Information transmission method and communication apparatus

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of communications. Provided are an information transmission method and a communication apparatus. In the method, a third apparatus can determine first information used for indicating transmission modes and / or transmission orders that respectively correspond to M paths, and send the first information to a fourth apparatus. In this way, the fourth apparatus can determine the specific information of the M paths, so that an appropriate path is selected for positioning, thus improving the precision of positioning.

Description

An information transmission method and communication device

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202410557559.8, filed on April 30, 2024, entitled "An Information Transmission Method and Communication Device", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to an information transmission method and communication device. Background Technology

[0004] Virtual base station (VBS)-based positioning technology utilizes non-line-of-sight (NLOS) paths between a terminal device and a base station for localization. For some NLOS paths, the distance can be equivalent to the line-of-sight (LOS) path distance between the VBS and the terminal device, and the location of the VBS and the base station (BS) can be mirror-symmetrical about obstacles. Therefore, these NLOS paths can be used to determine the location of the VBS, and then triangulation or triangulation techniques can be used to locate the terminal device based on the location of the base station and the VBS.

[0005] However, in actual communication, there are multiple NLOS paths between the terminal device and the base station, and the characteristics (such as distance) of different NLOS paths vary significantly. If certain NLOS paths are used for positioning, it may result in poor positioning accuracy. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This application provides an information transmission method and a communication device for improving positioning accuracy.

[0007] Firstly, embodiments of this application provide an information transmission method. This method can be applied to a third device. The third device is, for example, a terminal device or a module within a terminal device. A module within a terminal device may be, for example, a communication module within the terminal device, a circuit or chip responsible for communication functions, such as a modem chip (also known as a baseband chip), or a system-on-a-chip (SoC) chip containing a modem core, or a system-in-package (SIP) chip, etc. Alternatively, the third device may be an access network device or a module within an access network device. For example, a module within an access network device may be, for example, a circuit, chip, or chip system, etc. Or, the module of the access network device may also be, for example, a central unit control plane (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a central unit control plane (CU-CP), a central unit user plane (CU-UP), an open central unit (O-CU), or a radio access network intelligent controller (RIC). RICs include, for example, non-real-time radio access network intelligent controllers (Non-RT RICs) and / or near-real-time RAN intelligent controllers (Near-RT RICs). Alternatively, the third device is core network equipment, such as access and mobility management functions (AMFs), sensing management functions (SMFs), location management functions (LMFs) (also known as location management devices, location management network elements, location servers, location centers, location network elements, location function network elements, or location management functions), or sensing management control (SMCs) (also known as control network elements, edge sensing function network elements, edge control network elements, or edge control nodes).

[0008] The method includes: a third device sending (or reporting) first information to a fourth device. Optionally, the method further includes determining the first information. The first information indicates the transmission mode and / or transmission order corresponding to M paths, wherein the transmission mode corresponding to any of the M paths includes at least one of reflection, scattering, diffraction, transmission, or refraction, and the M paths are the signal transmission paths between the first device and the second device, where M is a positive integer. Optionally, the first information is used to locate or sense the first device.

[0009] In the first possible design, the third device can be the same as the first device; for example, both the first and third devices are terminal devices or modules within terminal devices, and the second device is an access network device; or, both the first and third devices are access network devices or modules within access network devices, and the second device is a terminal device or a module within a terminal device. In the second possible design, the third device can be the same as the second device; for example, both the third and second devices are access network devices or modules within access network devices, and the first device is a terminal device or a module within a terminal device; or, both the third and second devices are terminal devices or modules within terminal devices. In the third possible design, the third device is a device other than the first and second devices; for example, the first device is a terminal device or a module within a terminal device, the second device is an access network device or a module within an access network device, and the third device is a core network device, etc. Additionally, the fourth device can also be called a sensing network element (also called a sensing function network element, sensing function entity, sensing measurement network element, or sensing measurement entity, etc.) or a positioning device. The fourth device may be, for example, an access network device or a module within an access network device, or, for example, a positioning server or a component (e.g., a circuit, chip, or chip system) within a core network device, such as an LMF, SMF, or SMC. The positioning server may, for example, be deployed on a third-party platform.

[0010] M paths can also be referred to as M paths. The M paths may be part or all of the signal transmission paths between the first and second devices, without specific limitations. Any of the M paths can be an NLOS path. The transmission mode corresponding to any path (such as an NLOS path) includes one or more combinations of reflection, scattering, diffraction, transmission, or refraction. For example, a path might correspond to reflection and reflection, or reflection + reflection, or reflection - reflection. The transmission mode corresponding to any path can also be described as the transmission mode of any path. The transmission order corresponding to any path can be understood as the number of obstacles on any path, the number of times the direction of the transmitted signal changes on any path, or the number of transmission modes corresponding to any path, etc. When the transmission order corresponding to any path is greater than 1, it can be considered that the transmission order corresponding to any path is multi-order. In this case, the transmission mode corresponding to any path can be described as a combination of the transmission modes corresponding to each of the multi-order paths, or it can be described as the transmission mode corresponding to each of the multi-order paths. For example, if the transmission order of any path is 2, and the transmission modes corresponding to this transmission order are refraction and reflection respectively, then the transmission mode of any path can be described as refraction and reflection (or refraction + reflection, or refraction - reflection, etc.), or the transmission mode of any path can be described as first-order refraction and second-order reflection.

[0011] In this embodiment, the third and fourth devices can determine the transmission method and / or transmission order corresponding to the M paths based on the first information, which is equivalent to determining the specific information of the M paths. This provides a mechanism for reporting the specific information of the paths, so that the fourth device can determine (or select) a more suitable path for positioning based on the first information, thereby improving the positioning accuracy.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the first information may also indicate the transmission mode and / or transmission order of the third path, or it may be described as the first information also indicating a third path, which is a LOS path. The transmission mode of the third path is transmission (or direct transmission), and the transmission order of the third path is 0.

[0013] In one possible implementation, the transmission order of any of the M paths is a natural number.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the transmission order corresponding to any path in the M paths is related to the transmission mode corresponding to any path. For example, the number of transmission orders corresponding to any path is greater than or equal to the number of transmission mode types (or categories) corresponding to any path, and / or the number of transmission orders corresponding to any path is greater than or equal to the number of transmission modes corresponding to any path.

[0015] For example, there are M paths, including path 1 and path 2. Path 1's transmission methods include reflection and refraction, while path 2's transmission methods include reflection and refraction. Therefore, both path 1 and path 2 have a transmission order of 2. Path 1 corresponds to only one transmission method: reflection, while path 2 corresponds to both reflection and refraction. Thus, the number of transmission methods for path 1 is less than its transmission order, and the number of transmission methods for path 2 is equal to its transmission order.

[0016] Thus, when the first information indicates the number of transmission modes, there is no need to separately indicate the transmission order, thereby reducing the number of bits occupied by the first information. When the first information indicates both the transmission mode and the transmission order, the transmission mode and transmission order corresponding to a certain path can be used for mutual verification to ensure the accuracy of the information for that path.

[0017] In one possible implementation, any two paths in the M paths have the same transmission order and the same transmission method; or, at least two paths in the M paths have different transmission orders; or, at least two paths in the M paths have different transmission methods.

[0018] Thus, when the transmission orders and transmission methods of the M paths are the same, it is equivalent to the third device reporting information about a specific path. For example, it can report information about a path more suitable for positioning, thereby reducing the number of bits occupied by the first information. When at least two of the M paths have different transmission orders or different transmission methods, it is equivalent to the third device reporting information about multiple paths, providing more comprehensive path information.

[0019] In one possible implementation, the transmission modes corresponding to W paths out of the M paths are all associated with a first transmission order, wherein the transmission order corresponding to W paths is the first transmission order, and W is an integer greater than or equal to 1; and / or, the transmission orders corresponding to X paths out of the M paths are all associated with the first transmission mode, wherein the transmission modes corresponding to X paths are the first transmission mode, and X is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

[0020] The transmission methods corresponding to W paths are all associated with (or correspond to) the first transmission order. Alternatively, it can be described as the first transmission order being associated with (or corresponding to) the transmission methods corresponding to W paths. The transmission orders corresponding to X paths are all associated with (or correspond to) the first transmission method. Alternatively, it can be described as the first transmission method being associated with (or corresponding to) the transmission order corresponding to X paths.

[0021] Thus, the fourth device can select a suitable path based on the first transmission order or the first transmission mode, which facilitates the fourth device in selecting the path and improves the efficiency of the fourth device in selecting the path, thereby improving the efficiency of the fourth device in locating the first device.

[0022] In one possible implementation, the transmission method corresponding to the M paths is reflection, and the transmission order corresponding to the M paths is 1.

[0023] In this way, all M paths can be used for positioning, reducing the number of bits occupied by the first information. Furthermore, the fourth device can perform positioning based on some or all of the M paths, eliminating the need for the fourth device to separately filter paths suitable for positioning and reducing the processing load of the fourth device.

[0024] In one possible implementation, after sending the first information, the method further includes: receiving second information, the second information instructing a third device to send information about paths that meet certain conditions, or the second information instructing the third device to send information about whether a path meets or does not meet certain conditions, where the conditions represent whether the transmission mode and / or transmission order corresponding to the path meets certain conditions. Accordingly, the transmission mode and / or transmission order corresponding to the M paths meet the conditions.

[0025] For example, a condition indicates that the transmission mode corresponding to the path is a specific transmission mode, and / or the transmission order corresponding to the path is a specific transmission order. The conditions for any two paths out of the M paths may be the same or different, without specific limitations. A specific transmission mode can be one or more specific transmission modes, such as reflection, without specific limitations. A specific transmission order can be one or more specific transmission orders, such as 1, without specific limitations.

[0026] Thus, if the second information instructs the third device to send information about paths that meet the conditions, then M paths meet the conditions. The third device can then selectively determine and report the M paths that meet the conditions based on the second information, eliminating the need to determine other paths and reducing the processing and transmission load of the third device. Alternatively, if the second information instructs the third device to send information about whether a path meets or does not meet the conditions, the third device and the fourth device can negotiate the conditions corresponding to the paths. Therefore, the third device can determine whether the M paths meet the corresponding conditions according to these conditions and indicate to the fourth device whether each of the M paths meets the conditions. This reduces the amount of information reported by the third device.

[0027] For example, there are M paths and 3 paths. Path 1 is a first-order reflection, path 2 is a first-order scattering, and path 3 is a second-order reflection plus scattering. The conditions include that the path is a first-order reflection, the path is a first-order scattering, and the path is a second-order reflection plus reflection. The third device can send first information indicating that path 1 meets the conditions, path 2 meets the conditions, and path 3 does not meet the conditions.

[0028] In one possible implementation, the first information includes at least one of the following (1) to (4): (1) information on the transmission methods corresponding to the M paths and information on the transmission orders corresponding to the M paths; (2) information on the transmission methods corresponding to at least one path associated with each of the P transmission orders, wherein the P transmission orders are the union of the transmission orders corresponding to the M paths, and at least one path associated with one of the transmission orders includes a path among the M paths with a transmission order of one transmission order, and P is a positive integer; or, (3) information on the transmission orders corresponding to at least one path associated with each of the Q transmission methods, wherein the Q transmission methods are the union of the transmission methods corresponding to the M paths, and at least one path associated with one of the transmission methods includes a path among the M paths with a transmission method of one transmission order, and Q is a positive integer; or, (4) information on whether the transmission method and / or transmission order of each of the M paths meets the conditions, or information on whether the conditions are not met.

[0029] Thus, multiple possibilities for the first information are provided. When the first information includes the information shown in (1) above, the fourth device can select the required order and transmission method path according to its needs (such as the requirements of different positioning methods), increasing the flexibility of the fourth device's selection and improving the availability and reliability of the fourth device's positioning application. When the first information includes the information shown in (2) above, it provides information on the paths existing under each transmission order and the corresponding transmission methods, enabling the fourth device to flexibly select the path for positioning based on the transmission order, which is beneficial to improving the availability and reliability of positioning. When the first information includes the information shown in (3) above, it provides information on the paths existing under each transmission method and the corresponding transmission order, enabling the fourth device to flexibly select the path for positioning based on the transmission method, which is beneficial to improving the availability and reliability of positioning. When the first information includes the information shown in (4) above, the third device can directly report whether each of the M paths meets the conditions, thus simplifying the amount of first information transmitted from the third device to the fourth device.

[0030] In one possible implementation, the first information indicates the transmission mode and / or transmission order corresponding to each of the M paths, including: the first information includes probability information for each of the M paths. The probability information for any path indicates at least one of the following: the probability corresponding to the transmission mode, the probability corresponding to the transmission order, or the probability corresponding to both the transmission mode and the transmission order. The probability information for each path can also be referred to as the probability information corresponding to each path, etc.

[0031] When the transmission order of any path in the M paths is 1, the probability of the transmission mode corresponding to any path represents the probability that the transmission mode corresponding to any path belongs to S transmission modes, where S is a positive integer. When the transmission order of any path in the M paths is greater than 1, the probability of the transmission mode corresponding to any path represents the probability that the transmission mode corresponding to each order in any path belongs to S transmission modes, which is equivalent to representing the probability of the transmission mode of any path at each order, or it can be regarded as describing the probability of the transmission mode of any path at each order; or, the probability of the transmission mode corresponding to any path represents the probability that the transmission mode of any path belongs to a certain transmission mode. The probability of the transmission mode and transmission order corresponding to any path can be determined based on the probability of the transmission mode and the probability of the transmission order corresponding to any path. The probability of the transmission order corresponding to any path indicates the probability that any path belongs to W transmission orders, where W is a positive integer.

[0032] For example, the probability of a transmission mode corresponding to any path is that the first-order transmission mode of any path belongs to reflection, refraction, and scattering, respectively, with probabilities of {0.1, 0.5, 0.4}, and the second-order transmission mode of any path belongs to reflection, refraction, and scattering, respectively, with probabilities of {0.3, 0.6, 0.1}. Alternatively, the probability of a transmission mode corresponding to any path can be expressed as the probability that any path belongs to U transmission modes, where U is an integer greater than or equal to S. For example, the probability of a transmission mode corresponding to any path is that the transmission mode of any path belongs to reflection and refraction with a probability of 0.5, and the probability of the transmission mode of any path belongs to refraction and refraction with a probability of 0.5. Alternatively, the probability of a transmission mode corresponding to any path includes the probability that the first-order transmission mode of any path is refraction with a probability of 0.6, and the probability that the second-order transmission mode is reflection with a probability of 0.4.

[0033] This provides a mechanism for indicating the transmission method and / or transmission order. Under this mechanism, the third device can comprehensively and accurately report the probability information of the M paths.

[0034] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving third information and sending fourth information. The third information instructs the third device to report capability information, and the fourth information instructs the third device to have capabilities, including the transmission modes and / or transmission orders supported by the third device. Optionally, the transmission modes corresponding to the M paths are the transmission modes supported by the third device, and / or the transmission orders corresponding to the M paths are the transmission orders supported by the third device.

[0035] In this way, the third device is questioned about its capabilities, thereby increasing the success rate of the third device in determining or reporting the first information.

[0036] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: sending fifth information, which indicates parameters corresponding to the M paths respectively. Optionally, the fifth information and the first information are used to locate the first device.

[0037] The first and fifth pieces of information can be carried in the same message or in different messages; there are no specific restrictions on this.

[0038] This allows the fourth device to receive more information from the M paths, enabling it to select the path more accurately and locate the first device more precisely.

[0039] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide an information transmission method. This method can be applied to a fourth device. The content of the fourth device can refer to the content of the fourth device discussed in the first aspect above, and repeated details will not be listed again. The method includes: acquiring first information, wherein the first information indicates the transmission mode and / or transmission order corresponding to M paths respectively, the transmission mode corresponding to any of the M paths includes at least one of reflection, scattering, diffraction, transmission, or refraction, the M paths are the signal transmission paths between the first device and the second device, and M is a positive integer. Optionally, the fourth device can also locate or sense the first device based on the first information.

[0040] In one possible implementation, obtaining the first information includes: the fourth device determining the first information itself, or receiving the first information from the third device. The content of the first information determined by the fourth device can be referred to the content of the first information determined by the third device as discussed in the first part above, and will not be listed here individually.

[0041] In one possible implementation, the first information may also indicate the transmission mode and / or transmission order of the third path, or it may be described as the first information also indicating the third path, which is a LOS path.

[0042] In one possible implementation, the transmission order of any of the M paths is a natural number.

[0043] In one possible implementation, the transmission order of any path in the M paths is associated with the transmission mode of any path.

[0044] In one possible implementation, the transmission order corresponding to any path is associated with the transmission mode corresponding to any path, including: the number of transmission orders corresponding to any path is greater than or equal to the number of types of transmission modes corresponding to any path; and the number of transmission orders corresponding to any path is greater than or equal to the number of transmission modes corresponding to any path.

[0045] In one possible implementation, when M is greater than 1, the M paths satisfy the following conditions: any two paths in the M paths have the same transmission order and the same transmission method; or, at least two paths in the M paths have different transmission orders; or, at least two paths in the M paths have different transmission methods.

[0046] In one possible implementation, the transmission method corresponding to all M paths is reflection, and the transmission order corresponding to all M paths is 1.

[0047] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: sending second information indicating information about paths whose transmission mode and / or transmission order meet the conditions, or the second information indicating that a third device sends information about whether a path meets or does not meet the conditions. In this case, all M paths meet the conditions.

[0048] In one possible implementation, the first information includes at least one of the following: information on the transmission methods of the M paths and information on the transmission orders of the M paths; information on the transmission methods of at least one path associated with each of the P transmission orders, wherein the P transmission orders are the union of the transmission orders corresponding to the M paths, and at least one path associated with one transmission order includes paths among the M paths with a transmission order of one transmission order, and P is a positive integer; information on the transmission orders of at least one path associated with each of the Q transmission methods, wherein the Q transmission methods are the union of the transmission methods corresponding to the M paths, and at least one path associated with one transmission method includes paths among the M paths with a transmission order of one transmission method, and Q is a positive integer; or, information on whether the transmission method and / or transmission order of each of the M paths meets the conditions, or information on whether the conditions are not met.

