Charging processing method, UE, CTF, communication system, and storage medium

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a charging processing method, a UE, a CTF, a communication system, a storage medium, and a computer program product. The method applied to a CTF comprises: acquiring ranging and sidelink positioning charging information; and on the basis of the ranging and sidelink positioning charging information, generating a charging request for performing charging processing.

Description

Billing processing methods, UE, CTF, communication systems, and storage media

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This disclosure is based on and claims priority to CN application No. 202410977411.X, filed on July 19, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Technical Field

[0003] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a billing processing method, UE, CTF, communication system, storage medium and computer program product. Background Technology

[0004] In communication systems, terminal devices can perform ranging and sidelink positioning (also known as ranging / sidelink positioning). Ranging and sidelink positioning (also called sidelink positioning) can be calculated from the results between two UEs or between one UE and multiple UEs. For example, UE1 can initiate an auxiliary UE discovery process, where the auxiliary UE performs ranging and sidelink positioning on UE1 and UE2 respectively, obtaining the measurement results between the auxiliary UE and UE1, and between the auxiliary UE and UE2; based on these two measurement results, the relative position between UE1 and UE2 is determined. Summary of the Invention

[0005] According to a first aspect of this disclosure, a billing processing method is provided, applied to a billing trigger function (CTF) located on the core network side, comprising: acquiring ranging and sidechain positioning billing information; and generating a billing request based on the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information for billing processing.

[0006] In some embodiments, the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information includes location estimation information and location type information; wherein, the location estimation information includes the location information of the target UE and the accuracy information of the location information; the location type information includes the type of the location information.

[0007] In some embodiments, the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information further includes: the duration for which the target UE uses the ranging and sidechain positioning service.

[0008] In some embodiments, the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information may further include one or more of the following: target UE ID, positioning UE ID, positioning server UE ID, and client UE ID.

[0009] In some embodiments, the billing request is forwarded to the billing function (CHF) so that the CHF generates a billing request record (CDR) based on the billing request.

[0010] In some embodiments, obtaining ranging and sidechain positioning billing information includes receiving ranging and sidechain positioning billing information sent by the UE.

[0011] In some embodiments, the CTF includes a Mobile Location Center Gateway (GMLC), the UE includes a client UE, and receiving the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information sent by the UE includes: the GMLC receiving the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information sent by the client UE through the Mobility Management Function (AMF).

[0012] In some embodiments, the CTF includes the NEF, the UE includes the target UE, and receiving the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information sent by the target UE includes: the NEF receiving the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information sent by the target UE through the AMF.

[0013] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, a charging processing method is provided, applied to a user equipment (UE), comprising: sending ranging and sidechain positioning charging information to a charging trigger function (CTF) on the core network side, so that the CTF generates a charging request based on the ranging and sidechain positioning charging information for charging processing.

[0014] In some embodiments, the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information includes location estimation information and location type information; wherein, the location estimation information includes the location information of the target UE and the accuracy information of the location information; the location type information includes the type of the location information.

[0015] In some embodiments, the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information further includes: the duration for which the target UE uses the ranging and sidechain positioning service.

[0016] In some embodiments, the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information may further include one or more of the following: target UE ID, positioning UE ID, positioning server UE ID, and client UE ID.

[0017] In some embodiments, the UE includes a client UE, and sending ranging and sidechain positioning billing information to the CTF includes: the client UE sending location request information to the target UE, so that the target UE can use the positioning UE to determine the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information; the client UE receiving location response information returned by the target UE, obtaining the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information carried in the location response information; and the client UE sending the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information to the CTF.

[0018] In some embodiments, the client UE sends the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information to the CTF through the Mobility Management Function (AMF), wherein the CTF includes a Mobile Location Center Gateway (GMLC).

[0019] In some embodiments, the UE includes a target UE, and sending ranging and sidechain positioning billing information to the CTF includes: the target UE receiving a positioning service request sent by the CTF, wherein the CTF sends the positioning service request when it receives a positioning request sent by a client UE; the target UE obtains the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information using the positioning UE, and sends it to the CTF.

