CN117835395A

CN117835395A - Positioning reference signal configuration method and communication device

Info

Publication number: CN117835395A
Application number: CN202211182253.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 范慧芳
Original assignee: Spreadtrum Semiconductor Nanjing Co Ltd
Current assignee: Spreadtrum Semiconductor Nanjing Co Ltd
Priority date: 2022-09-27
Filing date: 2022-09-27
Publication date: 2024-04-05
Also published as: WO2024067375A1

Abstract

The application discloses a positioning reference signal configuration method and a communication device, wherein the method comprises the following steps: transmitting first information, wherein the first information is used for requesting configuration information of positioning reference signals of each of M terminal devices; m pieces of terminal equipment belong to a first positioning group, wherein the first positioning group comprises first terminal equipment, and the first terminal equipment is used for sending first information; m is an integer greater than or equal to 1; receiving second information, wherein the second information comprises configuration information of positioning reference signals of M terminal devices; wherein the first information comprises at least one of: positioning request type information, group information of a first positioning group and positioning reference signal transmission ending information; the positioning request type information is used for indicating the positioning type of the request positioning; the group information of the first positioning group comprises a group identification and/or group member information of the first positioning group. By adopting the method and the device, the positioning reference signals between the terminal devices can be efficiently and intensively configured.

Description

Positioning reference signal configuration method and communication device

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a positioning reference signal configuration method and a communications device.

Background

With the rapid development of the fifth generation communication technology (5 th-generation, 5G), the demands for location technology for diversified service types are increasing. For application scenarios such as internet of vehicles (vehicle to everything, V2X), industrial internet (industrial internet of things, IIoT), etc., a release-18 (rel-18) protocol of the third generation partnership project (3rd generation partnership project,3GPP) proposes a side link (sidelink) positioning technology, and positioning reference signals can be sent between terminal devices to realize a positioning function.

How to configure positioning reference signals between terminal devices is a key to the sidelink positioning technique.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides a positioning reference signal configuration method and a communication device, which can efficiently configure positioning reference signals among a plurality of terminal devices, thereby improving configuration efficiency.

In a first aspect, the present application provides a positioning reference signal configuration method, which may be performed by a first terminal device, or by an apparatus in the first terminal device, such as a chip or a processor. The method comprises the following steps: transmitting first information, wherein the first information is used for requesting configuration information of positioning reference signals of each of M terminal devices; m pieces of terminal equipment belong to a first positioning group, wherein the first positioning group comprises first terminal equipment, and the first terminal equipment is used for sending first information; m is an integer greater than or equal to 1; receiving second information, wherein the second information comprises configuration information of positioning reference signals of M terminal devices; wherein the first information comprises at least one of: positioning request type information, group information of a first positioning group and positioning reference signal transmission ending information; the positioning request type information is used for indicating the positioning type of the request positioning; the group information of the first positioning group comprises group identification and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used for indicating the transmission end time of the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices.

Therefore, the first terminal device can request to configure positioning reference signals for the M terminal devices in the first positioning group by sending the first information, and other terminal devices in the positioning group do not need to send the first information, so that signaling overhead of the first positioning group in the process of requesting positioning reference signal configuration can be reduced, and energy consumption of other terminal devices in the first positioning group is reduced. Through the second information, the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices can be configured in a centralized way, so that the configuration efficiency is improved, and the signaling overhead is reduced.

In one possible implementation, the location type indicated by the location request type information is a single location or multiple locations. It can be seen that the positioning request type information can indicate that the positioning type is single positioning or multiple positioning, so that positioning reference signals can be better assisted in configuration.

In one possible implementation, the group member information includes attribute information of each terminal device in the first positioning group, the attribute information including at least one of: equipment identification, equipment type, indication information, positioning reference signal transmission requirement information and a positioning method; the indication information is used for indicating whether the terminal equipment configures the positioning reference signal. It can be seen that positioning reference signals of M terminal devices in the first positioning group can be configured in an assisted manner through the group member information, so that the configuration suitability is increased.

In one possible implementation, the first information further includes positioning requirement information and/or recommended configuration information; the positioning requirement information is used for describing the positioning requirement of second terminal equipment in the first positioning group, wherein the second terminal equipment is the terminal equipment requesting positioning; the recommended configuration information is used for indicating configuration information of a positioning reference signal recommended by each terminal device in the first positioning group. Therefore, the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices can be configured in an auxiliary mode by carrying the positioning requirement information and/or the recommended configuration information in the first information, so that the configuration suitability is improved.

In one possible implementation manner, the method further includes: and sending the first information to the network equipment, wherein the first terminal equipment is in the network coverage range of the network equipment. It can be seen that the first terminal device may send the first information to the network device, so that the network device may centrally configure positioning reference signals for M terminal devices in the first positioning group according to the first information. Other terminal devices in the first positioning group besides the first terminal may be located outside the network coverage of the network device or may be located within the network coverage of the network device. In both cases, positioning reference signals may be configured for M terminal devices in the first positioning group. For the situation that other terminal equipment is out of the network coverage of the network equipment, unnecessary resource sensing processes of other terminal equipment can be avoided, so that energy consumption of other terminal equipment is reduced.

In one possible implementation, the second information is carried in radio resource control RRC signaling or medium access control element MAC CE or downlink control information DCI sent by the network device, or the second information is carried in a first type of positioning signaling sent by the positioning function network element.

In one possible implementation manner, the method further includes: transmitting first information to a positioning function network element through a first type of positioning signaling; second information from the positioning function network element is received through the first type of positioning signaling. It can be seen that the first terminal device may send the first information to the positioning function network element, so that the positioning function network element may configure positioning reference signals for M terminal devices in the first positioning group according to the first information. Correspondingly, the first terminal device may receive the second information from the positioning function network element.

In a second aspect, the present application provides another positioning reference signal configuration method, which may be performed by a network device, or by an apparatus in the network device, such as a chip or a processor, etc. The method comprises the following steps: receiving first information from a first terminal device, wherein the first information is used for requesting configuration information of positioning reference signals of each terminal device in M terminal devices; m pieces of terminal equipment belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group comprises first terminal equipment; m is an integer greater than or equal to 1; transmitting second information to the first terminal equipment, wherein the second information comprises configuration information of positioning reference signals of M terminal equipment; wherein the first information comprises at least one of: positioning request type information, group information of a first positioning group and positioning reference signal transmission ending information; the positioning request type information is used for indicating the positioning type of the request positioning; the group information of the first positioning group comprises group identification and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used for indicating the transmission end time of the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices.

Therefore, the network device can centrally configure positioning reference signals for the M terminal devices in the first positioning group according to the first information sent by the first terminal device, and send the configuration information of the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices to the first terminal device, so that signaling overhead with other terminal devices in the first positioning group can be reduced, and meanwhile, configuration efficiency is improved.

In one possible implementation, the location type indicated by the location request type information is a single location or multiple locations. It can be seen that the positioning request type information can indicate that the positioning type is single positioning or multiple positioning, so that positioning reference signals can be better configured for M terminal devices.

In one possible implementation, the group member information includes attribute information of each terminal device in the first positioning group, the attribute information including at least one of: equipment identification, equipment type, indication information, positioning reference signal transmission requirement information and a positioning method; the indication information is used for indicating whether the terminal equipment configures the positioning reference signal. It can be seen that the suitability of the positioning reference signals configured for the M terminal devices can be increased by the group member information.

In one possible implementation, the first information further includes positioning requirement information and/or recommended configuration information; the positioning requirement information is used for describing the positioning requirement of second terminal equipment in the first positioning group, wherein the second terminal equipment is the terminal equipment requesting positioning; the recommended configuration information is used for indicating configuration information of a positioning reference signal recommended by each terminal device in the first positioning group. It can be seen that, through the positioning requirement information and/or the recommended configuration information carried in the first information, the configuration suitability of the positioning reference signal can be improved.

In one possible implementation, the second information is carried in radio resource control RRC signaling or medium access control element MAC CE or downlink control information DCI sent to the first terminal device.

In a third aspect, the present application provides another positioning reference signal configuration method, which may be performed by a network device, or by an apparatus in the network device, such as a chip or a processor, etc. The method comprises the following steps: receiving first information from a first terminal device, wherein the first information is used for requesting configuration information of positioning reference signals of each terminal device in M terminal devices; m pieces of terminal equipment belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group comprises first terminal equipment; m is an integer greater than or equal to 1; transmitting third information to the positioning function network element, wherein the third information comprises part or all of the first information; wherein the first information comprises at least one of: positioning request type information, group information of a first positioning group and positioning reference signal transmission ending information; the positioning request type information is used for indicating the positioning type of the request positioning; the group information of the first positioning group comprises group identification and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used for indicating the transmission end time of the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices.

It can be seen that the network device may send all or part of the first information from the first terminal device to the positioning function network element, for requesting to configure positioning reference signals for M terminal devices in the first positioning group, so that efficiency of positioning reference signal configuration may be improved.

In one possible implementation, the third information is carried in a second type of positioning signaling.

In one possible implementation manner, the method further includes: receiving second information sent by a network element with a positioning function, wherein the second information comprises configuration information of positioning reference signals of M terminal devices, and the second information is transmitted through a second type positioning signaling; and sending the second information to the first terminal equipment through RRC signaling or MAC-CE or DCI.

In one possible implementation, the location type indicated by the location request type information is a single location or multiple locations. It can be seen that the positioning type can be determined to be single positioning or multiple positioning through the positioning request type information, so that the configuration suitability of the positioning reference signal can be improved.

In one possible implementation, the group member information includes attribute information of each terminal device in the first positioning group, the attribute information including at least one of: equipment identification, equipment type, indication information, positioning reference signal transmission requirement information and a positioning method; the indication information is used for indicating whether the terminal equipment configures the positioning reference signal. It can be seen that the configuration suitability of the positioning reference signal can be increased by the group member information.

