Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

Provided in the present application are a communication method and apparatus. The method comprises: a terminal device sending first information to a first network element, wherein the first information is used for requesting a first key, and the first key is used for encrypting assistance data; receiving a first message from the first network element, wherein the first message comprises first indication information, and the first indication information is used for indicating that the first key does not exist; if a first time or a time counter or a timer expires, sending second information to the first network element, wherein the second information is used for requesting the first key; or waiting for the first network element to send the first key. When a first key does not exist on or is not available to a network side (e.g., a first network element), by means of sending indication information for indicating that the first key does not exist or is not available, a terminal device is notified, in a timely manner, of a situation wherein there is no first key on the network side at present, such that the terminal device can be prevented from blindly and frequently attempting to initiate a request for acquiring the first key, and the energy consumption and network signaling overheads generated due to the terminal device blindly and frequently attempting to request the first key can be reduced.

Description

Communication method and device

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on September 28, 2023, with application number 202311294451.6 and application name “A Communication Method and Device”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0003] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and device. Background Art

[0004] Real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning technology is a differential positioning technology, also known as carrier phase differential technology. In RTK positioning technology, the base station data center obtains auxiliary data (such as RTK auxiliary data) based on the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) positioning measurement results reported by the base station and the difference between the GNSS positioning data calculated based on the actual position of the base station. Afterwards, the base station data center encrypts the auxiliary data and sends it to the base station through the location management function (LMF) network element and the access and mobility management function (AMF) network element. Then, the base station broadcasts the encrypted auxiliary data, so that the positioning subjects such as terminal devices within the base station range can calibrate the positioning results (or correct them) according to the auxiliary data to improve the positioning accuracy.

[0005] For example, take the example of a terminal device obtaining RTK auxiliary data broadcast by a base station for positioning calibration. In order to successfully parse (or decrypt) the encrypted RTK auxiliary data broadcast by the base station, the terminal device needs to first obtain the RTK key corresponding to the encrypted RTK auxiliary data by accessing the AMF network element. Among them, the PTK key has a validity period and cannot be used after the validity period expires. However, in the process of the terminal device obtaining the RTK key, when the terminal device requests the RTK key from the AMF network element, the AMF network element temporarily does not have the RTK key, then there will be a problem of energy loss due to the terminal device blindly trying to send the RTK key acquisition request; or when the AMF network element does not send the updated RTK key to the terminal device in time, the terminal device will be unable to parse the encrypted RTK auxiliary data due to the expiration of the RTK key. Therefore, the solution for the terminal device to obtain the RTK key needs further study.

[0006] Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present application provides a communication method and apparatus for enabling a terminal device to effectively obtain a key and successfully parse encrypted auxiliary data.

[0008] In a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be implemented by data interaction between multiple communication devices (such as a first communication device, a second communication device, etc.). Optionally, the first communication device can be a terminal device or a component (such as a chip, a chip system, or a circuit, etc.) that can support the terminal device to implement the functions required by the method, and the second communication device can be a first network element or a component (such as a chip, a chip system, or a circuit, etc.) that can support the first network element to implement the functions required by the method. Exemplarily, taking the data interaction between the terminal device and the first network element to implement the communication method as an example, in this method, the terminal device can send first information to the first network element, the first information is used to request a first key, and the first key is used to encrypt auxiliary data. Afterwards, the terminal device receives a first message from the first network element, the first message includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the first key does not exist or is not available or is not configured or stored. Then, if the first time or timer or timer expires, the terminal device sends a second information to the first network element, the second information is used to request the first key, or the terminal device waits for the first network element to send the first key.

[0009] It should be understood that the present application does not limit the terminal device to sending the second information until the first time or the timer or the timer expires. The terminal device may also send the second information after randomly waiting for a period of time. There is no limitation.

[0010] It should be understood that the assistance data in this application can be understood as positioning assistance data, high-precision positioning assistance data, RTK data, GNSS assistance data, positioning data, differential positioning data, high-precision positioning data, GNSS positioning data, outdoor positioning data, satellite positioning data, positioning service data, high-precision positioning service data, differential positioning service data, GNSS positioning service data, satellite positioning service data, or RTK positioning service data. When a UE that has signed a high-precision service performs RTK positioning, it is necessary to calibrate its own positioning results according to the RTK calibration data broadcast by the network device (such as a base station) through the air interface to improve positioning accuracy. It should be understood that the first information or the second information in this application can be a key indication (for example, a cipher key or a ciphering key).

[0011] In this method, during the process of the terminal device requesting to obtain the first key, the network side (such as the first network element) temporarily does not have the first key. By sending an indication message to the terminal device indicating that the first key does not exist or is unavailable, the terminal device can be promptly notified when the network side temporarily does not have the first key requested by the terminal device. This helps to avoid the terminal device from blindly and frequently attempting to initiate a request to obtain the first key, and can reduce the energy consumption of the terminal device caused by blindly and frequently attempting to request the first key. It can also help the terminal device effectively obtain the latest key to parse encrypted auxiliary data, and can also reduce the signaling overhead of the network, especially in scenarios with a large number of terminals.

[0012] In one possible design, the terminal device sends first information to the first network element, including: if the auxiliary data is converted / switched from being received through the user plane of the terminal device to being received through the control plane, the terminal device sends the first information to the first network element, wherein the user plane reception may include reception through a session, for example, reception through a PDU session of the terminal device; the control plane reception may include reception through control plane signaling, for example, reception of a system message sent through an access network device, and the system message may include reception of a system information block (SIB).

[0013] In one possible design, the terminal device receives an indication from the control plane to receive auxiliary data (for example, from a third-party application or application function (AF) or application server (AS), where the third-party application or AF or AS may be an auxiliary data center) through the user plane (for example, a PDU session), and then sends a first message to the first network element. It should be understood that in this design, since the third-party application or AF or AS can count the number of terminal devices from which auxiliary data is obtained (for example, it can sense which terminal devices obtain auxiliary data from it through the PDU session), when the third-party application or AF or AS senses / determines that auxiliary data needs to be sent through the control plane (for example, the user plane connection load is high or the export traffic pressure is high, etc.), an indication for notifying the control plane to receive auxiliary data is sent to these terminal devices through the PDU session.

[0014] In one possible design, the terminal device receives a notification message from the core network or base station, informing it to receive auxiliary data through the control plane. This scenario can be when a third-party application or AF or AS perceives / determines that auxiliary data needs to be sent through the control plane (for example, the user plane connection load is high or the export traffic pressure is high, etc.), first notifies the core network or base station, and then the core network or base station notifies the terminal device to switch / convert to receiving auxiliary data through the control plane.

[0015] In the above design, the trigger condition for sending the first information can be determined / perceived / known whether the receiving method of the auxiliary data has changed, thereby ensuring that the sending of the first information is more in line with the actual needs of the terminal device.

[0016] In one possible design, the first message may also include second indication information, which may be used to indicate a first time or timer or timer, and the first time or timer or timer may be used to indicate the next request time of the first key, or to indicate the sending time of the next request information of the first key, or to indicate the start time of the next request information of the first key.

[0017] In the above design, during the process of the terminal device requesting to obtain the first key, the network side (such as the first network element) does not have the first key temporarily. By selectively generating the second indication information and carrying it in the first message and sending it to the terminal device, the terminal device can effectively request the first key according to the second indication information, thereby further avoiding the terminal device from blindly and frequently attempting to initiate a request to obtain the first key, helping to reduce the energy consumption of the terminal device due to blindly and frequently attempting to request the first key, and can also reduce the signaling overhead of the network, especially in scenarios with a large number of terminals.

[0018] In one possible design, the first message may also include third indication information, where the third indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to wait for the first network element to send the first key.

[0019] In the above design, when the terminal device requests to obtain the first key, the network side (such as the first network element) does not have the first key temporarily. By selectively generating a third indication information and carrying it in the first message and sending it to the terminal device, the terminal device can wait for the first key to be issued according to the third indication information, thereby further avoiding the terminal device from blindly and frequently attempting to initiate a request to obtain the first key, which helps to reduce the energy consumption caused by the terminal device's blind and frequent attempts to request the first key.

[0020] In one possible design, the conversion of auxiliary data from being received through the user plane of the terminal device to being received through the control plane includes: receiving a system message block sent by the access network device to determine (or perceive) that the auxiliary data is converted from being received through the user plane of the terminal device to being received through the control plane; or not receiving a system message block sent by the access network device to determine that the auxiliary data is converted from being received through the control plane to being received through the user plane of the terminal device.

[0021] In the above design, the implementation methods for determining whether the receiving mode of the auxiliary data has changed are flexible and diverse, which can ensure that the sending of the first information is more accurate and more in line with the actual sending situation.

[0022] In one possible design, a timer or timer is used to indicate a first duration, where the first duration is the time interval between two consecutive requests for the first key by the terminal device, and the first time is the sum of the time when the terminal device sends the first message and the first duration.

[0023] In one possible design, the first time is the sum of the time when the terminal device sends the first message and a second time length set by the terminal device.

[0024] In the above design, after the terminal device fails to request the first key according to the first information, it sends the information requesting the first key again after a period of time set by the terminal device, which helps to reduce the energy consumption caused by the terminal device blindly trying to continuously request the first key.

[0025] In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be implemented by data interaction between multiple communication devices (such as a first communication device, a second communication device, etc.). Optionally, the first communication device can be a terminal device or a component (such as a chip, a chip system, or a circuit, etc.) that can support the terminal device to implement the functions required by the method, and the second communication device can be a first network element or a component (such as a chip, a chip system, or a circuit, etc.) that can support the first network element to implement the functions required by the method. Exemplarily, taking the communication method implemented by data interaction between a terminal device and a first network element as an example, in this method, the first network element receives first information from the terminal device, wherein the first information is used to request a first key, and the first key is used to encrypt auxiliary data. Afterwards, if the first key does not exist or is unavailable, the first network element may send a first message to the terminal device, wherein the first message may include first indication information, and the first indication information may be used to indicate that the first key does not exist or is unavailable. Then, the first network element receives second information from the terminal device, or if the first key is obtained, sends the first key to the terminal device, wherein the second information is used to request the first key.

[0026] The technical effects that can be achieved in the second aspect can be referred to the technical effects that can be achieved in the first aspect mentioned above, and will not be repeated here.

[0027] In one possible design, the first key does not exist or is unavailable, including: the first network element does not store the first key, for example, the local or remote distributed database does not store the first key; or if the first network element does not store the first key locally, a second message is sent to the second network element, wherein the second message is used to request the first key, and then the first network element receives a third message from the second network element, the third message may include fourth indication information, and the fourth indication information may be used to indicate that the first key does not exist or is unavailable.

[0028] In the above design, if the first network element does not store the first key locally (or does not exist or is not configured or is unavailable), the first network element requests the first key from the second network element, and further determines whether it is necessary to send an indication information to the terminal device to indicate that the first key does not exist or is unavailable based on the third message from the second network element, so that the terminal device can accurately know the request status of the first key.

[0029] In one possible design, the first network element obtains the first key, including: the first network element receives a fifth message from the second network element, and the fifth message may include the first key.

[0030] In the above design, after the second network element obtains the first key, it will send the first key to the first network element in a timely manner.

[0031] In one possible design, the first message may also include second indication information, which may be used to indicate a first time or timer or timer, and the first time or timer or timer may be used to indicate the next request time of the first key, or to indicate the sending time of the next request information of the first key, or to indicate the start time of the next request information of the first key.

[0032] Please refer to the relevant description of the first aspect for the beneficial effects of the above design, which will not be repeated here.

[0033] In one possible design, the first message may also include third indication information, which may be used to instruct the terminal device to wait for the first network element to send the first key.

[0034] Please refer to the relevant description of the first aspect for the beneficial effects of the above design, which will not be repeated here.

[0035] On the third aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be implemented by data interaction between multiple communication devices (such as a second communication device, a third communication device, etc.). Optionally, the second communication device can be a first network element or a component (such as a chip, a chip system or a circuit, etc.) that can support the first network element to implement the functions required by the method, and the third communication device can be a second network element or a component (such as a chip, a chip system or a circuit, etc.) that can support the second network element to implement the functions required by the method. Exemplarily, taking the implementation of the communication method by data interaction between the first network element and the second network element as an example, in this method, after receiving the second message from the first network element, the second network element can send a third message to the first network element, the second message is used to request the first key, and the third message may include fourth indication information, and the fourth indication information can be used to indicate that the first key does not exist or is unavailable.

[0036] For the technical effects that can be achieved in the third aspect, please refer to the relevant description of the first aspect above, which will not be repeated here.

[0037] In one possible design, the method also includes: the second network element may send a fifth message to the first network element, and the fifth message may include the first key.

[0038] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be implemented by data interaction between multiple communication devices (such as a first communication device, a second communication device, etc.). Optionally, the first communication device can be a first terminal device or a component (such as a chip, a chip system, or a circuit, etc.) that can support the first terminal device to implement the functions required for the method, and the second communication device can be a first network element or a component (such as a chip, a chip system, or a circuit, etc.) that can support the first network element to implement the functions required for the method. Exemplarily, taking the communication method implemented by data interaction between the first terminal device and the first network element as an example, in this method, if the first terminal device is in a connection management connected state, the first network element can send a sixth message to the first terminal device, and the sixth message can be used to update NAS parameters or to notify the first terminal device that the key has been updated. The sixth message may include the second key; or if the first terminal device is in a connection management idle state, the first network element can send a paging message to the first terminal device, and the paging message is used to page the first terminal device; thereafter, if the first network element receives a seventh message from the first terminal device, it can send an eighth message to the first terminal device, and the seventh message can be used to activate the user plane session. The eighth message may include the second key. The user associated with the first terminal device is a user who has signed up for the first service. The first service may include a high-precision positioning service. The second key is a new key for encrypting auxiliary data corresponding to the high-precision positioning service.

