Positioning method and apparatus, communication device, communication system, and storage medium

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a positioning method and apparatus, a device, and a storage medium. The method comprises: when a first condition is met, sending a first request to a second network element, the first condition being a condition that a privacy check needs to be performed on a user equipment participating in a sidelink (SL) positioning process, and the first request being used for requesting the second network element to perform a privacy check on the user equipment participating in the SL positioning process; receiving a first response sent by the second network element, the first response being used for indicating a result of the privacy check on the user equipment participating in the SL positioning process; and, on the basis of the first response, determining whether to execute the SL positioning process. The method of the present disclosure supports a privacy check on a user equipment in an SL positioning procedure triggered by a 5GC-MO-LR, and supports execution of a privacy check on a user equipment newly introduced to the SL positioning procedure, thereby improving the positioning performance of SL positioning.

Description

Positioning method and device, communication equipment, communication system, and storage medium Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a positioning method and apparatus, a communication device, a communication system, and a storage medium. Background Art

[0002] In order to support direct communication between terminals, a sidelink (SL) communication method is introduced. Ranging refers to determining the distance between two or more terminals, or the direction from one terminal to another, through a PC5 interface. A PC5 interface refers to a communication interface between terminals, such as a short-range direct communication interface between vehicles, people, and road infrastructure. Sidelink SL positioning refers to estimating the position of a located terminal based on the sidelink SL. For example, ranging or sidelink SL positioning can be performed on a located terminal (e.g., a target terminal (target user equipment, target UE)) based on information from a terminal (e.g., a positioning terminal (located user equipment, located UE)). The reference terminal can be, for example, an SL reference terminal whose position is known or can be known in ranging or sidelink SL positioning. For another example, the relative position information of a terminal (e.g., a target terminal (target user equipment, target UE)) and another terminal (e.g., an SL reference terminal (sidelink reference user equipment, sidelink reference UE)) can be determined through ranging or sidelink SL positioning.

[0003] Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present disclosure provides a positioning method and apparatus, a communication device, a communication system, and a storage medium.

[0005] According to a first aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a positioning method is proposed, which is performed by a first network element. The method includes:

[0006] If a first condition is met, a first request is sent to a second network element; wherein the first condition is that a privacy check needs to be performed on a terminal participating in a sidelink (SL) positioning process, and the first request is used to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on the terminal participating in the SL positioning process;

[0007] receiving a first response sent by the second network element, where the first response is used to indicate a privacy check result of the terminal participating in the SL positioning process;

[0008] Determine whether to perform the SL positioning process based on the first response.

[0009] According to a second aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a positioning method is provided, which is performed by a second network element. The method includes:

[0010] receiving a first request sent by a first network element, where the first request is used to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on a terminal participating in a SL positioning process;

[0011] Perform privacy checks on terminals participating in the SL positioning process;

[0012] A first response is sent to the first network element, where the first response is used to indicate the privacy check result of the terminal participating in the SL positioning process.

[0013] According to a third aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a first network element is provided, including:

[0014] a transceiver module, configured to send a first request to a second network element upon satisfying a first condition; wherein the first condition is a condition that a privacy check needs to be performed on a terminal participating in a sidelink (SL) positioning process, and the first request is used to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on the terminal participating in the SL positioning process;

[0015] The transceiver module is further configured to receive a first response sent by the second network element, where the first response is used to indicate a privacy check result of the terminal participating in the SL positioning process;

[0016] A processing module is used to determine whether to perform the SL positioning process based on the first response.

[0017] According to a fourth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a second network element is provided, including:

[0018] a transceiver module, configured to receive a first request sent by a first network element, where the first request is used to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on a terminal participating in a SL positioning process;

[0019] A processing module, configured to perform privacy checks on terminals participating in the SL positioning process;

[0020] The transceiver module is further used to send a first response to the first network element, where the first response is used to indicate the privacy check result of the terminal participating in the SL positioning process.

[0021] According to a fifth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication device is provided, including:

[0022] one or more processors;

[0023] The processor is used to call instructions to enable the communication device to execute the positioning method described in any one of the first aspect to the second aspect.

[0024] According to the sixth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication system is proposed, characterized in that it includes a first network element and a second network element, wherein the first network element is configured to implement the method described in the first aspect, and the second network element is configured to implement the method described in the second aspect.

[0025] According to an eleventh aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a storage medium is proposed, which stores instructions, and is characterized in that when the instructions are executed on a communication device, the communication device executes the positioning method as described in any one of the first to second aspects. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent and readily understood from the following description of the embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0027] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of some communication systems provided by embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0028] FIG2A is a schematic diagram of a flow chart of a positioning method provided in yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0029] FIG2B is a schematic flow chart of a positioning method provided in yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] FIG3A is a schematic flow chart of a positioning method provided in yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0031] FIG3B is a schematic flow chart of a positioning method provided in yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0032] FIG4A is a schematic flow chart of a positioning method provided in yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0033] FIG4B is a schematic flow chart of a positioning method provided in yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0034] FIG5A is a schematic structural diagram of a first network element provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0035] FIG5B is a schematic structural diagram of a second network element provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0036] FIG6A is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0037] FIG6B is a schematic structural diagram of a chip provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The present disclosure provides positioning methods and apparatuses, communication devices, communication systems, and storage media. In some embodiments, the terms positioning method, information processing method, information sending method, and information receiving method are interchangeable; the terms communication device, information processing device, information sending device, and information receiving device are interchangeable; and the terms information processing system, communication system, information sending system, and information receiving system are interchangeable.

[0039] The embodiments of the present disclosure are not exhaustive and are merely illustrative of some embodiments, and are not intended to be a specific limitation on the scope of protection of the present disclosure. In the absence of contradiction, each step in a certain embodiment can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the steps can be arbitrarily combined. For example, a solution after removing some steps in a certain embodiment can also be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the order of the steps in a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily exchanged. In addition, the optional implementation methods in a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily combined; in addition, the embodiments can be arbitrarily combined. For example, some or all steps of different embodiments can be arbitrarily combined, and a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily combined with the optional implementation methods of other embodiments.

[0040] In each embodiment of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified or provided for by logic, the terms and / or descriptions between the embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form a new embodiment based on their inherent logical relationships.

[0041] The terms used in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

[0042] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified, elements expressed in the singular, such as "a", "an", "the", "above", "said", "the", "the", etc., may mean "one and only one", or "one or more", "at least one", etc. For example, when using articles such as "a", "an", "the" in English in translation, the noun following the article may be understood as a singular expression or a plural expression.

[0043] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, “plurality” refers to two or more.

[0044] In some embodiments, the terms "at least one of", "at least one of", "at least one of", "one or more", "a plurality of", "multiple", etc. can be used interchangeably.

[0045] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, descriptions such as “at least one of A, B, C…”, “A and / or B and / or C…”, etc. include the situation where any one of A, B, C… exists alone, and also include any combination of any multiple of A, B, C…, and each situation can exist alone; for example, “at least one of A, B, C” includes the situation where A exists alone, B exists alone, C exists alone, the combination of A and B, the combination of A and C, the combination of B and C, and the combination of A, B, and C; for example, A and / or B includes the situation where A exists alone, B exists alone, and the combination of A and B.

[0046] In some embodiments, descriptions such as "in one case A, in another case B," or "in response to one case A, in response to another case B," may include the following technical solutions depending on the situation: executing A independently of B (in some embodiments, A); executing B independently of A (in some embodiments, B); selectively executing A and B (in some embodiments, selecting between A and B); and executing both A and B (in some embodiments, A and B). The same applies when there are more branches, such as A, B, and C.

[0047] The prefixes such as "first" and "second" in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only used to distinguish different description objects and do not constitute any restriction on the position, order, priority, quantity or content of the description objects. For the statement of the description object, please refer to the description in the context of the claims or embodiments, and no unnecessary restriction should be constituted due to the use of prefixes. For example, if the description object is a "field", the ordinal number before the "field" in the "first field" and the "second field" does not limit the position or order between the "fields". "First" and "second" do not limit whether the "fields" they modify are in the same message, nor do they limit the order of the "first field" and the "second field". For another example, if the description object is a "level", the ordinal number before the "level" in the "first level" and the "second level" does not limit the priority between the "levels". For another example, the number of description objects is not limited by the ordinal number and can be one or more. Taking "first device" as an example, the number of "devices" can be one or more. In addition, the objects modified by different prefixes can be the same or different. For example, if the description object is "device", then the "first device" and the "second device" can be the same device or different devices, and their types can be the same or different; for another example, if the description object is "information", then the "first information" and the "second information" can be the same information or different information, and their contents can be the same or different.

[0048] In some embodiments, “including A,” “comprising A,” “used to indicate A,” and “carrying A” can be interpreted as directly carrying A or indirectly indicating A.

[0049] In some embodiments, terms such as "in response to...", "in response to determining...", "in the case of...", "at the time of...", "when...", "if...", "if...", etc. can be used interchangeably.

[0050] In some embodiments, terms such as "greater than", "greater than or equal to", "not less than", "more than", "more than or equal to", "not less than", "higher than", "higher than or equal to", "not less than", and "above" can be replaced with each other, and terms such as "less than", "less than or equal to", "not greater than", "less than", "less than or equal to", "not more than", "lower than", "lower than or equal to", "not higher than", and "below" can be replaced with each other.

[0051] In some embodiments, devices, etc. can be interpreted as physical or virtual, and their names are not limited to the names recorded in the embodiments. Terms such as "device", "equipment", "device", "circuit", "network element", "node", "function", "unit", "section", "system", "network", "chip", "chip system", "entity", and "subject" can be used interchangeably.

[0052] In some embodiments, "network" can be interpreted as devices included in the network (eg, access network equipment, core network equipment, etc.).

[0053] In some embodiments, the terms "access network device (AN device)", "radio access network device (RAN device)", "base station (BS)", "radio base station" "fixed station", "node", "access point", "transmission point (TP)", "reception point (RP)", "transmission / reception point (TRP)", "panel", "antenna panel", "antenna array", "cell", "macro cell", "small cell", "femto cell", "pico cell", "sector", "cell group", "carrier", "component carrier", "bandwidth part (BWP)" and the like may be used interchangeably.

