RU2779150C1 - Method for locating and communication apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: communication.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the field of communication, more specifically, to a method for locating and to a communication apparatus. A mobile communication gateway locating centre receives a first request for locating the terminal apparatus from a client of the locating service and determines the set of public land mobile networks (PLMN) accessed by the terminal apparatus. The gateway centre determines the first target PLMN in said PLMN set, intended for providing the locating service for the terminal apparatus, and transmits a second request for locating to the first location management function network element (LMF) in the first target PLMN. The second request for locating requests a locating service for the terminal apparatus from the first LMF.

EFFECT: increase in the efficiency and accuracy of locating the terminal apparatus.

15 cl, 27 dwg

Description

[0001] The present application claims priority on the basis of Chinese Patent Application No. 201810917815.4 filed with the National Intellectual Property Office of China on August 13, 2018 titled "LOCATION METHOD AND COMMUNICATION DEVICE", which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY TO WHICH THE INVENTION RELATES

[0002] This application relates to the field of communication, and more specifically to a method for determining the location and a communication device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Location procedures applicable to various scenarios are defined in the 5th-Generation (5G) mobile communication technology standard and include a network induced location request (NI-LR) procedure, a location request procedure by a mobile terminal device (mobile terminating location request, MT-LR -), a location request procedure originating from a mobile device (mobile originating location request, MO-LR), and the like.

[0004] The currently used location procedure is mainly for the location technology used when the terminal accesses only one public land mobile network (PLMN). In this procedure, the terminal may access the PLMN using 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) technology, or may access the PLMN using non-3GPP technology. However, at present, the location technology used when a terminal is accessing multiple PLMNs is not ideal. Therefore, the issue of location determination when a terminal device accesses a plurality of PLMNs becomes an urgent problem to be solved at present.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present application provides a location method and communication device for implementing tag location in a multi-PLMN scenario. This improves the efficiency and accuracy of the location of the target device, as well as improves communication efficiency and usability.

[0006] According to a first aspect, a location determination method is provided. The method includes: receiving by the gateway mobile location center a first location request for locating a terminal device from a location service client; determining, by the gateway location center, a mobile communication with a first target public land mobile PLMN based on the first location request, the first target PLMN being for providing a location service for the terminal device; and sending, by the gateway mobile location center, a second location request to a first location control network element LMF in the first target PLMN, wherein the second location request requests the first LMF to provide a location service for the terminal device.

[0007] According to the location method provided in the first aspect, the position of a terminal device can be determined in a scenario in which the terminal device accesses a plurality of PLMNs. This clarifies the tag location technology in a multi-PLMN scenario, improves the efficiency and accuracy of tag location, and improves communication efficiency and user friendliness.

[0008] In an exemplary implementation of the first aspect, determining by the gateway mobile location center the first target PLMN based on the first location request includes: determining by the gateway mobile location center based on the first location request the plurality of PLMNs accessed by the terminal ; and determining, by the gateway mobile location center, a first target PLMN in the plurality of PLMNs.

[0009] In an exemplary implementation of the first aspect, determining by the gateway mobile location center the first target PLMN in the PLMN set includes: determining by the gateway mobile location center the first target PLMN in the PLMN set based on one or more of the terminal configuration information, information about the type of access technology of the terminal device; and information about the connection state corresponding to the type of access technology of the terminal device. The configuration information includes one or more of access technology type priority configuration information, connection state priority configuration information corresponding to the access technology type, and multiple PLMN priority configuration information. In an implementation, the accuracy and efficiency of determining the first target PLMN can be improved, and the first target PLMN can be determined more quickly and accurately. Thus, communication resources are reduced, location time is shortened, and the user experience is further improved. In an implementation, when the location result from the first LMF is inaccurate, the location result from the second LMF can be received so that the location result of the tag is more accurate, and the accuracy and accuracy of the location is improved.

[0010] In an exemplary implementation of the first aspect, the method further includes: receiving by the gateway mobile location center a first tag location result from the first LMF; the gateway mobile location center sending a third location request to the second LMF to the second target PLMN when the first location result does not satisfy the location requirement, wherein the third location request requests the second LMF to the second target PLMN to provide a location service to the terminal devices; and receiving, by the gateway mobile location center, the second location result of the tag from the second LMF.

[0011] In an exemplary implementation of the first aspect, the method further includes: determining, by the gateway mobile location center, a target location result of the tag based on the first location result and the second location result; and sending, by the gateway mobile location center, the target location result to the location service client. In an implementation, the target location result is more accurately determined from the location result from the first LMF and from the location result from the second LMF. Alternatively, the best accuracy target location result can be determined in the location results determined by more LMFs, so that the location result is more accurate and the location accuracy is improved.

[0012] In an exemplary implementation of the first aspect, determining by the gateway mobile location center the first target PLMN based on the first location request includes: determining by the gateway mobile location center based on the first location request the plurality of PLMNs accessed by the terminal ; and sending, by the gateway mobile location center, first instruction information to the LMF in the PLMN set, the first instruction information being used to instruct the LMF in the PLMN set to determine the location method; receiving by the gateway mobile location center a location method from the LMF in the plurality of PLMNs; and determining by the gateway mobile location center the first target PLMN based on the received location method. In an implementation, the accuracy and efficiency of determining the first target PLMN can be improved, and the first target PLMN can be determined more quickly and accurately. Thus, communication resources are reduced, location time is shortened, and the user experience is further improved.

[0013] In an exemplary implementation of the first aspect, determining by the gateway mobile location center the first target PLMN based on the received location method includes: determining by the gateway mobile location center the first location method based on the location accuracy of the location method; and determining, by the gateway mobile location center, a first target PLMN based on the first location method.

[0014] In an exemplary implementation of the first aspect, determining by the gateway center the mobile location based on the first location request of the plurality of PLMNs accessed by the terminal device includes: determining by the gateway center the mobile location based on the number of addresses of the serving LMF of the terminal device , the number of addresses of the terminal access and mobility control serving gateway AMF or the number of addresses of the terminal mobile location serving gateway center GMLC, the plurality of PLMNs accessed by the terminal.

[0015] In an exemplary implementation of the first aspect, the method further includes: receiving by the gateway mobile location center at least one of the serving AMF address information, the serving LMF address information, or the serving GMLC address information from the unified control network element, wherein the terminal device receives access to the serving AMF, serving LMF and serving GMLC.

[0016] In an exemplary implementation of the first aspect, the method further includes: receiving, by the gateway mobile location center, access technology type information and/or connection state information corresponding to the access technology type of the tag from the unified control network element.

[0017] In an exemplary implementation of the first aspect, the gateway mobile location center is the gateway mobile location center GMLC of the terminal device's public land mobile network HPLMN, and the first target PLMN is the terminal's visited public land mobile network VPLMN, or the first target The PLMN is the terminal's home public land mobile HPLMN.

[0018] In an exemplary implementation of the first aspect, the second location request further includes at least one of access technology type information corresponding to the first target PLMN, connection state information corresponding to the access technology type, and configuration information.

[0019] In any possible implementation of the first aspect, the first location request includes a tag identifier. The gateway mobile location center's determination of the first PLMN based on the first location request may be the determination of the first target PLMN using the terminal ID. For example, the gateway mobile location center receives from the unified data control network element, using the terminal device identifier, at least one of the serving AMF address information, the serving LMF address information, or the serving GMLC address information, wherein the terminal device accesses the serving AMF serving the LMF and serving the GMLC. The gateway mobile location center determines the first target PLMN based on at least one of the received serving AMF address information, the serving LMF address information, or the serving GMLC address information.

[0020] According to a second aspect, a location determination method is provided. The method includes: receiving, by the location management gateway LMF, a second location request from the gateway mobile location center GMLC, the LMF being configured to provide a location service to the terminal device; and determining by the LMF a positioning method based on the second positioning request.

[0021] According to the positioning method provided in the second aspect, the position of the tag can be determined in a multi-PLMN scenario. This improves the efficiency and accuracy of the location of the target device, as well as improves communication efficiency and usability.

[0022] In an exemplary implementation of the second aspect, the method further includes: sending, via the LMF, a location method to the GMLC; and receiving, by the LMF, second instruction information from the GMLC, wherein the second instruction information is used to instruct the LMF to execute the positioning method or not to perform the positioning method.

[0023] In an exemplary implementation of the second aspect, when the second instruction information instructs the LMF to perform the location method, the method further includes: determining, by the LMF, a location result of the tag based on the location method; and sending the location result to the LMF to the GMLC.

[0024] In an exemplary implementation of the second aspect, the second location request further includes configuration information of the tag, and determining by the LMF a location method based on the second location request includes: determining by the LMF the access technology type of the tag based on the information about the configuration and information about the type of access technology; and determining, by means of the LMF, a location determination method based on the type of access technology.

[0025] In an exemplary implementation of the second aspect, the second location request further includes an access technology type of the tag, and determining by the LMF a location method based on the second location request includes: determining by the LMF a location method based on the access technology type .

[0026] In an exemplary implementation of the second aspect, the second location request further includes third instruction information, and the third instruction information is used to instruct the LMF to determine a location method based on the type of access technology.

[0027] In an exemplary implementation of the second aspect, the second location request further includes connection state information and/or access technology type information of the tag.

[0028] According to a third aspect, a location determination method is provided. The method includes: receiving by the gateway mobile location center a fourth location request for locating a terminal device from a location service client; determining, by the gateway mobile location center, a first access technology type of the terminal device based on the fourth location request; and sending, by the gateway mobile location center based on the first access type, a fifth location request to the first LMF corresponding to the first access type, wherein the fifth location request requests the first LMF to provide a location service for the terminal device.

[0029] According to the location method provided in the third aspect, in a scenario in which a terminal device accesses a plurality of LMFs, an LMF that provides a service to the terminal device can be determined based on the access technology type, so that the location of the terminal device can be determined. in the LMF script. This clarifies the tag location technology in a multi LMF scenario and improves communication efficiency and usability.

[0030] In an exemplary implementation of the third aspect, determining by the gateway mobile location center of the first type of access technology of the terminal device includes: determining by the gateway mobile location center of the first type of access technology based on configuration information of the terminal device, information about the type of access technology of the terminal device, and information about the state of the connection corresponding to the type of access technology of the end device. The configuration information includes one or more of access technology type priority configuration information, connection state priority configuration information corresponding to the access technology type, and multiple PLMN priority configuration information.

[0031] In an exemplary implementation of the third aspect, the method further includes: receiving by the gateway mobile location center a first tag location result from the first LMF; sending by the gateway mobile location center based on the second access type of the fifth location request to the second LMF corresponding to the second access type, when the first location result does not meet the location requirement, wherein the fifth location request requests the second LMF to provide a location service for terminal device; and receiving, by the gateway mobile location center, the second location result of the tag from the second LMF.

[0032] In an exemplary implementation of the third aspect, the method further includes: determining, by the gateway mobile location center, a target location result of the tag based on the first location result and the second location result; and sending, by the gateway mobile location center, the target location result to the location service client.

[0033] In an exemplary implementation of the third aspect, the method further includes: receiving by the gateway mobile location center at least one of the serving AMF address information, the serving LMF address information, or the serving GMLC address information from the unified control network element, wherein the terminal device receives access to the serving AMF, serving LMF and serving GMLC.

[0034] In an exemplary implementation of the third aspect, the method further includes: receiving by the gateway mobile location center at least one of configuration information, access technology type information, and connection state information corresponding to the access technology type from the network element of a single management.

[0035] In any possible implementation of the third aspect, the fourth location request includes a tag identifier. Determination by the gateway mobile location center of the first type of access technology of the terminal device based on the fourth location request may consist in determining by the gateway mobile location center of the first type of access technology of the terminal device based on the identifier of the terminal device. For example, the gateway mobile location center obtains from the unified data control network element based on the tag ID, at least one of configuration information, tag access technology type information, and connection state information corresponding to the tag access technology type. The gateway mobile location center determines the first access technology type of the terminal device based on at least one of the received configuration information, access technology type information of the terminal device, and connection state information corresponding to the access technology type of the terminal device.

[0036] According to a fourth aspect, a communication device is provided. The device includes a processor, a memory, and a transceiver that are configured to support the communication device in performing respective functions in the above methods. The processor, memory and transceiver are connected by a communication bus. The instruction is stored in memory. The transceiver is configured to send or receive a specific signal controlled by the processor. The processor is configured to call an instruction for implementing the location method in the first aspect and various implementations of the first aspect.

