Communication method, apparatus and system

Abstract

The present application provides a communication method, apparatus and system, applicable to the technical field of communications, and capable of transmitting a plurality of positioning system information blocks to a terminal device by means of a system information air interface. The method comprises: acquiring a plurality of positioning system information blocks, wherein each positioning system information block comprises a plurality of segments; and periodically broadcasting the plurality of positioning system information blocks by means of a system message, wherein periods of the plurality of positioning system information blocks comprise a plurality of periods of the system message, and one segment of one or more positioning system information blocks among the plurality of positioning system information blocks is sent by means of one period of the system message.

Description

Communication method, device and system

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office on September 27, 2023, with application number 202311270942.7 and application name “Communication Methods, Devices and Systems”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communication technologies, and in particular to communication methods, devices, and systems. Background Art

[0003] To perform positioning, the base station can obtain a positioning system information block (POSSIB) from the core network and broadcast the POSSIB to the terminal device. Considering the transmission resource limitation, a POSSIB needs to be divided into multiple segments for air interface transmission.

[0004] Current regulations require that when a base station transmits a posSIB to a terminal device, each segment of the posSIB must be scheduled serially within the continuous transmission of the same air interface system message. However, if a base station obtains multiple posSIBs, there is currently no solution for how to transmit these multiple posSIBs to the terminal device.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] The embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, apparatus, and system that can transmit multiple POS SIBs to a terminal device via an air interface.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, this application adopts the following technical solutions:

[0008] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided. The method can be executed by a network device or by a module (such as a processor, chip, or chip system) applied to the network device. The following description takes the execution of the method by a network device as an example. The method includes: the network device obtains multiple positioning system message blocks; wherein each positioning system message block includes multiple segments. The network device periodically broadcasts multiple positioning system message blocks through system messages; wherein the period of the multiple positioning system message blocks includes multiple periods of the system message; wherein, in the multiple positioning system message blocks, one segment of each of the one or more positioning system message blocks is sent through one period of the system message.

[0009] Based on the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application, multiple positioning system message blocks can be periodically transmitted to the terminal device through the system message period, thereby realizing the air interface transmission of multiple positioning system message blocks.

[0010] In combination with the above first aspect, in a possible design, the number of multiple cycles of the system message is the same as the maximum number of segments included in each positioning system message block.

[0011] This solution can determine how to periodically send positioning system message blocks based on the maximum number of segments.

[0012] In combination with the above-mentioned first aspect, in a possible design, the multiple periods of system messages include one or more first periods and one or more second periods; wherein, the total number of segments of the positioning system message blocks sent through the first period is the same as the number of multiple positioning system message blocks; and the total number of segments of the positioning system message blocks sent through the second period is less than the number of multiple positioning system message blocks.

[0013] Based on this solution, since the number of segments of multiple positioning system message blocks may be different, when sending segments of positioning system message blocks through system messages, segments of each positioning system message block can be sent in part of the system message cycle, and segments of part of the positioning system message blocks can be sent in another part of the cycle.

[0014] In combination with the above-mentioned first aspect, in a possible design, the number of first indication information sent through the second period is the same as the number of multiple positioning system message blocks, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate the content of a segment of the corresponding positioning system message block; wherein, among the first indication information sent through the second period, there are one or more first indication information indicating that the content of a segment of the corresponding positioning system message block is empty.

[0015] This solution provides a method for sending segments of positioning system message blocks using first indication information. In this method, if no segment of a positioning system message block needs to be sent in a certain period of system messages, the corresponding first indication information is still sent, but the first indication information indicates that the content of the corresponding segment is empty.

[0016] In combination with the above-mentioned first aspect, in a possible design, the number of first indication information sent through the second period is the same as the total number of segments of the positioning system message block sent through the second period; wherein, the first indication information is used to indicate the content of a segment of the corresponding positioning system message block.

[0017] This solution provides a method for sending segments of positioning system message blocks through first indication information. In this method, if there is no content of a segment of a positioning system message block to be sent in a certain period of system messages, then the segment is not sent, and the corresponding first indication information is not sent.

[0018] In combination with the above-mentioned first aspect, in a possible design, the number of segments of multiple positioning system message blocks is different.

[0019] In a second aspect, a communication method is provided. The method can be executed by a terminal device or by a module (e.g., a processor, a chip, or a chip system) applied to the terminal device. The following description uses the method executed by a terminal device as an example. The method includes: periodically receiving multiple positioning system message blocks via system messages; wherein the periods of the multiple positioning system message blocks include multiple periods of the system messages; wherein, within the multiple positioning system message blocks, a segment of each of one or more positioning system message blocks is received via one period of the system messages.

[0020] Based on the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application, multiple positioning system message blocks can be periodically transmitted to the terminal device through the system message period, thereby realizing the air interface transmission of multiple positioning system message blocks.

[0021] In combination with the above second aspect, in a possible design, the number of multiple cycles of the system message is the same as the maximum number of segments included in each positioning system message block.

[0022] This solution can determine how to periodically receive positioning system message blocks based on the maximum number of segments.

[0023] In combination with the above-mentioned second aspect, in a possible design, the multiple periods of system messages include one or more first periods and one or more second periods; wherein, the total number of segments of the positioning system message blocks received through the first period is the same as the number of multiple positioning system message blocks; and the total number of segments of the positioning system message blocks received through the second period is less than the number of multiple positioning system message blocks.

[0024] Based on this solution, since the number of segments of multiple positioning system message blocks may be different, when receiving the segments of the positioning system message blocks through the system message, part of the period of the system message can receive the segments of each positioning system message block, and another part of the period can receive the segments of part of the positioning system message blocks.

[0025] In combination with the above-mentioned second aspect, in a possible design, the number of first indication information received through the second period is the same as the number of multiple positioning system message blocks, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate the content of a segment of the corresponding positioning system message block; wherein, among the first indication information received through the second period, there are one or more first indication information indicating that the content of a segment of the corresponding positioning system message block is empty.

[0026] This solution provides a method for sending segments of a positioning system message block using a first indication message. In this method, if no segment of a positioning system message block needs to be sent in a certain period of system messages, the terminal device will still receive the corresponding first indication message, but the first indication message will indicate that the content of the corresponding segment is empty.

[0027] In combination with the above-mentioned second aspect, in one possible design, the number of first indication information received through the second period is the same as the total number of segments of the positioning system message block received through the second period; wherein, the first indication information is used to indicate the content of a segment of the corresponding positioning system message block.

[0028] This solution provides a method for sending segments of a positioning system message block through first indication information. In this method, if there is no content of a segment of a positioning system message block to be sent in a certain period of system messages, the segment will not be sent, and the terminal device will not receive the corresponding first indication information.

[0029] In combination with the second aspect above, in one possible design, multiple positioning system message blocks have different numbers of segments.

