aspect, in some implementation manners of the first aspect, the first terminal device obtaining the first information includes the following. The first terminal device receives a first configuration message from the second network device. The first configuration message includes configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device is used by the first terminal device to receive the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The first configuration message further includes the first information.

[0009] Referring to the first aspect, in some implementation manners of the first aspect, the first terminal device obtaining the first information includes the following. The first terminal device receives the first information from the second terminal device.

[0010] Referring to the first aspect, in some implementation manners of the first aspect, the method further includes the following. The first terminal device receives a second configuration message from the second terminal device. The second configuration message includes configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device is used by the first terminal device to receive the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The second configuration message further includes the first information.

[0011] Referring to the first aspect, in some implementation manners of the first aspect, the method further includes the following. The first terminal device transmits a first message to a second network device. The first message includes an identifier of a second terminal device.

[0012] Based on the above technical solution, the first terminal device may report an identifier of a second terminal device that can be configured to measure the position of the first terminal device to the second network device, so as to avoid resource waste caused when a second terminal device that does not need to transmit a sidelink reference signal also transmits the sidelink reference signal to the first terminal device.

[0013] Referring to the first aspect, in some implementation manners of the first aspect, the second terminal device is one or more terminal devices.

[0014] According to a second aspect, a positioning method is provided. The method may be executed by a second network device, or may be executed by a component (such as a chip or a circuit) of the second network device. This is not limited. For the sake of easy explanation, an example in which the method is executed by the second network device is used below for explanation.

[0015] The method may include the following. The second network device acquires first information. The first information includes synchronization information of a second terminal device. The synchronization information of the second terminal device includes synchronization information between the second terminal device and a synchronization source of the second terminal device. The second terminal device is configured to assist in measuring the position of the first terminal device. The second terminal device communicates with the first terminal device through a sidelink. The second network device determines position information of the first terminal device based on the first information.

[0016] Based on the above technical solution, when a second terminal device that assists in positioning the position of the first terminal device communicates with the first terminal device through sidelink in a positioning scenario, specifically, when the first terminal device needs to be positioned based on the reference signal of the PC5 interface in a positioning scenario, the second terminal device can accurately calculate the position information of the first terminal device based on the acquired synchronization information of the second terminal device.

[0017] Referring to the second aspect, in some implementation manners of the second aspect, the second network device acquiring the first information includes the following. The second network device receives the first information from the second terminal device.

[0018] Referring to the second aspect, in some implementation manners of the second aspect, the second network device acquiring the first information includes the following. The second network device receives the first information from the serving base station network device of the second terminal device.

[0019] Referring to the second aspect, in some implementation manners of the second aspect, the second network device acquiring the first information includes the following. The second network device receives the first information from the first terminal device.

[0020] Referring to the second aspect, in some implementation manners of the second aspect, the method further includes the following. The second network device sends a first request message to the second terminal device. The first request message is used to request the synchronization information of the second terminal device. The second network device receives a first request response message from the second terminal device. The first request response message includes the first information.

[0021] Referring to the second aspect, in some implementation manners of the second aspect, the method further includes the following. The second network device transmits a second request message to the serving base station network device of the second terminal device. The second request message is used to request the synchronization information of the second terminal device. The second network device receives a second request response message from the serving base station network device of the second terminal device. The second request response message includes the first information.

[0022] Referring to the second aspect, in some implementation manners of the second aspect, the method further includes the following. The second network device transmits a third request message to the first terminal device. The third request message is used to request the synchronization information of the second terminal device. The second network device receives a third request response message from the first terminal device. The third request response message includes the first information.

[0023] Referring to the second aspect, in some implementation manners of the second aspect, the method further includes the following. The second network device transmits a fourth request message to the serving base station network device of the second terminal device. The fourth request message is used to request to configure the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device is used by the first terminal device to receive the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The second network device receives a fourth request response message from the serving base station network device of the second terminal device. The fourth request response message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The fourth request response message includes the first information.

[0024] Referring to the second aspect, in some implementation manners of the second aspect, the method further includes the following. The second network device sends a first configuration message to the first terminal device. The first configuration message includes configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device is used for the first terminal device to receive the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The first configuration message further includes first information.

[0025] Referring to the second aspect, in some implementation manners of the second aspect, the method further includes the following. The second network device receives a first message from the first terminal device. The first message includes an identifier of the second terminal device. The second network device sends first indication information to the third terminal device. The first indication information instructs the third terminal device not to send a reference signal to the first terminal device. The third terminal device is a terminal device other than the second terminal device among all terminal devices covered by all network devices that require the second network device to assist in positioning the first terminal device.

[0026] Based on the above technical solution, the second network device can receive an identifier of the second terminal device reported by the first terminal device and configured to position the first terminal device, and send the first indication information to the third terminal device to avoid resource waste caused when a terminal device that does not need to send a sidelink reference signal also sends a sidelink reference signal to the first terminal device.

[0027] Referring to the second aspect, in some implementation manners of the second aspect, the method further includes the following. The second terminal device is one or more terminal devices.

[0028] According to a third aspect, a positioning method is provided. The method may be executed by a first terminal device, or may be executed by a component (e.g., a chip or a circuit) of the first terminal device. This is not limited. For ease of explanation, an example in which the method is executed by the first terminal device is used hereinafter for explanation.

[0029] The method may include the following. The first terminal device acquires first information. The first information includes synchronization information of a second terminal device. The synchronization information of the second terminal device includes synchronization information between the second terminal device and a synchronization source of the second terminal device. The second terminal device is configured to assist in positioning the position of the first terminal device. The second terminal device communicates with the first terminal device through a sidelink. The first terminal device transmits the first information to a second network device.

[0030] Based on the above technical solution, when a second terminal device that assists in positioning the position of the first terminal device communicates with the first terminal device through a sidelink in a positioning scenario, specifically, when the first terminal device needs to be positioned based on a reference signal of a PC5 interface in a positioning scenario, the first terminal device may transmit the synchronization information of the second terminal device to the second network device, so that the second network device can accurately calculate the position information of the first terminal device.

[0031] Referring to the third aspect, in some implementation manners of the third aspect, the first terminal device acquiring the first information includes the following. The first terminal device receives the first information from the second terminal device.

[0032] Referring to the third aspect, in some implementation manners of the third aspect, the method further includes the following. The first terminal device receives a second configuration message from the second terminal device. The second configuration message includes configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device is used by the first terminal device to receive the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The second configuration message further includes first information.

[0033] Referring to the third aspect, in some implementation manners of the third aspect, the method further includes the following. The first terminal device transmits a first message to the second network device. The first message includes an identifier of the second terminal device.

[0034] Referring to the third aspect, in some implementation manners of the third aspect, the second terminal device is one or more terminal devices.

[0035] According to a fourth aspect, a positioning method is provided. The method may be executed by a second network device, or may be executed by a component (such as a chip or a circuit) of the second network device. This is not limited. For the sake of easy explanation, an example in which the method is executed by the second network device is used hereinafter for explanation.

[0036] The method may include the following. The second network device acquires first information. The first information includes synchronization information of the second terminal device. The synchronization information of the second terminal device includes synchronization information between the second terminal device and a synchronization source of the second terminal device. The second terminal device is configured to assist in positioning the position of the first terminal device. The second terminal device communicates with the first terminal device through a sidelink. The second network device transmits the first information to the first terminal device.

[0037] Based on the above technical solution, when a second terminal device that assists in positioning the location of a first terminal device communicates with the first terminal device through sidelink in a positioning scenario, specifically, when the first terminal device needs to be positioned based on the reference signal of the PC5 interface in a positioning scenario, the second network device transmits the synchronization information of the second terminal device to the first terminal device, so that the first terminal device can accurately calculate the location information of the first terminal device.

[0038] Referring to the fourth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fourth aspect, the second network device obtaining the first information includes the following. The second network device receives the first information from the second terminal device.

[0039] Referring to the fourth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fourth aspect, the second network device obtaining the first information includes the following. The second network device receives the first information from the serving base station network device of the second terminal device.

[0040] Referring to the fourth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fourth aspect, the method further includes the following. The second network device transmits a first request message to the second terminal device. The first request message is used to request the synchronization information of the second terminal device. The second network device receives a first request response message from the second terminal device. The first request response message includes the first information.

[0041] Referring to the second aspect, in some implementation manners of the second aspect, the method further includes the following. The second network device transmits a second request message to the serving base station network device of the second terminal device. The second request message is used to request the synchronization information of the second terminal device. The second network device receives a second request response message from the serving base station network device of the second terminal device. The second request response message includes first information.

[0042] Referring to the fourth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fourth aspect, the method further includes the following. The second network device transmits a fourth request message to the serving base station network device of the second terminal device. The fourth request message is used to request to configure the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device is used by the first terminal device to receive the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The second network device receives a fourth request response message from the serving base station network device of the second terminal device. The fourth request response message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The fourth request response message includes first information.

[0043] Referring to the fourth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fourth aspect, the method further includes the following. The second network device transmits a first configuration message to the first terminal device. The first configuration message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device is used by the first terminal device to receive the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The first configuration message further includes first information.

[0044] Referring to the fourth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fourth aspect, the method further includes the following. The second network device receives a first message from the first terminal device. The first message includes an identifier of the second terminal device. The second network device sends first indication information to the third terminal device. The first indication information instructs the third terminal device not to send a reference signal to the first terminal device. The third terminal device is a terminal device other than the second terminal device among all terminal devices covered by all base station network devices that are required to assist the second network device in positioning the target terminal.

[0045] Referring to the fourth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fourth aspect, the second terminal device is one or more terminal devices.

[0046] According to the fifth aspect, a positioning method is provided. The method may be executed by the first network device, or may be executed by a component (such as a chip or a circuit) of the first network device. This is not limited. For the sake of easy explanation, an example in which the method is executed by the first network device is used below for explanation.

[0047] The method may include the following. The first network device acquires first information. The first information includes synchronization information of the second terminal device. The first network device is a serving network device of the second terminal device. The synchronization information of the second terminal device includes synchronization information between the second terminal device and a synchronization source of the second terminal device. The second terminal device is configured to assist in positioning the position of the first terminal device. The second terminal device communicates with the first terminal device through sidelink. The first network device sends the first information to the second network device.

[0048] Referring to the fifth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fifth aspect, the method further includes the following. The first network device receives a second request message from the second network device. The second request message is used to request the synchronization information of the second terminal device. The first network device sends a second request response message to the second network device. The second request response message includes first information.

[0049] Referring to the fifth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fifth aspect, the method further includes the following. The first network device receives a fourth request message from the second network device. The fourth request message is used to request to configure the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device is used by the first terminal device to receive the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The first network device sends a fourth request response message to the second network device. The fourth request response message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The fourth request response message further includes first information.

[0050] Referring to the fifth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fifth aspect, the method further includes the following. The first network device sends a second message to the second terminal device. The second message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device.

[0051] Referring to the fifth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fifth aspect, the method further includes the following. The first network device sends a fifth request message to the second terminal device. The fifth request message is used to request the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The first network device receives a fifth request response message from the second terminal device. The fifth request response message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device.

[0052] Referring to the fifth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fifth aspect, the second terminal device is one or more terminal devices.

[0053] According to a sixth aspect, a positioning method is provided. The method may be executed by the second terminal device, or may be executed by a component (such as a chip or a circuit) of the second terminal device. This is not limited. For ease of explanation, an example in which the method is executed by the second terminal device is used hereinafter for explanation.

[0054] The method may include the following. The second terminal device determines synchronization information of the second terminal device. The synchronization information of the second terminal device includes synchronization information between the second terminal device and a synchronization source of the second terminal device. The second terminal device transmits first information to the first device. The first information includes the synchronization information of the second terminal device. The second terminal device is configured to assist in positioning the position of the first terminal device. The second terminal device communicates with the first terminal device through sidelink. The first device is the first terminal device or a second network device.

[0055] Referring to the sixth aspect, in some implementation manners of the sixth aspect, when the first device is a second network device, the method further includes the following. The second terminal device receives a first request message from the first device. The first request message is used to request synchronization information of the second terminal device. The second terminal device transmits a first request response message to the first device. The first request response message includes the first information.

[0056] Referring to the sixth aspect, in some implementation manners of the sixth aspect, when the first device is the first terminal device, the method further includes the following. The second terminal device sends a second configuration message to the first device. The second configuration message includes configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device is used by the first terminal device to receive the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The second configuration message further includes first information.

[0057] Referring to the sixth aspect, in some implementation manners of the sixth aspect, the method further includes the following. The second terminal device receives a second message from the serving network device of the second terminal device. The second message includes configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device.

[0058] Referring to the sixth aspect, in some implementation manners of the sixth aspect, the method further includes the following. The second terminal device receives a fifth request message from the serving network device of the second terminal device. The fifth request message is used to request the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The second terminal device sends a fifth request response message to the serving network device of the second terminal device. The fifth request response message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device.

[0059] Referring to the first aspect to the sixth aspect, in some implementation manners, the synchronization source of the second terminal device is the serving base station network device of the second terminal device, and the synchronization information is the time difference between the subframe boundary of the second terminal device and the subframe boundary of the serving base station network device of the second terminal device.

[0060] Referring to the first to sixth aspects, in some implementation manners, the synchronization source of the second terminal device is the Global Navigation Satellite System GNSS, and the synchronization information is the direct frame number offset offsetDFN of the second terminal device.

[0061] According to the seventh aspect, a communication device is provided. The device is configured to execute the method according to the first aspect or the third aspect. Specifically, the device may include a unit and / or a module configured to execute the method according to any one of the first aspect, the third aspect, or a possible implementation manner of the first aspect or the third aspect, for example, a processing unit and / or a communication unit.

[0062] In an implementation manner, the device is the first terminal device. When the device is the first terminal device, the communication unit may be a transceiver or an input / output interface, and the processing unit may be at least one processor. Optionally, the transceiver may be a transceiver circuit. Optionally, the input / output interface may be an input / output circuit.

[0063] In another implementation manner, the device is a chip, a chip system, or a circuit used in the first terminal device. When the device is a chip, a chip system, or a circuit used in the first terminal device, the communication unit may be an input / output interface, an interface circuit, an output circuit, an input circuit, a pin, a related circuit, etc. on the chip, the chip system, or the circuit, and the processing unit may be at least one processor, a processing circuit, a logic circuit, etc. It can be understood that when the device is a chip, a chip system, or a circuit used in the first terminal device, the first terminal device in the method according to any one of the first aspect, the third aspect, or a possible implementation manner of the first aspect or the third aspect is the device.

[0064] According to an eighth aspect, a communication device is provided. The device is configured to execute the method according to the second aspect or the fourth aspect. Specifically, the device may include a unit and / or a module configured to execute the method according to any one of the second aspect, the fourth aspect, or a possible implementation manner of the second aspect or the fourth aspect, for example, a processing unit and / or a communication unit.

[0065] In an implementation manner, the device is a second network device. When the device is a second network device, the communication unit may be a transceiver or an input / output interface, and the processing unit may be at least one processor. Optionally, the transceiver may be a transceiver circuit. Optionally, the input / output interface may be an input / output circuit.

[0066] In another implementation manner, the device is a chip, a chip system, or a circuit used in a second network device. When the device is a chip, a chip system, or a circuit used in a second network device, the communication unit may be an input / output interface, an interface circuit, an output circuit, an input circuit, a pin, a related circuit, etc. on the chip, the chip system, or the circuit, and the processing unit may be at least one processor, a processing circuit, a logic circuit, etc. It can be understood that when the device is a chip, a chip system, or a circuit used in a second network device, the second network device in the method according to any one of the second aspect, the fourth aspect, or a possible implementation manner of the second aspect or the fourth aspect is the device.

[0067] According to a ninth aspect, a communication device is provided. The device is configured to execute the method according to the fifth aspect. Specifically, the device may include a unit and / or a module configured to execute the method according to any one of the fifth aspect and a possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, for example, a processing unit and / or a communication unit.