[0037] According to a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided. The device includes a processing module, a storage module, and a transceiver module that are configured to support the communication device in performing the function of a gateway mobile location center in the first aspect, or any possible implementation of the first aspect. The function may be implemented in hardware, or may be implemented in hardware by executing appropriate software, and the hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above function.

[0038] According to a sixth aspect, a communication device is provided. The device includes a processor, a memory, and a transceiver that are configured to support the communication device in performing respective functions in the above methods. The processor, memory, and transceiver are linked by communication. The transceiver is configured to send or receive a specific signal controlled by the processor. The processor is configured to call an instruction for implementing the location method in the second aspect and various implementations of the second aspect.

[0039] According to a seventh aspect, a communication device is provided. The device includes a processing module, a storage module, and a transceiver module that are configured to support the communication device in performing the function of a location control gateway in the second aspect, or any possible implementation of the second aspect. The function may be implemented in hardware, or may be implemented in hardware by executing appropriate software, and the hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above function.

[0040] According to an eighth aspect, a communication device is provided. The device includes a processor, a memory, and a transceiver that are configured to support the communication device in performing respective functions in the above methods. The processor, memory, and transceiver are linked by communication. The instruction is stored in memory. The transceiver is configured to send or receive a specific signal controlled by the processor. The processor is configured to call an instruction for implementing the location method in the third aspect and various implementations of the third aspect.

[0041] The communication device is provided according to the ninth aspect. The device includes a processing module, a storage module, and a transceiver module that are configured to support the communication device in performing the function of a gateway mobile location center in the third aspect, or any possible implementation of the third aspect. The function may be implemented in hardware, or may be implemented in hardware by executing appropriate software, and the hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above function.

[0042] According to a tenth aspect, a device is provided. The device is provided with the possibility of executing the position determination method according to any of the above embodiments. In the device provided in the embodiments of the invention of the present application, in a scenario in which a terminal device accesses a plurality of PLMNs, the position of the terminal device can be determined in a scenario with multiple PLMNs. This clarifies the tag location technology in a multi-PLMN scenario, improves the efficiency and accuracy of tag location, and improves communication efficiency and user friendliness.

[0043] According to an eleventh aspect, a computer program product is provided. The computer program product includes computer program code. When the computer program code is run on the computer, the methods of the above aspects are enabled for the computer to execute.

[0044] According to a twelfth aspect, a computer-readable medium is provided. A computer-readable medium stores program code. When the computer program code is run on the computer, the methods of the above aspects are enabled for the computer to execute.

[0045] According to the thirteenth aspect, a system chip is provided. The system chip includes a processor configured to implement, by the communication device, functions in the aforementioned aspects, such as generating, receiving, sending, or processing data and/or information in the aforementioned methods. In an exemplary design, the system chip further includes a memory, and the memory is configured to store program instructions and data that are needed by the communications device. The system chip may include a chip, or may include a chip and other discrete device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a 5G communication system according to the present application;

[0047] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of another 5G communication system according to the present application;

[0048] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a mobile communication system architecture applicable to an embodiment of the present application;

[0049] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an architecture of another mobile communication system applicable to an embodiment of the present application;

[0050] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an interaction of a position determination method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0051] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an interaction of a position determination method according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0052] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an interaction of a position determination method according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0053] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an interaction of a position determination method according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0054] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an interaction of a position determination method according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0055] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an interaction of a position determination method according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0056] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of an interaction of a position determination method according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0057] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of an interaction of a position determination method according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0058] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of an interaction of a position determination method according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0059] FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of an interaction of a position determination method according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0060] FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of an interaction of a position determination method according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0061] FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B is a schematic diagram of an interaction of a position determination method according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0062] FIG. 17A and FIG. 17B is a schematic diagram of an interaction of a position determination method according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0063] FIG. 18A and FIG. 18B is a schematic diagram of an interaction of a position determination method according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0064] FIG. 19 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0065] FIG. 20 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0066] FIG. 21 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0067] FIG. 22 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0068] FIG. 23 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application; and

[0069] FIG. 24 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device according to another embodiment of the present application.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0070] Below in this application, technical solutions are described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0071] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a 5G communication system according to the present application. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system includes a terminal device, a next generation radio access node (NG-RAN), an access and mobility management function (AMF) network element, a location management function (LMF), session management function (SMF) network element, and user plane function (UPF) network element. It should be understood that the system may further include another network element, but this other network element is not shown here. The network elements listed above are described below.

[0072] Terminal device: The terminal device can be a user equipment (user equipment, UE), a portable terminal, a laptop computer, a subscriber unit (subscriber unit), a cellular phone (cellular phone), a smartphone (smart phone), a wireless data card, a personal digital assistant (personal digital assistant, PDA) computer, tablet computer, wireless modem (modem), handheld device (handheld), laptop computer (laptop computer), cordless phone (cordless phone), wireless local loop station (wireless local loop, WLL ), a machine type communication (MTC) terminal, or other device that can accept network access.

[0073] Next generation radio access node (NG-RAN): The next generation radio access node is a network access device and is mainly responsible for radio interface side functions such as radio resource management, quality of service , QoS), as well as data compression and encryption. The network access device may include various forms of base stations, such as a macro base station, a micro base station (also referred to as a small cell), a relay station, and an access point. In systems using different radio access technologies, the device that performs the function of the base station may have different names. For example, in a 5th generation (5G) system, the device is called gNB; in the LTE system, the device is called an evolved NodeB (evolved NodeB, eNB or eNodeB); and in the 3rd generation (3G) system, the device is referred to as NodeB (Node B/).

[0074] Access and mobility management function (AMF) network element: The access and mobility management function (AMF) network element is a basic network element and is mainly responsible for signal processing, for example, functions such as access control, mobility management , join and detach, and select a gateway. When providing a service for a session at a terminal, the AMF network element provides a control plane storage resource for the session to store the session ID, the SMF network element ID associated with the session ID, and the like.

[0075] Location management function (LMF) network element: The location management network element is configured to select an appropriate location method and select an appropriate communication protocol based on a location accuracy requirement, a delay requirement, or the like, to complete an exchange. information needed to determine the location. The LMF is further configured to provide a location service with other required location information or policy.

[0076] Session Management Function (SMF) Network Element: The Session Management Function Network Element is responsible for user plane network element selection, user plane network element redirection, Internet protocol (IP) address assignment, establishment, change and release of the bearer channel, as well as quality of service (QoS) control.

[0077] User plane function (UPF) network element: The user plane function network element is responsible for sending and receiving user data in a terminal device, and can receive user data from a data network and transmit user data to a terminal device using a network access devices. The UPF network element may further receive user data from the terminal via the network access device and forward the user data to the data network. The transmission resource and the scheduling function in the UPF network element that provide the service to the terminal device are managed and controlled by the SMF network element.

[0078] It should be understood that in the communication system shown in FIG. 1, functions and interfaces (eg, N1, N2, N3, N4, N6, and N11) of network elements are merely examples. When network elements are used in embodiments of the invention of the invention of the present application, not all functions are necessary. All or some network elements of the core network may be physical network elements or may be virtualized network elements. It's not limited here.

[0079] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a 5G wireless communication system according to the present application. In the communication system, the terminal device accesses the core network using 3GPP access technology and non-3GPP access technology. As shown in FIG. 2, the communication system includes a terminal device, NG-RAN, non-3GPP access network device, non-3GPP interworking function (N3IWF) network element, AMF, LMF, SMF, and UPF, and can optionally include another network element, but the other network element is not shown here. In addition, N1, N2, N3, N4, N6, N11, Y1 and Y2 are all used to represent different types of messages. The difference from the 3GPP wireless communication system architecture shown in FIG. 1 is that a non-3GPP access network device (non-3GPP access network) and a non-3GPP interworking function are added. The following will mainly describe the functions of the two network elements. For other network elements, see the description with reference to FIG. one.

[0080] Non-3GPP access network (N3GPP): This network element provides interconnection and interworking between a terminal device and a 3GPP core network using non-3GPP technology. Non-3GPP technologies are, for example, wireless communication/local area network (wireless fidelity, Wi-Fi) and broadband access network in the microwave range (worldwide interoperability for microwave access, WiMAX). The local public land mobile network shown in FIG. 2 may be the home public land mobile network of the terminal, that is, the public land mobile network in which the terminal is first registered. The non-3GPP network access device shown in FIG. 2 may be an unreliable network access device without 3GPP support. Compared to a non-3GPP trusted network access device that can directly access the 3GPP core network, a non-3GPP untrusted network access device must interconnect and interact with the 3GPP core network through a security channel/tunnel established by the Security Gateway. The security gateway is, for example, an evolved packet data gateway (ePDG) or a non-3GPP interworking function (N3IWF) network element.

[0081] N3IWF Network Element: This network element is a security gateway between an untrusted non-3GPP access network device and the 3GPP core network.

[0082] It should be understood that in the communication system shown in FIG. 2, functions and interfaces (eg, N1, N2, N3, N4, N6, N11, Y1, and Y2) of network elements are merely examples. When network elements are used in embodiments of the invention of the present application, not all functions are needed. All or some network elements of the core network may be physical network elements or may be virtualized network elements. It's not limited here.

[0083] In the prior art, the location procedure involved is the location technology used when the terminal accesses only one PLMN. The terminal may access the PLMN using 3GPP technology, or may access the PLMN using non-3GPP technology. However, the location technology used when a terminal is accessing multiple PLMNs is not ideal. Therefore, the problem of positioning when a terminal device accesses a plurality of PLMNs becomes an urgent problem to be solved at present.

[0084] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a mobile communication system architecture applicable to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 3, a terminal accesses different PLMNs using 3GPP technology or non-3GPP technology. In particular, 5G-AN in FIG. 3 may be a 3GPP access device or a non-3GPP access device. The network architecture shown in Fig. 3 includes three PLMNs. The network architecture includes one home PLMN (home PLMN, HPLMN) and two visited PLMNs (visited PLMN, VPLMN). Each PLMN includes an AMF, an LMF, a unified data management (UDM) gateway, and a gateway mobile location center (GMLC). For example, for HPLMN, AMF, LMF and GMLC can be respectively referred to as home AMF (home AMF, H AMF), home LMF (home LMF, H LMF) and home GMLC (home GMLC, H GMLC). For VPLMN, AMF, LMF and GMLC can be respectively referred to as visited AMF (visited AMF, VAMF), visited LMF (visited LMF, VLMF) and visited GMLC (visited GMLC, VGMLC). Network elements are connected via appropriate interfaces. A GMLC is a client gateway node of an external location system (LCS) client (eg, the server of the application to be located). For example, after a terminal device moves to another city or region, there may be multiple VPLMNs that provide service to the terminal device. The set of VPLMNs may or may not include HPLMNs. In a scenario where there are multiple VPLMNs, the HGMLC in the HPLMN first checks the privacy setting of the target UE (based on the external UE ID) and then queries the UDM in the HPLMN for routing information (e.g., VGMLC address, visited AMF address (visited AMF, VAMF ) or visited LMF address (visited LMF, VLMF) Finally, the LCS Client Location Request is forwarded to the VGMLC, VAMF, or VLMF.

[0085] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an architecture of another mobile communication system applicable to an embodiment of the invention of the present application. As shown in FIG. 4, a terminal device accesses different PLMNs using 3GPP technology or non-3GPP technology. In other words, 5G-AN in FIG. 4 may be a 3GPP access device or a non-3GPP access device. In the network architecture shown in FIG. 4, two PLMNs, namely two serving PLMNs, serve the terminal. Unlike shown in FIG. 3 in FIG. 4, the two serving PLMNs include one VPLMN-1 and one HPLMN. In other words, serving PLMNs include HPLMNs and VPLMNs.

[0086] It should be understood that with the development of access technologies, a tag can access more PLMNs, and the number of PLMNs accessed by a tag is not limited in the architecture of FIG. 3 or Fig. four.

[0087] Described below with reference to FIG. 5, the positioning method provided in the present application. Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of an interaction of a location method 100 according to an embodiment of the invention of the present application. Method 100 may be applied to the scenario shown in FIG. 3 or Fig. 4, and can certainly be applied to other communication scenarios. This is not limited in this embodiment of the invention of the present application.

[0088] As shown in FIG. 5, method 100 includes the following steps.

[0089] S110. The gateway mobile location center receives a first location request for locating a terminal device from a location service client.