In a fourth aspect, the present application provides another positioning reference signal configuration method, which may be performed by a positioning function network element, or by a device in the positioning function network element, such as a chip or a processor. The method comprises the following steps: receiving first information from a network device, wherein the first information is used for requesting configuration information of positioning reference signals of each of M terminal devices; m pieces of terminal equipment belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group comprises first terminal equipment; m is an integer greater than or equal to 1; transmitting second information, wherein the second information comprises configuration information of positioning reference signals of M terminal devices; wherein the first information comprises at least one of: positioning request type information, group information of a first positioning group and positioning reference signal transmission ending information; the positioning request type information is used for indicating the positioning type of the request positioning; the group information of the first positioning group comprises group identification and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used for indicating the transmission end time of the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices.

Therefore, the network element with the positioning function can receive part or all of the first information through the network device, and centrally configure positioning reference signals for the M terminal devices of the first positioning group according to the first information, so that the configuration efficiency is improved.

In one possible implementation manner, the method further includes: sending second information to the first terminal equipment; the second information is carried in the first type of positioning signaling; the first positioning group includes a first terminal device. It can be seen that the positioning function network element may directly send configuration information of the positioning reference signal to the first terminal device.

In one possible implementation manner, the method further includes: and sending second information to the network equipment, wherein the second information is carried in the second type of positioning signaling. It can be seen that the positioning function network element may send configuration information of the positioning reference signal through the network device.

In one possible implementation, the third information is carried in a second type of positioning signaling sent by the network device.

In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a further positioning reference signal configuration method, which may be performed by a positioning function network element, or by an apparatus in the positioning function network element, such as a chip or a processor, etc. The method comprises the following steps: receiving first information from a first terminal device, wherein the first information is used for requesting configuration information of positioning reference signals of each terminal device in M terminal devices; m pieces of terminal equipment belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group comprises first terminal equipment; m is an integer greater than or equal to 1; transmitting second information to the first terminal equipment, wherein the second information comprises configuration information of positioning reference signals of M terminal equipment; the first positioning group comprises a first terminal device; wherein the first information comprises at least one of: positioning request type information, group information of a first positioning group and positioning reference signal transmission ending information; the positioning request type information is used for indicating the positioning type of the request positioning; the group information of the first positioning group comprises group identification and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used for indicating the transmission end time of the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices.

Therefore, the positioning function network element can receive the first information from the first terminal device, and centrally configure positioning reference signals for the M terminal devices of the first positioning group according to the first information, so that the configuration efficiency can be improved.

In one possible implementation, the first information is carried in a first type of positioning signaling and the second information is carried in the first type of positioning signaling.

In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication apparatus, including a transmitting unit and a receiving unit, where the transmitting unit is configured to transmit first information, where the first information is configured to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each of M terminal devices; m pieces of terminal equipment belong to a first positioning group, wherein the first positioning group comprises first terminal equipment, and the first terminal equipment is used for sending first information; m is an integer greater than or equal to 1; and the receiving unit is used for receiving second information, wherein the second information comprises configuration information of positioning reference signals of M terminal devices. Wherein the first information comprises at least one of: positioning request type information, group information of a first positioning group and positioning reference signal transmission ending information; the positioning request type information is used for indicating the positioning type of the request positioning; the group information of the first positioning group comprises group identification and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used for indicating the transmission end time of the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices.

In a seventh aspect, the present application provides another communication apparatus, including a transmitting unit and a receiving unit, where the transmitting unit is configured to receive first information from a first terminal device, where the first information is configured to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each of M terminal devices; m pieces of terminal equipment belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group comprises first terminal equipment; m is an integer greater than or equal to 1; and the sending unit is used for sending second information to the first terminal equipment, wherein the second information comprises configuration information of positioning reference signals of M terminal equipment. Wherein the first information comprises at least one of: positioning request type information, group information of a first positioning group and positioning reference signal transmission ending information; the positioning request type information is used for indicating the positioning type of the request positioning; the group information of the first positioning group comprises group identification and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used for indicating the transmission end time of the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices.

In an eighth aspect, the present application provides another communication apparatus, including a transmitting unit and a receiving unit, where the receiving unit is configured to receive first information from a first terminal device, the first information being configured to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each of M terminal devices; m pieces of terminal equipment belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group comprises first terminal equipment; m is an integer greater than or equal to 1; a sending unit, configured to send third information to the positioning function network element, where the third information includes part or all of the first information; wherein the first information comprises at least one of: positioning request type information, group information of a first positioning group and positioning reference signal transmission ending information; the positioning request type information is used for indicating the positioning type of the request positioning; the group information of the first positioning group comprises group identification and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used for indicating the transmission end time of the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices.

In a ninth aspect, the present application provides another communication apparatus, including a transmitting unit and a receiving unit, where the receiving unit is configured to receive first information from a network device, the first information being configured to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each of M terminal devices; m pieces of terminal equipment belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group comprises first terminal equipment; m is an integer greater than or equal to 1; and the sending unit is used for sending second information, wherein the second information comprises configuration information of positioning reference signals of M terminal devices. Wherein the first information comprises at least one of: positioning request type information, group information of a first positioning group and positioning reference signal transmission ending information; the positioning request type information is used for indicating the positioning type of the request positioning; the group information of the first positioning group comprises group identification and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used for indicating the transmission end time of the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices.

In a tenth aspect, the present application provides yet another communication apparatus, which includes a transmitting unit and a receiving unit, wherein the receiving unit is configured to receive first information from a first terminal device, the first information being configured to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each of M terminal devices; m pieces of terminal equipment belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group comprises first terminal equipment; m is an integer greater than or equal to 1; a transmitting unit, configured to transmit second information to the first terminal device, where the second information includes configuration information of positioning reference signals of M terminal devices; the first positioning group includes a first terminal device. Wherein the first information comprises at least one of: positioning request type information, group information of a first positioning group and positioning reference signal transmission ending information; the positioning request type information is used for indicating the positioning type of the request positioning; the group information of the first positioning group comprises group identification and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used for indicating the transmission end time of the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices.

In an eleventh aspect, the present application provides a communication device comprising a processor, a memory and a computer program or instructions stored on the memory, characterized in that the processor executes the computer program or instructions to implement a method as in the first aspect and any of its possible implementations, or to implement a method as in the second aspect and any of its possible implementations, or to implement a method as in the third aspect and any of its possible implementations, or to implement a method as in the fourth aspect and any of its possible implementations, or to implement a method as in the fifth aspect and any of its possible implementations.

In a twelfth aspect, the present application provides a chip, in an implementation manner, the chip is configured to send first information, where the first information is used to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each of M terminal devices; m pieces of terminal equipment belong to a first positioning group, wherein the first positioning group comprises first terminal equipment, and the first terminal equipment is used for sending first information; m is an integer greater than or equal to 1; and receiving second information, wherein the second information comprises configuration information of positioning reference signals of M terminal devices. Wherein the first information comprises at least one of: positioning request type information, group information of a first positioning group and positioning reference signal transmission ending information; the positioning request type information is used for indicating the positioning type of the request positioning; the group information of the first positioning group comprises group identification and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used for indicating the transmission end time of the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices.

In another implementation, the chip is configured to receive first information from a first terminal device, where the first information is configured to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each of M terminal devices; m pieces of terminal equipment belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group comprises first terminal equipment; m is an integer greater than or equal to 1; and sending second information to the first terminal equipment, wherein the second information comprises configuration information of positioning reference signals of M terminal equipment. Wherein the first information comprises at least one of: positioning request type information, group information of a first positioning group and positioning reference signal transmission ending information; the positioning request type information is used for indicating the positioning type of the request positioning; the group information of the first positioning group comprises group identification and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used for indicating the transmission end time of the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices.

In another implementation, the chip is configured to receive first information from a first terminal device, where the first information is configured to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each of M terminal devices; m pieces of terminal equipment belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group comprises first terminal equipment; m is an integer greater than or equal to 1; and sending third information to the positioning function network element, wherein the third information comprises part or all of the first information. Wherein the first information comprises at least one of: positioning request type information, group information of a first positioning group and positioning reference signal transmission ending information; the positioning request type information is used for indicating the positioning type of the request positioning; the group information of the first positioning group comprises group identification and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used for indicating the transmission end time of the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices.

In another implementation, the chip is configured to receive first information from a network device, where the first information is configured to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each of M terminal devices; m pieces of terminal equipment belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group comprises first terminal equipment; m is an integer greater than or equal to 1; and sending second information, wherein the second information comprises configuration information of positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices. Wherein the first information comprises at least one of: positioning request type information, group information of a first positioning group and positioning reference signal transmission ending information; the positioning request type information is used for indicating the positioning type of the request positioning; the group information of the first positioning group comprises group identification and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used for indicating the transmission end time of the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices.

In yet another implementation, the chip is configured to receive first information from a first terminal device, where the first information is configured to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each of M terminal devices; m pieces of terminal equipment belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group comprises first terminal equipment; m is an integer greater than or equal to 1; transmitting second information to the first terminal equipment, wherein the second information comprises configuration information of positioning reference signals of M terminal equipment; the first positioning group includes a first terminal device. Wherein the first information comprises at least one of: positioning request type information, group information of a first positioning group and positioning reference signal transmission ending information; the positioning request type information is used for indicating the positioning type of the request positioning; the group information of the first positioning group comprises group identification and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used for indicating the transmission end time of the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices.

In a thirteenth aspect, the present application provides a chip module, the chip module including a communication module, a power module, a storage module, and a chip module, wherein: the power supply module is used for providing electric energy for the chip module; the storage module is used for storing data and instructions; the communication module is used for carrying out internal communication of the chip module or carrying out communication between the chip module and external equipment; the chip module is for performing the method as in the first aspect and any of its possible implementations, or for performing the method as in the second aspect and any of its possible implementations, or for performing the method as in the third aspect and any of its possible implementations, or for performing the method as in the fourth aspect and any of its possible implementations, or for performing the method as in the fifth aspect and any of its possible implementations.