[0068] In an implementation manner, the device is a first network device. When the device is a first network device, the communication unit may be a transceiver or an input / output interface, and the processing unit may be at least one processor. Optionally, the transceiver may be a transceiver circuit. Optionally, the input / output interface may be an input / output circuit.

[0069] In another implementation manner, the device is a chip, a chip system or a circuit used in a first network device. When the device is a chip, a chip system or a circuit used in a first network device, the communication unit may be an input / output interface, an interface circuit, an output circuit, an input circuit, a pin, a related circuit, etc. on the chip, the chip system or the circuit, and the processing unit may be at least one processor, a processing circuit, a logic circuit, etc. It can be understood that when the device is a chip, a chip system or a circuit used in a first network device, the first network device in the method according to any one of the fifth aspect and the possible implementation manners of the fifth aspect is the device.

[0070] According to a tenth aspect, a communication device is provided. The device is configured to execute the method according to the sixth aspect. Specifically, the device may include a unit and / or a module configured to execute the method according to any one of the sixth aspect and the possible implementation manners of the sixth aspect, for example, a processing unit and / or a communication unit.

[0071] In an implementation manner, the device is a second terminal device. When the device is a second terminal device, the communication unit may be a transceiver or an input / output interface, and the processing unit may be at least one processor. Optionally, the transceiver may be a transceiver circuit. Optionally, the input / output interface may be an input / output circuit.

[0072] In another implementation manner, the device is a chip, chip system or circuit used in a second terminal device. When the device is a chip, chip system or circuit used in a second terminal device, the communication unit may be an input / output interface, interface circuit, output circuit, input circuit, pin, related circuit, etc. on the chip, chip system or circuit, and the processing unit may be at least one processor, processing circuit, logic circuit, etc. It can be understood that when the device is a chip, chip system or circuit used in a second terminal device, the second terminal device in the method according to any one of the sixth aspect and the possible implementation manners of the sixth aspect is the device.

[0073] According to an eleventh aspect, this application provides a communication device including at least one processor. The at least one processor is coupled to at least one memory. The at least one memory is configured to store a computer program or instructions. The at least one processor is configured to call a computer program or instructions from the at least one memory and execute the computer program or instructions to enable the communication device to execute a method according to any one of the first aspect, the third aspect, or a possible implementation manner of the first aspect or the third aspect.

[0074] According to a twelfth aspect, this application provides a communication device including at least one processor. The at least one processor is coupled to at least one memory. The at least one memory is configured to store a computer program or instructions. The at least one processor is configured to call a computer program or instructions from the at least one memory and execute the computer program or instructions to enable the communication device to execute a method according to any one of the second aspect, the fourth aspect, or a possible implementation manner of the second aspect or the fourth aspect.

[0075] According to a 13th aspect, this application provides a communication device including at least one processor. The at least one processor is coupled to at least one memory. The at least one memory is configured to store a computer program or instructions. The at least one processor is configured to call a computer program or instructions from the at least one memory and execute the computer program or instructions to enable the communication device to execute a method according to any one of the 5th aspect and possible implementation manners of the 5th aspect.

[0076] According to a 14th aspect, this application provides a communication device including at least one processor. The at least one processor is coupled to at least one memory. The at least one memory is configured to store a computer program or instructions. The at least one processor is configured to call a computer program or instructions from the at least one memory and execute the computer program or instructions to enable the communication device to execute a method according to any one of the 6th aspect and possible implementation manners of the 6th aspect.

[0077] According to a 15th aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided. The computer-readable storage medium stores program code executable by a device. The program code is used to execute a method according to any one of the 1st aspect, 2nd aspect, 3rd aspect, 4th aspect, 5th aspect, 6th aspect, and possible implementation manners of the 1st aspect, 2nd aspect, 3rd aspect, 4th aspect, 5th aspect or 6th aspect.

[0078] According to a 16th aspect, a computer program product including instructions is provided. When the computer program product is executed on a computer, the computer is enabled to execute a method according to any one of the 1st aspect, 2nd aspect, 3rd aspect, 4th aspect, 5th aspect, 6th aspect, and possible implementation manners of the 1st aspect, 2nd aspect, 3rd aspect, 4th aspect, 5th aspect or 6th aspect.

[0079] According to the 17th aspect, a chip is provided. The chip includes a processor and a communication interface. The processor reads instructions stored in the memory through the communication interface and executes a method according to any one of the 1st aspect, the 2nd aspect, the 3rd aspect, the 4th aspect, the 5th aspect, the 6th aspect, and the possible implementation manners of the 1st aspect, the 2nd aspect, the 3rd aspect, the 4th aspect, the 5th aspect or the 6th aspect.

[0080] Optionally, in the implementation manner, the chip further includes a memory. The memory stores a computer program or instructions. The processor is configured to execute the computer program or instructions stored in the memory. When the computer program or instructions are executed, the processor is configured to execute a method according to any one of the 1st aspect, the 2nd aspect, the 3rd aspect, the 4th aspect, the 5th aspect, the 6th aspect, and the possible implementation manners of the 1st aspect, the 2nd aspect, the 3rd aspect, the 4th aspect, the 5th aspect or the 6th aspect.

[0081] According to the 18th aspect, a communication system is provided. The communication system includes one or more communication devices shown in the 11th aspect to the 14th aspect.

Brief Description of the Drawings

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0083] To make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the embodiments of this application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0084] The technical solution of this application may also be applied to scenarios where a terminal device needs to be positioned. For example, the technical solution may be applied to positioning scenarios where time difference of arrival (TDOA), downlink time difference of arrival (DL-TDOA), uplink time difference of arrival (UL-TDOA), enhanced cell identifier (E-CID) or multi round trip time (multi-RTT) technology is used.

[0085] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application may be applicable to various communication systems, such as long term evolution (LTE) systems, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) systems, LTE time division duplex (TDD), universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication systems, 5th generation (5G) systems, new radio (NR) systems, future communication systems, and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) systems. V2X may include vehicle-to-network (V2N), vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P), long term evolution-vehicle (LTE-V), internet of vehicles, machine type communication (MTC), internet of things (IoT), long term evolution-machine (LTE-M), machine-to-machine (M2M), etc.

[0086] The terminal device in the embodiments of this application may be a user equipment (UE), access terminal, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication device, user agent, or user device. Alternatively, the terminal device may be a cellular phone, cordless phone, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), handheld device with wireless communication function, computing device, other processing device connected to a wireless modem, in-vehicle device, wearable device, sounding device, terminal device in a future 5G network, terminal device in a future evolved Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), etc. This is not limited in the embodiments of this application.

[0087] Alternatively, the terminal device in this application may be a road side unit (RSU). The RSU is a facility arranged on the road side in a vehicular delay tolerant network for auxiliary communication, directly connected to the backbone network, and capable of performing wireless communication with vehicles. Compared with vehicles in a vehicular delay tolerant network, the RSU has better communication capabilities, a larger coverage, and a higher transmission speed, and can communicate with multiple vehicles simultaneously. Furthermore, the RSU has a large storage space for storing information in order to improve the communication probability. Therefore, by arranging RSUs related to the road traffic system, the existing in-vehicle Internet access problem can be effectively solved, and the communication opportunities between vehicles can be significantly increased. Messages are cached by the RSU to achieve efficient message transmission between vehicles.

[0088] For example, the terminal device may include a radio resource control (RRC) signaling mutual adoption module, a media access control (MAC) signaling interaction module, and a physical (PHY) signaling interaction module. The RRC signaling interaction module may be a module of the network device and the terminal device configured to receive and transmit RRC signaling. The MAC signaling interaction module may be a module of the network device and the terminal device configured to receive and transmit media access control control element (MAC-CE) signaling. The PHY signaling interconnection module may be a module of the network device and the terminal device configured to receive and transmit uplink control signaling, downlink control signaling, uplink data, or downlink data.

[0089] The network device in the embodiment of this application may be a device configured to communicate with a terminal device. The network device includes, but is not limited to, a base transceiver station (BTS) in a global system for mobile communications (GSM) or a code division multiple access (CDMA) system, or may be a Node B (NB) in a wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) system, or may be an evolved Node B (eNB or eNodeB) in an LTE system, or may be a radio controller in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario, or may be a radio network controller (RNC), a base station controller (BSC), a home base station (for example, a home evolved NodeB or a home NodeB, HNB), or a baseband unit (BBU).Alternatively, the network device may be a relay station, an access point, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, a network device in a 5G network, a network device in a future evolved PLMN network, etc., or may be an access point (AP) in a WLAN, a wireless relay node, a wireless backhaul node, a transmission point (TP), a transmission reception point (TRP), etc., or may be a gNB or a transmission point (TRP or TP) in a new radio (NR) system, or one or a group (including a plurality of antenna panels) of antenna panels of a base station in a 5G system, or may be a network node included in a gNB or a transmission point. This is not limited in the embodiments of this application.

[0090] In some deployments, the gNB may include a central unit (CU) and a DU. The gNB may further include an active antenna unit (AAU for short). The CU implements some functions of the gNB, and the DU implements some functions of the gNB. For example, the CU plays a role in processing non-real-time protocols and services and implements the functions of the radio resource control (RRC) layer and the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer. The DU plays a role in processing physical layer protocols and real-time services and implements the functions of the radio link control (RLC) layer, the media access control (MAC) layer, and the physical (PHY) layer. The AAU implements some physical layer processing functions, radio frequency processing, and functions related to active antennas. The information in the RRC layer is finally converted into the information in the PHY layer, or is converted from the information in the PHY layer. Therefore, in this architecture, it may also be considered that upper layer signaling such as RRC layer signaling is transmitted by the DU, or is transmitted by the DU and the AAU. It can be understood that the network device may be a device including one or more of the CU node, the DU node, and the AAU node. Furthermore, the CU may be classified as a network device in the radio access network (RAN), or the CU may be classified as a network device in the core network (CN). This is not limited in this application.

[0091] To facilitate the understanding of the embodiments of this application, a communication system that may be used in the embodiments of this application will be first described.

[0092] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a wireless communication system 100 applicable to an embodiment of this application. The communication system 100 includes a terminal device (represented as a UE in FIG. 1), a radio access network (represented as a next generation radio access network (NG-RAN) in FIG. 1), and a core network.

[0093] The radio access network includes one or more next generation evolved NodeBs (ng-eNBs) and gNBs. The ng-eNB represents an LTE base station accessing the 5G core network, and the gNB represents a 5G base station accessing the 5G core network. Communication between an ng-eNB and a gNB, between two ng-eNBs, or between two gNBs is performed through the Xn interface. The Xn interface may also be referred to as the XnAP interface. The radio access network is connected to the core network through the NG-C interface.

[0094] The core network includes other functions such as an access and mobility management function (AMF) and a location management function (LMF).

[0095] The LMF plays a role in supporting different types of location services related to the UE, including the positioning of the UE and the transfer of assistance data to the UE. The LMF may perform signal interactions with the UE and the RAN, for example, the ng-eNB or gNB. For example, the LMF may perform information interaction with the ng-eNB or gNB through new radio positioning protocol annex (NRPPa) messages, and obtain, for example, positioning reference signal (PRS), sounding reference signal (SRS) configuration information, cell timing, cell location information, etc. In other examples, UE capability information, assistance information, measurement information, etc. are transferred between the LMF and the UE through LTE positioning protocol (LPP) messages.

[0096] The AMF entity may receive a location service request regarding the UE from the location service (LCS) entity of the 5G core network (5GC). Alternatively, the AMF may initiate some location services on behalf of a specific UE and transfer the location service request to the LMF.

[0097] The terminal device is connected to the radio access network via the ng-eNB through the LTE-Uu interface. The terminal device may alternatively be connected to the radio access network via the gNB through the NR-Uu interface.

[0098] It should be understood that the communication system 100 may include one or more base stations (including ng-eNB or gNB). It should be further understood that the communication system 100 may include one or more terminal devices, for example, one or more groups of terminal devices (e.g., the UE set shown in FIG. 1). One gNB may transmit data or control signaling to one or more terminal devices. Multiple gNBs may transmit data or control signaling to one terminal device simultaneously.

[0099] Optionally, the ng-eNB and gNB in FIG. 1 may also be replaced with TRP, TP, reception point (RP), cell, etc.

[0100] FIG. 2 is a diagram of a wireless communication system 200 applicable to an embodiment of this application. As shown in FIG. 2, the wireless communication system 200 may include at least one terminal device, for example, the UE101 shown in FIG. 2. The wireless communication system 200 may further include a plurality of network devices (e.g., the network device may be a base station (BS) or TRP, and hereinafter the base station is used as an example). The plurality of base stations include the base station of the serving cell of the terminal device 101 and the base stations of one or more adjacent cells of the serving cell. The base station of the serving cell (which may also be called the serving base station) is 102 shown in FIG. 2, and the base stations of the adjacent cells (which may also be called the adjacent base stations) are 103 and 104 shown in FIG. 2. A plurality of antennas may be configured for both the network device and the terminal device, and the network device may communicate with the terminal device by using multi-antenna technology.

[0101] Optionally, the base station in FIG. 2 may be replaced with TRP, TP, RP, cell, etc.

[0102] In addition to the network device and the terminal device, the wireless communication system 200 may further include an LMF network element 105. The LMF network element 105 may be configured to estimate the location of the terminal device. The LMF network element 105 may be disposed inside the core network, that is, the LMF network element 105 may also be a core network element. The LMF network element 105 may communicate with the network device via an AMF network element (not shown in the drawings). For ease of explanation, in the embodiments of this application, the transmission of information from the LMF network element to the network device through the AMF network element is abbreviated as the transmission of information from the LMF network element to the network device. In other words, in the embodiments of this application, the fact that the LMF network element transmits a message to the network device can be understood as the LMF network element first transmitting the information to the AMF network element, and the AMF network element transferring the information to the network device. Optionally, if there is an interface between the LMF network element and the network device, the LMF network element may directly transmit the information to the network device.

[0103] In some embodiments, some functions of the LMF network element 105, such as the location management component (LMC), may be integrated into the network device. For example, the base station 102 of the serving cell and the base stations 103 and 104 of two adjacent cells are each integrated with the LMC. The transmission of information from the LMC of the LMF network element integrated into the network device to the network device may also be considered as the transmission of information from the LMF network element to the network device.

[0104] The architecture of the communication system shown in FIG. 2 is used merely as an example, and it should be noted that the use of other architectures is not limited. For example, the base station 102 of the serving cell and the base stations 103 and 104 of two adjacent cells are shown in FIG. 2. It is obvious that the communication system 200 may further include base stations of more adjacent cells.

[0105] In communication systems 100 and 200, the LMF network element communicates with the base station according to the NRPPa protocol. The LMF network element communicates with the UE according to the LPP protocol. The LMF performs cell information interaction with the base station according to the NRPPa protocol, for example, the configuration information of the cell's reference signal, the cell timing information, and the geographical location information of the cell. UE capability information, assistance information, measurement information, etc. are transferred between the LMF and the UE according to the LPP protocol.

[0106] Hereinafter, in order to facilitate the understanding of those skilled in the art, some terms or concepts in the embodiments of this application will be described.

[0107] 1. Uu interface (cellular communication interface)

[0108] This interface is a communication interface between the terminal and the base station. Uu communication requires the participation of the base station and cellular network coverage. This interface is characterized by long-distance, large-scale, and highly reliable communication. The PC5 interface and the Uu interface may coexist.

[0109] 2. PC5 interface (direct communication interface)

[0110] When the interface is a communication interface between terminals, specifically, a short - range direct communication interface between vehicles, people, and road infrastructure. PC5 communication does not require cellular network coverage and can be used for point - to - point communication. The interface features low - latency, high - capacity, and high - reliability communication through direct connection, broadcast, and network scheduling.