[0054] In some embodiments, the terms "terminal", "terminal device", "user equipment (UE)", "user terminal", "mobile station (MS)", "mobile terminal (MT)", subscriber station, mobile unit, subscriber unit, wireless unit, remote unit, mobile device, wireless device, wireless communication device, remote device, mobile subscriber station, access terminal, mobile terminal, wireless terminal, remote terminal, handset, user agent, mobile client, client, etc. can be used interchangeably.

[0055] In some embodiments, the access network device, the core network device, or the network device can be replaced by a terminal. For example, the various embodiments of the present disclosure can also be applied to a structure in which the communication between the access network device, the core network device, or the network device and the terminal is replaced by communication between multiple terminals (for example, it can also be called device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X), etc.). In this case, it can also be set as a structure in which the terminal has all or part of the functions of the access network device. In addition, language such as "uplink" and "downlink" can also be replaced by language corresponding to communication between terminals (for example, "side"). For example, uplink channels, downlink channels, etc. can be replaced by side channels, and uplinks, downlinks, etc. can be replaced by side links.

[0056] In some embodiments, the terminal may be replaced by an access network device, a core network device, or a network device. In this case, the access network device, the core network device, or the network device may have a structure that has all or part of the functions of the terminal.

[0057] In some embodiments, obtaining data, information, etc. may comply with the laws and regulations of the country where the data is obtained.

[0058] In some embodiments, data, information, etc. may be obtained with the user's consent.

[0059] In addition, each element, each row, or each column in the table of the embodiment of the present disclosure can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the combination of any elements, any rows, and any columns can also be implemented as an independent embodiment.

[0060] The correspondences shown in the tables of the present disclosure can be configured or predefined. The values ​​of the information in each table are merely examples and can be configured to other values, which are not limited by the present disclosure. When configuring the correspondences between information and parameters, it is not necessarily required to configure all the correspondences shown in each table. For example, in the tables of the present disclosure, the correspondences shown in certain rows may not be configured. For another example, appropriate deformation adjustments can be made based on the above tables, such as splitting, merging, etc. The names of the parameters shown in the titles of the above tables may also adopt other names that can be understood by the communication device, and the values ​​or representations of the parameters may also adopt other values ​​or representations that can be understood by the communication device. When implementing the above tables, other data structures may also be used, such as arrays, queues, containers, stacks, linear lists, pointers, linked lists, trees, graphs, structures, classes, heaps, hash tables or hash tables, etc.

[0061] The predefined in the present disclosure may be understood as defined, predefined, stored, pre-stored, pre-negotiated, pre-configured, solidified, or pre-burned.

[0062] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 1, the communication system 100 may include a terminal, a core network device, and an access network device.

[0063] In some embodiments, the terminal includes, for example, a mobile phone, a wearable device, an Internet of Things device, a car with communication function, a smart car, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal device in industrial control, a wireless terminal device in self-driving, a wireless terminal device in remote medical surgery, a wireless terminal device in a smart grid, a wireless terminal device in transportation safety, a wireless terminal device in a smart city, and at least one of a wireless terminal device in a smart home, but is not limited thereto.

[0064] In some embodiments, the access network device is, for example, a node or device that accesses a terminal to a wireless network. The access network device may include an evolved NodeB (eNB), a next generation evolved NodeB (ng-eNB), a next generation NodeB (gNB), a node B (NB), a home node B (HNB), a home evolved nodeB (HeNB), a wireless backhaul device, a radio network controller (RNC), a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a base band unit (BBU), a mobile switching center, a base station in a 6G communication system, an open base station (Open RAN), a cloud base station (Cloud RAN), a base station in other communication systems, and at least one of an access node in a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system, but is not limited thereto.

[0065] In some embodiments, the access network device can be composed of a centralized unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU), where the CU can also be called a control unit. The CU-DU structure can be used to split the protocol layer of the access network device, with the functions of some protocol layers centrally controlled by the CU, and the functions of the remaining part or all of the protocol layers distributed in the DU, which is centrally controlled by the CU, but is not limited to this.

[0066] In some embodiments, the core network device may be a device including one or more network elements, or may be multiple devices or device groups, each including all or part of one or more network elements. The network element may be virtual or physical. The core network may include, for example, at least one of an Evolved Packet Core (EPC), a 5G Core Network (5GCN), and a Next Generation Core (NGC). Alternatively, the core network device may include, for example, the following network elements:

[0067] A first network element, a location management function (LMF), optionally, the first network element may be a serving LMF network element of the terminal;

[0068] Second network element, Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC);

[0069] It can be understood that the communication system described in the embodiment of the present disclosure is for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solution of the embodiment of the present disclosure, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solution proposed in the embodiment of the present disclosure. Ordinary technicians in this field can know that with the evolution of the system architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solution proposed in the embodiment of the present disclosure is also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0070] The following embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied to the communication system 100 shown in Figure 1, or a portion thereof, but are not limited thereto. The entities shown in Figure 1 are illustrative only. The communication system may include all or part of the entities shown in Figure 1, or may include other entities outside of Figure 1. The number and form of the entities may be arbitrary. The connection relationship between the entities is illustrative only. The entities may be connected or disconnected, and the connection may be in any manner, including direct or indirect, wired or wireless.

[0071] The embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), LTE-Beyond (LTE-B), SUPER 3G, IMT-Advanced, 4th generation mobile communication system (4G), 5th generation mobile communication system (5G), 5G new radio (NR), future radio access (FRA), new radio access technology (RAT), new radio (NR), new radio access (NX), future generation radio access (FX), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM (registered trademark)), CDMA2000, Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.20, Ultra-WideBand (UWB), Bluetooth (registered trademark), Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) networks, Device-to-Device (D2D) systems, Machine-to-Machine (M2M) systems, Internet of Things (IoT) systems, Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X), systems utilizing other positioning methods, and next-generation systems based on and extending these methods. Furthermore, a combination of multiple systems (e.g., a combination of LTE or LTE-A with 5G) may also be employed.

[0072] Optionally, the following terminals are usually used in the above-mentioned ranging or SL positioning process:

[0073] A target UE is a terminal whose distance, direction and / or position is obtained based on ranging or SL measurement in SL services with the support of one or more SL reference terminals.

[0074] SL Reference UE is a terminal that supports positioning of a target terminal, for example, by using SL to send and / or receive reference signals for positioning, provide positioning-related information, etc.

[0075] A located UE is a SL reference terminal whose location is known or can be determined using positioning based on the Uu interface. The located UE can be used to determine the location of a target terminal using SL positioning.

[0076] SL Positioning Client UE refers to a third-party terminal other than the SL reference terminal, target terminal, positioning terminal, etc. It initiates ranging or SL positioning service requests on behalf of the applications residing on it.

[0077] The SL Positioning Server UE (SL Positioning Server UE) is a terminal that provides method determination, assistance data distribution, and / or position calculation functions for SL positioning and ranging services. It interacts with other UEs via the PC5 interface when necessary to determine ranging / SL positioning methods, distribute assistance data, and calculate the location of the target UE. A target terminal or SL reference terminal that supports these functions can act as an SL Positioning Server Terminal.

[0078] Optionally, the above-mentioned ranging or SL positioning results may include: absolute position, relative position, distance and direction, among which the specific ones include depend on the service requirements. If the target terminal decides to start the Sindlink-Mobile Originated-Location Request (SL-MO-LR) process, the target terminal may include information of one or more SL reference terminals and / or positioning terminals in the service request message. If the Location Services Client (LCS Client) or the Application Function (AF) network element decides to obtain the ranging or SL positioning results of a group of n terminals (n≥2), namely terminal 1, terminal 2, ..., terminal n, the Gateway Mobile Location Centre (GMLC) will specify the target terminal from the n terminals, and specify one or more SL reference terminals and / or positioning terminals, and then the Sindlink-Mobile Terminated Location Request (SL-MT-LR) process may be applied.

[0079] Optionally, in some embodiments, the 5G Core-Mobile Originated-Location Request (5GC-MO-LR) process can also be used to trigger a positioning service using SL positioning, wherein the Location Management Function (LMF) receives the 5GC-MO-LR request message from the terminal, and the LMF determines the relevant steps in the SL-MT-LR process to complete the positioning service using SL positioning. In this case, it is usually necessary to perform a privacy check on the UE participating in SL positioning. Currently, privacy checks are usually implemented by GMLC. However, since 5GC-MO-LR does not pass through GMLC when triggering SL positioning, the SL positioning process triggered by 5GC-MO-LR cannot support privacy checks on UEs.

[0080] Optionally, in some embodiments, the 5GC network function (NF) can also trigger the positioning service using SL positioning. The 5GC NF will trigger SL positioning or location services (LCS) by interacting with the GMLC, and the GMLC will perform a privacy check on the terminals participating in the positioning. After that, the service access and mobility management function (AMF) or the service LMF will be selected to implement the SL-MT-LR process or the LMF will determine the relevant steps in the SL-MT-LR process to complete the positioning service using SL positioning. In some embodiments, the process after the GMLC may introduce a terminal for SL positioning or a new terminal for SL positioning. At this time, the newly introduced terminal has not yet undergone a privacy check, but the current solution does not support privacy checks on the new terminal.

[0081] Optionally, in some embodiments, during the SL positioning process, the LMF selects a server terminal and enables it to support functions such as "result calculation, method determination, auxiliary data distribution, capability exchange, and ranging / SL positioning measurement data or result exchange" during the SL positioning process to complete the SL positioning service. When the server terminal is different from the target terminal, a privacy check is required for the server terminal and other terminals associated with the server, but this privacy check is not currently supported in the solution.

[0082] Based on this, the present disclosure provides a positioning method to support terminal privacy checks under the SL positioning process triggered by 5GC-MO-LR, support terminal privacy checks under the SL positioning process triggered by 5GC-MT-LR, support privacy checks on newly introduced terminals in the SL positioning process, and support privacy checks on server terminals and associated terminals in the SL positioning process.