[0090] S120. The gateway mobile location center determines a first target public land mobile PLMN based on the first location request, wherein the first target PLMN is to provide a location service for the terminal device.

[0091] S130. The gateway mobile location center sends a second location request to the first location control network element LMF in the first target PLMN, wherein the second location request requests the location service for the terminal from the first LMF. Accordingly, the first LMF receives the second location request.

[0092] S140. The first LMF determines the location method based on the second location request.

[0093] Specifically, in step S110, when the location service client (for example, the LCS client) initiates the location of the terminal device, the location service client sends a location request (the first location request) to the gateway mobile location center serving the terminal. device. The first location request includes a terminal identifier, and the identifier may be, for example, a generic public subscription identifier (GPSI) or a subscriber permanent identifier (SUPI) of the terminal. The gateway mobile location center first determines, based on the first location request, the privacy setting of the terminal device and whether the location service client has permission to determine the location of the terminal device. The tag privacy setting may be received from the UDM based on the tag ID, or the tag privacy setting is already cached or pre-configured in the gateway mobile location center. The location permission of the location service client may be pre-configured in the gateway mobile location center.

[0094] It should be understood that in this embodiment of the invention of the present application, the gateway mobile location center may be an independent network element, for example, may be an HGMLC in an HPLMN. Alternatively, some or all of the functions of the gateway mobile location center are integrated into a basic network element, such as a network element with a network exposure function (NEF). Alternatively, the gateway mobile location center may be another network element that is capable of performing the above function or the like. In the present application, this is not limited.

[0095] It should also be understood that in this embodiment of the invention of the present application, the LMF may be an independent network element, or some or all of the LMF functions are integrated into a core network element, for example, an AMF network element. Alternatively, the LMF may be another network element that is capable of performing the above function or the like. In the present application, this is not limited.

[0096] At S120, there may be multiple PLMNs that serve a terminal. Therefore, the gateway mobile location center determines, based on the first location request, the first PLMN in the plurality of PLMNs that serve the terminal device, wherein the first target PLMN is to provide a location service for the terminal device.

[0097] In S130, after determining the first PLMN, the gateway mobile location center sends a second location request to the first location control network element LMF in the first target PLMN, wherein the second location request requests the location service for the terminal device from the first LMF . Accordingly, the first LMF receives the second location request. The second location request includes the tag ID.

[0098] In S140, the first LMF determines the location method based on the second location request.

[0099] According to the location method provided in this embodiment of the present application, in a scenario in which a terminal accesses a plurality of PLMNs, the location of the terminal may be determined in a scenario with multiple PLMNs. This clarifies the tag location technology in a multi-PLMN scenario, improves the efficiency and accuracy of tag location, and improves communication efficiency and user friendliness.

[0100] It should be understood that in step S130, the gateway mobile location center may send a second location request to the first location control network element LMF in the first target PLMN in a variety of ways. For example, the gateway mobile location center may first send the second location request to the first GMLC in the first target PLMN, the first GMLC forwards the second location request to the first AMF in the first target PLMN, and the first AMF sends the second location request to the first LMF. Alternatively, the gateway mobile location center may first send the second location request to the first GMLC in the first target PLMN, and the first GMLC forwards the second location request to the first LMF. Alternatively, the gateway mobile location center may first send the second location request to another network element that performs a similar function in the first target PLMN, and the other network element forwards the second location request to the first LMF. In the present application, this is not limited.

[0101] In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the interaction of a position determination method according to another embodiment of the invention of the present application. The determination by the gateway mobile location center of the first target PLMN based on the first location request in step S120 includes the following steps.

[0102] S121. The gateway mobile location center determines, based on the first location request, the set of PLMNs that are accessed by the terminal device.

[0103] S122. The gateway mobile location center determines the first target PLMN in the plurality of PLMNs.

[0104] In particular, when a terminal device accesses a plurality of PLMNs, since one PLMN (the first target PLMN) needs to be defined in the plurality of PLMNs, the first target PLMN is intended to provide a location service for the terminal device. Therefore, the gateway mobile location center first needs to determine, based on the first location request, the set of PLMNs accessed by the terminal device. The first target PLMN is then determined in the PLMN set.

[0105] Steps S121 and S122 are described separately next.

[0106] Determining by the gateway mobile location center based on the first location request of the plurality of PLMNs accessed by the terminal in step S121 includes:

determination by the gateway mobile location center based on the number of addresses of the serving terminal access and mobility control AMF gateway, the number of addresses of the serving LMF of the terminal device or the number of addresses of the serving gateway mobile location center GMLC of the terminal device, the set of PLMNs accessed by the terminal device . In particular, currently, each PLMN includes an AMF that provides a service for a terminal, an LMF that provides a service for a terminal, and a GMLC that provides a service for a terminal. Therefore, the gateway mobile location center can receive from the UDM network element based on the tag ID and through the service-based interface the information necessary for positioning (obtained from the HPLMN). In other words, the gateway mobile location center receives at least one of the address information or Serving AMF ID information, the address information or Serving LMF ID information, or the address information or Serving GMLC ID information from the UDM network element, wherein the terminal device accesses serving AMF, serving LMF and serving GMLC. The UDM and the gateway mobile location center belong to the same PLMN. In other words, the gateway mobile location center can obtain the identity information or address information of any one or more of the serving GMLC, serving LMF, and serving AMF from the UDM, and determine, based on the number of identifiers or addresses of the serving GMLC, serving LMF, or serving AMF, a set PLMNs accessed by the end device. The plurality of PLMNs are the PLMNs that serve the terminal. It should be understood that the Serving GMLC, Serving LMF and Serving AMF in this document can be understood as GMLC, LMF and AMF included in the PLMN accessed by the terminal. In other words, the serving GMLC, serving LMF, and serving AMF may be replaced by the GMLC, LMF, and AMF accessed by the terminal. For example, assuming that the addresses or IDs of three different AMFs are obtained from the UDM, it can be determined that a terminal is accessing three PLMNs.

[0107] It should be understood that in the previous step S121, since GMLC, LMF, and AMF can be used to identify the PLMN, in step S121, the gateway mobile location center can further uniquely determine one PLMN by determining the GMLC ID, the LMF ID, or the AMF ID. In other words, the set of PLMNs accessed by the terminal is determined by determining the GMLC identifier, LMF identifier, or AMF identifier. The specific method for determining the plurality of PLMNs is not limited in the present application.

[0108] The gateway mobile location center determining the first target PLMN in the plurality of PLMNs in step S122 includes: determining the gateway mobile location center of the first target PLMN in the plurality PLMN based on one or more tag configuration information, technology type information access of the terminal device and information about the state of the connection corresponding to the type of access technology of the terminal device. The configuration information includes one or more of access technology type priority configuration information, connection state priority configuration information corresponding to the access technology type, and multiple PLMN priority configuration information.

[0109] In particular, the gateway mobile location center may determine the first target PLMN in the following several ways.

[0110] The gateway mobile location center determines the first target PLMN in the plurality of PLMNs based on the access technology type priority configuration information and the access technology type information, with each PLMN corresponding to a different access technology type.

[0111] Alternatively, the gateway mobile location center determines the first target PLMN in the PLMN set based on the priority configuration information of the PLMN set.

[0112] Alternatively, the gateway mobile location center randomly determines the first target PLMN in the plurality of PLMNs.

[0113] Alternatively, the gateway mobile location center determines the first target PLMN in the plurality of PLMNs based on the access technology type priority configuration information, the connection state priority configuration information corresponding to the access technology type, the access technology type information, and connection status information corresponding to the access technology type of the end device.

[0114] In particular, after determining the PLMN set, the gateway mobile location center must determine the first target PLMN in the PLMN set. The first target PLMN is for providing a location service to a terminal. There may be several of the following implementations:

[0115] In an exemplary implementation, the gateway mobile location center determines the first target PLMN in the plurality of PLMNs based on the priority configuration information (included in the configuration information) of the access technology type and the access technology type information of the terminal device. Each PLMN corresponds to a different type of access technology. One PLMN corresponds to one or more access types, and one access type corresponds to a plurality of connection states. Each PLMN corresponds to a different type of access technology. Therefore, the gateway mobile location center can determine, based on the access technology type priority configuration information corresponding to the plurality of PLMNs and the access technology types information corresponding to the plurality of PLMNs, the first target PLMN. Specifically, the gateway mobile location center first determines, based on the access technology type priorities, the first access technology type among the plurality of access technology types, and then determines the first target PLMN based on the PLMN corresponding to the first access technology type. The priority configuration information for the access technology type may be previously stored in the gateway mobile location center or may be received from the location service client. The access technology type may be pre-stored in the gateway mobile location center or may be received from the UDM.

[0116] The tag access technology type has at least three of the following capabilities: 1. 3GPP tag access; 2. terminal device access using non-3GPP technology; and 3. terminal access using 3GPP technology and using non-3GPP technology. The priority configuration information for the access technology type may be that 3GPP technology access has higher priority, or non-3GPP technology access has higher priority, or the like. The 3GPP technology access type may include satellite access, base station access, and the like. Access to non-3GPP technology may include wired access, wireless access, and the like.

[0117] In this embodiment of the invention of the present application, the connection state depends on the type of access and is mainly classified into an idle state (idle) and a connected state (connected). An example is used for description. The connection state of a tag includes the state of a first link between the tag and a first access point (eg, NG-RAN) of a first access technology type (eg, 3GPP access type) or the state of a second link between the tag and a second access point (eg, , N3IWF) of the second access technology type (eg, non-3GPP access type).

[0118] In another possible implementation, the gateway mobile location center determines the first target PLMN in the PLMN set based on the PLMN set priority configuration information. The multiple PLMN priority configuration information may be included in the configuration information. In addition to determining the first target PLMN based on the access technology type, the gateway mobile location center may further determine the first target PLMN in the PLMN set based on the priority configuration information of the PLMN set. For example, when both an HPLMN and a VPLMN are serving a terminal, the VPLMN takes precedence. The plurality PLMN priority configuration information may be previously stored in the gateway mobile location center or may be obtained from the location service client.

[0119] In another possible implementation, the gateway mobile location center determines the first target PLMN in the plurality of PLMNs based on access technology type priority configuration information, connection state priority configuration information corresponding to the access technology type, access technology type information of the terminal device, and information about the connection state corresponding to the access technology type of the end device. When the first target PLMN cannot be determined based on the access technology type, for example, different PLMNs may correspond to the same access type, the gateway mobile location center may determine the first target PLMN in the plurality of PLMNs based on the priority configuration information, technology type access, connection state information corresponding to the access technology type, access technology type information, and connection state priority configuration information. Specifically, a range of possible PLMNs may be first determined based on the access technology type priority configuration information and the access technology type information, and a plurality of possible PLMNs may correspond to the same access technology type. Then, the first target PLMN is further determined in the candidate PLMNs based on the connection state information corresponding to the access technology type and the connection state priority configuration information. The connection state priority configuration information may be that the connected state has a higher priority or the like.

[0120] In another possible implementation, the gateway mobile location center randomly determines the PLMN in the set of PLMNs as the first target PLMN.

[0121] It should be understood that the configuration information may further include priority configuration information from several of the aforementioned methods for determining the first target PLMN. For example, the priority of the method of randomly determining the first target PLMN is the lowest. In the present application, this is not limited.

[0122] It should be understood that in this embodiment of this application, the above several methods for determining the first target PLMN in a plurality of PLMNs can be used together, in other words, any one or more of the above methods can be used to determine the first target PLMN. For example, when the first target PLMN cannot be determined based on the access technology type priority configuration information, the access type information, and the connection state information, the first target PLMN can be determined by a random selection method. This is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0123] The first target PLMN is determined in the plurality of PLMNs by several of the aforementioned methods, so that the accuracy and efficiency of determining the first target PLMN can be improved, and the first target PLMN can be determined more quickly and accurately. Thus, communication resources are reduced, location time is shortened, and the user experience is further improved.

[0124] In S140, the first LMF in the first target PLMN determines a location method based on the second location request. When determining the positioning method, the first LMF not only takes into account requirements such as accuracy and delay, but also takes into account the current type of access technology of the terminal, in other words, when other factors (such as accuracy and delay) are the same, if the access types of the terminal devices are different, the methods of determining the location of the terminal device, which are determined by the first LMF, may be different. Therefore, the second location request may further include any one or more of access technology type priority configuration information, connection state information corresponding to the access technology type, access technology type information, connection state priority configuration information, and a terminal identifier. .

