Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

A communication method and apparatus, relating to the technical field of communications. The method comprises: a first communication apparatus receives a message comprising the location information of a second communication apparatus, and updates the location information to be second location information of a first user equipment (UE) served by the second communication apparatus, wherein the first UE includes one or more UEs served by the second communication apparatus or one or more UEs served by a first cell of the second communication apparatus, and the second location information includes first location information. In this way, the present application avoids the complex procedure in traditional solutions in which additional location information needs to be carried over multiple pieces of user-associated signaling and be updated for UEs one by one. The interface-level update mechanism significantly reduces resource consumption for location management, is particularly suitable for dynamic scenarios such as a vehicle-mounted mobile relay, increases a speed at which a device responds to a location change, and improves the service continuity of UEs.

Description

A communication method and apparatus

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202510389946.X, filed on March 28, 2025, entitled "A Communication Method and Apparatus", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and apparatus. Background Technology

[0003] In 5G evolution, Wireless Access and Backhaul (WAB) nodes, by integrating the functions of base stations (gNodeB, gNB) and mobile terminals (MT), can support vehicle-mounted mobile relay scenarios. WAB nodes can be deployed in mobile vehicles and other mobile carriers to provide wireless access for user equipment (UE) within these vehicles. They connect to the backhaul access node via the wireless backhaul link of the mobile terminal unit; the backhaul access node can be a macro base station. UE data under the WAB node is forwarded to the mobile terminal unit via the base station unit it accesses, and then transmitted by the mobile terminal unit to the backhaul access node. From there, it is transmitted to the core network (CN), overcoming the problem of poor wireless signal strength within vehicles and other mobile carriers and improving wireless coverage performance.

[0004] For the core network, the UE's User Location Information (ULI) originates from the UE's serving base station (such as the base station element in the WAB node mentioned above). The core network cannot directly obtain this information. However, the UE's serving base station can report the UE's real-time location to the core network by carrying the UE's location information through various messages. For UEs served by base station elements in the WAB node, in addition to location information, Additional Location Information (ULI) also needs to be uploaded. The Additional ULI typically uses the ULI of the mobile terminal element in the WAB node, or a mapped ULI based on the geographical location of the base station element in the WAB node, to reflect the location information of the base station element in the WAB node serving the UE.

[0005] However, the current method of reporting additional location information for UEs is to report it separately for each UE and through signaling messages associated with multiple UEs. The additional location information content of UEs served by the same base station unit is the same. The method of reporting the same information content through signaling messages associated with each UE results in the same information being transmitted multiple times, which leads to a waste of transmission resources. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This application provides a communication method and apparatus for reducing resource consumption in transmitting duplicate location information.

[0007] Firstly, a communication method is provided, which is applied to a first communication device. Specifically, the method can be executed by the first communication device or a component of the first communication device (such as a chip or module), or by a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the first communication device. For example, the first communication device can be a core network device or a component within a core network device; executively, the core network device can be an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) network element; or, the first communication device can be an Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) device; executively, the O-RAN device can be a RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC). The following description uses the first communication device as the executing entity of this method as an example; in actual implementation, the executing entity of this method can have other names.

[0008] The method includes, but is not limited to, the following steps: a first communication device receives a first message from a second communication device, the first message including first location information of the second communication device;

[0009] The first communication device updates the first location information to the second location information of the first user equipment based on the first message. The first user equipment includes one or more user equipment served by the second communication device or one or more user equipment served by the first cell of the second communication device. The second location information includes the first location information.

[0010] This embodiment receives a message containing the location information of a second communication device through a first communication device and updates the second location information of one or more user devices. This avoids the complex process of traditional solutions that require carrying multiple user-associated signaling messages and updating the Additional ULI (which can also be referred to as the first location information in this embodiment) for each user device individually. This interface-level update mechanism significantly reduces the resource consumption of location management, and is especially suitable for dynamic scenarios such as vehicle-mounted mobile relays, improving the speed at which devices respond to location changes and enhancing the service continuity of user devices.

[0011] Optionally, the second communication device is a device that maintains a communication link with the first communication device and / or the first user equipment. For example, the second communication device may be a relay node, such as a WAB node in the WAB architecture described above. Taking the second communication device as a WAB node as an example, the first user equipment is one or more user equipments accessing the WAB node. Specifically, the first user equipment is a user equipment accessing a base station unit within the WAB node. More specifically, the first user equipment is a user equipment accessing a user equipment in a first cell under a base station unit within the WAB node.

[0012] Optionally, the first user equipment includes all user equipment accessing the WAB node, that is, the first user equipment includes all user equipment served by the second communication device or all user equipment served by the first cell of the second communication device. The aforementioned inclusion of one user equipment served by the second communication device or one user equipment served by the first cell of the second communication device can be implemented when only one user equipment is accessing the second communication device.

[0013] Optionally, the first cell is one or more cells under the base station unit in the WAB node.

[0014] Optionally, the second communication device includes a mobile terminal unit and a base station unit, and the first location information of the second communication device includes one or more of the following:

[0015] Location information of the mobile terminal unit of the second communication device; mapped location information based on the geographical location of the base station unit of the second communication device; first location information of the third user equipment of the second communication device, wherein the first user equipment includes the third user equipment; location information of the first cell of the second communication device.

[0016] It should be understood that the first location information in this application embodiment may also be referred to as Additional Location Information (ULI), which is additional location information other than the location information reported by the UE (such as the first user equipment). The additional location information / first location information is mainly used to reflect the location information of the base station unit in the WAB node serving the UE (such as the first user equipment).

[0017] Optionally, the first location information of the second communication device may include one or more of the following: base station unit ID, tracking area identity (TAI), or cell global identifier (CGI) under the second communication device.

[0018] Optionally, the first location information / additional location information (ULI) may include the location information WAB-MTULI of the mobile terminal unit serving the WAB node (second communication device). It should be noted that the aforementioned tracking area identifier or global cell identifier may be the location information serving the mobile terminal unit. Optionally, the aforementioned tracking area identifier or global cell identifier may also be the tracking area identifier or global cell identifier of the cell serving the mobile terminal unit.

[0019] In one possible implementation, the first location information of the second communication device is a mapped location information based on the geographical location of the base station unit of the second communication device. The first location information includes the tracking area identifier and the global cell identifier corresponding to the coverage area where the base station unit is located.

[0020] Optionally, the second location information of the first user equipment includes first location information (Additional ULI) indicating the location of the second communication device and other location information indicating the location of the first user equipment. It should be noted that the aforementioned other location information may include user location information that is not additional location information (in this embodiment, the other location information indicating the location of the first user equipment may also be referred to as fourth location information). For example, the fourth location information may include the global cell identifier and tracking area identifier corresponding to the first user equipment. Optionally, the first message includes the second location information of the first user equipment, and the second location information includes the first location information.

[0021] Optionally, the first message includes second location information of the first user equipment, and the second location information includes the first location information and the fourth location information.

[0022] In one possible implementation, the first message is a signaling message associated with a User Equipment (UE), such as an Initial UE Message, a Location Report, or other messages carrying a User Location Identifier. It should be understood that the signaling message associated with the UE can be a UE-level signaling message, specific to a single UE. Currently, the location information is reported individually for each UE. This means that in the above implementation, each UE may transmit its location information via the first message, which is a signaling message associated with the UE.

[0023] When the second communication device is a WAB node in a WAB architecture, the location information of the first user equipment needs to additionally carry the CGI and TAI of the cell where the mobile terminal unit in the second communication device is located, or the mapped location information based on the geographical location of the base station unit in the second communication device, as an additional ULI (i.e., first location information). Since all UEs under the same WAB node share the same address of the mobile terminal unit WAB-MT and the same base station unit WAB-gNB, their additional location information (i.e., first location information) is consistent. Therefore, in this embodiment of the application, the first communication device can update the first location information to the second location information of the first user equipment based on the first message, thereby simplifying the network's joint management of the mobile relay node and UE location, eliminating the need to repeatedly transmit the additional ULI (first location information), and reducing the resource consumption of the wireless backhaul link.

[0024] In one possible implementation, the first communication device stores second location information for each first user equipment. If the second location information includes first location information indicating the location of the second communication device and location information indicating the location of the first user equipment, after receiving a first message, the first communication device parses the first message to obtain the first location information and stores the first location information in the second location information of each first user equipment associated with the first location information. For example, before receiving the first message, the storage location associated with the first location information in the second location information of each first user equipment within the first communication device is empty; after receiving the first message, the first communication device fills the storage location associated with the first location information in the second location information of each first user equipment within the first communication device with the first location information, thereby updating the location information / additional location information / first location information / second location information. For example, after receiving the first message, the first communication device replaces the old value stored in the storage location associated with the first location information in the second location information of each first user equipment within the first communication device with the first location information from the first message, thereby updating the location information.

[0025] In one optional implementation, the first communication device performs operations related to updating the UE location information based on the first indication information. Optionally, the first message further includes the first indication information, which indicates that the first location information be updated to the second location information of the first user equipment.

[0026] In one alternative implementation, the method includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0027] Based on the first instruction information, the first communication device determines to update the first location information to the second location information of the first user equipment.

[0028] In the above embodiments, by introducing first indication information to explicitly or implicitly trigger the second location information update action of the first user equipment, the accuracy of location management is enhanced. The first communication device determines to perform the update operation based on the indication (such as the first indication information described above), avoiding the risk of erroneous or missed updates. Optionally, the above method further includes the following steps: the first communication device determines that the second communication device is a WAB node based on the first indication information, or the first communication device determines that the message source includes a base station unit in the second communication device based on the first indication information.

[0029] In one optional implementation, the first location information can be saved for subsequent updates. Optionally, the method includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0030] The first communication device stores the first location information.

[0031] It should be noted that after receiving the first message, the first communication device may save or store the first location information in the first message. This is mainly because before the next update of the first location information, there may be updates to the second location information of some first user equipment or updates to the first location information. The aforementioned updates to the location information of some first user equipment include updates to the location information of multiple UEs on a cell-by-cell basis. Here, multiple UEs are used to indicate a UE in a cell that needs to update its location information.

[0032] In the above embodiments, the mechanism of the first communication device caching the latest location information provides a data foundation for periodic or triggered updates. When the location information of some user equipment expires or needs to be updated, the cached data (such as the first location information saved above) can be directly called to complete the update, without having to repeatedly request the second communication device to report, thereby reducing the number of signaling interactions and optimizing network resource utilization.

[0033] In one optional implementation, the first message transmission is triggered when specific location information changes. Optionally, the first message is received when the third location information of the mobile terminal unit in the second communication device changes, and / or the first message is received when the tracking area identifier and / or cell identifier of the second cell under the base station unit in the second communication device changes.

[0034] In one alternative implementation, a change in the third location information of the mobile terminal unit of the second communication device includes the initial access network of the mobile terminal unit and / or the switching of the serving cell of the mobile terminal unit.

[0035] Based on the above embodiments, the second communication device includes a mobile terminal unit and a base station unit. The base station unit includes one or more cells, namely the first cell mentioned above. The second cell can be at least any one of the first cells. In other words, in some embodiments, the second cell is part or all of the first cells. In other embodiments, the second cell can be one or more cells under the base station unit of the second communication device. These one or more cells may overlap with, partially overlap with, completely overlap with, or not overlap with the first cell. In other words, the second cell and the first cell can be interchangeable in some embodiments. That is, the first user equipment is one or more user equipments in the first cell. Therefore, when the tracking area identifier and / or cell identifier of the first cell changes, a first message is transmitted to update the first user equipment under the first cell. Of course, the second cell and the first cell can also be completely different or partially different cells in other embodiments.

