Layer related spatial map information transmission

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to devices, methods, apparatuses and medium related to spatial map layering. In an aspect, a first device transmits, to a second device, a request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer for a spatial map. The first device receives, from the second device, a response message comprising spatial map information of the spatial map. The spatial map information comprises information of a list of layers of the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers of the spatial map. The list of layers of the spatial map is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information. By implementing the embodiments of the present disclosure, a layered structure for the spatial map is introduced, enabling a more dynamic and flexible representation and management of the virtual environment.

Description

DEVICES, METHODS, APPARATUSES AND MEDIUM FOR SPATIAL MAP LAYERINGFIELD

[0001] Various embodiments generally relate to the field of communication, and in particular, to devices, methods, apparatuses and a computer readable storage medium related to spatial map layering.BACKGROUND

[0002] A communication network can be seen as a facility that enables communications between two or more communication devices, or provides communication devices access to a data network. A mobile or wireless communication network is one example of a communication network.

[0003] Such communication networks operate in accordance with standards, such as those promulgated by 3 GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project), IEEE or ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute). Examples of such standards include the so-called 5G (5th Generation) standard or other standards promulgated by 3GPP.SUMMARY

[0004] In general, embodiments of the present disclosure provide devices, methods, apparatuses and a computer readable storage medium for communication, for example, for spatial map layering, especially for metaverse spatial map layering.

[0005] In a first aspect, there is provided a first device. The network device may comprise at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first device at least to: transmit, to a second device, a request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer for a spatial map; and receive, from the second device, a response message comprising spatial map information of the spatial map, wherein the spatial map information comprises information of a list of layers of the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers of the spatial map; wherein the list of layers of the spatial map is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

[0006] In a second aspect, there is provided a second device. The second device may comprise at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second device at least to: receive, from a first device, a request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer for a spatial map; and transmit, to the first device, a response message comprising spatial map information of the spatial map, wherein the spatial map information comprises information of a list of layers of the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers of the spatial map; wherein the list of layers of the spatial map is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

[0007] In a third aspect, there is provided a method. The method may comprise: transmitting, to a second device, a request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer for a spatial map; and receiving, from the second device, a response message comprising spatial map information of the spatial map, wherein the spatial map information comprises information of a list of layers of the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers of the spatial map; wherein the list of layers of the spatial map is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

[0008] In a fourth aspect, there is provided a method. The method may comprise: receiving, from a first device, a request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer for a spatial map; and transmitting, to the first device, a response message comprising spatial map information of the spatial map, wherein the spatial map information comprises information of a list of layers of the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers of the spatial map; wherein the list of layers of the spatial map is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

[0009] In a fifth aspect, there is provided an apparatus. The apparatus may comprise: means for transmitting, to a second device, a request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer for a spatial map; and means for receiving, from the second device, a response message comprising spatial map information of the spatial map, wherein the spatial map information comprises information of a list of layers of the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers of the spatial map; wherein the list of layers of the spatial map is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

[0010] In a sixth aspect, there is provided an apparatus. The apparatus may comprise: means for receiving, from a first device, a request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer for a spatial map; and means for transmitting, to the first device, a response message comprising spatial map information of the spatial map, wherein the spatial map information comprises information of a list of layers of the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers of the spatial map; wherein the list of layers of the spatial map is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

[0011] In a seventh aspect, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the third to fourth aspects.

[0012] In an eighth aspect, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions, which, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus at least to: transmit, to a second device, a request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer for a spatial map; and receive, from the second device, a response message comprising spatial map information of the spatial map, wherein the spatial map information comprises information of a list of layers of the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers of the spatial map; wherein the list of layers of the spatial map is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

[0013] In a ninth aspect, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions, which, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus at least to: receive, from a first device, a request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer for a spatial map; and transmit, to the first device, a response message comprising spatial map information of the spatial map, wherein the spatial map information comprises information of a list of layers of the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers of the spatial map; wherein the list of layers of the spatial map is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

[0014] In a tenth aspect, there is provided a first device. The first device may comprise a transmitting circuitry configured to transmit, to a second device, a request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer for a spatial map; a receiving circuitry configured to receive, from the second device, a response message comprising spatial map information of the spatial map, wherein the spatial map informationcomprises information of a list of layers of the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers of the spatial map; wherein the list of layers of the spatial map is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

[0015] In an eleventh aspect, there is provided a second device. The second device may comprise a receiving circuitry configured to receive, from a first device, a request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer for a spatial map; a transmitting circuitry configured to transmit, to the first device, a response message comprising spatial map information of the spatial map, wherein the spatial map information comprises information of a list of layers of the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers of the spatial map; wherein the list of layers of the spatial map is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

[0016] In a twelfth aspect, there is provided a first device. The first device may comprise at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first device at least to: transmit, to a second device, a request message associated with subscription to a spatial map, wherein the request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer of the spatial map; and receive, from the second device, a response message comprising a list of layers associated with the subscription to the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers; wherein the list of layers associated with the subscription is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

[0017] In a thirteenth aspect, there is provided a second device. The second device may comprise at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second device at least to: receive, from a first device, a request message associated with subscription to a spatial map, wherein the request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer of the spatial map; and transmit, to the first device, a response message comprising a list of layers associated with the subscription to the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers; wherein the list of layers associated with the subscription is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

[0018] In a fourteenth aspect, there is provided a method. The method may comprise: transmitting, to a second device, a request message associated with subscription to a spatial map, wherein the request message comprising first layering information indicating at leastone layer of the spatial map; and receiving, from the second device, a response message comprising a list of layers associated with the subscription to the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers; wherein the list of layers associated with the subscription is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

[0019] In a fifteenth aspect, there is provided a method. The method may comprise: receiving, from a first device, a request message associated with subscription to a spatial map, wherein the request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer of the spatial map; and transmitting, to the first device, a response message comprising a list of layers associated with the subscription to the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers; wherein the list of layers associated with the subscription is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

[0020] In a sixteenth aspect, there is provided an apparatus. The apparatus may comprise: means for transmitting, to a second device, a request message associated with subscription to a spatial map, wherein the request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer of the spatial map; and means for receiving, from the second device, a response message comprising a list of layers associated with the subscription to the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers; wherein the list of layers associated with the subscription is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

[0021] In a seventeenth aspect, there is provided an apparatus. The apparatus may comprise: means for receiving, from a first device, a request message associated with subscription to a spatial map, wherein the request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer of the spatial map; and means for transmitting, to the first device, a response message comprising a list of layers associated with the subscription to the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers; wherein the list of layers associated with the subscription is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

[0022] In an eighteenth aspect, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the fourteenth or fifteenth aspect.

[0023] In a nineteenth aspect, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions, which, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus at least to: transmit, to a second device, a request message associated with subscription to a spatial map, wherein the request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer of the spatial map; and receive, from the second device, a response message comprising a list of layers associated with the subscription to the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers; wherein the list of layers associated with the subscription is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

[0024] In a twentieth aspect, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions, which, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus at least to: receive, from a first device, a request message associated with subscription to a spatial map, wherein the request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer of the spatial map; and transmit, to the first device, a response message comprising a list of layers associated with the subscription to the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers; wherein the list of layers associated with the subscription is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

[0025] In a twenty-first aspect, there is provided a first device. The first device may comprise a transmitting circuitry configured to transmit, to a second device, a request message associated with subscription to a spatial map, wherein the request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer of the spatial map; and a receiving circuitry configured to receive, from the second device, a response message comprising a list of layers associated with the subscription to the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers; wherein the list of layers associated with the subscription is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

[0026] In a twenty-second aspect, there is provided a second device. The second device may comprise a receiving circuitry configured to receive, from a first device, a request message associated with subscription to a spatial map, wherein the request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer of the spatial map; a transmitting circuitry configured to transmit, to the first device, a response message comprising a list of layers associated with the subscription to the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers, wherein the list of layers associated with thesubscription is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

[0027] It is to be understood that the summary section is not intended to identify key or essential features of embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become easily comprehensible through the following description.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Some embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0029] FIG. 1A illustrates an example of an application scenario in which some embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented;

[0030] FIG. IB illustrates an example of spatial map layers according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0031] FIG. 2 illustrates an example signaling process for exchanging spatial map laying information between a first device and a second device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0032] FIG. 3 illustrates an example signaling process for producing a spatial map according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0033] FIG. 4 illustrates an example signaling process for updating a spatial map according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0034] FIG. 5 illustrates an example signaling process for getting a spatial map according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0035] FIG. 6 illustrates an example signaling process for discovering a spatial map template according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0036] FIG. 7 illustrates an example signaling process for subscription to a spatial map between a first device and a second device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0037] FIG. 8 illustrates an example signaling process for subscribing or unsubscribing a spatial map according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0038] FIG. 9 illustrates a flowchart of an example method implemented at a first device in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0039] FIG. 10 illustrates a flowchart of an example method implemented at a second device in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0040] FIG. 11 illustrates a flowchart of an example method implemented at a first device in accordance with some other embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0041] FIG. 12 illustrates a flowchart of an example method implemented at a second device in accordance with some other embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0042] FIG. 13 illustrates an example simplified block diagram of a device that is suitable for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0043] FIG. 14 illustrates an example block diagram of an example computer readable medium in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0044] Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar element.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] Principles of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to some embodiments. It is to be understood that these embodiments are described only for the purpose of illustration and help those skilled in the art to understand and implement the present disclosure, without suggesting any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure. The disclosure described herein may be implemented in various manners other than the ones described below.

