CN118019101A - Positioning method and device of user equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

The application discloses a method and a device for positioning user equipment, which are used for improving the success rate of UE positioning service. The method comprises the following steps: the core network equipment sends a resource request message to the first access node, wherein the resource request message indicates that positioning resources are allocated for User Equipment (UE); the core network equipment receives a response message sent by a first access node, wherein the response message comprises configuration information of second positioning resources allocated to the UE by a second access node, and the first access node and the second access node serve the UE together; the core network equipment initiates positioning measurement based on the second positioning resource to the second access node and neighbor access nodes of the second access node respectively.

Description

Positioning method and device of user equipment

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a method and an apparatus for positioning a user equipment.

Background

The positioning service is a new function or new service which is expanded on the basis of the wireless communication technology. The principle is that the distance between the UE and the base station is obtained by measuring the time length of the positioning signal sent by the UE to the base station. Since the geographical location of the base station is known, the location information of the UE can be determined.

In the prior art, a serving cell of a UE configures positioning resources for the UE, and when the serving cell cannot allocate the positioning resources for the UE, positioning service will fail.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides a method and a device for positioning user equipment, which are used for improving the success rate of UE positioning service.

In a first aspect, the present application provides a positioning method for a user equipment, including: the method comprises the steps that core network equipment sends a resource request message to a first access node, wherein the resource request message indicates allocation of positioning resources for User Equipment (UE); the core network equipment receives a response message sent by the first access node, wherein the response message comprises configuration information of second positioning resources allocated to the UE by a second access node, and the first access node and the second access node serve the UE together; and the core network equipment initiates positioning measurement based on the second positioning resource to the second access node and neighbor access nodes of the second access node respectively.

After the first access node receives the resource request message, the second access node can be instructed to allocate second positioning resources for the UE, and the second positioning resources are reported to the core network equipment, so that even if the first access node cannot allocate the positioning resources for the UE, the core network equipment can initiate positioning measurement based on the second positioning resources for the second access node and neighbor access nodes of the second access node, thereby determining the position information of the UE, and being beneficial to improving the success rate of the UE positioning service.

The resource request message and the response message mentioned in the first aspect may be understood with reference to the first resource request message and the second response message, respectively, in the embodiments of the present application.

Optionally, the response message further includes configuration information of a first positioning resource allocated by the first access node for the UE, and the method further includes: the core network device initiates positioning measurement based on the first positioning resource to the first access node and neighbor access nodes of the first access node respectively. The core network device may receive, from the first access node, configuration information of a second positioning signal allocated by the second access node to the UE, and receive, from the first access node, configuration information of a first positioning signal allocated by the first access node to the UE, so that the core network device may position the UE according to a measurement result of the second access node and its neighboring access node to the second positioning resource and a measurement result of the first access node and its neighboring access node to the first positioning resource. Compared with the method that the core network equipment locates the UE only according to the measurement result of the first access node and the neighbor access nodes thereof on the first locating resource, the alternative method is beneficial to realizing that more access nodes participate in the locating process of the UE, and is beneficial to improving the accuracy of the locating result of the UE.

Optionally, the response message further includes an identifier of a cell controlled by the second access node, so that the core network device efficiently and accurately identifies the second access node and a neighboring access node of the second access node.

Optionally, the second positioning resource is a channel sounding reference signal SRS resource allocated by the second access node for the UE.

Optionally, the method further comprises: the core network equipment receives an update message sent by the first access node, wherein the update message comprises updated configuration information of the second positioning resource; and the core network equipment initiates positioning measurement based on the updated second positioning resource to the second access node and the neighbor access node of the second access node respectively. In this way, when the second access node needs to update the second positioning resource, the first access node can inform the core network device of the configuration information of the updated second positioning resource, so that the core network device is beneficial to indicating the first access node and the neighbor access node thereof to perform positioning measurement on the updated second positioning resource, and accuracy of a positioning result is improved.

The update message mentioned in the first aspect may be understood with reference to the second, thinner message in the detailed description of the application.

Optionally, the first positioning resource is a channel sounding reference signal SRS resource allocated by the first access node for the UE.

In some examples, the inventive positioning resources may be referred to as positioning signals.

In a second aspect, the present application provides a positioning method for a user equipment, including: the method comprises the steps that a first access node receives a first resource request message sent by core network equipment, wherein the resource request message indicates allocation of positioning resources for User Equipment (UE); the first access node sends a second resource request message to a second access node, the second resource request message indicates that positioning resources are allocated to the UE, and the first access node and the second access node serve the UE together; the first access node receives a first response message sent by the second access node, wherein the first response message comprises configuration information of second positioning resources allocated to the UE by the second access node; the first access node sends a second response message to the core network device, wherein the second response message comprises configuration information of the second positioning resources allocated to the UE by the second access node, and the configuration information of the second positioning resources indicates the core network device to initiate positioning measurement based on the second positioning resources to the second access node and neighbor access nodes of the second access node respectively.

Optionally, the second response message further includes configuration information of a first positioning resource allocated by the first access node for the UE, where the configuration information of the first positioning resource indicates the core network device to initiate positioning measurement based on the first positioning resource for the first access node and a neighboring access node of the first access node, respectively.

Optionally, the method further comprises: and the first access node adds the identification of the cell controlled by the second access node to the second response message according to the first response message.

Optionally, the second positioning resource is a channel sounding reference signal SRS resource allocated by the second access node for the UE.

Optionally, the first positioning resource is a channel sounding reference signal SRS resource allocated by the first access node for the UE.

Optionally, the method further comprises: the first access node receives a first update message sent by the second access node, and sends a second update message to the core network device, wherein the first update message and the second update message respectively comprise updated configuration information of the second positioning resource, and the second update message indicates the core network device to initiate positioning measurement based on the updated second positioning resource for the second access node and a neighbor access node of the second access node respectively.

