CN117460041A - Positioning system, method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

The application provides a positioning system, a positioning method and a positioning device. The first network element is used for receiving a first positioning request from the location service client, and sending a second positioning request to the second network element after passing authentication of the location service client; the second network element is used for receiving a second positioning request, acquiring address information of the AMF network element from the UDM network element according to the identification information of the terminal equipment, and sending a third positioning request to the AMF network element; the third network element is used for receiving a fourth positioning request from the AMF network element, acquiring positioning measurement data through the AMF network element and sending the positioning measurement data to the fourth network element; and the fourth network element is used for calculating a positioning result according to the positioning measurement data and sending the positioning result to the first network element. By dividing network elements of the LCS server into two stages, the method and the device can realize the technical effects of isolating LCS services of different parks, reducing signaling overhead between edges and a core network, improving the safety of positioning results and the like.

Description

Positioning system, method and device

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a positioning system, method, and apparatus.

Background

The service end (LCS service end for short) of the location service (Location Services, LCS) defined by the third generation partnership project (3rd Generation Partnership Project,3GPP) mainly comprises a gateway mobile positioning center (Gateway Mobile Location Centre, GMLC) network element and a location management function (Location Management Function, LMF) network element, and in the actual project deployment process, for the To Business (2B) scenario, there are mainly the following two deployment modes:

Mode 1, LCS server is deployed in the core network of the core network. In this way, LCS services of different parks are all executed to the central network of the core network, resulting in the problem that LCS services cannot be isolated physically based on different parks.

Mode 2, LCS server-side is parked to park for deployment. In this way, the number of GMLC network elements and LMF network elements which are parked in the park is large, and the GMLC network elements and LMF network elements need to interact with access and mobility management function (Access and Mobility Management Function, AMF) network elements and unified data management (Unified Data Management, UDM) network elements of the core network, so that a large number of signaling messages between the edge network of the core network and the central network of the core network are brought, and the system overhead is large; and, the location result can go out of the park, and the security is low.

Therefore, how to deploy LCS servers to 2B scenarios, while LCS services in different campuses are isolated from each other, signaling overhead between the edge and the core network, security of positioning results, and the like are urgent issues to be solved.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides a positioning system, a positioning method and a positioning device, which are used for deploying LCS service ends facing to a 2B scene, and can give consideration to mutual isolation of LCS services of different parks, signaling overhead between edges and a core network, security of positioning results and the like.

In a first aspect, there is provided a positioning system comprising: the first network element is used for receiving a first positioning request from the position service client, the first positioning request is used for indicating to perform positioning on the terminal equipment, and the first positioning request carries identification information of the terminal equipment; authenticating the location service client; after passing the authentication, sending a second positioning request to a second network element, wherein the second positioning request is used for indicating to perform positioning on the terminal equipment, and the second positioning request carries identification information of the terminal equipment; a second network element, configured to receive a second positioning request; acquiring address information of an access and mobility management function (AMF) network element for providing service for the terminal equipment from a Unified Data Management (UDM) network element according to the identification information of the terminal equipment; sending a third positioning request to the AMF network element based on the address information of the AMF network element, wherein the third positioning request is used for indicating to perform positioning on the terminal equipment, and the third positioning request carries identification information of the terminal equipment; the third network element is used for receiving a fourth positioning request from the AMF network element, the fourth positioning request is used for indicating to execute positioning on the terminal equipment, and the fourth positioning request carries the identification information of the terminal equipment; acquiring positioning measurement data for the terminal equipment from the terminal equipment and/or network equipment for providing services for the terminal equipment through an AMF network element; transmitting the positioning measurement data to a fourth network element; a fourth network element for receiving positioning measurement data; calculating a positioning result for the terminal equipment according to the positioning measurement data; transmitting the positioning result to a first network element; the first network element is further configured to receive the positioning result, and send the positioning result to the location service client.

In the embodiment of the present application, the network element of the LCS server is divided into two levels of deployment, that is: the signaling functions and algorithm functions of the LMF network element are deployed in different network elements (e.g., a third network element and a fourth network element), and the API functions and signaling functions of the GMLC are deployed in different network elements (e.g., a first network element and a second network element). Thus, when the LCS server is deployed for the park, the LCS service network elements (e.g., the first network element and the fourth network element) may be deployed in the park, and the LCS signaling network elements (e.g., the second network element and the third network element) may be deployed in a central network element of the core network (i.e., outside the park, e.g., in a provincial center/local city, or in a large area, etc.). The method can realize the technical effects of isolating LCS services of different parks, reducing signaling overhead between the edge and the core network, improving the safety of positioning results and the like.

In one possible design, the second positioning request further carries address information of the fourth network element; the second network element is further configured to provide address information of the fourth network element to the third network element; the third network element is specifically configured to, when sending the positioning measurement data to the fourth network element: and transmitting the positioning measurement data to the fourth network element according to the address information of the fourth network element.

It may be appreciated that if the second network element and the third network element are deployed in the same physical entity, the second network element transmits the address information to the third network element through the internal interface, and if the second network element and the third network element are deployed in different physical entities, the second network element transmits the address information to the third network element through the external communication interface.

In the design, the third network element sends the positioning measurement data to the fourth network element according to the address information of the fourth network element, so that the quick and accurate feedback of the positioning measurement data is realized, and the positioning efficiency can be improved.

In one possible design, the second positioning request further carries address information of the fourth network element; the third network element is specifically configured to, when sending the positioning measurement data to the fourth network element: according to the address information of the second network element, the positioning measurement data are sent to the second network element; so that the second network element is further configured to send the positioning measurement data to the fourth network element according to the address information of the fourth network element.

