CN115066930B

CN115066930B - Method and device for switching network equipment

Info

Publication number: CN115066930B
Application number: CN202080096062.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 张宏平; 曾清海
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-02-20
Filing date: 2020-02-20
Publication date: 2023-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 2040-02-20
Also published as: CN115066930A; WO2021163977A1

Abstract

The application provides a method and a device for switching network equipment, which can be applied to a scene that terminal equipment is switched from source access network equipment to target access network equipment, thereby ensuring that the terminal equipment can complete switching and ensuring the positioning continuity. Specifically, the source access network device includes the first indication information in the handover request message, so that when the target access network device receives the first indication information, the source access network device knows that the source access network device continues to perform positioning based on the LMC on the terminal device. The switching request message is used for requesting to switch the terminal equipment to the target access network equipment. Further, the target access network device may send the positioning measurement result to the source access network device after receiving the positioning measurement result sent by the terminal device.

Description

Method and device for switching network equipment

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a method and an apparatus for switching network devices.

Background

In a mobile communication system, mobility management of a connected terminal device is controlled by a network device. For example, the network device may control which cell the terminal device switches to and how to switch, etc. Specifically, the terminal device may disconnect from the source access network device and access the target access network device by interacting with the source access network device or the target access network device.

Meanwhile, in the mobile communication system, in the positioning process, not only the participation of terminal equipment, but also the participation of access network equipment and core network equipment are required. For example, the terminal device needs to acquire a positioning reference signal sent by the access network device, and the access network device needs to acquire a positioning measurement result of the terminal device from the terminal device.

Therefore, in the handover scenario, if the terminal device is in a positioning state, how to guarantee the continuity of positioning is a problem to be solved.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides a method and a device for switching network equipment, which can ensure the continuity of positioning under a switching scene.

In a first aspect, the present application provides a method for switching network devices, the method comprising:

the source access network equipment sends a switching request message to the target access network equipment; wherein the handover request message is used for requesting to handover a terminal device to the target access network device, the terminal device being in a positioning state based on a positioning management component or a positioning management component (location management component, LMC); the handover request message includes first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate to continue to perform the LMC-based positioning on the terminal device at the source access network device;

The source access network equipment receives a switching request confirmation message sent by the target access network equipment; the source access network equipment sends an indication message to the terminal equipment; the indication message is used for indicating the terminal equipment to switch to the target access network equipment; and the source access network equipment receives a first message sent by the target access network equipment, wherein the first message comprises a positioning measurement result of the terminal equipment.

The technical scheme provided by the application is as follows: the method can be applied to the scene that the terminal equipment is switched from the source access network equipment to the target access network equipment, so that the terminal equipment can be switched, and the positioning continuity is ensured. Specifically, the source access network device includes the first indication information in the handover request message, so that when the target access network device receives the first indication information, the source access network device knows that the source access network device continues to perform positioning based on the LMC on the terminal device. Further, the target access network device may send the positioning measurement result to the source access network device after receiving the positioning measurement result sent by the terminal device.

In one possible implementation manner, before the source access network device sends the handover request message to the target access network device, the method further includes: the source access network device determines to continue performing the LMC-based positioning of the terminal device at the source access network device when any one or more of the following conditions are satisfied:

the target access network device does not support the LMC-based positioning; or the target access network equipment does not meet the positioning service quality QoS requirement of the terminal equipment; or the location type of the location based on the LMC is a location request RI-LR triggered by a wireless access network.

In one possible implementation manner, before the source access network device sends the handover request message to the target access network device, the method further includes: the source access network equipment receives a second message sent by the target access network equipment; wherein the second message includes whether the target access network device supports the LMC-based positioning and/or positioning QoS information supported by the target access network device.

In one possible implementation manner, after the source access network device receives the first message sent by the target access network device, the method further includes: and the source access network equipment determines the position information of the terminal equipment according to the positioning measurement result.

In one possible implementation manner, after the source access network device receives the first message sent by the target access network device, the method further includes:

the source access network device sends a third message to the target access network device, wherein the third message is used for indicating that the positioning based on the LMC is finished; the source access network equipment receives a context release message sent by the target access network equipment; or,

the source access network device sends a fourth message to the target access network device, where the fourth message is used to indicate that the context of the terminal device has been released.

In one possible implementation manner, the second message is any one of an Xn establishment request message, an Xn establishment response message, or an access network node configuration update message.

In a second aspect, the present application provides a method for switching network devices, the method comprising:

the target access network equipment receives a switching request message sent by the source access network equipment; the switching request message is used for requesting to switch the terminal equipment to the target access network equipment, and the terminal equipment is in a positioning state based on a positioning management component LMC; the handover request message includes first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate to continue to perform the LMC-based positioning on the terminal device at the source access network device;

The target access network equipment sends a switching request confirmation message to the source access network equipment; the target access network equipment receives a fifth message sent by the terminal equipment, wherein the fifth message comprises a positioning measurement result of the terminal equipment; and the target access network equipment sends a first message to the source access network equipment, wherein the first message comprises a positioning measurement result of the terminal equipment.

In one possible implementation manner, before the target access network device receives the handover request message sent by the source access network device, the method further includes: the target access network equipment sends a second message to the source access network equipment; wherein the second message includes whether the target access network device supports the LMC-based positioning and/or positioning QoS information supported by the target access network device.

In one possible implementation manner, after the target access network device sends the first message to the source access network device, the method further includes:

the target access network equipment receives a third message sent by the source access network equipment, wherein the third message is used for indicating that the LMC-based positioning is finished; the target access network device sends a context release message to the source access network device; or,

The target access network device receives a fourth message sent by the source access network device, where the fourth message is used to indicate that the context of the terminal device has been released.

In a third aspect, the present application provides a method for switching network devices, the method comprising:

the source access network equipment sends a switching request message to the target access network equipment; the switching request message is used for requesting to switch the terminal equipment to the target access network equipment, the terminal equipment is in a positioning state based on a positioning management component (LMC), and the switching request message comprises the positioning information based on the LMC;

the source access network equipment receives a switching request confirmation message sent by the target access network equipment, wherein the switching request confirmation message comprises second indication information which is used for indicating the source access network equipment to continue to execute the LMC-based positioning on the terminal equipment;

the source access network equipment sends an indication message to the terminal equipment, wherein the indication message is used for indicating the terminal equipment to switch to the target access network equipment; the source access network equipment receives a first message sent by the target access network equipment, wherein the first message comprises a positioning measurement result of the terminal equipment.

In one possible implementation, the LMC-based positioning information includes one or more of positioning context information of the terminal device, positioning quality of service QoS requirements or a positioning type of the terminal device.

In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a method for switching network devices, where the method includes:

The target access network equipment receives a switching request message sent by the source access network equipment; the switching request message is used for requesting to switch the terminal equipment to the target access network equipment, the terminal equipment is in a positioning state based on a positioning management component (LMC), and the switching request message comprises the positioning information based on the LMC;

the target access network device sends a switching request confirmation message to the source access network device, wherein the switching request confirmation message comprises second indication information, and the second indication information is used for indicating the source access network device to continue to execute the positioning based on the LMC of the terminal device;

the target access network equipment receives a fifth message sent by the terminal equipment, wherein the fifth message comprises a positioning measurement result of the terminal equipment; and the target access network equipment sends a first message to the source access network equipment, wherein the first message comprises a positioning measurement result of the terminal equipment.

In one possible implementation manner, before the target access network device sends a handover request acknowledgement message to the source access network device, the method further includes: the target access network device determining to continue performing the LMC-based positioning of the terminal device at the source access network device when any one or more of the following conditions are met;

In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a method for switching network devices, the method comprising:

The source access network equipment receives a switching request confirmation message sent by the target access network equipment; and the source access network equipment sends an indication message to the terminal equipment, wherein the indication message is used for indicating switching to the target access network equipment.

In one possible implementation, the LMC-based positioning information includes any one or more of positioning context information of the terminal device, a positioning quality of service QoS requirement of the terminal device, a positioning type, an identification ID of the source access network device, a positioning association identification ID allocated by the source access network device, or an interface application protocol identification ID allocated by the LMC.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the source access network equipment receives the position information of the terminal equipment sent by the target access network equipment; and the source access network equipment receives the context release message sent by the target access network equipment.

In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a method for switching network devices, the method comprising:

The target access network equipment sends a switching request confirmation message to the source access network equipment; and the target access network equipment receives the position information of the terminal equipment sent by the LMC.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the target access network equipment sends the position information of the terminal equipment to the source access equipment; and the target access network equipment sends a context release message to the source access network equipment.

In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a method for switching network devices, the method comprising:

the method comprises the steps that a location management component LMC receives a request message sent by target access network equipment; the request message comprises a positioning association identification ID allocated by source access network equipment and/or an interface application protocol identification ID allocated by the LMC;

Determining a positioning context of the terminal equipment based on the positioning association identification ID and/or the interface application protocol identification ID;

and the LMC sends a response message to the target access network equipment.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the LMC receives a fifth message sent by the terminal equipment, wherein the fifth message comprises a positioning measurement result of the terminal equipment; the LMC determines the position information of the terminal equipment according to the positioning measurement result of the terminal equipment; and the LMC sends the position information of the terminal equipment to the target access network equipment.

In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a communication device for performing the method of the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect. In particular, the communication device comprises a corresponding unit with means for performing the method of the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect.

In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a communications apparatus for performing the method of the third aspect or any possible implementation of the third aspect. In particular, the communication device comprises a respective unit with means for performing the method of the third aspect or any possible implementation of the third aspect.

In a tenth aspect, the present application provides a communication device for performing the method of the fifth aspect or any possible implementation of the fifth aspect. In particular, the communication device comprises a respective unit with means for performing the method of the fifth aspect or any possible implementation of the fifth aspect.