In a fourteenth aspect, the present application provides a computer readable storage medium having stored therein computer readable instructions which, when run on a communication device, cause the communication device to perform the method of the first aspect and any of its possible implementations, or to perform the method of the second aspect and any of its possible implementations, or to perform the method of the third aspect and any of its possible implementations, or to perform the method of the fourth aspect and any of its possible implementations, or to perform the method of the fifth aspect and any of its possible implementations.

In a fifteenth aspect, the present application provides a computer program or computer program product comprising code or instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform a method as in the first aspect and any one of its possible implementations, or to perform a method as in the second aspect and any one of its possible implementations, or to perform a method as in the third aspect and any one of its possible implementations, or to perform a method as in the fourth aspect and any one of its possible implementations, or to perform a method as in the fifth aspect and any one of its possible implementations.

Drawings

Fig. 1A is a schematic view of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 1B is a schematic view of a scenario of another communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 2 is a schematic flow chart of Uu port positioning according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 3 is a schematic view of an LPP protocol architecture according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of an LPP signaling interaction flow provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of an NRPPa signaling interaction flow provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 is a flowchart of a positioning reference signal configuration method according to an embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 7 is a flowchart of another positioning reference signal configuration method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 8 is a flowchart of another positioning reference signal configuration method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a chip module according to an embodiment of the present application;

Detailed Description

The terminology used in the following embodiments of the application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application. As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," "the," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary. It should also be understood that the term "and/or" as used in this application refers to and encompasses any or all possible combinations of one or more of the listed items.

It should be noted that, in the description and claims of the present application and in the above figures, the terms "first," "second," "third," etc. are used for distinguishing between similar objects and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the data so used may be interchanged where appropriate such that the embodiments of the present application described herein may be implemented in other sequences than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprises," "comprising," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, system, article, or server that comprises a list of steps or elements is not necessarily limited to those steps or elements expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

First, a system architecture to which the present application relates will be explained.

The embodiments of the present application may be applied to fifth generation (5th generation,5G) systems, which may also be referred to as NR systems; or may also be applied to sixth generation (6th generation,6G) systems, or seventh generation (7th generation,7G) systems, or other communication systems in the future; or may also be used in device-to-device (D2D) systems, machine-to-machine (machine to machine, M2M) systems, long term evolution (long term evolution, LTE) systems, and so forth.

For example, but not limited to, the method provided by the embodiments of the present application may be applied to a communication system as shown in fig. 1A. Fig. 1A is a schematic diagram of a scenario of a communication system. The communication system may include, but is not limited to, one or more positioning groups 110, as well as network devices 120 and positioning function network elements 130. In the positioning group 110, the terminal device 101 and the terminal device 102 may be included. It should be noted that the number and the form of the apparatus shown in fig. 1A are used as examples, and are not limited to the embodiments of the present application.

The terminal device may be a device with a wireless transceiver function, and may also be referred to as a terminal (terminal). The terminal device may refer to various forms of User Equipment (UE), mobile Station (MS), mobile Terminal (MT), access terminal device, in-vehicle terminal device, industrial control terminal device, UE unit, UE station, mobile station, remote terminal device, mobile device, UE terminal device, wireless communication device, UE agent, UE apparatus, or the like. The terminal device may also be a cellular telephone, a cordless telephone, a session initiation protocol (session initiation protocol, SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (wireless local loop, WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (personal digital assistant, PDA), a handheld device with wireless communication capabilities, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, a wearable device, a terminal device in a future communication system, etc. The terminal device may be fixed or mobile. In some embodiments, the terminal device may also be a device with a transceiver function, such as a chip module. The chip module may include a chip and may further include other discrete devices. The embodiment of the application does not limit the specific technology and the specific equipment form adopted by the terminal equipment.

The network device may be a device that provides wireless communication functionality for the terminal device, which may also be referred to as a network device or radio access network (radio access network, RAN) device, etc. The network devices may include, but are not limited to: an evolved Node B (eNB), a radio network controller (radio network controller, RNC), a Node B (Node B, NB), a network device controller (base station controller, BSC), a network device transceiver station (base transceiver station, BTS), a home network device (e.g., home evolved Node B, or home Node B, HNB), a baseband unit (BBU), an Access Point (AP) in a wireless fidelity (wireless fidelity, WIFI) system, a wireless relay Node, a wireless backhaul Node, a transceiver Node (transmission and reception point, TRP), a transmission point (transmission point, TP), and the like; it may also be a device used in 5G, 6G or even 7G systems, such as a gNB in NR systems, or a transmission point (TRP or TP). In some embodiments, the network device may also be a device, such as a chip module, with the functionality to provide wireless communication for the terminal device. By way of example, the chip module may include a chip, and may include other discrete devices. The embodiments of the present application are not limited to the specific technology and specific device configuration employed by the network device.

The positioning function network element is responsible for positioning the terminal device, and can also be described as a positioning management network element, a positioning management device, a positioning device, a position server and the like. The location function network element may be a location management function (location management function, LMF) in the 5G core network, or may be a network element having the same function as the LMF in the future communication system, for example, a network element having the same function as the LMF in the 6G system. The positioning function network element takes LMF as an example.

In the present embodiment, the communication link between the terminal device 101 and the terminal device 102 in the positioning group may be referred to as an edge link (SL port). The side link may also be described as a side link, a pass-through link, a direct link, a secondary link, or a PC5 link, among others. The communication interface between the network device 120 and the terminal device (e.g., terminal device 101) may be referred to as a Uu port, the communication link between the network device 120 and the terminal device (e.g., terminal device 101) may be referred to as a Uu link, which may also be described as a Uu port link or a main link, etc. For purposes of brief description, only the uplink and downlink between terminal device 101 and network device 120 are shown in fig. 1A, and in fact, there may be an uplink and downlink between terminal device 102 and network device 120. It should be noted that, the terminal device 101 and the terminal device 102 may access the same network device, or may access different network devices, for example, the terminal device 101 accesses the network device 1, and the terminal device 102 accesses the network device 2.

Illustratively, in a New Radio (NR) system, signaling interaction between the network device 120 and the positioning function network element 130 may be implemented via NR positioning protocol A (NR positioning protocol A, NRPPa). For example, the signaling interaction between the terminal device 101 or the terminal device 102 and the positioning function network element 130 may be implemented by an LTE positioning protocol (LTE positioning protocol, LPP). For simplicity of description, only LPP signaling interactions between the terminal device 102 and the positioning function network element 130 are shown in fig. 1A, and in fact, there may be LPP signaling interactions between the terminal device 101 and the positioning function network element 130. Also for simplicity of fig. 1A, only logical LPP signaling between the terminal device 102 and the positioning function network element 130 is shown in fig. 1A, and in fact, LPP signaling sent by the terminal device 102 needs to be transparently transferred to the positioning function network element 130 through the network device 120, the access and mobility management function (access and mobility management function, AMF) network element. In fig. 1A, the LPP signaling is omitted from the process through network device 120 and AMF network elements for ease of viewing.

For example, but not limited to, the method provided in the embodiments of the present application may also be applied to a communication system as shown in fig. 1B. Fig. 1B is a schematic diagram of a scenario of another communication system. The communication system may include, but is not limited to, a location group 140, a network device 150, and a location function network element 160. Among these, four terminal devices, UE1, UE2, UE3 and UE4, respectively, may be included in the positioning group, but are not limited thereto. For example, positioning reference signals may be transmitted between UE1 and UE2, between UE1 and UE3, and between UE1 and UE4. In this application, the location function network element 160 is exemplified by an LMF. It should be noted that the number and the form of the apparatus shown in fig. 1B are used as examples, and are not limited to the embodiments of the present application. Illustratively, UE1 may be within network coverage of network device 150, and UE2, UE3, and UE4 are outside of network coverage of network device 150. Illustratively, UE1, UE2, UE3, and UE4 may all be within network coverage of network device 150.

It may be understood that, the communication system described in the embodiments of the present application is for more clearly describing the technical solution of the embodiments of the present application, and is not limited to the technical solution provided in the embodiments of the present application, and those skilled in the art may know that, with the evolution of the system architecture and the appearance of a new service scenario, the technical solution provided in the embodiments of the present application is applicable to similar technical problems.

Next, related names or terms related to the present application are set forth to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

Uu port location

Uu port positioning refers to positioning achieved by positioning reference signals between a terminal device and a network device transmitted through a Uu port (or referred to as a cellular network communication interface). Uu port location may also be described as a master location, a master link location, a Uu link location, or the like. The positioning reference signals between the terminal device and the network device may be channel Sounding Reference Signals (SRS) and/or Positioning Reference Signals (PRS).

Uu port location may be classified into Uplink (UL) location and Downlink (DL) location. The positioning request types of Uu port positioning are mainly divided into the following three types: a mobile initial location request (mobile originated location request, MO-LR), a mobile terminating location request (mobile terminated location request, MT-LR) and a network induced location request (network induced location request, NI-LR). Wherein MO-LR is a location request sent by a terminal device to a currently serving public land mobile network (public land mobile network, PLMN); MT-LR is a location request initiated by a location service (LCS) client, an internal or external application function (application function, AF) to the current serving PLMN; NI-LR is a location request initiated by the serving AMF of the terminal device for the policing service, such as an emergency call of the terminal device.

(1) Uu port positioning flow

Taking MO-LR as an example, please refer to fig. 2, fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a positioning flow of MO-LR in Uu port positioning. As shown in fig. 2, the Uu port location system includes three parts, namely a terminal equipment (UE), an access network equipment and a core network equipment, wherein the core network equipment includes an access and mobility management function (AMF) equipment and a Location Management Function (LMF) equipment. The positioning procedure as shown in fig. 2 includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

s201, the UE triggers a service request to establish a signaling connection with the AMF.

When the UE is in a connection management IDLE (connection management-IDLE, CM-IDLE) state, the UE may trigger a service request to establish a signaling connection with the AMF.

S202, the UE sends MO-LR to the AMF.

