Communication method and apparatus, storage medium, and computer program product

Abstract

A communication method and apparatus, a storage medium, and a computer program product are provided for configuring transmission of a reference signal for a terminal device in a scenario in which the terminal device moves. In the present application, a first network device receives first information, the first information including information used to configure transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device, the reference signal being used to position the terminal device. The first network device receives a terminal device context request message from a second network device. The first network device sends second information to the second network device, the second information being determined based on the first information, the second information including information used to configure transmission of the reference signal for the terminal device, and the number of times of transmission of the reference signal determined based on the first information is different from the number of times of transmission of the reference signal determined based on the second information. In this way, the second network device can configure more appropriate transmission of the reference signal for the terminal device based on the second information.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202310125183.9, entitled "Communication Method and Apparatus, Storage Medium, and Computer Program Product," filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China on February 10, 2023, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] The present application relates to the field of positioning technology, and in particular to communication methods and apparatus, storage media, and computer program products. [Background technology]

[0003] Positioning services are one of the key functions in new radio (NR) systems. Currently, positioning technologies can include uplink positioning technologies, downlink positioning technologies, and uplink-downlink positioning technologies. For example, positioning technologies include uplink (UL) time difference of arrival (TDOA) positioning technologies and UL angle of arrival (AOA) positioning technologies. In a positioning technology (e.g., uplink positioning technology or uplink-downlink positioning technology), an access network device may configure a terminal device to transmit a reference signal used for positioning, for example, configure information about the reference signal (e.g., configure resources for the reference signal), and send the reference signal configuration information to the terminal device. The terminal device may send a reference signal based on the information about the reference signal configured for the terminal device by the access network device. To obtain measurement results, one or more access network devices measure the reference signal sent by the terminal device. Furthermore, the access network device may report the obtained measurement results to the location management function network element, so that the location management function network element determines the location information of the terminal device by referring to each measurement result or other information.

[0004] When a terminal device is in a radio resource control (RRC) connected state, an access network device accessed by the terminal device may configure the transmission of reference signals for the terminal device by using an RRC reconfiguration message.

[0005] In the fifth generation mobile communication technology, an RRC inactive state and an RRC idle state are added for a terminal device. A terminal device in an RRC inactive state or an RRC idle state may move, for example, move from a cell (a cell of a source access network device) to another cell (e.g., a cell of a destination access network device), that is, a terminal device in an RRC inactive state or an RRC idle state may move from its original cell. How to configure the transmission of reference signals for a moving terminal device becomes an urgent problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and apparatus, a storage medium, and a computer program product for better configuring the transmission of reference signals for moving terminal devices.

[0007] According to a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which is applicable to a first network device, which may be, for example, a network device or unit, a module, or a chip (system) within a network device.

[0008] In the present application, a first network device receives first information, the first information including information used to configure transmission of a reference signal of a terminal device, the reference signal being used to position the terminal device; the first network device receives a terminal device context request message from a second network device; the first network device sends second information to the second network device, the second information being determined based on the first information, the second information including information used to configure transmission of a reference signal of the terminal device; and the number of times of transmission of the reference signal determined based on the first information is different from the number of times of transmission of the reference signal determined based on the second information.

[0009] The terminal device may move, and the first information is generated based on the status of the terminal device at a past time or period. If the second network device still configures transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device based on the first information, the second network device may configure inappropriate transmission of the reference signal for the terminal device. However, in the present application, the first network device sends the second information to the second network device instead of the first information. The number of transmissions determined based on the second information is different from the number of transmissions determined based on the first information. Therefore, the second network device may configure more appropriate transmission of the reference signal for the terminal device based on the received second information.

[0010] In one possible embodiment, the first information may be used by the first network device to configure the transmission of the reference signal for the terminal device based on the number of reference signal transmissions determined based on the first information. After the first network device receives the first information, the first network device may configure the transmission of the reference signal for the terminal device based on the number of reference signal transmissions determined based on the first information. It will also be understood that the first information is used by the first network device to configure the transmission of the terminal device based on the first information. The first network device configures the transmission of the reference signal for the terminal device based on the first information. The number of periodic transmissions of the reference signal configured for the terminal device by the first network device is the number of transmissions determined based on the first information. For ease of description of the following content, in this application, the number of reference signal transmissions determined based on the first information will be referred to as the first number of transmissions.

[0011] In one possible embodiment, the second information may be used by the second network device to configure the transmission of the reference signal for the terminal device based on the number of reference signal transmissions determined based on the second information. After the second network device receives the second information, the second network device may configure the transmission of the reference signal for the terminal device based on the number of reference signal transmissions determined based on the second information. It will also be understood that the second information is used by the second network device to configure the transmission of the terminal device based on the second information. The second network device configures the transmission of the reference signal for the terminal device based on the second information. The number of periodic transmissions of the reference signal configured for the terminal device by the second network device is the number of transmissions determined based on the second information. For ease of description of the following content, in this application, the number of reference signal transmissions determined based on the second information is referred to as the second number of transmissions. It will be understood that in this embodiment of the application, the second number of transmissions is different from the first number of transmissions. Therefore, the second network device can configure a more appropriate number of periodic transmissions for the reference signal for the terminal device to prevent the terminal device from transmitting the reference signal excessively, thereby reducing resources.

[0012] The second information in this embodiment of the present application may be generated by the first network device or obtained from another device by the first network device. For example, the first network device may send a request to the location management device, and the location management device may send the second information to the first network device, and then the first network device may send the second information to the second network device. This can improve the flexibility of the solution.

[0013] In one possible embodiment, the second transmission number is the remaining number of reference signal transmissions, which can prevent the terminal device from transmitting the reference signal excessively as much as possible, thereby reducing resource waste.

[0014] In one possible embodiment, the second information includes information on a first timestamp and information on a third number of transmissions, and the first timestamp information is information on a timestamp associated with the third number of transmissions. The second network device may estimate the number of reference signal transmissions performed by the terminal device by referring to the first timestamp and the current time. In addition, since the first timestamp information is associated with the third number of transmissions, the second network device may calculate the remaining number of transmissions by referring to the third number of transmissions and the estimated number of reference signal transmissions performed by the terminal device, and then configure the number of periodic transmissions of the terminal device as the remaining number of transmissions. This may prevent the terminal device from transmitting reference signals excessively, thereby reducing resource waste.

[0015] For example, the third transmission count is the number of transmissions of the reference signal requested by the location management device. The information of the first timestamp indicates at least one of the following: a time when the information of the third transmission count is sent from the location management device; a time when the information of the third transmission count arrives at a third network device, where the third network device is a network device that receives the information of the third transmission count from the location management device and is the same as or different from the first network device; or a time when the third network device sends configuration information of the reference signal to the terminal device based on the information of the third transmission count.

[0016] In another possible embodiment, the second information includes first timestamp information, which indicates a time when the terminal device starts transmitting the reference signal or a time when the third network device sends reference signal configuration information to the terminal device.

[0017] After receiving the information of the first timestamp, the second network device may refer to the current time point to calculate the time length between the two time points, determine the number of reference signal transmissions (also called the number of periods) performed by the terminal device based on the duration of the reference signal, and then refer to the information of the third number of transmissions to determine the remaining number of reference signal transmissions (also called the number of periodic transmissions) that still need to be performed by the terminal device. For example, the terminal device may use the difference between the third number of transmissions and the number of reference signal transmissions performed by the terminal device as the remaining number of reference signal transmissions that still need to be performed by the terminal device.

[0018] The first timestamp information may be determined by the first network device or received from another device, such as a location management device, a terminal device, or another network device. Alternatively, the first timestamp information may be carried in the first information. For example, the first information may include the first timestamp information and the third transmission count information. This solution can reduce the workload of the first network device.

[0019] In the present application, the second information may include information on the second transmission number. Because the second information sent by the first network device includes information on the second transmission number, the second network device may not need to calculate the second transmission number, thereby reducing the amount of calculation of the second network device.

[0020] In one possible implementation, the second number of transmissions is determined based on the first number of transmissions and the number of reference signal transmissions performed by the terminal device after the first network device receives the first information. Since the first network device can estimate the number of reference signal transmissions performed by the terminal device after the first network device receives the first information, the first network device can further calculate the second number of transmissions by referring to the first number of transmissions. This solution has a relatively small calculation amount and is easy to implement.

[0021] Alternatively, the second number of transmissions is determined based on the third number of transmissions and the number of reference signal transmissions performed by the terminal device after the third network device receives information about the third number of transmissions. In this solution, the first information may include the third number of transmissions and a first timestamp. The first network device may determine, based on the first timestamp, the number of reference signal transmissions performed by the terminal device after the third network device receives information about the third number of transmissions. Furthermore, the first network device calculates the second number of transmissions by referring to the third number of transmissions. This can improve the flexibility of the solution.

[0022] In one possible embodiment, the first information includes information on the first transmission count, and the second information is obtained by the first network device performing at least the following operation on the first information: modifying the information on the first transmission count in the first information to information on the second transmission count. This solution is relatively simple without additional information, and therefore resource overhead can be reduced.

[0023] In one possible embodiment, the first information includes predetermined information, and there is an association relationship between the predetermined information and the location of the terminal device, and the second information does not include the predetermined information. For example, the predetermined information includes path loss reference information and / or spatial relationship information. This can prevent the second network device from configuring the transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device based on inappropriate information.

[0024] In one possible embodiment, the second information is obtained by the first network device performing an operation on the first information, in which the first network device deletes at least preset information included in the first information, which can reduce resource overhead.

[0025] In one possible implementation, the terminal device context request message further includes reference signal update cause information, so that the first network device can know that information used to configure the transmission of the reference signal for the terminal device needs to be provided to the second network device, and other information does not need to be provided, thereby reducing resource overhead.

[0026] In one possible implementation, after the first information is received and before the second information is sent to the second network device, the method further includes the step of the first network device sending an RRC connection release indication message to the terminal device, where the RRC connection release indication message includes transmission of a reference signal configured by the terminal device for the terminal device, so that the terminal device may enter an RRC inactive state or an RRC idle state, thereby reducing the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0027] According to a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which is applicable to a second network device, which may be, for example, a network device or unit, a module, or a chip (system) within a network device.

[0028] In the present application, a second network device sends a terminal device context request message to a first network device, the second network device receives second information from the first network device, the second information is determined based on the first information, the first information includes information used to configure transmission of a reference signal of the terminal device, the reference signal is used to position the terminal device, the second information includes information used to configure transmission of a reference signal of the terminal device, and the number of times of transmission of the reference signal determined based on the first information is different from the number of times of transmission of the reference signal determined based on the second information.

[0029] The terminal device may move, and the first information is generated based on the status of the terminal device at a past time or period. If the second network device still configures transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device based on the first information, the second network device may configure inappropriate transmission of the reference signal for the terminal device. However, in the present application, the first network device sends the second information to the second network device instead of the first information. The number of transmissions determined based on the second information is different from the number of transmissions determined based on the first information. Therefore, the second network device may configure more appropriate transmission of the reference signal for the terminal device based on the received second information.

[0030] In one possible embodiment, the first information may be used by the first network device to configure the transmission of the reference signal of the terminal device based on the number of reference signal transmissions determined based on the first information. To facilitate the description of the following content, in this application, the number of reference signal transmissions determined based on the first information is referred to as the first transmission number. For related explanations and beneficial effects, please refer to the related explanation of the first aspect. Details will not be described again.

[0031] In one possible embodiment, the second information may be used by the second network device to configure the transmission of the reference signal of the terminal device based on the number of reference signal transmissions determined based on the second information. After the second network device receives the second information, the second network device may configure the transmission of the reference signal of the terminal device based on the number of reference signal transmissions determined based on the second information. For ease of description of the following content, in this application, the number of reference signal transmissions determined based on the second information is referred to as the second transmission number. For related descriptions and beneficial effects, please refer to the related description of the first aspect. Details will not be described again.

[0032] In one possible embodiment, the second transmission number is the remaining transmission number of the reference signal. For related explanations and beneficial effects, please refer to the related explanations of the first aspect. Details will not be described again.

[0033] In one possible embodiment, the second information includes information on a first timestamp and information on a third number of transmissions, and the information on the first timestamp is information on a timestamp associated with the third number of transmissions. For related descriptions and beneficial effects, please refer to the related descriptions of the first aspect. Details will not be described again.

[0034] For example, the third transmission count is the number of times of transmission of the reference signal requested by the location management device. The information of the first timestamp indicates at least one of the following: a time when the information of the third transmission count is sent from the location management device; a time when the information of the third transmission count arrives at a third network device, where the third network device is a network device that receives the information of the third transmission count from the location management device and is the same as or different from the first network device; or a time when the third network device sends configuration information of the reference signal to the terminal device based on the information of the third transmission count. For related descriptions and beneficial effects, please refer to the related descriptions of the first aspect. Details will not be described again.

[0035] In another possible embodiment, the second information includes first timestamp information. The first timestamp information indicates the time when the terminal device starts sending the reference signal or the time when the third network device sends the reference signal configuration information to the terminal device. For related descriptions and beneficial effects, please refer to the related descriptions of the first aspect. Details will not be described again.

[0036] In one possible embodiment, the first information includes first timestamp information and third transmission count information. For related descriptions and beneficial effects, please refer to the related descriptions of the first aspect. Details will not be described again.

[0037] In the present application, the second information may include information on a second number of transmissions. For example, the second number of transmissions is determined based on the first number of transmissions and the number of reference signal transmissions performed by the terminal device after the first network device receives the first information. As another example, the second number of transmissions is determined based on the third number of transmissions and the number of reference signal transmissions performed by the terminal device after the third network device receives information on the third number of transmissions. For related descriptions and beneficial effects, please refer to the related descriptions of the first aspect. Details will not be described again.

[0038] In one possible embodiment, the first information includes information on a first transmission count. The second information is obtained by the first network device performing at least the following operation on the first information: modifying the information on the first transmission count in the first information to information on the second transmission count. For related descriptions and beneficial effects, please refer to the related descriptions of the first aspect. Details will not be described again.

[0039] In one possible embodiment, the first information includes preset information, and there is an association relationship between the preset information and the location of the terminal device, and the second information does not include preset information. For related descriptions and beneficial effects, please refer to the related descriptions of the first aspect. Details will not be described again.

[0040] In one possible embodiment, after the second network device receives the second information from the first network device, the second network device determines a second number of times to transmit the reference signal based on the second information, and when the number of times transmitted by the terminal device reaches the second number of times, the second network device sends information to the terminal device indicating that the terminal device does not need to transmit the reference signal, which can prevent the terminal device from transmitting excessive reference signals and thereby reduce the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0041] In one possible embodiment, the second network device sends a first message to the location management device, the first message being used to request updating of the path loss reference information and / or the spatial relationship information; the second network device receives fourth information from the location management device, the fourth information including the path loss reference information and / or the spatial relationship information; the second network device sends reference signal configuration information to the terminal device, the reference signal configuration information being determined based on the fourth information and the second information. The second network device may re-determine the spatial relationship information and the path loss reference information for the terminal device, so that the second network device configures more appropriate reference signal parameters for the terminal device based on the newly acquired spatial relationship information and path loss reference information.

[0042] In one possible embodiment, the second network device receives measurement information from the terminal device, for example, radio resource management (RRM) measurement information, and sends reference signal configuration information to the terminal device, where the reference signal configuration information is determined based on the measurement information and the second information. In one possible embodiment, path loss reference information and / or spatial relationship information in the reference signal configuration information are determined based on the measurement information. The second network device can reconstruct the spatial relationship information and the path loss reference information based on the measurement information reported by the terminal device, so that the second network device can configure more appropriate reference signal parameters for the terminal device.

[0043] In one possible embodiment, the terminal device context request message further includes reference signal update cause information.For related descriptions and beneficial effects, please refer to the related descriptions of the first aspect.Details will not be described again.

