CN114630376A

CN114630376A - Positioning method and related equipment

Info

Publication number: CN114630376A
Application number: CN202011465874.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 刘慧锋; 周润泽
Original assignee: Shanghai Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Shanghai Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-12-14
Filing date: 2020-12-14
Publication date: 2022-06-14
Also published as: WO2022127503A1

Abstract

The embodiment of the application discloses a positioning method and related equipment, which are used for accurately measuring the position of UE (user equipment) under the condition that the UE is switched to a target cell. The method of the embodiment of the application comprises the following steps: and under the condition that the UE is switched from the source cell to the target cell, the location management network element LMF receives the indication message from the access and mobility management network element AMF and sends a request message to a target base station with a coverage range including the target cell according to the indication message, so that the target base station acquires a target measurement signal according to the request message. And the LMF receives a target measurement signal from the target base station and determines the position of the UE according to the target measurement signal.

Description

Positioning method and related equipment

Technical Field

The embodiment of the application relates to the field of communication, in particular to a positioning method and related equipment.

Background

In order to locate a User Equipment (UE), one current scheme is: the base station acquires a measurement signal of the UE and sends the measurement signal to a Location Management Function (LMF), and the LMF determines the location of the UE according to the measurement signal.

Under the condition that the UE leaves the coverage of the base station, the measurement signal is influenced by an overlong distance between the UE and the base station or a transmission environment at the distance, deviation occurs, the position of the UE cannot be truly reflected, and the positioning of the UE is inaccurate.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides a positioning method, which is used for acquiring a target measurement signal through a target base station with a coverage area including a target cell under the condition that UE is switched to the target cell, so that the position of the UE is accurately measured according to the target measurement signal.

A first aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a positioning method, where the method includes:

the LMF receives a source measurement signal from a source base station, wherein the source measurement signal is used for measuring the position of User Equipment (UE) residing in a source cell, and the coverage area of the source base station comprises the source cell. The LMF receives an indication message from an access and mobility management function (AMF), where the indication message is used to indicate that the UE is switched to a target cell, and the target cell belongs to a coverage area of a target base station. And the LMF sends a request message to the target base station, wherein the request message is used for the target base station to acquire the target measurement signal. The LMF receives a target measurement signal from a target base station, and the target measurement signal is used for measuring the position of the UE residing in the target cell.

In the embodiment of the application, the LMF determines that the UE is switched to the target cell according to the indication message from the AMF, so as to send a request message to the target base station, and obtain the target measurement signal according to the request message. The target measurement signal is acquired by the target base station and represents the transmission state of the reference signal between the UE and the target base station. Since the UE is in the target cell and the coverage of the target base station includes the target cell, the UE is in a range where the reference signal can be normally transmitted. Within this range, the reference signal can be normally transmitted, and the transmission state of the reference signal does not deviate from the expected transmission state, thereby ensuring the accuracy of positioning.

With reference to the first aspect, in a first implementation manner of the first aspect of the embodiments of the present application, the request message is used to instruct the target base station to allocate a channel Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) resource to the UE, where the SRS resource is used to transmit the SRS, so as to obtain the target measurement signal through the SRS.

With reference to the first aspect or the first implementation manner of the first aspect, in a second implementation manner of the first aspect of the present application, the indication message carries an identifier of the target cell.

With reference to the first aspect, the first implementation manner of the first aspect, or any one of the second implementation manner of the first aspect, in a third implementation manner of the first aspect of this embodiment of the present application, the indication message is obtained by the AMF according to a subscription request message, where the subscription request message is used to obtain cell handover information of the UE through a Radio Access Network (RAN).

In the embodiment of the present application, the AMF obtains a cell handover message of the UE through the RAN according to the subscription request message, and sends the cell handover message to the LMF once the RAN determines that the UE switches the cell. In the case where the RAN determines that the UE switches cells, the LMF does not need to acquire the cell switching message through other equipment or means, and is the simplest and fastest to acquire the cell switching message from the RAN.

With reference to the first aspect, the first implementation manner of the first aspect, or the second implementation manner of the first aspect, in a fourth implementation manner of the first aspect of the present embodiment, in a case that it is determined that the UE leaves the source cell according to the source measurement signal, the LMF sends a cell request message to the AMF, where the cell request message is used for the AMF to determine a target cell where the UE camps.