The MO-LR may be carried in a UL non-access-stratum (NAS) transport (transport) message, among other things. The NAS message sent by the UE may be sent directly to the AMF. Optionally, the MO-LR request information may include an LPP location message, where the LPP location message may include a location request type, such as requesting to estimate location information of the UE, or requesting to estimate location information of the UE and send the location information of the UE to the LCS client or the AF, or requesting location assistance data, etc. In case the MO-LR includes a request to estimate the location information of the UE or includes a request to estimate the location information of the UE and send to the LCS client or AF, the MO-LR may also carry quality of service (quality of service, qoS) requirement information of the location. Optionally, the QoS requirement information may include one or more of positioning accuracy, positioning response time, LCS QoS class, etc.

S203, the AMF selects an LMF and initiates positioning request information to the LMF.

The AMF selects an appropriate LMF based on local configuration information or other information, which may be QoS requirement information, for example. Alternatively, the location request information may be a determine location request (nlmf_location_ determinelocation request) message. The location request information may include LCS related identification information, current serving cell identification, UE type, and UE location requirement information. The UE positioning requirement information is used for indicating whether the UE performs positioning estimation and/or indicating whether the UE requests positioning auxiliary information, etc.

S204, the LMF initiates a UE positioning procedure (UE positioning).

The UE positioning process is used to obtain a positioning estimation result of the UE. Optionally, the UE positioning procedure may include a positioning capability interaction procedure, a positioning assistance information configuration procedure, a positioning measurement request procedure, a positioning result reporting procedure, and the like.

S205, the LMF transmits positioning information to the AMF.

In case the UE location estimation result obtained in S204 satisfies LCS QoS requirements, the LMF may transmit location information, which may be, for example, a confirm location request response (nlmf_location_ determinelocation response) information, to the AMF. The positioning information carries the positioning estimation result of the UE.

S206, the AMF sends positioning information to the UE.

The AMF transmits a location estimation result satisfying LCS QoS requirement information to the terminal device through Downlink (DL) NAS TRANSPORT (MO-LR response) information.

(2) LPP protocol

In the above-mentioned Uu port positioning procedure, a signaling interaction procedure between the terminal device and the LMF is involved. The signaling interaction between the terminal device and the LMF is mainly used for enabling the LMF to acquire the positioning capability of the terminal device, configuring auxiliary information for the terminal device, requesting positioning measurement and acquiring a positioning estimation result of the terminal device. Signaling information between the terminal device and the LMF is transmitted through the LPP protocol. The schematic diagram of the LPP protocol architecture involved in the signaling interaction between the terminal device and the LMF is shown in fig. 3, where an air interface between the terminal device and the next generation wireless access network (next generation radio access network, NG-RAN) may be an NR-Uu interface or an LTE-Uu interface, an air interface between the NG-RAN and the AMF may be an NG-C interface, and an air interface between the AMF and the LMF may be an NL1 interface.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 3, the protocol stack of the terminal device at the Uu port sequentially includes, from top to bottom: LPP, NAS, radio resource control (radio resource control, RRC), service data adaptation protocol (service data adaptation protocol, SDAP), packet data convergence protocol (packet data convergence protocol, PDCP), radio link control (radio link control, RLC), medium access control (medium access control, MAC), physical layer (PHY), wherein SDAP, PDCP, RLC, MAC layer is referred to as layer 2 protocol, abbreviated L2 protocol, and physical layer protocol is referred to as layer 1 protocol, abbreviated L1 protocol. Wherein, the peer protocol layer of LPP is located in LMF, the peer protocol layer of NAS is located in AMF, the peer protocol layer of other protocol layers is located in NG RAN. The protocol stack of the NG-RAN on the Uu port sequentially comprises the following steps from top to bottom: RRC, SDAP, PDCP, RLC, MAC, PHY, the peer protocol layers of these protocol layers are located at the terminal device. The protocol stack of the NG-RAN on the NG-C port sequentially comprises the following steps from top to bottom: NG interface application protocol (NG application protocol, NGAP), stream control transmission protocol (stream control transmission protocol, SCTP), internetworking protocol (internet protocol, IP), L2, L1, the peer protocol layers of these protocol layers all reside in the AMF. The protocol stack of the AMF on the NG-C port sequentially comprises the following steps from top to bottom: NAS, NGAP, SCTP, IP, L2, L1. Wherein, the peer protocol layer of NAS is located in terminal equipment, and the peer protocol layer of other protocol layers is located in NG RAN. The protocol stack of the AMF at the NL1 port sequentially comprises the following steps from top to bottom: hypertext transfer protocol 2.0 (hyper text transfer protocol, HTTP 2.0), transport layer security (transport layer security, TLS), transmission control protocol (transmission control protocol, TCP), IP, L2, L1, the peer protocol layers of these protocol layers all reside at the LMF. The protocol stack of the LMF at the NL1 port sequentially comprises the following steps from top to bottom: LPP, HTTP2.0, TLS, TCP, IP, L2, L1. Wherein, the peer-to-peer protocol layer of the LPP is located in the terminal equipment, and the peer-to-peer protocol layers of other protocol layers are located in the AMF.

Wherein, a relay function is also provided at the uppermost layer of the NG RAN node and the AMF, which means that the signaling of the upper layer can be transmitted, for example, the NAS signaling of the upper layer can be transmitted at the NG RAN node. LPP signaling may be transparently passed at the AMF node.

Further, the interaction of the positioning capability, the interaction of the positioning auxiliary information and the interaction of the positioning measurement information between the terminal device and the LMF may be carried through LPP signaling, and the LPP signaling interaction flow between the terminal device and the LMF is shown in fig. 4, and includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

s401, the LMF sends an LPP request capability (LPP request capabilities) message to the terminal device.

S402, the terminal device sends an LPP provisioning capability (LPP provide capabilities) message to the LMF.

The terminal device provides location capability to the LMF in response to the LPP request capability message, and transmits the LPP provide capability message through LPP signaling. Wherein the positioning capability provided by the terminal device to the LMF includes one or more of: the capability of different positioning methods supported by the terminal device (for example, DL-AoD), the capability of a positioning mode supported by the terminal device, the capability of PRS resources supported by the terminal device, the capability of measurement supported by the terminal device, the capability of quasi co-location (QCL) processing of the terminal device, and the capability of whether the terminal device supports periodic reporting, etc. The positioning mode may be based on the positioning of the UE (i.e., the UE does a positioning solution by itself) or the positioning assisted by the UE (i.e., the LMF does a positioning solution).

S403, the LMF transmits LPP provision assistance data to the terminal device (LPP provide assistance data).

The auxiliary data refers to auxiliary information required by the LMF for positioning the terminal equipment, and the auxiliary information can comprise configuration information of PRS, positioning calculation auxiliary information and auxiliary information adapted to a specific positioning method. By way of example, the assistance information adapted for a specific method may be assistance information of a global navigation satellite system (global navigation satellite system, GNSS).

S404, the LMF transmits an LPP request location information (LPP request location information) message to the terminal device.

The request location information may be used by the LMF to request the terminal device to make location measurements or to request the terminal device to make location estimates.

S405, the terminal device obtains location information.

The terminal device may perform positioning measurement or positioning estimation by performing the assistance information received at S403, thereby obtaining location information.

S406, the terminal device transmits LPP provided location information to the LMF (LPP provide location information).

The LPP may provide the location information, including reporting the location measurement result, or reporting the location estimation result.

(3) NRPPa protocol

The above-mentioned Uu port positioning process involves a signaling interaction process between the network device and the LMF. The signaling interaction between the network device and the LMF is carried by NRPPa signaling, and the interaction content carried by NRPPa signaling may include interaction of positioning auxiliary information, interaction of positioning information, interaction of measurement information, interaction of transmission and reception point (transmission and reception point, TRP) information, and the like. As shown in fig. 5, the interaction flow of NRPPa signaling between the network device and the LMF may include, but is not limited to, the following steps:

S501, the LMF sends NRPPa procedure request (NRPPa procedural request) information to the network device.

S502, the network device sends NRPPa program response (NRPPa procedural response) information to the LMF.

2. Positioning reference signal

The positioning reference signal is a known signal provided by the transmitting end to the receiving end for positioning. The positioning reference signal related to the embodiment of the application refers to a reference signal transmitted between terminal equipment and used for realizing a positioning function. In the communication systems of fig. 1A and 1B, for example, a positioning function is implemented by transmitting a positioning reference signal between terminal devices through a Side Link (SL) port. It should be noted that, the positioning reference signal between the terminal devices may be referred to as a side link positioning reference signal (sidelink positioning reference signal, SL-PRS) or SPRS, and with the evolution of the standard, the positioning reference signal between the terminal devices may be referred to by other names. In the present application, the positioning reference signal between the terminal equipment and the terminal equipment is exemplified by SL-PRS.

The SL port positioning refers to positioning performed by a positioning reference signal transmitted between terminal apparatuses, for example, positioning performed by a positioning reference signal transmitted between terminal apparatus a and terminal apparatus B. SL port positioning may also be described as side-link positioning, etc. The specific implementation process of SL port positioning is not limited in this application, for example, in the communication system in fig. 1B, UE2, UE3, and UE4 may send positioning reference signals to UE1, respectively, and UE1 may measure the received positioning reference signals and determine the location information of UE1 according to the obtained measurement result.

3. Target UE and anchor UE

The target UE is terminal equipment needing to be positioned, and the anchor point UE is terminal equipment which is positioned in the same positioning group with the target UE and is used for assisting the positioning of the target UE. Illustratively, as shown in fig. 1B, assuming UE1 is the target UE, UE2, UE3, and UE4 in the positioning group may be anchor UEs.

The following describes a positioning reference signal configuration method provided in the embodiment of the present application.

Referring to fig. 6, fig. 6 is a flowchart of a positioning reference signal configuration method according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 6, the positioning reference signal configuration method may include, but is not limited to, the following steps:

s601, the first terminal device sends first information to the network device. Accordingly, the network device receives the first information from the first terminal device. The first information is used for requesting positioning reference signals of M terminal devices in the first positioning group.

The first terminal device is a terminal device in the communication system that initiates a positioning reference signal configuration request. In one implementation, the first terminal device may be a target UE. In another implementation, the first terminal device may be an anchor UE. The network device is a base station, e.g., the network device may be a gNB in an NR system.