In a third aspect, the present application provides a positioning method of a user equipment, including: the second access node receives a second resource request message sent by a first access node according to a first resource request message, wherein the first resource request message is sent by core network equipment, the first resource request message and the second resource request message respectively indicate to allocate positioning resources for UE, and the first access node and the second access node jointly serve the UE; the second access node sends a first response message to the first access node, the first response message indicates the first access node to report configuration information of second positioning resources allocated to the UE by the second access node to the core network device, and the configuration information of the second positioning resources indicates the core network device to initiate positioning measurement based on the second positioning resources to the second access node and neighbor access nodes of the second access node respectively.

Optionally, the first response message further comprises an identification of a cell controlled by the second access node.

Optionally, the second positioning resource is a channel sounding reference signal SRS resource allocated by the second access node for the UE.

Optionally, the method further comprises: the second access node sends a first update message to the first access node, wherein the first update message comprises updated configuration information of the second positioning resource, the first update message indicates the first access node to send updated configuration information of the second positioning resource to the core network device, and the updated configuration information is used for indicating the core network device to initiate positioning measurement based on the updated second positioning resource to the second access node and neighbor access nodes of the second access node respectively.

In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a positioning method for a user equipment, including: the method comprises the steps that core network equipment sends a first resource request message to a first access node, wherein the first resource request message indicates allocation of positioning resources for User Equipment (UE); the first access node sends a second resource request message to a second access node, the second resource request message indicates that positioning resources are allocated to the UE, and the first access node and the second access node serve the UE together; the second access node sends a first response message to the first access node, wherein the first response message comprises configuration information of second positioning resources allocated to the UE by the second access node; the first access node sends a second response message to the core network device, wherein the second response message comprises configuration information of the second positioning resource allocated by the second access node for the UE; and the core network equipment initiates positioning measurement based on the second positioning resource to the second access node and neighbor access nodes of the second access node respectively.

Optionally, the second response message further includes configuration information of a first positioning resource allocated by the first access node for the UE, and the method further includes: the core network device initiates positioning measurement based on the first positioning resource to the first access node and neighbor access nodes of the first access node respectively.

Optionally, the second response message further includes an identification of a cell controlled by the second access node.

Optionally, the second positioning resource is a channel sounding reference signal SRS resource allocated by the second access node for the UE.

Optionally, the first positioning resource is a channel sounding reference signal SRS resource allocated by the first access node for the UE.

Optionally, the method further comprises: the second access node sends a first update message to the first access node, the first access node sends a second update message to the core network device, and the first update message and the second update message respectively comprise updated configuration information of the second positioning resource; and the core network equipment initiates positioning measurement based on the updated second positioning resource to the second access node and the neighbor access node of the second access node respectively.

In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a positioning apparatus for a user equipment, including: a sending module, configured to send a resource request message to a first access node, where the resource request message indicates allocation of positioning resources for user equipment UE; a receiving module, configured to receive a response message sent by the first access node, where the response message includes configuration information of a second positioning resource allocated by a second access node to the UE, where the first access node and the second access node serve the UE together; and the measurement module is used for respectively initiating positioning measurement based on the second positioning resource to the second access node and the neighbor access node of the second access node.

The resource request message and the response message mentioned in the fifth aspect may be understood with reference to the first resource request message and the second response message, respectively, in the embodiments of the present application.

Optionally, the response message further includes configuration information of a first positioning resource allocated by the first access node to the UE, and the measurement module is further configured to initiate positioning measurement based on the first positioning resource to the first access node and a neighboring access node of the first access node, respectively.

Optionally, the response message further comprises an identification of the cell controlled by the second access node.

Optionally, the second positioning resource is a channel sounding reference signal SRS resource allocated by the second access node for the UE.

Optionally, the receiving module is further configured to receive an update message sent by the first access node, where the update message includes updated configuration information of the second positioning resource; the measurement module is further configured to initiate positioning measurement based on the updated second positioning resource for the second access node and a neighboring access node of the second access node, respectively.

The update message mentioned in the fifth aspect may be understood with reference to the second, more detailed message in the detailed description of the application.

Optionally, the first positioning resource is a channel sounding reference signal SRS resource allocated by the first access node for the UE.

In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a positioning apparatus for a user equipment, including: the receiving module is used for receiving a first resource request message sent by core network equipment, wherein the resource request message indicates that positioning resources are allocated to User Equipment (UE); a sending module, configured to send a second resource request message to a second access node, where the second resource request message indicates that positioning resources are allocated to the UE, and the first access node and the second access node serve the UE together; the receiving module is further configured to receive a first response message sent by the second access node, where the first response message includes configuration information of a second positioning resource allocated by the second access node for the UE; the sending module is further configured to send a second response message to the core network device, where the second response message includes configuration information of the second positioning resource allocated by the second access node to the UE, and the configuration information of the second positioning resource indicates the core network device to initiate positioning measurement based on the second positioning resource to the second access node and a neighboring access node of the second access node, respectively.

Optionally, the second response message further includes configuration information of a first positioning resource allocated by the first access node for the UE, where the configuration information of the first positioning resource indicates the core network device to initiate positioning measurement based on the first positioning resource for the first access node and a neighboring access node of the first access node, respectively.

Optionally, the sending module is further configured to add, to the second response message, an identifier of a cell controlled by the second access node according to the first response message.

Optionally, the second positioning resource is a channel sounding reference signal SRS resource allocated by the second access node for the UE.

Optionally, the first positioning resource is a channel sounding reference signal SRS resource allocated by the first access node for the UE.

Optionally, the receiving module is further configured to receive a first update message sent by the second access node; the sending module is further configured to send a second update message to the core network device. The first update message and the second update message respectively comprise updated configuration information of the second positioning resource, and the second update message indicates the core network device to initiate positioning measurement based on the updated second positioning resource for the second access node and a neighbor access node of the second access node respectively.

In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a positioning apparatus for a user equipment, including: a receiving module, configured to receive a second resource request message sent by a first access node according to a first resource request message, where the first resource request message is sent by a core network device, the first resource request message and the second resource request message indicate allocation of positioning resources for a UE, and the first access node and the second access node serve the UE together; the sending module is configured to send a first response message to the first access node, where the first response message indicates the first access node to report configuration information of a second positioning resource allocated by the second access node to the core network device, and the configuration information of the second positioning resource indicates the core network device to initiate positioning measurement based on the second positioning resource to the second access node and a neighboring access node of the second access node, respectively.