[0044] In one possible implementation, before the terminal device context request message is sent to the first network device, the method further includes a step in which the second network device receives a radio resource control (RRC) connection establishment request message from the terminal device, where the RRC connection establishment request message further includes reference signal update cause information. Thus, the second network device can know that information used to configure transmission of reference signals for the terminal device needs to be requested from the first network device, and other information may not be requested, thereby reducing resource overhead.

[0045] According to a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which is applicable to a second network device, which may be, for example, a network device or unit, a module, or a chip (system) within a network device.

[0046] In the present application, a location management device obtains a positioning information request, and the location management device sends the positioning information request to a first network device, and the positioning information request includes first timestamp information, and the first timestamp information indicates the time at which the number of reference signal transmissions requested by the location management device is sent from the location management device.

[0047] Therefore, a network device receiving the information of the first timestamp may refer to the current point in time to calculate the length of time between the two points in time, determine the number of reference signal transmissions (or called the number of periods) made by the terminal device based on the duration of the reference signal, and then refer to the information of the third number of transmissions to determine the remaining number of reference signal transmissions (or called the number of periodic transmissions) that still need to be made by the terminal device.

[0048] In one possible embodiment, the location management device receives a first message from the second network device, the first message being used to request updating of the path loss reference information and / or the spatial relationship information, and the location management device sends fourth information to the second network device, the fourth information including the path loss reference information and / or the spatial relationship information. The second network device may re-determine the spatial relationship information and the path loss reference information for the terminal device, so that the second network device configures more appropriate reference signal parameters for the terminal device based on the newly acquired spatial relationship information and the path loss reference information.

[0049] According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a communication device. The communication device may be the first network device, the second network device, or the location management device described above. The communication device may include a communication unit and a processing unit to perform any one of the first to third aspects or any one of the possible implementations of the first to third aspects. The communication unit is configured to perform functions related to transmission and reception. Optionally, the communication unit includes a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. In one design, the communication device is a communication chip, the processing unit may be one or more processors or processor cores, and the communication unit may be an input / output circuit or a port of the communication chip.

[0050] In another design, the communication unit may be a transmitter and a receiver, or the communication unit may be a sending machine and a receiving machine.

[0051] Optionally, the communication device further comprises a module that may be configured to perform any one of the first to third aspects or any one of the possible implementations of the first to third aspects.

[0052] According to a fifth aspect, there is provided a communication device. The communication device may be the first network device, the second network device, or the location management device described above. The communication device may include a processor and a memory to perform any one of the first to third aspects or any one of the possible implementations of the first to third aspects. Optionally, the communication device further includes a transceiver. The memory is configured to store computer programs or instructions. The processor is configured to retrieve the computer programs or instructions from the memory and execute the computer programs or instructions. When the processor executes the computer programs or instructions in the memory, the communication device is enabled to perform any one of the first to third aspects or any one of the possible implementations of the first to third aspects.

[0053] Optionally, there are one or more processors and one or more memories.

[0054] Optionally, the memory may be integral with the processor, or the memory and processor may be separately located.

[0055] Optionally, the transceiver may include a sending machine (transmitter) and a receiving machine (receiver).

[0056] According to a sixth aspect, there is provided a communication device. The communication device may be the first network device, the second network device, or the location management device described above. The communication device may include a processor to perform any one of the first to third aspects or any one of the possible implementations of the first to third aspects. The processor is coupled to a memory. Optionally, the communication device further includes a memory. Optionally, the communication device further includes a communication interface, and the processor is coupled to the communication interface.

[0057] In one embodiment, when the communication device is a first network device, a second network device, or a location management device, the communication interface may be a transceiver or an input / output interface. Optionally, the transceiver may be a transceiver circuit. Optionally, the input / output interface may be an input / output circuit.

[0058] In another embodiment, when the communication device is a chip or chip system, the communication interface may be an input / output interface, interface circuitry, output circuitry, input circuitry, pins, associated circuitry, etc. in the chip or chip system. The processor may alternatively be embodied as a processing circuit or logic circuitry.

[0059] According to a seventh aspect, there is provided a system, the system including the first network device described above.

[0060] In one possible implementation, the system may further include one or more second network devices. In another possible implementation, the system may further include one or more terminal devices. In another possible implementation, the system may further include one or more location management devices.

[0061] According to an eighth aspect, there is provided a computer program product. The computer program product includes a computer program (which may also be referred to as code or instructions). When the computer program is executed, the computer is enabled to perform any one of the first to third aspects or any one of the possible implementations of the first to third aspects.

[0062] According to a ninth aspect, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program (which may also be referred to as code or instructions). When the computer program is executed on a computer, the computer is enabled to perform any one of the first to third aspects or any one of the possible implementations of the first to third aspects.

[0063] According to a tenth aspect, a chip system is provided. The chip system may include a processor. The processor may be coupled to a memory and configured to perform any one of the first to third aspects or any one of the possible implementations of the first to third aspects. Optionally, the chip system further includes a memory. The memory is configured to store a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions). The processor is configured to call the computer program from the memory and execute the computer program, so that a device having the chip system installed performs any one of the first to third aspects or any one of the possible implementations of the first to third aspects.

[0064] According to an eleventh aspect, there is provided a processing device including an interface circuit and a processing circuit. The interface circuit may include an input circuit and an output circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive a signal via the input circuit and to transmit a signal via the output circuit, thereby implementing any one of the first to third aspects or any one of the possible implementations of the first to third aspects.

[0065] In a specific implementation process, the processing device may be a chip, the input circuit may be an input pin, the output circuit may be an output pin, and the processing circuit may be a transistor, a gate circuit, a trigger, various logic circuits, etc. The input signal received by the input circuit may be, for example, but not limited to, received and input by a receiver, and the signal output by the output circuit may be, for example, but not limited to, output to a transmitter and transmitted by the transmitter. In addition, the input circuit and the output circuit may be the same circuit. A circuit is used as an input circuit and an output circuit at different times. The specific implementation of the processor and various circuits is not limited in this application.

[0066] In one embodiment, when the communication device is a first network device, a second network device, or a location management device, the interface circuit may be a radio frequency processing chip in the first network device, the second network device, or the location management device, and the processing circuit may be a baseband processing chip in the first network device, the second network device, or the location management device.

[0067] In another embodiment, the communication device may be a first network device, a second network device, or some component in the location management device, such as an integrated circuit product, such as a system chip or a communication chip. The interface circuit may be an input / output interface, interface circuit, output circuit, input circuit, pin, associated circuit, etc. in a chip or chip system. The processing circuit may be a logic circuit in a chip. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0068] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram of the architecture of a communication system to which an embodiment of the present application is applicable; [Figure 2A] FIG. 2 is a diagram of another communication system architecture to which an embodiment of the present application is applicable. [Figure 2B]FIG. 2 is a diagram of another communication system architecture to which an embodiment of the present application is applicable. [Figure 2C] FIG. 2 is a diagram of another communication system architecture to which an embodiment of the present application is applicable. [Figure 2D] FIG. 2 is a diagram of another communication system architecture to which an embodiment of the present application is applicable. [Figure 3] 1 is a diagram of a scenario in which an embodiment of the present application is applicable; [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 5] 1 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 6A] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a scenario according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 6B] 4 is a schematic flowchart of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 7] 4 is a schematic flowchart of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 8] 1 is a diagram of the structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 9] 1 is a diagram of the structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 10] 1 is a diagram of the structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0069] The following first describes the nouns and terms in the embodiments of this application.

[0070] (1) Signals used for positioning. The reference signal in the embodiment of the present application may be understood as a signal that can be used for positioning, or may be understood as a reference signal that can be used for positioning. The reference signal in the embodiment of the present application may also be replaced with a signal, a positioning signal, or a positioning reference signal.

[0071] For example, the reference signal in an embodiment of the present application may be a positioning reference signal (PRS) (e.g., sidelink (SL)-PRS), a sounding reference signal (SRS), or one or more of a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), a demodulation reference signal (DMRS), a phase tracking reference signal (PTRS), and a synchronization signal and physical sidelink broadcast channel block (SSB).

[0072] The solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are applicable to transmitting signals used for positioning between two devices, for example, transmitting signals used for positioning between a terminal device and a first network device, or transmitting signals used for positioning between a terminal device and a second network device, or transmitting signals used for positioning between terminal devices. It will be understood that when signals used for positioning are transmitted between terminal devices, the solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to sidelink (SL). In this case, signals used for positioning may be transmitted between a terminal device in an RRC idle state or an RRC inactive state and another terminal device in a wake-up period.

[0073] In the embodiments of the present application, a side link may also be referred to as a side link, a direct link, a secondary link, etc. In the embodiments of the present application, the aforementioned terms each refer to a link established between devices of the same type and have the same meaning. The same type of device may be a link between terminal devices, etc. Links between terminal devices include device-to-device (D2D) links defined in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Releases (Rel)-12 / 13, as well as vehicle-to-everything (V2X) links defined by 3GPP for the Internet of Vehicles, such as vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-cell phone, or vehicle-to-any entity links, including Rel-14 / 15. V2X links also include V2X links based on the NR system of Rel-16 and later releases currently being studied by 3GPP.

[0074] (2) Radio resource control (RRC) state. A terminal device has three RRC states: an RRC connected state, an RRC idle state, and an RRC inactive state.

[0075] RRC connected state (also called connected state for short; "connected state" and "RRC connected state" are the same concept and are interchangeable in this specification): The terminal device establishes an RRC connection to the network and can then perform data transmission.

[0076] RRC idle state (also called idle state for short; "idle state" and "RRC idle state" are the same concept and are interchangeable in this specification): the terminal device does not establish an RRC connection to the network, and the base station does not store the context of the terminal device. If the terminal device needs to transition from the RRC idle state to the RRC connected state, the terminal device must first initiate an RRC connection setup procedure.

[0077] RRC inactive state (also called deactivation state, or simply deactivation state or inactive state; the terms "deactivation state," "deactivation," "inactive state," "deactivation state," "inactive state," "RRC inactive state," or "RRC deactivation state" are the same concept and are interchangeable in this specification): a terminal device first enters an RRC connected state with an anchor base station, and then the anchor base station releases the RRC connection but stores the context of the terminal device. When the terminal device needs to re-enter the RRC connected state from the RRC inactive state, the terminal device needs to initiate an RRC connection resumption procedure (also called an RRC connection re-establishment procedure) with the base station on which the terminal device is currently camped. Because the terminal device may be in a moving state, the base station on which the terminal device is currently camped and the anchor base station of the terminal device may be the same base station or different base stations. Compared with the RRC establishment procedure, the RRC resumption procedure has a shorter delay and lower signaling overhead. However, the base station needs to store the context of the terminal device, which results in storage overhead for the base station.

[0078] FIG. 1 is an example of an exemplary architecture diagram of a communication system 1000 to which an embodiment of the present application can be applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system includes a radio access network 100 and a core network 200. Optionally, the communication system 1000 may further include the Internet 300. The radio access network 100 may include at least one radio access network device (e.g., 110a and 110b in FIG. 1 ) and may further include at least one terminal device (e.g., 120a to 120j in FIG. 1 ). The terminal device is connected to the radio access network device in a wireless manner, and the radio access network device is connected to the core network in a wireless or wired manner. The core network device and the radio access network device may be separate and different physical devices, or the functions of the core network device and the logical functions of the radio access network device may be integrated into the same physical device, or some functions of the core network device and some functions of the radio access network device may be integrated into one physical device. The terminal devices may be connected to each other in a wired or wireless manner, and the wireless access network devices may be connected to each other in a wired or wireless manner. Figure 1 is merely a diagram. The communication system may further include other network devices, such as wireless relay devices and wireless backhaul devices not shown in Figure 1.

[0079] The network device in the embodiment of the present application includes, for example, a radio access network (RAN) device. The radio access network device may be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmission reception point (TRP), a transmission point (TP), a next generation NodeB (gNB) in a fifth generation (5G) mobile communication system, a next generation base station in a sixth generation (6G) mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, an access node in a Wi-Fi system, etc., or may be a module or unit that performs some functions of a base station, for example, a central unit (CU) or a distributed unit (DU). Here, the CU performs the functions of the base station's radio resource control protocol and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) and may further perform the functions of the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP), while the DU performs the functions of the base station's radio link control layer and medium access control (MAC) layer and may further perform some or all of the functions of the physical layer. For a detailed description of the above protocol layers, please refer to the technical specifications related to the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP).

[0080] The radio access network device may be a macro base station (e.g., 110a in FIG. 1), a micro base station or an indoor base station (e.g., 110b in FIG. 1), or may be a relay node, a donor node, etc. The specific technology and specific device form used for the radio access network device are not limited in the embodiments of the present application. For ease of explanation, the following provides an explanation by using an example in which the radio access network device is a base station.

[0081] A terminal device may also be referred to as a terminal device, user equipment (UE), mobile station, mobile terminal device, etc. Terminal devices may be widely used in various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wearable, smart transportation, and smart city. Terminal devices may be mobile phones, tablet computers, computers with wireless transceiver capabilities, wearable devices, vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, helicopters, airplanes, ships, robots, robotic arms, smart home devices, sensors, etc. The specific technologies and specific device forms used by the terminal devices are not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0082] The terminal device may establish a connection to the carrier network through an interface (e.g., N1) provided by the carrier network and use services such as data and / or voice provided by the carrier network. The terminal device may further access a domain name system (DNS) through the carrier network and use carrier services deployed on the DNS and / or services provided by a third party. The third party may be a service provider other than the carrier network and the terminal device, and may provide other services such as data and / or voice to the terminal device. The specific form of the third party may be specifically determined based on actual application scenarios and is not limited herein.

[0083] A terminal device may also be referred to as a terminal device, user equipment (UE), mobile station, mobile terminal device, etc. The terminal device may be widely used in various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wearable, smart transportation, and smart city. The terminal device may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a wearable device, a vehicle, an unmanned aerial vehicle, a helicopter, an airplane, a ship, a robot, a robotic arm, a smart home device, a roadside unit (RSU), etc. The specific technology and the specific device form used by the terminal device are not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0084] The base station and the terminal device may be in a fixed position or may be mobile. The base station and the terminal device may be deployed on the ground, including an indoor device, an outdoor device, a handheld device, or a vehicle-mounted device, or may be deployed on water, or on an airplane, a balloon, or a satellite in the air. The application scenario of the base station and the terminal device is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0085] The roles of a base station and a terminal device may be relative. For example, helicopter or unmanned aerial vehicle 120i in FIG. 1 may be configured as a mobile base station, and to terminal device 120j accessing wireless access network 100 via 120i, terminal device 120i is a base station. However, to base station 110a, 120i is a terminal device, i.e., communication between 110a and 120i is performed according to a wireless air interface protocol. Of course, communication between 110a and 120i may alternatively be performed according to an interface protocol between base stations. In this case, 120i is also a base station for 110a. Therefore, both base stations and terminal devices may be collectively referred to as communication devices, and 110a and 110b in FIG. 1 may be referred to as communication devices having base station functionality, and 120a to 120j in FIG. 1 may be referred to as communication devices having terminal device functionality.

[0086] Communication between a base station and a terminal device, between base stations, or between terminal devices may be performed using a licensed spectrum, an unlicensed spectrum, or both a licensed spectrum and an unlicensed spectrum. Communication may be performed using a spectrum below 6 gigahertz (GHz), a spectrum above 6 GHz, or both a spectrum below 6 GHz and a spectrum above 6 GHz. The spectrum resources used for wireless communication are not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0087] In an embodiment of the present application, the functions of the base station may be performed by a module (e.g., a chip) within the base station, or by a control subsystem including the functions of the base station. The control subsystem including the functions of the base station here may be a control center in the aforementioned application scenarios such as smart grid, industrial control, smart transportation, and smart city. Alternatively, the functions of the terminal device may be performed by a module (e.g., a chip or a modem) within the terminal device, or by a device including the functions of the terminal device.