[0030] In a third aspect, a communication device is provided for implementing various methods. The communication device includes modules, units, or means corresponding to the methods. The modules, units, or means may be implemented in hardware, software, or by hardware executing corresponding software implementations. The hardware or software includes one or more modules or units corresponding to the functions.

[0031] In some possible designs, the communication device may include a processing module and a transceiver module. The processing module may be configured to implement the processing functionality of any of the above aspects and any possible implementations thereof. The transceiver module may include a receiving module and a transmitting module, respectively configured to implement the receiving functionality and the transmitting functionality of any of the above aspects and any possible implementations thereof.

[0032] In some possible designs, the transceiver module may be composed of a transceiver circuit, a transceiver, a transceiver or a communication interface.

[0033] In a fourth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising: a processor and a memory; the memory is used to store computer instructions, and when the processor executes the instructions, the communication device executes the method described in any one of the aspects.

[0034] In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising: a processor and a communication interface; the communication interface is used to communicate with a module outside the communication device; the processor is used to execute a computer program or instruction so that the communication device executes the method described in any aspect.

[0035] In a sixth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising: at least one processor; the processor is configured to execute a computer program or instruction stored in a memory, so that the communication device performs the method described in any one of the aspects. The memory may be coupled to the processor, or may be independent of the processor.

[0036] In a seventh aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, in which a computer program or instruction is stored. When the computer-readable storage medium is run on a communication device, the communication device can execute the method described in any one of the aspects.

[0037] In an eighth aspect, a computer program product comprising instructions is provided, which, when executed on a communication device, enables the communication device to execute the method described in any one of the aspects.

[0038] In a ninth aspect, a communication device is provided (for example, the communication device may be a chip or a chip system), which includes a processor for implementing the functions involved in any aspect.

[0039] In some possible designs, the communication device includes a memory for storing necessary program instructions and data.

[0040] In some possible designs, when the device is a chip system, it can be composed of a chip or include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0041] The communication device provided in any one of the third to ninth aspects may be the network device in the first aspect, or a device contained in the network device, such as a chip or a chip system; or, the communication device may be the terminal device in the second aspect, or a device contained in the terminal device, such as a chip or a chip system.

[0042] It can be understood that when the communication device provided in any one of the third to ninth aspects is a chip, the sending action / function of the communication device can be understood as output information, and the receiving action / function of the communication device can be understood as input information.

[0043] In a tenth aspect, a communication system is provided. The communication system includes a network device and a terminal device. The network device is used to implement any design method in the first aspect, and the terminal device is used to implement any design method in the second aspect.

[0044] Among them, the technical effects brought about by any design method in the third aspect to the tenth aspect can refer to the technical effects brought about by different design methods in the first aspect to the second aspect, and will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of transmission of auxiliary information;

[0046] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0047] FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0048] FIG4 is an interactive diagram of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0049] FIG5 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] In order to facilitate understanding of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, a brief introduction to the relevant technologies of the present application is first given as follows.

[0051] 1. Assisted global navigation satellite system (A-GNSS):

[0052] The global navigation satellite system (GNSS) has evolved from the initial global positioning system (GPS) to the current coexistence of multiple systems, including GPS, Beidou, GLONASS, and Galileo. When using GNSS for user positioning, positioning accuracy is affected by factors both internal and external to the system. These include errors introduced by penetrating the ionosphere and troposphere, errors caused by the Doppler effect due to high-speed satellite movement, multipath errors, channel errors, satellite clock errors, ephemeris errors, and internal noise errors. To better eliminate these errors and improve positioning accuracy, GNSS incorporates auxiliary methods. GNSS that incorporates these auxiliary methods is also known as A-GNSS.

[0053] When using A-GNSS for positioning, users need to obtain relevant auxiliary positioning data (herein referred to as auxiliary information) from the network, such as real-time kinematic (RTK) information. In RTK-assisted GNSS positioning, multiple base stations (fixed ground-based observation stations that conduct long-term, continuous observation of satellite navigation signals) collect satellite monitoring data and send it to the control center of a third-party operator. The control center removes gross errors from the data, performs a solution, and sends the resulting RTK correction information to the user.

[0054] Currently, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) protocol supports the transmission of auxiliary information required for GNSS positioning by broadcasting pos SIB by base stations. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the transmission of auxiliary information required for GNSS positioning from a distribution server to a terminal device in a fifth-generation (5G) mobile communication system. As shown in Figure 1, the distribution server sends the auxiliary information to the location management function (LMF) network element. The LMF network element sends the auxiliary information to the access and mobility management function (AMF) network element through the NL1 interface. The AMF network element sends the auxiliary information to the base station through the NG-C interface, and the base station broadcasts the auxiliary information to the terminal device through pos SIB. In other words, by using the broadcast method of widely deployed base stations, the terminal device can obtain the auxiliary information required for GNSS positioning without interacting with the distribution server, effectively reducing the pressure on the distribution server.

[0055] Among them, pos SIB is a specific type of system information (SI).

[0056] 2. Transmission of pos SIB:

[0057] According to the definition of the current 3GPP protocol 38.455, if the base station receives a pos SIB from the LMF network element, the relevant information of the pos SIB may be as shown in Table 1 below.

[0058] Table 1

[0059] In Table 1, the pos SIB type indicates the type of pos SIB. The protocol may define the type or range of auxiliary information that each pos SIB type can transmit. However, the specific content of the auxiliary information (i.e., the bitstream) is generated by the corresponding device and is not restricted by the protocol. For example, the specific content of the auxiliary information can be generated by a distribution server and transmitted to the LMF network element.

[0060] Because a complete pos SIB contains a lot of content, the base station is limited by transmission resources when sending the pos SIB to the terminal device. Therefore, it is necessary to divide the pos SIB into multiple segments for transmission. The pos SIB segmentation in Table 1 is used to indicate how the pos SIB is segmented. For example, if the specific content of the pos SIB is 0-100, the pos SIB segmentation can indicate that the pos SIB is divided into the segments 0-50, 51-70, and 71-30.

[0061] The auxiliary information metadata contains metadata for the auxiliary information element.

[0062] Broadcast priority is used to indicate the priority of the base station in broadcasting the pos SIB. For example, if the broadcast priority of pos SIB1 is 10 and the broadcast priority of pos SIB2 is 8, the base station should broadcast pos SIB2 first.

[0063] Presence is used to indicate whether the corresponding information unit is optional or mandatory, where M indicates mandatory and O indicates optional.

[0064] Category (range) is used to indicate whether the corresponding information unit is a list type or other type or value range.

[0065] IE type and reference: used to indicate the type of the corresponding information unit and the protocol section to which detailed information is referred.

[0066] Semantic description is used to characterize the meaning of the corresponding information unit. For example, the number of pos SIBs in the system message refers to the number of pos SIBs included in the system message sent by the LMF, which can be one or more.