[0083] FIG2A is an interactive diagram of a positioning method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG2A , the present disclosure embodiment relates to a positioning method for a communication system 100, the method comprising:

[0084] Step 2101: The first network element receives the second request and determines to perform the SL positioning process on the target terminal (Target UE).

[0085] Optionally, the first network element may be a service LMF of the target terminal. The second request may be used to request positioning of the target terminal. The second request may be a location determination request (eg, Nlmf_Location_DetermineLocation Request).

[0086] In some embodiments, the second request may be triggered based on a third request sent by a terminal participating in the SL positioning process; wherein the aforementioned "terminal participating in the SL positioning process" may include at least one of the following: a target terminal, a server terminal (Server UE), a located terminal (Located UE), a reference terminal (Reference UE), other terminals associated with the target terminal, and other terminals associated with the server terminal. The third request may be used to request positioning of the target terminal, and the third request may be, for example, MO-LR.

[0087] In other embodiments, the second request may be triggered based on a fourth request sent by a third network element; wherein the third network element may be, for example, a GMLC, and the fourth request may be used to request positioning of the first terminal, and the fourth request may be, for example, a request for providing the location information of the first terminal in the 5GC-MT-LR process (such as: Namf_Location_ProvidePositioningInfo Request).

[0088] Step 2102: The first network element determines at least one terminal participating in the SL positioning process.

[0089] Step 2103: The first network element sends at least one first identifier to the second network element.

[0090] Optionally, the second network element is a network element that performs privacy check on the terminal, and the second network element may be a GMLC, wherein the second network element and the third network element may be the same GMLC or different GMLCs.

[0091] Optionally, the first identifier may be a terminal identifier corresponding to a terminal participating in the SL positioning process. Optionally, the first identifier may be carried by a first request (Ngmlc_PrivacyCheck Request) to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on the terminal identified by the first identifier.

[0092] In some embodiments, the terminal identified by the first identifier may include a target terminal and at least one other terminal associated with the target terminal. Optionally, the other terminal associated with the target terminal may be, for example, a positioning terminal or a reference terminal.

[0093] Optionally, in some embodiments, the terminal identifier may include, for example, at least one of the following: a Generic Public Subscription Identifier (GPSI), a Subscriber Permanent Identifier (SUPI), and an application layer identifier (Identity, ID).

[0094] In some embodiments, the terminal identification may also include role information of the terminal in the SL positioning process. Optionally, the role information may be used to indicate the role played by the terminal in the SL positioning process. For example, the role information may indicate that the role played by the terminal in the SL positioning process is a target terminal, a server terminal, a positioning terminal, or a reference terminal, etc.

[0095] Step 2104: The second network element performs a privacy check on the terminal identified by the first identifier.

[0096] In some embodiments, the method for the second network element to perform a privacy check may be: when the first identifier is GPSI and / or SUPI, the second network element may perform a privacy check directly based on GPSI and / or SUPI. For example, the second network element may obtain the privacy profile (privacy profile or privacy settings) corresponding to each terminal from the Unified Data Management (UDM) based on the GPSI and / or SUPI corresponding to each terminal participating in the SL positioning process, and determine the privacy check of the terminal based on the privacy profile corresponding to each terminal, such as whether each terminal participating in the SL positioning can expose location information to each other, such as whether each positioning terminal participating in the SL positioning can expose its location to an associated target terminal. When the terminal can expose its location to an associated terminal participating in the SL positioning process, it is determined that the privacy check of the terminal is successful; when the terminal cannot expose its location to an associated terminal participating in the SL positioning process, it is determined that the privacy check of the terminal has failed.

[0097] Optionally, in some embodiments, when the privacy check of all terminals identified by the first identifier is successful, the privacy check is successful; otherwise, the privacy check fails.

[0098] Optionally, in some embodiments, when the privacy check of some terminals identified by the first identifier is successful, the privacy check is successful; otherwise, the privacy check fails.

[0099] Optionally, in some embodiments, when the privacy check of any terminal identified by the first identifier fails, the privacy check fails; otherwise, the privacy check succeeds.

[0100] Optionally, in some embodiments, when the privacy check of all terminals identified by the first identifier fails, the privacy check fails; otherwise, the privacy check succeeds.

[0101] In other embodiments, the method for the second network element to perform the privacy check may be: when the first identifier is an application layer ID, the second network element must first obtain the GPSI and / or SUPI mapped to the application layer ID from a sixth network element (e.g., a network exposure function (NEF)), and perform the privacy check based on the GPSI and / or SUPI mapped to the application layer ID. For a detailed description of how to perform the privacy check, please refer to the above description.

[0102] It should be noted that the second network element may include a serving second network element (i.e., VGMLC) and a home second network element (i.e., HGMLC), wherein the above-mentioned first identifier is received by the serving second network element, and, in some embodiments, when the target terminal is in a roaming state, the serving second network element needs to request the home second network element to perform a privacy check and obtain the privacy check result from the home second network element. When the target terminal is in a non-roaming state, the serving second network element may directly perform the privacy check and determine the privacy check result.

[0103] Step 2105: The second network element sends the privacy check result of the terminal identified by the first identifier to the first network element.

[0104] Optionally, the privacy check result of the terminal identified by the first identifier may be carried by the first response (Ngmlc_PrivacyCheck Response).

[0105] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first response may also carry a list of terminals that failed and / or succeeded in the privacy check.

[0106] It should be noted that in some embodiments, alternatively, the first network element may further determine the target terminal and other terminals associated with the target terminal in the SL positioning process, and the first network element may further send a third identifier and at least one fourth identifier to the second network element, wherein the third identifier may be the terminal identifier of the target terminal, and the fourth identifier may be the terminal identifier corresponding to other terminals associated with the target terminal in the SL positioning process. Optionally, the third identifier and the fourth identifier may be carried by a first request (Ngmlc_PrivacyCheck Request) to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on the terminal identified by the third identifier and the at least one fourth identifier. Furthermore, after receiving the third identifier and the at least one fourth identifier, the second network element may perform a privacy check on the terminal identified by the third identifier and the fourth identifier, and send the privacy check result of the terminal identified by the third identifier and the fourth identifier to the first network element. The privacy check result may be carried by a first response (Ngmlc_PrivacyCheck Response), and the first response may also carry a list of terminals that failed and / or succeeded in the privacy check. The principle of the second network element performing the privacy check on the terminals identified by the third identifier and the fourth identifier is similar to the principle of performing the privacy check on the terminal identified by the first identifier, and will not be repeated here.

[0107] Step 2106: The first network element determines whether to perform the SL positioning process.

[0108] Optionally, in some embodiments, when the privacy check of the terminal identified by the first identifier succeeds, it is determined to execute the SL positioning process; when the privacy check of all terminals identified by the first identifier fails, it is determined not to execute the SL positioning process. Alternatively, when the privacy check of the terminals identified by the third and fourth identifiers succeeds, it is determined to execute the SL positioning process; when the privacy check of the terminals identified by the third and fourth identifiers fails, it is determined not to execute the SL positioning process.

[0109] Step 2107: When it is determined to execute the SL positioning process, the first network element sends a second message to the target terminal through the fourth network element.

[0110] Optionally, the fourth network element may be, for example, a serving AMF of the target terminal. The second message may be used to request the first terminal to perform an SL positioning process, and the second message may be, for example, an SL-MT-LR Request.

[0111] Step 2108: The target terminal performs a discovery process.

[0112] Optionally, the discovery process can be used by the target terminal to discover at least one terminal that can be used for SL positioning. For example, the discovery process can be used by the target terminal to discover at least one located terminal (Located UE), which can be used to assist in determining the SL positioning result of the target terminal.

[0113] Step 2109: The target terminal sends a first message to the first network element through the fourth network element.

[0114] Optionally, the first message may be, for example, an SL-MT-LR Response, which may be used to indicate at least one terminal discovered by the first terminal that can be used for the SL positioning process. For example, the first message may include a terminal identifier corresponding to the at least one terminal discovered by the first terminal, thereby indicating the at least one terminal discovered by the first terminal.

[0115] Step 2110: The first network element sends an eighth identifier to the second network element.

[0116] Optionally, the eighth identifier can be the terminal identifier corresponding to the terminal that does not perform privacy check among at least one terminal indicated by the first message, and the eighth identifier can be carried by the first request (Ngmlc_PrivacyCheck Request) to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on the terminal identified by the eighth identifier.

[0117] Step 2111: The second network element performs a privacy check on the terminal identified by the eighth identifier.

[0118] For details on how the second network element performs privacy checking, please refer to the above description.

[0119] Step 2112: The second network element sends the privacy check result of the terminal identified by the eighth identifier to the first network element.

[0120] Optionally, the privacy check result of the terminal identified by the eighth identifier may be carried by the first response (Ngmlc_PrivacyCheck Response).

[0121] Step 2113: The first network element determines or receives the server terminal in the SL positioning process determined by the target terminal.

[0122] Step 2114: The first network element sends the sixth identifier and at least one seventh identifier to the second network element.

[0123] Optionally, the sixth identifier can be the terminal identifier of the server terminal, and the seventh identifier can be the terminal identifier corresponding to the terminal other than the server terminal in the SL positioning process. The sixth identifier and at least one seventh identifier can be carried by the first request (Ngmlc_PrivacyCheck Request) to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on the terminal identified by the sixth identifier and the seventh identifier.

[0124] Step 2115: The second network element performs a privacy check on the terminal identified by the sixth identifier and at least one seventh identifier.

[0125] Optionally, the second network element can determine whether the location of each terminal identified by the seventh identifier can be exposed to the server terminal identified by the sixth identifier based on the privacy profile corresponding to the terminal identified by the sixth identifier and the privacy profile corresponding to the terminal identified by the seventh identifier, wherein, when it can be exposed to the server terminal, it is determined that the privacy check of the terminal identified by the seventh identifier is successful; otherwise, it is determined that the privacy check of the terminal identified by the seventh identifier has failed.