In the design, the third network element sends the positioning measurement data to the second network element, and the second network element sends the positioning measurement data to the fourth network element, so that the quick and accurate feedback of the positioning measurement data is realized, and the positioning efficiency can be improved.

In one possible design, the fourth network element and the first network element are located on the same physical entity, and the address information of the fourth network element is the address information of the physical entity where the fourth network element and the first network element are located.

In one possible design, the fourth network element and the first network element are located on different physical entities, and the address information of the fourth network element is the address information of the physical entity where the fourth network element is located.

In a possible design, the third network element is further configured to send a registration request to the NRF network element, where the registration request is used to register instance information of the third network element in the NRF network element, and the registration request carries location information of the third network element.

Thus, the subsequent AMF can find the third network element according to the position information of the third network element, and realize the network element selection of the LCS server side with park granularity.

In a second aspect, a positioning method is provided, including: the method comprises the steps that a first network element receives a first positioning request from a position service client, wherein the first positioning request is used for indicating to perform positioning on terminal equipment, and the first positioning request carries identification information of the terminal equipment; the first network element authenticates the location service client; after passing the authentication, the first network element sends a second positioning request to the second network element, wherein the second positioning request is used for indicating to perform positioning on the terminal equipment, and the second positioning request carries identification information of the terminal equipment; the identification information of the terminal equipment is used for the second network element to acquire address information of an AMF network element for providing service for the terminal equipment from the UDM network element; the first network element receives the positioning result from the fourth network element and sends the positioning result to the position service client.

In one possible design, the second positioning request further carries address information of the fourth network element.

In a third aspect, a positioning method is provided, including: the second network element receives a second positioning request from the first network element, wherein the second positioning request is used for indicating to perform positioning on the terminal equipment, and the second positioning request carries identification information of the terminal equipment; the second positioning request is a positioning request sent to the second network element after the first network element receives the first positioning request from the position service client and the authentication of the position service client passes; the second network element obtains address information of an AMF network element for providing service for the terminal equipment from the UDM network element according to the identification information of the terminal equipment; the second network element sends a third positioning request to the AMF network element based on the address information of the AMF network element, wherein the third positioning request is used for indicating to perform positioning on the terminal equipment, and the third positioning request carries the identification information of the terminal equipment.

In one possible design, the second positioning request further carries address information of the fourth network element; the method further comprises the steps of: the second network element provides the address information of the fourth network element to the third network element, and the address information of the fourth network element is used for the third network element to send the positioning measurement data aiming at the terminal equipment to the fourth network element.

In one possible design, the second positioning request further carries address information of the fourth network element; the method further comprises the steps of: the second network element receives positioning measurement data for the terminal device from the third network element; and the second network element sends the positioning measurement data to the fourth network element according to the address information of the fourth network element.

In a fourth aspect, a positioning method is provided, including: the third network element receives a fourth positioning request from the AMF network element, wherein the fourth positioning request is used for indicating to perform positioning on the terminal equipment, and the fourth positioning request carries identification information of the terminal equipment; the third network element obtains positioning measurement data for the terminal equipment from the terminal equipment and/or network equipment for providing service for the terminal equipment through the AMF network element; and the third network element sends the positioning measurement data to the fourth network element, wherein the positioning measurement data is used for the fourth network element to calculate a positioning result aiming at the terminal equipment.

In one possible design, the method further comprises: the third network element obtains the address information of the fourth network element from the second network element; the third network element sends the positioning measurement data to the fourth network element, including: and the third network element sends the positioning measurement data to the fourth network element according to the address information of the fourth network element.

In one possible design, the third network element sends the positioning measurement data to the fourth network element, including: and the third network element sends the positioning measurement data to the second network element according to the address information of the second network element, and sends the positioning measurement data to the fourth network element through the second network element.

In one possible design, the method further comprises: the third network element sends a registration request to the NRF network element, wherein the registration request is used for registering instance information of the third network element in the NRF network element, and the registration request carries position information of the third network element.

In a fifth aspect, a positioning method is provided, including: the fourth network element receives positioning measurement data for the terminal equipment from the third network element; after receiving a fourth positioning request from the AMF network element, the positioning measurement data is acquired from the terminal equipment and/or network equipment for providing service for the terminal equipment through the AMF network element; the fourth network element calculates a positioning result aiming at the terminal equipment according to the positioning measurement data; and the fourth network element sends the positioning result to the first network element, wherein the first network element is the network element which receives the first positioning request from the position service client, and the first positioning request is used for indicating to position the terminal equipment.

In a sixth aspect, there is provided a positioning device comprising means for implementing the method described in the second aspect or any one of the possible designs of the second aspect.

Exemplary, an apparatus includes: the receiving and transmitting module is used for receiving a first positioning request from the position service client, the first positioning request is used for indicating to perform positioning on the terminal equipment, and the first positioning request carries identification information of the terminal equipment; the processing module is used for authenticating the location service client; the transceiver module is further used for: after passing the authentication, sending a second positioning request to a second network element, wherein the second positioning request is used for indicating to perform positioning on the terminal equipment, and the second positioning request carries identification information of the terminal equipment; the identification information of the terminal equipment is used for the second network element to acquire address information of an AMF network element for providing service for the terminal equipment from the UDM network element; the transceiver module is further used for: and receiving a positioning result from the fourth network element, and sending the positioning result to the position service client.

In a seventh aspect, there is provided a positioning device comprising means for implementing the method described in the third aspect or any one of the possible designs of the third aspect.

Exemplary, an apparatus includes: the receiving and transmitting module is used for receiving a second positioning request from the first network element, the second positioning request is used for indicating to perform positioning on the terminal equipment, and the second positioning request carries identification information of the terminal equipment; the second positioning request is a positioning request sent to the second network element after the first network element receives the first positioning request from the position service client and the authentication of the position service client passes; the receiving and transmitting module is also used for acquiring address information of an AMF network element for providing service for the terminal equipment from the UDM network element according to the identification information of the terminal equipment; the receiving and transmitting module is further configured to send a third positioning request to the AMF network element based on address information of the AMF network element, where the third positioning request is used to instruct to perform positioning on the terminal device, and the third positioning request carries identification information of the terminal device.