[0067] The LMF network element may send one or more pos SIBs to the base station, wherein the relevant information of each pos SIB may refer to the information shown in Table 1. After receiving the pos SIB from the LMF network element, the base station broadcasts each pos SIB to the terminal device.

[0068] According to the definition of the current 3GPP protocol 38.331, the pos SIB broadcasted by the base station to the terminal device may include the pos SIB type and detailed information (including the specific content of the pos SIB to be broadcast).

[0069] Exemplarily, the pos SIB information broadcast by the base station to the terminal device can be represented in the following manner:

[0070] Among them, Pos System Information-r16-IEs indicates that the fields carried below are information about the pos SIB. The posSIB-TypeAndInfo-r16 field can indicate the type of the pos SIB. For example, if posSIB-TypeAndInfo-r16 carries posSib1-1-r16, it means that the type of the pos SIB is 1-1. If the pos SIB is not segmented, the assistanceDataSIB-Element-r16 field is used to indicate the specific content of the pos SIB (i.e., the code stream). If the pos SIB is segmented, the assistanceDataSIB-Element-r16 field is used to indicate the specific content of a segment of the pos SIB.

[0071] According to the current definition of 3GPP protocol 38.331, if the posSIB is divided into multiple segments, when transmitting the posSIB to the terminal device (i.e., when transmitting the posSIB over the air interface), each segment of the posSIB needs to be scheduled in series in the continuous transmission of the same air interface system message, that is, one segment of the posSIB can be transmitted in each air interface period of the same system message.

[0072] However, if the base station obtains multiple pos SIBs, how to transmit these multiple pos SIBs to the terminal device has not yet been given a specific solution in the current standard. Based on this, the present application proposes a communication method, device and system, which provide a specific implementation method for transmitting multiple pos SIBs to the terminal device via the air interface.

[0073] In the description of this application, unless otherwise specified, " / " indicates that the objects associated with each other are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B can mean A or B. "And / or" in this application is merely a description of the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exists at the same time, and B exists alone. A and B can be singular or plural. In addition, in the description of this application, unless otherwise specified, "multiple" means two or more than two. "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, or c can mean: a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple. In addition, to facilitate the clear description of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, in the embodiments of this application, words such as "first" and "second" are used to distinguish between identical or similar items with substantially the same functions and effects. Those skilled in the art will understand that words such as "first" and "second" do not limit the quantity and execution order, and words such as "first" and "second" do not necessarily limit differences. At the same time, in the embodiments of the present application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations or explanations. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of the present application should not be interpreted as being more preferred or more advantageous than other embodiments or design. Specifically, the use of words such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present related concepts in a concrete way for easy understanding.

[0074] In the embodiment of the present application, "indication" may include direct indication and indirect indication, and may also include explicit indication and implicit indication. The information indicated by a certain information (such as the first indication information below) is called information to be indicated. In the specific implementation process, there are many ways to indicate the information to be indicated, such as but not limited to, the information to be indicated can be directly indicated, such as the information to be indicated itself or the index of the information to be indicated. The information to be indicated can also be indirectly indicated by indicating other information, wherein the other information and the information to be indicated have an association relationship. It is also possible to indicate only a part of the information to be indicated, while the other parts of the information to be indicated are known or agreed in advance. For example, the indication of specific information can be achieved by means of the arrangement order of each piece of information agreed in advance (such as specified in the protocol), thereby reducing the indication overhead to a certain extent. At the same time, the common parts of each piece of information can also be identified and indicated uniformly to reduce the indication overhead caused by indicating the same information separately.

[0075] In addition, the specific indication method can also be various existing indication methods, such as but not limited to the above-mentioned indication methods and various combinations thereof. The specific details of the various indication methods can be referred to the prior art and will not be repeated herein. As can be seen from the above, for example, when it is necessary to indicate multiple information of the same type, there may be a situation where the indication methods for different information are different. In the specific implementation process, the required indication method can be selected according to specific needs. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the selected indication method. In this way, the indication method involved in the embodiment of the present application should be understood to cover various methods that can enable the party to be indicated to obtain the information to be indicated.

[0076] It should be understood that the information to be indicated can be sent as a whole or divided into multiple sub-information and sent separately, and the sending period and / or sending time of these sub-information can be the same or different. The specific sending method is not limited in the embodiments of this application. The sending period and / or sending time of these sub-information can be predefined, for example, predefined according to a protocol, or can be configured by the transmitting device by sending configuration information to the receiving device.

[0077] In an embodiment of the present application, "pre-definition", "pre-defined", "pre-configured" or "pre-configured" can be implemented by pre-saving corresponding codes, tables or other methods that can be used to indicate relevant information in the device. For example, it can be burned into the device when the device leaves the factory. The embodiment of the present application does not limit its specific implementation method. Among them, "saving" can mean saving in one or more memories. The one or more memories can be set separately or integrated in an encoder or decoder, a processor, or a communication device. The one or more memories can also be partially set separately and partially integrated in a decoder, a processor, or a communication device. The type of memory can be any form of storage medium, which is not limited by the embodiment of the present application.

[0078] The "protocol" involved in the embodiments of the present application may refer to a protocol family in the communication field, a standard protocol with a similar protocol family frame structure, or a related protocol used in future communication systems. The embodiments of the present application do not make specific limitations on this.

[0079] In the embodiments of the present application, descriptions such as "when...", "in the case of...", "if" and "if" all mean that the device will perform corresponding processing under certain objective circumstances. It does not limit the time, nor does it require the device to perform judgment actions when implemented, nor does it mean that there are other limitations.

[0080] The technical solution provided in this application can be used for various communication systems that support A-GNSS, which may be 3GPP communication systems, such as the fourth generation (4G) long term evolution (LTE) system, 5G mobile communication system and its evolution system, vehicle to everything (V2X) system, LTE and new radio (NR) hybrid networking system, or device to device (D2D) system, machine to machine (M2M) communication system, Internet of Things (IoT), and other next generation communication systems, such as the sixth generation (6G) mobile communication system.

[0081] It should be noted that the network architecture and business scenarios described in the embodiments of the present application are intended to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application. Ordinary technicians in this field can know that with the evolution of network architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0082] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a possible, non-limiting communication system applicable to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 2, the communication system 10 includes a radio access network (RAN) 100 and a core network (CN) 200. The RAN 100 includes at least one RAN node (such as 110a and 110b in Figure 2, collectively referred to as 110) and at least one terminal device (such as 120a-120j in Figure 2, collectively referred to as 120). The RAN 100 may also include other RAN nodes, such as wireless relay devices and / or wireless backhaul devices (not shown in Figure 2). The terminal device 120 is connected to the RAN node 110 via a wireless connection. The RAN node 110 is connected to the core network 200 via a wireless or wired connection. The core network devices in the core network 200 and the RAN node 110 in the RAN 100 can be different physical devices, or they can be the same physical device that integrates the core network logical functions and the radio access network logical functions.