[0039] It should be understood that the high-precision positioning service in this application can also be replaced by the following descriptions: RTK service, outdoor satellite positioning service, outdoor positioning service, differential service, etc., and this application does not limit this.

[0040] It should be understood that the user associated with the first terminal device can be understood as the user of the first terminal device; or can be understood as the user holding the first terminal device; or can be understood as the user owning the first terminal device; or can be understood as the first terminal itself referring to the first user, that is, the first users can be replaced with each other, and this application does not limit this.

[0041] It should be understood that the auxiliary data corresponding to the encrypted high-precision positioning service can be understood as the auxiliary data of the encrypted high-precision positioning service; and the new key can be understood as the updated key.

[0042] In this method, after obtaining the latest key (such as the second key), the first network element promptly pushes the second key to the terminal device associated with the user who has signed up for the first service (such as the high-precision positioning service). This allows the network side to promptly notify the relevant terminal devices after obtaining the latest key, so that the relevant terminal devices can use the latest key to successfully decrypt the encrypted auxiliary data, which helps to improve the positioning accuracy of the terminal devices.

[0043] In one possible design, the sixth message, the seventh message, or the eighth message is a non-access stratum (NAS) message.

[0044] In one possible design, the sixth message is a configuration update message (configuration update); the seventh message is a service request message (service request); and the eighth message is a service accept message (service accept).

[0045] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be implemented by data interaction between multiple communication devices (such as a first communication device, a second communication device, etc.). Optionally, the first communication device can be a first terminal device or a component (such as a chip, a chip system or a circuit, etc.) that can support the first terminal device to implement the functions required for the method, and the second communication device can be a first network element or a component (such as a chip, a chip system or a circuit, etc.) that can support the first network element to implement the functions required for the method. Exemplarily, taking the data interaction between the first terminal device and the first network element to implement the communication method as an example, in this method,

[0046] The technical effects that can be achieved in the fifth aspect can be referred to the technical effects that can be achieved in the fourth aspect mentioned above, and will not be repeated here.

[0047] In one possible design, the sixth message, the seventh message, or the eighth message is a non-access stratum (NAS) message.

[0048] In one possible design, the sixth message is a configuration update message; the seventh message is a service request message; and the eighth message is a service reception message.

[0049] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a possible communication device. Optionally, the communication device may be a communication device (such as a first communication device or a second communication device or a third communication device) or a component (such as a chip, a chip system or a circuit, etc.) that can support the communication device to implement the functions required for the communication method. Exemplarily, the first communication device may be a terminal device or a first terminal device (such as a UE), the second communication device may be a first network element (such as an AMF network element or an MME), and the third communication device may be a second network element (such as an LMF network element or an E-SMLC). When the communication device is a chip provided in the first communication device (or the second communication device or the third communication device), the communication device includes a transceiver and a processor, but does not include a memory. The transceiver exists as an input and output interface, and the input and output interface is used for the chip to implement the transceiver of the communication device. The input and output interface may include an input interface and / or an output interface, the input interface can implement the reception of the communication device, and the output interface can be used to implement the transmission of the communication device. The processor is used to read and execute the corresponding computer program or instruction so that the corresponding function of the first communication device (or the second communication device or the third communication device) is implemented. Optionally, when the chip implements the corresponding functions of the first communication device (or the second communication device or the third communication device) in the communication method embodiment provided by the present application, the input and output interface can implement the sending and receiving operations performed by the first communication device (or the second communication device or the third communication device) in the communication method embodiment provided by the present application; the processor can implement other operations other than the sending and receiving operations performed by the first communication device (or the second communication device or the third communication device) in the above-mentioned communication method embodiment provided by the present application.

[0050] In one example, when a communication device is used to implement the functions of a terminal device in the method embodiments described in the first or second aspects above, the beneficial effects can be found in the description of the terminal device in the first or second aspects above and are not further described here. The communication device has the function of implementing the behavior of the terminal device in the method embodiments described in the first or second aspects above. The functions can be implemented in hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the functions described above. In one possible design, the communication device includes: a communication module (or a communication unit, a transceiver module, or a transceiver unit, configured to send and receive data) and a processing module (or a processing unit). The communication module is configured to send first information to a first network element. The first information is configured to request a first key, which is used to encrypt auxiliary data. The communication module is further configured to receive a first message from the first network element. The first message includes first indication information, which indicates that the first key does not exist or is unavailable. The processing module is configured to send second information to the first network element or wait for the first network element to send the first key if a first time or a timer or a timer expires. The second information is configured to request the first key. These modules can execute the corresponding functions of the terminal device in the method embodiments shown in the first or second aspects above. For details, please refer to the detailed description of the corresponding functions of the terminal device in the method examples, which will not be repeated here.

[0051] In another example, when a communication device is used to implement the functions of the first network element in the method embodiments described in the first, second, or third aspects above, the beneficial effects can be found in the description of the first network element in the first, second, or third aspects above, and are not further described here. The communication device has the functions of implementing the behaviors of the first network element in the method embodiments described in the first, second, or third aspects above. The functions can be implemented in hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the functions. In one possible design, the communication device includes: a communication module and a processing module. The communication module is configured to receive first information from a terminal device. The first information is used to request a first key, which is used to encrypt auxiliary data. The processing module is configured to send a first message to the terminal device if the first key does not exist or is unavailable. The first message includes first indication information, which indicates that the first key does not exist or is unavailable. The communication module is further configured to receive second information from the terminal device, or, if the first key is obtained, send the first key to the terminal device. The second information is used to request the first key. These modules can execute the corresponding functions of the first network element in the method embodiments shown in the first aspect, second aspect or third aspect above. For details, please refer to the detailed description of the corresponding functions of the first network element in the method examples, which will not be repeated here.

[0052] In another example, when a communication device is used to implement the functions of a second network element in the method embodiments described in the second or third aspects above, the beneficial effects can be found in the description of the second network element in the second or third aspects above, and are not further described here. The communication device has the functions of implementing the behaviors of the second network element in the method embodiments described in the second or third aspects above. The functions can be implemented in hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the functions. In one possible design, the communication device includes: a communication module and a processing module. The communication module is configured to receive a second message from a first network element. The second message requests a first key. The processing module is configured to send a third message to the first network element if the first key does not exist or is unavailable locally. The third message includes fourth indication information, which indicates that the first key does not exist or is unavailable. These modules can perform the corresponding functions of the second network element in the method embodiments described in the second or third aspects above. For details, refer to the detailed description of the corresponding functions of the second network element in the method examples, and are not further described here.

[0053] In another example, when a communication device is used to implement the functions of the first network element in the method embodiment described in the fourth or fifth aspect above, the beneficial effects can be found in the description of the first network element in the fourth or fifth aspect above and are not further described here. The communication device has the function of implementing the behavior of the first network element in the method embodiment described in the fourth or fifth aspect above. The functions can be implemented in hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the functions. In one possible design, the communication device includes: a communication module and a processing module. The communication module is configured to send a sixth message to the first terminal device when the first terminal device is in a connection management connected state. The sixth message is used to update NAS parameters or to notify the first terminal device that a key has been updated. The sixth message includes a second key. The user associated with the first terminal device is a user subscribed to a first service, the first service including a high-precision positioning service. The second key is a new key for encrypting assistance data corresponding to the high-precision positioning service. The communication module is further configured to send a paging message to the first terminal device when the first terminal device is in a connection management idle state. The paging message is used to page the first terminal device. The communication module is further configured to receive a seventh message from the first terminal device. Among them, the seventh message is used to activate the user plane session. The communication module is also used to send an eighth message to the first terminal device. Among them, the eighth message includes a second key. Optionally, the processing module is used to save (or store) the second key. The processing module is also used to determine the contracted user to whom the second key needs to be pushed. These modules can execute the corresponding functions of the first network element in the method embodiment shown in the fourth aspect or the fifth aspect above. Please refer to the detailed description of the corresponding functions of the first network element in the method example, which will not be repeated here.

[0054] In another example, when a communication device is used to implement the functions of a first terminal device in the method embodiment described in the fourth or fifth aspect above, the beneficial effects can be found in the description of the first terminal device in the fourth or fifth aspect above and are not further described here. The communication device has the function of implementing the behavior of the first terminal device in the method embodiment described in the fourth or fifth aspect above. The function can be implemented in hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the functions described above. In one possible design, the communication device includes a communication module. The communication module is configured to receive a sixth message from a first network element when the first terminal device is in a connection management connected state. The sixth message is used to update NAS parameters or to notify the first terminal device that a key has been updated; the sixth message includes a second key; the user associated with the first terminal device is a user subscribed to a first service, the first service including a high-precision positioning service; and the second key is a new key for encrypting assistance data corresponding to the high-precision positioning service. The communication module is further configured to receive a paging message from the first network element when the first terminal device is in a connection management idle state. The paging message is used to page the first terminal device. The communication module is further configured to send a seventh message to the first network element. The seventh message is used to activate the user plane session. The communication module is further configured to receive an eighth message from the first network element. The eighth message includes the second key. These modules may perform the corresponding functions of the first terminal device in the method embodiments of the fourth or fifth aspects described above. For details, please refer to the detailed description of the corresponding functions of the first terminal device in the method examples, which will not be repeated here.

[0055] In another example, when the communication device is used to implement the function of the second network element in the method embodiment shown in the fourth or fifth aspect above, the beneficial effects can be found in the description of the second network element in the fourth or fifth aspect, which will not be repeated here. The communication device has the function of implementing the behavior of the second network element in the method embodiment shown in the fourth or fifth aspect above. The function can be implemented by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions. In one possible design, the communication device includes a communication module. The communication module is used to send a broadcast key data notification message to the first network element. The broadcast key data notification message includes a second key. These modules can perform the corresponding functions of the second network element in the method embodiment shown in the fourth or fifth aspect above. For details, refer to the detailed description of the corresponding functions of the second network element in the method example, which will not be repeated here.

[0056] In the seventh aspect, the present application provides a possible communication device, which may be a communication device (such as a first communication device or a second communication device or a third communication device) required to execute the communication method provided by the present application, or may be a device that includes the communication device required to execute the communication method provided by the present application, or may be a device having the functions required to implement the communication method. The communication device may include a transceiver and a processor. Optionally, the communication device may also include a memory. The memory is used to store computer programs or instructions, and the processor is coupled to the memory and the transceiver. When the processor executes the computer program or instruction, the communication device executes any possible design method of the first aspect or any possible design method of the second aspect or any possible design method of the third aspect or any possible design method of the fourth aspect or any possible design method of the fifth aspect.

[0057] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a possible communication system, which may include the first communication device, the second communication device, and the third communication device mentioned in the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth aspects above. The relevant functional implementations of the first, second, third, or third communication device can be found in the relevant descriptions of the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth aspects above, and will not be repeated here.

[0058] Exemplarily, the communication system may include one or more first communication devices, one or more second communication devices, and one or more third communication devices.

[0059] In the ninth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are run on a computer, the computer executes any possible design method of the first aspect above, or any possible design method of the second aspect above, or any possible design method of the third aspect above, or any possible design method of the fourth aspect above, or any possible design method of the fifth aspect above.

[0060] In the tenth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program or instruction. When the computer program or instruction is executed by a computer, the computer executes any possible design method of the first aspect above, or any possible design method of the second aspect above, or any possible design method of the third aspect above, or any possible design method of the fourth aspect above, or any possible design method of the fifth aspect above.

[0061] In an eleventh aspect, the present application provides a chip, which may include a processor and may also include a memory (or the chip is coupled to the memory), and the chip executes program instructions in the memory to perform any possible design method of the first aspect or any possible design method of the second aspect or any possible design method of the third aspect or any possible design method of the fourth aspect or any possible design method of the fifth aspect. Wherein, "coupling" refers to the direct or indirect combination of two components, such as coupling may refer to an electrical connection between two components.

[0062] In a twelfth aspect, the present application further provides a chip system, which includes a processor for supporting a computer device to implement any possible method in the design of the first aspect or any possible method in the design of the second aspect or any possible method in the design of the third aspect or any possible method in the design of the fourth aspect or any possible method in the design of the fifth aspect. In one possible design, the chip system also includes a memory, which is used to store the necessary programs and data for the computer device. The chip system can be composed of chips, or it can include chips and other discrete devices.

[0063] Based on the implementation methods provided in the above aspects, this application can also be further combined to provide more implementation methods. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0064] FIG1a exemplarily shows a possible communication system architecture diagram provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0065] FIG1b exemplarily shows another possible communication system architecture diagram provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0066] FIG2 exemplarily shows a schematic diagram of another possible communication system architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0067] FIG3 exemplarily shows a flow chart of a communication method provided in Example 1 of the present application;

[0068] FIG4 exemplarily shows a flow chart of another communication method provided in Example 1 of the present application;

[0069] FIG5 exemplarily shows a flow chart of another communication method provided in the first embodiment of the present application;

[0070] FIG6 exemplarily shows a flow chart of a communication method provided in Embodiment 2 of the present application;

[0071] FIG7 exemplarily shows a flow chart of another communication method provided in Example 2 of the present application;

[0072] FIG8 exemplarily shows a flow chart of another communication method provided in Embodiment 2 of the present application;

[0073] FIG9 exemplarily shows a schematic structural diagram of a possible communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0074] FIG10 exemplarily shows a schematic structural diagram of another possible communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0075] The embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0076] The following describes possible communication system architectures to which the communication method provided in this application is applicable. It should be noted that these descriptions are for the purpose of facilitating understanding by those skilled in the art and do not limit the scope of protection claimed in this application.