[0125] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an interaction of a position determination method according to another embodiment of the present application. Method 100 further includes the following steps.

[0126] S150. The first LMF determines the first positioning result based on the positioning method. For step S150, the specific process of determining by the first LMF the first positioning result based on the positioning method may be an existing process of determining the positioning result based on the positioning method. For example, refer to the method for determining the positioning result described in Chinese Patent Application No. 201810318534.7. The specific process for determining the first positioning result based on the positioning method is not limited in the present application.

[0127] S160. The gateway mobile location center receives the first tag location result from the first LMF.

[0128] S170. The gateway mobile location center determines the second target PLMN in the plurality of PLMNs and sends the third location request to the second LMF to the second target PLMN when the first location result does not match the location requirement when the third location request requests the second LMF to the second target PLMN to provide a location service for the terminal device. Accordingly, the second LMF in the second target PLMN receives the third location request.

[0129] S171. The second LMF determines the second location result based on the third location request. In addition, the second LMF sends the second location result to the gateway mobile location center.

[0130] S172. The gateway mobile location center receives the second tag location result from the second LMF.

[0131] Specifically, after determining the first location result based on the location method, the first LMF sends the first location result to the gateway mobile location center. The gateway mobile location center determines whether the first location result matches the requirement. The first location result includes location information (the location information changes according to different location methods used) of the terminal device, an indication indicating whether the location is successfully performed, the location method used, and the like. For example, whether the positioning result matches the positioning requirement may be determined based on an indication indicating whether the positioning is successful as a result of the positioning and the positioning accuracy corresponding to the positioning result. The first positioning result carries the positioning method used by the first LMF, and the positioning accuracy may be represented by the positioning method used. In other words, after determining the positioning method, the accuracy of the positioning result obtained using the positioning method is also determined. The gateway mobile location center sends a third location request to the second LMF to the second target PLMN when the first location result does not match the location requirement when the third location request requests the second LMF to the second target PLMN to provide a location service. for the terminal device. In other words, the second LMF is requested to determine the location result, and the second LMF determines the second location result and sends the location result to the gateway mobile location center.

[0132] With the above method, when the location result from the first LMF is inaccurate, the location result from the second LMF can be received so that the location result of the tag is more accurate and the location accuracy and accuracy are improved.

[0133] It should be understood that when the first location result meets the location requirement, the mobile location center can directly send the first location result to the location service client, and it does not need to determine the second target PLMN, that is, the location procedure ends .

[0134] In addition, it should be understood that the process of determining the second target PLMN in the plurality of PLMNs by the gateway mobile location center is similar to the process of determining the first target PLMN described above. For related descriptions, refer to the above related descriptions of the definition of the first target PLMN. For brevity, the details are not repeated here.

[0135] In addition, it should be understood that the process of sending a third location request by the gateway mobile location center to the second LMF in the second target PLMN is similar to the above process of sending the gateway mobile location center of the second location request to the first LMF. For related descriptions, refer to the above related descriptions of sending a second location request to the first LMF. For brevity, the details are not repeated here.

[0136] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an interaction of a position determination method according to another embodiment of the present application. Method 100 further includes the following steps.

[0137] S173. The gateway mobile location center determines the target location result of the terminal device based on the first location result and the second location result.

[0138] S174. The gateway mobile location center sends the target location result to the location service client.

[0139] Specifically, after receiving the first location result and the second location result, the gateway mobile location center can determine the target location result of the tag based on the first location result and the second location result. For example, the target position result may be a position result with higher position accuracy in the first position result and the second position result. Then, the target location result is sent to the location service client, that is, the location procedure ends.

[0140] It should be understood that if the second location result does not meet the location requirement, the gateway mobile location center may further continue to determine the third target PLMN, then send a location request to the third LMF in the third target PLMN, and receive the third determination result locations from the third LMF. If the third location result satisfies the requirement, the third location result may be sent to the location service client. If the third location result does not satisfy the requirement, the location result with the highest location accuracy may be selected from the first location result, the second location result, and the third location result as the target location result. Alternatively, the gateway mobile location center may further continue to determine the fourth target PLMN and then send a location request to the fourth LMF in the fourth target PLMN. In addition, the gateway mobile location center receives the fourth location result from the fourth LMF and determines the final target location result based on the four location results. In other words, the gateway mobile location center may determine a plurality of target PLMNs. The plurality of target PLMNs may repeatedly execute the location result determination processing and location result reporting processing procedure. This is not limited in this embodiment of the invention of the present application.

[0141] With the above method, the target location result is more accurately determined from the location result from the first LMF and from the location result from the second LMF. Alternatively, the best accuracy target location result can be determined in the location results determined by more LMFs, so that the location result is more accurate and the location accuracy is improved.

[0142] In an embodiment, in addition to the above method of determining the first target PLMN in the PLMN set, determining the first target PLMN in the PLMN set by the gateway mobile location center in step S122 includes the following steps.

[0143] Step 1: The gateway mobile location center determines the set of PLMNs that are accessed by the terminal.

[0144] Step 2: The gateway mobile location center sends the first instruction information to the LMF in the PLMN set, and the first instruction information is used to instruct the LMF in the PLMN set to determine the location method.

[0145] Step 3: The gateway mobile location center receives a location method from an LMF in a plurality of PLMNs.

[0146] Step 4: The gateway mobile location center determines the first target PLMN based on the received location method.

[0147] In particular, step 1 is similar to the previous step S121. For related descriptions, refer to the above process for determining the first target PLMN. For brevity, the details are not repeated here. For step 2, after determining the plurality of PLMNs accessed by the terminal, the gateway mobile location center may send the first instruction information to each LMF in the plurality of PLMNs. The first instruction information is used to instruct each LMF in the plurality of PLMNs to determine a position determination method. The first instruction information may include a location requirement, configuration information, and the like. Upon receipt of the first instruction information, the LMF determines the type of access technology to be used and the location determination method. Optionally, the gateway mobile location center may send the first instruction information to some LMFs in the plurality of PLMNs. Accordingly, each LMF in the plurality of PLMNs determines the positioning method based on the first instruction information, and sends the determined positioning method to the gateway mobile location center. In other words, step 3 is that the gateway mobile location center receives the location method from the LMF in the plurality of PLMNs. It should be understood that the LMF in each PLMN may define only one positioning method or may define multiple positioning methods. In step 4, the gateway mobile location center determines the first target PLMN based on the plurality of received location methods.

[0148] The determination by the gateway mobile location center of the first target PLMN based on the received location method in step 4 includes:

determining, by the gateway mobile location center, a first positioning method based on the positioning accuracy of the positioning method; and

determining by the gateway mobile location center the first target PLMN based on the first location method.

[0149] Specifically, since each positioning method has a corresponding positioning accuracy, after determining the positioning method, the positioning accuracy of the positioning method is determined. Therefore, the gateway mobile location center determines the first location method based on the location accuracy corresponding to the plurality of location methods. For example, the first positioning method may be the positioning method with the highest positioning accuracy among the plurality of positioning methods. After the first positioning method is determined, the first LMF and the first target PLMN to which the first LMF belongs can be determined based on the first LMF corresponding to the first positioning method. The gateway mobile location center may send instruction information to the first LMF to instruct the first LMF to perform the location method. The instruction information may be included in the second location request.

[0150] The first target PLMN is determined in the plurality of PLMNs by several of the aforementioned methods, so that the accuracy and efficiency of determining the first target PLMN can be improved, and the first target PLMN can be determined more quickly and accurately. Thus, communication resources are reduced, location time is shortened, and the user experience is further improved.

[0151] Optionally, after the gateway mobile location center determines the first location method based on the location accuracy of the location method, and then determines the first target PLMN based on the first location method, the gateway mobile location center may further send instruction information to the other PLMN, wherein the instruction information is used to instruct the other PLMN not to execute the positioning method specified by the other PLMN. In other words, an LMF included in another PLMN is instructed not to perform a certain position determination method. Optionally, the gateway mobile location center may also, by implicit instruction, instruct an LMF included in another PLMN not to perform a particular location method. For example, a timer can be set in each LMF. If the LMF receives the second location request or the instruction information used to instruct the execution of the location method before the timer expires, the location method is executed. If the LMF does not receive the location request or the instruction information, the location method is not executed.

[0152] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the interaction of a position determination method according to another embodiment of the invention of the present application. Method 100 further includes the following step.

[0153] S111. The gateway mobile location center receives at least one of the serving AMF address information, the serving LMF address information, or the serving GMLC address information from the single control network element, wherein the terminal device accesses the serving AMF, the serving LMF, and the serving GMLC. The gateway mobile location center determines, based on at least one of the serving AMF address information, the serving LMF address information, or the serving GMLC address information, the plurality of PLMNs accessed by the terminal. The plurality of PLMNs accessed by a terminal may include a plurality of serving PLMNs that serve the terminal. The plurality of serving PLMNs may include a plurality of tag VPLMNs, and may further include a tag HPLMN. The unified control network element may be a UDM network element. For a specific process for determining the set of PLMNs accessed by a terminal, refer to the above process for determining the sets of PLMNs accessed by a terminal. For brevity, the details are not repeated here.

[0154] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the interaction of a position determination method according to another embodiment of the invention of the present application. Method 100 further includes the following step.

[0155] S112. The gateway mobile location center receives any one or more of configuration information, access technology type, and connection state information corresponding to the access technology type, which are received from the unified control network element. The gateway mobile location center may determine the first target PLMN in the plurality of PLMNs based on one or more of configuration information, access technology type, and connection state information corresponding to the access technology type. The unified control network element may be a UDM network element. For a particular process, you can refer to the above process for determining the first target PLMN in the set of PLMNs. For brevity, the details are not repeated here. It should be understood that the step shown by the dotted line in FIG. 10 is an optional step.

[0156] In an implementation, the gateway mobile location center is the gateway mobile location center GMLC of the terminal's public home land mobile network HPLMN, that is, the gateway mobile location center is the HGMLC. The first target PLMN is the terminal's visited public land mobile network VPLMN. Alternatively, when there is a plurality of terminal public land mobile networks VPLMN visited, the first target PLMN is one of the plurality of VPLMNs. Alternatively, when a terminal's serving PLMN includes one or more VPLMNs and an HPLMN, the first target PLMN may be the terminal's HPLMN. In other words, the HPLMN may provide a location service for a terminal device. This is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0157] In an embodiment, the second location request further includes at least one of access technology type information corresponding to the first target PLMN, connection state information corresponding to the access technology type, and configuration information.

[0158] The following mainly describes, from the point of view of the first LMF, the process of determining the positioning method by the first LMF.

[0159] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of an interaction of a position determination method according to another embodiment of the present application. Method 100 further includes the following steps.

[0160] S141. The first LMF sends the location method to the gateway mobile location center. Accordingly, the gateway mobile location center receives the location method.

[0161] S142. The gateway mobile location center determines whether the location method meets the location requirement and sends the second instruction information to the first LMF, the second instruction information being used to instruct the first LMF to perform the location method or not to perform the location method. Accordingly, the first LMF receives the second instruction information from the gateway mobile location center.

[0162] In step S142, after receiving the location method, the mobile communication gateway location center determines whether the location method satisfies the location requirements. For example, based on the positioning accuracy corresponding to the positioning method, it can be determined whether the positioning method satisfies the positioning requirement. If the positioning method satisfies the positioning requirement, the second instruction information is sent to the first LMF, and the second instruction information is used to instruct the first LMF to perform the positioning method. Alternatively, if the positioning method does not satisfy the positioning requirement, the second instruction information is used to instruct the first LMF not to perform the positioning method. Accordingly, the first LMF receives the first instruction information.

[0163] Optionally, in addition to the above method of instructing, through the use of instruction information, the first LMF to perform or not to perform the positioning method, the first LMF may also be implicitly instructed to perform or not to perform the determined positioning method. For example, a timer may be set in the first LMF. If the first LMF receives the first instruction information before the timer expires, the location method is executed. If the first LMF does not receive the instruction information before the timer expires, the positioning method is not executed.

[0164] When the second instruction information instructs the first LMF to execute the location method, the first LMF may perform the above steps S150 and S160, that is, determine the first location result based on the location method, and send the first location result to the gateway mobile location center .

[0165] In an implementation, when the second location request further includes configuration information of the tag, determining the first LMF's location method based on the second location request in step S140 includes the following steps.

[0166] Step 1: The first LMF determines the access technology type of the terminal based on the configuration information and the access technology type information.