[0083] As shown in Figure 2, optionally, the communication system 10 may further include the Internet 300. The Internet may be connected to the core network or the RAN.

[0084] The RAN 100 may be a 3GPP-related cellular system, such as a 4G or 5G mobile communication system, or a future-oriented evolutionary system (such as a 6G mobile communication system). The RAN 100 may also be an open access network (O-RAN or ORAN), a cloud radio access network (CRAN), or a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system. The RAN 100 may also be a communication system that integrates two or more of the above systems.

[0085] The RAN node 110, which may also sometimes be referred to as access network equipment, RAN entity or access node, etc., constitutes a part of the communication system to help terminal devices achieve wireless access. The multiple RAN nodes 110 in the communication system 10 may be nodes of the same type or nodes of different types. In some scenarios, the roles of the RAN node 110 and the terminal device 120 are relative. For example, the network element 120i in Figure 2 may be a helicopter or a drone, which may be configured as a mobile base station. For those terminal devices 120j that access the RAN 100 through the network element 120i, the network element 120i is a base station; but for the base station 110a, the network element 120i is a terminal device. The RAN node 110 and the terminal device 120 are sometimes referred to as communication devices. For example, the network elements 110a and 110b in Figure 2 may be understood as communication devices with base station functions, and the network elements 120a-120j may be understood as communication devices with terminal device functions.

[0086] In one possible scenario, a RAN node may be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), an access point (AP), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next generation NodeB (gNB), a next generation base station in a 6G mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a WiFi system. A RAN node may be a macro base station (such as 110a in FIG2 ), a micro base station or an indoor station (such as 110b in FIG2 ), a relay node or a donor node, or a wireless controller in a CRAN scenario. Optionally, a RAN node may also be a server, a wearable device, a vehicle or an onboard device. For example, an access network device in V2X technology may be a road side unit (RSU). All or part of the functions of the RAN node in this application may also be implemented by software functions running on hardware, or by virtualized functions instantiated on a platform (such as a cloud platform). The RAN node in this application may also be a logical node, a logical module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of a RAN node.

[0087] In another possible scenario, multiple RAN nodes collaborate to assist terminal devices in achieving wireless access, and different RAN nodes respectively implement part of the functions of the base station. For example, the RAN node can be a centralized unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), or a radio unit (RU). The CU and DU can be set separately, or they can be included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). The RU can be included in a radio frequency device or radio frequency unit, such as a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH).

[0088] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU or RU may also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in the ORAN system, CU may also be called O-CU (Open CU), DU may also be called O-DU, CU-CP may also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP may also be called O-CU-UP, and RU may also be called O-RU. For the convenience of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU and RU as examples for description. Any unit of CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU and RU in this application can be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0089] The RAN node may also be expressed in different ways, such as a network device. In this application, unless otherwise specified, the network device is used to express the node.

[0090] A terminal device may be a device with wireless transceiver capabilities, and may also be referred to as a terminal, user equipment (UE), mobile station, mobile terminal device, etc. Terminal devices can be widely used in various scenarios, such as D2D, V2X communication, machine-type communication (MTC), IOT, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), industrial control, self-driving, remote medical, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wearable, smart transportation, smart city, etc. Terminal devices may be mobile phones, tablet computers, computers with wireless transceiver capabilities, wearable devices, vehicles, drones, helicopters, airplanes, ships, robots, robotic arms, smart home devices, etc. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the device form of the terminal device.

[0091] In the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application, taking the interaction between a network device and any terminal device as an example, the network device obtains multiple positioning system message blocks (pos SIBs). Each positioning system message block includes multiple segments. The network device periodically broadcasts multiple positioning system message blocks through system messages; wherein, the period of multiple positioning system message blocks includes multiple periods of system messages; wherein, in the multiple positioning system message blocks, one or more positioning system message blocks respectively have a segment, which is sent through a period of system messages. Correspondingly, the terminal device periodically receives multiple positioning system message blocks through system messages. The specific implementation and technical effects of this solution will be described in detail in the subsequent method embodiments and will not be elaborated here.

[0092] Optionally, the communication system 10 may further include a distribution server and / or a control center (not shown in FIG2 ). The distribution server and / or the control center may generate auxiliary information required for positioning, and the distribution server may send the auxiliary information required for positioning to the network device via the core network, so that the network device sends the auxiliary information to the terminal device via the positioning system message block.

[0093] Optionally, the network device or terminal device may adopt the structure of the communication device 300 shown in Figure 3. As shown in Figure 3, the communication device 300 includes a processor 301, a communication circuit 302, and at least one communication interface (Figure 3 is merely an example of including a communication interface 304). Optionally, the communication device 300 may also include a memory 303.

[0094] The processor 301 can be a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits used to control the execution of the program of the present application.

[0095] The communication link 302 may include a pathway for transmitting information between the aforementioned components.

[0096] The communication interface 304 uses any transceiver or other device for communicating with other devices or communication networks, such as Ethernet, wireless access network, wireless local area network (WLAN), etc.

[0097] The memory 303 may be a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device that can store static information and instructions, a random access memory (RAM) or other type of dynamic storage device that can store information and instructions, or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, an optical disc storage (including a compact disc, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc, Blu-ray disc, etc.), a magnetic disk storage medium or other magnetic storage device, 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, but is not limited thereto. The memory may exist independently and be connected to the processor via the communication line 302. The memory may also be integrated with the processor.

[0098] The memory 303 is used to store computer-executable instructions for executing the solution of the present application, and the execution is controlled by the processor 301. The processor 301 is used to execute the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 303, thereby implementing the methods provided in the following embodiments of the present application.

[0099] Optionally, the computer-executable instructions in the embodiments of the present application may also be referred to as application code or computer program code, which is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0100] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the processor 301 may include one or more CPUs, such as CPU0 and CPU1 in FIG. 3 .

[0101] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the communication device 300 may include multiple processors, such as the processor 301 and the processor 308 in FIG3 . Each of these processors may be a single-core (single-CPU) processor or a multi-core (multi-CPU) processor. The processor herein may refer to one or more devices, circuits, and / or processing cores for processing data (e.g., computer program instructions).

[0102] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the communication device 300 may further include an output device 305 and an input device 306. The output device 305 communicates with the processor 301 and can display information in a variety of ways. For example, the output device 305 can be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display device, a cathode ray tube (CRT) display device, or a projector. The input device 306 communicates with the processor 301 and can receive user input in a variety of ways. For example, the input device 306 can be a mouse, a keyboard, a touch screen device, or a sensor device.

[0103] It is understood that the structure shown in FIG3 does not constitute a specific limitation on the communication device 300. For example, in other embodiments of the present application, the communication device 300 may include more or fewer components than shown, or may combine or separate certain components, or arrange the components differently. The components shown in the figure may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of software and hardware.