Optionally, the communication apparatus of the eighth aspect, the ninth aspect and the tenth aspect above include a source access network device.

In an eleventh aspect, the present application provides a communication device for performing the method of the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect. In particular, the communication device comprises a respective unit with means for performing the method of the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect.

In a twelfth aspect, the application provides a communications device for performing the method of the fourth aspect or any possible implementation of the fourth aspect. In particular, the communication device comprises a respective unit with means for performing the method in the fourth aspect or any possible implementation of the fourth aspect.

In a thirteenth aspect, the present application provides a communication device for performing the method of the sixth aspect or any possible implementation of the sixth aspect. In particular, the communication device comprises a respective unit with means for performing the method of the sixth aspect or any possible implementation of the sixth aspect.

Optionally, the communication apparatus of the eleventh aspect, the twelfth aspect and the thirteenth aspect above include a target access network device.

In a fourteenth aspect, the present application provides a communications device for performing the method of the seventh aspect or any possible implementation of the seventh aspect. In particular, the communication device comprises a respective unit with means for performing the method of the seventh aspect or any possible implementation of the seventh aspect.

Optionally, the communication device comprises an LMC.

In a fifteenth aspect, the present application provides a communications device comprising a processor, a memory and a transceiver for receiving signals or transmitting signals; the memory is used for storing program codes;

the processor is configured to invoke the program code to perform the method according to the first aspect or the various possible implementations of the first aspect; alternatively, the processor is configured to invoke the program code to perform the method according to the third aspect or the various possible implementations of the third aspect; alternatively, the processor is configured to invoke the program code to perform the method according to the fifth aspect or the various possible implementations of the fifth aspect.

In a sixteenth aspect, the present application provides a communication device comprising a processor, a memory and a transceiver for receiving signals or transmitting signals; the memory is used for storing program codes;

the processor is configured to invoke the program code to perform the method according to the second aspect or the various possible implementations of the second aspect; alternatively, the processor is configured to invoke the program code to perform the method according to the fourth aspect or the various possible implementations of the fourth aspect; alternatively, the processor is configured to invoke the program code to perform the method according to the sixth aspect or the various possible implementation manners of the sixth aspect.

In a seventeenth aspect, the present application provides a communication device comprising a processor and an interface circuit; the interface circuit is used for receiving code instructions;

the processor is configured to execute the code instructions to cause the communication device to perform the method as described in the first aspect or various possible implementations of the first aspect; alternatively, the processor is configured to execute the code instructions to cause the communication device to perform the method as described in the third aspect or various possible implementations of the third aspect; alternatively, the processor is configured to execute the code instructions to cause the communication device to perform the method as described in the fifth aspect or the various possible implementations of the fifth aspect.

In an eighteenth aspect, the present application provides a communication device comprising a processor and an interface circuit; the interface circuit is used for receiving code instructions;

the processor is configured to execute the code instructions to cause the communication device to perform the method according to the second aspect or the various possible implementations of the second aspect; alternatively, the processor is configured to execute the code instructions to cause the communication device to perform the method as described in the fourth aspect or various possible implementations of the fourth aspect; alternatively, the processor is configured to execute the code instructions to cause the communication device to perform the method according to the sixth aspect or the various possible implementations of the sixth aspect.

In a nineteenth aspect, the present application provides a communication device comprising a processor and an interface circuit; the interface circuit is used for receiving code instructions; the processor is configured to execute the code instructions to cause the communication device to perform the method according to the seventh aspect or the various possible implementations of the seventh aspect.

In a twentieth aspect, the present application provides a computer readable storage medium storing instructions or a computer program which, when executed, cause the method of the first aspect or the various possible implementations of the first aspect to be implemented; or, when executed, cause the method of the third aspect or various possible implementations thereof to be implemented; or, when executed, cause the method of the fifth aspect or the various possible implementations of the fifth aspect to be implemented.

In a twenty-first aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing instructions or a computer program which, when executed, cause the method of the second aspect or the various possible implementations of the second aspect to be implemented; or, when executed, cause the method of the fourth aspect or various possible implementations of the fourth aspect to be implemented; or, when executed, causes the method of the sixth aspect or the various possible implementations of the sixth aspect to be implemented.

In a twenty-second aspect, the present application provides a computer readable storage medium for storing instructions or a computer program which, when executed, cause the method of the seventh aspect or the various possible implementations of the seventh aspect to be implemented.

In a twenty-third aspect, the present application provides a computer program product comprising instructions or a computer program which, when executed, cause the method of the first aspect or of the various possible implementations of the first aspect to be carried out; or, when executed, cause the method of the third aspect or various possible implementations thereof to be implemented; or, when executed, cause the method of the fifth aspect or the various possible implementations of the fifth aspect to be implemented.

In a twenty-fourth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product comprising instructions or a computer program which, when executed, cause the method of the second aspect or the various possible implementations of the second aspect to be implemented; or, when executed, cause the method of the fourth aspect or various possible implementations of the fourth aspect to be implemented; or, when executed, causes the method of the sixth aspect or the various possible implementations of the sixth aspect to be implemented.

In a twenty-fifth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product comprising instructions or a computer program which, when executed, cause the method of the seventh aspect or the various possible implementations of the seventh aspect to be implemented.

In a twenty-sixth aspect, the present application provides a computer program for performing the method of the first aspect or various possible implementations of the first aspect; or, a method for performing the third aspect or various possible implementations of the third aspect; or for performing the method of the fifth aspect or various possible implementations of the fifth aspect.

In a twenty-seventh aspect, the present application provides a computer program for performing the method of the second aspect or the various possible implementations of the second aspect; alternatively, a method as described for performing the fourth aspect or various possible implementations of the fourth aspect; alternatively, the method according to the sixth aspect or various possible implementations of the sixth aspect is performed.

In a twenty-eighth aspect, the present application provides a computer program for performing the method of the seventh aspect or the various possible implementations of the seventh aspect.

In a twenty-ninth aspect, the present application provides a communication system, comprising a source access network device for performing the method of the first aspect and a target access network device for performing the method of the second aspect; alternatively, the source access network device is configured to perform the method according to the third aspect, and the target access network device is configured to perform the method according to the fourth aspect; alternatively, the source access network device is configured to perform the method according to the fifth aspect, and the target access network device is configured to perform the method according to the sixth aspect.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a positioning architecture based on wireless communication according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 2 is a schematic architecture diagram of a radio access network (radio access network, NG RAN) provided by an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a protocol stack involved in interaction between different network elements according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 4 is a schematic flow chart of a positioning method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5a is a schematic diagram of a network architecture according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5b is a schematic diagram of a network architecture according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5c is a schematic diagram of a network architecture according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6a is a schematic diagram of a protocol stack involved in interaction between different network elements according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6b is a schematic diagram of a protocol stack involved in interaction between different network elements according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7 is a schematic flow chart of a switching method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 8 is a flowchart of a method for switching network devices according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of interaction between base stations according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 10 is a flowchart of a method for switching network devices according to an embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 11 is a flowchart of a method for switching network devices according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 12 is a flowchart of a method for switching network devices according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 13 is a flowchart of a method for switching network devices according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 14 is a flowchart of a method for switching network devices according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 15 is a flowchart of a method for switching network devices according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 16 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 17 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present application more apparent, the present application will be further described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The terms first and second and the like in the description, in the claims and in the drawings are used for distinguishing between different objects and not for describing a particular sequential order. Furthermore, the terms "comprise" and "have," as well as any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of steps or elements is not limited to only those listed steps or elements but may include other steps or elements not listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

Reference herein to "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the application. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Those of skill in the art will explicitly and implicitly appreciate that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

In the present application, "at least one (item)" means one or more, "a plurality" means two or more, "at least two (items)" means two or three and more, "and/or" for describing an association relationship of an association object, and three kinds of relationships may exist, for example, "a and/or B" may represent: only a, only B and both a and B are present, wherein a, B may be singular or plural. The character "/" generally indicates that the context-dependent object is an "or" relationship. "at least one of" or the like means any combination of these items, including any combination of single item(s) or plural items(s). For example, at least one (one) of a, b or c may represent: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c", wherein a, b, c may be single or plural.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a positioning architecture based on wireless communication according to an embodiment of the present application, as shown in fig. 1, where the positioning architecture mainly includes: radio access network radio access network, RAN), terminal equipment and core network. In particular, the core network includes a location management function (location management function, LMF), an access and mobility management function (access and mobility management function, AMF), a service location protocol (service location protocol, SLP), and an evolved serving mobile location center (evolved serving mobile location centre, E-SMLC), among others.

Wherein the LMF is responsible for supporting different types of location services related to the target terminal device, including positioning of the terminal device and communicating assistance data to the terminal device. For example, the LMF and the access network device interact with each other via New Radio (NR) positioning protocol attachment protocol (NR positioning protocol annex, NRPPa) messages to obtain positioning reference signals (positioning reference signals, PRS), sounding reference signal (sounding reference signal, SRS) configuration information, cell timing, cell location information, and so on. As another example, UE capability information transfer, assistance information transfer, measurement information transfer, etc. is performed between the LMF and the terminal device via long term evolution (long term evolution, LTE) positioning protocol (LTE positioning protocol, LPP) messages.

The AMF may receive a location services request associated with the target terminal device from a fifth generation core network location services (5th generation core network location services,5GC LCS) entity; alternatively, the AMF itself may initiate some location services on behalf of the target terminal device and send a location service request to the LMF. And after the AMF obtains the position information of the terminal equipment, the position information of the terminal equipment is returned to the 5GC LCS entity.

In particular, the RAN includes access network equipment, which may be next generation node bs (next generation node B, gNB), next generation evolved base stations (next generation evolved nodeB, ng-eNB), or access network equipment in future 6G communications, as shown in fig. 2. The gNB and the NG-eNB are connected through an Xn interface (or an Xn-C interface), and the LMF and the NG-eNB/gNB are connected through an NG-C (note 2) interface.

