Proximity information determination method, apparatus, storage medium, and program product

Abstract

Provided in the present disclosure are a proximity information determination method, an apparatus, a storage medium, and a program product. The proximity information determination method comprises: determining proximity information of a first entity and a second entity by means of receiving proximity determination response information; and / or measuring a proximity determination response signal to determine proximity information of the first entity and the second entity.

Description

Proximity information determination method and apparatus, storage medium, and program product

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202411380280.3, filed on September 29, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular, to a proximity information determination method and apparatus, a storage medium, and a program product. BACKGROUND

[0003] Ambient-IoT (A-IoT) network architectures are diverse, including four main topologies: direct communication, relay node assistance, assistance node enhanced communication, and terminal node direct communication. In these networks, network nodes, relay nodes, assistance nodes, and terminal nodes can all act as readers / writers to interact with A-IoT devices (often referred to as tags).

[0004] For cases where multiple readers / writers exist in a system, it is particularly important to determine the reader / writer that is most proximate to a tag. This is not only because a proximate reader / writer can communicate directly with a tag, but also because it can act as an intermediate node between a network node and a tag to optimize the entire communication path. SUMMARY

[0005] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a proximity information determination method and apparatus, a storage medium, and a program product, to solve the problem of determining proximity information between different entities in an Ambient-IoT communication scenario. The technical solutions provided by embodiments of the present disclosure are as follows.

[0006] In one aspect, a proximity information determination method is provided, applied to a first entity. The proximity information determination method includes: determining proximity information between the first entity and a second entity by receiving proximity determination response information; and / or, measuring a proximity determination response signal to determine the proximity information between the first entity and the second entity.

[0007] In another aspect, a proximity information determination method is provided, applied to a second entity. The proximity information determination method includes: sending proximity determination response information and / or a proximity determination response signal, which are used to determine proximity information between a first entity and a second entity.

[0008] In yet another aspect, a proximity information determination apparatus is provided, applied to a first entity. The proximity information determination apparatus includes: a determination module configured to determine proximity information between the first entity and a second entity by receiving proximity determination response information; and / or, configured to measure a proximity determination response signal to determine the proximity information between the first entity and the second entity.

[0009] In another aspect, a proximity information determination apparatus is provided, which is applied to a second entity. The proximity information determination apparatus comprises a communication module configured to send proximity determination response information and / or a proximity determination response signal, the proximity determination response information and / or the proximity determination response signal being used to determine proximity information of the first entity and the second entity.

[0010] In another aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which comprises a memory and a processor. The memory is coupled to the processor. The memory is configured to store computer program instructions executable by the processor. The processor implements the proximity information determination method described above when executing the computer program instructions.

[0011] In another aspect, a computer readable storage medium is provided. The computer readable storage medium stores computer program instructions. The proximity information determination method described above is implemented when the computer program instructions are executed on a computer (e.g., the communication apparatus or the proximity information determination apparatus).

[0012] In another aspect, a computer program product is provided, which comprises computer program instructions. The proximity information determination method described above is implemented when the computer program instructions are executed.

[0013] In the technical solution provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, the proximity information of the first entity (e.g., a reader) and the second entity (e.g., a tag or other device) is determined by receiving proximity determination response information and / or measuring proximity determination response signals, so as to intelligently select the optimal communication path in a complex or densely deployed Internet of Things environment, which is conducive to improving the data transmission efficiency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of an environmental Internet of Things communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario of a proximity information determination method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 3 is an interaction flowchart of a proximity information determination method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 4 is an interaction flowchart of another proximity information determination method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 5 is an interaction flowchart of another proximity information determination method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 6 is an interaction flowchart of another proximity information determination method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 7 is an interaction flow diagram of another method for determining proximity information according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 8 is a structural diagram of a device for determining proximity information according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 9 is a structural diagram of another device for determining proximity information according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] FIG. 10 is a structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present disclosure, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative work fall within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

[0025] In the description of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified, " / " means "or", for example, A / B can mean A or B. "And / or" in this document is only used to describe the association relationship of the associated objects, which means that there can be three kinds of relationships. For example, A and / or B can mean: only A, only B, and A and B. In addition, "at least one" means one or more, and "multiple" means two or more. "First", "second", and the like do not limit the quantity and execution order of the defined objects, and "first", "second", and the like do not necessarily mean that the defined objects are different.

[0026] It should be noted that in the present disclosure, "exemplary" or "for example" is used to describe examples, illustrations, or descriptions. Any embodiment or design scheme described in the present disclosure by "exemplary" or "for example" should not be interpreted as more preferred or more advantageous than other embodiments or design schemes. Rather, "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concept in a specific manner.

[0027] With the continuous progress of radio technology, a variety of wireless radio services have emerged in large quantities. In addition to the cellular service between the base station and the terminal, in the long term evolution (LTE) system, the new radio (NR) system, there are also services such as internet of things (IoT). Typical IoT services in the LTE system include: narrow band-internet of things (NB-IoT), machine-type communication (MTC), eMTC (enhanced machine-type communication). Typical IoT services in the NR system include: reduced capability (RedCap), eRedCap (enhanced reduced capability). IoT services, i.e., communication between the base station and the IoT device. The IoT device in the above IoT service is usually powered by a conventional battery with a limited life.

[0028] In some extreme environmental conditions, it can be very challenging to maintain the continuous operation of the IoT device and replace the battery. On the other hand, more and more extensive large-scale commercial scenario use cases (warehousing, logistics, supply chain, smart home, environmental monitoring, smart farming and herding, finding objects, shopping centers, venue guides, medical device status modification, device activation and deactivation, elderly health care, etc.) require very small size, longer life cycle IoT devices. Therefore, in systems such as the LTE system, the NR system, the short distance communication system, the WIFI (Wireless Fidelity) system, the Bluetooth system, the vehicle-to-everything system, the industrial internet system, the Starlink system, and the future communication system, ultra-low power consumption, ultra-low complexity, and ultra-low cost IoT devices without battery power supply need to be considered.

[0029] The power required for the IoT device to operate comes from the energy collected from the radio frequency signals in the surrounding environment and converted into electrical energy, or from other forms of energy (such as solar energy, wind energy, mechanical vibration, etc. to collect energy) and converted into electrical energy, or from the way of circuit coupling to collect electrical energy or energy and converted into electrical energy. Such IoT devices without battery power are referred to as Ambient-IoT (A-IoT) or Passive-IoT (P-IoT). More broadly, for embedded active / semi-active IoT devices, if the power energy of the active / semi-active IoT device is exhausted and supports can degrade to passive IoT devices. At this time, such devices are also referred to as A-IoT or P-IoT.

[0030] A-IoT devices can be mainly divided into two categories: the first category of devices can complete communication by modulating and reflecting the received carrier signal; the second category of devices has independent signal generation function and can complete communication by generating a complete communication signal link. More broadly, there is also a category of devices that have both the above two functions, that is, they can complete communication by modulating and reflecting the received carrier signal, and have independent signal generation function and can complete communication by generating a complete communication signal link.