[0046] In the following description and claims, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skills in the art to which the present disclosure belongs.

[0047] References in the present disclosure to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an embodiment,” and the like indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but it is not necessary that every embodiment includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is withinthe knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

[0048] It may be understood that although the terms “first”, “second”, “third”, “fourth” etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of embodiments. As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed terms.

[0049] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “has”, “having”, “includes” and / or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, elements, and / or components etc., but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components and / or combinations thereof. As used herein, “at least one of the following: ” and “at least one of ” and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by “and” or “or”, mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all the elements. Additionally, the terms “identity”, “identifier” and “identification” in the present disclosure have the same meaning and could be collectively represent by “ID”.

[0050] As used in this application, the term “circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of the following:(a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and / or digital circuitry) and(b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable):(i) a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuit(s) with software / firmware and(ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions) and(c) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor s) that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.

[0051] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0052] As used herein, the term “communication network” refers to a network following any suitable communication standards, such as new radio (NR), long term evolution (LTE), LTE-advanced (LTE-A), wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), high-speed packet access (HSPA), narrow band Internet of things (NB-IoT) and so on. Furthermore, the communications between a terminal device and a network device in the communication network may be performed according to any suitable generation communication protocols, including, but not limited to, the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), 4.5G, the fifth generation (5G) communication protocols, the sixth generation (6G) communication protocols, and / or beyond. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied in various communication systems. Given the rapid development in communications, there will of course also be future type communication technologies and systems with which the present disclosure may be embodied. It should not be seen as limiting the scope of the present disclosure to only the aforementioned system.

[0053] As used herein, the term “network device” refers to a node in a communication network via which a terminal device accesses the network and receives services therefrom. The network device may refer to a base station (BS) or an access point (AP), for example, a node B (NodeB or NB), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), a NR NB (also referred to as a gNB), a transmit-receive point (TRP), a remote radio unit (RRU), a radio header (RH), a remote radio head (RRH), a relay, a low power node such as a femto, a pico, an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) node, a non-terrestrial network (NTN) or non-ground network device such as a satellite network device, a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite and ageosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) satellite, an aircraft network device, and so forth, depending on the applied terminology and technology. In some embodiments, radio access network (RAN) split architecture comprises a Centralized Unit (CU) and a Distributed Unit (DU) at an IAB donor node. An IAB node comprises a Mobile Terminal (IAB-MT) part that behaves like a UE toward the parent node, and a DU part of an IAB node behaves like a base station toward the next-hop IAB node.

[0054] The term “terminal device” refers to any end device that may be capable of wireless communication. By way of example rather than limitation, a terminal device may also be referred to as a communication device, user equipment (UE), a subscriber station (SS), a portable subscriber station, a mobile station (MS), or an access terminal (AT). The terminal device may include, but not limited to, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phones, wireless local loop phones, a tablet, a wearable terminal device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), portable computers, desktop computer, image capture terminal devices such as digital cameras, gaming terminal devices, music storage and playback appliances, vehicle-mounted wireless terminal devices, wireless endpoints, mobile stations, laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), laptop-mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, smart devices, wireless customer-premises equipment (CPE), an Internet of things (loT) device, a watch or other wearable, a head-mounted display (HMD), a vehicle, a drone, a medical device and applications (e.g., remote surgery), an industrial device and applications (e.g., a robot and / or other wireless devices operating in an industrial and / or an automated processing chain contexts), a consumer electronics device, a device operating on commercial, a relay node, an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node, and / or industrial wireless networks, and the like. In the following description, the terms “terminal device”, “communication device”, “terminal”, “user equipment” and “UE” may be used interchangeably.

[0055] As used herein, the term “resource”, “transmission resource”, “resource block”, “physical resource block” (PRB), “uplink (UL) resource” or “downlink (DL) resource” may refer to any resource for performing a communication, for example, a communication between a terminal device and a network device, such as a resource in time domain, a resource in frequency domain, a resource in space domain, a resource in code domain, a resource in a combination of more than one domain or any other resource enabling a communication, and the like. In the following, a resource in time domain (such as, a subframe) will be used as an example of a transmission resource for describing someembodiments of the present disclosure. It is noted that embodiments of the present disclosure are equally applicable to other resources in other domains.

[0056] Regarding maps, map layers are used to represent various datasets on the maps. The dataset may show the features in the form of groups of points, lines and polygon. A spatial map can consist of different information depending on the use case for the application or service. For example, a spatial anchor service may require only static information such as a three-dimensional (3D) plane, objects from a spatial map while an application (e.g., vehicle to everything (V2X) client) may require both static and dynamic (e.g., moving objects) information. The spatial map may consist of multiple granularities like static and dynamic information. However, the spatial map solution supported by mobile network systems does not enable the spatial map as a list of manageable layers.

[0057] Therefore, the present disclosure provides a concept of spatial map layering. Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and / or related apparatuses / devices for exchanging layering information of the spatial map between the vertical application layer (VAL) server or the service enabler architecture layer (SEAL) client and the SEAL server. According to these embodiments of the present disclosure, a first device (e.g., a VAL server or a SEAL client) transmits, to a second device (e.g., a SEAL server), a request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer for a spatial map. Next, the first device receives, from the second device, a response message comprising spatial map information of the spatial map. The spatial map information comprises information of a list of layers of the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers of the spatial map. The list of layers of the spatial map is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

[0058] Some other embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and / or related apparatuses / devices for subscription of layering information to a spatial map. According to these embodiments of the present disclosure, a first device (e.g., a VAL server or a SEAL client) transmits, to a second device (e.g., a SEAL server), a request message associated with subscription to a spatial map, wherein the request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer of the spatial map. Then, the first device receives, from the second device, a response message comprising a list of layers associated with the subscription to the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers. The listof layers associated with the subscription is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

[0059] It is understood that the above procedure steps may work together, in a flow of operations as described below, partly together or independently of each other. By implementing the embodiments of the present disclosure, a layered structure for the spatial map is introduced, impacting the UE (e.g., a SEAL client) in terms of sharing the layering information and receiving the updates from the system (e.g., a SEAL server), allowing for a more accurate and detailed representation of the metaverse environment by separating different types of information (e.g., landscape, objects, users, etc.) into distinct layers. This enables a more dynamic and flexible representation of the virtual environment, and provides a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the virtual world. The present disclosure introduces a mechanism for managing and controlling the data sources contributing to the spatial map, allowing for better data governance and ensures that the spatial map is consistent and reliable. Furthermore, the layered structure for the spatial map allows for the addition or removal of layers as needed, making the spatial map more flexible and scalable to accommodate evolving metaverse environments. Moreover, the present disclosure promotes interoperability by allowing different data sources (e.g., VAL servers, VAL UEs) to contribute to the spatial map, enabling a more collaborative and integrated metaverse experience. Additionally, the layered structure provides users with a more intuitive and personalized experience by allowing them to focus on specific layers of information relevant to their needs. Overall, the methods and / or the apparatuses / devices in the present disclosure are able to significantly increase procedure efficiency associated with the (metaverse) spatial map, leading to a more immersive, dynamic, and user-friendly virtual environment.

[0060] For illustrative purposes, principles and embodiments of the present disclosure of spatial map layering will be described below with reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 14. However, it is to be noted that these embodiments are given to enable the skilled in the art to understand inventive concepts of the present disclosure and implement the solution as proposed herein, and not intended to limit scope of the present application in any way.