An eighth aspect provides a positioning device comprising means for implementing the method described in any one of the possible designs of the fourth aspect.

Exemplary, an apparatus includes: the receiving and transmitting module is used for receiving a fourth positioning request from the AMF network element, the fourth positioning request is used for indicating to execute positioning on the terminal equipment, and the fourth positioning request carries identification information of the terminal equipment; the receiving and transmitting module is also used for acquiring positioning measurement data for the terminal equipment from the terminal equipment and/or network equipment for providing services for the terminal equipment through the AMF network element; and the receiving and transmitting module is also used for transmitting the positioning measurement data to the fourth network element, wherein the positioning measurement data is used for the fourth network element to calculate a positioning result aiming at the terminal equipment.

A ninth aspect provides a positioning device comprising means for implementing the method described in the fifth aspect or any one of the possible designs of the fifth aspect.

Exemplary, an apparatus includes: the receiving and transmitting module is used for receiving positioning measurement data for the terminal equipment from the third network element; after receiving a fourth positioning request from the AMF network element, the positioning measurement data is acquired from the terminal equipment and/or network equipment for providing service for the terminal equipment through the AMF network element; the processing module is used for calculating a positioning result aiming at the terminal equipment according to the positioning measurement data; the receiving and transmitting module is further configured to send a positioning result to a first network element, where the first network element is a network element that receives a first positioning request from a location service client, and the first positioning request is used to instruct positioning to the terminal device.

In a tenth aspect, there is provided a positioning device comprising: a processor and interface circuit; the interface circuit is for receiving signals from or transmitting signals from a communication device other than the processor for implementing the method as described in the second aspect or any one of the possible designs of the third aspect or any one of the possible designs of the fourth aspect or any one of the possible designs of the fifth aspect, by logic circuitry or executing code instructions.

In an eleventh aspect, there is provided a computer readable storage medium comprising a program or instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the method as described in the second aspect or any one of the possible designs of the third aspect or any one of the possible designs of the fourth aspect or any one of the possible designs of the fifth aspect or any one of the fifth aspect to be performed.

In a twelfth aspect, there is provided a computer program product comprising instructions stored therein which, when run on a computer, cause the method as described in the second aspect or any one of the possible designs of the third aspect or any one of the possible designs of the fourth aspect or any one of the possible designs of the fifth aspect or any one of the fifth aspect to be performed.

The technical effects of the second aspect to the twelfth aspect are specifically referred to the technical effects that can be achieved by the corresponding designs in the first aspect, and the detailed description is not repeated here.

Drawings

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

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture of another positioning system;

Fig. 3 is a network structure schematic diagram of a positioning system according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 4A and fig. 4B are schematic network structures of another positioning system according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a positioning method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a positioning device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of another positioning device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

The embodiments of the present application may be applied to various communication systems, for example: the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application may be adopted in the fourth generation (4th generation,4G) communication system, the fifth generation (5th generation,5G) communication system, the sixth generation (6th generation,6G) communication system, or other future evolution systems, or other various wireless communication systems using a radio access technology, as long as there is a positioning requirement in the communication system.

The LCS services defined by the third generation partnership project 3GPP mainly relate to GMLC network elements, location retrieval function (Location Retrieval Function, LRF) network elements, LMF network elements, respectively providing the following functions:

LMF network element: the LMF network element manages the overall coordination and scheduling of resources required for the location of the terminals registered in the 5G core network. The LMF network element is responsible for calculating or verifying the final position and the corresponding accuracy. The LMF network element receives a location request of the target UE from the AMF network element. The LMF network element interacts with the UE to exchange location information applicable to UE-assisted and UE-based positioning methods.

GMLC network element: is the first node accessed by external LCS clients and provides the Le reference point. The GMLC network element requests routing information and/or target UE privacy information from the UDM. After authorizing an external LCS client or Application Function (AF) and verifying the privacy of the target UE, the GMLC network element forwards the location request to the AMF network element providing the service or, in case of roaming of the user, to the GMLC network element in another public land mobile network (Public Land Mobile Network, PLMN).

LRF network element: the LRF network element may be collocated with the GMLC network element or deployed independently. The LRF network element is responsible for retrieving or verifying location information, providing routing information for the UE initiating the emergency session.

Referring to fig. 1, a network structure of a positioning system is shown. In the system, an LCS server is deployed in a central network of a core network. The central network of the core network is mainly a control plane network element, which can be deployed in a large area (for example, northeast area, north China area, east China area, south China area, northwest area, southwest area, etc.), and the control plane network element in the core network comprises AMF, UDM, NEF, SMF and a service end for providing LCS service, such as an LMF network element and a gmlc+lrf network element, etc. (in fig. 1, the GMLC network element and the LRF network element are integrated in one network element for example, and may be actually deployed separately). User plane network elements (e.g., UPFs) in the core network are deployed in provincial centers/municipalities (e.g., liuning, gildines, or black longjiang, etc.). LCS clients are deployed in a campus, where they also deploy terminal Equipment (UE), access network (RAN) Equipment, etc.

This solution has the following drawbacks:

1) The LCS client needs to call the Le interface of the GMLC Network element deployed in the large area, or call the positioning application programming interface (Application Programming Interface, API) opened by the NEF Network element, and the positioning service physical isolation cannot be realized between multiple parks based on Network Function (NF) examples;

2) The requirement that the users are positioned on different LCS servers based on park/user number sections required by the 2B clients is partially met, but the park/user number sections are not hoped to be exposed, and the LCS clients of different parks are all selected to the same LCS server when the LCS server is deployed in a large area, so that the requirement that the users are positioned on different LCS servers based on park/user number sections required by the 2B clients cannot be met.