[0111] Unlike the downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) in a general Uu interface, it should be understood that the direct communication link used in the PC5 interface is called a sidelink (SL).

[0112] 3. RRC Mode

[0113] In NR, there are three RRC modes: RRC idle mode (RRC_IDLE), RRC inactive mode (RRC_INACTIVE), and RRC connected mode (RRC_CONNECTED). The following briefly describes the three RRC modes.

[0114] (1) RRC_CONNECTED (RRC connected mode): The RAN has the context of the UE, and there is a signaling connection between the UE and the RAN. The UE receives messages and system messages distributed by the RAN, controls the UE to perform data transmission and handover, and may notify the UE of relevant scheduling information. The RAN may receive channel quality information fed back by the UE.

[0115] (2) (RRC_INACTIVE (RRC Inactive Mode)) The RAN maintains the connection with the core network, and resources are not allocated to the air interface. As a result, services can be quickly restored to improve the experience of latency-sensitive applications. Furthermore, the power-saving effect of the user in the inactive mode is close to that in the idle mode, extending the battery life of the mobile phone.

[0116] (3) RRC_IDLE (RRC Idle Mode): The RAN does not have the UE context, and there is no signaling connection between the UE and the RAN. In this mode, the UE can receive system messages and paging messages for cell selection and reselection. When the UE needs to establish a connection to the network for a certain purpose (service request, location update, paging, etc.), the UE triggers the establishment of an RRC connection. After the RRC connection is established, the UE enters the RRC connection mode.

[0117] It should be understood that the RRC non-connection mode in this application may be the RRC idle mode and / or the RRC inactive mode. The RRC non-connection mode in this application may be replaced with the RRC idle mode and / or the RRC inactive mode.

[0118] 4. TP: A set of transmitting antennas at the same geographical location for one cell, a part of one cell, or one dedicated TP for a DL positioning reference signal (PRS) (e.g., an antenna array having one or more antenna elements). The transmission point may include a base station (ng-eNB or gNB) antenna, a remote radio head, a remote antenna of the base station, an antenna for a DL-PRS dedicated TP, etc. One cell may include one or more transmission points. For homogeneous deployment, each transmission point may correspond to one cell.

[0119] 5. TRP: A set of geographically co-located antennas that support the TP function and / or the RP function (e.g., an antenna array having one or more antenna elements).

[0120] 6. RP: A set of geographically co-located receiving antennas for one cell, a part of one cell, or one UL sounding reference signal (SRS) dedicated RP (e.g., an antenna array having one or more antenna elements). The receiving points may include base station (ng-eNB or gNB) antennas, remote radio heads, remote antennas of the base station, antennas of the UL-SRS dedicated RP, etc. One cell may include one or more receiving points. For homogeneous deployment, each receiving point may correspond to one cell.

[0121] Positioning is an important function in a mobile communication system, and the system needs to provide the user's location information in real time. Currently, a target UE (target UE) may be positioned by using positioning technology, so that a positioning initiator that starts a positioning service can obtain the location information of the target UE. The positioning initiator may be an LCS, a UE, an AMF network element, etc. For example, the LCS may request the serving AMF of the target UE to position the target UE, or the serving AMF of the target UE may determine to position the target UE, or the target UE may request a positioning service from the serving AMF of the target UE, for example, start the request by transmitting positioning or assistance information. After the positioning service is triggered, the LMF further performs positioning-related operations. The LMF needs to execute interactions with the base station, for example, obtain assistance information related to air interface positioning. Furthermore, the LMF needs to execute an ability transmission procedure including interactions with the target UE, for example, obtaining the positioning ability of the UE, providing positioning-related assistance information for the UE, etc.

[0122] In existing Uu interface positioning, the target UE may transmit and / or receive Uu interface-based positioning-related reference signals for positioning, and the target UE is positioned by using positioning methods supported in NR and LTE. For example, the Uu interface-based positioning-related reference signals include PRS and / or SRS. PRS is a downlink signal, and SRS is an uplink signal.

[0123] For example, a common positioning method for a cellular network is TDOA. TDOA includes a downlink time difference of arrival (DL-TDOA) positioning method and an uplink time difference of arrival (UL-TDOA) positioning method. By using DL-TDOA and UL-TDOA, the target UE may be positioned by the communication system shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2. It should be noted that TDOA requires high time synchronization among the base stations assisting in positioning the target UE.

[0124] Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 3, the DL-TDOA positioning method will be described in detail. Optionally, the base stations in FIG. 3 may be replaced with TRP, TP, RP, cells, etc. The principle of DL-TDOA is that the target UE receives downlink signals (e.g., PRS) from multiple TPs, and the target UE measures the DL RSTD (reference signal time difference) between the PRSs transmitted by multiple TPs by using the assistance data received from the LMF, and calculates the location information of the target UE based on the DL RSTD. The multiple TPs include one reference TP. For example, the reference TP corresponds to the serving base station of the target UE. In addition to the reference TP, the multiple TPs further include at least two adjacent TPs. It can be understood that the DL RSTD is the downlink relative timing difference between the adjacent TP and the reference TP. The downlink relative timing difference may be defined as time A - time B. Time A is the time when the target UE receives the start of one subframe from the adjacent TP. Time B is the time when the target UE receives the corresponding start of one subframe from the reference TP, and the subframe is the one that is temporally closest to the subframe received from the adjacent TP.

[0125] Figure 3 is a diagram of the DL-TDOA positioning method. An example is shown in Figure 3. In the process of positioning the target UE (i.e., UE101) by using DL-TDOA, the serving base station 102 transmits PRS1 to UE101 at t1', and UE101 receives PRS1 at time t1. The adjacent base station 103 transmits PRS2 to UE101 at t2', and UE01 receives PRS2 at time t2. The adjacent base station 104 transmits PRS3 to UE101 at t3', and UE101 receives PRS3 at time t3. In Figure 3, the difference between the distances from any point on curve 1 to the serving base station 102 and the adjacent base station 103 is a fixed value ΔS2, and the difference between the distances from any point on curve 2 to the serving base station 102 and the adjacent base station 104 is a fixed value ΔS3. The intersection of curve 1 and curve 2 is the position of UE101.

[0126] From Figure 3, the following equations (1) and (2) may be obtained. ΔS2=(t2 - t2')*c-(t1 - t1')*c={(t2 - t1)-(t2' - t1')}*c={RSTD 1,2 -(t2' - t1')}*c (1) ΔS3=(t3 - t3')*c-(t1 - t1')*c={(t3 - t1)-(t3' - t1')}*c={RSTD 1,3 -(t3' - t1')}*c (2)

[0127] As long as ΔS2 and ΔS3 can be obtained according to the above equations, the position information of UE101 can be calculated.

[0128] In the scenario shown in Figure 3, it can be understood that both the adjacent base station 103 and the adjacent base station 104 are adjacent TPs, and the serving base station 102 is the reference TP. RSTD 1,2 represents the DL RSTD between the PRSs transmitted by the serving base station 102 and the adjacent base station 103, and RSTD 1,3 represents the DL RSTD between the PRSs transmitted by the serving base station 102 and the adjacent base station 104.

[0129] Optionally, in current positioning technologies, the LMF may calculate the location information of the target UE. This may be referred to as LMF-based or UE-assisted. As shown in Figure 3, when LMF-based is used, the target UE and / or the base station need to report the DL RSTD between the PRSs received by the target UE from multiple base stations to the LMF, and the LMF calculates the location information of the target UE based on the DL RSTD reported by the UE and / or the base station.

[0130] Optionally, the target UE may also calculate the location information of the target UE. This may be referred to as UE-based. As shown in Figure 3, when UE-based is used, the target UE may calculate the location information of the target UE based on the DL RSTD between the PRSs received from multiple base stations.

[0131] In some embodiments, when the LMF or the target UE calculates the location information of the target UE, the RSTD in the above formulas (1) and (2) may also be determined by the received subframe boundary difference between each adjacent TP and the reference TP. For example, the received subframe boundary difference is the RSTD. The received subframe boundary difference may be understood as the subframe boundary difference between multiple TPs on the target UE side, or may be understood as the subframe boundary difference between multiple TPs. For example, for the method of calculating the received subframe boundary difference, refer to the above method of calculating the DL RSTD. For example, it is the time when the target UE receives the start of one subframe from an adjacent TP minus the time when the target UE receives the corresponding start of one subframe from the reference TP, and the subframe is the one that is temporally closest to the subframe received from the adjacent TP.

[0132] In some embodiments, when the LMF or the UE calculates the location information of the target UE, the PRS transmission time difference in the above formulas (1) and (2) may be represented by the transmission subframe boundary difference between each adjacent TP and the reference TP. For example, the transmission subframe boundary difference is the PRS transmission time difference. The transmission subframe boundary difference can also be understood as the subframe boundary difference between multiple TPs. For example, for the method of calculating the transmission subframe boundary difference, refer to the above method of calculating the DL RSTD. For example, the transmission subframe boundary difference is obtained by subtracting the time when the reference TP transmits the start of one subframe to the target UE from the time when the adjacent TP transmits the start of one subframe to the target UE, and the subframe is the one that is temporally closest to the subframe transmitted by the adjacent TP.

[0133] In some embodiments, the subframe boundary difference may be replaced by the frame boundary difference. It can be understood that the boundary difference may be replaced by the time difference between the boundaries.

[0134] For example, when LMF-based is used, the RSTD in formula (1) 1,2 may be reported by the UE101 to the LMF, t1' may be determined by the LMF based on the configuration information of PRS1 of the serving base station 102, t2' may be determined by the LMF based on the configuration information of PRS2 of the adjacent base station 103, or t1' is the subframe boundary of the serving base station 102, and t2' is the subframe boundary of the adjacent base station 103, that is, t2'-t1' may be obtained based on the difference between the subframe boundaries of the adjacent base station 103 and the serving base station 102. Similarly, when LMF-based is used, the RSTD in formula (2) 1,3may be reported by UE101 to the LMF, t1' may be obtained by the LMF from the configuration information of PRS1 of the serving base station 102, t3' may be obtained by the LMF from the configuration information of PRS3 of the neighboring base station 104, or t1' is the subframe boundary of the serving base station 102 and t3' is the subframe boundary of the neighboring base station 104, that is, t3'-t1' may be obtained based on the difference between the subframe boundaries of the neighboring base station 104 and the serving base station 102.

[0135] For example, when UE-based is used, RSTD in Equation (1) 1,2 may be obtained by the UE through measurement, t1' may be determined by UE101 based on the configuration information of PRS1 transmitted by the LMF, t2' may be determined by UE101 based on the configuration information of PRS2 transmitted by the LMF, or t1' is the subframe boundary of the serving base station 102 and t2' is the subframe boundary of the neighboring base station 103, and t2'-t1' may be obtained based on the difference between the subframe boundaries of the serving base station 102 and the neighboring base station 103. Similarly, when UE-based is used, RSTD in Equation (2) 1,3 may be obtained by UE101 through measurement, t1' may be determined by the UE based on the configuration information of PRS1 transmitted by the LMF, t3' may be determined by UE101 based on the configuration information of PRS3 transmitted by the LMF, or t1' is the subframe boundary of the serving base station 102 and t3' is the subframe boundary of the neighboring base station 104, and t3'-t1' may be obtained based on the difference between the subframe boundaries of the serving base station 102 and the neighboring base station 104.

[0136] Furthermore, the principle of the UL-TDOA positioning method is to calculate the location information of the target UE based on the UL relative time of arrival (RTOA) of the uplink signals (e.g., SRS) transmitted by the target UE to multiple RPs. The UL-RTOA is the start of the subframe containing the uplink signal received at the RP with respect to the RTOA. The RP measures the UL-RTOA of the received signal (e.g., SRS) by using the assistance data obtained from the location server. In other words, the LMF calculates the location information of the UE based on the time difference between the receptions of the SRS transmitted by the UE by multiple RPs. Regarding the specific description of the UL-TDOA positioning method, details are not elaborated.

[0137] The current positioning method is mainly used to perform positioning based on the reference signals of the Uu interface. When sidelink is used in a Uu interface-based positioning scenario, specifically, when at least one network element, terminal, or entity (e.g., a road side unit (RSU)) capable of transmitting reference signals of the PC5 interface is used in the positioning scenario, the target UE needs to be positioned based on the reference signals of the Uu interface and the sidelink reference signals of the PC5 interface in the positioning scenario, or the target UE needs to be positioned based only on the sidelink reference signals of the PC5 interface in the positioning scenario. However, since the transmission and reception of the sidelink reference signals of the PC5 interface are different from those of the reference signals of the Uu interface, the LMF or the target UE cannot accurately obtain the location information of the target UE through calculation. For ease of understanding, an example is used here for illustration. In the DL-TDOA positioning scenario shown in FIG. 3, the adjacent base station 104 is replaced by an RSU, and the RSU may transmit sidelink reference signals of the PC5 interface (an example where the sidelink reference signal of the PC5 interface is SL-PRS is used below). In this case, in the DL-TDOA positioning scenario shown in FIG. 3, the UE 101 needs to be positioned based on the reference signals of the Uu interface and the sidelink reference signals of the PC5 interface. Since the method for determining the time (i.e., t3') for the adjacent base station 104 to transmit PRS3 by the LMF or the UE 101 is different from the method for determining the transmission time for the RSU to transmit SL-PRS, the LMF or the UE 101 cannot accurately obtain the location information of the UE 101 through calculation.

[0138] In view of this, this application provides a positioning method for effectively solving the above technical problems. From the above description, it can be seen that the position information of the target UE may be calculated by the target UE or by the LMF. Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the process of the target UE and the LMF positioning the target UE will be described in detail.

[0139] FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a positioning method according to an embodiment of this application. In this method, the LMF calculates the position information of the target UE. This method may include the following steps.

[0140] S401: The second network device acquires first information, where the first information includes the synchronization information of the second terminal device, and the synchronization information of the second terminal device includes the synchronization information between the second terminal device and the synchronization source of the second terminal device. The second terminal device is configured to assist in positioning the position of the first terminal device, and the second terminal device communicates with the first terminal device through a sidelink.

[0141] The second network device in this embodiment of this application is a device having a position management function. For example, the second network device may be a part of the core network or may be integrated into the network device. For example, the second network device may be the LMF shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, or a location management component (LMC) in the serving network device of the positioning target terminal device. The second network device may also be referred to as a position management device or a position center. The name of the position management device is not limited in this application. In future evolved technologies, the position management device may also be assigned other names. In all embodiments of this application, an example where the second network device is a position management device is used for the purpose of explanation.

[0142] It can be understood that the first terminal device is the target UE. For example, in the positioning scenario shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3, the first terminal device may be considered as UE101, the second terminal device may be considered as an RSU, and the location management device may be considered as LMF105.

[0143] It should be understood that one or more second terminal devices that assist in positioning the location of the first terminal device may be included in the scenario. This is not limited in this application. The fact that the second terminal device is configured to assist in positioning the location of the first terminal device means that the first terminal device receives a sidelink reference signal from the second terminal device and / or the first terminal device transmits a sidelink reference signal to the second terminal device to assist the location management device in positioning the location of the first terminal device.

[0144] Optionally, when the synchronization source of the second terminal device is the serving network device of the second terminal device, the synchronization information of the second terminal device includes the time difference between the subframe boundary of the second terminal device and the subframe boundary of the serving network device of the second terminal device.

[0145] For example, the time difference between the subframe boundary of the second terminal device and the subframe boundary of the serving network device of the second terminal device may be the time difference between the downlink subframe boundary of the second terminal device and the downlink subframe boundary of the serving network device of the second terminal device, or may be the time difference between the uplink subframe boundary of the second terminal device and the uplink subframe boundary of the serving network device of the second terminal device.

[0146] For example, for the method of calculating the time difference between subframe boundaries, refer to the above method of calculating DL RSTD. For example, the time difference between the subframe boundary of the second terminal device and the subframe boundary of the serving network device of the second terminal device includes the timing advance (TA) information of the second terminal device. For example, the synchronization information of the second terminal device is TA / 2.