Optionally, the first response message further comprises an identification of a cell controlled by the second access node.

Optionally, the second positioning resource is a channel sounding reference signal SRS resource allocated by the second access node for the UE.

Optionally, the sending module is further configured to send a first update message to the first access node, where the first update message includes updated configuration information of the second positioning resource, and the first update message indicates that the first access node sends, to the core network device, updated configuration information of the second positioning resource, where the updated configuration information is used to indicate that the core network device initiates positioning measurement based on the updated second positioning resource to the second access node and a neighboring access node of the second access node, respectively.

In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a computing device comprising a processor and a memory, the processor, when executing computer instructions stored in the memory, performing a method as in the first aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect of the embodiments of the present application, or performing a method as in the second aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the second aspect of the embodiments of the present application, or performing a method as in the third aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the third aspect of the embodiments of the present application.

In another possible design, the computing device may be implemented in the form of a chip.

In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a chip comprising: a processor and a communication interface coupled to the processor for running a computer program or instructions to perform a method as in the first aspect of the embodiments or any of the possible implementations of the first aspect of the embodiments or to perform a method as in the second aspect of the embodiments or any of the possible implementations of the second aspect of the embodiments or to perform a method as in the third aspect of the embodiments or any of the possible implementations of the third aspect of the embodiments of the application.

For example, the communication interface (or interface circuit) may be an input/output interface, pins or circuitry, etc. The processor may execute computer instructions stored in the memory to cause the chip of the computer device to perform the method of the first aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect, or to perform the method of the second aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the second aspect, or to perform the method of the third aspect, as in the embodiment of the application.

Alternatively, the memory may be a storage unit within the chip, such as a register, a cache, etc., or the memory may be a memory within a computer device that is external to the chip, such as a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device that may store static information and instructions, a random access memory (random access memory, RAM), etc.

The chip may be a baseband chip, or a system-on-chip (SoC), or include a baseband chip and a SoC.

The processor mentioned in any of the above may be a baseband processor, or may be a general-purpose central processing unit (central processing unit, CPU), where the baseband processor and the CPU may be integrated together or separated.

In a tenth aspect, the application provides a computer readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform a method as in the first aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect of the embodiments of the application, or to perform a method as in the second aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the second aspect of the embodiments of the application, or to perform a method as in the third aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the third aspect of the embodiments of the application.

In an eleventh aspect, the present application provides a computer program product comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as in the first aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect of the embodiments of the application, or to perform the method as in the second aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the second aspect of the embodiments of the application, or to perform the method as in the third aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the third aspect of the embodiments of the application.

In a twelfth aspect, the present application provides a communication system comprising at least two of the user equipment UE, the positioning device provided in the fifth aspect, the positioning device provided in the sixth aspect and the positioning device provided in the seventh aspect.

Since each device provided in the embodiments of the present application may be used to execute the corresponding method of the embodiment, the technical effects obtained by each device embodiment of the present application may refer to the corresponding method embodiment, and will not be described herein.

Drawings

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a communication system to which the present application is applicable;

FIGS. 2 and 3 schematically illustrate one possible flow of the positioning method provided by the present application, respectively;

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates another possible flow of the positioning method provided by the present application;

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates one possible implementation of S500 and S600 shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 6 to 8 schematically illustrate one possible configuration of the positioning device provided by the present application, respectively;

fig. 9 schematically illustrates one possible architecture of a computing device provided by the present application.

Detailed Description

First, a communication network to which the present application is applicable will be described. Referring to fig. 1, the communication system includes an access network (radio access network, RAN) and a core network. The RAN is responsible for radio access of User Equipment (UE), and the core network is responsible for service handling. The access network includes an access node and a UE.

The present application does not limit the type of UE. For example, a UE of the present application may refer to a subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, wireless communication device, user agent, or user equipment. The UE may also be a cellular telephone, a cordless telephone, a session initiation protocol (Session Initiation Protocol, SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (Wireless Local Loop, WLL) station, a Personal digital assistant (Personal DIGITAL ASSISTANT, PDA), a handheld device with wireless communication capabilities, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a terminal in a future 5G network or a terminal in a future evolved public land mobile network (Public Land Mobile Network, PLMN), etc., as embodiments of the present application are not limited in this respect.

The present application is not limited to the type of communication network shown in fig. 1, and for example, the communication network may be a global system for mobile communications (global system of mobile communication, GSM) system, a code division multiple access (code division multiple access, CDMA) system, a wideband code division multiple access (wideband code division multiple access, WCDMA) system, a general packet radio service (GENERAL PACKET radio service, GPRS), a long term evolution (long term evolution, LTE) system, an LTE frequency division duplex (frequency division duplex, FDD) system, an LTE time division duplex (time division duplex, TDD), a universal mobile communication system (universal mobile telecommunication system, UMTS), a worldwide interoperability for microwave access (worldwide interoperability for microwave access, wiMAX) communication system, or a future fifth generation (5th generation,5G) system.

The present application is not limited to the type of access node, for example, the access node may be a base station (base transceiver station, BTS) in a GSM or CDMA system, a base station (NodeB, NB) in a WCDMA system, an evolved base station (evolutional NodeB, eNB or eNodeB) in an LTE system, a radio controller in a cloud radio access network (cloud radio access network, CRAN) scenario, or the access node may be a relay station, an access point, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a base station in a future 5G network, or a base station in a future evolved PLMN network, etc., for example, the access node is a next generation base station (next generation NodeB, gNB).

Fig. 1 illustrates the communication system as a New Radio (NR) communication system, with an access node being a 5G base station (next generation nodeb, gNB) and a core network being a 5G core network (5G core network,5GC). The gNB and the UE are connected through an air interface, and different gNBs are connected through Xn application protocol (Xn Application Protocol, xnAP) interfaces.