[0104] The following will combine Figures 2 to 3 to explain the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application by taking the interaction between a network device and any terminal device as an example.

[0105] It should be noted that the message names between network elements or the names of parameters in the messages in the following embodiments of the present application are only examples, and other names may be used in specific implementations. The embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this.

[0106] As shown in Figure 4, a communication method is provided for an embodiment of the present application. Figure 4 illustrates the method by taking a network device and a terminal device as the execution subjects of the interaction diagram as an example, but the present application does not limit the execution subjects of the interaction diagram. For example, the network device in Figure 4 may also be a module such as a chip, a chip system, or a processor applied to a network device, or a logical node, a logical module, or software that can realize all or part of the functions of a network device node; the terminal device in Figure 4 may also be a module such as a chip, a chip system, or a processor applied to a terminal device, or a logical node, a logical module, or software that can realize all or part of the functions of a terminal device. The communication method comprises the following steps:

[0107] S401: A network device obtains multiple positioning system information blocks (pos SIBs), wherein each pos SIB includes multiple segments.

[0108] In the embodiment of the present application, the network device obtains multiple pos SIBs of different types, which can also be understood as the multiple pos SIBs are divided according to type. For example, the network device obtains four types of pos SIBs, and the number of each type of pos SIB is 1, that is, the network device obtains four pos SIBs.

[0109] The number of segments of the plurality of pos SIBs may be the same or different, or may be partially the same and partially different.

[0110] The type and number of segments of the pos SIB obtained by the network device can be defined (or configured) by the information included in the obtained pos SIB. For example, the specific information included in the pos SIB obtained by the network device can refer to the introduction to Table 1 above.

[0111] In S401, the pos SIB obtained by the network device may be sent by the core network device to the network device. For example, the LMF network element sends multiple pos SIBs to the network device. In one possible implementation, an intermediate network element, such as an AMF network element, may forward the multiple pos SIBs from the LMF network element to the network device. For example, the AMF network element may transparently transmit the multiple pos SIBs to the network device by forwarding an NR Positioning Protocol A (NRPPa) message.

[0112] In an embodiment of the present application, the pos SIB may include auxiliary information for positioning. Exemplarily, the auxiliary information for positioning may include RTK information, GNSS reference location (GNSS-ReferenceLocation) information, GNSS reference time (GNSS-ReferenceTime) information, GNSS differential corrections (GNSS-DifferentialCorrections), and other information. In this case, multiple pos SIBs may be configured by the core network device to carry auxiliary information for positioning.

[0113] Optionally, the auxiliary information used for positioning obtained by the core network device can come from a distribution server and / or a control center. That is, the distribution server and / or the control center sends the auxiliary information used for positioning to the core network device. After receiving the auxiliary information used for positioning, the core network device configures multiple POS SIBS to carry the auxiliary information used for positioning and sends the multiple POS SIBS to the network device. The distribution server and / or the control center can be deployed by a third-party operator.

[0114] Exemplarily, the distribution server sends the auxiliary information for positioning to the LMF network element. After receiving the auxiliary information for positioning, the LMF network element configures multiple pos SIBs to carry the auxiliary information for positioning. The LMF network element sends the configured multiple pos SIBs to the network device via the AMF network element.

[0115] Optionally, after obtaining the auxiliary information for positioning, the core network device, such as the LMF network element, may encrypt the auxiliary information for positioning according to the key, and then carry the encrypted auxiliary information in the pos SIB to send to the network device.

[0116] Optionally, if an intermediate network element, such as an AMF network element, forwards the pos SIB to the network device, the intermediate network element may store, update or delete the key used to encrypt the auxiliary information after receiving the pos SIB.

[0117] S402. The network device periodically broadcasts multiple POS SIBs via system messages. The periods of the multiple POS SIBs include multiple periods of the system messages. One or more segments of the multiple POS SIBs are sent via a period of the system messages. Correspondingly, the terminal device periodically receives the multiple POS SIBs via system messages.

[0118] In S402, after the network device obtains multiple pos SIBs, it determines how to periodically broadcast the multiple pos SIBs according to the number of segments of each pos SIB.

[0119] The network equipment determines the maximum number of segments, i.e., the number of segments of the pos SIB with the largest number of segments, based on the number of segments of each pos SIB. Further, the network equipment determines the number of cycles of a certain system message included in the cycle (for ease of introduction, this cycle will be referred to as the pos SIB cycle below, and of course, it may be other names, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this) for broadcasting multiple pos SIBs based on the maximum number of segments. Wherein, the cycle of the system message is the cycle for broadcasting the system message. For ease of introduction, the cycle of the system message will be referred to as the S1 cycle below, and of course, it may be other names, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0120] Exemplarily, the number of SI cycles included in the pos SIB period may be the same as the maximum number of segments. In other words, the pos SIB period is composed of multiple SI cycles, and the number of these multiple SI cycles is the same as the maximum number of segments.

[0121] Furthermore, the network device allocates a segment of the pos SIB that can be transmitted for each SI period included in the pos SIB period. After the allocation, one SI period can transmit one segment of one or more pos SIBs, respectively, so that each segment of the pos SIB in the multiple pos SIBs can be transmitted through the SI period included in the pos SIB period, thereby realizing periodic broadcasting of multiple pos SIBs through the pos SIB period.

[0122] Here, sending a segment of the pos SIB refers to sending the specific content (ie, code stream) of a segment of the pos SIB.

[0123] Optionally, the multiple SI periods included in the posSIB period may include one or more first periods and one or more second periods. The total number of segments of the posSIB sent in the first period is the same as the number of the multiple positioning system message blocks. The total number of segments of the posSIB sent in the second period is less than the number of the multiple positioning system message blocks.

[0124] It is understood that the first cycle is an exemplary name for an SI cycle in which the total number of segments of the pos SIB sent is the same as the number of multiple pos SIBs, and it may also be other names, which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application. Similarly, the second cycle is an exemplary name for an SI cycle in which the total number of segments of the pos SIB sent is less than the number of multiple pos SIBs, and it may also be other names, which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0125] For example, assume that a network device acquires three posSIBs, of types 2-12, 2-13, and 2-14, respectively. (Hereinafter, these three posSIBs are referred to as 2-12, 2-13, and 2-14, respectively.) The number of segments of 2-12 is 3, the number of segments of 2-12 is 2, and the number of segments of 2-13 is 4. Therefore, the maximum number of segments is 4, and thus, the posSIB cycle includes four SI cycles. Of the four SI cycles included in the posSIB cycle, the first SI cycle transmits one segment of 2-12 (which may be referred to as segment 1 of 2-12), one segment of 2-13 (which may be referred to as segment 1 of 2-13), and one segment of 2-14 (which may be referred to as segment 1 of 2-14). The second SI cycle transmits another segment of 2-12 (which may be referred to as segment 2 of 2-12), another segment of 2-13 (which may be referred to as segment 2 of 2-13), and another segment of 2-14 (which may be referred to as segment 2 of 2-14). The third SI cycle transmits another segment of 2-12 (which may be referred to as segment 3 of 2-12) and another segment of 2-14 (which may be referred to as segment 3 of 2-14). The fourth SI cycle transmits another segment of 2-14 (which may be referred to as segment 4 of 2-14). Based on the number of segments of posSIB transmitted in these four SI cycles, the first and second SI cycles may be referred to as first SI cycles, and the total number of segments of posSIB transmitted is 3, which is the same as the number of posSIBs. The third and fourth SI cycles may be referred to as second SI cycles, and the total number of segments of posSIB transmitted is 2 and 1, respectively, which is less than the number of posSIBs.