[0126] Optionally, when the locations of all terminals identified by the seventh identifiers cannot be exposed to the server terminal, it is determined that the privacy check of the server terminal has failed; otherwise, the privacy check has succeeded.

[0127] Optionally, when the location of the terminal identified by at least one seventh identifier can be exposed to the server terminal, it is determined that the privacy check of the server terminal is successful; otherwise, the privacy check fails.

[0128] Optionally, when the locations of all terminals identified by the seventh identifiers can be exposed to the server terminal, it is determined that the privacy check of the server terminal is successful; otherwise, the privacy check fails.

[0129] Optionally, when the locations of the target terminal identified by the seventh identifier and at least one positioning terminal or reference terminal can be exposed to the server terminal, it is determined that the privacy check of the server terminal is successful; otherwise, the privacy check fails.

[0130] Step 2116: The second network element sends the privacy check result of the terminal identified by the sixth identifier and at least one seventh identifier to the first network element.

[0131] Optionally, the privacy check result of the terminal identified by the sixth identifier and at least one seventh identifier may be carried by the first response (Ngmlc_PrivacyCheck Response).

[0132] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first response may also carry a list of terminals that failed and / or succeeded in the privacy check.

[0133] Step 2117: The first network element uses the terminal that has passed the privacy check to perform the SL positioning process on the target terminal.

[0134] It can be seen from the above embodiments that the SL positioning process of this embodiment is triggered based on 5GC-MO-LR or 5GC-MT-LR, and the method of this embodiment supports performing privacy checks on terminals participating in SL positioning. It can be seen that the method of this embodiment provides a privacy check method for the SL positioning process triggered by 5GC-MO-LR or MT-LR to support terminal privacy checks under the SL positioning process triggered by 5GC-MO-LR, support terminal privacy checks under the SL positioning process triggered by 5GC-MT-LR, support privacy checks on newly introduced terminals in the SL positioning process, and support privacy checks on server terminals and associated terminals in the SL positioning process, thereby improving the positioning performance of SL positioning.

[0135] The positioning method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps 2101 to 2117. For example, step 2101 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 2102 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 2103 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step 2101+S2102 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0136] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined, and can be arbitrarily combined with any steps of other embodiments or other examples.

[0137] FIG2B is an interactive diagram of a positioning method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG2B , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a positioning method for a communication system 100, the method comprising:

[0138] Step 2201: The first network element receives the fifth request.

[0139] Optionally, the fifth request may be used to request to perform an SL positioning process on the target terminal. The fifth request may be a location determination request (eg, Nlmf_Location_DetermineLocation Request).

[0140] In some embodiments, the fifth request may be sent by the fourth network element to the first network element. For example, the fifth request may be sent by the fourth network element to the first network element based on the triggering of the second network element. Optionally, the fifth request may indicate or not indicate at least one fifth identifier, and the fifth identifier is the terminal identifier corresponding to the terminal on which the privacy check has been performed by the second network element. Or, for another example, the fifth request may be sent by the fourth network element to the first network element based on the triggering of the fifth network element. The fifth network element may be, for example, an LMF that performs a 5GC-MO-LR process or a 5GC-MT-LR process. In this case, the first network element may be an LMF that performs an SL-MT-LR process. Optionally, in some embodiments, when the fifth network element receives a message for requesting the positioning result of the target terminal, the fifth network element determines to determine the positioning result of the target terminal by performing SL positioning. In this case, the fifth network element will first send a request for requesting the SL positioning result of the target terminal to the fourth network element. Thereafter, the fourth network element will send the above-mentioned fifth request to the first network element.

[0141] In some other embodiments, the fifth request may be sent by the fifth network element to the first network element. The fifth network element may, for example, be an LMF that performs a 5GC-MO-LR process. In this case, the first network element may be an LMF that performs an SL-MT-LR process. Optionally, in some embodiments, when the fifth network element receives a message for requesting the positioning result of the target terminal, the fifth network element determines to determine the positioning result of the target terminal by performing SL positioning, and the fifth network element selects the first network element to determine the SL positioning result of the target terminal. In this case, the fifth network element sends the above-mentioned fifth request to the first network element.

[0142] Step 2202: The first network element determines at least one terminal participating in the SL positioning process.

[0143] Step 2203: The first network element sends at least one second identifier to the second network element.

[0144] Optionally, the second identifier can be the terminal identifier corresponding to the terminal on which privacy check is not performed among at least one terminal determined by the first network element. Optionally, the second identifier can be carried by the first request (Ngmlc_PrivacyCheck Request) to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on the terminal identified by the second identifier.

[0145] In some embodiments, the terminal identified by the second identifier may include a target terminal and multiple other terminals associated with the target terminal. Optionally, the other terminals associated with the target terminal may be, for example, positioning terminals or reference terminals.

[0146] Optionally, in some embodiments, the terminal identifier may include, for example, at least one of the following: a Generic Public Subscription Identifier (GPSI), a Subscriber Permanent Identifier (SUPI), and an application layer identifier (Identity, ID).

[0147] In some embodiments, the terminal identification may also include role information of the terminal in the SL positioning process. Optionally, the role information may be used to indicate the role played by the terminal in the SL positioning process. For example, the role information may indicate that the role played by the terminal in the SL positioning process is a target terminal, a server terminal, a positioning terminal, or a reference terminal, etc.

[0148] Step 2204: The second network element performs a privacy check on the terminal identified by the second identifier.

[0149] Step 2205: The second network element sends the privacy check result of the terminal identified by the second identifier to the first network element.

[0150] Optionally, the privacy check result of the terminal identified by the second identifier may be carried by the first response (Ngmlc_PrivacyCheck Response).

[0151] Step 2206: The first network element determines whether to perform the SL positioning process.

[0152] Optionally, in some embodiments, when the privacy check of the terminal identified by the second identifier is successful, it is determined to execute the SL positioning process; when the privacy check of all terminals identified by the second identifier fails, it is determined not to execute the SL positioning process.

[0153] Step 2207: When it is determined to execute the SL positioning process, the first network element sends a second message to the target terminal through the fourth network element.

[0154] Step 2208: The target terminal performs a discovery process.

[0155] Step 2209: The target terminal sends a first message to the first network element through the fourth network element.

[0156] Step 2210: The first network element sends an eighth identifier to the second network element.

[0157] Step 2211: The second network element performs a privacy check on the terminal identified by the eighth identifier.

[0158] Step 2212: The second network element sends the privacy check result of the terminal identified by the eighth identifier to the first network element.

[0159] Step 2213: The first network element determines or receives the server terminal in the SL positioning process determined by the target terminal.

[0160] Step 2214: The first network element sends the sixth identifier and at least one seventh identifier to the second network element.

[0161] Step 2215: The second network element performs a privacy check on the terminal identified by the sixth identifier and at least one seventh identifier.

[0162] Step 2216: The second network element sends the privacy check result of the terminal identified by the sixth identifier and at least one seventh identifier to the first network element.

[0163] Step 2217: The first network element uses the terminal that has passed the privacy check to perform the SL positioning process on the target terminal.

[0164] For a detailed description of steps 2204-2217, please refer to the above embodiment description.

[0165] It can be seen from the above embodiment that this embodiment performs SL positioning through the SL-MT-LR process, or SL positioning triggered by 5GC-MO-LR or 5GC-MT-LR. Among them, when a terminal participating in SL positioning is newly introduced during the execution of the SL process (such as when a terminal participating in SL positioning is newly introduced in the above steps 2202, 2209, and 2213), a privacy check can be performed on the newly introduced terminal. Compared with the existing method that does not support privacy checks on new terminals, it can support terminal privacy checks under the SL positioning process triggered by 5GC-MO-LR, support terminal privacy checks under the SL positioning process triggered by 5GC-MT-LR, support privacy checks on newly introduced terminals in the SL positioning process, and support privacy checks on server terminals and associated terminals in the SL positioning process, thereby improving the positioning performance of SL positioning.

[0166] The positioning method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps 2201 to 2217. For example, step 2201 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 2202 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 2203 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step 2201+S2202 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0167] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined, and can be arbitrarily combined with any steps of other embodiments or other examples.

[0168] For SL positioning through the SL-MO-LR process. Among them, when a terminal participating in SL positioning is newly introduced in the SL-MO-LR process, a similar method as above can be used to perform a privacy check on the newly introduced terminal in the SL positioning process. Compared with the existing method that does not support privacy checks on new terminals, the embodiment of the present disclosure can support privacy checks on newly introduced terminals in the SL positioning process, thereby improving the positioning performance of SL positioning.

[0169] FIG3A is an interactive diagram of a positioning method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG3A , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a positioning method for a first network element, the method comprising:

[0170] Step 3101: If the first condition is met, a first request is sent to the second network element; wherein, the first condition is: a privacy check needs to be performed on the terminal participating in the side link SL positioning process, and the first request is used to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on the terminal participating in the SL positioning process.

[0171] Step 3102: Receive a first response sent by the second network element, where the first response is used to indicate a privacy check result of the terminal participating in the SL positioning process.

[0172] Step 3103: Determine whether to perform the SL positioning process based on the first response.

[0173] For a detailed description of steps 3101-3103, please refer to the above embodiment description.

[0174] The positioning method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps 3101 to 3103. For example, step 3101 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 3102 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step 3101+S3102 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0175] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined, and can be arbitrarily combined with any steps of other embodiments or other examples.

[0176] FIG3B is an interactive diagram of a positioning method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG3B , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a positioning method for a second network element, the method comprising:

[0177] Step 3201: Receive a first request sent by a first network element, where the first request is used to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on a terminal participating in a SL positioning process.

[0178] Step 3202: Perform privacy check on the terminals participating in the SL positioning process.

[0179] Step 3203: Send a first response to the first network element, where the first response is used to indicate the privacy check result of the terminal participating in the SL positioning process.

[0180] For a detailed description of steps 3201-3203, please refer to the above embodiment description.

[0181] The positioning method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps 3201 to 3203. For example, step 3201 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 3202 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step 3201+S3202 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0182] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined, and can be arbitrarily combined with any steps of other embodiments or other examples.