The first terminal device is within network coverage of the network device, and may send the first information to the network device through an uplink. The first information is used for requesting configuration information of positioning reference signals of M (M is more than or equal to 1 and M is an integer) terminal devices. The M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, and similarly, the first terminal device also belongs to the first positioning group. The positioning group refers to a terminal equipment set formed by a plurality of terminal equipment. Alternatively, the M terminal devices may be all terminal devices or part of terminal devices in the first positioning group.

The first information sent by the first terminal device may include at least one of the following: positioning request type information, positioning reference signal transmission end information, group information of a first positioning group.

The location request type information is used to indicate a location type of a requested location. Optionally, the positioning type is single positioning or multiple positioning. Single positioning refers to performing one-time positioning. Multiple location refers to making multiple locations, e.g., a specific type of requested multiple locations may be a delayed MT-LR (deferred MT-LR) type. The deferred MT-LR request may include a variety of location trigger conditions, such as periodic triggers or event triggers. The periodically triggered positioning may be referred to as periodic positioning, i.e. positioning periodically at a certain frequency. For example, periodic positioning may be performed at intervals of one half hour, or multiple times (e.g., 3 times) within a time frame (e.g., 1 day). Event triggered positioning may be referred to as event triggered positioning, which may be performing multiple aperiodic positioning. The time interval between event triggered positioning may be random. The event triggers may include area-based event triggers, behavior-based event triggers, and UE availability-based event triggers, among others. It should be noted that, for a specific description of event triggering and event triggered positioning, reference may be made to 3GPP standard protocol technical specification (technical specification, TS) 23.273 version, i.e. 3GPP TS 23.273.

Optionally, the location request type information is used to indicate a location type of the target UE requesting location in the first location group. Optionally, the location request type information is used to indicate a location type of the requested location of each terminal device in the first location group. Optionally, the location request type of the requested location may be specifically a location request type such as MT-LR, MO-LR, NI-LR or deferred MT-LR.

The positioning reference signal transmission end information is used for indicating the transmission end time of the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices in the first positioning group. Alternatively, the positioning reference signal transmission end information may be used to indicate a predicted positioning reference signal transmission end time.

The group information of the first positioning group comprises a group identification and/or group member information of the first positioning group.

Wherein the group identification of the first positioning group is used to identify the positioning group. Illustratively, assume a total of 4 terminal devices, UE1, UE2, UE3, and UE4, respectively, in the first positioning group as shown in fig. 1B. UE1-UE4 may form a positioning group that may be identified using a group identification. Illustratively, the group identity may be determined by any one of the following means: the second mark of the target layer in V2X is used; determining by the group identification information provided by the application layer; based on the type of service in V2X, such as a service provider identifier (provider service identifier, PSID) or an intelligent transportation system application object identifier (intelligent transportation system-application object identification, ITS-AID); is determined by the UE by itself; assigned by a positioning function network element or network device.

Optionally, the group member information includes attribute information of each terminal device in the first positioning group. The attribute information includes at least one of: device identification, device type, indication information, positioning reference signal transmission requirement information and positioning method.

The indication information is used for indicating whether to configure the positioning reference signal. Illustratively, assume a total of 4 terminal devices, UE1, UE2, UE3, and UE4, respectively, in the first positioning group as shown in fig. 1B. UE1 is the target UE, UE2, UE3 and UE4 are anchor UEs, and UE1 is the first terminal device. In this case, UE4 may not need the network device to configure the positioning reference signal (may be marked as 0 in the indication information), and UE1, UE2 and UE3 may all need the network device to configure the positioning reference signal (may be marked as 111 in the indication information), where m=3, and the indication information may be indicated as 1110. It should be noted that, in the embodiments of the present application, specific expression rules adopted for the indication information are not limited.

Optionally, the positioning reference signal transmission requirement information is used to indicate whether to transmit the positioning reference signal. Illustratively, there are a total of 4 terminal devices, UE1, UE2, UE3, and UE4, respectively, in the first positioning group as shown in fig. 1B. Assume that UE1 is the target UE, UE2, UE3, and UE4 are anchor UEs, and UE1 is the first terminal device. Alternatively, UE1 may transmit a positioning reference signal (may be labeled 1), and UE2, UE3, and UE4 may not transmit a positioning reference signal (may be labeled 000), in which case m=1, and the positioning reference signal transmission requirement information may be denoted 1000. Alternatively, UE1 may not transmit a positioning reference signal (may be marked as 0), and UE2, UE3, and UE4 transmit positioning reference signals (may be marked as 111), in which case m=3, and the positioning reference signal transmission requirement information may be denoted as 0111. It should be noted that, the embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific representation rule adopted by the positioning reference signal transmission requirement information.

Optionally, the positioning method may include: time difference of arrival (time difference of arrival, TDoA), round-trip time (RTT), multiple round-trip time (Multi-RTT), angle of arrival (AoA), angle of departure (AoD), and the like.

In a possible implementation manner, the first information may further include positioning requirement information and/or recommended configuration information. The positioning requirement information is used for describing the positioning requirement of the second terminal equipment in the first positioning group; the recommended configuration information is used for indicating configuration information of a positioning reference signal recommended by each terminal device in the first positioning group.

Alternatively, the positioning requirement may be a positioning QoS requirement. The positioning QoS requirements may include positioning accuracy, positioning response time, etc. information. For example, positioning accuracy can be classified into horizontal accuracy and vertical accuracy. Response times can be categorized as no delay, low delay, and delay tolerance.

Optionally, the recommended configuration information is used to indicate configuration information of recommended configuration of each terminal device in the first positioning group. Wherein the configuration information may include at least one of the following information: time-frequency resources of positioning reference signals PRS, sequence type, bandwidth, time domain period (period and end time of period) and other parameters. The time-frequency resource may include parameters such as a frequency domain comb size, the number of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, OFDM) symbols occupied by the positioning reference signal, and a positioning reference signal pattern.

Alternatively, the second terminal device may be the same as the first terminal device or may be different from the first terminal device. If the second terminal equipment is the same equipment as the first terminal, the first terminal equipment is the target UE, and the configuration information of the positioning reference signal requested by the first message is used for positioning the first terminal equipment. If the second terminal equipment is different from the first terminal equipment, the first terminal equipment is anchor point UE, the second terminal equipment is target UE, and the configuration information of the positioning reference signal requested by the first message is used for positioning the second terminal equipment.

In one possible implementation, the first terminal device may belong to a plurality of positioning groups, e.g. the first terminal device may belong to positioning group 1 and positioning group 2. When the first information is transmitted, the first terminal device may select one positioning group from the plurality of positioning groups as the first positioning group, and the specific selection rule is not limited in the present application.

Alternatively, taking the first terminal device and the second terminal device as the same terminal device as an example, the first terminal device is the target UE, and the positioning group may be constructed through the positioning discovery process. The first terminal device may send discovery signals to other terminal devices, and assuming that signal quality of the discovery signals sent by the terminal device 1, the terminal device 2, the terminal device 3, the terminal device 4, and other devices meets requirements of the first terminal device (for example, signal receiving power RSRP is greater than a threshold value), the terminal device 1-4 may send feedback information to the first terminal device, and the first terminal device may select any number of terminal devices (for example, select the terminal device 1-3) from the terminal devices and form a first positioning group with the first terminal device according to the feedback information and its positioning requirements, and the terminal device 1-3 may be an anchor UE. Alternatively, the number of anchor UEs may be adaptively changed according to the actual positioning scenario. For example, the number and location information of anchor UEs required may be determined based on whether the positioning of the target UE is absolute or relative. For example, if the target UE needs to perform absolute positioning, such as positioning the latitude and longitude values of the target UE, at least three anchor UEs are needed to assist in positioning the target UE by three-point positioning or other methods. If the target UE needs to be relatively located (e.g., relative to the location of the network device), one or more anchor UEs and the relative location of each anchor UE (e.g., information about direction, distance, etc. relative to the network device) are needed to assist in the target UE location.

And S602, the network equipment sends second information to the first terminal equipment. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the second information from the first terminal device. Wherein the second information includes configuration information of positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices.

After receiving the first information sent by the first terminal, the network device may configure positioning reference signals for M terminal devices in the first positioning group according to the first information, so as to generate second information. Optionally, the configuration information of the positioning reference signal may include dynamic parameters (such as time-frequency resource location parameters) and semi-static parameters, where the semi-static parameters may include parameters such as bandwidth, positioning reference signal period, frequency domain comb tooth size, signal pattern, number of resources of the positioning reference signal, silence design, and the like.

In one possible implementation, the second information may be carried in radio resource control (radio resource control, RRC) signaling or medium access control element (MAC control element, MAC CE) or downlink control information (downlink control information, DCI) sent by the network device.

For example, referring to fig. 1B, it is assumed that the first positioning group includes four terminal devices, UE1, UE2, UE3, UE4, and one network device, where UE1 is in the network coverage of the network device. Optionally, fig. 1B may further include a positioning function network element. Assuming UE1 is the target UE, UE2, UE3, UE4 are anchor UEs. The configuration of positioning reference signals between terminal devices in the first positioning group and the positioning of the target UE can be achieved in the following manner.

Mode one: UE1 as the first terminal device transmits first information for requesting positioning reference signal configuration information (in this case, m=3) of UE2, UE3, UE 4. After receiving the second information, UE1 sends the second information to UE2, UE3 and UE4, respectively, where the second information includes positioning reference signal configuration information of UE2, UE3 and UE 4. UE2, UE3 and UE4 may respectively send positioning reference signals to UE1, and UE1 performs measurement and positioning settlement on each positioning reference signal, thereby obtaining positioning information of UE1.

Mode two: UE1 as the first terminal device transmits first information for requesting positioning reference signal configuration information of UE1 (in this case, m=1). After receiving the second information, UE1 may send positioning reference signals to UE2, UE3 and UE4, respectively, where the second information includes positioning reference signal configuration information of UE1.UE 2, UE3 and UE4 may measure the respective received positioning reference signals, respectively, to obtain measurement results, and feed back the measurement results to UE1. The UE1 may perform positioning settlement according to the measurement result, thereby obtaining positioning information of the UE1.

