CN117956417A - Communication method, device and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

The application discloses a communication method, a device and a storage medium, which relate to the technical field of communication and are used for enabling a second communication node participating in positioning to be capable of knowing the service condition of a radio frequency link of a first communication node so as to improve the positioning accuracy. The method comprises the following steps: the first communication node determines a radio frequency link identification of a positioning reference signal, wherein the radio frequency link identification of the positioning reference signal is used for indicating a radio frequency link used by the first communication node for transmitting the positioning reference signal; the first communication node transmits a radio frequency link identification of the positioning reference signal.

Description

Communication method, device and storage medium

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a communications method, an apparatus, and a storage medium.

Background

The 5G new air interface (new raido, NR) network standard has various congenital advantages of large bandwidth, ultra-dense networking, large-scale antenna array and the like in the aspect of communication positioning, and the large-scale antenna array brings the measurement capability of signal angle observation information for the 5G network, thereby realizing the positioning method based on angles. When terminal positioning is completed by utilizing a large-scale antenna array, in order to complete network coverage, transmission of positioning reference signals may pass through different radio frequency links, and different transmission modes may affect group delay difference.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides a communication method, a device and a storage medium, which are used for enabling a second communication node participating in positioning to be capable of knowing the use condition of a radio frequency link of a first communication node, so that the positioning accuracy is improved.

In one aspect, a communication method is provided, applied to a first communication node, including: determining a radio frequency link identification of a positioning reference signal, the radio frequency link identification of the positioning reference signal being used to indicate a radio frequency link used by the first communication node to transmit the positioning reference signal; and transmitting the radio frequency link identification of the positioning reference signal.

In yet another aspect, another communication method is provided, applied to a second communication node, including: acquiring radio frequency link identifiers of a plurality of positioning reference signals, wherein the radio frequency link identifier of each positioning reference signal is used for indicating a radio frequency link of a first communication node for transmitting the positioning reference signal; and determining whether to perform calibration processing of group delay difference according to the radio frequency link identifiers of the positioning reference signals.

In yet another aspect, there is provided a communication apparatus comprising:

A determining module, configured to determine a radio frequency link identifier of a positioning reference signal, where the radio frequency link identifier of the positioning reference signal is used to instruct a first communication node to use a radio frequency link for transmitting the positioning reference signal;

And the transmitting module is used for transmitting the radio frequency link identification of the positioning reference signal.

In yet another aspect, there is provided another communication apparatus comprising:

The acquisition module is used for acquiring radio frequency link identifiers of a plurality of positioning reference signals, wherein the radio frequency link identifier of each positioning reference signal is used for indicating a radio frequency link of the first communication node for transmitting the positioning reference signal;

And the determining module is used for determining whether to perform calibration processing of the group delay difference.

In yet another aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, including a processor, which implements the communication method of the first aspect described above or implements the communication method of the second aspect described above when executing a computer program.

In yet another aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, the computer-readable storage medium comprising computer instructions; wherein the computer instructions, when executed, implement the communication method of the first aspect described above, or implement the communication method of the second aspect described above.

In a further aspect, a computer program product is provided, comprising computer program instructions which, when executed, implement the communication method of the first aspect described above, or implement the communication method of the second aspect described above.

In the embodiment of the application, the first node sends the radio frequency link identification of the positioning reference signal so that the second communication node participating in positioning can know the service condition of the radio frequency link of the first communication node, thereby improving the positioning accuracy.

Drawings

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

fig. 2 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a MAC CE according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of another MAC CE according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5 is a flow chart of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a first communication node according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a second communication node according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

The following description of the embodiments of the present application will be made clearly and completely with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which it is apparent that the embodiments described are only some embodiments of the present application, but not all embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be made by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the application without making any inventive effort, are intended to be within the scope of the application.

In the description of the present application, "/" means "or" unless otherwise indicated, for example, A/B may mean A or B. "and/or" herein is merely an association relationship describing an association object, and means that three relationships may exist, for example, a and/or B may mean: a exists alone, A and B exist together, and B exists alone. Furthermore, "at least one" means one or more, and "a plurality" means two or more. The terms "first," "second," and the like do not limit the number and order of execution, and the terms "first," "second," and the like do not necessarily differ.

In the present application, the words "exemplary" or "such as" are used to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any embodiment or design described herein as "exemplary" or "for example" should not be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, the use of words such as "exemplary" or "such as" is intended to present related concepts in a concrete fashion.

In embodiments of the application, "indication" may include both direct and indirect indications. For example, taking the first control information hereinafter as an example, the first control information may directly carry the information a itself or an index thereof, so as to achieve the purpose of directly indicating the information a. Or the first control information may also carry information B having an association relationship with information a, so as to achieve the purpose of indirectly indicating information a while indicating information B.

In the positioning process based on the positioning reference signal, the positioning process can be divided into the following three types according to the different participation degrees of the terminal and the network side: UE-based positioning, UE-assisted positioning, and NW-based positioning.

UE-based positioning: the terminal is responsible for measuring the downlink positioning reference signals and calculating the position information of the terminal.