[0061] FIG. 1A illustrates an example of an application architecture lOOA in which some embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented. The architecture 100A includes a UE 102, a server 104 and a map geographic information system (GIS). The UE 102includes a SEAL client 102-2 and / or a VAL client 102-4. Over the top (OTT) applications, multimedia subsystem (IMS) calls, client application programming interface (API) requests could be consumers of spatial map data in the SEAL client 102-2. The SEAL client 102-2 or the VAL client 102-4 may output spatial map data to the OTT applications, IMS calls or client API requests via interfaces. The output from the SEAL client 102-2 may be consumed by the consumers for metaverse related spatial mapping purpose. In other words, The OTT applications, IMS calls and client API requests may be the potential application triggers for the spatial mapping request. The requests may be captured by the SEAL client 102-2 or the VAL client 102-4 through the proper interface support with a layer type and a required JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) structure with spatial details with the meta data. The SEAL client 102-2 or the VAL client 102-4 could capture available layer details from the MAP GIS 106 via the SEAL server 104-2 or the VAL server 104-4. The MAP GIS 106 includes indoor and / or outdoor environment information. The spatial map data contains spatial map layering information of one or more spatial map layers.

[0062] FIG. IB illustrates an example of spatial map layers 100B according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0063] As illustrated in FIG. IB, the spatial map layers 100B may be of different types, e.g., people, activity, costmaps, doors, obstacles, soundscapes, network coverage and LiDAR scan. Each layer stores information of a particular type of map data and its metadata, and may have multiple elements of the same type (e.g., doors, obstacles, etc.). The metadata may contain information such as scale, original, frame of reference of the map and so on. The coordinates (e.g., in a particular coordinate frame of the reference) of the elements and property information of these elements are stored in the map world. The map world may also store transformation / scaling matrix between layers. The gateway may expose APIs to provide transformation / scaling information between different layers and the applications can use this transformation information to perform the need transformation / scaling, so as to reduce functionality duplication in applications.

[0064] The multi-layers in the spatial map could be extended for different verticals based on various use cases. The spatial map world represents a metaverse 3D map which indicates a virtual environment of a specified real environment. The metaverse space includes the indoor, outdoor and / or hybrid environments.

[0065] Among the spatial map layers, the People layer may indicate locations of people inthe spatial map. The Costmap layer may show the map / area that is used by the UE (e.g., a robot) to move around. For example, it may be boundaries of the room where the robot can move and shows all the objects locations where the robot cannot move, and it could be a 2D map for ground robot. The Activity map shows the location of various activities. In case of the robot map, the activity map may be a map showing all the location of the robot mission start and end locations, plus stop points. The network coverage layer may be represented by a radio frequency (RF) heat map and this shows signaling strength of various available networks. The obstacle layer may show various static objects in the spatial map. The soundscape layer may be created by the robot based on distinct sounds that provides the spatial awareness and sound analysis. The Lidar scan layer may be created by a robot Lidar scanner while it is moving in the environment, and may indicate the obstacles in the environment which inform the robot to take proper path while moving.

[0066] In some embodiments, one or more layers may be introduced, such as a radio frequency (RF) layer, an access point (AP) location layer, a velocity zone layer, an acceleration zone layer, a LiDAR scan layer, a magnetic field offset layer, a radon transform layer, a temperature layer, an acoustic layer, a detected object layer and a point of interest layer. The RF layer may be used as a separate map or subsumed into a cost map layer, for navigation and path planning. The AP location layer may be used as initial ground truth for the initial localization algorithm and for deriving and serving targeted maps. The velocity zone layer may be used for controlling velocity in the zone. The acceleration zone layer may be used for limiting the maximum torque. The LiDAR scan layer may be updated and used by the map server for retrieving the map. The magnetic field offset layer may be used to adjust magnetic field data, and separate computation of offset may be required. The radon transform layer may be used for line localization. The acoustic layer may be used for acoustics-based localization. The point of interest layer associated with virtual traffic light may be used for controlling navigation of robots and the point of interest layer associated with delivery points may be used by a parcel delivery application.

[0067] FIG. 2 illustrates an example signaling process 200 for exchanging spatial map laying information between a first device 202 (for example, a SEAL client or a VAL server) and a second device 204 (for example, a SEAL server) according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The first device 202 may refer to the SEAL client 102-2 or the VAL server 104-2 in FIG. 1 A. The second device 204 may refer to the SEAL server 104-2 in FIG. IB.

[0068] At 210, the first device 202 may transmit, to a second device 204, a request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer for a spatial map. At the same time, the second device 204 may receive, from the first device 202, a request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer for a spatial map. The request message may be a produce spatial map request message, an update spatial map request message or a get spatial map request message.

[0069] At 220, the first device 202 may receive, from the second device 204, a response message comprising spatial map information of the spatial map. At the same time, the second device 204 may transmit, to the first device 202, a response message comprising spatial map information of the spatial map. The spatial map information may comprise information of a list of layers of the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers of the spatial map. The list of layers of the spatial map may be determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information. The response message may be a produce spatial map response, an update spatial map response or a get spatial map response.

[0070] Based on the layered structure introduced into the spatial map, the first device 202 has SEAL layer capabilities and could provide a list of layers for a spatial map, the second device 204 could process the list of layers and perform certain operations to the spatial map and spatial layering information could be shared between the first device 202 and the second device 204. The layered structure allows for a more accurate and detailed representation of the metaverse environment by separating different types of information into distinct layers, thus enable a more dynamic and flexible representation of the virtual environment, allows for better data governance and ensures that the spatial map is consistent and reliable, and provides users with a more intuitive and personalized experience by allowing them to focus on specific layering information relevant to their needs.

[0071] In some embodiments, the request message may be configured to request producing the spatial map. In these embodiments, the list of layers comprises (at least part / one of) the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information. Under such a scenario, the request message could be a produce spatial map request message. In this way, the spatial map is generated / produced to include the information requested by the first device. Transmission resources and / or computing resources spend on unnecessary information may be avoided.

[0072] In some embodiments, the spatial map may be produced based on the first layeringinformation and sensor data required to estimate object information. In this way, the second device 204 could produce a spatial map based on the first layering information (e.g., rough layering information) from the first device 202.

[0073] Under such a scenario, in some embodiments, the spatial map information may comprise dimension information of a three-dimensional space defined by the spatial map. Alternatively or additionally, the spatial map information may comprise information of at least one object in the spatial map. Alternatively or additionally, the spatial map information may comprise information of at least one spatial anchor within the spatial map. The spatial map information contains the second layering information, which is more detailed than the first layering information.

[0074] In some embodiments, the request message may be configured to request modifying the spatial map, and the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information may be deleted from or comprised in the list of layers. In other words, the request message could be an update / modify spatial map request message. In this way, the layers could be added or removed as needed, making the spatial map more flexible and scalable to accommodate evolving metaverse environments.

[0075] Under such a scenario, in some embodiments, the spatial map information may comprise dimension information of a three-dimensional space defined by a modified spatial map. Alternatively or additionally, the spatial map information may comprise modified access control rules for defining devices permitted to access a modified spatial map. Alternatively or additionally, the spatial map information may comprise a modified spatial map coverage area of a modified spatial map.

[0076] In some embodiments, the request message may be configured to acquire information of the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information in the spatial map, and wherein the list of layers comprises the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information. In other words, the request message could be a get spatial map request message.

[0077] Under such a scenario, in some embodiments, the spatial map information may further comprise dimension information of a three-dimensional space defined by the spatial map. Alternatively or additionally, the spatial map information may further comprise information of at least one object in the spatial map within the spatial map. Alternatively or additionally, the spatial map information may further comprise information of at least onespatial anchor within the spatial map.

[0078] In some embodiments, the request message (e.g., a produce spatial map request message, an update / modify spatial map request message or a get spatial map request message) may further comprise an identification of the first device 202. Alternatively or additionally, the request message may further comprise an identification of the spatial map. Alternatively or additionally, the request message may further comprise an indication to modify the spatial map. Alternatively or additionally, the request message may further comprise information of a three-dimensional area of interest covering the spatial map. Alternatively or additionally, the request message may further comprise localization information used for discovering the spatial map. Alternatively or additionally, the request message may further comprise access control rules for defining devices permitted to access the spatial map. Alternatively or additionally, the request message may further comprise a spatial map coverage area of the spatial map. Alternatively or additionally, the request message may further comprise at least one discovery filter for searching for the spatial map.

[0079] In some embodiments, the response message may further comprise a success or failure result related to operations on the spatial map. Alternatively or additionally, the response message may further comprise an identification of the spatial map.

[0080] In some embodiments, the first layering information may comprise a layer identification of each of the at least one layer. Alternatively or additionally, the first layering information may comprise a layer name of each of the at least one layer. Alternatively or additionally, the first layering information may comprise a map identification of the spatial map. Alternatively or additionally, the first layering information may comprise a map name of the spatial map. Alternatively or additionally, the first layering information may comprise information of at least one spatial anchor within the spatial map.

[0081] In some embodiments, the second layering information may comprise at least one identity of the list of layers. The second device 204 may assign the at least one identity to the list of layers.