[0147] Optionally, when the synchronization source of the second terminal device is the serving network device of the second terminal device, the synchronization information of the second terminal device includes the time difference between the subframe boundary of the second terminal device and the subframe boundary of the serving network device of the second terminal device.

[0148] For example, the synchronization information of the second terminal device may be determined by the distance between the second terminal device and the serving network device of the second terminal device. For example, information regarding the distance between the second terminal device and the serving network device of the second terminal device, the location information of the second terminal device, etc. are determined by using a positioning method between the second terminal device and the serving network device of the second terminal device. The positioning method may be any positioning method such as multi-cell round trip time (Multi-RTT), UL-TDOA, or DL-TDOA. The synchronization information of the second terminal device may be obtained based on information regarding the distance between the second terminal device and the serving network device of the second terminal device, the location information of the second terminal device, etc.

[0149] Optionally, when the synchronization source of the second terminal device is a global navigation satellite system (GNSS), the synchronization information of the second terminal device includes the direct frame number (DFN) offset (offsetDFN) of the second terminal device.

[0150] Optionally, the location management device may obtain the first information by using any one of the following methods.

[0151] Method 1: The location management device receives the first information from the second terminal device.

[0152] Based on Method 1, in a possible specific implementation manner, the location management device obtaining the first information mainly includes the following steps.

[0153] (1) The location management device sends a first request message to the second terminal device. The first request message is used to request the synchronization information of the second terminal device. Correspondingly, the second terminal device receives the first request message from the location management device.

[0154] Optionally, in all embodiments of this application, the fact that the first request message is used to request the synchronization information of the second terminal device may also be understood as the first request message includes first request information, and the first request information is used to request the synchronization information of the second terminal device.

[0155] (2) In response to the received first request message, the second terminal device sends a first request response message to the location management device. The first request response message includes the first information. Correspondingly, the location management device receives the first request response message from the second terminal device.

[0156] Method 2: The location management device receives the first information from the serving network device of the second terminal device. When the second terminal device is in the RRC connection mode, the serving network device of the second terminal device knows the synchronization information of the second terminal device, and it can be understood that the location management device can obtain the first information from the serving network device of the second terminal device.

[0157] When multiple second terminal devices are included in a positioning scenario, if the serving network devices of the multiple second terminal devices are not the same network device, it should be understood that the location management device receives first information from the serving network device corresponding to each second terminal device. That is, the location management device separately receives synchronization information of the multiple second terminal devices from multiple network devices.

[0158] Based on Method 2, in a possible specific implementation manner, the serving network device of the second terminal device may report the first information based on a request from the location management device. For example, the location management device obtaining the first information mainly includes the following steps.

[0159] (1) The location management device sends a second request message to the serving network device of the second terminal device. The second request message is used to request synchronization information of the second terminal device. Correspondingly, the serving network device of the second terminal device receives the second request message from the location management device.

[0160] Optionally, in all embodiments of this application, the fact that the second request message is used to request synchronization information of the second terminal device may also be understood as the second request message includes second request information, and the second request information is used to request synchronization information of the second terminal device.

[0161] (2) In response to the received second request message, the second terminal device sends a second request response message to the location management device. The second request response message includes the first information. Correspondingly, the location management device receives the second request response message from the serving network device of the second terminal device.

[0162] Based on Method 2, in other possible specific implementation manners, the serving network device of the second terminal device actively reports the first information to the location management device. For example, the location management device obtaining the first information mainly includes the following steps.

[0163] (1) The location management device sends a fourth request message to the serving network device of the second terminal device. The fourth request message is used to request to configure the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device is used for the first terminal device to receive the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. Correspondingly, the serving network device of the second terminal device receives the fourth request message from the location management device.

[0164] Optionally, in all embodiments of this application, the fact that the fourth request message is used to request to configure the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device can also be understood as that the fourth request message includes fourth request information, and the fourth request information is used to request to configure the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device.

[0165] For example, the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal may include at least one of the following, that is, the resource configuration of the sidelink reference signal, such as the time domain resource or the frequency domain resource, and in other examples, the first symbol in the slot, the number of symbols, the code offset of the first symbol, and the slot offset of the first slot in the resource set, information such as the period of the sidelink reference signal, the staggering pattern, the number of repetitions of the sidelink reference signal, and the muting configuration of the sidelink reference signal.

[0166] (2) In response to the received fourth request message, the serving network device of the second terminal device transmits a fourth request response message to the location management device. The fourth request response message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device and the first information. Correspondingly, the location management device receives the fourth request response message from the serving network device of the second terminal device.

[0167] In other words, in this implementation method, after the serving network device of the second terminal device receives the fourth request message, even if the location management device does not request the synchronization information of the second terminal device, based on subsequent positioning requirements, the serving network device of the second terminal device may also directly transmit both the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device and the synchronization information of the second terminal device to the location management device.

[0168] Optionally, the serving network device of the second terminal device may alternatively transmit the first information and the fourth request response message to the location management device separately. Specifically, the fourth request response message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device, and the first information is carried in another message.

[0169] Optionally, the location management device may also obtain the first information in other implementation methods or by using the methods provided below. Specifically, after receiving the fourth request message, the serving network device of the second terminal device reports the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device through the fourth request response message, but does not report the synchronization information of the second terminal device. This is not particularly limited in this application.

[0170] Optionally, in this implementation method, the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device included in the fourth request-response message may be directly determined by the serving network device of the second terminal device, or may be determined by the second terminal device itself. Hereinafter, an explanation will be provided with reference to FIG. 5.

[0171] FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart for obtaining the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device by the location management device according to this application. FIG. 5 includes procedures corresponding to determination method (1) and determination method (2).

[0172] It should be understood that the method shown in FIG. 5 may be implemented independently, or may be combined with other solutions in this application to form a new embodiment. This is not limited in this application.

[0173] (1) The serving network device of the second terminal device directly determines the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, determination method (1) mainly includes the following steps.

[0174] S501: The location management device sends a fourth request message to the first network device. The first network device is the serving network device of the second terminal device. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the fourth request message from the location management device.

[0175] S502: In response to the received fourth request message, the first network device determines the configuration information of the sidelink reference signals of one or more second terminal devices within the coverage of the first network device.

[0176] In some embodiments, when the location management device includes the identifiers of one or more second terminal devices in the fourth request message, the first network device may determine the configuration information of the sidelink reference signals of only the one or more second terminal devices requested by the location management device.

[0177] In some embodiments, when the location management device does not indicate the identifier of the second terminal device in the fourth request message, the first network device determines the configuration information of the sidelink reference signals of each second terminal device within the coverage of the first network device.

[0178] S503: The first network device sends a fourth request response message to the location management device. The fourth request response message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signals corresponding to one or more second terminal devices within the coverage of the first network device.

[0179] In some embodiments, when the location management device includes the identifiers of one or more second terminal devices in the fourth request message, the fourth request response message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signals of the one or more second terminal devices requested by the location management device.

[0180] In some embodiments, when the location management device does not indicate the identifier of any second terminal device in the fourth request message, the fourth request response message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signals of all second terminal devices within the coverage of the first network device.

[0181] S504: The first network device transmits the configuration information of the sidelink reference signals corresponding to the second terminal device to each of the one or more second terminal devices within the coverage of the first network device.

[0182] In some embodiments, when the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of one second terminal device is determined in S503, the first network device transmits a second message to the second terminal device. The second message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device.

[0183] In some embodiments, in S503, when the configuration information of the sidelink reference signals of multiple second terminal devices is determined, the first network device separately transmits the second message to one of the multiple second terminal devices. The second message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device.

[0184] In some embodiments, in S503, when the configuration information of the sidelink reference signals of multiple second terminal devices is determined, alternatively, the first network device may transmit the configuration information of the sidelink reference signals of the multiple second terminal devices to only one of the multiple second terminal devices. For example, the first network device transmits a second message to the second terminal device. The second message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signals of the multiple second terminal devices. For example, the multiple second terminal devices may be the second terminal devices requested by the location management device in the fourth request message.

[0185] It should be understood that the order of S503 and S504 is not limited in this application.

[0186] (2) The second terminal device determines the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the determination method (2) mainly includes the following steps.

[0187] S501: The location management device sends a fourth request message to the first network device. The first network device is the serving network device of the second terminal device. Correspondingly, the location management device receives a fourth request response message from the first network device.

[0188] S502': In response to the received fourth request message, the first network device sends a fifth request message to the second terminal device. The fifth request message is used to request the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. Correspondingly, the second terminal device receives the fifth request message from the first network device.

[0189] Optionally, in all embodiments of this application, the fact that the fifth request message is used to request the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device may also be understood as the fifth request message including fifth request information, and the fifth request information is used to request the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device to be configured.

[0190] In some embodiments, when the location management device includes the identifiers of one or more second terminal devices in the fourth request message, the first network device may send the fifth request message only to one or more second terminal devices requested by the location management device in the fourth request message.

[0191] In some embodiments, when the location management device does not indicate the identifier of the second terminal device in the fourth request message, the first network device may send the fifth request message to all second terminal devices within the coverage of the first network device.

[0192] S503': In response to the received fifth request message, the second terminal device determines the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device.

[0193] S504': The second terminal device transmits a fifth request response message to the second terminal device. The fifth request response message includes configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the fifth request response message from the second terminal device.

[0194] S505': The first network device transmits a fourth request response message to the location management device.

[0195] In some embodiments, when the location management device includes the identifiers of one or more second terminal devices in the fourth request message, the fourth request response message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signals of one or more second terminal devices requested by the location management device in the fourth request message.

[0196] Regarding the positioning solution in which the location management device or the UE performs calculations, it can be understood that the first terminal device needs to receive or transmit sidelink reference signals based on the configuration information of the sidelink reference signals of the second terminal device. Above, how the location management device obtains the configuration information of the sidelink reference signals of the second terminal device has been described. Here, referring to FIG. 5, how the first terminal device obtains the configuration information of the sidelink reference signals of the second terminal device will be described.

[0197] Optionally, the first terminal device obtains the configuration information of the sidelink reference signals of the second terminal device from the location management device. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, in S510, the location management device transmits a first configuration message to the first terminal device. The first configuration message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signals of the second terminal device. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the first configuration message from the location management device.

[0198] In some embodiments, the location management device needs to send the configuration information of the sidelink reference signals of a plurality of second terminal devices to the first terminal device. In this case, the location management device may separately send the identifier of each of the plurality of second terminal devices and the configuration information of the sidelink reference signals of the second terminal device to the first terminal device, that is, the identifier of the second terminal device has a one-to-one correspondence with the configuration information of the sidelink reference signals of the second terminal device.

[0199] In some embodiments, the location management device needs to send the configuration information of the sidelink reference signals of a plurality of second terminal devices to the first terminal device. In this case, the location management device may send the identifier of the plurality of second terminal devices and the configuration information of the sidelink reference signals of the second terminal device to the first terminal device. The identifiers of the plurality of second terminal devices have a one-to-one correspondence with the configuration information of the sidelink reference signals of the plurality of second terminal devices. Here, the fact that the identifiers of the plurality of second terminal devices have a one-to-one correspondence with the configuration information of the sidelink reference signals of the plurality of second terminal devices will be explained by using an example where the second terminal device is an RSU. For example, the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the RSU is carried in the message in the order of RSU#1, RSU#2, and RSU#3. In this case, the identifier of the RSU also needs to be carried in the message in the order of RSU#1, RSU#2, and RSU#3. When the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the RSU is carried in the message in the order of RSU#2, RSU#1, and RSU#3, the identifier of the RSU also needs to be carried in the message in the order of RSU#2, RSU#1, and RSU#3. Briefly speaking, the one-to-one correspondence means that the first terminal device needs to determine the configuration information of the sidelink reference signals of RSU#1, RSU#2, and RSU#3 in a corresponding manner. In another example, the location management device constructs a list. The list includes a plurality of pieces of configuration information, and each piece of configuration information includes the identifier of the RSU and the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the RSU. Alternatively, the one-to-one correspondence may be realized in other corresponding manners, and the details will not be described here.

[0200] For example, the first configuration message may further include first information.

[0201] Optionally, the first terminal device acquires configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device from the second terminal device. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, at S520, the second terminal device transmits a second configuration message to the first terminal device. The second configuration message includes configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the second configuration message from the second terminal device. For example, the second configuration message may further include first information.

[0202] In some embodiments, a unicast connection is established between the first terminal device and the second terminal device, and the second terminal device transmits configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device to the first terminal device based on the unicast connection. Alternatively, a unicast connection is not established between the first terminal device and the second terminal device. For example, the second terminal device transmits configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device to the first terminal device in a broadcast or multicast manner. The second terminal device may further transmit configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of another second terminal device to the first terminal device. This is not limited in this application.

[0203] It can be understood that the method for acquiring the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device shown in FIG. 5 is merely an example for illustration. This embodiment of this application is not limited thereto.

[0204] Method 3: The location management device receives first information from the first terminal device.

[0205] It can be understood that the first terminal device may obtain the synchronization information of the second terminal device from the second terminal device and send the synchronization information to the location management device. For example, when a unicast connection is established between the first terminal device and the second terminal device, the second terminal device sends the synchronization information of the second terminal device to the first terminal device in a unicast manner. The synchronization information of the second terminal device may be carried in an RRC reconfiguration message or other RRC dedicated message on the sidelink between the first terminal device and the second terminal device. Alternatively, when a unicast connection is not established between the first terminal device and the second terminal device, the second terminal device sends the synchronization information of the second terminal device to the first terminal device in a broadcast or multicast manner.

[0206] Based on Method 3, in a possible specific implementation manner, the first terminal device may report the first information based on a request from the location management device. For example, the location management device obtaining the first information mainly includes the following steps.

[0207] (1) The location management device sends a third request message to the first terminal device. The third request message is used to request the synchronization information of the second terminal device. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the third request message from the location management device.

[0208] Optionally, in all embodiments of this application, the fact that the third request message is used to request the synchronization information of the second terminal device may also be understood as the third request message includes third request information, and the third request information is used to request the synchronization information of the second terminal device.

[0209] (2) In response to the received third request message, the first terminal device sends a third request response message to the location management device. The third request response message includes the first information. Correspondingly, the location management device receives the third request response message from the first terminal device.

[0210] Based on Method 3, in other possible specific implementation manners, the first terminal device actively reports the first information to the location management device. For example, the location management device obtaining the first information mainly includes the following steps.

[0211] When the first terminal device reports the measurement result of the first reference signal to the location management device, the first terminal device further reports the first information of one or more second terminal devices corresponding to the measurement result. That is, the first terminal device always reports the measurement result to the location management device together with the first information.

[0212] It should be understood that the first reference signal includes a sidelink reference signal (i.e., a reference signal of the PC5 interface) transmitted by the second terminal device to the first terminal device, or a sidelink reference signal transmitted by the first terminal device to the second terminal device. For example, the first reference signal includes SL-PRS. Optionally, the first reference signal further includes a reference signal (i.e., a reference signal of the Uu interface) transmitted by a network device that assists in positioning the location of the first terminal device to the first terminal device. For example, the first reference signal includes SL-PRS and DL-PRS. Optionally, if a reference signal of the Uu interface (e.g., SRS) transmitted by the first terminal device is further used in the positioning scenario, the first reference signal further includes a reference signal of the Uu interface transmitted by the first terminal device. For example, the first reference signal includes SL-PRS, DL-PRS, and SRS.

[0213] S402: The second network device determines the location information of the first terminal device based on the synchronization information of the second terminal device.