[0088] In this application, a base station sends downlink signals or downlink information to a terminal device, and the downlink information is carried on a downlink channel, and the terminal device sends uplink signals or uplink information to the base station, and the uplink information is carried on an uplink channel. To communicate with the base station, the terminal device needs to establish a wireless connection to a cell controlled by the base station. The cell that establishes a wireless connection to the terminal device is called the serving cell of the terminal device. When communicating with the serving cell, the terminal device is further interfered with by signals from neighboring cells.

[0089] The core network in the embodiments of the present application may include network devices that process and forward user signaling and data. For example, the core network includes core network devices such as an access and mobility management function (AMF), a session management function (SMF), a user plane gateway, and a location management device. The user plane gateway may be a server with functions specific to user plane data, such as mobility management, routing, and forwarding. The user plane gateway, such as a serving gateway (SGW), a packet data network gateway (PGW), or a user plane network element function entity (UPF), is generally located on the network side. The AMF and SMF correspond to the mobility management entity (MME) in a long term evolution (LTE) system. The AMF is mainly responsible for admission, and the SMF is mainly responsible for session management. Of course, the core network may also include other network elements not listed here one by one.

[0090] The location management device has a positioning function. For example, the location management device in the embodiments of the present application may include a location management function (LMF) or a location management component (LMC), may be a local location management function (LLMF) located in a network device, or may be a location server. This is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. For ease of description, the following embodiments are described by using an example in which the location management device is an LMF.

[0091] Based on the content shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 2A is an example of an architecture diagram of a communication system to which an embodiment of the present application can be applied. The communication system is illustrated by using the positioning architecture in LTE and NR Rel-16 as an example. As shown in Fig. 2A, the involved network elements / modules mainly include three parts: a next generation radio access network (NG-RAN), a terminal device, and a core network.

[0092] The core network includes a location management function (LMF), an access and mobility management function (AMF), a service location protocol (SLP), and an evolved serving mobile location center (E-SMLC). The location server, i.e., the location management function (LMF), is connected to the AMF, and the LMF and AMF are connected via the NLs interface. The UE communicates with the serving base station via a Uu link. The ng-eNB is an LTE base station, and the gNB is an NR base station. The base stations communicate with each other via the Xn interface. The base station communicates with the AMF via the NG-C interface. The AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function) corresponds to a router for communication between the gNB and the LMF. The LMF performs UE location estimation. The AMF communicates with the LMF via the NLs interface. The LMF is responsible for supporting different types of location services related to terminal devices, including positioning the terminal device and forwarding assistance data to the terminal device. The LMF may perform positioning calculations for the terminal device based on measurements from other network elements. The AMF may receive a terminal device-related location service request from a 5th generation core network location services (5GC LCS) entity, or the AMF may initiate several location services on behalf of a specific terminal device and forward the location service request to the LMF. After the location information returned by the terminal device is obtained, the relevant location information is returned to the 5GC LCS entity.

[0093] The NG RAN may include next generation nodeB (gNB), next generation evolved nodeB (ng-eNB), etc. The gNB and ng-eNB are connected via an Xn interface, and the LMF and ng-eNB / gNB are connected via an NG-C interface.

[0094] One or more network devices on the NG-RAN side configure resources used to send reference signals and send the reference signals to the terminal device. The terminal device measures downlink signals, such as reference signals, to support positioning and feeds back the measurement results to the LMF. It should be understood that the reference signals are used for positioning and may also be referred to as positioning reference signals. Therefore, the positioning reference signals may be PRSs, cell common reference signals (CRSs), channel state information (CSI)-RSs, etc.

[0095] The positioning method provided in the embodiments of the present application may be applied to various communication systems, for example, next-generation communication systems such as LTE systems, 5th generation (5G) systems such as NR systems, and 6G systems. Naturally, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application may also be applied to other communication systems, provided that the communication systems have terminal device positioning requirements. In addition, the communication systems may be further applicable to future-oriented communication technologies. The systems described in the embodiments of the present application are intended to more clearly explain the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application and do not constitute limitations on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application. Those skilled in the art may understand that with the evolution of network architectures, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application may also be applicable to similar technical problems.

[0096] FIG. 2B illustrates the network architecture of another communication system to which an embodiment of the present application can be applied. The communication system includes a core network, an NG-RAN, and a terminal device. The core network includes network elements / modules such as an LMF, an AMF, a secure user plane location (SUPL) location platform (SLP), and an enhanced serving mobile location center (E-SMLC). The NG-RAN includes network elements / modules such as a gNB and an ng-eNB. For specific functions of network elements / modules such as the LMF, the AMF, the SLP, the E-SMLC, the gNB, and the ng-eNB, and the connection relationships between the network elements / modules, please refer to the description of the relevant parts of FIG. 2A above. Details will not be described again here.

[0097] The difference from Figure 2A is that the network architecture shown in Figure 2B adds an LMC to the NG-RAN, and the specific deployment method of the LMC is to deploy it in a base station, for example, deployed in a gNB or ng-eNB. In this network architecture, the LMC functions as an internal function of the base station. Therefore, no new interface needs to be introduced. The LMC may take over some of the functions of the LMF. In this architecture, the gNB does not need to report measurement results of signals used for positioning to the LMF in the core network, thereby reducing signaling overhead and positioning delay.

[0098] 2C shows a network architecture of another communication system to which an embodiment of the present application can be applied. As shown in FIG. 2C, the communication system also includes a core network, an NG-RAN, and a terminal device. The difference from FIG. 2B is that the LMC in the network architecture shown in FIG. 2C functions as an independent logical node in the NG-RAN and is connected to the base station via a new interface. For example, in FIG. 2C, the LMC is connected to the gNB-CU via the interface Itf.

[0099] FIG. 2D shows a network architecture of another communication system to which an embodiment of the present application can be applied. As shown in FIG. 2D, the communication system also includes a core network, an NG-RAN, and a terminal device. The LMC functions as an independent logical node within the NG-RAN. The difference from FIG. 2C is that the LMC can be connected to multiple base stations via a new interface in FIG. 2D. FIG. 2D uses an example in which the LMC is connected to two base stations. In certain implementations, the LMC may alternatively be connected to more base stations.

[0100] It should be understood that Figures 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D are examples illustrating communication systems to which the embodiments of the present application can be applied, and do not specifically limit the types, number, connection methods, etc. of network elements included in communication systems to which the embodiments of the present application can be applied. In addition, the network elements / modules depicted with dashed lines in Figures 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D are not required but are optional. For example, an E-SMLC or an SLP is not required. Alternatively, the network elements / modules depicted with dashed lines may exist in a different form. For example, in some embodiments, a gNB or ng-eNB may also be referred to as a transmission reception point (TRP) node, and a terminal device may also be referred to as a SUPL enabled terminal (SET), where SUPL stands for secure user plane location (SUPL).

[0101] 3 is an example of a diagram of a network architecture of another communication system according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 3, the communication system includes a first network device, a terminal device, and a second network device. The first network device and / or the second network device in FIG. 3 may be the network device or a chip (system) within the network device in FIG. 1, 2A, 2B, 2C, or 2D. The terminal device may be the terminal device or a chip (system) within the terminal shown in FIG. 1, 2A, 2B, 2C, or 2D.

[0102] 3, for example, when the terminal device is at position #1, the first network device receives from the LMF some information used to configure a signal (for ease of explanation, an example in which the positioning reference signal is an SRS is used in the following explanation). For example, the first network device receives from the LMF information of requested SRS transmission characteristics, and the information of the requested SRS transmission characteristics includes SRS configuration information including, for example, the number of transmissions (e.g., 100 times).

[0103] A terminal device in an RRC idle state or an RRC inactive state moves from position #1 to position #2. Position #1 is within the signal coverage of a first network device, and position #2 is within the signal coverage of a second network device. FIG. 3 shows an example of a movement trajectory of the terminal device. After the terminal device moves into the signal coverage of the second network device, when the terminal device needs to update its SRS, the second network device needs to reconfigure SRS configuration information for the terminal device. The second network device can request the first network device to obtain context information used to position the terminal device, and the first network device can send information of requested SRS transmission characteristics received from the LMF to the second network device, so that the second network device can configure SRS configuration information for the terminal device based on the information of the requested SRS transmission characteristics.

[0104] The number of transmissions included in the information on the requested SRS transmission characteristics is the initial number of transmissions configured by the LMF, for example, 100. Therefore, the second network device still configures 100 periodic SRS transmissions for the terminal device. However, the terminal device may have performed several SRS transmissions (e.g., the terminal device has performed 10 periodic SRS transmissions within the time since the first network device received the first information). If the terminal device moves, the second network device further requests the terminal device to perform 100 periodic SRS transmissions again. As a result, the number of signal (e.g., SRS) transmissions performed by the terminal device becomes excessive and greater than the number of initial signal periods configured by the LMF, causing resource waste.

[0105] Based on the above problem, one embodiment of the present application provides one possible implementation. In this implementation, a first network device configures reference signal transmission for a terminal device based on first information (e.g., configures the number of reference signal transmissions for the terminal device), and the first network device sends second information to a second network device. The second network device configures reference signal transmission for the terminal device based on the second information (e.g., configures the number of reference signal transmissions for the terminal device). In this embodiment of the present application, the number of reference signal transmissions determined based on the first information is referred to as the first transmission number, and the number of reference signal transmissions determined based on the second information is referred to as the second transmission number. The first transmission number is different from the second transmission number. For example, the second transmission number is the remaining transmission number of the terminal device. This can reduce cases where the terminal device transmits excessive reference signals, thereby reducing resources.

[0106] In addition, the information of the requested SRS transmission characteristics sent by the LMF to the first network device further includes some information associated with the location of the terminal device, such as spatial relationship information and / or path loss reference information. For example, the first network device sends the spatial relationship information and path loss reference information received from the LMF to the second network device, so that the second network device configures the spatial relationship information and path loss reference information of the SRS for the terminal device based on the information. Since the LMF configures the spatial relationship information and path loss reference information for the terminal device based on the situation before the terminal device moves, and the second network device needs to configure the transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device, when the terminal device moves and the second network device needs to configure the transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device, the spatial relationship information and path loss reference information sent by the LMF to the first network device are no longer applicable.

[0107] Based on this problem, an embodiment of the present application provides several possible implementations. For example, the first network device may delete the spatial relationship information and path loss reference information received from the LMF from the information of the requested SRS transmission characteristics. Thus, the first device no longer transmits the spatial relationship information and path loss reference information to the second network device, thereby preventing the second network device from configuring the transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device (e.g., configuring the spatial relationship and path loss of a reference signal for the terminal device) based on the outdated spatial relationship information and path loss reference information. As another example, the second network device may re-determine the spatial relationship information and path loss reference information for the terminal device (e.g., obtain the spatial relationship information and path loss reference information from the LMF or determine the spatial relationship information and path loss reference information based on measurement results), and then configure more appropriate reference signal parameters for the terminal device based on the newly obtained spatial relationship information and path loss reference information.

[0108] Based on the embodiments shown in Figures 1, 2A, 2B, 2D, and 3 and other content discussed above, Figure 4 is an example of a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. For ease of understanding, Figure 4 is described in terms of interactions between devices.

[0109] The terminal device in Figure 4 may be a terminal device or a chip (system) in the terminal shown in Figures 1, 2A, 2B, 2D, and 3. The first network device and / or the second network device in Figure 4 may be a network device or a chip (system) in the network device in Figures 1, 2A, 2B, 2D, and 3. The location management device in Figure 4 may be a location management device or a chip (system) in the location management device in Figures 1, 2A, 2B, 2D, and 3. The location management device may include one or more of an LMF, an LMC, or an LLMF.

[0110] As shown in FIG. 4, the method includes the following steps.

[0111] Step 401: A first network device receives first information.

[0112] The first information includes information used to configure transmission of a reference signal of the terminal device, the reference signal being used to position the terminal device.

[0113] In step 401, the first network device may receive the first information from the location management device or may receive the first information from another network device. In the embodiment provided in Figure 4, both scenarios are applicable.

[0114] After receiving the first information, the first network device may configure transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device based on the first information. In this embodiment of the present application, the first network device configuring transmission of a reference signal may be understood as the first network device configuring some information of the reference signal, such as one or more of the number of transmissions, path loss, spatial relationship, time domain resource, or frequency domain resource, to the terminal device. Some of the information of the reference signal configured by the first network device may be sent to the terminal device, some may not be sent to the terminal device, or all of the information may be sent to the terminal device. For example, the first network device may not send information on the number of transmissions to the terminal device, but may send one or more of the path loss, spatial relationship, time domain resource, frequency domain resource, etc. to the terminal device. The reference signal is used to position the terminal device. For related descriptions of reference signals, please refer to the above description. Details will not be described again.

[0115] After receiving the first information, the first network device may configure transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device. The first network device may configure transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device for multiple reasons. For example, the terminal device is located within the coverage of the first network device. As another example, the terminal device is located outside the coverage of the first network device but within the coverage of a cell in an area (e.g., a tracking area) corresponding to the first network device. As another example, the quality of a signal received from the first network device at the terminal device's current location is higher than the quality of a signal from another network device (e.g., a second network device) (at this location, a signal from the second network device may or may not be received). As another example, the terminal device camps on the cell of the first network device by cell reselection at this location.

[0116] It will be understood that the first network device may configure the transmission of the reference signal of the terminal device based on the number of reference signal transmissions determined based on the first information, or alternatively, the first network device configures the transmission of the reference signal of the terminal device based on the first information.

[0117] For distinction, in this embodiment of the present application, the number of times of transmitting the reference signal determined by the first network device based on the first information is referred to as the first transmission number. If the reference signal is transmitted periodically, the first transmission number is the number of periods of the reference signal configured by the first network device, and may also be referred to as the number of periodic transmissions. For example, the number of times of periodic transmission of the reference signal configured by the first network device for the terminal device based on the first information is the transmission number determined based on the first information.

[0118] Step 402: The second network device sends a terminal device context request message to the first network device.

[0119] In response, the first network device receives a terminal device context request message from the second network device.

[0120] After the second network device sends the terminal device context request message to the first network device, the second network device needs to configure reference signal transmission for the terminal device, for example, configure one or more of the number of reference signal transmissions, path loss, spatial relationship, time domain resource, or frequency domain resource for the terminal device. The second network device may configure reference signal transmission for the terminal device for multiple reasons. For example, the terminal device moves, and the second network device needs to configure reference signal transmission for the terminal device after the movement. As another example, the terminal device moves into the coverage of the second network device. As another example, the terminal device is located outside the coverage of the second network device but moves into the coverage of a cell in an area (e.g., a tracking area) corresponding to the second network device. As another example, the quality of a signal received by the terminal device from the second network device at a position after the movement is higher than the quality of a signal from another network device (e.g., the first network device) (at this position, a signal from the first network device may or may not be received). As another example, the terminal device camps on a cell of a second network device by cell reselection at this location.

[0121] Before step 402, the terminal device may send an RRC connection resume request message to the second network device, which is used to request a reference signal configuration or a reference signal configuration update. The RRC connection resume request message may be an RRC resume request or an RRC setup request.

[0122] The terminal device sends an RRC connection resume request message to the second network device. After receiving the message, the second network device requests the context of the terminal device from the first network device.

[0123] In another possible embodiment, the terminal device context request message further includes reference signal update cause information. For example, the terminal device context request message includes a cause value, and the cause value may be a reference signal update, a reference signal request, or the like. For example, if the reference signal is an SRS, the cause value included in the terminal device context request message may be an SRS update, an SRS request, or the like. After receiving the terminal device context request message, the first network device may determine that the terminal device context request message carries a reference signal update cause value and then feed back to the second network device some information used to assist the second network device in configuring the transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device (this information may be referred to as assistance information or reference information). Therefore, in some cases, for example, after the second network device receives the terminal device context request message from the first network device, the second network device may decide not to transfer the terminal's context. In this case, the second network device may send only the terminal device's positioning context to the first network device based on the requested cause value to avoid the terminal device's failure in requesting an SRS configuration update.