[0031] The carrier signal can be an unmodulated continuous waveform or an unmodulated carrier wave, both concepts are equivalent, which can be represented as CW. For example, CW can be a sine wave, a cosine wave, etc.

[0032] A-IoT networks can be mainly divided into four categories: the first category of topology is that the network node communicates directly with the A-IoT device; the second category of topology is that there is a relay node between the network node and the A-IoT device; the third category of topology is that there is an auxiliary node between the network node and the A-IoT device, which can assist the downlink communication or uplink communication of the A-IoT device; the fourth category of topology is that the terminal node communicates directly with the A-IoT device.

[0033] The network node, the relay node, the auxiliary node, and the terminal node can also serve as a reader / writer. The A-IoT device can also serve as a tag. For the case where multiple readers / writers exist in the system, it is necessary to determine which reader / writer is more proximate to the surrounding tags. The determined reader / writer can communicate directly with the tag, or can serve as an intermediate node (i.e., a relay node or an auxiliary node) between the tag and the network node.

[0034] In view of this, the disclosure provides a proximity information determination method, which determines the proximity information of a first entity and a second entity by receiving proximity determination response information; and / or determines the proximity information of the first entity and the second entity by measuring a proximity determination response signal, so as to intelligently select an optimal communication path in a complex or densely deployed Internet of Things environment, thereby improving data transmission efficiency.

[0035] The proximity information determination method provided by the embodiments of the disclosure can be applied to systems of various communication modes. For example, the proximity information determination method provided by the embodiments of the disclosure can be applied to systems including but not limited to: a long term evolution (LTE) system, various versions based on LTE evolution, a 5G system, an ambient Internet of Things (Ambient IoT) communication system, and the like. In addition, the proximity information determination method provided by the embodiments of the disclosure can also be applied to future-oriented communication systems (for example, a 6G communication system) and the like.

[0036] Exemplarily, FIG. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of an ambient Internet of Things communication system according to the disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system includes a first entity 21 and a second entity 22.

[0037] The first entity 21 and the second entity 22 perform interactions such as communication and data transmission.

[0038] In some embodiments, the first entity includes at least one of the following: a reader-writer, a first node. The reader-writer and the first node can be multiple, for example, the reader-writer includes a first reader-writer and a second reader-writer.

[0039] The reader-writer can be one of the following: a network node, a relay node, an auxiliary node, and a terminal node. For example, the reader-writer can be a network-side device (base station), a terminal-side device, and the like. The reader-writer also has other names, for example, an interrogator, which is not limited by the disclosure.

[0040] The first node can be a network-side device (base station), a terminal-side device, and the like, which can send a continuous wave signal. The first node also has other names, for example, a CW node, which is not limited by the disclosure.

[0041] In some embodiments, the second entity includes at least a tag. The tag is an IoT device without battery power, that is, an A-IoT device.

[0042] The first entity and the second entity can also include other types of devices in addition to the above-mentioned devices.

[0043] It should be noted that FIG. 1 is only a schematic diagram of the structure of an environmental Internet of Things communication system, and the number of devices included in FIG. 1 and the names of the devices are not limited. In addition to the devices shown in FIG. 1, the environmental Internet of Things communication system can also include other devices, for example, a third entity, which at least includes a network side node (such as a base station).

[0044] Based on the schematic diagram of the structure of the communication system shown in FIG. 1, the following describes four types of network topologies in different application scenarios of the proximity information determination method.

[0045] The first type of topology structure: the reader and the first node are not separated, and the readers corresponding to the link between the reader and the tag and the link between the tag and the reader are not separated. Referring to (a) shown in FIG. 2, the first reader and the first node are not separated, and the readers corresponding to the link between the reader and the tag and the link between the tag and the reader are both the first reader.

[0046] The second type of topology structure: the reader and the first node are not separated, and the readers corresponding to the link between the reader and the tag and the link between the tag and the reader are separated. Referring to (b) shown in FIG. 2, the first reader and the first node are not separated, the reader corresponding to the link between the reader and the tag is the first reader, and the reader corresponding to the link between the tag and the reader is the second reader.

[0047] The third type of topology structure: the reader and the first node are separated, and the readers corresponding to the link between the reader and the tag and the link between the tag and the reader are not separated. Referring to (c) shown in FIG. 2, the first reader and the first node are separated, and the readers corresponding to the link between the reader and the tag and the link between the tag and the reader are both the first reader.

[0048] The fourth type of topology structure: the reader and the first node are separated, and the readers corresponding to the link between the reader and the tag and the link between the tag and the reader are separated. Referring to (d) shown in FIG. 2, the first reader and the first node are separated, and the reader corresponding to the link between the reader and the tag is the first reader. The reader corresponding to the link between the tag and the reader is the second reader.

[0049] The above-mentioned non-separation includes co-site deployment, same device, or physically the same device. The above-mentioned separation includes different site deployment, different devices, or physically separated devices.

[0050] The successful reception mentioned in the embodiments of the present disclosure, also referred to as successful detection, includes at least one of the following: demodulation is correct, decoding is correct, and cyclic redundancy check is correct.

[0051] The unsuccessful reception mentioned in the embodiments of the present disclosure, also referred to as unsuccessful detection, includes at least one of the following: demodulation error, decoding error, cyclic redundancy check error.

[0052] The application scenarios of the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited. The system architecture and application scenarios described in the embodiments of the present disclosure are used to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure. It can be known by those skilled in the art that, as the network architecture evolves and new business scenarios appear, the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0053] In some embodiments, the base station can be a base station or an evolved node B (eNB or eNodeB) in LTE, long term evolution advanced (LTE-A), a base station device in a 5G network, or a base station in a future communication system, etc. The base station can include various macro base stations, micro base stations, home base stations, wireless remote devices, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs), routers, relays, TRPs (transmission and reception points), WIFI devices, user equipment (UE), and various network side devices.

[0054] In some embodiments, the terminal can be a device with wireless transceiver function. The terminal can be a passive device, an ambient loT device, a mobile phone, a Pad, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal, an augmented reality (AR) terminal, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical, a wireless terminal in smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in smart city, a wireless terminal in smart home, and the like. Embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the application scenarios. The terminal can also be referred to as a user, a UE (user equipment), an access terminal, a UE unit, a UE station, a mobile station, a mobile station, a remote station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a UE terminal, a wireless communication device, a UE agent, or a UE apparatus, and the like. Embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.

[0055] Embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the application scenarios. The system architecture and business scenarios described in the embodiments of the present disclosure are used to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure. It can be known by those skilled in the art that, with the evolution of network architecture and the appearance of new business scenarios, the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0056] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a proximity information determination method. As shown in FIG. 3, the proximity information determination method includes the following S101 and S102.

[0057] In S101, the second entity sends proximity determination response information and / or a proximity determination response signal to the first entity.