[0082] In some embodiments, the first device 202 may be a terminal device or a network device, and the second device 204 may be a network device. In some embodiments, the first device 202 may be a service enabler architecture layer (SEAL) client or a vertical application layer (VAL) server, and the second device 204 may be a SEAL server.

[0083] In some embodiments, the first device 202 is a SEAL client, and the first device 202may transmit, to an application on a terminal device, the second layering information for presentation on the terminal device. In some other embodiments, the first device 202 is a VAL server, and the first device 202 may transmit, to one or more VAL clients connected to the first device 202, the spatial map information.

[0084] In some embodiments, the first device 202 may be further caused to perform determining / deciding / computing movement of a terminal device (e.g., a robot) in / to the spatial map. Alternatively or additionally, the first device 202 may be further caused to perform selecting of a route for the terminal device based on (network coverage layer information within) the second layering information. Alternatively or additionally, the first device 202 may be further caused to perform planning a path for the terminal device based on the second layering information. Alternatively or additionally, the first device 202 may be further caused to perform updating a geo-fence based on (cost map layer information within) the second layering information. Alternatively or additionally, the first device 202 may be further caused to perform updating in an application logic due to the layer input received as part of the spatial map.

[0085] In some embodiments, the second layering information comprises information / indication(s) of list of layers of the spatial map (e.g., layer ID(s) or layer name(s) and map data / information of / on / in the layer(s) of the spatial map. For example, the second layering information comprises a layer ID of a network coverage layer and network coverage layer information (e.g., map data / information on the network coverage layer of the spatial map), and in addition, the second layering information may also comprise a layer ID of a cost map layer and cost map layer information (e.g., map data / information on the cost map layer of the spatial map).

[0086] In some embodiments, the first device 202 is configured to generate signals of controlling the terminal device. For example, the first device 202 is configured to control the terminal device (e.g., a robot) to perform the determined movement and / or to move along the selected route.

[0087] In some embodiments, the first device 202 transmits the process information associated with the spatial map (e.g., the determined movement and / or the selected route and / or the updated geo-fence) to the terminal device.

[0088] In some embodiments, the first device 202 may be configured on the terminal device. That is, the first device 202 and the terminal device may be considered as singledevice and this single device is configured to process information associated with the spatial map and generate signal s / informati on of controlling this device.

[0089] As mentioned before, the request message may be a produce spatial map request message, an update spatial map request message or a get spatial map request message, and the response message may be a produce spatial map response, an update spatial map response or a get spatial map response. For ease of understanding, FIG. 2 will be described with detailed embodiments with reference to FIG. 3 to FIG. 6.

[0090] FIG. 3 illustrates an example signaling process 300 for producing a spatial map according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The process 300 involves a VAL server / SEAL client 302 and a SEAL server 304. The VAL server / SEAL client 302 may be a spatial map requestor and the SEAL server 304 may provide the service.

[0091] At 310, the VAL server or the SEAL client 302 (i.e., the producer) transmits, to the SEAL server 304, a produce spatial map request message to request producing the spatial map. The request may comprise at least one of the following: an identification of the VAL server / SEAL client 302 (i.e., a requestor ID); information of a three-dimensional area of interest covering the spatial map; information to be included in the spatial map (e.g., access control rules for defining devices permitted to access / discover the spatial map); or first layering information. The first layering information may comprise layer IDs (e.g., layer 1, layer 2, layer 3 . . .), layer names, a map ID of the spatial map, a map name of the spatial map, information of spatial anchor(s) within the spatial map, and / or data sources.

[0092] At 320, the SEAL server 304 produces a requested spatial map based on the first layering information and sensor data required to estimate object information, such as the number of objects, types of the objects, positions of the objects, directions and speeds of the objects and so on. The sensor data may be processed sensor data selected from a bundle of sensor data from the data sources. The data source for each layer can either be pre-defined or allocated by the VAL server / SEAL client 302 or the SEAL server 304.

[0093] At 330, the SEAL server 304 transmits, to the VAL server / SEAL client 302, a produce spatial map response message. The produce spatial map response message comprises spatial map information of the spatial map. The spatial map information may comprise information of a list of layers of the spatial map and corresponding identities. The produce spatial map response message may comprise a spatial map ID, dimension information of a three-dimensional space defined by the spatial map, information of at leastone object in the spatial map, and / or information of at least one spatial anchor within the spatial map. If the VAL server or SEAL client 302 is a data source, the VAL server or SEAL client 302 may provide the processed sensor data to the SEAL server 304 which can identify the stationary and / or moving objects with attributes of them corresponding to the layer.

[0094] In some embodiments, the SEAL client 302 may transmit, to an application on a terminal device (e.g., a UE or a robot), the spatial map information, for example, via application programming interfaces (e.g., JavaScript interfaces) or direct system calls within the terminal device. A direct use of the spatial map information is presentation on the terminal device visually. Additionally, the spatial map information can be utilized in various application use cases that involve decision-making processes, such as: 1) moving the terminal device to the new spatial map; 2) selecting route(s) for the terminal device based on the available network coverage layer information within the spatial map information; 3) planning a path for the terminal device based on the layering information of layers such as the costmaps layer, obstacles layer, and doors layer; 4) updating a geo-fence based on cost map layer information within the second layering information; and / or 5) updating in an application logic due to the layer input received as part of the spatial map.

[0095] By implementing the embodiments described with reference to FIG. 3, the layered structure is introduced into the producing spatial map procedure and layering information could be exchanged between the VAL server / SEAL client 302 and the SEAL server 304, enabling a more dynamic and flexible representation and management of the virtual environment.

[0096] FIG. 4 illustrates an example signaling process 400 for updating a spatial map according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The process 400 involves a VAL server / SEAL client 402 and a SEAL server 404. The VAL server / SEAL client 402 may be a spatial map requestor and the SEAL server 404 may provide the service.

[0097] At 410, the VAL server or SEAL client 402 (i.e., the producer) transmits, to the SEAL server 404, an update / modify spatial map request message to request modifying the spatial map. The request may comprise at least one of the following: an identification of the VAL server / SEAL client 402 (i.e., a requestor ID); a spatial map ID; an indication to modify or delete the spatial map; information on what to modify (e.g., updated access control rules for defining devices permitted to access / discover the spatial map, updated spatial map coverage area, or first layering information, etc). The first layering information maycomprise layer IDs (e.g., layer 1, layer 2, layer 3 ...), layer names, a map ID of the spatial map, a map name of the spatial map, information of spatial anchor(s) within the spatial map, and / or data sources. The SEAL server 404 may authorize the VAL server or SEAL client 402 and validates the update spatial map request message.

[0098] At 420, the SEAL server 404 updates / modifies or delete the spatial map as requested by the VAL server / SEAL client 402.

[0099] At 430, the SEAL server 404 transmits, to the VAL server / SEAL client 402 an update spatial map response message. The update spatial map response message comprises a success or failure result related to operations on the spatial map and / or modified spatial map information (e.g., a spatial map ID, a list of layers and corresponding identities).

[0100] In some embodiments, the SEAL client 402 may transmit, to an application on a terminal device (e.g., a UE or a robot), the spatial map information, for example, via application programming interfaces (e.g., JavaScript interfaces) or direct system calls within the terminal device. A direct use of the spatial map information is presentation on the terminal device visually. Additionally, the updated spatial map information can be utilized in various application use cases that involve decision-making processes, such as: 1) moving the terminal device to the new spatial map; 2) selecting route(s) for the terminal device based on the available network coverage layer information within the spatial map information; 3) planning a path for the terminal device based on layering information of layers such as the costmaps layer, obstacles layer, and doors layer; 4) updating a geo-fence based on cost map layer information within the spatial map information; and / or 5) updating in an application logic due to layer input received as part of the spatial map.

[0101] By implementing the embodiments described with reference to FIG. 4, the layered structure is introduced into the update spatial map procedure, layering information could be exchanged between the VAL server / SEAL client 402 and the SEAL server 404, and the layered structure allows for the addition or removal of layers as needed, enabling a more flexible and scalable spatial map to accommodate evolving metaverse environments.

[0102] FIG. 5 illustrates an example signaling process 500 for getting a spatial map according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The process 500 involves a VAL server / SEAL client 502 and a SEAL server 504. The VAL server / SEAL client 502 may be a spatial map requestor and the SEAL server 504 may provide the service.

[0103] At 510, the VAL server or SEAL client 502 (i.e., the consumer) transmits, to theSEAL server 504, a get spatial map request message to request acquiring the spatial map. The request may comprise at least one of the following: an identification of the VAL server / SEAL client 502 (i.e., a requestor ID); a spatial map ID on which the information is to get; dimension information of a three-dimensional space defined by a modified spatial map; at least one discovery filter for searching for the spatial map (e.g., a set of characteristics for search the matching spatial maps when multiple spatial maps are allowed in the area of interest); or a specific list of layers and corresponding identities. The SEAL server 504 may authorize the VAL server or SEAL client 502 and validates the get spatial map request message. Then, the SEAL server 504 may collect the requested spatial map information.