The present application is not limited to the number of access nodes or UEs in the RAN shown in fig. 1, and fig. 1 schematically shows 6 gnbs and one UE in the RAN, and the 6 gnbs are denoted as gnbs 1 to gNB6, respectively, by way of example.

The present application is not limited to the use of the same radio access technology (radio access technology, RAT) technology by different gnbs in the RAN shown in fig. 1. For example, the access network may be a network of one RAT or the access network may comprise a network of multiple RATs, and correspondingly the access network may comprise access nodes of two or more RATs. Taking the gNB1 and gNB4 shown in fig. 1 as an example, the gNB1 and gNB4 may use the same or different RAT technologies.

The present application is not limited to the functionality of the core network shown in fig. 1. Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a location management function (location management function, LMF) in 5GC, the LMF being responsible for location services. Information is communicated between the gNB and the LMF in accordance with the NR location protocol A (NR positioning protocol A, NRPPa) protocol, which is carried over an Ng application protocol (Ng application protocol, ngAP) interface between the RAN and the 5 GC.

The positioning service is a new function or new service which is expanded on the basis of the wireless communication technology. The principle is that the distance between the UE and the gNB is obtained by measuring the time length of the positioning signal sent by the UE reaching the gNB, and the geographic position information of the UE can be calculated because the geographic position of the gNB is known. To improve positioning accuracy, the LMF instructs the serving gNB and neighbor (or neighbor) gNB to measure the positioning signals sent by the UE, respectively. The serving gNB refers to a gNB providing a serving cell of the UE, and the neighbor gNB refers to a gNB providing a neighbor cell of the UE.

With continued reference to fig. 1, it is assumed that gNB1 is a serving gNB of a UE, and the UE is connected to a cell controlled by gNB1 (referred to as cell 1), and gNB2 and gNB3 are neighbor gnbs of the UE, or the cells controlled by gNB2 and gNB3 are neighbor cells of cell 1, respectively. To locate a UE, the LMF needs to instruct the gNB1 to allocate resources (e.g., positioning signals) needed for locating the UE. As an example, the positioning signal may be a channel Sounding REFERENCE SIGNAL (SRS). After receiving information of positioning signals distributed by gNB1 for UE, LMF instructs gNB 1-gNB 3 to measure the positioning signals, and then geographic position information of the UE is determined according to measurement results reported by gNB 1-gNB 3.

However, when the gNB1 cannot allocate resources (e.g., SRS resources) required for positioning to the UE, the LMF cannot complete the positioning service of the UE.

Assuming that the UE is in a multi-connection mode (including a dual-connection mode), the UE is simultaneously connected to a cell controlled by one primary access node (e.g., a primary base station) and a cell controlled by at least one secondary access node (e.g., a secondary base station). In the present application, a primary access node may also be referred to as a Master Node (MN) -gNB, and a secondary access node may also be referred to as a Secondary Node (SN) -gNB. And the UE is respectively connected with the MN-gNB and the SN-gNB through an air interface. The MN-gNB and the SN-gNB serve together for the same UE, and the MN-gNB and the SN-gNB are different in that the MN-gNB is connected with the 5GC through NgAP interface and the SN-gNB is connected with the MN-gNB through XnAP interface. Continuing to refer to fig. 1, it is assumed that gNB1 and gNB4 are MN-gNB and SN-gNB of the UE, respectively, and that gNB1 and 5GC are connected through NgAP interfaces, and that gNB4 and gNB1 are connected through XnAP interfaces.

In order to improve the success rate of positioning service, the application provides a positioning method, which newly increases SN-gNB to allocate resources (called second positioning resources) needed by positioning for UE, so that even if MN-gNB can not allocate resources (called first positioning resources) needed by positioning for UE, LMF can still position UE according to the measurement result of gNB to the second positioning resources. When the MN-gNB can allocate the first positioning resource for the UE, the LMF can position the UE according to the measurement result of the gNB on the second positioning resource and the measurement result of the gNB on the first positioning resource, thereby being beneficial to improving the accuracy of the positioning result of the UE.

Based on the communication system described above, possible examples of the positioning method are described below. It should be noted that although the present examples are described using terms associated with NR communication techniques, the present examples are applicable to communication systems based on other communication techniques as well. The various concepts presented throughout this disclosure may be implemented in a wide variety of telecommunication systems, network architectures, and communication standards. For example, the functionality of the LMF may instead be performed by other network devices in communication systems of other communication technologies.

Fig. 2 schematically shows a flow of an example of the method, which, referring to fig. 2, comprises steps S100-S500. Fig. 3 schematically illustrates the steps shown in fig. 2, taking the communication system shown in fig. 1 as an example.

S100, core network equipment sends a first resource request message to a first access node;

The core network device refers to a network device in the core network that is responsible for positioning services. The core network device may perform a positioning service for the UE. The core network device may be a network device in a physical form or a network device in a virtual form. Referring to fig. 3, the core network device is, for example, the LMF shown in fig. 3, and the UE to be located is, for example, the UE shown in fig. 3.

The first access node and the second access node are different access nodes in the RAN and together serve the same UE (e.g., the UE shown in fig. 1). With continued reference to fig. 3, fig. 3 shows first and second access nodes, gNB1 and gNB4, respectively.

Assuming that the UE is in a multi-connection mode, the first access node and the second access node together serving the UE may mean that the UE is simultaneously connected to a cell controlled by the first access node and a cell controlled by the second access node. For example, the UE maintains an air interface connection with the first access node and the second access node, respectively. In some examples, the first access node and the second access node are cells of a primary access node (e.g., primary base station) and a secondary access node (e.g., secondary base station) of the UE, respectively. Taking gNB1 as MN-gNB of UE and gNB4 as SN-gNB of UE as examples. It should be noted that the UE may be connected to other more secondary access nodes.

After the core network device determines the UE to be located, sending a resource request message to the first access node, where the resource request message indicates to allocate location resources for the UE. For ease of distinction, the present example refers to a resource request message sent by a core network device to a first access node as a first resource request message.

