Terminal positioning method, functional entity, apparatus, and storage medium

Abstract

A terminal positioning method, a functional entity, an apparatus, and a storage medium. The method comprises: a first functional entity acquiring analysis information or a model related to positioning of a terminal; and, on the basis of the analysis information or the model, executing one or more of the following operations related to positioning of the terminal: determining a second functional entity providing a positioning service for the terminal; determining a positioning method employed by a third functional entity and used for positioning the terminal; and determining positioning information of the terminal.

Description

Terminal positioning method, functional entity, device and storage medium

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 202410175113.9, filed on February 7, 2024, entitled “Terminal Positioning Method, Functional Entity, Device and Storage Medium,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to the field of wireless communication technologies, and in particular to a terminal positioning method, functional entity, device, and storage medium. Background Art

[0004] To enable intelligent analysis and control of the network, the 5th generation mobile communication (5G) network has introduced a Network Data Analytics Function (NWDAF). Based on artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) algorithms, NWDAF interacts with other network functional entities to provide network data analysis (hereinafter referred to as "analysis" or "network analysis") services to other network functional entities.

[0005] There is still a lack of effective solutions for applying network data analysis to location services (LCS) to improve the performance of terminal positioning (ie, locating the terminal position). Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present disclosure provides a terminal positioning method, functional entity, device and storage medium for applying network data analysis to location services to improve terminal positioning performance.

[0007] In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a terminal positioning method, applied to a first functional entity, comprising:

[0008] Obtaining analysis information or models related to terminal positioning;

[0009] Based on the analysis information or model, perform one or more of the following operations related to terminal positioning:

[0010] Determine a second functional entity that provides a positioning service for the terminal;

[0011] determining a positioning method used by the third functional entity to locate the terminal;

[0012] Determine the terminal's location information.

[0013] In some embodiments, obtaining analysis information or models related to terminal positioning includes:

[0014] Sending a first message to a fourth functional entity, where the first message is used to request analysis information or a model related to terminal positioning, and / or the first message is used to provide data related to terminal positioning or data for training a model related to terminal positioning;

[0015] Receive analysis information or model information related to terminal positioning provided by the fourth functional entity based on the first message.

[0016] In some embodiments, the first message for requesting analysis information or a model carries one or more of the following information:

[0017] Terminal identification or address information;

[0018] at least one positioning method;

[0019] At least one of the required positioning response time, positioning accuracy, and positioning category;

[0020] Application or business information;

[0021] Information on at least one of the network slice, the data network, and the first network;

[0022] Area and / or time information corresponding to the terminal positioning;

[0023] Positioning capability of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0024] At least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0025] performance or status information of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0026] Application layer positioning information of the terminal;

[0027] Locating information of reference functional entities;

[0028] Information about the mobile access network functional entity accessed by the terminal.

[0029] In some embodiments, the data related to terminal positioning and / or the data for training a model related to terminal positioning include one or more of the following:

[0030] Measurement information related to terminal positioning provided by the terminal or the first access network functional entity;

[0031] at least one positioning method;

[0032] Positioning assistance data corresponding to the positioning method;

[0033] Positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information of the positioning reference functional entity;

[0034] Relative position and / or relative speed information between the terminal and the positioning reference function entity;

[0035] Positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information of the mobile access network functional entity accessed by the terminal;

[0036] Relative position and / or relative speed information between the terminal and the mobile access network functional entity;

[0037] Historical location information and / or movement trend information of the terminal;

[0038] Application layer positioning information of the terminal;

[0039] Positioning capability of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0040] At least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0041] Performance or status information of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity.

[0042] In some embodiments, the terminal positioning-related analysis information includes one or more of the following:

[0043] The location of the terminal;

[0044] The speed of the terminal;

[0045] Positioning methods;

[0046] Positioning response time;

[0047] Positioning accuracy;

[0048] Positioning category;

[0049] Information of the second functional entity.

[0050] In some embodiments, determining a second functional entity that provides a positioning service for a terminal includes:

[0051] Based on the analysis information, determining a second functional entity that supports a first positioning service quality; the first positioning service quality includes at least one of a first positioning response time, a first positioning accuracy, and a first positioning category; and / or,

[0052] Based on the analysis information, a second functional entity supporting user plane positioning or control plane positioning is determined.

[0053] In some embodiments, determining a positioning method used by the third functional entity to position the terminal includes:

[0054] Determining, based on the analysis information, a first positioning method that supports a second positioning service quality;

[0055] The first positioning method and / or the positioning assistance information corresponding to the first positioning method is sent to the third functional entity.

[0056] In some embodiments, obtaining analysis information or models related to terminal positioning includes:

[0057] receiving a third message related to terminal positioning sent by the terminal or the sixth functional entity;

[0058] Based on the third message, obtaining analysis information or model related to terminal positioning;

[0059] The third message is for one of the following:

[0060] Requesting terminal positioning;

[0061] Requesting to establish a user plane connection to transmit a fourth message related to terminal positioning;

[0062] Requesting a positioning method and / or assistance data for locating the terminal;

[0063] Request to update the terminal's location information.

[0064] In some embodiments, the third message carries the first positioning service quality, and / or the third message carries at least one positioning method including the first positioning method.

[0065] In a second aspect, the present disclosure further provides a terminal positioning method, which is applied to a seventh functional entity, including:

[0066] receiving a fifth message sent by the first functional entity, where the fifth message is used to request analysis information or a model related to terminal positioning, and / or the fifth message is used to provide data related to terminal positioning or data for training a model related to terminal positioning;

[0067] Based on the fifth message, sending analysis information or model information related to the terminal positioning to the first functional entity;

[0068] The terminal positioning-related analysis information or models are used to derive one or more of the following information:

[0069] Information about a second functional entity that provides positioning services for the terminal;

[0070] A positioning method for locating a terminal;

[0071] The terminal's location information.

[0072] In some embodiments, the fifth message for requesting analysis information or a model carries one or more of the following information:

[0073] Terminal identification or address information;

[0074] at least one positioning method;

[0075] At least one of the required positioning response time, positioning accuracy, and positioning category;

[0076] Application or business information;

[0077] Information on at least one of the network slice, the data network, and the first network;

[0078] Area and / or time information corresponding to the terminal positioning;

[0079] Positioning capability of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0080] At least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0081] performance or status information of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0082] Application layer positioning information of the terminal;

[0083] Locating information of reference functional entities;

[0084] Information about the mobile access network functional entity accessed by the terminal.

[0085] In some embodiments, the terminal positioning-related data and / or the training model data include one or more of the following:

[0086] Measurement information related to terminal positioning provided by the terminal or the first access network functional entity;

[0087] at least one positioning method;

[0088] Positioning assistance data corresponding to the positioning method;

[0089] Positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information of the positioning reference functional entity;

[0090] Relative position and / or relative speed information between the terminal and the positioning reference function entity;

[0091] Positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information of the mobile access network functional entity accessed by the terminal;

[0092] Relative position and / or relative speed information between the terminal and the mobile access network functional entity;

[0093] Historical location information and / or movement trend information of the terminal;

[0094] Application layer positioning information of the terminal;

[0095] Positioning capability of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0096] At least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0097] Performance or status information of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity.

[0098] In some embodiments, the terminal positioning-related analysis information includes one or more of the following:

[0099] The location of the terminal;

[0100] The speed of the terminal;

[0101] Positioning methods;

[0102] Positioning response time;

[0103] Positioning accuracy;

[0104] Positioning category;

[0105] Information of the second functional entity.

[0106] In a third aspect, the present disclosure further provides a first functional entity, including a memory, a transceiver, and a processor;

[0107] A memory for storing a computer program; a transceiver for transmitting and receiving data under the control of the processor; and a processor for reading the computer program in the memory and performing the following operations:

[0108] Obtaining analysis information or models related to terminal positioning;

[0109] Based on the analysis information or model, perform one or more of the following operations related to terminal positioning:

[0110] Determine a second functional entity that provides a positioning service for the terminal;

[0111] determining a positioning method used by the third functional entity to locate the terminal;

[0112] Determine the terminal's location information.

[0113] In some embodiments, obtaining analysis information or models related to terminal positioning includes:

[0114] Sending a first message to a fourth functional entity, where the first message is used to request analysis information or a model related to terminal positioning, and / or the first message is used to provide data related to terminal positioning or data for training a model related to terminal positioning;

[0115] Receive analysis information or model information related to terminal positioning provided by the fourth functional entity based on the first message.

[0116] In some embodiments, the first message for requesting analysis information or a model carries one or more of the following information:

[0117] Terminal identification or address information;

[0118] at least one positioning method;

[0119] At least one of the required positioning response time, positioning accuracy, and positioning category;

[0120] Application or business information;

[0121] Information on at least one of the network slice, the data network, and the first network;

[0122] Area and / or time information corresponding to the terminal positioning;

[0123] Positioning capability of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0124] At least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0125] performance or status information of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0126] Application layer positioning information of the terminal;

[0127] Locating information of reference functional entities;

[0128] Information about the mobile access network functional entity accessed by the terminal.

[0129] In some embodiments, the data related to terminal positioning and / or the data for training a model related to terminal positioning include one or more of the following:

[0130] Measurement information related to terminal positioning provided by the terminal or the first access network functional entity;

[0131] at least one positioning method;

[0132] Positioning assistance data corresponding to the positioning method;

[0133] Positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information of the positioning reference functional entity;

[0134] Relative position and / or relative speed information between the terminal and the positioning reference function entity;

[0135] Positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information of the mobile access network functional entity accessed by the terminal;

[0136] Relative position and / or relative speed information between the terminal and the mobile access network functional entity;

[0137] Historical location information and / or movement trend information of the terminal;

[0138] Application layer positioning information of the terminal;

[0139] Positioning capability of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0140] At least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0141] Performance or status information of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity.

[0142] In some embodiments, the terminal positioning-related analysis information includes one or more of the following:

[0143] The location of the terminal;

[0144] The speed of the terminal;

[0145] Positioning methods;

[0146] Positioning response time;

[0147] Positioning accuracy;

[0148] Positioning category;

[0149] Information of the second functional entity.

[0150] In some embodiments, determining a second functional entity that provides a positioning service for a terminal includes:

[0151] Based on the analysis information, determining a second functional entity that supports a first positioning service quality; the first positioning service quality includes at least one of a first positioning response time, a first positioning accuracy, and a first positioning category; and / or,

[0152] Based on the analysis information, a second functional entity supporting user plane positioning or control plane positioning is determined.

[0153] In some embodiments, determining a positioning method used by the third functional entity to position the terminal includes:

[0154] Determining, based on the analysis information, a first positioning method that supports a second positioning service quality;

[0155] The first positioning method and / or the positioning assistance information corresponding to the first positioning method is sent to the third functional entity.

[0156] In some embodiments, obtaining analysis information or models related to terminal positioning includes:

[0157] receiving a third message related to terminal positioning sent by the terminal or the sixth functional entity;

[0158] Based on the third message, obtaining analysis information or model related to terminal positioning;

[0159] The third message is for one of the following:

[0160] Requesting terminal positioning;

[0161] Requesting to establish a user plane connection to transmit a fourth message related to terminal positioning;

[0162] Requesting a positioning method and / or assistance data for locating the terminal;

[0163] Request to update the terminal's location information.

[0164] In some embodiments, the third message carries the first positioning service quality, and / or the third message carries at least one positioning method including the first positioning method.

[0165] In a fourth aspect, the present disclosure further provides a seventh functional entity, including a memory, a transceiver, and a processor;

[0166] A memory for storing a computer program; a transceiver for transmitting and receiving data under the control of the processor; and a processor for reading the computer program in the memory and performing the following operations:

[0167] receiving a fifth message sent by the first functional entity, where the fifth message is used to request analysis information or a model related to terminal positioning, and / or the fifth message is used to provide data related to terminal positioning or data for training a model related to terminal positioning;

[0168] Based on the fifth message, sending analysis information or model information related to the terminal positioning to the first functional entity;

[0169] The terminal positioning-related analysis information or models are used to derive one or more of the following information:

[0170] Information about a second functional entity that provides positioning services for the terminal;

[0171] A positioning method for locating a terminal;

[0172] The terminal's location information.

[0173] In some embodiments, the fifth message for requesting analysis information or a model carries one or more of the following information:

[0174] Terminal identification or address information;

[0175] at least one positioning method;

[0176] At least one of the required positioning response time, positioning accuracy, and positioning category;

[0177] Application or business information;

[0178] Information on at least one of the network slice, the data network, and the first network;

[0179] Area and / or time information corresponding to the terminal positioning;

[0180] Positioning capability of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0181] At least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0182] performance or status information of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0183] Application layer positioning information of the terminal;

[0184] Locating information of reference functional entities;

[0185] Information about the mobile access network functional entity accessed by the terminal.

[0186] In some embodiments, the terminal positioning-related data and / or the training model data include one or more of the following:

[0187] Measurement information related to terminal positioning provided by the terminal or the first access network functional entity;

[0188] at least one positioning method;

[0189] Positioning assistance data corresponding to the positioning method;

[0190] Positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information of the positioning reference functional entity;

[0191] Relative position and / or relative speed information between the terminal and the positioning reference function entity;

[0192] Positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information of the mobile access network functional entity accessed by the terminal;

[0193] Relative position and / or relative speed information between the terminal and the mobile access network functional entity;

[0194] Historical location information and / or movement trend information of the terminal;

[0195] Application layer positioning information of the terminal;

[0196] Positioning capability of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0197] At least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0198] Performance or status information of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity.