It should be noted that, based on the same inventive concept, the specific implementation process and principle in the first and second modes refer to the technical details and principles in S601-S602 in the embodiment shown in fig. 6, and are not repeated herein.

In the embodiment of the application, the network device can intensively configure the positioning reference signals for the M terminal devices in the first positioning group, so that the configuration efficiency can be improved, and the situation that the M terminals all request to configure the positioning reference signals from the base station is avoided. In addition, the first terminal device can be only required to be in the network coverage of the network device, and the positioning reference signals can be configured for other terminal devices under the condition that other terminal devices exist in the first positioning group and are out of the network coverage, so that unnecessary sensing processes among the terminal devices can be avoided, the energy consumption of the terminal devices is saved, and the expenditure of a communication system can be reduced.

Fig. 7 is a flowchart of another positioning reference signal configuration method according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 7, the positioning reference signal configuration method may include, but is not limited to, the following steps:

s701, the first terminal device sends first information to the network device. Accordingly, the network device receives the first information from the first terminal device. The first information is used for requesting configuration information of positioning reference signals of M terminal devices.

The first terminal device belongs to a first positioning group. The first positioning group includes M terminal devices. The network device is a base station, e.g., the network device may be a gNB in an NR system. Optionally, the first terminal device is in a network coverage area of the network device, and may send the first information to the network device through an uplink.

Wherein the first information may include at least one of: positioning request type information, group information of a first positioning group, positioning reference signal transmission end information. The group information of the first positioning group comprises a group identification and/or group member information of the first positioning group. The positioning reference signal transmission ending information is used for indicating the transmission ending time of positioning reference signals of M terminal devices.

Based on the same inventive concept, the first information in step S701 may be referred to in the embodiment of fig. 6 in the specific description of the first information in step S601, which is not repeated herein.

S702, the network equipment sends third information to the positioning function network element. Correspondingly, the positioning function network element receives third information from the network device. Wherein the third information includes part or all of the information in the first information.

The location function network element may be an LMF.

In one possible implementation, the third information is carried in a second type of positioning signaling. Wherein the second type of positioning signaling may be NRPPa signaling. Specifically, the third information may be carried by the following cells of NRPPa signaling: location information response (position information response), location information update (position information update), assistance information feedback (assistance information feedback), measurement response (measurement response), measurement report (measurement report), and the like.

S703, the positioning function network element sends the second information to the network device. Correspondingly, the network device receives second information from the positioning function network element. Wherein the second information includes configuration information of positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices.

The positioning function network element can configure positioning reference signals for the M terminal devices in the first positioning group according to the received third information, so as to generate second information.

In one possible implementation, the second information may be transmitted through a second type of positioning signaling. Wherein the second type of positioning signaling may be NRPPa signaling. Specifically, the second information may be carried by the following cells of NRPPa signaling: position information response, position information update, assistance information feedback, measurement response, measure report, etc.

Based on the same inventive concept, the second information in step S703 may be referred to in the embodiment of fig. 6 in the step S602, which is not described herein.

And S704, the network equipment sends second information to the first terminal equipment. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the second information from the network device. Wherein the second information includes configuration information of positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices.

It should be noted that, the execution of step S704 may be described in detail in step S602 in the embodiment of fig. 6, which is not described herein.

In the embodiment of the application, the network device can send all or part of the first information from the first terminal device to the positioning function network element, and the positioning function network element can intensively configure positioning reference signals for the M terminal devices in the first positioning group, so that the configuration efficiency can be improved, and the situation that the M terminals all request to configure the positioning reference signals from the positioning function network element can be avoided. Meanwhile, the first information is sent by the first terminal equipment, so that the configuration of positioning reference signals of M terminal equipment in the first positioning group can be realized, signaling transmission between other terminal equipment and network equipment in the first positioning group can be reduced, signaling overhead can be reduced, unnecessary resource sensing processes of the terminal equipment outside the network coverage can be avoided, and energy consumption of other terminal equipment in the first positioning group and the overhead of a communication system can be saved.

In one possible implementation, the positioning function network element may also send the second information directly to the first terminal device, and the step of transmitting the second information between the positioning function network element and the network device, and the step of transmitting the second information between the network device and the first terminal device may be omitted. Wherein the second information sent to the first terminal may be carried in the first type of positioning signaling. The first type of positioning signaling may be LPP signaling. Alternatively, the second information may be carried in a cell providing carried data (provide assistance data) or the like.

Referring to fig. 8, fig. 8 is a flowchart of another positioning reference signal configuration method according to an embodiment of the present application.

As shown in fig. 8, the method may include, but is not limited to, the following steps:

s801, a first terminal device sends first information to a positioning function network element. Correspondingly, the positioning function network element receives first information from the first terminal device. The first information is used for requesting configuration information of positioning reference signals of M terminal devices.

The first terminal device belongs to a first positioning group. The first positioning group includes M terminal devices. The location function network element may be an LMF. Wherein the first information may include at least one of: positioning request type information, group information of a first positioning group, positioning reference signal transmission end information. The group information of the first positioning group comprises a group identification and/or group member information of the first positioning group. The positioning reference signal transmission ending information is used for indicating the transmission ending time of positioning reference signals of M terminal devices.

In one possible implementation, the first terminal device may send the first information to the positioning function network element through a first type of positioning signaling. Wherein the first type of positioning signaling may be LPP signaling. Specifically, the first information may be carried in a cell requesting to carry data (request assistance data) or the like.

Based on the same inventive concept, the first information in step S801 may be referred to in the embodiment of fig. 6 for a specific description of the first information in step S601, which is not repeated herein.

S802, the positioning function network element sends second information to the first terminal device. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives second information from the positioning function network element. Wherein the second information includes positioning reference signal configuration information of the M terminal devices.

After receiving the first information, the positioning function network element can configure positioning reference signals for the M terminal devices in the first positioning group according to the first information, so as to generate second information.

In one possible implementation, the positioning function network element may carry the second information in the first type of positioning signaling. Correspondingly, the first terminal device may receive the second information from the positioning function network element through the first type of positioning signaling. Wherein the first type of positioning signaling may be LPP signaling. Alternatively, the second information may be carried in cells such as provide assistance data.

Based on the same inventive concept, the second information in step S802 may be referred to in the embodiment of fig. 6, and the detailed description of the second information in step S602 is omitted here.

In the embodiment of the application, the first terminal device can send the first information to the positioning function network element, and the positioning function network element can intensively configure positioning reference signals for the M terminal devices in the first positioning group according to the first information, so that the configuration efficiency can be improved. Meanwhile, the first information is sent by the first terminal equipment, so that the configuration of positioning reference signals of M terminal equipment in the first positioning group can be realized, signaling transmission between other terminal equipment in the first positioning group and a positioning function network element can be reduced, and signaling overhead is reduced. Unnecessary resource sensing process of the terminal equipment can be avoided, so that energy consumption of other terminal equipment in the first positioning group and cost of a communication system are saved.

Fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 9, the communication apparatus 90 includes a transmitting unit 910 and a receiving unit 920.

In one implementation, the communication apparatus 90 is a first terminal device or an apparatus matched to a first terminal device:

a transmitting unit 910, configured to transmit first information, where the first information is used to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each of M terminal devices; m pieces of terminal equipment belong to a first positioning group, wherein the first positioning group comprises first terminal equipment, and the first terminal equipment is used for sending first information; m is an integer greater than or equal to 1. A receiving unit 920, configured to receive second information, where the second information includes configuration information of positioning reference signals of M terminal devices. Wherein the first information comprises at least one of: positioning request type information, group information of a first positioning group and positioning reference signal transmission ending information; the positioning request type information is used for indicating the positioning type of the request positioning; the group information of the first positioning group comprises group identification and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used for indicating the transmission end time of the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices.

Wherein the first information comprises at least one of: positioning request type information, group information of a first positioning group and positioning reference signal transmission ending information; the positioning request type information is used for indicating the positioning type of the request positioning; the group information of the first positioning group comprises group identification and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used for indicating the transmission end time of the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices.

Optionally, the location type indicated by the location request type information is single location or multiple locations.

Optionally, the group member information includes attribute information of each terminal device in the first positioning group, and the attribute information includes at least one of the following: equipment identification, equipment type, indication information, positioning reference signal transmission requirement information and a positioning method; the indication information is used for indicating whether the terminal equipment configures the positioning reference signal.

Optionally, the first information further includes positioning requirement information and/or recommended configuration information; the positioning requirement information is used for describing the positioning requirement of second terminal equipment in the first positioning group, wherein the second terminal equipment is the terminal equipment requesting positioning; the recommended configuration information is used for indicating configuration information of a positioning reference signal recommended by each terminal device in the first positioning group.

Optionally, the sending unit 910 is further configured to send the first information to a network device, where the first terminal device is within a network coverage area of the network device.

Optionally, the second information is carried in radio resource control RRC signaling or media access control element MAC CE or downlink control information DCI sent by the network device, or the second information is carried in first type positioning signaling sent by the positioning function network element.

Optionally, the sending unit 910 is further configured to send first information to the positioning function network element through a first type of positioning signaling; the receiving unit 920 is further configured to receive second information from the positioning function network element through the first type of positioning signaling.

The communication device 90 may also be used to implement other functions of the first terminal device in the corresponding embodiments of fig. 6-8, which are not described herein. Based on the same inventive concept, the principle and beneficial effects of the communication device 90 provided in the embodiments of the present application for solving the problem are similar to those of the first terminal device in the embodiments of the method of the present application, and may refer to the principle and beneficial effects of implementation of the method, which are not described herein for brevity.

In another implementation, the communication apparatus 90 is a network device or an apparatus that mates with a network device:

A receiving unit 920, configured to receive first information from a first terminal device, where the first information is used to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each of M terminal devices; m pieces of terminal equipment belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group comprises first terminal equipment; m is an integer greater than or equal to 1. A transmitting unit 910, configured to transmit second information to the first terminal device, where the second information includes configuration information of positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices.