S200, the first access node sends a second resource request message to the second access node;

after receiving the first resource request message, the first access node sends a resource request message (referred to as a second resource request message) to the second access node. The second resource request message indicates allocation of positioning resources for the UE.

S300, the second access node sends a first response message to the first access node;

After receiving the second resource request message, the second access node sends a response message to the first access node, wherein the response message comprises configuration information of positioning resources allocated by the second access node for the UE. For ease of distinction, the present examples refer to a response message sent by a second access node to a first access node as a first response message, and to positioning resources allocated by the second access node to a UE as second positioning resources. Optionally, the second positioning resource is a channel Sounding REFERENCE SIGNAL (SRS) resource (referred to as a second SRS) allocated to the UE by the second access node.

After the second access node allocates the second positioning resource to the UE, the UE may be configured to transmit the second positioning resource, e.g., transmit the second SRS. The present application does not limit the content of the configuration information of the second positioning resource, as long as the configuration information can indicate that the receiving device correctly receives the second positioning resource. The receiving device comprises, for example, a second access node and a neighbor node of the second access node.

S400, the first access node sends a second response message to the core network equipment;

After receiving the first response message, the first access node sends a response message (called a second response message) to the core network device. The second response message includes configuration information of a second positioning resource allocated by the second access node for the UE.

S500, core network equipment initiates positioning measurement based on a second positioning resource to a second access node and neighbor access nodes of the second access node respectively;

After receiving the second response message, the core network device initiates positioning measurement based on the second positioning resource to the second access node and a neighbor access node (second neighbor node for short) of the second access node respectively. Fig. 3 illustrates a second access node as gNB4, where the neighbor access nodes of the second access node include gNB5 and gNB 6.

Because the second response message includes configuration information of second positioning resources allocated by the second access node to the UE, the core network device may instruct the second access node and its neighboring access nodes to measure the second positioning resources sent by the UE according to the configuration information, so as to determine location information of the UE according to measurement results fed back by each access node.

Optionally, the second response message further includes an identification of a cell controlled by the second access node (referred to as a second cell), so that the core network device efficiently and accurately identifies the second access node and neighboring access nodes of the second access node.

Optionally, the first access node determines and adds the identifier of the second cell to the second response message after receiving the first response message. In this way, even if the second access node does not add the identity of the second cell in the first response message, the first access node may inform the core network device of the identity, so that the core network device efficiently and accurately identifies the second access node and the neighboring access nodes of the second access node.

Optionally, the second access node adds the identifier of the second cell in the first response message, so that the first access node efficiently and accurately informs the core network device of the identifier, thereby being beneficial to efficiently and accurately identifying the second access node and the neighboring access node of the second access node by the core network device.

The possible specific implementation of S500 will be described below by way of example, and is not expanded here.

Referring to fig. 3, after the gNB1 receives the resource request message, if the positioning resource cannot be allocated to the UE, since the gNB1 can instruct the gNB4 to allocate the second positioning resource to the UE and report the second positioning resource to the LMF, the LMF is beneficial to initiating positioning measurement on the second positioning resource to the gNB4 to gNB6, and is beneficial to improving the success rate of the positioning service.

Optionally, the second response message further includes configuration information of a first positioning resource allocated by the first access node for the UE.

After the first access node receives the first resource request message, the configuration information of the positioning resource allocated by the first access node to the UE may be added to the second response message. For ease of distinction, the present example refers to the positioning resources allocated by the first access node for the UE as first positioning resources. Optionally, the first positioning resource is a channel Sounding REFERENCE SIGNAL (SRS) resource (referred to as a first SRS) allocated by the first access node for the UE.

After the first access node allocates the first positioning resource to the UE, the UE may be configured to send the first positioning resource, e.g., send the first SRS. The present application does not limit the content of the configuration information of the first positioning resource as long as the configuration information can indicate the receiving device to correctly receive the first positioning resource. The receiving device comprises, for example, a first access node and a neighboring node of the first access node.

With continued reference to fig. 2, after step S400, the method example may optionally further include S600.

S600, core network equipment initiates positioning measurement based on a first positioning resource to a first access node and neighbor access nodes of the first access node respectively;

After the core network device receives the response message including the configuration information of the first positioning resource, the core network device may initiate positioning measurement based on the first positioning resource to the first access node and a neighboring access node of the first access node (abbreviated as a first neighboring node). Assuming that the first access node is the gNB1 shown in fig. 3, the neighbor access nodes of the first access node include the gNB2 and the gNB3 shown in fig. 3.

Because the second response message further includes configuration information of the first positioning resources allocated to the UE by the first access node, the core network device may instruct the first access node and its neighboring access nodes to measure the first positioning resources sent by the UE according to the configuration information, so as to determine the location information of the UE according to the measurement results fed back by the access nodes.

Optionally, the second response message further includes an identification of a cell controlled by the first access node (referred to as a first cell), so that the core network device efficiently and accurately identifies the first access node and the neighboring access nodes of the first access node.

The possible specific implementation of S600 will be described below by way of example, and is not expanded here.

The application does not limit the second response message to be a single message, and alternatively, the first access node may carry the configuration information of the first positioning resource and the configuration information of the second positioning resource through different messages respectively. For example, after the first access node allocates the first positioning resource for the UE, a response message carrying configuration information of the first positioning resource is sent to the core network device, without waiting for receiving the second response message sent by the second access node, so that the core network device efficiently executes the positioning service.

Referring to fig. 3, since the LMF may receive configuration information of the second positioning signal allocated by the gNB4 to the UE from the gNB1 and receive configuration information of the first positioning signal allocated by the gNB1 to the UE, the LMF may position the UE according to measurement results of the second positioning signals by the gnbs 4 to gNB6 and measurement results of the first positioning signals by the gnbs 1 to gNB 3. Compared with the method that the LMF locates the UE only according to the measurement results of the gNB 1-gNB 3 on the first locating signal, the method example shown in S100-S600 is beneficial to realizing that more gNBs participate in the locating process of the UE and improving the accuracy of the locating result of the UE.