The access network device may be any device having a wireless transceiver function including, but not limited to, the base station shown above. The base station may also be a base station in a future communication system, such as a sixth generation communication system. Optionally, the access network device may also be an access node, a wireless relay node, a wireless backhaul node, etc. in a wireless local area network (wireless fidelity, wiFi) system. Optionally, the access network device may also be a radio controller in the cloud radio access network (cloud radio access network, CRAN) scenario. Optionally, the access network device may also be a wearable device or an in-vehicle device, etc. Alternatively, the access network device may also be a small station, a transmission receiving node (transmission reception point, TRP) (or may also be referred to as a transmission point), etc. It will be appreciated that the access network device may also be a base station in a future evolved public land mobile network (public land mobile network, PLMN), or the like. For convenience of description, the method or network architecture according to the embodiments of the present application will be described below by taking an access network device as an example of a base station.

Further, in some deployments, as shown in fig. 2, a base station (e.g., a gNB) may be composed of a Centralized Unit (CU) and a Distributed Unit (DU). Namely, the functions of the base stations in the access network are split, part of the functions of the base stations are deployed on one CU, and the rest of the functions are deployed on DUs. And a plurality of DUs share one CU, so that the cost can be saved, and the network expansion is easy.

For example, the segmentation of CUs and DUs may be performed by a protocol stack segmentation with a radio resource control (radio resource control, RRC) layer, a service data adaptation protocol (service data adaptation protocol, SDAP) layer, and a packet data convergence protocol (packet data convergence protocol, PDCP) layer deployed at CUs, and the remaining radio link control (radio link control, RLC) layer, medium access control (media access control, MAC) layer, and physical layer deployed at DUs. The CU and DU can be connected through an F1 interface. The CU represents that the gNB is connected to the core network through an NG interface (or NG-C interface), and the CU represents that the gNB is connected to other gnbs through an Xn interface.

For another example, CUs may also be divided into CU-Control Planes (CPs) and CU-User Planes (UPs) (not shown in FIG. 1). The CU-CP is responsible for the control plane function and mainly comprises PDCP corresponding to the RRC and the control plane, namely PDCP-C. The PDCP-C is mainly responsible for encryption and decryption of control plane data, integrity protection, data transmission and the like. The CU-UP is responsible for the function of the user plane and mainly comprises SDAP and PDCP corresponding to the user plane, namely PDCP-U. Wherein, CU-CP and CU-UP can be connected through E1 interface. It will be appreciated that the types of base stations shown above are merely examples, and that other types of base stations may exist in a specific implementation, and embodiments of the present application are not limited.

In particular, the terminal device may measure downlink signals from the NG RAN and other sources to support positioning. The gNB/ng-eNB may provide measurement information for the target terminal device and send the measurement information to the LMF.

It is understood that the terminal device may also be referred to as a User Equipment (UE), a terminal, etc. The terminal equipment is equipment with a wireless receiving and transmitting function, can be deployed on land, and comprises indoor or outdoor, handheld, wearable or vehicle-mounted; the device can also be deployed on the water surface, such as a ship, etc.; but may also be deployed in the air, for example on an aircraft, balloon or satellite, etc. The terminal device may be a mobile phone, a tablet (Pad), a computer with a wireless transceiving function, a Virtual Reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (augmented reality, AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal in industrial control (industrial control), a wireless terminal in unmanned driving (self driving), a wireless terminal in remote medical (remote medium), a wireless terminal in smart grid (smart grid), a wireless terminal in transportation security (transportation safety), a wireless terminal in smart city (smart city), a wireless terminal in smart home (smart home), or the like.

It is understood that the terminal device may also be a terminal device in a future 6G network or a terminal device in a future evolved PLMN, etc. Optionally, in the communication system shown in fig. 1, the terminal device and the terminal device may also communicate through a device-to-device (D2D), a vehicle-to-device-to-anything (V2X), or a machine-to-machine (machine to machine, M2M) technology, and the embodiment of the present application does not limit a communication method between the terminal device and the terminal device.

For convenience of description, a method or a network architecture according to an embodiment of the present application will be described below by taking a terminal device as an example.

Based on the positioning architecture shown in fig. 1, the information interaction between different network elements is as follows:

fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a protocol stack involved in LMF interaction with a UE. As shown in fig. 3, the UE and the NG RAN are connected through an NR-Uu interface or an LTE-Uu interface, and a protocol stack used for interacting with the NG RAN on the UE side sequentially includes, from top to bottom: LPP, non-access stratum (NAS), radio resource control (radio resource control, RRC), packet data convergence protocol (packet data convergence protocol, PDCP), radio link control (radio link control, RLC), medium access control (medium access control, MAC), layer (L) 1. The protocol stack used by the NG RAN side for interacting with the UE sequentially comprises the following steps from top to bottom: RRC, PDCP, RLC, MAC, ll. The NG RAN and the AMF are connected through an NG-C interface, and a protocol stack for interaction with the AMF at the NG RAN side sequentially comprises: 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 protocol stack for interaction with the NG RAN on the AMF side sequentially comprises, from top to bottom: NAS, NGAP, SCTP, IP, L2, L1. The AMF and the LMF are connected through a NLs interface, and a protocol stack for interaction with the LMF at the AMF side sequentially comprises the following components from top to bottom: hypertext transfer protocol 2.0 ((hyper text transfer protocol, HTTP/2), transport layer security (transport layer security, TLS), transport control protocol (transmission control protocol, TCP), IP, L2, L1.Lmf side protocol stacks for interacting with AMF include LPP, HTTP/2, TLS, TCP, IP, L2, L1 in order from top to bottom.

As can be seen from the protocol stack shown in fig. 3: the information exchange between the LMF and the UE is carried by LPP messages transmitted over the Uu interface and NG-C interface. For example, in the case that the LPP message at the UE side is encapsulated in non-access stratum (NAS) signaling, the NAS signaling received by the UE by the base station (i.e., the base station does not know that the LPP message is sent by the UE) is forwarded to the AMF, and the AMF analyzes the NAS signaling to obtain the LPP message and sends the LPP message to the LMF. Similarly, the LPP message sent from the LMF side is encapsulated in NAS signaling, and the base station directly goes to the UE after receiving NAS signaling of the UE (i.e., the base station does not know the LPP message contained in the received NAS signaling). The exchange of information between the LMF and the base station is carried by NRPPa messages transmitted over the NG-C interface. The information exchange between the LMF and the base station is understood here as: the LMF needs to obtain some information from the base station, or the base station needs to obtain some information from the LMF, etc., instead of simply forwarding the information.

Further, based on the positioning architecture shown in fig. 1, the embodiment of the present application further provides a flowchart of a positioning method, as shown in fig. 4, where the method at least includes:

401. the location initiation sends a location service request (location service request) to the AMF requesting to obtain the location of the target UE.

Alternatively, the step 401 may be replaced by: the serving AMF of the target UE needs to acquire the location of the target UE for some reason (such as emergency call) or the like.

Alternatively, depending on the location initiator, the location may include the following four location types (or location scenarios):

1) A positioning request (mobile originated location request, MO-LR) initiated by the terminal is that the UE initiates a request to acquire the position information of the UE;

2) A terminal terminated positioning request (mobile terminated location request, MT-LR) is a third party initiated request to obtain location information of the UE;

3) Network triggered positioning request (network induced location request, NI-LR) is a request initiated by a serving core network (such as AMF) of a UE to obtain location information of the UE;

4) A radio access network triggered positioning request (RAN Induced Location Request, RI-LR) is a request initiated by an access network (e.g., a base station) of a UE to obtain location information of the UE. The location requester in step 401 of the method shown in fig. 4 is only an example.

It is to be appreciated that the location initiator can also be referred to as a location client (client). The third party may comprise an internet server, such as a server sharing bicycle software, or the like.

402. If the UE is in an idle state, the AMF sends paging to enable the UE to enter a connection state; and the AMF sends a location services request to the LMF.

403. The LMF initiates the positioning process. For example, the LMF obtains the positioning capability of the UE from the UE; acquiring positioning measurements or assistance information from a serving base station (e.g., NG-RAN as shown in fig. 4); acquiring a position or location measurement from the UE; or send positioning assistance information to the UE, etc.

Wherein the positioning capability of the UE, the positioning measurement result obtained from the UE, and the positioning assistance information may be contained in the LPP message. The positioning measurements or assistance information obtained from the serving base station may be contained in the NRPPa message.

404. The LMF determines the position of the UE based on the positioning measurement result of the UE or the base station; and transmits the location of the UE to the AMF in a location services response (location service response) message.

405. The AMF sends the position of the UE to a positioning initiator; or the location of the UE is used for emergency calls.

From the above, it can be seen that: the message interaction between the LMF and the UE needs to go through the AMF and the access network device, resulting in a larger delay.

Thus, in order to reduce latency, positioning functions (such as those of the LMF) may be put to the access network, referred to as a positioning management component or positioning management component (location management component, LMC). Fig. 5a, fig. 5b, and fig. 5c are schematic diagrams of a network architecture according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 5a, the LMC can function as a function inside the base station without introducing a new interface. As shown in fig. 5b, the LMC may be connected to the base station through a new interface as a logical node. For example, the new interface may be referred to as itf, etc., and the name of the new interface is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. Further, the LMC may be connected to a Centralized Unit (CU) in the base station. As shown in fig. 5c, the LMC serves as a logical node and is connected to a plurality of base stations through new interfaces, respectively.