[0058] In S102, the first entity determines the proximity information between the first entity and the second entity by receiving the proximity determination response information sent by the second entity; and / or, determines the proximity information between the first entity and the second entity by measuring the proximity determination response signal sent by the second entity.

[0059] The proximity determination response information and / or the proximity determination response signal are used to determine the proximity information of the first entity and the second entity. The proximity determination response information can also be referred to as response information, and the like, and the disclosure does not limit the same. The proximity information can also be referred to as proximity determination result information, and the like, and the disclosure does not limit the same.

[0060] In some embodiments, the first entity includes at least one of the following: a first reader-writer, a second reader-writer, a first node. The first node is configured to send and / or receive a continuous wave signal. The continuous wave signal includes a sine wave and / or a cosine wave. The first reader-writer and / or the second reader-writer include one of the following: a network node (e.g., a base station), a relay node (e.g., a base station, a terminal), an auxiliary node (e.g., a base station, a terminal), a terminal node.

[0061] In some embodiments, the second entity includes at least a tag.

[0062] In some embodiments, the first node sends a continuous wave signal to the second entity; correspondingly, the second entity receives the continuous wave signal sent by the first node. The continuous wave signal includes a sine wave signal and / or a cosine wave signal.

[0063] In some embodiments, in the case that the first entity includes the first node, the first entity sends a continuous wave signal to the second entity; correspondingly, the second entity receives the continuous wave signal sent by the first entity.

[0064] In some embodiments, the proximity information includes at least one of the following: whether the first reader-writer and the tag have a proximity relationship, whether the second reader-writer and the tag have a proximity relationship, whether the first node and the tag have a proximity relationship, an identifier of the first reader-writer, an identifier of the second reader-writer, an identifier of the first node, an identifier of the tag, a proximity level of the first reader-writer and the tag, a proximity level of the second reader-writer and the tag, a proximity level of the first node and the tag.

[0065] In some embodiments, the proximity determination response information includes at least one of the following: proximity determination response signaling, proximity determination response signal, whether the first reader-writer and the tag have a proximity relationship, whether the first node and the tag have a proximity relationship, an identifier of the first reader-writer, an identifier of the first node, an identifier of the tag, a proximity level of the first reader-writer and the tag, a proximity level of the first node and the tag, a transmit power of the tag, a maximum power of the tag, a power amplifier factor of the tag, a coordinate of the tag.

[0066] In some embodiments, the proximity determination response signaling is used to identify the proximity determination response information, so that the first reader-writer and / or the second reader-writer can determine whether the received information is the proximity determination response information, or identify the proximity determination response information in time, and then perform the next operation.

[0067] In some embodiments, the proximity determination response signal comprises at least one of a continuous wave signal, a reference signal, a preamble signal, a midamble signal, and a postamble signal. The proximity determination response signal is pre-configured or agreed by the first entity and the second entity in advance, so that the first entity can measure the proximity determination response signal to obtain a measurement result, and further obtain the proximity information between the first entity and the second entity, such as the proximity level.

[0068] In some embodiments, the proximity determination response signal is determined according to at least one of the following: an identifier of the first reader, an identifier of the second reader, an identifier of the first node, and an identifier of the tag.

[0069] In some embodiments, the first entity sends proximity determination request information to the second entity; correspondingly, the second entity receives the proximity determination request information sent by the first entity.

[0070] The proximity determination request information comprises at least one of proximity determination request signaling, a proximity determination request signal, an identifier of the first reader, an identifier of the first node, a resource of a continuous wave signal, a resource of proximity determination response information, and a resource of a proximity determination response signal. The proximity determination request information has other names, such as request information, which are not limited in the present disclosure.

[0071] In some embodiments, the proximity determination request signaling is used to identify the proximity determination request information, so that the tag can identify and determine in time whether the received information is the proximity determination request information.

[0072] In some embodiments, the proximity determination request signal comprises at least one of a continuous wave signal, a reference signal, a preamble signal, a midamble signal, and a postamble signal. The proximity determination request signal is pre-configured or agreed by the first entity and the second entity in advance, so that the second entity can measure the proximity determination request signal to obtain a measurement result, and further determine the proximity information between the first entity (such as the first reader) and the second entity (such as the tag).

[0073] In some embodiments, the second entity sends proximity determination response information and / or a proximity determination response signal to the first entity in response to the proximity determination request information.

[0074] In some embodiments, the proximity information between the first entity and the second entity is determined by receiving the proximity determination response information; and / or, the proximity information between the first entity and the second entity is determined by measuring the proximity determination response signal, including at least one of: determining that the first entity is proximate to the second entity if the first entity successfully receives the proximity determination response information; determining the proximity information between the first entity and the second entity by measuring the proximity determination response signal if the first entity successfully receives the proximity determination response information; determining the proximity information between the first entity and the second entity by measuring the proximity determination response signal if the first entity fails to successfully receive the proximity determination response information; and determining the proximity information between the first entity and the second entity by measuring the proximity determination response signal.

[0075] In this way, the proximity information between the first entity and the second entity can be determined by measuring the proximity determination response signal regardless of whether the first entity successfully receives the proximity determination response information, so as to select a determination manner of the proximity information in combination with an application scenario and improve the determination efficiency of the proximity information.

[0076] It can be understood that, if the first entity successfully receives the proximity determination response information, it can also indicate that the second entity successfully receives the proximity determination request information sent by the first entity, and then the proximity determination response information resource and / or the proximity determination response signal resource can be determined so as to send the proximity determination response information and / or the proximity determination response signal, which can also indicate that the first entity and the second entity have a proximity relationship.

[0077] In some embodiments, the second entity does not send the proximity determination response information to the first entity if the first entity and the second entity do not have a proximity relationship, and the second entity sends the proximity determination response information to the first entity if the first entity and the second entity have a proximity relationship.

[0078] In some embodiments, the first entity is determined to fail to successfully receive the proximity determination response information if the first entity fails to successfully receive the proximity determination response information within a preset time window, and the first entity is determined to successfully receive the proximity determination response information otherwise.

[0079] In some embodiments, the proximity information between the first entity and the second entity is determined by measuring the proximity determination response signal, including: the first entity obtains a measurement result by measuring the proximity determination response signal; and the first entity determines the proximity information between the first entity and the second entity according to the measurement result.

[0080] The measurement result comprises at least one of the following: propagation time, distance, response signal received power, response signal strength indication, response signal received quality, response signal signal-to-noise ratio, number of tags in proximity to the reader-writer, number of tags in proximity to the first node, number of reader-writers in proximity to the tag, number of first nodes in proximity to the tag, number of proximity information determination. The reader-writer comprises the first reader-writer and / or the second reader-writer.

[0081] In some embodiments, the first entity determines the proximity information of the first entity and the second entity according to the measurement result, comprising: determining that there is no proximity relationship between the first entity and the second entity in the case that the measurement result is less than a threshold value; determining that there is a proximity relationship between the first entity and the second entity in the case that the measurement result is greater than the threshold value.