[0183] The following is an exemplary introduction to the above method.

[0184] FIG4A is an interactive diagram of a positioning method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the embodiment shown in FIG4A , the LMF is triggered by a 5GC-MO-LR request from the UE to use ranging / SL positioning services to obtain the location of the target UE, and privacy checks can be supported without sending a service request to the GMLC. Optionally, the method shown in FIG4A may include the following steps:

[0185] 1-4. The MO-LR request is triggered by UE1, and a determination location request (eg, Nlmf_Location_DetermineLocation Request) is sent to the serving LMF.

[0186] In some embodiments, steps 1-4 may also be the case where SL-MT-LR is triggered via the 5GC-MT-LR process. That is, step 1 may be that the GMLC receives a service request triggered by the AF / network exposure function (NEF) / External Client / Network Function (NF), and step 2 may be that the GMLC sends a location provision request (e.g., Namf_Location_ProvidePositioningInfo Request) to the AMF, after which the AMF may send a corresponding request (e.g., a determine location request (e.g., Nlmf_Location_DetermineLocation Request)) to the LMF.

[0187] 4-1 / 4-2. After the LMF decides to determine the location of UE1 based on the locations of one or more positioning UEs, the distance and / or direction between UE1 and the positioning UE, the LMF requests the GMLC to perform a privacy check for each UE.

[0188] Optionally, the LMF can request the GMLC to perform a privacy check for each UE by sending Ngmlc_PrivacyCheck Request to the GMLC.

[0189] 4-3. (H)GMLC calls the Nudm_SDM_Get service operation of each of the n UEs to the UDM to obtain the privacy settings (or privacy profile) of the UE identified by the GPSI or SUPI of each of the n UEs. The UDM returns the privacy settings of each of the n UEs, and the (H)GMLC checks the UE LCS privacy profile.

[0190] In some embodiments, when the GPSI or SUPI is not provided, the (H)GMLC may query the GPSI or SUPI mapped to the UE's application layer ID from the NEF, and obtain the UE's privacy settings from the UDM based on the GPSI or SUPI.

[0191] 4-4 / 4-5.(H)GMLC returns the privacy check result to LMF, and may optionally also include the mapped application layer ID.

[0192] Optionally, the GMLC may return the privacy check result to the LMF via Ngmlc_PrivacyCheck Response.

[0193] In some embodiments, in steps 4-1 to 4-5, if it is a roaming situation, all five steps (i.e., steps 4-1 to 4-5) are executed, and the privacy check request is sent to the HGMLC, where relevant checks and mappings are performed. If it is a non-roaming situation, steps 4-1 / 4-3 / 4-5 are executed, and the privacy check request is sent to the VGMLC, where relevant checks and mappings are performed.

[0194] If the privacy check succeeds, the following steps are executed, otherwise the process stops.

[0195] 5. Perform steps 10-16 of section 6.20.3 of TS 23.273 to obtain the location of the target UE (ie, UE1) using ranging / SL positioning services.

[0196] Optionally, during the execution of steps 10-16 of section 6.20.3 of TS 23.273, after executing step 15, the following steps may be added:

[0197] 15-1 / 15-2. After LMF decides to estimate the position of UE1 based on the position of one or more positioning UEs, the distance and / or direction between UE1 and the positioning UE, LMF requests GMLC to perform a privacy check for each UE (i.e., the UE for which a privacy check has not been performed among the related UEs discovered by UE1 returned in step 15).

[0198] Optionally, the LMF can request the GMLC to perform a privacy check for each UE by sending Ngmlc_PrivacyCheck Request to the GMLC.

[0199] 15-3. (H)GMLC calls the Nudm_SDM_Get service operation of each of the n UEs (i.e., the UEs for which privacy check is not performed among the related UEs discovered by UE1 returned in step 15) to UDM to obtain the privacy settings (or privacy profile) of the UE identified by the GPSI or SUPI of each of the n UEs. UDM returns the privacy settings of each of the n UEs, and (H)GMLC checks the UE LCS privacy profile.

[0200] In some embodiments, when the GPSI or SUPI is not provided, the (H)GMLC may query the GPSI or SUPI mapped to the UE's application layer ID from the NEF, and obtain the UE's privacy settings from the UDM based on the GPSI or SUPI.

[0201] 15-4 / 15-5.(H)GMLC returns the privacy check result to LMF, and may optionally also include the mapped application layer ID.

[0202] Optionally, the GMLC may return the privacy check result to the LMF via Ngmlc_PrivacyCheck Response.

[0203] In some embodiments, in steps 15-1 to 15-5, if the situation is roaming, all five steps (i.e., steps 15-1 to 15-5) are executed, and the privacy check request is sent to the HGMLC, where relevant checks and mappings are performed. If the situation is non-roaming, steps 15-1 / 15-3 / 15-5 are executed, and the privacy check request is sent to the VGMLC, where relevant checks and mappings are performed.

[0204] If the privacy check succeeds, execute step 16 of the following section 6.20.3; otherwise, the process stops.

[0205] Optionally, in some embodiments, when the LMF determines or receives the server terminal in the SL positioning process determined by the target UE, the LMF may request the GMLC to perform a privacy check on the server terminal and other terminals in the SL positioning process. The specific steps may refer to the above steps 4-1 to 4-5, or may refer to the above steps 15-1 to 15-5, but the difference from the above steps 4-1 to 4-5, or the part of steps 15-1 to 15-5 is that the LMF requests the GMLC to perform a privacy check on the server terminal and other terminals associated with the server terminal, and the GMLC performs a privacy check on the server terminal and other terminals associated with the server terminal based on the request of the LMF and returns the privacy check result. In addition, the request sent by the LMF to the GMLC (such as the above-mentioned Ngmlc_PrivacyCheck Request) also carries the role information of the terminal, which may indicate whether the role played by the terminal in the SL positioning process is a server terminal, a target terminal, a positioning terminal, or a reference terminal, etc.

[0206] 6. The SL positioning result is sent to AMF as the location result of UE1.

[0207] In some embodiments, the location result of UE1 can be carried in a determination location response (e.g., Nlmf_Location_DetermineLocation Response) and sent to the AMF.

[0208] 7-12. Notify the LCS client of the location result of UE1 or request AF.

[0209] 13.UE1's location result is sent to UE via AMF.

[0210] In some embodiments, the location result of UE1 may be carried in a MO-LR response in a downlink non-access stratum transmission (DL NAS TRANSPORT) message and sent to the UE.

[0211] Optionally, if the relevant UE (e.g., positioning UE) is unavailable in the above step 4, for example, when a service request (i.e., a request for requesting a privacy check) is sent to the GMLC, the GMLC determines that some UEs are unavailable after performing a privacy check, and a new UE is included in the SL-MT-LR response in step 15, then steps 15-1 to 15-5 in the above Figure 4A can be executed to support privacy checking for the new UE.

[0212] In some embodiments, for the case where steps 1-4 trigger SL-MT-LR via the 5GC-MT-LR process, steps 6-13 are replaced by the AMF returning the location result of UE1 to the GMLC, and further returning it to the entity that initiated the 5GC-MT-LR process.

[0213] Figure 4B is an interactive schematic diagram of a positioning method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4B, the LMF receives a request to perform a SL positioning process on the target terminal (such as: Nlmf_Location_DetermineLocation Request). The request may be a service request triggered by the AMF from the GMLC to perform a SL positioning process on the target terminal, such as a service request triggered by the AF / network exposure function (NEF) / External Clinet (external client) / network function (NF), such as LMF / AMF trigger, to obtain the location of the target UE using ranging / SL positioning service. If the information of the relevant UE is available, a privacy check is supported when sending a service request to the GMLC. If the information of the relevant UE is not available when sending a service request to the GMLC, and the information of the new UE can be included in the SL-MT-LR response or determined after the LMF receives the SL-MT-LR response, a privacy check is also supported. Optionally, the method shown in Figure 4B may include the following steps:

[0214] An example of the SL-MT-LR process triggered by a 5GC NF (such as LMF) is as follows:

[0215] 1. The ranging / SL positioning service request may be initiated by the LMF, and the service request (such as Ngmlc_Location_ProvideLocation Request) is sent to the GMLC.

[0216] 2. (H)GMLC calls the Nudm_SDM_Get service operation of each of the n UEs to the UDM to obtain the privacy settings (or privacy profile) of the UE identified by the GPSI or SUPI of each of the n UEs. The UDM returns the privacy settings of each of the n UEs, and the (H)GMLC checks the UE LCS privacy profile.

[0217] In some embodiments, when the GPSI or SUPI is not provided, the (H)GMLC may query the GPSI or SUPI mapped to the UE's application layer ID from the NEF, and obtain the UE's privacy settings from the UDM based on the GPSI or SUPI.

[0218] 3. The (H)GMLC invokes the Nudm_UECM_Get service operation for each of the n UEs (where GPSI or SUPI is available) to the UDM one at a time using the GPSI or SUPI of each UE. The (H)GMLC selects the UE that initiated ranging / SL positioning (e.g., considered as UE1 in the following steps) and selects the corresponding serving AMF.

[0219] 4-8.GMLC sends a service request to the serving AMF and may perform a privacy check with UE1.

[0220] 9. The serving AMF selects the LMF serving UE1 (e.g., an LMF that supports ranging / sidelink positioning) and sends an Nlmf_Location_determine Location service operation containing the information received in step 5 to the LMF.

[0221] In some embodiments, the information received in step 5 may be, for example, the required location result (e.g., the relative position or range and direction between the UE pair), the SL reference UE in the relative location case, and the application layer ID of the UE received in step 5.

[0222] In some embodiments, the Nlmf_Location_determine Location service operation may include an LCS Correlation identifier.

[0223] 9-1 / 9-2. After the LMF decides to estimate the location of UE1 based on the locations of one or more positioning UEs, the distance and / or direction between UE1 and the positioning UE, the LMF requests the GMLC to perform a privacy check for each UE.

[0224] Optionally, the LMF can request the GMLC to perform a privacy check for each UE by sending Ngmlc_PrivacyCheck Request to the GMLC.