In the embodiment of the present application, in a case where a source cell and a target cell are both in a coverage area of the same base station, that is, in a case where the source base station is the target base station, switching of the base station is not caused by switching of a cell by the UE, and cell information to which the UE is switched cannot be acquired through the RAN. Through the determination of the LMF on the UE position, the cell information where the UE resides is obtained under the condition that the UE moves across cells under the same base station.

With reference to the first aspect and any one of the first to fourth implementation manners of the first aspect, in a fifth implementation manner of the first aspect of this embodiment of the present application, after the LMF receives the indication message from the AMF, the method further includes: and the LMF sends a stop notice to the source base station, wherein the stop notice is used for indicating the source base station to stop continuously acquiring the measurement signal of the UE.

In the embodiment of the application, it is determined that the UE is switched to the target cell, that is, the UE leaves the source cell, and the source base station is not required to acquire the measurement signal of the UE. The LMF sends a stop notification to the source base station to instruct the source base station to stop continuously acquiring the measurement signal of the UE, so that the calculation resource and the storage resource occupied by the source base station for acquiring the measurement signal of the UE can be saved.

With reference to the first aspect, or any one of the first to fifth implementation manners of the first aspect, in a sixth implementation manner of the first aspect of this embodiment of the present application, the source measurement signal includes at least one of a time of arrival (TOA) signal, a time difference of arrival (TDOA) signal, an angle of arrival (AOA) signal, and a Reference Signal Receiving Power (RSRP) signal.

With reference to the first aspect and any one of the first to sixth implementation manners of the first aspect, in a seventh implementation manner of the first aspect of this embodiment of the present application, the target measurement signal includes at least one of a time of arrival, TOA, time difference of arrival, TDOA, angle of arrival, AOA, and reference signal received power, RSRP, signal.

A second aspect of the embodiments of the present application provides a positioning method, including:

and the AMF receives a switching message, wherein the switching message is used for indicating the user equipment UE to be switched to the target cell. The AMF sends an indication message to a location management network element LMF, the indication message is used for indicating the UE to be switched to a second cell, the indication message is used for the LMF to receive a target measurement signal from a target base station, the target measurement signal is used for measuring the location of the UE residing in the target cell, and the coverage area of the target base station comprises the target cell.

For the beneficial effects of the second aspect of the embodiment of the present application, reference is made to the first aspect, which is not described herein again.

With reference to the second aspect, in a first implementation manner of the second aspect of the embodiments of the present application, the request message is used to instruct the target base station to allocate a channel sounding reference signal, SRS, resource for transmitting a channel sounding reference signal, SRS, to the UE, so as to obtain the target measurement signal through the channel sounding reference signal, SRS.

With reference to the second aspect or the first implementation manner of the second aspect, in a second implementation manner of the second aspect of the embodiment of the present application, the indication message carries an identifier of the target cell.

With reference to the second aspect, or any one of the first implementation manner of the second aspect or the second implementation manner of the second aspect, in a third implementation manner of the second aspect of this embodiment of the present application, before the receiving, by the AMF, the method further includes: and the AMF sends a subscription request message to the RAN, wherein the subscription request message is used for acquiring the cell switching information of the UE.

The receiving of the handover message by the AMF includes: and the AMF receives a cell switching message from the RAN, wherein the cell switching message is used for indicating the UE to be switched to a target cell.

The step of sending the indication message to the location management network element LMF by the AMF comprises the following steps: and the AMF sends an indication message to the LMF according to the cell switching message.

With reference to the second aspect, or any one of the first implementation manner of the second aspect or the second implementation manner of the second aspect, in a fourth implementation manner of the second aspect of this embodiment of the present application, the receiving, by the AMF, the handover message includes: and the AMF receives a cell request message from the LMF, wherein the cell request message is used for determining that a cell where the UE resides is a target cell.

With reference to the second aspect and any one of the fourth implementation manners of the first aspect to the second aspect of the second aspect, in a fifth implementation manner of the second aspect of the embodiment of the present application, the indication message is further used by the LMF to send a stop notification to the source base station, where the stop notification is used to stop the source base station from continuously acquiring the measurement signal of the UE.

With reference to the second aspect and any one of the fifth implementation manners of the first to second aspects of the second aspect, in a sixth implementation manner of the second aspect of the embodiments of the present application, the source measurement signal includes at least one of a time of arrival TOA signal, a time difference of arrival TDOA signal, an angle of arrival AOA signal, and a reference signal received power, RSRP, signal.