[0082] Exemplarily, for the case that the first entity successfully receives the proximity determination response information, for the case that the first entity does not successfully receive the proximity determination response information, the proximity level can be determined according to the measurement result of the proximity determination response signal, comprising at least one of the following: determining the proximity level according to the propagation time between the first entity and the second entity, for example, A proximity time ranges or thresholds correspond to A proximity levels; determining the proximity level according to the distance between the first entity and the second entity, for example, B distance ranges or thresholds correspond to B proximity levels; determining the proximity level according to the response signal received power, for example, C response signal received power ranges or thresholds correspond to C proximity levels; determining the proximity level according to the response signal strength indication, for example, D response signal strength indication ranges or thresholds correspond to D proximity levels; determining the proximity level according to the response signal received quality, for example, E response signal received quality indication ranges or thresholds correspond to E proximity levels; determining the proximity level according to the response signal signal-to-noise ratio, for example, F response signal signal-to-noise ratio ranges or thresholds correspond to F proximity levels; determining the proximity level according to the number of tags in proximity to the reader-writer, for example, G number of tags in proximity to the reader-writer ranges or thresholds correspond to G proximity levels; determining the proximity level according to the number of tags in proximity to the first node, for example, H number of tags in proximity to the first node ranges or thresholds correspond to H proximity levels; determining the proximity level according to the number of reader-writers in proximity to the tag, for example, I number of reader-writers in proximity to the tag ranges or thresholds correspond to I proximity levels; determining the proximity level according to the number of first nodes in proximity to the tag, for example, J number of first nodes in proximity to the tag ranges or thresholds correspond to J proximity levels; determining the proximity level according to the number of proximity information determinations, for example, K number of proximity information determination ranges or thresholds correspond to K proximity levels; determining the proximity level according to the average number of proximity information determinations, for example, L average number of proximity information determination ranges or thresholds correspond to L proximity levels.

[0083] Further, the range or the number of thresholds is equal to 0. For example, if the first entity successfully receives the proximity determination response information, it is determined that the first entity and the second entity have the proximity relationship; if the first entity does not successfully receive the proximity determination response information, it is determined that the first entity and the second entity do not have the proximity relationship.

[0084] The range or the number of thresholds is equal to 1. For example, if the measurement result of the proximity determination response signal is greater than or equal to a threshold value or the measurement result of the proximity determination response signal belongs to a preset range, it is determined that the first entity and the second entity have the proximity relationship; if the measurement result of the proximity determination response signal is less than or equal to a threshold value or the measurement result of the proximity determination response signal does not belong to a preset range, it is determined that the first entity and the second entity do not have the proximity relationship.

[0085] The range or the number of thresholds is greater than or equal to 2. For example, if the measurement result of the proximity determination response signal is greater than or equal to the ith threshold value and / or the measurement result of the proximity determination response signal belongs to the ith preset range, it is determined that the first entity and the second entity have the proximity relationship, and the proximity level is i; if the measurement result of the proximity determination response signal is less than or equal to all threshold values and / or the measurement result of the proximity determination response signal belongs to the jth preset range and / or does not belong to any preset range, it is determined that the first entity and the second entity do not have the proximity relationship.

[0086] In some embodiments, the first entity determines the proximity information of the first entity and the second entity according to the measurement result, including: the first entity determines the distance between the first entity and the second entity in a measurement result mapping table based on the measurement result. The measurement result mapping table includes a corresponding relationship between the measurement result and the distance between the first entity and the second entity.

[0087] In some embodiments, the first entity obtains the identifier of the second entity, queries the coordinates of the second entity in a coordinate mapping table based on the identifier of the second entity, and the coordinate mapping table includes a corresponding relationship between the identifier of the second entity and the coordinates of the second entity; and the first entity calculates the distance between the first entity and the second entity based on the coordinates of the second entity.

[0088] In some embodiments, in the case that the first entity includes a first reader-writer, the first reader-writer sends the proximity information to the network node; in the case that the first entity includes a second reader-writer, the second reader-writer sends the proximity information to the network node and / or the first reader-writer.

[0089] In some embodiments, the first reader-writer receives the proximity information sent by the second reader-writer.

[0090] Based on this, the proximity information of the first entity (such as a reader) and the second entity (such as a tag or other device) in the environment Internet of Things communication scenario is determined by receiving the proximity determination response information and / or by measuring the proximity determination response signal, so that the optimal communication path can be intelligently selected in a complex or densely deployed Internet of Things environment, thereby improving the data transmission efficiency and accuracy.

[0091] The implementation process of the proximity information determination method provided by the present disclosure will be described below in combination with different types of topological structures in FIG. 2.

[0092] Example one

[0093] In combination with the first type of topological structure, as shown in FIG. 4, the proximity information determination method includes the following: S201 to S203.

[0094] In S201, the first node transmits a continuous wave signal to the tag; correspondingly, the tag receives the continuous wave signal transmitted by the first node.

[0095] In S202, the first reader sends proximity determination request information to the tag; correspondingly, the tag receives the proximity determination request information sent by the first reader.

[0096] The proximity determination request information at least includes at least one of the following: proximity determination request signaling, proximity determination request signal, identifier of the first reader, identifier of the first node, resource of the proximity determination response information, and resource of the proximity determination response signal. It can be understood that, since the first node is not separated from the first reader, the proximity determination request information can not include the identifier of the first node, so as to reduce the information transmission amount and further reduce the waste of resources.

[0097] In some embodiments, if the tag fails to successfully receive the proximity determination request information, the tag remains waiting or silent. In some embodiments, the tag can also receive the continuous wave signal without receiving the proximity determination request information.

[0098] S202 can be executed simultaneously with S201.

[0099] In S203, the tag sends proximity determination response information and / or proximity determination response signal to the first reader; correspondingly, the first reader determines the proximity information of the first reader and the tag by receiving the proximity determination response information sent by the tag and / or by measuring the proximity determination response signal.

[0100] The proximity information includes at least one of the following: whether the first reader and the tag are in a proximity relationship, an identifier of the first reader, an identifier of the first node, an identifier of the tag, a proximity level of the first reader and the tag, and a proximity level of the first node and the tag.

[0101] It can be understood that the proximity determination response information can refer to the description in the above embodiments of S101 and S102. Since the first node is not separated from the first reader, the proximity determination response information and / or the proximity information can not include at least one of the following: an identifier of the first node, whether the first node and the tag are in a proximity relationship, and a proximity level of the first node and the tag, so as to reduce the amount of information transmission and further reduce the waste of resources.

[0102] For example, if the first reader successfully receives the proximity determination response information, it is determined that the first reader is in proximity with the tag; if the first reader does not successfully receive the proximity determination response information, and a measurement result of the proximity determination response signal is greater than or equal to a threshold value, it is determined that the first reader is in proximity with the tag; and if the first reader does not successfully receive the proximity determination response information, and the measurement result of the proximity determination response signal is less than or equal to the threshold value, it is determined that the first reader is not in proximity with the tag.