[0049] In one possible implementation, the transmission modes corresponding to W paths out of the M paths are all associated with a first transmission order, where the transmission order corresponding to W paths is the first transmission order and W is an integer greater than 1; and / or, the transmission orders corresponding to X paths out of the M paths are all associated with the first transmission mode, where the transmission modes corresponding to X paths are the first transmission mode and X is an integer greater than 1.

[0050] In one possible implementation, the first information indicates the transmission mode corresponding to each of the M paths, including: the first information includes probability information for each of the M paths, wherein the probability information for any path indicates the probability corresponding to the transmission mode, the probability corresponding to the transmission order, or at least one of the probabilities corresponding to the transmission mode and the transmission order.

[0051] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: sending third information, the third information being used to instruct a third device to report capability information; and receiving fourth information, the fourth information indicating the capabilities of the third device, the capabilities of the third device including the transmission mode and / or transmission order supported by the third device.

[0052] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving fifth information, the fifth information indicating parameters corresponding to the M paths respectively; and locating the first device based on first information, including: locating the first device based on the fifth information and the first information.

[0053] Thirdly, this application provides a communication device. The communication device can be the third device described in the first aspect above, or a module (e.g., a chip system) configured in the third device, or a larger device including the third device. For example, if the third device is a DU, then the communication device can be an access network node or device including the DU. The communication device includes corresponding means or modules for performing the first aspect above or any possible implementation. For example, the communication device includes a processing unit (sometimes also called a processing module) and a communication unit (sometimes also called a communication module). The communication unit is used to perform transmit and receive operations, such as functions related to sending and receiving; the communication unit can be called a transceiver unit; optionally, the communication unit includes a receiving unit and a sending unit. The processing unit is used to perform processing operations. Alternatively, the communication unit can be a transmitter and a receiver, or the communication unit can be a transmitter and a receiver. Optionally, the communication device also includes a storage unit (sometimes also called a storage module).

[0054] For example, the processing unit is used to determine the first information, and the communication unit is used to send the first information.

[0055] The communication device can also implement any of the possible implementations in the first aspect described above, which will not be listed here.

[0056] In one possible design, the communication device is a communication chip, the processing unit can be one or more processors or processor cores, and the communication unit can be the input / output circuit, input / output interface, or antenna port of the communication chip.

[0057] Fourthly, this application provides a communication device. The communication device can be the fourth device described in the first aspect above, or a module (e.g., a chip system) configured in the fourth device, or a larger device including the fourth device. For example, if the fourth device is a CU, then the communication device can be an access network node or device including the CU. The communication device includes corresponding means or modules for performing the second aspect above or any possible implementation. For example, the communication device includes a processing unit (sometimes also called a processing module) and a communication unit (sometimes also called a communication module). The communication unit is used to perform transmit and receive operations, such as functions related to sending and receiving; the communication unit can be called a transceiver unit; optionally, the communication unit includes a receiving unit and a sending unit. The processing unit is used to perform processing operations. Alternatively, the communication unit can be a transmitter and a receiver, or the communication unit can be a transmitter and a receiver. Optionally, the communication device also includes a storage unit (sometimes also called a storage module).

[0058] For example, the communication unit is used to receive first information, and the processing unit can be used to locate or sense the first device based on the first information.

[0059] The communication device can also implement any of the possible implementations in the second aspect described above, which will not be listed here.

[0060] In one possible design, the communication device is a communication chip, the processing unit can be one or more processors or processor cores, and the communication unit can be the input / output circuit, input / output interface, or antenna port of the communication chip.

[0061] Fifthly, this application provides a communication device. The communication device includes one or more processors. The one or more processors are capable of executing computer programs or instructions stored in a memory, which, when executed, cause the communication device to implement the methods described in the first aspect, any possible implementation of the first aspect, the second aspect, or any possible implementation of the second aspect.

[0062] Optionally, the communication device may include a memory, in which case the memory may be coupled to one or more processors, or the memory may be configured relatively independently of one or more processors. Alternatively, the memory may exist independently of the communication device.

[0063] In one possible design, the communication device may further include an interface circuit, wherein the processor is used to communicate with other devices or components through the interface circuit.

[0064] The aforementioned communication device may be a terminal device, or a communication module within a terminal device, or a chip in the terminal responsible for communication functions, such as a modem chip (also known as a baseband chip), or a SoC or SIP chip containing a modem module. Alternatively, the aforementioned communication device may be an access network device, or a module within an access network device.

[0065] Sixthly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device. The communication device includes a processor and an interface circuit. The interface circuit is used to receive signals from other communication devices besides the communication device and transmit them to the processor, or to send signals from the processor to other communication devices besides the communication device. The processor, through logic circuits or executable code instructions, is used to implement the methods of the first aspect, any possible implementation of the first aspect, the second aspect, or any possible implementation of the second aspect. The number of processors can be one or more, and is not limited thereto.

[0066] In the specific implementation process, the communication device can be a chip, and the processor can be a transistor, gate circuit, flip-flop, and various logic circuits, etc. The specific implementation method of the processor is not limited in the embodiments of this application.

[0067] In one implementation, the communication device can be a wireless communication device, i.e., a computer device that supports wireless communication functionality. Specifically, the wireless communication device can be a terminal device such as a smartphone, or a network device such as a wireless access network device (e.g., a base station).

[0068] In another implementation, the communication device can be a component of a wireless communication device, such as an integrated circuit product like a system-on-a-chip (SoC) or communication chip. A SoC can also be called a System-on-a-Chip (SoC). A communication chip may include a baseband processing chip and a radio frequency (RF) processing chip. A baseband processing chip is sometimes referred to as a modem or baseband chip. An RF processing chip is sometimes referred to as an RF transceiver or RF chip. In physical implementation, some or all of the communication chip may be integrated within the SoC. For example, the baseband processing chip may be integrated into the SoC, while the RF processing chip may not be integrated. The interface circuit can be the RF processing chip in the wireless communication device, and the processor can be the baseband processing chip in the wireless communication device. The interface circuit can be an input / output interface, interface circuit, output circuit, input circuit, pin, or related circuit on the chip or chip system. The processor can also be a processing circuit or logic circuit.

[0069] In another implementation, the communication device can be a chip system, which may consist of chips or include chips and other discrete devices. Chip systems may include, for example, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), system-on-chips (SoCs), CPUs, network processors (NPs), digital signal processors (DSPs), microcontroller units (MCUs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), or other integrated chips.

[0070] In a seventh aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication system. The communication system is used to implement the methods described in the first aspect, any possible implementation of the first aspect, the second aspect, or any possible implementation of the second aspect.

[0071] For example, the communication device includes any of the communication devices described in the third aspect and any of the possible embodiments described above, as well as any of the communication devices described in the fourth aspect and any of the possible embodiments described above.

[0072] Eighthly, embodiments of this application provide a chip system. The chip system includes a processor. Optionally, the chip system may further include an interface (such as a communication interface). The processor can be used to implement any of the methods described in the first aspect and possible implementations to the fourth aspect and possible implementations. Optionally, the chip system also includes a memory. The memory is used to store a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions). The processor is used to call and run the computer program from the memory, causing a device equipped with the chip system to perform the methods described in the first aspect, any possible implementation of the first aspect, the second aspect, or any possible implementation of the second aspect. Implementations of the chip system can be referred to the content of the chip system discussed above, and will not be listed here.

[0073] Ninthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer-readable storage medium. This computer-readable storage medium is used to store a computer program or instructions that, when executed, implement the method as described in the first aspect and possible implementations of the first aspect, any possible implementation of the first aspect, the second aspect, or any possible implementation of the second aspect.

[0074] In a tenth aspect, embodiments of this application provide a computer program product. When a computer reads and executes the computer program product, the computer performs a method as described in the first aspect, any possible implementation of the first aspect, the second aspect, or any possible implementation of the second aspect. The computer program product includes, for example, a computer program and / or instructions.

[0075] Regarding the beneficial effects of any of the technical solutions in the second to tenth aspects mentioned above, please refer to the discussion of the beneficial effects of the corresponding technical solutions in the first aspect, which will not be listed here again. Attached Figure Description

[0076] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the path between the sender and the receiver;

[0077] Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating the process of determining the location of the terminal device;

[0078] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the principle of positioning based on uplink time difference of arrival;

[0079] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the principle of virtual base station-based positioning;

[0080] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of an architecture of a communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application;

[0081] Figure 6A is a schematic diagram of another architecture of the communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application;

[0082] Figure 6B is a schematic diagram of another architecture of the communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application;

[0083] Figure 6C is a schematic diagram of another architecture of the communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application;

[0084] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of the open access network applicable to the embodiments of this application;

[0085] Figure 8 is a flowchart illustrating an information transmission method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0086] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the path matching process provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0087] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the positioning terminal device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0088] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the interaction between devices provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0089] Figure 12 is a flowchart illustrating another information transmission method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0090] Figure 13 is a flowchart illustrating another information transmission method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0091] Figure 14 is a flowchart illustrating another information transmission method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0092] Figure 15 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0093] Figure 16 is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0094] Figure 17 is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0095] The embodiments of this application will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0096] The following explanations of some terms used in the embodiments of this application are provided to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0097] 1. LOS and NLOS:

[0098] LOS and NLOS are two relative transmission scenarios. LOS means there are no obstacles in the path of the transmitted signal between the sender and receiver. Obstacles can also be called blockages or obstructions. NLOS means there are obstacles in the path of the transmitted signal between the sender and receiver. Obstacles can be people, animals, or objects, and their type is not limited. For example, an obstacle can be at least one of a building (such as a building wall), a vehicle, or vegetation. Furthermore, the obstacle can be stationary or moving relative to a reference point, without limitation. A reference point can also be called a reference frame, such as the Earth or the ground.

[0099] Obstacles in a path can affect signal transmission. That is, some obstacles in the path will affect the signal transmitted along that path. These effects include at least one of reflection, scattering, diffraction, transmission, or refraction. Due to the influence of obstacles, at least one of the following aspects of the transmitted signal—its intensity, angle, direction (or transmission direction or propagation direction), or power—will be altered.

[0100] Reflection refers to the phenomenon where a wave (such as an electromagnetic wave) reflects back when it reaches an obstacle. Scattering refers to the phenomenon where, when a wave encounters an obstacle whose surface is approximately equal to or slightly smaller than the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave, the wave carrying the signal propagates in different directions. For example, electromagnetic waves will scatter when they encounter a rough surface. Diffraction, also known as propagation through a barrier, is the physical phenomenon where a wave deviates from its original straight-line propagation when it encounters an obstacle. Transmission is the phenomenon where a wave passes through an obstacle after refraction and emerges. Objects that are transmitted through the barrier are, for example, transparent or translucent bodies, such as glass or color filters. Refraction refers to the change in the direction of wave propagation as it passes through an obstacle or experiences gradual changes in the obstacle.

[0101] Based on the different types of effects obstacles have on signals along a path, obstacles can be classified as reflectors, scatterers, diffractors, transmitters, or refractors. Reflectors reflect signals along a path. Scatterers scatter signals along a path. Diffractors diffract signals along a path. Transmitters transmit signals along a path. Refractors refract signals along a path. Reflectors, scatterers, diffractors, transmitters, and refractors can be further classified according to their actual shape, without specific limitations. For example, a reflector can include a reflecting surface or a reflecting point. A reflecting surface is a surface that reflects a signal, and a reflecting point is a point that reflects a signal.

[0102] 2. Path, LOS path, and NLOS path:

[0103] A path can also be called a route, path, propagation path, or transmission path. The path through which a signal is transmitted from the sender to the receiver may include one or more paths. When there are two or more paths, these paths can be called multipaths, or the transmission between the sender and receiver can be described as multipath transmission. Any of these paths can be classified as a LOS path or an NLOS path. A LOS path can also be called a LOS propagation path or LOS transmission path. An NLOS path can also be called an NLOS propagation path or NLOS transmission path. A LOS path is a signal transmission path without obstacles; for example, an LOS path is a straight line connecting the sender and receiver. In contrast to a LOS path, an NLOS path is a signal transmission path with obstacles. When the obstacles on an NLOS path are all reflectors, then the NLOS path can be called a reflection path.

[0104] 3. Transmission method and transmission order:

[0105] Transmission mode can also be called propagation mode, transmission paradigm, or propagation paradigm. It can be understood as the way a signal is transmitted along a path. Because obstacles along the path have different effects on the signal, different paths (such as NLOS paths) will exhibit different transmission modes. Accordingly, the transmission mode of a path can be classified according to the type of effect of obstacles along the path, including at least one of reflection, scattering, diffraction, transmission, or refraction. In other words, transmission mode includes one or more combinations of reflection, scattering, diffraction, transmission, or refraction.

[0106] For example, if an obstacle reflects a signal on a path, then the transmission method corresponding to that path includes reflection. As another example, if one obstacle reflects a signal on a path and another obstacle refracts the signal, then the transmission method corresponding to that path includes both reflection and refraction. Again, if one obstacle reflects a signal on a path and another obstacle reflects the signal, then the transmission method corresponding to that path includes both reflection and reflection.

[0107] In addition, the type (or category) of transmission mode includes one of reflection, scattering, diffraction, transmission, or refraction. For example, if the transmission mode corresponding to a certain path includes reflection and refraction, then the transmission mode type corresponding to that path is two; as another example, if the transmission mode corresponding to a certain path includes reflection and reflection, then the transmission mode type corresponding to that path is one.

[0108] The transmission order can also be called the propagation order, etc. The transmission order takes the value of a natural number, such as 0, 1, 2, 3, etc. The transmission order can be understood (or replaced) as the number of obstacles in the path, or the number of obstacles in the path that affect the signal, or the number of times the direction / angle of the transmitted signal changes in the path, or the number of transmission methods corresponding to the path, or the number of obstacles in the path that have a specific effect on the signal, or it can be understood as the number of times the signal in the path changes direction due to a specific transmission method. The specific effect can be one or more effects, and the specific transmission method can also be one or more transmission methods; there is no specific limitation. For example, if the specific effect or specific transmission method is reflection, then the transmission order can be the number of obstacles in the path that reflect the signal, or it can be the number of times the signal in the path changes direction due to reflection.

[0109] When the transmission order of a path is greater than 1, the transmission order of that path can be described as multi-order. In one possible design, the transmission method corresponding to that path can be (or can be described as) a combination of transmission methods corresponding to multiple orders. In this case, the transmission method corresponding to the path can be considered as a single method, which is the result of a combination of transmission methods corresponding to multiple orders. For example, if the transmission order of the path is 2, and the transmission methods corresponding to this order are refraction and reflection, then the transmission method of the path can be described as refraction + reflection (or refraction and reflection, or refraction - reflection). In this case, the number of transmission methods for the path can be considered as 1.

[0110] In another possible design, the transmission method corresponding to a certain path can be described as the transmission method corresponding to each order in a multi-order transmission path. In other words, the path has multiple transmission methods, including the transmission method corresponding to each order. For example, if the transmission order of the path is 2, and the transmission methods corresponding to this order are refraction and reflection, then the transmission method of the path can be described as first-order refraction and second-order reflection. In this case, the number of transmission methods for the path can be considered to be 2.

[0111] In one possible design, the transmission order is associated with the transmission mode. The transmission order corresponding to a certain path is greater than or equal to the number of transmission modes included in that path, and / or the transmission order is greater than or equal to the number of types of transmission modes included in that path.

[0112] Please refer to Figure 1, which is a schematic diagram of the paths between the sender and the receiver. As shown in Figure 1, there are 4 paths between the sender and the receiver, namely path abcd, path ad, path aed, and path afd.

[0113] The signal on path abcd is reflected by obstacles 1 and 3 in sequence, therefore the transmission mode of path abcd is reflection, and the transmission mode of path abcd includes reflection and reflection. The transmission order of path abcd is 2. The signal on path ad does not pass through any obstacles, so the transmission order of path ad is 0. The signal on path aed is reflected once by obstacle 1, therefore the transmission mode of path aed is reflection, and the transmission mode of path aed includes reflection. The transmission order of path aed is 1. The signal on path afd is refracted once by obstacle 2, therefore the transmission mode of path afd is refraction, and the transmission mode of path aed includes refraction. The transmission order of path aed is 1.

[0114] Since the transmission mode and / or transmission order of a certain path represent some specific content corresponding to that path, the transmission mode and / or transmission order corresponding to the path can also be regarded as or collectively referred to as the type corresponding to that path.

[0115] 4. Path-related parameters (parameter(s)):

[0116] The parameters corresponding to a path can also be called path parameters, path parameter sets (set(s)), or path parameters, etc., and their names are not limited. Path parameters are used to determine (or define) the path, or in other words, path parameters can be used to distinguish or identify the path. Path parameters include one or more types of parameters for the path. One or more types of parameters include, for example, at least one of the following: distance, phase, angle, power, intensity, loss, delay, time of arrival (TOA), reference signal time difference (RTSD), relative time of arrival (RTOA), or channel impulse response.

[0117] The path angles include at least one of the following: direction of arrival (DoA), direction of departure (DoD), angle of arrival (AoA), elevation angle, or azimuth angle. The direction of arrival can be understood as the angle at which the signal is emitted from the transmitter's transmitting antenna. The angle of arrival can be understood as the angle at which the signal reaches the receiver's receiving antenna. The direction of arrival can be divided into horizontal and vertical angles of arrival. The angle of arrival can be further divided into horizontal angle of arrival (azimuth-angle of arrival) and vertical angle of arrival (ZoA). Path delay refers to the time taken from one transmission at the transmitter to the other reception at the receiver, also known as the time of flight. Channel impulse response can be considered the channel time-domain response, referring to the amplitude and / or phase changes experienced by the signal as it propagates along the path. For example, the parameters corresponding to a certain path include a starting angle of 108 degrees (°) and a time delay of 112 nanoseconds (ns).