With reference to the second aspect and any one of the sixth implementation manners of the first to second aspects of the second aspect, in a seventh implementation manner of the second aspect of the embodiment of the present application, the target measurement signal includes at least one of a time of arrival TOA signal, a time difference of arrival TDOA signal, an angle of arrival AOA signal, and a reference signal received power RSRP signal.

A third aspect of the embodiments of the present application provides a location management network element LMF, including:

a first receiving unit, configured to receive a source measurement signal from a source base station, where the source measurement signal is used to measure a location of a user equipment UE camped on a source cell, and a coverage area of the source base station includes the source cell;

a second receiving unit, configured to receive an indication message from an access and mobility management network element AMF, where the indication message is used to indicate that the UE is switched to a target cell, and the target cell belongs to a coverage area of a target base station;

a first sending unit, configured to send a request message to the target base station, where the request message is used for the target base station to obtain a target measurement signal;

a third receiving unit, configured to receive the target measurement signal from the target base station, where the target measurement signal is used to measure a location of the UE camped on the target cell;

the LMF is for performing the method of the first aspect as described above.

A fourth aspect of the present embodiment provides an access and mobility management network element AMF, including:

a fourth receiving unit, configured to receive a handover message, where the handover message is used to instruct a UE to handover to a target cell;

a fourth sending unit, configured to send an indication message to a location management network element LMF, where the indication message is used to indicate that the UE is switched to a second cell, and the indication message is used for the LMF to receive a target measurement signal from a target base station, where the target measurement signal is used to measure a location of the UE residing in the target cell, and a coverage area of the target base station includes the target cell.

The LMF is for performing the method of the second aspect as previously described.

A fifth aspect of the present embodiment provides a location management network element LMF, including:

the system comprises a processor, a memory, an input and output device and a bus;

the processor, the memory and the input and output equipment are connected with the bus;

the processor is for use in the method of the first aspect.

A sixth aspect of the present embodiment provides an access and mobility management network element AMF, including:

a processor, a memory, an input-output device, and a bus;

the processor is for use in the method of the second aspect.

A seventh aspect of embodiments of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a program, and when the program is executed by the computer, the computer performs the method according to the first aspect or the second aspect.

An eighth aspect of embodiments of the present application provides a computer program product, which when executed on a computer, the computer executes the method of the first or second aspect.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a positioning system;

fig. 2 is a schematic flowchart of a positioning method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 3a is another schematic flow chart of a positioning method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 3b is another schematic flow chart of a positioning method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a location management network element according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of an access and mobility management network element according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 is another schematic structural diagram of a location management network element according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7 is another schematic structural diagram of an access and mobility management network element according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

The embodiment of the application provides a positioning method and related equipment, wherein when User Equipment (UE) is switched to a target cell, a target measurement signal of the UE is acquired through a target base station of which the coverage area comprises the target cell, so that the position of the UE is accurately measured according to the target measurement signal.

Referring to fig. 1, fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a positioning system, in which a first base station having a coverage area including a first cell transmits a channel sounding reference signal SRS to a UE when the UE resides in the first cell, and the first base station obtains a transmission state of the channel sounding reference signal SRS, where the transmission state is also referred to as a first measurement signal. The positioning base station sends the first measurement signal to a Location Management Function (LMF), and the LMF determines a location relationship between the first base station and the UE according to the first measurement signal, so as to determine the location of the UE. The AMF is used for transmitting information between the base station and the LMF. In the embodiments of the present application, the channel sounding reference signal SRS is also referred to as a reference signal.

When the UE moves away from the first base station, the distance between the UE and the first base station may be greater than the distance at which the reference signal can be normally transmitted, which causes an abnormality in acquiring the first measurement signal, thereby affecting the accuracy of the position relationship calculated according to the first measurement signal. For example, when the distance between the UE and the first base station is greater than a certain range, the reference signal cannot be successfully transmitted, so that the first base station cannot receive the reference signal, and the first measurement signal is obtained according to the noise signal and cannot reflect the position relationship between the UE and the first base station. Or, the distance between the UE and the base station is greater than the distance for normal transmission of the reference signal, which increases the influence of the environment on the reference signal in the transmission path, for example, the reference signal undergoes excessive refraction, diffraction, and the like, resulting in a transmission state of the reference signal being different from an expected transmission state, for example, the transmission time is lengthened, the arrival angle is shifted, the signal strength is excessively faded, and the like, thereby causing inaccurate positioning.