[0103] In some embodiments, if the first reader is an intermediate node, the first reader transmits the proximity information to the network node.

[0104] For more detailed descriptions of S201 to S203, more detailed descriptions of various technical features therein, and descriptions of beneficial effects, etc., reference can be made to the descriptions in the above embodiments or the example part, which will not be repeated here.

[0105] Example Two

[0106] In combination with the second type of topology structure, as shown in FIG. 5, the proximity information determination method includes the following: S301 to S304.

[0107] In S301, the first node transmits a continuous wave signal to the tag; correspondingly, the tag receives the continuous wave signal transmitted by the first node.

[0108] In S302, the first reader sends proximity determination request information to the tag; correspondingly, the tag receives the proximity determination request information sent by the first reader.

[0109] The proximity determination request information includes at least one of the following: proximity determination request signaling, a proximity determination request signal, an identifier of the first reader, an identifier of the first node, a resource of the continuous wave signal, a resource of the proximity determination response information, and a resource of the proximity determination response signal.

[0110] In some embodiments, if the tag fails to receive the proximity determination request information successfully, the tag keeps waiting or silent. In some embodiments, the tag can also receive the continuous wave signal without receiving the proximity determination request information.

[0111] S302 can be performed simultaneously with S301.

[0112] In S303, the tag sends the proximity determination response information and / or the proximity determination response signal to the second reader; correspondingly, the second reader determines the proximity information by receiving the proximity determination response information sent by the tag and / or by measuring the proximity determination response signal.

[0113] Exemplarily, if the second reader successfully receives the proximity determination response information, it is determined that the first reader is in proximity with the tag, it is determined that the second reader is in proximity with the tag (or it is determined that the first reader and the second reader are in proximity with the tag); if the second reader fails to receive the proximity determination response information successfully, and the measurement result of the proximity determination response signal is greater than or equal to a threshold value, it is determined that the first reader is in proximity with the tag, it is determined that the second reader is in proximity with the tag (or it is determined that the first reader and the second reader are in proximity with the tag); if the second reader fails to receive the proximity determination response information successfully, and the measurement result of the proximity determination response signal is less than or equal to a threshold value, it is determined that the first reader is not in proximity with the tag, it is determined that the second reader is not in proximity with the tag (or it is determined that the first reader and the second reader are not in proximity with the tag).

[0114] It can be understood that the proximity determination response information can refer to the description in the above embodiments related to S101 and S102.

[0115] In S304, the second reader sends the proximity information to the first reader; correspondingly, the first reader receives the proximity information sent by the second reader.

[0116] The proximity information includes at least one of the following: whether the first reader is in proximity with the tag, whether the second reader is in proximity with the tag, whether the first node is in proximity with the tag, an identifier of the first reader, an identifier of the second reader, an identifier of the first node, an identifier of the tag, a proximity level of the first reader and the tag, a proximity level of the second reader and the tag, a proximity level of the first node and the tag.

[0117] It can be understood that, since the first node is not separated from the first reader, the proximity determination response information and / or the proximity information can not include at least one of the following: an identifier of the first node, whether the first node is in proximity with the tag, a proximity level of the first node and the tag, so as to reduce the amount of information transmission and further reduce the waste of resources.

[0118] In some embodiments, if the first or second reader is an intermediate node, the first or second reader transmits the proximity information to the network node.

[0119] For more detailed description of S301 to S304, and more detailed description of each technical feature therein, and description of beneficial effects, etc., please refer to the description of the above-mentioned embodiments or examples, which will not be repeated here.

[0120] Example Three

[0121] In combination with the third type of topology structure, as shown in FIG. 6, the proximity information determination method includes the following S401 to S403.

[0122] In S401, the first node transmits a continuous wave signal to the tag; correspondingly, the tag receives the continuous wave signal transmitted by the first node.

[0123] In S402, the first reader sends proximity determination request information to the tag and / or the second reader; correspondingly, the tag and / or the second reader receives the proximity determination request information sent by the first reader.

[0124] The proximity determination request information includes at least one of the following: proximity determination request signaling, proximity determination request signal, identification of the first reader, identification of the first node, resource of the continuous wave signal, resource of the proximity determination response information, resource of the proximity determination response signal.

[0125] In some embodiments, if the tag does not successfully receive the proximity determination request information, the tag remains waiting or silent. In some embodiments, the tag can also receive the continuous wave signal without receiving the proximity determination request information.

[0126] S402 can be executed simultaneously with S401.

[0127] In S403, the tag sends proximity determination response information and / or proximity determination response signal to the first reader; correspondingly, the first reader determines the proximity information between the first reader and the tag by receiving the proximity determination response information sent by the tag and / or by measuring the proximity determination response signal.

[0128] The proximity determination response information includes at least one of the following: proximity determination response signaling, proximity determination response signal, whether the first reader and the tag have a proximity relationship, whether the first node and the tag have a proximity relationship, identification of the first reader, identification of the first node, identification of the tag, proximity level of the first reader and the tag, proximity level of the first node and the tag, transmission power of the tag, maximum power of the tag, power amplifier factor of the tag, coordinates of the tag.

[0129] The proximity information comprises at least one of: whether the first reader is in proximity with the tag, whether the first node is in proximity with the tag, an identity of the first reader, an identity of the first node, an identity of the tag, a proximity level of the first reader with the tag, a proximity level of the first node with the tag.

[0130] Exemplarily, if the second reader successfully receives the proximity determination response information, it is determined that the first reader is in proximity with the tag, it is determined that the first node is in proximity with the tag (or it is determined that the first reader and the first node are in proximity with the tag); if the second reader does not successfully receive the proximity determination response information, and the measurement result of the proximity determination response signal is greater than or equal to a threshold value, it is determined that the first reader is in proximity with the tag, it is determined that the first node is in proximity with the tag (or it is determined that the first reader and the first node are in proximity with the tag); if the first reader does not successfully receive the proximity determination response information, and the measurement result of the proximity determination response signal is less than or equal to a threshold value, it is determined that the first reader is not in proximity with the tag, it is determined that the first node is not in proximity with the tag (or it is determined that the first reader and the first node are not in proximity with the tag).

[0131] In some embodiments, if the first reader is an intermediate node, the first reader transmits the proximity information to the network node.

[0132] For more details of S401 to S403, and more details of each technical feature in the above embodiments or examples, and the description of beneficial effects, please refer to the description of the above embodiments or examples, which will not be repeated here.

[0133] Example Four

[0134] In combination with the fourth type of topology structure, as shown in FIG. 7, the proximity information determination method comprises the following: S501 to S504.

[0135] In S501, the first node transmits a continuous wave signal to the tag; correspondingly, the tag receives the continuous wave signal transmitted by the first node.

[0136] In S502, the first reader sends proximity determination request information to the tag and / or the second reader; correspondingly, the tag and / or the second reader receives the proximity determination request information sent by the first reader.