Fig. 6a, 6b show the protocol stacks involved when the LMC interacts with the UE. As shown in fig. 6a, when the LMC is used as a function in the base station, the LMC is connected with the UE through an interface NR-Uu, and a protocol stack at the UE side includes, from top to bottom: LPP, RRC, PDCP, RLC, MAC, L1; the protocol stack of the gNB/LMC side comprises the following steps from top to bottom: LPP, RRC, PDCP, RLC, MAC, L1. As shown in fig. 6b, when the LMC as a logical node can be connected to one or more base stations through an interface, a protocol stack at the UE side includes, from top to bottom: LPP, RRC, PDCP, RLC, MAC, L1; the protocol stack of the base station side facing the UE comprises the following steps from top to bottom: RRC, PDCP, RLC, MAC, L1; the protocol stack of the base station side facing the LMC comprises the following steps from top to bottom: XPAP, SCTP, IP, L2, L1; the protocol stack of the LMC side comprises from top to bottom: LPP, XPAP, SCTP, IP, L2, L1.

It will be appreciated that the interface between the base station and the LMC in fig. 6b is "XP", and the interface protocol between the base station and the LMC is "XPAP". However, in practical application, the name of the interface between the base station and the LMC and the corresponding interface protocol may also be other forms, which are not limited to this aspect of the present application.

Based on the protocol stacks shown in fig. 6a and 6b, it can be seen that: the message interaction between LMC and UE can still use LPP protocol, but unlike in the positioning architecture shown in fig. 1, the protocol stack between UE and LMF, in the network architecture shown in fig. 5 a-5 c, the LPP messages between LMC and UE are encapsulated in radio resource control (radio resource control, RRC) messages.

The positioning and positioning network architecture according to the embodiment of the present application are described in detail above, and the handover method according to the embodiment of the present application is described in detail below. As shown in fig. 7, the switching method includes:

optionally, 701, the source base station (source gNB) sends an RRC reconfiguration message to the UE in a connected state, where the RRC reconfiguration message includes parameters such as a measurement object, a reporting configuration, a measurement identifier, and the like.

Optionally, the UE measures multiple cells according to the RRC reconfiguration (RRC reconfiguration) message to form various events of report reporting (measurement report) to the currently connected source base station, for example, the signal strength of the current serving cell is below the threshold and the signal of the target cell is above the threshold.

703. The source base station determines whether the UE needs handover (handover), and if so, sends a handover request message to the target base station.

704. The target base station sends a handover request acknowledge (handover request ACK) message to the source base station; alternatively, the target base station (target gNB) may determine whether to allow the access of the UE according to the number of own connections or the like (admission control). Optionally, the handover request acknowledgement message may include parameters such as a new cell radio network temporary identifier (cell-radio network temporary identifier, C-RNTI), a target base station security association algorithm, etc

705. After receiving the handover request acknowledgement message sent by the target base station, the source base station sends an RRC reconfiguration message (i.e., a handover command) to the UE. Optionally, the RRC reconfiguration message may include a handover request confirm message in 704 above. And the RRC reconfiguration message in the NR system can also comprise the related information of the target cell and the related configuration parameters required by the UE to access the target cell. For example, the RRC reconfiguration message includes information of the target cell, where the information of the target cell may include a physical cell identifier (physical cell identifier, PCI) of the target cell, frequency information corresponding to the target cell (such as a frequency point corresponding to the target cell), and so on.

706. And the UE initiates random access (random access) to the target base station according to the RRC reconfiguration information. Optionally, the UE disconnects from the source base station, and a short interruption may occur in the data transceiving of the UE before the target base station is successfully accessed.

Optionally, 707, the UE sends an RRC reconfiguration complete (RRC reconfiguration complete) message to the target base station.

Optionally, 708, the target base station sends a context release message (context release) to the source base station to instruct the source base station to release the context of the UE.

From the above, it can be seen that: when the UE initiates random access to the target base station, the UE disconnects from the source base station. In this case, how to ensure the continuity of positioning is a problem to be solved.

Therefore, the embodiment of the application provides a method for switching network equipment, which effectively solves the problem of ensuring the continuity of positioning under a switching scene. The method for switching network equipment provided by the embodiment of the application can be applied to various communication systems and can also be applied to various network architectures introduced in the previous embodiment.

In particular, the method may be applied to an access network device, the types of which may include the types described in the foregoing embodiments. It may be appreciated that the access network device according to the embodiments of the present application may include a source access network device and a target access network device. Hereinafter, the method provided by the embodiment of the present application will be described by taking the source access network device as an example of the source base station and the target access network device as an example of the target base station.

The method for switching network equipment provided by the embodiment of the application will be described in detail according to different implementation methods.

A first method,

In the first method, when the UE is handed over from the source base station to the target base station, in order to ensure the continuity of positioning, the source base station or the target base station may determine to continue to perform positioning at the source base station.

Fig. 8 is a flowchart of a method for switching network devices according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 8, the method for switching network devices at least includes:

801. the source base station sends a handover request message to the target base station. Correspondingly, the target base station receives the handover request message.

The handover request message is used for requesting to handover the UE to the target base station, and the UE is in an LMC-based positioning state. That is, when the source base station transmits a handover request message to the target base station, the UE is in an RRC connected state, and the source base station is performing LMC-based positioning for the UE. The embodiment of the present application is not limited as to which step of the positioning process the source base station and the UE are. Optionally, when the source base station sends the handover request message to the target base station, it may be understood that: before the source base station sends the handover request message to the target base station, or at the same time when the source base station sends the handover request message to the target base station. It is to be understood that, when the source base station sends the handover request message, the following embodiments are equally applicable to the description of the positioning states in which the source base station and the UE are located.

Optionally, the handover request message includes first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate that LMC-based positioning of the UE is to be performed continuously at the source base station, or to indicate that positioning is not to be migrated to the target base station. Embodiments of the present application are not limited to the specific form of the first indication information.

In a possible implementation manner, the embodiment of the application also provides a method for determining whether to continue to perform positioning by the source base station. As shown in fig. 9, the base station 1 and the base station 2 may mutually exchange respective LMC information, and specifically, the base station 1 and the base station 2 may mutually exchange respective LMC information when an interface is established. Wherein, the base station 1 can be a source base station, and the base station 2 is a target base station; alternatively, the base station 1 may be a target base station and the base station 2 a source base station. The method shown in fig. 8 is applied, that is, before the source base station sends the handover request message to the target base station, the target base station and the source base station may interact with each other through the method shown in fig. 9. For example, the target base station sends a second message to the source base station, and correspondingly, the source base station receives the second message sent by the target base station.

Wherein the second message includes information whether the target base station supports LMC-based positioning and/or positioning quality of service (quality of service, qoS) supported by the target base station. Optionally, the positioning QoS information may include one or more of positioning delay, positioning accuracy, or QoS class. Alternatively, the second message may be any one of an Xn setup request message, an Xn setup response message, or an access network node configuration update message. The Xn establishment request message and the Xn establishment response message are messages in the Xn interface establishment process between two base stations; when the configuration of one base station changes, the base station may notify the other base station via an access network node configuration update message. Optionally, the source base station may further determine the target base station according to LMC information transmitted by the plurality of base stations. For example, when there is LMC-based positioning for the current UE, the source base station may preferentially select those target base stations that support LMC and meet the positioning QoS requirements when there are multiple candidate base stations available for selection, so as to ensure the continuity of positioning.

Optionally, the source base station determines to continue performing the LMC-based positioning of the UE at the source base station when any one or more of the following conditions are met: if the target base station does not support the LMC-based positioning; or the target base station does not meet the positioning quality of service QoS requirement of the terminal equipment; alternatively, the location type of the LMC-based location is RI-LR. For example, the positioning delay required for the positioning QoS of the UE is 300 ms, but the target base station can only meet a delay of 500 ms. For another example, if the source base station is the initiator of LMC-based positioning, the source base station may determine to continue to perform positioning on the UE with the source base station to obtain location information of the UE.

802. And the target base station sends a switching request confirmation message to the source base station, and correspondingly, the source base station receives the switching request confirmation message sent by the target base station.

803. The source base station sends RRC message to the UE; accordingly, the UE receives the RRC message.

The RRC message is used for indicating the UE to switch to the target base station. As shown in fig. 8, the RRC message may be an RRC reconfiguration message.

After receiving the RRC message, the UE may initiate a random access procedure and send an RRC reconfiguration complete message to the target base station. It will be appreciated that for a specific description of the UE initiating the random access procedure and transmitting the RRC reconfiguration complete message to the target base station, reference may be made to the method shown in fig. 7, which will not be described in detail here.

It should be noted that, generally, after receiving the RRC reconfiguration complete message, the target base station immediately sends a context release message to the source base station to trigger the source base station to release the context of the UE. Optionally, in the embodiment of the present application, the target base station may delay (i.e. delay to step 808) or not send the context release message, that is, continue to maintain the connection between the target base station and the source base station of the UE, so that the source base station may obtain the positioning measurement result of the UE even after the handover. It is understood that the following embodiments apply for the steps performed after the UE receives the RRC message.

804. And the UE sends a fifth message to the target base station, and correspondingly, the target base station receives the fifth message. The fifth message includes a positioning measurement result of the UE.

Alternatively, the fifth message may include an LPP message, further, the LPP message includes the positioning measurement result, and the LPP message may be encapsulated in the RRC message (i.e., encapsulated in the fifth message).

Optionally, 805, the target base station sends a first message to the source base station, and correspondingly, the source base station receives the first message sent by the target base station.

Wherein the first message includes a positioning measurement result of the terminal device. Optionally, the first message comprises the LPP message in step 804, i.e. the target base station forwards the LPP message or the positioning measurement result comprised in the fifth message in step 804 to the source base station.

Currently, since the interaction LPP messages are not supported between the base stations, a new XnAP message, for example, the message name LPP TRANSPORT, may be introduced. The XnAP message may be used to communicate LPP messages between base stations, which may be an XnAP message associated with the UE, i.e., an XnAP message sent over the UE connection between base stations. And the XnAP message may include UE Xn interface application protocol identifiers respectively allocated by the source base station and the target base station. That is, the first message may be a newly introduced XnAP message, which includes the LPP message. The XnAP message is a generic XnAP message for delivery of LPP messages and may not be limited to delivery of LPP messages including location measurement results only. The method of communicating LPP messages between base stations may not be coupled to the steps described above, i.e., may exist as a separate embodiment.