[0126] Optionally, the network device may broadcast multiple pos SIBs cyclically through a pos SIB period.

[0127] The above describes the periodic broadcasting of multiple pos SIBs through the pos SIB period. Regarding how to specifically send segments of the pos SIB to a terminal device, in one possible implementation, the network device may indicate the content of a segment of the pos SIB through a first indication message (wherein the content of the segment may also be referred to as the specific content of the segment, i.e., the code stream, which will not be described in detail in the following embodiments). The first indication message and the pos SIB may be in a one-to-one correspondence, that is, one first indication message is used to indicate the content of a segment of a corresponding pos SIB.

[0128] Optionally, the first indication information may indicate the length of a segmented code stream of the corresponding pos SIB. For example, the first indication information may indicate that the length of a segmented code stream of the corresponding pos SIB is 50.

[0129] Optionally, the first indication information may correspond to information indicating the type of the pos SIB to indicate the content of a segment of the pos SIB.

[0130] Exemplarily, the first indication information may be the assistanceDataSIB-Element-r16 field. The assistanceDataSIB-Element-r16 field may be included in the posSIB-Type field to indicate the content of a segment of the pos SIB corresponding to the posSIB-Type field. The posSIB-Type field may be carried in the posSystemInformation-r16-IEs field. For details, please refer to the above description and will not be repeated here.

[0131] Regarding the specific implementation of sending the first indication information through the SI period to send the segments of the pos SIB, the embodiment of the present application provides two possible implementation methods.

[0132] Implementation method 1: Among the multiple SI periods included in the pos SIB period, the number of first indication information sent through the second period is the same as the number of the multiple pos SIBs. Among the first indication information sent through the second period, there are one or more first indication information indicating that the content of a segment of the corresponding pos SIB is empty (or one or more first indication information are set to empty). In addition, the number of first indication information sent in the first period is the same as the number of the multiple pos SIBs.

[0133] For example, assume that the network device obtains three posSIBs, of types 2-12, 2-13, and 2-14, respectively. (Hereinafter, these three posSIBs are referred to as 2-12, 2-13, and 2-14, respectively.) The number of segments of 2-12 is 3, the number of segments of 2-13 is 2, and the number of segments of 2-13 is 4. Therefore, the maximum number of segments is 4, and therefore, the posSIB period includes four SI periods. The SI period included in the posSIB period is the period of System Message 1 (SI1). That is, the network device transmits the obtained posSIB segments to the terminal device, carrying them in SI1.

[0134] The network device may implement 2-12, 2-13 and 2-14 by periodically broadcasting posSIB as shown in Table 2.

[0135] Table 2

[0136] In Table 2, every four SI cycles constitute a pos SIB cycle. Taking the first to fourth SI cycles as an example, the first SI cycle sends segment 1 of 2-12, segment 1 of 2-13, and segment 1 of 2-14, and the contents of these three segments are indicated by the corresponding first indication information. The second SI cycle sends segment 2 of 2-12, segment 2 of 2-13, and segment 2 of 2-14, and the contents of these three segments are indicated by the corresponding first indication information. The third SI cycle sends segment 3 of 2-12 and segment 3 of 2-14, and the contents of these two segments are indicated by the corresponding first indication information. In the third SI cycle, the first indication information corresponding to 2-13 is left blank. For example, if the first indication information is the assistance DataSIB-Element-r16 field, the element length is 0. The fourth SI cycle sends segment 4 of 2-14, and the content of this segment is indicated by the corresponding first indication information. In the fourth SI cycle, the first indication information corresponding to 2-12 and 2-13 are both set to blank. For example, if the first indication information is the assistance DataSIB-Element-r16 field, the element length=0.

[0137] Among them, the number of first indication information sent in the 1st SI cycle to the 4th SI cycle is the same as the number of pos SIBs. However, in the first indication information sent in the 3rd SI cycle and the 4th SI cycle, there are one or more first indication information indicating that the content of a segment of the corresponding pos SIB is empty.

[0138] How to send segments 2-12, 2-13 and 2-14 in the 5th to 16th SI cycles can be referred to the 1st to 4th SI cycles, which will not be expanded here.

[0139] Implementation method 2: In the multiple SI cycles included in the pos SIB cycle, the number of first indication information sent in the second cycle is the same as the total number of pos SIB segments sent in the second cycle. In addition, the number of first indication information sent in the first cycle is the same as the number of multiple pos SIBs.

[0140] For example, assume that the network device obtains three posSIBs, of types 2-12, 2-13, and 2-14, respectively. (Hereinafter, these three posSIBs are referred to as 2-12, 2-13, and 2-14, respectively.) The number of segments of 2-12 is 3, the number of segments of 2-13 is 2, and the number of segments of 2-13 is 4. Therefore, the maximum number of segments is 4, and therefore, the posSIB period includes four SI periods. The SI period included in the posSIB period is the period of System Message 1 (SI1). That is, the network device transmits the obtained posSIB segments to the terminal device, carrying them in SI1.

[0141] The network device may implement 2-12, 2-13 and 2-14 by periodically broadcasting posSIB as shown in Table 3.

[0142] Table 3

[0143] In Table 3, every four SI cycles constitute a pos SIB cycle. Taking the first through fourth SI cycles as an example, the first SI cycle transmits Segment 1 of 2-12, Segment 1 of 2-13, and Segment 1 of 2-14, with the contents of these three segments indicated by corresponding first indication information. The second SI cycle transmits Segment 2 of 2-12, Segment 2 of 2-13, and Segment 2 of 2-14, with the contents of these three segments indicated by corresponding first indication information. The third SI cycle transmits Segment 3 of 2-12 and Segment 3 of 2-14, with the contents of these two segments indicated by corresponding first indication information. Furthermore, the third SI cycle does not transmit the first indication information corresponding to Segment 2-13. The fourth SI cycle transmits Segment 4 of 2-14, with the contents of this segment indicated by corresponding first indication information. Furthermore, the fourth SI cycle does not transmit the first indication information corresponding to Segment 2-12 or Segment 2-13.