[0020] In some embodiments, the target UE sends the ranging and sidechain positioning and billing information to the CTF via the AMF, wherein the CTF includes the Network Capability Open Function (NEF).

[0021] According to a third aspect of this disclosure, a CTF is provided, comprising: a billing information acquisition module for acquiring ranging and sidechain positioning billing information; and a billing request generation module for generating a billing request based on the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information for billing processing.

[0022] According to a fourth aspect of this disclosure, a CTF is provided, comprising: a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory, the processor being configured to perform the method applied to CTF as described above based on instructions stored in the memory.

[0023] According to a fifth aspect of this disclosure, a UE is provided, comprising: a billing information sending module, configured to send ranging and sidelink positioning billing information to a core network device, so that the core network device generates a billing request based on the ranging and sidelink positioning billing information.

[0024] According to a sixth aspect of this disclosure, a UE is provided, comprising: a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory, the processor being configured to perform the method applied to the UE as described above based on instructions stored in the memory.

[0025] According to a seventh aspect of this disclosure, a communication system is provided, including the CTF as described above.

[0026] In some embodiments, the communication system further includes the UE as described above.

[0027] According to an eighth aspect of this disclosure, a computer-readable storage medium is provided that stores computer instructions which are executed by a processor using the method described above.

[0028] According to a ninth aspect of this disclosure, a computer program product is provided, the computer program product storing computer instructions which are executed by a processor using the method described above. Attached Figure Description

[0029] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments or related technologies of this disclosure, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments or related technologies will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely some embodiments of this disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative effort.

[0030] Figure 1 is a schematic flowchart of some embodiments of the billing processing method according to the present disclosure;

[0031] Figure 2 is an application diagram of some embodiments of the billing processing method according to the present disclosure;

[0032] Figure 3 is an application diagram of some other embodiments of the billing processing method according to the present disclosure;

[0033] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating some other embodiments of the billing processing method according to the present disclosure;

[0034] Figure 5A is a schematic diagram of modules in some embodiments of the CTF according to this disclosure;

[0035] Figure 5B is a schematic diagram of modules according to some other embodiments of the CTF of this disclosure;

[0036] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of modules according to some further embodiments of the CTF of this disclosure;

[0037] Figure 7A is a schematic diagram of modules in some embodiments of the UE according to the present disclosure;

[0038] Figure 7B is a schematic diagram of modules according to some other embodiments of the UE according to the present disclosure;

[0039] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of modules according to some further embodiments of the UE according to the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0040] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. For clarity and brevity, not all features of the embodiments are described in the specification. However, it should be understood that many implementation-specific settings must be made in carrying out the embodiments to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as complying with constraints related to the device and business, and these constraints may vary depending on the implementation. Furthermore, it should be understood that while development work can be very complex and time-consuming, such development work is merely a routine task for those skilled in the art who benefit from the present disclosure.

[0041] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement, numerical expressions, and values ​​of the components and steps set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of this disclosure.

[0042] Those skilled in the art will understand that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the embodiments of this disclosure are only used to distinguish different steps, devices, or modules, and do not represent any specific technical meaning, nor do they indicate a necessary logical order between them.

[0043] It should also be understood that in the embodiments disclosed herein, "a plurality of" may refer to two or more, and "at least one" may refer to one, two or more.

[0044] It should also be understood that any component, data or structure mentioned in the embodiments of this disclosure can generally be understood as one or more unless expressly defined or given to the contrary in the context.

[0045] Furthermore, the term "and / or" in this disclosure is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this disclosure generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0046] It should also be understood that the description of the various embodiments in this disclosure emphasizes the differences between the various embodiments, and the similarities or similarities can be referred to each other. For the sake of brevity, they will not be described in detail.