[0167] Step 2: The first LMF determines a location determination method based on the type of access technology.

[0168] Specifically, the second location request further includes tag configuration information. The configuration information may include one or more of access technology type priority configuration information, connection state priority configuration information corresponding to the access technology type, and multiple PLMN priority configuration information. The first LMF may determine the access technology type based on the configuration information and the access technology type information. As described above, one LMF may correspond to multiple access types, and each access type may correspond to one or more connection states. Therefore, the first LMF can determine the access technology type of the tag based on the access type priority configuration information included in the second location request and with reference to the access technology type information. Then, the positioning method corresponding to the type of access technology is determined based on the type of access technology.

[0169] Optionally, the first LMF may further determine the location method based on the access technology type information, the connection state information, and the connection state priority configuration information. In the present application, this is not specifically limited.

[0170] It should be understood that the second location request may further include any one or more of access technology type information and connection state information. The second location request may further include a location request and the like. In the present application, this is not limited.

[0171] In another implementation, when the second location request further includes information about the access technology type of the terminal, determining the first LMF's location method based on the second location request in step S140 includes the following step.

[0172] Step 1: The LMF determines a location method based on the type of access technology.

[0173] In particular, when the second location request further includes information about the type of access technology of the terminal device, that is, the gateway mobile location center already determines the type of access technology used by the first LMF, the first LMF can directly determine the location method on based on the type of access technology. Optionally, the first LMF may further determine the location method based on the access technology type information, the connection state information, and the connection state priority configuration information. In the present application, this is not expressly limited.

[0174] When the second location request includes access technology type information already determined by the gateway mobile location center, the second location request may further include third instruction information, the third instruction information being used to instruct the first LMF to determine a position determination method based on a certain type of access technology. In other words, the first LMF is instructed to determine the location method based on the access technology type included in the second location request.

[0175] It should be understood that if the second location request includes access technology type information and/or tag configuration information, when the first LMF determines the location method, the first LMF may use the access technology type information, and/or configuration information included in the second location request. Alternatively, the first LMF may not use the access technology type information and/or configuration information included in the second location request. In other words, the first LMF may also specify the type of access technology to be used. For example, the first LMF may determine the access technology type based on the location capability supported by the terminal device, the location capability supported by the PLMN to which the first LMF belongs, and the location requirement included in the second location request to further determine the location method.

[0176] According to the positioning method provided in the present application, when determining the positioning method, the first LMF may determine the positioning method based on access type information or access type priority configuration information from the gateway mobile location center. This can improve the determination efficiency of the positioning method by the first LMF, improve the accuracy of the positioning method, and improve the positioning effect.

[0177] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of the interaction of a location method 200 according to another embodiment of this application. As shown in FIG. 12, method 200 includes the following steps.

[0178] S210. The gateway mobile location center receives a fourth location request for locating a terminal device from a location service client, the fourth location request including an identifier of the terminal device.

[0179] S220. The gateway mobile location center determines, based on the fourth location request, the first access technology type of the terminal device.

[0180] S230. The gateway mobile location center sends, based on the first access type, a fifth location request to the first LMF corresponding to the first access type, wherein the fifth location request requests the location service for the terminal device from the first LMF. Accordingly, the first LMF receives the fifth location request.

[0181] Specifically, in step S210, when the location service client (for example, the LCS client) initiates the location of the terminal, the location service client sends a location request (fourth location request) to a gateway mobile location center serving the terminal. device. The fourth location request includes a tag identifier and, for example, may be the tag's GPSI or SUPI. The gateway mobile location center first determines, based on the fourth location request, the privacy setting of the terminal device and whether the location service client has permission to locate the terminal device. The tag privacy setting may be obtained from the UDM based on the tag ID, or the tag privacy setting is already cached or pre-configured in the gateway mobile location center. The location permission of the location service client may be pre-configured in the gateway mobile location center.

[0182] In steps S220 and S230, the gateway mobile location center determines, based on the fourth location request, the first access technology type of the terminal device. In particular, currently, each PLMN includes an AMF that provides a service for a terminal, an LMF that provides a service for a terminal, and a GMLC that provides a service for a terminal. One LMF corresponds to one or more types of access technologies. Therefore, when a terminal device accesses a plurality of PLMNs that serve a terminal device (when a terminal device accesses a plurality of LMFs), it is necessary to determine the first PLMN (first LMF) that provides the location service for the terminal device in the PLMN set (namely, set LMF) the first PLMN (ie the first LMF) can be determined by the method of determining the type of access technology. The gateway mobile location center may determine the first access technology type in the plurality of access technology types corresponding to the plurality of LMFs. Then, the first PLMN is determined based on the PLMN corresponding to the first access type, and the first PLMN is configured to provide a location service for the terminal device. After the first PLMN is determined, the first LMF in the first PLMN may be determined. In other words, the gateway mobile location center may determine the first access technology type from the plurality of access technology types corresponding to the plurality of LMFs. The first LMF may then be determined based on the first access type. After determining the first LMF, the gateway mobile location center may send, based on the first access type, a fifth location request to the first LMF corresponding to the first access type, wherein the fifth location request requests a location service from the first LMF. for the terminal device. The fifth location request includes a terminal identifier.

[0183] According to the location method provided in this embodiment of the present application, in a scenario in which a terminal device accesses a plurality of LMFs, an LMF that provides a service for the terminal device can be determined based on the access technology type, so that the terminal the device can be placed in an LMF scenario. This clarifies the tag location technology in a multi LMF scenario and improves communication efficiency and usability.

[0184] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, determination by the gateway mobile location center of the first access technology type of the terminal in step S220 includes the following step.

[0185] S221. The gateway mobile location center determines the first access technology type based on the configuration information of the terminal device, the access technology type information of the terminal device, and the connection state information corresponding to the access technology type of the terminal device.

[0186] Specifically, one PLMN that serves a terminal corresponds to one or more access types, and one access type corresponds to a plurality of connection states. Each PLMN corresponds to a different type of access technology. Therefore, the gateway mobile location center can determine the first access technology type based on the configuration information, the access technology type information of the terminal device, and the connection state information corresponding to the access technology type of the terminal device. The configuration information may include one or more of access technology type priority configuration information, connection state priority configuration information corresponding to the access technology type, and multiple PLMN priority configuration information. The gateway mobile location center can determine, based on the access technology type priority configuration information, the connection state information corresponding to the access technology type and the access technology type information, the first access technology type in the plurality of access technology types. Specifically, the first access technology type can be determined based on the access technology type priority configuration information and the plurality of access technology types. The first access technology type uniquely corresponds to one first LMF. Thus, the accuracy and efficiency of determining the first LMF can be improved, and the first LMF can be determined more quickly and accurately. Thus, communication resources are reduced, location time is shortened, and the user experience is further improved.

[0187] Optionally, if the access technology type determined based on the technology type priority configuration information and the set of access technology types correspond to the set of different LMFs, in other words, the LMF cannot be uniquely determined based on the technology type priority configuration information and the set of types access technologies, the gateway mobile location center can further determine the first access technology type, that is, determine the first LMF, based on the connection state with reference to the connection state information, the corresponding access technology type, and the connection state priority configuration information.

[0188] It should be understood that the configuration information may be previously stored in the gateway mobile location center or may be obtained from the location service client. The access technology type may be pre-stored in the gateway mobile location center or may be obtained from the UDM. The connection state may be pre-stored in the gateway mobile location center or may be obtained from the UDM.

[0189] It should also be understood that the gateway mobile location center may further arbitrarily determine the first access technology type from the plurality of access types, and then send the fifth location request to the first LMF corresponding to the first access type. This is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0190] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, method 200 further includes the following steps.

[0191] S240. The first LMF determines the first location result based on the fifth location request.

[0192] S250. The gateway mobile location center receives the first tag location result from the first LMF.

[0193] S260. The gateway mobile location center sends, based on the second access type, the sixth location request to the second LMF corresponding to the second access type when the first location result does not satisfy the location requirement, wherein the sixth location request requests the second LMF to provide a location service for terminal device.

[0194] S270. The second LMF determines the second location result.

[0195] S280. The gateway mobile location center receives the second tag location result from the second LMF.

[0196] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, method 200 further includes the following steps.

[0197] S290. The gateway mobile location center determines the target location result of the terminal device based on the first location result and the second location result.

[0198] S291. The gateway mobile location center sends the target location result to the location service client.

[0199] In an embodiment, the method 200 further includes: receiving by the gateway mobile location center at least one of the serving AMF address information, the serving LMF address information, or the serving GMLC address information from the unified control network element, wherein the tag performs access to serving AMF, serving LMF and serving GMLC.

[0200] In an embodiment, method 200 further includes:

receiving by the gateway mobile location center at least one of configuration information, access technology type information, and connection state information corresponding to the access technology type, which are received from the unified control network element.

[0201] It should be understood that the specific steps in an embodiment of method 200 are similar to the corresponding steps in the corresponding embodiment of method 100. See the description of method 100 for similar descriptions. To avoid repetition, details are again omitted here.

[0202] Next, with reference to a specific example, a specific procedure of the position determination method provided in the present application will be described.

[0203] FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B is a schematic flowchart of a location determination method 300 according to an embodiment of this application.

[0204] As shown in FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B, method 300 includes the following steps.

[0205] S301. The external LCS client sends a first location request for locating a terminal device to a gateway mobile location center (HGMLC in HPLMN), wherein the first location request includes a tag identifier, such as GPSI or SUPI, of the target terminal device; The HGMLC first determines the target endpoint's privacy setting and whether the LCS client has permission to locate the endpoint. The tag privacy setting can be obtained from the UDM in the HPLMN based on the tag ID, or the tag privacy setting is already cached or pre-configured in the HGMLC. The LCS client location permission is pre-configured in HGMLC.

[0206] S302. The HGMLC obtains from the UDM, based on the identifier information (GPSI, SUPI, etc.) of the terminal device and using a service-based interface (e.g., Nudm_UE Context Management_Get), the information necessary for location determination, e.g., information such as the address of the serving AMF (VAMF), Serving LMF Address (VLMF), or Serving GMLC Address (VGMLC).

[0207] S303. For each terminal access technology type, the UDM returns location information, where the location information includes the VAMF address. The location information may also include a VGMLC address address or a VLMF address. If the HGMLC needs to get the access type and/or the connection state (for example, the HGMLC needs to determine the target PLMN based on the access type priority configuration and/or the connection state priority configuration, or the HGMLC needs to send information), the UDM returns the access type and/or the connection state at the same time. .

[0208] S304. When the HGMLC detects based on the number of addresses of a network element such as a VAMF returned by the UDM that the terminal is accessing different PLMNs, the HGMLC selects, based on the access technology type priority configuration and/or the connection state priority configuration, the PLMN (first target PLMN) to determine the location. Alternatively, the HGMLC may randomly select a PLMN (first target PLMN) for location determination. The first target PLMN is for providing a location service to a terminal device. The access technology type priority configuration may be preconfigured in the HGMLC or obtained from the first location request from the LCS client. For example, the access technology type priority configuration may be such that 3GPP access has higher priority or N3GPP access has higher priority. The access type refers to the technology used by the end device to access the 5G core network, such as 3GPP access or N3GPP access. N3GPP access includes N3GPP trusted access and N3GPP untrusted access. The connection state depends on the specific type of access and includes the idle state and the connected state.

[0209] S305. After determining the first target PLMN (VPLMN-1), the HGMLC sends a second location request to the GMLC (VGMLC-1) in the first target PLMN. The second location request may include information such as the access type and/or connection state, or may include information such as the VAMF-1 address and VLMF-1 address in the first target PLMN, as well as the terminal ID.

[0210] S306. VGMLC-1 then forwards the second location request to the network element VLMF-1. According to various solutions, the VGMLC-1 may forward the second location request to the VLMF-1 indirectly using the VAMF-1, and finally the VLMF-1 receives the second location request. Alternatively, VGMLC-1 may directly send a second position request to VLMF-1.

[0211] S307. If the VLMF-1 does not accept the location capability supported by the terminal, the VLMF-1 must first communicate with the terminal to obtain the location capability supported by the terminal. The positioning capability mainly includes: a positioning method supported by the terminal device, a positioning device (eg, whether the Global Positioning System (GPS) module is enabled) supported by the terminal device, and the like.

[0212] S308. The VLMF-1 determines the location method and forwarding path based on information such as the location capability supported by the terminal, the location capability supported by the network (similar to the location capability supported by the terminal), including the location requirement in the second location request - access technology type and connection status.

