WO2024032156A1

WO2024032156A1 - Communication method and apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2024032156A1
Application number: PCT/CN2023/101263
Authority: WO
Inventors: 贾建鑫; 吴问付; 宗在峰; 李光磊; 胡晓东
Original assignee: 华为技术有限公司
Priority date: 2022-08-09
Filing date: 2023-06-20
Publication date: 2024-02-15
Also published as: CN117641227A

Abstract

The present application provides a communication method and apparatus. The method comprises: a first access management network element receives a first message sent by a second access network device, the first message comprising an identifier of a first location management network element and first positioning information, and the first location management network element being used for sending positioning information of a terminal device to a first access network device, wherein the terminal device moves from the first access network device to the second access network device; the first access management network element may further determine a second location management network element, the second location management network element being used for sending the positioning information of the terminal device to the second access network device; and the first access management network element may further send a second message to the second location management network element, and/or the first access management network element sends a third message to the first access network device. According to the solution, a positioning service of the terminal device can be processed by the second location management network element, so as to avoid positioning service failure caused by change of a location management network element, thereby improving positioning service continuity.

Description

A communication method and device

Cross-references to related applications

This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application submitted to the Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China on August 9, 2022, with application number 202210952627.1 and the application title "A communication method and device", the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. Applying.

Technical field

The present application relates to the field of mobile communication technology, and in particular, to a communication method and device.

Background technique

Based on the current terminal equipment (such as user equipment (UE)) positioning technology, the UE is in the connection management-connected (CM-connected) state and the radio resource control (RRC) inactive (RRC) state. -inactive) state, the base station will be replaced due to the movement of the UE. Therefore, in order to ensure the continuity of the positioning service and reduce the positioning delay, the source base station needs to send the UE positioning information (positioning information) through UE-related signaling. to the target base station to ensure the continuity of the UE's positioning service.

In addition, due to the movement of the UE, not only the base station may be replaced, but also the AMF and LMF serving the UE may change. Therefore, the AMF or LMF serving the UE may expire, causing the positioning service to fail and the positioning service to continue. Sex is not guaranteed.

Contents of the invention

This application provides a communication method and device to avoid positioning service failure due to LMF changes and improve positioning service continuity.

In a first aspect, this application provides a communication method. The communication method may be implemented by an access management network element or a component in the access management network element, such as at least one of a processor, a transceiver, a processing module or a transceiver module. Access management network elements may include 5G core network elements, such as access and mobility management function (AMF) network elements. Taking the execution subject being the first access management network element as an example, the method includes: the first access management network element receives a first message sent by the second access network device, where the first message includes the first location management network element The identification and the first positioning information, the first location management network element is used to send the positioning information of the terminal device to the first access network device, wherein the terminal device moves from the first access network device to the 2. Access network equipment. The first access management network element may also determine a second location management network element, and the second location management network element is used to send the positioning information of the terminal device to the second access network device. The first access management network element may also send a second message to the second location management network element, and/or the first access management network element sends a third message to the first access network device. information. Wherein, the second message includes at least one of the first positioning information, a cell identity, an identity of the second access network device, and a first indication, and the cell belongs to the second access network device. , the first indication is used to indicate that the access network equipment has changed. The third message is used to notify that the location management network element has changed. The third message includes the identifier of the second location management network element, or includes the identifier of the second location management network element and at least one of the following information. One: the identification of the first location management network element and a second indication, where the second indication is used to indicate that the location management network element has changed.

Optionally, the above "first access management network element receives the first message sent by the second access network device, the first message includes the identity of the first location management network element and the first positioning information, and the first The location management network element is configured to send the positioning information of the terminal device to the first access network device, where the terminal device moves from the first access network device to the second access network device" can be replaced by the following description:

"The first access management network element receives the first message sent by the second access network device, where the first message includes the identification of the first location management network element and the first positioning information."

Optionally, the above-mentioned "first access management network element may also determine a second location management network element, and the second location management network element is used to send the positioning information of the terminal device to the second access network device. " can be replaced by the following description: "The first access management network element can also determine the second location management network element."

Optionally, the above "the first location management network element is configured to send the positioning information of the terminal device to the first access network device" can be replaced by any one or more of the following descriptions:

"The first location management network element is used to send the positioning information of the terminal device and/or the first access network device to the first access network device. The location management network element is used to receive the positioning information of the terminal device sent from the first access network device."

"The first location management network element provides positioning services for the terminal device."

"The first location management network element supports terminal device positioning for the first access network device."

"The first location management network element supports providing positioning services for terminal equipment of the first access network equipment."

"The first location management network element supports positioning of the terminal device."

"The first location management network element is used to locate the terminal device of the first access network device."

"The first location management network element is used to provide positioning services to the terminal equipment of the first access network equipment."

"The first location management network element is used to send positioning information related to the terminal device to the second access network device."

"The first location management network element is used to send positioning information related to the terminal device to the first access network device and/or the first location management network element is used to receive information from the first access network device Positioning information related to the terminal device sent”.

"The first location management network element is used to locate the terminal device."

"The first location management network element is used to provide positioning services for the terminal device."

Optionally, the above "the second location management network element is used to send the positioning information of the terminal device to the second access network device" can be replaced by any one or more of the following descriptions:

"The second location management network element is used to send the positioning information of the terminal device to the second access network device and/or the second location management network element is used to receive the positioning information sent from the second access network device. The positioning information of the terminal device”.

"The second location management network element provides positioning services for the terminal device."

"The second location management network element supports terminal device positioning for the second access network device."

"The second location management network element supports providing positioning services for terminal equipment of the second access network equipment."

"The second location management network element supports positioning of the terminal device."

"The second location management network element is used to locate the terminal device of the second access network device."

"The second location management network element is used to provide positioning services to the terminal equipment of the second access network equipment."

"The second location management network element is used to send positioning information related to the terminal device to the second access network device."

"The second location management network element is used to send positioning information related to the terminal device to the second access network device and/or the second location management network element is used to receive information from the second access network device Positioning information related to the terminal device sent”.

"The second location management network element is used to locate the terminal device."

"The second location management network element is used to provide positioning services for the terminal device."

Based on the method shown in the first aspect, after the terminal device moves from the first access network device to the second access network device, the first access management network element can receive the identifier and the first positioning carrying the first location management network element. The first message of the information and determines the second location management network element, wherein the second location management network element can be used to provide positioning services for the terminal device located in the second access network device. Further, the second access network device may send at least one of the first positioning information, the identification of the second access network device, the first indication, or the cell identification to the second location management network element, and the second location management The network element handles the positioning service of the UE and avoids positioning continuity interruption caused by changes in the location management network element after movement, thereby causing positioning failure. Therefore, positioning service continuity can be improved. In addition, the first access management network element may send the third message to the second access network device, so that the second access network device learns that the location management network element has changed, so that the second access network device updates the location serving the UE. The identity of the location management network element. For example, the second access network device can update the identity of the first location management network element to the identity of the second location management network element to avoid the positioning service of the terminal device due to the location management network element after the move. Changes lead to positioning continuity terminals, which in turn cause positioning failures, in order to improve the continuity of positioning services.

Specifically, "the terminal device moves from the first access network device to the second access network device" or "after the terminal device moves from the first access network device to the second access network device" can be understood as:

The terminal device may send data/signal/signaling to the second access network device and/or receive data/signal/signaling sent from the second access network device.

Specifically, "the first indication is used to indicate that the access network device has changed" can be understood as: the terminal device moves to the second access network device; or, it can be understood as that the terminal device completes the transition from the first access network device to the second access network device. The network access device moves to the second access network device; or, it can be understood that the terminal device switches to the second access network device.

In a possible implementation, the second message further includes a second indication, and the second indication is used to indicate that the location management network element has changed.

Based on this implementation, the second message may further include a second indication for indicating that the location management network element has changed.

In a possible implementation, the first access management network element may also receive a fourth message, where the fourth message includes the terminal Device location information. The first access management network element may also determine the second location management network element based on the location information of the terminal device.

Based on this implementation manner, the first access management network element can determine the second location management network element according to the location information of the terminal device included in the fourth message.

Optionally, "the first access management network element can also determine the second location management network element based on the location information of the terminal device" can be replaced by any of the following descriptions:

"The first access management network element can also determine and select the second location management network element based on the location information of the terminal device";

"The first access management network element may also select the second location management network element based on the location information of the terminal device."

Specifically, "the first access management network element can also determine the second location management network element based on the location information of the terminal device" can be understood as:

The first access management network element may determine the second location management network element based on the service area of the second location management network element and the location information of the terminal device. For example, when the information of the second location management network element is locally configured ( locally configured) in the first access management network element or the first access management network element obtains the service area information of the second location management network element from the NRF. Optionally, the first access management network element may also determine the second location management network element based on policy information (policy) and the location information of the terminal device. For example, when the location information of the terminal device includes the second When the access network equipment identification and/or the cell identification included in the second access network equipment are determined, the first access management network element determines the second location management network element according to the policy.

In a possible implementation, the fourth message is used for path switching, for notifying switching, for requesting switching, or for requesting creation of a context of the terminal device.

In a possible implementation, the first message is used for path switching, for notifying switching, for requesting switching, or for requesting to create a context of a terminal device, and the first message also includes the terminal device. location information. The first access management network element may also determine the second location management network element based on the location information of the terminal device;

Based on this implementation manner, the first access management network element can determine the second location management network element according to the location information of the terminal device included in the first message.

In a possible implementation manner, the first access management network element may further determine based on the location information of the terminal device that the first location management network element cannot support positioning of the terminal device.

Based on this implementation, the first access management network element can determine based on the location information of the terminal device that the first location management network element cannot support positioning of the terminal device, that is, the location management network element that provides services for the terminal device needs to be changed.

Specifically, the "the first access management network element can also determine that the first location management network element cannot support positioning of the terminal device based on the location information of the terminal device" can be understood as: The service area of the first location management network element cannot cover the current location of the terminal device represented by the location information of the terminal device. Therefore, the first location management network element cannot support positioning of the terminal device.

In a possible implementation, the first access management network element sends the third message to the first access network device, and the first access management network element can also receive a fifth message, The fifth message includes at least one of the following information: the identity of the second location management network element, the positioning service identity, a third indication, the identity of the terminal device, and the terminal context identity. The third indication is used to indicate the location. The management network element has changed.

Based on this implementation, the identity of the second location management network element and/or the third indication may be used to determine that the location management network element that provides services for the terminal device has changed. At least one of the positioning service identifier, the terminal device identifier, and the terminal context identifier may be used to indicate the terminal device, that is, the positioning service of the terminal device, wherein the third message may be determined based on the fifth message. Therefore, the access network device can learn the change of the location management network element according to the third message from the first location management network element, and/or, or the terminal equipment and/or positioning service corresponding to the changed location management network element, and There is no need to learn the above changed information from the location management network element, which improves the efficiency of the terminal equipment and/or positioning services corresponding to the location management network element that is informed of the change.

In a possible implementation manner, the first access management network element may also receive a sixth message from the second access management network element, where the sixth message is used to extract the UE context. The first access management network element may also determine that the terminal device has positioning information according to the UE context.

Based on this implementation, the first access management network element can obtain the sixth message from the second access management network element to obtain the UE context, and determine that the terminal device has positioning information according to the UE context, wherein the second access management network element The element may be an access management network element accessed when the terminal device is in the first access network device.

In a possible implementation manner, the first access management network element may also send the identification of the first access management network element to the first location management network element or the second location management network element; or , the first access management network element may also provide the first location management network element or the third The second location management network element sends the identifier of the first access management network element, the identifier of the terminal device and/or the positioning service identifier.

In a possible implementation, the first access management network element may also send a seventh message to the first location management network element or the second location management network element, where the seventh message is used to Indicates that the access management network element has changed.

Based on this implementation, the first location management network element or the second location management network element can learn that the access management network element has changed.

In a second aspect, this application provides a communication method. The communication method may be implemented by a location management network element or a component in the location management network element, such as at least one of a processor, a transceiver, a processing module or a transceiver module. Access management network elements may include 5G core network elements, such as LMF. Taking the execution subject being the second location management network element as an example, the method includes: the second location management network element receives a second message from the first access management network element, where the second message includes the first positioning information. , at least one of a cell identity, an identity of the second access network device and a first indication, the cell belongs to the second access network device; the second location management network element may also be used to provide information to the second access network device. The second access network device sends positioning information of the terminal device, and the terminal device moves from the first access network device to the second access network device. The first indication is used to indicate that the access network equipment has changed.

The second location management network element may also send a fifth message to the first access management network element, where the fifth message includes the identification of the second location management network element and/or a third indication, and the third The indication is used to indicate that the location management network element has changed.

In a possible implementation, the fifth message further includes at least one of the following information: an identification of the terminal device, a terminal context identification, and a positioning service identification.

In a possible implementation, the second location management network element may also send the first positioning information to a third access network device, and the third access network device is the second location management network element. Access network equipment selected by the user.

In a possible implementation, the third access network device is an access network device selected by the second location management network element according to the identifier and/or cell identifier of the second access network device, so The cell belongs to the second access network device.

In a possible implementation manner, the third access network device includes an access network device adjacent to the second access network device.