[0118] 5. Environment and Environmental Information:

[0119] The environment can also be referred to as a scene. In this application's embodiments, the environment refers to the environment in which the sender or receiver is located. The environment in which the sender is located can be an environment determined with the sender's position as a reference point; similarly, the environment in which the receiver is located can be understood as an environment determined with the receiver's position as a reference point. In fact, both the environment in which the sender and the environment in which the receiver are located can include both the sender and the receiver. The environment can be used to assist in locating the sender and the receiver. In addition to the sender and the receiver, the scene can also include obstacles.

[0120] Information used to indicate the environment is called environmental information. Environmental information can also be called environmental parameter information, or environmental parameter set information, etc., and its name is not limited. Environmental information indicates the environment in which the sender or receiver is located. Environmental information indicates obstacles in the environment. Environmental information includes at least one of the following: the number of obstacles, their location, shape, or material properties. The content of obstacles can refer to the obstacle content discussed above; repeated descriptions will not be listed again. Optionally, environmental information indicates at least one of the following: the outline and material of buildings / vegetation, the outline and location of vehicles, the location of pedestrians, or the distribution of crowds.

[0121] Environmental information can take the form of maps or point clouds (such as two-dimensional, three-dimensional, or higher-dimensional point clouds). Map information, such as building maps, can contain the coordinates of multiple edges of buildings, thus indicating the location, shape, and size of obstacles in the environment. Three-dimensional point cloud information includes a large number of points, each containing a three-dimensional coordinate and other attributes, such as the material corresponding to the point.

[0122] 6. Reference signal (RS):

[0123] Reference signals can also be called pilot signals or pilots. For example, a reference signal can be a signal provided by the transmitter to the receiver for channel estimation, channel sounding, or data demodulation. Reference signals include uplink reference signals and downlink reference signals. Uplink reference signals include, for example, demodulation reference signals (DMRS) and sounding reference signals (SRS). DMRS can include, for example, DMRS for demodulating the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) (or simply DMRS for PUCCH) and DMRS for demodulating the physical uplink share channel (PUSCH) (or simply DMRS for PUCCH). Downlink reference signals include, for example, channel state information-reference signals (CSI-RS), cell-specific reference signals (C-RS / CRS), and positioning reference signals (P-RS / PRS). There are various types of reference signals. As standards continue to evolve, the names of reference signals may change, and even more reference signals may appear. No specific limitations are made on this.

[0124] 7. Virtual Station (VS):

[0125] Virtual stations are used to assist in positioning. A virtual station can be introduced on an NLOS path to assist in locating other devices. A virtual station can be a virtual point or a virtual object. One virtual station corresponds to one NLOS path. The LOS path parameters between the virtual station corresponding to an NLOS path and the sender or receiver can be equal to the parameters of the NLOS path. For example, a virtual station corresponding to an NLOS path satisfies at least one of the following conditions: the distance between the virtual station and the sender or receiver is equal to the distance (or length, or transmission distance, etc.) of the NLOS path; the signal transmission delay between the virtual station and the sender or receiver is equal to the delay of the NLOS path; the angle between the virtual station and the sender or receiver is equal to the angle of the NLOS path; or the channel energy between the virtual station and the sender or receiver is equal to the energy of the NLOS path. Virtual stations include, for example, virtual base stations (VBS). Furthermore, a virtual station can be replaced by a virtual base station, virtual reference station, virtual point, virtual reference point, virtual object, or virtual reference object, etc., without limitation on its name.

[0126] 8. Location:

[0127] Location can be relative, for example, the location of a device can be its position relative to another device. Alternatively, location can be absolute, for example, the location of a device can be its geographical location. The geographical location of a device includes, for example, its longitude and latitude, and may also include its altitude.

[0128] Since the device's location may differ at different times, in this embodiment, the device's location at the first moment is referred to as the prior position, and the device's location after the first moment (such as the second moment) is referred to as the current position. The first moment is earlier than the second moment. The current position is relative to the prior position and does not specifically refer to the position at this very moment (or now). For example, if the current time is 12:00 PM on March 23, 2024, and the historical time is 12:00 PM on March 22, 2024, then the device's location at the historical time is the prior position, and the device's location at 12:30 PM on March 22, 2024 can also be considered as the current position relative to that prior position.

[0129] 9. Ray tracing (RT) algorithm:

[0130] Ray tracing algorithms can be broadly classified into two categories: forward ray tracing algorithms and backward ray tracing algorithms. The basic principle of forward ray tracing algorithms is the shooting-and-bouncing ray (SBR) method, also known as the ray-emitting method.

[0131] Ray tracing algorithms use rays to simulate the propagation of electromagnetic waves. The basic principle of the ray tracing algorithm is introduced below. Using a transmitting antenna as the source point, a large number of rays are emitted in the surrounding area along a certain angle and / or resolution. Then, each ray is tracked individually. If a ray encounters an obstacle, it will produce reflection, transmission, diffraction, or scattering phenomena. The ray propagation process is repeated continuously until a termination condition is met. The termination condition typically includes at least one of the following: the ray intersects with the receiving sphere located at the receiving antenna, the ray leaves a specific area, or the ray's energy falls below a threshold. The forward ray tracing algorithm includes steps 1 to 4, which are described below.

[0132] Step 1: Initial ray beam generation. For example, starting from the position of the transmitting antenna, generate U initial rays according to the set horizontal and vertical angle ranges and angular resolution, where U is a positive integer.

[0133] Step 2: Ray Intersection Detection. For example, tracing the i-th ray (0≤i≤U-1), determine whether the i-th ray intersects with all objects in the propagation scene. If they do not intersect, terminate this process early and begin tracing the next ray. If they intersect, proceed to the next step. Ray intersection determination is based on geometric calculations, such as algorithms for finding the intersection of a ray with polygons or triangles.

[0134] Step 3: Intersection Calculation and New Ray Generation. For example, determine the intersection point of the i-th ray with the nearest object. Generate new rays or ray beams based on different propagation mechanisms. For example, if it is reflection, change the ray's exit direction according to the law of reflection and set the starting point to the location of the reflection point. If the ray's propagation mode is diffraction, generate diffracted ray beams according to the user-defined diffraction angle interval, with their starting points being diffraction points on the edges and having the same angle with the edges; if the ray's propagation mode is transmission, there is no need to change the ray's direction, only set its starting point to the transmission point; if the ray's propagation mode is scattering, generate scattered ray beams with different directions according to the user's scattering range and angular resolution, with their starting points being scattering points and the dot product of the propagation direction and the normal of the scattering surface being greater than 0. Continue tracking new rays until the termination condition is met. If the ray intersects with the receiving sphere, proceed to step 4 below; otherwise, continue tracking the next ray and repeat steps 2 and 3.

[0135] Step 4: Calculation and Superposition of Ray Field Intensity. For example, calculate the field intensity carried by the current ray and superimpose its vector into the total field intensity until the tracking process of all rays is completed. At this point, the forward ray tracking algorithm is complete, thus obtaining information such as the total field intensity and the time delay, phase, and angle of each effective ray.

[0136] The terms mentioned above may have other names, or may appear as the standard evolves; no specific limitations are made in this regard.

[0137] In the various embodiments of this application, the number of nouns, unless otherwise specified, refers to "singular nouns or plural nouns," that is, "one or more." "At least one" means one or more, and "more than one" means two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of singular or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c means: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a and b and c, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0138] In this application embodiment, "instruction" can include direct instruction, indirect instruction, explicit instruction, and implicit instruction. When describing a certain instruction information to indicate A, it can be understood that the instruction information carries A, directly indicates A, or indirectly indicates A. In this application, the information indicated by the instruction information is called the information to be instructed. In the specific implementation process, there are many ways to indicate the information to be instructed, such as, but not limited to, directly indicating the information to be instructed, such as the information to be instructed itself or its index. It can also indirectly indicate the information to be instructed by indicating other information, wherein there is an association between the other information and the information to be instructed. It can also indicate only a part of the information to be instructed, while the other parts of the information to be instructed are known or agreed upon in advance. For example, the instruction of specific information can also be achieved by using the arrangement order of various information in advance (e.g., protocol stipulation), thereby reducing the instruction overhead to a certain extent. In addition, the information to be instructed can be sent as a whole or divided into multiple sub-information to be sent separately, and the sending period and / or sending time of these sub-information can be the same or different.

[0139] In the embodiments of this application, "send" and "receive" indicate the direction of signal transmission. For example, "send information to XX" can be understood as the destination of the information being XX, which may include direct transmission via the air interface or indirect transmission by other units or modules via the air interface. "Receive information from YY" can be understood as the source of the information being YY, which may include direct reception from YY via the air interface or indirect reception from YY by other units or modules via the air interface. "Send" can also be understood as the "output" of the chip interface, and "receive" can also be understood as the "input" of the chip interface. In other words, sending and receiving can occur between devices, such as between network devices and terminal devices, or within a device, such as between components, modules, chips, software modules, or hardware modules within the device via a bus, wiring, or interface.

[0140] In addition, in the embodiments of this application, words such as "exemplarily," "for example," "likely," "optional," "possible implementation," "possible mode of implementation," or "possible design" are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or descriptions. Any embodiment or design scheme described as an "example" in this application should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or design schemes. Specifically, the use of the term "example" is intended to present concepts in a concrete manner. In the embodiments of this application, "of," "corresponding / relevant," and "corresponding" may sometimes be used interchangeably, and it should be noted that their intended meanings are consistent unless their distinction is emphasized.

[0141] Positioning technology can be applied to various services, such as location services or sensing services. The following section, with reference to the schematic diagram of the positioning method shown in Figure 2, introduces positioning technology based on uplink time difference of arrival.

[0142] S201, LMF sends a location information request to the serving base station. The location information request is used to request information for location services, such as SRS configuration information. The serving base station is the base station currently serving the terminal device.

[0143] S202. The serving base station sends a location information response to the LMF. The location information response may carry SRS configuration information.

[0144] S203. The serving base station sends SRS configuration information to the terminal device.

[0145] S204, LMF sends a measurement request to the neighboring base station. The measurement request is used to request the neighboring base station to measure the reference signal. Here, the signal coverage area of ​​the neighboring base station includes the terminal equipment, and it is a base station adjacent to the serving base station.

[0146] S205 and LMF send a measurement request to the serving base station. The measurement request is used to request neighboring base stations to measure reference signals.

[0147] S206. The terminal device sends an SRS to the serving base station. The terminal device sends the SRS based on the SRS configuration information.

[0148] S207. The terminal device sends an SRS to the neighboring base station. The terminal device sends an SRS based on the SRS configuration information.

[0149] S208. The serving base station sends measurement information to the LMF. This measurement information includes the measurement results of the SRS measured by the serving base station, such as the time when the serving base station received the SRS.

[0150] S209. The neighboring base station sends measurement information to the LMF. This measurement information includes the measurement results of the SRS measured by the serving base station, such as the time when the neighboring base station received the SRS.

[0151] S2010, LMF calculates location. LMF can determine the location of the terminal device based on measurement information sent by the serving base station and measurement information from neighboring base stations.

[0152] Taking the serving base station as base station 1, and neighboring base stations including base station 2 and base station 3, the principle of LMF calculating the location of the terminal device in Figure 2 will be introduced below with reference to the schematic diagram of the positioning principle based on uplink arrival time difference shown in Figure 3. In Figure 3, the terminal device is located within the coverage area of ​​base station 1, base station 2, and base station 3. The location of base station 1 is represented as (x1, y1), the location of base station 2 is represented as (x2, y2), and the location of base station 3 is represented as (x3, y3). The measurement signal sent by base station 1 to LMF includes the time when base station 1 receives the SRS. The measurement signal sent by base station 2 to LMF includes the time when base station 2 receives the SRS. The measurement signal sent by base station 3 to LMF includes the time when base station 3 receives the SRS. Thus, LMF can determine the location of the terminal device based on the following formulas (1) and (2).

[0153] Among them, (x UE ,y UE ) represents the location of the terminal device, Δt 21 Δt represents the difference between the time base station 2 receives the SRS and the time base station 1 receives the SRS. 31 The difference between the time base station 2 receives the SRS and the time base station 1 receives the SRS, where c represents the speed of light.

[0154] In this way, LMF can determine the location of the terminal device based on the locations of base station 1, base station 2 and base station 3, as well as the measurement information from base station 1, base station 2 and base station 3.

[0155] Therefore, positioning technology based on uplink time difference of arrival requires obtaining distance / angle information between the terminal device and at least three base stations, necessitating multi-cell / multi-site measurements. However, in outdoor macrocell or satellite scenarios, due to the large coverage area of ​​a single base station, the terminal device is often only within the coverage area of ​​one or two base stations, making multi-site positioning measurements impossible and thus preventing positioning.

[0156] To address this, a positioning technology based on virtual base stations is proposed. The basic principle of this technology is to measure the time or angle of specific NLOS paths between the terminal device and the base station, and then use trilateration or triangulation techniques to determine the location of the terminal device.

[0157] Taking an obstacle as a reflector (specifically, a reflecting surface) as an example, multiple reflection paths exist between the terminal device and the base station. According to the law of specular reflection, these multiple reflection paths can be equivalent to the signals emitted by the virtual base station (VBS) at the mirror position of the VBS with respect to the reflecting surface. For any reflection path, its distance can be equivalent to the LOS path emitted by the VBS, which is mirror-symmetric to the base station with respect to the reflecting surface, to the terminal device. Theoretically, when locating the terminal device, its position can be determined using trilateration or tectonic positioning techniques based on the positions of the VBS and the base station.

[0158] For example, please refer to Figure 4, which is a schematic diagram of a VBS-based positioning technology. As shown in Figure 4, the position of the base station is mirror-symmetrical with the position of the virtual base station 1 along the reflective surface 1, and the position of the base station is mirror-symmetrical with the position of the virtual base station 2 along the reflective surface 2. The base station (i.e., the physical base station) and the terminal device are connected by one LOS path and two reflective paths. The LOS path is LOS path adc as shown in Figure 4, and the two reflective paths are reflective path abc and reflective path aec as shown in Figure 4. The virtual base station corresponding to reflective path abc is, for example, virtual base station 2. Thus, the base station can determine the position of the terminal device based on the position of the base station, the position of virtual base station 1, the position of virtual base station 2, the measurement information of reflective path aec, the measurement information of reflective path abc, and the measurement information of LOS path adc. The formula for determining the terminal position can also refer to the contents of formulas (1) and (2) above. In this case, virtual base station 1 is equivalent to base station 2 above, and virtual base station 2 is equivalent to base station 3 above. Alternatively, the location of the terminal device can be determined by using the angle of arrival of the path corresponding to the VBS and BS. The location where multiple AOA directions converge is the location of the terminal device.

[0159] Virtual base station-based positioning technology relies on a single physical base station for location tracking, eliminating the need for multiple base stations. However, this technology places certain requirements on the NLOS path. Using a path that does not meet these requirements will result in poor positioning accuracy.

[0160] In view of this, embodiments of this application provide an information transmission method. In this method, a third device can determine the transmission mode and / or transmission order corresponding to M paths, and send first information to a fourth device, indicating the transmission mode and / or transmission order corresponding to the M paths through the first information. Thus, the third and fourth devices can clarify more specific information about the M paths. Therefore, when the fourth device performs positioning, it can determine a more suitable positioning path based on the first information, thereby improving positioning accuracy.

[0161] The solutions provided in this application are applicable to various communication systems. These systems include, for example, Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) systems, LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD) systems, and 5G (5G) systems. th Generation (5G) (such as new radio (NR) systems), wireless local area network (WLAN) systems, satellite communication systems, side link (SL) communication systems, future evolution communication systems, or integrated systems of multiple communication systems, etc., are not limited to these. SL can also be called side link, side link, direct link, edge link, or auxiliary link, etc. SL includes vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, etc. V2X communication can include: vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication, vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) communication, vehicle-to-network (V2N) communication, etc., without specific limitations.

[0162] The following description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrates a schematic diagram of a communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application.

[0163] Please refer to Figure 5, which is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 5, the communication system includes a third device and a fourth device. Optionally, the communication device may further include a first device and / or a second device.

[0164] The apparatus involved in the embodiments of this application (such as the first apparatus, second apparatus, third apparatus, or fourth apparatus) may be one or more devices, chip systems (such as chips) or other functional modules within the devices, or components, etc. The embodiments of this application do not specifically limit the specific form of the apparatus. Other functional modules may be, for example, software modules, hardware modules, or hardware modules running software, etc. The apparatus may also be replaced by devices, entities, network elements, network entities, communication devices, communication modules, nodes, or communication nodes, etc., and their names are not specifically limited. The first apparatus, second apparatus, third apparatus, or fourth apparatus involved in the various embodiments of this application are only illustrative of apparatus names and do not limit the specific implementation form of the apparatus.

[0165] The first and second devices can communicate with each other. The first device can be any device that needs to be located / sensed, or rather, the device to be located / sensed. The location of the second device can be considered as a reference device for locating the first device, and the location of the second device can be known. One of the first and second devices can be an example of a sender of a reference signal, and the other of the first and second devices can be an example of a receiver of a reference signal. The third and fourth devices communicate with each other. The third device can determine some information and send this information to the fourth device, so that the fourth device can use this information to locate / sensor the first device.

[0166] Examples of how each device is implemented are given below.

[0167] In the first possible design, the third device is identical to the first device. Or, the third device is integrated with the first device.

[0168] For example, the first and third devices may both be terminal devices or modules within terminal devices, and the second device may be a network device or a module within a network device. Alternatively, the first and third devices may both be network devices or modules within network devices, and the second device may be a terminal device or a module within a terminal device. Network devices may be, for example, access network devices or core network devices. Core network devices may be, for example, existing network elements in the core network, or newly added network elements in the core network; no specific limitation is made in this regard.

[0169] In the second possible design, the third device is the same as the second device. Or, the third device is integrated with the second device.