Referring to fig. 2, a network structure of another positioning system is schematically shown. In the system, control plane network elements (such as AMF network elements, UDM network elements and the like) of a core network are deployed in a large area and serve as a central network; the LCS server (such as LMF network element, gmlc+lrf network element, etc.), and the user plane network element (such as UPF) of the core network are deployed on the edge network of the core network, where the edge network resides on the campus.

This solution has the following drawbacks:

1) The GMLC network element and the LMF network element in the park, the AMF network element and the UDM network element deployed in the large area have a large amount of signaling interaction, and form signaling impact on the AMF network element and the UDM network element in the large area;

2) Part 2B park has "positioning data do not go out of park" requirement, analyze "positioning result" as user sensitive information in positioning data from the security angle, need to avoid positioning result information to transmit in the message interaction of the transregional, in this scheme, after LMF network element obtains positioning result, need to send AMF network element first, forward to GMLC network element by AMF network element, lead to positioning result information to go out of park, unable to meet the security requirement;

3) The GMLC network elements and LMF network elements deployed in the 2B park are not in the operator trusted domain and are easily attacked or imitated, and there is a security threat risk due to interworking with the large area core network.

In order to solve one or more of the above technical problems, a technical solution of an embodiment of the present application is provided.

Referring to fig. 3, a network structure schematic diagram of a positioning system according to an embodiment of the present application is provided. The system comprises a first network element, a second network element, a third network element and a fourth network element.

The first network element has the Function of the API part of the GMLC network element, for example, the first network element may be used as a first node accessed by an external LCS client to provide a Le reference point, and the first network element may also perform authorization on the external LCS client or an Application (Function, AF), verify the privacy of the target UE, and so on.

The second network element has the functionality of the signaling part of the GMLC network element described above, e.g. it may request routing information and/or target UE privacy information from the UDM, forward the location request to the AMF network element providing the service, or in case of roaming of the user, forward the location request to the GMLC network element in another public land mobile network (Public Land Mobile Network, PLMN), etc.

The third network element has the function of the signaling part of the LMF network element, for example, can manage the overall coordination and scheduling of resources required by the location of the terminal registered in the core network, receive the location request of the target UE from the AMF network element, and interact with the UE to exchange location information applicable to UE assistance and UE-based positioning methods, and the like.

The fourth network element has the function of the algorithm part of the LMF network element described above, for example, the fourth network element may calculate or verify the final location and the corresponding accuracy of the terminal.

In one possible design, the fourth network element and the first network element are integrated in a physical device or integrated in a network entity, in which case the fourth network element and the first network element may form a network element, and since both the fourth network element and the first network element are responsible for functions related to LCS services (such as GMLC API functions, LMF algorithm functions, etc.), the whole formed by the fourth network element and the first network element may be referred to as an LCS service network element. By the design mode, the number of physical entities in the network can be reduced, the network structure is simplified, and the network deployment difficulty and the deployment cost are reduced.

In one possible design, the second network element and the third network element are integrated in one physical device or integrated on one network entity, in which case the second network element and the third network element may form one network element, and since the second network element and the third network element are both responsible for functions related to LCS signaling (such as GMLC signaling function, LMF signaling function, etc.), the whole formed by the second network element and the third network element may be referred to as an LCS signaling network element. By the design mode, the number of physical entities in the network can be reduced, the network structure is simplified, and the network deployment difficulty and the deployment cost are reduced.

It can be appreciated that in practical applications, the positioning system may further include other network elements besides the first network element, the second network element, the third network element, and the fourth network element, for example, an AMF network element, a NEF network element, a UDM network element, and the like.

For example, referring to fig. 4A, a network structure schematic diagram of another positioning system provided in an embodiment of the present application includes an AMF network element, a NEF network element, a UDM network element, a first network element, a second network element, a third network element, a fourth network element, a RAN, a terminal, an LCS client, and so on. The UE, the RAN, the fourth network element and the first network element are deployed in a park, the AMF network element, the NEF network element, the UDM network element, the third network element and the second network element are located in a core network, the AMF network element, the NEF network element, the UDM network element and the like are deployed in a large area, and the second network element and the third network element are deployed in a provincial center/local city.

In the example given in fig. 4A, the second network element and the third network element are set as LCS signaling network elements in a combined manner, and the first network element and the fourth network element are set as LCS service network elements in a combined manner, which may also be deployed separately.

In one possible design, the ratio of LCS signaling network element to LCS service network element may be 1: n, wherein N is a positive integer. In other words, LCS service network elements of different campuses may share the same LCS signaling network element.

For example, referring to fig. 4B, LCS service element 1 in campus 1 and LCS service element 2 in campus 2 share the same LCS signaling element.

It should be noted that fig. 4A and fig. 4B are only examples, and specific deployment locations of the first network element, the second network element, the third network element, and the fourth network element are not limited in this application.

Referring to fig. 5, a flowchart of a positioning method according to an embodiment of the present application is provided, where the method includes:

s501, the LCS client sends a first positioning request to a first network element, and the first network element receives the first positioning request.

Specifically, the LCS may send a first positioning request to the first network element by calling an API provided by the first network element. The first positioning request is used for indicating to perform positioning on the UE, and the first positioning request carries identification information of the UE. The UE identification information includes, but is not limited to, a user permanent identity (Subscription Permanent Identifier, SUPI), a general public subscription identifier (Generic Public Subscription Identifier, GPSI), etc.