[0213] S309. The VLMF-1 performs the position determination method.

[0214] S310. VLMF-1 receives the first position result.

[0215] S311. VLMF-1 returns the first location result to VGMLC-1. Finally, VGMLC-1 returns the first location result in HGMLC.

[0216] S312. After receiving the first positioning result, the HGMLC determines, based on the positioning accuracy and the indication information indicating whether the positioning is successful, which is included in the first positioning result, whether the first positioning result meets the positioning requirement. The positioning requirement mainly includes accuracy, delay, and the like. Processing depends on the first location result:

[0217] (a) If the location is successful and the accuracy meets the requirements, the first location result is returned to the LCS client and the location is ended.

[0218] (b) If the location is successful, but the accuracy does not meet the requirement, S313 is executed.

[0219] (c) If positioning fails, S313 is executed.

[0220] S313. The HGMLC determines the second target PLMN, forwards the location request to the second target PLMN, and receives the second location result from the VLMF-2. That is, steps 304 - step S311 are performed for the second target PLMN.

[0221] S314. The HGMLC compares the first location result and the second location result (the location result determined by the second target PLMN). A target location result with higher accuracy is determined. If neither the first location result nor the second location result satisfy the location requirement, the first location result and the second location result are used as the target location result.

[0222] S315. The HGMLC returns the target location result to the LCS client.

[0223] It should be understood that the above solution also applies to a single PLMN scenario. In step S304, when the HGMLC detects that only one PLMN is serving the terminal, the serving PLMN in this case may be VPLMN-1 or may be HPLMN. In this case, the HGMLC forwards the second location request to VAMF-1 or VLMF-1 to VPLMN-1, or forwards the second location request to HAMF or HLMF to HPLMN. The subsequent processing steps are S306-S311 and S315.

[0224] In addition, it should be understood that the technical solution in the method 300 is also applicable to the scenario in which both VPLMN and HPLMN serve the end device. That is, VLMF-1 and VAMF-1 may be replaced by HLMF and HAMF in method 300. In other words, in a scenario in which a PLMN that serves a terminal includes a VPLMN and an HPLMN, the first target PLMN or the second target PLMN may alternatively be an HPLMN. In the present application, this is not limited.

[0225] It should also be understood that method 300 is described using an example in which two VPLMNs separately perform location determination. However, the above technical solution can be further applied to a scenario in which two VPLMNs separately perform location determination. For example, if neither the first location result nor the second location result satisfies the location requirements, the second target PLMN (VPLMN-3) may continue to be determined, and the third location result returned by VPLMN-3 may be received. Then, the target location result is determined in the three location results. In the present application, this is not limited.

[0226] FIG. 17A and FIG. 17B is a schematic flowchart of a location determination method 400 according to another embodiment of the invention of the present application.

[0227] As shown in FIG. 17A and FIG. 17B, method 400 includes the following steps.

[0228] S401. The external LCS client sends a first location request for locating a terminal device to a gateway mobile location center (HGMLC in HPLMN), wherein the first location request includes a tag identifier, such as GPSI or SUPI, of the target terminal device; The HGMLC first determines the target endpoint's privacy setting and whether the LCS client has permission to locate the endpoint. The stub privacy setting can be obtained from the UDM in the HPLMN based on the stub ID, or the stub privacy setting is already cached or pre-configured in the HGMLC. The LCS client location permission is pre-configured in HGMLC.

[0229] S402. The HGMLC obtains from the UDM, based on the identifier information (GPSI, SUPI, etc.) of the terminal device and using a service-based interface (e.g., Nudm_UE Context Management_Get), information necessary for location determination, e.g., information such as the address of the serving AMF (VAMF), Serving LMF Address (VLMF), or Serving GMLC Address (VGMLC).

[0230] S403. For each endpoint access technology type, the UDM returns a VAMF address. In addition, the UDM may also return a VGMLC address or a VLMF address. If the HGMLC needs to get the access type and/or the connection state (for example, the HGMLC needs to determine the target PLMN based on the access type priority configuration and/or the connection state priority configuration, or the HGMLC needs to send information), the UDM returns the access type and/or the connection state at the same time. .

[0231] S404. When the HGMLC detects based on the number of addresses of a network element such as a VAMF returned by the UDM that the terminal is accessing different PLMNs, the HGMLC may decide to send a second location request to multiple VPLMNs. Alternatively, the HGMLC sends a second location request to some PLMNs in the set of VPLMNs. Sending a second location request to two VPLMNs (VPLMN-1 and VPLMN-2) is shown in FIG. 16A and FIG. 16b. The second location request contains instruction information to instruct VPLMN-1 and VPLMN-2 to separately determine the location method.

[0232] S405. The HGMLC sends a second location request to VGMLC-1 to VPLMN-1 and VGMLC-2 to VPLMN-2, respectively. The second location request may include information such as access type and/or connection status, or may include information about VAMF-1 address and VLMF-1 address in VPLMN-1, VAMF-2 address and VLMF-2 address in VPLMN -2, as well as the ID of the target device.

[0233] S406. VGMLC-1 and VGMLC-2 forward the second location request to the VLMF-1 network element and the VLMF-2 network element, respectively.

[0234] S407. If the VLMF-1 and/or VLMF-2 receive/do not receive the location capability supported by the terminal, the VLMF-1 and/or VLMF-2 must/should first communicate with the terminal to obtain the location capability supported by the terminal. The positioning capability mainly includes: a positioning method supported by the terminal device, a positioning device (eg, whether the Global Positioning System (GPS) module is enabled) supported by the terminal device, and the like.

[0235] S408. VLMF-1 and VLMF-2 separately determine the location method and forwarding path based on information such as the location capability supported by the terminal device, the location capability supported by the network (similar to the location capability supported by the terminal device), the location requirement and instruction information included in the second location request, access technology type, and connection state. After determining the positioning method, the positioning method is temporarily not executed.

[0236] S409. VLMF-1 and VLMF-2 respectively return the respective positioning methods to VGMLC-1 and VGMLC-2, and VGMLC-1 and VGMLC-2 individually return the positioning method to HGMLC.

[0237] S410. The H-GMLC selects, based on the accuracy and positioning method returned by the two PLMNs, the target PLMN (eg, VPLMN-2) to perform the positioning. If the first received location method satisfies the location requirement, an execution instruction is immediately sent to the LMF corresponding to the location method that satisfies the location requirement. The H-GMLC may explicitly send an execution instruction using the indication information. Optionally, the HGMLC may additionally explicitly send an instruction to the other PLMN (VPLMN-1) to cancel positioning. Alternatively, the two LMFs may determine, depending on whether the timer has expired, whether the position determination method should be performed.

[0238] S411. The H-GMLC sends an execution instruction to the VLMF-2.

[0239] S412. The VLMF-2 performs a positioning procedure based on a determined positioning method.

[0240] S413. VLMF-2 receives the second position result (position result received by VLMF-2).

[0241] S414. VLMF-2 returns the second location result in HGMLC.

[0242] S415. HGMLC returns the second location result to the LCS client.

[0243] It should be understood that in step S404, the H-GMLC may select, based on the access technology type priority configuration and/or the connection state priority configuration, a plurality of PLMNs for location determination. Alternatively, a plurality of PLMNs may be randomly selected for location determination. In the present application, this is not limited.

[0244] FIG. 18A and FIG. 18B is a schematic flowchart of a location determination method 500 according to an embodiment of this application.

[0245] As shown in FIG. 18A and FIG. 18B, method 500 includes the following steps.

[0246] S501. The external LCS client sends a first location request for locating a terminal device to a gateway mobile location center (HGMLC in HPLMN), wherein the first location request includes a tag identifier, such as GPSI or SUPI, of the target terminal device; The HGMLC first determines the target endpoint's privacy setting and whether the LCS client has permission to host the endpoint. The stub privacy setting can be obtained from the UDM in the HPLMN based on the stub ID, or the stub privacy setting is already cached or pre-configured in the HGMLC. The LCS client location permission is pre-configured in HGMLC.

[0247] S502. The HGMLC obtains from the UDM, based on the identifier information (GPSI, SUPI, etc.) of the terminal device and using a service-based interface (e.g., Nudm_UE Context Management_Get), the information necessary for location determination, e.g., information such as the address of the serving AMF (VAMF), Serving LMF Address (VLMF), or Serving GMLC Address (VGMLC).

[0248] S503. For each endpoint access technology type, the UDM returns a VAMF address. The UDM may also return a VGMLC address or a VLMF address. If the HGMLC needs to get the access type and/or the connection state (for example, the HGMLC needs to determine the target PLMN based on the access type priority configuration and/or the connection state priority configuration, or the HGMLC needs to send information), the UDM returns the access type and/or the connection state at the same time. .

[0249] S504. When the HGMLC detects based on the number of addresses of a network element such as a VAMF returned by the UDM that the terminal is accessing different PLMNs, the HGMLC selects, based on the access technology type priority configuration and/or the connection state priority configuration, the access technology type (first type access technology) finally for location determination and defines VGMLC-1 in PLMN (first PLMN) based on the first type of access technology.

[0250] S505. The HGMLC sends a second location request to the VGMLC-1, wherein the second location request includes the first type of access technology, and optionally may further include information such as connection state and instruction information, wherein the instruction information is used for instructing VLMF-1 in the first PLMN directly use the first type of access technology to determine the location method. Alternatively, the second location request may include information such as a VAMF-1 address, a VLMF-1 address, a terminal ID, and a location requirement.

[0251] S506. VGMLC-1 then forwards the second location request to the network element VLMF-1. According to various solutions, the VGMLC-1 may forward the second location request to the VLMF-1 indirectly using the VAMF-1, and finally the VLMF-1 receives the second location request. Alternatively, VGMLC-1 may directly send a second position request to VLMF-1.

[0252] S507. If the VLMF-1 does not receive the location capability supported by the terminal, the VLMF-1 must first communicate with the terminal to obtain the location capability supported by the terminal. The positioning capability mainly includes: a positioning method supported by the terminal device, a positioning device (eg, whether the Global Positioning System (GPS) module is enabled) supported by the terminal device, and the like.

[0253] S508. When the VLMF-1 determines the type of access technology, the VLMF-1 can determine the location method and forwarding path based on information such as the location capability supported by the terminal device, the location capability supported by the network (similar to the location capability supported by the terminal device) , the location requirement included in the second location request, the access technology type, and the connection state.

[0254] Alternatively, the VLMF-1 may determine the location method based on the instruction information in the second location request and the first access technology type determined by HGMLC.

[0255] Alternatively, if the VLMF-1 receives one access technology type from the HGMLC, the VLMF-1 determines the location method based on the default first access technology type determined by the HGMLC.

[0256] S509. The VLMF-1 performs the position determination method.

[0257] S510. VLMF-1 receives the first position result.

[0258] S511. VLMF-1 returns the first location result to VGMLC-1. Finally, VGMLC-1 returns the first location result in HGMLC.

[0259] S512. After receiving the first positioning result, the HGMLC determines, based on the positioning accuracy and the indication information indicating whether the positioning is successful, which is included in the first positioning result, whether the first positioning result meets the positioning requirement. The positioning requirement mainly includes accuracy, delay, and the like. Processing depends on the first location result:

[0260] (a) If the location is successful and the accuracy meets the requirements, the first location result is returned to the LCS client and the location is ended.

[0261] (b) If the location determination is successful, but the accuracy does not meet the requirement, S313 is executed.

[0262] (c) If positioning fails, S313 is executed.

[0263] S513. The HGMLC determines the second target PLMN, forwards the location request to the second target PLMN, and receives the second location result from the VLMF-2. That is, steps 504 - step S511 are performed for the second target PLMN.

[0264] S514. The HGMLC compares the first location result and the second location result (the location result determined by the second target PLMN). A target location result with higher accuracy is determined. If neither the first location result nor the second location result satisfy the location requirement, the first location result and the second location result are used as the target location result.

[0265] S515. The HGMLC returns the target location result to the LCS client.

[0266] It should be understood that the procedures described in methods 300-500 are merely used to describe by way of example the positioning method provided in this application and should not create any limitation on the positioning method provided in this application. For example, there may be multiple terminal VPLMNs. This is not limited in this embodiment of the invention of the present application.

[0267] In addition, it should be understood that the separation of methods, cases, types, and embodiments in the embodiments of the invention of this application is intended for ease of description, but should not represent any special restrictions, and functions in various methods, types, cases and embodiments of the invention may be combined when there is no conflict.