UE-assisted positioning: the terminal is responsible for measuring the downlink positioning reference signals, reporting the measurement results to the position management entity, and calculating the position by the position management functional entity.

NW-based positioning: the terminal is responsible for sending an uplink positioning reference signal, the base station performs measurement, and reports the measurement result to the position management functional entity, and the position management functional entity calculates the position.

It can be appreciated that the positioning process can also be divided into the following three categories according to the difference in positioning reference signals used in the positioning process: 1. and a positioning process depending on the uplink positioning reference signal. 2. And a positioning process depending on the downlink positioning reference signal. 3. And meanwhile, the positioning process of the uplink positioning reference signal and the downlink positioning reference signal is relied on.

With the rapid development of 5G networks, a positioning method of a conventional LTE network is upgraded, and a conventional time difference of arrival (OTDOA) technology is upgraded to an uplink TIME DIFFERENCE of arrival (UL-TDOA) technology and a downlink TIME DIFFERENCE of arrival (DL-TDOA) technology. And, because the 5G network has a large-scale antenna array, the 5G network can realize positioning based on angles. Therefore, the following two positioning methods based on angles are added to the types of the original positioning methods: 1. the method for reaching the angle of the uplink signal comprises the steps of measuring the angle of an uplink positioning reference signal by a plurality of base stations close to the terminal through a base station antenna array, and calculating the position of the terminal. 2. The method for leaving angle of downlink signal uses the beam direction leaving according to downlink positioning reference signal as the angle between terminal and base station, and then calculates the position of terminal.

In the above-mentioned different positioning methods, the involved capabilities are also different, and in the positioning process of the existing terminal and the location management function entity, the location management function entity specifically queries the capability of the terminal according to the used positioning method, so that the terminal measurement results corresponding to the different positioning methods are different.

For example, in the positioning method using the downlink arrival time difference DL-TDOA, the corresponding measurement content is the arrival time difference (downlink REFERENCE SIGNAL TIME DIFFERENCE, DL RSTD) of the downlink positioning reference signal and the wireless signal strength (downlink positioning REFERENCE SIGNAL REFERENCE SIGNAL RECEIVING power, DL PRS RSRP) of the downlink positioning reference signal; in the positioning method using the downlink signal departure angle (downlink angle of departure, DL-AOD), the corresponding measurement content is the wireless signal strength DL PRS RSRP of the downlink positioning reference signal; in the positioning method using multi-round trip ranging, the corresponding measurement contents are the wireless signal strength DL PRS RSRP of the downlink positioning reference signal and the round trip time UE Rx-Tx TIME DIFFERENCE of the downlink positioning reference signal.

In addition, the 5G network upgrades the uplink positioning reference signal, increases the configuration mode of special positioning, can realize the transmission of the uplink positioning reference signal under the maximum transmission power of the uplink signal, further ensures the audibility of the signal and improves the positioning capability of the uplink arrival time difference technology.

With the support of large-scale antenna array, the positioning reference signals received by the receiving side may come from different radio frequency links in the positioning process, so that the group delay difference needs to be considered when the positioning reference signals are received. For example, in the positioning process based on the updated uplink positioning reference signal, the terminal may select one radio frequency link or multiple radio frequency links to complete transmission of the uplink positioning reference signal, thereby completing network coverage. However, different transmission modes of the uplink positioning reference signals correspond to different group delay differences. And the base station or the position management entity can reduce the accuracy of the positioning result due to the estimation error of the group delay.

Therefore, in order for the receiving side to know the use condition of the radio frequency link, further improve the positioning accuracy, how to report the radio frequency link used in the process of transmitting the positioning reference signal, so that the receiving side reasonably assumes the group delay difference is a problem to be solved.

The technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the application can be applied to various communication systems, for example, a new air interface communication system adopting a 5G communication technology, a future evolution system or a plurality of communication fusion systems and the like, and the embodiment of the application is not limited to the above.

Fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication system may comprise a base station 10, a terminal 11 and a location management function 12.

The base station 10 may be used to implement functions such as resource scheduling, radio resource management, and radio access control of the terminal 11. In particular, the base station may be any of a small base station, a wireless access point, a transceiver point (transmission receive point, TRP), a transmission point (transmission point, TP), and some other access node.

The terminal 11 may be a device having a function of the terminal. A terminal may also be referred to as a terminal, user Equipment (UE), mobile station, mobile terminal, etc. The terminal may be a cell phone, tablet computer, computer with wireless transceiver function, virtual reality terminal, augmented reality terminal, wireless terminal in industrial control, wireless terminal in unmanned, wireless terminal in teleoperation, wireless terminal in transportation safety, wireless terminal in smart city, wireless terminal in smart home, etc. The embodiment of the application does not limit the specific equipment form adopted by the terminal.

The location management function 12 may be a location management function (location management function, LMF) network element for providing location services to terminals. In future communications (e.g., in a 6G or other network), the location management function may still be an LMF network element, or have other names, and the application is not limited.

It should be noted that fig. 1 is merely an exemplary frame diagram, the number of devices included in the diagram, the names of the respective devices are not limited, and the communication system may include other devices, such as a core network device, in addition to the devices shown in the diagram.