[0104] At 520, the SEAL server 504 may transmit, to the VAL server / SEAL client 502 a get spatial map response message. The get spatial map response message may comprise a success or failure result related to operations on the spatial map, a spatial map ID and / or spatial map information. The SEAL server 504 may transmit a reason along with the failure result related to operations on the spatial map to the VAL server / SEAL client 502.

[0105] In some embodiments, if / when the consumer is the SEAL client, it may transmit, to an application on a terminal device (e.g., a UE or a robot), the spatial map information, for example, via application programming interfaces (e.g., JavaScript interfaces) or direct system calls within the terminal device. A direct use of the spatial map information is presentation on the terminal device visually. Depending on the application supported by the SEAL client 502, it can select the granularity of information to be provided at each layer and sent to the application client. Additionally, the spatial map information can be utilized in various application use cases that involve decision-making processes, such as: 1) moving the terminal device to the new spatial map; 2) selecting route(s) for the terminal device based on the available network coverage layer information within the spatial map information; 3) planning a path for the terminal device based on layering information of layers such as the costmaps layer, obstacles layer, and doors layer; 4) updating a geo-fence based on cost map layer information within the spatial map information; and / or 5) updating in an application logic due to layer input received as part of the spatial map.

[0106] In some embodiments, if the consumer is the VAL server, it may transmit the spatial map information to one or more VAL clients connected to it at specified locations.

[0107] By implementing the embodiments described with reference to FIG. 5, the layeredstructure is introduced into the get spatial map procedure, layering information could be exchanged between the VAL server / SEAL client 502 and the SEAL server 504, enabling a more dynamic and flexible representation and management of the virtual environment.

[0108] The request message described with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 5 may be based on a spatial map template. FIG. 6 illustrates an example signaling process 600 for discovering a spatial map template according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The process 600 involves a VAL server / SEAL client 602 and a SEAL server 604. The VAL server / SEAL client 602 may be a spatial map template requestor and the SEAL server 604 may provide the spatial map template. The SEAL server 604 may be provided with a mapping of application type with spatial map templates and optionally annotated with 3D locations. For example, an XR-indoor application may be mapped to a spatial map template X defined with 5 layers for a specific 3D location (e.g., defined as a cuboid inside a mall), and an XR-outdoor application may be mapped to a spatial map template Y defined with 3 layers.

[0109] At 610, the VAL server or SEAL client 602 transmits, to the SEAL server 604, a discover spatial map template request message to request acquiring the spatial map template. The discover spatial map template request message may contain application information, for example, an application name, an application type (e.g., XR-indoor or XR-outdoor) and a 3D area of interest.

[0110] At 620, the SEAL server 604 determines the spatial map template by matching the information contained in the discover spatial map template request message with spatial map templates information within the SEAL server 604.[OHl] At 630, the SEAL server 604 transmits, to the VAL server / SEAL client 602 information of the spatial map template (e.g., a spatial map template ID, a spatial map structure including layering information) determined at 620, which could be used by the VAL server / SEAL client 602 to create the produce spatial map request message, the update spatial map request message or the get spatial map request message at the SEAL server 604. As an example, if the VAL server / SEAL client 602 has discovered or imported a spatial map template, the VAL server / SEAL client 602 may send a produce spatial map request message to the SEAL server 604. Under such a scenario, the produce spatial map request message may include a spatial map template ID, layers of the spatial map template to be used and / or corresponding data sources, optionally any new layers required in the spatial map in additionto the layers specified in the spatial map template.

[0112] FIG. 7 illustrates an example signaling process 700 for subscription to a spatial map between a first device 702 (for example, a SEAL client or a VAL server) and a second device 704 (for example, a SEAL server) according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The first device 702 may refer to the SEAL client 102-2 or the VAL server 104-2 in FIG. 1 A as well as the first device 202 in FIG. 2. The second device 704 may refer to the SEAL server 104-2 in FIG. IB as well as the second device 204 in FIG. 2.

[0113] At 710, the first device 702 transmits, to a second device 704, a request message associated with subscription to a spatial map. At the same time, the second device 704 receives, from a first device 702, a request message associated with subscription to a spatial map. The request message comprises first layering information indicating at least one layer of the spatial map. At 720, the first device 702 receives, from the second device 704, a response message comprising a list of layers associated with the subscription to the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers. At the same time, the second device 704 transmits, to the first device 702, a response message comprising a list of layers associated with the subscription to the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers. The list of layers associated with the subscription is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information. The first device may be a terminal device or a network device, and the second device may be a network device. Specifically, the first device may be a SEAL client or a VAL server, and the second device may be a SEAL server.

[0114] For ease of understanding, FIG. 7 will be described with a detailed embodiment with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 illustrates an example signaling process 800 for subscribing or unsubscribing a spatial map according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The process 800 involves a VAL server / SEAL client 802 and a SEAL server 804. The VAL server / SEAL client 802 may be a spatial map subscriber and the SEAL server 804 may provide the service.

[0115] At 810, the VAL server or SEAL client 802 (i.e., the requestor) transmits, to the SEAL server 804, a subscribe / unsubscribe spatial map request message to request sub scribing / unsub scribing the spatial map. The request may comprise at least one of the following: an identification of the VAL server or SEAL client 802 (i.e., a requestor ID); an identification of the spatial map; information of a three-dimensional area of interest (orlocation information) used for identifying the spatial map; a list of events to be subscribed / unsubscribed which trigger event notifications; triggering criteria specifying conditions for triggering events; a notification interval (e.g., minimum time) between consecutive event notifications; or a list of layers and corresponding identities. The unsubscribe spatial map request message may comprise a subscription identification for the subscription to the spatial map.

[0116] The SEAL server 804 may authorize the VAL server or SEAL client 802, and validates the subscribe / unsubscribe spatial map request message. Then the SEAL server 804 may add / delete the VAL server or SEAL client 802 into / from the subscriber list, and / or update event list of the spatial map and / or layering information of the spatial map.

[0117] At 820, the VAL server or SEAL client 802 may receive, from the SEAL server 804, a subscribe / unsubscribe spatial map response message comprising a list of layers associated with the subscription to the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers. The second layering information may comprise at least one identity of the list of layers. The list of layers associated with the subscription may be determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information. The subscribe spatial map response message may comprise a list of events of the subscription to the spatial map, which comprises at least one of the following: at least one event identification of the list of events; at least one success or failure result of the subscription of the list of events; or a subscription identification for the subscription to the spatial map; or a list of layers associated with the subscription to the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers. The unsubscribe spatial map response message may comprise a list of events unsubscribed by the first device in the spatial map, which comprises at least one of the following: at least one event identification of the list of events; or at least one success or failure result of unsubscribing the list of events.

[0118] At 830, a subscribed event of the subscription is detected at / by the SEAL server 804. Then, at 840, the SEAL server 804 transmits, to the VAL server / SEAL client 802, a spatial map notification message associated with the detected event. At the same time, the VAL server / SEAL client 802 receives, from the SEAL server 804, a notification message associated with an event of the subscription. The spatial map notification message may include the information on the detected triggering event, which may comprise updated layering information of the list of layers associated with the subscription to the spatial map. The list of events may comprise at least one of the following: adding or removing objects;changing positions or directions of objects in the spatial map; or updating or removing layering information in the spatial map. In this way, the layering information updated dynamically could be notified to the VAL server / SEAL client 802 in real time.

[0119] In some embodiments, if the VAL server or SEAL client 802 unsubscribed all the events of the spatial map, the SEAL server 804 may remove the VAL server or SEAL client 802 completely from the subscriber list of the spatial map. If so, the following actions 830 and 840 will not be initiated.

[0120] In some embodiments, the SEAL client 802 may transmit, to an application on a terminal device (e.g., a UE or a robot), the spatial map information (especially the layering information), for example, via application programming interfaces (e.g., JavaScript interfaces) or direct system calls within the terminal device in the notification message. A direct use of the spatial map information is presenting the layering information on the terminal device visually based on the recent notification message. Additionally, the spatial map information (especially the layering information) can be utilized in various application use cases that involve decision-making processes, such as: 1) moving the terminal device to the new spatial map; 2) selecting route(s) for the terminal device based on the available network coverage layer information within the spatial map information; 3) planning a path for the terminal device based on layering information of layers such as the costmaps layer, obstacles layer, and doors layer; 4) updating a geo-fence based on cost map layer information within the spatial map information; and / or 5) updating in an application logic due to layer input received as part of the spatial map.