Optionally, the second information is carried in a radio resource control RRC signaling or a medium access control element MAC CE or downlink control information DCI sent to the first terminal device.

The communication device 90 may also be used to implement other functions of the network device in the corresponding embodiment of fig. 6, which are not described herein. Based on the same inventive concept, the principle and beneficial effects of the communication device 90 provided in the embodiments of the present application for solving the problem are similar to those of the network device in the embodiments of the method of the present application, and may refer to the principle and beneficial effects of implementation of the method, which are not described herein for brevity.

a receiving unit 920, configured to receive first information from a first terminal device, where the first information is used to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each of M terminal devices; m pieces of terminal equipment belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group comprises first terminal equipment; m is an integer greater than or equal to 1. And a transmitting unit 910 configured to transmit third information to the positioning function network element, where the third information includes part or all of the first information.

Optionally, the third information is carried in a second type of positioning signaling.

Optionally, the receiving unit 920 is further configured to receive second information sent by the positioning function network element, where the second information includes configuration information of positioning reference signals of M terminal devices, and the second information is transmitted through a second type of positioning signaling; the sending unit 910 is further configured to send the second information to the first terminal device through RRC signaling or MAC-CE or DCI.

The communication device 90 may also be used to implement other functions of the network device in the corresponding embodiment of fig. 7, which are not described herein. Based on the same inventive concept, the principle and beneficial effects of the communication device 90 provided in the embodiments of the present application for solving the problem are similar to those of the network device in the embodiments of the method of the present application, and may refer to the principle and beneficial effects of implementation of the method, which are not described herein for brevity.

In another implementation, the communication device 90 is a location function network element or a device that matches a location function network element:

a receiving unit 920, configured to receive first information from a network device, where the first information is used to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each of M terminal devices; m pieces of terminal equipment belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group comprises first terminal equipment; m is an integer greater than or equal to 1. A transmitting unit 910, configured to transmit second information, where the second information includes configuration information of positioning reference signals of M terminal devices.

Optionally, the sending unit 910 is further configured to send second information to the first terminal device; the second information is carried in the first type of positioning signaling; the first positioning group includes a first terminal device.

Optionally, the sending unit 910 is further configured to send second information to the network device, where the second information is carried in the second type of positioning signaling.

Optionally, the third information is carried in a second type of positioning signaling sent by the network device.

The communication device 90 may also be used to implement other functions of the positioning function network element in the corresponding embodiment of fig. 7, which will not be described herein. Based on the same inventive concept, the principle and beneficial effects of the communication device 90 provided in the embodiments of the present application for solving the problem are similar to those of the positioning function network element in the embodiments of the method of the present application, and may refer to the principle and beneficial effects of implementation of the method, which are not described herein for brevity.

In yet another implementation, the communication device 90 is a location function network element or a device that mates with a location function network element:

a receiving unit 920, configured to receive first information from a first terminal device, where the first information is used to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each of M terminal devices; m pieces of terminal equipment belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group comprises first terminal equipment; m is an integer greater than or equal to 1. A transmitting unit 910, configured to transmit second information to the first terminal device, where the second information includes configuration information of positioning reference signals of M terminal devices; the first positioning group includes a first terminal device.

Optionally, the first information is carried in a first type of positioning signaling and the second information is carried in the first type of positioning signaling.

The communication device 90 may also be used to implement other functions of the positioning function network element in the corresponding embodiment of fig. 8, which will not be described herein. Based on the same inventive concept, the principle and beneficial effects of the communication device 90 provided in the embodiments of the present application for solving the problem are similar to those of the positioning function network element in the embodiments of the method of the present application, and may refer to the principle and beneficial effects of implementation of the method, which are not described herein for brevity.

Referring to fig. 10, another communication device 100 according to an embodiment of the present application is provided. The communication device 100 may include a transceiver 1010 and a processor 1020. Optionally, the communication device may also include a memory 1030. Wherein the transceiver 1010, processor 1020, memory 1030 may be connected by a bus 1040 or otherwise. The bus is shown in fig. 10 with bold lines, and the manner in which other components are connected is merely illustrative and not limiting. The buses may be divided into address buses, data buses, control buses, etc. For ease of illustration, only one thick line is shown in fig. 10, but not only one bus or one type of bus.

The coupling in the embodiments of the present application is an indirect coupling or communication connection between devices, units, or modules, which may be in electrical, mechanical, or other forms for information interaction between the devices, units, or modules. The specific connection medium between the transceiver 1010, the processor 1020, and the memory 1030 is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

Memory 1030 may include read only memory and random access memory and provide instructions and data to processor 1020. A portion of memory 1030 may also include non-volatile random access memory.

The processor 1020 may be a central processing unit (central processing unit, CPU), the processor 1020 may also be other general purpose processors, digital signal processors (digital signal processor, DSP), application specific integrated circuits (application specific integrated circuit, ASIC), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, or the like. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor 1020 may be any conventional processor or the like.

In an alternative embodiment, memory 1030 is used for storing program instructions; a processor 1020 for invoking program instructions stored in memory 1030 for performing the steps performed by the first terminal device in the corresponding embodiment of fig. 6-8.

In another alternative embodiment, memory 1030 is used for storing program instructions; processor 1020 is configured to invoke program instructions stored in memory 1030 for performing steps performed by the network device in the corresponding embodiments of fig. 6-8.

In yet another alternative embodiment, memory 1030 is used for storing program instructions; processor 1020 is configured to invoke program instructions stored in memory 1030 for performing steps performed by the positioning function network element in the corresponding embodiments of fig. 6-8.

In the embodiments of the present application, the methods provided in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented by running a computer program (including program code) capable of executing the steps involved in the above-described methods on a general-purpose computing device such as a computer including a processing element such as a CPU, a random access storage medium (random access memory, RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), or the like, and a storage element. The computer program may be recorded on, for example, a computer-readable recording medium, and loaded into and run in the above-described computing device through the computer-readable recording medium.

Based on the same inventive concept, the principle and the beneficial effects of the communication device 100 for solving the problems provided in the embodiments of the present application are similar to those of the embodiments of fig. 6 to 8 of the present application, and may refer to the principle and the beneficial effects of implementation of the method, which are not described herein for brevity.

The communication device may be, for example: a chip, or a chip module.

The embodiment of the application also provides a chip, which can execute the relevant steps of the first terminal equipment in the embodiment of the method. For example, the chip is used for: transmitting first information, wherein the first information is used for requesting configuration information of positioning reference signals of each of M terminal devices; m pieces of terminal equipment belong to a first positioning group, wherein the first positioning group comprises first terminal equipment, and the first terminal equipment is used for sending first information; m is an integer greater than or equal to 1; receiving second information, wherein the second information comprises configuration information of positioning reference signals of M terminal devices; wherein the first information comprises at least one of: positioning request type information, group information of a first positioning group and positioning reference signal transmission ending information; the positioning request type information is used for indicating the positioning type of the request positioning; the group information of the first positioning group comprises group identification and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used for indicating the transmission end time of the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices.

In particular, in this case, the operations performed by the chip may be described with reference to the first terminal device in the embodiments corresponding to fig. 6 to 8.

In another implementation, the chip may perform the relevant steps of the network device in the foregoing method embodiment. For example, the chip is used for: receiving first information from a first terminal device, wherein the first information is used for requesting configuration information of positioning reference signals of each terminal device in M terminal devices; m pieces of terminal equipment belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group comprises first terminal equipment; m is an integer greater than or equal to 1; transmitting second information to the first terminal equipment, wherein the second information comprises configuration information of positioning reference signals of M terminal equipment; wherein the first information comprises at least one of: positioning request type information, group information of a first positioning group and positioning reference signal transmission ending information; the positioning request type information is used for indicating the positioning type of the request positioning; the group information of the first positioning group comprises group identification and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used for indicating the transmission end time of the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices.

In particular, in this case, the operations performed by the chip may refer to the description of the network device in the embodiment corresponding to fig. 6.

In another implementation, the chip may perform the relevant steps of the network device in the foregoing method embodiment. For example, the chip is used for: receiving first information from a first terminal device, wherein the first information is used for requesting configuration information of positioning reference signals of each terminal device in M terminal devices; m pieces of terminal equipment belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group comprises first terminal equipment; m is an integer greater than or equal to 1; transmitting third information to the positioning function network element, wherein the third information comprises part or all of the first information; wherein the first information comprises at least one of: positioning request type information, group information of a first positioning group and positioning reference signal transmission ending information; the positioning request type information is used for indicating the positioning type of the request positioning; the group information of the first positioning group comprises group identification and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used for indicating the transmission end time of the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices.

In particular, in this case, the operations performed by the chip may refer to the description of the network device in the embodiment corresponding to fig. 7.

In another implementation, the chip may perform the steps related to locating the functional network element in the foregoing method embodiment. For example, the chip is used for: receiving first information from a network device, wherein the first information is used for requesting configuration information of positioning reference signals of each of M terminal devices; m pieces of terminal equipment belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group comprises first terminal equipment; m is an integer greater than or equal to 1; transmitting second information, wherein the second information comprises configuration information of positioning reference signals of M terminal devices; wherein the first information comprises at least one of: positioning request type information, group information of a first positioning group and positioning reference signal transmission ending information; the positioning request type information is used for indicating the positioning type of the request positioning; the group information of the first positioning group comprises group identification and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used for indicating the transmission end time of the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices.

In this case, the operations performed by the chip may refer to the description of the positioning function network element in the embodiment corresponding to fig. 7.