In a possible implementation, the second location management network element may also receive an identification of the first access management network element; or, the second location management network element may receive the first access management network element. The identity of the network element, the identity of the terminal device and/or the identity of the positioning service.

In a possible implementation, the second location management network element may also update the terminal according to the identity of the first access management network element. The positioning context of the device; or, the second location management network element may also update the terminal according to the identity of the first access management network element, the identity of the terminal device and/or the positioning service identity. The device's positioning context.

In a third aspect, this application provides a communication method. The communication method may be implemented by an access network device or a component in the access network device, such as at least one of a processor, a transceiver, a processing module or a transceiver module. Access network equipment may include wireless access network equipment, such as base stations. Taking the execution subject as the second access network device as an example, the method includes: the second access network device determines a first configuration, the first configuration includes a channel sounding reference signal configuration and/or a positioning reference signal configuration, and the terminal device determines from The first access network device moves to the second access network device. The second access network device may also send a first message to the first access management network element, where the first message includes the identification of the first location management network element and first positioning information, where the first positioning information includes In the first configuration, the first location management network element is configured to send the positioning information of the terminal device to the first access network device.

"The first location management network element is used to send the positioning information of the terminal device to the first access network device and/or the first location management network element is used to receive the location information sent from the first access network device. The positioning information of the terminal device”.

"The first location management network element is used to send positioning information related to the terminal device to the first access network device."

In a possible implementation, the second access network device may also receive a third message from the first access management network element, where the third message is used to notify the location management network element that the location management network element has changed. , the third message includes the identifier of the second location management network element, or includes the identifier of the second location management network element and at least one of the following information: the identifier of the first location management network element and the third Two indications, the second indication is used to indicate that the location management network element has changed.

In a possible implementation, the second access network device receives a first parameter from the first access network device, where the first parameter includes requested channel sounding reference signal transmission characteristic information and/or Requested positioning reference signal transmission characteristic information. The second access network device may also determine the first configuration according to the first parameter.

In a fourth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication device, which may be a first access network device or a module in the first access network device. The device has the function of implementing any implementation method of the above-mentioned first aspect. This function can be implemented by hardware, or it can be implemented by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

In a fifth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication device, which may be a second location management network element or a module in the second location management network element. The device has the function of implementing any implementation method of the above second aspect. This function can be implemented by hardware, or it can be implemented by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

In a sixth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication device, which may be a module in the second access network device or a module in the second access network device. The device has the function of implementing any implementation method of the above third aspect. This function can be implemented by hardware, or it can be implemented by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

In a seventh aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication device, including a processor and a memory; the memory is used to store computer instructions, and when the device is running, the processor executes the computer instructions stored in the memory to cause the device to execute Any implementation method in the above first to third aspects.

In an eighth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication device, including units or means (means) for executing each step of any implementation method in the above-mentioned first to third aspects.

In a ninth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication device, including a processor coupled to a memory. The processor is configured to call a program stored in the memory to execute any implementation method in the above first to third aspects. . The memory may be located within the device or external to the device. And the processor can be one or more.

In a tenth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication device, including a processor and an interface circuit. The processor is configured to communicate with other devices through the interface circuit and execute any implementation method in the above-mentioned first to third aspects. The processor includes one or more.

In an eleventh aspect, embodiments of the present application further provide a computer program product. The computer program product includes a computer program or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are run by a communication device, any one of the above-mentioned first to third aspects is enabled. The implementation method is executed.

In a twelfth aspect, embodiments of the present application further provide a computer-readable storage medium, in which instructions are stored, and when run on a communication device, the instructions in the first to third aspects are implemented. Any implementation method of is executed.

In a thirteenth aspect, embodiments of the present application further provide a chip system, including: a processor configured to execute any implementation method in the above first to third aspects.

In a fourteenth aspect, embodiments of the present application further provide a communication system, including a first access management network element for performing any of the methods of the first aspect, and a second location for performing any of the methods of the second aspect. The management network element may include a second access network device for performing any of the methods of the third aspect above.

Description of drawings

Figure 1A is a schematic architectural diagram of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 1B is a schematic architectural diagram of another communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 2 is a schematic architectural diagram of another communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 3 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 4 is a schematic flow chart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 5 is a schematic flowchart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 6 is a schematic flow chart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 7 is a schematic flow chart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 8 is a schematic flow chart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 9 is a schematic flow chart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 10 is a schematic flow chart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided by this application;

Figure 12 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided by this application.

Detailed ways

Embodiments of the present application provide a data transmission method and device. Among them, the method and the device are based on the same inventive concept. Since the principles of the method and the device to solve the problem are similar, the implementation of the device and the method can be referred to each other, and the repeated parts will not be repeated. In the description of the embodiments of this application, "and/or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that there can be three relationships, for example, A and/or B, which can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, alone There are three situations B. The character "/" generally indicates that the related objects are in an "or" relationship. At least one mentioned in this application refers to one or more; multiple refers to two or more. In addition, it should be understood that in the description of this application, words such as "first" and "second" are only used for the purpose of distinguishing the description, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance, nor can they be understood as indicating. Or suggestive order.

In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present application clearer, the present application will be described in further detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In order to facilitate understanding of the technical solutions of this application, the technical terms involved in this application are briefly introduced below.

Some terms used in the embodiments of this application are explained below to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

1) User equipment, also called terminal equipment, is a device with wireless transceiver functions that can be accessed through the (wireless) access network equipment (radio access network, (R)AN) (or it can also be called An access device) communicates with one or more core network (CN) devices (or can also be called core devices). In this application, user equipment and terminal equipment can be replaced with each other.

User equipment may also be called an access terminal, terminal, subscriber unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile station. Mobile equipment, user terminals, user agents or user devices, etc. User equipment can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; it can also be deployed on water (such as ships, etc.); it can also be deployed in the air (such as aircraft, balloons, satellites, etc.). The user equipment may be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a smart phone, a mobile phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) website, personal digital assistant (PDA), etc. Alternatively, the user equipment may also be a handheld device with wireless communication capabilities, a computing device or other device connected to a wireless modem, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a drone device or a terminal in the Internet of Things, the Internet of Vehicles, the fifth generation Mobile communication (5th-generation, 5G) networks and any form of terminals in future networks, relay user equipment or terminals in future evolved PLMNs, etc. The relay user equipment may be, for example, a 5G residential gateway (RG). For example, the user equipment may be a virtual reality (VR) terminal, an augmented reality (AR) terminal, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self-driving, or telemedicine. Wireless terminals in remote medical, wireless terminals in smart grid, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart city, and smart homes. Wireless terminals, etc. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the type or type of terminal equipment.

The user equipment may also include end-side equipment, such as local switch (LSW), and/or customer premise equipment (CPE), etc., or the user equipment may access the network through LSE or CPE.

In this embodiment of the present application, the UE registered in the network can be understood as a user. One of the UEs can correspond to a subscriber identity module (SIM) card. That is, when the terminal device is installed with a SIM card, the terminal device corresponds to a user UE. When the terminal device is installed with multiple SIM cards, the terminal device corresponds to Multiple user UE.

In this application, network equipment refers to equipment that can provide wireless access functions for terminals. Among them, the network equipment can support at least one wireless communication technology, such as long term evolution (LTE), new radio (NR), wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), etc.

For another example, the network device may include a core network (CN) device, and the core network device may include, for example, an AMF or the like.

In this application, (wireless) access network equipment can be used to provide network access functions for authorized user equipment in a specific area, and can use transmission tunnels of different qualities according to the level of user equipment, service requirements, etc.

(R)AN can manage wireless resources, provide access services to user equipment, and then complete the forwarding of control signals and user equipment data between user equipment and the core network. (R)AN can also be understood as a base station in a traditional network.

Illustratively, the access network device in the embodiment of the present application may be any communication device with wireless transceiver functions used to communicate with user equipment. The access network equipment includes but is not limited to: NR New Generation Radio Access Network (NG-RAN), evolved Node B (evolved Node B, eNB), radio network controller (RNC) ), Node B (Node B, NB), base station controller (BSC), base transceiver station (BTS), home base station (home evolved NodeB, HeNB, or home Node B, HNB), Baseband unit (BBU), access point (AP), wireless relay node, wireless backhaul node, transmission point (TP) in a wireless fidelity (WIFI) system, or Transmission and reception point (TRP), etc., can also be 5G, such as NR, gNB in the system, or transmission point (TRP or TP), one or a group (including multiple) of base stations in the 5G system Antenna panel) antenna panel, or it can also be a network node that constitutes a gNB or transmission point, such as a baseband unit (BBU), or a distributed unit (DU), etc.

In some deployments, gNB may include centralized units (CUs) and DUs. The gNB may also include an active antenna unit (AAU). CU implements some functions of gNB, and DU implements some functions of gNB. For example, CU is responsible for processing non-real-time protocols and services, implementing radio resource control (RRC), and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer functions. DU is responsible for processing physical layer protocols and real-time services, and implementing the functions of the radio link control (RLC) layer, media access control (MAC) layer and physical (physical, PHY) layer. AAU implements some physical layer processing functions, radio frequency processing and active antenna related functions. Since RRC layer information will eventually become PHY layer information, or transformed from PHY layer information, in this architecture, high-level signaling, such as RRC layer signaling, can also be considered to be sent by DU , or sent by DU+AAU. It can be understood that the access network device may be a device including one or more of a CU node, a DU node, and an AAU node. In addition, the CU can be divided into access network equipment in the access network (radio access network, RAN), or the CU can be divided into access network equipment in the core network (core network, CN). This application does not Make limitations.

User plane network element: used for packet routing and forwarding and quality of service (QoS) processing of user plane data.

In the 5G communication system, the user plane network element may be a user plane function (UPF) network element. In future communication systems, user plane network elements can still be UPF network elements, or they can have other names, which are not limited in this application.

Data network element: used to provide a network for transmitting data.

In the 5G communication system, the data network element may be a data network (DN) network element. In future communication systems, data network elements can still be DN network elements, or they can have other names, which are not limited in this application.

Authentication server: used to perform user security authentication. In the 5G communication system, the authentication server may be an authentication server function (AUSF).

Access management network element: mainly used for mobility management and access management. In the 5G communication system, the access management network element can be the access and mobility management function (AMF), which mainly performs functions such as mobility management and access authentication/authorization. In addition, it is also responsible for transmitting user policies between the terminal and the policy control function (PCF) network element.

Session management network element: Mainly used for session management, Internet protocol (IP) address allocation and management of user equipment, selection of endpoints for manageable user plane functions, policy control and charging function interfaces, and downlink data notification, etc. .

The location management network element can be used to provide positioning services for terminal devices. Location management network elements are such as location management function (LMF) network elements.

In the 5G communication system, the session management network element can be a session management function (SMF) network element, which completes terminal IP address allocation, UPF selection, accounting and QoS policy control, etc.

Application network element: In the 5G communication system, the application network element can be an application function (AF) network element, which represents the application function of a third party or operator. It is the interface for the 5G network to obtain external application data and is mainly used for Convey the requirements from the application side to the network side.

Unified data management network element: Responsible for the management of user identification, contract data, authentication data, and user service network element registration management. In the 5G communication system, the unified data management network element may be unified data management (UDM).

Policy control network element: including user subscription data management function, policy control function, charging policy control function, QoS control, etc., a unified policy framework used to guide network behavior, which is the control plane functional network element (such as AMF, SMF network element, etc.) ) provides policy rule information, etc.

In the 5G communication system, the policy control network element may be the PCF.

Network function repository function network element: Provides storage and selection functions for network function entity information for other core network elements. In the 5G communication system, the network element may be a network function repository function (NRF).

Network open network element: In the 5G communication system, the network open network element can be a network element function (NEF) network element, which is mainly used to expose the services and capabilities of 3GPP network functions to AF, and also allows AF to Provides information to 3GPP network functions.

Network slice selection function network element: Responsible for selecting network slices for UE. In the 5G communication system, the application network element can be a network slice selection function (NSSF) network element.

In future communication systems, such as 6G communication systems, the above network elements or devices may still use their names in the 5G communication system, or may have other names, which are not limited in the embodiments of this application. The functions of the above network elements or devices can be completed by an independent network element, or can be completed by several network elements together. In actual deployment, network elements in the core network can be deployed on the same or different physical devices. For example, as a possible deployment, AMF and SMF can be deployed on the same physical device. For another example, the network elements of the 5G core network can be deployed on the same physical device as the network elements of the 4G core network. The embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

In the 5G communication system, the application network element can be an application function (AF) network element or an application server (Application Server, AS). In future communication systems, application network elements can still be AF network elements, or they can have other names, which are not limited in this application.

Figure 1A and Figure 1B show a schematic diagram of the fifth generation (5G) network architecture. Figure 1A is a schematic diagram of the 5G network architecture under a non-service architecture, and Figure 1B is a service-based architecture. Schematic diagram of 5G network architecture under SBA). Among them, service-oriented architecture is the infrastructure of 5G network. Servitization is mainly reflected in the control plane. The essence of SBA is to define network functions as several "service" modules that can be flexibly called according to the three principles of "self-contained, reusable, and independent management." Based on this, operators can flexibly customize the network according to business needs. The interaction between network functions is implemented by service calls. Each network function presents a common service-oriented interface to the outside world and can be called by authorized network functions or services. Figure 1B is a schematic diagram of an exemplary service-oriented architecture of a 5G network. In this architecture, core network elements can communicate with other core network elements through service-oriented interfaces. For example, the service-oriented interface corresponding to AMF is It is called Namf interface, and the interface corresponding to LMF can be called Nlmf interface.