[0199] In some embodiments, the terminal positioning-related analysis information includes one or more of the following:

[0200] The location of the terminal;

[0201] The speed of the terminal;

[0202] Positioning methods;

[0203] Positioning response time;

[0204] Positioning accuracy;

[0205] Positioning category;

[0206] Information of the second functional entity.

[0207] In a fifth aspect, the present disclosure further provides a terminal positioning device, comprising:

[0208] An acquisition unit, configured to acquire analysis information or models related to terminal positioning;

[0209] An execution unit is configured to perform one or more of the following operations related to terminal positioning based on the analysis information or model:

[0210] Determine a second functional entity that provides a positioning service for the terminal;

[0211] determining a positioning method used by the third functional entity to locate the terminal;

[0212] Determine the terminal's location information.

[0213] In a sixth aspect, the present disclosure further provides a terminal positioning device, comprising:

[0214] a receiving unit, configured to receive a fifth message sent by the first functional entity, where the fifth message is used to request analysis information or a model related to terminal positioning, and / or the fifth message is used to provide data related to terminal positioning or data for training a model related to terminal positioning;

[0215] a sending unit, configured to send analysis information or model information related to terminal positioning to the first functional entity based on the fifth message;

[0216] The terminal positioning-related analysis information or models are used to derive one or more of the following information:

[0217] Information about a second functional entity that provides positioning services for the terminal;

[0218] A positioning method for locating a terminal;

[0219] The terminal's location information.

[0220] In the seventh aspect, the present disclosure also provides a non-transitory readable storage medium, which stores a computer program, and the computer program is used to enable the processor to execute the terminal positioning method described in the first aspect as described above, or execute the terminal positioning method described in the second aspect as described above.

[0221] In an eighth aspect, the present disclosure further provides a communication device, in which a computer program is stored, and the computer program is used to enable the communication device to execute the terminal positioning method described in the first aspect as described above, or execute the terminal positioning method described in the second aspect as described above.

[0222] In the ninth aspect, the present disclosure also provides a processor-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program, and the computer program is used to enable the processor to execute the terminal positioning method described in the first aspect as described above, or execute the terminal positioning method described in the second aspect as described above.

[0223] In a tenth aspect, the present disclosure further provides a chip product, in which a computer program is stored, and the computer program is used to enable the chip product to execute the terminal positioning method described in the first aspect or the terminal positioning method described in the second aspect.

[0224] The terminal positioning method, functional entity, device and storage medium provided by the present disclosure are such that the first functional entity can obtain analysis information or models related to terminal positioning and perform operations related to terminal positioning based on the analysis information or models, thereby being able to utilize the network data analysis function to improve the performance of terminal positioning on the core network side, access network side and terminal side, and meet the service quality requirements of positioning services in different scenarios. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0225] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure or related technologies, the following is a brief introduction to the drawings required for use in the embodiments or related technical descriptions. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present disclosure. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative work.

[0226] FIG1 is a flow chart of a terminal positioning method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0227] FIG2 is a second flow chart of a terminal positioning method provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0228] FIG3 is a signaling interaction diagram of Example 1 provided by the examples of the present disclosure;

[0229] FIG4 is a signaling interaction diagram of Example 2 provided by the examples of the present disclosure;

[0230] FIG5 is a signaling interaction diagram of Example 3 provided by the examples of the present disclosure;

[0231] FIG6 is a signaling interaction diagram of Example 4 provided by the examples of the present disclosure;

[0232] FIG7 is a signaling interaction diagram of Example 5 provided by the examples of the present disclosure;

[0233] FIG8 is a schematic structural diagram of a first functional entity provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0234] FIG9 is a schematic structural diagram of a seventh functional entity provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0235] FIG10 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a terminal positioning device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0236] FIG11 is a second structural diagram of the terminal positioning device provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0237] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the term "and / or" describes the association relationship between associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent three situations: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the associated objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0238] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the term "plurality" refers to two or more than two, and other quantifiers are similar thereto.

[0239] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the terms "first," "second," and the like are used to distinguish similar objects, and are not used to describe a specific order or precedence. It should be understood that the terms used in this manner are interchangeable where appropriate, so that the embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented in an order other than that illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the objects distinguished by "first" and "second" are generally of the same type, and do not limit the number of objects. For example, the first object can be one or more.

[0240] The following will be combined with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Obviously, the embodiments described are only part of the embodiments of the present disclosure and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making any creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

[0241] In order to facilitate a clearer understanding of the technical solutions of the various embodiments of the present disclosure, some technical contents related to the various embodiments of the present disclosure are first introduced.

[0242] 1. Artificial Intelligence-Based Network Data Analysis

[0243] To enable intelligent analysis and control of the network, NWDAF was introduced into the 5G network. Based on AI / ML algorithms, NWDAF provides network data analysis services to other network functional entities through interaction with them. The main functions of NWDAF include: 1) receiving analysis requests from the network functional entity (consumer NF) and collecting network data from the data source network functional entity (data provider) based on the analysis request as input data required for network analysis; 2) using the collected data to perform network analysis and obtain statistical and predictive information on the status and / or performance of the network or terminal, namely analysis information; 3) providing analysis information to other network functional entities.

[0244] 2. Location Services

[0245] Mobile communication networks can provide location services to terminals (also known as user equipment, User Equipment, UE), including supporting UE-side positioning (i.e., UE determines its own location), access network-side positioning (i.e., access network functional entities determine the UE's location), and core network-side positioning (i.e., core network functional entities determine the UE's location). In 5G networks, the core network's Location Management Function (LMF) can provide positioning assistance data to UEs and access network functional entities to assist in achieving UE-side and access network-side positioning. It can also determine the UE's location based on the request of the UE or other network functional entities and send the UE's location to the terminal or other network functional entities.

[0246] Location services need to meet the different requirements of different communication services / applications for terminal positioning. For example, emergency call communications and factory equipment and instrument communications have very different requirements for positioning accuracy and positioning response time (the time from receiving a positioning request to determining / feeding back the UE location). (The former has a positioning accuracy of several meters to tens of meters and a positioning response time of several minutes; the latter may have a positioning accuracy of several centimeters / millimeters and a positioning response time of several seconds / milliseconds.)

[0247] FIG1 is a flow chart of a terminal positioning method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method is applied to a first functional entity. As shown in FIG1 , the method includes the following steps:

[0248] Step 100: Obtain analysis information or models related to terminal positioning.

[0249] Step 101: Based on the analysis information or model, perform one or more of the following operations related to terminal positioning:

[0250] Determine a second functional entity that provides a positioning service for the terminal;

[0251] determining a positioning method used by the third functional entity to locate the terminal;

[0252] Determine the terminal's location information.

[0253] Specifically, the first functional entity may be a core network functional entity, an access network (AN) functional entity, or a terminal. The core network functional entity may be, for example, an access and mobility management function (AMF) or a LMF. The access network functional entity may be, for example, a radio access network (RAN) node.

[0254] The second functional entity may be an LMF. In some implementations, the first functional entity is an AMF, and the AMF determines the LMF that provides positioning services for the terminal based on the acquired analysis information related to the terminal positioning.

[0255] The third functional entity can be a core network functional entity LMF (corresponding to core network side positioning), an access network functional entity (corresponding to access network side positioning) or a terminal (corresponding to terminal side positioning).

[0256] The positioning information includes information such as position and / or speed, and the position and / or speed information includes horizontal and / or vertical position information, horizontal and / or vertical speed information, and the like.

[0257] In some embodiments, the terminal positioning-related analysis information includes one or more of the following: the terminal's location; the terminal's speed; the positioning method; the positioning response time; the positioning accuracy; the positioning category; and information about the second functional entity.

[0258] For example, the analysis information related to terminal positioning may include LMF information, and the LMF information may include: LMF identification or address, LMF service area, LMF capabilities (for example, supporting user plane positioning and / or control plane positioning), positioning (LCS) quality of service (QoS) categories supported by LMF (such as Best Effort Class (best effort category, indicating the minimum LCS QoS requirement), Multiple QoS Class (indicating a category of multiple LCS QoS requirements) or Assured Class (indicating a category of determined LCS QoS requirements)), positioning accuracy (horizontal accuracy and / or vertical accuracy), positioning response time, positioning method, positioning category (for example, indoor positioning, outdoor positioning), LMF status or performance information (for example, energy consumption / energy efficiency, resource usage or load information), etc.

[0259] For example, the analysis information related to terminal positioning may include at least one positioning method, as well as the positioning accuracy, positioning response time, positioning category, terminal location (such as the cell ID (Cell ID) where the terminal is located, Tracking Area Identifier (TAI), geographic coordinate point or geographic coordinate range, etc.), LCS QoS information, etc. corresponding to the positioning method.

[0260] For example, the analysis information related to terminal positioning may include: one or more location information of the terminal; corresponding to each location information, the positioning method used, positioning response time, positioning accuracy, positioning category, etc.; corresponding to each location information, the speed of the terminal.

[0261] The terminal positioning method provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure is that the first functional entity can obtain analysis information or models related to terminal positioning and perform terminal positioning related operations based on the analysis information or models, thereby being able to utilize the network data analysis function to improve the performance of terminal positioning on the core network side, the access network side, and the terminal side, and meet the service quality requirements of positioning services in different scenarios.

[0262] In some embodiments, obtaining analysis information or models related to terminal positioning includes:

[0263] Sending a first message to a fourth functional entity, where the first message is used to request analysis information or a model related to terminal positioning, and / or the first message is used to provide data related to terminal positioning or data for training a model related to terminal positioning;

[0264] Receive analysis information or model information related to terminal positioning provided by the fourth functional entity based on the first message.

[0265] Specifically, the fourth functional entity may be an NWDAF. In some implementations, the first functional entity sends a first message to the NWDAF, where the first message is used to request analysis information or a model related to terminal positioning, and / or provides the NWDAF with data related to terminal positioning or data for training a model related to terminal positioning. The terminal positioning data may be used to assist the NWDAF in performing network data analysis.

[0266] In some embodiments, the first message for requesting analysis information carries one or more of the following information:

[0267] (1) Terminal identification or address information.

[0268] In some embodiments, the address information may include cell information (eg, cell identifier) ​​or tracking area information (eg, tracking area identifier) ​​where the terminal is located.

[0269] (2) At least one positioning method.

[0270] (3) At least one of the required positioning response time, positioning accuracy, and positioning category.

[0271] (4) Application or business information.

[0272] The application or service information is used to identify the application or service requesting the terminal's location information.

[0273] (5) Information on at least one of the network slice, the data network, and the first network.

[0274] The information of the network slice, data network or first network is used to identify the network slice, data network or first network that requests the positioning information of the terminal, or to identify the network slice, data network or first network where the second functional entity (such as LMF) is located.

[0275] The first network refers to a network other than a data network, such as a visited network, a non-public network, etc.

[0276] (6) Area and / or time information corresponding to the terminal positioning.

[0277] For example, the time period for analysis request, the area for analysis, etc.

[0278] (7) Positioning capability of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity.

[0279] The positioning capability includes the terminal's support for control plane positioning or user plane positioning, the supported positioning frequency range, the ability to support positioning reference signals and / or sounding reference signals (SRS), or the ability to support specific positioning methods (such as the observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA), multiple round trip time (Multi-RTT) and other positioning methods. The processing capability of positioning reference signals and / or sounding reference signals) etc.

[0280] (8) At least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity.

[0281] For example, at least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by LMF.

[0282] For example, at least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by the access network function entity.

[0283] For example, at least one of the positioning methods, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning categories supported by the terminal.

[0284] (9) Performance or status information of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity.

[0285] For example, the performance or status information of the LMF, the performance or status information of the access network functional entity, the performance or status information of the terminal, etc. The performance or status information may include information such as energy consumption / energy efficiency, resource usage, load status, and capability status.

[0286] (10) Application layer location information of the terminal.

[0287] For example, the terminal's positioning information obtained by a specific application and the terminal's Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning information.

[0288] (11) Information on the location reference functional entity.

[0289] The positioning reference functional entity may be a terminal or access network node whose positioning information is known, such as a positioning reference unit (PRU) or a positioning reference terminal.

[0290] In some embodiments, the information of the positioning reference function entity may include: the identification, address, and positioning information of the positioning reference function entity; information such as the relative position and / or speed between the terminal and the positioning reference function entity; indication information on whether to use the positioning reference function for terminal positioning, etc.

[0291] (12) Information about the mobile access network functional entity accessed by the terminal.

[0292] For example, the mobile access network functional entity is a mobile base station relay (Mobile Base Station Relay, MBSR) or other mobile access network functional entities.

[0293] In some embodiments, the information of the mobile access network functional entity may include: the identification, address, and positioning information of the mobile access network functional entity; information such as the relative position and / or speed between the terminal and the mobile access network functional entity; an indication of whether to use the mobile access network functional entity for terminal positioning, etc.

[0294] In some embodiments, the terminal positioning-related data includes one or more of the following:

[0295] (1) Measurement information related to terminal positioning provided by the terminal or the first access network functional entity.