Optionally, 806, the source base station determines location information of the terminal device according to the positioning measurement result.

Alternatively, there may be different processing after step 806 described above, depending on the positioning initiator. For example, for RI-LR positioning, the location of the UE may be used after it is determined in the source base station. For another example, the source base station may send the location of the UE to the AMF if the location request received by the source base station is from the AMF.

Alternatively, the step 806 may have different processing manners according to the deployment manners of the LMCs. For example, as shown in fig. 5a, the LMC is used as a function inside the source base station, and the source base station may directly determine the location information of the UE according to the location measurement result. For another example, as shown in fig. 5b or fig. 5c, when the source base station receives the positioning measurement result of the UE, the source base station may further send the positioning measurement result to the LMC, and the LMC determines the location information of the UE according to the positioning measurement result. For convenience of description, a base station is described below as an example regardless of the deployment manner of the LMC.

In one possible implementation manner, after the source base station receives the first message sent by the target base station, the method further includes:

807. the source base station sends a third message to the target base station, and the target base station receives the third message correspondingly.

Wherein the third message is for indicating that the LMC-based positioning has ended. Optionally, the third message is an XnAP message, for example, the source base station may send the XnAP message to the target base station through the Xn interface, where the XnAP message is used to indicate that positioning for the UE is finished, so as to trigger the target base station to send the context release message to the source base station.

808. And the target base station sends a context release message to the source base station, and correspondingly, the source base station receives the context release message sent by the target base station.

Optionally, steps 807 and 808 described above may be replaced with: the source base station sends a fourth message to the target base station, and the target base station receives the fourth message correspondingly. Wherein the fourth message is used to indicate that the context of the terminal device has been released. That is, after the source base station obtains the location information of the UE, the context of the UE may be directly released, and the target base station may be informed that the context of the UE has been released.

The technical scheme provided by the application is as follows: when the target base station does not support the positioning based on the LMC, the positioning continuity is ensured by continuing to execute the positioning at the source base station. Specifically, through interaction of respective LMC information between base stations, the method can be used for a source base station to select a target base station and for the source base station to determine whether to continue to perform positioning at the source base station. And the source base station can timely inform the target base station of adopting a reasonable mode to process positioning by carrying the first indication information in the switching request message. And the source base station can enable the source base station to acquire the positioning measurement result of the UE even after the handover by delaying or not sending the context release message.

The method shown in fig. 8 is described by taking an example in which the source base station determines to continue performing positioning, and the method shown in fig. 10 is described by taking an example in which the target base station determines to continue performing positioning, as shown in fig. 10. Thus, steps 801 and 802 in fig. 8 may also be replaced by:

1001. the source base station sends a handover request message to the target base station. Correspondingly, the target base station receives the handover request message.

The handover request message is used for requesting to handover the UE to the target base station, the UE is in an LMC-based positioning state, and the handover request message includes the LMC-based positioning information. Optionally, the LMC-based positioning information includes one or more of positioning context information of the UE, positioning quality of service QoS requirements of the UE, or a positioning type. Alternatively, the LMC-based positioning information may enable the target base station to determine whether to perform positioning at the target base station. Alternatively, the LMC-based positioning information may be used to instruct the target base station to continue performing positioning.

1002. The source base station receives a handover request confirm message sent by the target base station, wherein the handover request confirm message comprises second indication information, and the second indication information is used for indicating the source base station to continue to execute the LMC-based positioning on the UE.

In a possible implementation manner, the embodiment of the application further provides a method for determining whether to continue to perform positioning by the target base station. Before the target base station sends the handover request confirm message to the source base station, the method further includes:

the target base station determining to continue performing the LMC-based positioning of the terminal device at the source base station when any one or more of the following conditions are satisfied: the target base station does not support the LMC-based positioning; or the target base station does not meet the positioning quality of service QoS requirement of the terminal equipment; alternatively, the location type of the LMC-based location is a radio access network triggered location request RI-LR.

For a specific implementation of steps 1003-1008 in fig. 10, reference may be made to fig. 8, which is not described in detail here.

It will be appreciated that for the method shown in fig. 10, reference may be made to fig. 8 for a method which is not described in detail.

The technical scheme provided by the application is as follows: when the target base station does not support the positioning based on the LMC, the positioning continuity is ensured by continuing to execute the positioning at the source base station. Specifically, through interaction of respective LMC information between base stations, the method can be used for a source base station to select a target base station and for the target base station to determine whether to continue to perform positioning at the source base station. And the target base station can timely inform the source base station of adopting a reasonable mode to process positioning by carrying the second indication information in the switching request confirmation message. And the target base station can enable the source base station to acquire the positioning measurement result of the UE even after the handover by delaying or not sending the context release message.

A second method,

In the second method, when the UE is switched from the source base station to the target base station, in order to ensure the continuity of positioning, the target base station may perform positioning.

Fig. 11 is a flowchart of a method for switching network devices according to an embodiment of the present application. The method can be applied to the deployment of the LMC shown in fig. 5c, namely, the LMC is used as a logic node and is respectively connected with the source base station and the target base station through a new interface. As shown in fig. 11, the method for switching network devices at least includes:

1101. the source base station sends a handover request message to the target base station. Correspondingly, the target base station receives the handover request message.

The handover request message is used for requesting to handover the UE to the target base station, the UE is in an LMC-based positioning state, and the handover request message includes the LMC-based positioning information. The LMC-based location information includes any one or more of location context information of the terminal device, location quality of service QoS requirements of the terminal device, location type, identification ID of the source access network device, location association identification ID allocated by the source base station, or interface application protocol identification ID allocated by the LMC.

1102. And the target base station sends a switching request confirmation message to the source base station, and correspondingly, the source base station receives the switching request confirmation message sent by the target base station.

1103. The source base station sends RRC message to the terminal equipment; correspondingly, the terminal device receives the RRC message.

The RRC message is used to instruct the terminal device to switch to the target base station. Alternatively, the RRC message may include an RRC reconfiguration message.

Then, the UE initiates a random access (random access) procedure to the target base station according to the RRC reconfiguration information. After successful completion of the random access procedure, the UE sends an RRC reconfiguration complete (RRC reconfiguration complete) message to the target base station.

It should be noted that, generally, after receiving the RRC reconfiguration complete message, the target base station immediately sends a context release message to the source base station to trigger the source base station to release the context of the UE. Optionally, in the embodiment of the present application, when the positioning type is NI-LR or RI-LR, the target base station may delay (i.e. delay until after sending the location information of the UE to the source base station) or not send the context release message, that is, continue to maintain the connection between the target base station and the source base station of the UE, so that the target base station may send the location information of the UE to the source base station after obtaining the location information of the UE.

1104. The target base station sends a request message (relocation request) to the LMC, which receives the request message accordingly. The request message comprises a positioning association identification ID allocated by the source access network equipment and/or an interface application protocol identification ID allocated by the LMC.

Optionally, the request message may further include an identification ID of the source base station. Based on the identification ID of the source base station and the location association identification ID assigned by the source base station, the LMC can determine which source base station the location association identification ID is assigned by. Thus, based on the location association ID allocated by the source base station and/or the interface application protocol ID allocated by the LMC, the LMC may determine a location context of the UE, thereby finding a location context when the source base station performs location, to ensure that the LMC continues to perform location.

1105. The LMC sends a response message to the target base station, and the target base station receives the response message correspondingly.

1106. The terminal equipment sends a fifth message to the LMC, and correspondingly, the LMC receives the fifth message; the fifth message includes a positioning measurement result of the UE.

1107. The LMC determines the location information of the UE according to the location measurement result of the UE.

1108. And the LMC sends the position information of the UE to a target base station, and correspondingly, the target base station receives the position information of the UE.

Optionally, when the positioning type is NI-LR or RI-LR, the target base station may further send the location information of the UE to the source base station, and correspondingly, the source base station receives the location information of the UE. Currently, since the base stations do not support the interaction of the location information of the UE, a new XnAP message may be introduced, which may be used to transfer the location information of the UE between the base stations, and the XnAP message may be an XnAP message associated with the UE, that is, an XnAP message sent through the UE connection between the base stations. That is, the first message may be an XnAP message associated with a newly introduced UE, where the XnAP message includes location information of the UE. And the target base station sends the position information of the UE to the source base station through the XnAP message. In this case, after the target base station transmits the location information of the UE to the source base station, the target base station may transmit a context release message to the source base station. Correspondingly, the source base station receives the context release message and releases the context of the UE.

Optionally, when the location type is MO-LR, the target base station may send the location information of the UE to the UE.

In this case, the target base station may transmit a context release message to the source base station after receiving the RRC reconfiguration complete message.

It can be appreciated that, in the first method, whether the source base station determines to continue to perform positioning at the source base station or the target base station determines to continue to perform positioning at the source base station, the indication information indicates to continue to perform positioning at the source base station. In the second method, the source base station and the target base station may perform positioning at the target base station by default/convention. Similarly, in the first method, the source base station and the target base station may default/agree to continue to perform positioning at the source base station, and in the second method, positioning may also be performed at the target base station by indicating information. The method shown in fig. 11 should therefore not be interpreted as limiting the application.

The technical scheme provided by the application is as follows: the LMC can find the corresponding positioning context by carrying the positioning association ID allocated by the source base station or the interface application protocol identifier allocated by the LMC in the handover request message, so that the positioning can be continued. And introducing an XnAP message between the base stations by carrying the positioning type in the switching request message for the target base station to send the position information of the UE to the source base station, thereby realizing the continuity of positioning.