After the second access node successfully allocates the second positioning resource to the UE, when the resource is updated at the second access node side, optionally, referring to fig. 4, the above method example further includes S700 to S900.

S700, the second access node sends a first update message to the first access node;

When the second access node updates the second positioning resource, a first update message may be sent to the first access node, where the first update message includes configuration information of the updated second positioning resource.

S800, the first access node sends a second update message to the core network device;

after receiving the first update message, the first access node may send a second update message to the core network device. The update message includes configuration information of the updated second positioning resource.

S900, the core network equipment initiates positioning measurement based on the updated second positioning resources to the second access node and neighbor access nodes of the second access node respectively.

After receiving the second update message, the core network device initiates positioning measurement based on the updated second positioning resource to the second access node and the neighbor access node of the second access node respectively. Fig. 4 still exemplifies a second access node, gcb 4, whose neighbor access nodes include gcb 5 and gcb 6.

Because the second update message includes configuration information of second positioning resources updated by the second access node for the UE, the core network device may instruct the second access node and its neighboring access nodes to measure the updated second positioning resources sent by the UE according to the configuration information, so as to determine location information of the UE according to measurement results fed back by each access node.

Optionally, the second update message further comprises an identification of the second cell. The second response message as described above includes an alternative example of the identity of the second cell, and the identity of the second cell in the second update message may be transmitted to the first access node by the first update message for the second access node, or determined and added to the second update message after receiving the first update message for the first access node.

Optionally, when the second access node cannot allocate the second positioning resource to the UE, the first failure message may be fed back to the first access node, where the first failure message indicates that the second access node cannot allocate the positioning resource to the UE. Or alternatively, after the first access node sends the second resource request message to the second access node, the first timer may be started, and if the first access node does not receive the first response message sent by the second access node before the first timer expires, the first access node may determine that the second access node cannot allocate the second positioning resource for the UE.

Optionally, when the first access node determines that the second access node cannot allocate the second positioning resource for the UE, and the first access node cannot allocate the first positioning resource for the UE, the first access node may send a second failure message to the core network device, where the second failure message indicates that the positioning resource cannot be allocated for the UE. Or alternatively, after the core network device sends the first resource request message to the first access node, the second timer may be started, and if the core network device does not receive the configuration information of the first access node for sending the first positioning resource and/or the second positioning resource before the second timer is overtime, the core network device may determine that the positioning resource allocation of the UE fails.

Alternatively, when only the second access node cannot allocate the second positioning resource to the UE, the first access node may not notify the core network device of the corresponding failure information. That is, the core network device only needs to sense that the resource allocation on the second access node side is successful, and does not sense that the resource allocation on the second access node side is failed.

Alternatively, when only the first access node cannot allocate the first positioning resource to the UE, the first access node may not notify the core network device of the corresponding failure information. That is, the core network device only needs to sense that the resource allocation on the first access node side is successful, and does not sense that the resource allocation on the first access node side is failed.

The step numbers above are used to simplify the description of the content of the corresponding steps, and are not used to define the chronological order between the different steps. For example, S600 may be performed before S500, or S600 and S500 may be performed simultaneously.

The application is not limited to the specific implementation of S500 and S600. Taking the core network device as an LMF, the first access node and the second access node are respectively a gNB1 and a gNB4, the neighbor access node of the first access node includes a gNB2 and a gNB3, and the neighbor access node of the second access node includes a gNB5 and a gNB6 as an example, fig. 5 schematically illustrates a possible flow. Referring to fig. 5, step S500 may include S501 to S504, and S600 may include S601 to S604.

S501, LMF sends measurement requests to gNB1, gNB2 and gNB3 respectively;

s601, LMF sends measurement requests to gNB4, gNB5 and gNB6 respectively;

S502, gNB1, gNB2 and gNB3 respectively send measurement responses to the LMF;

S602, gNB4, gNB5, and gNB6 send measurement responses to the LMF, respectively;

s503, gNB1, gNB2 and gNB3 respectively send measurement reports to the LMF;

s603, gNB4, gNB5, and gNB6 send measurement reports to the LMF, respectively;

s504, the LMF respectively sends measurement termination to gNB1, gNB2 and gNB 3;

S604, LMF sends measurement termination to gNB4, gNB5, and gNB6, respectively.

S501 to S504 and S601 to S604 may refer to the related contents of the peer name resolution protocol (peer name resolution protocol, NRPP) with the protocol number 38.455, respectively. For example, measurement requests and measurement responses may be understood with reference to measurement requests (MEASUREMENT REQUEST) and measurement responses (MEASUREMENT RESPONSE) in 8.5.1 in the protocol, measurement reports may be understood with reference to measurement reports (MEASUREMENT REPORT) in 8.5.2 in the protocol, and measurement termination may be understood with reference to (MEASUREMENT ABORT) in 8.5.4 in the protocol, respectively.

The foregoing illustrates the method provided by the present application, and in order to facilitate better implementation of the foregoing solutions of the embodiments of the present application, relevant devices for implementing the foregoing solutions are correspondingly provided below.

Referring to fig. 6, fig. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a positioning device of a user equipment according to an embodiment of the present application. Alternatively, the positioning device 6 may be the core network device or LMF, or be disposed in the core network device or LMF. As shown in fig. 6, the positioning device 6 includes a transmitting module 601, a receiving module 602, and a positioning module 603.

The sending module 601 is configured to execute the step executed by the core network device in S100, the receiving module 602 is configured to execute the step executed by the core network device in S400, and the positioning module 603 is configured to execute the step executed by the core network device in S500. Optionally, the positioning module 603 is further configured to perform the steps performed by the core network device in S600. Optionally, the receiving module 602 is further configured to perform the steps performed by the core network device in S800, and the positioning module 603 is further configured to perform the steps performed by the core network device in S900. Optionally, the positioning module 603 is further configured to perform the steps performed by the LMF in S501 to S504. Optionally, the positioning module 603 is further configured to perform the steps performed by the LMF in S601 to S604.