[0036] Optionally, the third location information of the mobile terminal unit can be understood as the first location information described above. Exemplary scenarios for transmitting the first message are as follows: Scenario 1: The first message is transmitted when the third location information of the mobile terminal unit changes, such as when the mobile terminal unit initially accesses the network and / or when the mobile terminal unit's serving cell is switched. Scenario 2: The first message is transmitted when the tracking area identifier and / or cell identifier of the second cell under the base station unit in the second communication device changes.

[0037] It should be understood that scenario 1 and scenario 2 can coexist.

[0038] In one possible implementation, in scenario 2, where the tracking area identifier and / or cell identifier of the second cell in the second communication device changes, the first indication information can also be used to indicate the updating of the second location information of one or more (first) user equipments serving the second cell of the second communication device. It should be understood that in this implementation, the second cell can be one or more cells within the first cell.

[0039] In summary, when the mobile terminal unit of the second communication device undergoes initial access, handover, or a change in the tracking area identifier and / or cell identifier of the (second) cell served by the base station unit, it actively triggers location information reporting to ensure that the network can dynamically track the status changes of the mobile second communication device, thereby determining the real-time location of the user equipment served by the second communication device.

[0040] In one alternative implementation, the first message is an interface signaling not associated with the user equipment.

[0041] In the above implementation, location information is transmitted using non-UE associated signaling, which realizes interface-level location information transmission. Compared with the method of transmitting location information via user equipment associated signaling, it reduces the resource consumption of signaling transmission. Specifically, it reduces the overhead of signaling overhead and user associated signaling identifier, which includes AMF UE NGAP ID and RAN UE NGAP ID.

[0042] In one alternative implementation, the method includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0043] The first communication device sends a second message to the third communication device, the second message including the second location information of the first user equipment.

[0044] In the above implementation, the first communication device transmits the updated location information to the third communication device to ensure the consistency of the location information. In the O-RAN architecture, the first communication device (such as RIC) transmits the updated location information to the third communication device (such as AMF) to ensure the consistency of the location information across the entire network, providing accurate data for policy formulation and mobility management.

[0045] In one alternative implementation, the method includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0046] The first communication device receives a third message from the second communication device. The third message includes only fourth location information, which includes the global cell identifier and tracking area identifier of the second user equipment served by the base station unit in the second communication device. The first user equipment includes the second user equipment.

[0047] After the first message is transmitted, when the second communication device uploads the location information of the second user equipment in the first user equipment again, it only needs to upload the fourth location information of the second user equipment. It should be understood that the fourth location information includes location information other than the first location information included in the second location information. In this embodiment, the location information is referred to as the fourth location information.

[0048] In the above implementation, the third message independently reports the fourth location information of the (second) user equipment served by the base station unit, decoupled from the first location information, which simplifies the maintenance logic of location data and reduces the signaling resource consumption related to the transmission of the first location information.

[0049] It should be noted that the second location information involved in the above embodiments may include fourth location information.

[0050] Secondly, a communication method is provided, which is applied to a second communication device. Specifically, the method can be executed by the second communication device or a component of the second communication device (such as a chip or module), or by a logical node, logical module, or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the second communication device. For example, the second communication device can be a relay node, also known as a Wireless Access Backhaul (WAB) node. In a Vehicle Mounted Relay (VMR) scenario, the relay node is deployed on a vehicle (or even an airplane) to provide wireless coverage for the UE inside the vehicle, overcoming the problem of poor wireless signal inside the vehicle. The following description uses the second communication device as the executing entity of this method. In actual implementation, the executing entity of this method can have other names, such as a relay node or a WAB node. The method includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0051] The second communication device generates a first message, the first message including the first location information of the second communication device, the first location information being used to update the second location information of the first user equipment, the first user equipment including one or more user equipment served by the second communication device or one or more user equipment served by the first cell of the second communication device, the second location information including the first location information;

[0052] The second communication device sends a first message to the first communication device.

[0053] Optionally, the first location information is specifically used to update the second location information of one or more user devices, the second location information including the first location information.

[0054] In the prior art, the first location information is used to update the second location information associated with the corresponding user equipment, rather than as a unified location information to update the second location information of some or all user equipment (such as the first user equipment) under the first communication device. This eliminates the need for each user equipment to upload the first location information, reduces signaling transmission overhead, improves the timeliness of location updates, provides continuous coverage assurance for user equipment in vehicle-mounted or airborne scenarios, and enhances the network's adaptability to dynamic topology.

[0055] It should be noted that the description of some implementation methods in the second aspect can be found in the relevant content of the first aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0056] In one alternative implementation, the first message further includes first indication information, which is used to indicate that the first location information be updated to the second location information of the first user equipment.

[0057] In one alternative implementation, the method includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0058] A third message is sent to the first communication device. The third message includes only fourth location information, which includes the global cell identifier and tracking area identifier of the second user equipment served by the base station unit in the second communication device. The first user equipment includes the second user equipment.

[0059] In one optional embodiment, the second communication device includes a mobile terminal unit and a base station unit;

[0060] The first message is sent when the third location information of the mobile terminal unit changes, and / or the first message is sent when the tracking area identifier and / or cell identifier of the second cell under the base station unit changes.

[0061] In one alternative implementation, a change in the third location information of the mobile terminal unit of the second communication device includes the initial access network of the mobile terminal unit and / or the switching of the serving cell of the mobile terminal unit.

[0062] In one alternative implementation, the first message is an interface signaling not associated with the user equipment.

[0063] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device. The communication device is used to perform a method as described in any of the first aspects above and any possible implementation thereof. For example, the communication device is a first communication device, or a functional module within a first communication device, such as a baseband device or a chip system.

[0064] In one possible design, the communication device includes a baseband device and a radio frequency device.

[0065] In another possible design, the communication device includes a processing unit (sometimes also called a processing module) and a transceiver unit (sometimes also called a transceiver module). The transceiver unit is capable of both sending and receiving functions. When the transceiver unit performs the sending function, it can be called a sending unit (sometimes also called a sending module), and when it performs the receiving function, it can be called a receiving unit (sometimes also called a receiving module). The sending unit and the receiving unit can be the same functional module, which is called the transceiver unit and can perform both sending and receiving functions; alternatively, the sending unit and the receiving unit can be different functional modules, and the transceiver unit is a collective term for these functional modules.

[0066] The communication device involved in the embodiments of this application will be described using the transceiver unit and the processing unit as examples. For ease of distinction, the transceiver unit here may also be referred to as the first transceiver unit, and the processing unit here may also be referred to as the first processing unit.

[0067] The first transceiver unit is configured to receive a first message from the second communication device, the first message including the first location information of the second communication device.

[0068] The first processing unit is configured to update the first location information to the second location information of the first user equipment based on the first message. The first user equipment includes one or more user equipment served by the second communication device or one or more user equipment served by the first cell of the second communication device. The second location information includes the first location information.

[0069] In one alternative implementation, the first message further includes first indication information, which is used to indicate that the first location information be updated to the second location information of the first user equipment.

[0070] In one alternative implementation, the first processing unit is further configured to determine, based on the first indication information, to update the first location information to the second location information of the first user equipment.

[0071] In one alternative implementation, the first processing unit is further configured to store the first location information.

[0072] In one alternative implementation, the first message is received when the third location information of the mobile terminal unit in the second communication device changes, and / or the first message is received when the tracking area identifier and / or cell identifier of the second cell under the base station unit in the second communication device changes.

[0073] In one alternative implementation, a change in the third location information of the mobile terminal unit of the second communication device includes the initial access network of the mobile terminal unit and / or the switching of the serving cell of the mobile terminal unit.

[0074] In one alternative implementation, the first message is an interface signaling not associated with the user equipment.

[0075] In one alternative implementation, the first transceiver unit is further configured to send a second message to a third communication device, the second message including second location information of the first user equipment.

[0076] In an optional embodiment, the first transceiver unit is further configured to receive a third message from the second communication device, the third message including only fourth location information, the fourth location information including the global cell identifier and tracking area identifier of the second user equipment served by the base station unit in the second communication device, and the first user equipment including the second user equipment.

[0077] Fourthly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device. The communication device is used to perform a method as described in any of the possible implementations of the second aspect above. For example, the communication device is a second communication device, or a functional module within a second communication device, such as a baseband device or a chip system.

[0078] In one possible design, the communication device includes a baseband device and a radio frequency device.

[0079] In another possible design, the communication device includes a processing unit (sometimes also called a processing module) and a transceiver unit (sometimes also called a transceiver module). The transceiver unit is capable of both sending and receiving functions. When the transceiver unit performs the sending function, it can be called a sending unit (sometimes also called a sending module), and when it performs the receiving function, it can be called a receiving unit (sometimes also called a receiving module). The sending unit and the receiving unit can be the same functional module, which is called the transceiver unit and can perform both sending and receiving functions; alternatively, the sending unit and the receiving unit can be different functional modules, and the transceiver unit is a collective term for these functional modules.

[0080] The communication device involved in the embodiments of this application will be described using the transceiver unit and the processing unit as examples. For ease of distinction, the transceiver unit here may also be referred to as the second transceiver unit, and the processing unit here may also be referred to as the second processing unit.

[0081] The second processing unit is used to generate a first message. The first message includes first location information of the second communication device. The first location information is used to update the second location information of the first user equipment. The first user equipment includes the second location information of one or more user equipments served by the second communication device or one or more user equipments served by the first cell of the second communication device. The second location information includes the first location information.

[0082] The second transceiver unit is used to send the first message to the first communication device.

[0083] In one alternative implementation, the first message further includes first indication information, which is used to indicate that the first location information be updated to the second location information of the first user equipment.

[0084] In an optional embodiment, the second transceiver unit is further configured to send a third message to the first communication device. The third message includes only fourth location information, which includes the global cell identifier and tracking area identifier of the second user equipment served by the base station unit in the second communication device. The first user equipment includes the second user equipment.

[0085] In one optional embodiment, the second communication device includes a mobile terminal unit and a base station unit; the first message is sent when the third location information of the mobile terminal unit changes, and / or the first message is sent when the tracking area identifier and / or cell identifier of the second cell under the base station unit changes.

[0086] In one alternative implementation, a change in the third location information of the mobile terminal unit of the second communication device includes the initial access network of the mobile terminal unit and / or the switching of the serving cell of the mobile terminal unit.

[0087] In one alternative implementation, the first message is an interface signaling not associated with the user equipment.

[0088] In one possible design, the communication device includes a processor, and optionally a memory and / or a transceiver. The transceiver is used to send and receive signals, data, messages, or information, and to communicate with other devices in the communication system. The processor is configured to support the communication device in performing the corresponding functions in the various possible design examples of the first or second aspect described above. The memory is coupled to the processor and stores the necessary program instructions and data for the communication device.

[0089] Fifthly, embodiments of this application provide a communication system, which may include a first user equipment, a first communication device, and a second communication device. The first user equipment is connected to the second communication device, and the second communication device is communicatively linked to the first communication device. The first user equipment communicates with the first communication device through the second communication device. The first communication device is used to implement the first aspect or various possible design examples of the first aspect. The second communication device is used to implement the second aspect or the methods in various possible design examples of the second aspect.

[0090] Sixthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the first aspect and any possible design of the embodiments of this application, or the second aspect and any possible design. Exemplarily, the computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium accessible to a computer. For example, but not limited to, a computer-readable medium can include a non-transient computer-readable medium, random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage media, or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium capable of carrying or storing desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and accessible to a computer.

[0091] In a seventh aspect, embodiments of this application provide a computer program product including instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the method described in the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect, or in the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect, to be performed.

[0092] Eighthly, this application also provides a chip including a processor coupled to a memory for reading and executing program instructions stored in the memory to enable the chip to implement the method described in the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect, or in the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect.