[0144] The number of first indication information sent in the first and second SI cycles is the same as the number of pos SIBs. The number of first indication information sent in the third and fourth SI cycles is 2 and 1 respectively, which is less than the number of pos SIBs.

[0145] How to send segments 2-12, 2-13 and 2-14 in the 5th to 16th SI cycles can be referred to the 1st to 4th SI cycles, which will not be expanded here.

[0146] Accordingly, when receiving the pos SIB, the terminal device may periodically receive the pos SIB according to the posSIB period. The specific implementation thereof may refer to the introduction of sending the pos SIB according to the pos SIB period in the above embodiment, and correspondingly replace sending with receiving.

[0147] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present application, but the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included in the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

[0148] It can be understood that in the above embodiments, the methods and / or steps implemented by each unit can also be implemented by components that can be used for the unit (such as a processor, chip, chip system, circuit, logic module, or software such as a chip or circuit).

[0149] The above mainly introduces the solutions provided by this application from the perspective of the interaction between various units. Accordingly, this application also provides a communication device, which is used to implement the various methods described above. The communication device can be the network device or terminal device in the above method embodiments, or a device that includes the above devices, or a component that can be used for the above devices.

[0150] It is understandable that, in order to realize the above functions, the communication device includes hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the execution of each function. It should be easily appreciated by those skilled in the art that, in combination with the units and algorithm steps of each example described in the embodiments disclosed herein, 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 and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional and technical personnel can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered to be beyond the scope of this application.

[0151] The embodiment of the present application can divide the functional modules of the communication device according to the above method embodiment. For example, each functional module can be divided according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The above integrated modules can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional modules. It should be noted that the division of modules in the embodiment of the present application is schematic and is only a logical functional division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods.

[0152] Figure 5 provides a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 500. Exemplarily, as shown in Figure 5, the communication device 500 includes a transceiver module 502 and a processing module 501. For ease of illustration, Figure 5 only shows the main components of the communication device.

[0153] In some embodiments, the communication device 500 may further include a storage module (not shown in FIG. 5 ) for storing program instructions and data.

[0154] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 502, which may also be referred to as a transceiver unit, is configured to implement a transmitting and / or receiving function. The transceiver module 502 may be composed of a transceiver circuit, a transceiver, a transceiver, or a communication interface.

[0155] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 502 may include a receiving module and a sending module, which are respectively used to execute the receiving and sending steps performed by the network device or terminal device in the above method embodiments, and / or used to support other processes of the technology described herein; the processing module 501 may be used to execute the processing steps (such as determination, generation, etc.) performed by the network device or terminal device in the above method embodiments, and / or used to support other processes of the technology described herein.

[0156] When the communication device 500 is used to implement the functions of the above-mentioned network device:

[0157] In one possible design, a processing module 501 is configured to obtain multiple positioning system message blocks, each of which includes multiple segments. A transceiver module 502 is configured to periodically broadcast the multiple positioning system message blocks via a system message, wherein the periods of the multiple positioning system message blocks include multiple periods of the system message, and wherein one segment of each of the multiple positioning system message blocks is transmitted via one period of the system message.

[0158] When the communication device 500 is used to implement the functions of the above-mentioned terminal device:

[0159] The transceiver module 502 is used to periodically receive multiple positioning system message blocks through system messages; wherein the period of multiple positioning system message blocks includes multiple periods of system messages; wherein, among the multiple positioning system message blocks, one or more positioning system message blocks are respectively a segment, which is received through a period of system messages.

[0160] Among them, all relevant contents of each step involved in the above method embodiment can be referred to the functional description of the corresponding functional module and will not be repeated here.

[0161] In this application, the communication device 500 is presented in the form of various functional modules divided in an integrated manner. The "module" here can refer to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a circuit, a processor and memory that executes one or more software or firmware programs, an integrated logic circuit, and / or other devices that can provide the above functions.

[0162] In some embodiments, when the communication device 500 in Figure 5 is a chip or a chip system, the function / implementation process of the transceiver module 502 can be implemented through the input and output interface (or communication interface) of the chip or chip system, and the function / implementation process of the processing module 501 can be implemented through the processor (or processing circuit) of the chip or chip system.

[0163] Since the communication device 500 provided in this embodiment can execute the above method, the technical effects that can be obtained can refer to the above method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0164] As a possible product form, the above-mentioned communication device 500 can be implemented using the following: one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), controllers, state machines, gate logic, discrete hardware components, any other suitable circuits, or any combination of circuits that can perform the various functions described throughout this application.

[0165] It should be noted that the structure shown in FIG5 does not constitute a specific limitation on the device structure. For example, in other embodiments of the present application, each of the above devices may include more or fewer components than shown in the figure, or some components may be combined, some components may be separated, or the components may be arranged differently. The components shown in the figure may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of software and hardware.

[0166] In some embodiments, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device, which includes a processor for implementing the method in any of the above method embodiments.

[0167] As a possible implementation, the communication device further includes a memory. The memory is used to store necessary computer programs and data. The computer program may include instructions, and the processor may invoke the instructions in the computer program stored in the memory to instruct the communication device to perform any of the above-described method embodiments. Of course, the memory may not be located in the communication device.

[0168] As another possible implementation, the communication device also includes an interface circuit, which is a code / data read / write interface circuit, and the interface circuit is used to receive computer execution instructions (computer execution instructions are stored in a memory, may be read directly from the memory, or may pass through other devices) and transmit them to the processor.

[0169] As another possible implementation, the communication device further includes a communication interface, where the communication interface is used to communicate with a module outside the communication device.

[0170] It can be understood that the communication device can be a chip or a chip system. When the communication device is a chip system, it can be composed of chips or include chips and other discrete devices. The embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this.

[0171] In a simple embodiment, those skilled in the art may appreciate that the communication device 500 may take the form of the communication device 300 shown in FIG. 3 .

[0172] Specifically, the functions / implementation processes of the transceiver module 502 and the processing module 501 in FIG5 can be implemented by the processor 301 shown in FIG3 calling computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 303. Alternatively, the functions / implementation processes of the processing module 501 in FIG5 can be implemented by the processor 301 shown in FIG3 calling computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 303, and the functions / implementation processes of the transceiver module 502 in FIG5 can be implemented by the communication interface 304 shown in FIG3.

[0173] The present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium having a computer program or instruction stored thereon, which implements the functions of any of the above method embodiments when executed by a computer.

[0174] The present application also provides a computer program product, which implements the functions of any of the above method embodiments when executed by a computer.

[0175] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, for the sake of convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the above-described systems, devices, and units may refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0176] It is understood that the systems, devices, and methods described in this application may also be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the division of the units is merely a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interface, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, and may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0177] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, i.e., they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Components shown as units may or may not be physical units. Some or all of these units may be selected to achieve the objectives of this embodiment as needed.