In yet another implementation, the chip may perform the steps related to locating a functional network element in the foregoing method embodiment. For example, the chip is used for: receiving first information from a first terminal device, wherein the first information is used for requesting configuration information of positioning reference signals of each terminal device in M terminal devices; m pieces of terminal equipment belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group comprises first terminal equipment; m is an integer greater than or equal to 1; transmitting second information to the first terminal equipment, wherein the second information comprises configuration information of positioning reference signals of M terminal equipment; the first positioning group comprises a first terminal device; wherein the first information comprises at least one of: positioning request type information, group information of a first positioning group and positioning reference signal transmission ending information; the positioning request type information is used for indicating the positioning type of the request positioning; the group information of the first positioning group comprises group identification and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used for indicating the transmission end time of the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices.

In this case, the operations performed by the chip may refer to the description of the positioning function network element in the embodiment corresponding to fig. 8.

Referring to fig. 11, fig. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a chip module according to an embodiment of the present application. The chip module 11 may perform the steps related to the communication device 90 in the foregoing method embodiment, and the chip module includes: a communication interface 1110 and a chip 1120.

The communication interface is used for carrying out internal communication of the chip module or carrying out communication between the chip module and external equipment; the chip is used for realizing the functions of the communication device in the embodiment of the application, and particularly, the corresponding embodiment of fig. 6-8 is referred. Optionally, the chip module 11 may further include a memory module 1130 and a power module 1140. The memory module 1130 is used to store data and instructions. The power module 1140 is used to provide power to the chip module.

For each device and product applied to or integrated in the chip module, each module included in the device and product may be implemented by hardware such as a circuit, and different modules may be located in the same component (e.g. a chip, a circuit module, etc.) of the chip module or different components, or at least some modules may be implemented by using a software program, where the software program runs on a processor integrated in the chip module, and the remaining (if any) modules may be implemented by hardware such as a circuit.

Embodiments of the present application also provide a computer readable storage medium having one or more instructions stored therein, the one or more instructions being adapted to be loaded by a processor and to perform the methods provided by the method embodiments described above.

The present application also provides a computer program product comprising a computer program or instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method provided by the method embodiments described above.

With respect to each of the apparatuses and each of the modules/units included in the products described in the above embodiments, it may be a software module/unit, a hardware module/unit, or a software module/unit, and a hardware module/unit. For example, for each device or product applied to or integrated on a chip, each module/unit included in the device or product may be implemented in hardware such as a circuit, or at least part of the modules/units may be implemented in software program, where the software program runs on a processor integrated inside the chip, and the rest (if any) of the modules/units may be implemented in hardware such as a circuit; for each device and product applied to or integrated in the chip module, each module/unit contained in the device and product can be realized in a hardware manner such as a circuit, different modules/units can be located in the same component (such as a chip, a circuit module and the like) or different components of the chip module, or at least part of the modules/units can be realized in a software program, the software program runs on a processor integrated in the chip module, and the rest (if any) of the modules/units can be realized in a hardware manner such as a circuit; for each device, product, or application to or integrated with the terminal, each module/unit included in the device, product, or application may be implemented by using hardware such as a circuit, different modules/units may be located in the same component (for example, a chip, a circuit module, or the like) or different components in the terminal, or at least part of the modules/units may be implemented by using a software program, where the software program runs on a processor integrated inside the terminal, and the remaining (if any) part of the modules/units may be implemented by using hardware such as a circuit.

It should be noted that, for simplicity of description, the foregoing method embodiments are all expressed as a series of action combinations, but it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the present application is not limited by the described order of action, as some steps may take other order or be performed simultaneously according to the present application. Further, those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the embodiments described in the specification are all preferred embodiments, and that the acts and modules referred to are not necessarily required in the present application.

The steps in the method of the embodiment of the application can be sequentially adjusted, combined and deleted according to actual needs.

The modules in the device of the embodiment of the application can be combined, divided and deleted according to actual needs.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that all or part of the steps in the various methods of the above embodiments may be implemented by a program to instruct related hardware, the program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium, and the readable storage medium may include: flash disk, ROM, RAM, magnetic or optical disk, etc.

The foregoing disclosure is merely a preferred embodiment of the present application, but is merely a partial embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A positioning reference signal configuration method, comprising:

transmitting first information, wherein the first information is used for requesting configuration information of positioning reference signals of each of M pieces of terminal equipment; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, wherein the first positioning group comprises first terminal devices, and the first terminal devices are used for sending the first information; m is an integer greater than or equal to 1;

receiving second information, wherein the second information comprises configuration information of positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices;

wherein the first information includes at least one of: positioning request type information, namely group information of the first positioning group and positioning reference signal transmission ending information; the positioning request type information is used for indicating the positioning type of the request positioning; the group information of the first positioning group comprises group identification and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission ending information is used for indicating the transmission ending time of the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location type indicated by the location request type information is a single location or a plurality of locations.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the group member information comprises attribute information for each terminal device in the first set of positioning bits, the attribute information comprising at least one of: equipment identification, equipment type, indication information, positioning reference signal transmission requirement information and a positioning method; the indication information is used for indicating whether positioning reference signals are configured or not.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first information further comprises positioning requirement information and/or recommendation configuration information; the positioning requirement information is used for describing the positioning requirement of second terminal equipment in the first positioning group, and the second terminal equipment is the terminal equipment which requests positioning; the recommended configuration information is used for indicating configuration information of a positioning reference signal recommended by each terminal device in the first positioning group.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first terminal device is the same as or different from the second terminal device.

6. The method of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sending the first information comprises:

and sending first information to network equipment, wherein the first terminal equipment is in the network coverage range of the network equipment.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second information is carried in radio resource control, RRC, signaling or medium access control, MAC, CE, or downlink control information, DCI, sent by the network device, or in a first type of positioning signaling sent by a positioning function network element.

8. The method of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sending the first information comprises:

transmitting first information to a positioning function network element through a first type of positioning signaling;

the receiving the second information includes:

and receiving second information from the positioning function network element through the first type positioning signaling.

9. A positioning reference signal configuration method, the method comprising:

receiving first information from a first terminal device, wherein the first information is used for requesting configuration information of positioning reference signals of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group comprises the first terminal device; m is an integer greater than or equal to 1;

transmitting second information to the first terminal equipment, wherein the second information comprises configuration information of positioning reference signals of the M terminal equipment;

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second information is carried in radio resource control, RRC, signaling or medium access control element, MAC CE, or downlink control information, DCI, sent to the first terminal device.

11. A positioning reference signal configuration method, the method comprising:

Transmitting third information to a positioning function network element, wherein the third information comprises part or all of the first information;

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the third information is carried in a second type of positioning signaling.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving second information sent by the positioning function network element, wherein the second information comprises configuration information of positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices, and the second information is transmitted through a second type positioning signaling;

and sending the second information to the first terminal equipment through RRC signaling or MAC-CE or DCI.

14. A positioning reference signal configuration method, the method comprising:

receiving third information from the network device, wherein the third information comprises part or all of first information, and the first information is used for requesting configuration information of positioning reference signals of each of M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group; m is an integer greater than or equal to 1;

transmitting second information, wherein the second information comprises configuration information of positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices;

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the sending the second information comprises:

sending second information to the first terminal equipment; the second information is carried in the first type of positioning signaling; the first positioning group includes the first terminal device.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the sending the second information comprises:

and sending second information to the network equipment, wherein the second information is carried in the second type of positioning signaling.

17. A method according to any of claims 14 to 15, wherein the third information is carried in a second type of positioning signalling sent by the network device.

18. A positioning reference signal configuration method, the method comprising:

transmitting second information to the first terminal equipment, wherein the second information comprises configuration information of positioning reference signals of the M terminal equipment; the first positioning group comprises the first terminal equipment;

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first information is carried in a first type of positioning signaling and the second information is carried in the first type of positioning signaling.

20. A communication device, the communication device comprising:

a transmitting unit, configured to transmit first information, where the first information is used to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each of M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, wherein the first positioning group comprises first terminal devices, and the first terminal devices are used for sending the first information; m is an integer greater than or equal to 1;

a receiving unit, configured to receive second information, where the second information includes configuration information of positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices;

21. A communication device, the communication device comprising:

a receiving unit, configured to receive first information from a first terminal device, where the first information is used to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each of M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group comprises the first terminal device; m is an integer greater than or equal to 1;

a sending unit, configured to send second information to the first terminal device, where the second information includes configuration information of positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices;

22. A communication device, the communication device comprising:

a sending unit, configured to send third information to a positioning function network element, where the third information includes part or all of the first information;

23. A communication device, the communication device comprising:

a receiving unit, configured to receive third information from a network device, where the third information includes part or all of first information, where the first information is used to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each of M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group; m is an integer greater than or equal to 1;

A transmitting unit, configured to transmit second information, where the second information includes configuration information of positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices;

24. A communication device, the communication device comprising:

a sending unit, configured to send second information to the first terminal device, where the second information includes configuration information of positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices; the first positioning group comprises the first terminal equipment;

25. A communication device comprising a processor, a memory and a computer program or instructions stored on the memory, characterized in that the processor executes the computer program or instructions to implement the steps of the method of any one of claims 1-8, or to implement the steps of the method of any one of claims 9-10, or to implement the steps of the method of any one of claims 11-13, or to implement the steps of the method of any one of claims 14-17, or to implement the steps of the method of any one of claims 18-19.

26. A chip comprising a processor, characterized in that the processor performs the steps of the method of any one of claims 1-8, or the method of any one of claims 9-10, or the method of any one of claims 11-13, or the method of any one of claims 14-17, or the method of any one of claims 18-19.

27. A chip module, characterized in that the chip module comprises a communication interface and a chip, wherein: the communication interface is used for carrying out internal communication of the chip module or carrying out communication between the chip module and external equipment; the chip is adapted to perform the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1-8, or the steps of the method according to any one of claims 9-10, or the steps of the method according to any one of claims 11-13, or the steps of the method according to any one of claims 14-17, or the steps of the method according to any one of claims 18-19.

28. A computer readable storage medium, characterized in that it stores a computer program or instructions, which when executed, implements the steps of the method of any one of claims 1-8, or implements the steps of the method of any one of claims 9-10, or implements the steps of the method of any one of claims 11-13, or implements the steps of the method of any one of claims 14-17, or implements the steps of the method of any one of claims 18-19.