[0093] For the various aspects of the third to eighth aspects mentioned above, and the technical effects that each aspect may achieve, please refer to the above description of the technical effects that can be achieved for the first aspect or the various possible solutions in the first aspect, or the second aspect or the various possible solutions in the second aspect, which will not be repeated here. Attached Figure Description

[0094] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of the architecture of a possible communication system to which the communication method provided in this application is applicable;

[0095] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of another communication system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0096] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a WAB system architecture provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0097] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of another communication system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0098] Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0099] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of updating first location information according to an embodiment of this application;

[0100] Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0101] Figure 8 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0102] Figure 9 shows a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0103] Figure 10 shows a schematic diagram of a chip system provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0104] Before introducing this application, some terms used in the embodiments of this application will be briefly explained to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0105] 1) User equipment (UE) is a device that provides voice and / or data connectivity to a user. In the embodiments of this application, user equipment may be referred to as terminal-side equipment, terminal equipment, terminal, mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), etc. For example, terminal-side equipment may include a handheld device with wireless connectivity or a communication device connected to a wireless modem. Terminal-side equipment can communicate with the core network via a radio access network (RAN) and exchange voice and / or data with the RAN.

[0106] Examples of terminal-side devices include: mobile stations (MS), subscriber units, cellular phones, smartphones, wireless data cards, personal digital assistants (PDAs), computers, tablets, modems, handsets, laptop computers, machine-type communication (MTC) terminals, wearable devices, and in-vehicle terminal equipment. Terminal-side devices also include limited devices, such as those with low power consumption, limited storage capacity, or limited computing power. Terminal-side devices also include information sensing devices such as barcode scanners, radio frequency identification (RFID), sensors, global positioning systems (GPS), and laser scanners.

[0107] The functions of the terminal-side device can be implemented through internal hardware components, which can be a processor and / or a programmable chip within the terminal device. Optionally, the chip can be implemented using an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a programmable logic device (PLD). The PLD can be any one of the following, or any combination thereof: a complex programmable logical device (CPLD), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), generic array logic (GAL), or a system-on-a-chip (SOC).

[0108] 2) Relay node.

[0109] Release 19 (R19) introduced a new architecture called Wireless Access and Backhaul (WAB), primarily used in vehicular mobile relay (VMR) scenarios. This involves relay nodes deployed in vehicles (or even airplanes) to provide wireless coverage for UEs (User Equipment) within the vehicle, overcoming poor in-vehicle wireless signal conditions. The relay nodes connect to macro base stations via wireless backhaul. The nodes in the WAB architecture can be referred to as relay nodes or Wireless Access and Backhaul (WAB) nodes. A WAB node includes base station functionality (WAB-gNB) and mobile terminal functionality (WAB-MT). In this embodiment, the base station functionality within the WAB node can also be called a base station unit. The base station unit implements base station-related functions, enabling communication with the UE and achieving relay functionality, thus helping the UE access the network through the relay node. The specific implementation of the access connection will be explained in subsequent embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0110] 3) Location information.

[0111] In the field of communication technology, the accurate acquisition and efficient reporting of location information plays a crucial role in enabling various communication services. In indoor positioning scenarios, commonly used technologies such as Wi-Fi positioning and Bluetooth positioning estimate device location based on signal strength and characteristics. Their location information reporting method typically involves the device periodically sending messages containing its estimated location data to the positioning server. In wide-area coverage communication scenarios, such as traditional cellular networks, base stations determine the location of user equipment (UE) by measuring parameters such as signal propagation time and angle, and then report this location information to the core network. However, with the continuous development of communication technologies, especially in the evolution of 5G and the exploration of future 6G networks, communication scenarios are becoming increasingly complex and diverse, placing higher demands on the accuracy, timeliness, and efficiency of location information reporting.

[0112] This application mainly involves the location information (ULI) of a user equipment. For example, the UE's New Radio (NR) ULI includes CGI and TAI, as detailed in Table 1, which illustrates the information elements of a user equipment location information provided in this application embodiment.

[0113] Table 1

[0114] It should be understood that the information element content and references shown in Table 1 are merely examples and are not intended to limit the ULI in the embodiments of this application.

[0115] As shown in Table 1, the WAB-MT user location information is an optional element. For UEs in common, non-relay scenarios, the ULI only needs to include the CGI and TAI of the serving cell where the UE is located. However, for UEs in relay scenarios connected to relay equipment / relay nodes, the reported ULI also needs to include the user location information of the WAB-MT co-located with the serving UE's WAB-gNB. For example, the user location information of the WAB-MT co-located with the serving UE's WAB-gNB can be composed of the CGI and TAI of the serving MT's cell. Here, the user location information of the WAB-MT co-located with the serving UE's WAB-gNB is referred to as Additional ULI.

[0116] It should be noted that the additional location information / first location information is mainly used to reflect the location information of the base station unit in the WAB node serving the UE (such as the first user equipment). However, in some implementations, the first location information is the mapped location information based on the geographical location of the base station unit of the second communication device. The first location information includes the tracking area identifier and global cell identifier corresponding to the coverage area where the base station unit is located.

[0117] In short, the ULI of a UE served by a WAB-gNB includes CGI, TAI, and Additional ULI. It's easy to see that the location information mapped based on the geographical location of the same WAB-gNB is identical for all UEs served by that WAB-gNB. Furthermore, since each WAB-gNB co-located with only one WAB-MT, the MT ULI is consistent for all UEs served by that WAB-gNB. In other words, the Additional ULI content is the same for all UEs served by the WAB-gNB.

[0118] However, the current method of reporting UE location information involves reporting it individually for each UE. UEs serving the same base station unit have identical additional location information, and this method results in the same information being transmitted multiple times. Taking the transmission of the ULI (User Information Link) for UE-associated signaling as an example, assuming there are N UEs served by the WAB-gNB, each UE's ULI will be reported through M UE-associated signaling messages. It's easy to see that the Additional ULI will also be reported M*N times repeatedly. Furthermore, each UE-associated signaling message carries the UE NGAP ID, which can include both the AMF UE NGAP ID and the RAN UE NGAP ID. This undoubtedly wastes resources, increases the network signaling burden, and reduces system capacity.

[0119] Based on this, embodiments of this application provide a communication method and apparatus to solve the problem of resource waste caused by repeated reporting of Additional ULI.

[0120] The technical solutions in this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0121] In the embodiments of this application, "instruction" can include direct and indirect instructions, as well as explicit and implicit instructions. The information indicated by a certain piece of information is called the information to be instructed. In the specific implementation process, there are many ways to instruct the information to be instructed, such as, but not limited to, directly instructing the information to be instructed, such as the information to be instructed itself or its index. It can also indirectly instruct the information to be instructed by instructing other information, where there is a relationship between the other information and the information to be instructed. It can also instruct only a part of the information to be instructed, while the other parts are known or pre-agreed upon. For example, the instruction of specific information can be achieved by using a pre-agreed (e.g., protocol-defined) arrangement of various pieces of information, thereby reducing instruction overhead to some extent. At the same time, common parts of various pieces of information can be identified and uniformly indicated to reduce the instruction overhead caused by individually indicating the same information.

[0122] Furthermore, the specific indication method can also be any existing indication method, such as, but not limited to, the above-mentioned indication methods and their various combinations. Specific details of various indication methods can be found in existing technologies, and will not be repeated here. As described above, for example, when multiple pieces of information of the same type need to be indicated, the indication methods for different pieces of information may differ. In the specific implementation process, the required indication method can be selected according to specific needs. This application embodiment does not limit the selected indication method; therefore, the indication methods involved in this application embodiment should be understood to cover various methods that enable the party to be indicated to obtain the information to be indicated.

[0123] It should be understood that the information to be indicated can be sent as a whole or divided into multiple sub-information messages sent separately, and the sending period and / or timing of these sub-information messages can be the same or different. The specific sending method is not limited in this application embodiment. The sending period and / or timing of these sub-information messages can be predefined, for example, according to a protocol, or configured by the sending device by sending configuration information to the receiving device.

[0124] In this application, "sending information" can be understood as one device sending information to another device, or it can also be understood as one logical module within a device sending information to another logical module. For example, "network device sending information" can be understood as a network device sending information to another device (such as a terminal or other network device), or it can be understood as logical module 1 in the network device sending information to logical module 2 in the network device.

[0125] In this application, "receiving information" can be understood as one device receiving information from another device, or it can also be understood as a logical module within a device receiving information from another logical module. For example, "network device receiving information" can be understood as a network device receiving information from another device (such as a terminal or other network device), or it can be understood as logical module 1 in the network device receiving information from logical module 2 in the network device.

[0126] In this application, phrases such as "sending information to... (e.g., a terminal)" or related illustrations in the accompanying drawings can be understood as indicating that the destination of the information is a terminal. This can include sending information directly or indirectly to a terminal. Similarly, phrases such as "receiving information from... (e.g., a terminal)," "receiving information from... (e.g., a terminal)," or "receiving information sent by (e.g., a terminal)," or related illustrations in the accompanying drawings, can be understood as indicating that the source of the information is a terminal. This can include receiving information directly or indirectly from a terminal. Information may undergo necessary processing between the source and destination, such as format changes, but the destination can understand the valid information from the source. Similar expressions in this application can be interpreted similarly and will not be elaborated further here.

[0127] "Predefined" or "pre-configured" can be achieved by pre-saving corresponding codes, tables, or other means that can be used to indicate relevant information in the device. This application does not limit the specific implementation method. "Saving" can refer to saving in one or more memories. These memories can be separate installations or integrated into the encoder, decoder, processor, or communication device. Alternatively, some memories can be separately installed, while others are integrated into the decoder, processor, or communication device. The type of memory can be any form of storage medium, and this application does not limit this.

[0128] The “protocol” mentioned in the embodiments of this application may refer to a protocol family in the field of communication, a standard protocol with a similar protocol family frame structure, or a related protocol applied to future communication systems. The embodiments of this application do not specifically limit this.

[0129] In the embodiments of this application, descriptions such as "when," "under the circumstances," "if," and "if" all refer to the device making corresponding processing under certain objective circumstances, and are not limited to a specific time. They do not require the device to make a judgment action during implementation, nor do they imply any other limitations.

[0130] In the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise stated, " / " indicates that the objects before and after are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B can represent A or B. "And / or" in the embodiments of this application is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, and B alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. Furthermore, in the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" refers to two or more. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple. Additionally, to facilitate a clear description of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the terms "first" and "second" are used in the embodiments of this application to distinguish identical or similar items with essentially the same function and effect. Those skilled in the art will understand that the terms "first," "second," etc., do not limit the quantity or order of execution, and that "first," "second," etc., are not necessarily different. Furthermore, in the embodiments of this application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate that something is being used as an example, illustration, or description. Any embodiment or design scheme described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of this application should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or design schemes. Specifically, the use of words such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a concrete manner for ease of understanding.

[0131] The network architecture and business scenarios described in the embodiments of this application are for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application. As those skilled in the art will know, with the evolution of network architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0132] To more clearly describe the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the communication methods and devices provided in the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0133] First, we will take a communication system as an example to describe in detail the communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application.

[0134] Figure 1 illustrates a possible communication system architecture applicable to the communication method provided in this application. As shown in Figure 1, the communication system includes a radio access network (RAN) 100 and a core network (CN) 200. RAN 100 includes at least one RAN node (110a and 110b in Figure 1, collectively referred to as 110) and at least one terminal device (120a-120j in Figure 1, collectively referred to as 120). The RAN may also include other RAN nodes, such as wireless relay devices and / or wireless backhaul devices (not shown in Figure 1). Terminal device 120 is wirelessly connected to RAN node 110. RAN node 110 is wirelessly or wired connected to core network 200. The core network device in core network 200 and RAN node 110 in RAN 100 can be different physical devices, or they can be the same physical device integrating core network logical functions and radio access network logical functions.