[0137] The proximity determination request information comprises at least one of: proximity determination request signaling, proximity determination request signal, an identity of the first reader, an identity of the first node, a resource of the continuous wave signal, a resource of the proximity determination response information, a resource of the proximity determination response signal.

[0138] In some embodiments, if the tag does not successfully receive the proximity determination request information, the tag remains waiting or silent. In some embodiments, the tag can also receive the continuous wave signal without receiving the proximity determination request information.

[0139] S502 can be performed simultaneously with S501.

[0140] In S503, the tag sends the proximity determination response information and / or the proximity determination response signal to the first reader-writer; correspondingly, the second reader-writer determines the proximity information between the first reader-writer and the tag by receiving the proximity determination response information sent by the tag and / or by measuring the proximity determination response signal.

[0141] Exemplarily, if the second reader-writer successfully receives the proximity determination response information, it is determined that the first reader-writer is in proximity with the tag, it is determined that the second reader-writer is in proximity with the tag, it is determined that the first node is in proximity with the tag (or it is determined that the first reader-writer, the second reader-writer and the first node are all in proximity with the tag); if the second reader-writer does not successfully receive the proximity determination response information, and the measurement result of the proximity determination response signal is greater than or equal to a threshold value, it is determined that the first reader-writer is in proximity with the tag, it is determined that the second reader-writer is in proximity with the tag, it is determined that the first node is in proximity with the tag (or it is determined that the first reader-writer, the second reader-writer and the first node are all in proximity with the tag); if the second reader-writer does not successfully receive the proximity determination response information, and the measurement result of the proximity determination response signal is less than or equal to a threshold value, it is determined that the first reader-writer is not in proximity with the tag, it is determined that the second reader-writer is not in proximity with the tag, it is determined that the first node is not in proximity with the tag (or it is determined that the first reader-writer, the second reader-writer and the first node are all not in proximity with the tag).

[0142] It can be understood that the proximity determination response information can refer to the description in the above embodiments related to S101 and S102.

[0143] In S504, the second reader-writer sends the proximity information to the first reader-writer; correspondingly, the first reader-writer receives the proximity information sent by the second reader-writer.

[0144] The proximity information includes at least one of the following: whether the first reader-writer is in proximity with the tag, whether the second reader-writer is in proximity with the tag, whether the first node is in proximity with the tag, an identifier of the first reader-writer, an identifier of the second reader-writer, an identifier of the first node, an identifier of the tag, a proximity level between the first reader-writer and the tag, a proximity level between the second reader-writer and the tag, a proximity level between the first node and the tag.

[0145] In some embodiments, if the first reader-writer or the second reader-writer is an intermediate node, the first reader-writer or the second reader-writer transmits the proximity information to the network node.

[0146] For more detailed descriptions of S501 to S504, more detailed descriptions of the technical features therein, and descriptions of beneficial effects, etc., reference can be made to the descriptions in the above embodiments or example part, which will not be repeated here.

[0147] The above describes the scheme of the embodiments of the present disclosure mainly from the perspective of the method. The following also shows a proximity information determination apparatus for performing the proximity information determination method in any of the above embodiments and implementation manners. It can be understood that the proximity information determination apparatus contains hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to performing respective functions in order to implement the proximity information determination method; it should be easily realized by those skilled in the art that, in combination with the algorithm steps of each example described in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the present disclosure can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a certain function is implemented in hardware or in the form of computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. The skilled person can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of the present disclosure.

[0148] The embodiments of the present disclosure can divide the proximity information determination apparatus according to the method embodiments described above, for example, each function module can be divided according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated into one function module. The above integrated module can be realized in the form of hardware or in the form of software. It should be noted that the division of the modules in the embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrative, and is only a logical functional division. There can be another division manner when actually implemented. The following takes an example of dividing each function module according to each function.

[0149] FIG. 8 is a proximity information determination apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, applied to a first entity. The proximity information determination apparatus 600 includes a determination module 601, a communication module 602, a query module 603, and a calculation module 604.

[0150] The determination module 601 is configured to determine the proximity information between the first entity and the second entity by receiving proximity determination response information, and / or determine the proximity information between the first entity and the second entity by measuring a proximity determination response signal.

[0151] In some embodiments, the first entity includes at least one of the following: a first reader-writer, a second reader-writer, a first node, the first node being configured to send and / or receive a continuous wave signal, and the second entity includes at least a tag.

[0152] In some embodiments, the communication module 602 is configured to, in a case where the first entity includes the first node, send, by the first entity, the continuous wave signal to the second entity.

[0153] In some embodiments, the proximity determination response information comprises at least one of: proximity determination response signaling, proximity determination response signal, whether the first reader and the tag are in proximity, whether the first node and the tag are in proximity, an identity of the first reader, an identity of the first node, an identity of the tag, a proximity level of the first reader and the tag, a proximity level of the first node and the tag, a transmission power of the tag, a maximum power of the tag, a power amplifier factor of the tag, a coordinate of the tag.

[0154] In some embodiments, the proximity determination response signaling is used to identify the proximity determination response information.

[0155] In some embodiments, the proximity determination response signal comprises at least one of: a continuous wave signal, a reference signal, a preamble signal, a midamble signal, a postamble signal.

[0156] In some embodiments, the proximity determination response signal is determined according to at least one of: an identity of the first reader, an identity of the second reader, an identity of the first node, an identity of the tag.

[0157] In some embodiments, the determining module 601 is configured to: determine that the first entity is in proximity with the second entity, if the first entity successfully receives the proximity determination response information; measure the proximity determination response signal to determine the proximity information of the first entity and the second entity, if the first entity successfully receives the proximity determination response information; measure the proximity determination response signal to determine the proximity information of the first entity and the second entity, if the first entity does not successfully receive the proximity determination response information; and determine the proximity information of the first entity and the second entity by measuring the proximity determination response signal.

[0158] In some embodiments, the determining module 601 is configured to: obtain a measurement result by measuring the proximity determination response signal, the measurement result comprising at least one of: a propagation time, a distance, a received power of the response signal, a response signal strength indication, a response signal received quality, a response signal signal-to-noise-and-interference ratio, a number of tags in proximity with the reader, a number of tags in proximity with the first node, a number of readers in proximity with the tag, a number of first nodes in proximity with the tag, a number of times of determining the proximity information, the reader comprising the first reader and / or the second reader; and determine the proximity information of the first entity and the second entity according to the measurement result.

[0159] In some embodiments, the proximity information comprises at least one of: whether the first reader and the tag are in proximity, whether the second reader and the tag are in proximity, whether the first node and the tag are in proximity, an identity of the first reader, an identity of the second reader, an identity of the first node, an identity of the tag, a proximity level of the first reader and the tag, a proximity level of the second reader and the tag, a proximity level of the first node and the tag.

[0160] In some embodiments, the determining module 601 is configured to determine that the first entity and the second entity have no proximity relationship in the case that the measurement result is less than the threshold value.