[0077] Figure 1a exemplarily shows a possible communication system architecture diagram applicable to an embodiment of the present application. Among them, the communication system architecture shown in Figure 1a is the fifth-generation (5th-generation, 5G) communication system architecture formulated by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standard, and the communication system architecture includes terminal equipment, access network (such as (R)AN), core network (CN) and data network (DN). Optionally, the terminal equipment can be connected to the access network equipment (such as (R)AN equipment) in a wireless manner, and the access network equipment can be connected to the core network in a wireless or wired manner. The core network equipment and the wireless access network equipment can be independent and different physical devices, or the functions of the core network equipment and the logical functions of the wireless access network equipment can be integrated into the same physical device, or the functions of some core network equipment and some wireless access network equipment can be integrated into one physical device. Terminal equipment and terminal equipment, as well as access network equipment and access network equipment, can be connected to each other in a wired or wireless manner. Exemplarily, the communication system architecture can also include other network equipment (such as wireless relay equipment or wireless backhaul equipment, etc.).

[0078] The following is a brief introduction to the functions of some devices included in the communication system architecture.

[0079] Terminal devices are user-side entities capable of transmitting and receiving signals, providing services such as video, voice, and data connectivity. For example, terminal devices are the gateway for mobile users to interact with the network, providing basic computing and storage capabilities, displaying service windows, and receiving user input. Next-generation terminal devices (NextGen UEs) utilize new air interface technologies to establish signal and data connections with (R)AN equipment, transmitting control signals and service data to the mobile network.

[0080] Optionally, the terminal device may also be referred to as a terminal, user equipment (UE), access terminal equipment, vehicle-mounted terminal, industrial control terminal, UE unit, UE station, mobile station, mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), remote station, remote terminal equipment, mobile device, UE terminal equipment, terminal equipment, wireless communication equipment, UE agent or UE device, etc. In an embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may be fixed or mobile, and the implementation of the present application does not limit this. For example, the terminal device may be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld, wearable or vehicle-mounted, or may be deployed on water (such as a ship, etc.), or may be deployed in the air (such as an airplane, a balloon or a satellite, etc.).

[0081] Exemplarily, the terminal device may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a subscriber unit, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a wireless data card, a personal digital assistant (PDA) computer, a wireless modem, a handheld device, a laptop computer, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a vehicle-mounted terminal device, a wireless terminal in self-driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in a smart city, a wireless terminal in a smart home, a wearable terminal device, a vehicle, a drone, a helicopter, an airplane, factory machinery / equipment, a machine type communication (MTC) terminal, a ship or a robot, etc. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form adopted by the terminal device.

[0082] (R)AN equipment connects terminal devices to wireless networks. For example, (R)AN equipment provides network access for authorized users in a specific area and can determine transmission tunnels of varying quality to transmit user data based on user level and service requirements. (R)AN equipment manages its own resources, utilizing them effectively, providing access services to terminal devices on demand, and forwarding control signals and user data between terminal devices and the core network.

[0083] Exemplarily, (R)AN equipment may include, but is not limited to: next generation NodeB (gNB) in fifth generation (5G) communication systems, next generation base stations in sixth generation (6G) communication systems, base stations in future communication systems, transmission reception points (TRP), evolved Node B (eNB), radio network controller (RNC), Node B (NB), base station controller (BSC), base transceiver station (BTS), home base station (e.g., home evolved Node B, or home Node B, HNB), base band unit (BBU), or wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) access point (AP), etc.

[0084] Optionally, in a network structure, the (R)AN device may further include a centralized unit (CU) or a distributed unit (DU). This structure can split the protocol layers of the network device, with the functions of some protocol layers being centrally controlled by the CU, and the functions of the remaining part or all of the protocol layers being distributed in the DU, which is centrally controlled by the CU. For example, the functions of the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer and above can be set in the CU, and the functions of the protocol layers below the PDCP (such as the RLC layer and the medium access control (MAC) layer, etc.) are set in the DU. It should be noted that this division of the protocol layers is only an example, and can also be divided in other protocol layers. The radio frequency device can be remote and not placed in the DU, or it can be integrated in the DU, or partly remote and partly integrated in the DU, and the embodiments of the present application do not impose any restrictions. In addition, in some embodiments, the control plane (CP) and user plane (UP) of the CU can be separated and implemented as different entities, namely the control plane CU entity (CU-CP entity) and the user plane CU entity (CU-UP entity).

[0085] For example, taking a base station as an example, the base station can communicate with the terminal device, or communicate with the terminal device through a relay station. The terminal device can communicate with multiple base stations using different access technologies.

[0086] In the embodiment of the present application, the (R)AN device may be a macro base station, a micro base station, an indoor station, a relay node, a donor node, etc. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific technology and specific device form used by the radio access network device.

[0087] Data network: A data network that provides business services to users. Typically, the client is located on a terminal device, and the server is located on the data network. A data network can be a private network, such as a local area network (LAN), an external network not controlled by the operator, such as the Internet, or a proprietary network jointly deployed by operators, such as the network that provides IP multimedia core network subsystem (IMS) services.

[0088] Core network: responsible for maintaining the subscription data of the mobile network, managing the network elements of the mobile network, and providing terminal devices with functions such as session management, mobility management, policy management, and security authentication. When the terminal device is attached, it provides network access authentication for the terminal device; when the terminal device has a service request, it allocates network resources for the terminal device; when the terminal device moves, it updates network resources for the terminal device; when the terminal device is idle, it provides a fast recovery mechanism for the terminal device; when the terminal device detaches, it releases network resources for the terminal device; when the terminal device has service data, it provides data routing functions for the terminal device, such as forwarding uplink data to the data network; or receiving downlink data of the terminal device from the data network and forwarding it to the (R)AN device, which is then sent to the terminal device by the (R)AN device. Optionally, in terms of functional logic, the network elements of the core network can be divided into two parts: user plane network elements and control plane network elements. Among them, the user plane network elements are responsible for the transmission of service data. For example, user plane network elements can include but are not limited to user plane function (UPF) network elements. The control plane network element is responsible for the management of the mobile network. For example, the control plane may include but is not limited to the access and mobility management function (AMF) network element, the session management function (SMF) network element, the unified data management (UDM) network element, the policy control function (PCF) network element, the application function (AF) network element, the authentication server function (AUSF) network element, and the network slice selection function (NSSF) network element. Of course, the core network may also include other network elements (such as the network exposure function (NEF) network element, the network storage function (NRF) network element, the unified data repository (UDR) network element, the network slice-specific authentication and authorization function (NSSAAF) network element, etc.), which are not listed here one by one.

[0089] Optionally, the core network control plane adopts a service-based architecture, where interactions between control plane network elements use service invocations, replacing the traditional point-to-point communication. In a service-based architecture, control plane network elements expose services to other control plane network elements for invocation. In point-to-point communication, the communication interface between control plane network elements stores a set of specific messages that can only be used by the control plane network elements at both ends of the interface during communication.

[0090] The following is a brief introduction to the functions of some network elements included in the core network:

[0091] (1) SMF network element: mainly used for session management, IP address allocation and management of terminal devices, selection of endpoints for manageable user equipment plane functions, policy control, or charging function interfaces, and downlink data notification, etc. For example, it can complete processes such as establishment, release, and update of protocol data unit (PDU) sessions. In 5G communication systems, the session management network element can be an SMF network element. In future communications such as the sixth-generation (6G) communication system, the session management function network element can still be an SMF network element, or have other names, which is not limited in this application. Nsmf is a service-based interface provided by the SMF network element. The SMF network element can communicate with other network functions through Nsmf.

[0092] (2) AMF network element: Mainly used for mobility management and access management, etc. For example, it can receive non-access stratum (NAS) signaling of terminal devices (including mobility management (MM) signaling and session management (SM) signaling) and related signaling of access network devices (such as N2 signaling at the base station granularity that interacts with the AMF network element), complete the user registration process and forwarding of SM signaling and mobility management. For example, it can be the mobility management entity (MME) in the fourth-generation (6G) communication system or the AMF network element in the 5G communication system. In future communication systems such as 6G communication systems, the access management network element can still be the AMF network element, or have other names, which is not limited in this application. Namf is a service-based interface provided by the AMF network element. The AMF network element can communicate with other network functions through Namf.

[0093] (3) UDM network element: used to process user identification, contract signing, access authentication, registration, or mobility management. In 5G communication systems, the data management network element can be a UDM network element. In future communication systems such as 6G communication systems, the data management network element can still be a UDM network element or have other names, which are not limited in this application. Nudm is a service-based interface provided by the UDM network element. The UDM network element can communicate with other network functions through Nudm.

[0094] (4) PCF network element: a unified policy framework for guiding network behavior, providing policy rule information (such as mobility-related policies or PDU session-related policies (such as quality of service (QoS) policies, billing policies, etc.)) for control plane functional network elements (such as AMF, SMF, etc.). In a 5G communication system, the policy control network element may be a PCF network element. In future communication systems such as a 6G communication system, the policy control network element may still be a PCF network element, or have other names, which is not limited in this application. Npcf is a service-based interface provided by the PCF network element, and the PCF network element can communicate with other network functions through Npcf.

[0095] (5) AF network element: used for data routing affected by applications, accessing network open functions, or interacting with the policy framework for policy control. In 5G communication systems, application network elements can be AF network elements. In future communication systems such as 6G communication systems, application network elements can still be AF network elements or have other names, which are not limited in this application. Naf is a service-based interface provided by AF. AF network elements can communicate with other network functions through Naf.

[0096] (6) UPF network element: used for packet routing and forwarding, or QoS processing of user plane data. In 5G communication systems, the user plane network element can be a UPF network element. In future communication systems such as 6G communication systems, the user plane network element can still be a UPF network element, or have other names. This application does not limit this.

[0097] (7) AUSF network element: Mainly used for user authentication, etc. In 5G communication systems, the authentication service network element can be an AUSF network element. In future communication systems such as 6G communication systems, the authentication service network element can still be an AUSF network element, or have other names, which are not limited in this application. Nausf is a service-based interface provided by the AUSF network element. The AUSF network element can communicate with other network functions through Nausf.

[0098] (8) NSSF network element: used to select network slices for terminal devices. In the 5G communication system, the network slice selection function network element may be the NSSF network element. In future communication systems such as the 6G communication system, the network slice selection function network element may still be the NSSF network element, or may have other names. This application does not limit this.

[0099] (9) NEF network element: used to securely open up services and capabilities provided by 3GPP network functions to the outside world. In 5G communication systems, the network open network element may be an NEF network element. In future communication systems, such as 6G communication systems, the network open function network element may still be an NEF network element, or have other names, which are not limited in this application. Nnef is a service-based interface provided by the NEF network element. The NEF network element can communicate with other network functions through Nnef.

[0100] (10) NRF network element: used to provide service registration, discovery and authorization, and maintain available network function (NF) instance information, which can realize on-demand configuration of network functions and services and interconnection between NFs. In the 5G communication system, the network storage network element can be an NRF network element. In future communication systems such as the 6G communication system, the network storage function network element can still be an NRF network element, or have other names, which is not limited in this application. Nnrf is a service-based interface provided by the NRF network element. The NRF network element can communicate with other network functions through Nnrf.

[0101] (11) NSSAAF network element: It is mainly responsible for the authentication and authorization of network slices and can interact with the authentication, authorization, and accounting server (AAA-S) through the authentication, authorization, and accounting proxy (AAA-P).

[0102] (12) UDR network element: used by UDM network elements to store subscription data or read subscription data and PCF network elements to store policy data or read policy data.

[0103] It is understood that the above-mentioned network element or function can be a network element in a hardware device, a software function running on dedicated hardware, or a virtualized function instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform). Optionally, the above-mentioned network element or function can be implemented by a single device, or by multiple devices, or can be a functional module within a single device, and this is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0104] As shown in Figure 1a, the terminal device can access the 5G communication system through access network devices such as (R)AN devices, and the terminal device can access the 5G communication system through the next generation network (Next Generation (NG)1 interface (referred to as N1) communicates with the AMF network element, the access network equipment communicates with the AMF network element through the N2 interface (referred to as N2), the access network equipment communicates with the UPF network element through the N3 interface (referred to as N3), the AMF network element communicates with the SMF network element through the N11 interface (referred to as N11), the AMF network element communicates with the UDM network element through the N8 interface (referred to as N8), the AMF network element communicates with the AUSF network element through the N12 interface (referred to as N12), the AMF network element communicates with the PCF network element through the N15 interface (referred to as N15), the SMF network element communicates with the PCF network element through the N7 interface (referred to as N7), the SMF network element communicates with the UPF network element through the N4 interface (referred to as N4), the NEF network element communicates with the SMF network element through the N29 interface (referred to as N29), and the UPF network element accesses the data network (DN) through the N6 interface (referred to as N6).