[0124] Step 403: The first network device sends second information to the second network device.

[0125] In response, the second network device receives second information from the first network device.

[0126] The second information is determined based on the first information. The second information includes information used to configure the transmission of the reference signal of the terminal device. In this embodiment of the present application, the first network device configuring the transmission of the reference signal can be understood as the first network device configuring some information of the reference signal, such as one or more of the number of transmissions, path loss, spatial relationship, time domain resource, or frequency domain resource, to the terminal device. Some of the information of the reference signal configured by the first network device may be sent to the terminal device, some may not be sent to the terminal device, or all of the information may be sent to the terminal device. For example, the first network device may not send information on the number of transmissions to the terminal device, but may send one or more of the path loss, spatial relationship, time domain resource, frequency domain resource, etc. to the terminal device.

[0127] The second information may be used by the second network device to configure the transmission of the reference signal for the terminal device based on the number of reference signal transmissions determined based on the second information. After the second network device receives the second information from the first network device, the second network device configures the transmission of the reference signal for the terminal device based on the number of reference signal transmissions determined based on the second information. Alternatively, it will be understood that the second information may be used by the second network device to configure the transmission of the terminal device based on the second information. After receiving the second information, the second network device configures the transmission of the reference signal for the terminal device based on the second information.

[0128] For distinction, in this embodiment of the present application, the number of times of transmitting the reference signal determined by the second network device based on the second information is referred to as the second transmission number. If the reference signal is transmitted periodically, the second transmission number is the number of periods of the reference signal configured by the second network device, and may also be referred to as the number of periodic transmissions. For example, the number of times of periodic transmission of the reference signal configured by the second network device for the terminal device based on the second information is the transmission number determined based on the second information.

[0129] In this embodiment of the present application, the second number of transmissions is the remaining number of transmissions of the reference signal, or may be understood as the number of reference signal transmissions that still need to be performed by the terminal device, the number of reference signal transmissions that have not been performed by the terminal device, etc.

[0130] For example, after the first network device receives the first information and before the first network device receives a terminal device context request message from the second network device, the terminal device transmits the reference signal K0 times during this period. During this period, the terminal device may be located within the coverage of the first network device or may be located outside the coverage of the first network device (e.g., may be located in a cell within the tracking area of ​​the first network device). The first number of transmissions of the reference signal determined based on the first information is denoted as K1. The second number of transmissions of the reference signal determined based on the second information is denoted as K2. K1 is different from K2. For example, K2 may be equal to the difference between K1 and K0.

[0131] The first network device sends second information to the second network device instead of the first information, and the second network device determines a second number of transmissions based on the second information, which is different from the first number of transmissions and represents the remaining number of transmissions for the terminal device. This solution can prevent the terminal device from transmitting excessive reference signals as much as possible, thereby reducing resource waste.

[0132] In this embodiment of the present application, when the network device determines that the number of reference signal transmissions (also called the number of periods) performed by the terminal device has reached the number required by the network device, the network device may instruct the terminal device not to continue transmitting the reference signal. For example, the second network device determines the second number of reference signal transmissions based on the second information, and when the number of transmissions performed by the terminal device reaches the second number of transmissions, the second network device sends information to the terminal device indicating that the terminal device does not need to transmit the reference signal. For example, the second network device may deactivate the reference signal information configured for the terminal device by the second network device. In another possible implementation, the second network device may send the information of the second number of transmissions to the terminal device, and when it determines that the number of transmissions has reached the second number of transmissions, the terminal device may stop transmitting the reference signal. This may reduce the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0133] The following describes two possible embodiments by using embodiment A1 and embodiment A2 as examples. In embodiment A1, the second information may include timestamp information, and the second network device may determine the second transmission count based on the timestamp information. In embodiment A2, the second information may include information on the second transmission count, so that the second network device directly determines the second transmission count based on the information on the second transmission count in the second information.

[0134] Embodiment A1: The second information includes information on the first timestamp and information on the third number of transmissions.

[0135] The third number of transmissions may be the number of transmissions of the reference signal requested by the position management device.

[0136] In one possible embodiment, the first timestamp information is timestamp information associated with the third number of transmissions. The second network device may estimate the number of reference signal transmissions performed by the terminal device by referring to the first timestamp and the current time. In addition, since the first timestamp information is associated with the third number of transmissions, the second network device may calculate the remaining number of transmissions by referring to the third number of transmissions and the estimated number of reference signal transmissions performed by the terminal device, and then configure the number of periodic transmissions of the terminal device as the remaining number of transmissions. This may prevent the terminal device from transmitting reference signals excessively, thereby reducing resource waste.

[0137] For example, the information of the first timestamp may be the following: The time when the information of the third transmission number is sent from the location management device, A time point when the information of the third transmission count arrives at a third network device, the third network device being a network device that receives the information of the third transmission count from the location management device, and the third network device being the same as or different from the first network device; or The third network device transmits configuration information of the reference signal to the terminal device based on the information of the third transmission count. Indicate at least one of the following:

[0138] In another possible embodiment, the second information includes first timestamp information, which indicates the time when the terminal device starts sending a reference signal or the time when the third network device sends reference signal configuration information to the terminal device.

[0139] After receiving the information of the first timestamp, the second network device may refer to the current time point to calculate the time length between the two time points, determine the number of reference signal transmissions (also called the number of periods) performed by the terminal device based on the duration of the reference signal, and then refer to the information of the third transmission number to determine the remaining number of reference signal transmissions (also called the number of periodic transmissions) that still need to be performed by the terminal device. For example, the second network device may use the difference between the third transmission number and the number of reference signal transmissions performed by the terminal device after the third network device receives the information of the third transmission number as the remaining number of reference signal transmissions that still need to be performed by the terminal device.

[0140] The first timestamp information may be determined by the first network device or received from another device, such as a terminal device, a location management device, or another network device. For example, the third network device is the first network device, the first transmission count is the third transmission count, and the first network device receives the first information from the location management device. The first network device then uses the time when the first information is received as the first timestamp, or the first network device uses the time when the reference signal information is sent to the terminal device as the time indicated by the first timestamp. As another example, the first timestamp information is determined by the terminal device (e.g., the terminal device uses the time when the reference signal starts to be sent as the first timestamp), and the terminal device then sends the first timestamp information to the first network device. As another example, the first timestamp information is carried in the first information, and the first network device receives the first timestamp information from the location management device or another network device. The first network device includes the information of the first timestamp in the second information and sends the second information to the second network device. In this embodiment, the first information may be information sent by the location management device, or may be information sent not by the location management device (by another network device). If the first information is information sent by the location management device, the first information may be, for example, a positioning information request. For example, the location management device determines (e.g., generates) a positioning information request, and the location management device sends the positioning information request to the first network device, where the positioning information request includes information of the first timestamp and information of the third transmission count. In this case, the first network device may be considered a third network device. This solution can reduce the workload of the first network device.

[0141] Embodiment A2: The second information includes information on the second number of transmissions.

[0142] In this embodiment of the present application, before sending the second information, the first network device may further obtain the second information. The second network device obtains the second information in multiple ways. For example, the second network device may generate the second information. For example, the second network device may calculate the number of second transmissions and then include information indicating the number of second transmissions in the second information.

[0143] In another possible embodiment, the second network device may request the second information (or request some parameters in the second information) from another device (e.g., a location management device). For example, the second network device may send a request to the location management device. After receiving the request, the location management device may determine the second number of transmissions and send information indicating the second number of transmissions to the first network device. The first network device may then send the second information by referring to the information indicating the second number of transmissions. For example, the second information may directly include the received information indicating the second number of transmissions. The information sent by the location management device to the first network device indicating the second number of transmissions may be the same as or different from the information sent by the first network device to the second network device indicating the second number of transmissions. For example, the information sent by the location management device to the first network device indicating the second number of transmissions may be one second number of transmissions or a difference of one (for example, the difference between the first number of transmissions and the second number of transmissions). When the first network device receives the difference, the first network device may send the difference and the first transmission count to the second network device, so that the second network device calculates the second transmission count. Alternatively, the first network device may calculate the second transmission count by referring to the difference and the first transmission count, and then send the second transmission count to the second network device.

[0144] In one possible embodiment, the first network device may perform some operations on the first information to obtain the second information. For example, the second information is obtained by the first network device performing at least one operation on the first information, modifying information on the first transmission count in the first information to information on the second transmission count. Alternatively, the first network device may perform another operation on the first information. Details will not be described here. This solution is relatively simple without additional information, so resource overhead can be reduced.

[0145] Two examples of methods for calculating the second transmission number are described below by using Example A2.1 and Example A2.2. The second transmission number may be calculated by the first network device, or may be calculated by another device (e.g., a location management device) and then sent to the first network device.

[0146] Example A2.1: The second number of transmissions is determined based on the first number of transmissions and the number of reference signal transmissions made by the terminal device after the first network device receives the first information.

[0147] For example, the second number of transmissions is the difference between the first number of transmissions and the number of reference signal transmissions performed by the terminal device after the first network device receives the first information.

[0148] For example, the first transmission count of the reference signal determined based on the first information is 100. During the period from when the first network device receives the first information to when the first network device receives the terminal device context request message, the terminal device transmits the reference signal 10 times (i.e., the terminal device has undergone 10 transmission periods of the reference signal). Therefore, 90 times (the difference between 100 times and 10 times) is used as the second transmission count, and the second transmission count is carried in the second information.

[0149] Example A2.2: The second number of transmissions is determined based on the third number of transmissions and the number of reference signal transmissions (also called periodic transmissions) performed by the terminal device. The number of reference signal transmissions (also called periodic transmissions) performed by the terminal device is the total number of reference signal transmissions performed by the terminal device. For example, the first network device (or location management device) may obtain a first timestamp, calculate the time length between the two time points based on the first timestamp and the current time point, determine the number of reference signal transmissions (also called the number of periods) performed by the terminal device based on the duration of the reference signal, and then refer to the information of the third number of transmissions to determine the remaining number of reference signal transmissions (also called the number of periodic transmissions) that still need to be performed by the terminal device. For example, the terminal device may use the difference between the third number of transmissions and the number of reference signal transmissions performed by the terminal device as the second number of transmissions.

[0150] For example, when the first network device receives the terminal device context request message of the second network device, the first network device (or the location management device) estimates the number of reference signal transmissions made by the terminal device based on the duration between the current time point and the time point indicated by the acquired first timestamp and by referring to the duration of the reference signal (e.g., 20, i.e., the terminal device has undergone 20 transmission periods of the reference signal, for example, the first network device may use the quotient of the duration between the current time point and the time point indicated by the acquired first timestamp and the duration of one period of the reference signal as the estimated number of reference signal transmissions made by the terminal device). If the third transmission number acquired by the first network device is, for example, 110, the first network device may use 90 (the difference between 110 and 20) as the second transmission number and include the second transmission number in the second information.

[0151] In embodiment A2, the first network device (or the location management device) pre-calculates the second transmission number, so that the calculation amount of the second network device can be reduced. For ease of understanding, some contents in this embodiment of the present application are described by using an example in which the first network device calculates the second transmission number, but this does not indicate that the second transmission number in this embodiment of the present application is reliably calculated by the first network device.

[0152] In this embodiment of the present application, some information used when the first network device configures the transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device is associated with the location of the terminal device. If the terminal device moves, the information is no longer applicable. To address this issue, this embodiment of the present application provides the following two embodiments B1 and B2 for illustrative purposes. In embodiment B1, the second network device may re-request some information associated with the location of the terminal device from the location management device and configure the transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device based on the re-requested information. In embodiment B2, the second network device may configure the transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device based on some measurement results.

[0153] Embodiment B1: The second network device requests information associated with the location of the terminal device (spatial relationship information and / or path loss reference information) from the location management device.

[0154] In embodiment B1, the second network device sends a first message to the location management device. In one possible embodiment, the second network device may send the first message after receiving the second information. The second information may or may not include information associated with the location of the terminal device.

[0155] In response, the location management device receives a first message from the second network device. The first message is used to configure the transmission of a reference signal, for example, to request updating of information associated with the terminal device's location. This information may include, for example, path loss reference information (which may also be understood as updated path loss reference information) and / or spatial relationship information (which may also be understood as updated spatial relationship information). The location management device sends fourth information to the second network device. In response, the second network device receives the fourth information from the location management device. The message carrying the fourth information may be understood as a response message to the first message. The fourth information may include path loss reference information (which may also be understood as updated path loss reference information), spatial relationship information (which may also be understood as updated spatial relationship information), etc. The second network device sends the reference signal configuration information to the terminal device, and the reference signal configuration information is determined based on the fourth information and the second information.

[0156] The second network device may send the first message before step 402 or after step 402. The first message may be, for example, a configuration required. The message carrying the fourth information may include, for example, location dependent parameters characteristics or SRS related parameters.

[0157] In one possible embodiment, if the transmission of the reference signal configured by the second network device for the terminal device is valid in multiple cells (the multiple cells are, for example, an effective area / positioning area), the first message may further carry information of the area in which the transmission of the reference signal is valid (the area information may be, for example, a cell list, and the cell list includes information such as a physical cell identifier (PCI) and an NR cell global identifier (NGCI) of each of the multiple cells). The location management device may recommend to the second network device one or more information sets (each information set may include path loss reference information and / or spatial relationship information) applicable to multiple cells based on existing information (for example, information such as previous measurement information and the movement trajectory of the terminal device).

[0158] The second network device may redetermine the spatial relationship information and path loss reference information for the terminal device, so that the second network device configures more appropriate reference signal parameters for the terminal device based on the newly acquired spatial relationship information and path loss reference information.

[0159] In this embodiment of the present application, the information on the transmission of the reference signal configured by the first network device or the second network device for the terminal device may also be referred to as reference signal configuration information, reference signal resources, reference signal resource information, etc.

[0160] Embodiment B2: The second network device determines, for the terminal device based on the measurement result, information associated with the position of the terminal device (spatial relationship information and / or path loss reference information).

[0161] In embodiment B2, when the terminal device camps on the second network device, the terminal device sends measurement information to the second network device. In response, the second network device receives measurement information from the terminal device. In this embodiment of the present application, the measurement information may be, for example, RRM measurement information, which may include measurements such as reference signal received power (RSRP) or reference signal received quality (RSRQ) of a reference signal (e.g., SSB) measured by the terminal device. Configuring transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device based on the measurement information may include configuring path loss reference information and / or spatial relationship information of the reference signal for the terminal device based on the measurement information. It will also be understood that the second network device sends reference signal configuration information to the terminal device, and the reference signal configuration information is determined based on the measurement information and the second information.

[0162] For example, in a scenario where small data transmission (SDT) is supported, the terminal device may report measurement information to the second network device via SDT, and the second network device may configure transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device based on the RRM measurement information reported by the terminal device, for example, the second network device configures path loss reference information and / or spatial relationship information of the reference signal for the terminal device.

[0163] The second network device may reconstruct the spatial relationship information and the path loss reference information based on the measurement information reported by the terminal device, so that the second network device may configure more appropriate reference signal parameters for the terminal device.

[0164] Embodiment B1 and Embodiment B2 provided in this embodiment of the present application may be used separately or in combination with Embodiment A1 and Embodiment A2. For example, Embodiment B1 and Embodiment A1 may be used in combination, or Embodiment B2 and Embodiment A1 may be used in combination, or Embodiment B1 and Embodiment A2 may be used in combination, or Embodiment B2 and Embodiment A2 may be used in combination.

[0165] In one possible embodiment, the second information sent by the first network device to the second network device may not include information associated with the location of the terminal device, or may include information associated with the location of the terminal device. The following will use embodiment C1 and embodiment C2 separately for explanation.