[0121] By implementing the embodiments described with reference to FIG. 7 to FIG. 8, the layered structure is introduced into the subscribe / unsubscribe spatial map procedure and layering information could be subscribed or unsubscribed as needed, enabling a more dynamic and flexible notification regarding the layering information changes.

[0122] FIG. 9 illustrates a flowchart of an example method 900 implemented at a first device (for example, a first device 202 or 702) in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. For ease of understanding, the method 900 will be described from the perspective of the first device 202 with reference to FIG. 2.

[0123] At block 910, the first device 202 transmits, to a second device 204, a request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer for a spatial map. At block 920, the first device 202 receives, from the second device 204, a response messagecomprising spatial map information of the spatial map, wherein the spatial map information comprises information of a list of layers of the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers of the spatial map; wherein the list of layers of the spatial map is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

[0124] In some embodiments, the request message is configured to request producing the spatial map, and wherein the list of layers comprises the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

[0125] In some embodiments, the spatial map is produced based on the first layering information and sensor data required to estimate object information.

[0126] In some embodiments, the spatial map information further comprises at least one of the following: dimension information of a three-dimensional space defined by the spatial map; information of at least one object in the spatial map; or information of at least one spatial anchor within the spatial map.

[0127] In some embodiments, the request message is configured to request modifying the spatial map, and the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information is deleted from or comprised in the list of layers.

[0128] In some embodiments, the spatial map information further comprises at least one of the following: dimension information of a three-dimensional space defined by a modified spatial map; modified access control rules for defining devices permitted to access a modified spatial map; or a modified spatial map coverage area of a modified spatial map.

[0129] In some embodiments, the request message is configured to acquire information of the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information in the spatial map, and wherein the list of layers comprises the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

[0130] In some embodiments, the spatial map information further comprises at least one of the following: dimension information of a three-dimensional space defined by the spatial map; information of at least one object in the spatial map within the spatial map; or information of at least one spatial anchor within the spatial map.

[0131] In some embodiments, the request message further comprises at least one of the following: an identification of the first device 202; an identification of the spatial map; an indication to modify the spatial map; information of a three-dimensional area of interestcovering the spatial map; localization information used for discovering the spatial map; access control rules for defining devices permitted to access the spatial map; a spatial map coverage area of the spatial map; or at least one discovery filter for searching for the spatial map.

[0132] In some embodiments, the response message further comprises at least one of the following: a success or failure result related to operations on the spatial map; or an identification of the spatial map.

[0133] In some embodiments, the first layering information comprises at least one of the following: a layer identification of each of the at least one layer; a layer name of each of the at least one layer; a map identification of the spatial map; a map name of the spatial map; or information of at least one spatial anchor within the spatial map.

[0134] In some embodiments, the second layering information comprises at least one identity of the list of layers.

[0135] In some embodiments, the first device 202 is a terminal device or a network device, and the second device 204 is a network device.

[0136] In some embodiments, the first device 202 is a service enabler architecture layer (SEAL) client or a vertical application layer (VAL) server, and the second device 204 is a SEAL server.

[0137] In some embodiments, the first device 202 is a SEAL client, and the first device 202 is further caused to: transmit, to an application on a terminal device, the second layering information for presentation on the terminal device.

[0138] In some embodiments, the first device 202 is further caused to perform at least one of the following: determining movement of a terminal device in the spatial map based on the second layering information; selecting of a route for the terminal device based on network coverage layer information within the second layering information; planning a path for the terminal device based on the second layering information; updating a geo-fence based on cost map layer information within the second layering information; or updating in an application logic due to the layer input received as part of the spatial map.

[0139] In some embodiments, the first device 202 is a VAL server, and the first device 202 is further caused to: transmit, to one or more VAL clients connected to the first device 202, the second layering information.

[0140] FIG. 10 illustrates a flowchart of an example method implemented at a second device (for example, a second device 204) in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. For ease of understanding, the method 1000 will be described from the perspective of the network device 204 with reference to FIG. 2.

[0141] In some embodiments, the second device 204 receives, from a first device 202, a request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer for a spatial map; and transmit, to the first device 202, a response message comprising spatial map information of the spatial map, wherein the spatial map information comprises information of a list of layers of the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers of the spatial map; wherein the list of layers of the spatial map is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

[0142] In some embodiments, the request message is configured to request producing the spatial map, and wherein the list of layers comprises the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

[0143] In some embodiments, the second device 204 is further caused to: produce the spatial map based on the first layering information and sensor data required to estimate object information.

[0144] In some embodiments, the spatial map information further comprises at least one of the following: dimension information of a three-dimensional space defined by the spatial map; information of at least one object in the spatial map; or information of at least one spatial anchor within the spatial map.

[0145] In some embodiments, the request message is configured to request modifying the spatial map, and the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information is deleted from or comprised in the list of layers.

[0146] In some embodiments, the spatial map information further comprises at least one of the following: dimension information of a three-dimensional space defined by a modified spatial map; modified access control rules for defining devices permitted to access a modified spatial map; or a modified spatial map coverage area of a modified spatial map.

[0147] In some embodiments, the request message is configured to acquire information of the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information in the spatial map, and wherein the list of layers comprises the at least one layer indicated by the first layeringinformation.

[0148] In some embodiments, the spatial map information further comprises at least one of the following: dimension information of a three-dimensional space defined by the spatial map; information of at least one object in the spatial map within the spatial map; or information of at least one spatial anchor within the spatial map.

[0149] In some embodiments, the request message further comprises at least one of the following: an identification of the first device 202; an identification of the spatial map; an indication to modify the spatial map; information of a three-dimensional area of interest covering the spatial map; localization information used for discovering the spatial map; access control rules for defining devices permitted to access the spatial map; a spatial map coverage area of the spatial map; or at least one discovery filter for searching for the spatial map.

[0150] In some embodiments, the response message further comprises at least one of the following: a success or failure result related to operations on the spatial map; or an identification of the spatial map.

[0151] In some embodiments, the first layering information comprises at least one of the following: a layer identification of each of the at least one layer; a layer name of each of the at least one layer; a map identification of the spatial map; a map name of the spatial map; or information of at least one spatial anchor within the spatial map.

[0152] In some embodiments, the second layering information comprises at least one identity of the list of layers.

[0153] In some embodiments, the second device 204 is further caused to: assign the at least one identity to the list of layers.

[0154] In some embodiments, the first device 202 is a terminal device or a network device, and the second device 204 is a network device.

[0155] In some embodiments, the first device 202 is a service enabler architecture layer (SEAL) client or a vertical application layer (VAL) server, and the second device 204 is a SEAL server.

[0156] It should be noted that those embodiments described with reference FIG. 9 also apply for or could be combined with the embodiments described with reference FIG. 10, which are omitted here for brevity.

[0157] In some embodiments, an apparatus (for example, the first device 202) capable of performing the method 900 may comprise means for performing the respective steps of the method 900. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module.

[0158] In some embodiments, the apparatus may comprise means for transmitting, to a second device 204, a request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer for a spatial map; and means for receiving, from the second device 204, a response message comprising spatial map information of the spatial map, wherein the spatial map information comprises information of a list of layers of the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers of the spatial map; wherein the list of layers of the spatial map is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information. In some embodiments, the apparatus may comprise means for performing other embodiments described with reference to FIG. 9.

[0159] In some embodiments, an apparatus (for example, the second device 204) capable of performing the method 1000 may comprise means for performing the respective steps of the method 1000. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module.

[0160] In some embodiments, the apparatus may comprise means for receiving, from a first device 202, a request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer for a spatial map; and means for transmitting, to the first device 202, a response message comprising spatial map information of the spatial map, wherein the spatial map information comprises information of a list of layers of the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers of the spatial map; wherein the list of layers of the spatial map is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information. In some embodiments, the apparatus may comprise means for performing other embodiments described with reference to FIG. 10.

[0161] FIG. 11 illustrates a flowchart of an example method 1100 implemented at a first device (for example, a first device 202 or 702) in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. For ease of understanding, the method 900 will be described from the perspective of the first device 202 with reference to FIG. 2.

[0162] At block 1110, the first device 202 transmits, to a second device 204, a request message associated with subscription to a spatial map, wherein the request messagecomprising first layering information indicating at least one layer of the spatial map. At block 1120, the first device 202 receives, from the second device 204, a response message comprising a list of layers associated with the subscription to the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers, wherein the list of layers associated with the subscription is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

[0163] In some embodiments, the request message is configured to subscribe the subscription to the spatial map; and wherein the list of layers associated with the subscription comprises the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

[0164] In some embodiments, the request message further comprises at least one of the following: an identification of the first device 202; an identification of the spatial map; information of a three-dimensional area of interest used for identifying the spatial map; a list of events to be subscribed which trigger event notifications; triggering criteria specifying conditions for triggering events; or a notification interval between consecutive event notifications.