[0105] It should be noted that the names of the network elements and the interfaces between them in Figure 1a are only examples. During the specific implementation process, the names of the network elements and the interfaces between them may be other names, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0106] Figure 1b is a schematic diagram of another possible communication system architecture provided by the current technical specifications (e.g., a schematic diagram of a network architecture for supporting positioning). This network architecture is an expansion of the communication system architecture shown in Figure 1a. For example, multiple functional entities are added, such as a gateway mobile location center (GMLC) network element, a location retrieval function (LRF) network element, a location service (LCS) client, and a location management function (LMF) network element, to support positioning service functions.

[0107] The following is a brief introduction to the functions of the newly added functional entities in the network architecture shown in Figure 1b.

[0108] (1) GMLC network element: responsible for processing positioning requests for positioning services and selecting appropriate AMF network elements for positioning services.

[0109] (2) LRF network element: It can be configured with the GMLC network element or separately, and is responsible for retrieving or verifying the location information of the terminal device and providing routing and related information for the terminal device that has initiated the IMS emergency session.

[0110] (3) Location service client (LCS client): can send a positioning request to the GMLC network element through the Le interface between the GMLC network element and the LCS client to initiate a positioning service for the UE.

[0111] (4)LMF network element: Mainly responsible for positioning request management, positioning resource allocation and determining the location of terminal devices during positioning services.

[0112] For example, as shown in Figure 1b, NL1 is the interface between the AMF network element and the LMF network element. NL7 is the interface between the LMF network element and the LMF network element. N52 is the interface between the UDM network element and the NEF network element. NL2 is the interface between the AMF network element and the GMLC network element. NL5 is the interface between the NEF network element and the GMLC network element. N33 is the interface between the NEF network element and the AF network element. N51 is the interface between the AMF network element and the NEF network element. NL6 is the interface between the UDM network element and the GMLC network element. One Le is the interface between the LCS client and the GMLC network element; and one Le is the interface between the LCS client and the LRF network element.

[0113] It should be understood that the introduction of the application architecture of the above-mentioned RTK positioning technology is based on the 5G communication system architecture as an example. Under the 4G communication system architecture, the AMF network element can be replaced by the MME, and the LMF network element can be replaced by the evolved serving mobile location center (E-SMLC). Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of another possible communication system architecture (such as the positioning architecture of the 4G communication system) provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 2, the E-SMLC is similar to the role of the LMF network element, and the MME is similar to the role of the AMF network element. The MME can be connected to the access network equipment (such as the Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN)) through the S1 application protocol (S1 application protocol, S1-AP) interface. In the embodiment of the present application, the LMF network element and the E-SMLC can be referred to as location management network elements. For example, as shown in Figure 2, LTE-Uu is the interface between the UE and the E-UTRAN; SLs is the interface between the E-SMLC and the MME; SLg is the interface between the MME and the GMLC network element; and SLm is the interface between the location measurement unit (LMU) and the E-SMLC.

[0114] The following is a detailed introduction to the specific implementation of the communication method in the embodiment of the present application based on the communication system architecture shown in Figure 1a, Figure 1b or Figure 2.

[0115] [Example 1]

[0116] Figure 3 exemplarily shows a flow chart of a communication method provided in Example 1 of the present application. The method is applicable to the communication system architecture illustrated in Figure 1a or Figure 1b or Figure 2. The method flow can be implemented by data interaction between multiple communication devices (such as a first communication device, a second communication device, and a third communication device). Optionally, the first communication device can be a terminal device or a component (such as a chip, a chip system, or a circuit, etc.) that can support the terminal device to implement the functions required by the method, the second communication device can be a first network element or a component (such as a chip, a chip system, or a circuit, etc.) that can support the first network element to implement the functions required by the method, and the third communication device can be a second network element or a component (such as a chip, a chip system, or a circuit, etc.) that can support the second network element to implement the functions required by the method. Exemplarily, when the communication method illustrated in Figure 3 is applicable to the communication system architecture illustrated in Figure 1a or Figure 1b, the terminal device can be the UE illustrated in Figure 1a or Figure 1b, the first network element can be the AMF network element illustrated in Figure 1a or Figure 1b, and the second network element can be the LMF network element illustrated in Figure 1a or Figure 1b. When the communication method illustrated in FIG3 is applicable to the communication system architecture illustrated in FIG2, the terminal device may be the UE illustrated in FIG2, the first network element may be the MME illustrated in FIG2, and the second network element may be the E-SMLC illustrated in FIG2. In order to facilitate the introduction of the technical solution provided in Example 1 of the present application, the following takes the first communication device as the terminal device, the second communication device as the first network element, and the third communication device as the second network element as an example to introduce the process of implementing the communication method by data interaction between the first communication device, the second communication device, and the third communication device. As shown in FIG3, the method includes:

[0117] Step 301: A terminal device sends first information to a first network element, and the first network element receives the first information.

[0118] The first information is used to request a first key, and the first key is used to encrypt assistance data. For example, the first key requested by the terminal device may be one or more. Optionally, the first key may also be used to decrypt (or parse) encrypted assistance data. For example, the first key may be an RTK key or a key for GNSS assistance data (GNSS assistance data) sent via posSIB or a key for assistance data. Exemplarily, assistance data may refer to data used to assist the terminal device in achieving precise positioning, such as positioning assistance data. For example, the positioning assistance data may be RTK positioning assistance data.

[0119] For example, when the first network element is an AMF network element, the first information may be carried in a Registration Request message or other messages. When the first network element is an MME, the first information may be carried in a Tracking Area Update Request (TAU Request) message or other messages.

[0120] Optionally, the first information may pass through one or more access network devices (such as base stations) during the process of being sent by the terminal device to the first network element. For example, when the diagram shown in FIG3 is applicable to the communication system architecture shown in FIG1a or FIG1b, the access network device may be a next-generation base station (such as a gNB) in a 5G communication system; when the diagram shown in FIG3 is applicable to the communication system architecture shown in FIG2, the access network device may be a base station (such as an eNB) in a 4G communication system.

[0121] For example, the implementation process of the terminal device sending the first information to the first network element is introduced below through the following possible implementation methods.

[0122] Method 1: If the auxiliary data is converted from being received via a user plane (e.g., a PDU session) of the terminal device to being received via a control plane, the terminal device may send the first information to the first network element. For example, the control plane reception may include receiving a system information block (SIB) sent by the access network device.

[0123] Exemplarily, in the following possible situations, the auxiliary data is converted from being received through a user plane of the terminal device to being received through a control plane.

[0124] Scenario 1: The terminal device receives (or obtains) a system message block (or system information block) sent by the access network device and determines (or perceives) that the auxiliary data (or first key) is converted from being received through the user plane of the terminal device to being received through the control plane. For example, the terminal device discovers (or determines) that the auxiliary data is converted from being received through the user plane of the terminal device to being received through the SIB sent by the access network device (such as the positioning SIB of the air interface).

[0125] Scenario 2: The terminal device does not receive (or obtain) the system message block sent by the access network device, and determines that the auxiliary data is converted from being received through the control plane to being received through the user plane of the terminal device.

[0126] Method 2: If the terminal device determines that the first key is invalid (for example, the first key is not available in the area where the terminal device is located or the available time of the first key is lower than the preset threshold T3512 or the usage period of the first key exceeds the validity period, etc.), the terminal device sends the first information to the first network element.

[0127] Step 302: The first network element does not have the first key locally, and sends a second message to the second network element. The second network element receives the second message.

[0128] In one example, if the first network element determines that the first key requested by the terminal device does not exist locally (or is not configured or is not available or stored), the first network element may send a first request message (such as a second message) to the second network element. Exemplarily, the first request message may carry (or include or contain) an identifier, name, or type of the first key.

[0129] In another example, if the first network element determines that the RTK key requested by the UE exists locally (or is configured or can be obtained or stored), the first network element can send a NAS message to the terminal device. The NAS message can carry the first key requested by the terminal device. The NAS message can be a registration receive (or can be called a registration accept) message.

[0130] Step 303: The second network element does not have the first key locally, and sends a third message to the first network element. The first network element receives the third message.

[0131] For example, the third message may be a response message to the second message.

[0132] In one example, if the second network element determines that the first key requested by the terminal device does not exist locally (or is not configured, unavailable, or not stored), the second network element may send a third message to the first network element. The third message may serve as a response message to the second message. Exemplarily, the third message may include fourth indication information, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate that the first key does not exist (or is not configured, unavailable, or not stored).

[0133] In another example, if the second network element determines that the first key requested by the terminal device exists locally (or is configured with, obtainable, or stored), the second network element may send a response message to the first network element. Exemplarily, the response message may carry the first key.

[0134] In another example, if the second network element determines that the first key requested by the terminal device does not exist locally, but after a period of time, the second network element obtains the first key requested by the terminal device, the second network element may send a fifth message to the first network element. Exemplarily, the fifth message may carry the first key.

[0135] The above steps 302 to 303 are optional steps, that is, they do not need to be performed in some application scenarios, but need to be performed in some application scenarios.

[0136] Step 304: The first network element sends a first message to the terminal device, and the terminal device receives the first message.

[0137] In one possible implementation, if the first network element does not have the first key requested by the terminal device locally (for example, the first network element directly feeds back the first message when the first key requested by the terminal device does not exist locally, i.e., the above steps 302 to 303 are not executed) or the first network element learns that the second network element does not have the first key requested by the terminal device locally, then the first network element can send the first message to the terminal device. In this way, this implementation can promptly notify the terminal device that the network side (such as the first network element or the second network element) temporarily does not have the first key, thereby avoiding the terminal device from blindly attempting to initiate a request to obtain the first key, which helps to reduce the energy consumption of the terminal device (such as resource consumption, power consumption, or signaling overhead, etc.).

[0138] Exemplarily, the first message may include first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the first key does not exist (or is not configured or is not available or is not stored). For example, the first indication information may be a reason value / cause (cause) used to indicate that the first key does not exist (or is not configured or is not available or is not stored), such as a reason value of 1 is used to indicate that the first key exists, and a reason value of 0 is used to indicate that the first key does not exist; or, a reason value of 0 is used to indicate that the first key exists, and a reason value of 1 is used to indicate that the first key does not exist; or, carrying a reason value indicates that the first key does not exist, and not carrying a reason value indicates that the first key exists. The reason / cause value may be a Boolean type, an enumeration type, a character type, or an integer type, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0139] In one example, the first message may further include second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate a first time or a timer or a timer. Optionally, the first time or a timer (Timer) or a timer (Timer) is used to indicate the next request time of the first key, or to indicate the sending time of the next request information of the first key, or to indicate the start time of the next request information of the first key, or to indicate the start time of the next request information of the first key. For example, the timer or timer can also be used to indicate the first duration, in which case the first time may refer to the sum of the time when the terminal device sends the first information and the first duration. The first duration is the time interval between two adjacent requests for the first key by the terminal device.

[0140] In addition, when the first message does not carry the second indication information, the first time may refer to the sum of the time when the terminal device sends the first information and the second time length set by the terminal device.

[0141] In another example, the first message may further include third indication information, which is used to instruct the terminal device to wait for the first network element to send the first key. Optionally, after generating the third indication information, the first network element may mark the user associated with the terminal device as waiting for the first key to be sent. Subsequently, after obtaining the first key sent by the second network element, the first network element may promptly send the first key to the terminal device, thereby preventing the terminal device from blindly attempting to initiate a request to obtain the first key, thereby helping to reduce energy consumption of the terminal device.

[0142] For example, after obtaining the first key sent by the second network element, the first network element may send the first key to the terminal device. Exemplarily, the first key may be carried in an information or may also be carried in a message.

[0143] In another possible implementation, if the first network element locally stores the first key requested by the terminal device or the first network element learns that the second network element locally stores the first key requested by the terminal device, the first network element may send a response message to the terminal device. Exemplarily, the response message may carry the first key.

[0144] Step 305: When the first time or the timer or the timer expires, the terminal device sends the second information to the first network element; or waits for the first network element to send the first key. Optionally, the first network element receives the second information.

[0145] Exemplarily, the second information may be used to request the first key again, or to initiate a request to obtain the first key again.

[0146] In one possible implementation, when the first message includes the first indication information but does not include the second indication information and the third indication information, the first time may refer to the sum of the time when the terminal device sends the first information and the second time duration set by the terminal device. The terminal device may send the second information to the first network element when the first time expires.

[0147] In another possible implementation, when the first message includes the first indication information and the second indication information, the terminal device may send the second information to the first network element at the first time or when the timer or timer expires. For example, when the timer or timer is used to indicate the first duration, the first time may refer to the sum of the time when the terminal device sends the first information and the first duration.

[0148] In another possible implementation, when the first message includes the first indication information and the third indication information, the terminal device may temporarily not send information requesting the first key to the first network element, but instead wait for the first network element to send the first key. In this way, this implementation can prevent the terminal device from blindly attempting to initiate a request to obtain the first key, thereby helping to reduce energy consumption of the terminal device.

[0149] It can be seen from the above steps 301 to 305 that in the process of the terminal device requesting to obtain the first key, the network side (such as the first network element or the second network element) temporarily does not have the first key. By sending an indication information to the terminal device to indicate that the first key does not exist or is unavailable, it is possible to promptly notify the terminal device when the network side temporarily does not have the first key requested by the terminal device. This helps to avoid the terminal device from blindly and frequently attempting to initiate a request to obtain the first key, and can reduce the energy consumption of the terminal device due to blindly and frequently attempting to request the first key. It can also help the terminal device to effectively obtain the key for parsing the encrypted auxiliary data.