[0296] The measurement information includes, for example, reference signal received power (RSRP), reference signal received path power (RSRPP), reference signal time difference (RSTD), channel impulse response (CIR), power delay profile (PDP) and other measurement data.

[0297] (2) At least one positioning method.

[0298] (3) Positioning auxiliary data corresponding to the positioning method.

[0299] (4) Positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information of the positioning reference functional entity.

[0300] (5) Relative position and / or relative speed information between the terminal and the positioning reference functional entity.

[0301] (6) Positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information of the mobile access network functional entity accessed by the terminal.

[0302] (7) Relative position and / or relative speed information between the terminal and the mobile access network functional entity.

[0303] (8) Historical positioning information and / or movement trend information of the terminal.

[0304] (9) Application layer positioning information of the terminal.

[0305] (10) Positioning capability of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity.

[0306] The positioning capability includes the terminal's support for control plane positioning or user plane positioning, the supported positioning frequency range, the ability to support positioning reference signals and / or SRS, or the ability to support specific positioning methods (such as the processing capability of positioning reference signals and / or sounding reference signals of positioning methods such as OTDOA and Multi-RTT).

[0307] (11) At least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity.

[0308] (12) Performance or status information of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity.

[0309] In some embodiments, obtaining analysis information related to terminal positioning includes:

[0310] Obtain model information related to terminal positioning;

[0311] Based on the model information, analysis information related to the terminal positioning is determined.

[0312] Specifically, the first functional entity may perform positioning analysis through an AI / ML model to determine analysis information related to terminal positioning. In this case, the first functional entity may first obtain model information related to terminal positioning.

[0313] In some embodiments, the first message for requesting a model carries one or more of the following information:

[0314] Terminal identification or address information;

[0315] at least one positioning method;

[0316] At least one of the required positioning response time, positioning accuracy, and positioning category;

[0317] Application or business information;

[0318] Information on at least one of the network slice, the data network, and the first network;

[0319] Area and / or time information corresponding to the terminal positioning;

[0320] Positioning capability of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0321] At least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0322] performance or status information of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0323] Application layer positioning information of the terminal;

[0324] Locating information of reference functional entities;

[0325] Information about the mobile access network functional entity accessed by the terminal.

[0326] In some embodiments, the data for training the terminal positioning-related model includes one or more of the following:

[0327] Measurement information related to terminal positioning provided by the terminal or the first access network functional entity;

[0328] at least one positioning method;

[0329] Positioning assistance data corresponding to the positioning method;

[0330] Positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information of the positioning reference functional entity;

[0331] Relative position and / or relative speed information between the terminal and the positioning reference function entity;

[0332] Positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information of the mobile access network functional entity accessed by the terminal;

[0333] Relative position and / or relative speed information between the terminal and the mobile access network functional entity;

[0334] Historical location information and / or movement trend information of the terminal;

[0335] Application layer positioning information of the terminal;

[0336] Positioning capability of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0337] At least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0338] Performance or status information of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity.

[0339] In some embodiments, determining a second functional entity that provides a positioning service for a terminal includes:

[0340] Based on the analysis information, determining a second functional entity that supports a first positioning service quality; the first positioning service quality includes at least one of a first positioning response time, a first positioning accuracy, and a first positioning category; and / or,

[0341] Based on the analysis information, a second functional entity supporting user plane positioning or control plane positioning is determined.

[0342] For example, the first functional entity is AMF. After AMF obtains analysis information related to terminal positioning, it determines the LMF that provides positioning services for the terminal based on the analysis information. It can select the LMF that supports the first positioning service quality. The first positioning service quality includes at least one of the first positioning response time, the first positioning accuracy, and the first positioning category.

[0343] The first positioning response duration, the first positioning accuracy or the first positioning category may be the positioning response duration, positioning accuracy or positioning category requested by the terminal; or the positioning response duration, positioning accuracy or positioning category indicated by other terminals or other network functional entities; or the positioning response duration, positioning accuracy or positioning category determined by the first functional entity, and so on.

[0344] For another example, after the AMF obtains the analysis information related to the terminal positioning, when determining the LMF to provide positioning services for the terminal based on the analysis information, it can select the LMF that supports control plane positioning, such as when the terminal or access network node requests control plane positioning; or, it can select the LMF that supports user plane positioning, such as when the terminal or access network node requests user plane positioning, or when there is no optional LMF that supports control plane positioning, or when the LMF that supports the user plane positioning function cannot meet the required LCS QoS.

[0345] For another example, after the AMF obtains analysis information related to terminal positioning, when determining the LMF to provide positioning services for the terminal based on the analysis information, it can select the LMF that supports the first positioning service quality and supports control plane positioning, or select the LMF that supports the first positioning service quality and supports user plane positioning.

[0346] In some embodiments, determining a positioning method used by the third functional entity to position the terminal includes:

[0347] Determining, based on the analysis information, a first positioning method that supports a second positioning service quality;

[0348] The first positioning method and / or the positioning assistance information corresponding to the first positioning method is sent to the third functional entity.

[0349] For example, the first functional entity is LMF. After LMF obtains analysis information related to terminal positioning, it determines the positioning method used by the terminal side or the access network side for positioning the terminal based on the analysis information. It can select the first positioning method that supports the second positioning service quality, and send the first positioning method and / or the positioning assistance information corresponding to the first positioning method to the terminal or access network node.

[0350] The second positioning service quality may be the positioning service quality requested by the third functional entity; or the positioning service quality indicated by other terminals or other network functional entities; or the positioning service quality determined by the first functional entity, and so on.

[0351] In some embodiments, obtaining analysis information or models related to terminal positioning includes:

[0352] receiving a third message related to terminal positioning sent by the terminal or the sixth functional entity;

[0353] Based on the third message, obtaining analysis information or model related to terminal positioning;

[0354] The third message is for one of the following:

[0355] Requesting terminal positioning;

[0356] Requesting to establish a user plane connection to transmit a fourth message related to terminal positioning;

[0357] Requesting a positioning method and / or assistance data for locating the terminal;

[0358] Request to update the terminal's location information.

[0359] Specifically, the sixth functional entity may be a network functional entity (Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC), Application Function (AF), etc.) or other terminals except the terminal.

[0360] For example, the first functional entity is AMF, and the terminal or the sixth functional entity sends a third message to AMF, where the third message is used to request positioning of the terminal. After receiving the third message, AMF obtains analysis information related to terminal positioning, such as sending a first message to the fourth functional entity to obtain the analysis information.

[0361] For another example, the first functional entity is LMF, and the terminal or the sixth functional entity sends a third message to LMF. The third message is used to request positioning of the terminal. After receiving the third message, LMF obtains analysis information related to the terminal positioning, such as sending the first message to the fourth functional entity (or sending the second message to the fifth functional entity) to obtain the analysis information.

[0362] For another example, the first functional entity is AMF, and the terminal or the sixth functional entity sends a third message to the AMF. The third message is used to request the establishment of a user plane connection to transmit a fourth message related to the terminal positioning (for example, a positioning-related message is transmitted between the user plane connection and the LMF. The message may include a positioning request, a positioning assistance information request, positioning information, positioning assistance data, etc.). After receiving the third message, the AMF obtains analysis information related to the terminal positioning, such as sending a first message to the fourth functional entity to obtain the analysis information.

[0363] For another example, the first functional entity is LMF, and the terminal or the sixth functional entity sends a third message to the LMF. The third message is used to request a positioning method and / or auxiliary data for locating the terminal. After receiving the third message, the LMF obtains analysis information related to the terminal positioning, such as sending a first message to the fourth functional entity to obtain the analysis information.

[0364] For another example, the terminal or the sixth functional entity may also send a third message to the first functional entity to request an update of the terminal's positioning information, such as when the terminal's position changes, the positioning capability of the LMF (or terminal, access network node) changes, the LCS QoS requirement changes, the current positioning method cannot meet the LCS QoS requirement, and so on.

[0365] In some embodiments, the third message carries the first positioning service quality, and / or the third message carries at least one positioning method including the first positioning method, so that the first functional entity can determine the second functional entity providing service to the terminal in combination with the first positioning service quality carried in the third message, or determine the positioning method used by the third functional entity for locating the terminal in combination with at least one positioning method including the first positioning method carried in the third message.

[0366] FIG2 is a second flow chart of a terminal positioning method provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method is applied to the seventh functional entity. As shown in FIG2 , the method includes the following steps:

[0367] Step 200: Receive a fifth message sent by the first functional entity, where the fifth message is used to request analysis information or a model related to terminal positioning, and / or the fifth message is used to provide data related to terminal positioning or data for training a model related to terminal positioning.

[0368] Step 201: Send terminal positioning-related analysis information or model information to the first functional entity based on the fifth message;

[0369] The terminal positioning-related analysis information or models are used to derive one or more of the following information:

[0370] Information about a second functional entity that provides positioning services for the terminal;

[0371] A positioning method for locating a terminal;

[0372] The terminal's location information.

[0373] Specifically, the seventh functional entity may be an NWDAF, and the first functional entity may be a core network functional entity, an access network (AN) functional entity, or a terminal. The core network functional entity may be, for example, an AMF or LMF. The access network functional entity may be, for example, a radio access network (RAN) node.

[0374] In order to obtain analysis information or models related to terminal positioning, the first functional entity sends a fifth message to the seventh functional entity, where the fifth message is used to request analysis information or models related to terminal positioning, and / or provide the seventh functional entity with data related to terminal positioning or data for training models related to terminal positioning.

[0375] In some embodiments, after the seventh functional entity sends analysis information related to terminal positioning to the first functional entity based on the fifth message, the first functional entity can perform operations related to terminal positioning based on the analysis information, such as: determining the second functional entity that provides positioning services for the terminal, determining the positioning method used by the third functional entity to locate the terminal, determining the terminal's positioning information, and so on.

[0376] In some embodiments, after the seventh functional entity sends model information related to terminal positioning to the first functional entity based on the fifth message, the first functional entity can determine analysis information related to terminal positioning based on the model information, and then perform operations related to terminal positioning based on the analysis information, such as: determining the second functional entity that provides positioning services for the terminal, determining the positioning method used by the third functional entity to locate the terminal, determining the positioning information of the terminal, and so on.

[0377] In some embodiments, the terminal positioning-related analysis information includes one or more of the following: the terminal's location; the terminal's speed; the positioning method; the positioning response time; the positioning accuracy; the positioning category; and information about the second functional entity.

[0378] For example, the analysis information related to terminal positioning may include LMF information, and the LMF information may include: LMF identification or address, LMF service area, LMF capabilities (for example, support for user plane positioning and / or control plane positioning), LCS QoS categories supported by LMF (such as Best Effort Class, Multiple QoS Class or Assured Class), positioning accuracy (horizontal accuracy and / or vertical accuracy), positioning response time, positioning method, positioning category (for example, indoor positioning, outdoor positioning), LMF status or performance information (for example, energy consumption / energy efficiency, resource usage or load information), etc.

[0379] For example, the analysis information related to terminal positioning may include at least one positioning method, as well as the positioning accuracy, positioning response time, positioning category, terminal location (such as the cell identifier (Cell ID) where the terminal is located, TAI, geographic coordinate point or geographic coordinate range, etc.), LCS QoS information, etc. corresponding to the positioning method.

[0380] For example, the analysis information related to terminal positioning may include: one or more location information of the terminal; corresponding to each location information, the positioning method used, positioning response time, positioning accuracy, positioning category, etc.; corresponding to each location information, the speed of the terminal.

[0381] In some embodiments, the fifth message for requesting analysis information or a model carries one or more of the following information:

[0382] (1) Terminal identification or address information.

[0383] In some embodiments, the address information may include cell information (eg, cell identifier) ​​or tracking area information (eg, tracking area identifier) ​​where the terminal is located.

[0384] (2) At least one positioning method.

[0385] (3) At least one of the required positioning response time, positioning accuracy, and positioning category.

[0386] (4) Application or business information.

[0387] The application or service information is used to identify the application or service requesting the terminal's location information.

[0388] (5) Information on at least one of the network slice, the data network, and the first network.

[0389] The information of the network slice, data network or first network is used to identify the network slice, data network or first network that requests the positioning information of the terminal, or to identify the network slice, data network or first network where the second functional entity (such as LMF) is located.

[0390] The first network refers to a network other than a data network, such as a visited network, a non-public network, etc.

[0391] (6) Area and / or time information corresponding to the terminal positioning.

[0392] For example, the time period for analysis request, the area for analysis, etc.

[0393] (7) Positioning capability of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity.

[0394] The positioning capability includes the terminal's support for control plane positioning or user plane positioning, the supported positioning frequency range, the ability to support positioning reference signals and / or SRS, or the ability to support specific positioning methods (such as the processing capability of positioning reference signals and / or sounding reference signals of positioning methods such as OTDOA and Multi-RTT).

[0395] (8) At least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity.

[0396] For example, at least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by LMF.

[0397] For example, at least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by the access network function entity.

[0398] For example, at least one of the positioning methods, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning categories supported by the terminal.

[0399] (9) Performance or status information of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity.

[0400] For example, the performance or status information of the LMF, the performance or status information of the access network functional entity, the performance or status information of the terminal, etc. The performance or status information may include information such as energy consumption / energy efficiency, resource usage, load status, and capability status.