[0135] RAN 100 can be a cellular system related to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), such as 4G, 5G, and 6G mobile communication systems, non-terrestrial network (NTN) systems, or future-oriented evolution systems. RAN 100 can also be an open RAN (O-RAN or ORAN), a cloud radio access network (CRAN), or a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) system, or a communication system that integrates two or more of the above systems.

[0136] In a communication system, a device can send signals to or receive signals from another device. These signals can include information, signaling, or data. The device can also be replaced by an entity, network entity, communication equipment, communication module, node, or communication node; this application describes the example using a device.

[0137] In this embodiment of the application, terminal device 120 is a device with wireless transceiver function, which may refer to user equipment (UE), access terminal, subscriber unit, user station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, wireless communication device, user agent, or user device.

[0138] In this embodiment, the terminal device 120 can also be a satellite phone, cellular phone, smartphone, wireless data card, wireless modem, machine-type communication device, cordless phone, session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, wireless local loop (WLL) station, personal digital assistant (PDA), customer-premises equipment (CPE), point-of-sale (POS) machine, handheld device with wireless communication capabilities, computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, vehicle-mounted device, communication device mounted on a high-altitude aircraft, wearable device, drone, robot, terminal in device-to-device (D2D) communication, terminal in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, virtual reality (VR) terminal device, augmented reality (AR) terminal device, wireless terminal in industrial control, wireless terminal in self-driving, or remote medical device. Wireless terminals in medical applications, smart grids, transportation safety, smart cities, smart homes, or communication networks evolving after 5G are not limited to this category. In this embodiment, the device used to implement the functions of the terminal device can be the terminal device itself, or a device capable of supporting the terminal device in implementing those functions, such as a chip system or a chip. This device can be installed in the terminal device. In this embodiment, the chip system can consist of chips or include chips and other discrete components.

[0139] In this embodiment, the terminal device 120 can also be a device with communication function in a 6G communication system, and the form or type of the terminal device in 6G and other future communication systems is not limited.

[0140] In this embodiment, RAN node 110 can also be referred to as access network equipment, access node, or RAN entity, and is used to help terminal equipment achieve wireless access. Multiple RAN nodes 110 can be of the same type or different types. In some scenarios, the roles of RAN node 110 and terminal equipment 120 are relative. For example, network element 120i in Figure 1 can be a helicopter or drone, which can be configured as a mobile base station. For terminal equipment 120j accessing RAN 100 through network element 120i, network element 120i is a base station; but for base station 110a, network element 120i is a terminal equipment. RAN node 110 and terminal equipment 120 are sometimes referred to as communication devices. For example, 110a and 110b in Figure 1 can be understood as communication devices with base station functions, and network elements 120a-120j can be understood as communication devices with terminal functions.

[0141] In one possible scenario, RAN node 110 can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), an access point (AP), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next-generation NodeB (gNB), a next-generation base station in a 6G mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a WiFi system. RAN nodes can be macro base stations (as shown in Figure 1, 110a), micro base stations or indoor stations (as shown in Figure 1, 110b), relay nodes or donor nodes, or radio controllers in CRAN scenarios. Optionally, RAN nodes can also be servers, wearable devices, vehicles, or in-vehicle equipment. For example, the access network equipment in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology can be a roadside unit (RSU).

[0142] In another possible scenario, multiple RAN nodes collaborate to assist the terminal in achieving wireless access, with different RAN nodes implementing some of the base station's functions. For example, RAN nodes can be central units (CUs), distributed units (DUs), CU-control plane (CPs), CU-user plane (UPs), or radio units (RUs), etc. CUs and DUs can be set up separately or included in the same network element, such as the baseband unit (BBU). The CU and DU nodes separate the gNB's protocol layers; some protocol layer functions are centrally controlled by the CU, while the remaining partial or complete protocol layer functions are distributed in the DU, which is centrally controlled by the CU. As one implementation, the CU deploys the Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer, Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, and Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer in the protocol stack; the DU deploys the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, Media Access Control (MAC) layer, and Physical Layer (PHY) in the protocol stack. Thus, the CU has the processing capabilities of RRC, PDCP, and SDAP. The DU has the processing capabilities of RLC, MAC, and PHY. It is understood that the above functional division is merely an example and does not constitute a limitation on the CU and DU. The RU can be included in radio frequency equipment or radio frequency units, such as in a remote radio unit (RRU), active antenna unit (AAU), or remote radio head (RRH).

[0143] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU, or RU may have different names, but those skilled in the art will understand their meaning. For example, in an ORAN system, CU can also be called O-CU (open CU), DU can also be called O-DU, CU-CP can also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP can also be called O-CU-UP, and RU can also be called O-RU. For ease of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and RU as examples. Any of the units among CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU, and RU in this application can be implemented through software modules, hardware modules, or a combination of software and hardware modules.

[0144] In this embodiment, core network 200 refers to the equipment in the core network (CN) that provides service support for terminal equipment 120. Examples of core network equipment include: access and mobility management function (AMF) entities, session management function (SMF) entities, user plane function (UPF) entities, etc., which are not listed here. The AMF entity is responsible for access management and mobility management of the terminal equipment; the SMF entity is responsible for session management, such as user session establishment; and the UPF entity can be a user plane function entity, mainly responsible for connecting to external networks. It should be noted that in this application, entities can also be called network elements or functional entities. For example, an AMF entity can also be called an AMF network element or an AMF functional entity, and an SMF entity can also be called an SMF network element or an SMF functional entity, etc.

[0145] In this embodiment, the apparatus for implementing the functions of a network device can be a network device itself; it can also be an apparatus capable of supporting the network device in implementing those functions, such as a chip system, hardware circuit, software module, or a hardware circuit plus a software module. This apparatus can be installed in the network device or used in conjunction with the network device. In this embodiment, the example of a network device being used to implement the functions of a network device is provided only and does not constitute a limitation on the solutions described in this embodiment.

[0146] It should be noted that the embodiments of this application do not limit the scenario in which the network device is located. In addition, the network device can be a hardware device or a software function running on dedicated hardware or general-purpose hardware. For example, it can be an entity that includes dedicated or general-purpose hardware devices and software functions. This application does not limit the specific form of the network device.

[0147] In one design, the RAN100 may also include wireless relay devices or wireless backhaul devices. In one implementation, a terminal can access the RAN node through a wireless relay device or a wireless backhaul device. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, a wireless relay device or wireless backhaul device will be used as an example of a Wireless Access and Backhaul (WAB) node.

[0148] Please refer to Figure 2 for details. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of another communication system provided in the embodiment of this application.

[0149] The communication system may include a first communication device, a second communication device, and a first user equipment. Wherein:

[0150] The first communication device, in this embodiment, can be used to indicate a communication device that receives user equipment location information during actual information flow, such as a core network element. The core network element receiving the user equipment location information may include a mobility management network element and a user plane function (UPF) network element. The mobility management network element may be an access and mobility management function (AMF) network element, and the identifier of the mobility management network element may include an AMF ID and / or IP address. The AMF is responsible for access and mobility management functions, including user registration, reachability, mobility management, access authentication, and authorization. The UPF is responsible for the core network's user plane functions, including providing user packet forwarding, processing, connection to the DN, session anchors, and quality of service (QoS) policy enforcement.

[0151] The second communication device, in this embodiment, can be a relay node. The relay node can be used to provide access and wireless backhaul services to terminal devices. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the second communication device will be described as a Wireless Access and Backhaul (WAB) node. A WAB node can provide mobile terminal device functions and base station functions. It can also be understood that a relay node can include a WAB-MT (module) and a WAB-gNB (module).

[0152] It is understood that the relay node in this application embodiment can be a device equipped with a processor / chip that can execute computer execution instructions, or it can be a processor / chip that can execute computer execution instructions. The relay node in this application embodiment includes a terminal-side portion facing the parent node and a network-side portion facing the child node. For example, it can include MT and DU, or it can include MT and gNB; this application embodiment does not impose any limitations on this. Alternatively, in this application embodiment, the internal structure of the relay node may not be explicitly divided, but rather the functional portion of the relay node may be defined through its interface connection with the peer device. For example, the functional portion connected to the peer device as a network-side device can be identified as the MT of the relay node, and the functional portion connected to the peer device as a terminal-side device (such as the first user equipment) can be identified as the DU or gNB of the relay node. In this application embodiment, the example of the gNB of the relay node being the functional portion connected to the peer device as a terminal-side device is used for illustration only.

[0153] Optionally, the relay node in this application can also be represented as a vehicle-mounted relay (VMR).

[0154] Optionally, the WAB-gNB can be a transmission reception point (TRP), a next-generation NodeB (gNB) in a 5th generation (5G) mobile communication system, a radio network controller (RNC), a Node B (NB), a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a home base station (e.g., a home evolved NodeB, or a home Node B, HNB), a base band unit (BBU) or a remote radio unit (RRU), or a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) access point (AP), or a base band pool (BBU pool) and RRU in a cloud radio access network (CRAN), etc. Optionally, the WAB-gNB may also include modules or units that perform some of the functions of a base station. For example, the WAB-gNB may include a central unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU), that is, the WAB-gNB may include WAB-gNB-CU and WAB-gNB-DU. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technology or equipment form used in the WAB-gNB.

[0155] The first user equipment (UE), also known as terminal equipment, mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), etc., is a device that provides voice and / or data connectivity to users. For a detailed description, please refer to the terminal equipment 120 in Figure 1, which will not be repeated here.

[0156] For example, the first user equipment and the second communication device can communicate via the Uu interface. It should be understood that the architecture of the communication system shown in Figure 1 is not limited to the devices shown in the figure, but may also include other devices not shown in the figure, which will not be listed here.

[0157] Furthermore, the distribution shown in Figure 2 is merely exemplary and not intended to be limiting.

[0158] The following describes in more detail an architecture of a communication system that may be applicable to the embodiments of this application. This architecture can be called a Wireless Access and Backhaul (WAB) architecture, as shown in Figure 3.

[0159] Figure 3 mainly includes the UE, WAB node, first UPF, second UPF, first AMF and second AMF.

[0160] Figure 3 mainly illustrates the connection method of the above-mentioned devices and exemplarily introduces the information flow process therein.

[0161] The WAB node includes a base station unit and a mobile terminal unit. The UE accesses the base station unit through the Uu port. Then, the mobile terminal unit encapsulates the UE's data in the session of the Protocol Data Unit (PDU) of the mobile terminal unit. Through the Uu port of the mobile terminal unit, it passes through the base station connected to the mobile terminal unit (referred to as BH-RAN-NODE in the current protocol, and referred to as the first base station here) and sends it to the UPF of the mobile terminal unit (referred to as BH UPF in the current protocol, and referred to as the first UPF here). Then, the first UPF removes the packet header information related to the mobile terminal unit, exposes the packet header information related to the UE, and sends it to the UPF of the UE (referred to as the second UPF here) according to the IP route.

[0162] Logically, a PDU Session is also established between the UE and the second UPF, but this is transmitted within the PDU Session of the mobile terminal unit (i.e., the MT PDU Session in Figure 3).

[0163] In the WAB scenario, UE data is directly packetized in the PDU Session of the mobile terminal unit. During the backhaul process, this data is regarded as the user plane data of the mobile terminal unit itself. After this data reaches the base station (first base station) connected to the mobile terminal unit through the data radio bearer (DRB) of the mobile terminal unit, the base station connected to the mobile terminal unit can only see the data of the mobile terminal unit, not the data of the UE. Only after it is sent to the UPF connected to the mobile terminal unit, i.e., the first UPF, will the header information related to the mobile terminal unit be decrypted to expose the header information related to the UE, and then forwarded to the UPF of the UE, i.e., the second UPF.