The application scenario of the embodiment of the application is not limited. The system architecture and the service scenario described in the embodiments of the present application are for more clearly describing the technical solution provided in the embodiments of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solution provided in the embodiments of the present application, and those skilled in the art can know that, with the evolution of the network architecture and the appearance of a new service scenario, the technical solution provided in the embodiments of the present application is equally applicable to similar technical problems.

Based on this, as shown in fig. 2, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method applied to a first communication node, the method including the steps of:

s101, a first communication node determines the radio frequency link identification of a positioning reference signal.

The first communication node may be a terminal or a base station, which is not limited. The positioning reference signal may be an uplink positioning reference signal (SRS-Pos) or a downlink positioning reference signal (downlink positioning REFERENCE SIGNAL, DL-PRS), which is not limited.

In some embodiments, the radio frequency link identification is used to identify one radio frequency link. The radio frequency link identifier may also be referred to as an index (index) of the radio frequency link, an indication (indicate) of the radio frequency link, a number of the radio frequency link, etc., which is not limited. In one example, different radio frequency links of the first communication node have different radio frequency link identifications so that other devices can distinguish the radio frequency links used by the first communication node based on the radio frequency link identifications. In one example, the radio frequency links of different communication nodes may be independently numbered such that the radio frequency links of different communication nodes may have the same radio frequency link identification. Or the radio frequency links of different communication nodes may be commonly numbered so that the radio frequency links of different communication nodes have different radio frequency link identifications.

In some embodiments, the radio frequency link identification of the positioning reference signal may be used to indicate the radio frequency link that transmitted the positioning reference signal. Wherein transmission may refer to transmission or reception.

Illustratively, during a positioning procedure based on a downlink positioning reference signal, the terminal receives the downlink positioning reference signal 1 using the radio frequency link 1, receives the downlink positioning reference signal 2 using the radio frequency link 2, and receives the downlink positioning reference signal 3 using the radio frequency link 3. Therefore, the terminal can determine that the radio frequency link identifier of the downlink positioning reference signal 1 is the identifier of the radio frequency link 1, the radio frequency link identifier of the downlink positioning reference signal 2 is the identifier of the radio frequency link 2, and the radio frequency link identifier of the downlink positioning reference signal 3 is the identifier of the radio frequency link 3.

In some embodiments, the first communication node may transmit a plurality of positioning reference signals using a plurality of radio frequency links. Or the first communication node may also use the same radio frequency link to transmit multiple positioning reference signals. Thus, the radio frequency link identifications of the different positioning reference signals may or may not be identical.

Illustratively, during a positioning procedure based on a downlink positioning reference signal, the terminal receives the downlink positioning reference signal 1 and the downlink positioning reference signal 2 by using the radio frequency link 1, and receives the downlink positioning reference signal 3 by using the radio frequency link 3. Therefore, the terminal can determine that the radio frequency link identifier of the downlink positioning reference signal 1 is the identifier of the radio frequency link 1, the radio frequency link identifier of the downlink positioning reference signal 2 is the identifier of the radio frequency link 1, and the radio frequency link identifier of the downlink positioning reference signal 3 is the identifier of the radio frequency link 3.

S102, the first communication node sends the radio frequency link identification of the positioning reference signal.

In some embodiments, the radio frequency link identification of the positioning reference signal is transmitted by one of the following:

Radio resource control (radio resource control, RRC) signaling;

A medium access control unit (MEDIA ACCESS control control element, MAC CE);

capability information;

Physical control channels.

The following describes a transmission manner of the radio frequency link identifier of the positioning reference signal.

(1) RRC signaling

The RRC signaling includes a first field and a second field.

Wherein a first field of the RRC signaling is used to indicate whether signaling using multiple radio frequency links is supported. As one example, the first field takes a first value indicating support for signal transmission using multiple radio frequency links; the first field takes a second value indicating that only one radio frequency link is supported for signal transmission. For example, the first value of the first field of RRC signaling is set to 1 and the second value is set to 0. When the first field of the RRC signaling takes 1, it indicates that the positioning reference signal supports transmission using multiple radio frequency links; when the first field of RRC signaling takes 0, this indicates that the positioning reference signal supports transmission using only one default radio frequency link.

And a second field of the RRC signaling for recording a radio frequency link identification of the positioning reference signal. It will be appreciated that the second field is only validated when the first field of RRC signaling takes the first value. That is, the second field in RRC signaling is valid only when multiple radio frequency links are supported for signaling.

Wherein the number of bits occupied by the second field of the RRC signaling is related to the maximum number of radio frequency links. In some embodiments, the second field of RRC signaling records, by enumeration, the radio frequency link identification of the positioning reference signal, and the more radio frequency links the positioning reference signal uses in the transmission process, the greater the number of bits occupied by the second field of RRC signaling. When the network allows two RF chain to be used for transmission, for example, signal transmission in the frequency bands of 700MHz and 2GHz is completed simultaneously, the second field takes the value {0,1},0 indicating that the signal is transmitted through RF chain0 and 1 indicating that the signal is transmitted through RF chain 1. This field takes on the value {0,1,2, & gt, N-1}, N-1 indicating that the signal is sent through RF chainN-1, when the network allows for transmission using N (N > 2) RF chain at maximum.