[0401] (10) Application layer location information of the terminal.

[0402] For example, the terminal's positioning information obtained by a specific application and the terminal's Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning information.

[0403] (11) Information on the location reference functional entity.

[0404] The positioning reference functional entity may be a terminal or an access network node whose positioning information is known.

[0405] In some embodiments, the information of the positioning reference function entity may include: the identification, address, and positioning information of the positioning reference function entity; information such as the relative position and / or speed between the terminal and the positioning reference function entity; indication information on whether to use the positioning reference function for terminal positioning, etc.

[0406] (12) Information about the mobile access network functional entity accessed by the terminal.

[0407] For example, the mobile access network functional entity is MBSR or other mobile access network functional entities.

[0408] In some embodiments, the information of the mobile access network functional entity may include: the identification, address, and positioning information of the mobile access network functional entity; information such as the relative position and / or speed between the terminal and the mobile access network functional entity; an indication of whether to use the mobile access network functional entity for terminal positioning, etc.

[0409] In some embodiments, the terminal positioning-related data and / or the training model data include one or more of the following:

[0410] (1) Measurement information related to terminal positioning provided by the terminal or the first access network functional entity.

[0411] The measurement information includes, for example, measurement data such as RSRP, RSRPP, RSTD, CIR, and PDP.

[0412] (2) At least one positioning method.

[0413] (3) Positioning auxiliary data corresponding to the positioning method.

[0414] (4) Positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information of the positioning reference functional entity.

[0415] (5) Relative position and / or relative speed information between the terminal and the positioning reference functional entity.

[0416] (6) Positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information of the mobile access network functional entity accessed by the terminal.

[0417] (7) Relative position and / or relative speed information between the terminal and the mobile access network functional entity.

[0418] (8) Historical positioning information and / or movement trend information of the terminal.

[0419] (9) Application layer positioning information of the terminal.

[0420] (10) Positioning capability of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity.

[0421] The positioning capability includes the terminal's support for control plane positioning or user plane positioning, the supported positioning frequency range, the ability to support positioning reference signals and / or SRS, or the ability to support specific positioning methods (such as the processing capability of positioning reference signals and / or sounding reference signals of positioning methods such as OTDOA and Multi-RTT).

[0422] (11) At least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity.

[0423] (12) Performance or status information of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity.

[0424] In the terminal positioning method provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure, the seventh functional entity sends analysis information or model information related to terminal positioning to the first functional entity based on the fifth message sent by the first functional entity, so that the first functional entity can obtain analysis information related to terminal positioning and perform terminal positioning related operations based on the analysis information, thereby utilizing the network data analysis function to improve the performance of terminal positioning on the core network side, the access network side, and the terminal side, and meet the service quality requirements of positioning services in different scenarios.

[0425] The methods provided in the various embodiments of the present disclosure are based on the same application concept, so the implementation of each method can refer to each other, and the repeated parts will not be repeated.

[0426] The following describes the methods provided in the above embodiments of the present disclosure through examples of specific application scenarios.

[0427] Example 1:

[0428] The UE initiates a positioning-related request message (including a control plane positioning request; or a user plane connection establishment request, where the user plane connection is used to send a positioning request message). Based on the UE's request message, the AMF sends a positioning service quality analysis request to the NWDAF, and selects the LMF that supports the LCS QoS requested by the UE or the LCS QoS determined by the network side based on the analysis information provided by the NWDAF, thereby completing the positioning process requested by the UE. For user plane connection establishment requests or unsuccessful control plane positioning requests, the AMF provides the information of the selected LMF to the UE. When the UE location or LMF positioning capability changes, the AMF determines the new LMF information based on the new positioning service quality analysis information and provides it to the UE.

[0429] FIG3 is a signaling interaction diagram of Example 1 provided by the examples of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG3 , the main interaction process of Example 1 includes:

[0430] 1. The UE sends a positioning-related request message to the AMF. Specifically:

[0431] 1) The request message is a control plane positioning request, which is used to request the UE's own positioning information (including UE location and speed) or to request that the UE positioning information be sent to the LCS client or application function entity. The message carries the requested LCS QoS information and other information (such as whether to request the current or most recently known UE location, the specified positioning response duration, the application or service information using the positioning information (such as application identification), network slice, data network and / or other network (such as visited network, non-public network) information). LCS QoS information contains three parameters: LCS QoS category (Best Effort Class (Best Effort Class, indicating the lowest LCS QoS requirement), Multiple QoS Class (indicating multiple LCS QoS requirements) or Assured Class (indicating a determined LCS QoS requirement)), positioning accuracy (horizontal accuracy, and / or, vertical accuracy) and response time. Or,

[0432] 2) This request message is used to request the establishment of a user plane connection, which is used to send the positioning request. The message may carry the requested LCS QoS information and other information (e.g., whether the current or most recently known UE location is requested, and the specified positioning response duration).

[0433] 2. After receiving the request message from the UE, the AMF sends an analysis request to the NWDAF, requesting analysis information related to the positioning service quality. The analysis request carries an indication of requesting LCS QoS related analysis information, and may include UE identification, UE positioning capability information, known UE location information (for example, information about the cell where the UE is located (for example, cell identifier Cell ID) or tracking area information (for example, tracking area identifier TAI)), time period information for requesting analysis, and analysis filtering conditions (for example, the area targeted by the analysis). The analysis request may also carry an LMF capability indication (for example, support for user plane positioning and / or control plane positioning), LCS QoS information in the request message, and / or other information (for example, requesting the current or most recently known UE location, the specified positioning response duration, application or service information using positioning information, network slice and / or data network information), which may be used as analysis filtering conditions. In addition, the analysis request may also carry an indication of requesting recommendation information (for example, recommending LMF and / or LCS QoS).

[0434] 3. Based on the positioning service quality analysis request, NWDAF collects / requests data related to positioning service quality analysis from the Network Repository Function (NRF), Policy Control Function (PCF), Network Exposure Function (NEF), GMLC, LMF (directly or through GMLC), AF, AMF and / or Operation Administration and Maintenance (OAM), etc., including LMF information that meets the analysis filter conditions (such as LMF identification or address, LMF service area, LMF capabilities (such as support for user plane positioning and / or control plane positioning)), LCS QoS category supported by LMF, positioning accuracy (horizontal accuracy and / or vertical accuracy), positioning response time, positioning method, positioning category (indoor positioning, outdoor positioning), LMF status or performance information (such as energy consumption / energy efficiency, resource usage or load information), UE historical location (Cell) Data such as ID, TAI and / or geographic coordinate points or geographic coordinate ranges) and / or speed, movement trends, etc. are used as input data for AI / ML model training and inference for location service quality analysis.

[0435] NWDAF uses the trained AI / ML models based on these data, and further uses the trained models and input data to derive analysis results on the positioning service quality, such as positioning service quality statistics and / or prediction information, including LMF information that meets the analysis filter conditions and the LCS QoS supported by the LMF (including LCS QoS category, positioning accuracy, positioning response time), positioning methods that meet the LCS QoS, positioning category (indoor positioning, outdoor positioning), UE location (Cell ID, TAI and / or geographic coordinate point or geographic coordinate range) and / or speed, movement trend, etc.

[0436] NWDAF can also determine the recommended LMF and / or LCS QoS information based on the analysis results of the positioning service quality, for example: 1) If the analysis request carries LCS QoS information, NWDAF provides recommended LMF information that supports the LCS QoS; or, NWDAF provides LMF information that supports higher LCS QoS (for example, positioning accuracy and / or response time are the first N bits, N = 1, 2, 3..., which can be determined according to NWDAF configuration). The recommended information can include LMF information and the LCS QoS information it supports, and can also include the positioning method that supports the LCS QoS. Or, 2) NWDAF recommends the supportable LCS QoS (including positioning accuracy and / or response time) based on the status / performance of the available LMF (for example, load and capability). The recommended information can include LCS QoS information and the LMF information that supports the LCS QoS, and can also include the positioning method that supports the LCS QoS.

[0437] 4. NWDAF provides AMF with positioning service quality analysis information, including: positioning service quality statistics and / or prediction information, and / or recommended LMF and / or LCS QoS information.

[0438] 5.AMF selects LMF based on the positioning service quality analysis information provided by NWDAF. Specifically, AMF selects LMF based on positioning service quality statistics and / or prediction information, and / or, LMF and / or LCS QoS information recommended by NWDAF, including: selecting LMF that supports LCS QoS requested by UE, or selecting LMF recommended by NWDAF, or selecting LMF that supports specific LCS QoS according to AMF local policy. When the LCS QoS category is Best Effort Class or Multiple QoS Class, AMF can select LMF that supports the highest LCS QoS (e.g., the highest positioning accuracy and / or the shortest response time) or supports the recommended LCS QoS.

[0439] If the request message sent by the UE in step 1 is a control plane positioning request, then: if there is no LMF that supports the control plane positioning function (i.e., sending / receiving / responding to positioning requests through the control plane), or the LMF that supports the control plane positioning function cannot meet the LCS QoS requested by the UE, and the UE supports the user plane positioning function, the AMF may select an LMF that supports the user plane positioning function (i.e., sending / receiving / responding to positioning requests through the user plane) and supports the LCS QoS requested by the UE (or the LCS QoS recommended by the NWDAF, or the LCS QoS determined according to the AMF local policy).

[0440] 6.AMF sends a response message to the UE. Specifically:

[0441] 1) If the AMF receives a control plane location request from the UE in step 1, and the AMF selects an LMF that supports the user plane location function in step 4, the response message carries the rejection reason and the user plane location indication and information of the selected LMF (e.g., LMF address, security information for establishing the user plane).

[0442] 2) If the message received by the AMF from the UE in step 1 is a user plane connection establishment request message for sending a positioning request, the AMF sends a user plane connection establishment response message to the UE. The AMF carries the information of the selected LMF (such as the LMF address) in the response message to establish a user plane connection between the UE and the LMF. The response message may also carry the LCS QoS information and / or positioning method supported by the LMF. If there is no LMF that supports the user plane positioning function, or the LMF that supports the user plane positioning function cannot meet the LCS QoS requested by the UE, the response message carries a user plane connection rejection indication (such as the rejection reason).

[0443] 7. The UE establishes a user plane connection with the LMF based on the LMF information (e.g., LMF address) carried in the response message, and uses the user plane connection to send a positioning request message. If the response message carries LCS QoS information and / or positioning method, the positioning request message carries the LCS QoS information and / or positioning method to instruct the LMF to use the positioning method to provide UE location information to meet the LCS QoS requirements, or to instruct the LMF to provide the UE with positioning assistance data corresponding to the positioning method to assist UE-side positioning. The LMF performs core network (LMF) side positioning based on the LCS QoS information and / or positioning method in the positioning request message, or provides the UE with positioning assistance data corresponding to the positioning method.

[0444] Alternatively, if the user plane connection establishment response message received by the UE carries a rejection indication, and the UE determines to initiate a control plane positioning request, the UE executes step 1) of step 1. The AMF selects an LMF that supports the control plane positioning function and supports the LCS QoS requested by the UE (or the LCS QoS recommended by the NWDAF, or the LCS QoS determined according to the AMF local policy) based on the positioning service quality analysis information provided by the NWDAF, and forwards the UE's positioning request to the LMF. The LMF performs core network (LMF) side positioning based on the LCS QoS information and / or positioning method in the positioning request message, or provides positioning assistance data to the UE. This completes the control plane positioning request process initiated by the UE.

[0445] Among them, the LMF performs core network (LMF) side positioning based on the positioning method in the positioning request message, including: LMF requests the UE and / or AN for positioning information corresponding to the positioning method, and determines the UE's position based on the positioning information corresponding to the positioning method provided by the UE and / or AN (for example, uplink measurement information related to positioning provided by the AN, and / or downlink measurement information related to positioning provided by the UE through the AN).

[0446] 8. [Optional] The AMF determines that new positioning service quality analysis information needs to be requested. For example, the AMF determines that new positioning service quality analysis information needs to be requested based on a message indicating a change in the UE location (for example, the UE moves to a new Cell or TA) or a change in the LMF (for example, the LMF no longer supports a specific LCS QoS).

[0447] 9. [Optional] AMF requests analysis information related to positioning service quality from NWDAF, same as step 2.

[0448] 10.Same as step 3.

[0449] 11. NWDAF provides updated positioning service quality analysis information to AMF, same as step 4.

[0450] 12.AMF selects a new LMF based on the positioning service quality analysis information, same as step 5.

[0451] 13.AMF provides the UE with the new LMF information, same as step 6.

[0452] 14. The UE establishes a user plane connection with the new LMF and transmits a positioning request and positioning-related information. Alternatively, the UE initiates a control plane positioning request. Same as step 7.

[0453] Example 2:

[0454] The UE (or AN) requests positioning assistance data from the LMF. Based on the request message from the UE (or AN), the LMF obtains the positioning service quality analysis information from the NWDAF, and determines the positioning method and corresponding positioning assistance data that meet the LCS QoS requested by the UE (or AN) or the LCS QoS determined by the network side based on the analysis information provided by the NWDAF. The LMF provides the determined positioning method and corresponding positioning assistance data to the UE (or AN) for the UE (or AN) to complete the UE (or AN) side positioning. When the UE position or positioning capability changes, the LMF determines the new positioning method and positioning assistance data based on the new positioning service quality analysis information and provides them to the UE.