S502, the first network element authenticates the LCS client, if the authentication passes, S503 is executed; if the authentication is not passed, rejecting the location request of the LCS client.

Optionally, after the first network element authenticates that the LCS client is a legal LCS client, a Token is allocated to the LCS client, and the subsequent positioning request initiated by the LCS client needs to carry the Token to the first network element for authentication processing. Accordingly, the first positioning request carries a token, and the authentication may include: the first network element authenticates the LCS client based on the token.

Optionally, the authentication may further include: after receiving the first positioning request, the first network element may access a privacy profile (privacy profile) of the terminal device in the UDM network element, determine whether the terminal device agrees to the LCS client, and if so, pass authentication.

Of course, the above is merely an example, and other authentication manners are also possible in practical application, which is not limited in this application.

Optionally, the first network element further authorizes the LCS client before the LCS client sends the first positioning request. It will be appreciated that only clients authorized by the first network element can request location of the UE.

S503, the first network element sends a second positioning request to the second network element; the second network element receives a second positioning request.

The second positioning request is used for indicating to perform positioning on the UE, and the second positioning request carries the identification information of the UE.

Illustratively, the first network element forwards the first location request to the second network element after the LCS client is authenticated. When forwarding, the first network element may directly forward the first positioning request, that is, the second positioning request is the same as the first positioning request, or may generate a new positioning request, that is, the second positioning request is different from the first positioning request (for example, is a repackaged message), which is not limited in this application.

Optionally, the second positioning request further carries address information of the fourth network element. It can be appreciated that if the fourth network element and the first network element are deployed independently (i.e. located in different physical entities), the address information of the fourth network element carried in the second positioning request is address information of the fourth network element (different from the address information of the first network element); if the fourth network element and the first network element are deployed in a centralized manner, i.e. located in the same physical entity, or the fourth network element and the first network element are integrally formed as one network element (e.g. LCS service network element), the address carried in the second positioning request may be address information of the physical entity where the fourth network element and the first network element are located (e.g. address information of the LCS service network element), i.e. the address information may represent addresses of the fourth network element and the first network element at the same time. And carrying the address information of the fourth network element in the second positioning request so as to facilitate the subsequent transmission of the positioning measurement data to the fourth network element.

S504, the second network element obtains address information of an AMF network element for providing service for the UE from the UDM network element according to the identification information of the UE.

The second network element sends a request message to the UDM, where the request message carries identification information (such as SUPI or GPSI) of the UE, and after the UDM receives the request message, it determines address information of an AMF network element that provides services for the UE, and returns a response message to the second network element, where the response message carries the address information of the AMF network element.

S505, the second network element sends a third positioning request to the AMF network element based on the address information of the AMF network element; the AMF receives a third positioning request.

The third positioning request is used for indicating to perform positioning on the UE, and the third positioning request carries the identification information of the UE;

optionally, S506, the AMF network element discovers a third network element based on the location of the UE to the NRF network element.

Illustratively, when the AMF is activated, the AMF can determine from the N2 signaling that the network device (e.g., base station) to which the UE is accessing, take the location of the network device (e.g., tracking area identity (Tracking Area Identity, TAI)) as the location of the UE, send a discovery request to the NRF network element, and discover a third network element that serves the UE.

Optionally, the third network element further sends a registration request to the NRF network element, where the registration request is used to register instance information (including address information) of the third network element in the NRF network element, and the registration request carries location information of the third network element; after the NRF network element receives the registration request, the instance information and the location information of the third network element are stored. After the NRF receives the discovery request sent by the AMF, determining a third network element (e.g., the UE is located in the coverage area of the third network element) for providing services for the UE based on the location of the UE in the discovery request, and then feeding back the address information of the third network element to the AMF network element.

Optionally, the location information of the third network element comprises a tracking area identity (Tracking Area Identity, TAI) covered by the third network element.

S507, the AMF network element sends a fourth positioning request to the third network element; the third network element receives a fourth positioning request.

The fourth positioning request is used for indicating to execute positioning on the UE, and the fourth positioning request carries the identification information of the UE.

S508, the third network element obtains positioning measurement data for the UE from the UE and/or network equipment for providing services for the UE through the AMF network element.

Illustratively, the third network element implements positioning capability exchange, positioning resource subscription and positioning measurement subscription with the UE or RAN through AMF forwarding messages; then, the UE and/or the RAN reports the positioning measurement data to the AMF through an N1/N2 interface; finally, the AMF forwards the quantity-location measurement data to the third network element.

S509, the third network element sends the positioning measurement data to the fourth network element; the fourth network element receives positioning measurement data.

Optionally, the second network element and the third network element are deployed in a centralized manner, i.e. located in the same physical entity, or the second network element and the third network element are integrally used as a network element (such as an LCS signaling network element) to share the same user positioning context, and the third network element may forward the positioning measurement data to the fourth network element based on the address information (e.g. address information of the LCS service network element) of the fourth network element obtained by the second network element in step S503.

Optionally, the third network element and the second network element are deployed independently (i.e. located in different physical entities), and the third network element may send the positioning measurement data to the second network element first, and then the second network element forwards the positioning measurement data to the fourth network element based on the address information of the fourth network element.

Optionally, the second network element provides the address information of the fourth network element to the third network element, irrespective of the deployment manner of the third network element and the second network element, and the third network element forwards the positioning measurement data to the fourth network element based on the address information of the fourth network element.

S510, the fourth network element calculates a positioning result for the UE according to the positioning measurement data;

s511, the fourth network element sends the positioning result to the first network element; the first network element receives a positioning result;

and S512, the fourth network element sends a positioning result to the LCS client.

In the embodiment of the application, the signaling function and the algorithm function of the LMF network element are deployed in different network elements (such as a third network element and a fourth network element), and the API function and the signaling function of the GMLC are deployed in different network elements (such as a first network element and a second network element). Thus, when the LCS server is deployed for the park, each function of the LCS server can be flexibly deployed in different areas.