In order to solve the above problem, an embodiment of the present application provides a positioning method, which is used for switching a base station for providing a positioning service when a serving cell of a UE changes, so as to implement accurate positioning.

In the embodiment of the present application, the first base station is also referred to as a source base station, the first measurement signal is also referred to as a source measurement signal, and the first cell is also referred to as a source cell; the second base station is also referred to as a target base station, the second measurement signal is also referred to as a target measurement signal, and the second cell is also referred to as a target cell.

Referring to fig. 2, fig. 2 is a schematic flow chart of a positioning method according to an embodiment of the present application, where the positioning method according to the embodiment of the present application includes:

201. the UE transmits a reference signal to the first base station.

In order to locate a UE, in a case where the UE is camped on a first cell, the UE is required to transmit a reference signal to a first base station whose coverage includes the first cell.

In this embodiment, the UE may periodically transmit the reference signal to the first base station, for example, once every 10 seconds, and the transmission period may be other intervals besides 10 seconds, for example, 5 seconds, 12 seconds, and the like, which is not limited herein.

In the embodiment of the present application, the reference signal is used to determine a position relationship between the UE and the base station, for example, a distance between the UE and the base station, and besides the distance, the reference signal may also be used to determine a relative position between the UE and the base station, and the like, which is not limited herein.

Specifically, the transmission mode of the reference signal may be an event trigger mode, and the like, besides the periodic transmission, and is not limited herein.

202. The first base station sends a first TOA signal to the LMF.

The first base station, upon receiving the reference signal from the UE, may obtain a first time of arrival (TOA) signal according to the reference signal, and send the first TOA signal to the LMF.

Specifically, under the condition that the reference signals are periodically transmitted, the first base station may obtain a time when each reference signal reaches the first base station, generate a first TOA signal according to the time, and transmit the first TOA signal to the LMF.

In the embodiment of the present application, the first TOA signal is also referred to as a first measurement signal, and the first measurement signal is used for measuring the location of the UE camped on the first cell.

In the embodiment of the present application, the first measurement signal may be other types of measurement signals besides the TOA signal, such as a time difference of arrival (TDOA) signal, an angle of arrival (AOA) signal, or a Reference Signal Receiving Power (RSRP) signal, which is not limited herein.

Specifically, the process of acquiring the first measurement signal varies according to the type of the first measurement signal, and the process of acquiring the TOA signal is only taken as an example herein, and does not limit the manner of acquiring the first measurement signal.

203. The LMF determines the location of the UE according to the first TOA signal.

The LMF may determine a distance between the UE and the first base station according to the first TOA signal, thereby determining a location of the UE.

Specifically, the distance between the UE and the first base station may be determined according to a product of the single first TOA signal and a preset rate. In addition to the above, the distance between the UE and the first base station may also be determined by other manners, for example, the distance is determined according to a product of an average value of the first TOA signal and a preset rate, and the like, which is not limited herein.

In the embodiment of the present application, there may be a plurality of first base stations, and the LMF may determine the location of the UE according to the first measurement signals from different first base stations. For example, the distance between the UE and the different first base station is determined through the first TOA signals from the different first base station, so as to determine the location of the UE.

In the embodiment of the present application, the location of the UE may be determined in other manners besides by the distances between the UE and the plurality of first base stations, for example, by determining the relative positions between the UE and the plurality of first base stations, which is not limited herein.

In the embodiment of the present application, when the first measurement signal is not the TOA signal, the manner of determining the location of the UE is also adjusted accordingly. For example, when the first measurement signal is an AOA signal, a connection line between the UE and the first base station, an azimuth angle in a direction of due north relative to the first base station, and a location of the UE may be determined according to the first AOA signal, which is not limited herein.

204. The LMF receives the indication message from the AMF.

The LMF may receive an indication message from an access and mobility management function (AMF). The indication message is used for indicating the UE to switch to the second cell.

Optionally, the indication message may carry an identifier of the second cell.

205. The LMF sends a request message to the second base station.

And after receiving the indication message, the LMF may send a request message to a second base station whose coverage area includes the second cell, where the request message is used for the second base station to acquire the second measurement signal to determine the location of the UE.