[0170] For example, the second and third devices are both terminal devices or modules within terminal devices, and the first device is a network device or a module within a network device. Alternatively, the second and third devices are both network devices or modules within network devices, and the first device is a terminal device or a module within a terminal device.

[0171] In the third possible design, the third device is any device other than the first and second devices, and there is no limitation on this.

[0172] For example, one of the first and second devices is a terminal device and an access network device, and the other of the first and second devices is another terminal device and an access network device. The third device is, for example, a core network device or a module in a core network device.

[0173] In addition, the fourth device may be, for example, a core network device or a module in a core network device. The core network device may be, for example, an existing network element in the core network or a newly added network element in the core network, without specific limitations.

[0174] The implementation methods of each device are illustrated below using examples from H1 to H9.

[0175] H1, the first and third devices are terminal equipment, the second device is access network equipment, and the fourth device is the integrated result of LMF, SMF and LMF, or SMC.

[0176] H2, the first and third devices are access network equipment, the second device is terminal equipment, and the fourth device is the integration result of LMF, SMF and LMF, or SMC.

[0177] H3, the first device is a terminal device, the second and third devices are both access network devices, and the fourth device is the integration result of LMF, SMF and LMF, or SMC.

[0178] H4, the first device is the terminal equipment, the second device is the access network equipment, the third device is the AMF, and the fourth device is the LMF.

[0179] H5, the first device is the access network equipment, the second device is the terminal equipment, the third device is the AMF, and the fourth device is the LMF.

[0180] H6, the first and third devices are terminal equipment, the second device is DU, and the fourth device is CU / RIC.

[0181] H7, the first and third devices are both DU, the second device is a terminal device, and the fourth device is CU / RIC.

[0182] H8, the first device is a terminal device, the second and third devices are both DU, and the fourth device is CU / RIC.

[0183] H9, the first device is DU, the second and third devices are both terminal equipment, and the fourth device is CU / RIC.

[0184] The above are examples of how various devices are implemented, and do not actually limit the specific implementation method (or form) of the devices.

[0185] Optionally, the first and second devices involved in the embodiments of this application can be different devices or the same device. When the first and second devices are the same, the sender and receiver of the signal can be considered to be the same party, that is, the sender of the signal is also the receiver of the signal. For example, the sender sends a signal, which is reflected by obstacles 1 and 2 to obtain an echo signal, which is then transmitted back to the sender. Since the signal undergoes two reflections, the propagation path is a reflection path, and the corresponding reflection order is 2. This echo signal can also be called the echo signal corresponding to the signal. The echo signal corresponding to the signal can be understood as the reference signal obtained after being processed by the obstacle's reflection, refraction, diffraction, or scattering.

[0186] A terminal device is a device or module that can access a communication system and has corresponding communication functions. A terminal device can be considered a device with wireless transceiver capabilities, and can be a fixed device, mobile device, handheld device, wearable device, vehicle-mounted device, or a wireless device (e.g., a communication module or chip system) built into the aforementioned devices. Terminal devices typically contain communication modules, circuits, or chips that perform the corresponding communication functions. Terminal devices may also be configured with program instructions for performing these communication functions.

[0187] The terminal devices are used to connect people, things, machines, etc., and can be widely used in various scenarios, including but not limited to the following: cellular communication, device-to-device (D2D) communication, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-to-machine / machine-type communications (M2M / MTC) communication, Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), industrial control, self-driving, remote medical care, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wearables, smart transportation, smart city, drones, robots, and other scenarios. For example, terminal equipment includes mobile stations (MS), subscriber units, cellular phones, smartphones, wireless data cards, personal digital assistant (PDA) computers, tablet computers, wireless modems, handsets, laptop computers, machine-type communication (MTC) terminals, tags, transportation vehicles with wireless communication capabilities (such as intelligent vehicles), communication modules, and roadside units (RSUs) with terminal functions. These terminal devices may sometimes be referred to as user equipment (UE), terminals, access stations, UE stations, remote stations, wireless communication equipment, or user devices.

[0188] Network equipment includes, for example, access network equipment (or, referred to as access network device / access network element), and / or core network equipment (or, referred to as core network device / core network element).

[0189] Access network equipment is a device with wireless transceiver capabilities used to communicate with the terminal equipment. The access network equipment includes, but is not limited to, base stations (BTS, Node B, eNodeB / eNB, or gNodeB / gNB), transceiver points (TRPs), 3GPP later-evolved base stations, access nodes in wireless fidelity (WiFi) systems, wireless relay nodes, wireless backhaul nodes, satellites, or drones, etc. A TRP can be a device or module located on the network side of the communication system and possessing corresponding communication functions. A TRP typically contains communication modules, circuits, or chips that perform the corresponding communication functions. The TRP can also be configured with program instructions for performing the corresponding communication functions and corresponding program instructions. The base station can be: a macro base station, a micro base station, a pico base station, a small cell, a relay station, etc. Multiple base stations can support networks using the same access technology mentioned above, or they can support networks using different access technologies mentioned above. A base station can contain one or more co-located or non-co-located transmission / reception points. Access network equipment can also be a wireless controller, CU (Coverage Unit), or aggregation unit (DU) in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario. Access network equipment can also be a server, wearable device, or vehicle-mounted equipment. For example, in V2X technology, the access network equipment can be an RSU (Radio Service Unit). The following explanation uses a base station as an example. Multiple access network devices in the communication system can be base stations of the same type or different types. Base stations can communicate with terminal devices or through relay stations. Terminal devices can communicate with multiple base stations using different access technologies.

[0190] In the case where the access network equipment includes a CU and / or a DU, the CU and DU can be understood as a logical functional division of the access network equipment. The CU and DU can be physically separated or deployed together; this application does not specifically limit this. One CU can connect to one DU, or multiple DUs can share one CU. The CU and DU can be divided according to the protocol stack. One possible approach is to deploy the radio resource control (RRC), service data adaptation protocol (SDAP), and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layers on the CU, and the remaining radio link control (RLC), media access control / medium access control (MAC), and physical layer layers on the DU. This application does not completely limit the CU and DU to be divided according to the above protocol stack method; other division methods are also possible, such as division according to service type.

[0191] The access network equipment in this application embodiment can also refer to a central unit control plane (CU-CP) node or a central unit user plane (CU-UP) node, or include both CU-CP and CU-UP. CU-CP is responsible for control plane functions, mainly including RRC and the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) control plane (control, C) (which can be abbreviated as PDCP-C). PDCP-C is mainly responsible for control plane data encryption / decryption, integrity protection, and data transmission. CU-UP is responsible for user plane functions, mainly including SDAP and PDCP-U. SDAP is mainly responsible for processing core network data and mapping flows to bearers. PDCP-U is mainly responsible for data plane encryption / decryption, integrity protection, header compression, sequence number maintenance, and data transmission.

[0192] In different systems, CU (including CU-CP or CU-UP) or DU may have different names, but those skilled in the art will understand their meaning. For example, in an open radio access network (O-RAN) system, CU may also be called an open central unit (O-CU), DU may also be called O-DU, CU-CP may also be called O-CU-CP, and CU-UP may also be called O-CU-UP.

[0193] Core network equipment is used to implement at least one of the functions of mobility management, data processing, session management, policy and charging. The names of the equipment implementing core network functions may differ in systems using different access technologies, and this application does not limit this. Taking a 5G system as an example, the core network equipment includes: AMF, user plane function (UPF), or LMF, etc.

[0194] Please refer to Figure 6A, which is a schematic diagram of a communication system applicable to an embodiment of this application. Figure 6A illustrates a terminal device, an access network, and some core network elements. The access network includes one or more access network devices, such as next-generation (NG) eNBs (i.e., ng-eNBs) and / or gNBs. An ng-eNB is an LTE base station and may include one or more transmission points (TPs). A gNB is an NR base station and may include one or more transmission points (TRPs). ng-eNBs and gNBs can communicate via the Xn interface. The core network elements illustrated in Figure 6A include the AMF and LMF. Optionally, Figure 6A also illustrates the SMF, which is also deployed in the core network, i.e., it belongs to the core network elements.

[0195] Terminal devices communicate with the access network via Uu links. For example, a terminal device can communicate with an ng-eNB via LTE-Uu and with a gNB via an NR-Uu link. The access network communicates with the AMF via the NG-C interface; the AMF acts as a router for communication between the access network and the LMF. The AMF and the LMF communicate via NLs (such as NL1) interfaces.

[0196] One of the terminal equipment and the access network (such as ng-eNB and / or gNB) can be implemented as a first device, and the other of the terminal equipment and the access network can be implemented as a second device. A third device may be either the first or the second device. An LMF can be implemented as a fourth device.

[0197] In another possible implementation, the SMF and LMF in Figure 6A can be the same network element, or the SMF and LMF can be integrated together. In this case, the fourth device is, for example, the result of integrating the LMF and SMF.

[0198] Figure 6B is another schematic diagram of the communication system according to an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 6B, the communication system includes a terminal device, an access network (such as a first access network device and a second access network device), and an SMC. The first access network device and the second access network device can communicate with each other via an Xn interface. The SMC is connected to the first access network device and the second access network device through interfaces respectively. The first access network device and the second access network device can also be connected to different SMCs respectively. Optionally, the communication system also includes an SMF. When the communication system includes an SMF, the SMF is optionally connected to the SMC.

[0199] Figure 6B shows an example of an SMF implementation where the user plane and control plane are not separated. In practical applications, the user plane and control plane of the SMF can also be separated. For example, the SMC includes SC-C and SC-U, and the SMF includes SF-C and SF-U. SC-C is connected to SF-C, and SC-U is connected to SF-U; or only SC-C and SF-C may be connected. This application does not limit the specific connection. Optionally, the SMC may include or be replaced by a sensing control function (SCF).

[0200] In the communication system shown in Figure 6B above, the SMC and SMF can be directly connected, or the SMC can be connected to the SMF through the UPF and AMF; this application does not limit the specific connection. Optionally, the SMC belongs to the access network.

[0201] One of the terminal equipment and access network (such as the first access network equipment or the second access network equipment) involved in Figure 6B can be implemented as a first device, and the other of the terminal equipment and access network (such as the first access network equipment or the second access network equipment) can be implemented as another second device. The third device is, for example, the first device or the second device. SMF or SMC can be implemented as a fourth device.

[0202] Figure 6C is another schematic diagram of the communication system according to an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 6C, the communication system includes a terminal device, an access network (a first access network device and a second access network device), an AMF, and an SMF. The first access network device and the second access network device communicate via an Xn interface. The SMC is deployed or integrated on the first access network device. Both the first access network device and the second access network device can be connected to the AMF via an NG-C interface. Optionally, the communication system also includes an SMF. The second access network device is connected to the SMF via the AMF.

[0203] When the first access network device adopts a separate architecture of CU and DU, the SMC can be deployed or integrated on the CU or DU, and this application does not limit the specifics.

[0204] One of the terminal equipment and access network (such as the first access network equipment or the second access network equipment) involved in Figure 6C can be implemented as a first device, and the other of the terminal equipment and access network (such as the first access network equipment or the second access network equipment) can be implemented as another second device. The third device is, for example, the first device, the second device, or the AMF. The SMF, SMC, or the first access network equipment can be implemented as a fourth device.

[0205] Please refer to Figure 7, which is a schematic diagram of an open architecture access network provided in an embodiment of this application. This architecture includes a service management and orchestration framework (SMO), Non-RT RIC, Near-RT RIC, O-CU, O-DU, open-RAN radio unit (O-RU), and open-RAN cloud (O-Cloud). The O-CU includes the open-RAN central unit control plane (O-CU-CP) and the open-RAN central unit user plane (O-CU-UP).

[0206] The functions of each of the above-mentioned parts will be introduced below.

[0207] 1. Non-RT RIC is used to implement non-real-time intelligent management of RAN functions. It enables artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) workflows, including model training and model updates, and guides applications / functions in the Near-RT RIC based on policies. The Non-RT RIC is located in the SMO.

[0208] 2. Near-RT RIC is used to achieve near real-time intelligent management of the RAN. Through data collection and related operations on the E2 interface, it enables near real-time control and optimization of O-RAN modules and resources.

[0209] 3. O-CU, used to implement the RRC layer, PDCP layer, SDAP layer and other control functions in the 3GPP standard.

[0210] 4. O-CU-CP, similar to CU-CP in the NR system, is used to implement the functions of the RRC layer and the control plane functions of the PDCP layer.

[0211] 5. O-CU-UP, similar to CU-UP in the NR system, is used to implement the functions of the SDAP layer and the user plane functions of the PDCP layer.

[0212] 6. O-DU, based on low-layer function segmentation, is used to implement the RLC layer, MAC layer, and higher physical layer (Higher PHY) in the 3GPP standard. Among them, the higher physical layer functions include one or more of the following: forward error correction (FEC) encoding / decoding, scrambling / descrambling, or modulation / demodulation.

[0213] 7. O-RU, based on low-layer function segmentation, is used to implement the lower physical layer (Lower PHY) functions and radio frequency (RF) functions in the 3GPP standard. Low physical layer functions include one or more of the following: Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) / Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (iFFT), digital beamforming, or extraction and filtering of the physical random access channel (PRACH). It is similar to the transmission reception point (TRP) or remote radio head (RRH) in 3GPP, but includes low physical layer functions such as FFT / iFFT or PRACH extraction.

[0214] 8. O-Cloud, as a cloud computing platform, includes physical infrastructure nodes for hosting O-RAN functions such as RIC and O-DU; it supports software components (such as operating systems, virtual machine monitoring, container runtimes), management, and orchestration functions.

[0215] The interfaces between the various parts described above are explained below.

[0216] The interface between the Non-RT RIC and the Near-RT RIC can be an A1 interface. The A1 interface is used for intelligent and dynamic control of radio resources within the O-RAN. The Non-RT RIC provides policies, rich information, and ML model updates to the Near-RT RIC through the A1 interface, while the Near-RT RIC provides policy feedback to the Non-RT RIC through the A1 interface.

[0217] The interface between the Near-RT RIC and the RAN nodes is the E2 interface. The E2 interface is an open interface between two endpoints. RAN nodes include, for example, CU and DU in 5G, O-RAN compatible eNB in ​​4G, O-CU (O-CU-CP and / or O-CU-UP) in O-RAN, and / or O-DU, etc. The RIC can obtain RAN node data collection and feedback through the E2 node, and the RAN node can obtain control feedback from the Near-RT RIC through the E2 node.

[0218] The interface between the management entity in the SMO and the O-RAN module is the O1 interface. The O1 interface is used for operational management, enabling fault, configuration, auditing, performance, security (FCAPS) management, software management, and file management. The interface between the SMO and the infrastructure management framework that supports O-RAN virtual network functions is the O2 interface.

[0219] Real-time control between the O-DU and O-RU can be achieved through the control plane (C-Plane / CP). For example, the control plane is used for transmitting beamforming weights from the O-DU to the O-RU, or for power control of the O-RU by the O-DU. Communication data between the DU and RU, connecting access network devices and terminals, can be achieved through the user plane (U-Plane / UP). Clock synchronization between the O-DU and O-RU can be achieved through the synchronization plane (S-Plane / SP). The interfaces for the control plane, user plane, and synchronization plane are, for example, the open fronthaul (CUS-Plane) interface, or in other words, the open fronthaul (CUS-Plane) interface includes the control plane (C-Plane), user plane (U-Plane), and synchronization plane (S-Plane) interfaces.

[0220] The interface between NR RAN equipment (such as base stations, CUs, CU-CPs, or CU-UPs) and the NR core network is the NG interface. NG-u is the user plane NG interface, and NG-c is the control plane NG interface.

[0221] The interface between NR RAN devices (such as base stations, CUs, CU-CPs, or CU-UPs) is, for example, the Xn interface. Xn-u is the user plane Xn interface, and Xn-c is the control plane Xn interface.

[0222] The interface between LTE RAN devices is the X2 interface. X2-u is the user plane X2 interface, and X2-c is the control plane X2 interface. In NR, the X2 interface is mainly used in evolved universal terrestrial radio access new radio dual connectivity (E-UTRA-NR DC / EN-DC) scenarios, where the master station is an LTE RAN device that connects to the LTE core network via the X2 interface.

[0223] The interface between CU-CP and CU-UP is an E1 interface. The interface between CU-CP and DU is an F1-C interface. The interface between CU-UP and DU is an F1-U interface.

[0224] Optionally, the terminal device involved in Figure 7 can be used as one implementation of the first device.

[0225] An O-CU can be implemented as a second or third device, and a Non-RT RIC and / or Near-RT RIC can be implemented as a fourth device. Alternatively, an O-CU can be implemented as a second or third device, and a Non-RT RIC can be implemented as a fourth device. Or, an O-DU can be implemented as a second or third device, and an O-CU can be implemented as a fourth device.

[0226] Figures 5, 6A, 6B, 6C, or 7 above are examples of communication systems used in the embodiments of this application, and do not actually limit the communication systems that can be applied to the embodiments of this application.

[0227] The communication method provided in the embodiments of this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0228] In the accompanying drawings corresponding to the various embodiments of this application, the steps indicated by dashed lines are all optional steps. Furthermore, the first device involved in the various embodiments of this application may be, for example, the first device shown in FIG5, the terminal device or access network device shown in FIG6A, the terminal device or access network device shown in FIG6B, the terminal device or access network device shown in FIG6C, or the access network shown in FIG7, etc.; the second device may be, for example, the second device shown in FIG5, the access network device or terminal device shown in FIG6A, the terminal device or access network device shown in FIG6B, the terminal device or access network device shown in FIG6C, or the access network shown in FIG7, etc.; the third device... For example, the third device shown in Figure 5, the terminal equipment, access network equipment, AMF or SMF shown in Figure 6A, the terminal equipment or access network equipment shown in Figure 6B, the terminal equipment or access network equipment shown in Figure 6C, the O-CU or O-DU shown in Figure 7, or CU or DU, etc., and the fourth device, for example, the fourth device shown in Figure 5, the SMF and / or LMF shown in Figure 6A, the SMC or SMF shown in Figure 6B, the SMF or SMC or the first access network equipment shown in Figure 6C, or at least one of the Non-RT RIC, Near-RT RIC, CU or O-CU shown in Figure 7. Furthermore, as standards evolve, the names and / or functions of the devices or equipment may change, but this is not a limitation.