[0164] The above examples illustrate how the UE transmits user plane data with the (second) UPF. The control plane transmission between the base station unit and the (second) AMF is similar, also wrapped in the PDU Session of the mobile terminal unit, and forwarded by the UPF of the mobile terminal unit to the AMF of the base station unit through IP routing.

[0165] In addition, the base station unit can also establish a logical Xn interface with the first base station and the nearby base station (other gNB, referred to as the second base station here). The data transmission method on the Xn interface (taking the base station unit sending to the first base station as an example) is that the base station unit first sends the data to the MT's UPF through the mobile terminal unit's PDU Session, and then the mobile terminal unit's UPF forwards the data to the first base station through IP routing.

[0166] In summary, the Xn / NG traffic of the base station unit is transmitted through the PDU Session of the mobile terminal unit (as shown in Figure 2, MT PDU Session).

[0167] It should be noted that since the NG traffic of the base station unit is transmitted through the MT PDU session, the location information involved in this application embodiment also reaches the first base station through the Uu interface, and then reaches the first UPF or the first AMF. Therefore, the purpose of this application embodiment is to control the resource consumption of transmitting location information, which is essentially to control the resource consumption of the wireless link (Uu interface on the MT side), that is, the resource consumption between the mobile terminal unit and the first base station.

[0168] It should be understood that the arrows in the diagram indicate the flow of data and signaling, and the connection relationships between the devices clearly demonstrate the information transmission process under the WAB system architecture, which helps to understand the application of this application in this architecture.

[0169] Please refer to Figure 4. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of another communication system provided in the embodiment of this application. The network structure is an IAB network architecture based on Open RAN (O-RAN). The RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) is an O-RAN Intelligent Controller used to collect network information and perform necessary optimization tasks. It communicates with gNB-CU and gNB-DU through the E2 interface, that is, the O-RIC can directly control gNB-DU.

[0170] gNB-CU, gNB-CU that supports O-RAN functions, including BH-RAN-NODE-CU and WAB-CU;

[0171] gNB-DU, gNB-DU that supports O-RAN functionality, including BH-RAN-NODE-CU and WAB-DU.

[0172] The communication method provided by the embodiments of this application is described below. Please refer to Figure 5, which is a flowchart illustrating a communication method provided by an embodiment of this application. Optionally, this method can be applied to any of the communication system architectures shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, or 4. Specifically, this method can be executed by the first and second communication devices in Figure 2, or by the WAB node and the first AMF in Figure 3, or by the RIC shown in Figure 4 implementing some AMF functions. For ease of description, the following description uses the first and second communication devices as the executing entities. In special scenarios, the first communication device can be referred to as the first AMF, and the second communication device as the WAB node. In some special scenarios or architectures, the first communication device can also be the RIC. In practical applications, the first and second communication devices can also use other names, which will not be elaborated further below.

[0173] The communication method shown in Figure 5 includes one or more steps from S501 to S502. It should be understood that, for ease of description, the steps are described in the order of S501 to S502, but this embodiment does not limit the order of execution, the execution time, or the number of executions of the above steps. S501 to S502 are as follows:

[0174] Step S501: The second communication device sends a first message to the first communication device. Correspondingly, the first communication device receives the first message from the second communication device.

[0175] Step S502: The first communication device updates the first location information to the second location information of the first user equipment based on the first message.

[0176] The first message includes the first location information of the second communication device.

[0177] In one alternative implementation, the second communication device is a device that maintains a communication link with the first communication device and / or the first user equipment. For example, the second communication device may be a relay node, such as a WAB node in the WAB architecture described above.

[0178] Optionally, a relay node, such as a WAB node, includes a mobile terminal unit and a base station unit. The second communication device can be a mobile terminal unit in the WAB node, a base station unit in the WAB node, or the WAB node itself.

[0179] The following description uses the second communication device as a relay node, specifically a WAB node, as an example to illustrate the implementation of this application.

[0180] As shown in Figure 3, the WAB architecture indicates that the second communication device sends a first message to the first communication device. Specifically, this can be either the mobile terminal unit in the second communication device sending the first message to the first communication device, or the base station unit in the second communication device sending the first message to the first communication device.

[0181] For example, in the case where the mobile terminal unit in the second communication device sends a first message to the first communication device, the first communication device can be the BH AMF shown in Figure 3. It should also be understood that the mobile terminal unit in the second communication device can send the first message to the first communication device indirectly. Specifically, the mobile terminal unit in the second communication device can transmit the first message to the BH-RAN-NODE (first base station) via the Uu port, and the BH-RAN-NODE can then forward the first message to the first communication device.

[0182] In the case where the base station unit in the second communication device sends a first message to the first communication device, the first communication device may be the second AMF in Figure 3, that is, the AMF connected to the base station unit through the N2 interface.

[0183] Of course, the above description of the transmission process and subject of the first message is merely an example, and this application does not impose any limitations on it.

[0184] In one optional implementation, the first location information is the location information of the mobile terminal unit in the second communication device.

[0185] The implementation of the first location information can be explained in conjunction with the second location information.

[0186] First, clarify the relevant content of the second position information.

[0187] Optionally, the second location information of the first user equipment includes first location information for indicating the location of the second communication device and location information for indicating the first user equipment (in this embodiment, this location information may be referred to as fourth location information). Referring to Table 1, the fourth location information (for indicating the location of the first user equipment) may include the cell global identifier (CGI) and tracking area identity (TAI) corresponding to the first user equipment.

[0188] The first location information used to indicate the location of the second communication device can be the aforementioned Additional Location Information (ULI).

[0189] The first location information of the second communication device includes one or more of the following:

[0190] Location information of the mobile terminal unit of the second communication device;

[0191] Mapping location information based on the geographical location of the base station unit of the second communication device;

[0192] First location information of the third user equipment of the second communication device, wherein the first user equipment includes the third user equipment;

[0193] Location information of the first cell of the second communication device.

[0194] It should be understood that the first location information in this application embodiment may also be referred to as Additional Location Information (ULI), which is additional location information other than the location information reported by the UE (such as the first user equipment). The additional location information / first location information is mainly used to reflect the location information of the base station unit in the WAB node serving the UE (such as the first user equipment).

[0195] Optionally, the first location information of the second communication device may include one or more of the following: base station unit ID, tracking area identity (TAI), or cell global identifier (CGI) under the second communication device. Optionally, the first location information / additional location information (Additional ULI) may include the location information WAB-MTULI of the mobile terminal unit serving the WAB node (second communication device). It should be noted that the aforementioned tracking area identity or global cell identifier can be the location information of the serving mobile terminal unit. Optionally, the aforementioned tracking area identity or global cell identifier can also be the tracking area identity or global cell identifier of the cell serving the mobile terminal unit.

[0196] In one possible implementation, the first location information of the second communication device is a mapped location information based on the geographical location of the base station unit of the second communication device. The first location information includes the tracking area identifier and the global cell identifier corresponding to the coverage area where the base station unit is located.

[0197] Optionally, the second location information of the first user equipment includes first location information indicating the location of the second communication device and location information indicating the actual location of the first user equipment (in this embodiment, the location information indicating the actual location of the first user equipment may also be referred to as fourth location information). For example, the fourth location information may include the global cell identifier and tracking area identifier corresponding to the first user equipment. Optionally, the first message includes the second location information of the first user equipment, and the second location information includes the first location information.

[0198] It should be noted that the aforementioned first, second, and fourth location information are merely illustrative examples. In the current protocol, the first location information is repetitive content reported by the UE (such as the first user equipment). The network side only needs to transmit the first location information once to update the relevant location information of all user equipment within the range. This application embodiment mainly optimizes the reporting of the aforementioned repetitive content. Even if, in subsequent technological developments, the first location information is not the location information of the second communication device or the location information of the mobile terminal unit in the second communication device, but rather other location information that would only change if the relay node moves, the method provided in this application embodiment will still be applicable.

[0199] In one alternative implementation, the first message is a signaling message carrying the location information of the first user equipment.

[0200] Optionally, the first message may also include fourth location information of the first user device.

[0201] Alternatively, the first message may include second location information.

[0202] Optionally, the first message is used to indicate an update to the location information.

[0203] Optionally, the first location information can be obtained in various ways, such as location based on Global Positioning System (GPS), base station signal measurement, or location information obtained through other positioning technologies. The first message can be transmitted via wireless communication links, such as links specified by communication protocols like Long Term Evolution (LTE) and New Radio (NR), or via wired communication links.

[0204] In one possible implementation, the first message is a signaling message associated with a user equipment (UE), or a signaling message associated with a single user equipment, or a UE-associated signalling.

[0205] This means that the first message can be a message associated with a single specific user device (e.g., the first user device).

[0206] For example, the first message could be an Initial UE Message, a Location Report, or other messages carrying a User Location Identifier. It should be understood that the signaling messages associated with the User Equipment (UE) can be UE-level signaling messages, specific to a single UE. Currently, the location information is reported individually for each UE. This means that in the above implementation, each UE may transmit its location information via the first message, which is a signaling message associated with the UE.

[0207] When the second communication device is a WAB node in a WAB architecture, the location information of the first user equipment needs to additionally carry the CGI and TAI of the cell where the mobile terminal unit in the second communication device is located, or the mapped location information based on the geographical location of the base station unit in the second communication device, as an additional ULI (i.e., first location information). Since all UEs under the same WAB node share the same address of the mobile terminal unit WAB-MT and the same base station unit, their additional location information (i.e., first location information) is consistent. Therefore, in this embodiment of the application, the first communication device can update the first location information to the second location information of the first user equipment based on the first message, thereby simplifying the joint management of the mobile relay node and UE location by the network, eliminating the need to repeatedly transmit the additional ULI (first location information), and reducing the resource consumption of the wireless backhaul link.

[0208] In one optional implementation, the real-time location information of the user equipment (UE) originates from a base station (in this embodiment, the base station can also be replaced by a second communication device, or a WAB node). The core network equipment (such as the first communication device) does not have the capability to directly obtain the UE's real-time location information and must rely on the base station for reporting. The base station reports the UE's real-time location information to the core network using the User Location Information (ULI) parameter in the Next Generation Application Protocol (NGAP) message.

[0209] In the direction where the base station transmits messages to the access and mobility management function network elements, the main N2 messages carrying ULI parameters include one or more of the following: PDU SESSION RESOURCE RELEASE RESPONSE; PDU SESSION RESOURCE MODIFY RESPONSE; PDU SESSION RESOURCE NOTIFY; UE CONTEXT RELEASE COMPLETE; UE CONTEXT MODIFICATION RESPONSE; RRC INACTIVE TRANSITION REPORT; HANDOVER NOTIFY; PATH SWITCH REQUEST; INITIAL UE MESSAGE; and UPLINK NAS TRANSPORT.

[0210] Therefore, it can be seen that there are multiple messages carrying the real-time location information of the user equipment. The first message can be any one or more of the messages carrying ULI parameters mentioned above, but the specific form of the first message is not limited in the embodiments of this application.

[0211] In one alternative implementation, the first message is a non-UE associated interface signaling, or in other words, the first message is non-UE associated NG signaling.

[0212] Optionally, the interface signaling not associated with user equipment can be signaling used within the network for inter-device communication and management, such as X2 interface signaling between base stations or interface signaling between core network devices. This type of signaling is independent of the service data transmission of user equipment and is specifically used to transmit system-related control information and location information to ensure the normal operation and management of the network.

[0213] It should be noted that this means the first message may not be associated with a specific user device, but may be triggered by other devices, such as a first communication device. The first message may be triggered, generated, and sent by the first communication device. The first message may be an interface-level signaling message.

[0214] For example, the first message may be a Radio Access Network Configuration Update message (RAN CONFIGURATION UPDATE). Alternatively, the first message may also be a RAN Status Indication message (RAN STATUS INDICATION), a RAN Notification message (RAN NOTIFICATION), or an NG Interface Setup Responder message (NG SETUP RESPONSE).