[0166] Embodiment C1: The second information does not have to include information associated with the location of the terminal device.

[0167] In embodiment C1, for example, the first information includes preset information, and there is an association relationship between the preset information and the location of the terminal device, and the second information does not include the preset information. The preset information includes, for example, path loss reference information and / or spatial relation information.

[0168] In one possible embodiment, the preset information may further include additional information. For example, if there is an association relationship between the spatial relationship information and SSB information (e.g., the spatial relationship includes the SSB information, or the spatial relationship information is indicated by the SSB information), the second information may not include the SSB information, so that the amount of information that needs to be transmitted can be further reduced, thereby reducing resources. This can prevent the second network device from configuring the transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device based on inappropriate information.

[0169] In one possible embodiment, the first network device may perform some operations on the first information to obtain the second information. For example, the second information is obtained by the first network device performing an operation on the first information, such as deleting at least preset information included in the first information. This can reduce resource overhead.

[0170] Embodiment C1 may be combined with embodiment B1 or embodiment B2. For example, the second information distributed by the first network device does not include preset information (the preset information includes path loss reference information and / or spatial relationship information), and the second network device may reconstruct relatively appropriate path loss reference information and / or spatial relationship information for the terminal device by using embodiment B1 (re-requesting the LMF) or embodiment B2 (based on the RRM measurement information reported by the terminal device).

[0171] Embodiment C2: The second information may include information associated with the location of the terminal device.

[0172] In embodiment C2, for example, the first information includes preset information (the preset information includes path loss reference information and / or spatial relationship information). In this embodiment, the second network device may ignore the preset information distributed by the first network device. In other words, the second network device receives the preset information from the first network device, but does not configure path loss reference information and / or spatial relationship information for the reference signal of the terminal device based on the preset information from the first network device. This can prevent the second network device from configuring inappropriate path loss reference information and / or spatial relationship information for the terminal device.

[0173] In one possible embodiment, embodiment C2 may alternatively be combined with embodiment B1 or embodiment B2. For example, the second information delivered by the first network device includes preset information, but the second network device does not configure path loss reference information and / or spatial relationship information for the reference signal of the terminal device based on the preset information from the first network device. The second network device may reconstruct relatively appropriate path loss reference information and / or spatial relationship information for the terminal device by using embodiment B1 (re-requesting from the LMF) or embodiment B2 (based on RRM measurement information reported by the terminal device).

[0174] In step 401, the first network device may receive the first information from the location management device, or the first network device may receive the first information from another network device.

[0175] For example, the location management device sends a positioning information request to network device #1, the positioning information request includes positioning information #1, the positioning information #1 is used to configure the transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device, and the network device #1 configures the transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device based on the positioning information #1, for example, the network device #1 configures information #1 of the reference signal for the terminal device based on the positioning information #1.

[0176] Then, the terminal device moves from the coverage of network device #1 to the coverage of network device #2, and network device #2 may request context information of the terminal device from network device #1, and network device #1 may send positioning information #2 to network device #2, and network device #2 may configure transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device based on at least the positioning information #2, for example, network device #2 configures reference signal information #2 for the terminal device based on the positioning information #2.

[0177] The terminal device may then move further from the coverage of network device #2 to the coverage of network device #3, and network device #3 may request context information of the terminal device from network device #2, and network device #2 may send positioning information #3 to network device #3, and network device #3 may configure the transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device based on at least the positioning information #3, for example, network device #3 configures reference signal information #3 for the terminal device based on the positioning information #3.

[0178] In this embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may continue to move, and the first network device and the second network device may be two network devices in the process of the terminal device moving. For example, the first network device may be network device #1 in the above example, and the second network device may be network device #2 in the above example. In this case, the first information is positioning information #1 (or a positioning information request) received by network device #1 from the location management device, and the second information is positioning information #2. As another example, the first network device may be network device #2 in the above example, and the second network device may be network device #3 in the above example, and the first information may be positioning information #2 and the second information is positioning information #3.

[0179] In relation to the above example, based on the embodiments shown in Figures 1, 2A, 2B, 2D, 3, and 4 and other content described above, Figure 5 is an example of a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to one embodiment of the present application.

[0180] As shown in FIG. 5, the method includes the following steps.

[0181] Step 501: The location management device sends a positioning information request to the network device #1.

[0182] In response, the network device #1 receives a request for positioning information.

[0183] Before sending the positioning information request, the location management device may first obtain capability information of the terminal device. The capability information of the terminal device includes information such as the positioning technologies supported by the terminal device. The positioning information request may be a positioning information request. The positioning information request is used to request the network device #1 to configure the transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device, for example, to request the network device #1 to configure resources for the reference signal for the terminal device, or to request the network device #1 to configure some parameters of the reference signal, for example, path loss reference information and / or spatial relationship information. The network device #1 configures reference signal information #1 for the terminal device based on the positioning information #1. Furthermore, the network device #1 sends the reference signal information #1 to the terminal device, for example, by performing the following step 502.

[0184] The positioning information request may carry some information used to assist network device #1 in configuring the transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device. For distinction, the information carried in the positioning information request and used to assist network device #1 in configuring a reference signal for the terminal device is referred to as positioning information #1. In another possible embodiment, the positioning information #1 may include one information element. For example, the positioning information #1 includes requested SRS transmission characteristics #1.

[0185] The following describes the requested SRS transmission characteristics by using information D1. In one possible embodiment, positioning information #1 may further include one or more of information D1, information D2, information D3, and information D4, which will be described separately below.

[0186] Information D1: requested SRS transmission characteristics.

[0187] For example, the requested SRS transmission characteristics may include one or more of the following information D1.1, information D1.2, information D1.3, information D1.4, information D1.5, and information D1.6.

[0188] Information D1.1: Information on the number of times the reference signal is transmitted.

[0189] When the reference signal is transmitted periodically, the information on the number of times the reference signal is transmitted may be understood as the number of periodic transmissions of the reference signal, or as the number of execution periods of the reference signal, which may be written in English as number of periodic transmissions.

[0190] When the terminal device is in an RRC idle state or an inactive state, the network device may control the terminal device to stop transmitting the reference signal after the terminal device has transmitted the reference signal a required number of times.When the terminal device is in an RRC connected state, the network device may release the terminal device after the terminal device has transmitted the reference signal a required number of times.

[0191] Information D1.2: Resource type.

[0192] The resource type may include, for example, a periodic type, a non-periodic type, or a semi-persistent type.

[0193] Information D1.3: Bandwidth.

[0194] The bandwidth may include, for example, the bandwidth requirements of the reference signal.

[0195] Information D1.4: SRS resource set list.

[0196] The SRS resource set list may include, for example, one or more resource sets and reference signal requirements corresponding to each resource set. The SRS resource set list may include, for example, the following information D1.4.1, information D1.4.2, information D1.4.3, and information D1.4.4.

[0197] Information D1.4.1: Number of SRS resources per set.

[0198] Information D1.4.2: Periodicity value.

[0199] Information D1.4.3: Spatial relation information.

[0200] The spatial relationship information may also be understood as a spatial relationship of a reference signal, e.g., a requirement for a beam direction of a reference signal sent by a terminal device. The spatial relationship information may be indicated, for example, by using a resource identifier of a particular reference signal, e.g., an SSB index or a CSI-RS, PRS, or SRS.

[0201] Information D1.4.4: Path loss reference information.

[0202] The path loss reference information may be used to calculate the power of a reference signal (e.g., SRS) sent by the terminal device. The path loss reference information may be indicated by using a specific reference signal. The terminal device measures the specific reference signal (e.g., SSB or PRS) and calculates the path loss of the reference signal (e.g., SRS) sent by the terminal device according to a rule.

[0203] In the uplink positioning process, since multiple network devices are required to measure the reference signal (e.g., SRS) sent by the terminal device, the positioning information #1 may include the spatial relationship information and path loss reference information of the serving cell, and may further include the spatial relationship information and path loss reference information of neighboring cells.

[0204] Information D1.5: SSB Information.

[0205] In one possible implementation, the SSB information may be part of the spatial relationship information, for example, the spatial relationship information may be indicated by using the SSB information.

[0206] Information D1.6: Reference signal carrier frequency.

[0207] The reference signal frequency may include, for example, a frequency requirement of a reference signal that needs to be transmitted by a terminal device. For example, the reference signal may be an SRS, and the reference signal frequency may be an SRS frequency.

[0208] Information D2: Transmission identification information.

[0209] In the transmission identification information (NRPPa transaction ID), ID stands for identity. This information can be used by the location management device to identify messages that belong to the same procedure.

[0210] Information D3: UE Reporting Information.

[0211] The terminal reporting information may include information such as a time interval and an estimated data volume reported by the terminal. The information element may be used for positioning (e.g., downlink positioning). The first network device may refer to the information when an SDT resource is configured for the first network device.

[0212] Information D4: Information of the first timestamp.

[0213] The information D4 may be within the requested SRS transmission characteristics or may be outside the requested SRS transmission characteristics. In another possible embodiment, the positioning information #1 may not need to include the information D4. In this case, when the first network device needs to send the first timestamp information to the second network device, the first timestamp information may be generated by the first network device or obtained from another network device. For details, please refer to the following description. Details will not be described at first.

[0214] Step 502: The network device #1 sends an RRC release message to the terminal device.

[0215] In response to this, the terminal device receives an RRC release message from network device #1.

[0216] Network device #1 may include information #1 of the reference signal configured for the terminal device in the RRC release message and send information #1 to the terminal device by using the RRC release message.

[0217] Step 503: The network device #1 sends a positioning information response to the location management device.

[0218] In response to this, the position management device receives a positioning information response.

[0219] The positioning information response may be a positioning information response, which may include information #1 of a reference signal configured by the network device #1 for the terminal device.

[0220] Step 504: The terminal device sends a reference signal.

[0221] After receiving the reference signal information #1, the terminal device needs to send a reference signal based on the reference signal information #1, for example, on the resource configured in the reference signal information #1, and the type of the reference signal is the same as the type of the reference signal required by the reference signal information #1.

[0222] In this embodiment of the present application, the location management device may alternatively select a network device to be used for measurement and send a measurement request (for example, the measurement request is an NRPPa measurement request) to one or more selected network devices (the one or more network devices may include network device #1 or may not include network device #1), and the measurement request carries information #1 of the reference signal configured by network device #1 for the terminal device, so that these network devices measure the reference signal from the terminal device based on information #1 and then obtain the measurement result. The measurement result may be, for example, a relative time of arrival based on TDOA technology or an angle of arrival based on AOA technology.

[0223] In one possible embodiment, each network device may send measurement results to the location management device, for example, each network device includes the measurement results in a measurement response (the measurement response is, for example, an NRPPa measurement response), and the location management device positions the terminal device based on these measurement results.

[0224] In this embodiment of the present application, the above steps 501 to 504 provide a possible example. By using this example, network device #1 may obtain relevant information for configuring reference signal transmission for the terminal device (if network device #1 is the first network device, the relevant information for configuring reference signal transmission for the terminal device may be considered as the first information). The above steps 501 to 504 are not required (steps 501 to 504 are marked with dashed lines in the figure). Alternatively, network device #1 may obtain relevant information for configuring reference signal transmission for the terminal device in another manner, for example, by obtaining relevant information sent by another network device or by obtaining relevant information when the terminal device is in an RRC connected state.

[0225] Step 505: The terminal device sends an RRC connection setup request message to the network device #2.

[0226] In response to this, network device #2 receives an RRC connection setup request message from the terminal device.

[0227] In step 505, the terminal device may trigger network device #2 to configure the transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device due to several reasons. There may be multiple reasons. For example, the reference signal configured for the terminal device by network device #1 may be invalid. As another example, the terminal device expects to update or reconfigure the transmission of the reference signal. As another example, the terminal device may move outside the positioning area or coverage area of ​​the reference signal. As another example, the terminal device may move from the coverage of network device #1 to the coverage of network device #2. As another example, the terminal device initiates a RAN update. As another example, the terminal device requests to re-establish a connection to the network. For reasons why the terminal device may trigger network device #2 to configure the transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device, please refer to the above content. Details will not be described again.

[0228] In step 505, the terminal device sends an RRC connection setup request message to network device #2, which is used to request a reference signal configuration update. In one possible embodiment, the terminal device may include a cause value in the RRC connection setup request message, where the cause value is, for example, a reference signal update (SRS update) or an SRS request. After receiving the RRC connection setup request message including the cause value, network device #2 may determine that some assistance information used to assist network device #2 in configuring the transmission of reference signals for the terminal device needs to be requested from network device #1, and then perform the following step 506.

[0229] The RRC connection setup request message may be an RRC resume request, for example, an RRC resume request. Alternatively, the RRC connection setup request message may be an RRC setup request, for example, an RRC setup request.

[0230] Step 506: The network device #2 sends a terminal device context request message #1 to the network device #1.

[0231] In response, the network device #1 receives the terminal device context request message #1.

[0232] The network device #2 receives an RRC connection setup request message from the terminal device, and then requests the context of the terminal device from the network device #1. The terminal device context request message #1 may be a retrieve UE context request.

[0233] In step 506, network device #2 may include reference signal update cause information in terminal device context request message #1. For example, network device #2 may include a cause value in terminal device context request message #1. The cause value may be, for example, a reference signal update (the cause value may be, for example, an SRS update). After receiving terminal device context request message #1 including the cause value, network device #1 may determine that some assistance information used to assist network device #2 in configuring reference signal transmission for the terminal device needs to be sent to network device #2. In one possible embodiment, if network device #1 determines to retain positioning information in the terminal device's context, since the cause value in the received terminal device context request message #1 is a reference signal update, network device #1 may provide network device #2 with a context (e.g., positioning information #2) used for positioning in the terminal device's context in the following step 507 to avoid a reference signal update failure.

[0234] Step 507: The network device #1 sends a terminal device context request response #1 to the network device #2.

[0235] In response to this, the network device #1 receives a terminal device context request response #1.

[0236] In step 507, after receiving the terminal device context request message #1, the network device #1 may send positioning information #2 to the network device #2 (e.g., include the positioning information #2 in the terminal device context request response #1). The network device #2 configures reference signal information #2 for the terminal device based on the positioning information #2. Furthermore, the network device #2 sends the reference signal information #2 to the terminal device, for example, by performing the following step 510.

[0237] The positioning information #2 may be some information used to assist the network device #2 in configuring the transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device. In one possible embodiment, the positioning information #2 may include one information element. For example, the positioning information #2 may include requested SRS transmission characteristics #2.

[0238] Two embodiments for obtaining requested SRS transmission characteristics #2 are described below by using embodiment E1 and embodiment E2. In embodiment E1, the contents in requested SRS transmission characteristics #1 can be modified to obtain requested SRS transmission characteristics #2. In embodiment E2, the contents in requested SRS transmission characteristics #1 are not modified, i.e., requested SRS transmission characteristics #1 are directly used as requested SRS transmission characteristics #2.

[0239] Embodiment E1: Network device #1 modifies information in requested SRS transmission characteristics #1 to obtain requested SRS transmission characteristics #2.

[0240] In embodiment E1, network device #1 may perform one or more corrective operations. The following uses embodiment E1.1, embodiment E1.2, and embodiment E1.3 separately as illustrative examples.

[0241] Embodiment E1.1: The requested SRS transmission characteristic #1 does not include information of the first timestamp, and the network device #1 performs at least the step of adding information of the first timestamp to the requested SRS transmission characteristic #2 for the requested SRS transmission characteristic #1 to obtain the requested SRS transmission characteristic #2.

[0242] Embodiment E1.2: To acquire the requested SRS transmission characteristics #2, the network device #1 performs at least the step of correcting the information on the number of transmissions in the requested SRS transmission characteristics #1 (the above-mentioned information D1.1) to the remaining number of transmissions of the terminal device for the requested SRS transmission characteristics #1. In other words, the number of transmissions indicated by the information on the number of transmissions in the requested SRS transmission characteristics #2 is the remaining number of transmissions of the terminal device.