[0150] Based on the technical solution of the communication method illustrated in FIG3 above, the following describes the implementation process of the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application under the 5G communication system architecture and the 4G communication system architecture, respectively, through the specific examples shown in FIG4 and FIG5. In the specific example shown in FIG4, the terminal device is a UE, the (R)AN device is a gNB (or NG-(R)AN device), the first key is an RTK key, the first network element is an AMF network element, the second network element is an LMF network element, and the auxiliary data is RTK positioning assistance data; in the specific example shown in FIG5, the terminal device is a UE, the (R)AN device is an eNB (or eNodeB), the first key is an RTK key, the first network element is an MME, the second network element is an E-SMLC, and the auxiliary data is RTK positioning assistance data. It can be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, the action performed by a certain network element can also be replaced by being performed by a functional component in the network element. In the embodiments of the present application, the functional component may, for example, include at least one of a chip, a chip system, a processor, and a processing unit.

[0151] FIG4 is a flow chart of another communication method provided in Example 1 of the present application. The communication method shown in FIG4 is applicable to a 5G communication system architecture (or can be understood as a 5G core network (Core) architecture). As shown in FIG4 , the specific process of the method may include:

[0152] Step 401: The UE sends a registration request message to the AMF network element. The AMF network element receives the registration request message.

[0153] For example, the registration request message may be a NAS message. Exemplarily, the registration request message may carry information or instructions for requesting an RTK key (e.g., an indication of requesting a Cipher Key) for requesting an RTK key. Optionally, the registration request message may also carry an identifier, name, or type of the RTK key requested by the UE. Optionally, the UE may request one or more RTK keys.

[0154] Optionally, the Registration Request message may pass through one or more gNBs during the process of being sent from the UE to the AMF. For example, taking a gNB as an example, the UE may first send the Registration Request message to the gNB in ​​its area, and the gNB may then forward the Registration Request message to the AMF.

[0155] For example, the following describes the implementation process of the UE sending a registration request message to the AMF network element through the following possible implementation methods.

[0156] Method 1: The UE receives RTK positioning assistance data (or RTK key) through the user plane of the UE (e.g., PDU session) at the beginning. When the UE needs to convert the RTK positioning assistance data received by the user plane of the UE to the RTK positioning assistance data received by the control plane (e.g., the UE discovers / determines that the RTK positioning assistance data is converted from being received through the user plane of the UE to being received through the positioning SIB message of the air interface), the UE sends a registration request message to the AMF network element. For example, the registration request message may carry an indication of requesting an RTK key (Cipher Key), or may also carry an identifier, name, or type of the RTK key.

[0157] Method 2: When the UE determines that the RTK key is invalid (for example, it is not available in the UE area or the RTK key availability time is lower than the preset threshold T3512 or the RTK key usage period exceeds the validity period, etc.), the UE sends a registration request message to the AMF network element.

[0158] Step 402: If the RTK key requested by the UE is not stored locally, the AMF network element sends a first request message to the LMF network element. The LMF network element receives the first request message.

[0159] Optionally, if the AMF network element determines that the RTK key requested by the UE is locally stored, the AMF network element may send a Registration Accept message (or Registration Accept) to the UE. For example, the Registration Accept message may carry the RTK key requested by the UE. For example, the Registration Accept message may be a NAS message.

[0160] The first request message is used to request an RTK key. Exemplarily, the first request message may carry an identifier or name of the RTK key requested by the UE.

[0161] Step 403: The LMF network element sends a request response message to the AMF network element. The AMF network element receives the request response message.

[0162] Exemplarily, the LMF network element may carry indication information (such as data availability (DataAvailability)) in the request response message. Optionally, the indication information may be used to indicate whether the LMF network element locally stores the RTK key requested by the UE, or may be used to indicate whether the LMF network element is locally configured with the RTK key requested by the UE, or may be used to indicate whether the LMF network element locally can obtain the RTK key requested by the UE. For example, DataAvailability may be a cause value used to indicate the presence or absence of an RTK key, such as a cause value of 1 used to indicate that the RTK key exists, and a cause value of 0 used to indicate that the RTK key does not exist.

[0163] In one possible implementation, when the LMF network element determines that the RTK key requested by the UE is not stored locally, it may carry indication information DataAvailability = "CIPHERING_KEY_DATA_NOT_AVAILABLE" in the request response message. This indication information is used to indicate that the RTK key requested by the UE is not available (or used to indicate that the RTK key requested by the UE is not queried).

[0164] In another possible implementation, when the LMF network element determines that the RTK key requested by the UE is stored locally, the indication information DataAvailability = "CIPHERING_KEY_DATA_AVAILABLE" can be carried in the request response message. The indication information is used to indicate that the RTK key requested by the UE is available (or used to indicate that the RTK key requested by the UE can be queried), and the request response message may also carry the RTK key requested by the UE.

[0165] Step 404: The AMF network element sends a registration acceptance message to the UE. The UE receives the registration acceptance message.

[0166] In one possible implementation, when the AMF network element determines that the request response message carries the indication information DataAvailability = "CIPHERING_KEY_DATA_NOT_AVAILABLE", it may carry the indication information DataAvailability = "CIPHERING_KEY_DATA_NOT_AVAILABLE" in the registration reception message. Optionally, the AMF network element may also carry the first information in the registration reception message. In one example, the first information may be information indicating a timer, where the timer is used to indicate the time when the UE attempts to request the RTK key next time, or the first information may indicate the time when the UE attempts to request the RTK key next time. In another example, the first information may indicate a first duration, where the first duration is the time interval between two consecutive acquisitions of the RTK key by the UE. In yet another example, the first information may indicate that the UE is waiting for the AMF network element to issue the RTK key. In addition, in this example, the AMF network element may mark that the UE-associated user is waiting for the RTK key to be issued. After obtaining the RTK key issued by the LMF network element, the AMF network element may send the RTK key to the UE.

[0167] In another possible implementation, when the AMF network element determines that the request response message carries DataAvailability = "CIPHERING_KEY_DATA_AVAILABLE", it can obtain the RTK key requested by the UE from the request response message and can carry the RTK key requested by the UE in the registration reception message.

[0168] Optionally, the Registration Accept message may pass through one or more gNBs during its transmission from the AMF to the UE. For example, taking a gNB as an example, the AMF may first send the Registration Accept message to the gNB, which then sends the Registration Accept message to the UE.

[0169] Step 405: If the indication information included in the registration reception message indicates that the RTK key is not available, the UE sends a second request message to the AMF network element or waits for the AMF network element to issue the RTK key.

[0170] Illustratively, the second request message may carry information or instructions for re-requesting the RTK key (e.g., an indication for re-requesting the Cipher Key), for re-requesting the RTK key. Optionally, the second request message may also carry an identifier or name of the RTK key requested by the UE. For example, the second request message may be a new registration request message, or may be a message for re-requesting the RTK key.

[0171] Optionally, the second request message may pass through one or more gNBs during the process of being sent from the UE to the AMF network element. For example, taking one gNB as an example, the UE may first send the second request message to the gNB in ​​its area, and the gNB may send the second request message to the AMF network element.

[0172] For example, the implementation process of the UE sending a second request message to the AMF network element is introduced below through the following possible implementation methods.

[0173] Method 1: When the indication information included (or carried) in the registration reception message indicates that the RTK key is not available and the first information included in the registration reception message indicates the time when the UE will attempt to request the RTK key next time, the UE can send a second request message to the AMF network element when the time for the next attempt to request the RTK key arrives.

[0174] Method 2: When the indication information included in the registration reception message indicates that the RTK key is unavailable and the first information included in the registration reception message indicates a first duration, the UE may send a second request message to the AMF network element after the first duration has passed since the last time the RTK key was requested. Method 3: When the indication information included in the registration reception message indicates that the RTK key is unavailable, the UE may send a second request message to the AMF network element after the second duration set by the UE has passed since the last time the RTK key was requested.

[0175] In addition, if the indication information included in the registration reception message indicates that the RTK key is not available and the first information included in the registration reception message indicates that the UE waits for the AMF network element to issue the RTK key, the UE may not send a second request message to the AMF network element, but wait for the AMF network element to issue the RTK key.

[0176] It can be seen from the above steps 401 to 405 that, for the 5GC communication scenario, when the UE requests to obtain the RTK key, the network side (such as the LMF network element or the AMF network element) does not have the RTK key temporarily, and selectively generates indication information (such as indication information or second information for indicating that the RTK key requested by the UE is not available) and carries it in the registration reception message and sends it to the UE. In this way, the method can timely notify the UE when the network side temporarily does not have the RTK key requested by the UE, which helps to reduce the energy consumption caused by the UE blindly trying to request the RTK key, thereby effectively avoiding the problem of the UE generating certain energy consumption losses (such as signaling overhead or power loss or communication resource consumption, etc.) due to the UE blindly trying to request the RTK key.

[0177] FIG5 is a flow chart of another communication method provided in Example 1 of the present application. The communication method illustrated in FIG5 is applicable to a 4G communication system architecture (or may be understood as a 4G core network (Evolved Packet Core, EPC) or Evolved Packet System (Evolved Packet System, EPS)). As shown in FIG5 , the specific process of the method may include:

[0178] Step 501: The UE sends a tracking area update request message to the MME. The MME receives the tracking area update request message.

[0179] For example, a Tracking Area Update Request message may pass through one or more eNodeBs during the process of being sent from the UE to the MME. For example, taking one eNodeB as an example, the UE may first send the Tracking Area Update Request message to the eNodeB in its area, and the eNodeB may then send the Tracking Area Update Request message to the MME.

[0180] Optionally, the implementation method of the UE sending the tracking area update request message to the MME in step 501 can refer to the implementation method of the UE sending the registration request message to the AMF network element in the above step 401, which will not be repeated here.

[0181] Step 502: If the RTK key requested by the UE is not stored locally, the MME sends a third request message to the E-SMLC. The E-SMLC receives the third request message.

[0182] Optionally, if the MME determines that the RTK key requested by the UE is locally stored, the MME may send a Tracking Area Update Accept (or Tracking Area Update Accept) message to the UE. For example, the Tracking Area Update Accept message may carry the RTK key requested by the UE.

[0183] The third request message is used to request an RTK key. For example, the third request message may carry an identifier or name of the RTK key requested by the UE. For example, the third request message may be an interface message.

[0184] Step 503: The E-SMLC sends a request response message to the MME, and the MME receives the request response message.

[0185] Exemplarily, the E-SMLC may carry indication information in the request response message. Optionally, the indication information may be used to indicate whether the E-SMLC locally stores the RTK key requested by the UE, or may be used to indicate whether the E-SMLC locally is configured with the RTK key requested by the UE, or may be used to indicate whether the E-SMLC locally can obtain the RTK key requested by the UE. For example, the indication information may be an indication of DataAvailability, or may be information for indicating the presence or absence of the RTK key, for example, it may be a cause / cause value, such as a cause / cause value of 1 is used to indicate that the RTK key exists, and a cause / cause value of 0 is used to indicate that the RTK key does not exist. For another example, a cause / cause value of 0 indicates that the RTK key does not exist, and a cause / cause value of 1 is used to indicate that the RTK key exists. For another example, a cause / cause value carries an indication that the key does not exist, and a cause / cause value not carried indicates that the key exists.

[0186] In one possible implementation, when the E-SMLC determines that the RTK key requested by the UE is stored locally, the E-SMLC may carry indication information in the request response message, where the indication information is used to indicate that the RTK key requested by the UE is available (or used to indicate that the RTK key requested by the UE can be queried), and the request response message may also carry the RTK key requested by the UE.

[0187] In another possible implementation, when the E-SMLC determines that the RTK key requested by the UE is not stored locally, the E-SMLC may carry indication information in the request response message, where the indication information is used to indicate that the RTK key requested by the UE is not available (or used to indicate that the RTK key requested by the UE is not queried).

[0188] Step 504: The MME sends a tracking area update reception message to the UE. The UE receives the tracking area update reception message.

[0189] In one possible implementation, if the MME determines that the indication information included in the request response message indicates that the RTK key requested by the UE is available, the MME can obtain the RTK key requested by the UE from the request response message and can carry the RTK key requested by the UE in the tracking area update reception message.

[0190] In another possible implementation, if the indication information included in the determination request response message by the MME indicates that the RTK key requested by the UE is not available, the MME may carry the indication information for indicating that the RTK key requested by the UE is not available in the tracking area update reception message. Optionally, the MME may also carry second information in the tracking area update reception message. In one example, the second information may be information indicating a timer, where the timer is used to indicate the time when the UE will attempt to request the RTK key next time, or the second information may indicate the time when the UE will attempt to request the RTK key next time. In another example, the second information may indicate a first duration, where the first duration is the time interval between two consecutive acquisitions of the RTK key by the UE. In yet another example, the second information may indicate that the UE is waiting for the MME to issue the RTK key. In addition, in this example, the MME may mark that the UE-associated user is waiting for the RTK key to be issued, and after obtaining the RTK key issued by the E-SMLC, the MME may send the RTK key to the UE.

[0191] Step 505: If the indication information included in the tracking area update reception message indicates that the RTK key is unavailable, the UE sends a fourth request message to the MME or waits for the MME to send the RTK key.

[0192] Illustratively, the fourth request message may carry information or instructions for re-requesting the RTK key (e.g., an indication for re-requesting the Cipher Key), for re-requesting the RTK key. Optionally, the fourth request message may also carry an identifier or name of the RTK key requested by the UE. For example, the fourth request message may be a new tracking area update request message, or may be a message for re-requesting the RTK key.