The 5G network architecture shown in Figure 1A and Figure 1B can include three parts, namely terminal, DN and operator network. The following is a brief introduction to the functions of some of the network elements.

Among them, the operator network may include but is not limited to one or more of the following network elements: AUSF, PCF, UDM, AF, AMF, SMF network elements, (R)AN) equipment, UPF, NSSF, etc. In the above operator network, network elements or equipment other than wireless access network equipment may be called core network elements or core network equipment.

In addition, some of the communication interfaces shown in Figure 1A include:

The N1 interface is the signaling plane interface between the AMF and the UE. It is used to exchange signaling messages between the core network and the UE, such as the UE registering into the network, the UE establishing a PDU session, and the network side configuring the UE policy.

The N2 interface is the interface between AMF and RAN, and is used to transmit wireless bearer control information from the core network to the RAN.

The N3 interface is the interface between (R)AN and UPF and is used to transfer UE service data between RAN and UPF.

The N4 interface is the interface between SMF and UPF. It is used to transfer information between the control plane and the user plane, including the control plane terminal equipment completing the network access operation based on the contract information with the operator.

The N6 interface is the interface between UPF and DN, and is used to transmit UE service data between UPF and DN.

N5 interface is the interface between PCF and AF.

The N7 interface is the interface between PCF and SMF and is used to deliver PDU session granularity and service data flow granularity control policies.

The N8 interface is the interface between AMF and UDM. It is used by AMF to obtain access and mobility management-related subscription data and authentication data from UDM, and for AMF to register UE's current mobility management-related information with UDM.

The N9 interface is the interface between two UPFs. For example, as shown in Figure 1A, the N9 interface is the interface between the intermediate UPF (intermediate UPF, I-UPF) and the UPF as the PDU session anchor (PSA).

The N10 interface is the interface between SMF and UDM. It is used by SMF to obtain session management-related subscription data from UDM, and by SMF to register UE current session-related information with UDM.

The N11 interface is the interface between SMF and AMF. It is used to transmit PDU session tunnel information between RAN and UPF, control messages sent to UE, and radio resource control information sent to RAN.

N12 interface, including the interface between AMF and AUSF.

N13 interface, including the interface between AUSF and UDM.

N22 interface, including the interface between NSSF and AMF.

It can be understood that the above network elements or functions can be network elements in hardware devices, software functions running on dedicated hardware, or virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (for example, a cloud platform). Optionally, the above network element or function can be implemented by one device, or can be implemented by multiple devices together, or can be a functional module in one device, which is not specifically limited in the embodiments of this application.

The session management network element, user plane network element, and access management network element in this application can be the SMF, UPF, and AMF in Figure 1A respectively, or they can be used in future communications such as the sixth generation (6th generation, 6G) network. The network elements with the functions of the above SMF, UPF, and AMF are not limited in this application. In the embodiment of the present application, SMF, UPF, and AMF are used as examples of the session management network element, the user plane network element, and the access management network element respectively for description.

The network architecture used to support location services provided by current technical specifications. The architecture may be extended based on the architecture shown in Figure 1A or Figure 1B. For example, in the architecture shown in Figure 2, the gateway mobile location center (GMLC) can be responsible for processing positioning requests for positioning services and selecting appropriate AMF network elements for positioning services. The location retrieval function (LRF) can be configured with the GMLC or separately, and is responsible for retrieving or verifying the UE's location information. The location service (location service, LCS) client (LCS client, LCS Client) can send a location request to the GMLC through the Le interface between the GMLC and the LCS client to initiate the location service for the UE. The LMF network element is mainly responsible for positioning request management, positioning resource allocation and determining the location of the terminal device during positioning services.

As shown in Figure 2, NL1 is the interface between AMF and LMF. NL7 is the interface between LMF and LMF. N52 is the interface between UDM and NEF. NL2 is the interface between AMF and GMLC. NL5 is the interface between NEF and GMLC. N33 is the interface between NEF and AF. N51 is the interface between AMF and NEF.

With the rise of intelligence, vertical industries have increasingly urgent needs for positioning. In 3GPP version (release) 16, the positioning function of 5G base stations was introduced. Its application scenarios are mainly divided into two categories: wide-area positioning scenarios and local-area positioning scenarios. Typical scenarios in wide-area scenarios include smart IoT (for example, elderly positioning, pet tracking, etc.). Typical scenarios in local positioning scenarios include intelligent manufacturing Manufacturing (for example, personnel location management, material location management, etc.), smart chemical industry (for example, personnel location management, electronic fences, one-click alarm, etc.), smart supermarkets (for example, product push and smart operations, customer flow, etc.) Analysis and shopping mall management, navigation shopping guide and parking car search, etc.). In view of the above background, 5G positioning service enhancement research (location services, LCS) has become a key research topic.

Positioning business continuity when the positioned device is moving is crucial for positioning applications. That is, when the positioned device is moving, the positioning process can still be guaranteed to proceed smoothly and higher accuracy can still be obtained with lower latency. The device location information is used to continue to assist positioning applications in making relevant decisions and processing.

The scenario in which the positioned device (taking UE as an example) moves within the 5G system can be subdivided into three scenarios:

(1) The UE is in the connection management connection state (Connection Management-connected, CM-connected) and the radio resource control connection state (Radio Resource RRC-connected) mobile scenario.

(2)Mobility scenario where UE is in CM-connected and RRC-inactive states.

(3) Mobile scenario where UE is in Connection Management-Idle state.

In 3GPP version (release) 17, it was proposed in the discussion of positioning of UE in CM-connected and RRC-inactive states that when the UE is positioned in this state, the base station will be replaced due to movement. That is, the UE in this state will The source base station is moved to another base station. Therefore, in order to ensure the continuity of the positioning service and reduce the positioning delay, the source base station needs to pass the UE positioning related information (positioning related information) through the UE. Relevant signaling is sent to the target base station. Optionally, the UE positioning related information includes parameters and/or configurations used to position the terminal device. The UE positioning related information may include (requested) channel sounding reference signal (sounding reference signal, SRS) transmission characteristic information (requested SRS transmission characteristics/SRS transmission characteristics) and the identifier of the LMF (or routing ID). The routing identifier may be the identifier of the LMF serving the UE when the UE performs positioning services at the source base station. Among them, the identifier of LMF is a mandatory (M) cell.

However, due to changes in the UE location, in addition to causing changes in the base station, it may also cause changes in the LMF. Therefore, the identifier of the LMF in the UE positioning related information may expire, causing the positioning service to fail.

In order to improve the reliability of positioning services, embodiments of the present application provide a communication method. The communication method can be implemented based on the architecture shown in Figure 1A or Figure 1B. Exemplarily, the method may be implemented by a first access management network element, a second location management network element and a second access network device.

It should be noted that “terminal equipment” and “user equipment (User Equipment, UE)” in this application can be replaced with each other.

As shown in Figure 3, a communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application may include the following steps:

S301: The first access management network element receives the first message sent by the second access network device, where the terminal device moves from the first access network device to the second access network device.

In this application, the first access network device may be an access network device (last serving RAN/last serving gNB) that transmits data or signaling or signals for the terminal device before moving to the second access network device. Alternatively, the first access network device may be the source access network device (source NG-RAN/source gNB) of the terminal device. Alternatively, the first access network device stores context information (UE context) of the terminal device. Alternatively, the first access network device stores context information of the terminal device, and also has an N2 connection/NGAP connection with the AMF registered with the terminal device. The second access network device may be an access network device currently transmitting data or signaling or signals for the terminal device. Alternatively, the second access network device may be a target access network device (target NG-RAN/target gNB). "The terminal equipment moves from the first access network equipment to the second access network equipment" can also be replaced by "after the terminal equipment moves from the first access network equipment to the second access network equipment".

In this application, the movement of the terminal device from the first access network device to the second access network device can be understood as: the terminal device initiates an RRC connection request at the second access network device; or, the terminal device initiates an RRC connection request at the second access network device; Initiate/send an RRC recovery request (RRC resume); or, the terminal device sends an RRC recovery request (RRC resume) to the second access network device; or, the terminal device sends a measurement report (measurement report) to the second access network device; Or, the terminal device sends a handover confirmation (handover confirm) to the second access network device.

In S301, the first message includes the identification of the first location management network element and the first positioning information.

Wherein, the first location management network element (such as LMF) is used to send the positioning information of the terminal device to the first access network device. Optionally, the positioning information may also be called terminal device-related positioning information or positioning protocol data unit (PDU). Or, it is used to provide positioning service (or location service) for the terminal device located on the first access network device. Alternatively, the first location management network element is configured to send the positioning information of the terminal device to the first access network device and receive the positioning information of the terminal device sent from the first access network device. Optionally, the identity of the first location management network element can be carried in the positioning information of the terminal device. Therefore, the second access network device The device may obtain the identity of the first location management network element from the positioning related information of the terminal device, and carry the identity of the first location management network element in the first message. It can be understood that since the terminal device moves from the first access network device to the second access network device, even if the first location management network element sends the positioning information of the terminal device to the first access network device, the first access network device It is also impossible to send positioning information to the terminal device because the identification of the first location management network element has expired, or the terminal device has moved to the second access network device, and the service range of the first location management network element cannot cover the second location. Access network equipment, resulting in positioning service failure.

The first positioning information can be used to position the terminal device. For example, the first positioning information may include configurations for positioning the terminal device, such as parameters for positioning the terminal device. Optionally, the first positioning information may include New Wireless Positioning Protocol A (NR Positioning Protocol A, NRPPa) PDU and/or LTE Positioning Protocol Data Unit (LTE Positioning Protocol, LPP PDU). It can be understood that the positioning information of the terminal device in this application includes first positioning information.

Before S301, the terminal device may move from the first access network device to the second access network device.

In S301, the second access network device may be an access network device currently providing services to the UE. Among them, "can be an access network device currently providing services to the UE" can be understood as: the UE accesses (accesses to) the second access network device and receives data and/or signaling from the second access network device; or , the UE is attached (camped on) to the second access network device and receives data and/or signaling from the second access network device; or, the UE is within the signal coverage of the second access network and receives data from the second access network device. The network access device receives signaling and/or signals or sends signals and/or signaling to the second access network device; or the UE receives data and/or signaling and/or signals from the second access network device or sends signals to the second access network device. The second access network device sends data and/or signaling and/or signals.

Optionally, in this application, the access management network element may be an AMF. The location management network element may be an LMF. The identity of the location management network element can be any of the following: routing ID, LMF ID, Network Instance ID, NF instance ID, IP address, Universally Unique Identifier (UUID) ), Uniform Resource Identifier (URI), Uniform Resource Locator (URL), global address of the LMF (global address of the LMF), FQDN, etc. Access network equipment can be any of the following: NG-RAN, Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (EUTRAN) equipment; future access network systems, such as 6G access network equipment.

Optionally, the first message of this application may be uplink UE associated positioning transmission (uplink UE associated NRPPa transport) or may be uplink non-UE related positioning transmission uplink non UE associated NRPPa transport).

The NRPPa protocol data unit of this application can be any of the following: positioning information (Positioning Information), positioning information request (Positioning Information Request), positioning information update (Positioning Information Update), positioning information reply (Positioning Information Response), positioning information failure (Positioning Information Failure), Positioning Activation Request, Positioning Activation Response, Positioning Activation Failure, Positioning Deactivation.

The first message may also be a path switch request (path switch request) message or a handover notification (handover notify) message or a handover required (handover required) message or a UE context creation message (Namf_Communication_CreateUEContext).

S302: The first access management network element determines the second location management network element, and the second location management network element is used to send the positioning information of the terminal device to the second access network device.

Or "the second location management network element is used to send the positioning information of the terminal device to the second access network device" can be replaced by, the second location management network element is used to provide location services for the terminal device located in the second access network device. ; Or, the second location management network element is used to send the positioning information of the terminal device to the second access network device and receive the positioning information of the terminal device sent from the second access network device; or, the second location management network element uses The second location management network element is configured to send positioning information related to the terminal device to the second access network device and receive positioning information related to the terminal device sent from the second access network device; or, the second location management network element is used to send positioning information related to the terminal device to the second access network device. Send positioning information related to the terminal device.

It can be understood that due to the location change of the UE, the location management network element that provides services to the UE may change. For example, after the UE moves from the first access network device to the second access network device, the current location of the UE (for example, the base station where the UE is located or the tracking area identity (TAI) of the cell to which the UE is located) is not in the first access network device. Within the service range of a location management network element, the service area of the first location management network element can be understood as the TAI list (TAI list) served by the first location management network element or the service range can be understood as the first location management network element One or more tracking areas (Tracking Area, TA) of the service. The current location of the UE can be served by the second location management network element (for example, the UE moves to the service range of the second location management network element), and the core network device (such as the first access management network element) can determine the new location management network element. The location management network element (ie, the second location management network element) provides location/positioning services for the UE. It should be noted that In this application, "UE moves from the first access network device to the second access network device" can be understood as: the UE can send data/signal/signaling on the second access network device and receive data sent by the second access network device. Data/signal/signaling; alternatively, the UE may receive data/signal/signaling sent by the second access network device.