[0047] At the same time, it should be understood that, for ease of description, the dimensions of the various parts shown in the accompanying drawings are not drawn according to actual scale.

[0048] The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is merely illustrative and is in no way intended to limit this disclosure or its application or use.

[0049] Techniques, methods, and equipment known to those skilled in the art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, such techniques, methods, and equipment should be considered part of the specification.

[0050] It should be noted that similar labels and letters in the following figures indicate similar items; therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be discussed further in subsequent figures.

[0051] Furthermore, to avoid obscuring this disclosure with unnecessary detail, only processing steps and / or apparatus structures closely related to at least the solutions according to this disclosure are shown in the accompanying drawings, while other details less relevant to this disclosure are omitted. It should also be noted that similar reference numerals and letters in the drawings indicate similar items, and therefore once an item is defined in one drawing, it need not be discussed again in subsequent drawings.

[0052] Among the related technologies known to the inventors, relevant communication standards provide corresponding billing schemes for proximity-based services and location services. Ranging and sidechain positioning technologies differ significantly from proximity-based services and location services in terms of technology, and relevant communication standards do not provide technical solutions for billing ranging and sidechain positioning services.

[0053] In view of this, one technical problem to be solved by this application is to provide a billing processing method that obtains ranging and sidechain positioning billing information through CTF, and generates a billing request based on the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information for billing processing. This method can realize billing for ranging and sidechain positioning services, provide billing-related information for billing of ranging and sidechain positioning services, and accurately bill ranging and sidechain positioning services.

[0054] Figure 1 is a flowchart illustrating some embodiments of the charging processing method according to this disclosure. The charging processing method shown in Figure 1 is applied to the CTF (Charging Trigger Function) on the core network side. As shown in Figure 1, the charging processing method includes steps S101 and S102.

[0055] Step S101: Obtain ranging and sidechain positioning billing information.

[0056] CTFs can be various network elements and devices, and can use multiple methods to obtain ranging and sidelink location billing information. For example, CTFs can collect ranging and sidelink location billing information from other functions and devices on the network side, and they can also receive ranging and sidelink location billing information sent by the UE (User Equipment). UEs can be various terminal devices, such as mobile phones, tablets, mobile internet devices, wearable devices, and vehicle-mounted devices.

[0057] Ranging and sidelink positioning billing information includes parameters used to bill the ranging and sidelink positioning service (also known as ranging / sidelink positioning service); for example, ranging and sidelink positioning billing information includes specific parameters for ranging and sidelink positioning.

[0058] Step S102: Generate a billing request based on the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information for billing processing.

[0059] After collecting ranging and sidechain positioning billing information from other functions and devices on the network side, or receiving ranging and sidechain positioning billing information sent by the UE, CTF generates a billing request based on the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information. The billing request can be sent to the network element or device used for billing to perform billing processing for ranging and sidechain positioning services.

[0060] The billing processing method in the above embodiments obtains ranging and sidechain positioning billing information through CTF, and generates a billing request based on the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information for billing processing, thereby enabling billing for ranging and sidechain positioning services.

[0061] In some embodiments, the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information includes a variety of ranging and sidechain positioning billing specific parameters; for example, the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information includes location estimation information, location type information, etc., that is, the ranging and sidechain positioning billing specific parameters include location estimation information, location type information, etc.

[0062] The target UE is a UE that uses ranging and sidechain positioning technology for positioning services; the location estimation information includes the target UE's location information and the accuracy of that location information; the location type information includes the type of location information. The accuracy of the location information can be obtained using various methods, such as through multiple calculation rules, and the accuracy can be measures such as positioning error.

[0063] Ranging and sidechain positioning billing information may also include information such as the duration of the target UE's use of ranging and sidechain positioning services. In other words, specific parameters for ranging and sidechain positioning billing may also include information such as the duration of the target UE's use of ranging and sidechain positioning services. Ranging and sidechain positioning billing information may also include one or more of the following: target UE ID, positioning UE ID, positioning server UE ID, and client UE ID.