[0225] 9-3. (H)GMLC calls the Nudm_SDM_Get service operation of each of the n UEs to UDM to obtain the privacy settings (or privacy profile) of the UE identified by the GPSI or SUPI of each of the n UEs. UDM returns the privacy settings of each of the n UEs, and (H)GMLC checks the UE LCS privacy profile.

[0226] In some embodiments, when the GPSI or SUPI is not provided, the (H)GMLC may query the GPSI or SUPI mapped to the UE's application layer ID from the NEF, and obtain the UE's privacy settings from the UDM based on the GPSI or SUPI.

[0227] 9-4 / 9-5.(H)GMLC returns the privacy check result to LMF, and may optionally also include the mapped application layer ID.

[0228] Optionally, the GMLC may return the privacy check result to the LMF via Ngmlc_PrivacyCheck Response.

[0229] In some embodiments, in steps 9-1 to 9-5, if it is a roaming situation, all five steps (i.e., steps 9-1 to 9-5) are executed, and the privacy check request is sent to the HGMLC, where relevant checks and mappings are performed. If it is a non-roaming situation, steps 9-1 / 9-3 / 9-5 are executed, and the privacy check request is sent to the VGMLC, where relevant checks and mappings are performed.

[0230] If the privacy check succeeds, the following steps are executed, otherwise the process stops.

[0231] 10. The LMF sends a SL-MT-LR request as a supplementary service message to the serving AMF using the Namf_Communication_n1N2message transfer service operation and the Session ID parameter is set to the LCS Correlation ID.

[0232] 11-15. SL-MT-LR request / response is performed together with UE discovery and capability exchange.

[0233] Optionally, if the relevant UE discovered by UE1 is included in the SL-MT-LR response but not included in the positioning request received in step 9 (i.e., Nlmf_Location_determine Location Request), the LMF requests GMLC to perform a privacy check on the relevant UE discovered by UE1 by executing steps 15-1 to 15-5.

[0234] 15-1 / 15-2. After LMF decides to estimate the position of UE1 based on the position of one or more positioning UEs, the distance and / or direction between UE1 and the positioning UE, LMF requests GMLC to perform privacy check for each UE (i.e., the UE for which privacy check has not been performed among the related UEs discovered by UE1).

[0235] Optionally, the LMF can request the GMLC to perform a privacy check for each UE by sending Ngmlc_PrivacyCheck Request to the GMLC.

[0236] 15-3. (H)GMLC calls the Nudm_SDM_Get service operation of each of the n UEs (i.e., the UEs discovered by UE1 for which privacy check is not performed) to the UDM to obtain the privacy settings (or privacy profile) of the UE identified by the GPSI or SUPI of each of the n UEs. The UDM returns the privacy settings of each of the n UEs, and the (H)GMLC checks the UE LCS privacy profile.

[0237] In some embodiments, when the GPSI or SUPI is not provided, the (H)GMLC may query the GPSI or SUPI mapped to the UE's application layer ID from the NEF, and obtain the UE's privacy settings from the UDM based on the GPSI or SUPI.

[0238] 15-4 / 15-5.(H)GMLC returns the privacy check result to LMF, and may optionally also include the mapped application layer ID.

[0239] Optionally, the GMLC may return the privacy check result to the LMF via Ngmlc_PrivacyCheck Response.

[0240] In some embodiments, in steps 15-1 to 15-5, if the situation is roaming, all five steps (i.e., steps 15-1 to 15-5) are executed, and the privacy check request is sent to the HGMLC, where relevant checks and mappings are performed. If the situation is non-roaming, steps 15-1 / 15-3 / 15-5 are executed, and the privacy check request is sent to the VGMLC, where relevant checks and mappings are performed.

[0241] If the privacy check succeeds, the following steps are executed, otherwise the process stops.

[0242] Optionally, in some embodiments, when the LMF determines or receives the server terminal in the SL positioning process determined by the target UE, the LMF may request the GMLC to perform a privacy check on the server terminal and other terminals in the SL positioning process. The specific steps may refer to the above steps 9-1 to 9-5, or may refer to the above steps 15-1 to 15-5, but the part that is different from the above steps 9-1 to 9-5, or steps 15-1 to 15-5 is: the LMF requests the GMLC to perform a privacy check on the server terminal and other terminals associated with the server terminal, and the GMLC performs a privacy check on the server terminal and other terminals associated with the server terminal based on the request of the LMF and returns the privacy check result. In addition, the request sent by the LMF to the GMLC (such as the above-mentioned Ngmlc_PrivacyCheck Request) also carries the role information of the terminal, which may indicate whether the role played by the terminal in the SL positioning process is a server terminal, a target terminal, a positioning terminal, or a reference terminal, etc.

[0243] 16. Perform the SL positioning / ranging procedure of ue1 to n in steps 10-19 of the SL-MO-LR procedure to obtain the requested positioning results.

[0244] 17-20. The result of the positioning request is sent from the LMF to the AMF, then from the AMF to the GMLC, and further returned to the initiating NF, such as the LMF.

[0245] In some embodiments, in a service-based architecture (SBA), sending a request is accomplished by invoking a corresponding service. For example, sending a determine location request (e.g., Nlmf_Location_DetermineLocation Request) is accomplished by invoking the Nlmf_Location_DetermineLocation service, and the corresponding response is returned as the result of the service invocation.

[0246] The embodiments of the present disclosure further provide an apparatus for implementing any of the above methods. For example, an apparatus is provided, comprising units or modules for implementing each step performed by a terminal in any of the above methods. For another example, another apparatus is provided, comprising units or modules for implementing each step performed by a network device (e.g., an access network device, a core network function node, a core network device, etc.) in any of the above methods.

[0247] It should be understood that the division of the various units or modules in the above device is merely a division of logical functions. In actual implementation, they may be fully or partially integrated into a physical entity, or they may be physically separated. In addition, the units or modules in the device may be implemented in the form of a processor calling software: for example, the device includes a processor, the processor is connected to a memory, and the memory stores instructions. The processor calls the instructions stored in the memory to implement any of the above methods or implement the functions of the various units or modules of the above device, wherein the processor is, for example, a general-purpose processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a microprocessor, and the memory is a memory within the device or a memory outside the device. Alternatively, the units or modules in the device can be implemented in the form of hardware circuits, and the functions of some or all of the units or modules can be realized by designing the hardware circuits. The above-mentioned hardware circuits can be understood as one or more processors; for example, in one implementation, the above-mentioned hardware circuit is an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), which realizes the functions of some or all of the above units or modules by designing the logical relationship of the components in the circuit; for example, in another implementation, the above-mentioned hardware circuit can be realized by a programmable logic device (PLD). Taking a field programmable gate array (FPGA) as an example, it can include a large number of logic gate circuits, and the connection relationship between the logic gate circuits is configured by configuring the configuration file, thereby realizing the functions of some or all of the above units or modules. All units or modules of the above devices can be realized in the form of software called by the processor, or in the form of hardware circuits, or in part by the form of software called by the processor, and the rest by hardware circuits.

[0248] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor is a circuit with signal processing capabilities. In one implementation, the processor can be a circuit with instruction reading and execution capabilities, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a graphics processing unit (GPU) (which can be understood as a microprocessor), or a digital signal processor (DSP). In another implementation, the processor can implement certain functions through the logical relationship of the hardware circuit. The logical relationship of the above-mentioned hardware circuit is fixed or reconfigurable. For example, the processor is a hardware circuit implemented by an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a programmable logic device (PLD), such as an FPGA. In a reconfigurable hardware circuit, the process of the processor loading a configuration document and implementing the hardware circuit configuration can be understood as the process of the processor loading instructions to implement the functions of some or all of the above units or modules. In addition, it can also be a hardware circuit designed for artificial intelligence, which can be understood as an ASIC, such as a neural network processing unit (NPU), a tensor processing unit (TPU), a deep learning processing unit (DPU), etc.

[0249] FIG5A is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first network element proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG5A , it includes:

[0250] a transceiver module, configured to send a first request to a second network element upon satisfying a first condition; wherein the first condition is a condition that a privacy check needs to be performed on a terminal participating in a sidelink (SL) positioning process, and the first request is used to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on the terminal participating in the SL positioning process;

[0251] The transceiver module is further configured to receive a first response sent by the second network element, where the first response is used to indicate a privacy check result of the terminal participating in the SL positioning process;

[0252] A processing module is used to determine whether to perform the SL positioning process based on the first response.

[0253] Optionally, the terminal participating in the SL positioning process includes at least one of the following:

[0254] target terminal;

[0255] Server terminal;

[0256] Positioning terminal;

[0257] Reference Terminal;

[0258] Other terminals associated with the target terminal;

[0259] Other terminals associated with the server terminal.

[0260] Optionally, the first condition includes: after receiving the second request, the first network element determines to perform an SL positioning process on the target terminal;

[0261] The second request is triggered based on a third request sent by a terminal participating in the SL positioning process, or the second request is triggered based on a fourth request sent by a third network element; the second request, the third request and the fourth request are used to request positioning of the target terminal.

[0262] Optionally, the third network element is the same as or different from the second network element.

[0263] Optionally, the sending the first request to the second network element upon satisfying the first condition includes:

[0264] receiving the second request and determining to perform an SL positioning process on the target terminal;

[0265] The first network element determines at least one terminal participating in the SL positioning process;

[0266] The first request is sent to the second network element, where the first request includes at least one first identifier, where the at least one first identifier includes a terminal identifier corresponding to a target terminal and at least one other terminal associated with the target terminal, and the first request is used to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on the terminal identified by the first identifier.

[0267] Optionally, the first condition includes: there are terminals among the terminals participating in the SL positioning process that have not yet performed a privacy check.

[0268] Optionally, the sending the first request to the second network element upon satisfying the first condition includes:

[0269] receiving a fifth request, where the fifth request is used to request execution of an SL positioning process for the target terminal;

[0270] The first network element determines at least one terminal participating in the SL positioning process;

[0271] The first request is sent to the second network element, where the first request includes at least one second identifier, where the second identifier is a terminal identifier corresponding to a terminal on which a privacy check has not been performed among at least one terminal determined by the first network element, and the first request is used to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on the terminal identified by the second identifier.