It should be noted that "location" in this application can be replaced by "positioning", "determine" in this application can be replaced by "find", and "service scope" in this application can be replaced is the "service area".

Optionally, before S302, the first access management network element may determine that the first location management network element cannot support positioning of the terminal device based on the location information (User Location Information, ULI) of the terminal device. Alternatively, the first access management network element may determine that the location management network element of the terminal device needs to be changed based on the location information of the terminal device, that is, it is determined that the location management network element that provides location services for the terminal device needs to be changed. Alternatively, the first access management network element may determine a new location management network element (eg, a second location management network element) based on the location information of the terminal device.

The location information of the terminal device may include the identity of the second access network device where the terminal device is located or the cell ID (cell ID) of the second access network device where the terminal device is located, or may include other information that can be used to identify the terminal device. Location information, such as latitude and longitude coordinates or TAI, etc. In this application, the identification of the access network equipment includes, for example, NG-RAN ID or radio access network node identification (RAN node ID/gNB ID).

As a possible way for the first access management network element to obtain the location information of the terminal device, before S302, the first access management network element may also receive a fourth message from the second access network device. The four messages may include location information of the terminal device.

Among them, the fourth message can be used for path switching (for example, the fourth message is a path switch request message), for notifying a switch (for example, the fourth message is a handover notify message), or for requesting a switch. (For example, the fourth message is a handover required message), or used to request the creation of a context of the terminal device (for example, the fourth message is a UE context creation message (Namf_Communication_CreateUEContext)).

As another possible way for the first access management network element to obtain the location information of the terminal device, the first message may also include the location information of the terminal device. For example, the first message may be a fourth message. Optionally, the first message may be used for path switching (for example, the first message is a path switching request message), for notifying switching (for example, the first message is a switching notification message), or for requesting switching (for example, the first message is a switching notification message). requirement message), or used to request the creation of a context of the terminal device (for example, the first message is a UE context creation message).

For example, the first access management network element may be based on the location information of the terminal device and the service range information of the first location management network element (such as access network equipment and/or cells provided by the first location management network element), It is determined that the terminal device is not within the service range of the first location management network element, so it is determined to change the location management network element or to select a new location management network element or to select the second location management network element. The service scope information of the first location management network element may be information stored in the first access management network element, for example, local configuration (local configuration/locally configured) in the first access management network element. The service scope of the first location management network element may also be information obtained by the first access management network element from other network elements (such as NRF).

For another example, the first access management network element may determine the second location management network element based on the configuration or policy information. For example, according to the policy information, when the terminal device moves to the second access network device, it needs to change to the second location. Manage network elements. Optionally, in S302, the first access management network element may determine the second location management network element based on the location information or local configuration or policy information of the terminal device. Or it can be said that in S302, the first access management network element may determine that the location management network element is changed from the first location management network element to the second location management network element according to the location information or local configuration or policy information of the terminal device, or, The first access management network element may select the second location management network element based on the location information or local configuration or policy information of the terminal device, or the first access management network element may select the second location management network element based on the location information or local configuration or policy information of the terminal device. It is determined that the location management network element is changed to the second location management network element.

In addition, the first access management network element can establish/store/generate/record the corresponding relationship between the first location management network element and the second location management network element. Optionally, the corresponding relationship may be expressed as a corresponding relationship between the identifier of the first location management network element and the identifier of the second location management network element. Or optionally, the corresponding relationship may be expressed as a mapping relationship between the first location management network element identifier and the second location management network element identifier. Or optionally, the corresponding relationship can be expressed as a corresponding relationship between the first location management network element configuration (LMF profile) and the second location management network element configuration. Or optionally, the corresponding relationship may be expressed as a corresponding relationship between the identifier of the terminal device, the identifier of the first location management network element, and the identifier of the second location management network element.

For example, the first access management network element may determine the second location management network element through the location management network element change process. In this process, the first access management network element may send a message to the first location management network element, and the message may carry the identifier of the terminal device and the location information of the terminal device (such as the identifier of the second access network device and/or At least one of the cell identifier of the second access network device) or the identifier of the second location management network element. Wherein, the first access management network element may determine a location that supports providing services for the location of the terminal device based on the location information of the terminal device. Set up the management network element as the second location management network element, and carry the identifier of the second location management network element in the message. In addition, optionally, if the first access management network element does not carry the identifier of the second location management network element in the message, the first location management network element can select the second location management network element according to the location information of the terminal device. Subsequently, the location context of the terminal device may be exchanged between the first location management network element and the second location management network element, and the second location management network element may communicate with the first access management network element or the second access network. The device sends a change notification, indicating that the location management network element of the terminal device has changed.

Optionally, before S302, the first access management network element may also determine that the terminal device has positioning-related information or positioning information. Otherwise, if the terminal device does not have positioning-related information, execution of S302 and subsequent processes can be ignored. Optionally, the positioning-related information can be used to indicate the presence of positioning services related to the terminal device. In the following embodiments, in order to distinguish the positioning-related information from other positioning information, the positioning-related information is called first information. It can be understood that the first information is a kind of information related to the positioning service of the terminal device that can be obtained by core network elements (for example, AMF, LMF, SMF, UDM, NRF, etc.).

It can be understood that in this application, determining that the UE has the first information may refer to based on the UE context of the terminal device (UE context), the UE's registration information (registration information), subscription information (subscription information), mobility management context (mobility management Context (MM context), session management context (Session Management context, SM context) or UE-related information stored in the access management network element determines that the first information exists. Optionally, in this application, the first information may include any one or more of the following: location service correlation ID (LCS correlation ID), location context, location deferred reference number (LDR reference). number), location QoS (location QoS) information, location processing ID (for example, NRPPa transaction ID), LTE positioning protocol processing ID (LPP Transaction ID).

S303: The first access management network element sends a second message to the second location management network element, and/or the first access management network element sends a third message to the second access network device.

Wherein, the second message includes at least one of the first positioning information, an identity of the second access network device, a cell identity and a first indication, wherein the cell belongs to the second access network device or The second access network equipment includes the cell. Based on the second message, the second location management network element can obtain the first positioning information sent by the second access network device. Therefore, the second location management network element can subsequently provide positioning service services for the terminal device to ensure the continuity of the positioning service. performance to avoid failure of the terminal device’s positioning service.

Alternatively, the second location management network element may determine the second access network device based on the identifier and/or cell identifier of the second access network device, and obtain positioning information related to the terminal device from the second access network device. Therefore, , the second location management network element can subsequently provide positioning service services for the terminal device to ensure the continuity of the positioning service and avoid failure of the positioning service for the terminal device.

Alternatively, the second location management network element may determine the second access network device according to the first indication and the identity and/or cell identity of the second access network device, and obtain information related to the terminal device from the second access network device. Therefore, the second location management network element can subsequently provide the positioning service of the terminal device to ensure the continuity of the positioning service and avoid the failure of the positioning service of the terminal device.

Alternatively, for the scenario where the terminal device has only one positioning service, the second location management network element can learn that the access network device of the terminal device has changed according to the first instruction, and the second location management network element can obtain the change from the first access management network element through the first access management network element. The second access network device obtains positioning information related to the terminal device. Therefore, the second location management network element can subsequently provide positioning service services for the terminal device to ensure the continuity of the positioning service and avoid failure of the positioning service for the terminal device.

In this application, the first indication may be used to indicate that the access network equipment has changed (serving NG-RAN node changed) or the first indication is used to indicate handover completion (handover complete notification/handover complete indication) or to indicate handover (handover notification) /handover indication) or used to indicate mobility completion (mobility completion) or used to indicate that the access network device providing services for the UE is changed to the second access network device or used to indicate the UE to switch to the second access network device or use Instructing the UE to move to the second access network device.

Optionally, the second message also includes a second indication. The second indication may be used to indicate that the location management network element has been changed. For example, the second indication may be used to indicate that the location management network element of the UE has been changed to the second location management network element.

The identification and/or cell identification of the second access network device may be used to determine or select the third access network device. The third access network device may be an access network device used to locate a terminal device, or the third access network device may be an access network device adjacent to the second access network device. Among them, the determination method of the third access network device and the description of the third access network device will be described below, which will not be described here.

Optionally, the first indication and/or the second indication in this application may be a cause, an indication, or a notification, etc., where the cause, indication, or notification may be of enumerated type (enumerated/enum) or bit type ( bit) or boolean or character type (string) field. For example, it can be carried out by whether to carry the second indication; for another example, when the field corresponding to the second indication takes the value When it is a specific value, it indicates the corresponding function of the second instruction. In the same way, the first indication can also be determined by whether it carries the first indication, or when the value of the field corresponding to the first indication is a specific value, it indicates the function corresponding to the first indication.

Optionally, the second message in this application may adopt a newly defined message type or an existing message type. For example, the second message may be an N2 information notification message (Namf_Communication_N2InfoNotify/Namf_Communication_NonUeN2InfoNotify). Or the second message may be a location context transfer message (Nlmf_LocationContextTransfer). Alternatively, the second message may be a subscription notification message (Namf_EventExposure_Notify). Alternatively, the second message may be an event notification (Namf_Location_EventNotify). Alternatively, the second message may be an N1N2 message. Alternatively, the second message may be N1 message notification (Namf_Communication_N1MessageNotify).

The third message is used to notify that the location management network element has changed. The third message includes the identifier of the second location management network element, or includes the identifier of the second location management network element and at least one of the following information: One: the identification of the first location management network element and a second indication, where the second indication is used to indicate that the location management network element has changed. The identifier of the second location management network element is as described above for the identifier of the location management network element, and will not be described again here.

Therefore, based on the third message, the second access network device can learn the changed information of the location management network element. For example, the third message can include the identification of the second location management network element, so the second access network device can The identity of the first location management network element that provides positioning services for the terminal device is replaced/updated with the identity of the second location management network element. Therefore, the second access network device subsequently sends a first message to the first access management network element. The first message carries the positioning information of the terminal device and may also carry the identifier of the second location management network element. Therefore, the first access network device The incoming management network element can send the positioning information of the terminal device to the second position management network element according to the identification of the second position management network element to ensure that the positioning information reaches the second position management network element, thereby ensuring the continuity of the positioning service and avoiding terminal The device's positioning service failed.

Optionally, the third message may be an N2 message. The third message may also be a path switch request ACK message. The third message may also be a request from the access management network element (for example, AMF) to the access network. Message sent by a device (e.g., RAN).

The following describes the corresponding processes in which the first access management network element sends the second message and the third message in S303 in the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application.

As a possible implementation manner, if the first access management network element sends a second message to the second location management network element, the second location management network element can obtain the third information included in the second message by receiving the second message. Positioning information, or positioning information related to the terminal device is obtained from the second access network device according to the identity and/or cell identity of the second access network device included in the second message. Correspondingly, the second location management network element may send the fifth message to the first access management network element. Wherein, the fifth message includes an identification of the second location management network element and/or a third indication, wherein the third indication may be used to indicate that the location management network element has changed. Therefore, based on the fifth message, the first access management network element can learn that the location management network element has been changed to the second location management network element. Optionally, the first access management network element may send the third message according to the fifth message.

Optionally, the fifth message may also include at least one of the following information: second positioning information, identification of the second location management network element, positioning service identification (LCS correlation ID or LDR reference number), third indication, terminal device Identity (UE ID) and terminal context identification (UE context ID). In this application, the terminal device identifier may include, for example, user permanent identifier (subscription permanent identifier, SUPI), general public subscription identifier (GPSI), international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), temporary Mobile subscriber identity (temporary mobile subscriber identity, TMSI) or NG application layer protocol (NG application protocol, NGAP) UE ID. Similarly, the third message may also include at least one of the positioning service identifier, the terminal device identifier, and the terminal context identifier, wherein at least one of the positioning service identifier, the terminal device identifier, and the terminal context identifier may come from the fifth message. information.

Among them, the combination of the positioning service identifier and the terminal device identifier can be used to uniquely identify a positioning service of a terminal device. The terminal context identifier or terminal device identifier can also be used to indicate a positioning service of a terminal device. For example, when the terminal device has only one positioning service, the terminal device identifier or terminal context identifier can also indicate a positioning service of a terminal device.

The second positioning information may be a positioning activation request. For example, when the first positioning information includes a positioning configuration (which may be recorded as a first configuration), the second positioning information may include indicating activation of the first configuration included in the first positioning information. It can be understood that the positioning information of the terminal device in this application includes second positioning information.

Wherein, if the second message includes the first positioning information, the second location management network element may perform the positioning service or positioning session of the UE according to the first positioning information. For example, optionally, the first positioning information in this application may include a positioning request and/or a first configuration, and the first configuration may be an SRS configuration (SRS configuration) and/or a position reference signal (position reference signal, PRS). ) configuration (PRS configuration). Therefore, the second location management network element can position the UE according to the positioning request and/or positioning configuration, send the second positioning information to the first access management network element, and then the first access management network element sends the second positioning information to The second access network device triggers the second access The network device positions the UE, and the second positioning information may be a positioning activation request (positioning activation request).