[0455] FIG4 is a signaling interaction diagram of Example 2 provided by the examples of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG4 , the main interaction process of Example 2 includes:

[0456] 1. The UE (or access network functional entity, such as a radio access network node) sends a positioning request message to the LMF to request positioning assistance data. The request message carries multiple types of auxiliary data and corresponding positioning methods, expected LCS QoS information, information about applications or services that use positioning information (such as application identifiers), network slices and / or data network information, a list of positioning methods supported by the UE (or AN), and / or an indication of negotiating a positioning method with the network. The request message may also carry other positioning requirement / condition information, such as minimum positioning energy consumption or resource usage; or carry UE (or AN) status or performance information, such as energy consumption / energy efficiency, resource usage or load information.

[0457] 2. After receiving the positioning request message from the UE, the LMF sends an analysis request to the NWDAF to request analysis information related to the positioning service quality. The analysis request carries an indication of requesting LCS QoS related analysis information, and may include the UE identifier and / or AN identifier, known UE location information (for example: the cell information where the UE is located (for example, the cell identifier Cell ID) or tracking area information (for example, the tracking area identifier TAI)), the Cell ID or TAI corresponding to the AN, the time period information for the requested analysis, and analysis filtering conditions (for example, the area targeted for analysis). The analysis request may also carry LCS QoS information in the positioning request message (for example, positioning accuracy and / or positioning response time), application or service information, network slice and / or data network information, positioning method, other positioning requirements / conditions information and / or UE (or AN) status or performance information, which may be used as analysis filtering conditions or conditions for NWDAF to determine recommended information. In addition, the analysis request may also carry an indication of requesting recommended information (for example, a recommended positioning method).

[0458] 3. Based on the positioning service quality analysis request, NWDAF collects / requests data related to positioning service quality analysis from GMLC, LMF (directly or through GMLC), AF, AMF and / or OAM, including historical data such as positioning methods that meet the analysis filter conditions and corresponding positioning accuracy, positioning response time, positioning category (indoor positioning, outdoor positioning), UE location (Cell ID, TAI and / or geographic coordinate point or geographic coordinate range), etc., as input data for AI / ML model training and inference of positioning service quality analysis.

[0459] NWDAF uses the trained AI / ML models based on these data, and further utilizes the trained models and input data to derive analysis results on the quality of positioning services, such as positioning service quality statistics and / or prediction information, including positioning methods that meet the analysis filter conditions and the corresponding positioning accuracy, positioning response time, positioning category (indoor positioning, outdoor positioning), UE location (Cell ID, TAI and / or geographic coordinate point or geographic coordinate range), etc.

[0460] NWDAF can also determine the recommended positioning method based on the analysis results of the positioning service quality, for example: 1) If the analysis request carries LCS QoS information (such as positioning accuracy and / or positioning response time), NWDAF provides a recommended positioning method that supports the LCS QoS; or, NWDAF provides a positioning method that supports higher LCS QoS (such as positioning accuracy and / or response time for the first N bits, N = 1, 2, 3..., which can be determined based on NWDAF configuration). The recommended information can include the positioning method and its supported LCS QoS information (such as positioning accuracy and / or positioning response time). Or, 2) NWDAF recommends the LCS QoS (including positioning accuracy and / or response time) supported by the UE (AN) based on information about the application or service using the positioning information, network slice and / or data network information, UE or AN status / performance (such as energy consumption or load conditions), or other positioning requirements / conditions. The recommended information can include LCS QoS information (such as positioning accuracy and / or positioning response time) and a positioning method that supports the LCS QoS.

[0461] 4. NWDAF provides LMF with positioning service quality analysis information, including: positioning service quality statistics and / or prediction information (see step 3), and / or, recommended positioning methods and / or LCS QoS information (see step 3).

[0462] 5. The LMF determines / selects the UE (or AN) side positioning method based on the positioning service quality analysis information provided by the NWDAF. Specifically, the LMF determines the UE (or AN) side positioning method based on the positioning service quality statistics and / or prediction information, and / or the positioning method and / or LCS QoS information recommended by the NWDAF. Including: for example, selecting the positioning method that the UE (or AN) supports and can provide the highest LCS QoS (such as the highest positioning accuracy and / or the shortest response time), selecting the positioning method recommended by the NWDAF, or selecting a positioning method that supports a specific LCS QoS based on the information of the application or service that uses the positioning information, the status / performance of the UE or AN (such as energy consumption or load conditions) or other positioning requirements / conditions. Based on the determined / selected UE (or AN) side positioning method, the LMF further determines the positioning assistance data corresponding to the positioning method that needs to be provided to the UE (or AN).

[0463] 6. The LMF sends the positioning method and corresponding positioning assistance data determined in step 5 to the UE (or AN) (directly or through the AMF). The positioning method and / or positioning assistance data can be sent to the UE (or AN) via a broadcast message.

[0464] 7. The UE (or AN) performs UE (or AN) side positioning according to the positioning method and corresponding positioning assistance data carried in the response message.

[0465] 8. [Optional] LMF determines that new positioning service quality analysis information needs to be requested. For example, LMF determines that new positioning service quality analysis information needs to be requested based on a message indicating a change in UE location (for example, the UE moves to a new Cell or TA) or a change in UE (or AN) positioning capability (for example, a specific positioning method is no longer supported).

[0466] 9. [Optional] LMF requests analysis information related to positioning service quality from NWDAF, the same as step 2.

[0467] 10.Same as step 3.

[0468] 11. NWDAF provides updated positioning service quality analysis information to LMF, same as step 4.

[0469] 12. The LMF determines / selects a new positioning method and positioning assistance data for the UE (or AN) based on the positioning service quality analysis information and provides the new positioning method and positioning assistance data to the UE (or AN). The UE (or AN) performs UE (or AN)-side positioning based on the positioning method and corresponding positioning assistance data carried in the response message. Same as steps 5-7.

[0470] If the LMF itself supports the data analysis function, or the LMF and NWDAF are co-located, steps 2, 4, 9, and 11 are not performed, and the NWDAF in steps 3 and 10 is replaced by LMF or LMF / NWDAF.

[0471] Example 3:

[0472] The UE (or AN) obtains positioning service quality analysis information from the NWDAF to determine the positioning method and request corresponding positioning assistance data; and when the UE position or positioning capability changes, it requests new positioning service quality analysis information from the NWDAF to determine the change in positioning method and request corresponding positioning assistance data.

[0473] FIG5 is a signaling interaction diagram of Example 3 provided by the examples of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG5 , the main interaction process of Example 3 includes:

[0474] 1. The UE (or AN) sends an analysis request to the NWDAF directly or through other network functional entities (such as AF, AMF, LMF) to request analysis information related to the positioning service quality. The analysis request carries an indication of requesting LCS QoS related analysis information, and may include UE identification and / or AN identification, known UE location information (for example: information about the cell where the UE is located (such as cell identification Cell ID) or tracking area information (such as tracking area identification TAI)), Cell ID or TAI corresponding to the AN, time period information for requesting analysis, and analysis filtering conditions (such as the area targeted by the analysis). The analysis request may also carry LCS QoS information (such as positioning accuracy and / or positioning response time), information about applications or services that use positioning information, network slices and / or data network information, positioning methods, other positioning requirements / conditions information (such as minimum positioning energy consumption or resource usage) and / or UE (or AN) status or performance information (such as energy consumption / energy efficiency, resource usage or load status). This information can be used as analysis filtering conditions or conditions for the NWDAF to determine recommended information. In addition, the analysis request may also carry an instruction requesting recommended information (eg, a recommended positioning method).

[0475] 2. Based on the positioning service quality analysis request, NWDAF collects / requests data related to positioning service quality analysis from GMLC, LMF (directly or through GMLC), AF, AMF and / or OAM, including historical data such as positioning methods that meet the analysis filtering conditions and corresponding positioning accuracy, positioning response time, positioning category (indoor positioning, outdoor positioning), UE location (Cell ID, TAI and / or geographic coordinate point or geographic coordinate range), etc., as input data for AI / ML model training and inference of positioning service quality analysis.

[0476] NWDAF uses the trained AI / ML models based on these data, and further utilizes the trained models and input data to derive analysis results on the quality of positioning services, such as positioning service quality statistics and / or prediction information, including positioning methods that meet the analysis filter conditions and the corresponding positioning accuracy, positioning response time, positioning category (indoor positioning, outdoor positioning), UE location (Cell ID, TAI and / or geographic coordinate point or geographic coordinate range), etc.

[0477] NWDAF can also determine the recommended positioning method based on the analysis results of the positioning service quality, for example: 1) If the analysis request carries LCS QoS information (such as positioning accuracy and / or positioning response time), NWDAF provides a recommended positioning method that supports the LCS QoS; or, NWDAF provides a positioning method that supports higher LCS QoS (such as positioning accuracy and / or response time for the first N bits, N = 1, 2, 3..., which can be determined based on NWDAF configuration). The recommended information can include the positioning method and its supported LCS QoS information (such as positioning accuracy and / or positioning response time). Or, 2) NWDAF recommends the LCS QoS (including positioning accuracy and / or response time) supported by the UE (AN) based on information about the application or service using the positioning information, network slice and / or data network information, UE or AN status / performance (such as energy consumption or load conditions), or other positioning requirements / conditions. The recommended information can include LCS QoS information (such as positioning accuracy and / or positioning response time) and a positioning method that supports the LCS QoS.

[0478] 3. NWDAF provides positioning service quality analysis information to UE (AN) directly or through other network function entities (such as AF, AMF, LMF), including: positioning service quality statistics and / or prediction information, and / or recommended positioning methods and / or LCS QoS information.

[0479] 4. The UE (AN) selects / determines the UE (or AN) side positioning method based on the positioning service quality analysis information provided by the NWDAF. Specifically, the UE (AN) determines the UE (or AN) side positioning method based on the positioning service quality statistics and / or prediction information, and / or the positioning method and / or LCS QoS information recommended by the NWDAF. Including: for example, selecting a positioning method that the UE (or AN) supports and can provide the highest LCS QoS (such as the highest positioning accuracy and / or the shortest response time), selecting a positioning method recommended by the NWDAF, or selecting a positioning method that supports a specific LCS QoS based on the information of the application or service that uses the positioning information, the status / performance of the UE or AN (such as energy consumption or load conditions), or other positioning requirements / conditions.

[0480] 5. The UE (or AN) sends a Positioning Request message to the LMF. This message carries the positioning method selected / determined in step 5 and the corresponding assistance data type, requesting positioning assistance data from the LMF. The LMF sends the positioning assistance data to the UE (or AN). The positioning assistance data can be sent to the UE (or AN) via a broadcast message.

[0481] 6. The UE (or AN) uses the positioning assistance data to execute the positioning method selected / determined in step 5 to complete the positioning on the UE (or AN) side.

[0482] 7. [Optional] The UE (or AN) determines that new positioning service quality analysis information needs to be requested, for example, the UE (or AN) determines that new positioning service quality analysis information needs to be requested based on a change in the UE location (for example, the UE moves to a new Cell or TA), a change in the UE (or AN) positioning capability (for example, a specific positioning method is no longer supported), a change in the LCS QoS requirement (for example, the application / service requires a new LCS QoS accuracy and / or positioning response time), or when the current positioning method no longer meets the LCS QoS requirement.

[0483] 8. [Optional] The UE (or AN) requests analysis information related to positioning service quality from the NWDAF, as in step 1.

[0484] 9.Same as step 2.

[0485] 10. NWDAF provides updated positioning service quality analysis information to UE (or AN), same as step 3.

[0486] 11. Based on the positioning service quality analysis information, the UE (or AN) determines / selects a new positioning method and the corresponding assistance data type on the UE (or AN) side. It requests new positioning assistance data from the LMF and uses the new positioning assistance data provided by the LMF to execute the determined / selected positioning method and complete positioning on the UE (or AN) side. Same as steps 4-6.

[0487] Among them, if LMF itself supports data analysis functions, or LMF and NWDAF are co-located, NWDAF in the process is replaced by LMF or LMF / NWDAF.

[0488] Example 4:

[0489] LMF requests the AI / ML model information of UE positioning from NWDAF. Further, LMF performs UE positioning analysis based on the AI / ML model of UE positioning to determine the UE positioning information.

[0490] FIG6 is a signaling interaction diagram of Example 4 provided by the examples of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG6 , the main interaction process of Example 4 includes:

[0491] 0a. The application function entity (AF) or LCS client (LCS client, which can be other UE) sends a terminal positioning request message to the GMLC, requesting the UE's positioning information (including the UE's horizontal or vertical position, and may also include the UE's horizontal or vertical speed). The message carries the identifier or address of the positioning target UE, LCS QoS information and other information (such as whether to request the current or most recently known UE position, the specified positioning response time, the application or service information requesting positioning information (such as application identification), network slice, data network and / or other network (such as visited network, non-public network) information). Based on this, the GMLC sends a terminal positioning request message to the AMF, requesting the provision of the UE's positioning information.

[0492] 0b. The UE sends a Terminal Location Request message to the AMF, requesting the UE's location information. Same as step 1 in Example 1.

[0493] 0c. The AMF discovers and selects the LMF based on the terminal location request message received in step 0a or 0b. See steps 2-5 of Example 1.