[0214] The following specifically explains the reasons why the second network device (location management device) can accurately calculate the location information of the first terminal device after obtaining the first information. Here, with reference to FIG. 2, an example for explanation is used. After the neighboring base station 104 is replaced by the RSU in the DL-TDOA positioning scenario shown in FIG. 2, for example, in the positioning process, the RSU transmits the SL-PRS to the UE101 at time T3. In this case, Equation (1) remains unchanged, and t3' in Equation (2) is replaced by T3, and the following Equation (3) needs to be obtained. ΔS3=(t3 - T3)*c-(t1 - t1')*c={(t3 - t1)-(T3 - t1')}*c={RSTD 1,3 -(T3 - t1')}*c (3)

[0215] The serving base station 102 maintains synchronization with the neighboring base station 103 and the neighboring base station 104, or the transmission subframe boundary difference between the serving base station 102, the neighboring base station 103, and the neighboring base station 104 is known. Therefore, when LMF-based is used, it can be understood that the LMF105 may determine t3' - t1'. However, after the RSU is used, the LMF105 does not know the synchronization information of the RSU, and thus cannot determine T3 - t1', that is, the location information of the UE101 cannot be accurately calculated. However, in this application, the synchronization information of the RSU is obtained, so that the LMF105 can accurately calculate the location information of the UE101.

[0216] When at least one RSU is used in the positioning scenario, for the positioning scenario including the reference TP and at least one RSU, it should be noted that RSTD is determined by the sidelink reference signal of the PC5 interface and the reference signal of the Uu interface. For example, the neighboring base station 104 is replaced by the RSU. RSTD in the above Equation (3) 1,3is obtained by the UE based on the sidelink reference signal transmitted by the RSU and the positioning reference signal transmitted by the serving base station 102. In this case, the signal measured by the UE includes not only the downlink reference signal but also the sidelink reference signal. Therefore, in this case, RSTD in Equation (3) 1,3 is not exactly the same as DL RSTD, but reference may be made to the above calculation method of DL RSTD. For example, RSTD in Equation (3) 1,3 is the relative timing difference, and the relative timing difference may be defined as the subtraction of time D from time C. Time C is the time when the target UE (i.e., UE101) receives the start of one subframe from the RSU. Time D is the time when the target UE receives the corresponding start of one subframe from the reference TP (i.e., the serving base station 102), and the subframe is the one that is temporally closest to the subframe received from the RSU.

[0217] When at least one RSU is used in the positioning scenario, for the positioning scenario including only the RSU, that is, when the reference base station is also replaced by the RSU, it should be noted that RSTD is determined only by the sidelink reference signal of the PC5 interface. For example, the serving base station 102, the neighboring base station 103, and the neighboring base station 104 are all replaced by the RSU. RSTD in Equation (2) 1,2 and RSTD in Equation (3) 1,3 is obtained by the UE based on the sidelink reference signal transmitted by the RSU. In this case, the signal measured by the UE includes only the sidelink reference signal. Therefore, in this case, RSTD in Equation (2) 1,2 and RSTD in Equation (3) 1,3 is not exactly the same as DL RSTD, but reference may be made to the above calculation method of DL RSTD. For example, RSTD in Equation (2) 1,2is the relative timing difference, and the relative timing difference may be defined as the subtraction of time F from time E. Time E is the time when the target UE receives the start of one subframe from RSU2. Time F is the time when the target UE receives the corresponding start of one subframe from the reference RSU1, and the subframe is the one that is temporally closest to the subframe received from RSU2. RSTD in Equation (3) 1,3 is the relative timing difference, and the relative timing difference may be defined as the subtraction of time F from time G. Time E is the time when the target UE receives the start of one subframe from RSU3. Time F is the time when the target UE receives the corresponding start of one subframe from the reference RSU1, and the subframe is the one that is temporally closest to the subframe received from RSU3.

[0218] Furthermore, as described in S401, the synchronization source of the RSU may be the serving network device of the RSU or GNSS. In this application, when at least one RSU is used in a positioning scenario, the synchronization sources do not have to be the same for the RSUs. Specifically, when at least one RSU is used in a positioning scenario, the synchronization source of the RSU may be only the serving network device of the RSU, or the synchronization source of the RSU may be only GNSS. Furthermore, the synchronization sources of some RSUs are the serving network devices of the RSUs, and the synchronization sources of some other RSUs are GNSS. This is not limited in this application.

[0219] Similarly, when at least one RSU is used in a positioning scenario and the UL-TDOA positioning method is used, the location information of the target UE may be obtained based on the reference signal of the Uu interface and the reference signal of the PC5 interface, or the location information of the target UE may be obtained based on only the sidelink reference signal of the PC5 interface. Details are not described again here.

[0220] In all embodiments provided in this application, the first terminal device may further report to the location management device an identifier of a second terminal device that can be configured to measure the location of the first terminal device, so as to avoid wasting resources caused when a second terminal device that does not need to transmit a sidelink reference signal also transmits the sidelink reference signal to the first terminal device. In this case, optionally, the method may further include the following steps.

[0221] (1) The first terminal device transmits a first message to the location management device. The first message includes an identifier of the second terminal device. Correspondingly, the location management device receives the first message from the first terminal device.

[0222] (2) The location management device transmits first indication information to a third terminal device. The first indication information instructs the third terminal device not to transmit a sidelink reference signal to the first terminal device. The third terminal device is a terminal device other than the terminal device corresponding to the identifier of the second terminal device among all terminal devices.

[0223] For example, all terminal devices in (2) are all terminal devices covered by all network devices requested by the location management device to assist in positioning the first terminal device. Alternatively, all terminal devices are terminal devices covered by all network devices requested by the location management device to assist in positioning the first terminal device, and these terminal devices are close to the first terminal device. Alternatively, all terminal devices are all second terminal devices corresponding to the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device included in the first configuration message transmitted by the location management device to the first terminal device in S510. Alternatively, all terminal devices are all second terminal devices in the second configuration message transmitted to the first terminal device in S520.

[0224] It can be understood that the embodiments in this application are applicable to all positioning methods in which the target UE can be accurately positioned only when the first information is acquired. This is not particularly limited in this application.

[0225] In the above, with reference to FIG. 4, a method for acquiring the first information by the location management device has been described in detail. Based on the method shown in FIG. 4, two possible specific implementation procedures for the location management device to calculate the location information of the first terminal device in FIGS. 6 and 7 are provided below.

[0226] FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart for the location management device according to this application to calculate the location information of the first terminal device. The method may include the following steps.

[0227] S601: The positioning initiator starts the positioning of the first terminal device, and the location management device performs an ability interaction with the first terminal device, for example, executes an ability transmission procedure.

[0228] Optionally, the first terminal device may send the identifier of the second terminal device whose sidelink signal can be received by the first terminal device to the location management device. For example, when the second terminal device is an RSU, the identifier of the second terminal device is the identifier of the RSU. The location management device may determine a terminal device configured to assist in positioning the location of the first terminal device with reference to the identifier of the second terminal device sent by the first terminal device. The identifier may be a layer 2 identifier, or the identifier may be an identifier negotiated between the first terminal device and the location management device. This is not limited in this application.

[0229] S602: The location management device sends a fourth request message to the first network device. The fourth request message is used to request to configure the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The first network device is the serving network device of the second terminal device. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the fourth request message from the location management device.

[0230] S603: The first network device sends a fourth request response message to the location management device. The fourth request response message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. Correspondingly, the location management device receives the fourth request response message from the first network device.

[0231] In this method, if the second terminal device is in the RRC connection mode before or at S602 and the first network device knows the synchronization information of the second terminal device, the first network device may send the synchronization information of the second terminal device to the location management device in the fourth request response message, that is, the fourth request response message further includes the first information. If the second terminal device is in the non-RRC connection mode before or at S602 and the first network device does not know the synchronization information of the second terminal device, the first network device cannot send the synchronization information of the second terminal device to the location management device in the fourth request response message, that is, the fourth request response message does not include the first information.

[0232] S604: The first terminal device obtains the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device.

[0233] Regarding the configuration method for the location management device and the first terminal device to obtain the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device in S602 to S604, refer to the above description in FIG. 5. Details are not described again here.

[0234] Optionally, the first terminal device may report to the location management device an identifier of a second terminal device that can be configured to determine the location of the first terminal device, so as to avoid waste of resources caused when all terminal devices transmit sidelink reference signals to the first terminal device. Thus, the location management device may instruct terminal devices other than the second terminal device among all terminal devices not to transmit sidelink reference signals to the first terminal device. All terminal devices are all terminal devices covered by all network devices requested by the location management device to assist in positioning the first terminal device. Alternatively, all terminal devices are terminal devices covered by all network devices requested by the location management device to assist in positioning the first terminal device, and these terminal devices are close to the first terminal device. Alternatively, all terminal devices are all second terminal devices corresponding to the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device, which is included in the first configuration message transmitted by the location management device to the first terminal device in S510. Alternatively, all terminal devices are all second terminal devices within the second configuration message transmitted to the first terminal device in S520.

[0235] S605: The location management device transmits a first positioning request message to the first terminal device. The first positioning request message is used to request the first terminal device to measure a first reference signal or to request a positioning measurement of the first terminal device. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the first positioning request message from the location management device. It should be understood that the first reference signal includes a sidelink reference signal (i.e., a reference signal of the PC5 interface) transmitted by the second terminal device to the first terminal device or a sidelink reference signal transmitted by the first terminal device to the second terminal device. For example, the first reference signal includes SL-PRS. Optionally, the first reference signal further includes a reference signal (i.e., a reference signal of the Uu interface) transmitted by a network device that assists in positioning the location of the first terminal device to the first terminal device. For example, the first reference signal includes SL-PRS and DL-PRS. Optionally, if a reference signal of the Uu interface (e.g., SRS) transmitted by the first terminal device is further used in the positioning scenario, the first reference signal further includes a reference signal of the Uu interface transmitted by the first terminal device. For example, the first reference signal includes SL-PRS, DL-PRS, and SRS.

[0236] In some embodiments, a unicast connection is established between the first terminal device and the second terminal device, and the second terminal device transmits a first reference signal to the first terminal device based on the unicast connection. For example, the second terminal device separately transmits the first reference signal to the first terminal device. In this case, when the second terminal device needs to transmit the first reference signal to a plurality of first terminal devices, the second terminal device separately transmits the first reference signal to each first terminal device. In other examples, the second terminal device simultaneously transmits the first reference signal to at least one first terminal device. In this case, when the second terminal device needs to transmit the first reference signal to a plurality of first terminal devices, similar to the broadcast transmission method, the second terminal device only needs to transmit the first reference signal once.

[0237] In some embodiments, a unicast connection is not established between the first terminal device and the second terminal device, and the second terminal device transmits the first reference signal to the first terminal device in a broadcast or multicast manner. This is not limited in this application.

[0238] It should be noted that the above method of transmitting the first reference signal is applicable not only to the second terminal device transmitting the first reference signal to the first terminal device, but also to the first terminal device transmitting the first reference signal to the second terminal device. This is not limited in this application.

[0239] For example, the first positioning request message is LPP request position information.

[0240] S606: The first terminal device measures the first reference signal to obtain a first measurement result.

[0241] For example, the first measurement result obtained by the first terminal device includes RSTD, for example, RSTD obtained by the first terminal device based on the transmission of sidelink reference signals between the first terminal device and one or more second terminal devices. The first measurement result further includes information such as the identifier of the second terminal device.

[0242] S607: The first terminal device transmits a first positioning request response message to the location management device. The first positioning request response message includes the first measurement result.

[0243] Optionally, the first terminal device may further report to the location management device time information corresponding to the first reference signal, for example, the frame number and subframe number for the transmission (reception or transmission) of SL-PRS by the first terminal device.

[0244] Optionally, if the fourth request response message in S603 includes the first information, S612 is executed. For example, if the second terminal device is in the RRC connection mode before or at the time of S602, and the location management device obtains the first information of the second terminal device from the first network device, the location management device may execute S612.

[0245] Optionally, if the fourth request response message in S603 does not contain the first information, the location management device may request the first information from the first network device. In this case, S608 and S609 are executed. Alternatively, the location management device may request the first information from the second terminal device, and S610 and S611 are executed. For example, if the second terminal device is not in the RRC connection mode before or at S602, for example, the second terminal device is in the RRC idle mode or the RRC inactive mode, and the location management device fails to obtain the first information of the second terminal device from the first network device, the location management device may request the first information of the second terminal device included in the first measurement result from the first network device or the second terminal device based on the first measurement result reported by the first terminal device.

[0246] S608: The location management device sends a second request message to the first network device. The second request message is used to request the synchronization information of the second terminal device. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the second request message from the location management device.

[0247] For example, the second request message includes identifiers of one or more second terminal devices.

[0248] Optionally, based on the first measurement result, the location management device may determine a second terminal device for which synchronization information is required by the location management device, and request the synchronization information of the second terminal device from the serving network device of the second terminal device. It can be understood that these serving network devices of the second terminal devices may be the same network device or different network devices. Here, an example where the second terminal device is an RSU is used for illustration. Based on the first measurement result, the location management device may determine that the synchronization information of RSU #1, RSU #2, and RSU #3 needs to be obtained. The serving network devices of RSU #1 and RSU #2 are base station #1 (i.e., an example of the first network device), and the serving base station of RSU #3 is base station #2 (i.e., another example of the first network device). In this case, the location management device sends request message #1 (i.e., an example of the second request message) to base station #1. Request message #1 is used to request the synchronization information of RSU #1 and RSU #2, and request message #1 includes the identifiers of RSU #1 and RSU #2. The location management device sends request message #2 (i.e., another example of the second request message) to base station #2. Request message #2 is used to request the synchronization information of RSU #3, and request message #2 includes the identifier of RSU #3.

[0249] S609: In response to the received second request message, the first network device sends a second request response message to the location management device. The second request response message includes first information. Correspondingly, the location management device receives the second request response message from the first network device. Then, S612 is executed.

[0250] For example, the second request response message includes the first information of one or more second terminal devices requested by the location management device in the second request message.

[0251] For ease of understanding, Request Message #1 and Request Message #2 in S608 are used as examples for further explanation. In response to the received Request Message #1, Base Station #1 transmits Request Response Message #1 to the Location Management Device. Request Response Message #1 includes the synchronization information of RSU #1 and RSU #2. In response to the received Request Message #2, Base Station #2 transmits Request Response Message #2 to the Location Management Device. Request Response Message #2 includes the synchronization information of RSU #3.

[0252] S610: The Location Management Device transmits a first request message to a second terminal device. The first request message is used to request the synchronization information of the second terminal device. Correspondingly, the second terminal device receives the first request message from the Location Management Device.

[0253] S611: In response to the received first request message, the second terminal device transmits a first request response message to the Location Management Device. The first request response message includes first information. Correspondingly, the Location Management Device receives the first request response message from the second terminal device. Then, S612 is executed.

[0254] S612: The Location Management Device determines the location information of the first terminal device based on the first information.

[0255] Specifically, the Location Management Device determines the location information of the first terminal device based on the first information and the first measurement result. For the specific process of determining the location of the first terminal device, refer to the above description. Details are not described again here.

[0256] FIG. 7 is another schematic flowchart for calculating the location information of the first terminal device by the Location Management Device according to this application. The method may include the following steps.

[0257] For details of S701 and S702, refer to the descriptions in S601 and S602. Details will not be described again here.

[0258] S703: The first network device sends a fourth request-response message to the location management device. The fourth request-response message includes configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. Correspondingly, the location management device receives the fourth request-response message from the first network device.

[0259] Optionally, in this step, if the second terminal device is in the RRC connection mode before or at S702 and the first network device knows the synchronization information of the second terminal device, the first network device may send the synchronization information of the second terminal device to the location management device in the fourth request-response message, that is, the fourth request-response message further includes the first information. If the second terminal device is in the non-RRC connection mode before or at S702 and the first network device does not know the synchronization information of the second terminal device, the first network device cannot send the synchronization information of the second terminal device to the location management device in the fourth request-response message, that is, the fourth request-response message does not include the first information.

[0260] Optionally, in this step, regardless of whether the first network device knows the synchronization information of the second terminal device, the first network device does not send the synchronization information of the second terminal device to the location management device.