Optionally, the first configuration may be determined by the second access network device according to the first parameter. The first parameter may be obtained by the second access network device from the first access network device. For example, the UE moves to the second access network device or the UE initiates RRC resume (RRC resume) at the second access network device, and the second access network device receives the first parameter from the first access network device. For example, the first parameter includes requested channel sounding reference signal transmission characteristics (requested SRS transmission characteristics) information and/or requested positioning reference signal transmission characteristics (requested PRS transmission characteristics) information. Among them, the requested channel sounding reference signal transmission characteristics can be used to determine the SRS configuration. The requested positioning reference signal transmission characteristics may be used to determine the PRS configuration.

If the second message includes the identity of the second access network device and/or the cell identity, the second location management network element can learn the access network device serving the UE. The second location management network element may also determine/select the third access network device according to the identifier and/or cell identifier of the second access network device. Optionally, the second location management network element may also send the positioning service related information of the UE (including but not limited to the first positioning information) to the third access network device, so that the third access network device can perform positioning according to the first positioning information. Position the UE.

Optionally, the third access network device may be determined/selected based on the location information of the terminal device. The third access network device may be an adjacent access network device of the second access network device. In this application, the adjacent access device may be an access network device that directly has an Xn connection, an IP connection, or an X2 connection with the second access network device. The third access network device may not be an adjacent access network device to the second access network device, and an adjacent access network device that is not the second access network device may not be directly connected to the second access network device. Access network equipment with Xn connection, IP connection or X2 connection exists.

It can be understood that the second message may be a message in the process of changing the location management network element, such as a location context transfer request (Nlmf_Location_LocationContextTransfer request). The second message may include the identification of the first access management network element, but not the first location. information. Correspondingly, the fifth message may include a third instruction for notifying the location management network element that the change process has been completed. Then the first access management network element may further send a request to the second access network after receiving the third instruction. The device sends a third message, used to notify the second access network device of a change in the location management network element, for example, used to notify the terminal device that the location management network element has been changed to the second location management network element.

In addition, optionally, if the second message also includes a cell identifier, the second location management network element may also select the second access network device based on the cell identifier, or in other words, the second access network device may be the second location management network The element is selected based on the identity of the first access network device and/or the cell identity.

Optionally, if the second message also includes a second indication, the second location management network element may sense that the location management network element has changed. For example, the second location management network element may generate the aforementioned third indication according to the second indication, and the third indication is used to notify the location management network element of changes. Optionally, notifications can be replaced with instructions.

As a possible implementation manner, if the first access network device sends a third message to the second access network device, the first access network device can learn that the location management network element serving the UE has changed based on the third message/ has been changed, so the identity of the first location management network element can be replaced/updated with the identity of the second location management network element. Subsequently, when the second access network device sends the UE's positioning information (which may include a positioning request and/or positioning configuration (such as a first configuration or a second configuration different from the first configuration)) to the first access management network element, The identifier of the second location management network element is carried instead of the identifier of the first location management network element to avoid positioning failure caused by expiration of the location management network element.

Based on the process shown in Figure 3 above, after the terminal equipment moves from the first access network equipment to the second access network equipment or when the terminal equipment initiates the RRC recovery process on the second access network equipment, the first access management network element can Receive the first message carrying the identity of the first location management network element and the first positioning information, and determine the second location management network element, wherein the second location management network element can be used to provide terminals located in the second access network device. The device provides location services or the second location management network element may be used to send the positioning information of the terminal device to the second access network device. Further, the second access network device may send at least one of the first positioning information, the identification of the second access network device, the first indication or the cell identification to the second location management network element, and the second location management network This element processes the positioning service of the UE to avoid failure of the positioning service due to changes in the location management network element after the terminal device moves. Therefore, the continuity and reliability of the positioning service can be improved. In addition, the first access management network element may send the third message to the second access network device, so that the second access network device learns that the location management network element has been changed, so that the second access network device is replaced/updated with the UE Information about the location management network element of the service. For example, the identity of the first location management network element can be replaced/updated with the identity of the second location management network element to avoid positioning caused by changes in the location management network element after the terminal device moves. business failure to improve the continuity and reliability of positioning business.

Optionally, in the process shown in Figure 3, due to the movement of the UE, the access management network element (for example, AMF) of the UE may also change. Among them, the first access management network element in Figure 3 can be understood as a changed or modified or replaced access management network element in this scenario (for example, it can be called a target access management network element or it can be called a target access management network element. For the newly selected access management network element (new AMF)), that is to say, before executing the process shown in Figure 3, the access management network element change process can also be executed. For the convenience of subsequent explanation, the access management before the change will be The network element is called the second access management network element.

For example, in the change process of the access management network element, the first access management network element may send a sixth message to the second access management network element, and the sixth message may be used to extract the UE context. The first access management network element may determine that the UE has first information based on the UE context extracted from the second access management network element. The sixth message may be UE context transfer (Namf_Communication_UEContextTransfer). The explanation of the first information is as above. The above will not be repeated here. For example, the first information includes at least one of a positioning service identifier, a positioning context, a positioning delay reference identifier, positioning QoS information, a positioning processing identifier, and an LTE positioning protocol processing identifier.

Optionally, the first access management network element may also send the identification of the first access management network element to the first location management network element or the second location management network element to indicate that the access management network element has been changed. For example, when the terminal device has only one positioning service, the identifier of the access management network element is carried in the message used to represent the replacement of the access management network element. Optionally, the first access management network element may also send the identifier of the first access management network element and the positioning service identifier to the first location management network element or the second location management network element. For example, when the terminal device has For multiple positioning services, the identity of the access management network element and the identity of the positioning service are carried in messages related to the terminal device. The identification of the access management network element described in this application can be any one or more of the following: AMF ID, network function instance identification, IP address, UUID, URI, globally unique AMF identifier (GUAMI), URL, global address of the AMF (global address of the AMF) or FQDN, etc.

In addition, optionally, the first access management network element may also send a seventh message to the first location management network element or the second location management network element, and the seventh message may be used to indicate that the access management network element has changed. For example, the seventh message may carry an indication indicating that the access management network element has been changed. Optionally, the seventh message may include an event report message. Wherein, the event report may be used for the terminal device to report periodic or triggered positioning events. Alternatively, the seventh message may include an N1 information notification message (Namf_Communication_N1MessageNotify), which is used to notify the UE of related N1 messages.

Optionally, the seventh message may adopt an existing message type. For example, the seventh message includes an N1 information notification message or an event report message. The seventh message can also adopt a new message type without limitation.

In addition, optionally, the first access management network element may also send the identification of the first access management network element to the first location management network element or the second location management network element, so that the first location management network element or the second location management network element can The second location management network element updates the terminal's positioning context in a timely manner to ensure that the access management network element identifier in the positioning context is the latest access management network element identifier, so that the positioning service of the terminal device can be continued and avoid errors caused by the access management network element. The identity expires, causing the location management network element to send messages to the access management network element, but the message is sent to the wrong access management network element, causing the positioning service to fail. In addition, the first access management network element may also send the identification of the terminal device and/or the positioning service identification to the first location management network element or the second location management network element to indicate the terminal device corresponding to the first access management network element. and/or services, therefore the positioning context of the terminal device or the positioning context can also be updated according to the identity of the terminal device and/or the positioning service identity.

Taking the access network device as the base station, the terminal device as the UE, the access management network element as the AMF, and the location management network element as the LMF as an example, the possible flow of the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application is introduced below.

In the process shown in Figure 4, the AMF serves as the first access network device. After receiving the N2 path switching request from the target base station (corresponding to the aforementioned second access network device), the AMF can switch according to the N2 path. The location information of the terminal device included in the request determines whether the LMF needs to be replaced. After the LMF that provides positioning services for the UE is changed from the first LMF (corresponding to the aforementioned first location management network element) to the second LMF (corresponding to the aforementioned second location management network element), the AMF can also change the location information from the target base station. The NRPPa PDU is forwarded to the second LMF, allowing the second LMF to process the NRPPa PDU. Specifically, this embodiment may include the following steps:

S401: The base station/serving base station (last serving gNB) of the UE in the RRC-inactive state that performs periodic positioning occurs.

It can be understood that in S401, the terminal device moves from the source base station to the target base station. The source base station may correspond to the first access network device in the above method embodiment, and the target base station may correspond to the second access network device.

S402: The UE sends an RRC resume (RRC resume) message to the changed target base station.

The RRC recovery message includes the identity of the UE. The identity of the UE may be an inactive network temporary identifier (inactive rradio network temporary identifier, I-RNTI).

S403: The target base station requests the source base station to extract UE-related information.

Optionally, in S403, the target base station may send a retrieve UE context request (retrieve UE context request) to the source base station. UE related information may include UE context.

The source base station can be determined based on the I-RNTI. For example, the source base station identifier carried in the I-RNTI.

S404: The source base station sends UE-related information to the target base station.

The UE-related information may include UE positioning-related information. The UE positioning related information may include SRS parameter information and/or PRS parameter information, and the identity of the first LMF. For example, the SRS parameter information may be channel sounding reference signal transmission characteristic information. PRS The parameter information may be positioning reference signal transmission characteristic information. The identity of the first LMF is also the identity of the first LMF that provides positioning services for the UE when the UE performs positioning services at the source base station.

Optionally, in S404, the source base station may send a retrieve UE context response (retrieve UE context response) to the target base station, which includes UE-related information.

S405: The target base station determines the SRS configuration and/or the PRS configuration according to the SRS parameter information and/or the PRS parameter information to reduce the positioning delay and maintain positioning service continuity.

Afterwards, the UE can continue to send uplink SRS signals and/or the base station can continue to send downlink PRS signals to continue positioning measurements.

S406: The target base station sends an N2 path switch request (N2path switch request) to the AMF, which includes the UE's location information (user location information).

The location information of the UE may include the identification of the target base station (RAN ID) and may also include the identification of the cell where the UE is located (cell ID).

Correspondingly, AMF receives the N2 path switching request.

It can be understood that the fourth message described in the above method embodiment may include the N2 path switching request in S406.

S407: The AMF finds that the UE has positioning related information, and the AMF determines that the LMF needs to be changed or a new LMF needs to be selected. The positioning-related information here may refer to the first information. The first information can be found in the foregoing description.

Optionally, the AMF may determine that the LMF needs to be changed, select a new LMF, determine a new LMF, or determine a target LMF based on the UE's location information, or determine that the first LMF cannot support positioning the UE.

Optionally, the AMF may determine that the LMF needs to be changed or select a new LMF based on the local configuration information. The local configuration information may be information configured by the operator. For example, when the UE moves to the base station, the LMF needs to be reselected or the LMF needs to be replaced.

Optionally, the AMF may determine that the LMF needs to be changed or select a new LMF based on the policy information. For example, according to the policy configuration, when the UE moves to the base station, the LMF needs to be reselected or the LMF needs to be replaced.

S408: The AMF retains the identity of the first LMF.

Among them, keep (keep) can also be replaced by storage or not deleted.

It should be noted that retaining the identity of the first LMF can be understood as: when the UE performs positioning services at the source base station, the AMF can obtain the positioning information of the UE, which may include the identity of the first LMF. In this case, the AMF retains the identity of the first LMF.

In this application, the identifier of the LMF includes at least one of the LMF ID, network function instance identifier, routing identifier, IP address, UUID, URI, URL, global address, and FQDN.

S409: The AMF triggers the LMF change process and selects a new LMF for the UE to perform positioning services, for example, selects the second LMF.

In the LMF change process, the first LMF sends the positioning context of the UE to the second LMF.

S410: The AMF stores the corresponding relationship between the first LMF and the second LMF, for example, the corresponding relationship or mapping relationship between the identifier of the first LMF and the identifier of the second LMF.

Among them, storage can also be replaced by generating or determining or recording.

S411: AMF sends N2 path switch reply (N2 path switch request ACK) to the target base station.

S412: The target base station sends the uplink UE-related NRPPa transmission to the AMF.

Among them, the uplink UE-related NRPPa transmission may include NRPPa PDU. The NRPPa PDU may carry the updated SRS configuration and/or PRS configuration (that is, the SRS configuration updated in S405).

The uplink UE-related NRPPa transmission may also carry a routing identifier, that is, the identifier of the first LMF.

It can be understood that the first message in S301 may include the uplink UE-related NRPPa transmission in S412.

S413: The AMF determines the identity of the second LMF based on the correspondence between the identity of the first LMF and the identity of the second LMF.

For example, the AMF determines the second LMF based on the corresponding relationship between the first LMF and the second LMF; or maps the identity of the first LMF to the identity of the second LMF.

It can be understood that S302 may include the steps shown in S413.

S414: The AMF sends the N2 message notification message carrying the above NRPPa PDU to the second LMF. The message also includes one or more of the following information: information used to indicate that the LMF has changed (i.e., the aforementioned example of the second indication), UE The identity of the cell where the user is located, the identity of the target base station, a handover notification or indication (ie, an example of the foregoing first indication), and a handover completion notification or indication (ie, an example of the foregoing first indication).

Among them, if the LMF change process has not been completed when the AMF determines that the UE has positioning-related information, the AMF can wait for the LMF change to be completed before sending the message carrying the above NRPPa PDU. The positioning-related information here refers to the first information. first letter Please refer to the above description for information.