[0229] Please refer to Figure 8, which illustrates an information transmission method provided in an embodiment of this application. The steps involved in Figure 8 will be described below.

[0230] S801, the third device determines the first information. The first information indicates the transmission mode and / or transmission order corresponding to each of the M paths. M is a positive integer, such as 1, 2, or 3.

[0231] The first piece of information can be carried in signal measurement information or other messages, and there are no restrictions on this. The content of the first piece of information is described below.

[0232] The first information indicates the transmission mode and / or transmission order corresponding to each of the M paths. For example, the first information indicates the transmission mode information and / or the transmission order information corresponding to each of the M paths. The transmission mode information corresponding to any one of the M paths indicates the transmission mode corresponding to that path, and the transmission order corresponding to that path indicates the transmission order corresponding to that path. Optionally, the transmission mode corresponding to all M paths is reflection, and the transmission order corresponding to all M paths is 1.

[0233] The following section describes the relationship between the transmission methods and / or transmission orders corresponding to the M paths when M is greater than 1.

[0234] A1. All M paths have the same transmission method and the same transmission order. In other words, any two paths in the M paths have the same transmission method and the same transmission order.

[0235] For any two paths to have the same transmission method, this can mean that the number of transmission methods is the same, or that the type of transmission method is the same. For any two paths to have the same transmission order, this can be described as the number of transmission orders being the same, or as the value of the transmission order being the same.

[0236] Optionally, all W paths in the M paths have the same transmission order, and all W paths have the first transmission order. This can be replaced by describing the transmission orders of the W paths as being associated with (or corresponding to) the first transmission order. W is an integer greater than or equal to 1. And / or, all X paths in the M paths have the same transmission method, and all X paths have the first transmission method. This can be replaced by describing the transmission methods of the X paths as the first transmission method. X is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

[0237] For example, there are M paths, including path 1 and path 2. The transmission methods corresponding to path 1 include reflection, refraction, and scattering. The transmission methods corresponding to path 2 also include reflection, refraction, and scattering. Therefore, path 1 and path 2 have the same transmission methods (i.e., both include reflection, refraction, and scattering) and the same transmission order (i.e., both are 3).

[0238] A2. At least two of the M paths have different transmission methods. These differences can be due to variations in the number and / or type of transmission methods used on the two paths. Under A2, any two paths among the M paths may have the same or different transmission orders; this is not a limitation.

[0239] For example, there are M paths, including path 1, path 2, and path 3. Path 1 corresponds to the transmission methods of reflection, refraction, and scattering. Path 2 corresponds to the transmission methods of reflection and refraction, and path 3 corresponds to the transmission methods of reflection and refraction. Therefore, the number of transmission methods and the transmission order are different for path 1 and path 3. Path 2 and path 3 have the same transmission methods and the same transmission order.

[0240] A3. At least two of the M paths have different transmission orders. Under A3, any two paths among the M paths may have the same or different transmission methods, which is not a limitation.

[0241] The following example uses one of the M paths (referred to as the first path) and, in conjunction with the information shown in B1 or B2 below, illustrates the transmission method information corresponding to the first path. The first path can be any of the M paths, and can also be described as any path. The transmission method information for the other paths in the M paths can be referenced from the information for the first path; they will not be listed individually here.

[0242] B1. The information on the transmission method corresponding to the first path includes information on the number and / or type of the transmission methods corresponding to the first path. B1 can be regarded as the first information directly indicating the transmission method corresponding to the first path, or it can be regarded as indicating the transmission method corresponding to the first path in a hard indication manner.

[0243] To facilitate the indication of the transmission mode type, different transmission modes can optionally be distinguished by different identifiers. For example, reflection is identified by 0, scattering by 1, and so on. The identifier of the transmission mode can be pre-configured or pre-defined by the protocol, or it can be determined through negotiation between the third and fourth devices, or determined by the third device itself, etc., without specific limitations.

[0244] Optionally, if the first information indicates the number of transmission modes corresponding to each of the M paths, and the number of transmission modes corresponding to the first path is the same as the transmission order, then the first information does not need to separately indicate the transmission order corresponding to each of the M paths, reducing the number of bits occupied by the first information. Alternatively, the first information can also indicate the transmission order corresponding to each of the M paths, so that the transmission order of the path and the number of transmission modes can be mutually verified to ensure the accuracy of the information.

[0245] B2. First probability information of the transmission mode corresponding to the first path. For example, the first probability information indicates the probability that the first path belongs to S transmission modes respectively. S is a positive integer, for example, S is 1, 2, 3 or 4, etc. B2 can be regarded as a soft indicator of the transmission mode corresponding to the path. The probabilities involved in the embodiments of this application can also be replaced by likelihood or scale factor, etc.

[0246] Optionally, when the transmission order corresponding to the first path is greater than 1, the transmission mode information of the first path includes the probability that each order in the first path belongs to one of S transmission modes. Alternatively, the transmission mode information of the first path includes the probability that the first path belongs to one of U transmission modes. U can be a positive integer greater than or equal to S.

[0247] Example 1: If the transmission order corresponding to the first path is first order, then the probability of the transmission mode corresponding to the first path can be {0.4, 0.3, 0.3}. That is, the first probability information indicates that the probability of the transmission mode corresponding to the first path being reflection, scattering, and refraction is 0.4, 0.3, and 0.3, respectively.

[0248] Example 2: The transmission order corresponding to the first path is second order. Then the probabilities of the transmission mode corresponding to the first path include: {0.6, 0.2, 0.2; 0.8, 0.1, 0.1}. That is, the first probability information indicates that the probability of the transmission mode corresponding to the first order of the first path being reflection, scattering, and refraction is 0.6, 0.2, 0.2, respectively, and the probability of the transmission mode corresponding to the second order being reflection, scattering, and refraction is 0.8, 0.1, 0.1, respectively.

[0249] Example 3: The transmission order corresponding to the first path is second order. Therefore, the probabilities of the transmission mode corresponding to the first path include: {0.48, 0.06, 0.06, 0.06, 0.16, 0.02, 0.02, 0.16, 0.02}. That is, the first probability information indicates that the first path belongs to reflection + reflection, reflection + scattering, reflection + diffraction, scattering + reflection, scattering + scattering, scattering + diffraction, diffraction + reflection, diffraction + scattering, and diffraction + diffraction with probabilities of 0.48, 0.06, 0.06, 0.06, 0.16, 0.02, 0.02, 0.16, and 0.02, respectively.

[0250] When M is greater than 1, the information content of the transmission mode corresponding to any two paths in the M paths may be the same or different. For example, the information of the transmission mode corresponding to one path in the M paths is as shown in B1 above, and the information of the transmission mode corresponding to another path in the M paths is as shown in B2 above. No specific limitation is made in this regard.

[0251] The following example, using the first path out of M paths, along with information from C1 or C2, illustrates the content of the transmission order information.

[0252] C1 contains information about the transmission order corresponding to the first path, including the value of the transmission order. C1 can be considered as the first piece of information directly indicating the transmission order of the first path. C1 can be considered as a hard indicator of the transmission order corresponding to the path.

[0253] C2, the information regarding the transmission order corresponding to the first path includes, for example, second probability information about the transmission order corresponding to the first path. For instance, the second probability information indicates the probability that the first path belongs to W transmission orders. W is a positive integer, for example, W is 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, etc. C2 can be considered a soft indicator of the transmission order corresponding to the path.

[0254] When M is greater than 1, the transmission order information for any two paths in the M paths may be the same or different. For example, the transmission order information for one path in the M paths may be as shown in C1 above, and the transmission order information for another path in the M paths may be as shown in C2 above; no specific limitation is made in this regard.

[0255] When the first information indicates the transmission mode and transmission order corresponding to the first path, the first information may include at least one of B1 and B2 above, and a combination of at least one of C1 and C2 above. In addition, the first information may also include probability information about the transmission mode and transmission order corresponding to the first path (referred to here as third probability information for ease of description). The first probability information about the transmission mode corresponding to the first path, the second probability information about the transmission order corresponding to the first path, and the third probability information about the transmission mode and transmission order corresponding to the first path can be collectively referred to as the probability information corresponding to the first path or the probability information of the first path. Correspondingly, the probability of the transmission mode corresponding to the first path, the probability of the transmission order corresponding to the first path, and the probability of the transmission mode and transmission order corresponding to the first path can be collectively referred to as the probability of the first path or the probability corresponding to the first path.

[0256] The third probability information indicates the probability of the transmission mode and transmission order corresponding to the first path. For example, the third probability information can be determined based on the probability of the transmission mode and transmission order corresponding to the first path. Specifically, the third probability information indicates the joint probability of the probability of the transmission mode and transmission order corresponding to the first path.

[0257] Similarly, the first piece of information can indicate the transmission method and transmission order corresponding to each of the M paths.

[0258] The following is an example of the content of the first information. For example, the first information may include at least one of the following items D1 to D5.

[0259] D1 and the first information indicate the transmission method and transmission order for each of the M paths. In other words, the first information includes the transmission method and transmission order for each of the M paths. That is, the first information shown in D1 reports the transmission method and transmission order for each path on a path-by-path basis.

[0260] Information regarding the transmission mode for any of the M paths can be found in sections B1 or B2 above, and information regarding the transmission order can be found in sections C1 or C2 above. Alternatively, the transmission mode and transmission order information for any path can also be third probability information for that path. The content of the third probability information can be found in the section on third probability information above; repeated information will not be listed here again.

[0261] For example, if the probabilities of paths 1 to 6 being first-order reflection, first-order scattering, first-order diffraction, second-order reflection, second-order scattering, and second-order diffraction are 0.7, 0.1, 0.09, 0.2, 0.05, 0.14, and 0.01 respectively, then the first information can indicate that the probabilities of paths 1 to 6 being first-order reflection, first-order scattering, first-order diffraction, second-order reflection, second-order scattering, and second-order diffraction are {0.7, 0.1, 0.09, 0.2, 0.05, 0.14, 0.01}. Alternatively, the first information can indicate {0.7, 0.1, 0.09, 0.2, 0.05, 0.14, 0.01}. The specific transmission method and order corresponding to the paths indicated by these probability values ​​can be agreed upon by the third and fourth devices, or specified by a protocol.

[0262] In one possible design, the transmission mode and transmission order of any path can be considered as a combination, and the M paths correspond to M combinations, which in turn correspond to M identifiers. Thus, the first information can carry the identifiers of these M combinations, which is equivalent to indicating the transmission mode and transmission order corresponding to each of the M paths. This simplifies the content of the first information and reduces the number of bits it occupies.

[0263] The identifier of any of the M combinations can be predefined or preconfigured by the protocol, configured by the third device, determined through negotiation between the fourth device and the third device, or configured by the fourth device to the third device; no specific limitation is made in this regard.

[0264] For example, the M paths include 6 paths, and the 6 combinations corresponding to the M paths are first-order reflection, first-order scattering, first-order diffraction, second-order reflection, second-order scattering, and second-order diffraction. These 6 combinations can be labeled from 0 to 5. Thus, the first information can indicate the label of the combination corresponding to the path, i.e., {0,1,2,3,4,5}.

[0265] D2. The first information indicates the transmission method corresponding to each of the M paths, and the transmission order corresponding to each of the M paths. This can be replaced by describing the first information as including the transmission method information corresponding to each of the M paths, and the transmission order information corresponding to each of the M paths.

[0266] For example, the first information includes a first field and a second field. The first field carries information about the transmission methods corresponding to the M paths, and the second field carries information about the transmission orders corresponding to the M paths. Optionally, the order in which the information about the transmission methods corresponding to the M paths in the first field carries information about the transmission orders corresponding to the M paths in the second field is the same. This is acceptable as long as the third device and the fourth device can reach a consensus on the order of the M paths indicated by the first and second fields.

[0267] For example, there are M paths, including path 1, path 2, and path 3. Path 1 uses reflection as its transmission method and has a transmission order of 1. Path 2 uses scattering as its transmission method and has a transmission order of 2. Path 3 uses both reflection and refraction as its transmission methods and also has a transmission order of 2. In this example, the first information can sequentially indicate path 1, path 2, and their corresponding transmission methods, specifically {reflection, scattering + scattering, reflection + refraction}, and sequentially indicate the transmission orders of path 1, path 2, and path 3, specifically {1, 2, 2}.

[0268] D3. The first information indicates the transmission mode corresponding to at least one path associated with each of the P transmission orders. This can be replaced by describing the information as indicating the transmission mode corresponding to at least one path associated with each of the P transmission orders. Alternatively, it can be described as the first information including information of a first correspondence, which represents the correspondence between the P transmission orders and the transmission modes corresponding to the M paths. In the first correspondence, any one of the P transmission orders is associated with a transmission mode corresponding to a path whose transmission order is also that of the given transmission order. P is a positive integer, such as 1, 2, or 3, and its value is not limited.

[0269] Under D3, any one of the P transmission orders (such as the first transmission order) is associated with (or corresponds to) one or more transmission modes. In other words, the transmission modes corresponding to W paths out of M paths are all associated with the first transmission mode, where W is an integer greater than or equal to 1. The P transmission orders are the union of the transmission orders corresponding to the M paths. That is, the transmission orders corresponding to the M paths can be considered as a set, including M sets, and the P transmission orders can be the union of these M sets. At least one path associated with one of the P transmission orders includes paths among the M paths with a transmission order of one.

[0270] Example 1: M paths include path 1, path 2, path 3, path 4, path 5, path 6, and path 7. Path 1 corresponds to a transmission order of 1 and a transmission mode including reflection; path 2 corresponds to a transmission order of 1 and a transmission mode including scattering; path 3 corresponds to a transmission order of 1 and a transmission mode including diffraction; path 4 corresponds to a transmission order of 2 and a transmission mode including reflection; path 5 corresponds to a transmission order of 2 and a transmission mode including scattering; path 6 corresponds to a transmission order of 2 and a transmission mode including diffraction; and path 7 corresponds to a transmission mode of 2 and a transmission mode including both reflection and scattering. In this example, the first information can indicate {first order: reflection, scattering, diffraction} and {second order: reflection, scattering, diffraction, reflection + scattering}. Optionally, the first correspondence can be considered as representing a first-order path corresponding to reflection, scattering, and diffraction, and a second-order path corresponding to reflection, scattering, diffraction, and reflection + scattering.

[0271] Example 2: M paths include path 1 and path 2. Path 1 has a transmission order of 1 and a probability of belonging to reflection, scattering, and diffraction, respectively, of 0.5, 0.2, and 0.3. Path 2 has a transmission order of 1 and a probability of belonging to reflection, scattering, and diffraction, respectively, of 0.8, 0.1, and 0.1. In this example, the first information can indicate the probabilities of first-order path 1 and first-order path 2 belonging to reflection, scattering, and diffraction, respectively: {first order: 0.5, 0.2, 0.3; 0.8, 0.1, 0.1}. Optionally, the first correspondence can be considered as representing the correspondence between first-order paths and reflection, scattering, and diffraction.

[0272] D4. Information regarding the transmission order of at least one path associated with each of the Q transmission methods. This can be replaced by information indicating the transmission order of at least one path associated with each of the Q transmission methods. Alternatively, it can be described as information including a second correspondence, where the second correspondence represents the correspondence between the Q transmission methods and the transmission orders of the M paths. In the second correspondence, any of the Q transmission methods is associated with the transmission order of a path whose transmission method is that specific transmission method. Q is a positive integer, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, and its value is not specifically limited.

[0273] Under D4, any one of the Q transmission methods (such as the first transmission method) is associated with (or corresponds to) one or more transmission orders. In other words, the transmission orders corresponding to X paths out of the M paths are all associated with the first transmission method, where W is an integer greater than or equal to 1. The Q transmission methods are the union of the transmission methods corresponding to the M paths. That is, the transmission methods corresponding to the M paths can be considered as a set, i.e., there are M sets, and the Q transmission methods can be the union of these M sets. At least one path associated with one of the Q transmission methods includes paths among the M paths whose transmission order is the stated transmission order.

[0274] Example 1: M paths include path 1, path 2, path 3, path 4, path 5, path 6, and path 7. Path 1 corresponds to a transmission order of 1 and a transmission mode including reflection; path 2 corresponds to a transmission order of 1 and a transmission mode including scattering; path 3 corresponds to a transmission order of 1 and a transmission mode including diffraction; path 4 corresponds to a transmission order of 2 and a transmission mode including reflection; path 5 corresponds to a transmission order of 2 and a transmission mode including scattering; path 6 corresponds to a transmission order of 2 and a transmission mode including diffraction; and path 7 corresponds to a transmission mode of 2 and a transmission mode including both reflection and scattering. In this example, the first information can indicate {reflection: 1, 2; scattering: 1, 2; diffraction: 1, 2; reflection + scattering: 2}. Optionally, the second correspondence can be considered as representing that the reflection path corresponds to transmission orders 1 and 2, the scattering path corresponds to transmission orders 1 and 2, the diffraction path corresponds to transmission orders 1 and 2, and the reflection + scattering path corresponds to transmission order 2.

[0275] Example 2: M paths include path 1 and path 2. Path 1 has a probability of 0.6 for reflection and 0.4 for transmission order 1 and 2 respectively. Path 2 has a probability of 0.5 for reflection and 0.5 for transmission order 1 and 2 respectively. In this example, the first information can indicate {reflection: 0.6 first order, 0.4 second order; 0.5 first order, 0.5 second order} or {reflection: 0.6 first order, 0.5 first order; 0.4 second order, 0.5 second order}. Alternatively, the first information can indicate {0.6, 0.4; 0.5, 0.5} or {reflection: 0.6, 0.5; 0.4, 0.5}. The specific transmission method and transmission order indicated by these probability values ​​can be agreed upon by the third and fourth devices, or specified by a protocol.