In some embodiments, when multiple positioning reference signals are transmitted through multiple radio frequency links, one RRC signaling may be sent to indicate the radio frequency link through which the positioning reference signals are transmitted.

Illustratively, when the terminal acquires its own location information, three positioning reference signals for indicating the location information of the terminal are transmitted through the radio frequency link 3, the radio frequency link 4 and the radio frequency link 5. The radio frequency link identification of the three positioning reference signals can be represented by sending an RRC signaling, wherein the value of a first field of the RRC signaling is 1 at the moment, and the positioning reference signals are represented to support transmission by using a plurality of radio frequency links in the positioning process; the second field of RRC signaling takes a value {3,4,5}, which characterizes that this time three positioning reference signals are transmitted via radio frequency link 3, radio frequency link 4, and radio frequency link 5, respectively.

In some embodiments, the first field may also be referred to as a single-or-multi-RFchain field, and the second field may also be referred to as a RFchain-number field.

(2)MAC CE

In some embodiments, the MAC CE may include a third field and a fourth field.

The third field is used to indicate whether multiple radio frequency links are supported for signal transmission. As one example, the third field takes a third value indicating that signal transmission using multiple radio frequency links is supported; the third field takes a fourth value indicating that only one radio frequency link is supported for signal transmission. As one example, the fourth field is validated when the third field takes a third value.

The fourth field is used for recording the radio frequency link identification of the positioning reference signal. The radio frequency link identifier recorded in the fourth field of the MAC CE is the radio frequency link identifier of the positioning reference signal corresponding to the MAC CE.

In some embodiments, the MAC CE may include a fifth field for indicating whether the signal transmission is signal reception or signal transmission, in addition to the third field and the fourth field.

As an example, the above-described MAC CE may multiplex a MAC CE of an existing format. The MAC CE of the existing format typically has 8 bits, of which 4 bits are reserved bits. Thus, the third field and the fourth field may be implemented with some or all of the 4 reserved bits. As shown in fig. 3, the third field occupies one reserved bit of the four reserved bits of the MAC CE, and the fourth field occupies three reserved bits of the four reserved bits of the MAC CE.

As illustrated in fig. 3, the third field has a value of 1, which characterizes that a plurality of radio frequency links are supported for signal transmission in the process of transmitting the positioning reference signal; and the fourth field has a value of 011, and represents that the positioning reference signal corresponding to the MAC CE is transmitted through the radio frequency link 3.

As illustrated in connection with fig. 3, the third field has a value of 0, which indicates that only one default radio frequency link is supported for transmission during transmission of the positioning reference signal.

As another example, the MAC CE may be a new format MAC CE. Thus, some or all of the 8 bits in the MAC CE may be used to implement the third, fourth, and fifth fields. As shown in fig. 4, the third field occupies one bit of eight bits of the MAC CE, the fourth field occupies at least three bits of eight bits of the MAC CE, and the fifth field occupies one bit of eight bits of the MAC CE.

As illustrated in fig. 4, the third field has a value of 1, which characterizes that a plurality of radio frequency links are supported for signal transmission in the process of transmitting the positioning reference signal; the fourth field has a value of 1111, and represents that the positioning reference signal corresponding to the MAC CE is transmitted through the radio frequency link 15; the fifth field takes a value of 0, which indicates that the side transmitting the MAC CE is the signal receiving side.

As illustrated in fig. 4, the third field has a value of 0, which indicates that only one default radio frequency link is used for signal transmission in the process of transmitting the positioning reference signal; the fifth field takes a value of 1, which indicates that the side that sends the MAC CE is the signal receiver.

It should be noted that, the embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific positions and the occupied number of bits of the third field, the fourth field, and the fifth field in the MAC CE.

In some embodiments, in a case where a plurality of positioning reference signals participate in the positioning process, the first communication node may send a MAC CE corresponding to each positioning reference signal in the plurality of positioning reference signals to indicate a radio frequency link usage of the positioning reference signal.

Illustratively, during positioning, three positioning reference signals are transmitted via radio frequency links 4,5 and 6. The radio frequency link identification of three positioning reference signals may be characterized by transmitting three MAC CEs, respectively.

The third field of the MAC CE1 corresponding to the positioning reference signal transmitted through the radio frequency link 4 has a value of 1, which characterizes that a plurality of radio frequency links are supported to perform signal transmission in the process of transmitting the positioning reference signal, the fourth field of the MAC CE1 has a value of 100, which characterizes that the positioning reference signal corresponding to the MAC CE1 is transmitted through the radio frequency link 4, the fifth field of the MAC CE1 has a value of 0, and which characterizes that one side of the MAC CE1 is a signal receiver.

The third field of the MAC CE2 corresponding to the positioning reference signal transmitted through the radio frequency link 5 has a value of 1, the signal transmission of a plurality of radio frequency links is supported in the process of representing the positioning reference signal transmission, the fourth field of the MAC CE2 has a value of 101, the positioning reference signal corresponding to the MAC CE2 is represented to be transmitted through the radio frequency link 5, the fifth field of the MAC CE2 has a value of 0, and the signal receiving side is represented to be at one side of the MAC CE 2.