[0161] In some embodiments, the determining module 601 is configured to determine that the first entity and the second entity have proximity relationship in the case that the measurement result is greater than the threshold value.

[0162] In some embodiments, the determining module 601 is further configured to determine the distance between the first entity and the second entity in a measurement result mapping table based on the measurement result. The measurement result mapping table comprises a corresponding relationship between the measurement result and the distance between the first entity and the second entity.

[0163] In some embodiments, the communication module 602 is configured to send the proximity determination request information. The proximity determination request information comprises at least one of the following: proximity determination request signaling, a proximity determination request signal, an identifier of the first reader, an identifier of the first node, a resource of the continuous wave signal, a resource of the proximity determination response information, and a resource of the proximity determination response signal.

[0164] In some embodiments, the proximity determination request signaling is used to identify the proximity determination request information.

[0165] In some embodiments, the proximity determination request signal comprises at least one of the following: a continuous wave signal, a reference signal, a preamble signal, a midamble signal, and a postamble signal.

[0166] In some embodiments, the communication module 602 is configured to, in the case that the first entity comprises the first reader, send the proximity information to the network node by the first reader.

[0167] In some embodiments, the communication module 602 is configured to, in the case that the first entity comprises the second reader, send the proximity information to the network node and / or the first reader by the second reader.

[0168] In some embodiments, the communication module 602 is configured to obtain the identifier of the second entity.

[0169] The querying module 603 is configured to query the coordinates of the second entity in a coordinate mapping table based on the identifier of the second entity. The coordinate mapping table comprises a corresponding relationship between the identifier of the second entity and the coordinates of the second entity.

[0170] The calculating module 604 is configured to calculate the distance between the first entity and the second entity based on the coordinates corresponding to the second entity.

[0171] For more detailed descriptions of the determining module 601, the communication module 602, the querying module 603, and the calculating module 604, and more detailed descriptions of the technical features and beneficial effects thereof, please refer to the corresponding method embodiments described above, which will not be repeated here.

[0172] FIG. 9 is another proximity information determining apparatus applied to a second entity according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The proximity information determining apparatus 700 includes a processing module 701 and a communication module 702.

[0173] The processing module 701 is configured to determine proximity determination response information and / or a proximity determination response signal.

[0174] The communication module 702 is configured to send the proximity determination response information and / or the proximity determination response signal, which is used to determine the proximity information between the first entity and the second entity.

[0175] In some embodiments, the communication module 702 is configured to receive the continuous wave signal sent by the first node.

[0176] In some embodiments, the communication module 702 is configured to receive proximity determination request information. The proximity determination request information includes at least one of the following: proximity determination request signaling, a proximity determination request signal, an identifier of the first reader, an identifier of the first node, a resource of the continuous wave signal, a resource of the proximity determination response information, and a resource of the proximity determination response signal.

[0177] For more details of the processing module 701 and the communication module 702, and the technical features and advantages of the same, please refer to the corresponding method embodiments described above, which will not be repeated here.

[0178] It should be noted that the modules in FIGS. 8 and 9 can also be referred to as units, for example, the communication module can be referred to as a communication unit. In addition, in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the names of the various modules can not be the names shown in the figures, for example, the communication module can also be referred to as a sending module or a receiving module.

[0179] The various units or modules in FIGS. 8 and 9, if implemented in the form of software functional modules and sold or used as independent products, can be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Based on such understanding, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure, essentially or partly, or all or part of the technical solutions can be embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium, and includes several instructions for causing a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) or a processor to perform all or part of the steps of the methods according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. The storage medium storing the computer software product includes various media, such as a U disk, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

[0180] In the case of implementing the functions of the above-mentioned integrated modules in the form of hardware, the embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a structure of a communication device for performing the proximity information determination method provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 10, the communication device 800 includes a communication interface 803, a processor 802 and a bus 804. In some embodiments, the communication device can also include a memory 801.

[0181] The processor 802 can implement or execute the various exemplary logical blocks, modules and circuits described in combination with the embodiments of the present disclosure. The processor 802 can be a central processing unit, a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, a transistor logic device, a hardware component or any combination thereof. It can implement or execute the various exemplary logical blocks, modules and circuits described in combination with the embodiments of the present disclosure. The processor 802 can also be a combination of computing functions, such as a combination of one or more microprocessors, a combination of a digital signal processor (DSP) and a microprocessor, etc.

[0182] The communication interface 803 is used to connect with other devices through a communication network. The communication network can be an Ethernet, a wireless access network, a wireless local area network (WLAN), etc.

[0183] The memory 801 can be a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device that can store static information and instructions, a random access memory (RAM) or other type of dynamic storage device that can store information and instructions, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a magnetic disk storage medium or other magnetic storage device, or any other medium capable of carrying or storing desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer, but is not limited thereto.

[0184] As an implementation manner, the memory 801 can exist independently of the processor 802, and the memory 801 can be connected to the processor 802 through the bus 804, for storing instructions or program codes. When the processor 802 invokes and executes the instructions or program codes stored in the memory 801, the method for determining proximity information provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented.

[0185] In another implementation manner, the memory 801 can also be integrated with the processor 802.

[0186] The bus 804 can be an extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus or the like. The bus 804 can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, and the like. For the convenience of representation, only one thick line is shown in FIG. 10, but it does not mean that there is only one bus or only one type of bus.

[0187] Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a computer-readable storage medium (for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium). The computer-readable storage medium stores computer program instructions. When the computer program instructions run on a computer, the computer executes the method for determining proximity information as described in any of the above embodiments.

[0188] In an exemplary implementation manner, the computer can be the proximity information determination apparatus described above, and the present disclosure does not limit the specific form of the computer.

[0189] In some examples, the aforementioned computer readable storage medium can include, but is not limited to, a magnetic storage device (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic strips, etc.), an optical disk (e.g., compact disk (CD), digital versatile disk (DVD), etc.), a smart card, and a flash memory device (e.g., EPROM, card, stick, or key drive, etc.). The various computer readable storage media described in the present disclosure can represent one or more devices and / or other machine-readable storage media for storing information. The term "machine-readable storage medium" can include, without being limited to, a wireless channel and various other media capable of storing, containing, and / or carrying instructions and / or data.

[0190] The embodiment of the present disclosure provides a computer program product containing instructions, which, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method for determining proximity information described in any of the above embodiments.