For example, the network elements of the LCS server may be divided into two levels of deployment: network elements in LCS traffic (e.g., first network element and fourth network element) are deployed in the campus, while network elements in LCS signaling (e.g., second network element and third network element) may be deployed in a central network element of the core network (i.e., outside the campus, e.g., in a province center/city, or a large area, etc.). The deployment mode can at least achieve the following technical effects:

1. the network elements (such as the first network element and the fourth network element) related to the LCS service are deployed inside the park, so that the effect that the user positioning result cannot go out of the park can be achieved, and the effect of positioning service physical isolation among different parks can be achieved.

2. Network elements (such as the second network element and the third network element) in LCS signaling aspect are deployed outside the park (for example, deployed in a province center, a city or a large area, etc.), so that signaling interaction between the core network edge network and the core network center network can be effectively reduced.

3. The AMF can find a suitable third network element (LMF signaling part) based on the position (such as TAI) of the UE to provide positioning service for the UE, so that the problem that the position information is insufficient to reach the granularity of a park when the LMF is wholly deployed in the park (because the existing LMF network element is wholly deployed in a provincial center/local city or a large area, the TAI of the LMF is large) is avoided, and the requirement of 2B client requirements for positioning users on different LCS servers based on park/user number segments can be met.

4. Network elements (such as a second network element and a third network element) in the aspect of LCS signaling are deployed outside the park and in the network domain of the operator, so that the problem of security threat caused by the integral deployment of LCS in the network domain of non-operators such as the park can be effectively avoided.

Based on the same technical concept, the embodiments of the present application further provide a positioning device, where the positioning device includes a module/unit/technical means for implementing the method executed by any network element in the foregoing method embodiments.

Illustratively, referring to FIG. 6, an apparatus includes a transceiver module 601 and a processing module 602.

When the device is located on the first network element, the transceiver module 601 is configured to receive a first positioning request from the location service client, where the first positioning request is used to instruct to perform positioning on the terminal device, and the first positioning request carries identification information of the terminal device; a processing module 602, configured to authenticate the location service client; the transceiver module 601 is further configured to: after passing the authentication, sending a second positioning request to a second network element, wherein the second positioning request is used for indicating to perform positioning on the terminal equipment, and the second positioning request carries identification information of the terminal equipment; the identification information of the terminal equipment is used for the second network element to acquire address information of an AMF network element for providing service for the terminal equipment from the UDM network element; the transceiver module 601 is further configured to: and receiving a positioning result from the fourth network element, and sending the positioning result to the position service client.

When the device is located on the second network element, the transceiver module 601 is configured to receive a second positioning request from the first network element, where the second positioning request is used to instruct to perform positioning on the terminal device, and the second positioning request carries identification information of the terminal device; the second positioning request is a positioning request sent to the second network element after the first network element receives the first positioning request from the position service client and the authentication of the position service client passes; the transceiver module 601 is further configured to obtain address information of an AMF network element that provides a service for the terminal device from the UDM network element according to the identification information of the terminal device; the transceiver module 601 is further configured to send a third positioning request to the AMF network element based on address information of the AMF network element, where the third positioning request is used to instruct to perform positioning on the terminal device, and the third positioning request carries identification information of the terminal device.

When the device is located on the third network element, the transceiver module 601 is configured to receive a fourth positioning request from the AMF network element, where the fourth positioning request is used to instruct to perform positioning on the terminal device, and the fourth positioning request carries identification information of the terminal device; the transceiver module 601 is further configured to obtain positioning measurement data for the terminal device from the terminal device and/or a network device that provides services for the terminal device through the AMF network element; the transceiver module 601 is further configured to send positioning measurement data to a fourth network element, where the positioning measurement data is used by the fourth network element to calculate a positioning result for the terminal device.

When the device is located on the fourth network element, a transceiver module 601 is configured to receive positioning measurement data for the terminal device from the third network element; after receiving a fourth positioning request from the AMF network element, the positioning measurement data is acquired from the terminal equipment and/or network equipment for providing service for the terminal equipment through the AMF network element; a processing module 602, configured to calculate a positioning result for the terminal device according to the positioning measurement data; the transceiver module 601 is further configured to send a positioning result to a first network element, where the first network element is a network element that receives a first positioning request from a location service client, and the first positioning request is used to instruct positioning of a terminal device.

Based on the same technical concept, the embodiment of the present application further provides a positioning device, referring to fig. 7, including: a processor 701 and interface circuitry 702;

the interface circuit 702 is configured to receive signals from other communication devices than the communication device and transmit the signals to the processor 701 or send the signals from the processor 701 to the other communication device than the communication device, where the processor 701 is configured to implement, by using logic circuits or executing code instructions, a method performed by one or more of the first network element or the second network element or the third network element or the fourth network element in the above-described method embodiment.

Based on the same technical concept, the embodiments of the present application further provide a computer readable storage medium, including a program or an instruction, where the program or the instruction, when executed on a computer, cause a method performed by one or more of the first network element or the second network element or the third network element or the fourth network element in the above method embodiments to be performed.

It should be understood that the processors mentioned in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented by hardware or may be implemented by software. When implemented in hardware, the processor may be a logic circuit, an integrated circuit, or the like. When implemented in software, the processor may be a general purpose processor, implemented by reading software code stored in a memory.

By way of example, the processor may be a central processing unit (Central Processing Unit, CPU), but may also be other general purpose processors, digital signal processors (Digital Signal Processor, DSP), application specific integrated circuits (Application Specific Integrated Circuit, ASIC), off-the-shelf programmable gate arrays (Field Programmable Gate Array, FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, or the like. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may be any conventional processor or the like.