[0064] The billing processing method in the above embodiments, by configuring ranging and sidechain positioning billing information, can provide detailed billing-related information for ranging and sidechain positioning services, and can accurately bill ranging and sidechain positioning services.

[0065] In some embodiments, the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information obtained by CTF includes two types of information: one type is user-related information for ranging and sidechain positioning billing, and the other type is billing performance-related information for ranging and sidechain positioning (including specific parameters for ranging and sidechain positioning billing).

[0066] The user-related information for ranging and sidechain positioning billing includes user identification information and relevant node identification information used to identify this positioning service, specifically including target UE ID, positioning UE ID, ranging and sidechain positioning client UE ID, and ranging and sidechain positioning server UE ID, etc.

[0067] Target UE ID: The target UE refers to the UE that uses the ranging and sidechain positioning service to measure its distance, direction, and / or location. The ID is its node identification information. Positioning UE ID: The positioning UE refers to the reference UE measured by the ranging and sidechain positioning service, whose location is known. The ID is its node identification information. Ranging and Sidechain Positioning Client UE ID: The ranging and sidechain positioning client UE refers to the user UE that initiates the ranging and sidechain positioning service request. The ID is its user identification information. Ranging and Sidechain Positioning Server UE ID: The ranging and sidechain positioning server UE refers to the UE that provides services to the ranging and sidechain positioning service (such as CTF function). The ID is its node identification information.

[0068] The billing performance information related to ranging and sidechain positioning includes billing performance and metrics related to ranging and sidechain positioning technologies. Collecting this information helps improve billing performance and user satisfaction. The billing performance information related to ranging and sidechain positioning includes location estimation information, location type information, etc. The location type information is the type of location information requested, i.e., the type of location information, which includes the current location or the previously known location, etc. The location estimation information includes the location information of the target UE, as well as the accuracy information of the estimated location information.

[0069] CTF generates a billing request based on ranging and sidechain positioning billing information. The billing request can carry service information for ranging and sidechain positioning billing, as shown in Table 1 below:

[0070] Table 1 - Service Information Table for Ranging and Sidechain Positioning Billing

[0071] The ranging and sidechain positioning billing information in Table 1 is shown in Table 2 below:

[0072] Table 2 - Billing Information for Ranging and Sidechain Positioning

[0073] The CTF can forward billing requests to the CHF (Charging Function), enabling the CHF to generate a CDR (Charging Data Record) based on the billing request. The CHF can be various network elements or devices. The CHF can use multiple methods to bill ranging and sidechain positioning services based on the CDR.

[0074] In some embodiments, CTF generates a billing request based on the acquired ranging and sidechain positioning billing information. The billing request can be of various types and carries information such as ranging and sidechain positioning billing information. After receiving the billing request, CHF can use various existing methods to generate CDR to accurately bill the ranging and sidechain positioning services.

[0075] CHF may include a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC), which receives ranging and sidechain positioning and billing information sent by the UE through the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF).

[0076] GMLC can send a location service request to the target UE, enabling the target UE to obtain ranging and sidechain location billing information using the location-based UE; CTF receives the ranging and sidechain location billing information sent by the target UE. Upon receiving a location request from the client UE, GMLC sends a location service request.

[0077] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG2, the network elements located in the core network include AMF 26, GMLC 27, and CHF 28, wherein GMLC 27 is CTF. The network elements or devices located on the terminal side include client UE 21, target UE 22, positioning UE 24, and server UE 23, etc., and the number of positioning UE 24 can be one or more.

[0078] Client UE 21 initiates a location request and can use existing ranging and sidechain positioning technologies to locate target UE 22 based on positioning UE 24 and server UE 23. Client UE 21 can send location request information to target UE 22 so that target UE 22 can use positioning UE 24 to determine ranging and sidechain positioning billing information; client UE 21 receives location response information returned by target UE 22 and obtains the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information carried in the location response information; client UE 21 can send ranging and sidechain positioning billing information to CTF.