Method III,

In the third method, when the UE is handed over from the source base station to the target base station, the source base station or the target base station may determine to stop performing positioning. For method three, the present application may include the following several embodiments, respectively:

embodiment 1,

As shown in fig. 12, the method for switching network devices includes:

1201. the source base station determines to stop continuing to perform LMC-based positioning.

Optionally, the condition that the source base station determines to stop continuing to perform LMC-based positioning of the UE may include any one or more of: the target base station does not support the positioning based on the LMC, and the source base station decides to stop positioning; or the target base station supports positioning based on LMC, but does not support the positioning QoS requirement of the current UE, the source base station decides to stop positioning; or the positioning type is positioning (namely RI-LR positioning) initiated by the source base station for the UE, after the switching, the position information of the UE is not useful any more, and the source base station decides to stop positioning; alternatively, it is currently a handover based on N2 or a handover with AMF change; alternatively, the location type is MT-LR or NI-LR, the source base station decides to stop location. For example, when the handover is currently based on the AMF change, the target base station cannot send the location of the UE to the serving AMF of the source base station after the handover. Alternatively, the target base station is connected to a different LMC than the source base station, but does not support LMC redirection (relocation). It will be appreciated that the following embodiments apply equally for the condition in which the source base station determines to stop positioning.

1202. The source base station sends a sixth message to the UE, and correspondingly, the UE receives the sixth message; the sixth message is used to indicate that the LMC-based positioning is stopped.

Alternatively, the sixth message may include an LPP message, and further, the LPP message may include an record message. That is, the sixth message may be used to instruct the UE to stop continuing to perform LMC-based positioning, thereby causing the UE to release a positioning-related configuration, such as a positioning reference signal configuration, etc.

1203. The UE stops performing LMC-based positioning and releases the relevant configuration.

1204. The source base station sends a switching request message to the target base station, and correspondingly, the target base station receives the switching request message.

1205. And the target base station sends a switching request confirmation message to the source base station, and correspondingly, the source base station receives the switching request confirmation message.

1206. And the source base station sends an RRC reconfiguration message to the UE, and correspondingly, the UE receives the RRC reconfiguration message.

It is to be understood that, in addition to the sequence 1202 and 1206, embodiments of the application are not limited to the sequence 1202 to 1205.

Embodiment II,

As shown in fig. 13, the method for switching network devices includes:

1301. The source base station determines to stop continuing to perform LMC-based positioning.

1302. The source base station sends a switching request message to the target base station, and correspondingly, the target base station receives the switching request message.

Wherein, the handover request message includes an LPP message for stopping positioning. Such as the LPP message may include an abart message. For example, the antibody message may be a byte stream of cells in the handover request message. It will be appreciated that the condition for determining to stop positioning for the source base station may be as in the method of fig. 12, and will not be described in detail here.

1303. And the target base station sends a switching request confirmation message to the source base station, and correspondingly, the source base station receives the switching request confirmation message.

Wherein, the handover request confirm message includes an LPP message for stopping positioning. For example, after receiving the able message included in the handover request message, the target base station may encapsulate the able message in an RRC reconfiguration message in the handover request acknowledgement message, and then send the RRC reconfiguration message to the source base station.

1304. The source base station reads the RRC reconfiguration message in the switching request confirmation message, and then sends the RRC reconfiguration message to the UE, and correspondingly, the UE receives the RRC reconfiguration message. The RRC reconfiguration message includes an LPP message, such as an abart message, for stopping positioning.

1305. The UE stops performing LMC-based positioning and releases the relevant configuration.

The technical scheme provided by the application is as follows: determining to stop positioning by the source base station; and the source base station generates an LPP message, such as an abart message, for stopping positioning, and then sends a handover request message to the target base station, wherein the handover request message carries the abart message. Then, the target base station encapsulates the capability message in an RRC reconfiguration message, the RRC reconfiguration message being included in a handover request confirm message and sent to the source base station, and then the source base station sends the RRC reconfiguration message to the UE. And after receiving the RRC reconfiguration message, the UE stops positioning according to the record message in the RRC reconfiguration message and releases the related configuration.

Third embodiment,

As shown in fig. 14, the method for switching network devices at least includes:

1401. the source base station sends a switching request message to the target base station, and correspondingly, the target base station receives the switching request message.

The handover request message includes third indication information, where the third indication information is used to indicate stopping of LMC-based positioning. For example, the third indication information may be 1bit, such as 0 or 1 indicating stopping the positioning.

1402. And the target base station sends a switching request confirmation message to the source base station, and correspondingly, the source base station receives the switching request confirmation message. The switching request confirmation message comprises an RRC reconfiguration message, and the RRC reconfiguration message comprises third indication information.

1403. The source base station reads the RRC reconfiguration message in the switching request confirmation message, and then sends the RRC reconfiguration message to the UE, and correspondingly, the UE receives the RRC reconfiguration message. The RRC reconfiguration message includes third indication information.

1404. And stopping executing the positioning based on the LMC by the UE according to the third indication information in the RRC reconfiguration message, and releasing the related configuration.

The technical scheme provided by the application is as follows: determining to stop positioning by the source base station; and the source base station sends a switching request message to the target base station, wherein the switching request message carries third indication information, and the third indication information is used for indicating stopping positioning. The third indication information is included in an RRC reconfiguration message included in a handover request confirm message, and then the source base station transmits the RRC reconfiguration message to the UE. And after receiving the RRC reconfiguration message, the UE stops positioning according to the third indication information in the RRC reconfiguration message and releases the related configuration.

Fourth embodiment,

As shown in fig. 15, the method for switching network devices at least includes:

1501. the source base station sends a switching request message to the target base station, and correspondingly, the target base station receives the switching request message.

Wherein the handover request message includes LMC-based positioning information, e.g., the LMC-based positioning information includes any one or more of a positioning context, positioning QoS information, or a positioning type of the UE. In particular, the LMC-based positioning information may be used to instruct the target base station to determine whether to stop performing the LMC-based positioning based on the LMC-based positioning information. For example, the conditions for the target base station to determine to cease LMC-based positioning may include any one or more of the following: the target base station does not support the positioning based on the LMC, and the target base station decides to stop positioning; or the target base station supports positioning based on LMC, but does not support the positioning QoS requirement of the current UE, and the target base station decides to stop positioning; or the positioning type is positioning (namely RI-LR positioning) initiated by the source base station for the UE, after the switching, the position information of the UE is not useful any more, and the target base station decides to stop positioning.

1502. And the target base station sends a switching request confirmation message to the source base station, and correspondingly, the source base station receives the switching request confirmation message. The switching request confirmation message comprises an RRC reconfiguration message, and the RRC reconfiguration message comprises fourth indication information which is used for indicating stopping of positioning based on the LMC.

1503. The source base station reads the RRC reconfiguration message in the switching request confirmation message, and then sends the RRC reconfiguration message to the UE, and correspondingly, the UE receives the RRC reconfiguration message. The RRC reconfiguration message includes fourth indication information.

1504. And stopping executing the positioning based on the LMC by the UE according to the fourth indication information in the RRC reconfiguration message, and releasing the related configuration.

The technical scheme provided by the application is as follows: the source base station or the target base station decides whether to stop positioning or not, and informs the opposite side whether to stop positioning or not by carrying indication information in a handover request message or a handover request confirmation message. And on the air interface, the indication information or the absolute message is carried in the RRC reconfiguration message to indicate the UE to stop positioning measurement.

The embodiments of the present application are described in detail above, and the communication device of the present application is described below.

Fig. 16 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application, and as shown in fig. 16, the communication device includes a transmitting unit 1601, a receiving unit 1602, and a processing unit 1603.

In one embodiment, a sending unit 1601 is configured to send a handover request message to a target access network device; the switching request message is used for requesting to switch the terminal equipment to the target access network equipment, and the terminal equipment is in a positioning state based on a positioning management component LMC; the handover request message includes first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate to continue to perform the LMC-based positioning of the terminal device at the communication device;

A receiving unit 1602, configured to receive a handover request acknowledgement message sent by the target access network device;

the sending unit 1601 is further configured to send a radio resource control RRC message to the terminal device; the RRC message is used for indicating the terminal equipment to switch to the target access network equipment;

the receiving unit 1602 is further configured to receive a first message sent by the target access network device, where the first message includes a positioning measurement result of the terminal device.

In one possible implementation, the processing unit 1603 is configured to determine to continue performing the LMC-based positioning of the terminal device at the communication apparatus when any one or more of the following conditions are met:

the target access network device does not support the LMC-based positioning; or the target access network device does not meet the positioning service quality QoS requirement of the terminal device; alternatively, the location type of the LMC-based location is a radio access network triggered location request RI-LR.

In a possible implementation manner, the receiving unit 1602 is further configured to receive a second message sent by the target access network device; wherein the second message includes information whether the target access network device supports the LMC-based positioning and/or positioning QoS supported by the target access network device.

In a possible implementation, the processing unit 1603 is further configured to determine location information of the terminal device according to the positioning measurement result.

In a possible implementation, the sending unit 1601 is further configured to send a third message to the target access network device, where the third message is used to indicate that the LMC-based positioning has ended; the receiving unit 1602 is further configured to receive a context release message sent by the target access network device.

In a possible implementation, the sending unit 1601 is further configured to send a fourth message to the target access network device, where the fourth message is used to indicate that the context of the terminal device has been released.

In one possible implementation, the second message is any one of an Xn setup request message, an Xn setup response message, or an access network node configuration update message.

Multiplexing fig. 16, in another embodiment, a sending unit 1601 is configured to send a handover request message to a target access network device; the switching request message is used for requesting to switch the terminal equipment to the target access network equipment, the terminal equipment is in a positioning state based on a positioning management component (LMC), and the switching request message comprises positioning information based on the LMC;

A receiving unit 1602, configured to receive a handover request acknowledgement message sent by the target access network device, where the handover request acknowledgement message includes second indication information, where the second indication information is used to instruct the communication apparatus to continue to perform the LMC-based positioning on the terminal device;

the sending unit 1601 is further configured to send a radio resource control RRC message to the terminal device, where the RRC message is configured to instruct the terminal device to switch to the target access network device;

In one possible implementation, the LMC-based positioning information includes one or more of positioning context information of the terminal device, positioning quality of service QoS requirements of the terminal device, or a positioning type.