[0272] The sending of the first request to the second network element by satisfying the first condition includes:

[0273] Determining a target terminal in the SL positioning process;

[0274] The first request is sent to the second network element, and the first request includes a third identifier and at least one fourth identifier. The third identifier is the terminal identifier of the target terminal, and the fourth identifier is the terminal identifier corresponding to other terminals associated with the target terminal during the SL positioning process. The first request is used to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on the terminals identified by the third identifier and the fourth identifier.

[0275] Optionally, the receiving the fifth request includes at least one of the following:

[0276] receiving the fifth request sent by the fourth network element;

[0277] Receive the fifth request sent by the fifth network element.

[0278] Optionally, the fifth request indicates or does not indicate at least one fifth identifier, and the fifth identifier is a terminal identifier corresponding to a terminal on which a privacy check has been performed by the second network element.

[0279] Optionally, the sending the first request to the second network element upon satisfying the first condition includes:

[0280] The first network element determines or receives a server terminal in the SL positioning process determined by the target terminal;

[0281] The first request is sent to the second network element, and the first request includes a sixth identifier and at least one seventh identifier, the sixth identifier is the terminal identifier of the server terminal, and the seventh identifier is the terminal identifier corresponding to the terminal other than the server terminal in the SL positioning process, and the first request is used to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on the terminals identified by the sixth identifier and the seventh identifier.

[0282] Optionally, the sending the first request to the second network element upon satisfying the first condition includes:

[0283] receiving a first message sent by the first terminal through a fourth network element, where the first message is used to indicate at least one terminal discovered by the target terminal and available for the SL positioning process;

[0284] The first request is sent to the second network element, where the first request includes at least one eighth identifier, where the eighth identifier is the terminal identifier corresponding to the terminal on which the privacy check is not performed among the at least one terminal indicated by the first message, and the first request is used to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on the terminal identified by the eighth identifier.

[0285] Optionally, the determining whether to perform the SL positioning process based on the first response includes:

[0286] The first response indicates that the privacy check of the terminal participating in the SL positioning process is successful, and determines to perform the SL positioning process;

[0287] The first response indicates that the privacy check of the terminal participating in the SL positioning process has failed, and it is determined not to perform the SL positioning process.

[0288] Optionally, the first response is used to indicate a terminal that the privacy check is successful;

[0289] The determining whether to perform the SL positioning process based on the first response includes:

[0290] The SL positioning process is performed using the terminal that has passed the privacy check.

[0291] Optionally, the terminal identifier includes at least one of the following:

[0292] General Public User Identity GPSI;

[0293] Subscriber Permanent Identification (SUPI);

[0294] Application layer ID.

[0295] Optionally, the terminal identification further includes role information of the terminal in the SL positioning process.

[0296] FIG5B is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second network element proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG5B , it includes:

[0297] a transceiver module, configured to receive a first request sent by a first network element, where the first request is used to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on a terminal participating in a SL positioning process;

[0298] A processing module, configured to perform privacy checks on terminals participating in the SL positioning process;

[0299] The transceiver module is further used to send a first response to the first network element, where the first response is used to indicate the privacy check result of the terminal participating in the SL positioning process.

[0300] Optionally, the first request includes at least one first identifier, and the at least one first identifier includes a terminal identifier corresponding to the target terminal and at least one other terminal associated with the target terminal. The first request is used to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on the terminal identified by the first identifier.

[0301] Optionally, performing a privacy check on a terminal participating in the SL positioning process includes:

[0302] Perform a privacy check on the terminal identified by the first identifier.

[0303] Optionally, the first request includes at least one second identifier, where the second identifier is a terminal identifier corresponding to a terminal on which a privacy check has not been performed among at least one terminal determined by the first network element, and the first request is used to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on the terminal identified by the second identifier.

[0304] Optionally, performing a privacy check on a terminal participating in the SL positioning process includes:

[0305] A privacy check is performed on the terminal identified by the second identifier.

[0306] Optionally, the first request includes a third identifier and at least one fourth identifier, the third identifier is the terminal identifier of the target terminal, and the fourth identifier is the terminal identifier corresponding to other terminals associated with the target terminal during the SL positioning process. The first request is used to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on the terminals identified by the third identifier and the fourth identifier.

[0307] Optionally, performing a privacy check on a terminal participating in the SL positioning process includes:

[0308] A privacy check is performed on the terminals identified by the third identifier and the fourth identifier.

[0309] Optionally, the first request includes a sixth identifier and at least one seventh identifier, the sixth identifier is the terminal identifier of the server terminal in the SL positioning process, and the seventh identifier is the terminal identifier corresponding to the terminal other than the server terminal in the SL positioning process, and the first request is used to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on the terminals identified by the sixth identifier and the seventh identifier.

[0310] Optionally, performing a privacy check on a terminal participating in the SL positioning process includes:

[0311] A privacy check is performed on the terminals identified by the sixth identifier and the seventh identifier.

[0312] Optionally, the first request includes at least one eighth identifier, where the eighth identifier is the terminal identifier corresponding to the terminal on which the privacy check is not performed among the at least one terminal indicated by the first message, and the first message is used to indicate at least one terminal discovered by the target terminal that can be used for the SL positioning process; and the first request is used to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on the terminal identified by the eighth identifier.

[0313] Optionally, performing a privacy check on a terminal participating in the SL positioning process includes:

[0314] Perform a privacy check on the terminal identified by the eighth identifier.

[0315] Optionally, the target terminal in the SL positioning process may be in a roaming state or a non-roaming state.

[0316] Optionally, the terminal identifier includes at least one of the following:

[0317] GPSI;

[0318] SUPI;

[0319] Application layer ID.

[0320] Optionally, performing a privacy check includes:

[0321] The terminal identifier included in the first request is a GPSI and / or a SUPI, and a privacy check is performed based on the GPSI and / or the SUPI; or

[0322] The terminal identifier included in the first request is an application layer ID, the GPSI and / or SUPI mapped to the application layer ID is obtained from the sixth network element, and a privacy check is performed based on the GPSI and / or SUPI mapped to the application layer ID.

[0323] Optionally, the terminal identification further includes role information of the terminal in the SL positioning process.

[0324] Figure 6A is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device 6100 proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. Communication device 6100 can be a network device (e.g., an access network device, a core network device, etc.), a terminal (e.g., a user equipment, etc.), a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports a network device to implement any of the above methods, or a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports a terminal to implement any of the above methods. Communication device 6100 can be used to implement the methods described in the above method embodiments. For details, please refer to the description of the above method embodiments.

[0325] As shown in Figure 6A, the communication device 6100 includes one or more processors 6101. The processor 6101 can be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, for example, a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processing unit can be used to control the communication device (such as a base station, baseband chip, terminal device, terminal device chip, DU or CU, etc.), execute programs, and process program data. The processor 6101 is used to call instructions to enable the communication device 6100 to perform any of the above methods.

[0326] In some embodiments, the communication device 6100 further includes one or more memories 6102 for storing instructions. Optionally, all or part of the memories 6102 may be located outside the communication device 6100.

[0327] In some embodiments, the communication device 6100 further includes one or more transceivers 6103. When the communication device 6100 includes one or more transceivers 6103, the communication steps such as sending and receiving in the above method are performed by the transceiver 6103, and the other steps are performed by the processor 6101.

[0328] In some embodiments, a transceiver may include a receiver and a transmitter, which may be separate or integrated. Optionally, the terms transceiver, transceiver unit, transceiver, and transceiver circuit may be used interchangeably; the terms transmitter, transmitting unit, transmitter, and transmitting circuit may be used interchangeably; and the terms receiver, receiving unit, receiver, and receiving circuit may be used interchangeably.

[0329] Optionally, the communication device 6100 further includes one or more interface circuits 6104, which are connected to the memory 6102. The interface circuits 6104 can be used to receive signals from the memory 6102 or other devices, and can be used to send signals to the memory 6102 or other devices. For example, the interface circuits 6104 can read instructions stored in the memory 6102 and send the instructions to the processor 6101.

[0330] The communication device 6100 described in the above embodiment may be a network device or a terminal, but the scope of the communication device 6100 described in the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the structure of the communication device 6100 may not be limited by FIG. 6a. The communication device may be an independent device or may be part of a larger device. For example, the communication device may be: 1) an independent integrated circuit IC, or a chip, or a chip system or subsystem; (2) a collection of one or more ICs, optionally, the above IC collection may also include a storage component for storing data or programs; (3) an ASIC, such as a modem; (4) a module that can be embedded in other devices; (5) a receiver, a terminal device, an intelligent terminal device, a cellular phone, a wireless device, a handheld device, a mobile unit, an in-vehicle device, a network device, a cloud device, an artificial intelligence device, etc.; (6) others, etc.

[0331] 6B is a schematic diagram of the structure of a chip 6200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. If the communication device 6100 can be a chip or a chip system, reference can be made to the schematic diagram of the structure of the chip 6200 shown in FIG6B , but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0332] The chip 6200 includes one or more processors 6201, and the processor 6201 is used to call instructions so that the chip 6200 executes any of the above methods.

[0333] In some embodiments, chip 6200 further includes one or more interface circuits 6202, which are connected to memory 6203. Interface circuit 6202 can be used to receive signals from memory 6203 or other devices, and can be used to send signals to memory 6203 or other devices. For example, interface circuit 6202 can read instructions stored in memory 6203 and send the instructions to processor 6201. Optionally, the terms interface circuit, interface, transceiver pin, and transceiver are interchangeable.

[0334] In some embodiments, the chip 6200 further includes one or more memories 6203 for storing instructions. Alternatively, all or part of the memories 6203 may be located outside the chip 6200.