[0276] D5. Information regarding whether the transmission method and / or transmission order of each of the M paths meets or does not meet the conditions. The conditions for the transmission method and / or transmission order of each of the M paths to meet or not meet can be referred to as the conditions corresponding to each path.

[0277] The conditions represent the transmission mode and / or transmission order of the path. In other words, the conditions indicate what requirements the transmission mode and / or transmission order of the path should meet. The conditions can be determined by the fourth device, or determined through negotiation between the third and fourth devices, or configured by the protocol, without specific limitations. For example, the conditions indicate that the transmission mode of the path belongs to a specific transmission mode, and / or the transmission order of the path meets a specific transmission order. The specific transmission mode can be one or more transmission modes, such as reflection, reflection + reflection, or reflection + reflection and refraction + reflection, etc. The specific transmission order can also be one or more transmission orders, such as first order, second order, or first and second order.

[0278] The conditions corresponding to any two of the M paths can be the same or different. These conditions can be determined through negotiation between the third and fourth devices, indicated by the fourth device to the third device, or stipulated by an agreement; no specific limitations are imposed. Thus, the third device can determine whether each of the M paths meets its corresponding condition and then indicate to the fourth device whether each of the M paths meets its condition. This reduces the amount of information reported by the third device.

[0279] Optionally, a certain bit in the first information may have a first value, indicating that the path corresponding to that bit meets the condition; or a second value, indicating that the path corresponding to that bit does not meet the condition. Optionally, one of the first and second values ​​may be 0, and the other may be 1.

[0280] For example, the M paths include six paths: path 1, path 2, path 3, path 4, path 5, and path 6. Path 1 is a first-order reflection, path 2 is a first-order scattering, and path 3 is a second-order reflection + scattering. The conditions corresponding to these six paths are first-order reflection, first-order scattering, first-order diffraction, second-order reflection, second-order scattering, and second-order diffraction, respectively.

[0281] If path 1 is a first-order reflection, then path 1 satisfies the condition; if path 1 is not a first-order reflection, then path 1 does not satisfy the condition. If path 2 is a first-order scattering, then path 2 satisfies the condition; otherwise, path 2 does not satisfy the condition. And so on. For example, if the first information includes 011100, then path 1 does not satisfy the condition, paths 2 to 4 satisfy the condition, and paths 5 and 6 do not satisfy the condition.

[0282] The third device can send a first message indicating that path 1 meets the conditions, path 2 meets the conditions, and path 3 does not meet the conditions.

[0283] In one possible implementation, regardless of how the first information indicates the transmission mode and / or transmission type corresponding to the M paths, the transmission mode and transmission order of a certain path may not uniquely represent that path. Therefore, the first information can also identify the M paths. Any path among the M paths can be identified using the parameters corresponding to any path, or any path can be identified using the identifier (also called a sequence number, index, etc.) of the reference signal (or reference signal corresponding to any path) corresponding to the parameters of any path, or the third and fourth devices can negotiate and configure the path identifier (or number, sequence number, or index, etc.), or the path identifier can be agreed upon by protocol. The reference signal corresponding to the parameters of any path can be a reference signal used to determine or measure the parameters of any path.

[0284] For example, there are M paths, including path 1 and path 2. Path 1 uses reflection as its transmission method, has a transmission order of 1, and its parameters are a departure angle of 80° and a time delay of 60s. The reference signal for path 1 is identified as 1. Path 2 uses diffraction as its transmission method, has a transmission order of 2, and its parameters are a departure angle of 100° and a time delay of 70ns. The reference signal for path 2 is identified as 2.

[0285] In this example, the first information can indicate {80, 60, reflection, 1; 100, 70, diffraction, 2}, indicating that the path with a starting angle of 80° and a time delay of 60s (i.e., path 1) has a transmission mode of reflection and a transmission order of 1, and the path with a starting angle of 100° and a time delay of 70ns (i.e., path 2) has a transmission mode of diffraction and a transmission order of 2. Then the first information can also indicate {1, reflection, 1; 2, diffraction, 2}, indicating that the path with reference signal identifier 1 (i.e., path 1) has a transmission mode of reflection and a transmission order of 1, and the path with reference signal identifier 2 (i.e., path 2) has a transmission mode of diffraction and a transmission order of 2.

[0286] In one possible implementation, the first information may also indicate a third path. The third path may be, for example, a LOS path. The first information may indicate, for example, the transmission mode and / or transmission order of the third path. The content of the third path can be referred to the preceding discussion and will not be listed here.

[0287] The above describes some aspects of the first information. The following describes how the third device determines the third information.

[0288] The third device can obtain the first information from other devices (such as the first device or the second device), thus effectively determining the first information. Alternatively, the third device can determine the first information itself. Examples of how the third device can determine the first information independently are given below.

[0289] For example, the third device can determine the first information based on the fifth information and the environmental information. The fifth information indicates the parameters corresponding to each of the M paths. The parameters corresponding to any of the M paths can refer to the parameters of the paths discussed above, and will not be repeated.

[0290] The third device can measure the reference signal to obtain the fifth information. This method applies when the third device is the first or second device. Alternatively, the third device can obtain the fifth information from other devices (such as the first or second device), without specific limitations.

[0291] This application embodiment uses environmental information indicating the environment where the first device and / or the second device are located as an example for illustration. The environmental information may be pre-stored in the third device or received by the third device from other devices. Other devices may be, for example, the first device, the second device, or SMF, etc., and are not specifically limited thereto.

[0292] For example, the third device simulates the environment based on environmental information. The third device can track R paths between the first and second devices in the simulated environment based on the parameters of M paths, and determine the transmission mode information and / or transmission order information corresponding to each of the R paths. The transmission mode information corresponding to any one of the R paths is, for example, the content shown in B1 and / or B2 above. And the transmission order information corresponding to any one of the R paths is, for example, the content shown in C1 and / or C2 above. Optionally, the transmission mode information and transmission order information corresponding to any one of the R paths can be third probability information for that path. R can be greater than or equal to M. R is a positive integer, for example, R is 1, 2, 3, etc., without specific limitation.

[0293] For example, R is 21, and the R paths include, for example, 2 first-order reflection paths, 3 first-order diffraction paths, 10 first-order scattering paths, 1 second-order diffraction path, and 5 second-order scattering paths.

[0294] The third device determines the paths from the R paths that match the M paths respectively, in order to obtain the first information. Taking the first path from the M paths matching any path from the R paths (e.g., the second path) as an example, then the transmission mode corresponding to the first path is the same as the transmission mode corresponding to the second path, and the transmission order corresponding to the first path is the same as the transmission order corresponding to the second path. The following section uses the first path and the second path as an example to illustrate the content of path matching.

[0295] If the parameters of the first path match the parameters of the second path, then the first path and the second path are considered a match. Alternatively, if the parameters of the first path and the second path do not match, then the first path and the second path are considered a match.

[0296] One possible scenario is that the parameters of both the first path and the second path include a class of parameters (such as time delay, angle, or others).

[0297] If the difference between the parameters of the first path and the parameters of the second path is less than or equal to a first threshold, then the parameters of the first path and the parameters of the second path match; if the difference is greater than the first threshold, then the parameters of the first path and the parameters of the second path do not match. Alternatively, if the difference between the parameters of the first path and the parameters of the second path is smaller than the difference between the parameters of the first path and any other path among the M paths, then the parameters of the first path and the parameters of the second path match; if the difference is larger than the difference between the parameters of the first path and any other path among the M paths, then the parameters of the first path and the parameters of the second path do not match.

[0298] Another possible scenario is that both the parameters of the first path and the parameters of the second path include G-type parameters (such as time delay, angle, or others), where G is an integer greater than 1.

[0299] If the difference between any type of parameter in the first path and any type of parameter in the second path is less than or equal to the threshold corresponding to that type of parameter, then the parameters of the first path and the parameters of the second path match. If the difference between any type of parameter in the first path and any type of parameter in the second path is greater than the threshold corresponding to that type of parameter, then the first path and the second path do not match. The thresholds corresponding to the two types of parameters in type G may be the same or different, and no specific limitation is made in this regard.

[0300] For example, if the difference between the first type of parameter of the first path and the first type of parameter of the second path is less than or equal to a first threshold, the difference between the second type of parameter of the first path and the second type of parameter of the second path is less than or equal to a second threshold, and so on, and the difference between the Gth type of parameter of the first path and the Gth type of parameter of the second path is less than or equal to the Gth threshold, then it means that the parameters of the first path match the parameters of the second path; if the difference between the first type of parameter of the first path and the first type of parameter of the second path is greater than the first threshold, then it means that the parameters of the first path do not match the parameters of the second path.

[0301] Optionally, when matching paths, in addition to considering the path parameters, the prior position of the first device can also be taken into account. For example, the distance between the end point or start point of the first path and the prior position of the first device is less than or equal to a first distance. The first distance can be predefined or determined based on the speed of the first device. For example, the greater the speed of the first device, the greater the first distance; the smaller the speed of the first device, the smaller the first distance. This further ensures the accuracy of the matched path.

[0302] Of course, there are many other ways to determine that two paths match, and this application does not limit this method.

[0303] If the first information indicates the probability information corresponding to each of the M paths (such as at least one of the first probability information, the second probability information, or the third probability information), then the third device needs to determine the probability information of the path (such as the second path) among the R paths that corresponds to the first path in order to obtain the probability information of the second path. For example, the probability information of the second path indicates the probability that the second path is the first path, or the probability that it matches the first path.

[0304] For example, the probability information for the second path indicates the probability of the transmission mode corresponding to the second path. This probability can also be understood as the probability that the transmission mode corresponding to the first path is the same as the transmission mode corresponding to the second path. Similarly, the probability information for the second path indicates the probability of the transmission order corresponding to the second path. This probability can also be understood as the probability that the transmission order corresponding to the first path is the same as the transmission order corresponding to the second path. Furthermore, the probability information for the second path indicates the probability of both the transmission mode and transmission type corresponding to the second path. This probability can also be understood as the probability that the transmission mode and transmission order corresponding to the first path are the same as the transmission mode and transmission order corresponding to the second path.

[0305] The following example illustrates how to determine the probability information of the second path.

[0306] For example, the third device can determine the probability corresponding to the second path based on the distance between the endpoint of the second path and the prior position of the first device, and / or the total number of L paths. The probability of the second path includes the probability of the transmission mode, the probability of the transmission order, or at least one of the probabilities of the transmission mode and the transmission order. The L paths are paths generated based on the parameters of the first path from among the R paths, and the L paths are some or all of the paths in the R paths.

[0307] Method 1: The probability of the first distance and the second path are inversely correlated. In other words, the smaller the first distance, the higher the probability of the second path, and vice versa. The first distance is the distance between the endpoint of the second path and the prior position of the first device.

[0308] For example, if the distance between the endpoint of the second path and the prior position of the first device is x meters, then the probability of determining the transmission mode and transmission order corresponding to the second path is 90%. x is a positive number. If the distance between the endpoint of the second path and the prior position of the first device is x+n meters, then the probability of determining the transmission mode and transmission order corresponding to the second path is 80%. n is a positive number. If the distance between the endpoint of the second path and the prior position of the first device is x+2n meters, then the probability of determining the transmission mode and transmission order corresponding to the second path is 70%.

[0309] In Method Two, the probability that the second path belongs to the first transmission method is the ratio of the fourth probability to the fifth probability. The fourth probability is the probability that any of the L paths belongs to the first transmission method. The fifth probability is the sum of the probabilities that the L paths belong to the true path. The first transmission method can be any one of the transmission methods.

[0310] Similarly, the probability that the second path belongs to the first transmission order is the ratio of the sixth probability to the fifth probability. The sixth probability is the probability that any of the L paths belongs to the first transmission order. The fifth probability can be found in the previous section on the fifth probability. The first transmission order is any transmission order.

[0311] Similarly, the probability that the second path belongs to the first transmission mode and the first transmission order is the ratio of the seventh probability to the eighth probability. The seventh probability is the sum of the probabilities of the L paths belonging to the first transmission mode and the first transmission order. The eighth probability is the sum of the probabilities of the L paths belonging to all transmission modes and transmission orders.

[0312] For example, the information on the transmission mode and transmission order of the L paths corresponding to the second path can be found in Table 1 below.

[0313] Table 1

[0314] As shown in Table 1 above, the probability that the transmission order of the second path is first order is the ratio of the sum of the probabilities of the L paths being first order paths to the sum of the probabilities of the L paths being true paths (i.e., the fifth probability), specifically: (90% + 80%) / (35% + 30% + 25% + 90% + 80%) = 65.3%. Similarly, the third device can determine that the probability that the transmission order of the second path is second order is 34.7%.

[0315] When the transmission order of the second path is 1, the transmission type of the second path includes both reflection and scattering. Therefore, the transmission order of the second path is first order, and the probability that the transmission mode of the second path is reflection is 90% / (90%+80%) = 52.9%. Similarly, when the transmission order of the second path is 1 (first order), the probability that the transmission mode of the second path is scattering is 80% / (90%+80%) = 47.1%.

[0316] When the transmission order corresponding to the second path is 2, the probability that the first-order transmission mode of the second path is reflection is (35%+30%) / (35%+30%+25%) = 72.2%. Similarly, the probability that the first-order transmission mode of the second path is scattering is 25% / (35%+30%+25%) = 27.8%. Likewise, the probability that the second-order transmission mode of the second path is reflection is (35%+25%) / (35%+30%+25%) = 66.7%, and the probability that the second-order transmission mode of the second path is scattering is 30% / (35%+30%+25%) = 33.3%.

[0317] The above are examples of ways to determine the probability of the second path. In fact, there are many other ways to determine the probability of the second path, and no specific limitation is made here.

[0318] The following example, using the path matching process diagram shown in Figure 9, illustrates the process of determining the transmission mode and transmission order corresponding to the first path.

[0319] Figure 9 illustrates an example where the parameters of the first path include the horizontal angle of arrival (e.g., 60°), the vertical angle of arrival (e.g., 120°), the latency (e.g., 160 ns), and the energy (e.g., -105 dBm), with the first device being a terminal device and the second device being an access network device.

[0320] As shown in Figure 9(1), the prior position of the terminal device is at point j, and the current position of the access network device is at point a.

[0321] As shown in Figure 9(2), the third device can generate an initial ray based on the horizontal and vertical angles of arrival of the first path and the current position of the second device. The third device uses the forward RT algorithm and time delay to find R existing paths. For example, these R paths include 5 paths, specifically path ak, path abc, path ade, path afg, and path ahi, and the energies of these five paths are -70dBm, -90dBm, -100dBm, -120dBm, and -130dBm, respectively. Path ak is a LOS path, that is, the transmission order is 0. Path abc is a first-order reflection path. Path ade is a first-order reflection path. Path afg is a first-order reflection path. Path ahi is a first-order refraction path.

[0322] The third device can combine the parameters of the R paths with the prior position of the first device to determine at least one path among the R paths whose parameters match those of the first path. The third device then identifies the path from this at least one path whose distance to the prior position of the first device is less than or equal to a first distance as the second path. The second path is, for example, path ade.

[0323] In one possible design, the third device receives the second information, for example, from the fourth device.

[0324] In one possible implementation, the second information indicates the transmission (or reporting) of information about paths that meet certain conditions. These conditions indicate the conditions satisfied by the transmission mode and / or transmission order corresponding to the paths. In this implementation, the third device can determine the transmission mode and transmission order corresponding to the paths that meet the conditions. In this case, the transmission modes and / or transmission orders corresponding to M paths satisfy the conditions.

[0325] In another possible implementation, the second information instructs the third device to send information on whether the path meets the conditions. For example, the second information indicates whether multiple paths are sequentially first-order reflection, first-order scattering, first-order diffraction, second-order reflection, second-order scattering, second-order diffraction, etc. The content of the conditions can be referred to the conditions discussed in section D5 above, and will not be listed here again. In this implementation, the third device can report whether M paths meet the corresponding conditions in the first information, which can relatively reduce the amount of reporting.

[0326] If the first information has been determined before the third device, or the first information is obtained by the third device from other devices, or the first information is pre-stored in the third device, then the third device may not need to perform step S801. That is, in some cases, S801 can be an optional step.

[0327] S802, the third device sends the first information to the fourth device. Correspondingly, the fourth device receives the first information from the third device.

[0328] To ensure the third device can successfully send or confirm the first information, the third device sends a fourth information to the fourth device. The fourth information indicates the capabilities of the third device, including the transmission methods and / or transmission orders it supports. The capabilities of the third device may also include other capabilities, such as the ability to measure parameters corresponding to a path, without specific limitations.

[0329] The transmission mode supported by the third device can be understood, for example, as having the ability to determine, identify, or report the path of a specific transmission mode, or having the ability to determine, identify, or report the path of multiple transmission modes. The transmission order supported by the third device can be understood, for example, as having the ability to determine, identify, or report the path of a specific transmission order, or having the ability to determine, identify, or report the path of multiple transmission orders.

[0330] Alternatively, the third device may receive the third information from the fourth device before sending the fourth information to the fourth device. The third information is used to query the capabilities of the third device; for example, the third information instructs the third device to report capability information.

[0331] In this optional approach, the fourth device may, based on the fourth information, determine the content of the conditions involved in the second information to ensure that the third device can successfully report the first information. For example, if the fourth information indicates that the third device supports a reflection transmission mode and a first-order transmission order, then the second information may instruct the third device to report information about the first-order reflection path.

[0332] Optionally, the third device may also send a fifth message to the fourth device. The content of the fifth message can refer to the content of the fifth message discussed above; repetitions will not be listed here. The fifth message and the first message can be carried in the same message, for example, both carried in the signal measurement information. Specifically, for example, the fifth message indicates the parameters corresponding to the path, and the first message identifies the path using the parameters corresponding to the path, or it can be described as the path parameters being associated with the path's transmission mode and / or transmission order. Thus, when the third device sends this message to the fourth device, it is equivalent to sending both the first and fifth messages. Alternatively, the fifth message and the first message can be carried in different messages; this is not specifically limited.