In a possible implementation, the processing unit 1603 is configured to determine location information of the terminal device according to the positioning measurement result.

In a possible implementation, the sending unit 1601 is further configured to send a third message to the target access network device, where the third message is used to indicate that the LMC-based positioning has ended;

The receiving unit 1602 is further configured to receive a context release message sent by the target access network device.

the sending unit 1601 is further configured to send a radio resource control RRC message to the terminal device, where the RRC message is used to instruct handover to the target access network device.

In one possible implementation, the LMC-based positioning information includes any one or more of positioning context information of the terminal device, positioning quality of service QoS requirements of the terminal device, a positioning type, an identification ID of the source access network device, a positioning association identification ID allocated by the communication apparatus, or an interface application protocol identification ID allocated by the LMC.

In a possible implementation manner, the receiving unit 1602 is further configured to receive location information of the terminal device sent by the target access network device;

In the above embodiments, when the above communication apparatus is a source access network device or a component in the source access network device that implements the above function, the processing unit 1603 may be one or more processors, the transmitting unit 1601 may be a transmitter, the receiving unit 1602 may be a receiver, or the transmitting unit 1601 may integrate the receiving unit 1602 into one device, such as a transceiver.

When the communication device is a chip, the processing unit 1603 may be one or more processors, the transmitting unit 1601 may be an output interface, the receiving unit 1602 may be an input interface, or the transmitting unit 1601 and the receiving unit 1602 are integrated into one unit, such as an input-output interface.

It will be appreciated that for the implementation of the various units shown in the various embodiments above reference is also made to the corresponding description of the method embodiments shown in figures 8-15.

Multiplexing fig. 16, in another embodiment, a receiving unit 1602 is configured to receive a handover request message sent by a source access network device; the switching request message is used for requesting to switch the terminal equipment to the communication device, and the terminal equipment is in a positioning state based on a positioning management component LMC; the handover request message includes first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate to continue to perform the LMC-based positioning on the terminal device at the source access network device;

A sending unit 1601, configured to send a handover request acknowledgement message to the source access network device;

the receiving unit 1602 is further configured to receive a fifth message sent by the terminal device, where the fifth message includes a positioning measurement result of the terminal device;

the sending unit 1601 is further configured to send a first message to the source access network device, where the first message includes a positioning measurement result of the terminal device.

In a possible implementation manner, the sending unit 1601 is further configured to send a second message to the source access network device; wherein the second message includes information whether the communication device supports the LMC-based positioning and/or the positioning QoS supported by the communication device.

In a possible implementation manner, the receiving unit 1602 is further configured to receive a third message sent by the source access network device, where the third message is used to indicate that the LMC-based positioning has ended; the sending unit 1601 is further configured to send a context release message to the source access network device.

In a possible implementation manner, the receiving unit 1602 is further configured to receive a fourth message sent by the source access network device, where the fourth message is used to indicate that the context of the terminal device has been released.

Multiplexing fig. 16, in another embodiment, a receiving unit 1602 is configured to receive a handover request message sent by a source access network device; the switching request message is used for requesting to switch the terminal equipment to the communication device, the terminal equipment is in a positioning state based on a positioning management component (LMC), and the switching request message comprises positioning information based on the LMC;

a sending unit 1601, configured to send a handover request acknowledgement message to the source access network device, where the handover request acknowledgement message includes second instruction information, where the second instruction information is used to instruct the source access network device to continue to perform the LMC-based positioning on the terminal device;

In one possible implementation, the processing unit 1603 is configured to determine to continue performing the LMC-based positioning of the terminal device at the source access network device when any one or more of the following conditions are met:

The communication device does not support the LMC-based positioning; or the communication device does not meet the positioning quality of service QoS requirements of the terminal device; alternatively, the location type of the LMC-based location is a radio access network triggered location request RI-LR.

In a possible implementation manner, the receiving unit 1602 is further configured to receive a third message sent by the source access network device, where the third message is used to indicate that the LMC-based positioning has ended;

the sending unit is further configured to send a context release message to the source access network device.

The receiving unit 1602 is further configured to receive location information of the terminal device sent by the LMC.

In one possible implementation, the LMC-based positioning information includes any one or more of positioning context information of the terminal device, positioning quality of service QoS requirements of the terminal device, a positioning type, an identification ID of the source access network device, a positioning association identification ID allocated by the source access network device, or an interface application protocol identification ID allocated by the LMC.

In a possible implementation manner, the sending unit 1601 is further configured to send location information of the terminal device to the source access device; the sending unit 1601 is further configured to send a context release message to the source access network device.

In the above embodiments, when the above communication apparatus is the target access network device or a component in the target access network device that implements the above function, the processing unit 1603 may be one or more processors, the transmitting unit 1601 may be a transmitter, the receiving unit 1602 may be a receiver, or the transmitting unit 1601 may integrate the receiving unit 1602 into one device, such as a transceiver.

Multiplexing fig. 16, in another embodiment, a receiving unit 1602 is configured to receive a request message sent from a target access network device; the request message comprises a positioning association identification ID allocated by source access network equipment and/or an interface application protocol identification ID allocated by the LMC;

a processing unit 1603 for determining a location context of the terminal device based on the location association identification ID and/or the interface application protocol identification ID;

a sending unit 1601, configured to send a response message to the target access network device.

In a possible implementation manner, the receiving unit 1602 is further configured to receive a fifth message sent by the terminal device, where the fifth message includes a positioning measurement result of the terminal device;

the processing unit 1603 is further configured to determine location information of the terminal device according to the location measurement result of the terminal device;

the sending unit 1601 is further configured to send location information of the terminal device to the target access network device.

In the above embodiments, when the above communication apparatus is an LMC or a component in the LMC that implements the above function, the processing unit 1603 may be one or more processors, the transmitting unit 1601 may be a transmitter, the receiving unit 1602 may be a receiver, or the transmitting unit 1601 may integrate the receiving unit 1602 into one device, such as a transceiver.

When the communication device is a chip, the processing unit 1603 may be one or more processors or processing circuits, etc., the transmitting unit 1601 may be an output interface, the receiving unit 1602 may be an input interface, or the transmitting unit 1601 and the receiving unit 1602 may be integrated into one unit, such as an input-output interface or an interface circuit, etc.

It will be appreciated that for the implementation of the various units shown in the various embodiments above reference is also made to the corresponding description of the method embodiment shown in fig. 11.

As an example, when the processing unit of the communication apparatus shown in fig. 16 is implemented with a processor, the receiving unit and the transmitting unit are integrated into one unit, and implemented with a transceiver, as shown in fig. 17. Fig. 17 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 170 according to an embodiment of the present application, which may be used to implement the functions of the network device in the above method. It is understood that the network device may be a source access network device; or a target access network device; or LMC.

The apparatus 170 includes at least one processor 1720 for implementing the functions of the network device in the method provided by the embodiment of the present application. In particular, the processor 1720 may implement the functionality of the processing units shown in FIG. 16. The apparatus 170 may also include a transceiver 1710. The transceiver is used to communicate with other devices over a transmission medium. The processor 1720 receives and transmits data using the transceiver 1710 and functions to implement the receiving unit and/or the transmitting unit shown in fig. 16.

The apparatus 170 may also include at least one memory 1730 to store program instructions and/or data. Memory 1730 is coupled to processor 1720. 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. Processor 1720 may operate in conjunction with memory 1730. Processor 1720 may execute program instructions stored in memory 1730. At least one of the at least one memory may be included in the processor.

The specific connection medium between the transceiver 1710, the processor 1720, and the memory 1730 is not limited in this embodiment. In the embodiment of the present application, the memory 1730, the processor 1720 and the transceiver 1710 are connected through the bus 1740 in fig. 17, and the bus is shown in a bold line in fig. 17, and the connection manner between other components is only schematically illustrated, but not limited thereto. The buses may be classified as address buses, data buses, control buses, etc. For ease of illustration, only one thick line is shown in fig. 17, but not only one bus or one type of bus.

It should be noted that, the embodiment of the present application is not limited to the type of the processor. And the type of memory is not limited.

In the several embodiments provided by the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices, and methods may be implemented in other manners. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative, e.g., the division of the units is merely a logical function division, and there may be additional divisions when actually implemented, e.g., multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be omitted or not performed. In addition, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed with each other may be an indirect coupling or communication connection via some interfaces, devices, or elements, or may be an electrical, mechanical, or other form of connection.

The units described as separate units may or may not be physically separate, and units shown 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 may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the embodiment of the present application.

In addition, each functional unit in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated in one processing unit, or each unit may exist alone physically, or two or more units may be integrated in one unit. The integrated units may be implemented in hardware or in software functional units.

The integrated units, if implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as stand-alone products, may be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Based on such understanding, the technical solution of the present application is essentially or a part contributing to the prior art, or all or part of the technical solution may be embodied in the form of a software product stored in a storage medium, comprising several instructions for causing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to perform 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 removable hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (random access memory, RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk, or other various media capable of storing program codes.

In addition, the application also provides a computer program, which is used for executing the operation and/or processing executed by the source access network device in the network device switching method.

The present application also provides a computer program for performing the operations and/or processes performed by the target access network device in the method for network device handover provided by the present application.

The present application also provides a computer program for performing the operations and/or processes performed by the LMC in the method for network device handover provided by the present application.

The present application also provides a computer readable storage medium having stored therein computer instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform operations and/or processes performed by a source access network device in a method for network device handover provided by the present application.