Specifically, the request message is used to request the second base station to allocate a channel Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) resource for the UE, and the SRS resource is used to transmit the SRS between the UE and the second base station. In the embodiments of the present application, the SRS is also referred to as a reference signal.

206. The UE transmits a reference signal to the second base station.

The UE may send a reference signal to the second base station upon receiving the request message.

207. The second base station sends a second TOA signal to the LMF.

The second base station receives the reference signal from the UE, and may obtain a second TOA signal according to the reference signal, and send the second TOA signal to the LMF.

Specifically, under the condition that the reference signals are periodically transmitted, the second base station may obtain the time of arrival of each reference signal at the second base station, generate the second TOA signal according to the time, and transmit the second TOA signal to the LMF.

In the embodiment of the present application, the second TOA signal is also referred to as a second measurement signal, and the second measurement signal is used for measuring the location of the UE camped on the second cell.

In the embodiment of the present application, the second measurement signal may be other types of measurement signals besides the TOA signal, such as a TDOA signal, an AOA signal, or an RSRP signal, which is not limited herein.

208. And the LMF determines the position of the UE according to the second TOA signal.

The LMF may determine a distance between the UE and the first base station according to the second TOA signal, thereby determining a location of the UE.

Specifically, the LMF determines the UE position according to the second measurement signal, see step 203, where the LMF determines the UE position according to the first measurement signal, which is not described herein again.

209. The LMF sends a stop notification to the first base station.

Optionally, after determining that the UE is switched to the second cell, the LMF may further send a stop notification to the first base station, where the stop notification is used to stop the first base station from continuously acquiring the measurement signal of the UE.

In the embodiment of the present application, step 209 is optional, and step 209 may not be included in the method. When step 209 is included, step 209 may be performed before any of steps 205 to 208, as long as it is performed after step 204, and is not limited herein.

In the embodiment of the application, the LMF determines that the UE is switched to the second cell according to the indication message from the AMF, so as to send a request message to the second base station, and obtain the second measurement signal according to the request message. The second measurement signal is acquired by the second base station and represents a transmission state of the reference signal between the UE and the second base station. Since the UE is in the second cell and the coverage area of the second base station includes the second cell, the UE is in a range where the reference signal can be normally transmitted. Within the range, the reference signal can be normally transmitted, and the transmission state of the reference signal does not deviate from the expected transmission state, so that the positioning accuracy is ensured.

In this embodiment of the present application, step 204 may have two implementation manners, the first is to obtain through a Radio Access Network (RAN), and the second is to obtain an LMF request, which will be described below:

1. acquisition by the RAN.

Referring to fig. 3a, fig. 3a is a schematic flowchart of a positioning method according to an embodiment of the present application, and the schematic flowchart shown in fig. 3a is an addition and refinement to the steps of the method shown in fig. 2, and includes:

301a, the AMF sends a subscription request message to the radio access network RAN.

The AMF may send a subscription request message to the RAN, where the subscription request message is used to obtain a cell handover message of the UE, and the cell handover message is used to indicate a cell to which the UE is handed over.

302a, the RAN sends a cell handover message to the AMF.

And the RAN sends a cell switching message to the LMF under the condition that the UE is determined to be switched to the second cell, wherein the cell switching message indicates that the UE is switched to the second cell.

303a, the AMF sends an indication message to the LMF.

After receiving the cell switching message, the AMF may send an indication message to the LMF, where the indication message indicates that the UE is to be switched to the second cell.

In the embodiment of the present application, step 303a corresponds to step 204 in the embodiment shown in fig. 2, and step 301a and step 302a are implemented before step 303a, or, in the implementation example shown in fig. 2, step 301a and step 302a may be implemented before any one of step 201 to step 204, as long as they are implemented before step 204, and this is not limited herein.

2. The LMF requests acquisition.

Referring to fig. 3b, fig. 3b is a schematic flowchart of a positioning method according to an embodiment of the present application, and the schematic flowchart shown in fig. 3b is an addition to and a refinement of the steps of the method shown in fig. 2, and includes:

301b, the LMF determines that the UE leaves the first cell according to the first measurement signal.

In step 203, the LMF may determine the location of the UE according to the first measurement signal, and may determine that the UE leaves the first cell according to the first measurement signal.

Specifically, the LMF determines the location of the UE and determines whether the location of the UE belongs to the range of the first cell. When the location of the UE does not belong to the range of the first cell, the LMF may determine that the UE leaves the first cell.