[0261] S704: The first terminal device obtains the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device.

[0262] Regarding the configuration method in which the location management device and the first terminal device acquire the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device in S702 to S704, refer to the above description in FIG. 5. Details will not be described again here. S705: The second terminal device transmits the first information to the first terminal device. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the first information from the second terminal device.

[0263] Regarding the transmission method in which the second terminal device transmits the first information to the first terminal device, refer to the description of Method 3 in FIG. 4.

[0264] S706: The location management device transmits the first positioning request message to the first terminal device. The first positioning request message is used to request the first terminal device to measure the first reference signal or to request the positioning measurement of the first terminal device. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the first positioning request message from the location management device.

[0265] Optionally, when the fourth request response message in S703 does not include the first information, the first positioning request message further includes the first positioning request information. For example, the first positioning request information includes the identifiers of one or more second terminal devices. In this case, the first positioning request message may be used to request the synchronization information of the second terminal device.

[0266] S707: The first terminal device measures the first reference signal to obtain the first measurement result.

[0267] Regarding the description of the first reference signal, refer to the description in S605. Regarding the description of the first measurement result, refer to the description in S606. Details will not be described again here.

[0268] S708: The first terminal device transmits a first positioning request response message to the location management device. The first positioning request response message includes the first measurement result. Correspondingly, the location management device receives the first positioning request response message from the first terminal device.

[0269] Optionally, if the fourth request response message in S703 does not include the first information, the first positioning request message further includes the identifiers of one or more second terminal devices. In this case, the first positioning request message may be used to request the synchronization information of the second terminal device corresponding to the identifiers of one or more second terminal devices. In this step, the first positioning request response message further includes the first information of one or more second terminal devices.

[0270] Optionally, the RRC mode of the second terminal device is not distinguished in this step, and the first terminal device may actively report the first information of one or more second terminal devices corresponding to the first measurement result.

[0271] S709: The location management device determines the location information of the first terminal device based on the first information.

[0272] Specifically, the location management device determines the location information of the first terminal device based on the first information and the first measurement result. For the specific process of determining the location of the first terminal device, refer to the above description. Details are not described again here.

[0273] Above, the process by which the location management device calculates the location of the target UE has been described in detail. Below, with reference to FIG. 8, the process by which the target UE itself calculates the location of the target UE will continue to be described.

[0274] FIG. 8 is a schematic flowchart of another positioning method according to an embodiment of this application. In this method, the target UE calculates the location information of the target UE. The method may include the following steps.

[0275] S801: The first terminal device acquires first information, where the first information includes the synchronization information of the second terminal device, and the synchronization information of the second terminal device includes the synchronization information between the second terminal device and the synchronization source of the second terminal device. The second terminal device is configured to assist in positioning the location of the first terminal device, and the second terminal device communicates with the first terminal device through sidelink.

[0276] For example, in the positioning scenario shown in FIG. 2, the first terminal device may be considered as UE101, and the second terminal device may be considered as RSU.

[0277] It should be understood that one or more second terminal devices for assisting in positioning the location of the first terminal device may be included in the scenario. This is not limited in this application. For the synchronization information of the second terminal device, refer to the description in S401. Details will not be described again here.

[0278] Optionally, the first terminal device may acquire the first information by using any one of the following methods.

[0279] Method 4: The first terminal device receives the first information from the location management device.

[0280] Based on Method 4, in a possible specific implementation manner, the first terminal device acquiring the first information mainly includes the following steps.

[0281] The location management device transmits a first configuration message to the first terminal device. The first configuration message includes configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device and first information. The configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device is used by the first terminal device to receive the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the first configuration message from the location management device.

[0282] Optionally, the location management device may alternatively transmit the first information and the first configuration message separately. Specifically, the first configuration message includes configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device, and the first information is carried by another message.

[0283] Optionally, the location management device may alternatively transmit the first information and the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device separately. Specifically, the location management device separately transmits a first configuration message including the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device and a first configuration message including the first information.

[0284] Regarding how the location management device obtains the first information and the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device in this method, refer to the descriptions of Method 1 and Method 2 in S401. Details are not described again here.

[0285] Method 5: The first terminal device receives the first information from the second terminal device.

[0286] It can be understood that the first terminal device communicates with the second terminal device based on the sidelink in the PC5 interface. The first terminal device may obtain the first information from the second terminal device through the PC5 interface.

[0287] Based on Method 5, in a possible specific implementation manner, the first terminal device obtaining the first information mainly includes the following steps.

[0288] The second terminal device sends a second configuration message to the first terminal device. The second configuration message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device and the first information. The configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device is used by the first terminal device to receive the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the second configuration message from the second terminal device.

[0289] Optionally, the second terminal device may alternatively send the first information and the second configuration message separately. Specifically, the second configuration message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device, and the first information is carried by other messages.

[0290] Optionally, the second terminal device may alternatively send the first information and the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device separately. Specifically, the second terminal device separately sends a second configuration message including the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device and a second configuration message including the first information.

[0291] S802: The first terminal device determines the location information of the first terminal device based on the first information.

[0292] For the specific reason why the location of the first terminal device can be accurately calculated after the first terminal device obtains the first information, refer to the description in S402. Details are not described again here.

[0293] The first terminal device may further report to the location management device an identifier of a second terminal device that can be configured to measure the location of the first terminal device, so as to avoid wasting resources caused when the second terminal device that does not need to transmit the sidelink reference signal also transmits the sidelink reference signal to the first terminal device. In this case, optionally, the method may further include the following steps.

[0294] (1) The first terminal device transmits a first message to the location management device. The first message includes an identifier of the second terminal device. Correspondingly, the location management device receives the first message from the first terminal device.

[0295] (2) The location management device transmits first indication information to a third terminal device. The first indication information instructs the third terminal device not to transmit a reference signal to the first terminal device. The third terminal device is a terminal device other than the terminal device corresponding to the identifier of the second terminal device among all terminal devices.

[0296] For example, all terminal devices in (2) are all terminal devices covered by all network devices requested by the location management device to assist in positioning the first terminal device. Alternatively, all terminal devices are terminal devices covered by all network devices requested by the location management device to assist in positioning the first terminal device, and these terminal devices are close to the first terminal device. Alternatively, all terminal devices are all second terminal devices corresponding to the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device included in the first configuration message transmitted by the location management device to the first terminal device in S510. Alternatively, all terminal devices are all second terminal devices in the second configuration message transmitted to the first terminal device in S520.

[0297] As described above, with reference to FIG. 8, a method for obtaining first information by a first terminal device has been described in detail. Based on the method shown in FIG. 8, two possible specific implementation procedures for the first terminal device to calculate the position of the first terminal device in FIGS. 9 and 10 are provided below.

[0298] FIG. 9 is a schematic flowchart for the first terminal device according to this application to calculate the position information of the first terminal device. The method may include the following steps.

[0299] S901: The positioning initiator starts the positioning of the first terminal device, and the position management device performs an ability interaction with the first terminal device, for example, executes an ability transmission procedure.

[0300] For details of S901, refer to the description in S601. Details will not be described again here.

[0301] S902: The position management device sends a fourth request message to the first network device. The fourth request message is used to request to configure the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The first network device is the serving network device of the second terminal device. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the fourth request message from the position management device.

[0302] S903: The first network device sends a fourth request response message to the position management device. The fourth request response message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. Correspondingly, the position management device receives the fourth request response message from the first network device.

[0303] In this method, if the second terminal device is in the RRC connection mode before or at S902 and the first network device knows the synchronization information of the second terminal device, the first network device may send the synchronization information of the second terminal device to the location management device in the fourth request response message, that is, the fourth request response message further includes the first information. If the second terminal device is in the non-RRC connection mode before or at S902 and the first network device does not know the synchronization information of the second terminal device, the first network device cannot send the synchronization information of the second terminal device to the location management device in the fourth request response message, that is, the fourth request response message does not include the first information.

[0304] S904: The first terminal device acquires the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device.

[0305] Regarding the configuration method for the location management device and the first terminal device to acquire the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device in S902 to S904, refer to the above description in FIG. 5. Details are not described again here.

[0306] For example, if the fourth request response message in S903 includes the first information, S909 is executed. For example, if the second terminal device is in the RRC connection mode before or at S902 and the location management device acquires the first information of the second terminal device from the first network device, the location management device may send the first information to the first terminal device.

[0307] For example, if the fourth request response message in S903 does not contain the first information, the location management device may request the first information from the first network device. In this case, S905 and S906 are executed. Alternatively, the location management device may request the first information from the second terminal device, and S907 and S908 are executed. For example, if the second terminal device is not in the RRC connection mode before or at the time of S902, for example, the second terminal device is in the RRC idle mode or the RRC inactive mode, and the location management device fails to obtain the first information of the second terminal device from the first network device, the location management device may request the first information of the second terminal device from the first network device or the second terminal device.

[0308] S905: The location management device sends a second request message to the first network device. The second request message is used to request the synchronization information of the second terminal device. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the second request message from the location management device.

[0309] For the description of the second request message, refer to S608. Details are not described again here.

[0310] S906: In response to the received second request message, the first network device sends a second request response message to the location management device. The second request response message contains the first information. Correspondingly, the location management device receives the second request response message from the first network device. Then, S909 is executed.

[0311] For the description of the second request response message, refer to S609. Details are not described again here.

[0312] S907: The location management device sends a first request message to the second terminal device. The first request message is used to request the synchronization information of the second terminal device. Correspondingly, the second terminal device receives the first request message from the location management device.

[0313] S908: In response to the received first request message, the second terminal device sends a first request response message to the location management device. The first request response message contains the first information. Correspondingly, the location management device receives the first request response message from the second terminal device. Then, S909 is executed.

[0314] S909: The location management device sends the first information to the first terminal device. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the first information from the location management device.

[0315] Optionally, in S904, if the first terminal device needs to obtain the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device from the location management device, in S909, the location management device may send both the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device and the first information to the first terminal device.

[0316] S910: The first terminal device measures the first reference signal and obtains a first measurement result.

[0317] For the description of the first reference signal, refer to the description in S605. For the description of the first measurement result, refer to the description in S606. Details are not described again here.

[0318] S911: The first terminal device determines the location information of the first terminal device based on the first information.

[0319] Specifically, the first terminal device determines the location information of the first terminal device based on the first information and the first measurement result. For the specific process of determining the location of the first terminal device, refer to the above description. Details will not be described again here.

[0320] FIG. 10 is another schematic flowchart for calculating the location information of the first terminal device by the first terminal device according to this application. The method may include the following steps.

[0321] S1001: The positioning initiator starts the positioning of the first terminal device, and the location management device performs an ability interaction with the first terminal device, for example, executes an ability transmission procedure.

[0322] For details of S1001, refer to the description in S601. Details will not be described again here.

[0323] S1002: The location management device sends a fourth request message to the first network device. The fourth request message is used to request to configure the sidelink reference signal configuration information of the second terminal device. The first network device is the serving network device of the second terminal device. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the fourth request message from the location management device.

[0324] S1003: The first network device sends a fourth request response message to the location management device. The fourth request response message includes the sidelink reference signal configuration information of the second terminal device. Correspondingly, the location management device receives the fourth request response message from the first network device.

[0325] Optionally, if the second terminal device is in the RRC connection mode before or at S1002 and the first network device knows the synchronization information of the second terminal device, the first network device may send the synchronization information of the second terminal device to the location management device in the fourth request response message, that is, the fourth request response message further includes the first information. If the second terminal device is in the non-RRC connection mode before or at S1002 and the first network device does not know the synchronization information of the second terminal device, the first network device cannot send the synchronization information of the second terminal device to the location management device in the fourth request response message, that is, the fourth request response message does not include the first information.

[0326] Optionally, in this step, regardless of whether the first network device knows the synchronization information of the second terminal device, the first network device does not send the synchronization information of the second terminal device to the location management device.

[0327] S1004: The first terminal device obtains the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device.

[0328] Regarding the configuration method for the location management device and the first terminal device to obtain the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device in S1002~S1004, refer to the above description in FIG. 5. Details are not described again here.

[0329] S1005: The second terminal device sends the first information to the first terminal device. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the first information from the second terminal device.

[0330] Regarding the transmission method for the second terminal device to send the first information to the first terminal device, refer to the description of Method 3 in FIG. 4.

[0331] In some embodiments, S1004 and S1005 may be executed simultaneously. Specifically, the second terminal device simultaneously transmits the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device and the first information to the first terminal device.

[0332] In some embodiments, the first terminal device obtains the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device from the location management device, and the first terminal device obtains the first information from the second terminal device.

[0333] S1006: The first terminal device measures the first reference signal and obtains a first measurement result.

[0334] For the description of the first reference signal, refer to the description in S605. For the description of the first measurement result, refer to the description in S606. Details are not described again here.

[0335] S1007: The first terminal device determines the location information of the first terminal device based on the first information.

[0336] Specifically, the first terminal device determines the location information of the first terminal device based on the first information and the first measurement result. For the description of the first reference signal and the specific process of determining the location of the first terminal device, refer to the above description. Details are not described again here.

[0337] In this application, it can be understood that obtaining the first information is a necessary step. In all embodiments of this application, other steps may also be optional steps. It can be understood that the steps in FIGS. 4 to 10 are merely examples for explanation and are not subject to strict limitations. Furthermore, the sequence numbers of the above processes do not mean the order of execution. The order of execution of the processes should be determined based on the functions and internal logics of the processes and should not constitute any limitation to the implementation process of the embodiments of this application.

[0338] It can be further understood that some of the message names in the embodiments of this application do not limit the protection scope of the embodiments of this application.

[0339] It can be further understood that some optional features in the embodiments of this application may be independent of other features in some scenarios, or may be combined with other features in some scenarios. This is not limited.

[0340] In the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specified or there is no logical contradiction, the terms and / or descriptions in different embodiments are consistent and may be referenced to each other. It can be further understood that the technical features in different embodiments may be combined based on their internal logical relationships to form new embodiments.

[0341] It can be further understood that in some of the above embodiments, devices in the existing network architecture are mainly used as examples for illustration. It should be understood that the specific form of the device is not limited in the embodiments of this application. For example, all devices that can achieve the same function in the future are applicable to the embodiments of this application.

[0342] In the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specified, the number of nouns refers to "singular nouns or plural nouns", that is, "one or more". "At least one" means one or more, and "plural" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship between related objects and indicates that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B may indicate the following three cases, that is, only A exists, both A and B exist, and only B exists, and A and B may be singular or plural. The character " / " usually indicates an "or" relationship between related objects. For example, A / B indicates A or B. "At least one of the following items (things)" or a similar expression means any combination of these items, including any combination of singular items (things) or plural items (things). For example, at least one (thing) of a, b, or c indicates a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a, b, and c, and a, b, and c may be singular or plural.

[0343] Ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" mentioned in the embodiments of this application are used to distinguish between multiple objects, but are not used to limit the size, content, order, chronological order, priority, importance, etc. of multiple objects. For example, the first request message and the second request message may be the same message or different messages. Furthermore, such names do not indicate differences in the content, size, application scenario, transmission end / reception end, priority, importance, etc. of the two messages. Furthermore, the step numbers in the embodiments described in this application are only used to distinguish between different steps and are not used to limit the order of steps. For example, S503 may be executed before S504, after S504, or at the same time as S504.

[0344] In the embodiments of the above method, it can be further understood that the methods and operations realized by the device may also be realized by components of the device (such as chips or circuits). This is not limited.

[0345] Corresponding to the method provided in the embodiment of the above method, the embodiment of this application further provides a corresponding device. The device includes corresponding modules configured to execute the embodiment of the above method. The module may be software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. It can be understood that the technical features described in the embodiment of the above method are also applicable to the following device embodiments.