The third field of the MAC CE3 corresponding to the positioning reference signal transmitted through the radio frequency link 6 takes a value of 1, which characterizes that a plurality of radio frequency links are supported to carry out signal transmission in the process of transmitting the positioning reference signal, the fourth field of the MAC CE3 takes a value of 110, which characterizes that the positioning reference signal corresponding to the MAC CE3 is transmitted through the radio frequency link 6, the fifth field of the MAC CE3 takes a value of 0, which characterizes that one side of the MAC CE3 is a signal receiver.

(3) Capability information

The capability information includes a sixth field for recording a radio frequency link identification of the positioning reference signal.

When the sixth field of the capability information takes a preset value, it indicates that only one radio frequency link is supported for signal transmission. Illustratively, the preset value of the sixth field of the capability information is set to 0. When the sixth field of the capability information takes 0, all positioning reference signals are characterized to be transmitted through only one default radio frequency link.

In another example, when two or more radio frequency links are used for transmitting the positioning reference signal, the sixth field of the capability information occupies one bit for indicating the radio frequency link used for transmitting the positioning reference signal corresponding to the capability information. For example, when the sixth field takes 1, the positioning reference signal corresponding to the capability information is transmitted through the radio frequency link 1.

In some embodiments, when more than two radio frequency links are used for transmitting the positioning reference signal, the number of bits occupied by the sixth field of capability information is related to the maximum number of radio frequency links. Wherein the number of bits occupied by the sixth field of capability information X and the maximum number of radio frequency links N satisfy the following formula: x=log ₂ N.

Illustratively, when the positioning reference signal is transmitted over 8 radio frequency links, the sixth field of capability information records the radio frequency link identification of the positioning reference signal by occupying three bits. For example, when the positioning reference signal is transmitted through the radio frequency link 5, the sixth field of the capability information corresponding to the positioning reference signal takes 101 bits. For another example, when the positioning reference signal is transmitted through the radio frequency link 7, the sixth field of the capability information corresponding to the positioning reference signal takes up three bits and has a value of 111.

In some embodiments, the sixth field may also be referred to as RadioFrequencyChain-id field/cell, which embodiments of the present application do not limit.

In some embodiments, when multiple positioning reference signals are transmitted through multiple radio frequency links, the same number of capability information as the number of positioning reference signals can be sent to indicate the radio frequency links that transmit the positioning reference signals. Illustratively, when the terminal acquires its own location information, three positioning reference signals for indicating the location information of the terminal are transmitted through the radio frequency link 5, the radio frequency link 6 and the radio frequency link 7. The radio frequency link identifications of the three positioning reference signals can be respectively characterized by transmitting three capability information. The sixth field of the capability information 1 corresponding to the positioning reference signal transmitted through the radio frequency link 5 has a value of 101, and the positioning reference signal corresponding to the characterization capability information 1 is transmitted through the radio frequency link 5. The sixth field of the capability information 2 corresponding to the positioning reference signal transmitted through the radio frequency link 6 has a value of 110, and the positioning reference signal corresponding to the characterization capability information 2 is transmitted through the radio frequency link 6. The sixth field of the capability information 3 corresponding to the positioning reference signal transmitted through the radio frequency link 7 has a value of 111, and the positioning reference signal corresponding to the characterization capability information 3 is transmitted through the radio frequency link 5;

(4) Physical control channel

The physical control channel is a short physical control channel, such as physical uplink control channel (physical uplink control channel, PUCCH) format 0 or PUCCH format 2 physical control channel, to save overhead of transmission resources.

In the embodiment of the application, the physical control channel is used for bearing control information. The control information includes a radio frequency link identification of the positioning reference signal.

Wherein the physical control channels include an uplink physical control channel and a downlink physical control channel. The control information carried by the uplink physical control channel is uplink control information, and the control information carried by the downlink physical control channel is downlink control information.

For example, when the terminal needs to acquire its own location information, the terminal determines, as the first communication node, the radio frequency link identifier of the positioning reference signal, and then sends uplink control information to the base station through the uplink physical control channel. The uplink control information characterizes that the uplink control information is transmitted through the radio frequency link 1, the radio frequency link 2 and the radio frequency link 3 in the process of transmitting the positioning reference signal.

In another example, when the terminal needs to acquire its own location information, the base station determines, as the first communication node, the radio frequency link identifier of the positioning reference signal, and then sends downlink control information to the terminal through the downlink physical control channel. The downlink control information characterizes that in the process of transmitting the positioning reference signal, the downlink control information is transmitted only through the radio frequency link 0.

In some embodiments, when the plurality of positioning reference signals are transmitted through the plurality of radio frequency links, one piece of control information may be sent through the physical control signal to indicate the radio frequency link through which the positioning reference signals are transmitted.