[0079] As shown in Figure 2, after the sidechain positioning and ranging services are completed, the client UE 21 sends the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information of the target UE 22 to the AMF 26 via the gNB 25. The AMF 26 initiates the Ngmlc_Location_LocationUpdate service operation to send the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information of the target UE 22 to the GMLC 27.

[0080] GMLC 27 performs the billing triggering function, which can associate with the pre-set table structure of ranging and sidechain positioning billing information and read the received ranging and sidechain positioning billing information. GMLC 27 generates and forwards the billing request to CHF, and CHF constructs CDR based on the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information transmitted by GMLC 27.

[0081] In some embodiments, the CTF includes NEF (Network Exposure Function), which can receive ranging and sidelink positioning and charging information sent by the target UE through the AMF. As shown in Figure 3, the network elements located in the core network include AMF 35, GMLC 36, NEF 37, and CHF 38, etc., where the CTF is NEF 37. The network elements or devices located on the terminal side include client UE 39, target UE 31, positioning UE 32, and server UE 33, etc., and the number of positioning UE 32 can be one or more.

[0082] With ranging and sidechain positioning enabled, client UE 39 initiates a location service request via NEF 37. Existing ranging and sidechain positioning technologies can be used to locate target UE 31 based on positioning UE 32 and server UE 33. Upon receiving the location request from client UE 39, NEF 37 sends a location service request; target UE 31 receives the location service request from NEF 37, obtains ranging and sidechain positioning billing information using positioning UE 32, and sends the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information to NEF 37 via AMF 35.

[0083] As shown in Figure 3, after the sidechain positioning and ranging services are completed, NEF 37, acting as the CTF, performs the billing trigger function. NEF 37 can associate with a pre-configured table structure for ranging and sidechain positioning billing information and read the received ranging and sidechain positioning billing information. NEF 37 forwards the billing-related information to CHF 38. CHF 38 constructs a CDR based on the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information transmitted by NEF 37.

[0084] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating some other embodiments of the charging processing method according to the present disclosure. The charging processing method shown in Figure 4 is applied to a UE. As shown in Figure 4, the charging processing method includes steps S401 and S402.

[0085] Step S401: Send ranging and sidechain positioning billing information to the CTF on the core network side.

[0086] In step S402, CTF generates a billing request based on ranging and sidechain positioning billing information for billing processing.

[0087] In some embodiments, the UE includes a client UE, which can send ranging and sidechain positioning and charging information to the CTF using various methods. For example, the client UE sends a location request message to a target UE, enabling the target UE to determine the ranging and sidechain positioning and charging information using the positioning UE; the client UE receives a location response message returned by the target UE and obtains the ranging and sidechain positioning and charging information carried in the location response message; the client UE then sends the ranging and sidechain positioning and charging information to the CTF. For example, the client UE can send the ranging and sidechain positioning and charging information to the CTF through the AMF, where the CTF includes a Mobile Location Center Gateway (GMLC).

[0088] In some embodiments, the UE includes a target UE, and the target UE can send ranging and sidechain positioning billing information to the CTF using various methods. For example, the target UE receives a positioning service request sent by the CTF, wherein the CTF sends a positioning service request upon receiving a positioning request from the client UE; the target UE obtains ranging and sidechain positioning billing information using the positioning UE and sends it to the CTF. For example, the target UE sends ranging and sidechain positioning billing information to the CTF through the AMF, where the CTF includes the NEF.

[0089] The billing processing method in the above embodiments obtains ranging and sidechain positioning billing information through CTF and generates a billing request based on the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information for billing processing. This enables billing for ranging and sidechain positioning services. By configuring ranging and sidechain positioning billing information, detailed billing-related information can be provided for ranging and sidechain positioning services, allowing operators to clearly understand the specific performance information of the current ranging and sidechain positioning services, accurately bill the ranging and sidechain positioning services, enhance the operator's ability to perceive the billing information of ranging and sidechain positioning services, and provide differentiated services and ensure user service.