[0215] In short, RAN Status Indication is used by the base station to indicate the status information of the Radio Access Network (RAN) to the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), such as the base station's load and resource usage. When the Mobile Terminal User Location Information (MT ULI) is updated, additional user location information (Additional ULI) and related indication information can also be included in this message to inform the AMF network element or the first communication device to update the location information accordingly. For example, if the number of users in a certain area suddenly increases, causing excessive base station load, this message can be used to report the load status to the AMF or the first communication device while updating the MT ULI, so that the AMF or the first communication device can make subsequent resource allocation and mobility management decisions.

[0216] RAN Notification: This message can be used by the base station to send specific notifications to the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), such as changes in cell maintenance status or new radio resource configuration policies. In scenarios involving updates to Mobile Terminal User Location Information (MT ULI), this message can carry relevant information about the ULI update, allowing the AMF or the first communication device to associate or update the location information of User Equipments (UEs) within the same base station / cell (gNB / Cell) according to the instructions. For example, when a cell undergoes software upgrade maintenance, the MT ULI information is updated simultaneously with the notification to the AMF, enabling the AMF to adjust its management policies for UEs in a timely manner.

[0217] NG SETUP RESPONSE: This is typically a response message sent by the base station after completing the establishment of the Next Generation (NG) interface with the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF). If the Mobile Terminal User Location Information (MT ULI) update involves some reconfiguration or initialization operations of the NG interface, this message can carry the ULI update information and instructions for the AMF to perform related updates. For example, when a network topology change causes the link between the base station and the AMF to need to be re-established or adjusted, the NG SETUP RESPONSE message is sent to complete the link establishment while simultaneously updating the MT ULI information to ensure that the AMF accurately knows the location information of the User Equipments (UEs).

[0218] In the above implementation, using non-UE-associated signaling to transmit location information avoids signaling transmission that directly interacts with multiple user equipments, thus improving the reliability of location updates. Furthermore, using non-UE-associated signaling to transmit location information enables interface-level location information transmission. Compared to transmission via user equipment-associated signaling, this reduces signaling transmission resource consumption. Specifically, it reduces overhead including signaling overhead and user-associated signaling identifiers, which include the AMF UE NGAP ID and the RAN UE NGAP ID.

[0219] The first user equipment includes one or more user equipments served by the second communication device or one or more user equipments served by the first cell of the second communication device. Taking the second communication device as a WAB node as an example, the first user equipment is one or more user equipments accessing the WAB node. Specifically, the first user equipment is a user equipment accessing a base station unit in the WAB node. More specifically, the first user equipment is a user equipment accessing the first cell under the base station unit in the WAB node.

[0220] Optionally, the first user equipment includes all user equipment accessing the WAB node, that is, the first user equipment includes all user equipment served by the second communication device or all user equipment served by the first cell of the second communication device. The aforementioned inclusion of one user equipment served by the second communication device or one user equipment served by the first cell of the second communication device can be implemented when only one user equipment is accessing the second communication device.

[0221] Optionally, the first cell is one or more cells under the base station unit in the WAB node.

[0222] In one alternative implementation, the first communication device updates the location information based on the first message mainly by means of pre-configuration, protocol definition, etc. After receiving the first message, the first communication device can clearly determine that it needs to update based on the first location information in the first message.

[0223] It should be understood that after the first message is transmitted, subsequent messages will only transmit the fourth location information if the configuration of the second communication device (such as cell configuration) remains unchanged. In other words, before the next MT ULI update, messages carrying UE ULI information other than the first message may not carry the first location information.

[0224] In one alternative implementation, the first communication device updates based on specific indication information. For example, the first communication device performs operations related to updating the UE location information based on the first indication information.

[0225] Optionally, the first message may also include first instruction information, which is used to instruct the first location information to be updated to the second location information of the first user equipment.

[0226] Alternatively, the first indication information may be a separately sent message. The method includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0227] The second communication device sends a first instruction message to the first communication device, and correspondingly, the second communication device receives the first instruction message from the first communication device.

[0228] Optionally, the method includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0229] Based on the first instruction information, the first communication device determines to update the first location information to the second location information of the first user equipment.

[0230] Optionally, the above method further includes the following steps: the first communication device determines that the second communication device is a WAB node based on the first indication information, or the first communication device determines that the message source includes the base station unit in the second communication device based on the first indication information.

[0231] It should be noted that the above determination process may include parsing and verifying the first indication information, such as checking whether the format of the indication information is correct and whether it conforms to the corresponding communication protocol specifications. After successful parsing and verification, an update operation is performed according to the specific content in the indication information and the preset update rules. The preset rules may be set before the device leaves the factory or dynamically configured through the communication protocol.

[0232] Optionally, the first indication information can be an explicit instruction code, such as "0x01" indicating updated location information, or it can indirectly indicate the update operation through a specific signaling format, field arrangement, or protocol convention. The indication method can be either explicit, directly containing the update instruction in the message, or implicit, implying the update operation through association with other information or a specific message structure.

[0233] Optionally, the specific format of the first indication information can be as follows: a specific indication field with a length of 8 bits is set in the header of the first message. The first 4 bits are used to identify the indication type, such as "0001" indicating a location information update indication; the last 4 bits are used to specify the target area or device range for the update, such as "0010" indicating an update of the location information of all user equipment within the first cell. The first indication information can be generated by the second communication device according to preset rules based on changes in the location of the mobile terminal unit or changes in the cell parameters of the base station unit.

[0234] Under different communication protocols, such as the NGAP protocol in 5G, the first indication information can be embedded in the extended field of a specific message type (such as a location update request message) for transmission; in the new protocols that may be adopted in future 6G, a special indication message can be designed to carry the first indication information to ensure its compatibility and effectiveness.

[0235] In the above embodiments, the accuracy of location management is enhanced by introducing a first indication message to explicitly or implicitly trigger the location update action. The first communication device does not need to rely on preset rules to infer update needs, but determines to perform the update operation based on a clear indication (such as the first indication message mentioned above), thus avoiding the risk of erroneous or missed updates.

[0236] Optionally, the first instruction information is used to instruct the first communication device to perform an association update, or the first instruction information is used to instruct the first communication device to perform the relevant operation of step S502.

[0237] In implementations where partial updates are present, such as scenarios where location information is updated on a cell-by-cell basis, the first indication information is specifically used to indicate the updating of the second location information of user equipment in the first cell.

[0238] In one possible implementation, the first indication information is used to instruct the updating of the second location information of the first user equipment under the base station unit. Alternatively, the first indication information is used to instruct the updating of the first location information to the second location information of the first user equipment under the base station unit.

[0239] In an optional implementation, when the second communication device uploads / reports / sends the location information of the second user equipment in the first user equipment again after the first message transmission, it only needs to upload the fourth location information of the second user equipment. It should be understood that the fourth location information includes location information other than the first location information included in the second location information. In this implementation, the location information is referred to as the fourth location information.

[0240] For example, the above method includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0241] The second communication device sends a third message to the first communication device, and correspondingly, the first communication device receives the third message from the second communication device. The third message includes only fourth location information, which includes the global cell identifier and tracking area identifier of the second user equipment served by the base station unit in the second communication device. It should be noted that the third message is associated with the location information of the (second) user equipment. Optionally, the second user equipment may be some or all of the devices in the aforementioned first user equipment; in other words, the first user equipment includes the second user equipment.

[0242] In the above implementation, the third message independently reports the location information of the (second) user equipment served by the base station unit, decoupling it from the location information of the mobile terminal unit, simplifying the maintenance logic of location data and reducing the consumption of signaling resources related to location information transmission.

[0243] Based on the above description regarding the possible partial updates, in one optional implementation, the first location information can be saved for subsequent updates. Optionally, the method includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0244] The first communication device stores the first location information.

[0245] It should be noted that after receiving the first message, the first communication device may save or store the first location information in the first message. This is mainly because before the next update of the first location information, there may be updates to the second location information of some first user equipment or updates to the first location information. The aforementioned updates to the location information of some first user equipment include updates to the location information of multiple UEs on a cell-by-cell basis. Here, multiple UEs are used to indicate a UE in a cell that needs to update its location information.

[0246] In one possible implementation, the first communication device updates the (second) location information of the user equipment under the first cell with the TAI / cell ID change using the latest saved first location information.

[0247] It should be understood that when the location information of some user devices expires or needs to be updated, the cached data (such as the first location information saved above) can be directly called to complete the update, without having to repeatedly request the second communication device to report, thereby reducing the number of signaling interactions and optimizing network resource utilization.

[0248] In one alternative implementation, the first message transmission is triggered in a scenario where specific location information changes.

[0249] Optionally, the first message is received when the third location information of the mobile terminal unit in the second communication device changes, and / or the first message is received when the tracking area identifier and / or cell identifier of the second cell under the base station unit in the second communication device changes.

[0250] Based on the above embodiments, the second communication device includes a mobile terminal unit and a base station unit. The base station unit includes one or more cells, namely the first cell mentioned above. The second cell mentioned above can be at least any one of the first cells. In other words, the second cell in some embodiments is part or all of the first cells.

[0251] In other embodiments, the second cell may be one or more cells under the base station unit of the second communication device, and these one or more cells may overlap with the first cell, partially overlap, completely overlap or not overlap.

[0252] In other words, the second cell and the first cell can be interchanged in some implementations, that is, the first user equipment is one or more user equipments in the first cell. In this case, if the tracking area identifier and / or cell identifier of the first cell changes, the first message is transmitted to update the first user equipment under the first cell.

[0253] Of course, the second cell and the first cell can also be completely or partially different cells in other implementations.

[0254] The following example illustrates the scenario that triggers the transmission of the first message.

[0255] In scenario 1, the first message is transmitted when the third location information of the mobile terminal unit changes, such as when the mobile terminal unit initially accesses the network and / or when the mobile terminal unit switches its serving cell.

[0256] In one optional embodiment, the change in the third location information of the mobile terminal unit of the second communication device includes situations involving changes in the location information of the mobile terminal unit, such as the initial access network of the mobile terminal unit and / or the switching of the serving cell of the mobile terminal unit.

[0257] It should be noted that when the mobile terminal unit initially accesses the network, it will send a message containing its own location information to the network side. At this time, the location information may be received by the first communication device as the first location information. During the handover of the serving cell, the mobile terminal unit will obtain relevant information of the new serving cell and send this information to the first communication device in the first message. This information may include the location information of the new cell and the positioning information of the mobile terminal in the new cell.

[0258] Optionally, changes in the third location information may also include situations where the location information changes due to the mobile terminal unit disconnecting from the network or the mobile terminal unit moving to the signal coverage area of ​​another base station.

[0259] Optionally, the change in the third location information of the mobile terminal unit may be caused by reasons such as the movement of the mobile terminal unit, changes in the network environment leading to changes in signal strength and relocation; in other words, the first message is transmitted / sent / received in cases such as the movement of the mobile terminal unit, changes in the network environment leading to changes in signal strength and relocation.

[0260] Optionally, the first message is sent by the second communication device to the first communication device after the third location information of the mobile terminal unit has changed.

[0261] In one optional implementation, the first message is triggered due to an update of the location information of the mobile terminal unit. Optionally, after the location information of the mobile terminal unit is updated / changed / changed, the second communication device sends the first message to the first communication device.

[0262] In other words, the first message is the message received by the first communication device after the location information of the mobile terminal unit is updated / changed / changed.

[0263] Scenario 2: The first message is transmitted when the tracking area identifier and / or cell identifier of the second cell under the base station unit in the second communication device changes.

[0264] Scenario 2 represents a situation where, even if the (third) location information of the mobile terminal unit is not updated, a change in the parameters (such as the cell's TAI or cell ID) of a cell under the base station unit in the same second communication device may also trigger the sending of the first message.