[0335] The present disclosure also proposes a storage medium having instructions stored thereon. When the instructions are executed on the communication device 6100, the communication device 6100 executes any of the above methods. Optionally, the storage medium is an electronic storage medium. Optionally, the storage medium is a computer-readable storage medium, but is not limited thereto and may also be a storage medium readable by other devices. Optionally, the storage medium may be a non-transitory storage medium, but is not limited thereto and may also be a temporary storage medium.

[0336] The present disclosure also provides a program product, which, when executed by the communication device 6100, enables the communication device 6100 to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, the program product is a computer program product.

[0337] The present disclosure also proposes a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform any one of the above methods.

[0338] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs. When the computer program is loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present disclosure are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer program 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 program 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 disk (SSD)).

[0339] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professionals and technicians can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this disclosure.

[0340] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0341] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present disclosure, but the scope of protection of the present disclosure 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 disclosure should be included in the scope of protection of the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present disclosure should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A positioning method, characterized in that, Performed by a first network element, the method includes: When a first condition is met, send a first request to a second network element; wherein, the first condition is a condition for performing a privacy check on a terminal participating in a sidelink (SL) positioning process, and the first request is used to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on the terminal participating in the SL positioning process; Receive a first response sent by the second network element, the first response being used to indicate the privacy check result of the terminal participating in the SL positioning process; Based on the first response, determine whether to perform the SL positioning process.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The terminals participating in the SL positioning process include at least one of the following: A target terminal; A server terminal; A positioning terminal; A reference terminal; Other terminals associated with the target terminal; Other terminals associated with the server terminal.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first condition includes: after the first network element receives a second request, it determines to perform an SL positioning process on the target terminal; Wherein, the second request is triggered based on a third request sent by a terminal participating in the SL positioning process, or the second request is triggered based on a fourth request sent by a third network element; wherein, the second request, the third request, and the fourth request are used to request positioning of the target terminal.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein The third network element is the same as or different from the second network element.

5. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The step of, when the first condition is met, sending a first request to the second network element includes: Receive the second request and determine to perform an SL positioning process on the target terminal; The first network element determines at least one terminal participating in the SL positioning process; Send the first request to the second network element, the first request including at least one first identifier, the at least one first identifier including the terminal identifier of the target terminal and the terminal identifiers corresponding to at least one other terminal associated with the target terminal, and the first request is used to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on the terminals identified by the first identifier.

6. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The first condition includes: there is a terminal participating in the SL positioning process that has not yet performed a privacy check.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein The step of, when the first condition is met, sending a first request to the second network element includes: Receive a fifth request, the fifth request being used to request performing an SL positioning process on the target terminal; The first network element determines at least one terminal participating in the SL positioning process; Send the first request to the second network element, the first request including at least one second identifier, the second identifier being the terminal identifier corresponding to the terminal that has not performed a privacy check among the at least one terminal determined by the first network element, and the first request is used to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on the terminals identified by the second identifier.

8. The method according to claim 3 or 6, characterized in that, The step of, when the first condition is met, sending a first request to the second network element includes: Determine the target terminal in the SL positioning process; Send the first request to the second network element, the first request including a third identifier and at least one fourth identifier, the third identifier being the terminal identifier of the target terminal, and the fourth identifier being the terminal identifier corresponding to the other terminal associated with the target terminal in the SL positioning process, and the first request is used to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on the terminals identified by the third identifier and the fourth identifier.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein The receiving of the fifth request includes at least one of the following: Receiving the fifth request sent by a fourth network element; Receiving the fifth request sent by a fifth network element.

10. The method according to any one of claims 7-9, characterized in that The fifth request indicates or does not indicate at least one fifth identifier, and the fifth identifier is a terminal identifier corresponding to a terminal for which the second network element has performed a privacy check.

11. The method according to claim 3 or 6, characterized in that, The satisfying of the first condition and sending a first request to a second network element includes: The first network element determines or receives the server terminal in the SL positioning process determined by the target terminal; Sending the first request to the second network element, where the first request includes a sixth identifier and at least one seventh identifier, the sixth identifier is the terminal identifier of the server terminal, and the seventh identifier is the terminal identifier corresponding to a terminal other than the server terminal in the SL positioning process, and the first request is used to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on the terminals identified by the sixth identifier and the seventh identifier.

12. The method according to claim 3 or 6, characterized in that, The satisfying of the first condition and sending a first request to a second network element includes: Receiving a first message sent by the first terminal through a fourth network element, where the first message is used to indicate at least one terminal discovered by the target terminal and available for the SL positioning process; Sending the first request to the second network element, where the first request includes at least one eighth identifier, and the eighth identifier is the terminal identifier corresponding to a terminal that has not performed a privacy check among the at least one terminal indicated by the first message, and the first request is used to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on the terminal identified by the eighth identifier.

13. The method according to any one of claims 1-12, characterized in that, The determining whether to perform the SL positioning process based on the first response includes: When the first response indicates that the privacy check of the terminal participating in the SL positioning process is successful, determining to perform the SL positioning process; When the first response indicates that the privacy check of the terminal participating in the SL positioning process fails, determining not to perform the SL positioning process.

14. The method according to any one of claims 1-12, characterized in that, The first response is used to indicate the terminals with successful privacy checks; The determining whether to perform the SL positioning process based on the first response includes: Performing the SL positioning process using the terminals with successful privacy checks.

15. The method according to any one of claims 5-14, characterized in that, The terminal identifier includes at least one of the following: General Public Service Identity (GPSI); Subscribed Permanent User Identity (SUPI); Application layer identifier (ID).

16. The method according to any one of claims 5-15, characterized in that, The terminal identifier further includes the role information of the terminal in the SL positioning process.

17. A positioning method, characterized in that, Performed by a second network element, the method includes: Receiving a first request sent by a first network element, where the first request is used to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on the terminals participating in the SL positioning process; Performing a privacy check on the terminals participating in the SL positioning process; Sending a first response to the first network element, where the first response is used to indicate the privacy check result of the terminals participating in the SL positioning process.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein The first request includes at least one first identifier, and the at least one first identifier includes the target terminal and the terminal identifiers corresponding to at least one other terminal associated with the target terminal, and the first request is used to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on the terminals identified by the first identifier.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein Performing privacy checks on the terminals participating in the SL positioning process includes: Performing a privacy check on the terminal identified by the first identifier.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein The first request includes at least one second identifier, where the second identifier is the terminal identifier corresponding to at least one terminal among the at least one terminal determined by the first network element that has not performed a privacy check, and the first request is used to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on the terminal identified by the second identifier.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein Performing privacy checks on the terminals participating in the SL positioning process includes: Performing a privacy check on the terminal identified by the second identifier.

22. The method according to claim 17, wherein The first request includes a third identifier and at least one fourth identifier, where the third identifier is the terminal identifier of the target terminal, and the fourth identifier is the terminal identifier corresponding to other terminals associated with the target terminal during the SL positioning process, and the first request is used to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on the terminals identified by the third identifier and the fourth identifier.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein Performing privacy checks on the terminals participating in the SL positioning process includes: Performing a privacy check on the terminals identified by the third identifier and the fourth identifier.

24. The method according to claim 17, wherein The first request includes a sixth identifier and at least one seventh identifier, where the sixth identifier is the terminal identifier of the server terminal during the SL positioning process, and the seventh identifier is the terminal identifier corresponding to terminals other than the server terminal during the SL positioning process, and the first request is used to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on the terminals identified by the sixth identifier and the seventh identifier.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein Performing privacy checks on the terminals participating in the SL positioning process includes: Performing a privacy check on the terminals identified by the sixth identifier and the seventh identifier.

26. The method according to claim 17, wherein, The first request includes at least one eighth identifier, where the eighth identifier is the terminal identifier corresponding to at least one terminal among the at least one terminal indicated by the first message that has not performed a privacy check, and the first message is used to indicate at least one terminal discovered by the target terminal that can be used for the SL positioning process; and the first request is used to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on the terminal identified by the eighth identifier.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein Performing privacy checks on the terminals participating in the SL positioning process includes: Performing a privacy check on the terminal identified by the eighth identifier.

28. The method according to any one of claims 17-27, characterized in that The target terminal during the SL positioning process can be in a roaming state or a non-roaming state.

29. The method according to any one of claims 18-28, characterized in that, The terminal identifier includes at least one of the following: GPSI; SUPI; Application layer ID.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein Performing the privacy check includes: The terminal identifier included in the first request is GPSI and / or SUPI, and performing a privacy check based on the GPSI and / or SUPI; or The terminal identifier included in the first request is an application layer ID, obtaining the GPSI and / or SUPI mapped by the application layer ID from the sixth network element, and performing a privacy check based on the GPSI and / or SUPI mapped by the application layer ID.

31. The method according to any one of claims 18 - 30, characterized in that The terminal identifier further includes the role information of the terminal during the SL positioning process.

32. A first network element, characterized in that, Includes: A transceiver module, configured to send a first request to a second network element when a first condition is met; wherein, the first condition is a condition for performing a privacy check on a terminal participating in a sidelink (SL) positioning process, and the first request is used to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on the terminal participating in the SL positioning process; The transceiver module is further configured to receive a first response sent by the second network element, where the first response is used to indicate a privacy check result of the terminal participating in the SL positioning process; A processing module, configured to determine whether to perform the SL positioning process based on the first response.

33. A second network element, characterized in that, Comprising: A transceiver module, configured to receive a first request sent by a first network element, where the first request is used to request the second network element to perform a privacy check on a terminal participating in the SL positioning process; A processing module, configured to perform a privacy check on a terminal participating in the SL positioning process; The transceiver module is further configured to send a first response to the first network element, where the first response is used to indicate a privacy check result of the terminal participating in the SL positioning process.

34. A communication device, characterized in that, Comprising: One or more processors; A memory coupled to the processor, where instructions are stored on the memory, and when the instructions are executed by the processor, the communication device is caused to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 31.

35. A communication system, characterized in that, Comprising a first network element and a second network element, wherein the first network element is configured to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 16, and the second network element is configured to implement the method according to any one of claims 17 to 31.

36. A storage medium, the storage medium stores instructions, characterized in that, When the instructions run on the communication device, the communication device is caused to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 31.

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