Illustratively, when the terminal acquires its own location information, three positioning reference signals for indicating the location information of the terminal are transmitted through the radio frequency link 3, the radio frequency link 4 and the radio frequency link 5. A piece of control information can be sent through the physical channel to be used for representing the radio frequency link identifiers of the three positioning reference signals, and at this time, the control information represents that the three positioning reference signals are transmitted through the radio frequency link 3, the radio frequency link 4 and the radio frequency link 5 respectively in the positioning process.

In the embodiment of the application, the first communication node sends the radio frequency link identification of the positioning reference signal by using the methods of RRC signaling, MAC CE, capability information or physical control channel, so that the second communication node participating in positioning can know the service condition of the radio frequency link of the first communication node, thereby improving the positioning accuracy.

As shown in fig. 5, an embodiment of the present application provides another communication method applied to a second communication node, the method including the steps of:

s201, acquiring radio frequency link identifiers of a plurality of positioning reference signals.

The second communication node may be a terminal, a base station or a location function management entity, for example, without limitation.

In some embodiments, in a positioning process in which a terminal, a base station and a location management function entity participate, the terminal determines radio frequency link identifiers of a plurality of positioning reference signals as a first communication node, and sends the radio frequency link identifiers of the plurality of positioning reference signals to the base station; the base station measures the radio frequency link identifiers of the positioning reference signals, and sends the measurement result and the radio frequency link identifiers of the positioning reference signals to a position management functional entity serving as a second communication node, so that the position management functional entity obtains the radio frequency link identifiers of the positioning reference signals and performs the next positioning work.

In other embodiments, in the positioning process in which the terminal and the location management functional entity participate, the terminal, as the first communication node, determines the radio frequency link identifiers of the plurality of positioning reference signals, measures the radio frequency link identifiers of the plurality of positioning reference signals, and then sends the measurement result and the radio frequency link identifiers of the plurality of positioning reference signals to the location management functional entity, as the second communication node, so that the location management functional entity obtains the radio frequency link identifiers of the plurality of positioning reference signals, and performs the next positioning work.

In other embodiments, in a positioning process in which a terminal and a base station participate, the base station determines radio frequency link identifiers of a plurality of positioning reference signals as a first communication node, and sends the radio frequency link identifiers of the plurality of positioning reference signals to the terminal as a second communication node, so that the terminal obtains the radio frequency link identifiers of the plurality of positioning reference signals to perform a next positioning operation.

S202, determining whether to perform calibration processing of group delay difference according to radio frequency link identifiers of a plurality of positioning reference signals.

The radio frequency link identification of the positioning reference signal is used for assisting the second communication node in carrying out group delay difference assumption.

It can be appreciated that when multiple positioning reference signals are transmitted over the same radio frequency link, there is no group delay difference between the multiple positioning reference signals; when multiple positioning reference signals are transmitted through different radio frequency links, the multiple positioning reference signals have group delay differences. Thus, the second communication node may determine whether to perform the group delay difference calibration process based on whether the radio frequency link identifications of the plurality of positioning reference signals are the same.

In some embodiments, step S202 may be implemented as: and under the condition that the radio frequency link identifiers of the positioning reference signals are different, performing calibration processing of group delay difference. As an example, during the calibration process, the group delay difference is assumed based on the number of radio frequency links used by the first communication node to transmit the positioning reference signal.

In some embodiments, step S202 may be implemented as: and under the condition that the radio frequency link identifiers of the positioning reference signals are the same, determining not to perform calibration processing of group delay difference.

The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application are illustrated below in conjunction with different positioning methods.

(1)UE-based positioning

The base station transmits a downlink positioning reference signal and a transmitting side radio frequency link identifier corresponding to the downlink positioning reference signal.

And the terminal measures the downlink positioning reference signal to obtain a measurement result. And the terminal completes the calibration of group delay errors and the calculation of the terminal position according to the measurement result and the corresponding transmitting side radio frequency link identification.

(2)UE-assisted positioning

The base station transmits a downlink positioning reference signal. The terminal obtains a measurement result by measuring the downlink positioning reference signal, and determines a receiving side radio frequency link identifier corresponding to the measurement result (namely, a receiving side radio frequency link identifier corresponding to the downlink point reference signal). And the terminal sends the measurement result and the corresponding receiving side radio frequency link identification to the position management functional entity.

And the position management functional entity completes the calibration of group delay errors and the calculation of the terminal positions according to the measurement result and the corresponding receiving side radio frequency link identifiers.

It should be noted that, because the capabilities involved in different positioning methods are different, the location management function entity may specifically query the UE capability according to the positioning method to be used (the possibility of using multiple positioning methods simultaneously is not excluded in the protocol, and the location management function entity may also request the capabilities related to multiple positioning methods of the terminal at the same time). Based on this, there are differences in the corresponding measurement results under different downlink positioning methods, as shown in table 1.

TABLE 1

Downlink positioning technology	Measuring content
		DL-TDOA	DL RSTD
DL-TDOA，DL-AoD，Mulit-RTT	DL PRS RSRP
		Mulit-RTT	UE Rx-Tx time difference

(3)NW-based positioning

The terminal transmits a plurality of uplink positioning reference signals. And, the terminal sends the sending side radio frequency link identifiers of a plurality of uplink positioning reference signals to the position management functional entity.