[0243] For example, network device #1 is the first network device, network device #2 is the second network device, the number of transmissions indicated by the information on the number of transmissions in requested SRS transmission characteristics #1 is the first number of transmissions, and the number of transmissions indicated by the information on the number of transmissions in requested SRS transmission characteristics #2 is the second number of transmissions. For the information on the number of transmissions in requested SRS transmission characteristics #2 and the information on the number of transmissions in requested SRS transmission characteristics #1, please refer to the above related descriptions of the first number of transmissions and the second number of transmissions. Details will not be described again.

[0244] Embodiment E1.3: The network device #1 performs at least the step of deleting the path loss reference information and / or the spatial relationship information from the requested SRS transmission characteristic #1 to obtain the requested SRS transmission characteristic #2. In other words, the requested SRS transmission characteristic #2 does not include the path loss reference information and / or the spatial relationship information.

[0245] Embodiments E1.1, E1.2, and E1.3 may be performed separately. For example, network device #1 may perform embodiment E1.1 separately to obtain requested SRS transmission characteristics #2. As another example, network device #1 may perform embodiment E1.2 separately to obtain requested SRS transmission characteristics #2. As another example, network device #1 may perform embodiment E1.3 separately to obtain requested SRS transmission characteristics #2.

[0246] Embodiments E1.1, E1.2, and E1.3 may alternatively be used in combination. For example, network device #1 may perform embodiment E1.1 and embodiment E1.3 to obtain requested SRS transmission characteristics #2. As another example, network device #1 may perform embodiment E1.2 and embodiment E1.3 to obtain requested SRS transmission characteristics #2. As another example, network device #1 may perform embodiment E1.1 and embodiment E1.2 to obtain requested SRS transmission characteristics #2. As another example, network device #1 may perform embodiment E1.1, embodiment E1.2, and embodiment E1.3 to obtain requested SRS transmission characteristics #2.

[0247] Embodiment E2: Network device #1 does not modify the information in requested SRS transmission characteristic #1, ie, requested SRS transmission characteristic #1 can be used as requested SRS transmission characteristic #2.

[0248] In one possible embodiment, for example, requested SRS transmission characteristic #1 includes information of a first timestamp, and network device #1 may directly use requested SRS transmission characteristic #1 as requested SRS transmission characteristic #2 without performing any operations on requested SRS transmission characteristic #1.

[0249] In another possible embodiment, network device #1 may directly use requested SRS transmission characteristic #1 as requested SRS transmission characteristic #2. In addition, network device #1 may further send some information, such as information on the first timestamp and / or information on the second transmission count, to network device #2. In other words, the information on the first timestamp and / or information on the second transmission count may not be carried in requested SRS transmission characteristic #2.

[0250] In this embodiment provided in the present application, network device #1 may or may not modify the requested SRS transmission characteristics #1, thereby improving the flexibility of the solution. If network device #1 does not modify the requested SRS transmission characteristics #1, the requested SRS transmission characteristics #1 may be sent in the {octect string} format, and network device #1 does not analyze or modify the information sent in the {octect string} format, but directly forwards the information to network device #2.

[0251] In another possible embodiment, if the requested SRS transmission characteristics #1 include information D3 (terminal reporting information), network device #1 may alternatively send information D3 (terminal reporting information) to network device #2, so that network device #2 can refer to this information to configure SDT resources for the terminal device.

[0252] The terminal device context request response #1 may be a retrieve UE context response. The network device #1 receives the terminal device context request message #1 from the network device #2, and may send the terminal device context request response #1 to the network device #2, or may send an RRC message to the network device #2, or may send a message indicating a context search failure (i.e., the message indicating a context search failure does not include the terminal device's context information).

[0253] Step 508: The network device #2 sends a message to the location management device, which is used to request positioning information.

[0254] The message used to request positioning information in step 508 may be used to request information associated with the location of the terminal device, for example, to request path loss reference information and / or spatial relationship information.

[0255] Step 509: The network device #2 receives, from the location management device, assistance information used to assist the network device #2 in configuring the transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device.

[0256] In step 509, the assistance information used to assist network device #2 in configuring the transmission of the reference signal for the terminal device may include, for example, path loss reference information and / or spatial relationship information.

[0257] If the network device #2 is regarded as the second network device, the message used to request positioning information in step 509 may be regarded as the first message, and the assistance information used to assist the network device #2 in configuring the transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device may be regarded as the fourth information. For the solutions of steps 508 and 509, please refer to the relevant content of embodiment B1. The details will not be described again.

[0258] 5, steps 508 and 509 are not required steps (marked as dashed lines in the figure). For example, network device #2 may not perform steps 508 and 509. In another possible embodiment, to enable network device #2 to configure more accurate transmission of reference signals for the terminal device, network device #2 may configure some information of the transmission of reference signals for the terminal device, such as path loss reference information and / or spatial relationship information, according to embodiment B2.

[0259] Step 510: The network device #2 sends an RRC release message to the terminal device.

[0260] In response to this, the terminal device receives an RRC release message from network device #2.

[0261] After receiving the RRC release message, the terminal device may be in an RRC inactive state or an RRC idle state. Network device #2 may include information #2 of the reference signal configured for the terminal device in the RRC release message and send the information #2 to the terminal device by using the RRC release message. Optionally, network device #2 may alternatively send information #2 of the reference signal configured for the terminal device to the terminal device by using other signaling.

[0262] Step 511: Network device #2 sends a positioning information update to the location management device.

[0263] In response, the location management device receives positioning information updates.

[0264] The positioning information update may include reference signal information #2 configured by network device #2 for the terminal device.

[0265] It is understood that the network device #2 can notify the location management device of the terminal device's reference signal information #2 by using the positioning information update.

[0266] Step 512: The terminal device sends a reference signal.

[0267] After receiving the reference signal information #2, the terminal device needs to send a reference signal based on the reference signal information #2, for example, send a reference signal on the resource configured in the reference signal information #2, and the type of the reference signal is the same as the type of the reference signal required by the reference signal information #2.

[0268] After receiving the reference signal information #2, the terminal device needs to send a reference signal based on the reference signal information #2, for example, on the resource configured in the reference signal information #2. The type of the reference signal is the same as the type of reference signal required by the reference signal information #2. In this embodiment of the present application, the location management device may alternatively select a network device to be used for measurement and send a measurement request (for example, an NRPPa measurement request) to one or more selected network devices. The measurement request carries the reference signal information #2 configured by the network device #2 for the terminal device, so that these network devices measure the reference signal from the terminal device based on the information #2 and then obtain the measurement results. Each network device may send the measurement results to the location management device, so that the location management device positions the terminal device based on these measurement results. For related content, please refer to the above description. Details will not be described again.

[0269] Step 513: The terminal device sends an RRC connection setup request message to the network device #3.

[0270] In response to this, network device #3 receives an RRC connection setup request message from the terminal device.

[0271] In step 513, the terminal device needs to request network device #3 to configure the transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device. Based on some reasons, the terminal device may determine that the terminal device needs to request network device #3 to configure the transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device. For example, the transmission of a reference signal configured for the terminal device by network device #2 is invalid. For examples of related reasons, please refer to the related content that the terminal device needs to request network device #2 to configure the transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device. The details will not be described again.

[0272] In step 513, the terminal device may include reference signal update cause information in the RRC connection setup request message. The RRC connection setup request message may further include an identifier of network device #2, so that network device #3 identifies network device #2.

[0273] For the relevant content of step 513, please refer to the relevant content of step 505. The details will not be described again.

[0274] Step 514: The network device #3 sends a terminal device context request message #2 to the network device #2.

[0275] In response, network device #2 receives terminal device context request message #2.

[0276] Network device #3 receives an RRC connection setup request message from the terminal device and then requests the context of the terminal device from network device #2.

[0277] In step 514, network device #2 may include reference signal update cause information in terminal device context request message #1.

[0278] For the relevant content of step 514, please refer to the relevant content of step 506. The details will not be described again.

[0279] Step 515: The network device #2 sends a terminal device context request response #2 to the network device #3.

[0280] In response to this, the network device #2 receives a terminal device context request response #2.

[0281] In step 515, after receiving the terminal device context request message #2, the network device #2 may send positioning information #3 to the network device #3 (e.g., include the positioning information #3 in the terminal device context request response #2). The network device #3 configures reference signal information #3 for the terminal device based on the positioning information #3. Furthermore, the network device #3 sends the reference signal information #3 to the terminal device, for example, by performing the following step 516.

[0282] Positioning information #3 may be some information used to assist network device #3 in configuring the transmission of reference signals for the terminal device. In one possible embodiment, positioning information #3 may include one information element. For example, positioning information #3 may include requested SRS transmission characteristics #3. Requested SRS transmission characteristics #3 may be obtained based on requested SRS transmission characteristics #2. For a specific manner, please refer to the above-mentioned manner of obtaining requested SRS transmission characteristics #2 based on requested SRS transmission characteristics #1. The details will not be described again.

[0283] For example, the number of reference signal transmissions determined by network device #1 is 100. When network device #1 receives a terminal device context request message from network device #2, network device #1 may estimate that after network device #1 configured reference signal transmission for the terminal device, the terminal device has transmitted the reference signal 10 times (i.e., the terminal device has undergone 10 reference signal transmission periods), and network device #1 may use 90 times (the difference between 100 times and 10 times) as the remaining number of transmissions for the terminal device and instruct network device #2 of the remaining number of transmissions. When network device #2 receives a terminal device context request message from network device #3, network device #2 may estimate that after network device #2 configured reference signal transmission for the terminal device, the terminal device has transmitted the reference signal 11 times (i.e., the terminal device has undergone 11 reference signal transmission periods), and network device #2 may use 79 times (the difference between 90 times and 11 times) as the remaining number of transmissions for the terminal device and instruct network device #3 of the remaining number of transmissions.

[0284] For the relevant content of step 515, please refer to the relevant content of step 507. The details will not be described again. The network device #3 may re-request the path loss reference information and / or spatial relationship information from the LMF, or may configure the transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device based on the RRM measurement result reported by the terminal device. For the related solution, please refer to the above content. The details will not be described again.

[0285] Step 516: The network device #3 sends an RRC release message to the terminal device.

[0286] In response to this, the terminal device receives an RRC release message from network device #3.

[0287] After receiving the RRC release message, the terminal device may be in an RRC inactive state or an RRC idle state. Network device #3 may include information #3 of the reference signal configured for the terminal device in the RRC release message and send the information #3 to the terminal device by using the RRC release message. Optionally, network device #3 may alternatively send information #3 of the reference signal configured for the terminal device to the terminal device by using other signaling.

[0288] For the relevant content of step 516, please refer to the relevant content of step 510. The details will not be described again.

[0289] Step 517: Network device #3 sends a positioning information update to the location management device.

[0290] In response, the location management device receives positioning information updates.

[0291] It is understood that the network device #3 can notify the location management device of the terminal device's reference signal information #3 by using the positioning information update.

[0292] For the relevant content of step 517, please refer to the relevant content of step 511. The details will not be described again.

[0293] 5 is illustrated by using network device #1, network device #2, and network device #3 as examples. In practical application, there may be fewer or more network devices that configure the transmission of reference signals for terminal devices. FIG. 5 provides a possible example. Some steps in FIG. 5 may not be performed, or some other signaling may be added between some steps.

[0294] From the above, it can be seen that the solution provided in this embodiment of the present application can configure more suitable reference signal parameters for the terminal device. In practical application, the preconfigured solution may be used for a specific embodiment in the above embodiments, or some usage conditions may be set for each embodiment. For example, if the first network device is a network device that communicates with the location management device for the first time (i.e., the above network device #1), embodiment A1 may be used. If the first network device is not a network device that communicates with the location management device for the first time (e.g., the above network device #2), embodiment A2 may be used.

[0295] Based on the foregoing, FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating an example of another scenario to which an embodiment of the present application can be applied. As shown in FIG. 6A, a terminal device first moves from position #1 to position #2 (e.g., terminal device movement trajectory #1 shown in FIG. 6A), and then moves from position #2 to position #3 (e.g., terminal device movement trajectory #2 shown in FIG. 6A). Position #1 and position #3 may be the same or different. When the terminal device is at position #1 and position #3, the terminal device needs to send a reference signal based on the reference signal transmission configured by network device #1 (e.g., position #1 and position #3 belong to the signal coverage of network device #1). When the terminal device is at position #2, the terminal device needs to send a reference signal based on the reference signal transmission configured by network device #2 (e.g., position #2 belongs to the signal coverage of network device #2).

[0296] The solution shown in Figure 6B is an example related to the scenario shown in Figure 6A. In Figures 6A and 6B, when a terminal device moves from position #1 to position #2, network device #1 can be regarded as the first network device and network device #2 can be regarded as the second network device, or network device #1 can be regarded as network device #1 in Figure 5 and network device #2 can be regarded as network device #2 in Figure 5, or network device #1 can be regarded as network device #2 in Figure 5 and network device #2 can be regarded as network device #3 in Figure 5. When a terminal device moves from position #2 to position #3, network device #2 can be regarded as the first network device and network device #1 can be regarded as the second network device, or network device #2 can be regarded as network device #1 in Figure 5 and network device #1 can be regarded as network device #2 in Figure 5, or network device #2 can be regarded as network device #2 in Figure 5 and network device #1 can be regarded as network device #3 in Figure 5.

[0297] 6A and 6B use an example in which network device #1 is network device #1 in FIG. 5 and network device #2 is network device #2 in FIG. 5. The difference is that the terminal device returns from the area corresponding to network device #2 to the area corresponding to network device #1. Corresponding contents may refer to each other. Details will not be described again.

[0298] In relation to the scenario of FIG. 6A, the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, 2D, 3, and 4, and other content discussed above, FIG. 6B is an example of a schematic flowchart of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0299] As shown in FIG. 6B, the method includes the following steps.

[0300] Step 601: Network device #1 sends reference signal configuration information #1 to the terminal device.

[0301] In response to this, the terminal device receives configuration information #1 of the reference signal from network device #1.

[0302] The terminal device is at location #1, and network device #1 configures reference signal information #1 for the terminal device, and the reference signal information #1 can be carried in an RRC release message.

[0303] In step 601, for example, network device #1 determines that the number of transmissions (also called the number of periodic transmissions) of the reference signal of the terminal device is transmission number #a.

[0304] Step 602: The terminal device sends a reference signal.

[0305] After receiving the reference signal information #1, the terminal device needs to send a reference signal based on the reference signal information #1.

[0306] Step 603: The terminal device sends an RRC connection setup request message to the network device #2.

[0307] In response to this, network device #2 receives an RRC connection setup request message from the terminal device.

[0308] The terminal device may move from location #1 to location #2 and perform step 603 at location #2.

[0309] Step 604: The network device #2 sends a terminal device context request message #1 to the network device #1.

[0310] In response, the network device #1 receives the terminal device context request message #1.

[0311] Step 605: The network device #1 sends a terminal device context request response #1 to the network device #2.

[0312] In response to this, the network device #1 receives a terminal device context request response #1.

[0313] In step 605, after receiving the terminal device context request message #1, the network device #1 may send positioning information #2 to the network device #2 (e.g., include the positioning information #2 in the terminal device context request response #1). The network device #2 configures reference signal information #2 for the terminal device based on the positioning information #2.

[0314] The positioning information #2 can include transmission count indication information, which indicates that the terminal device will transmit the reference signal #b times (also called the number of periodic transmissions).

[0315] The number of transmissions #b is the difference between the number of transmissions #a and the number of reference signal transmissions performed by the terminal device after the network device #1 configures the reference signal information #1.

[0316] Step 606: The network device #2 sends the reference signal information #2 to the terminal device.