[0193] For example, the fourth request message may pass through one or more eNodeBs during the process of being sent from the UE to the MME. For example, taking one eNodeB as an example, the UE may first send the fourth request message to the eNodeB in its area, and the eNodeB may send the second request message to the MME.

[0194] Optionally, the implementation method of the UE sending the fourth request message to the MME in step 505 can refer to the implementation method of the UE sending the second request message to the AMF network element in the above step 405, which is not repeated here.

[0195] In addition, if the indication information included in the tracking area update reception message indicates that the RTK key is not available and the second information included in the tracking area update reception message indicates that the UE waits for the MME to issue the RTK key, the UE may not send the fourth request message to the MME, but wait for the MME to issue the RTK key.

[0196] It can be seen from the above steps 501 to 505 that, for the EPC communication scenario, when the UE requests to obtain the RTK key, the network side (such as E-SMLC or MME) temporarily does not have the RTK key, and selectively generates indication information (such as indication information or second information for indicating that the RTK key requested by the UE is not available) and carries it in the tracking area update reception message to the UE. In this way, the method can timely notify the UE when the network side temporarily does not have the RTK key requested by the UE, which helps to reduce the energy consumption caused by the UE blindly attempting to request the RTK key, thereby effectively avoiding the problem of the UE generating certain energy consumption losses (such as signaling overhead or power loss or communication resource consumption, etc.) due to the UE blindly attempting to request the RTK key.

[0197] [Example 2]

[0198] Figure 6 exemplarily shows a flow chart of a communication method provided in Example 2 of the present application. The method is applicable to the communication system architecture illustrated in Figure 2. The method flow can be implemented by data interaction between multiple communication devices (such as a first communication device, a second communication device, and a third communication device). Optionally, the first communication device can be a first terminal device or a component (such as a chip, a chip system, or a circuit, etc.) that can support the first terminal device to implement the functions required by the method, the second communication device can be a first network element or a component (such as a chip, a chip system, or a circuit, etc.) that can support the first network element to implement the functions required by the method, and the third communication device can be a second network element or a component (such as a chip, a chip system, or a circuit, etc.) that can support the second network element to implement the functions required by the method. Exemplarily, when the communication method illustrated in Figure 6 is applicable to the communication system architecture illustrated in Figure 1a or Figure 1b, the terminal device can be the UE illustrated in Figure 1a or Figure 1b, the first network element can be the AMF network element illustrated in Figure 1a or Figure 1b, and the second network element can be the LMF network element illustrated in Figure 1a or Figure 1b. When the communication method illustrated in FIG6 is applicable to the communication system architecture illustrated in FIG2, the terminal device may be the UE illustrated in FIG2, the first network element may be the MME illustrated in FIG2, and the second network element may be the E-SMLC illustrated in FIG2. In order to facilitate the introduction of the technical solution provided in Example 1 of the present application, the following takes the first communication device as the terminal device, the second communication device as the first network element, and the third communication device as the second network element as an example to introduce the process of implementing the communication method by data interaction between the first communication device, the second communication device, and the third communication device. As shown in FIG6, the method includes:

[0199] Step 601: A first network element obtains a second key from a second network element and stores the second key.

[0200] Optionally, the first network element may obtain a second key from the second network element and save (or store) the obtained second key. Exemplarily, the second key may be a new key for encrypting assistance data corresponding to the high-precision positioning service included in the first service. It should be understood that the second key may also be used to decrypt (or parse) the encrypted assistance data. For example, the second key may be a new / updated RTK key.

[0201] When the communication method illustrated in FIG6 is applicable to the communication system architecture illustrated in FIG1a or FIG1b, the second network element may be the LMF network element illustrated in FIG1a or FIG1b. When the communication method illustrated in FIG6 is applicable to the communication system architecture illustrated in FIG2, the second network element may be the E-SMLC illustrated in FIG2.

[0202] For example, the second network element may send the latest key (such as the second key) used to encrypt the auxiliary data corresponding to the high-precision positioning service to the first network element through a broadcast key data notification (Nlmf_Broadcast_CipheringKeyDataNotify) message.

[0203] After obtaining the second key, the first network element can determine which users need to push / send the second key based on whether the users have signed up for the first service. The first network element will only push the second key to users who have signed up for the first service. Subsequently, the first network element can select a corresponding push method to push the second key based on the connection management status of the terminal device used by the subscribed user (e.g., connection management connected state or connection management idle state). For example, the second key pushed by the first network element can be one or more.

[0204] In one example, when the terminal device used by the subscriber (such as the first terminal device) is in the connection management connected state, the first network element executes the following step 602. In another example, when the terminal device used by the subscriber (such as the first terminal device) is in the connection management idle state, the first network element executes the following steps 603 and 605.

[0205] Step 602: If the first terminal device is in the connection management connection state, the first network element sends a sixth message to the first terminal device. The first terminal device receives the sixth message.

[0206] Optionally, the sixth message may be used to update NAS parameters or may be used to notify the first terminal device that the key has been updated. Exemplarily, the sixth message may carry the second key.

[0207] For example, when the communication method illustrated in FIG6 is applicable to the communication system architecture illustrated in FIG1a or FIG1b, the sixth message may be a NAS message. For example, the NAS message may be a configuration update message. For example, the configuration update message may be a configuration update command message or a configuration update complete message. When the communication method illustrated in FIG6 is applicable to the communication system architecture illustrated in FIG2, the sixth message may also be a NAS message. The NAS message may be, for example, a message that updates terminal device parameter configuration.

[0208] Step 603: If the first terminal device is in the connection management idle state, the first network element sends a paging message to the first terminal device. The first terminal device receives the paging message.

[0209] Among them, the paging message is used to page the first terminal device, thereby triggering the service request process, which helps to page the first terminal device from the connection management idle state back to the connection management connected state, so that the second key can be pushed to the first terminal device in a timely manner.

[0210] Step 604: The first terminal device sends a seventh message to the first network element according to the paging message. The first terminal device receives the seventh message.

[0211] Exemplarily, the seventh message may be used to activate a user plane session (such as a PDU session). For example, the seventh message may be a NAS message, such as a service request message.

[0212] After receiving the paging message, the first terminal device can start the service request process according to the paging message, for example, it can send the seventh message to the first network element to activate the corresponding PDU session.

[0213] Step 605: The first network element sends an eighth message to the first terminal device. The first terminal device receives the eighth message.

[0214] Exemplarily, the eighth message may carry the second key.For example, the eighth message may be a response message to the seventh message.

[0215] After the user plane session of the first terminal device is activated, the first terminal device can receive a corresponding service message (such as a NAS message) from the first network element through the user plane connection. Accordingly, after the user plane session of the first terminal device is activated, the first network element can send the second key to the first terminal device by sending a corresponding service response message (such as the eighth message) to the first terminal device. Exemplarily, the sixth message can be a NAS message, for example, the NAS message can be a service reception message (or can be called a service acceptance message).

[0216] It can be seen from the above steps 601 to 605 that after obtaining the latest key (such as the second key), the first network element promptly pushes the second key to the terminal device associated with the user who has signed up for the first service (such as the high-precision positioning service). This allows the network side to promptly notify the relevant terminal devices after obtaining the latest key, so that the relevant terminal devices can use the latest key to successfully decrypt the encrypted auxiliary data, which helps to improve the positioning accuracy of the terminal devices.

[0217] Based on the technical solution of the communication method illustrated in FIG6 above, the following describes the implementation process of the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application under the 5G communication system architecture and the 4G communication system architecture, respectively, through the specific examples shown in FIG7 and FIG8. In the specific example shown in FIG7, the terminal device is a UE, the (R)AN device is a gNB (or NG-(R)AN device), the first key is an RTK key, the first network element is an AMF network element, the second network element is an LMF network element, and the assistance data is RTK positioning assistance data; in the specific example shown in FIG8, the terminal device is a UE, the (R)AN device is an eNB (or eNodeB), the first key is an RTK key, the first network element is an MME, the second network element is an E-SMLC, and the assistance data is RTK positioning assistance data. It can be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, the action performed by a certain network element can also be replaced by being performed by a functional component in the network element. In the embodiments of the present application, the functional component may, for example, include at least one of a chip, a chip system, a processor, and a processing unit.

[0218] FIG7 is a flow chart of another communication method provided in Example 2 of the present application. The communication method shown in FIG7 is applicable to the 5G communication system architecture. As shown in FIG7, the specific process of the method may include:

[0219] Step 701: The LMF network element sends a broadcast key data notification message to the AMF network element. The AMF network element receives the broadcast key data notification message.

[0220] For example, the broadcast key data notification message may include the latest RTK key corresponding to the RTK positioning assistance data (or may be understood as the updated RTK key). The RTK key may be understood as the key of the assistance data or the key of the GNSS assistance data.

[0221] After receiving the broadcast key data notification message, the AMF network element obtains the latest RTK key from the broadcast key data notification message and stores (or saves) the latest RTK key.

[0222] Step 702: The AMF network element determines the target UE to which the latest RTK key needs to be pushed.

[0223] Among them, the target UE-associated user to which the latest RTK key needs to be pushed is the user who has signed up for the high-precision positioning service (hereinafter referred to as the "signed user").

[0224] For example, the AMF network element can determine which users have signed up for high-precision positioning services based on the bitmap of the location service (LCS)-broadcast assistance (BCA). Afterwards, the AMF network element can promptly and accurately push the latest RTK key to the UEs corresponding to these users, so that the UEs corresponding to these users can promptly use the latest RTK key to successfully parse (or successfully decrypt) the encrypted RTK positioning assistance data broadcast by the base station, thereby effectively improving the UE positioning accuracy and effectively avoiding the problem that the encrypted RTK positioning assistance data cannot be successfully parsed due to the expiration of the RTK key of the UE corresponding to the contracted user, thereby resulting in inaccurate UE positioning accuracy.

[0225] Step 703: When it is determined that the target UE is in the connection management connected state, the AMF network element sends a NAS message to the target UE. The target UE receives the NAS message.

[0226] Exemplarily, the NAS message may be a configuration update message, for example, a configuration update command message or a configuration update complete message.

[0227] Optionally, the NAS message may carry the latest RTK key.

[0228] For example, for a first user whose UE is in a connection management (CM) connected state among the subscribers, the AMF network element may send a NAS message to the first user. The NAS message carries the latest RTK key. For example, the number of first users may be one or more, and this embodiment of the present application is not limited to this.

[0229] Optionally, the NAS message may pass through one or more gNBs during its transmission from the AMF to the target UE. For example, taking a single gNB as an example, the AMF may first send the NAS message to the gNB, which then forwards the NAS message to the target UE.

[0230] Step 704: When it is determined that the target UE is in the connection management idle state, the AMF network element sends a paging message to the target UE. The target UE receives the paging message.

[0231] The paging message is used to page the target UE, so as to page the target UE back from the CM idle state to the CM_connected state, thereby enabling the latest RTK key to be pushed to the target UE in a timely manner.

[0232] For example, for a second user whose UE is in CM_idle among the subscribers, the AMF network element needs to first send a paging message to the UE corresponding to the second user. After receiving the paging message, the UE corresponding to the second user initiates a service request process. For example, the number of second users can be one or more, and this embodiment of the application is not limited to this.

[0233] Optionally, the paging message may pass through one or more gNBs during its transmission from the AMF to the target UE. For example, taking a gNB as an example, the AMF may first send the paging message to the gNB, which then sends the paging message to the target UE.

[0234] Step 705: The target UE sends a service request message to the AMF network element according to the paging message. The AMF network element receives the service request message.

[0235] For example, after receiving a paging message, the target UE may initiate a service request process based on the paging message. For example, the target UE may send a service request message to the AMF network element. Exemplarily, the service request message may be a NAS message.

[0236] Optionally, the service request message may pass through one or more gNBs during the process of being sent from the target UE to the AMF network element. For example, taking a gNB as an example, the target UE may first send the service request message to the gNB in ​​its area, and the gNB may then forward the service request message to the AMF network element.

[0237] Step 706: The AMF network element sends a service acceptance message to the target UE. The target UE receives the service acceptance message.

[0238] Exemplarily, the service receive (or may be referred to as service accept) message may be a NAS message.

[0239] For example, after receiving the service request message, the AMF network element can push the latest RTK key to the target UE through the service reception message.

[0240] Optionally, the Service Accepted message may pass through one or more gNBs during its transmission from the AMF to the target UE. For example, taking a single gNB as an example, the AMF may first send the Service Accepted message to the gNB, which then forwards the Service Accepted message to the target UE.

[0241] It can be seen from the above steps 701 to 706 that for the 5GC communication scenario, after the LMF network element generates the latest RTK key (or updates the RTK key), it can push the latest RTK key (or updated RTK key) to the AMF network element. Afterwards, the AMF network element can promptly push the latest RTK key (or updated RTK key) to the corresponding target UE (i.e., the UE used by the contracted user). In this way, the method can enable the network side to promptly notify the corresponding target UE after generating the latest RTK key (or updating the RTK key), so that the target UE can use the latest RTK key (or updated RTK key) to successfully parse the encrypted RTK positioning assistance data, thereby effectively improving the positioning accuracy of the UE, and effectively avoiding the problem that the target UE cannot parse the encrypted RTK positioning assistance data due to the expiration of the RTK key, resulting in inaccurate UE positioning accuracy.

[0242] FIG8 is a flow chart of another communication method provided in Example 2 of the present application. The communication method shown in FIG8 is applicable to the 4G communication system architecture. As shown in FIG8, the specific process of the method may include:

[0243] Step 801: The E-SMLC sends a broadcast key data notification message to the MME. The MME receives the broadcast key data notification message.