[0191] The above merely provides the specific implementation of the present disclosure, but the protection scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto, any change or replacement within the technical scope disclosed by the present disclosure should be covered within the protection scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the protection scope of the present disclosure should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for determining proximity information, applied to a first entity, comprising: determining proximity information between the first entity and a second entity by receiving proximity determination response information; and / or, measuring a proximity determination response signal to determine proximity information between the first entity and the second entity. The first entity comprises at least one of: a first reader-writer, a second reader-writer, a first node configured to transmit and / or receive a continuous wave signal, and the second entity comprises at least a tag. 3.The method of claim 2, wherein, in a case that the first entity comprises the first node, the first entity transmits a continuous wave signal to the second entity. The proximity determination response information comprises at least one of: proximity determination response signaling, the proximity determination response signal, whether the first reader-writer and the tag are in proximity, whether the first node and the tag are in proximity, an identity of the first reader-writer, an identity of the first node, an identity of the tag, a proximity level of the first reader-writer and the tag, a proximity level of the first node and the tag, a transmit power of the tag, a maximum power of the tag, a power amplifier factor of the tag, a coordinate of the tag.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The proximity determination response signaling is configured to identify the proximity determination response information. The proximity determination response signal comprises at least one of: a continuous wave signal, a reference signal, a preamble signal, a midamble signal, a postamble signal. The proximity determination response signal is determined according to at least one of: an identity of the first reader-writer, an identity of the second reader-writer, an identity of the first node, an identity of the tag.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein, The determining proximity information between the first entity and the second entity by receiving the proximity determination response information; and / or, the measuring the proximity determination response signal to determine proximity information between the first entity and the second entity, comprises at least one of: in a case that the first entity successfully receives the proximity determination response information, determining that the first entity is in proximity with the second entity; in a case that the first entity successfully receives the proximity determination response information, measuring the proximity determination response signal to determine proximity information between the first entity and the second entity; in a case that the first entity does not successfully receive the proximity determination response information, measuring the proximity determination response signal to determine proximity information between the first entity and the second entity; measuring the proximity determination response signal to determine proximity information between the first entity and the second entity.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, The measuring the proximity determination response signal and determining proximity information between the first entity and the second entity, comprises:

6. The method of claim 1 or 4, wherein, ​ 7. The method of claim 2 or 4, wherein, ​ 8. The method of claim 1, wherein, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 9. The method of claim 2, wherein, ​ obtaining a measurement result by measuring the proximity determination response signal, the measurement result comprising at least one of: a propagation time, a distance, a received power of the response signal, a response signal strength indication, a response signal received quality, a response signal signal-to-noise-and-interference ratio, a number of tags in proximity to the reader-writer, a number of the tags in proximity to the first node, a number of reader-writers in proximity to the tags, a number of the first nodes in proximity to the tags, a number of times of the proximity information determination, the reader-writer comprising the first reader-writer and / or the second reader-writer; determining proximity information of the first entity and the second entity according to the measurement result.

10. The method of claim 2 or 9, wherein, the proximity information comprising at least one of: whether the first reader-writer is in proximity to the tag, whether the second reader-writer is in proximity to the tag, whether the first node is in proximity to the tag, an identity of the first reader-writer, an identity of the second reader-writer, an identity of the first node, an identity of the tag, a proximity level of the first reader-writer to the tag, a proximity level of the second reader-writer to the tag, a proximity level of the first node to the tag.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein, the determining proximity information of the first entity and the second entity according to the measurement result comprises: in a case that the measurement result is less than a threshold value, determining that the first entity and the second entity are not in proximity to each other; in a case that the measurement result is greater than the threshold value, determining that the first entity and the second entity are in proximity to each other.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein, the determining proximity information of the first entity and the second entity according to the measurement result comprises: determining a distance of the first entity and the second entity in a measurement result mapping table based on the measurement result, the measurement result mapping table comprising a correspondence between the measurement result and the distance of the first entity and the second entity.

13. The method of claim 2, further comprising: sending proximity determination request information, the proximity determination request information comprising at least one of: proximity determination request signaling, a proximity determination request signal, an identity of the first reader-writer, an identity of the first node, a resource of the continuous wave signal, a resource of the proximity determination response information, a resource of the proximity determination response signal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein, the proximity determination request signaling is used to identify the proximity determination request information.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein, the proximity determination request signal comprises at least one of: a continuous wave signal, a reference signal, a preamble signal, a midamble signal, a postamble signal.

16. The method of claim 2, further comprising: in a case that the first entity comprises the first reader-writer, the first reader-writer sending the proximity information to a network node; in a case that the first entity comprises the second reader-writer, the second reader-writer sending the proximity information to a network node and / or the first reader-writer.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising: obtain an identity of the second entity, and query a coordinate mapping table for a coordinate of the second entity based on the identity of the second entity, the coordinate mapping table comprising a correspondence between identities of entities and coordinates of the entities; calculate a distance between the first entity and the second entity based on the coordinate corresponding to the second entity.

18. A method for determining proximity information, applied to a second entity, comprising: sending proximity determination response information and / or a proximity determination response signal, the proximity determination response information and / or the proximity determination response signal being used to determine proximity information between a first entity and the second entity.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein, The first entity comprises at least one of: a first reader-writer, a second reader-writer, a first node, the first node being configured to send and / or receive a continuous wave signal, and the second entity comprises at least a tag.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising: receiving the continuous wave signal sent by the first node.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein, The proximity determination response information comprises at least one of: proximity determination response signaling, the proximity determination response signal, whether the first reader-writer and the tag are in proximity, whether the first node and the tag are in proximity, an identity of the first reader-writer, an identity of the first node, an identity of the tag, a proximity level between the first reader-writer and the tag, a proximity level between the first node and the tag, a transmit power of the tag, a maximum power of the tag, a power amplifier factor of the tag, a coordinate of the tag.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein, The proximity determination response signaling is used to identify the proximity determination response information.

23. The method of claim 18 or 21, wherein, The proximity determination response signal comprises at least one of: a continuous wave signal, a reference signal, a preamble signal, a midamble signal, a postamble signal.

24. The method of claim 19 or 21, wherein, The proximity determination response signal is determined based on at least one of: an identity of the first reader-writer, an identity of the second reader-writer, an identity of the first node, an identity of the tag.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein, The proximity information comprises at least one of: whether the first reader-writer and the tag are in proximity, whether the second reader-writer and the tag are in proximity, whether the first node and the tag are in proximity, an identity of the first reader-writer, an identity of the second reader-writer, an identity of the first node, an identity of the tag, a proximity level between the first reader-writer and the tag, a proximity level between the second reader-writer and the tag, a proximity level between the first node and the tag.

26. The method of claim 19, further comprising: receiving proximity determination request information, the proximity determination request information comprising at least one of: proximity determination request signaling, proximity determination request signal, an identity of the first reader-writer, an identity of the first node, a resource of the continuous wave signal, a resource of the proximity determination response information, a resource of the proximity determination response signal.

27. A communications device comprising: a memory and a processor; wherein the memory is coupled to the processor; the memory is configured to store instructions executable by the processor; and the processor is configured to execute the instructions to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 26.

28. A computer readable storage medium, wherein, The computer readable storage medium has stored thereon computer instructions, which, when executed on a communication device, cause the communication device to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 26.

29. A computer program product, wherein, The computer program product, when executed, implements the method according to any one of claims 1 to 26.

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