[0317] In response to this, the terminal device receives reference signal information #2 from network device #2.

[0318] The terminal device is at location #2, and network device #2 configures reference signal information #2 for the terminal device, and the reference signal information #2 can be carried in an RRC release message.

[0319] Step 607: The terminal device sends a reference signal.

[0320] After receiving the reference signal information #2, the terminal device needs to send a reference signal based on the reference signal information #2.

[0321] Step 608: The terminal device sends an RRC connection setup request message to the network device #1.

[0322] In response to this, network device #3 receives an RRC connection setup request message from the terminal device.

[0323] The terminal device may move from location #2 to location #3 and perform step 608 at location #3.

[0324] Step 609: The network device #1 sends a terminal device context request message #3 to the network device #2.

[0325] In response, network device #2 receives terminal device context request message #3.

[0326] Network device #1 receives an RRC connection setup request message from the terminal device and then requests the context of the terminal device from network device #2.

[0327] Step 610: The network device #2 sends a terminal device context request response #3 to the network device #1.

[0328] In response to this, the network device #1 receives a terminal device context request response #3.

[0329] In step 610, after receiving the terminal device context request message #3, the network device #2 may send positioning information #4 to the network device #1 (e.g., include the positioning information #4 in the terminal device context request response #3). The network device #1 may configure reference signal information #4 for the terminal device based on the positioning information #4 and then send the reference signal information #4 to the terminal device, so that the terminal device sends a reference signal based on the reference signal information #4.

[0330] The positioning information #4 may include transmission count indication information, which indicates that the terminal device will transmit the reference signal a number of times (also called the number of periodic transmissions) equal to transmission count #c.

[0331] The number of transmissions #c is the difference between the number of transmissions #b and the number of reference signal transmissions performed by the terminal device after the network device #2 configures the reference signal information #2.

[0332] The number of transmissions #b is different from the number of transmissions #c. For example, the number of transmissions #b may be 100, and the number of transmissions #c may be 90. It will also be understood that after the terminal device moves from position #1 to position #2 (position #1 is different from position #2), the number of transmissions indicated by the information sent by network device #1 to network device #2 is #b, i.e., the number of transmissions of the reference signal that needs to be configured by network device #2 for the terminal device is #b. After the terminal device moves from position #2 to position #3 (position #3 may be the same as or different from position #1), the number of transmissions indicated by the information sent by network device #2 to network device #1 is #c, i.e., the number of transmissions of the reference signal that needs to be configured by network device #1 for the terminal device is #c. Since the number of transmissions #b is different from the number of transmissions #c, it can be seen that the number of transmissions of the reference signal configured by the two network devices for the terminal device changes when the terminal device moves.

[0333] Since the number of times of transmitting the reference signals configured by the two network devices for the terminal device is changed, the network device in this embodiment of the present application can configure more suitable parameters for the terminal device, thereby reducing resources.

[0334] In addition, since the number of transmissions #b is different from the number of transmissions #c, it can also be proven that the number of transmissions #c is determined by referring to the number of transmissions #b and the number of reference signal transmissions performed by the terminal device. This calculation process may be calculated by the network device #2, or may be obtained by the network device #2 from another device (e.g., a location management device) (calculated by another device).

[0335] The names of the messages mentioned above are merely examples. With the evolution of communication technology, the names of any of the messages mentioned above may be changed. However, regardless of how the names of the messages are changed, as long as the meanings of the messages are the same as those of the messages in this application, those messages will fall within the scope of protection of this application.

[0336] In the embodiments of the present application, sending information to a terminal device may be understood as meaning that the destination of the information is the terminal device. For example, module A sending information to a terminal includes module A sending information to the terminal via the air interface. Optionally, module A may perform baseband and / or intermediate radio frequency operations on the information, or module A may send the information to module B, which then sends the information to the terminal. Module B may transparently transmit the information to the terminal, segment the information, and then send the information, or multiplex the information with other information and then send the information. Optionally, module B may perform baseband and / or intermediate radio frequency operations on the information and then send the information. Optionally, module B may encapsulate the information into a data packet. Optionally, module B may further add a header, padding bits, etc. to the data packet.

[0337] In the embodiments of the present application, receiving information from a terminal device may be understood as the source of the information being the terminal device. For example, module A receiving information from a terminal device includes module A receiving information from the terminal via the air interface. Optionally, module A may perform baseband and / or intermediate radio frequency operations on the information, or module B may receive information from the terminal via the air interface and send the information to module A. Module B sending information to module A includes transparently sending the received information to module A, combining multiple received segments into information and then sending the information to module A, or extracting information from multiplexed information and then sending the information to module A. Optionally, module B may perform baseband and / or intermediate radio frequency operations on the received information and then send the information. Optionally, the information received by module B is encapsulated in a data packet. Optionally, the data packet includes a header, padding bits, etc.

[0338] Module B may be a single module or multiple modules coupled in series. This is not limited to this. For example, module A is a DU module and module B is an RU module. As another example, module A is a CU-CP module and module B is a DU module and an RU module.

[0339] The foregoing mainly describes the solution provided in the present application from the perspective of interactions between all network elements. It should be understood that, to realize the aforementioned functions, the aforementioned network elements include corresponding hardware structures and / or software modules for performing the functions. In combination with the example units and algorithm steps described in the embodiments disclosed herein, those skilled in the art should easily understand that the present invention can be realized by using hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether the functions are implemented by using hardware or 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 such implementation should not be considered to go beyond the scope of the present invention.

[0340] Based on the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, 2D, 3, 4, 5, 6A, and 6B and other contents described above, FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. In FIG. 7, an example in which a terminal device moves from the coverage of network device #1 to the coverage of network device #2 is used for explanation. In FIG. 7, network device #1 may alternatively be the first network device in FIG. 4, and network device #2 may alternatively be the second network device in FIG. 4. In this embodiment of the present application, the first network device may be, for example, an anchor base station (anchor gNB), and the second network device may be, for example, a serving base station (serving gNB). For the relevant contents of the terminal device, network device #1, network device #2, and location management device in FIG. 7, please refer to the relevant description of FIG. 5. Details will not be described again.

[0341] In the example provided in FIG. 7, the terminal device may move from the coverage of network device #1 to the coverage of network device #2. For example, before step 701, the location management device sends a positioning information request to network device #1, where the positioning information request includes positioning information #1, and the positioning information #1 is used to configure the transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device. The network device #1 configures the transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device based on the positioning information #1. For example, the network device #1 configures the information #1 of the reference signal for the terminal device based on the positioning information #1. By using this example, the network device #1 may obtain relevant information for configuring the transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device (if the network device #1 is the first network device, the relevant information for configuring the transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device may be considered as the first information). In relation to FIG. 7, for example, before step 701, the solution provided in FIG. 7 may further include some or all of steps 501, 502, 503, and 504. For related content, please refer to the related description of FIG. 5. The details will not be explained again.

[0342] The following provides an explanation with reference to FIG.

[0343] Step 701: The terminal device sends an RRC connection setup request message to the network device #2.

[0344] In response to this, network device #2 receives an RRC connection setup request message from the terminal device.

[0345] The RRC connection setup request message may carry an event report. For the relevant content of step 701, please refer to the relevant description of step 505. The details will not be described again.

[0346] Step 702: The network device #2 sends a terminal device context request message #1 to the network device #1.

[0347] In response, the network device #1 receives the terminal device context request message #1.

[0348] The terminal device context request message #1 may be a retrieve UE context request.

[0349] For the relevant content of step 701, please refer to the relevant description of step 506. The details will not be described again.

[0350] Step 703: The network device #1 sends a partial UE context transfer message #1 to the network device #2.

[0351] In response, network device #2 receives partial UE context transfer message #1.

[0352] The partial UE context transfer message #1 may be, for example, a partial UE context transfer.

[0353] Before step 703, after the network device #1 receives the terminal device context request message #1, the network device #1 may determine that the terminal device context needs to be maintained. Therefore, in step 703, the partial UE context transfer message #1 may include only the partial UE context, for example, an SDT-related radio link control layer (RLC) context to establish an SDT session. For details about SDT, see section 18.3 of TS38.300.

[0354] Step 704: The network device #2 sends a partial UE context transfer response #1 to the network device #1.

[0355] In response, the network device #1 receives a partial UE context transfer response #1.

[0356] The partial UE context transfer response #1 may be, for example, a partial UE context transfer acknowledgment.

[0357] The partial UE context transfer response #1 may be considered as a response message to the partial UE context transfer message #1.

[0358] Step 705: Network device #1 may send a partial UE context transfer message #2 to network device #2.

[0359] In response, network device #2 receives partial UE context transfer message #2.

[0360] The partial UE context transfer message #2 may be, for example, a partial UE context transfer.

[0361] In step 705, network device #1 may perform step 705 based on the received positioning information request. For example, network device #1 may send positioning information #2 to network device #2 (e.g., include positioning information #2 in partial UE context transfer message #2). Network device #2 configures reference signal information #2 for the terminal device based on the positioning information #2. Furthermore, network device #2 sends reference signal information #2 to the terminal device, for example, by performing the following step 709. The partial UE context transfer message #2 may also be considered as an example of the second information in step 403 of the solution provided in FIG. 4.

[0362] For a related description of positioning information #2, please refer to the above description of positioning information #2 in FIG. 5. For example, positioning information #2 may be some information used to assist network device #2 in configuring the transmission of a reference signal for the terminal device. In one possible embodiment, positioning information #2 may include one information element. For example, positioning information #2 may include requested SRS transmission characteristics #2. The related content will not be described again here.

[0363] For the relevant content of step 705, please refer to the relevant description of step 507. The details will not be described again.

[0364] The messages of steps 703 and 705 may alternatively be combined into a single message or may be two separate messages.

[0365] Step 706: The network device #2 sends a partial UE context transfer response #2 to the network device #1.

[0366] In response, the network device #1 receives a partial UE context transfer response #2.

[0367] The partial UE context transfer response #2 may be, for example, a partial UE context transfer acknowledgment.

[0368] The partial UE context transfer response #2 may be considered as a response message to the partial UE context transfer message #2.

[0369] The messages of steps 704 and 706 may alternatively be combined into a single message or may be two separate messages.

[0370] Step 707: The network device #2 sends a UE context request confirmation to the network device #1.

[0371] In response, network device #1 receives a UE context request confirmation.

[0372] The UE context request confirm may be, for example, a retrieve UE context confirm.

[0373] After detecting that the SDT session has ended, network device #2 may perform step 707. The UE context request confirmation may include information indicating that the SDT transmission is normal, or may include information indicating that there is a link failure.

[0374] Step 708: The network device #1 sends a UE context request failure to the network device #2.

[0375] In response, network device #2 receives a UE context request failure.

[0376] The UE context request failure may be, for example, a retrieve UE context failure. The UE context request failure may be regarded as a response message to the UE context request confirmation.

[0377] After receiving the UE context request confirmation, network device #1 may determine that the SDT session has ended and then perform step 708.

[0378] Step 709: The network device #2 sends an RRC release message to the terminal device.

[0379] In response to this, the terminal device receives an RRC release message from network device #2.

[0380] After receiving the RRC release message, the terminal device may be in an RRC inactive state or an RRC idle state. Network device #2 may include information #2 of the reference signal configured for the terminal device in the RRC release message and send the information #2 to the terminal device by using the RRC release message. Optionally, network device #2 may alternatively send information #2 of the reference signal configured for the terminal device to the terminal device by using other signaling.

[0381] After receiving the reference signal information #2, the terminal device needs to send a reference signal based on the reference signal information #2, for example, send a reference signal on a resource configured by using the reference signal information #2. The type of the reference signal is the same as the type of the reference signal required by the reference signal information #2.

[0382] From the foregoing, it can be seen that the solution provided in this embodiment of the present application can configure more suitable reference signal parameters for the terminal device.

[0383] FIG. 7 is illustrated by using network device #1 and network device #2 as examples. In actual applications, there may be fewer or more network devices that configure the transmission of reference signals for terminal devices. FIG. 7 provides a possible example. Some steps in FIG. 7 may not be performed, or some other signaling may be added between some steps. For example, steps 703, 704, 707, and 708 are not required (steps 703, 704, 707, and 708 in the figure are marked with dashed lines).

[0384] According to the aforementioned method, FIG. 8 is a diagram of the structure of the device according to one embodiment of the present application.

[0385] FIG. 8 is a simplified diagram of an apparatus 1301. The apparatus 1301 is configured to implement the functions of a network element in an embodiment of the present application. For example, the network element may be a base station, a terminal, a DU, a CU, a CU-CP, a CU-UP, or an RU. The apparatus 1301 may be a network element, a device that can be installed in a network element, or a device that can be used together with a network element. This is not limited to this. For example, the apparatus may be a chip or a chip system. The apparatus 1301 includes an interface 1303 and a processor 1302. Optionally, the processor 1302 is configured to execute a program 1305. The processor 1302 may store the program 1305 or may obtain the program 1305 from another component or another device (e.g., from the memory 1304 or from a third-party website via download). Optionally, the apparatus 1301 includes a memory 1304. The memory 1304 is configured to store a program 1306. The program 1306 may be pre-stored or loaded later. Optionally, the memory 1304 may be further configured to store necessary data. These components work together to provide various functions described in the embodiments of the present application.

[0386] The processor 1302 may include one or more processors functioning as a combination of computing devices. The processor 1302 may include one or more of a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor (DSP), a digital signal processing device (DSPD), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic device (PLD), gating logic, transistor logic, discrete hardware circuits, processing circuits, or other suitable hardware or firmware, and / or a combination of hardware and software, configured to perform various functions described in the embodiments of the present application. The processor 1302 may be a general-purpose processor or a special-purpose processor. For example, the processor 1302 may be a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor may be configured to process communication protocols and communication data. The central processing unit may be configured to execute software programs and process data in the software programs.

[0387] The interface 1303 may include any suitable hardware or software configured to enable communication with one or more computing devices (e.g., network elements in embodiments of the present application). For example, in some embodiments, the interface 1303 may include terminals and / or pins configured to couple with wires for a wired connection or a radio interface for a wireless connection. In some embodiments, the interface 1303 may include a transmitter, a receiver, an interface, and / or an antenna. The interface may be configured to enable communication between computing devices (e.g., network elements in embodiments of the present application) by using any available protocol (e.g., a 3GPP standard protocol).

[0388] The programs in the embodiments of the present application are software in a broad sense. The software may be program code, a program, a subprogram, an instruction set, code, a code segment, a software module, an application program, a software application program, etc. The programs may be executed in a processor and / or a computer to perform various functions and / or processes described in the embodiments of the present application.

[0389] The memory 1304 may store data needed by the processor 1302 when it executes the software. The memory 1304 may be implemented using any suitable storage technology. For example, the memory 1304 may be any available storage medium that can be accessed by the processor and / or computer. Non-limiting examples of storage media are random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), or removable media, optical disk memory, magnetic disk storage media, magnetic storage devices, flash memory, registers, state memory, remotely installed memory, local or remote storage components, or any other medium that can hold or store software, data, or information and that can be accessed by the processor / computer.

[0390] The memory 1304 and the processor 1302 may be located separately or may be integrated with each other. The processor 1302 can read information from the memory 1304 and store and / or write information to the memory. The memory 1304 may be integrated with the processor 1302. The processor 1302 and the memory 1304 may be located in an integrated circuit (e.g., an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)). The integrated circuit may be located in a network element or another network node in embodiments of the present application. In the figure, the memory 1304 is dashed, which further identifies the memory as optional.

[0391] Furthermore, the communication device 1301 may include a bus system. The processor 1302, the memory 1304, and the interface 1303 may be connected via the bus system.

[0392] As shown in FIG. 8, device 1301 may be a first network device or a second network device, or may be a chip or circuit, for example, a chip or circuit that may be located in the first network device, or a chip or circuit that may be located in the second network device.