[0494] 0d.AMF sends a terminal location request message to LMF, requesting the UE's location information.

[0495] 1. Based on the received terminal positioning request message, the LMF sends a UE positioning model request or subscription message to the NWDAF to request the AI / ML model used for UE positioning. The UE positioning model request or subscription message may carry the following information:

[0496] The identifier or address of the target UE;

[0497] LCS QoS information, including required positioning response time, positioning accuracy and / or positioning category;

[0498] Application or service information requesting UE positioning information;

[0499] Information of the network slice, data network and / or first network for requesting UE positioning information;

[0500] The area and / or time information of the target UE positioning;

[0501] Positioning capabilities supported by LMF, UE and / or AN;

[0502] Positioning methods and / or LCS QoS information (positioning accuracy, positioning response time and / or positioning category) supported by the LMF, UE and / or AN;

[0503] Performance or status information of LMF, UE and / or AN;

[0504] Application layer positioning information of the target UE;

[0505] Information about the positioning reference unit PRU (which may be a terminal or access network node whose positioning information is known) or the positioning reference terminal, such as: the identification, address, positioning information of the PRU or positioning reference terminal, the relative position and / or speed of the terminal and the positioning reference functional entity, or an indication of whether to use the PRU or positioning reference terminal for terminal positioning.

[0506] If the target UE accesses a mobile access network functional entity (such as MBSR), information of the mobile access network functional entity, such as the identification, address, positioning information of the mobile access network functional entity, the relative position and / or speed between the terminal and the positioning reference functional entity, or whether the mobile access network functional entity is used for terminal positioning, etc.

[0507] 2a-2c. Based on the received UE positioning model request or subscription message, the NWDAF collects data from the LMF, AF and / or OAM for training the UE positioning model. This includes:

[0508] 2a. The NWDAF requests or subscribes to UE positioning-related data from the LMF. The LMF obtains UE positioning-related uplink measurement data from the access network (AN) functional entity, as well as UE positioning-related downlink measurement data reported by the UE to the access network functional entity, such as RSRP, RSRPP, RSTD, CIR, and PDP. The LMF sends the UE positioning-related measurement data provided by the UE and AN to the NWDAF, and may also provide the following data:

[0509] At least one positioning method and positioning assistance data corresponding to the positioning method;

[0510] PRU positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information;

[0511] Relative position and / or relative speed information between the target UE and the PRU;

[0512] If the target UE accesses a mobile access network functional entity, the positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information of the mobile access network functional entity;

[0513] Relative position and / or relative speed information between the target UE and the mobile access network function entity;

[0514] Historical positioning information and / or movement trend information of the target UE;

[0515] Positioning capabilities supported by LMF, UE and / or AN;

[0516] Positioning methods and / or LCS QoS information (positioning accuracy, positioning response time and / or positioning category) supported by the LMF, UE and / or AN;

[0517] Performance or status information of LMF, UE and / or AN.

[0518] 2b. The NWDAF obtains the application layer positioning information of the UE from the AF, such as the positioning information of the UE obtained by a specific application and the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning information of the UE.

[0519] 2c. The NWDAF may also obtain the UE positioning-related downlink and uplink measurement data provided by the UE and AN from the OAM.

[0520] 3. NWDAF uses the collected UE positioning related data to perform model training and obtain the UE positioning model.

[0521] 4. The NWDAF sends the trained UE positioning model information (e.g., UE positioning model file or file address) to the LMF. The LMF obtains the UE positioning model based on the UE positioning model information, for example, by reading UE positioning model parameters from the UE positioning model file. The NWDAF may provide the LMF with one or more UE positioning models and the positioning method, positioning response time, positioning accuracy, and / or positioning category corresponding to each UE positioning model.

[0522] 5a-5b. The LMF obtains downlink and uplink measurement data related to UE positioning from the AN, as in step 2a. The LMF may also obtain application-layer positioning information of the UE from the AF, such as the positioning information of the UE obtained by a specific application and the UE's Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning information. In addition, the LMF may also collect or determine other data, such as:

[0523] PRU positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information;

[0524] Relative position and / or relative speed information between the target UE and the PRU;

[0525] If the target UE accesses a mobile access network functional entity, the positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information of the mobile access network functional entity;

[0526] Relative position and / or relative speed information between the target UE and the mobile access network function entity;

[0527] Historical positioning information and / or movement trend information of the target UE;

[0528] Positioning methods and / or LCS QoS information (positioning accuracy, positioning response time and / or positioning category) supported by the LMF, UE and / or AN;

[0529] Performance or status information of LMF, UE and / or AN.

[0530] 6. The LMF uses the above-mentioned UE positioning model and UE positioning-related data as input data into the UE positioning model to obtain UE positioning information. When the NWDAF provides multiple UE positioning models, the LMF can select a UE positioning model based on the positioning methods it supports and the positioning method, positioning response time, positioning accuracy, and / or positioning category corresponding to each UE positioning model. For example, it can select the UE positioning model with the shortest positioning response time or the highest positioning accuracy, or select a UE positioning model based on both positioning response time and positioning accuracy.

[0531] 7.LMF provides the UE positioning information to AMF.

[0532] 8a.AMF provides the UE location information to GMLC.GMLC further sends the UE location information to AF or LCS client.

[0533] 8b.AMF provides the UE positioning information to the UE.

[0534] Example 5:

[0535] The LMF requests the NWDAF for analysis information of the UE positioning, and determines the UE positioning information based on the UE positioning analysis information provided by the NWDAF.

[0536] FIG7 is a signaling interaction diagram of Example 5 provided by the examples of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG7 , the main interaction process of Example 5 includes:

[0537] 0a-0d. Same as example 0a-0d.

[0538] 1. Based on the received terminal positioning request message, the LMF sends a UE positioning analysis request or subscription message to the NWDAF to request data analysis information for UE positioning. The UE positioning analysis request or subscription message may carry the following information:

[0539] The identifier or address of the target UE;

[0540] LCS QoS information, including required positioning response time, positioning accuracy and / or positioning category;

[0541] Application or service information requesting UE positioning information;

[0542] Information of the network slice, data network and / or first network for requesting UE positioning information;

[0543] The area and / or time information of the target UE positioning;

[0544] Positioning capabilities supported by LMF, UE and / or AN;

[0545] Positioning methods and / or LCS QoS information (positioning accuracy, positioning response time and / or positioning category) supported by the LMF, UE and / or AN;

[0546] Performance or status information of LMF, UE and / or AN;

[0547] Application layer positioning information of the target UE;

[0548] Information about the positioning reference unit PRU (which may be a terminal or access network node whose positioning information is known) or the positioning reference terminal, such as: the identification, address, positioning information of the PRU or positioning reference terminal, the relative position and / or speed of the terminal and the positioning reference functional entity, or an indication of whether to use the PRU or positioning reference terminal for terminal positioning.

[0549] If the target UE accesses a mobile access network functional entity (such as MBSR), information of the mobile access network functional entity, such as the identification, address, positioning information of the mobile access network functional entity, the relative position and / or speed between the terminal and the positioning reference functional entity, or whether the mobile access network functional entity is used for terminal positioning, etc.

[0550] 2a-2c. Based on the received UE location analysis request or subscription message, the NWDAF collects data from the LMF, AF, and / or OAM, etc., for training the UE location model and obtaining UE location analysis information. Same as steps 2a-2c of Example 4.

[0551] 3. The NWDAF uses the collected UE positioning data to train a model and uses the trained model to generate UE positioning analysis information. This UE positioning analysis information may include the following information: one or more locations of the target UE; and for each UE location, the positioning method used, positioning response time, positioning accuracy, and / or positioning category.

[0552] 4. NWDAF provides UE positioning analysis information to LMF.

[0553] 5. The LMF uses the UE positioning analysis information to determine the UE positioning information. For example, the LMF may select the UE positioning information with the highest positioning accuracy from the UE positioning analysis information as the final UE positioning information.

[0554] 6-7a / 7b. Same as steps 7-8a / 8b in Example 4.

[0555] The methods and devices provided in the various embodiments of the present disclosure are based on the same application concept. Since the methods and devices solve problems based on similar principles, the implementation of the devices and methods can refer to each other, and the repeated parts will not be repeated.

[0556] FIG8 is a schematic structural diagram of a first functional entity provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG8 , the first functional entity includes a memory 820 , a transceiver 810 , and a processor 800 ; wherein the processor 800 and the memory 820 may also be physically arranged separately.

[0557] The memory 820 is used to store computer programs; the transceiver 810 is used to send and receive data under the control of the processor 800.

[0558] Specifically, the transceiver 810 is configured to receive and send data under the control of the processor 800 .

[0559] In FIG8 , the bus architecture may include any number of interconnected buses and bridges, specifically linking together various circuits of one or more processors represented by processor 800 and memory represented by memory 820. The bus architecture may also link together various other circuits such as peripheral devices, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art and are therefore not further described in this disclosure. The bus interface provides an interface. The transceiver 810 may be a plurality of components, namely, a transmitter and a receiver, providing a unit for communicating with various other devices over a transmission medium, such as a wireless channel, a wired channel, an optical cable, or the like.

[0560] The processor 800 is responsible for managing the bus architecture and general processing, and the memory 820 can store data used by the processor 800 when performing operations.

[0561] The processor 800 may be a central processing unit (CPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or a complex programmable logic device (CPLD). The processor may also adopt a multi-core architecture.

[0562] The processor 800 calls the computer program stored in the memory 820 to execute any of the methods provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure according to the obtained executable instructions, for example: obtaining analysis information or models related to terminal positioning; based on the analysis information or model, performing one or more of the following operations related to terminal positioning: determining a second functional entity that provides positioning services for the terminal; determining a positioning method used by a third functional entity to locate the terminal; and determining the positioning information of the terminal.

[0563] In some embodiments, obtaining analysis information or models related to terminal positioning includes:

[0564] Sending a first message to a fourth functional entity, where the first message is used to request analysis information or a model related to terminal positioning, and / or the first message is used to provide data related to terminal positioning or data for training a model related to terminal positioning;

[0565] Receive analysis information or model information related to terminal positioning provided by the fourth functional entity based on the first message.

[0566] In some embodiments, the first message for requesting analysis information or a model carries one or more of the following information:

[0567] Terminal identification or address information;

[0568] at least one positioning method;

[0569] At least one of the required positioning response time, positioning accuracy, and positioning category;

[0570] Application or business information;

[0571] Information on at least one of the network slice, the data network, and the first network;

[0572] Area and / or time information corresponding to the terminal positioning;

[0573] Positioning capability of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0574] At least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0575] performance or status information of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0576] Application layer positioning information of the terminal;

[0577] Locating information of reference functional entities;

[0578] Information about the mobile access network functional entity accessed by the terminal.

[0579] In some embodiments, the data related to terminal positioning and / or the data for training a model related to terminal positioning include one or more of the following:

[0580] Measurement information related to terminal positioning provided by the terminal or the first access network functional entity;

[0581] at least one positioning method;

[0582] Positioning assistance data corresponding to the positioning method;

[0583] Positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information of the positioning reference functional entity;

[0584] Relative position and / or relative speed information between the terminal and the positioning reference function entity;

[0585] Positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information of the mobile access network functional entity accessed by the terminal;

[0586] Relative position and / or relative speed information between the terminal and the mobile access network functional entity;

[0587] Historical location information and / or movement trend information of the terminal;

[0588] Application layer positioning information of the terminal;

[0589] Positioning capability of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0590] At least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0591] Performance or status information of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity.

[0592] In some embodiments, the terminal positioning-related analysis information includes one or more of the following:

[0593] The location of the terminal;

[0594] The speed of the terminal;

[0595] Positioning methods;

[0596] Positioning response time;

[0597] Positioning accuracy;

[0598] Positioning category;

[0599] Information of the second functional entity.

[0600] In some embodiments, determining a second functional entity that provides a positioning service for a terminal includes:

[0601] Based on the analysis information, determining a second functional entity that supports a first positioning service quality; the first positioning service quality includes at least one of a first positioning response time, a first positioning accuracy, and a first positioning category; and / or,

[0602] Based on the analysis information, a second functional entity supporting user plane positioning or control plane positioning is determined.

[0603] In some embodiments, determining a positioning method used by the third functional entity to position the terminal includes:

[0604] Determining, based on the analysis information, a first positioning method that supports a second positioning service quality;

[0605] The first positioning method and / or the positioning assistance information corresponding to the first positioning method is sent to the third functional entity.

[0606] In some embodiments, obtaining analysis information or models related to terminal positioning includes:

[0607] receiving a third message related to terminal positioning sent by the terminal or the sixth functional entity;

[0608] Based on the third message, obtaining analysis information or model related to terminal positioning;

[0609] The third message is for one of the following:

[0610] Requesting terminal positioning;

[0611] Requesting to establish a user plane connection to transmit a fourth message related to terminal positioning;

[0612] Requesting a positioning method and / or assistance data for locating the terminal;

[0613] Request to update the terminal's location information.

[0614] In some embodiments, the third message carries the first positioning service quality, and / or the third message carries at least one positioning method including the first positioning method.

[0615] FIG9 is a schematic structural diagram of a seventh functional entity provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG9 , the seventh functional entity includes a memory 920 , a transceiver 910 , and a processor 900 ; wherein the processor 900 and the memory 920 may also be physically arranged separately.