The above modules may perform data transmission through a communication path, and it should be understood that each module included in the positioning device 6 may be a software module, a hardware module, or a software module and a hardware module.

Regarding possible implementation manners and advantageous effects of the transmitting module 601, the receiving module 602 and the positioning module 603 in the positioning device 6, reference may be made to the relevant content of the corresponding method, which is not repeated here.

Referring to fig. 7, fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a positioning device of a user equipment according to the present application. Alternatively, the positioning device 7 may be the first access node or gNB1 described above, or be deployed on the first access node or gNB1 described above. As shown in fig. 7, the positioning device 7 includes a receiving module 701 and a transmitting module 702.

The receiving module 701 is configured to execute the step executed by the first access node in the step S100, the sending module 702 is configured to execute the step executed by the first access node in the step S200, the receiving module 701 is further configured to execute the step executed by the first access node in the step S300, and the sending module is further configured to execute the step executed by the first access node in the step S400.

Optionally, the receiving module 701 is further configured to perform the step performed by the first access node in S700, and the sending module 702 is further configured to perform the step performed by the first access node in S800. Optionally, the receiving module 701 is further configured to perform the steps performed by gNB1 in S501, the sending module 702 is further configured to perform the steps performed by gNB1 in S502 and S503, and the receiving module 701 is further configured to perform the steps performed by gNB1 in S504.

For possible implementation and advantageous effects of each module in the positioning device 7, reference may be made to the relevant content of the corresponding method, which is not described here again.

Referring to fig. 8, fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a positioning device of a user equipment according to an embodiment of the present application. Alternatively, the positioning device 8 may be the above-mentioned second access node or gNB4, or be deployed in the above-mentioned second access node or gNB 4. As shown in fig. 8, the positioning device 8 includes a receiving module 801 and a transmitting module 802.

The receiving module 801 is configured to perform the step performed by the second access node in S200, and the sending module 802 is configured to perform the step performed by the second access node in S300. Optionally, the sending module 802 is further configured to perform the step performed by the second access node in S700. Optionally, the receiving module 801 is further configured to perform the steps performed by the gNB4 in S601 and S604, and the sending module 802 is further configured to perform the steps performed by the second access node in S602 and S603.

The two modules may perform data transmission through a communication path, and it should be understood that each module included in the positioning device 8 may be a software module, a hardware module, or a software module and a hardware module.

For possible implementation and advantageous effects of each module in the positioning device 8, reference may be made to the relevant content of the corresponding method, which is not described here again.

The application also provides a communication system. Optionally, the communication system comprises at least two of the core network device, the first access node, the second access node and the UE as described above, or comprises at least two of the positioning means 6, the positioning means 7, the positioning means 8 and the UE as described above, or comprises the communication system shown in fig. 1.

The application also provides a computing device. Fig. 9 schematically illustrates one possible configuration of the computing device. The positioning means 6 or 7 or 8 may be a computing device as shown in fig. 9. Referring to fig. 9, the computing device may include: the processor, the communication interface and the memory are connected with each other through an internal bus. The processor may be comprised of one or more general purpose processors, such as a central processing unit (central processing unit, CPU), or a combination of CPU and hardware chips.

The hardware chip may be an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (programmable logic device, PLD), or a combination thereof. The PLD may be a complex programmable logic device (complex programmable logic device, CPLD), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) GATE ARRAY, general-purpose array logic (GENERIC ARRAY logic, GAL), or any combination thereof.

Wherein the memory may comprise volatile memory (RAM), such as random access memory (random access memory); the memory may also include non-volatile memory (non-volatile memory), such as read-only memory (ROM), flash memory (flash memory), hard disk (HARD DISK DRIVE, HDD) or solid state disk (solid-state drive-STATE DRIVE, SSD) or double-rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory, DDR SDRAM); the memory may also comprise a combination of the above. Wherein DDR SDRAM may be referred to simply as DDR. The storage may be used as memory or cache for the computing device. The cache may be one or more levels of cache, e.g., may be implemented using registers and/or static random access memory (static random access memory, SRAM).

The processor may implement the functions of the positioning means 6 or 7 or 8, or the functions of the core network device or the first access node or the second access node, or the functions of the LMF or gNB1 or gNB4, by executing codes in the memory. Optionally, codes corresponding to each module of any positioning device are stored in a memory of the computing device, and the processor executes the codes to realize functions of each module of the corresponding positioning device, and performs method steps executed by the corresponding module.

The present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program which, when executed by a processor, performs part or all of the steps of any one of the above-described method embodiments. Computer readable storage media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer.

The present application also provides a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform part or all of the steps of any one of the method embodiments. As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the aforementioned computer-readable storage media includes: a non-transitory (non-transitory) machine-readable medium that may store program code, such as a U-disk, a removable hard disk, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a RAM, an SSD, or a non-volatile memory.

In the foregoing embodiments, the descriptions of the embodiments are emphasized, and for parts of one embodiment that are not described in detail, reference may be made to the related descriptions of other embodiments.

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

The terms first and second and the like in the description and in the claims and in the above-described figures are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and are merely illustrative of the manner in which embodiments of the application have been described in connection with the description of the objects having the same attributes. The "a and/or B" referred to in the embodiments of the present application may be understood to include both schemes "a and B" and "a or B". The term "plurality" as used herein may be understood as two or more.

In the several embodiments provided by the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed apparatus may be implemented in other manners. For example, the above-described apparatus embodiments are merely illustrative, such as the above-described division of units, merely a division of logic functions, and there may be additional manners of dividing in actual implementation, such as multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be omitted, or not performed. Alternatively, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed with each other may be an indirect coupling or communication connection via some interfaces, devices or units, or may be in electrical or other forms.