[0244] Optionally, the implementation of step 801 may refer to the implementation of step 701 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0245] Step 802: The MME determines the target UE to which the latest RTK key needs to be pushed.

[0246] Optionally, the implementation of step 802 may refer to the implementation of step 702 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0247] Step 803: When the target UE is in the connection management connected state, the MME sends a NAS message to the target UE, and the target UE receives the NAS message.

[0248] Optionally, the implementation of step 803 may refer to the implementation of step 703 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0249] In addition, since there is no network-initiated configuration update process in EPS, the NAS message in step 803 may be a message for updating UE parameter configuration (such as a configuration message). For example, the configuration message may be a configuration update command message (or a configuration update complete message).

[0250] Step 804: When the target UE is in the connection management idle state, the MME sends a paging message to the target UE, and the target UE receives the paging message.

[0251] Optionally, the implementation of step 804 may refer to the implementation of step 704 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0252] Step 805: The target UE sends a service request message to the MME according to the paging message. The MME receives the service request message.

[0253] Optionally, the implementation of step 805 may refer to the implementation of step 705 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0254] Step 806: The MME sends a service acceptance message to the target UE. The target UE receives the service acceptance message.

[0255] Optionally, the implementation of step 806 may refer to the implementation of step 706 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0256] It can be seen from the above steps 801 to 806 that for the EPC communication scenario, after the E-SMLC generates the latest RTK key (or updates the RTK key), it can push the latest RTK key (or the updated RTK key) to the MME. Afterwards, the MME can promptly push the latest RTK key (or the updated RTK key) to the corresponding target UE (i.e., the UE used by the contracted user). In this way, the method can enable the network side to promptly notify the corresponding target UE after generating the latest RTK key (or updating the RTK key), so that the target UE can use the latest RTK key (or the updated RTK key) to successfully parse the encrypted RTK positioning assistance data, thereby effectively improving the positioning accuracy of the UE, and effectively avoiding the problem that the target UE cannot parse the encrypted RTK positioning assistance data due to the expiration of the RTK key, resulting in inaccurate UE positioning accuracy.

[0257] It should be noted that in the description of this application, "at least one" refers to one or more, and "plurality" refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: the existence of A alone, the existence of A and B at the same time, and the existence of B alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the associated objects before and after are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, "at least one of A, B and C" includes A, B, C, AB, AC, BC or ABC. And, unless otherwise specified, the ordinal numbers such as "first", "second", and "third" mentioned in the embodiments of this application are used to distinguish multiple objects and are not used to limit the order, timing, priority or importance of multiple objects. In addition, the terms "including", "comprising", "having" and their variations appearing in this application all mean "including but not limited to" unless otherwise specifically emphasized.

[0258] In addition, it should be noted that each step involved in the above embodiments can be performed by a corresponding device, or by a component such as a chip, processor, or chip system within the device, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this. The above embodiments are described only as examples of execution by corresponding devices.

[0259] It should be noted that in each of the above embodiments, some steps may be selected for implementation, and the order of the steps in the diagrams may be adjusted for implementation, and this application does not limit this. It should be understood that executing some of the steps in the diagrams, adjusting the order of the steps, or combining them for specific implementation all fall within the scope of protection of this application.

[0260] It is understandable that in order to implement the functions in the above embodiments, the various devices involved in the above embodiments include hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the execution of each function. It should be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that, in combination with the units and method steps of the various examples described in the embodiments disclosed in this application, the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in the form of hardware or computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application scenario and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0261] It should be understood that the "steps" in the embodiments of this application are merely illustrative, a method of expression used to better understand the embodiments, and do not constitute a substantive limitation on the implementation of the solutions of this application. For example, the "steps" can also be understood as "features." Furthermore, the steps do not constitute any limitation on the execution order of the solutions of this application. Any changes in the order of steps, or any operations such as step merging or step splitting that do not affect the implementation of the overall solution, resulting in new technical solutions, are also within the scope of this application.

[0262] Based on the same concept, an embodiment of the present application also provides a possible communication device, which is applicable to the communication system architecture shown in Figure 1a or Figure 1b or Figure 2. Optionally, the communication device can be a communication device (such as a terminal device (such as a first terminal device or other terminal device), a first network element or a second network element) or a device that can support the communication device to implement the functions required for the communication method. In one example, when the communication device is a terminal device (or a first terminal device) (such as a UE), the communication device is used to implement the technical solutions involved in the terminal device (or the first terminal device) in the above embodiment, or the module (such as a chip) of the communication device is used to implement the technical solutions involved in the terminal device (or the first terminal device) in the above embodiment, and thus the beneficial effects possessed by the terminal device (or the first terminal device) in the above embodiment can also be achieved. Exemplarily, when the communication device is a chip provided in the terminal device (or the first terminal device), the communication device includes a transceiver and a processor, but does not include a memory. Among them, the transceiver exists as an input and output interface, and the input and output interface is used for the chip to implement the transceiver of the communication device (or the first terminal device). The input and output interface may include an input interface and / or an output interface. The input interface can realize the reception of the terminal device (or the first terminal device), and the output interface can be used to realize the transmission of the terminal device (or the first terminal device). The processor is used to read and execute the corresponding computer program or instruction so that the corresponding function of the terminal device (or the first terminal device) is realized. Optionally, when the chip realizes the corresponding function of the terminal device (or the first terminal device) in the above embodiment, the input and output interface can realize the transceiver operation performed by the terminal device (or the first terminal device) in the above embodiment; the processor can realize other operations other than the transceiver operation performed by the terminal device (or the first terminal device) in the above embodiment. For specific related descriptions, please refer to the relevant description of the terminal device (or the first terminal device) in the above embodiment, which will not be described in detail here.

[0263] In another example, when the communication device is a first network element (such as an AMF network element or MME), the communication device is used to implement the technical solutions involved in the first network element in the above embodiments, or a module (such as a chip) of the communication device is used to implement the technical solutions involved in the first network element in the above embodiments, thereby also achieving the beneficial effects of the first network element in the above embodiments. For example, when the communication device is a chip disposed in the first network element, the communication device includes a transceiver and a processor, but does not include a memory. The transceiver is present as an input / output interface, and the input / output interface is used by the chip to implement transceiver communication. The input / output interface may include an input interface and / or an output interface. The input interface can implement reception by the first network element, and the output interface can implement transmission by the first network element. The processor is used to read and execute the corresponding computer program or instructions to implement the corresponding functions of the first network element. Optionally, when the chip implements the corresponding functions of the first network element in the above embodiments, the input / output interface may implement the transceiver operations performed by the first network element in the above embodiments; and the processor may implement other operations performed by the first network element in the above embodiments, in addition to the transceiver operations. For specific related descriptions, please refer to the related descriptions of the first network element in the above embodiment, which will not be described in detail here.

[0264] In another example, when the communication device is a second network element (such as an LMF network element or an E-SMLC), the communication device is used to implement the technical solutions involved in the second network element in the above embodiments, or a module (such as a chip) of the communication device is used to implement the technical solutions involved in the second network element in the above embodiments, thereby also achieving the beneficial effects of the second network element in the above embodiments. For example, when the communication device is a chip disposed in the second network element, the communication device includes a transceiver and a processor, but does not include a memory. The transceiver exists as an input / output interface, and the input / output interface is used by the chip to implement transceiver communication of the communication device. The input / output interface may include an input interface and / or an output interface. The input interface can implement reception by the second network element, and the output interface can implement transmission by the second network element. The processor is used to read and execute the corresponding computer program or instructions to implement the corresponding functions of the second network element. Optionally, when the chip implements the corresponding functions of the second network element in the above embodiments, the input / output interface can implement the transceiver operations performed by the second network element in the above embodiments; and the processor can implement other operations other than the transceiver operations performed by the second network element in the above embodiments. For specific related descriptions, please refer to the related descriptions of the second network element in the above embodiment, which will not be described in detail here.

[0265] 9 , a communication device 900 includes a communication module 901 (or a transceiver module, for sending and receiving data) and a processing module 902. The communication device 900 is used to implement the functions of the first communication device (e.g., a terminal device), the second communication device (e.g., a first network element), or the third communication device (e.g., a second network element) in the method embodiments shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 8 .

[0266] Optionally, the communication module 901 may include a receiving module and / or a transmitting module. The receiving module may be used by the communication device 900 to receive signals (information or data, etc.); the transmitting module may be used by the communication device 900 to transmit signals (information or data, etc.). The transmitting module may transmit signals (information or data, etc.) under the control of the processing module 902, and the receiving module may receive signals (information or data, etc.) under the control of the processing module 902.

[0267] When the communication device 900 is used to implement the functions of the terminal device in the method embodiments shown in Figures 3 to 5 above: the communication module 901 is used to send a first message to the first network element. The first information is used to request a first key, and the first key is used to encrypt auxiliary data. The communication module 901 is also used to receive a first message from the first network element. The first message includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the first key does not exist or is unavailable. The processing module 902 is used to send a second message to the first network element if the first time or timer or timer expires, or wait for the first network element to send the first key. The second information is used to request the first key.

[0268] When the communication device 900 is used to implement the function of the first network element in the method embodiment shown in Figures 3 to 5 above: the communication module 901 is used to receive the first information from the terminal device. The first information is used to request the first key, and the first key is used to encrypt auxiliary data. The processing module 902 is used to send a first message to the terminal device if the first key does not exist or is unavailable. The first message includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the first key does not exist or is unavailable. The communication module 901 is also used to receive the second information from the terminal device, or to send the first key to the terminal device if the first key is obtained. The second information is used to request the first key.

[0269] When the communication device 900 is used to implement the functions of the second network element in the method embodiments shown in Figures 3 to 5 above: the communication module 901 is configured to receive a second message from the first network element. The second message is configured to request a first key. The processing module 902 is configured to send a third message to the first network element if the first key does not exist or is unavailable locally. The third message includes fourth indication information, which indicates that the first key does not exist or is unavailable.

[0270] When the communication device 900 is used to implement the functions of the first network element in the method embodiments shown in Figures 6 to 8 above: the communication module 901 is configured to, when the first terminal device is in the connection management connected state, send a sixth message to the first terminal device. The sixth message is used to update NAS parameters or to notify the first terminal device that a key has been updated. The sixth message includes the second key. The user associated with the first terminal device is a subscriber to a first service, which includes a high-precision positioning service. The second key is a new key for encrypting assistance data corresponding to the high-precision positioning service. The communication module 901 is further configured to, if the first terminal device is in the connection management idle state, send a paging message to the first terminal device. The paging message is used to page the first terminal device. The communication module 901 is further configured to receive a seventh message from the first terminal device. The seventh message is used to activate a user plane session. The communication module 901 is further configured to send an eighth message to the first terminal device. The eighth message includes the second key. Optionally, the processing module 902 is configured to save (or store) the second key. The processing module 902 is further configured to determine subscribers to whom the second key needs to be pushed.

[0271] When the communication device 900 is used to implement the functions of the first terminal device in the method embodiments shown in Figures 6 to 8 above: the communication module 901 is configured to receive a sixth message from the first network element if the first terminal device is in a connection management connected state. The sixth message is used to update NAS parameters or to notify the first terminal device that a key has been updated; the sixth message includes a second key; the user associated with the first terminal device is a user subscribed to a first service, which includes a high-precision positioning service; and the second key is a new key for encrypting auxiliary data corresponding to the high-precision positioning service. The communication module 901 is also configured to receive a paging message from the first network element if the first terminal device is in a connection management idle state. The paging message is used to page the first terminal device. The communication module 901 is also configured to send a seventh message to the first network element. The seventh message is used to activate a user plane session. The communication module 901 is also configured to receive an eighth message from the first network element. The eighth message includes the second key.

[0272] When the communication device 900 is used to implement the function of the second network element in the method embodiments shown in Figures 6 to 8 above: the communication module 901 is configured to send a broadcast key data notification message to the first network element, wherein the broadcast key data notification message includes the second key.

[0273] Among them, when the communication device 900 is used to implement the functions of the first communication device or the second communication device or the third communication device in the method embodiments shown in Figures 3 to 8, for a more detailed description of the communication module 901 and the processing module 902, please refer to the relevant description of the first communication device or the second communication device or the third communication device in the method embodiments shown in Figures 3 to 8 above, and will not be repeated here.

[0274] It should be understood that the communication module 901 in the embodiment of the present application can be implemented by a transceiver or a transceiver-related circuit component, and the processing module 902 can be implemented by a processor or a processor-related circuit component.

[0275] It should be noted that the division of modules in the embodiments of the present application is illustrative and is merely a logical functional division. In actual implementation, other division methods may be used. Furthermore, the functional units in the various embodiments of the present application may be integrated into a single processing unit, or may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into a single unit. The aforementioned integrated units may be implemented in the form of hardware or software functional units.