The present application also provides a computer readable storage medium having stored therein computer instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the operations and/or processes performed by a target access network device by the method for network device handover provided by the present application.

The present application also provides a computer readable storage medium having stored therein computer instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform operations and/or processes performed by the LMC in the method for network device switching provided by the present application.

The application also provides a computer program product comprising computer code or instructions which, when run on a computer, implement the method of network device handover of an embodiment of the method of the application.

The application also provides a wireless communication system which comprises the source access network equipment and the target access network equipment in the embodiment of the application.

The foregoing is merely illustrative of the present application, and the present application is not limited thereto, and any person skilled in the art will readily recognize that variations or substitutions are within the scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method of switching network devices, the method comprising:

The source access network equipment receives a second message sent by the target access network equipment; wherein the second message includes positioning quality of service QoS information supported by the target access network device;

the source access network equipment determines that the target access network equipment does not meet the positioning QoS requirement of the terminal equipment;

the source access network equipment sends a switching request message to the target access network equipment; the switching request message is used for requesting to switch the terminal equipment to the target access network equipment, and the terminal equipment is in a positioning state based on a positioning management component LMC; the handover request message includes first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate to continue to perform the LMC-based positioning on the terminal device at the source access network device;

the source access network equipment receives a switching request confirmation message sent by the target access network equipment;

the source access network equipment sends an indication message to the terminal equipment; the indication message is used for indicating the terminal equipment to switch to the target access network equipment;

and the source access network equipment receives a first message sent by the target access network equipment, wherein the first message comprises a positioning measurement result of the terminal equipment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein after the source access network device receives the first message sent by the target access network device, the method further comprises:

and the source access network equipment determines the position information of the terminal equipment according to the positioning measurement result.

3. The method according to any of claims 1-2, wherein after the source access network device receives the first message sent by the target access network device, the method further comprises:

the source access network device sends a third message to the target access network device, wherein the third message is used for indicating that the positioning based on the LMC is finished;

the source access network equipment receives a context release message sent by the target access network equipment;

or,

4. A method according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that the second message is any of an Xn setup request message, an Xn setup response message or an access network node configuration update message.

5. A method of switching network devices, the method comprising:

the target access network equipment sends a second message to the source access network equipment; wherein, the second message includes the positioning service quality QoS information supported by the target access network device;

the target access network equipment sends a switching request confirmation message to the source access network equipment;

the target access network equipment receives a fifth message sent by the terminal equipment, wherein the fifth message comprises a positioning measurement result of the terminal equipment;

and the target access network equipment sends a first message to the source access network equipment, wherein the first message comprises a positioning measurement result of the terminal equipment.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein after the target access network device sends the first message to the source access network device, the method further comprises:

the target access network equipment receives a third message sent by the source access network equipment, wherein the third message is used for indicating that the LMC-based positioning is finished;

the target access network device sends a context release message to the source access network device;

or,

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the second message is any one of an Xn setup request message, an Xn setup response message or an access network node configuration update message.

8. A method of switching network devices, the method comprising:

the source access network equipment sends a switching request message to the target access network equipment; the switching request message is used for requesting to switch the terminal equipment to the target access network equipment, the terminal equipment is in a positioning state based on a positioning management component (LMC), the switching request message comprises the positioning information based on the LMC, and the positioning information based on the LMC comprises the positioning service quality (QoS) requirement of the terminal equipment;

The source access network equipment receives a switching request confirmation message sent by the target access network equipment, wherein the switching request confirmation message comprises second indication information, the second indication information is used for indicating the source access network equipment to continue to execute the LMC-based positioning of the terminal equipment, and the target access network equipment does not meet the positioning service quality QoS requirement of the terminal equipment;

the source access network equipment sends an indication message to the terminal equipment, wherein the indication message is used for indicating the terminal equipment to switch to the target access network equipment;

the source access network equipment receives a first message sent by the target access network equipment, wherein the first message comprises a positioning measurement result of the terminal equipment.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the LMC-based positioning information further comprises one or more of positioning context information or a positioning type of the terminal device.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein after the source access network device receives the first message sent by the target access network device, the method further comprises:

11. The method according to any of claims 8-10, wherein after the source access network device receives the first message sent by the target access network device, the method further comprises:

or,

12. A method for switching network devices, the method comprising:

the target access network equipment determines that the target access network equipment does not meet the positioning service quality QoS requirement of the terminal equipment;

the target access network equipment receives a switching request message sent by source access network equipment; the switching request message is used for requesting to switch the terminal equipment to the target access network equipment, the terminal equipment is in a positioning state based on a positioning management component (LMC), the switching request message comprises the positioning information based on the LMC, and the positioning information based on the LMC comprises a positioning QoS requirement of the terminal equipment;

13. The method of claim 12, wherein after the target access network device sends the first message to the source access network device, the method further comprises:

or,

14. A communication device, the device comprising:

a receiving unit, configured to receive a second message sent by a target access network device; wherein the second message includes positioning quality of service QoS information supported by the target access network device;

a processing unit, configured to determine that the target access network device does not meet a positioning QoS requirement of a terminal device;

a sending unit, configured to send a handover request message to the target access network device; the switching request message is used for requesting to switch the terminal equipment to the target access network equipment, and the terminal equipment is in a positioning state based on a positioning management component LMC; the handover request message includes first indication information for indicating to continue performing the LMC-based positioning of the terminal device at the communication apparatus;

the receiving unit is further configured to receive a handover request acknowledgement message sent by the target access network device;

the sending unit is further configured to send an indication message to the terminal device; the indication message is used for indicating the terminal equipment to switch to the target access network equipment;

The receiving unit is further configured to receive a first message sent by the target access network device, where the first message includes a positioning measurement result of the terminal device.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the device comprises a plurality of sensors,

the processing unit is further configured to determine location information of the terminal device according to the positioning measurement result.

16. The device according to any one of claims 14 to 15, wherein,

the sending unit is further configured to send a third message to the target access network device, where the third message is used to indicate that the LMC-based positioning has ended;

the receiving unit is further configured to receive a context release message sent by the target access network device;

or,

the sending unit is further configured to send a fourth message to the target access network device, where the fourth message is used to indicate that the context of the terminal device has been released.

17. The apparatus according to any of claims 14-16, wherein the second message is any of an Xn setup request message, an Xn setup response message or an access network node configuration update message.

18. A communication device, the device comprising:

A sending unit, configured to send a second message to a source access network device; wherein the second message includes positioning quality of service QoS information supported by the communication device;

a receiving unit, configured to receive a handover request message sent by the source access network device; the switching request message is used for requesting to switch the terminal equipment to the communication device, and the terminal equipment is in a positioning state based on a positioning management component LMC; the handover request message includes first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate to continue to perform the LMC-based positioning on the terminal device at the source access network device;

the sending unit is configured to send a handover request acknowledgement message to the source access network device;

the receiving unit is further configured to receive a fifth message sent by the terminal device, where the fifth message includes a positioning measurement result of the terminal device;

the sending unit is further configured to send a first message to the source access network device, where the first message includes a positioning measurement result of the terminal device.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the device comprises a plurality of sensors,

the receiving unit is further configured to receive a third message sent by the source access network device, where the third message is used to indicate that the LMC-based positioning has ended;

The sending unit is further configured to send a context release message to the source access network device;

or,

the receiving unit is further configured to receive a fourth message sent by the source access network device, where the fourth message is used to indicate that the context of the terminal device has been released.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the second message is any one of an Xn setup request message, an Xn setup response message or an access network node configuration update message.

21. A communication device, the device comprising:

a sending unit, configured to send a handover request message to a target access network device; the switching request message is used for requesting to switch the terminal equipment to the target access network equipment, the terminal equipment is in a positioning state based on a positioning management component (LMC), the switching request message comprises the positioning information based on the LMC, and the positioning information based on the LMC comprises the positioning service quality (QoS) requirement of the terminal equipment;

a receiving unit, configured to receive a handover request acknowledgement message sent by the target access network device, where the handover request acknowledgement message includes second instruction information, where the second instruction information is used to instruct the communication apparatus to continue to perform the LMC-based positioning on the terminal device, and the target access network device does not meet a positioning quality of service QoS requirement of the terminal device;

The sending unit is further configured to send an indication message to the terminal device, where the indication message is used to instruct the terminal device to switch to the target access network device;

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the LMC-based positioning information further comprises one or more of positioning context information or a positioning type of the terminal device.

23. The apparatus according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that the apparatus further comprises:

and the processing unit is used for determining the position information of the terminal equipment according to the positioning measurement result.

24. The device according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein,

or,

25. A communication device, the device comprising:

a processing unit, configured to determine that the communication apparatus does not meet a positioning quality of service QoS requirement of a terminal device;

the receiving unit is used for receiving the switching request message sent by the source access network equipment; the switching request message is used for requesting to switch the terminal equipment to the communication device, the terminal equipment is in a positioning state based on a positioning management component (LMC), and the switching request message comprises the positioning information based on the LMC;

a sending unit, configured to send a handover request acknowledgement message to the source access network device, where the handover request acknowledgement message includes second instruction information, where the second instruction information is used to instruct the source access network device to continue to perform the LMC-based positioning on the terminal device, and the LMC-based positioning information includes a positioning quality of service QoS requirement of the terminal device;

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the device comprises a plurality of sensors,

or,

27. A communication device comprising a processor, a memory, and a transceiver;

the transceiver is used for receiving signals or transmitting signals;

the memory is used for storing program codes;

the processor configured to execute the program code to cause the communication device to perform the method of any of claims 1-13.

28. A communication device comprising a processor and an interface circuit;

the interface circuit is used for receiving code instructions and transmitting the code instructions to the processor; the processor executes the code instructions to perform the method of any of claims 1-13.

29. A computer readable storage medium for storing instructions that, when executed, cause the method of any one of claims 1-13 to be implemented.