[0616] The memory 920 is used to store computer programs; the transceiver 910 is used to send and receive data under the control of the processor 900.

[0617] Specifically, the transceiver 910 is configured to receive and send data under the control of the processor 900 .

[0618] In FIG9 , the bus architecture may include any number of interconnected buses and bridges, specifically linking together various circuits of one or more processors represented by processor 900 and memory represented by memory 920. The bus architecture may also link together various other circuits such as peripheral devices, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art and are therefore not further described in this disclosure. The bus interface provides an interface. The transceiver 910 may be a plurality of components, namely, a transmitter and a receiver, providing a unit for communicating with various other devices over a transmission medium, such as a wireless channel, a wired channel, an optical cable, or the like.

[0619] The processor 900 is responsible for managing the bus architecture and general processing, and the memory 920 can store data used by the processor 900 when performing operations.

[0620] The processor 900 may be a CPU, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a CPLD, and the processor may also adopt a multi-core architecture.

[0621] The processor 900 calls the computer program stored in the memory 920 to execute any of the methods provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure according to the obtained executable instructions, for example: receiving a fifth message sent by the first functional entity, the fifth message is used to request analysis information or model related to terminal positioning, and / or the fifth message is used to provide terminal positioning-related data or data for training terminal positioning-related models; based on the fifth message, sending terminal positioning-related analysis information or model information to the first functional entity; the terminal positioning-related analysis information or model is used to derive one or more of the following information: information of the second functional entity that provides positioning services for the terminal; a positioning method for locating the terminal; and positioning information of the terminal.

[0622] In some embodiments, the fifth message for requesting analysis information or a model carries one or more of the following information:

[0623] Terminal identification or address information;

[0624] at least one positioning method;

[0625] At least one of the required positioning response time, positioning accuracy, and positioning category;

[0626] Application or business information;

[0627] Information on at least one of the network slice, the data network, and the first network;

[0628] Area and / or time information corresponding to the terminal positioning;

[0629] Positioning capability of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0630] At least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0631] performance or status information of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0632] Application layer positioning information of the terminal;

[0633] Locating information of reference functional entities;

[0634] Information about the mobile access network functional entity accessed by the terminal.

[0635] In some embodiments, the terminal positioning-related data and / or the training model data include one or more of the following:

[0636] Measurement information related to terminal positioning provided by the terminal or the first access network functional entity;

[0637] at least one positioning method;

[0638] Positioning assistance data corresponding to the positioning method;

[0639] Positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information of the positioning reference functional entity;

[0640] Relative position and / or relative speed information between the terminal and the positioning reference function entity;

[0641] Positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information of the mobile access network functional entity accessed by the terminal;

[0642] Relative position and / or relative speed information between the terminal and the mobile access network functional entity;

[0643] Historical location information and / or movement trend information of the terminal;

[0644] Application layer positioning information of the terminal;

[0645] Positioning capability of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0646] At least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0647] Performance or status information of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity.

[0648] In some embodiments, the terminal positioning-related analysis information includes one or more of the following:

[0649] The location of the terminal;

[0650] The speed of the terminal;

[0651] Positioning methods;

[0652] Positioning response time;

[0653] Positioning accuracy;

[0654] Positioning category;

[0655] Information of the second functional entity.

[0656] It should be noted here that the above-mentioned first functional entity and seventh functional entity provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure can implement all the method steps implemented in the above-mentioned method embodiment and can achieve the same technical effect. The parts and beneficial effects of this embodiment that are the same as those in the method embodiment will not be described in detail here.

[0657] FIG10 is a schematic diagram of a terminal positioning device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG10 , the device includes:

[0658] An acquisition unit 1000 is configured to acquire analysis information or a model related to terminal positioning;

[0659] The execution unit 1010 is configured to perform one or more of the following operations related to terminal positioning based on the analysis information or model:

[0660] Determine a second functional entity that provides a positioning service for the terminal;

[0661] determining a positioning method used by the third functional entity to locate the terminal;

[0662] Determine the terminal's location information.

[0663] In some embodiments, obtaining analysis information or models related to terminal positioning includes:

[0664] Sending a first message to a fourth functional entity, where the first message is used to request analysis information or a model related to terminal positioning, and / or the first message is used to provide data related to terminal positioning or data for training a model related to terminal positioning;

[0665] Receive analysis information or model information related to terminal positioning provided by the fourth functional entity based on the first message.

[0666] In some embodiments, the first message for requesting analysis information or a model carries one or more of the following information:

[0667] Terminal identification or address information;

[0668] at least one positioning method;

[0669] At least one of the required positioning response time, positioning accuracy, and positioning category;

[0670] Application or business information;

[0671] Information on at least one of the network slice, the data network, and the first network;

[0672] Area and / or time information corresponding to the terminal positioning;

[0673] Positioning capability of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0674] At least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0675] performance or status information of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0676] Application layer positioning information of the terminal;

[0677] Locating information of reference functional entities;

[0678] Information about the mobile access network functional entity accessed by the terminal.

[0679] In some embodiments, the data related to terminal positioning and / or the data for training a model related to terminal positioning include one or more of the following:

[0680] Measurement information related to terminal positioning provided by the terminal or the first access network functional entity;

[0681] at least one positioning method;

[0682] Positioning assistance data corresponding to the positioning method;

[0683] Positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information of the positioning reference functional entity;

[0684] Relative position and / or relative speed information between the terminal and the positioning reference function entity;

[0685] Positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information of the mobile access network functional entity accessed by the terminal;

[0686] Relative position and / or relative speed information between the terminal and the mobile access network functional entity;

[0687] Historical location information and / or movement trend information of the terminal;

[0688] Application layer positioning information of the terminal;

[0689] Positioning capability of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0690] At least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0691] Performance or status information of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity.

[0692] In some embodiments, the terminal positioning-related analysis information includes one or more of the following:

[0693] The location of the terminal;

[0694] The speed of the terminal;

[0695] Positioning methods;

[0696] Positioning response time;

[0697] Positioning accuracy;

[0698] Positioning category;

[0699] Information of the second functional entity.

[0700] In some embodiments, determining a second functional entity that provides a positioning service for a terminal includes:

[0701] Based on the analysis information, determining a second functional entity that supports a first positioning service quality; the first positioning service quality includes at least one of a first positioning response time, a first positioning accuracy, and a first positioning category; and / or,

[0702] Based on the analysis information, a second functional entity supporting user plane positioning or control plane positioning is determined.

[0703] In some embodiments, determining a positioning method used by the third functional entity to position the terminal includes:

[0704] Determining, based on the analysis information, a first positioning method that supports a second positioning service quality;

[0705] The first positioning method and / or the positioning assistance information corresponding to the first positioning method is sent to the third functional entity.

[0706] In some embodiments, obtaining analysis information or models related to terminal positioning includes:

[0707] receiving a third message related to terminal positioning sent by the terminal or the sixth functional entity;

[0708] Based on the third message, obtaining analysis information or model related to terminal positioning;

[0709] The third message is for one of the following:

[0710] Requesting terminal positioning;

[0711] Requesting to establish a user plane connection to transmit a fourth message related to terminal positioning;

[0712] Requesting a positioning method and / or assistance data for locating the terminal;

[0713] Request to update the terminal's location information.

[0714] In some embodiments, the third message carries the first positioning service quality, and / or the third message carries at least one positioning method including the first positioning method.

[0715] FIG11 is a second structural diagram of a terminal positioning device provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG11 , the device includes:

[0716] The receiving unit 1100 is configured to receive a fifth message sent by the first functional entity, where the fifth message is used to request analysis information or a model related to terminal positioning, and / or the fifth message is used to provide data related to terminal positioning or data for training a model related to terminal positioning;

[0717] The sending unit 1110 is configured to send analysis information or model information related to terminal positioning to the first functional entity based on the fifth message;

[0718] The terminal positioning-related analysis information or models are used to derive one or more of the following information:

[0719] Information about a second functional entity that provides positioning services for the terminal;

[0720] A positioning method for locating a terminal;

[0721] The terminal's location information.

[0722] In some embodiments, the fifth message for requesting analysis information or a model carries one or more of the following information:

[0723] Terminal identification or address information;

[0724] at least one positioning method;

[0725] At least one of the required positioning response time, positioning accuracy, and positioning category;

[0726] Application or business information;

[0727] Information on at least one of the network slice, the data network, and the first network;

[0728] Area and / or time information corresponding to the terminal positioning;

[0729] Positioning capability of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0730] At least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0731] performance or status information of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0732] Application layer positioning information of the terminal;

[0733] Locating information of reference functional entities;

[0734] Information about the mobile access network functional entity accessed by the terminal.

[0735] In some embodiments, the terminal positioning-related data and / or the training model data include one or more of the following:

[0736] Measurement information related to terminal positioning provided by the terminal or the first access network functional entity;

[0737] at least one positioning method;

[0738] Positioning assistance data corresponding to the positioning method;

[0739] Positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information of the positioning reference functional entity;

[0740] Relative position and / or relative speed information between the terminal and the positioning reference function entity;

[0741] Positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information of the mobile access network functional entity accessed by the terminal;

[0742] Relative position and / or relative speed information between the terminal and the mobile access network functional entity;

[0743] Historical location information and / or movement trend information of the terminal;

[0744] Application layer positioning information of the terminal;

[0745] Positioning capability of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0746] At least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity;

[0747] Performance or status information of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity.

[0748] In some embodiments, the terminal positioning-related analysis information includes one or more of the following:

[0749] The location of the terminal;

[0750] The speed of the terminal;

[0751] Positioning methods;

[0752] Positioning response time;

[0753] Positioning accuracy;

[0754] Positioning category;

[0755] Information of the second functional entity.

[0756] It should be noted that the division of units in the embodiments of the present disclosure is schematic and is merely a logical functional division. In actual implementation, other division methods may be used. Furthermore, the functional units in the various embodiments of the present disclosure may be integrated into a single processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into a single unit. The aforementioned integrated units may be implemented in the form of hardware or software functional units.

[0757] If the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a processor-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present disclosure is essentially or the part that contributes to the prior art or all or part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, and the computer software product is stored in a storage medium, including a number of instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) or a processor to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present disclosure. The aforementioned storage medium includes: various media that can store program codes, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

[0758] It should be noted here that the above-mentioned device provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure can implement all the method steps implemented in the above-mentioned method embodiment and can achieve the same technical effect. The parts and beneficial effects of this embodiment that are the same as those in the method embodiment will not be described in detail here.

[0759] On the other hand, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a non-transitory readable storage medium, wherein the non-transitory readable storage medium stores a computer program, and the computer program is used to enable a processor to execute the terminal positioning method provided by the above embodiments.

[0760] It should be noted here that the non-transitory readable storage medium provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure can implement all the method steps implemented in the above-mentioned method embodiment and can achieve the same technical effect. The parts and beneficial effects of this embodiment that are the same as those in the method embodiment will not be described in detail here.

[0761] The non-transitory readable storage medium can be any available medium or data storage device that can be accessed by a computer, including but not limited to magnetic storage (such as floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes, magneto-optical disks (MO), etc.), optical storage (such as CDs, DVDs, BDs, HVDs, etc.), and semiconductor storage (such as ROMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, non-volatile memories (NAND FLASH), solid-state drives (SSDs)), etc.

[0762] The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure can be applicable to a variety of systems, especially 5G systems and 6G systems. For example, applicable systems may be global system of mobile communication (GSM) systems, code division multiple access (CDMA) systems, wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) general packet radio service (GPRS) systems, long term evolution (LTE) systems, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) systems, LTE time division duplex (TDD) systems, long term evolution advanced (LTE-A) systems, universal mobile telecommunication systems (UMTS), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) systems, 5G new radio (NR) systems, etc. These various systems include terminal devices and network devices. The system may also include a core network part, such as an evolved packet system (EPS), a 5G system (5GS), a 6G system, etc.

[0763] The terminal involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be a device that provides voice and / or data connectivity to a user, a handheld device with wireless connection function, or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem. In different systems, the name of the terminal may also be different. For example, in a 5G system, the terminal may be called User Equipment (UE). A wireless terminal device can communicate with one or more core networks (CN) via a radio access network (RAN). The wireless terminal device may be a mobile terminal device, such as a mobile phone (or "cellular" phone) and a computer with a mobile terminal device. For example, it may be a portable, pocket-sized, handheld, computer-built-in or vehicle-mounted mobile device that exchanges voice and / or data with a radio access network. For example, personal communication service (PCS) phones, cordless phones, session initiation protocol (SIP) phones, wireless local loop (WLL) stations, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and other devices. The wireless terminal device may also be referred to as a system, a subscriber unit, a subscriber station, a mobile station, a mobile station, a remote station, an access point, a remote terminal device, an access terminal device, a user terminal device, a user agent, or a user device, but is not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0764] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments of the present disclosure may be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Therefore, the present disclosure may take the form of a complete hardware embodiment, a complete software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware. Furthermore, the present disclosure may take the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-usable storage media (including but not limited to magnetic disk storage and optical storage, etc.) containing computer-usable program code.