It should be understood that the memories mentioned in the embodiments of the present application may be volatile memories or nonvolatile memories, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile memories. The nonvolatile Memory may be a Read-Only Memory (ROM), a Programmable ROM (PROM), an Erasable PROM (EPROM), an Electrically Erasable EPROM (EEPROM), or a flash Memory. The volatile memory may be random access memory (Random Access Memory, RAM) which acts as an external cache. By way of example, and not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as Static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double Data rate Synchronous DRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), synchronous Link DRAM (SLDRAM), and Direct RAM (DR RAM).

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

It should be noted that the memory described herein is intended to comprise, without being limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

Based on the same technical concept, the embodiments of the present application further provide a computer readable storage medium including a program or an instruction, where the program or the instruction, when executed on a computer, cause a method performed by one or more of the first network element or the second network element or the third network element or the fourth network element in the above method embodiments to be performed.

Based on the same technical idea, embodiments of the present application also provide a computer program product comprising instructions stored therein, which when run on a computer, cause a method performed by one or more of the first network element or the second network element or the third network element or the fourth network element as in the method embodiments described above to be performed.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that in the present application, "at least one" means one or more and "a plurality" means two or more. "and/or", describes an association relationship of an association object, and indicates that there may be three relationships, for example, a and/or B, and may indicate: a alone, a and B together, and B alone, wherein a, B may be singular or plural. In the text description of the present application, the character "/", generally indicates that the associated object is an or relationship; in the formulas of the present application, the character "/" indicates that the front and rear associated objects are a "division" relationship. "including at least one of A, B and C" may mean: comprises A; comprises B; comprising C; comprises A and B; comprises A and C; comprises B and C; including A, B and C.

Embodiments of the present application may be provided as a method, system, or computer program product. Accordingly, the present application may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the present application may take the form of a computer program product embodied on one or more computer-usable storage media (including, but not limited to, disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, and the like) having computer-usable program code embodied therein.

The present application is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to the application. It will be understood that each flow and/or block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of flows and/or blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present application without departing from the scope of the application. Thus, if such modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims and the equivalents thereof, the present application is intended to cover such modifications and variations.

Claims (21)

1. A positioning system, comprising:

the first network element is used for receiving a first positioning request from the position service client, wherein the first positioning request is used for indicating to perform positioning on the terminal equipment, and the first positioning request carries identification information of the terminal equipment; authenticating the position service client; after passing the authentication, sending a second positioning request to a second network element, wherein the second positioning request is used for indicating to execute positioning on the terminal equipment, and the second positioning request carries the identification information of the terminal equipment;

the second network element is configured to receive the second positioning request; acquiring address information of an access and mobility management function (AMF) network element for providing service for the terminal equipment from a Unified Data Management (UDM) network element according to the identification information of the terminal equipment; transmitting a third positioning request to the AMF network element based on the address information of the AMF network element, wherein the third positioning request is used for indicating to perform positioning on the terminal equipment, and the third positioning request carries the identification information of the terminal equipment;

the third network element is configured to receive a fourth positioning request from the AMF network element, where the fourth positioning request is used to instruct to perform positioning on a terminal device, and the fourth positioning request carries identification information of the terminal device; acquiring positioning measurement data for the terminal equipment from the terminal equipment and/or network equipment for providing services for the terminal equipment through the AMF network element; transmitting the positioning measurement data to a fourth network element;

The fourth network element is configured to receive the positioning measurement data; calculating a positioning result for the terminal equipment according to the positioning measurement data; transmitting the positioning result to the first network element;

the first network element is further configured to receive the positioning result, and send the positioning result to the location service client.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second location request further carries address information of the fourth network element;

the second network element is further configured to provide address information of the fourth network element to the third network element;

the third network element is specifically configured to, when sending the positioning measurement data to the fourth network element: and transmitting the positioning measurement data to a fourth network element according to the address information of the fourth network element.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second location request further carries address information of the fourth network element;

the third network element is specifically configured to, when sending the positioning measurement data to the fourth network element: transmitting the positioning measurement data to the second network element according to the address information of the second network element; so that the second network element is further configured to send the positioning measurement data to the fourth network element according to the address information of the fourth network element.

4. A system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the fourth network element and the first network element are located on the same physical entity, and the address information of the fourth network element is the address information of the physical entity on which the fourth network element and the first network element are located; or,

the fourth network element and the first network element are located on different physical entities, and the address information of the fourth network element is the address information of the physical entity where the fourth network element is located.

5. The system according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the third network element is further configured to send a registration request to a network storage function NRF network element, where the registration request is used to register instance information of the third network element with the NRF network element, the registration request carries location information of the third network element, and the location information of the third network element is used by an AMF network element to discover the third network element.

6. A positioning method, comprising:

the method comprises the steps that a first network element receives a first positioning request from a position service client, wherein the first positioning request is used for indicating to perform positioning on terminal equipment, and the first positioning request carries identification information of the terminal equipment;

The first network element authenticates the position service client;

after passing the authentication, the first network element sends a second positioning request to a second network element, wherein the second positioning request is used for indicating to perform positioning on the terminal equipment, and the second positioning request carries identification information of the terminal equipment; the identification information of the terminal equipment is used for the second network element to acquire address information of an AMF network element for providing service for the terminal equipment from the UDM network element;

and the first network element receives the positioning result from the fourth network element and sends the positioning result to the position service client.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second location request further carries address information of the fourth network element.