[0265] Optionally, the first message is sent by the second communication device to the first communication device after the second communication device determines that the tracking area identifier and / or cell identifier of the second cell under the base station unit has changed.

[0266] In other words, the first message is the message received by the first communication device after the tracking area identifier and / or cell identifier of the second cell under the base station unit of the second communication device changes.

[0267] Optionally, changes in the tracking area identifier and / or cell identifier of the second cell may be due to reasons such as cell reselection of base station units or network planning adjustments. When these changes occur, the second communication device will generate and send a first message according to a preset triggering mechanism, and the first communication device will process the received message accordingly.

[0268] As one possible implementation of Scenario 2, in Scenario 2, where the tracking area identifier and / or cell identifier of the second cell in the second communication device changes, the first indication information can also be used to indicate the updating of the second location information of one or more (first) user equipments serving the second cell of the second communication device. It should be understood that in this implementation, the second cell can be one or more cells within the first cell.

[0269] It should be understood that Scenario 1 and Scenario 2 can coexist. That is, the first message can be triggered either when the third location information of the mobile terminal unit changes, or when the tracking area identifier and / or cell identifier of the second cell under the base station unit in the second communication device changes, and the two can be combined.

[0270] It should be understood that the above scenarios 1 and 2 are merely examples. In actual applications or in the process of communication technology development, there may be other scenarios or situations that trigger the transmission / sending / receiving of the first message, and this application does not limit them.

[0271] In summary, when the mobile terminal unit of the second communication device undergoes initial access, handover, or a change in the tracking area identifier and / or cell identifier of the (second) cell served by the base station unit, it actively triggers location information reporting to ensure that the network can dynamically track the status changes of the mobile second communication device, thereby determining the real-time location of the user equipment served by the second communication device.

[0272] In one possible implementation, the first communication device stores second location information for each first user equipment. If the second location information includes first location information for indicating the location of the second communication device and location information for indicating the location of the first user equipment, after receiving the first message, the first communication device parses the first message to obtain the first location information and stores the first location information at a location associated with the first location information in the second location information of each first user equipment.

[0273] For example, before receiving the first message, the storage location associated with the first location information in the second location information of each first user equipment in the first communication device is empty; after receiving the first message, the first communication device fills the first location information into the storage location associated with the first location information in the second location information of each first user equipment in the first communication device, so as to realize the update of location information / additional location information / first location information / second location information.

[0274] For example, after receiving the first message, the first communication device replaces the old value stored in the storage location associated with the first location information in the second location information of each first user equipment in the first communication device with the first location information in the first message, so as to update the location information.

[0275] In an optional implementation, the step S502 of updating the first location information to the second location information can be specifically referred to in Figure 6, which is a schematic diagram of updating the first location information provided by an embodiment of this application.

[0276] In Figure 6, there are four first user equipments under the second communication device: UE1, UE2, UE3, and UE4. It is assumed that the first message sent by the second communication device to the first communication device is a UE-level message, meaning the first message includes UE1's (fourth) location information and additional location information (first location information). The content of the fourth location information corresponding to UE1 is "Information 1," and the content of the first location information corresponding to UE1 / the first location information of the mobile terminal unit under the second communication device is "Information 2." The first communication device updates the first location information to the second location information of the first user equipment, specifically as shown in the dashed box in Figure 6.

[0277] The dashed box indicates the location information corresponding to UE1, UE2, UE3 and UE4 respectively, which can also be understood as the storage location of the location information corresponding to UE1, UE2, UE3 and UE4 respectively.

[0278] As shown in Figure 6, after receiving the first message, the first communication device can update the first location information in the first message to the second location information of the first user equipment (such as UE1, UE2, UE3 and UE4 mentioned above).

[0279] It should be noted that the update operation in the above embodiments can be to directly overwrite the original location information, or it can be to perform comprehensive calculation and update in combination with the original location information, such as updating based on the original location information.

[0280] Optionally, if the first user device consists of multiple user devices, the update operation can be performed on each user device individually or in batches.

[0281] It should be noted that the number of terminals and the form of location information mentioned above are merely examples, and this application does not impose any limitations on them.

[0282] Optionally, step S502 may specifically involve the first communication device updating / associating / storing the first location information to the second location information of the first user equipment.

[0283] Optionally, if the first communication device reserves a corresponding storage location for the second location information of the first user equipment, then step S502 may specifically be that the first communication device updates / associates / stores the first location information into the second location information of the first user equipment, or the first communication device updates / associates / stores the first location information into the second location information of the first user equipment.

[0284] In an optional embodiment, the above method further includes a second communication device generating a first message, the first message including first location information of the second communication device, the first location information being used to update second location information of a first user equipment in the first communication device, the first user equipment including one or more user equipment served by the second communication device or one or more user equipment served by a first cell of the second communication device, the second location information including the first location information;

[0285] The second communication device sends a first message to the first communication device.

[0286] Optionally, the first location information is specifically used to update the second location information of one or more user devices. In the prior art, the first location information is used to update the second location information managed by the corresponding user device, rather than as a unified location information to update the second location information of the first user device under the first communication device. This eliminates the need for each user device to upload the first location information, reduces the consumption of signaling transmission, and improves the timeliness of location updates.

[0287] In an alternative implementation, in the O-RAN architecture, a first communication device (such as a RIC) transmits the updated location information to a third communication device (such as an AMF), thereby achieving coordination between the control plane and the user plane. The RIC can implement some of the functions of the AMF. In this implementation, the first communication device can be a RIC, the third communication device can be an AMF, and the second communication device can be a relay node, such as a WAB node.

[0288] Please refer to Figure 7, which is a flowchart illustrating another communication method provided in this application embodiment. Optionally, this method is applied to the communication system architecture shown in Figure 4 above. Specifically, the RIC shown in Figure 4 implements some AMF functions. For ease of description, the following description uses the first communication device and the second communication device as the execution entities. The communication method shown in Figure 7 includes one or more steps from S701 to S703. It should be understood that for ease of description, the description is based on the order of S701 to S703, but this application embodiment does not limit the execution order, execution time, or number of executions of the above one or more steps. S701 to S703 are as follows:

[0289] Step S701: The second communication device sends a first message to the first communication device. Correspondingly, the first communication device receives the first message from the second communication device.

[0290] Step S702: The first communication device updates the first location information to the second location information of the first user equipment based on the first message.

[0291] Step S703: The first communication device sends a second message to the third communication device. Correspondingly, the third communication device receives the second message from the first communication device.

[0292] The third communication device can be other network equipment, a server, or other devices that work in conjunction with the first communication device. The purpose of sending the second message may be to achieve location information sharing among multiple devices, so as to carry out unified network management, resource allocation, or service scheduling, etc.

[0293] The second message includes the second location information of the first user equipment. Optionally, the first communication device reports the second location information (UE ULI) of the first user equipment to the third communication device via the second message.

[0294] It should be noted that the relevant content, possible implementation and description of steps S701 and S702 in the above embodiments can be found in the relevant content of the method embodiment corresponding to Figure 5, and will not be repeated here.

[0295] In the above implementation, the first communication device transmits the updated location information to the third communication device to ensure the consistency of the location information. In the O-RAN architecture, the first communication device (such as RIC) transmits the updated location information to the third communication device (such as AMF) to ensure the consistency of the location information across the entire network, providing accurate data for policy formulation and mobility management.

[0296] This embodiment of the application receives a message containing the location information of a second communication device through a first communication device and updates it to the second location information of the user equipment, avoiding the complex process of updating location information one by one in traditional solutions. This direct update mechanism significantly reduces the resource consumption of location management, and is especially suitable for dynamic scenarios such as vehicle-mounted mobile relays, improving the speed at which devices respond to location changes and enhancing the service continuity of user equipment.

[0297] The communication method provided by the embodiments of this application has been described above with reference to Figures 5 to 7. In the various embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specified or logically conflicting, the terms and / or descriptions between the various embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationship.

[0298] The communication device provided in the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 8 to 10. It should be understood that the description of the device embodiments corresponds to the description of the method embodiments. Therefore, for content not described in detail, please refer to the method embodiments above. For the sake of brevity, it will not be repeated here.

[0299] Figure 8 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. The communication device 2000 can be an access computing node, terminal device, core network, or cooperative node, or it can be a component (such as a chip or module) in the access computing node, terminal device, core network, or cooperative node, used to implement the methods involved in the embodiments shown in Figures 5 to 7. For details, please refer to the relevant descriptions in the above method embodiments. Among them, the chip can be, for example, a system on chip (SoC).

[0300] As shown in Figure 8, the device 2000 may include a transceiver unit 2010 and a processing unit 2020. The transceiver unit 2010 can communicate with the outside world, and the processing unit 2020 is used for data processing. The transceiver unit 2010 may also be referred to as a communication interface or transceiver unit. The processing unit 2020 is used for processing.

[0301] It should be noted that the communication device 2000 may include a transmitting unit but not a receiving unit. Alternatively, the communication device 2000 may include a receiving unit but not a transmitting unit. Specifically, it depends on whether the above-described scheme executed by the communication device 2000 includes both transmitting and receiving actions.

[0302] Optionally, the device 2000 may further include a storage unit, which can be used to store instructions and / or data, and the processing unit 2020 can read the instructions and / or data in the storage unit to enable the device to implement the aforementioned method embodiments.

[0303] For example, the communication device 2000 may be a first communication device, such as a core network device. Specifically, the first communication device may be an AMF or a RIC, or a communication device capable of implementing some or all of the functions of an AMF / RIC. It may also be a communication device applied to or used in conjunction with the first communication device and capable of implementing the method executed by the first communication device, such as a chip, chip system, or circuit. For details, please refer to the relevant description of the chip system shown in the figure below.

[0304] For example, the communication device 2000 may be a second communication device, such as a relay node. Specifically, the second communication device may be a WAB node, or a communication device applied to or used in conjunction with the second communication device and capable of implementing the method executed by the second communication device, such as a chip, chip system, or circuit. For details, please refer to the relevant description of the chip system shown in the figure below.

[0305] For example, the communication device 2000 may be a third communication device, such as a core network device. Specifically, the third communication device may be an AMF, or a communication device applied to or used in conjunction with the third communication device and capable of implementing the method executed by the third communication device, such as a chip, chip system, or circuit. For details, please refer to the relevant description of the chip system shown in the figure below.

[0306] In one possible design, the device 2000 can implement the steps or processes corresponding to those performed by the first communication device in the above method embodiment, wherein the transceiver unit 2010 is used to perform the transceiver-related operations of the first communication device in the above method embodiment, and the processing unit 2020 is used to perform the processing-related operations of the first communication device in the above method embodiment. In this possible implementation, the transceiver unit 2010 can also be referred to as the first transceiver unit, and the processing unit 2020 can also be referred to as the first processing unit.

[0307] In another possible design, the device 2000 can implement the steps or processes corresponding to those performed by the second communication device in the above method embodiments, wherein the transceiver unit 2010 is used to perform the transceiver-related operations of the second communication device in the above method embodiments, and the processing unit 2020 is used to perform the processing-related operations of the second communication device in the above method embodiments. In this possible implementation, the transceiver unit 2010 can also be referred to as the second transceiver unit, and the processing unit 2020 can also be referred to as the second processing unit.

[0308] In another possible design, the device 2000 can implement the steps or processes corresponding to those performed by the third communication device in the above method embodiments, wherein the transceiver unit 2010 is used to perform the transceiver-related operations of the third communication device in the above method embodiments, and the processing unit 2020 is used to perform the processing-related operations of the third communication device in the above method embodiments. In this possible implementation, the transceiver unit 2010 can also be referred to as the third transceiver unit, and the processing unit 2020 can also be referred to as the third processing unit.