[0178] In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0179] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using a software program, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are generated. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may 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 may 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 may be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more media integrated therein. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., a DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., a solid state disk (SSD)). In the embodiment of the present application, the computer may include the aforementioned device.

[0180] Although the present application is described herein in conjunction with various embodiments, in the process of implementing the claimed application, those skilled in the art can understand and implement other changes to the disclosed embodiments by reviewing the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other components or steps, and "a" or "an" does not exclude multiple situations. A single processor or other unit can implement several functions listed in the claims. Certain measures are recorded in different dependent claims, but this does not mean that these measures cannot be combined to produce good results.

[0181] Although the present application has been described with reference to specific features and embodiments thereof, it is apparent that various modifications and combinations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Accordingly, this specification and the drawings are merely illustrative of the present application as defined by the appended claims and are deemed to cover any and all modifications, variations, combinations or equivalents within the scope of the present application. Obviously, those skilled in the art may make various modifications and variations to the present application without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Thus, the present application is intended to include such modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Acquire multiple positioning system message blocks; wherein each positioning system message block includes multiple segments; The multiple positioning system message blocks are broadcast periodically through system messages; wherein the period of the multiple positioning system message blocks includes multiple periods of the system messages; wherein, among the multiple positioning system message blocks, a segment of one or more positioning system message blocks is respectively sent through a period of the system message.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The number of the multiple cycles of the system message is the same as the maximum number of segments included in each positioning system message block.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The multiple periods of the system message include one or more first periods and one or more second periods; wherein the total number of segments of the positioning system message blocks sent through the first period is the same as the number of the multiple positioning system message blocks; and the total number of segments of the positioning system message blocks sent through the second period is less than the number of the multiple positioning system message blocks.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The number of first indication information sent through the second period is the same as the number of the multiple positioning system message blocks, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate the content of a segment of the corresponding positioning system message block; wherein, among the first indication information sent through the second period, there are one or more first indication information indicating that the content of a segment of the corresponding positioning system message block is empty.

5. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that: The number of first indication information sent through the second period is the same as the total number of segments of the positioning system message block sent through the second period; wherein the first indication information is used to indicate the content of a segment of the corresponding positioning system message block.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The plurality of positioning system message blocks have different numbers of segments.

7. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Multiple positioning system message blocks are periodically received through system messages; wherein the periods of the multiple positioning system message blocks include multiple periods of the system messages; wherein, among the multiple positioning system message blocks, one or more positioning system message blocks are respectively segmented and received through one period of the system messages.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The number of the multiple cycles of the system message is the same as the maximum number of segments included in each positioning system message block.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that: The multiple periods of the system message include one or more first periods and one or more second periods; wherein the total number of segments of the positioning system message blocks received through the first period is the same as the number of the multiple positioning system message blocks; and the total number of segments of the positioning system message blocks received through the second period is less than the number of the multiple positioning system message blocks.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The number of first indication information received through the second period is the same as the number of the multiple positioning system message blocks, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate the content of a segment of the corresponding positioning system message block; wherein, among the first indication information received through the second period, there are one or more first indication information indicating that the content of a segment of the corresponding positioning system message block is empty.

11. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The number of first indication information received through the second period is the same as the total number of segments of the positioning system message block received through the second period; wherein the first indication information is used to indicate the content of a segment of the corresponding positioning system message block.

12. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that: The plurality of positioning system message blocks have different numbers of segments.

13. A communication device, characterized in that: The device comprises a processing module and a transceiver module; The processing module is used to obtain multiple positioning system message blocks; wherein each positioning system message block includes multiple segments; The transceiver module is used to periodically broadcast the multiple positioning system message blocks through system messages; wherein, the period of the multiple positioning system message blocks includes multiple periods of the system messages; wherein, among the multiple positioning system message blocks, a segment of one or more positioning system message blocks is respectively sent through a period of the system message.

14. The device according to claim 13, characterized in that The number of the multiple cycles of the system message is the same as the maximum number of segments included in each positioning system message block.

15. The device according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that The multiple periods of the system message include one or more first periods and one or more second periods; wherein the total number of segments of the positioning system message blocks sent through the first period is the same as the number of the multiple positioning system message blocks; and the total number of segments of the positioning system message blocks sent through the second period is less than the number of the multiple positioning system message blocks.

16. The device according to claim 15, characterized in that The number of first indication information sent through the second period is the same as the number of the multiple positioning system message blocks, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate the content of a segment of the corresponding positioning system message block; wherein, among the first indication information sent through the second period, there are one or more first indication information indicating that the content of a segment of the corresponding positioning system message block is empty.

17. The device according to claim 15, characterized in that The number of first indication information sent through the second period is the same as the total number of segments of the positioning system message block sent through the second period; wherein the first indication information is used to indicate the content of a segment of the corresponding positioning system message block.

18. The device according to any one of claims 13 to 17, characterized in that: The plurality of positioning system message blocks have different numbers of segments.

19. A communication device, characterized in that: The device comprises a transceiver module; The transceiver module is used to periodically receive multiple positioning system message blocks through system messages; wherein the period of the multiple positioning system message blocks includes multiple periods of the system messages; wherein, among the multiple positioning system message blocks, one segment of one or more positioning system message blocks is respectively received through one period of the system message.

20. The device according to claim 19, characterized in that The number of the multiple cycles of the system message is the same as the maximum number of segments included in each positioning system message block.

21. The device according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that The multiple periods of the system message include one or more first periods and one or more second periods; wherein the total number of segments of the positioning system message blocks received through the first period is the same as the number of the multiple positioning system message blocks; and the total number of segments of the positioning system message blocks received through the second period is less than the number of the multiple positioning system message blocks.

22. The device according to claim 21, characterized in that The number of first indication information received through the second period is the same as the number of the multiple positioning system message blocks, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate the content of a segment of the corresponding positioning system message block; wherein, among the first indication information received through the second period, there are one or more first indication information indicating that the content of a segment of the corresponding positioning system message block is empty.

23. The device according to claim 22, characterized in that The number of first indication information received through the second period is the same as the total number of segments of the positioning system message block received through the second period; wherein the first indication information is used to indicate the content of a segment of the corresponding positioning system message block.

24. The device according to any one of claims 19 to 23, characterized in that The plurality of positioning system message blocks have different numbers of segments.

25. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device comprises: a processor and a memory; the memory is used to store computer instructions, and when the processor executes the instructions, the communication device executes the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

26. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium includes a computer program or instructions, and when the computer program or instructions are run on a computer, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12 is executed.

27. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product comprises instructions, and when the instructions are run on a computer, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12 is executed.

28. A chip, characterized in that: The chip includes: a processor, and the processor is used to execute instructions so that a device including the chip performs the method according to any one of claims 1-12.

29. A communication system, characterized in that: The communication system includes a network device and a terminal device; the network device is used to execute the method described in any one of claims 1 to 6; the terminal device is used to execute the method described in any one of claims 7 to 12.

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