[0346] In the embodiment of the above method, it can be understood that the methods and operations realized by a device (for example, the above first terminal device, second terminal device, LMF, or network device) may also be realized by components of the device (for example, a chip or a circuit).

[0347] In the above, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10, the method provided in the embodiment of this application has been described in detail. The above method is mainly described from the perspective of the interaction between network elements. It can be understood that in order to realize the above functions, the terminal device and the network device include corresponding hardware structures and / or software modules for executing the functions.

[0348] Those skilled in the art should be able to recognize that this application can be realized by hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software in combination with the example units and algorithm steps described in the embodiments disclosed in this specification. Whether the function is executed by hardware or by hardware driven by computer software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art may use different methods to realize the described functions for each specific application, but the realization method should not be considered to exceed the scope of this application.

[0349] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, the communication device provided in the embodiments of this application will be described in detail. It should be understood that the description of the device embodiments corresponds to the description of the method embodiments. Therefore, for the content not described in detail, refer to the above method embodiments. For the sake of brevity, some content will not be described again. In the embodiments of this application, the functional modules of the terminal device or the network device may be obtained through the division based on the above examples of the method. For example, the functional modules may be obtained through division corresponding to the functions, or two or more functions may be integrated into one processing module. The integrated module may be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional modules. It should be noted that in the embodiments of this application, the module division is an example and is merely a logical function division. In the actual implementation manner, other division methods may be used. Hereinafter, an explanation will be provided by using an example in which each functional module is obtained through division based on its corresponding function.

[0350] FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 1000 according to this application. As shown in FIG. 11, the device 1000 includes a transceiver unit 1100 and a processing unit 1200. The transceiver unit 1100 may be configured to implement the corresponding communication function. The transceiver unit 1100 may also be referred to as a communication interface or a communication unit. The processing unit 1200 may be configured to execute data or information processing.

[0351] Optionally, the device 1000 further includes a storage unit. The storage unit may be configured to store instructions and / or data. The processing unit 1200 may read the instructions and / or data in the storage unit to enable the device to implement the operations executed by the terminal device in the above method embodiments.

[0352] In a possible design, the apparatus 1000 may be configured to perform the operations executed by the first terminal device in the above-described method embodiments. In this case, the apparatus 1000 may be the first terminal device or a component of the first terminal device. The transceiver unit 1100 is configured to perform the reception / transmission related operations on the first terminal device side in the above-described method embodiments. The processing unit 1200 is configured to perform the processing related operations on the first terminal device side in the above-described method embodiments.

[0353] In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver unit 1100 acquires first information. The first information includes the synchronization information of the second terminal device. The synchronization information of the second terminal device includes the synchronization information between the second terminal device and the synchronization source of the second terminal device. The second terminal device is configured to assist in positioning the location of the first terminal device. The second terminal device communicates with the first terminal device through a sidelink. The processing unit 1200 determines the location information of the first terminal device based on the first information.

[0354] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1100 is specifically configured to receive the first information from a second network device of a location management function network element.

[0355] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1100 is specifically configured to receive the first information from the second network device.

[0356] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1100 is specifically configured to receive a first configuration message from a second terminal device of a location management function network element. The first configuration message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device is used by the first terminal device to receive the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The first configuration message further includes the first information.

[0357] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1100 is specifically configured to receive a second configuration message from a second terminal device. The second configuration message includes configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device is used by the first terminal device to receive the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The second configuration message further includes first information.

[0358] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to send a first message to a second network device of a location management function network element. The first message includes an identifier of the second terminal device.

[0359] For example, the second terminal device is a group of terminal devices, and the group of terminal devices includes one or more terminal devices.

[0360] The apparatus 1000 may implement steps or procedures executed by the first terminal device in an embodiment of the method according to an embodiment of this application. The apparatus 1000 may include units configured to execute the method executed by the first terminal device in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 to 10. The specific process of each unit executing the corresponding steps above is described in detail in the embodiment of the method above. For the sake of brevity, the details are not described again here.

[0361] In another possible implementation, the transceiver unit 1100 acquires first information. The first information includes synchronization information of a second terminal device. The synchronization information of the second terminal device includes synchronization information between the second terminal device and a synchronization source of the second terminal device. The second terminal device is configured to assist in positioning the location of the first terminal device. The second terminal device communicates with the first terminal device through a sidelink. The transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to transmit the first information to a second network device of a location management function network element.

[0362] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1100 is specifically configured to receive the first information from the second terminal device.

[0363] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1100 is specifically configured to receive a second configuration message from the second terminal device. The second configuration message includes configuration information of a sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device is used by the first terminal device to receive the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The second configuration message further includes the first information.

[0364] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to transmit a first message to the second network device. The first message includes an identifier of the second terminal device.

[0365] For example, the second terminal device is a group of terminal devices, and the group of terminal devices includes one or more terminal devices.

[0366] The device 1000 may implement the steps or procedures executed by the first terminal device in the method embodiment according to the embodiment of this application. The device 1000 may include units configured to execute the method executed by the first terminal device in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 to 10. The specific processes for each unit to execute the corresponding steps described above are described in detail in the method embodiment above. For the sake of brevity, the details will not be described again here.

[0367] In other possible designs, the device 1000 may be configured to execute the operations executed by the second network device in the method embodiment above. In this case, the device 1000 may be the second network device or a component of the second network device. The transceiver unit 1100 is configured to execute the reception / transmission related operations on the second network device side in the method embodiment above. The processing unit 1200 is configured to execute the processing related operations on the second network device side in the method embodiment above.

[0368] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 1100 is configured to obtain the first information. The first information includes the synchronization information of the second terminal device. The synchronization information of the second terminal device includes the synchronization information between the second terminal device and the synchronization source of the second terminal device. The second terminal device is configured to assist in positioning the location of the first terminal device. The second terminal device communicates with the first terminal device through sidelink. The processing unit 1200 is configured to determine the location information of the first terminal device based on the synchronization information of the second terminal device.

[0369] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1100 is specifically configured to receive the first information from the second terminal device.

[0370] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1100 is specifically configured to receive first information from a serving network device of a second terminal device.

[0371] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1100 is specifically configured to receive first information from a first terminal device.

[0372] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to send a first request message to a second terminal device. The first request message is used to request synchronization information of the second terminal device. The transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to receive a first request response message from the second terminal device. The first request response message includes the first information.

[0373] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to send a second request message to a serving network device of the second terminal device. The second request message is used to request synchronization information of the second terminal device. The transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to receive a second request response message from the serving network device of the second terminal device. The second request response message includes the first information.

[0374] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to send a third request message to the first terminal device. The third request message is used to request synchronization information of the second terminal device. The transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to receive a third request response message from the first terminal device. The third request response message includes the first information.

[0375] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to send a fourth request message to the serving network device of the second terminal device. The fourth request message is used to request to configure the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device is used by the first terminal device to receive the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to receive a fourth request response message from the serving network device of the second terminal device. The fourth request response message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The fourth request response message includes first information.

[0376] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to send a first configuration message to the first terminal device. The first configuration message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device is used by the first terminal device to receive the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The first configuration message further includes first information.

[0377] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to receive a first message from the first terminal device. The first message includes an identifier of the second terminal device. The transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to send first indication information to the third terminal device. The first indication information instructs the third terminal device not to send a reference signal to the first terminal device. The third terminal device is a terminal device other than the second terminal device among all terminal devices covered by all network devices that require the second network device to assist in positioning the target terminal.

[0378] For example, the second terminal device is a group of terminal devices, and the group of terminal devices includes one or more terminal devices.

[0379] Device 1000 may implement steps or procedures executed by a second network device in an embodiment of the method according to this application. Device 1000 may include units configured to execute the method executed by the second network device in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 to 10. The specific process by which each unit executes the corresponding step described above is described in detail in the embodiment of the method above. For the sake of brevity, the details are not described again here.

[0380] In another possible implementation, the transceiver unit 1100 is configured to obtain first information. The first information includes synchronization information of a second terminal device. The synchronization information of the second terminal device includes synchronization information between the second terminal device and a synchronization source of the second terminal device. The second terminal device is configured to assist in positioning the location of the first terminal device. The second terminal device communicates with the first terminal device through a sidelink. The transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to transmit the first information to the first terminal device.

[0381] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1100 is specifically configured to receive the first information from the second terminal device.

[0382] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1100 is specifically configured to receive the first information from a serving network device of the second terminal device.

[0383] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to transmit a first request message to the second terminal device. The first request message is used to request synchronization information of the second terminal device. The transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to receive a first request response message from the second terminal device. The first request response message includes the first information.

[0384] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to send a second request message to the serving network device of the second terminal device. The second request message is used to request synchronization information of the second terminal device. The transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to receive a second request response message from the serving network device of the second terminal device. The second request response message includes first information.

[0385] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to send a fourth request message to the serving network device of the second terminal device. The fourth request message is used to request to configure the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device is used by the first terminal device to receive the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to receive a fourth request response message from the serving network device of the second terminal device. The fourth request response message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The fourth request response message includes first information.

[0386] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to send a first configuration message to the first terminal device. The first configuration message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device is used by the first terminal device to receive the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The first configuration message further includes first information.

[0387] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to receive a first message from a first terminal device. The first message includes an identifier of a second terminal device. The transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to send first instruction information to a third terminal device. The first instruction information instructs the third terminal device not to send a reference signal to the first terminal device. The third terminal device is a terminal device other than the second terminal device among all terminal devices covered by all network devices that require the second network device to assist in positioning the target terminal.

[0388] For example, the second terminal device is a group of terminal devices, and the group of terminal devices includes one or more terminal devices.

[0389] The apparatus 1000 may implement steps or procedures executed by a second network device in an embodiment of a method according to an embodiment of this application. The apparatus 1000 may include units configured to execute a method executed by a second network device in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 to 10. The specific processes for each unit to execute the corresponding steps above are described in detail in the embodiment of the method above. For the sake of brevity, the details are not described again here.

[0390] In yet another possible design, the apparatus 1000 may be configured to execute operations executed by a first network device in the embodiment of the method above. In this case, the apparatus 1000 may be a first network device or a component of the first network device. The transceiver unit 1100 is configured to execute reception / transmission related operations on the first network device side in the embodiment of the method above. The processing unit 1200 is configured to execute processing related operations on the first network device side in the embodiment of the method above.

[0391] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 100 is configured to obtain first information. The first information includes synchronization information of a second terminal device. The first network device is a serving network device of the second terminal device. The second terminal device is configured to assist in positioning the location of the first terminal device. The second terminal device communicates with the first terminal device through sidelink. The transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to transmit the first information to a second network device.

[0392] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to receive a second request message from the second network device. The second request message is used to request synchronization information of the second terminal device. The transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to transmit a second request response message to the second network device. The second request response message includes the first information.

[0393] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to receive a fourth request message from the second network device. The fourth request message is used to request configuring configuration information of a sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device is used by the first terminal device to receive the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to transmit a fourth request response message to the second network device. The fourth request response message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The fourth request response message further includes the first information.

[0394] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to transmit a second message to the second terminal device. The second message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device.

[0395] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to send a fifth request message to the second terminal device. The fifth request message is used to request configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to receive a fifth request response message from the second terminal device. The fifth request response message includes configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device.

[0396] For example, the second terminal device is a group of terminal devices, and the group of terminal devices includes one or more terminal devices.

[0397] The apparatus 1000 may implement steps or procedures executed by the first network device in the method embodiment according to the embodiment of this application. The apparatus 1000 may include units configured to execute the method executed by the first network device in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 to 10. The specific processes for each unit to execute the corresponding steps described above are described in detail in the method embodiment above. For the sake of brevity, the details are not described again here.

[0398] In yet another possible design, the apparatus 1000 may be configured to execute operations executed by the second terminal device in the method embodiment above. In this case, the apparatus 1000 may be the second terminal device or a component of the second terminal device. The transceiver unit 1100 is configured to execute reception / transmission related operations on the second terminal device side in the method embodiment above. The processing unit 1200 is configured to execute processing related operations on the second terminal device side in the method embodiment above.

[0399] In a possible implementation, the processing unit 1200 is configured to determine the synchronization information of the second terminal device. The synchronization information of the second terminal device includes the synchronization information between the second terminal device and the synchronization source of the second terminal device. The transceiver unit 1100 is configured to send the first information to the first device. The first information includes the synchronization information of the second terminal device. The second terminal device is configured to assist in positioning the location of the first terminal device. The second terminal device communicates with the first terminal device through sidelink. The first device is the first terminal device or a second network device of the location management function network element.

[0400] Optionally, when the first device is the second network device, the transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to receive a first request message from the first device. The first request message is used to request the synchronization information of the second terminal device. The transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to send a first request response message to the first device. The first request response message includes the first information.

[0401] Optionally, when the first device is the first terminal device, the transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to send a second configuration message to the first device. The second configuration message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device is used by the first terminal device to receive the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The second configuration message further includes the first information.

[0402] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to receive a second message from the serving network device of the second terminal device. The second message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device.

[0403] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to receive a fifth request message from a serving network device of a second terminal device. The fifth request message is used to request configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The transceiver unit 1100 is further configured to send a fifth request response message to a serving network device of the second terminal device. The fifth request response message includes configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device.

[0404] The apparatus 1000 may implement steps or procedures executed by a second terminal device in an embodiment of the method according to an embodiment of this application. The apparatus 1000 may include units configured to execute the method executed by the second terminal device in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 to 10. The specific processes for each unit to execute the corresponding steps described above are described in detail in the embodiment of the method above. For the sake of brevity, the details are not described again here.

[0405] It should be understood that the apparatus 1000 herein is embodied in the form of a functional unit. The term "unit" herein may refer to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor configured to execute at least one software or firmware program (e.g., a shared processor, a dedicated processor, or a group of processors), and a memory, combinational logic circuits, and / or other suitable components that support the described functions. In an optional example, those skilled in the art can understand that the apparatus 1000 may specifically be the first terminal device in the above embodiments, and may also be configured to execute the procedures and / or steps corresponding to the first terminal device in the method embodiments. Alternatively, the apparatus 1000 may specifically be the second network device in the above embodiments, and may also be configured to execute the procedures and / or steps corresponding to the second network device in the method embodiments. Alternatively, the apparatus 1000 may specifically be the first network device in the above embodiments, and may also be configured to execute the procedures and / or steps corresponding to the first network device in the method embodiments. Alternatively, the apparatus 1000 may specifically be the second terminal device in the above embodiments, and may also be configured to execute the procedures and / or steps corresponding to the second terminal device in the method embodiments. To avoid repetition, the details are not described again here.

[0406] The apparatus 1000 in the above solution has a function of realizing the corresponding steps executed by the device in the above method. The function may be realized by hardware, or may be realized by hardware that executes the corresponding software. The hardware or software includes at least one module corresponding to the above function. For example, the transceiver unit may be replaced by a transceiver (for example, the transmission unit in the transceiver unit may be replaced by a transmitter, and the reception unit in the transceiver unit may be replaced by a receiver), and other units such as the processing unit may be replaced by a processor, and each executes the reception / transmission operation and the processing-related operation in the method embodiment.

[0407] Furthermore, the transceiver unit 1100 may alternatively be a transceiver circuit (for example, may include a reception circuit and a transmission circuit), and the processing unit may be a processing circuit.

[0408] It should be noted that the apparatus in FIG. 11 may be the device in the above embodiment, or may be a chip or a chip system, for example, a system on chip (SoC). The transceiver unit may be an input / output circuit or a communication interface. The processing unit is a processor, a microprocessor, or an integrated circuit integrated on the chip. This is not limited here.

[0409] FIG. 12 is a structural diagram of the communication apparatus 10 according to this application. The apparatus 10 includes a processor 11. The processor 11 is coupled to a memory 12. The memory 12 is configured to store a computer program or instructions and / or data. The processor 11 is configured to execute the computer program or instructions stored in the memory 12, or read the data stored in the memory 12 to execute the method in the method embodiment above.