And the base station obtains a measurement result by measuring the uplink positioning reference signal, and determines a receiving side radio frequency link identifier corresponding to the measurement result. And the base station sends the measurement result and the corresponding receiving side radio frequency link identification to the position management functional entity.

And the position management functional entity completes the calibration of group delay errors and the calculation of the terminal positions according to the sending side radio frequency link identification, the measurement result and the receiving side radio frequency link identification.

It will be appreciated that the communication device, in order to achieve the above-described functions, comprises corresponding hardware structures and/or software modules performing the respective functions. Those of skill in the art will readily appreciate that the various illustrative algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as hardware or combinations of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is implemented as hardware or computer software driven hardware depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the solution. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present application.

The embodiment of the application can divide the functional modules of the communication device according to the embodiment of the method, for example, each functional module can be divided corresponding to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated in one functional module. The integrated modules may be implemented in hardware or software. It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present application, the division of the modules is schematic, which is merely a logic function division, and other division manners may be implemented in actual implementation. The following description will take an example of dividing each function module into corresponding functions.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic structural diagram of a first communication node according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 6, the first communication node comprises a determination module 601 and a transmission module 602.

A determining module 601, configured to determine a radio frequency link identifier of a positioning reference signal; the radio frequency link identification of the positioning reference signal is used to indicate the radio frequency link used by the first communication node to transmit the positioning reference signal.

A transmitting module 602, configured to transmit a radio frequency link identifier of the positioning reference signal.

In some embodiments, the radio frequency link identification of the positioning reference signal is used to assist the second communication node in group delay difference assumptions.

In some embodiments, the radio frequency link identification of the bit reference signal is transmitted by one of the following: radio resource control, RRC, signaling; a media access control unit (MAC CE); capability information; physical control channels.

In some embodiments, the RRC signaling includes a first field for indicating whether signaling using multiple radio frequency links is supported, and a second field for recording a radio frequency link identification of the positioning reference signal.

In some embodiments, the first field takes a first value indicating support for signal transmission using multiple radio frequency links; the first field takes a second value indicating that only one radio frequency link is supported for signal transmission.

In some embodiments, the number of bits occupied by the second field is related to the maximum number of radio frequency links.

In some embodiments, the MAC CE includes a third field for indicating whether signal transmission using a plurality of radio frequency links is supported, and a fourth field for recording a radio frequency link identification of the positioning reference signal.

In some embodiments, the MAC CE has four reserved bits, the third field occupies one of the four reserved bits of the MAC CE, and the fourth field occupies three of the four reserved bits of the MAC CE.

In some embodiments, the MAC CE further comprises a fifth field for indicating whether the signal transmission is a signal reception or a signal transmission.

In some embodiments, the MAC CE has eight bits, the third field occupies one of the eight bits of the MAC CE, the fourth field occupies at least three of the eight bits of the MAC CE, and the fifth field occupies one of the eight bits of the MAC CE.

In some embodiments, the capability information includes a sixth field for recording a radio frequency link identification of the positioning reference signal.

In some embodiments, the sixth field takes a preset value indicating that only one radio frequency link is supported for signal transmission.

In some embodiments, the number of bits occupied by the sixth field is related to the maximum number of radio frequency links.

In some embodiments, the physical control channel is used to carry control information, which includes radio frequency link identification of the positioning reference signal.

In some embodiments, the physical control channel is a short physical control channel.

Fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a second communication node according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 7, the second communication node includes an acquisition module 701 and a determination module 702.

An acquiring module 701, configured to acquire radio frequency link identifiers of a plurality of positioning reference signals, where the radio frequency link identifier of each positioning reference signal is used to indicate a radio frequency link used by the first communication node to transmit the positioning reference signal.

The determining module 702 determines whether to perform calibration of group delay differences according to the radio frequency link identifiers of the positioning reference signals.

In some embodiments, the determining module 702 is specifically configured to perform the calibration process of the group delay difference when the radio frequency link identifiers of the plurality of positioning reference signals are different.

In some embodiments, the group delay difference is assumed based on the number of radio frequency links used by the first communication node to transmit the positioning reference signal.

In some embodiments, the determining module 702 is specifically configured to determine that the calibration process of the group delay difference is not performed when the radio frequency link identifiers of the plurality of positioning reference signals are the same.

In the case of implementing the functions of the above-described integrated modules in the form of hardware, the embodiment of the present application provides a communication apparatus as shown in fig. 8. As shown in fig. 8, the communication device 80 includes: a processor 802, a bus 804. Optionally, the communication device may further comprise a memory 801; optionally, the communication device may further comprise a communication interface 803.

The processor 802 may be any means for implementing or executing the various exemplary logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with this disclosure. The processor 802 may be a central processor, a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, a transistor logic device, a hardware component, or any combination thereof. Which may implement or perform the various exemplary logic blocks, modules and circuits described in connection with this disclosure. The processor 802 may also be a combination that implements computing functionality, e.g., comprising one or more microprocessor combinations, a combination of DSP and microprocessor, etc.

A communication interface 803 for connecting with other devices through a communication network. The communication network may be an ethernet, a radio access network, a wireless local area network (wireless local area networks, WLAN), etc.