Optionally, the information used to indicate that the LMF has changed may be a reason, an indication, a notification, etc. The reason or indication or notification may be data of enumeration type or bit type or Boolean type or character type, which is used to indicate that the second LMF notifies the LMF that the LMF has changed.

It can be understood that the second message in S303 may include the N2 message notification message.

S415: Optionally, the second LMF may determine to send the information indicating or notifying the LMF that the LMF has changed to the target base station based on the information that instructs the second LMF to notify the LMF that the LMF has changed or that the LMF has changed.

S416: The second LMF sends an N1N2 message transfer (Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer) to the AMF, which can carry NRPPa PDU.

Optionally, the N1N2 message transmission also includes information indicating that the LMF has changed or the LMF has changed. The information that the LMF has changed or the LMF has changed, for example, may be the identification of the second LMF; or may be the identification of the second LMF. identification and indication/notification that the LMF has been replaced or that the LMF has been replaced.

It can be understood that the NRPPa PDU in S416 and the NRPPa PDU in S412 can be different. For example, the NRPPa PDU in S412 can be positioning information update (positioning information update), and the NRPPa PDU in S416 can be positioning activation request (positioning activation request).

The fifth message in the above method embodiment may include the N1N2 message transmission.

S417: AMF sends downlink UE associated NRPPa transport to the target base station, which carries NRPPa PDU, information indicating that the LMF has changed, or information indicating that the LMF has changed, where the LMF has changed or the LMF has changed. The information, for example, may be the identification of the second LMF; or may be the identification of the second LMF and an indication or notification that the LMF has been replaced (ie, an example of the aforementioned third indication).

The NRPPa PDU is the NRPPa PDU from the second LMF in step S416.

The target base station receives the information that the LMF has changed or the LMF has changed, and may update/replace the identity of the first LMF with the identity of the second LMF. Optionally, the target base station may also send the identifier of the second LMF to the source base station/anchor base station/last base station serving the UE (last serving gNB/RAN).

It can be understood that the third message in S303 may include the downlink UE-related NRPPa transmission.

Based on the process shown in Figure 4, the AMF can forward the NRPPa PDU from the target base station to the second LMF, so that the second LMF processes the NRPPa PDU to avoid the failure of the positioning service of the terminal device and improve the continuity of the positioning service.

It can be understood that the step shown in S409 can be executed after the AMF receives the N2 path switching request in S406. In addition, S410 can be executed after S409 completes the replacement of the LMF. There is no strict time limit between S411 and S409 or S410. S411 can be executed before S409 or S410. That is to say, when AMF sends the N2 path switching reply shown in S411, S410 may not be completed yet.

In addition, S412 may be executed after receiving the N2 path switching reply in S411, may be executed after S405 is executed and before S406 is executed, or may be executed after S406 is executed but before the N2 path switching reply in S411 is received.

The difference between the process shown in Figure 5 and the process shown in Figure 4 is that the AMF receives the NRPPa PDU from the target base station and determines the LMF that provides positioning services for the UE from the first LMF (corresponding to the aforementioned first location management After the network element) is changed to the second LMF (corresponding to the aforementioned second location management network element), the identifier of the second LMF is sent to the target base station. Subsequently, the target base station can send the identifier of the second LMF and the NRPPa PDU, so that the second LMF processes the NRPPa PDU. Specifically, this embodiment may include the following steps:

S501-S513 are the same as S401-S413 and will not be described again.

S514: The AMF sends the N2 message to the target base station. The N2 message may include the identity of the second LMF, or the identity of the second LMF and at least one of the following information: the identity of the first LMF and information indicating that the LMF has changed or that the LMF has changed. The change or LMF change information may be, for example, an indication/notification of the LMF change/update/change.

Optionally, the N2 message may be, for example, a UE-related N2 message. For example, the UE-related N2 message may be a downlink UE-related NRPPa transmission. The N2 message can also be a new message, e.g. specifically used to notify LMF of changes.

Optionally, the information used to indicate that the LMF has changed may be a reason, a notification, an instruction, etc. The cause or notification or indication may be an enumeration type or a bit type or a character type or a Boolean type, etc., which is used to indicate that the LMF has changed or changed.

It can be understood that the third message in S303 may include the N2 message in S514.

S515: The target base station replaces or updates the identity of the first LMF with the identity of the second LMF according to the above N2 message.

For example, the target base station may update the positioning-related information of the terminal device and replace or update the identity of the first LMF with the identity of the second LMF.

S516: The target base station sends the uplink UE-related NRPPa transmission to the AMF. The uplink UE-related NRPPa transmission may include NRPPa Identification of the PDU and second LMF.

S517: The AMF sends an N2 message notification message to the second LMF according to the identifier of the second LMF, including the NRPPa PDU. Therefore, the UE-related NRPPa PDU can be processed by the second LMF.

Based on the process shown in Figure 5, the AMF can send the identifier of the second LMF to the target base station. The target base station can replace or update the identifier of the first LMF with the identifier of the second LMF. Therefore, the target base station can subsequently send the NRPPa PDU of the terminal device to arrive. The second LMF enables the second LMF to process the NRPPa PDU to avoid the failure of the positioning service of the terminal device and improve the continuity of the positioning service.

The difference between the process shown in Figure 6 and the process shown in Figure 5 is that after receiving the N2 path switching request from the target base station, the AMF temporarily does not send an N2 path switching reply to the target base station. After the AMF determines that the LMF that provides positioning services for the UE has been changed from the first LMF (corresponding to the aforementioned first location management network element) to the second LMF (corresponding to the aforementioned second location management network element), it sends the second LMF to the target base station. LMF identifies the N2 path switch reply. Subsequently, the target base station can send the identifier of the second LMF and the NRPPa PDU, so that the second LMF processes the NRPPa PDU. Specifically, this embodiment may include the following steps:

S601 to S607 are the same as S401 to S407 in the process shown in Figure 4 and will not be described again.

S608: AMF triggers LMF change process.

S609: After completing the execution of the LMF change process, send an N2 path switching reply to the target base station.

Wherein, the N2 path switching reply includes the identification of the second LMF, or includes the identification of the second LMF and at least one of the following information: the identification of the first LMF and the information used to indicate that the LMF has changed, the information used to indicate that the LMF has changed The information that the LMF has been changed may be an indication or notification that the LMF has been replaced.

Among them, the second LMF is the changed LMF or the second LMF is the LMF newly selected by the AMF.

It can be understood that the third message in S303 may include the N2 path switching reply.

S610 to S612 are the same as S515 to S517 in the process shown in Figure 5 and will not be described again.

In the process shown in Figure 7, the target base station determines that the terminal device has positioning-related information, and carries the NRPPa PDU and the identity of the first LMF in the N2 path switching request sent to the AMF. That is to say, in this example, the first message carries the first positioning information and the identity of the first LMF.

Specifically, this embodiment may include the following steps:

S701 to S705 are the same as S401 to S405 in the process shown in Figure 4 and will not be described again.

S706: The target base station determines/discovers that the UE has positioning-related information.

The positioning-related information may include at least one of the LMF identification, SRS parameter information, and PRS parameter information.

The target base station can determine whether the UE has positioning-related information based on the UE-related information sent by the source base station. For example, the UE related information from the source base station may include positioning related information, and then the target base station determines that the UE has positioning related information.

S707: The target base station sends an N2 path switching request to the AMF, which carries the NRPPa PDU and the identity of the first LMF.

Among them, the NRPPa PDU may carry the updated SRS configuration and/or PRS configuration (that is, the SRS configuration and/or PRS configuration determined in S705).

Afterwards, S407 to S417 shown in FIG. 4 may be executed, or S507 to S517 shown in FIG. 5 may be executed, or S607 to S612 shown in FIG. 6 may be executed.

In the process shown in Figure 8, through the UE-related signaling of the handover process, the source base station sends the UE positioning-related information to the target base station. The target base station then determines that the terminal device has positioning-related information, and sends the NRPPa PDU and The logo of the first LMF.

S801: The UE interacts with the NG-RAN (for example, the source base station) and the core network equipment (such as the first LMF) to perform a periodic positioning process. After the periodic positioning process ends, the UE can still remain in the connected state.

After the periodic positioning process ends, the UE can still remain in the connected state.

S802: Due to the movement of the UE, the handover process is triggered, and the UE sends a measurement report (measurement report) to the source base station. The measurement report may include a neighbor cell measurement signal strength list of the UE, and the source base station selects the base station where the target cell is located based on the neighbor cell list for handover.

S803: The source base station sends a handover request to the target base station, which carries the UE's PDU session-related information and positioning-related information.

As mentioned above, positioning-related information includes SRS parameter information and/or PRS parameter information. The SRS parameter information may include requested SRS transmission characteristic information. The PRS parameter information may include requested PRS transmission characteristic information.

Optionally, the handover request may also include the identification of the first LMF.

Optionally, the handover request may also include an NRPPa processing identifier and/or an LPP processing identifier.

It can be understood that the first parameter in this application may include the requested channel sounding reference signal transmission characteristic information and/or the requested positioning reference signal transmission characteristic information in S803.

S804: The target base station determines the SRS configuration and/or PRS configuration according to the SRS parameter information and/or PRS parameter information.

It can be understood that the first configuration in this application may include the SRS configuration and/or PRS configuration in S804.

S805: The target base station sends a handover request reply (handover request ACK) to the source base station.

The handover request reply may include SRS configuration and/or PRS configuration.

S806: The source base station sends an RRC message, such as an RRC reconfiguration message, to the UE, which carries SRS configuration and/or PRS configuration.

After that, S406 shown in Figure 4 and the actions after the process shown in Figure 4 can be executed, or the actions after S506 and after in the process shown in Figure 5 can be executed, or the actions after S606 and after in the process shown in Figure 6 can be executed, or the actions after S606 in the process shown in Figure 7 can be executed. Actions after S706 in the process shown.

In the process shown in Figure 9, when the terminal device moves from the source base station to the target base station, the source base station sends the first parameter to the AMF through the handover required message, and then the AMF sends the third parameter through the handover request. A parameter is sent to the target base station, so that the target base station can obtain the first parameter. Further, the target base station may also determine the SRS configuration and/or PRS configuration according to the first parameter, and send the SRS configuration and/or PRS configuration to the AMF through a handover request ACK. AMF can also send SRS configuration and/or PRS configuration to the source base station through handover command.

The target base station determines that the terminal device has positioning-related information, and sends the NRPPa PDU and the identity of the first LMF to the AMF.

S901 to S902 are the same as S801 and S802 in the process shown in Figure 8 and will not be described again.

S903: The source base station sends a handover requirement message to the AMF, which carries the UE's PDU session-related information and positioning-related information.

Optionally, the switching requirement may also include the identification of the first LMF.

Optionally, the handover requirement may also include an NRPPa processing identifier and/or an LPP processing identifier.

It can be understood that the first parameter in this application may include the requested channel sounding reference signal transmission characteristic information and/or the requested positioning reference signal transmission characteristic information in S903.

S904: The AMF sends a handover request to the target base station. The handover request carries the UE's PDU session related information and positioning related information.

Optionally, the handover request may also include at least one of the identification of the first LMF, the NRPPa processing identification, and the LPP processing identification.

S905: The target base station determines the SRS configuration and/or PRS configuration according to the SRS parameter information and/or PRS parameter information.

It can be understood that the first configuration in this application may include the SRS configuration and/or PRS configuration in S905.

S906: The target base station sends a handover request reply to the AMF.

It can be understood that the first message in S301 may include the handover request reply in S906.

S907: The AMF sends a handover command to the source base station, which may include SRS configuration and/or PRS configuration.

S908: The source base station sends an RRC message, such as an RRC reconfiguration message, to the UE, which may carry SRS configuration and/or PRS configuration.

S909: The UE sends a handover confirmation (handover confirm) to the target base station, that is, the UE accesses the target base station.

S910: The target base station sends a handover notification (handover notify) to the AMF, carrying the information of the target cell.

Optionally, the AMF may trigger changes to the LMF after receiving the notification, such as performing step S409 in Embodiment 1. In other words, S409 shown in FIG. 4 and the actions after S409 in the process shown in FIG. 4 may be executed, or the actions after S509 and thereafter in the process shown in FIG. 5 may be executed, or the actions after S608 and subsequent steps in the process shown in FIG. 6 may be executed.

Based on the process shown in Figure 9, during the handover process of the terminal equipment, the target base station can obtain the requested SRS transmission characteristic information and/or the requested PRS transmission characteristic information for determining the SRS configuration and/or PRS configuration, without the need for the target After moving, the base station obtains the SRS configuration and/or PRS configuration from the LMF to reduce the positioning service delay. The source base station can also obtain the SRS configuration and/or PRS configuration determined by the target base station, so that the source base station updates the SRS configuration and/or PRS configuration.

As shown in the process shown in Figure 10, the AMF used for the movement of the UE and providing services for the UE is changed from the second AMF to the first AMF. Then a possible process of the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application is as follows:

S1001 is the same as S801 shown in Figure 8 and will not be described again.

S1002: After this periodic positioning process ends, and before the next periodic positioning process starts, if there is no data transmission, the UE (terminal equipment) can enter the IDLE state, and the UE can move in the IDLE state.