302b, LMF sends a cell request message to AMF.

The LMF may send a cell request message to the AMF when determining that the UE leaves the first cell, where the cell request message is used by the AMF to determine a cell where the UE resides.

303b, the AMF sends an indication message to the LMF.

And the AMF determines that the UE resides in the second cell according to the cell request message, and sends an indication message to the LMF. The indication message indicates that the UE is handed over to the second cell.

In the embodiment of the present application, step 303b corresponds to step 204 of the embodiment shown in fig. 2, and step 301b and step 302b are implemented before step 303b, or, in the implementation example shown in fig. 2, step 301b and step 302b may be implemented before step 204 and must be implemented after step 203.

Referring to fig. 4, fig. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a location management network element according to an embodiment of the present application, where a structure of the location management network element LMF includes: a first receiving unit 401, a second receiving unit 402, a first transmitting unit 403 and a third receiving unit 404.

A first receiving unit 401, configured to receive a source measurement signal from a source base station, where the source measurement signal is used to measure a location of a user equipment UE camped on a source cell, and a coverage area of the source base station includes the source cell;

a second receiving unit 402, configured to receive an indication message from an access and mobility management network element AMF, where the indication message is used to indicate that the UE is switched to a target cell, and the target cell belongs to a coverage area of a target base station;

a first sending unit 403, configured to send a request message to a target base station, where the request message is used for the target base station to obtain a target measurement signal;

a third receiving unit 404, configured to receive a target measurement signal from the target base station, where the target measurement signal is used to measure a location of the UE camped on the target cell.

Optionally, in an implementation manner, the indication message carries an identifier of the target cell.

Optionally, in an implementation manner, the indication message is obtained by the AMF according to a subscription request message, and the subscription request message is used for obtaining cell handover information of the UE through the radio access network RAN.

Optionally, in an implementation manner, the LMF further includes a second sending unit 405, configured to send a cell request message to the AMF when it is determined that the UE leaves the source cell according to the source measurement signal, where the cell request message is used by the AMF to determine a target cell where the UE resides.

Optionally, in an implementation manner, the LMF further includes a third sending unit 406, configured to send a stop notification to the source base station, where the stop notification is used to instruct the source base station to stop continuously acquiring the measurement signal of the UE.

Optionally, in an implementation, the source measurement signal includes at least one of a time of arrival TOA signal, a time difference of arrival TDOA signal, an angle of arrival AOA signal, and a reference signal received power RSRP signal.

Optionally, in an implementation, the target measurement signal includes at least one of a time of arrival TOA signal, a time difference of arrival TDOA signal, an angle of arrival AOA signal, and a reference signal received power RSRP signal.

The location management network element LMF shown in figure 4 is adapted to perform the method in the embodiment shown in figure 2, figure 3a or figure 3b described above.

Referring to fig. 5, fig. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of an access and mobility management network element according to an embodiment of the present application, where a structure of the access and mobility management network element AMF includes: a fourth receiving unit 501 and a fourth transmitting unit 502.

A fourth receiving unit 501, configured to receive a handover message, where the handover message is used to instruct a UE to handover to a target cell;

a fourth sending unit 502, configured to send an indication message to a location management network element LMF, where the indication message is used to indicate that the UE is switched to the second cell, the indication message is used for the LMF to receive a target measurement signal from a target base station, the target measurement signal is used to measure a location of the UE residing in the target cell, and a coverage area of the target base station includes the target cell.

Optionally, in an implementation manner, the AMF further includes a fifth sending unit 503.

A fifth sending unit 503, configured to send a subscription request message to the RAN, where the subscription request message is used to acquire cell handover information of the UE.

The fourth receiving unit 501 is configured to receive a cell handover message from the RAN, where the cell handover message is used to indicate that the UE is handed over to the target cell.

The fourth sending unit 502 is configured to send an indication message to the LMF according to the cell switching message.

Optionally, in an implementation manner, the fourth receiving unit 501 is configured to receive a cell request message from the LMF, where the cell request message is used to determine that a cell where the UE resides is a target cell.

Optionally, in an implementation manner, the indication message is further used for the LMF to send a stop notification to the source base station, where the stop notification is used to stop the source base station from continuously acquiring the measurement signal of the UE.