The memory 801 may be, but is not limited to, a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device that can store static information and instructions, a random access memory (random access memory, RAM) or other type of dynamic storage device that can store information and instructions, or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (ELECTRICALLY ERASABLE PROGRAMMABLE READ-only memory, EEPROM), magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage device, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer.

As a possible implementation, the memory 801 may exist separately from the processor 802, and the memory 801 may be connected to the processor 802 through the bus 804 for storing instructions or program code. The processor 802, when calling and executing instructions or program code stored in the memory 801, is capable of implementing the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application.

In another possible implementation, the memory 801 may also be integrated with the processor 802.

Bus 804, which may be an extended industry standard architecture (extended industry standard architecture, EISA) bus, or the like. The bus 804 may be classified as an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, or the like. For ease of illustration, only one thick line is shown in fig. 8, but not only one bus or one type of bus.

Some embodiments of the application provide a computer readable storage medium (e.g., a non-transitory computer readable storage medium) having stored therein computer program instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform a method as in any of the embodiments described above.

By way of example, the computer-readable storage media described above can include, but are not limited to: magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk or tape, etc.), optical disks (e.g., compact Disk (CD), digital versatile disk (DIGITAL VERSATILE DISK, DVD), etc.), smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g., erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), card, stick, key drive, etc.). Various computer-readable storage media described in this disclosure may represent one or more devices and/or other machine-readable storage media for storing information. The term "machine-readable storage medium" can include, without being limited to, wireless channels and various other media capable of storing, containing, and/or carrying instruction(s) and/or data.

Embodiments of the present application provide a computer program product comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any of the above embodiments.

The foregoing is merely illustrative of specific embodiments of the present application, and the scope of the present application is not limited thereto, but any changes or substitutions within the technical scope of the present application should be covered by the scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims (21)

1. A method of communication, for application to a first communication node, the method comprising:

Determining a radio frequency link identification of a positioning reference signal, wherein the radio frequency link identification of the positioning reference signal is used for indicating a radio frequency link of the first communication node for transmitting the positioning reference signal;

And transmitting the radio frequency link identification of the positioning reference signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency link identification of the positioning reference signal is used to assist the second communication node in group delay difference assumption.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency link identification of the positioning reference signal is transmitted by one of:

Radio resource control, RRC, signaling;

a media access control unit (MAC CE);

capability information;

Physical control channels.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the RRC signaling includes a first field for indicating whether signaling using a plurality of radio frequency links is supported, and a second field for recording a radio frequency link identification of the positioning reference signal.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of determining the position of the first electrode is performed,

The first field takes a first value, which indicates that signal transmission is supported by using a plurality of radio frequency links;

the first field takes a second value indicating that only one radio frequency link is supported for signal transmission.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the number of bits occupied by the second field is related to a maximum number of radio frequency links.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the MAC CE includes a third field for indicating whether signaling using a plurality of radio frequency links is supported, and a fourth field for recording a radio frequency link identification of the positioning reference signal.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the MAC CE has four reserved bits, the third field occupies one reserved bit of the four reserved bits of the MAC CE, and the fourth field occupies three reserved bits of the four reserved bits of the MAC CE.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the MAC CE further comprises a fifth field for indicating whether the signal transmission is signal reception or signal transmission.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the MAC CE has eight bits, the third field occupies one of the eight bits of the MAC CE, the fourth field occupies at least three of the eight bits of the MAC CE, and the fifth field occupies one of the eight bits of the MAC CE.

11. A method according to claim 3, wherein the capability information comprises a sixth field for recording a radio frequency link identification of the positioning reference signal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sixth field takes a preset value indicating that only signal transmission using one radio frequency link is supported.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the number of bits occupied by the sixth field is related to a maximum number of radio frequency links.

14. A method according to claim 3, wherein the physical control channel is used to carry control information including radio frequency link identification of the positioning reference signal.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the physical control channel is a short physical control channel.

16. A method of communication, for use with a second communication node, the method comprising:

acquiring radio frequency link identifiers of a plurality of positioning reference signals, wherein the radio frequency link identifier of each positioning reference signal is used for indicating a radio frequency link of the first communication node for transmitting the positioning reference signal;

And determining whether to perform calibration processing of group delay difference according to the radio frequency link identifiers of the positioning reference signals.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the determining whether to perform the group delay difference calibration process based on the radio frequency link identifications of the plurality of positioning reference signals comprises:

and under the condition that the radio frequency link identifiers of the positioning reference signals are different, performing calibration processing of group delay difference.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the group delay difference is hypothesized based on a number of radio frequency links used by the first communication node to transmit the positioning reference signal.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the determining whether to perform the group delay difference calibration process based on the radio frequency link identifications of the plurality of positioning reference signals comprises:

And under the condition that the radio frequency link identifiers of the positioning reference signals are the same, determining not to perform calibration processing of group delay difference.

20. A communication device, comprising: a processor and a memory;

the memory stores instructions executable by the processor;

The processor is configured to, when executing the instructions, cause the communication device to implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 19.

21. A computer readable storage medium comprising computer instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 19.