[0090] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG5A, this disclosure provides a CTF 50, including a billing information acquisition module 51 and a billing request generation module 52, etc. The billing information acquisition module 51 acquires ranging and sidechain positioning billing information; the billing request generation module 52 generates a billing request based on the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information for billing processing.

[0091] As shown in Figure 5B, CTF 50' also includes a charging request sending module 53, which forwards the charging request to CHF so that CHF can generate CDR based on the charging request.

[0092] In some embodiments, CTF 50 and CTF 50' may include GMLC. When CTF 50 and CTF 50' are GMLC and the UE is a client UE, the billing information acquisition module 51 receives ranging and sidechain positioning billing information sent by the client UE through AMF.

[0093] CTF 50 and CTF 50' may include NEF. When CTF 50 and CTF 50' are NEF and UE is the target UE, the billing information acquisition module 51 receives ranging and sidechain positioning billing information sent by the target UE through AMF.

[0094] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG6, CTF may include a memory 61, a processor 62, a communication interface 63, and a bus 64. The memory 61 is used to store instructions, and the processor 62 is coupled to the memory 61. The processor 62 is configured to execute the above-described billing processing method applied to CTF based on the instructions stored in the memory 61.

[0095] The memory 61 can be a high-speed RAM, non-volatile memory, or a memory array. The memory 61 may also be divided into blocks, and these blocks can be combined into virtual volumes according to certain rules. The processor 62 can be a central processing unit (CPU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the billing processing method for CTF disclosed herein.

[0096] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG7A, this disclosure provides a UE 70, including a billing information sending module 71; the billing information sending module 71 sends ranging and sidelink positioning billing information to the core network equipment, so that the core network equipment generates a billing request based on the ranging and sidelink positioning billing information.

[0097] As shown in Figure 7B, this disclosure provides a UE 70', which also includes a billing information request module 72. When UE 70' is a client UE, the billing information request module 72 sends location request information to the target UE, enabling the target UE to determine ranging and sidechain positioning billing information using the positioning UE; the billing information request module 72 receives location response information returned by the target UE and obtains the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information carried in the location response information; the billing information sending module 71 sends the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information to the CTF. The billing information sending module 71 can send the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information to the CTF through the AMF, where the CTF includes GMLC.

[0098] When UE 70' is the target UE, the charging information request module 72 receives a location service request sent by the CTF. The CTF sends a location service request upon receiving a location request from the client UE. The charging information request module 72 obtains ranging and sidechain positioning charging information using the located UE. The charging information sending module 71 sends ranging and sidechain positioning charging information to the CTF via the AMF (Applicable Memory Function), where the CTF includes the NEF (Non-Applicable Memory Function).

[0099] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG8, the UE may include a memory 81, a processor 82, a communication interface 83, and a bus 84. The memory 81 is used to store instructions, and the processor 82 is coupled to the memory 81. The processor 82 is configured to execute the above-described charging processing method applied to the UE based on the instructions stored in the memory 81.

[0100] The memory 81 can be high-speed RAM, non-volatile memory, or a memory array. The memory 81 may also be divided into blocks, and these blocks can be combined into virtual volumes according to certain rules. The processor 82 can be a central processing unit (CPU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the charging processing method for a UE as disclosed herein.

[0101] In some embodiments, this disclosure provides a communication system including the CTF as described in any of the above embodiments. The communication system can be a 5G, 6G, or other communication system. The communication system may also include the UE as described in any of the above embodiments.

[0102] In some embodiments, this disclosure provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions that, when executed by a processor, implement the methods as described in any of the foregoing embodiments.