The access and mobility management network element AMF shown in fig. 5 is adapted to perform the method in the embodiment shown in fig. 2, fig. 3a or fig. 3b described earlier.

Fig. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a location management network element according to an embodiment of the present application, where the location management network element 600 may include one or more Central Processing Units (CPUs) 601 and a memory 605, and the memory 605 stores one or more applications or data therein.

The memory 605 may be volatile storage or persistent storage, among other things. The program stored in the memory 605 may comprise one or more modules, each of which may comprise a sequence of instructions operating on a location management network element. Further, the central processor 601 may be arranged to communicate with the memory 605 to execute a series of instruction operations in the memory 605 on the location management network element 600.

The location management network element 600 may also include one or more power supplies 602, one or more wired or wireless network interfaces 603, one or more input-output interfaces 604, and/or one or more operating systems, such as Windows Server, Mac OS XTM, UnixTM, LinuxTM, FreeBSDTM, etc.

The location management network element 600 may perform the operations performed by the location management network element in the embodiments shown in fig. 2 to fig. 3b, which are not described herein again.

Fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of an access and mobility management network element AMF according to an embodiment of the present application, where the access and mobility management network element 700 may include one or more CPUs 701 and a memory 705, and the memory 705 stores one or more applications or data.

The memory 705 may be volatile storage or persistent storage, among others. The program stored in the memory 705 may comprise one or more modules, each of which may comprise a sequence of instructions operating on the access and mobility management network elements. Further, the central processor 701 may be arranged to communicate with the memory 705, and to execute a series of instruction operations in the memory 705 on the access and mobility management network element 700.

The access and mobility management network element 700 may also include one or more power supplies 702, one or more wired or wireless network interfaces 703, one or more input-output interfaces 704, and/or one or more operating systems, such as Windows Server, Mac OS XTM, UnixTM, LinuxTM, FreeBSDTM, etc.

The access and mobility management network element 700 may perform the operations performed by the access and mobility management network element in the embodiments shown in fig. 2 to fig. 3b, which are not described herein again in detail.

It is clear to those skilled in the art that, for convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the above-described systems, apparatuses and units may refer to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and are not described herein again.

In the several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, apparatus and method may be implemented in other manners. For example, the above-described apparatus embodiments are merely illustrative, and for example, the division of the units is only one logical division, and other divisions may be realized in practice, for example, a plurality of units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be omitted, or not executed. In addition, the shown or discussed mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection may be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, and may be in an electrical, mechanical or other form.

The units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and parts displayed as units may or may not be physical units, may be located in one place, or may be distributed on a plurality of network units. Some or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of the embodiment.

In addition, functional units in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist alone physically, or two or more units are integrated into one unit. The integrated unit can be realized in a form of hardware, and can also be realized in a form of a software functional unit.

The integrated unit, if implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as a stand-alone product, may be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Based on such understanding, the technical solution of the present application may be substantially implemented or contributed to by the prior art, or all or part of the technical solution may be embodied in a software product, which is stored in a storage medium and includes instructions for causing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device) to execute all or part of the steps of the method according to the embodiments of the present application. And the aforementioned storage medium includes: a U-disk, a portable hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or other various media capable of storing program codes.

Claims

1. A positioning method, applied to a location management network element LMF, the method comprising:

receiving a source measurement signal from a source base station, wherein the source measurement signal is used for measuring the position of User Equipment (UE) residing in a source cell, and the coverage area of the source base station comprises the source cell;

receiving an indication message from an access and mobility management network element AMF, wherein the indication message is used for indicating the UE to be switched to a target cell, and the target cell belongs to the coverage range of a target base station;

sending a request message to the target base station, wherein the request message is used for the target base station to acquire a target measurement signal;

receiving the target measurement signal from the target base station, the target measurement signal being used for measuring the location of the UE camped on the target cell.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication message carries an identity of the target cell.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the indication message is obtained by the AMF according to a subscription request message, and wherein the subscription request message is used for obtaining cell handover information of the UE through a radio access network RAN.

4. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein before said receiving an indication message from an access and mobility management element, AMF, said method further comprises:

sending a cell request message to the AMF, the cell request message being used for the AMF to determine the target cell where the UE resides, in case that it is determined from the source measurement signal that the UE leaves the source cell.

5. Method according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein after said receiving an indication message from an access and mobility management element, AMF, the method further comprises:

and sending a stop notice to the source base station, wherein the stop notice is used for indicating the source base station to stop continuously acquiring the measurement signal of the UE.