[0276] If the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application is essentially or the part that contributes to the prior art or all or part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, and the computer software product is stored in a storage medium, including a number of instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, or a server, etc.) or a processor to execute all or part of the steps of the various embodiments of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: various media that can store program codes, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

[0277] Based on the same concept, the embodiment of the present application also provides a possible communication device, which is applicable to the communication system architecture shown in Figure 1a or Figure 1b or Figure 2. Exemplarily, the communication device can be a device (such as a first communication device or a second communication device or a third communication device) required for executing the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application, or can be a device including a device required for executing the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application. Optionally, the communication device can also be provided in a chip in the first communication device (or the second communication device or the third communication device). When the communication device is a chip provided in the first communication device (or the second communication device or the third communication device), the communication device includes a transceiver and a processor, but does not include a memory. Wherein, the transceiver exists as an input and output interface, and the input and output interface is used for the chip to realize the transceiver of the communication device. The input and output interface may include an input interface and / or an output interface, and the input interface can realize the reception of the communication device, and the output interface can be used to realize the sending of the communication device. The processor is used to read and execute corresponding computer programs or instructions so that the corresponding functions of the first communication device (or the second communication device or the third communication device) are realized. Optionally, when the chip implements the corresponding functions of the first communication device (or second communication device or third communication device) in the above embodiment, the input and output interface can implement the transceiver operations performed by the first communication device (or second communication device or third communication device) in the above embodiment; the processor can implement other operations other than the transceiver operations performed by the first communication device (or second communication device or third communication device) in the above embodiment. For specific related descriptions, please refer to the relevant descriptions in the above embodiment and will not be described in detail here. For example, the communication device is a first communication device (such as a terminal device or a first terminal device) or a second communication device (such as a first network element) or a third communication device (such as a second network element). When the communication device is used to implement the technical solutions involved in the first communication device in the above embodiment, it can also achieve the beneficial effects of the first communication device in the above method embodiment. When the communication device is used to implement the technical solutions involved in the second communication device in the above embodiment, it can also achieve the beneficial effects of the second communication device in the above method embodiment. When the communication device is used to implement the technical solutions involved in the third communication device in the above embodiment, it can also achieve the beneficial effects of the third communication device in the above method embodiment.

[0278] 10 , the communication device 1000 includes: a transceiver 1001 and a processor 1002. Optionally, the communication device 1000 further includes a memory 1003. The transceiver 1001, the processor 1002, and the memory 1003 are interconnected. When the communication device 1000 is used to implement the technical solution involved in the first communication device provided in the above embodiment, the transceiver 1001 can be used to implement the functions of the above-mentioned communication module 901 when implementing the technical solution involved in the first communication device, and the processor 1002 is used to implement the functions of the above-mentioned processing module 902 when implementing the technical solution involved in the first communication device. When the communication device 1000 is used to implement the technical solution involved in the second communication device provided in the above embodiment, the transceiver 1001 can be used to implement the functions of the above-mentioned communication module 901 when implementing the technical solution involved in the second communication device, and the processor 1002 is used to implement the functions of the above-mentioned processing module 902 when implementing the technical solution involved in the second communication device. When the communication device 1000 is used to implement the technical solution involved in the third communication device provided in the above embodiment, the transceiver 1001 can be used to implement the function of the above communication module 901 when executing the technical solution involved in the third communication device, and the processor 1002 is used to implement the function of the above processing module 902 when executing the technical solution involved in the third communication device.

[0279] Optionally, transceiver 1001, processor 1002, and memory 1003 are interconnected via bus 1004. Bus 1004 may be a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus or an Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus. Buses can be classified as address buses, data buses, control buses, and the like. For ease of illustration, FIG10 shows only one thick line, but this does not imply that there is only one bus or only one type of bus.

[0280] Transceiver 1001 is used to receive and send data. For example, when the communication device 1000 is a UE as shown in Figure 1a, Figure 1b, or Figure 2, the transceiver 1001 implements communication with the RAN device as shown in Figure 1a, Figure 1b, or Figure 2, or can also implement communication with other devices outside the communication system architecture shown in Figure 1a, Figure 1b, or Figure 2 (such as vehicle-mounted equipment or servers). In one example, the transceiver can be a transceiver device with integrated data transceiver functions. In another example, the transceiver can also be composed of a transmitter and a receiver, wherein the transmitter is used to send data and the receiver is used to receive data.

[0281] Optionally, transceiver 1001 may include a transmitter and / or a receiver. The transmitter is used to transmit signals, messages, information, or data. The receiver is used to receive signals, messages, information, or data. For example, the transmitter transmits signals, messages, information, or data under the control of processor 1002. The receiver receives signals, messages, information, or data under the control of processor 1002.

[0282] The functions of processor 1002 can refer to the description of the corresponding functions involved in the first communication device, the second communication device, or the third communication device in the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here. The processor 1002 can be a central processing unit (CPU), a network processor (NP), or a combination of a CPU and an NP, etc. The processor 1002 can further include a hardware chip. The above hardware chip can be an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a combination thereof. The above PLD can be a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a generic array logic (GAL), or any combination thereof. When implementing the above functions, the processor 1002 can be implemented through hardware, or of course, the corresponding software implementation can be executed by hardware.

[0283] Memory 1003 is used to store program instructions, etc. Specifically, program instructions may include program code, which includes computer operating instructions. Memory 1003 may include random access memory (RAM) and may also include non-volatile memory (non-volatile memory), such as at least one disk storage device. Processor 1002 executes the program instructions stored in memory 1003 to implement the above functions, thereby implementing the method steps required to be executed by the first communication device, the second communication device, or the third communication device in the above embodiments.

[0284] Based on the same concept, an embodiment of the present application further provides a possible communication system, which includes a first communication device (such as a terminal device or a first terminal device), a second communication device (such as a first network element), and a third communication device (such as a second network element). The first communication device can be used to implement the technical solution involved in the first communication device in the above embodiment, the second communication device can be used to implement the technical solution involved in the second communication device in the above embodiment, and the third communication device can be used to implement the technical solution involved in the third communication device in the above embodiment.

[0285] Based on the same concept, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are run on a computer, the computer executes the method provided in the above embodiment.

[0286] Based on the same concept, an embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program or instruction. When the computer program or instruction is executed by a computer, the computer executes the method provided in the above embodiment.

[0287] The storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example and not limitation, computer-readable media may include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and can be accessed by a computer.

[0288] Based on the same concept, an embodiment of the present application further provides a chip, which is coupled to a memory and is used to read a computer program stored in the memory to implement the method provided in the above embodiment.

[0289] Based on the same concept, an embodiment of the present application also provides a chip system, which includes a processor for supporting a computer device to implement the functions involved in the first communication device (such as a terminal device) or the second communication device (such as a first network element) or the third communication device (such as a second network element) in the above embodiments. In one possible design, the chip system also includes a memory, which is used to store the necessary programs and data for the computer device. The chip system can be composed of chips, or it can include chips and other discrete devices.

[0290] The methods provided in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, they can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the process or function described in the embodiments of the present application is generated in whole or in part. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via a wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) method. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more available media integrated therein. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (eg, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (eg, a high-density digital video disc (DVD)), or a semiconductor medium (eg, a solid state drive (SSD)).

[0291] The steps of the methods described in the embodiments of the present application can be directly embedded in hardware, software units executed by a processor, or a combination of the two. The software units can be stored in RAM, ROM, EEPROM, registers, hard disks, removable disks, CD-ROMs, or other storage media in any form known in the art. Exemplarily, the storage medium can be connected to the processor so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. Alternatively, the storage medium can also be integrated into the processor. The processor and storage medium can be arranged in an ASIC.

[0292] The present application is described with reference to the flowcharts and / or block diagrams of the methods, devices (systems), and computer program products according to the present application. It should be understood that each flow and / or box in the flow chart and / or block diagram, as well as the combination of the flow chart and / or box in the flow chart and / or block diagram, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, an embedded processor, or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, so that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device produce a device for implementing the functions specified in one or more flow charts and / or one or more boxes in the block diagram.

[0293] These computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device so that a series of operating steps are executed on the computer or other programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process, so that the instructions executed on the computer or other programmable device provide steps for implementing the functions specified in one or more processes in the flowchart and / or one or more boxes in the block diagram.

[0294] Obviously, those skilled in the art may make various changes and modifications to this application without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. Thus, if these modifications and variations of this application fall within the scope of the claims of this application and their equivalents, this application is intended to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a terminal device, the method comprises: Sending first information to a first network element, where the first information is used to request a first key, where the first key is used to encrypt auxiliary data; receiving a first message from the first network element, where the first message includes first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the first key does not exist or is unavailable; When a first time or a timer or a timer expires, second information is sent to the first network element, where the second information is used to request the first key; or Wait for the first network element to send the first key.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Sending first information to the first network element includes: The auxiliary data is converted from being received through the user plane of the terminal device to being received through the control plane, and the first information is sent to the first network element. The control plane reception includes receiving a system message sent through an access network device.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The first message also includes second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate the first time or the timer or the timer, and the first time or the timer or the timer is used to indicate the next request time of the first key, or to indicate the sending time of the next request information of the first key, or to indicate the start time of the next request information of the first key.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The first message also includes third indication information, and the third indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to wait for the first network element to send the first key.

5. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The auxiliary data is converted from being received through the user plane of the terminal device to being received through the control plane, comprising: Receiving a system message sent by the access network device to determine that the auxiliary data is converted from being received from the user plane of the terminal device to being received through the control plane; or Failure to receive the system message sent by the access network device determines that the auxiliary data is converted from being received through the control plane to being received through the user plane of the terminal device.

6. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a first network element, the method includes: receiving first information from a terminal device, wherein the first information is used to request a first key, and the first key is used to encrypt auxiliary data; The first key does not exist or is unavailable, sending a first message to the terminal device, where the first message includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the first key does not exist or is unavailable; receiving second information from the terminal device, where the second information is used to request the first key; or If the first key is obtained, the first key is sent to the terminal device.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that The first key does not exist or is unavailable, including: the first key is not stored; or The first key is not stored, and a second message is sent to a second network element, where the second message is used to request the first key; a third message is received from the second network element, where the third message includes fourth indication information, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate that the first key does not exist or is unavailable.

8. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that Obtaining the first key includes: A fifth message is received from the second network element, where the fifth message includes the first key.

9. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that The first message also includes second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate a first time or a timer or a timer, and the first time or the timer or the timer is used to indicate the next request time of the first key, or to indicate the sending time of the next request information of the first key, or to indicate the start time of the next request information of the first key.

10. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that: The first message also includes third indication information, and the third indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to wait for the first network element to send the first key.

11. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a second network element, the method comprises: receiving a second message from a first network element, where the second message is used to request the first key; A third message is sent to the first network element, where the third message includes fourth indication information, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate that the first key does not exist or is unavailable.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The method further comprises: A fifth message is sent to the first network element, where the fifth message includes the first key.

13. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a first network element, the method includes: The first terminal device is in a connection management connection state, and sends a sixth message to the first terminal device, where the sixth message is used to update a non-access layer NAS parameter or to notify the first terminal device that a key has been updated, and the sixth message includes a second key; or The first terminal device is in a connection management idle state, sending a paging message to the first terminal device, where the paging message is used to page the first terminal device; receiving a seventh message from the first terminal device, sending an eighth message to the first terminal device, where the seventh message is used to activate a user plane session, and the eighth message includes a second key; The user associated with the first terminal device is a user who has signed up for a first service, and the first service includes a high-precision positioning service; the second key is a new key for encrypting auxiliary data corresponding to the high-precision positioning service.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that The sixth message, the seventh message, or the eighth message is a non-access stratum NAS message.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The sixth message is a configuration update message; the seventh message is a service request message; and the eighth message is a service reception message.

16. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a first terminal device, the method includes: The first terminal device is in a connection management connection state, and receives a sixth message from the first network element, where the sixth message is used to update a non-access layer NAS parameter or to notify the first terminal device that a key has been updated, and the sixth message includes a second key; or The first terminal device is in a connection management idle state, and receives a paging message from the first network element, where the paging message is used to page the first terminal device; sends a seventh message to the first network element, and receives an eighth message from the first network element, where the seventh message is used to activate a user plane session, and the eighth message includes a second key; The user associated with the first terminal device is a user who has signed up for a first service, and the first service includes a high-precision positioning service; the second key is a new key for encrypting auxiliary data corresponding to the high-precision positioning service.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that The sixth message, the seventh message, or the eighth message is a non-access stratum NAS message.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that The sixth message is a configuration update message; the seventh message is a service request message; and the eighth message is a service reception message.

19. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises a module or a unit for executing the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, or comprises a module or a unit for executing the method as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 10, or comprises a module or a unit for executing the method as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 12, or comprises a module or a unit for executing the method as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 15, or comprises a module or a unit for executing the method as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18.

20. A communication device, characterized in that: include: transceiver, used to receive and send data; Memory for storing computer program instructions and data; A processor, configured to execute and call computer program instructions and data in the memory so that the communication device performs the method as described in any one of claims 1-5, or the method as described in any one of claims 6-10, or the method as described in any one of claims 11-12, or the method as described in any one of claims 13-15, or the method as described in any one of claims 16-18.

21. A communication system, characterized in that: It includes a terminal device for executing the method as described in any one of claims 1-5, a first network element for executing the method as described in any one of claims 6-10 or the method as described in any one of claims 13-15, a second network element for executing the method as described in any one of claims 11-12, and a first terminal device for executing the method as described in any one of claims 16-18.

22. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are executed by a computer, the computer executes the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, or the method as described in any one of claims 6 to 10, or the method as described in any one of claims 11 to 12, or the method as described in any one of claims 13 to 15, or the method as described in any one of claims 16 to 18.

23. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product comprises a computer program or instructions, which, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to execute the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, or the method as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 10, or the method as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 12, or the method as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 15, or the method as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18.

24. A chip, characterized in that: The chip includes a processor, which is used to execute program instructions in a memory to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-5, or the method as described in any one of claims 6-10, or the method as described in any one of claims 11-12, or the method as described in any one of claims 13-15, or the method as described in any one of claims 16-18.

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