[0103] Computer-readable storage media may take the form of any combination of one or more readable media. A readable medium may be a readable signal medium or a readable storage medium. A readable storage medium may, for example, include, but is not limited to, electrical, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor systems, apparatuses, or devices, or any combination thereof. More specific examples (not an exhaustive list) of readable storage media may include: electrical connections having one or more wires, portable disks, hard disks, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), optical fibers, portable compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, or any suitable combination thereof.

[0104] Embodiments of this disclosure may also be computer program products, including computer program instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps in the methods according to various embodiments of this disclosure described in the "Exemplary Methods" section above.

[0105] The billing processing method, UE, CTF, communication system, storage medium, and computer program product in the above embodiments obtain ranging and sidechain positioning billing information through CTF, and generate a billing request based on the ranging and sidechain positioning billing information for billing processing. This enables billing for ranging and sidechain positioning services. By configuring ranging and sidechain positioning billing information, detailed billing-related information can be provided for ranging and sidechain positioning services, allowing operators to clearly understand the specific performance information of the current ranging and sidechain positioning services, enabling accurate billing for ranging and sidechain positioning services, enhancing operators' awareness of billing information for ranging and sidechain positioning services, providing differentiated services, ensuring user services, improving the quality of ranging and sidechain positioning services, and improving the user experience.

[0106] The basic principles of this disclosure have been described above with reference to specific embodiments. However, it should be noted that the advantages, benefits, and effects mentioned in this disclosure are merely examples and not limitations, and should not be considered as essential features of each embodiment of this disclosure. Furthermore, the specific details disclosed above are for illustrative and facilitative purposes only, and are not limitations. These details do not limit the scope of this disclosure to the necessity of employing the aforementioned specific details for implementation.

[0107] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, with each embodiment focusing on its differences from other embodiments. Similar or identical parts between embodiments can be referred to interchangeably. For system embodiments, since they largely correspond to method embodiments, the description is relatively simple; relevant parts can be referred to the descriptions in the method embodiments.

[0108] The block diagrams of devices, apparatuses, devices, and systems disclosed herein are merely illustrative examples and are not intended to require or imply that they must be connected, arranged, or configured in the manner shown in the block diagrams. As those skilled in the art will recognize, these devices, apparatuses, devices, and systems can be connected, arranged, and configured in any manner. Words such as “comprising,” “including,” “having,” etc., are open-ended terms meaning “including but not limited to,” and are used interchangeably with them. The terms “or” and “and” as used herein refer to the terms “and / or,” and are used interchangeably with them unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The term “such as” as used herein refers to the phrase “such as but not limited to,” and is used interchangeably with it.

[0109] It should also be noted that in the apparatus, devices, and methods of this disclosure, the components or steps can be disassembled and / or recombined. These disassemblies and / or recombinations should be considered as equivalent solutions to this disclosure.

[0110] The above description of the disclosed aspects is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use this disclosure. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein can be applied to other aspects without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Therefore, this disclosure is not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but rather to be carried out within the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

[0111] The above description has been given for illustrative and descriptive purposes. Furthermore, this description is not intended to limit the embodiments of this disclosure to the forms disclosed herein. Although several exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those skilled in the art will understand that the above embodiments are illustrative only and do not limit the scope of this disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the above embodiments can be combined, modified, or replaced without departing from the scope and spirit of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A charging processing method applied to a charging trigger function (CTF) located at a core network side, comprising: obtaining ranging and sidelink positioning charging information; and generating a charging request based on the ranging and sidelink positioning charging information, so as to perform charging processing. 2.The charging processing method of claim 1, wherein: the ranging and sidelink positioning charging information comprises position estimation information and position type information; the position estimation information comprises position information of a target UE and accuracy information of the position information; and the position type information comprises a type of the position information. 3.The charging processing method of claim 2, wherein: the ranging and sidelink positioning charging information further comprises a duration of using ranging and sidelink positioning services by the target UE. 4.The charging processing method of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: the ranging and sidelink positioning charging information further comprises one or more of the following information: a target UE ID, a positioning UE ID, a positioning server UE ID, and a client UE ID. 5.The charging processing method of any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising: forwarding the charging request to a charging function (CHF), so that the CHF generates a charging data record (CDR) based on the charging request. the obtaining of the ranging and sidelink positioning charging information comprises:

6. The charging process method of claim 5, wherein, receiving ranging and sidelink positioning charging information sent by a UE. the CTF comprises a mobile location center gateway (GMLC), and the UE comprises a client UE; the receiving of the ranging and sidelink positioning charging information sent by the UE comprises:

7. The charging process method of claim 6, wherein, the GMLC receives the ranging and sidelink positioning charging information sent by the client UE through an access and mobility function (AMF). the CTF comprises a network exposure function (NEF), and the UE comprises a target UE; the receiving of the ranging and sidelink positioning charging information sent by the target UE comprises:

8. The charging process method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the NEF receives the ranging and sidelink positioning charging information sent by the target UE through an AMF. 9.A charging processing method applied to a user equipment (UE), comprising: sending ranging and sidelink positioning charging information to a charging trigger function (CTF) located at a core network side, so that the CTF generates a charging request based on the ranging and sidelink positioning charging information, so as to perform charging processing. 10.The charging processing method of claim 9, wherein: the ranging and sidelink positioning charging information comprises position estimation information and position type information; the position estimation information comprises position information of a target UE and accuracy information of the position information; and the position type information comprises a type of the position information. 11.The charging processing method of claim 10, wherein: the ranging and sidelink positioning charging information further comprises a duration of using ranging and sidelink positioning services by the target UE. 12.The charging processing method of any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein: the ranging and sidelink positioning charging information further comprises one or more of the following information: a target UE ID, a positioning UE ID, a positioning server UE ID, and a client UE ID. ​ ​ 13. The charging process method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein, The UE comprises a client UE, and the sending of the ranging and sidelink positioning charging information to the CTF comprises: The client UE sends location request information to the target UE, so that the target UE determines the ranging and sidelink positioning charging information by using a positioning UE; The client UE receives location response information returned by the target UE, and obtains the ranging and sidelink positioning charging information carried by the location response information; The client UE sends the ranging and sidelink positioning charging information to the CTF.

14. The charging processing method of claim 13, wherein, The client UE sends the ranging and sidelink positioning charging information to the CTF through an access and mobility management function (AMF), and the CTF comprises a gateway mobile location center (GMLC).

15. The charging process method according to any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein, The UE comprises a target UE, and the sending of the ranging and sidelink positioning charging information to the CTF comprises: The target UE receives a positioning service request sent by the CTF, wherein the CTF sends the positioning service request in a case where a client UE sends a positioning request; The target UE obtains the ranging and sidelink positioning charging information by using a positioning UE, and sends the ranging and sidelink positioning charging information to the CTF.

16. The charging processing method of claim 15, wherein, The target UE sends the ranging and sidelink positioning charging information to the CTF through an AMF, and the CTF comprises a network exposure function (NEF).

17. A CTF, comprising: a charging information obtaining module configured to obtain ranging and sidelink positioning charging information; a charging request generating module configured to generate a charging request based on the ranging and sidelink positioning charging information, so as to perform charging processing.

18. A CTF, comprising: a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory, the processor being configured to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 8 based on instructions stored in the memory.

19. A UE, comprising: a charging information sending module configured to send ranging and sidelink positioning charging information to a core network device, so that the core network device generates a charging request based on the ranging and sidelink positioning charging information.

20. A UE, comprising: a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory, the processor being configured to perform the method of any one of claims 9 to 16 based on instructions stored in the memory.

21. A communication system, comprising: the CTF of claim 17 or 18.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising: the UE of claim 19 or 20.

23. A computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions, the instructions being executed by a processor to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 16.

24. A computer program product, the computer program product storing computer instructions, the instructions being executed by a processor to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 16.

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