[0765] The present disclosure is described with reference to the flowcharts and / or block diagrams of the methods, devices (systems), and computer program products according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be understood that each process and / or box in the flowchart and / or block diagram, as well as the combination of the processes and / or boxes in the flowchart and / or block diagram, can be implemented by computer-executable instructions. These computer-executable instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, an embedded processor, or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, so that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device produce a device for implementing the functions specified in one or more processes in the flowchart and / or one or more boxes in the block diagram.

[0766] These processor-executable instructions may also be stored in a processor-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to operate in a specific manner, so that the instructions stored in the processor-readable memory produce a product including an instruction device that implements the functions specified in one or more processes in the flowchart and / or one or more boxes in the block diagram.

[0767] These processor-executable instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device so that a series of operational steps are executed on the computer or other programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process, whereby the instructions executed on the computer or other programmable device provide steps for implementing the functions specified in one or more processes in the flowchart and / or one or more boxes in the block diagram.

[0768] Obviously, those skilled in the art may make various changes and modifications to the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Thus, if these modifications and variations of the present disclosure fall within the scope of the claims of the present disclosure and their equivalents, the present disclosure is intended to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A terminal positioning method, applied to a first functional entity, comprising: Obtaining analysis information or models related to terminal positioning; Based on the analysis information or the model, perform one or more of the following operations related to the terminal positioning: Determining a second functional entity that provides a positioning service for the terminal; determining a positioning method used by a third functional entity to position the terminal; Determine the location information of the terminal.

2. The terminal positioning method according to claim 1, wherein: The obtaining of analysis information or model related to terminal positioning includes: Sending a first message to a fourth functional entity, where the first message is used to request analysis information or a model related to the terminal positioning, and / or the first message is used to provide data related to the terminal positioning or data for training a model related to the terminal positioning; Receive analysis information or model information related to the terminal positioning provided by the fourth functional entity based on the first message.

3. The terminal positioning method according to claim 2, wherein: The first message for requesting the analysis information or the model carries one or more of the following information: identification or address information of the terminal; at least one positioning method; At least one of the required positioning response time, positioning accuracy, and positioning category; Application or business information; Information on at least one of the network slice, the data network, and the first network; area and / or time information corresponding to the terminal positioning; Positioning capability of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity; At least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity; performance or status information of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity; Application layer positioning information of the terminal; Locating information of reference functional entities; Information about the mobile access network functional entity accessed by the terminal.

4. The terminal positioning method according to claim 2, wherein: The terminal positioning-related data and / or the data for training the terminal positioning-related model include one or more of the following: measurement information related to the terminal positioning provided by the terminal or the first access network function entity; at least one positioning method; Positioning assistance data corresponding to the positioning method; Positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information of the positioning reference functional entity; Relative position and / or relative speed information between the terminal and the positioning reference function entity; Positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information of a mobile access network functional entity accessed by the terminal; Relative position and / or relative speed information between the terminal and the mobile access network functional entity; historical positioning information and / or movement trend information of the terminal; Application layer positioning information of the terminal; Positioning capability of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity; At least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity; Performance or status information of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity.

5. The terminal positioning method according to claim 1, wherein: The terminal positioning related analysis information includes one or more of the following: the location of the terminal; the speed of the terminal; Positioning methods; Positioning response time; Positioning accuracy; Positioning category; Information of the second functional entity. The terminal positioning method according to claim 1 , wherein: The determining of the second functional entity providing a positioning service for the terminal includes: Based on the analysis information, determining the second functional entity that supports a first positioning service quality; the first positioning service quality includes at least one of a first positioning response time, a first positioning accuracy, and a first positioning category; and / or, Based on the analysis information, determine the second functional entity that supports user plane positioning or control plane positioning.

7. The terminal positioning method according to claim 1, wherein: The determining a positioning method used by the third functional entity to position the terminal includes: Determining, based on the analysis information, a first positioning method that supports a second positioning service quality; Sending the first positioning method and / or positioning assistance information corresponding to the first positioning method to the third functional entity.

8. The terminal positioning method according to claim 1, wherein: The obtaining of analysis information or model related to terminal positioning includes: receiving a third message related to the terminal positioning sent by the terminal or the sixth functional entity; Based on the third message, obtaining analysis information or model related to the terminal positioning; The third message is used for one of the following: Requesting positioning of the terminal; Requesting to establish a user plane connection to transmit a fourth message related to the terminal positioning; requesting a positioning method and / or assistance data for locating the terminal; Requesting to update the location information of the terminal.

9. The terminal positioning method according to claim 8, wherein: The third message carries the first positioning service quality, and / or the third message carries at least one positioning method including the first positioning method.

10. A terminal positioning method, applied to the seventh functional entity, comprising: receiving a fifth message sent by the first functional entity, where the fifth message is used to request analysis information or a model related to terminal positioning, and / or the fifth message is used to provide data related to the terminal positioning or data for training a model related to the terminal positioning; Based on the fifth message, sending the analysis information or model information related to the terminal positioning to the first functional entity; The terminal positioning-related analysis information or model is used to derive one or more of the following information: Information of a second functional entity providing positioning services for the terminal; A positioning method for locating the terminal; The location information of the terminal.

11. The terminal positioning method according to claim 10, wherein: The fifth message for requesting the analysis information or the model carries one or more of the following information: identification or address information of the terminal; at least one positioning method; At least one of the required positioning response time, positioning accuracy, and positioning category; Application or business information; Information on at least one of the network slice, the data network, and the first network; area and / or time information corresponding to the terminal positioning; Positioning capability of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity; At least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity; performance or status information of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity; Application layer positioning information of the terminal; Locating information of reference functional entities; Information about the mobile access network functional entity accessed by the terminal.

12. The terminal positioning method according to claim 10, wherein: The terminal positioning-related data and / or the data for training the model include one or more of the following: measurement information related to the terminal positioning provided by the terminal or the first access network function entity; at least one positioning method; Positioning assistance data corresponding to the positioning method; Positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information of the positioning reference functional entity; Relative position and / or relative speed information between the terminal and the positioning reference function entity; Positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information of a mobile access network functional entity accessed by the terminal; Relative position and / or relative speed information between the terminal and the mobile access network functional entity; historical positioning information and / or movement trend information of the terminal; Application layer positioning information of the terminal; Positioning capability of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity; At least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity; Performance or status information of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity.

13. The terminal positioning method according to claim 10, wherein: The terminal positioning related analysis information includes one or more of the following: the location of the terminal; the speed of the terminal; Positioning methods; Positioning response time; Positioning accuracy; Positioning category; Information of the second functional entity.

14. A first functional entity, comprising a memory, a transceiver, and a processor; memory for storing computer programs; a transceiver, configured to transmit and receive data under the control of the processor; A processor is configured to read the computer program in the memory and perform the following operations: Obtaining analysis information or models related to terminal positioning; Based on the analysis information or the model, perform one or more of the following operations related to the terminal positioning: Determining a second functional entity that provides a positioning service for the terminal; determining a positioning method used by a third functional entity to position the terminal; Determine the location information of the terminal.

15. The first functional entity according to claim 14, wherein: The obtaining of analysis information or model related to terminal positioning includes: Sending a first message to a fourth functional entity, where the first message is used to request analysis information or a model related to the terminal positioning, and / or the first message is used to provide data related to the terminal positioning or data for training a model related to the terminal positioning; Receive analysis information or model information related to the terminal positioning provided by the fourth functional entity based on the first message.

16. The first functional entity according to claim 15, wherein: The first message for requesting the analysis information or the model carries one or more of the following information: identification or address information of the terminal; at least one positioning method; At least one of the required positioning response time, positioning accuracy, and positioning category; Application or business information; Information on at least one of the network slice, the data network, and the first network; area and / or time information corresponding to the terminal positioning; Positioning capability of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity; At least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity; performance or status information of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity; Application layer positioning information of the terminal; Locating information of reference functional entities; Information about the mobile access network functional entity accessed by the terminal.

17. The first functional entity according to claim 15, wherein: The terminal positioning-related data and / or the data for training the terminal positioning-related model include one or more of the following: measurement information related to the terminal positioning provided by the terminal or the first access network function entity; at least one positioning method; Positioning assistance data corresponding to the positioning method; Positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information of the positioning reference functional entity; Relative position and / or relative speed information between the terminal and the positioning reference function entity; Positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information of a mobile access network functional entity accessed by the terminal; Relative position and / or relative speed information between the terminal and the mobile access network functional entity; historical positioning information and / or movement trend information of the terminal; Application layer positioning information of the terminal; Positioning capability of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity; At least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity; Performance or status information of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity.

18. The first functional entity according to claim 14, wherein: The terminal positioning related analysis information includes one or more of the following: the location of the terminal; the speed of the terminal; Positioning methods; Positioning response time; Positioning accuracy; Positioning category; Information of the second functional entity.

19. The first functional entity according to claim 14, wherein: The determining of the second functional entity providing a positioning service for the terminal includes: Based on the analysis information, determining the second functional entity that supports a first positioning service quality; the first positioning service quality includes at least one of a first positioning response time, a first positioning accuracy, and a first positioning category; and / or, Based on the analysis information, determine the second functional entity that supports user plane positioning or control plane positioning.

20. The first functional entity according to claim 14, wherein: The determining a positioning method used by the third functional entity to position the terminal includes: Determining, based on the analysis information, a first positioning method that supports a second positioning service quality; Sending the first positioning method and / or positioning assistance information corresponding to the first positioning method to the third functional entity.

21. The first functional entity according to claim 14, wherein: The obtaining of analysis information or model related to terminal positioning includes: receiving a third message related to the terminal positioning sent by the terminal or the sixth functional entity; Based on the third message, obtaining analysis information or model related to the terminal positioning; The third message is used for one of the following: Requesting positioning of the terminal; Requesting to establish a user plane connection to transmit a fourth message related to the terminal positioning; requesting a positioning method and / or assistance data for locating the terminal; Requesting to update the location information of the terminal.

22. The first functional entity according to claim 21, wherein: The third message carries the first positioning service quality, and / or the third message carries at least one positioning method including the first positioning method.

23. A seventh functional entity, comprising a memory, a transceiver, and a processor; memory for storing computer programs; a transceiver, configured to transmit and receive data under the control of the processor; A processor is configured to read the computer program in the memory and perform the following operations: receiving a fifth message sent by the first functional entity, where the fifth message is used to request analysis information or a model related to terminal positioning, and / or the fifth message is used to provide data related to the terminal positioning or data for training a model related to the terminal positioning; Based on the fifth message, sending the analysis information or model information related to the terminal positioning to the first functional entity; The terminal positioning-related analysis information or model is used to derive one or more of the following information: Information of a second functional entity providing positioning services for the terminal; A positioning method for locating the terminal; The location information of the terminal.

24. The seventh functional entity according to claim 23, wherein: The fifth message for requesting the analysis information or the model carries one or more of the following information: identification or address information of the terminal; at least one positioning method; At least one of the required positioning response time, positioning accuracy, and positioning category; Application or business information; Information on at least one of the network slice, the data network, and the first network; area and / or time information corresponding to the terminal positioning; Positioning capability of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity; At least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity; performance or status information of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity; Application layer positioning information of the terminal; Locating information of reference functional entities; Information about the mobile access network functional entity accessed by the terminal.

25. The seventh functional entity according to claim 23, wherein: The terminal positioning-related data and / or the data for training the model include one or more of the following: measurement information related to the terminal positioning provided by the terminal or the first access network function entity; at least one positioning method; Positioning assistance data corresponding to the positioning method; Positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information of the positioning reference functional entity; Relative position and / or relative speed information between the terminal and the positioning reference function entity; Positioning information and / or positioning-related measurement information of a mobile access network functional entity accessed by the terminal; Relative position and / or relative speed information between the terminal and the mobile access network functional entity; historical positioning information and / or movement trend information of the terminal; Application layer positioning information of the terminal; Positioning capability of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity; At least one of the positioning method, positioning accuracy, positioning response time, and positioning category supported by the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity; Performance or status information of the second functional entity and / or the third functional entity.

26. The seventh functional entity according to claim 23, wherein: The terminal positioning related analysis information includes one or more of the following: the location of the terminal; the speed of the terminal; Positioning methods; Positioning response time; Positioning accuracy; Positioning category; Information of the second functional entity.

27. A terminal positioning device, comprising: An acquisition unit, configured to acquire analysis information or models related to terminal positioning; an execution unit, configured to perform one or more of the following operations related to the terminal positioning based on the analysis information or the model: Determining a second functional entity that provides a positioning service for the terminal; determining a positioning method used by a third functional entity to position the terminal; Determine the location information of the terminal.

28. A terminal positioning device, comprising: a receiving unit, configured to receive a fifth message sent by the first functional entity, where the fifth message is used to request analysis information or a model related to terminal positioning, and / or the fifth message is used to provide data related to the terminal positioning or data for training a model related to the terminal positioning; a sending unit, configured to send the analysis information or model information related to the terminal positioning to the first functional entity based on the fifth message; The terminal positioning-related analysis information or model is used to derive one or more of the following information: Information of a second functional entity providing positioning services for the terminal; A positioning method for locating the terminal; The location information of the terminal.

29. A non-transitory readable storage medium storing a computer program, wherein the computer program is configured to cause a processor to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

30. A non-transitory readable storage medium storing a computer program, wherein the computer program is configured to cause a processor to execute the method according to any one of claims 10 to 13.

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