[0165] In some embodiments, the response message further comprises a list of events of the subscription to the spatial map, which comprises at least one of the following: at least one event identification of the list of events; at least one success or failure result of the subscription of the list of events; or a subscription identification for the subscription to the spatial map.

[0166] In some embodiments, the request message is configured to unsubscribe the subscription to the spatial map; and wherein the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information is deleted from the list of layers associated with the subscription.

[0167] In some embodiments, the request message further comprises at least one of the following: an identification of the first device 202; an identification of the spatial map; information of a three-dimensional area of interest used for identifying the spatial map; a list of events to be unsubscribed; or a subscription identification for the subscription to the spatial map.

[0168] In some embodiments, the response message further comprises a list of events unsubscribed by the first device 202 in the spatial map, which comprises at least one of the following: at least one event identification of the list of events; or at least one success or failure result of unsubscribing the list of events.

[0169] In some embodiments, the list of events comprises at least one of the following: adding or removing objects; changing positions or directions of objects in the spatial map; or updating or removing layering information in the spatial map.

[0170] In some embodiments, the first device 202 is further caused to: receive, from the second device 204, a notification message associated with an event of the subscription.

[0171] In some embodiments, the notification message comprises information of the event which comprises updated layering information of the list of layers associated with the subscription to the spatial map.

[0172] In some embodiments, the second layering information comprises at least one identity of the list of layers.

[0173] In some embodiments, the first device 202 is a terminal device or a network device, and the second device 204 is a network device.

[0174] In some embodiments, the first device 202 is a service enabler architecture layer (SEAL) client or a vertical application layer (VAL) server, and the second device 204 is a SEAL server.

[0175] In some embodiments, the first device 202 is a SEAL client, and the first device 202 is further caused to: transmit, to an application on a terminal device, the second layering information for presentation on the terminal device.

[0176] In some embodiments, the first device 202 is further caused to perform at least one of the following: determining movement of a terminal device in the spatial map based on the second layering information; selecting of a route for the terminal device based on network coverage layer information within the second layering information; planning a path for the terminal device based on the second layering information; updating a geo-fence based on cost map layer information within the second layering information; or updating in an application logic due to the layer input received as part of the spatial map.

[0177] In some embodiments, the first device 202 is a VAL server, and the first device 202 is further caused to: transmit, to one or more VAL clients connected to the first device 202, the second layering information.

[0178] FIG. 12 illustrates a flowchart of an example method implemented at a second device (for example, a second device 204) in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. For ease of understanding, the method 1200 will be described from theperspective of the network device 204 with reference to FIG. 2.

[0179] At block 1210, the second device 204 receives, from a first device 202, a request message associated with subscription to a spatial map, wherein the request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer of the spatial map. At block 1220, the second device 204 transmits, to the first device 202, a response message comprising a list of layers associated with the subscription to the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers. The list of layers associated with the subscription is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

[0180] In some embodiments, the request message is configured to subscribe the subscription to the spatial map; and the list of layers associated with the subscription comprises the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

[0181] In some embodiments, the request message further comprises at least one of the following: an identification of the first device 202; an identification of the spatial map; information of a three-dimensional area of interest used for identifying the spatial map; a list of events to be subscribed which trigger event notifications; triggering criteria specifying conditions for triggering events; or a notification interval between consecutive event notifications.

[0182] In some embodiments, the response message further comprises a list of events of the subscription to the spatial map, which comprises at least one of the following: at least one event identification of the list of events; at least one success or failure result of the subscription of the list of events; or a subscription identification for the subscription to the spatial map.

[0183] In some embodiments, the request message is configured to unsubscribe the subscription to the spatial map; and wherein the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information is deleted from the list of layers associated with the subscription.

[0184] In some embodiments, the request message further comprises at least one of the following: an identification of the first device 202; an identification of the spatial map; information of a three-dimensional area of interest used for identifying the spatial map; a list of events to be unsubscribed; or a subscription identification for the subscription to the spatial map.

[0185] In some embodiments, the response message further comprises a list of events unsubscribed by the first device 202 in the spatial map, which comprises at least one of the following: at least one event identification of the list of events; or at least one success or failure result of unsubscribing the list of events.

[0186] In some embodiments, the list of events comprises at least one of the following: adding or removing objects; changing positions or directions of objects in the spatial map; or updating or removing layering information in the spatial map.

[0187] In some embodiments, the second device 204 is further caused to: transmit, to the first device 202, a notification message associated with an event of the subscription.

[0188] In some embodiments, the notification message comprises information of the event which comprises updated layering information of the list of layers associated with the subscription to the spatial map.

[0189] In some embodiments, the second layering information comprises at least one identity of the list of layers.

[0190] In some embodiments, the first device 202 is a terminal device or a network device, and the second device 204 is a network device.

[0191] In some embodiments, the first device 202 is a service enabler architecture layer (SEAL) client or a vertical application layer (VAL) server, and the second device 204 is a SEAL server.

[0192] It should be noted that those embodiments described with reference FIG. 11 also apply for or could be combined with the embodiments described with reference FIG. 12, which are omitted here for brevity.

[0193] In some embodiments, an apparatus (for example, the first device 202) capable of performing the method 1100 may comprise means for performing the respective steps of the method 1100. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module.

[0194] In some embodiments, the apparatus may comprise means for transmitting, to a second device 204, a request message associated with subscription to a spatial map, wherein the request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer of the spatial map; and means for receiving, from the second device 204, a response message comprising a list of layers associated with the subscription to the spatial map and secondlayering information of the list of layers, wherein the list of layers associated with the subscription is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information. In some embodiments, the apparatus may comprise means for performing other embodiments described with reference to FIG. 11.

[0195] In some embodiments, an apparatus (for example, the second device 204) capable of performing the method 1200 may comprise means for performing the respective steps of the method 1200. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module.

[0196] In some embodiments, the apparatus may comprise means for receiving, from a first device 202, a request message associated with subscription to a spatial map, wherein the request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer of the spatial map; and means for transmitting, to the first device 202, a response message comprising a list of layers associated with the subscription to the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers, wherein the list of layers associated with the subscription is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information. In some embodiments, the apparatus may comprise means for performing other embodiments described with reference to FIG. 12.

[0197] FIG. 13 illustrates an example simplified block diagram of a device 1300 that is suitable for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure. The device 1300 may be provided to implement a communication device or a network element, for example, the first device 202 and 702, or the second device 204 and 704 as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 7. As shown, the device 1300 includes one or more processors 1310, one or more memories 1320 may couple to the processor 1310, and one or more communication modules 1340 may couple to the processor 1310.

[0198] The communication module 1340 is for bidirectional communications. The communication module 1340 has at least one antenna to facilitate communication. The communication interface may represent any interface that is necessary for communication with other network elements, for example the communication interface may be wireless or wireline to other network elements, or software based interface for communication.

[0199] The processor 1310 may be of any type suitable to the local technical network and may include one or more of the following: general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based onmulticore processor architecture, as non-limiting examples. The device 1300 may have multiple processors, such as an application specific integrated circuit chip that is slaved in time to a clock which synchronizes the main processor.

[0200] The memory 1320 may include one or more non-volatile memories and one or more volatile memories. Examples of the non-volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a read only memory (ROM) 1324, an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), a flash memory, a hard disk, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disk (DVD), and other magnetic storage and / or optical storage. Examples of the volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a random access memory (RAM) 1322 and other volatile memories that will not last in the power-down duration. The memory 1320 may store instructions that, when executed by the processor 1310, cause the apparatus 1300 to perform any of the methods as disclosed herein.

[0201] A computer program 1330 includes computer executable instructions that are executed by the associated processor 1310. The program 1330 may be stored in the ROM 1324. The processor 1310 may perform any suitable actions and processing by loading the program 1330 into the RAM 1322.

[0202] The embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by means of the program so that the device 1300 may perform any process of the disclosure as discussed with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 12. The embodiments of the present disclosure may also be implemented by hardware or by a combination of software and hardware.

[0203] In some embodiments, the program 1330 may be tangibly contained in a computer readable medium which may be included in the device 1300 (such as in the memory 1320) or other storage devices that are accessible by the device 1300. The device 1300 may load the program 1330 from the computer readable medium to the RAM 1322 for execution. The computer readable medium may include any types of tangible non-volatile storage, such as ROM, EPROM, a flash memory, a hard disk, CD, DVD, and the like. FIG. 14 shows an example of the computer readable medium 1400 in form of CD or DVD. The computer readable medium has the program 1330 stored thereon.