[0333] In one possible design, after receiving the first information, the fourth device can determine Y suitable paths for positioning from the M paths, and based on the parameters of these Y paths and the current position of the second device, locate or sense the first device. Locating or sensing the first device includes, for example, determining the position of the first device (such as its current position). For example, the fourth device selects a path with a specific transmission method and / or a specific transmission type from the M paths as the Y paths, or for example, all M paths are Y paths, without specific limitations.

[0334] Y is a positive integer less than or equal to M, such as 1, 2, 3, etc. Different values ​​of Y result in different ways for the fourth device to determine the position of the first device, which will be described in detail below.

[0335] Scenario 1: When Y equals 1, and the transmission order corresponding to the Y paths is 1, and the Y paths correspond to one virtual station, then the third device can determine the location of the first device based on the parameters of the Y paths.

[0336] For example, the fourth device can determine the line segment between the access network device and the virtual station based on the angle of the Y path, the angle between the virtual station and the terminal device (such as the first angle), and the distance between the virtual station and the first device is the distance of the Y path (such as the distance 1). The fourth device knows the angle between the virtual station and the first device (such as the angle 1), the position of the virtual station, and the distance 1, so it can use geometric relationships to determine the position of the first device.

[0337] Scenario 2: When Y equals 2 and Y paths include one LOS path and one NLOS path, and the transmission order of the NLOS path is 1, and the NLOS path corresponds to a virtual station, then the fourth device can determine the location of the first device by using the parameters of the LOS path between the first device and the second device, based on the location of the virtual station and the location of the second device, and the parameters of the NLOS path.

[0338] For example, the fourth device can determine the angle between the virtual station and the first device (e.g., angle 2) based on the angle of the LOS path and the position of the intermediate body. The parameters of the LOS path include the angle of the LOS path, thus obtaining the angle between the first device and the second device (e.g., angle 3). In this way, the fourth device can determine a straight line 1 starting from the position of the virtual station and directed at angle 2, and a straight line 2 starting from the position of the second device and directed at angle 3. The fourth device can then determine the intersection of straight lines 1 and 2, which is the position of the first device.

[0339] Please refer to Figure 10, which is a schematic diagram of the positioning principle provided by an embodiment of this application. Figure 10 is an example with the second device as the access network device, the first device as the terminal device, the NLOS path as the line shown in Figure 10, the intermediate body corresponding to the NLOS path located at point c, the virtual station corresponding to the NLOS path as virtual station 1, the access network device located at point a, and virtual station 1 located at point d.

[0340] For example, the fourth device can determine the angle between the virtual station and the terminal device, i.e., the value of angle 1 mentioned above. The fourth device can also determine the distance between the virtual station 1 and the terminal device, i.e., distance 1. Therefore, by extending distance 1 along angle 1 from the position of the virtual station 1 as the endpoint, the position of the terminal device can be determined, i.e., it is at point b. Alternatively, the fourth device can determine angles 2 and 3, the position of the access network device, and the position of the virtual station 1. Then, the third device can determine line 1 (i.e., the line where ab is located in Figure 10) and line 2 (i.e., the line where db is located), thereby determining that the position of the terminal device is at point b.

[0341] Scenario 3: When Y is greater than 1 and the Y paths include at least two NLOS paths, the method by which the fourth device determines the location of the first device can refer to the previously discussed positioning technology based on virtual base stations; repetitions will not be listed here. The fourth device determining the location of the first device is equivalent to achieving the positioning or sensing of the first device.

[0342] The first, second, third, and fourth devices are implemented in different ways, so the interactions between the devices involved in Figure 8 are different. The following is an example based on the interaction diagram between the devices shown in Figure 11.

[0343] H1, the first and third devices are terminal equipment, the second device is access network equipment, and the fourth device is an LMF.

[0344] Under H1, as shown in Figure 11(1), the terminal device can determine the first information and send the first information to the LMF. For example, the terminal device sends the first information to the LMF through the access network device. Optionally, after receiving the first information, the LMF determines the location of the terminal device.

[0345] Optionally, the terminal device can also receive a reference signal from the access network device, measure the reference signal, and obtain the fifth information. Alternatively, the terminal device can send a reference signal to the access network device, the access network device can measure the reference signal, obtain the fifth information, and send the fifth information back to the terminal device. The terminal device also sends the fifth information to the LMF.

[0346] H2, the first device and the third device are access network equipment, the second device is terminal equipment, and the fourth device is LMF.

[0347] Under H2, as shown in Figure 11(2), the access network device can determine the first information and send the first information to the LMF. Optionally, after receiving the first information, the LMF determines the location of the access network device.

[0348] Optionally, the access network device can also receive a reference signal from the terminal device, measure the reference signal, and obtain the fifth information. Alternatively, the access network device can send a reference signal to the terminal device, the terminal device can measure the reference signal, obtain the fifth information, and send the fifth information back to the access network device. The access network device also sends the fifth information to the LMF.

[0349] H3. The first device is a terminal device, the second and third devices are both access network devices, and the fourth device is an LMF.

[0350] Under H3, as shown in Figure 11(3), the access network device can determine the first information and send the first information to the LMF. Optionally, after receiving the first information, the LMF determines the location of the terminal device.

[0351] Optionally, the access network device can also receive a reference signal from the terminal device, measure the reference signal, and obtain the fifth information. Alternatively, the access network device can send a reference signal to the terminal device, the terminal device can measure the reference signal, obtain the fifth information, and send the fifth information back to the access network device. The access network device also sends the fifth information to the LMF.

[0352] H4. The first device is a terminal device, the second device is an access network device, the third device is an AMF, and the fourth device is an LMF.

[0353] Under H4, as shown in Figure 11(4), the AMF can determine the first information and send the first information to the LMF. Optionally, after receiving the first information, the LMF determines the location of the terminal device.

[0354] Optionally, the AMF can also obtain the fifth information from the terminal device or access network device and send the fifth information to the LMF.

[0355] H5. The first device is an access network device, the second device is a terminal device, the third device is an AMF, and the fourth device is an LMF.

[0356] In H5, as shown in Figure 11(5), the AMF can determine the first information and send the first information to the LMF. Optionally, after receiving the first information, the LMF determines the location of the access network device.

[0357] Optionally, the AMF can also obtain the fifth information from the terminal device or access network device and send the fifth information to the LMF.

[0358] H6, the first device and the third device are both terminal equipment, the second device is DU, and the fourth device is CU or RIC.

[0359] Under H6, as shown in Figure 11(6), the terminal device determines the first information and sends the first information to the RIC. Optionally, after receiving the first information, the CU or RIC determines the location of the terminal device.

[0360] Optionally, the terminal device can measure the reference signal from the DU to obtain the fifth information. Alternatively, the terminal device can obtain the fifth information from the DU. The terminal device can also send the fifth information to the CU or RIC.

[0361] H7, the first and third devices are both DU, the second device is a terminal device, and the fourth device is CU or RIC.

[0362] Under H7, as shown in Figure 11(7), the DU determines the first information and sends the first information to the CU or RIC. Optionally, after receiving the first information, the CU or RIC determines the location of the DU.

[0363] Optionally, the DU can measure a reference signal from the terminal device to obtain the fifth information. Alternatively, the DU can obtain the fifth information from the terminal device. The DU can also send the fifth information to the CU or RIC.

[0364] H8. The first device is a terminal device, the second and third devices are both DU, and the fourth device is CU or RIC.

[0365] Under H8, as shown in Figure 11(8), the DU determines the first information and sends the first information to the CU or RIC. Optionally, after receiving the first information, the CU or RIC determines the location of the terminal device.

[0366] Optionally, the DU can measure a reference signal from the terminal device to obtain the fifth information. Alternatively, the DU can obtain the fifth information from the terminal device. The DU can also send the fifth information to the CU or RIC.

[0367] H9. The first device is DU, the second and third devices are both terminal equipment, and the fourth device is CU or RIC.

[0368] Under H9, as shown in Figure 11 (9), the terminal device determines the first information and sends the first information to the CU or RIC. Optionally, after receiving the first information, the CU or RIC determines the location of the DU.

[0369] Optionally, the terminal device can measure the reference signal from the DU to obtain the fifth information. Alternatively, the terminal device can obtain the fifth information from the DU. The terminal device can also send the fifth information to the CU or RIC.

[0370] In this embodiment, the third device can determine the first information, enabling the fourth device to clearly identify the transmission mode and / or transmission order corresponding to each of the M paths. This allows the fourth device to filter for more suitable paths, thus more accurately locating the first device. Furthermore, the first information can be carried in signal measurement information, reducing the number of signaling interactions in the network. Additionally, the fourth or third device can also sense the environment in which the first and second devices are located based on the first information, such as sensing obstacles between them. This facilitates adjusting the communication parameters between the first and second devices based on the perceived environment, thereby improving the communication performance between them.

[0371] In another possible embodiment, the fourth device can independently determine the first information and locate the first device based on the first information. The content of the first information determined by the fourth device can be referenced to the content of the first information determined by the third device as discussed above; repetitions will not be repeated. In this embodiment, not only is it beneficial for accurately locating the first device, but since the fourth device does not need to interact with other devices regarding the first information, it also reduces the amount of information exchanged in the communication system.

[0372] The third device is implemented differently, so the interaction process between the various devices in Figure 8 is also different. The following examples are given with reference to the schematic diagrams of the information transmission methods shown in Figures 12 to 14.

[0373] The following is a schematic diagram of the information transmission method shown in Figure 12. Figure 12 is an example of the above-mentioned H1 or H2 cases, that is, Figure 12 illustrates the case with the third device as the terminal equipment / access network equipment and the fourth device as the LMF.

[0374] S1201, LMF and terminal equipment / access network equipment negotiate measurement configuration.

[0375] For example, the LMF can send a measurement configuration request to the access network device. This request requests measurement configuration, which is used to measure a reference signal. Based on this measurement configuration request, the access network device can then send measurement configurations to the terminal devices. The terminal devices can then subsequently send or receive reference signals based on this configuration.

[0376] S1202, Terminal equipment / access network equipment measures reference signals to obtain the fifth information.

[0377] Terminal equipment / access network equipment can receive and measure reference signals based on measurement configuration to obtain the fifth information. The content of the fifth information can be referred to the fifth information discussed in Figure 8 above, and the repetitions will not be listed here.

[0378] S1203, Terminal equipment / access network equipment determines the first information.

[0379] The content of the first information, and the content of the first information determined by the terminal device / access network device, can be determined by referring to the content of the first information discussed in Figure 8 above, and will not be listed here again.

[0380] S1204. The terminal device / access network device sends the first and fifth information to the LMF. Correspondingly, the LMF receives the first and fifth information from the terminal device / access network device.

[0381] The first and fifth information can be carried in the same message, so that when the terminal device / access network device sends the message to the LMF, it is equivalent to sending the first and fifth information.

[0382] In this embodiment, the third device can be the same as the first or second device. Thus, the third device can independently measure the reference signal to obtain the fifth information, facilitating the determination of the first information. Since the third device does not need to obtain the fifth information from other devices, the number of information transmissions in the communication system can be relatively reduced. Furthermore, the LMF can select a more suitable path to locate or sense the first device based on the first information, which helps improve the accuracy of the LMF's location or sensing of the first device.

[0383] The following is a schematic diagram of the information transmission method shown in Figure 13. Figure 13 illustrates the above-mentioned cases H1 or H2, where the third device is the terminal equipment / access network equipment and the fourth device is the LMF. Furthermore, Figure 13 illustrates an example where M paths satisfy the conditions.

[0384] S1301, the LMF sends third information to the terminal device / access network device. Correspondingly, the terminal device / access network device receives the third information from the LMF. The third information instructs the third device to report capability information. The content of the third information can be referred to in Figure 8 above; repeated details will not be listed again.

[0385] S1302, the terminal device / access network device sends the fourth information to the LMF. Correspondingly, the LMF receives the fourth information from the terminal device / access network device. The fourth information indicates the capabilities of the third device. The content of the fourth information and the content of the capabilities of the third device can be referred to in Figure 8 above, respectively, for the content of the fourth information and the content of the capabilities of the third device; repetitions will not be listed again.

[0386] S1303, the LMF sends the second information to the terminal device / access network device. Correspondingly, the terminal device / access network device receives the second information from the LMF. The second information indicates the information of the path that meets the conditions to be reported. The content of the second information and the content of the conditions can be referred to the discussion of the content of the second information and the conditions in Figure 8 above, and will not be listed here again.

[0387] Steps S1301 to S1303 are optional and are shown in dashed lines in Figure 13.

[0388] S1304, Terminal equipment / access network equipment determines the first information.

[0389] The content of the first information, and the content of the first information determined by the terminal device / access network device, can be determined by referring to the content of the first information discussed in Figure 8 above, and will not be listed here again.

[0390] S1305, The terminal device / access network device sends the first information to the LMF. Correspondingly, the LMF receives the first information from the terminal device / access network device.

[0391] In this embodiment, the third device can report its capabilities to the fourth device, and the fourth device can also instruct the third device to report information about paths that meet certain conditions based on the third device's capabilities. This allows the third device to report the first information more specifically, and reduces the number of bits required for the first information without affecting the fourth device's positioning or sensing.

[0392] The following is a schematic diagram of the information transmission method shown in Figure 14. Figure 14 is an example of the above-mentioned H7 or H8 cases, with the third device being DU and the fourth device being CU or RIC.

[0393] S1401 and RIC send measurement configurations to the terminal equipment via DU and CU.

[0394] For example, the RIC can send a measurement configuration request to the access network device, which requests the configuration of the measurement reference signal. Based on this measurement configuration request, the access network device can then send the configuration of the measurement reference signal to the terminal device. In this way, the terminal device can subsequently send or receive the reference signal based on this configuration.

[0395] S1402. The terminal device sends a reference signal to the DU. The reference signal is, for example, SRS.

[0396] S1403 and DU measure the reference signal to obtain the fifth information.

[0397] The content of the fifth information can be referred to the content of the fifth information discussed in Figure 8 above, and the repeated parts will not be listed again.

[0398] S1404, DU determines the first information.

[0399] The content of the first information, and the content of the first information determined by DU, can be referred to the content of the first information and the content of the first information determined in Figure 8 above, respectively. Repeated parts will not be listed again.

[0400] S1405a, DU sends the first and fifth messages to CU. S1405a is applicable when CU is the fourth device.

[0401] S1405b and DU send the first and fifth messages to the RIC. S1405b is applicable when the RIC is the fourth device.

[0402] In this embodiment of the application, the DU and CU in the access network can interact with first information, enabling the CU to locate or sense the first device based on the first information. Alternatively, the DU and RIC in the access network can interact with first information, enabling the RIC to locate or sense the first device based on the first information. This allows each module in the open access network to support the information transmission method provided in this embodiment of the application. Furthermore, it facilitates the accurate location of the first device by the CU or RIC.

[0403] This application provides a communication device. Figures 15 to 17 are schematic diagrams of possible structures of the communication device provided in the embodiments of this application. These communication devices can be used to implement the functions of the third or fourth device in the above method embodiments, and thus can also achieve the beneficial effects of the above method embodiments. In the embodiments of this application, the communication device may be at least one of the third or fourth device involved in Figure 5, the terminal device, access network device, SMF and / or LMF involved in Figure 6A, at least one of the terminal device, access network device, SMC or SMF involved in Figure 6B, at least one of the terminal device, access network device or SMF involved in Figure 6C, or at least one of the Non-RT RIC, Near-RT RIC, CU or O-CU involved in Figure 7.

[0404] The communication device shown in Figure 15 will be described below. As shown in Figure 15, the communication device 1500 may include modules or units for implementing the methods described above. In one possible design, the communication device 1500 includes a processing unit 1510 and a communication unit 1520. The communication unit 1520 is used to perform transmit and receive operations, such as functions related to sending and receiving; the communication unit 1520 may be called a transceiver unit; optionally, the communication unit 1520 includes a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. The processing unit 1510 is used to perform processing operations. Alternatively, the communication unit 1520 may be a transmitter and a receiver, or the communication unit 1520 may be a transmitter and a receiver. Optionally, the communication device 1500 may also include a storage unit 1530. The storage unit 1530 is used to store the device's program code or data. The storage unit 1530 is indicated by a dashed box in Figure 15 as an optional unit.

[0405] In the first embodiment, the communication device 1500 can be the third device in the above embodiments, such as a communication module in the third device, or a circuit or chip in the third device responsible for communication functions. For example, when the third device is a terminal device, then the communication device 1500 can be the terminal device, the communication module in the terminal device, or a circuit or chip in the terminal device responsible for communication functions. As another example, when the third device is an access network device, then the communication device 1500 can be the access network device, the communication module in the access network device, or a circuit or chip in the access network device responsible for communication functions.

[0406] [Correction 29.08.2025 according to Rule 91] For example, the communication device 1500 can implement the functions of the third device in the method implementation shown in FIG8 above, the third device involved in FIG11, the terminal device / access network device in the method implementation shown in FIG12, the terminal device / access network device in the method implementation shown in FIG13, and the DU in the method embodiment shown in FIG14.

[0407] In the above embodiment, the processing unit 1510 is used to determine the first information, and the communication unit 1520 is used to send the first information.

[0408] For example, processing unit 1510 is used to execute step S801, and communication unit 1520 is used to execute the step of sending first information involved in S802. As another example, processing unit 1510 is used to execute step S1203, and communication unit 1520 is used to execute the step of sending first information involved in S1204. As another example, processing unit 1510 is used to execute step S1304, and communication unit 1520 is used to execute the step of sending first information involved in S1305. As another example, processing unit 1510 is used to execute step S1404, and communication unit 1520 is used to execute the step of sending first information involved in S1405a or S1405b.