[0309] It should also be understood that the above-described device 2000 is embodied in the form of a functional unit. The term "unit" here can refer to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), electronic circuitry, a processor (e.g., a shared processor, a proprietary processor, or a group processor, etc.) and memory for executing one or more software or firmware programs, integrated logic circuitry, and / or other suitable components supporting the described functions. In an alternative example, those skilled in the art will understand that device 2000 can be specifically the communication device in the above embodiments, and can be used to execute the various processes and / or steps corresponding to the communication device in the above method embodiments; to avoid repetition, these will not be described again here.

[0310] The apparatus 2000 described above has the function of implementing the corresponding steps performed by the communication device (such as an access computing node, terminal equipment, core network, or cooperative node) in the above method. The function can be implemented in hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions; for example, the transceiver unit can be replaced by a transceiver (e.g., the transmitting unit in the transceiver unit can be replaced by a transmitter, and the receiving unit in the transceiver unit can be replaced by a receiver), and other units, such as processing units, can be replaced by processors, each executing the transceiver operations and related processing operations in its respective method embodiment.

[0311] In addition, the aforementioned transceiver unit may also be a transceiver circuit (for example, it may include a transmitting circuit or a receiving circuit), and the processing unit may be a processing circuit.

[0312] Figure 9 shows a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. The device 2100 includes a processor 2110 coupled to a memory 2120. The memory 2120 is used to store computer programs or instructions and / or data. The processor 2110 is used to execute the computer programs or instructions stored in the memory 2120, or to read the data stored in the memory 2120, to execute the methods in the above method embodiments.

[0313] Optionally, the processor 2110 may be one or more.

[0314] Optionally, the memory 2120 may be one or more.

[0315] Alternatively, the memory 2120 may also be referred to as a storage medium or storage device. The memory 2120 may be integrated with the processor 2110 or may be set separately.

[0316] Optionally, as shown in FIG9, the device 2100 further includes a transceiver 2130 for receiving and / or transmitting signals. For example, the processor 2110 is used to control the transceiver 2130 to receive and / or transmit signals.

[0317] As an example, processor 2110 may have processing unit 2020 as shown in FIG8, memory 2120 may have storage unit functionality, and transceiver 2130 may have transceiver unit (or acquisition unit 2010) as shown in FIG8.

[0318] As one option, the device 2100 is used to implement the operations performed by the communication device (such as the first communication device, the second communication device, or the third communication device) in the various method embodiments described above.

[0319] For example, processor 2110 is used to execute computer programs or instructions stored in memory 2120 to implement the relevant operations of the communication device in the various method embodiments described above.

[0320] In some implementations, when device 2100 is a terminal device, transceiver 2130 may include a transmitter, receiver, radio frequency circuitry, antenna, and input / output devices. Processor 2110 is mainly used for processing communication protocols and data, controlling the terminal device, executing software programs, and processing software program data. Memory 2120 is mainly used for storing software programs and data. The radio frequency circuitry is mainly used for converting baseband signals to radio frequency signals and processing radio frequency signals.

[0321] Antennas are primarily used for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals in the form of electromagnetic waves.

[0322] Input / output devices (e.g., touchscreens, displays, keyboards, etc.) are primarily used to receive user input data and output data to the user.

[0323] It should be noted that some types of terminal devices may not have input / output devices.

[0324] When data needs to be sent, the processor performs baseband processing on the data to be sent and outputs the baseband signal to the radio frequency (RF) circuit. The RF circuit then processes the baseband signal and transmits it outward as electromagnetic waves through the antenna. When data is sent to the terminal device, the RF circuit receives the RF signal through the antenna, converts it into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor. The processor then converts the baseband signal back into data and processes it.

[0325] In other implementations, when device 2100 is a network device (such as a first communication device) or a relay node (such as a second communication device), processor 2110 is mainly used for baseband processing and controlling the network device. Processor 2110 is typically the control center of the network device, used to control the network device to perform processing operations on the network device side in the above method embodiments, such as determining the computing resources required for the computing task and determining the nodes that provide computing resources for the computing task. Memory 2120 is mainly used to store computer program code and data. Transceiver 2130 is mainly used for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals and converting radio frequency signals to baseband signals; transceiver 2130 may include an antenna and radio frequency circuitry (not shown in the figure), wherein the radio frequency circuitry is mainly used for radio frequency processing.

[0326] The processor 2110 and memory 2120 may include one or more circuit boards, each of which may include one or more processors and one or more memories. The processor is used to read and execute programs in the memory to implement baseband processing functions and control the device 2100. If multiple circuit boards exist, they can be interconnected to enhance processing capabilities. As an alternative implementation, multiple circuit boards may share one or more processors, or multiple circuit boards may share one or more memories, or multiple circuit boards may simultaneously share one or more processors.

[0327] In the embodiments of this application, the antenna and radio frequency circuit with transceiver function can be regarded as the transceiver module of the terminal device or network device, and the processor with processing function can be regarded as the processing module of the terminal device or network device.

[0328] In some implementations, the processor 2110 may also be referred to as a processing unit, processing board, processing module, processing device, etc. The transceiver 2130 may also be referred to as a transceiver unit, transceiver, transceiver device, etc.

[0329] When the device 2100 is a chip, the chip includes a processor, a memory, and a transceiver. The transceiver can be an input / output circuit or a communication interface; the processor can be a processing module integrated on the chip, a microprocessor, or an integrated circuit. In the above method embodiments, the sending operation of the terminal device can be understood as the output of the chip, and the receiving operation of the terminal device in the above method embodiments can be understood as the input of the chip.

[0330] It should be understood that the processor mentioned in the embodiments of this application can be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. A general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0331] It should also be understood that the memory mentioned in the embodiments of this application can be volatile memory and / or non-volatile memory. Non-volatile memory can be read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory can be random access memory (RAM). For example, RAM can be used as an external cache. By way of example and not limitation, RAM includes the following forms: static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchronous linked dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct rambus RAM (DR RAM).

[0332] It should be noted that when the processor is a general-purpose processor, DSP, ASIC, FPGA, or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, or discrete hardware component, the memory (storage module) can be integrated into the processor.

[0333] It should also be noted that the memory described herein is intended to include, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0334] Figure 10 shows a schematic diagram of a chip system provided in an embodiment of this application. The chip system 2200 (or may also be called a processing system) includes logic circuitry 2210 and an input / output interface 2220.

[0335] The logic circuit 2210 can be a processing circuit in the chip system 2200. The logic circuit 2210 can be coupled to a memory unit, calling instructions from the memory unit, enabling the chip system 2200 to implement the methods and functions of the embodiments of this application. The input / output interface 2220 can be an input / output circuit in the chip system 2200, outputting processed information from the chip system 2200, or inputting data or signaling information to be processed into the chip system 2200 for processing.

[0336] As one option, the chip system 2200 is used to implement the operations performed by the communication device in the various method embodiments described above.

[0337] For example, logic circuit 2210 is used to implement processing-related operations performed by the communication device in the above method embodiments; input / output interface 2220 is used to implement sending and / or receiving-related operations performed by the communication device in the above method embodiments.

[0338] This application also provides a processor for coupling with a memory for performing the methods and functions related to the first communication device, the second communication device, and the third communication device in any of the above embodiments.

[0339] In another embodiment of this application, a computer program product comprising a computer program or instructions is provided, wherein the method of the foregoing embodiments is implemented when the computer program product is run on a computer.

[0340] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions for implementing the methods executed by communication devices (such as a first communication device, a second communication device, and a third communication device) in the above-described method embodiments.

[0341] For example, when the computer program is executed by a computer, the computer can implement the methods described in the embodiments above, which are executed by communication devices (such as access communication nodes, terminal devices, core networks, or cooperative nodes).

[0342] This application also provides a computer program product containing instructions that, when executed by a computer, implement the methods described above, which are executed by a communication device (such as an access computing node, terminal device, core network, or cooperative node).

[0343] This application also provides a communication system, which includes a first communication device, a second communication device, and a third communication device in the above embodiments for executing the method in any of the embodiments shown in FIG5 to FIG7.

[0344] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0345] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0346] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0347] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0348] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0349] If the aforementioned functions are implemented as software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a portion of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0350] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, The method is applied to a first communication device, and the method includes: Receive a first message from a second communication device, the first message including first location information of the second communication device; Based on the first message, the first location information is updated to the second location information of the first user equipment, wherein the first user equipment includes one or more user equipment served by the second communication device or one or more user equipment served by the first cell of the second communication device, and the second location information includes the first location information.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first message also includes a first instruction, which instructs the first location information to be updated to the second location information of the first user equipment.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The method further includes: Based on the first indication information, it is determined that the first location information will be updated to the second location information of the first user equipment.

4. The method according to claims 1-3, characterized in that, The method further includes: Save the first location information.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The first message is received when the third location information of the mobile terminal unit in the second communication device changes, and / or the first message is received when the tracking area identifier and / or cell identifier of the second cell under the base station unit in the second communication device changes.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The change in the third location information of the mobile terminal unit of the second communication device includes the initial network access of the mobile terminal unit and / or the switching of the serving cell of the mobile terminal unit.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The first message is an interface signaling not associated with user equipment.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The method further includes: A second message is sent to a third communication device, the second message including the second location information of the first user equipment.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The method further includes: A third message is received from the second communication device, the third message including only fourth location information, the fourth location information including the global cell identifier and tracking area identifier of the second user equipment served by the base station unit in the second communication device, the first user equipment including the second user equipment.

10. A communication method, characterized in that, The method is applied to a second communication device, and the method includes: A first message is generated, the first message including first location information of the second communication device, the first location information being used to update second location information of the first user equipment, the first user equipment including one or more user equipment served by the second communication device or one or more user equipment served by the first cell of the second communication device, the second location information including the first location information; Send the first message to the first communication device.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that, The first message also includes a first instruction, which instructs the first location information to be updated to the second location information of the first user equipment.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that, The method further includes: A third message is sent to the first communication device, the third message including only fourth location information, the fourth location information including the global cell identifier and tracking area identifier of the second user equipment served by the base station unit in the second communication device, the first user equipment including the second user equipment.

13. The method according to any one of claims 10-12, characterized in that, The second communication device includes a mobile terminal unit and a base station unit; The first message is sent when the third location information of the mobile terminal unit changes, and / or the first message is sent when the tracking area identifier and / or cell identifier of the second cell under the base station unit changes.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that, The change in the third location information of the mobile terminal unit of the second communication device includes the initial network access of the mobile terminal unit and / or the switching of the serving cell of the mobile terminal unit.

15. The method according to any one of claims 10-14, characterized in that, The first message is an interface signaling not associated with user equipment.

16. A communication device, characterized in that, The device includes: a first processing unit and a first transceiver unit; wherein: The first transceiver unit is configured to receive a first message from the second communication device, the first message including first location information of the second communication device; The first processing unit is configured to update the first location information to the second location information of the first user equipment based on the first message. The first user equipment includes one or more user equipment served by the second communication device or one or more user equipment served by the first cell of the second communication device. The second location information includes the first location information.

17. A communication device, characterized in that, The device includes: a second processing unit and a second transceiver unit; wherein: The second processing unit is configured to generate a first message, the first message including first location information of the second communication device, the first location information being used to update second location information of the first user equipment, the first user equipment including one or more user equipment served by the second communication device or one or more user equipment served by the first cell of the second communication device, and the second location information including the first location information; The second transceiver unit is used to send the first message to the first communication device.

18. A communication device, characterized in that, include: A processor for executing a program stored in memory, which, when executed, causes the apparatus to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-15.

19. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program or instructions that, when executed by a computer, implement the method as described in any one of claims 1-15.

20. A computer program product, characterized in that, When the computer reads and executes the computer program product, it causes the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-15.

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