[0204] Generally, various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects may be implemented in hardware, while other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or othercomputing device. While various aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated and described as block diagrams, flowcharts, or using some other pictorial representations, it is to be understood that the block, apparatus, system, technique or method described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

[0205] The present disclosure also provides at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. The computer program product includes computer-executable instructions, such as those included in program modules, being executed in a device on a target real or virtual processor, to carry out the methods 200 to 1200 as described above with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 12. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, or the like that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or split between program modules as desired in various embodiments. Machine-executable instructions for program modules may be executed within a local or distributed device. In a distributed device, program modules may be located in both local and remote storage media.

[0206] Program code for carrying out methods of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. These program codes may be provided to a processor or controller of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, such that the program codes, when executed by the processor or controller, cause the functions / operations specified in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams to be implemented. The program code may execute entirely on a machine, partly on the machine, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the machine and partly on a remote machine or entirely on the remote machine or server.

[0207] In the context of the present disclosure, the computer program codes or related data may be carried by any suitable carrier to enable the device, apparatus or processor to perform various processes and operations as described above. Examples of the carrier include a signal, computer readable medium, and the like.

[0208] The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable medium may include but not limited to an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductorsystem, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of the computer readable storage medium would include an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. The term “non-transitory,” as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM vs. ROM).

[0209] Further, while operations are depicted in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Likewise, while several specific implementation details are contained in the above discussions, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the present disclosure, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Certain features that are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

[0210] Although the present disclosure has been described in languages specific to structural features and / or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the present disclosure defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A first device comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first device at least to: transmit, to a second device, a request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer for a spatial map; and receive, from the second device, a response message comprising spatial map information of the spatial map, wherein the spatial map information comprises information of a list of layers of the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers of the spatial map, wherein the list of layers of the spatial map is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

2. The first device of claim 1, wherein the request message is configured to request producing the spatial map, and wherein the list of layers comprises the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

3. The first device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the spatial map is produced based on the first layering information and sensor data required to estimate object information.

4. The first device of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the spatial map information further comprises at least one of the following: dimension information of a three-dimensional space defined by the spatial map; information of at least one object in the spatial map; or information of at least one spatial anchor within the spatial map.

5. The first device of claim 1, wherein the request message is configured to request modifying the spatial map, and the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information is deleted from or comprised in the list of layers.

6. The first device of claim 1 or 5, wherein the spatial map information further comprises at least one of the following: dimension information of a three-dimensional space defined by a modified spatial map; modified access control rules for defining devices permitted to access a modified spatial map; or a modified spatial map coverage area of a modified spatial map.

7. The first device of claim 1, wherein the request message is configured to acquire information of the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information in the spatial map, and wherein the list of layers comprises the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

8. The first device of claim 1 or 7, wherein the spatial map information further comprises at least one of the following: dimension information of a three-dimensional space defined by the spatial map; information of at least one object in the spatial map within the spatial map; or information of at least one spatial anchor within the spatial map.

9. The first device of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the request message further comprises at least one of the following: an identification of the first device; an identification of the spatial map; an indication to modify the spatial map; information of a three-dimensional area of interest covering the spatial map; localization information used for discovering the spatial map; access control rules for defining devices permitted to access the spatial map; a spatial map coverage area of the spatial map; or at least one discovery filter for searching for the spatial map.

10. The first device of any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the response message further comprises at least one of the following: a success or failure result related to operations on the spatial map; oran identification of the spatial map.

11. The first device of any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first layering information comprises at least one of the following: a layer identification of each of the at least one layer; a layer name of each of the at least one layer; a map identification of the spatial map; a map name of the spatial map; or information of at least one spatial anchor within the spatial map.

12. The first device of any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the second layering information comprises at least one identity of the list of layers.

13. The first device of any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the first device is a terminal device or a network device, and the second device is a network device.

14. The first device of any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the first device is a service enabler architecture layer (SEAL) client or a vertical application layer (VAL) server, and the second device is a SEAL server.

15. The first device of claim 14, wherein the first device is a SEAL client, and wherein the first device is further caused to: transmit, to an application on a terminal device, the second layering information for presentation on the terminal device.

16. The first device of any of claims 1 to 15, wherein the first device is further caused to perform at least one of the following: determining movement of a terminal device in the spatial map based on the second layering information; selecting of a route for the terminal device based on network coverage layer information within the second layering information; planning a path for the terminal device based on the second layering information;updating a geo-fence based on cost map layer information within the second layering information; or updating in an application logic due to the layer input received as part of the spatial map.

17. The first device of claim 14, wherein the first device is a VAL server, and the first device is further caused to: transmit, to one or more VAL clients connected to the first device, the second layering information.

18. A second device comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second device at least to: receive, from a first device, a request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer for a spatial map; and transmit, to the first device, a response message comprising spatial map information of the spatial map, wherein the spatial map information comprises information of a list of layers of the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers of the spatial map; wherein the list of layers of the spatial map is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

19. The second device of claim 18, wherein the request message is configured to request producing the spatial map, and wherein the list of layers comprises the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

20. The second device of claim 18 or 19, wherein the second device is further caused to: produce the spatial map based on the first layering information and sensor data required to estimate object information.

21. The second device of any of claims 18 to 20, wherein the spatial map information further comprises at least one of the following: dimension information of a three-dimensional space defined by the spatial map; information of at least one object in the spatial map; or information of at least one spatial anchor within the spatial map.

22. The second device of claim 18, wherein the request message is configured to request modifying the spatial map, and the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information is deleted from or comprised in the list of layers.

23. The second device of claim 18 or 22, wherein the spatial map information further comprises at least one of the following: dimension information of a three-dimensional space defined by a modified spatial map; modified access control rules for defining devices permitted to access a modified spatial map; or a modified spatial map coverage area of a modified spatial map.

24. The second device of claim 18, wherein the request message is configured to acquire information of the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information in the spatial map, and wherein the list of layers comprises the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

25. The second device of claim 18 or 24, wherein the spatial map information further comprises at least one of the following: dimension information of a three-dimensional space defined by the spatial map; information of at least one object in the spatial map within the spatial map; or information of at least one spatial anchor within the spatial map.

26. The second device of any of claims 18 to 25, wherein the request message further comprises at least one of the following: an identification of the first device; an identification of the spatial map;an indication to modify the spatial map; information of a three-dimensional area of interest covering the spatial map; localization information used for discovering the spatial map; access control rules for defining devices permitted to access the spatial map; a spatial map coverage area of the spatial map; or at least one discovery filter for searching for the spatial map.

27. The second device of any of claims 18 to 26, wherein the response message further comprises at least one of the following: a success or failure result related to operations on the spatial map; or an identification of the spatial map.

28. The second device of any of claims 18 to 28, wherein the first layering information comprises at least one of the following: a layer identification of each of the at least one layer; a layer name of each of the at least one layer; a map identification of the spatial map; a map name of the spatial map; or information of at least one spatial anchor within the spatial map.

29. The second device of any of claims 18 to 28, wherein the second layering information comprises at least one identity of the list of layers.

30. The second device of claim 29, wherein the second device is further caused to: assign the at least one identity to the list of layers.

31. The second device of any of claims 18 to 30, wherein the first device is a terminal device or a network device, and the second device is a network device.

32. The second device of any of claims 18 to 31, wherein the first device is a service enabler architecture layer (SEAL) client or a vertical application layer (VAL) server, and the second device is a SEAL server.

33. A method comprising: transmitting, to a second device, a request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer for a spatial map; and receiving, from the second device, a response message comprising spatial map information of the spatial map, wherein the spatial map information comprises information of a list of layers of the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers of the spatial map, wherein the list of layers of the spatial map is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

34. A method comprising: receiving, from a first device, a request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer for a spatial map; and transmitting, to the first device, a response message comprising spatial map information of the spatial map, wherein the spatial map information comprises information of a list of layers of the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers of the spatial map, wherein the list of layers of the spatial map is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

35. An apparatus comprising: means for transmitting, to a second device, a request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer for a spatial map; and means for receiving, from the second device, a response message comprising spatial map information of the spatial map, wherein the spatial map information comprises information of a list of layers of the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers of the spatial map, wherein the list of layers of the spatial map is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

36. An apparatus comprising: means for receiving, from a first device, a request message comprising first layering information indicating at least one layer for a spatial map; andmeans for transmitting, to the first device, a response message comprising spatial map information of the spatial map, wherein the spatial map information comprises information of a list of layers of the spatial map and second layering information of the list of layers of the spatial map, wherein the list of layers of the spatial map is determined based on the at least one layer indicated by the first layering information.

37. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing at least the method of claim 33 or 34.

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