S1003: Because the UE moves, the UE sends a registration request (Registration Request) to the base station. The registration request may be triggered by a periodic registration process, or may be triggered by the terminal device moving out of the registration area. The registration request may include the identification of the terminal device. The registration request may also include a registration type, for example, the registration type may be initial registration or periodic registration. The registration request can also be carried With AMF selection auxiliary information, this information is used to assist the base station in AMF selection.

Optionally, the base station here is the base station where the UE is located after moving, such as the target base station.

S1004: The base station performs AMF selection and determines the first AMF.

Among them, the base station can select AMF according to local configuration.

Optionally, if the registration request includes AMF selection assistance information, the base station may also select an AMF based on the AMF selection assistance information.

It can be understood that due to the movement of the UE, the first AMF selected by the base station is the new AMF.

S1005: The base station sends a registration request message to the selected first AMF to request registration of the UE, which includes the UE's identity.

S1006: The first AMF determines the second AMF according to the identity of the UE.

For example, the UE's identity may include information about the AMF (that is, the second AMF) that allocates the identity to the UE. For example, the GUTI includes an AMF pointer, which can be used to determine the second AMF.

It can be understood that the first access management network element in the above method embodiment includes the first AMF here, and the second access management network element includes the second AMF here.

S1007: The first AMF sends a UE context transfer request message (Namf_CommunicationUEContextTransfer) to the second AMF for requesting the UE context of the UE.

S1008: The second AMF sends a UE context transfer request reply message (Namf_CommunicationUEContextTransfer Response) to the first AMF, which may include the UE context of the UE.

Correspondingly, the first AMF may obtain the UE context of the UE.

It can be understood that the sixth message in this application may include the UE context transmission request reply message.

S1009: The first AMF determines that the UE has positioning-related information according to the UE context. The positioning-related information here may refer to the first information mentioned above.

For example, the first AMF may determine that the UE has at least one of the positioning service identifier, positioning context, positioning delay reference identifier, positioning QoS information, and positioning processing identifier based on the UE context, and then determines that the UE has positioning-related information.

S1010: The first AMF sends the seventh message to the LMF.

The seventh message may be used to indicate that the access management network element has changed. The seventh message may be used to indicate that the access management network element has changed. It may be understood that the seventh message itself has this function; or it may be understood that the seventh message may It is an existing message, but the information element it carries has the function of display and/or implicit indication. The explicit indication may be an identification that carries the new AMF, and the implicit indication may be an indication/notification of AMF change.

The seventh message may include the identification of the new AMF, and the seventh message may also include the positioning service identification.

Optionally, the seventh message may include an N1 information notification message and/or an event report message.

S1011: The LMF receives the seventh message and updates the positioning context of the UE.

For example, the LMF can update the AMF identity previously stored in the positioning context to the current AMF identity.

It can be understood that after S1011, a subsequent positioning process for the terminal device can be triggered based on periodic positioning events.

For example, after S1011, S409 shown in Figure 4 and the actions after the process shown in Figure 4 can also be executed, or the actions after S509 and after the process shown in Figure 5 can be executed, or the actions after S607 and after the process shown in Figure 6 can be executed. .

It can also be understood that the LMF in S1011 may be the first location management network element or the second location management network element described in the foregoing method embodiment.

It can be understood that in the above embodiments, after the terminal device moves to a new base station or a target base station, if the AMF is replaced, the target AMF (ie, the replaced AMF) will notify the terminal device of its AMF identifier through a message. The LMF of the location service, such as the first LMF or the second LMF. If the LMF is changed, that is, from the first LMF to the second LMF, the AMF can notify the second LMF of the location information of the UE through a message. As described in this application, the location information of the UE may include the identity of the base station where the UE is located (for example, the target base station) and/or the identity of the cell where the UE is located, etc. The message can be an N2 message notification or other message. The second LMF may receive the location information of the UE and select an appropriate neighboring base station of the UE to send the first positioning information according to the location information of the UE. For example, the first positioning information includes updated SRS and/or PRS configuration information to enable The access network equipment performs positioning measurements on the UE.

It can be understood that, in order to implement the functions in the above embodiments, the communication device provided by the embodiments of the present application includes corresponding hardware structures and/or software modules that perform each function. Those skilled in the art should easily realize that the units and method steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed in this application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a certain function is executed by hardware or computer software driving the hardware depends on the specific application scenarios and design constraints of the technical solution.

Figures 11 and 12 are schematic structural diagrams of possible communication devices provided by embodiments of the present application. These communication devices can be used to implement the functions of the first access management network element, the second location management network element or the second access network device in the above method embodiments, and therefore can also achieve the beneficial effects of the above method embodiments. In the embodiment of the present application, the communication device may be a first access management network element, a second location management network element, or a second access network device, or may be a module in the first access management network element, a second location management network element, or a module in the first access management network element. The module in the second position management network element or the module in the second access network device.

The communication device 1100 shown in FIG. 11 includes a processing unit 1110 and a transceiver unit 1120. The communication device 1100 is used to implement the functions of the first access management network element, the second location management network element or the second access network device in the above method embodiment. The transceiver unit 1120 may be used to implement corresponding communication functions. The transceiver unit 1120 may also be called a communication interface or a communication unit, and may include a sending unit and/or a receiving unit. The processing unit 1110 may be used to implement corresponding processing functions. Optionally, the communication device 1100 further includes a storage unit, which can be used to store instructions and/or data, and the processing unit 1110 can read the instructions and/or data in the storage unit, so that the communication device 1100 implements each of the above. Actions of the first access management network element (such as the first AMF), the second location management network element (such as the second LMF) or the second access network device (such as the target base station) in the method embodiment.

When the communication device 1100 is used to implement the function of the first access management network element in the above method embodiment, the transceiver unit 1120 can receive the first message sent by the second access network device, where the first message includes the first location management The identification of the network element and the first positioning information, the first location management network element is used to send the positioning information of the terminal device to the first access network device, wherein the terminal device moves from the first access network device to the second Access network equipment. The processing unit 1110 may also determine a second location management network element, which is used to send the positioning information of the terminal device to the second access network device. The transceiver unit 1120 may also send a second message to the second location management network element, and/or the first access management network element sends a third message to the first access network device. Wherein, the second message includes at least one of the first positioning information, a cell identity, an identity of the second access network device, and a first indication. The cell belongs to the second access network device, and the first indication Used to indicate that the access network equipment has changed. The third message is used to notify the location management network element that the location management network element has changed. The third message includes the identifier of the second location management network element, or includes the identifier of the second location management network element and at least one of the following information: the third location management network element. An identifier of a location management network element and a second indication, the second indication being used to indicate that the location management network element has changed.

In a possible implementation method, the transceiver unit 1120 may also receive a fourth message, where the fourth message includes the location information of the terminal device. The processing unit 1110 may also determine the second location management network element according to the location information of the terminal device.

In a possible implementation method, the processing unit 1110 may also determine based on the location information of the terminal device that the first location management network element cannot support positioning of the terminal device.

In a possible implementation method, the transceiver unit 1120 sends the third message to the first access network device, and the transceiver unit 1120 can also receive the fifth message. The fifth message includes at least one of the following information: the identifier of the second location management network element, the positioning service identifier, a third indication, the identifier of the terminal device, and the terminal context identifier. The third indication is used to indicate the location management network element. already changed.

In a possible implementation method, the transceiver unit 1120 may also receive a sixth message from the second access management network element, where the sixth message is used to extract the UE context. The processing unit 1110 may also determine that the terminal device has positioning information according to the UE context.

In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 1120 may also send the identification of the first access management network element to the first location management network element or the second location management network element; or, the transceiver unit 1120 may also send the identifier of the first access management network element to the first location management network element or the second location management network element. The first location management network element or the second location management network element sends the identifier of the first access management network element, the identifier of the terminal device and/or the positioning service identifier.

In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 1120 may also send a seventh message to the first location management network element or the second location management network element, where the seventh message is used to indicate that the access management network element has changed.

When the communication device 1100 is used to implement the function of the second location management network element in the above method embodiment, the transceiver unit 1120 can be used to receive a second message from the first access management network element, where the second message includes the third location management network element. At least one of positioning information, a cell identifier, an identifier of the second access network device, and a first indication, the cell belongs to the second access network device. The transceiver unit 1120 may also be configured to send the positioning information of the terminal device to the second access network device, and the terminal device moves from the first access network device to the second access network device. The first indication is used to indicate that the access network equipment has changed.

In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 1120 may also send the first positioning information to a third access network device, which is the access network device selected by the second location management network element.

In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 1120 may also receive the identity of the first access management network element; or the second location management network element receives the identity of the first access management network element, and the terminal The identification of the device and/or the identification of the positioning service.

In a possible implementation, the processing unit 1110 may also update the positioning context of the terminal device according to the identity of the first access management network element; or, the processing unit 1110 may also update the positioning context of the terminal device according to the identity of the first access management network element. , and the identifier of the terminal device and/or the positioning service identifier, and update the positioning context of the terminal device.

When the communication device 1100 is used to implement the function of the second access network device in the above method embodiment, the processing unit 1110 can be used to determine the first configuration, where the first configuration includes a channel sounding reference signal configuration and/or a positioning reference signal configuration. , the terminal equipment moves from the first access network equipment to the second access network equipment. The transceiver unit 1120 may send a first message to the first access management network element. The first message includes the identification of the first location management network element and the first positioning information. The first positioning information includes the first configuration, the first The location management network element is used to send the positioning information of the terminal device to the first access network device.

In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 1120 may also receive a third message from the first access management network element. The third message is used to notify the location management network element that the location management network element has changed. The third message includes the The identifier of the second location management network element, or the identifier of the second location management network element and at least one of the following information: the identifier of the first location management network element and a second indication, the second indication is used to indicate the location The management network element has changed.

In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 1120 may also receive a first parameter from the first access network device, where the first parameter includes the requested channel sounding reference signal transmission characteristic information and/or the requested positioning reference signal. Transfer characteristic information. The processing unit 1110 may also determine the first configuration according to the first parameter.

More detailed descriptions about the above processing unit 1110 and the transceiver unit 1120 can be obtained directly by referring to the relevant descriptions in the above method embodiments, and will not be described again here.

The communication device 1200 shown in FIG. 12 includes a processor 1210 and an interface circuit 1220. The processor 1210 and the interface circuit 1220 are coupled to each other. It can be understood that the interface circuit 1220 may be a transceiver or an input-output interface. Optionally, the communication device 1200 may also include a memory 1230 for storing instructions executed by the processor 1210 or input data required for the processor 1210 to run the instructions or data generated after the processor 1210 executes the instructions.

When the communication device 1200 is used to implement the above method embodiment, the processor 1210 is used to realize the function of the above processing unit 1110, and the interface circuit 1220 is used to realize the function of the above transceiver unit 1120.

It can be understood that the processor in the embodiment of the present application can be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processor, digital signal processor (DSP), or application-specific integrated circuit (application specific integrated circuit, ASIC), field programmable gate array (field programmable gate array, FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components or any combination thereof. A general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

The method steps in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented by hardware or by a processor executing software instructions. Software instructions can be composed of corresponding software modules, and the software modules can be stored in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, erasable programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory In memory, register, hard disk, mobile hard disk, CD-ROM or any other form of storage medium well known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. Of course, the storage medium can also be an integral part of the processor. The processor and storage media may be located in an ASIC. Of course, the processor and the storage medium may also exist as discrete components in the base station or terminal.

Based on the above embodiments, embodiments of the present application provide a communication system, which may include the first access management network element, the second location management network element, or the second access network device involved in the above embodiments.

Embodiments of the present application also provide a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium is used to store a computer program. When the computer program is executed by a computer, the computer can implement the communication method provided by the above method embodiment. Actions implemented by the first access management network element, the second location management network element or the second access network device.

Embodiments of the present application also provide a computer program product. The computer program product is used to store a computer program. When the computer program is executed by a computer, the computer can implement the communication method provided by the above method embodiment by the first access management Actions implemented by the network element, the second location management network element or the second access network device.

Embodiments of the present application also provide a chip, including a processor, the processor is coupled to a memory, and is used to call a program in the memory so that the chip implements the communication method provided by the above method embodiment. The communication method is managed by the first access. Actions implemented by the network element, the second location management network element or the second access network device.

Embodiments of the present application also provide a chip, which is coupled to a memory. The chip is used to implement the communication method provided by the above method embodiment. It is composed of a first access management network element, a second location management network element or a second access management network element. Actions implemented by network access equipment.

Those skilled in the art will understand that embodiments of the present application may be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Accordingly, the present application may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, or an embodiment that combines software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the present application may employ computer-usable storage media (including but not limited to disk memory, disk memory, computer-usable program code) embodied therein. The form of a computer program product implemented on a CD-ROM, optical storage, etc.).

The present application is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to the present application. It will be understood that each process and/or block in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of processes and/or blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, such that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device produce a use A device for realizing the functions specified in one process or multiple processes of the flowchart and/or one block or multiple blocks of the block diagram.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that causes a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to operate in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including the instruction means, the instructions The device implements the functions specified in a process or processes of the flowchart and/or a block or blocks of the block diagram.

These computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device, causing a series of operating steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable device to produce computer-implemented processing, thereby executing on the computer or other programmable device. Instructions provide steps for implementing the functions specified in a process or processes of a flowchart diagram and/or a block or blocks of a block diagram.

Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications to the present application without departing from the scope of the present application. In this way, if these modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and equivalent technologies, the present application is also intended to include these modifications and variations.

In the above embodiments, it may be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it may be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are loaded and executed on the computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are executed in whole or in part. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a base station, a UE, or other programmable devices. The computer program or instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer program or instructions may be transmitted from a website, computer, A server or data center transmits via wired or wireless means to another website site, computer, server, or data center. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available media may be magnetic media, such as floppy disks, hard disks, and tapes; optical media, such as digital video optical disks; or semiconductor media, such as solid-state hard drives. The computer-readable storage medium may be volatile or nonvolatile storage media, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile types of storage media.

In the various embodiments of this application, if there is no special explanation or logical conflict, the terms and/or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced to each other. The technical features in different embodiments are based on their inherent Logical relationships can be combined to form new embodiments.

In this application, "at least one" refers to one or more, and "plurality" refers to two or more. "And/or" describes the association of associated objects, indicating that there can be three relationships, for example, A and/or B, which can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone, where A, B can be singular or plural. In the text description of this application, the character "/" generally indicates that the related objects before and after are an "or" relationship; in the formula of this application, the character "/" indicates that the related objects before and after are a kind of "division" Relationship.

It can be understood that the various numerical numbers involved in the embodiments of the present application are only for convenience of description and are not used to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. The size of the serial numbers of the above processes does not mean the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic.

Claims

A communication method, characterized by including:

The first access management network element receives the first message sent by the second access network device, and the terminal device moves from the first access network device to the second access network device. The first message includes the first location management The identification of the network element and the first positioning information, the first location management network element is used to send the positioning information of the terminal device to the first access network device;

The first access management network element determines a second location management network element, and the second location management network element is used to send the positioning information of the terminal device to the second access network device;

The first access management network element sends a second message to the second location management network element, and/or the first access management network element sends a third message to the first access network device;

Wherein, the second message includes at least one of the first positioning information, a cell identity, an identity of the second access network device, and a first indication, and the cell belongs to the second access network device. ;The first indication is used to indicate that the access network equipment has changed;

The third message is used to notify that the location management network element has changed. The third message includes the identifier of the second location management network element, or includes the identifier of the second location management network element and at least one of the following information. One: the identification of the first location management network element and a second indication, where the second indication is used to indicate that the location management network element has changed.
The method of claim 1, wherein the second message further includes a second indication, and the second indication is used to indicate that the location management network element has changed.
The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, before receiving the first message, the method further includes:

The first access management network element receives a fourth message, where the fourth message includes location information of the terminal device;

The first access management network element determines the second location management network element, including:

The first access management network element determines the second location management network element based on the location information of the terminal device.
The method of claim 3, further comprising:

The fourth message is used for path switching, for notifying switching, for requesting switching, or for requesting to create a context of the terminal device.
The method according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the method further includes:

The first message is used for path switching, for notifying switching, for requesting switching, or for requesting to create a context of a terminal device, and the first message also includes location information of the terminal device;

The first access management network element determines the second location management network element, including:

The first access management network element determines the second location management network element based on the location information of the terminal device.
The method according to any one of claims 3-5, characterized in that the method further includes:

The first access management network element determines that the first location management network element cannot support positioning of the terminal device based on the location information of the terminal device.
The method according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that the first access management network element sends the third message to the first access network device, and the method further includes:

The first access management network element receives a fifth message, and the fifth message includes at least one of the following information: an identifier of the second location management network element, a positioning service identifier, a third indication, and an identifier of a terminal device. . Terminal context identifier, the third indication is used to indicate that the location management network element has changed.
The method according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the method further includes:

The first access management network element receives a sixth message from the second access management network element, where the sixth message is used to extract the UE context;

The first access management network element determines that the terminal device has positioning information according to the UE context.
The method of claim 8, further comprising:

The first access management network element sends the identification of the first access management network element to the first location management network element or the second location management network element; or,

The first access management network element sends the identification of the first access management network element, the identification of the terminal device and/or the identification of the terminal device to the first location management network element or the second location management network element. Locate the business identity.
The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the method further includes:

The first access management network element sends a seventh message to the first location management network element or the second location management network element, where the seventh message is used to indicate that the access management network element has changed.
A communication method, characterized by including:

The second location management network element receives a second message from the first access management network element. The second message includes the first positioning information, the cell identifier, the identifier of the second access network device, and the second message. At least one piece of information in an indication, the cell belongs to the second access network device; the second location management network element is used to send the positioning information of the terminal device to the second access network device, and the terminal The device moves from the first access network device to the second access network device; the first indication is used to indicate that the access network device has changed;

The second location management network element sends a fifth message to the first access management network element. The fifth message includes the identification of the second location management network element and/or a third indication. The third indication is The management network element at the indicated location has changed.
The method of claim 11, wherein the fifth message further includes at least one of the following information: an identification of a terminal device, a terminal context identification, and a positioning service identification.
The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the method further includes:

The second location management network element sends the first positioning information to a third access network device, and the third access network device is the access network device selected by the second location management network element.
The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the third access network device is an access selected by the second location management network element according to the identifier and/or cell identifier of the second access network device. network equipment, and the cell belongs to the second access network equipment.
The method of claim 12, wherein the third access network device includes an access network device adjacent to the second access network device.
The method according to any one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that the second message further includes a second indication, and the second indication is used to indicate that the location management network element has changed.
The method of claim 11, further comprising:

The second location management network element receives the identification of the first access management network element; or,

The second location management network element receives the identity of the first access management network element, the identity of the terminal device and/or the positioning service identity.
The method of claim 17, further comprising:

The second location management network element updates the positioning context of the terminal device according to the identification of the first access management network element; or,

The second location management network element updates the positioning context of the terminal device according to the identifier of the first access management network element, the identifier of the terminal device and/or the positioning service identifier.
A communication method, characterized by including:

The second access network device determines a first configuration, the first configuration includes a channel sounding reference signal configuration and/or a positioning reference signal configuration, and the terminal device moves from the first access network device to the second access network equipment;

The second access network device sends a first message to the first access management network element, the first message includes the identification of the first location management network element and first positioning information, the first positioning information includes the In a first configuration, the first location management network element is configured to send positioning information of the terminal device to the first access network device.
The method of claim 19, further comprising:

The second access network device receives a third message from the first access management network element, the third message is used to notify the location management network element that the location management network element has changed, and the third message includes the second The identification of the location management network element, or the identification of the second location management network element and at least one of the following information: the identification of the first location management network element and a second indication, the second indication is used to indicate The location management network element has changed.
The method according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that the method further includes:

The second access network device receives a first parameter from the first access network device, where the first parameter includes a requested channel sounding reference signal transmission characteristic and/or a requested positioning reference signal transmission characteristic;

The second access network device determines the first configuration, including:

The second access network device determines the first configuration according to the first parameter.
A communication device, characterized by including:

A transceiver unit configured to receive a first message sent by a second access network device. The terminal device moves from the first access network device to the second access network device. The first message includes a first location management network element. The identification and the first positioning information, the first location management network element is used to send the positioning information of the terminal device to the first access network device;

A processing unit configured to determine a second location management network element, and the second location management network element is configured to send the positioning information of the terminal device to the second access network device;

The transceiver unit is further configured to send a second message to the second location management network element, and/or the first access management network element sends a third message to the first access network device;

Wherein, the second message includes at least one of the first positioning information, a cell identity, an identity of the second access network device, and a first indication, and the cell belongs to the second access network device. ;The first indication is used to indicate that the access network equipment has changed;

The third message is used to notify that the location management network element has changed. The third message includes the identifier of the second location management network element, or includes the identifier of the second location management network element and at least one of the following information: One: the identification of the first location management network element and a second indication, where the second indication is used to indicate that the location management network element has changed.
The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the second message further includes a second indication, and the second indication is used to indicate that the location management network element has changed.
The device according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that, before receiving the first message, the transceiver unit is also used to:

Receive a fourth message, the fourth message including location information of the terminal device;

The processing unit is specifically used for:

The second location management network element is determined according to the location information of the terminal device.
The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the fourth message is used for path switching, for notifying switching, for requesting switching, or for requesting creation of a context of the terminal device.
The device according to any one of claims 22-25, characterized in that the transceiver unit is also used for:

The first message is used for path switching, for notifying switching, for requesting switching, or for requesting to create a context of a terminal device, and the first message also includes location information of the terminal device;

The processing unit is specifically used for:

The second location management network element is determined according to the location information of the terminal device.
The device according to any one of claims 24-26, characterized in that the processing unit is also used for:

According to the location information of the terminal device, it is determined that the first location management network element cannot support positioning of the terminal device.
The device according to any one of claims 22 to 27, characterized in that the first access management network element provides information to the first access network The device sends the third message, and the transceiver unit is also used to:

Receive a fifth message, where the fifth message includes at least one of the following information: an identifier of the second location management network element, a positioning service identifier, a third indication, an identifier of a terminal device, and a terminal context identifier, and the third The indication is used to indicate that the location management network element has changed.
The device according to any one of claims 22-28, characterized in that the transceiver unit is also used for:

Receive a sixth message from the second access management network element, the sixth message being used to extract the UE context;

The processing unit is also used to:

It is determined that the terminal device has positioning information according to the UE context.
The device according to claim 29, characterized in that the transceiver unit is also used for:

Send the identification of the first access management network element to the first location management network element or the second location management network element; or,

Send the identifier of the first access management network element, the identifier of the terminal device and/or the positioning service identifier to the first location management network element or the second location management network element.
The device according to claim 29 or 30, characterized in that the transceiver unit is also used for:

A seventh message is sent to the first location management network element or the second location management network element, where the seventh message is used to indicate that the access management network element has changed.
A communication device, characterized by including:

A receiving unit configured to receive a second message from the first access management network element, where the second message includes the first positioning information, the cell identifier, the identifier of the second access network device and the first At least one information in the indication, the cell belongs to the second access network device; sending positioning information of the terminal device to the second access network device, and the terminal device moves from the first access network device to the the second access network device; the first indication is used to indicate that the access network device has changed;

A sending unit, configured to send a fifth message to the first access management network element, where the fifth message includes the identification of the second location management network element and/or a third indication, where the third indication is used to indicate the location. The management network element has changed.
The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the fifth message further includes at least one of the following information: an identification of a terminal device, a terminal context identification, and a positioning service identification.
The device according to claim 32 or 33, characterized in that the sending unit is also used for:

Send the first positioning information to a third access network device, where the third access network device is the access network device selected by the second location management network element.
The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the third access network device is an access selected by the second location management network element according to the identifier and/or cell identifier of the second access network device. network equipment, and the cell belongs to the second access network equipment.
The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the third access network device includes an access network device adjacent to the second access network device.
The device according to any one of claims 32 to 36, wherein the second message further includes a second indication, and the second indication is used to indicate that the location management network element has changed.
The device according to claim 32, characterized in that the receiving unit is also used for:

Receive the identification of the first access management network element; or,

Receive the identification of the first access management network element, the identification of the terminal device and/or the positioning service identification.
The device according to claim 38, characterized in that the transceiver unit is also used for:

Update the positioning context of the terminal device according to the identity of the first access management network element; or,

According to the identity of the first access management network element, the identity of the terminal device and/or the positioning service identity, update the The positioning context of the end device.
A communication device, characterized by including:

A processing unit configured to determine a first configuration, the first configuration including a channel sounding reference signal configuration and/or a positioning reference signal configuration, and the terminal device moves from the first access network device to the second access network device ;

A transceiver unit configured to send a first message to a first access management network element, where the first message includes an identifier of a first location management network element and first positioning information, where the first positioning information includes the first configuration. , the first location management network element is configured to send the positioning information of the terminal device to the first access network device.
The device according to claim 40, characterized in that the transceiver unit is also used for:

Receive a third message from the first access management network element, the third message is used to notify that the location management network element has changed, and the third message includes the identification of the second location management network element, or The method includes an identifier of the second location management network element and at least one of the following information: an identifier of the first location management network element and a second indication, where the second indication is used to indicate that the location management network element has changed.
The device according to claim 40 or 41, characterized in that the transceiver unit is also used for:

Receive a first parameter from the first access network device, where the first parameter includes a requested channel sounding reference signal transmission characteristic and/or a requested positioning reference signal transmission characteristic;

The processing unit is specifically used for:

The first configuration is determined based on the first parameters.
A communication device, characterized by comprising a first access management network element and a second location management network element, the first access management network element being used to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10 , the second location management network element is used to perform the method according to any one of claims 11 to 18.
The apparatus according to claim 43, further comprising a second access network device, the second access network device being configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 19 to 21.
A communication device, characterized in that it includes a processor, the processor is coupled to a memory, and is used to execute a computer program or instructions stored in the memory, so that the communication device executes any of claims 1-21. The method described in 1.
A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that a computer program is stored on the computer-readable storage medium. When the computer program is run on a computer, it causes the computer to execute any one of claims 1-21. method described in the item.
A computer program product, characterized in that the computer program product includes instructions for executing the method according to any one of claims 1-21.