[0410] Optionally, there is one or more processors 11.

[0411] Optionally, there is one or more memories 12.

[0412] Optionally, the memory 12 and the processor 11 are integrated together or arranged separately.

[0413] Optionally, as shown in FIG. 12, the device 10 further includes a transceiver 13. The transceiver 13 is configured to receive and / or transmit signals. For example, the processor 11 is configured to control the transceiver 13 to receive and / or transmit signals.

[0414] In one solution, the device 10 is configured to implement the operations performed by the first terminal device in the above method embodiments.

[0415] For example, the processor 11 executes a computer program or instructions stored in the memory 12 to implement the related operations of the first terminal device in the above method embodiments, for example, the method executed by the first terminal device in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 to 10.

[0416] In another solution, the device 10 is configured to implement the operations performed by the second network device in the above method embodiments.

[0417] For example, the processor 11 executes a computer program or instructions stored in the memory 12 to implement the related operations of the second network device in the above method embodiments, for example, the method executed by the second network device in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 to 10.

[0418] In yet another solution, the device 10 is configured to implement the operations performed by the first network device in the above method embodiments.

[0419] For example, the processor 11 is configured to execute a computer program or instructions stored in the memory 12 to realize the related operations of the first network device in the embodiments of the above method, for example, the method executed by the first network device in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 to 10.

[0420] In yet another solution, the apparatus 10 is configured to realize the operations executed by the second terminal device in the embodiments of the above method.

[0421] For example, the processor 11 is configured to execute a computer program or instructions stored in the memory 12 to realize the related operations of the second terminal device in the embodiments of the above method, for example, the method executed by the second terminal device in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 to 10.

[0422] Furthermore, this application further provides a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions. When the computer instructions are executed on a computer, the method in the embodiments of the method of this application is executed.

[0423] This application further provides a computer program product. The computer program product includes computer program code or instructions. When the computer program code or instructions are executed on a computer, the method in the embodiments of the method of this application is executed.

[0424] Furthermore, this application further provides a chip, the chip includes a processor. A memory configured to store a computer program is arranged independently of the chip. The processor is configured to execute the computer program stored in the memory, so that the method in the embodiments of the method of this application is executed.

[0425] Furthermore, the chip may include a communication interface. The communication interface may be an input / output interface, an interface circuit, or the like. Furthermore, the chip may include a memory.

[0426] Furthermore, this application further provides a communication system including one or more devices among the first terminal device, the second network device, the first network device, and the second terminal device in the embodiments of this application.

[0427] The processor in the embodiments of this application may be an integrated circuit chip, and it should be understood that it has signal processing capabilities. In the implementation process, the steps in the embodiments of the above method can be completed by using the hardware integrated logic circuit in the processor or by using instructions in the form of software. The processor may be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gates or transistor logic devices, or discrete hardware components. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or the processor may be any conventional processor or the like. The steps of the method disclosed in the embodiments of this application may be directly presented as being executed and completed by a hardware-encoding processor, or may be executed and completed by a combination of a hardware module and a software module in the encoding processor. The software module may be located in a mature storage medium in the art, such as random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory or a register. The storage medium is located in the memory, and the processor reads the information in the memory and combines it with the hardware of the processor to complete the steps in the above method.

[0428] The memory in the embodiments of this application may be volatile memory, non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile memory and non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory may be read-only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM), electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), or flash memory. The volatile memory may be random access memory (RAM) used as an external cache. By way of example and not limitation, many forms of RAM, such as static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct rambus RAM (DRRAM) may be used.

[0429] 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 (memory module) may be integrated with the processor.

[0430] Furthermore, it should be noted that the memories described in this specification are intended to include, but are not limited to, any of these memories and other suitable types of memories.

[0431] Those skilled in the art may recognize that, in combination with the example units and algorithm steps described in the embodiments disclosed in this specification, this application can be implemented by electronic hardware or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether a function is executed by hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art may use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but the implementation method should not be considered to exceed the scope of this application.

[0432] Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and concise description, for the detailed working processes of the above systems, devices and units, reference may be made to the corresponding processes in the embodiments of the above methods. Details will not be described again here.

[0433] In some embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices and methods may be implemented in other ways. For example, the above-described device embodiments are merely examples. For example, unit division is merely a logical function division, and other divisions may be used in actual implementation methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into other systems, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the disclosed mutual connection, direct connection or communication connection may be realized through some interfaces. The indirect connection or communication connection between devices or units may be realized in an electronic form, a mechanical form or other forms.

[0434] Units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and parts shown as units may or may not be physical units, i.e., they may be located in one place or may be distributed among multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected based on actual requirements to achieve the objectives of the solutions of the embodiments.

[0435] Furthermore, the functional units in the embodiments of this application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each of the units may exist physically alone, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0436] When the function is realized in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, the function may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on such understanding, the technical solutions of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art or a part of the technical solutions, may also be realized in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for instructing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the method in the embodiments of this application. The above storage medium includes various media that can store program codes, such as USB flash drives, removable hard disks, ROM, RAM, magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0437] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit the protection scope of this application. Any modifications or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application shall fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A positioning method, comprising: a step of obtaining first information by a first terminal device, wherein the first information includes synchronization information of a second terminal device, and the synchronization information of the second terminal device includes synchronization information between the second terminal device and a synchronization source of the second terminal device, and the second terminal device is configured to assist in positioning the position of the first terminal device, and the second terminal device communicates with the first terminal device through sidelink; a step of determining position information of the first terminal device based on the first information by the first terminal device; and a method comprising the above.

2. The step of obtaining first information by a first terminal device is: a step of receiving the first information from a second network device by the first terminal device, or a step of receiving the first information from the second terminal device by the first terminal device. The method according to claim 1, comprising the above.

3. The step of obtaining first information by a first terminal device is: a step of receiving a first configuration message from a second network device by the first terminal device, wherein the first configuration message includes configuration information of a sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device, and the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device is used by the first terminal device to receive the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device, and the first configuration message further includes the first information; or A step of receiving, by the first terminal device, a second configuration message from the second terminal device, where the second configuration message includes configuration information of a sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device, and the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device is used by the first terminal device to receive the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device, and the second configuration message further includes the first information. The method according to claim 1, including .

4. A positioning method, comprising: A step of obtaining, by a first terminal device, first information, where the first information includes synchronization information of a second terminal device, and the synchronization information of the second terminal device includes synchronization information between the second terminal device and a synchronization source of the second terminal device, and the second terminal device is configured to assist in positioning the position of the first terminal device, and the second terminal device communicates with the first terminal device through a sidelink. A step of transmitting, by the first terminal device, the first information to a second network device. A method including the above.

5. The step of obtaining, by a first terminal device, first information is: The method according to claim 4, where the step of obtaining, by the first terminal device, the first information includes a step of receiving, by the first terminal device, the first information from the second terminal device.

6. The step of obtaining, by a first terminal device, first information is: The first terminal device receives a second configuration message from the second terminal device, where the second configuration message includes configuration information of a sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device, and the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device is used by the first terminal device to receive the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device. The method according to claim 4, wherein the second configuration message further includes the first information.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a step of transmitting, by the first terminal device, a first message to the second network device, wherein the first message includes an identifier of the second terminal device.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the second terminal device is one or more terminal devices.

9. A positioning method, comprising: a step of obtaining, by a second network device, first information, wherein the first information includes synchronization information of a second terminal device, and the synchronization information of the second terminal device includes synchronization information between the second terminal device and a synchronization source of the second terminal device, the second terminal device is configured to assist in positioning the position of a first terminal device, and the second terminal device communicates with the first terminal device through sidelink; a step of determining, by the second network device, position information of the first terminal device based on the first information; and the method includes.

10. The step of obtaining, by a second network device, first information includes: a step of receiving, by the second network device, the first information from the second terminal device, or a step of receiving, by the second network device, the first information from a serving network device of the second terminal device, or a step of receiving, by the second network device, the first information from the first terminal device. The method according to claim 9, including.

11. The step of obtaining the first information by the second network device is The step of transmitting, by the second network device, a first request message to the second terminal device, where the first request message is used to request the synchronization information of the second terminal device, and the step of receiving, by the second network device, a first request response message from the second terminal device, where the first request response message includes the first information, or The step of transmitting, by the second network device, a second request message to the serving network device of the second terminal device, where the second request message is used to request the synchronization information of the second terminal device, and the step of receiving, by the second network device, a second request response message from the serving network device of the second terminal device, where the second request response message includes the first information, or The step of transmitting, by the second network device, a third request message to the first terminal device, where the third request message is used to request the synchronization information of the second terminal device, and the step of receiving, by the second network device, a third request response message from the first terminal device, where the third request response message includes the first information The method according to claim 10, comprising **Claim 12** A positioning method, comprising A step of obtaining first information by a second network device, wherein the first information includes synchronization information of a second terminal device, and the synchronization information of the second terminal device includes synchronization information between the second terminal device and a synchronization source of the second terminal device, the second terminal device is configured to assist in positioning the position of a first terminal device, and the second terminal device communicates with the first terminal device through sidelink, the step and A step of transmitting the first information to the first terminal device by the second network device and A method including.

13. The step of obtaining first information by a second network device is A step of receiving the first information from the second terminal device by the second network device, or A step of receiving the first information from a serving network device of the second terminal device by the second network device The method according to claim 12, including.

14. The step of obtaining first information by a second network device is A step of transmitting a first request message to the second terminal device by the second network device, the first request message is used to request the synchronization information of the second terminal device, the step, and a step of receiving a first request response message from the second terminal device by the second network device, the first request response message includes the first information, the step, or The step of transmitting, by the second network device, a second request message to a serving network device of the second terminal device, where the second request message is used to request the synchronization information of the second terminal device, and the step of receiving, by the second network device, a second request response message from the serving network device of the second terminal device, where the second request response message includes the first information The method according to claim 12, including . **Claim 15** The step of obtaining, by a second network device, first information includes The step of transmitting, by the second network device, a fourth request message to a serving network device of the second terminal device, where the fourth request message is used to request to configure configuration information of a sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device, and the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device is used by the first terminal device to receive the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device, and The step of receiving, by the second network device, a fourth request response message from the serving network device of the second terminal device, where the fourth request response message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device, and including The method according to claim 9 or 12, where the fourth request response message includes the first information. **Claim 16** The step of obtaining, by a second network device, first information includes The step of transmitting, by the second network device, a first configuration message to the first terminal device, where the first configuration message includes configuration information of a sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device, and the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device is used by the first terminal device to receive the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device, including the step The method according to claim 9 or 12, wherein the first configuration message further includes the first information.

17. The step of receiving, by the second network device, a first message from the first terminal device, where the first message includes an identifier of the second terminal device, and The step of transmitting, by the second network device, first indication information to a third terminal device, where the first indication information instructs the third terminal device not to transmit a reference signal to the first terminal device, and the third terminal device is a terminal device other than the second terminal device among all terminal devices covered by all network devices that are required to assist the second network device in positioning a target terminal, and The method according to any one of claims 9 to 16, further including.

18. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 17, wherein the second terminal device is one or more terminal devices.

19. A positioning method, comprising A step of obtaining first information by a first network device, wherein the first information includes synchronization information of a second terminal device, the first network device is a serving network device of the second terminal device, the synchronization information of the second terminal device includes synchronization information between the second terminal device and a synchronization source of the second terminal device, the second terminal device is configured to assist in positioning the position of a first terminal device, and the second terminal device communicates with the first terminal device through sidelink, and A step of the first network device transmitting the first information to a second network device and A method including.

20. The step of the first network device transmitting the first information to a second network device includes A step of the first network device receiving a second request message from the second network device, wherein the second request message is used to request the synchronization information of the second terminal device, and A step of the first network device transmitting a second request response message to the second network device, wherein the second request response message includes the first information and The method according to claim 19, including.

21. The step of the first network device transmitting the first information to a second network device includes The step of receiving, by the first network device, a fourth request message from the second network device, where the fourth request message is used to request configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device, and the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device is used by the first terminal device to receive the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device, and The step of transmitting, by the first network device, a fourth request response message to the second network device, where the fourth request response message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device, and including The method according to claim 19, wherein the fourth request response message further includes the first information.

22. The method according to claim 21, further including the step of transmitting, by the first network device, a second message to the second terminal device, where the second message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device.

23. The step of transmitting, by the first network device, a fifth request message to the second terminal device, where the fifth request message is used to request the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device, and The step of receiving, by the first network device, a fifth request response message from the second terminal device, where the fifth request response message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device, and The method according to claim 21, further including.

24. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 23, wherein the second terminal device is one or more terminal devices.

25. A positioning method, a step of determining, by a second terminal device, synchronization information of the second terminal device, wherein the synchronization information of the second terminal device includes synchronization information between the second terminal device and a synchronization source of the second terminal device; a step of transmitting, by the second terminal device, first information to a first device, wherein the first information includes the synchronization information of the second terminal device, the second terminal device is configured to assist in positioning the position of a first terminal device, the second terminal device communicates with the first terminal device through a sidelink, and the first device is the first terminal device or a second network device; a method comprising the above.

26. When the first device is the second network device, the step of transmitting, by the second terminal device, first information to the first device includes: a step of receiving, by the second terminal device, a first request message from the first device, wherein the first request message is used to request the synchronization information of the second terminal device; a step of transmitting, by the second terminal device, a first request response message to the first device, wherein the first request response message includes the first information; The method according to claim 25, comprising the above.

27. When the first device is the first terminal device, the step of transmitting, by the second terminal device, first information to the first device includes: The step of transmitting, by the second terminal device, a second configuration message to the first device, wherein the second configuration message includes configuration information of a sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device, and the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device is used for the first terminal device to receive the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device, including the step, The method according to claim 25, wherein the second configuration message further includes the first information.

28. The method according to any one of claims 25 to 27, further including the step of receiving, by the second terminal device, a second message from a serving network device of the second terminal device, wherein the second message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device.

29. The step of receiving, by the second terminal device, a fifth request message from a serving network device of the second terminal device, wherein the fifth request message is used to request the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device, and The step of transmitting, by the second terminal device, a fifth request response message to the serving network device of the second terminal device, wherein the fifth request response message includes the configuration information of the sidelink reference signal of the second terminal device, and The method according to any one of claims 25 to 27, further including.

30. The synchronization source of the second terminal device is the serving network device of the second terminal device, and the synchronization information is a time difference between a subframe boundary of the second terminal device and a subframe boundary of the serving network device of the second terminal device, or The synchronization source of the second terminal device is a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), and the synchronization information is the direct frame number offset of the second terminal device. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 29.

31. A communication device including a unit or module configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 30.

32. A communication device including at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute a computer program stored in a memory to enable the device to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute a computer program stored in a memory to enable the device to execute the method according to any one of claims 9 to 18, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute a computer program stored in a memory to enable the device to execute the method according to any one of claims 19 to 24, or wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute a computer program stored in a memory to enable the device to execute the method according to any one of claims 25 to 30.

33. The device further includes the memory and / or a communication interface, wherein the communication interface is coupled to the processor, wherein the communication interface is configured to input and / or output information. The device according to claim 32.

34. A computer-readable storage medium including a computer program, When the computer program is executed on a computer, can the computer execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8? When the computer program is executed on a computer, can the computer execute the method according to any one of claims 9 to 18? When the computer program is executed on a computer, can the computer execute the method according to any one of claims 19 to 24, or A computer-readable storage medium, wherein when the computer program is executed on a computer, the computer can execute the method according to any one of claims 25 to 30.

35. A computer program product including computer program code, When the computer program code is executed on a computer, can the computer execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8? When the computer program code is executed on a computer, can the computer execute the method according to any one of claims 9 to 18? When the computer program code is executed on a computer, can the computer execute the method according to any one of claims 19 to 24, or A computer program product, wherein when the computer program code is executed on a computer, the computer can execute the method according to any one of claims 25 to 30.

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