[0393] When the device 1301 is configured to realize the functions of a first network device, via the interface 1303, the processor 1302 is configured to receive first information, receive a terminal device context request message from a second network device, and send second information to the second network device.

[0394] When the device 1301 is configured to realize the functions of a second network device, the processor 1302 is configured to send a terminal device context request message to the first network device and receive second information from the first network device via the interface 1303.

[0395] When the device 1301 is configured to realize the functions of a second network device, the processor 1302 is further configured to determine a second number of transmissions of the reference signal based on the second information, and when the number of transmissions made by the terminal device reaches the second number of transmissions, send information to the terminal device via the interface 1303 indicating that the terminal device does not need to transmit the reference signal.

[0396] When the device 1301 is configured to realize the functions of a second network device, the processor 1302 is further configured to send, via the interface 1303, a first message to the location management device, the first message being used to request an update of the path loss reference information and / or the spatial relationship information, receive fourth information from the location management device, the fourth information including the path loss reference information and / or the spatial relationship information, and send reference signal configuration information to the terminal device, the reference signal configuration information being determined based on the fourth information and the second information.

[0397] When the device 1301 is configured to realize the functions of a second network device, the processor 1302 is further configured, via the interface 1303, to receive measurement information from the terminal device and to send reference signal configuration information to the terminal device.

[0398] For the concepts, explanations, detailed descriptions and other steps of the communication device related to the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application, please refer to the content descriptions of the aforementioned methods or other embodiments, and details will not be described here.

[0399] In accordance with the aforementioned method, FIG. 9 is a diagram of the structure of a communication device according to one embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 9, the device 1401 may include a transceiver 1403 and a processor 1402. Furthermore, the device 1401 may include a memory 1404. In the figure, the memory 1404 is shown with a dashed line, which further identifies the memory as optional. Since the transceiver 1403 is configured to input and / or output information and the processor 1402 is configured to execute computer programs or instructions, the device 1401 may be realized by the first or second network device in the related solution of FIG. 4 or FIG. 5. In this embodiment of the present application, the transceiver 1403 may realize the solution realized by the interface 1303 of FIG. 8, the processor 1402 may realize the solution realized by the processor 1302 of FIG. 8, and the memory 1404 may realize the solution realized by the memory 1304 of FIG. 8. Details will not be described again here.

[0400] Based on the above embodiment and the same concept, Figure 10 is a diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 10, the device 1501 may be a first network device or a second network device, or may be a chip or circuit, for example, a chip or circuit that can be disposed in the first network device or the second network device.

[0401] The device 1501 includes a processing unit 1502 and a communication unit 1503. Additionally, the device 1501 may or may not include a storage unit 1504. In the figure, the storage unit 1504 is dashed, which further identifies the storage unit as optional.

[0402] When the device 1501 is configured to realize the functions of a first network device, the processing unit 1502, via the communication unit 1503, is configured to receive first information, receive a terminal device context request message from a second network device, and send second information to the second network device.

[0403] When the device 1501 is configured to realize the functions of a second network device, the processing unit 1502, via the communication unit 1503, is configured to send a terminal device context request message to the first network device and receive second information from the first network device.

[0404] For the concepts, explanations, detailed descriptions and other steps of the communication device related to the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application, please refer to the content descriptions of the aforementioned methods or other embodiments, and details will not be described here.

[0405] It will be understood that the functions of all units in the device 1501 refer to the implementation of the corresponding method embodiments, and the details will not be described again here.

[0406] It should be understood that the division into units within the communication device is merely a logical division of function. In actual implementation, all or some of the units may be integrated into one physical entity or may be physically separated. In this embodiment of the present application, the communication unit 1503 may be realized by the interface 1303 in FIG. 8, and the processing unit 1502 may be realized by the processor 1302 in FIG. 8.

[0407] According to the method provided in the embodiments of the present application, the present application further provides a computer program product, which includes computer program code or instructions, which, when executed in a computer, enables the computer to perform the method according to any one of the embodiments shown in Figures 4 and 5.

[0408] According to the method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores program code, which, when executed in a computer, enables the computer to perform the method according to any one of the embodiments shown in Figures 4 and 5.

[0409] According to the method provided in the embodiments of the present application, the present application further provides a chip system. The chip system may include a processor. The processor may be coupled to a memory and configured to execute the method according to any one of the embodiments shown in Figures 4 and 5. Optionally, the chip system further includes a memory. The memory is configured to store a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions). The processor is configured to call the computer program from the memory and execute the computer program, so that a device in which the chip system is installed executes the method according to any one of the embodiments shown in Figures 4 and 5.

[0410] According to the method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the present application further provides a system including one or more first network devices as described above.

[0411] In one possible implementation, the system may further include one or more terminal devices. In another possible implementation, the system may further include one or more second network devices. In another possible implementation, the system may further include a location management device.

[0412] All or part of the above-described embodiments may be realized by using software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When software is used to realize the embodiments, all or part of the embodiments may be realized in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer instructions are loaded into a computer and executed, all or part of the procedures or functions according to the embodiments of the present application are generated. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or any other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from a computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer instructions may be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, or digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, radio waves, or microwave) methods. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer, or a data storage device, such as a server or data center, that incorporates one or more available media. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., a floppy disk, a hard disk, or a magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., a high-density digital video disc (DVD)), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., a solid-state disc (SSD)).

[0413] Please note that portions of this patent application document contain copyrighted material. The copyright owner reserves the right to reproduce the contents of the patent document or filed patent document except as otherwise expressly permitted by law.

[0414] The network device and the terminal device in the above-mentioned apparatus embodiments correspond to the network device and the terminal device in the method embodiments. Corresponding modules or units perform corresponding steps. For example, a communication unit (transceiver) performs the receiving step or the transmitting step in the method embodiments, and steps other than the transmitting step and the receiving step may be performed by a processing unit (processor). For the functions of specific units, please refer to the corresponding method embodiments. There may be one or more processors.

[0415] As used herein, terms such as “component,” “module,” and “system” are used to refer to computer-related entities, hardware, firmware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software running on the computer. For example, a component may be, but is not limited to, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable file, a thread of execution, a program, and / or a computer. As illustrated through the use of diagrams, both computing devices and applications running on computing devices may be components. One or more components may reside within a process and / or thread of execution, and a component may be located on one computer and / or distributed between two or more computers. Additionally, these components may execute from various computer-readable media that store various data structures. For example, components may communicate by using local and / or remote processes, e.g., based on signals having one or more data packets (e.g., data from two components communicating with another component in a local system, in a distributed system, and / or over a network such as the Internet that communicates with other systems using signals).

[0416] In combination with the illustrative logical blocks described in the embodiments disclosed herein, those skilled in the art may recognize that the steps can be realized by electronic hardware or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed by hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art may realize the described functions using different methods for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered as going beyond the scope of this application.

[0417] For the sake of convenience, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that the detailed operation processes of the aforementioned systems, devices and units may refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments, and the details will not be described again here.

[0418] In some embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices, and methods may be implemented in other ways. For example, the described device embodiments are merely examples. For example, the division into units is merely a logical division of function. In actual implementation, other division schemes may exist. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, and some features may be ignored or not implemented. In addition, the shown or described mutual couplings or direct couplings or communication connections may be realized through some interfaces. Indirect couplings or communication connections between devices or units may be realized in electronic, mechanical, or other forms.

[0419] The units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and the parts shown as units may or may not be physical units, i.e., they may be located in one place or distributed across 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.

[0420] In addition, the functional units in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically alone, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit. When the functions are realized in the form of software functional units and sold or used as independent products, the functions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium.

[0421] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application. Any modifications or replacements that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present application shall fall within the scope of protection of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present application shall be subject to the scope of protection of the claims.

[0422] In this application, "at least one" means one or more, and "multiple" means two or more. In addition, "and / or" describes an association relationship between associated objects, and indicates that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B may represent the following cases: when only A is present, when both A and B are present, and when only B is present, where A and B may be singular or plural. In the text description of this application, the character " / " indicates an "or" relationship between associated objects. In the formulas of this application, the character " / " indicates a "division by" relationship between associated objects. In addition, "comprising at least one of A, B, and C" may represent including A, including B, including C, including A and B, including A and C, including B and C, and including A, B, and C. Furthermore, "comprising at least one of A, B, or C" can refer to including A, including B, including C, including A and B, including A and C, including B and C, and including A, B, and C.

[0423] It should be understood that the various numbers in the embodiments of the present application are only used for distinction to facilitate description, and are not used to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. The sequence numbers of the above processes do not imply an execution order, and the execution order of the processes should be determined based on the functions and internal logic of the processes. [Explanation of symbols]

[0424] 1000 Communication Systems 100 Wireless Access Network 110a base station 120i terminal device 120i unmanned aerial vehicle 120j terminal device 200 Core Network 300 Internet 1301 Equipment 1302 processor 1303 Interface 1304 memory 1305 Program 1306 Program 1401 Equipment 1402 processor 1403 Transceiver 1404 memory 1501 Equipment 1502 Processing Unit 1503 Communication Unit 1504 Storage Unit

Claims

1. 1. A communication method, the method being applicable to a first network device, the method comprising: receiving first information, the first information including information used to configure transmission of a reference signal of a terminal device, the reference signal being used to position the terminal device; receiving a terminal device context request message from a second network device; sending second information to the second network device, the second information being determined based on the first information, the second information including information used to configure transmission of the reference signal of the terminal device, and the number of times of transmission of the reference signal determined based on the first information being different from the number of times of transmission of the reference signal determined based on the second information; A method comprising:

2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second information includes information of a first timestamp and information of a third number of transmissions, and the information of the first timestamp is information of a timestamp associated with the third number of transmissions.

3. the second information includes information on a second number of transmissions; The method of claim 1, wherein the second number of transmissions is determined based on the first number of transmissions and the number of transmissions of the reference signal performed by the terminal device after the first network device receives the first information, and the first number of transmissions is the number of transmissions of the reference signal determined based on the first information.

4. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first information includes predetermined information, and there is an association relationship between the predetermined information and the location of the terminal device, and the second information does not include the predetermined information.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the pre-defined information comprises path loss reference information and / or spatial relationship information.

6. A communication method, the method being applicable to a second network device, the method comprising: sending a terminal device context request message to a first network device; receiving second information from the first network device, the second information being determined based on first information, the first information including information used to configure transmission of a reference signal of the terminal device, the reference signal being used to position the terminal device, the second information including information used to configure transmission of the reference signal of the terminal device, and a number of times of transmission of the reference signal determined based on the first information being different from a number of times of transmission of the reference signal determined based on the second information; A method comprising:

7. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second information includes information of a first timestamp and information of a third number of transmissions, and the information of the first timestamp is information of a timestamp associated with the third number of transmissions.

8. the second information includes information on a second number of transmissions; The method of claim 6 or 7, wherein the second number of transmissions is determined based on the first number of transmissions and the number of transmissions of the reference signal performed by the terminal device after the first network device receives the first information, and the first number of transmissions is the number of transmissions of the reference signal determined based on the first information.

9. 9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the first information includes preset information, and there is an association relationship between the preset information and the location of the terminal device, and the second information does not include the preset information.

10. After receiving the second information from the first network device, the method includes: determining the second number of times to transmit the reference signal based on the second information; sending, to the terminal device, information indicating that the terminal device does not need to transmit the reference signal when the number of transmissions performed by the terminal device reaches the second number of transmissions; 10. The method of any one of claims 6 to 9, further comprising:

11. The method comprises: sending a first message to a location management device, the first message being used to request an update of path loss information and / or spatial relationship information; receiving fourth information from the location management device, the fourth information including path loss information and / or spatial relationship information; a step of sending configuration information of the reference signal to the terminal device, the configuration information of the reference signal being determined based on the fourth information and the second information; 11. The method of any one of claims 6 to 10, further comprising:

12. The method comprises: receiving measurement information from the terminal device; sending the configuration information of the reference signal to the terminal device, the configuration information of the reference signal being determined based on the measurement information and the second information; 12. The method of any one of claims 6 to 11, further comprising:

13. a communication device, the communication device being a first network device, the communication device including a processor and an interface; The processor: configured to receive first information via the interface, the first information including information used to configure transmission of a reference signal of a terminal device, the reference signal being used to position the terminal device; the processor receives a terminal device context request message from a second network device via the interface; An apparatus configured to send second information to the second network device via the interface, the second information being determined based on the first information, the second information including information used to configure transmission of the reference signal of the terminal device, and the number of times the reference signal is transmitted determined based on the first information being different from the number of times the reference signal is transmitted determined based on the second information.

14. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the second information includes information of a first timestamp and information of a third number of transmissions, and the information of the first timestamp is information of a timestamp associated with the third number of transmissions.

15. the second information includes information on a second number of transmissions; The device described in claim 13, wherein the second number of transmissions is determined based on the first number of transmissions and the number of transmissions of the reference signal performed by the terminal device after the first network device receives the first information, and the first number of transmissions is the number of transmissions of the reference signal determined based on the first information.

16. 16. The device according to claim 13, wherein the first information includes predetermined information, and there is an association relationship between the predetermined information and the location of the terminal device, and the second information does not include the predetermined information.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the pre-configured information comprises path loss reference information and / or spatial relationship information.

18. a communication device, the communication device being a second network device, the communication device including a processor and an interface; The processor: sending a terminal device context request message to a first network device via the interface; an apparatus configured to receive second information from the first network device via the interface, the second information being determined based on first information, the first information including information used to configure transmission of a reference signal of the terminal device, the reference signal being used to position the terminal device, the second information including information used to configure transmission of the reference signal of the terminal device, and a number of times of transmission of the reference signal determined based on the first information being different from a number of times of transmission of the reference signal determined based on the second information.

19. 20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second information includes information of a first timestamp and information of a third number of transmissions, and the information of the first timestamp is information of a timestamp associated with the third number of transmissions.

20. the second information includes information on a second number of transmissions; The device described in claim 18, wherein the second number of transmissions is determined based on the first number of transmissions and the number of transmissions of the reference signal performed by the terminal device after the first network device receives the first information, and the first number of transmissions is the number of transmissions of the reference signal determined based on the first information.

21. 21. The device according to claim 18, wherein the first information includes predetermined information, and there is an association relationship between the predetermined information and the location of the terminal device, and the second information does not include the predetermined information.

22. The processor: determining the second number of times of transmitting the reference signal based on the second information; 22. The apparatus of claim 18, further configured to send information to the terminal device via the interface indicating that the terminal device does not need to transmit the reference signal when the number of transmissions performed by the terminal device reaches the second number of transmissions.

23. The processor: further configured to send a first message to a location management device via the interface, the first message being used to request an update of path loss reference information and / or spatial relationship information; the processor is further configured to receive fourth information from the location management device via the interface, the fourth information including path loss reference information and / or spatial relationship information; 23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to send configuration information of the reference signal to the terminal device via the interface, and the configuration information of the reference signal is determined based on the fourth information and the second information.

24. The processor: receiving measurement information from the terminal device via the interface; 24. The apparatus of claim 18, further configured to send the configuration information of the reference signal to the terminal device via the interface, wherein the configuration information of the reference signal is determined based on the measurement information and the second information.

25. 1. A communications device including a processor and a memory, the memory is configured to store computer programs or instructions; 13. A communications device, wherein the processor is configured to execute the computer program or instructions in the memory to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 12.

26. A communication device comprising a processing unit and a communication unit, said processing unit configured to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 12 via said communication unit.

27. 13. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when invoked by a computer, perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 12.

28. A chip system, comprising at least one processor and an interface circuit, the interface circuit and the at least one processor being interconnected via wires, and the processor performing the method of any one of claims 1 to 12 by executing instructions.

29. 13. A computer program product, the computer program product storing a computer program, the computer program comprising program instructions, which when executed by a computer enable the computer to carry out the method of any one of claims 1 to 12.

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