[0409] The communication device 1500 can also implement the third device in the method implementation shown in FIG8 above, the third device involved in FIG11, the terminal device / access network device in the method implementation shown in FIG12, the terminal device / access network device in the method implementation shown in FIG13, and other steps performed by the DU in the method embodiment shown in FIG14, which will not be listed one by one here.

[0410] In one possible design, when the communication device 1500 is a terminal, a communication module within a terminal, an access network device, or a communication module within an access network device, the function of the processing unit 1510 can be implemented by one or more processors. Specifically, the processor may include a modem chip, or a system-on-a-chip (SoC) chip or a SIP chip containing a modem core. The function of the communication unit 1520 can be implemented by transceiver circuitry.

[0411] In one possible design, when the communication device 1500 is a circuit or chip responsible for communication functions in a terminal device, or a circuit or chip responsible for communication functions in an access network device, such as a modem chip or a system-on-a-chip (SoC) chip or SIP chip containing a modem core, the function of the processing unit 1510 can be implemented by a circuit system in the aforementioned chip that includes one or more processors or processor cores. The function of the communication unit 1520 can be implemented by the interface circuit or data transceiver circuit on the aforementioned chip.

[0412] In the second embodiment, the communication device 1500 can be the fourth device in the above embodiments, such as a communication module in the fourth device, or a circuit or chip in the fourth device responsible for communication functions. For example, the fourth device is an LMF (Low-Level Function). As another example, when the third device is an access network device, then the communication device 1500 can be an access network device, a communication module in the access network device, or a circuit or chip in the access network device responsible for communication functions.

[0413] For example, the communication device 1500 can implement the functions of the fourth device in the method implementation shown in FIG8 above, the fourth device involved in FIG11, the LMF in the method implementation shown in FIG12, the LMF in the method implementation shown in FIG13, and the DU or RIC in the method embodiment shown in FIG14.

[0414] In the above embodiment, the processing unit 1510 is used to receive the first information.

[0415] For example, communication unit 1520 is used to perform the step of receiving first information involved in S802. As another example, communication unit 1520 is used to perform the step of receiving first information involved in S1204. As another example, communication unit 1520 is used to perform the step of receiving first information involved in S1305. As another example, communication unit 1520 is used to perform the step of receiving first information involved in S1405a or S1405b.

[0416] The communication device 1500 can also implement the fourth device in the method implementation shown in FIG8 above, the fourth device involved in FIG11, the LMF in the method implementation shown in FIG12, the LMF in the method implementation shown in FIG13, and other steps performed by the CU or RIC in the method embodiment shown in FIG14, which will not be listed one by one here.

[0417] In one possible design, when the communication device 1500 is an access network device or a communication module within an access network device, the function of the processing unit 1510 can be implemented by one or more processors. Specifically, the processor may include a modem chip, or a system-on-a-chip (SoC) chip or a SIP chip containing a modem core. The function of the communication unit 1520 can be implemented by transceiver circuitry.

[0418] In one possible design, when the communication device 1500 is a circuit or chip responsible for communication functions in an access network device, such as a modem chip or a system-on-a-chip (SoC) or SIP chip containing a modem core, the function of the processing unit 1510 can be implemented by a circuit system in the aforementioned chip that includes one or more processors or processor cores. The function of the communication unit 1520 can be implemented by interface circuits or data transceiver circuits on the aforementioned chip.

[0419] It is understood that the division of units in the above-described device is merely a logical functional division. Each function can correspond to a functional unit, or two or more functions can be integrated into one functional unit. In actual implementation, all or some units can be integrated into a single physical entity, or they can be distributed across different physical entities. Furthermore, the aforementioned functional units can be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of both. Whether a function is executed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0420] In one example, the functional unit in any of the above devices may be one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the above methods, such as: one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or one or more central processing units (CPUs), one or more microcontroller units (MCUs), one or more DSPs, or one or more field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or a combination of at least two of these integrated circuit forms.

[0421] In one example, storage unit 1530 may include random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory or electrically erasable programmable memory and / or registers, etc.

[0422] The communication device shown in Figure 16 will now be described. As shown in Figure 16, the communication device 1600 includes a processor 1610. Optionally, the communication device 1600 also includes an interface circuit 1620 and a memory 1630. The processor 1610 and the interface circuit 1620 are coupled to each other. It is understood that the interface circuit 1620 can be a transceiver or an input / output interface. The memory 1630 is used to store instructions executed by the processor 1610, or to store input data required by the processor 1610 to execute instructions, or to store data generated after the processor 1610 executes instructions. The interface circuit 1620 and the memory 1630 are optional modules and are shown in Figure 16 with dashed boxes. In addition, Figure 16 shows an example with one processor 1610 and one memory 1630, but the number of processors 1610 and memory 1630 is not actually limited.

[0423] The communication device 1600 is used to implement any of the method embodiments shown in Figures 8, 12 to 14. Optionally, the processor 1610 is used to implement the functions of the processing unit 1510, and the interface circuit 1620 is used to implement the functions of the communication unit 1520.

[0424] When the aforementioned communication device 1600 is a chip applied to a device (such as the third or fourth device mentioned above), the device chip implements the functions of the device in the above method embodiments. The device chip receives information from other modules (such as a radio frequency module or antenna) within the device, the information being sent to the device by other devices; or, the device chip sends information to other modules (such as a radio frequency module or antenna) within the device, the information being sent to other devices by the device. Here, the communication device 1600 can be a baseband chip of a device, or a DU or other module. The DU here can be a DU under an open radio access network (O-RAN) architecture.

[0425] The processor 1610 can be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. Furthermore, the memory involved in the various embodiments of this application can include volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM). The memory can also include non-volatile memory, such as read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, hard disk drives (HDDs), or solid-state drives (SSDs).

[0426] This application provides a communication device. The communication device can be a processor (circuit) or chip of a third or fourth device. The communication device can be used to perform the operations performed by the third or fourth device in the above method embodiments. For example, the communication device can be used to implement the functions of the third device in the method embodiment shown in FIG8, the third device involved in FIG11, the terminal device / access network device in the method embodiment shown in FIG12, the terminal device / access network device in the method embodiment shown in FIG13, and the DU in the method embodiment shown in FIG14.

[0427] [Corrected according to Rule 91, 29.08.2025] For example, processor 1610 is used to implement the steps of processing unit 1510 executing S801, and interface circuit 1620 is used to execute the step of sending first information related to S802. For another example, processor 1610 is used to execute the step of S1203, and interface circuit 1620 is used to execute the step of sending first information related to S1204. For another example, processor 1610 is used to execute the step of S1304, and interface circuit 1620 is used to execute the step of sending first information related to S1305. For another example, processor 1610 is used to execute the step of S1404, and interface circuit 1620 is used to execute the step of sending first information related to S1405a or S1405b.

[0428] Alternatively, the communication device can be used to implement the functions of the fourth device in the method implementation shown in FIG8, the fourth device involved in FIG11, the LMF in the method implementation shown in FIG12, the LMF in the method implementation shown in FIG13, and the CU or RIC in the method embodiment shown in FIG14.

[0429] For example, interface circuit 1620 is used to perform the step of receiving first information involved in S802. As another example, interface circuit 1620 is used to perform the step of receiving first information involved in S1204. As yet another example, interface circuit 1620 is used to perform the step of receiving first information involved in S1305.

[0430] For example, interface circuit 1620 is used to perform the step of receiving first information involved in S1405a or S1405b.

[0431] As shown in Figure 17, the communication device 1700 includes a processor 1710 and a transceiver 1730. The processor 1710 can also be referred to as a processing unit, processing board, processing module, or processing device. The transceiver 1730 can also be referred to as a transceiver unit, transceiver, or transceiver device. The transceiver 1730 includes a transmitter 1731, a receiver 1732, and an antenna 1733. Optionally, the transceiver 1730 may also include radio frequency circuitry and input / output devices, etc., without specific limitations.

[0432] Optionally, the device in transceiver 1730 used to implement the receiving function is considered a receiving module, and the device in transceiver 1730 used to implement the transmitting function is considered a transmitting module. That is, transceiver 1730 includes a receiver and a transmitter. A transceiver may also be called a transceiver unit, transceiver module, or transceiver circuit, etc. A receiver may also be called a receiver unit, receiving module, or receiving circuit, etc. A transmitter may also be called a transmitter, transmitting module, or transmitting circuit, etc.

[0433] Optionally, the communication device 1700 may also include a memory 1720, which may store computer program code and / or data.

[0434] The processor 1710 is mainly used for processing communication protocols and data, controlling the communication device 1700, executing software programs, and processing software program data. The memory 1720 is mainly used for storing software programs and data. The radio frequency (RF) circuit is mainly used for converting baseband signals to RF signals and processing RF signals. The antenna 1733 is mainly used for transmitting and receiving RF signals in the form of electromagnetic waves. Input / output devices, such as touchscreens, displays, and keyboards, are mainly used for receiving user input data and outputting data to the user.

[0435] When data needs to be transmitted, the processor 1710 performs baseband processing on the data to be transmitted and outputs a baseband signal to the radio frequency (RF) circuit. The RF circuit then processes the baseband signal and transmits it outward as an electromagnetic wave through the antenna. When data is sent to the communication device 1700, the RF circuit receives the RF signal through the antenna, converts it into a baseband signal, and outputs it to the processor. The processor 1710 converts the baseband signal back into data and processes it. For ease of explanation, Figure 17 only shows one memory 1720, processor 1710, and transceiver 1730. In actual terminal products, there may be one or more processors 1710 and one or more memories 1720. The memory 1720 may also be referred to as a storage medium or storage device. The memory 1720 may be independent of the processor 1710 or integrated with it; there is no limitation on this.

[0436] In this embodiment, the antenna and radio frequency circuit with transceiver functions are considered as communication units of the communication device 1700, and the processor with processing functions is considered as processing units of the communication device 1700. The processor 1710 is used to execute the processing actions on the third or fourth device side in the above embodiments, and the transceiver 1730 is used to execute the transceiver actions on the third or fourth device side in the above embodiments.

[0437] For example, processor 1710 is used to execute step S801, and transceiver 1730 is used to execute the step of transmitting first information involved in S802. As another example, processor 1710 is used to execute step S1203, and transceiver 1730 is used to execute the step of transmitting first information involved in S1204. As another example, processor 1710 is used to execute step S1304, and transceiver 1730 is used to execute the step of transmitting first information involved in S1305. As another example, processor 1710 is used to execute step S1404, and transceiver 1730 is used to execute the step of transmitting first information involved in S1405a or S1405b.

[0438] For example, transceiver 1730 is used to perform the step of receiving first information involved in S802. As another example, transceiver 1730 is used to perform the step of receiving first information involved in S1204. As another example, transceiver 1730 is used to perform the step of receiving first information involved in S1305. As another example, transceiver 1730 is used to perform the step of receiving first information involved in S1405a or S1405b.

[0439] When the communication device 1700 is a chip, the chip includes a processor and a transceiver. The transceiver can be an input / output circuit or a communication interface; the processor can be a processing module integrated on the chip, a microprocessor, or an integrated circuit. Optionally, the chip may also include a memory. The transmitting operation of the third or fourth device in the above method embodiments can be understood as the chip's output, and the receiving operation of the third or fourth device in the above method embodiments can be understood as the chip's input.

[0440] This application provides a communication system. The communication system includes a third device and a fourth device. The third device can implement the functions of the third device in the method embodiment shown in FIG8, the terminal device / access network device in the method embodiment shown in FIG12, the terminal device / access network device in the method embodiment shown in FIG13, and the DU in the method embodiment shown in FIG14. The fourth device can implement the functions of the fourth device in the method embodiment shown in FIG8, the LMF in the method embodiment shown in FIG12, the LMF in the method embodiment shown in FIG13, and the CU or RIC in the method embodiment shown in FIG14.

[0441] This application provides a chip system comprising a processor and an interface. The processor is used to call and execute instructions from the interface. When the processor executes the instructions, it implements the method shown in any of Figures 8, 12 to 14.

[0442] This application provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing computer programs or instructions that, when run, implement any of the method embodiments shown in Figures 8, 12 to 14.

[0443] This application provides a computer program product containing instructions that, when run on a computer, implements any of the method embodiments shown in Figures 8, 12 to 14.

[0444] In the above embodiments, implementation can be achieved entirely or partially through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented entirely or partially in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of this application are performed entirely or partially. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a user equipment, or other programmable device. The computer program or instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transferred from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer program or instructions can be transferred from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired or wireless means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available medium can be a magnetic medium, such as a floppy disk, hard disk, or magnetic tape; it can also be an optical medium, such as a digital video optical disc; or it can be a semiconductor medium, such as a solid-state drive. The computer-readable storage medium may be a volatile or non-volatile storage medium, or may include both types of storage media.

[0445] In the various embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specified or in case of logical conflict, the terminology and / or descriptions of different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features of different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationship.

[0446] The various numerical designations used in the embodiments of this application are merely for descriptive convenience and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of this application. The order of the process numbers described above does not imply the order of execution; the execution order of each process should be based on its function and internal logic.

Claims

1. An information transmission method, characterized in that, The method includes: First information is determined, wherein the first information indicates the transmission mode and / or transmission order corresponding to M paths respectively, and the transmission mode corresponding to any one of the M paths includes at least one of reflection, scattering, diffraction, transmission, or refraction, and the M paths are the signal transmission paths between the first device and the second device, where M is a positive integer; Send the first message.

2. An information transmission method, characterized in that, The method includes: Receive first information, wherein the first information indicates the transmission mode and / or transmission order corresponding to M paths respectively, and the transmission mode corresponding to any one of the M paths includes at least one of reflection, scattering, diffraction, transmission, or refraction, and the M paths are the signal transmission paths between the first device and the second device, where M is a positive integer; Based on the first information, the first device is located.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The transmission order corresponding to any one of the M paths is: The number of obstacles on any given path; or, The number of times the direction of the signal transmitted on any of the paths changes.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The transmission order of any one of the M paths is associated with the transmission mode of that path.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The transmission order corresponding to any path is associated with the transmission mode corresponding to any path, including: The number of transmission orders corresponding to any path is greater than or equal to the number of transmission mode types corresponding to any path; and The number of transmission orders corresponding to any path is greater than or equal to the number of transmission modes corresponding to any path.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, When M is greater than 1: Any two paths in the M paths have the same transmission order and the same transmission method; or, At least two of the M paths have different transmission orders; or, At least two of the M paths have different transmission methods.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The transmission modes corresponding to W paths out of the M paths are all associated with a first transmission order, wherein the transmission order corresponding to each of the W paths is the first transmission order, and W is an integer greater than or equal to 1; and / or, The transmission order corresponding to X paths in the M paths is associated with the first transmission mode, wherein the transmission mode corresponding to the X paths is the first transmission mode, and X is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The transmission order of each of the M paths is 1, and the transmission mode of each of the M paths is reflection.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The first information includes at least one of the following: Information on the transmission methods corresponding to the M paths, and information on the transmission order corresponding to the M paths; Information on the transmission mode of at least one path associated with each of the P transmission orders, wherein the P transmission orders are the union of the transmission orders corresponding to the M paths respectively, and at least one path associated with one of the transmission orders includes the path with the transmission order of the M paths, where P is a positive integer. Information on the transmission order of at least one path associated with each of the Q transmission methods, wherein the Q transmission methods are the union of the transmission methods corresponding to the M paths, and at least one path associated with each transmission method includes the paths in the M paths whose transmission method is the specified transmission method; Q is a positive integer; or, Information on whether the transmission method and / or transmission order of each of the M paths meet the conditions, or information on whether the conditions are not met.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, The first information indicates the transmission mode and / or transmission order corresponding to each of the M paths, including: the first information includes probability information for each of the M paths, wherein the probability information for any path in the M paths indicates at least one of the following: the probability corresponding to the transmission mode, the probability corresponding to the transmission order, or the probability corresponding to the transmission mode and the transmission order.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 and 3-10, characterized in that, The method further includes: The device receives second information, which instructs a third device to send information about a path that meets certain conditions, or the second information instructs a third device to send information about whether a path meets certain conditions, wherein the conditions refer to the conditions that the transmission mode and / or transmission order corresponding to the path meets.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 and 3-11, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive third information, which instructs the third device to report capability information; Send a fourth message indicating the capabilities of the third device, the capabilities of which include the transmission modes and / or transmission orders supported by the third device.

13. The method according to any one of claims 1 and 3-12, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send a fifth message, which indicates the parameters corresponding to the M paths respectively.

14. The method according to any one of claims 2-10, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send a second message, which instructs the third device to send information about a path that meets certain conditions, or the second message instructs the third device to send information about whether a path meets certain conditions, wherein the conditions refer to the conditions that the transmission mode and / or transmission order corresponding to the path meets.

15. The method according to any one of claims 2-10 and 14, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send a third message, the third message being used to instruct a third device to report capability information; Receive fourth information, the fourth information indicating the capabilities of the third device, the capabilities of the third device including the transmission mode and / or transmission order supported by the third device.

16. The method according to any one of claims 2-10, 14 and 15, characterized in that, The method further includes: receiving fifth information, the fifth information indicating the parameters corresponding to the M paths respectively; Locating the first device based on the first information includes: locating the first device based on the fifth information and the first information.

17. A communication device, characterized in that, The device includes: Modules for performing the method as described in any one of claims 1 and 3-13; or, A module for performing the method as described in any one of claims 2-10 and 14-16.

18. A communication device, characterized in that, The device includes one or more processors, which are configured to execute computer programs or instructions in memory, such that the communication device implements the method as described in any one of claims 1 and 3-13, or implements the method as described in any one of claims 2-10 and 14-16.

19. A computer program product, characterized in that, When the computer reads and executes the computer program product, it causes the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 and 3-13, or the method as described in any one of claims 2-10 and 14-16.

20. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The storage medium stores a computer program or instructions that, when executed by a communication device, implement the method as described in any one of claims 1 and 3-13, or the method as described in any one of claims 2-10 and 14-16.

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