[0268] It should also be understood that in the embodiments of the invention of the present application, "first", "second", etc. are used simply to indicate that a set of objects are distinct. For example, the first location request and the second location request are simply used to represent different location requests. This should not have any effect on the location request, and the aforementioned "first" and "second" should not constitute any limitation for embodiments of the present application.

[0269] In addition, it should be understood that the above descriptions are intended to help a person skilled in the art better understand the embodiments of the invention of the present application, but are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of the invention of the present application. It is understood that a person skilled in the art can make various equivalent modifications or changes in accordance with the examples above. For example, some of the steps from method 100 to method 500 may be unnecessary, or some steps may be newly added. Alternatively, any two or more of the above embodiments are combined. Such modified, altered or combined solutions are also within the scope of the embodiments of the invention of this application.

[0270] In addition, it should be understood that the previous descriptions of the embodiments of this application focus on the differences between the embodiments of the invention. For the same or similar parts that are not mentioned, there may be references to each other. For brevity, the details are not repeated here.

[0271] It should also be understood that the sequence numbers of the above processes do not indicate the sequence of execution. The sequence of execution of the processes should be determined in accordance with the functions and internal logic of the processes and should not represent any restrictions on the processes for implementing embodiments of the invention of the present application.

[0272] It should also be understood that in the embodiments of the invention of the present application, "preset" and "predefined" can be implemented in such a way that the corresponding code, table, or other associated indication information is previously stored in the device (for example, including the terminal device and the network device ). The specific implementation of the above "preset" and "predefined" in the present application is not limited.

[0273] In addition, it should be understood that in the embodiments of the invention of this application, unless otherwise indicated or if there is no logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between the various embodiments of the invention are consistent and may be mutually related, and specifications in various embodiments of the invention may be combined according to their internal logical relationships to form a new embodiment.

[0274] With reference to FIG. 1 - Fig. 18B, the foregoing details the position determination methods in embodiments of the invention of this application. With reference to FIG. 19 - Fig. 24 below describes in detail the communication devices in the embodiments of the invention of this application.

[0275] FIG. 19 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device in accordance with an embodiment of this application. It should be understood that the communication device may refer to the aforementioned gateway mobile location center. For example, the communication device may be GMLC or NEF. The communication device 600 shown in FIG. 19 may be configured to perform the steps performed by the gateway mobile location center in method 100 and method 300 in method 500 of FIG. 5 - Fig. 11 and FIG. 16A to FIG. 18b. The embodiment of the communication device corresponds to the embodiments of the method. For similar descriptions, see method embodiments. The communication device 600 includes a processor 610 and a transceiver 630. Optionally, the device may further include a memory 620. The processor 610, the memory 620, and the transceiver 630 are in communication. Memory 620 stores an instruction. Processor 610 is configured to execute an instruction stored in memory 620. Transceiver 630 is configured to send or receive a specific signal controlled by processor 610.

[0276] The transceiver 630 is configured to receive a first tag location request from a location service client.

[0277] The processor 610 is configured to determine the first target public land mobile PLMN based on the first location request, wherein the first target PLMN is to provide a location service for the terminal device.

[0278] The transceiver 610 is further configured to send a second location request to a first LMF location network element in the first target PLMN, wherein the second location request requests a location service for the terminal device from the first LMF.

[0279] Through the communication device provided in the present application, in a scenario in which a terminal accesses a plurality of PLMNs, the terminal may be located in a scenario with multiple PLMNs. This clarifies the tag location technology in a multi-PLMN scenario, improves the efficiency and accuracy of tag location, and improves communication efficiency and user friendliness.

[0280] Optionally, in another embodiment of the present application, the processor 610 is specifically configured to: determine, based on the first location request, the plurality of PLMNs accessed by the terminal; and determine the first target PLMN in the set of PLMNs.

[0281] Optionally, in another embodiment of the present application, processor 610 is specifically configured to: determine a first target PLMN in a plurality of PLMNs based on one or more tag configuration information, tag access technology type information, and connection state information , corresponding to the access technology type of the end device.

[0282] Optionally, in another embodiment of the present application, the transceiver 630 is further configured to: receive a first tag location result from the first LMF; sending a third location request to the second LMF to the second target PLMN when the first location result does not satisfy the location requirement, wherein the third location request queries the second LMF to the second target PLMN to provide a location service to the terminal device; and receiving a second tag location result from the second LMF.

[0283] Optionally, in another embodiment of the present application, the processor 610 is further configured to: determine a target location result of the tag based on the first location result and the second location result; and the transceiver is further configured to send the target location result to the location service client.

[0284] Optionally, in another embodiment of the present application, the processor 610 is specifically configured to: determine, based on the first location request, the plurality of PLMNs accessed by the terminal; the transceiver 630 is further configured to send the first instruction information to the LMF in the PLMN set, the first instruction information being used to instruct the LMF in the PLMN set to determine the location method; the transceiver 630 is further configured to receive the location method from the LMF in the plurality of PLMNs; and processor 610 is further configured to determine the first target PLMN based on the received location method.

[0285] Optionally, in another embodiment of the present application, the processor 610 is specifically configured to: determine the first positioning method based on the positioning accuracy of the positioning method; and determining a first target PLMN based on the first location method.

[0286] Optionally, in another embodiment of the present application, the processor 610 is specifically configured to: determine, based on the number of addresses of the serving LMF terminal, the number of addresses of the serving gateway AMF access and mobility control of the terminal, or the number of addresses of the serving gateway GMLC center determine the mobile communication locations of the terminal, the plurality of PLMNs accessed by the terminal.

[0287] Optionally, in another embodiment of the present application, the transceiver 630 is further configured to: receive at least one of the serving AMF address information, the serving LMF address information, or the serving GMLC address information from the unified control network element, wherein the terminal device accesses serving AMF, serving LMF and serving GMLC.

[0288] Optionally, in another embodiment of the present application, the transceiver 630 is further configured to: receive access technology type information and/or connection state information corresponding to the access technology type of the tag from the unified control network element.

[0289] Optionally, in another embodiment of the present application, the gateway mobile location center is the gateway mobile location center GMLC of the terminal device's home public land mobile network HPLMN, and the first target PLMN is the terminal's visited public land mobile network VPLMN, or the first target PLMN is the terminal's home public land mobile HPLMN.

[0290] Optionally, in another embodiment of the invention of the present application, the second location request further includes at least one of access technology type information corresponding to the first target PLMN, connection state information corresponding to the access technology type, and configuration information .

[0291] It should be noted that in this embodiment of the invention of the present application, the processor 610 may be implemented by a processing module, the memory 620 may be implemented by a memory module, and the transceiver 630 may be implemented by a transceiver module. As shown in FIG. 20, communication device 700 may include a processing module 710, a memory module 720, and a transceiver module 730.

[0292] The communication device 600 shown in FIG. 19 or communication device 700 shown in FIG. 20 may implement the steps performed by the gateway mobile location center in method 100 and method 300 in method 500 of FIG. 5 - Fig. 11 and from Fig. 16A to FIG. 18b. For such descriptions, see the descriptions of the respective methods above. To avoid repetition, details are again omitted here.

[0293] Fig.21 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention of this application. It should be understood that the communication device may be the aforementioned LMF, and the communication device 700 shown in FIG. 21 may be configured to perform the steps that are performed by the first LMF or the second LMF in method 100 and method 100 to method 500 corresponding to FIG. 5 - Fig. 18b. The embodiment of the communication device corresponds to the embodiments of the method. For similar descriptions, see method embodiments. The communication device 800 includes a processor 810 and a transceiver 830. Optionally, the device may further include a memory 820. The processor 810, the memory 820, and the transceiver 830 are in communication. Memory 820 stores an instruction. Processor 810 is configured to execute an instruction stored in memory 820. Transceiver 830 is configured to send or receive a specific signal controlled by processor 810.

[0294] The transceiver 830 is configured to receive a second location request from a gateway mobile location center GMLC, wherein the LMF is configured to provide a location service to the terminal device.

[0295] The processor 810 is configured to determine a location method based on the second location request.

[0296] Through the communication device provided in the present application, the position of the terminal device can be determined in a multi-PLMN scenario, thereby improving the efficiency and accuracy of the location of the terminal device, as well as improving communication efficiency and user convenience.

[0297] Optionally, in another embodiment of the invention of the present application, the transceiver 830 is further configured to: send the location method to the GMLC; and receiving second instruction information from the GMLC, wherein the second instruction information is used to instruct the LMF to execute the positioning method or not to perform the positioning method.

[0298] Optionally, in another embodiment of the invention of the present application, when the second instruction information instructs the LMF to execute the location method, the processor 810 is further configured to: determine the location result of the tag based on the location method; and the transceiver 830 is further configured to send the location result to the GMLC.

[0299] Optionally, in another embodiment of the invention of the present application, the second location request further includes information about the configuration of the terminal device, and the processor 810 is specifically configured to: determine the type of access technology of the terminal device based on the configuration information and information about type of access technology; and determining a location determination method based on the type of access technology.

[0300] Optionally, in another embodiment of the invention of the present application, the processor 810 is specifically configured to: determine a location method based on the type of access technology.

[0301] Optionally, in another embodiment of the invention of the present application, the second location request further includes third instruction information, and the third instruction information is used to instruct the LMF to determine the location method based on the type of access technology.

[0302] Optionally, in another embodiment of the invention of the present application, the second location request further includes connection state information and/or access technology type information of the tag.

[0303] It should be noted that in this embodiment of the invention of the present application, the processor 810 may be implemented by a processing module, the memory 820 may be implemented by a memory module, and the transceiver 830 may be implemented by a transceiver module. As shown in FIG. 22, communication device 900 may include a processing module 910, a storage module 920, and a transceiver module 930.

[0304] The communication device 800 shown in FIG. 21 or the communication device 900 shown in FIG. 22 may implement the steps performed by the first LMF or the second LMF in method 100 of method 500 in FIG. 5 - Fig. 18b. For such descriptions, see the descriptions of the respective methods above. To avoid repetition, details are again omitted here.

[0305] FIG. 23 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention of this application. It should be understood that the communication device may refer to the aforementioned gateway mobile location center, and the communication device 1000 shown in FIG. 23 may be configured to perform the steps performed by the gateway mobile location center of FIG. 12 to FIG. 15. The embodiment of the communication device corresponds to the embodiments of the method. For similar descriptions, see method embodiments. The communication device 1000 includes a processor 1010 and a transceiver 1030. Optionally, the device may further include a memory 1020. The processor 1010, the memory 1020, and the transceiver 1030 are connected via communication. The memory 1020 stores an instruction. The processor 1010 is configured to execute an instruction stored in the memory 1020. The transceiver 1030 is configured to send or receive a specific signal controlled by the processor 1010.

[0306] The transceiver 1030 is configured to receive a fourth tag location request from a location service client.

[0307] The processor 1010 is configured to determine the first tag access technology type based on the fourth location request.

[0308] The gateway mobile location center sends, based on the first access type, a fifth location request to the first LMF corresponding to the first access type, wherein the fifth location request requests the location service for the terminal device from the first LMF.

[0309] With the communication device provided in this embodiment of the present application, in a scenario in which a terminal device accesses a plurality of LMFs, an LMF that provides a service for the terminal device can be determined based on the type of access technology, so that it is possible to determine the location of the target device in the LMF scenario. This clarifies the tag location technology in a multi LMF scenario and improves communication efficiency and usability.

[0310] Optionally, in another embodiment of the invention of the present application, the processor 1010 is specifically configured to: determine the first type of access technology based on configuration information of the terminal device, information on the type of access technology of the terminal device, and connection state information corresponding to the technology type access.

[0311] Optionally, in another embodiment of the present application, the processor 1010 is further configured to: receive a first tag location result from the first LMF; when the first location result does not match the location requirement, the transceiver 1030 is further configured to: send a fifth location request to a second LMF corresponding to the second access type, wherein the fifth location request requests the second LMF to provide a location service to the terminal device; and receiving a second tag location result from the second LMF.

[0312] Optionally, in another embodiment of the invention of the present application, the processor 1010 is further configured to: determine a target location result of the tag based on the first location result and the second location result; and the transceiver 1030 is further configured to send the target location result to the location service client.

[0313] Optionally, in another embodiment of the present application, the transceiver 1030 is further configured to: receive at least one of the serving AMF address information, the serving LMF address information, or the serving GMLC address information from the unified control network element, wherein the terminal accesses to serving AMF, serving LMF and serving GMLC.