8. A positioning method, comprising:

the second network element receives a second positioning request from the first network element, wherein the second positioning request is used for indicating to execute positioning on the terminal equipment, and the second positioning request carries identification information of the terminal equipment; the second positioning request is a positioning request sent to the second network element after the first network element receives a first positioning request from a location service client and authenticates the location service client;

The second network element obtains address information of an AMF network element for providing service for the terminal equipment from the UDM network element according to the identification information of the terminal equipment;

the second network element sends a third positioning request to the AMF network element based on the address information of the AMF network element, wherein the third positioning request is used for indicating to perform positioning on the terminal equipment, and the third positioning request carries the identification information of the terminal equipment.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second positioning request further carries address information of a fourth network element;

the method further comprises the steps of:

the second network element provides the address information of the fourth network element to a third network element, and the address information of the fourth network element is used for the third network element to send positioning measurement data for the terminal equipment to the fourth network element.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the second positioning request further carries address information of a fourth network element;

the method further comprises the steps of:

the second network element receives positioning measurement data for the terminal device from the third network element;

and the second network element sends the positioning measurement data to the fourth network element according to the address information of the fourth network element.

11. A positioning method, comprising:

the third network element receives a fourth positioning request from the AMF network element, wherein the fourth positioning request is used for indicating to perform positioning on the terminal equipment, and the fourth positioning request carries identification information of the terminal equipment;

the third network element obtains positioning measurement data for the terminal equipment from the terminal equipment and/or network equipment for providing service for the terminal equipment through the AMF network element;

and the third network element sends the positioning measurement data to a fourth network element, wherein the positioning measurement data is used for the fourth network element to calculate a positioning result aiming at the terminal equipment.

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

the third network element obtains the address information of the fourth network element from the second network element;

the third network element sends the positioning measurement data to a fourth network element, including:

and the third network element sends the positioning measurement data to the fourth network element according to the address information of the fourth network element.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the third network element transmitting the positioning measurement data to a fourth network element comprises:

And the third network element sends the positioning measurement data to the second network element according to the address information of the second network element, and sends the positioning measurement data to the fourth network element through the second network element.

14. The method of any one of claims 11-13, further comprising:

the third network element sends a registration request to an NRF network element, wherein the registration request is used for registering instance information of the third network element in the NRF network element, and the registration request carries position information of the third network element.

15. A positioning method, comprising:

the fourth network element receives positioning measurement data for the terminal equipment from the third network element; after the third network element receives a fourth positioning request from an AMF network element, the positioning measurement data is acquired from the terminal equipment and/or network equipment for providing service for the terminal equipment through the AMF network element;

the fourth network element calculates a positioning result aiming at the terminal equipment according to the positioning measurement data;

the fourth network element sends the positioning result to a first network element, where the first network element is a network element that receives a first positioning request from a location service client, and the first positioning request is used to instruct positioning to the terminal device.

16. A positioning device, comprising:

the receiving and transmitting module is used for receiving a first positioning request from a position service client, wherein the first positioning request is used for indicating to execute positioning on terminal equipment, and the first positioning request carries identification information of the terminal equipment;

the processing module is used for authenticating the position service client;

the transceiver module is further used for: after passing the authentication, sending a second positioning request to a second network element, wherein the second positioning request is used for indicating to execute positioning on the terminal equipment, and the second positioning request carries the identification information of the terminal equipment; the identification information of the terminal equipment is used for the second network element to acquire address information of an AMF network element for providing service for the terminal equipment from the UDM network element;

the transceiver module is further used for: and receiving a positioning result from a fourth network element, and sending the positioning result to the position service client.

17. A positioning device, comprising:

the receiving and transmitting module is used for receiving a second positioning request from the first network element, wherein the second positioning request is used for indicating to perform positioning on the terminal equipment, and the second positioning request carries identification information of the terminal equipment; the second positioning request is a positioning request sent to the second network element after the first network element receives a first positioning request from a location service client and authenticates the location service client;

The receiving and transmitting module is further configured to obtain address information of an AMF network element that provides a service for the terminal device from a UDM network element according to the identification information of the terminal device;

the transceiver module is further configured to send a third positioning request to the AMF network element based on address information of the AMF network element, where the third positioning request is used to instruct to perform positioning on the terminal device, and the third positioning request carries identification information of the terminal device.

18. A positioning device, comprising:

the receiving and transmitting module is used for receiving a fourth positioning request from the AMF network element, wherein the fourth positioning request is used for indicating to perform positioning on the terminal equipment, and the fourth positioning request carries identification information of the terminal equipment;

the transceiver module is further configured to obtain, through the AMF network element, positioning measurement data for the terminal device from the terminal device and/or a network device that provides services for the terminal device;

the transceiver module is further configured to send the positioning measurement data to a fourth network element, where the positioning measurement data is used by the fourth network element to calculate a positioning result for the terminal device.

19. A positioning device, comprising:

The receiving and transmitting module is used for receiving positioning measurement data for the terminal equipment from the third network element; after the third network element receives a fourth positioning request from an AMF network element, the positioning measurement data is acquired from the terminal equipment and/or network equipment for providing service for the terminal equipment through the AMF network element;

the processing module is used for calculating a positioning result aiming at the terminal equipment according to the positioning measurement data;

the receiving and transmitting module is further configured to send the positioning result to a first network element, where the first network element is a network element that receives a first positioning request from a location service client, and the first positioning request is used to instruct positioning the terminal device.

20. A positioning device, comprising: a processor and interface circuit;

the interface circuit is configured to receive signals from other communication devices than the communication device and transmit to the processor or send signals from the processor to other communication devices than the communication device, the processor being configured to implement the method of any one of claims 6-7, or the method of any one of claims 8-10, or the method of any one of claims 11-14, or the method of claim 15, by logic circuitry or execution of code instructions.

21. A computer readable storage medium comprising a program or instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the method of any one of claims 6-7 or the method of any one of claims 8-10 or the method of any one of claims 11-14 or the method of claim 15 to be performed.