6. The method according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the source measurement signals comprise at least one of time of arrival (TOA) signals, angle of arrival (AOA) signals and Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) signals;

the target measurement signals include at least one of the TOA signals, the AOA signals, and the RSRP signals.

7. A positioning method, characterized in that the method is applied to an access and mobility management network element, AMF, and the method comprises:

receiving a switching message, wherein the switching message is used for indicating User Equipment (UE) to be switched to a target cell;

sending an indication message to a location management network element (LMF), where the indication message is used to indicate that the UE is switched to a second cell, the indication message is used for the LMF to receive a target measurement signal from a target base station, the target measurement signal is used to measure a location of the UE residing in the target cell, and a coverage area of the target base station includes the target cell.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the indication message carries an identity of the target cell.

9. The method of claim 7 or 8, wherein prior to receiving the handover message, the method further comprises:

sending a subscription request message to a Radio Access Network (RAN), wherein the subscription request message is used for acquiring cell switching information of the UE;

the receiving the handover message comprises:

receiving a cell handover message from the RAN, the cell handover message being used to indicate that the UE is handed over to the target cell;

the sending the indication message to the location management network element LMF includes:

and sending the indication message to the LMF according to the cell switching message.

10. The method of claim 7 or 8, wherein the receiving the handover message comprises:

receiving a cell request message from the LMF, wherein the cell request message is used for determining that a cell where the UE resides is the target cell.

11. The method as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the indication message is further used for the LMF to send a stop notification to the source base station, and the stop notification is used for stopping the source base station from continuing to acquire the measurement signal of the UE.

12. The method according to any of claims 7 to 11, wherein the source measurement signals comprise at least one of time of arrival (TOA) signals, angle of arrival (AOA) signals and Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) signals;

the target measurement signal comprises at least one of the TOA signal, the AOA signal, and the RSRP signal.

13. A location management network element, LMF, comprising:

a third receiving unit, configured to receive the target measurement signal from the target base station, where the target measurement signal is used to measure a location of the UE camped on the target cell.

14. An LMF according to claim 13, wherein the indication message carries an identity of the target cell.

15. An LMF according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the indication message is obtained by the AMF according to a subscription request message, the subscription request message being used for obtaining cell handover information of the UE via a Radio Access Network (RAN).

16. The LMF according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the LMF further comprises:

a second sending unit, configured to send a cell request message to the AMF when it is determined that the UE leaves the source cell according to the source measurement signal, where the cell request message is used by the AMF to determine the target cell where the UE is camped on.

17. An LMF according to any one of claims 13 to 16 wherein the LMF further comprises:

a third sending unit, configured to send a stop notification to the source base station, where the stop notification is used to instruct the source base station to stop continuing to acquire the measurement signal of the UE.

18. The LMF according to any of claims 13-17 wherein the source measurement signals comprise at least one of time of arrival, TOA, angle of arrival, AOA, and reference signal received power, RSRP, signals;

19. An access and mobility management network element, AMF, comprising:

20. The AMF of claim 19, wherein the indication message carries an identity of the target cell.

21. The AMF according to claim 19 or 20, further comprising:

a fifth sending unit, configured to send a subscription request message to a radio access network RAN, where the subscription request message is used to obtain cell handover information of the UE;

the fourth receiving unit is configured to:

the fourth sending unit is configured to:

22. The AMF of claim 19 or 20, wherein the fourth receiving unit is configured to:

23. The AMF of any of claims 19-22, wherein the indication message is further configured to send a stop notification to the source base station by the LMF, wherein the stop notification is configured to stop the source base station from continuing to acquire the measurement signal of the UE.

24. The AMF of any of claims 19 to 23, wherein the source measurement signals comprise at least one of time of arrival (TOA) signals, angle of arrival (AOA) signals and Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) signals;

25. A location management network element, LMF, comprising:

a processor, a memory, an input-output device, and a bus;

the processor is configured to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 6.

26. An access and mobility management network element, AMF, comprising:

a processor, a memory, an input-output device, and a bus;

the processor is configured to perform the method of any one of claims 7 to 12.

27. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that a program is stored in the computer-readable storage medium, which, when executed by the computer, performs the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

28. A computer program product, characterized in that when the computer program product is executed on a computer, the computer performs the method according to any of claims 1 to 12.