[0314] Optionally, in another embodiment of the present application, the transceiver 1030 is further configured to: receive at least one of configuration information, access technology type information, and connection state information corresponding to the access technology type that are received by the unified control network element.

[0315] It should be noted that in this embodiment of the present application, the processor 1010 may be implemented by a processing module, the memory 1020 may be implemented by a storage module, and the transceiver 1030 may be implemented by a transceiver module. As shown in FIG. 24, communication device 1100 may include a processing module 1110, a storage module 1120, and a transceiver module 1130.

[0316] The communication device 1000 shown in FIG. 23 or communication device 1100 shown in FIG. 24 may implement the steps performed by the gateway mobile location center in FIG. 12 to FIG. 15. For similar descriptions, see the respective method descriptions above. To avoid repetition, details are again omitted here.

[0317] In the devices shown in FIG. 19 - Fig. 24, the components in each communication device are connected by communication, namely: the processor (or processing module), the memory (or storage module), and the transceiver (transceiver module) communicate with each other through an internal connection path for transmitting a control signal and/or data . The above embodiments of the method of the present application may be applied to a processor, or the processor implements the steps of the above method embodiments. The processor may be an integrated circuit and may have signal processing capability. In the implementation process, the steps in the above embodiments of the invention of the method may be performed using a hardware integrated logic circuit in the processor or by means of an instruction in the form of software. A processor can be a central processing unit (CPU), a network processor (NP), a combination of CPU and NP, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistorized logic device, or a discrete hardware component. The processor may implement or execute the methods, steps, and flowcharts disclosed in this application. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or the processor may be any conventional processor or the like. The steps of the methods disclosed in this application may be performed directly and completed using a hardware decoding processor, or may be performed and completed using a combination of hardware and software modules in a decoding processor. The program module may be located on a storage medium well known in the art, such as random access memory, flash memory, read only memory, programmable read only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory. The storage medium is located in the memory and the processor reads the information in the memory and performs the steps of the above methods in conjunction with the processor hardware. Although only one processor is shown in the drawing, the device may include a plurality of processors, or a processor may include a plurality of processing units. In particular, the processor may be a single-core (single-processor) processor or may be a multi-core (multi-processor) processor.

[0318] The memory is configured to store computer instructions executed by the processor. The memory may be a storage circuit or memory. The memory may be volatile memory or non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile memory and non-volatile memory. Non-volatile memory can be read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (programmable ROM, PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (erasable PROM, EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (electrically EPROM, EEPROM) or flash memory. The volatile memory can be random access memory (RAM) and the volatile memory is used as an external cache. The memory may be independent of the processor or may be a storage unit within the processor. It's not limited here. Although only one memory is shown in the figure, the device may include a plurality of memories, or the memory may include a plurality of memory modules.

[0319] The transceiver is configured to exchange content between the processor and another device or network element. In particular, the transceiver may be a device communication interface, or may be a transceiver circuit, or a communication unit, or may be a transceiver. Alternatively, the transceiver may be a communication interface or a processor transceiver circuit. Optionally, the transceiver may be a transceiver chip. The transceiver may further include a transmitter unit and/or a receiver unit. In a possible implementation, the transceiver may include at least one communication interface. In another possible implementation, the transceiver may alternatively be a unit implemented as software. In embodiments of the present application, the processor may communicate with another unit or network element via a transceiver. For example, the processor receives or receives content from another network element via a transceiver. If the processor and transceiver are two physically separate components, the processor can exchange content with another unit in the device without using the transceiver.

[0320] In a possible implementation, the processor, memory, and transceiver may be connected to each other via a bus. The bus may be a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus, an industry standard architecture (EISA) bus, or the like. The bus can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, and the like.

[0321] An embodiment of the present application further provides a device. The device is provided with the ability to perform a method for determining the location according to any of the above embodiments of the invention. In the device provided in the embodiments of the invention of the present application, in a scenario in which a terminal accesses a plurality of PLMNs, the position of the terminal may be determined in a scenario with multiple PLMNs. This clarifies the tag location technology in a multi-PLMN scenario, improves the efficiency and accuracy of tag location, and improves communication efficiency and user friendliness.

[0322] An embodiment of the invention of the present application further provides a computer-readable medium configured to store computer program code. The computer program includes an instruction used to execute the location determination method in the embodiments of the invention of the present application in the above-mentioned methods 100-500. The readable media can be read-only memory (ROM) or random access memory (RAM). This is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0323] The present application also provides a computer program product. Instructions are included in the computer software product. When the instruction is executed, the gateway mobile location center, the location control gateway, the session control function gateway, the UDM gateway, the terminal device, and the like, are enabled to perform corresponding operations in the location methods provided in the present application.

[0324] An embodiment of the invention of the present application further provides a communication system. The communication system includes a communication device provided in the above embodiments of the invention of the present application, and the communication system can implement any positioning method provided in the embodiments of the invention of the present application.

[0325] An embodiment of the invention of the present application further provides a system chip. The system chip includes a processing unit and a communication unit. The processing unit may be, for example, a processor, and the communication unit may be, for example, an input/output interface, an output, or a circuit. The processing unit is provided with the ability to execute a computer instruction so that the chip in the communication device performs any positioning method provided in the above embodiments of the invention of the present application.

[0326] Optionally, the computer instruction is stored in the memory unit.

[0327] Optionally, the storage device is an on-chip storage device, such as a register or cache. Alternatively, the storage device may be a storage device that resides inside the target device and is located off the chip, such as a ROM, another type of static storage device that can store static information and instructions, or a RAM. Any processor mentioned above may be a CPU, a microprocessor, an ASIC, or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of the program of the above location method.

[0328] In addition, aspects or features of the present application may be implemented as a method, apparatus, or product that uses standard programming and/or design techniques. The term "product" as used in this application encompasses a computer program that can be accessed from any computer-readable component, medium or medium. For example, computer-readable media may include, but are not limited to: a magnetic storage component (e.g., a hard disk, floppy disk, or magnetic tape), an optical disc (e.g., a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disc, DVD), a smart card, and a flash memory component (such as an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), card, memory card, or key drive). In addition, the various storage media described in this specification may represent one or more devices and/or other computer-readable media that are configured to store information. /or data.

[0329] One skilled in the art may be aware that, in combination with the examples described in the embodiments disclosed herein, the blocks and steps of an algorithm may be implemented by electronic hardware or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether functions are performed by hardware or software depends on specific applications and design constraints. A person skilled in the art may use a different method to implement the described functions for each particular application, but it should not be considered that the implementation is outside the scope of this application.

[0330] For the person skilled in the art, it may be clear that for convenience and brief description, the detailed workflow of the above system, device, and blocks refers to the corresponding process in the above method embodiments, and the details are not described here again.

[0331] In several embodiments of the invention presented in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, device and method can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described are merely examples. For example, block division is simply a division of logical functions and may be another division in a real implementation. For example, many blocks or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or certain features may be ignored or not implemented. In addition, the interconnections or direct links or communication connections that are displayed or discussed can be implemented using some interfaces. Indirect connections or communication connections between devices or units may be in electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0332] Blocks described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and parts shown as blocks may or may not be physical blocks, may be located in the same location, or may be distributed over multiple network blocks. Some or all of the blocks may be selected based on actual requirements to achieve the objectives of the decisions in the embodiments of the invention.

[0333] In addition, the functional blocks in the embodiments of the invention of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each of the units may exist physically separately, or two or more blocks may be integrated into one unit.

[0334] When the functions are implemented in the form of a software functional block and sold or used as a standalone product, the functions may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the essence of the technical solutions in this application, or a certain part that contributes to the prior art, or some of the technical solutions can be implemented in the form of a software product. The computer program product is stored on a storage medium and includes several instructions for instructing a computing device (which may be a personal computer, a server, a network device, or the like) to perform all or some of the steps of the methods. described in embodiments of the invention of the present application. A storage medium includes any medium on which program code can be stored, such as a USB flash drive, removable hard disk, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disk. or CD.

[0335] The above description is only a specific implementation of this application, but is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Any change or replacement readily detectable by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should/should fall within the scope of this application. Therefore, the scope of this application is protected by the claims.

Claims (37)

1. Method for determining the location, containing: receiving by the gateway mobile location center a first location request for locating a terminal device from a location service client; determining, by the gateway center, a mobile location location based on the first location request of a plurality of public land mobile networks (PLMNs) accessed by the terminal device; and determining, by the gateway mobile location center, a first target PLMN in said plurality of PLMNs, wherein the first target PLMN is to provide a location service for the terminal; and sending, by the gateway mobile location center, a second location request to a first location management network element (LMF) in the first target PLMN, the second location request requesting the first LMF to provide a location service for the terminal device; wherein the definition by the gateway center for determining the location of mobile communication based on the first request for determining the location of the set of PLMNs accessed by the terminal device contains: determination by the gateway center for determining the location of mobile communication based on the number of addresses of the serving function (AMF) of access control and mobility of the terminal device or the number of addresses of the serving gateway center for determining the location of the mobile communication terminal device (GMLC), the mentioned set of PLMNs accessed by the terminal device. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the gateway mobile location center determining the first target PLMN in the plurality of PLMNs comprises: determining, by the gateway mobile location center, the first target PLMN in said plurality of PLMNs based on one or more of terminal configuration information, terminal access technology type information, or connection state information corresponding to the access technology type. 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising: receiving by the gateway mobile location center a first location result of the terminal device from the first LMF; sending, by the gateway mobile location center, a third location request to the second LMF to the second target PLMN when the first location result does not match the location requirement, wherein the third location request requests the second LMF to the second target PLMN to provide a location service to the terminal devices, wherein the second target PLMN is in said set of PLMNs; and receiving by the gateway mobile location center a second tag location result from the second LMF. 4. The method according to p. 3, further comprising: determining, by the gateway mobile location center, a target location result of the terminal device based on the first location result and the second location result; and sending by the gateway mobile location center the target location result to the location service client. 5. The method according to p. 1, further comprising: receiving by the gateway mobile location center from the unified control network element at least one of the serving AMF address information or the serving GMLC address information. 6. The method of claim 2, further comprising: receiving by the gateway mobile location center from the unified control network element at least one of the access technology type information or connection state information corresponding to the access technology type of the terminal device. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gateway mobile location center is a gateway mobile location center (GMLC) of the terminal's public home land mobile network (HPLMN), and the first target PLMN is a visited land mobile network (VPLMN) of the terminal or the first target PLMN is the terminal's public home land mobile network (HPLMN). 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second location request comprises at least one of access technology type information corresponding to the first target PLMN, connection state information corresponding to the access technology type, and configuration information. 9. The method of claim 2, wherein the access technology type comprises a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) access technology or a non-3GPP (N3GPP) access technology. 10. The method according to any one of paragraphs. 1-9, additionally containing: sending, by the location service client, a first location request to the gateway mobile location center. 11. A computer-readable storage medium configured to store a computer program, wherein when the computer program is executed on the processor, the communication device containing said processor is instructed to perform the method according to any one of paragraphs. 1-10. 12. A system chip for positioning, comprising a processing unit and a communication unit, wherein the processing unit is provided with the ability to execute a computer instruction to instruct the system chip to perform the positioning method according to any one of paragraphs. 1-10. 13. A communication device comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the processor is connected to the memory, the memory stores a program, and the program is executed by the processor to cause the device to perform the method according to any one of paragraphs. 1-10. 14. Communication system, containing: a gateway mobile location center configured to perform the method according to any one of paragraphs. 1-10; and a location service client configured to send a first location request for locating a terminal device to a gateway mobile location center. 15. A communication device, comprising: a transceiver configured to receive a first location request of a terminal device from a location service client; and a processor configured to determine, based on the first location request, a plurality of public land mobile networks (PLMNs) accessed by the terminal device; and determining a first target PLMN in said plurality of PLMNs, wherein the first target PLMN is for providing a location service to a terminal device. wherein the transceiver is further configured to send a second location request to a first location management network element (LMF) in the first target PLMN, wherein the second location request requests the first LMF to provide a location service for the terminal device; wherein, what the processor is configured to determine, based on the first location request, is the set of PLMNs accessed by the terminal that: the processor is configured to determine, based on the number of access and mobility management serving function (AMF) addresses of the terminal device or the number of addresses of the serving gateway mobile location center (GMLC) of the terminal device, said plurality of PLMNs accessed by the terminal device.

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