The units described above as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and components shown as units may or may not be physical units, may be located in one place, or may be distributed over a plurality of network units. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of this embodiment. In addition, each functional unit in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated in one processing unit, or each unit may exist alone physically, or two or more units may be integrated in one unit. The integrated units may be implemented in hardware or in software functional units.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art that, for convenience and brevity of description, specific working procedures of the above-described systems, apparatuses and units may refer to corresponding procedures in the foregoing method embodiments, which are not repeated herein. In the foregoing embodiments, the descriptions of the embodiments are emphasized, and for parts of one embodiment that are not described in detail, reference may be made to the related descriptions of other embodiments.

Claims (16)

1. A method for locating a user device, comprising:

The method comprises the steps that core network equipment sends a resource request message to a first access node, wherein the resource request message indicates allocation of positioning resources for User Equipment (UE);

The core network equipment receives a response message sent by the first access node, wherein the response message comprises configuration information of second positioning resources allocated to the UE by a second access node, and the first access node and the second access node serve the UE together;

and the core network equipment initiates positioning measurement based on the second positioning resource to the second access node and neighbor access nodes of the second access node respectively.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the response message further includes configuration information of a first positioning resource allocated by the first access node for the UE, the method further comprising:

The core network device initiates positioning measurement based on the first positioning resource to the first access node and neighbor access nodes of the first access node respectively.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the response message further comprises an identification of the cell controlled by the second access node.

4. A method according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second positioning resources are channel sounding reference signal, SRS, resources allocated for the UE by the second access node.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising:

The core network equipment receives an update message sent by the first access node, wherein the update message comprises updated configuration information of the second positioning resource;

and the core network equipment initiates positioning measurement based on the updated second positioning resource to the second access node and the neighbor access node of the second access node respectively.

6. A method for locating a user device, comprising:

the method comprises the steps that a first access node receives a first resource request message sent by core network equipment, wherein the resource request message indicates allocation of positioning resources for User Equipment (UE);

The first access node sends a second resource request message to a second access node, the second resource request message indicates that positioning resources are allocated to the UE, and the first access node and the second access node serve the UE together;

the first access node receives a first response message sent by the second access node, wherein the first response message comprises configuration information of second positioning resources allocated to the UE by the second access node;

the first access node sends a second response message to the core network device, wherein the second response message comprises configuration information of the second positioning resources allocated to the UE by the second access node, and the configuration information of the second positioning resources indicates the core network device to initiate positioning measurement based on the second positioning resources to the second access node and neighbor access nodes of the second access node respectively.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second response message further includes configuration information of a first positioning resource allocated by the first access node for the UE, the configuration information of the first positioning resource indicating that the core network device initiates positioning measurements based on the first positioning resource for the first access node and neighbor access nodes of the first access node, respectively.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the method further comprises:

And the first access node adds the identification of the cell controlled by the second access node to the second response message according to the first response message.

9. A method for locating a user device, comprising:

The second access node receives a second resource request message sent by a first access node according to a first resource request message, wherein the first resource request message is sent by core network equipment, the first resource request message and the second resource request message respectively indicate to allocate positioning resources for UE, and the first access node and the second access node jointly serve the UE;

The second access node sends a first response message to the first access node, the first response message indicates the first access node to report configuration information of second positioning resources allocated to the UE by the second access node to the core network device, and the configuration information of the second positioning resources indicates the core network device to initiate positioning measurement based on the second positioning resources to the second access node and neighbor access nodes of the second access node respectively.

10. A method for locating a user device, comprising:

the method comprises the steps that core network equipment sends a first resource request message to a first access node, wherein the first resource request message indicates allocation of positioning resources for User Equipment (UE);

The first access node sends a second resource request message to a second access node, the second resource request message indicates that positioning resources are allocated to the UE, and the first access node and the second access node serve the UE together;

The second access node sends a first response message to the first access node, wherein the first response message comprises configuration information of second positioning resources allocated to the UE by the second access node;

The first access node sends a second response message to the core network device, wherein the second response message comprises configuration information of the second positioning resource allocated by the second access node for the UE;

and the core network equipment initiates positioning measurement based on the second positioning resource to the second access node and neighbor access nodes of the second access node respectively.

11. A positioning device for a user device, comprising:

A sending module, configured to send a resource request message to a first access node, where the resource request message indicates allocation of positioning resources for user equipment UE;

A receiving module, configured to receive a response message sent by the first access node, where the response message includes configuration information of a second positioning resource allocated by a second access node to the UE, where the first access node and the second access node serve the UE together;

and the measurement module is used for respectively initiating positioning measurement based on the second positioning resource to the second access node and the neighbor access node of the second access node.

12. A positioning device for a user device, comprising:

The receiving module is used for receiving a first resource request message sent by core network equipment, wherein the resource request message indicates that positioning resources are allocated to User Equipment (UE);

A sending module, configured to send a second resource request message to a second access node, where the second resource request message indicates that positioning resources are allocated to the UE, and the first access node and the second access node serve the UE together;

the receiving module is further configured to receive a first response message sent by the second access node, where the first response message includes configuration information of a second positioning resource allocated by the second access node for the UE;

the sending module is further configured to send a second response message to the core network device, where the second response message includes configuration information of the second positioning resource allocated by the second access node to the UE, and the configuration information of the second positioning resource indicates the core network device to initiate positioning measurement based on the second positioning resource to the second access node and a neighboring access node of the second access node, respectively.

13. A positioning device for a user device, comprising:

A receiving module, configured to receive a second resource request message sent by a first access node according to a first resource request message, where the first resource request message is sent by a core network device, the first resource request message and the second resource request message indicate allocation of positioning resources for a UE, and the first access node and the second access node serve the UE together;

the sending module is configured to send a first response message to the first access node, where the first response message indicates the first access node to report configuration information of a second positioning resource allocated by the second access node to the core network device, and the configuration information of the second positioning resource indicates the core network device to initiate positioning measurement based on the second positioning resource to the second access node and a neighboring access node of the second access node, respectively.

14. A communication system comprising a positioning device according to at least two of the claims 11-13.

15. A computing device comprising a processor and a memory, the processor, when executing computer instructions stored by the memory, performing the method of any one of claims 1 to 9.

16. A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 9.