WO2024067375A1

WO2024067375A1 - Positioning reference signal configuration method, and communication apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2024067375A1
Application number: PCT/CN2023/120554
Authority: WO
Inventors: 范慧芳
Original assignee: 展讯半导体(南京)有限公司
Priority date: 2022-09-27
Filing date: 2023-09-22
Publication date: 2024-04-04
Also published as: CN117835395A

Abstract

Disclosed in the present application are a positioning reference signal configuration method and a communication apparatus. The method comprises: sending first information, which first information is used for requesting configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each terminal device among M terminal devices, wherein the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, the first positioning group comprises a first terminal device, the first terminal device is used for sending the first information, and M is an integer greater than or equal to 1; and receiving second information, wherein the second information comprises configuration information of positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices. The first information comprises at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information, wherein the positioning request type information is used for indicating a positioning type for requested positioning; and the group information of the first positioning group comprises group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group. By means of the present application, positioning reference signals between terminal devices can be efficiently configured in a centralized manner.

Description

Positioning reference signal configuration method and communication device

This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the China Patent Office on September 27, 2022, with application number 202211182253.6 and application name “Positioning Reference Signal Configuration Method and Communication Device”, all contents of which are incorporated by reference in this application.

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a positioning reference signal configuration method and a communication device.

Background technique

With the rapid development of the fifth-generation communication technology (5G), the demand for positioning technology is increasing day by day for diversified business types. For application scenarios such as vehicle to everything (V2X) and industrial internet of things (IIoT), the release-18 (Rel-18) protocol of the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) proposed the sidelink positioning technology, which can send positioning reference signals between terminal devices to achieve positioning function.

How to configure the positioning reference signal between terminal devices is the key to edge link positioning technology.

Summary of the invention

The present application provides a positioning reference signal configuration method and a communication device, which can efficiently configure positioning reference signals between multiple terminal devices, thereby improving configuration efficiency.

In a first aspect, the present application provides a method for configuring a positioning reference signal, which can be executed by a first terminal device, or by a device in the first terminal device, such as a chip or a processor. The method includes: sending first information, the first information is used to request the configuration information of the positioning reference signal of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, the first positioning group includes the first terminal device, and the first terminal device is used to send the first information; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1; receiving second information, the second information includes the configuration information of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices; wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information; the positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type of the requested positioning; the group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices.

It can be seen that the first terminal device can request to configure the positioning reference signal for the M terminal devices in the first positioning group by sending the first information, while other terminal devices in the positioning group do not need to send the first information, thereby reducing the signaling overhead of the first positioning group in the process of requesting the positioning reference signal configuration and reducing the energy consumption of other terminal devices in the first positioning group. Through the second information, the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices can be centrally configured, thereby improving the configuration efficiency and reducing the signaling overhead.

In a possible implementation, the positioning type indicated by the positioning request type information is single positioning or multiple positioning. It can be seen that the positioning type can be indicated as single positioning or multiple positioning through the positioning request type information, thereby better assisting in configuring the positioning reference signal.

In a possible implementation, the group member information includes attribute information of each terminal device in the first positioning group, and the attribute information includes at least one of the following: device identification, device type, indication information, positioning reference signal transmission requirement information, and positioning method; wherein the indication information is used to indicate whether the terminal device is configured with a positioning reference signal. The member information can assist in configuring the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices in the first positioning group, thereby increasing the adaptability of the configuration.

In a possible implementation, the first information also includes positioning requirement information and/or recommended configuration information; the positioning requirement information is used to describe the positioning requirement of the second terminal device in the first positioning group, and the second terminal device is the terminal device requesting positioning; the recommended configuration information is used to indicate the configuration information of the positioning reference signal recommended for each terminal device in the first positioning group. It can be seen that carrying the positioning requirement information and/or recommended configuration information in the first information can assist in configuring the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices, thereby improving the adaptability of the configuration.

In a possible implementation, the method further includes: sending first information to a network device, wherein the first terminal device is within the network coverage of the network device. It can be seen that the first terminal device can send the first information to the network device, so that the network device can centrally configure positioning reference signals for the M terminal devices in the first positioning group based on the first information. In addition to the first terminal, other terminal devices in the first positioning group can be outside the network coverage of the network device or within the network coverage of the network device. In both of the above cases, positioning reference signals can be configured for the M terminal devices in the first positioning group. For the situation where other terminal devices are outside the network coverage of the network device, unnecessary resource perception processes of other terminal devices can be avoided, thereby reducing energy consumption of other terminal devices.

In one possible implementation, the second information is carried in the radio resource control RRC signaling or the media access control element MAC CE or the downlink control information DCI sent by the network device, or the second information is carried in the first type of positioning signaling sent by the positioning function network element.

In a possible implementation, the method further includes: sending first information to a positioning function network element through a first type of positioning signaling; and receiving second information from the positioning function network element through the first type of positioning signaling. It can be seen that the first terminal device can send the first information to the positioning function network element, so that the positioning function network element can configure positioning reference signals for the M terminal devices in the first positioning group according to the first information. Correspondingly, the first terminal device can receive the second information from the positioning function network element.

In a second aspect, the present application provides another positioning reference signal configuration method, which can be executed by a network device, or by a device in the network device, such as a chip or a processor. The method includes: receiving first information from a first terminal device, the first information is used to request the configuration information of the positioning reference signal of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group includes the first terminal device; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1; sending second information to the first terminal device, the second information includes the configuration information of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices; wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information; the positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type of the requested positioning; the group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices.

It can be seen that the network device can centrally configure the positioning reference signal for the M terminal devices in the first positioning group according to the first information sent by the first terminal device, and send the configuration information of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices to the first terminal device, which can reduce the signaling overhead with other terminal devices in the first positioning group and improve the configuration efficiency.

In a possible implementation, the positioning type indicated by the positioning request type information is single positioning or multiple positioning. It can be seen that the positioning type can be indicated as single positioning or multiple positioning through the positioning request type information, so that the positioning reference signal can be better configured for the M terminal devices.

In a possible implementation, the group member information includes attribute information of each terminal device in the first positioning group, and the attribute information includes at least one of the following: device identification, device type, indication information, positioning reference signal transmission requirement information, and positioning reference signal transmission requirement information. The indication information is used to indicate whether the terminal device is configured with a positioning reference signal. It can be seen that the adaptability of the positioning reference signal configured for the M terminal devices can be increased through the group member information.

In a possible implementation, the first information further includes positioning requirement information and/or recommended configuration information; the positioning requirement information is used to describe the positioning requirement of the second terminal device in the first positioning group, and the second terminal device is the terminal device requesting positioning; the recommended configuration information is used to indicate the configuration information of the positioning reference signal recommended for each terminal device in the first positioning group. It can be seen that the configuration adaptability of the positioning reference signal can be improved by the positioning requirement information and/or recommended configuration information carried in the first information.

In one possible implementation, the second information is carried in the radio resource control RRC signaling or media access control element MAC CE or downlink control information DCI sent to the first terminal device.

In a third aspect, the present application provides another positioning reference signal configuration method, which can be executed by a network device, or by a device in the network device, such as a chip or a processor. The method includes: receiving first information from a first terminal device, the first information is used to request the configuration information of the positioning reference signal of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group includes the first terminal device; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1; sending third information to a positioning function network element, the third information includes part or all of the first information; wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information; the positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type of the requested positioning; the group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices.

It can be seen that the network device can send all or part of the first information from the first terminal device to the positioning function network element to request configuration of positioning reference signals for the M terminal devices in the first positioning group, thereby improving the efficiency of positioning reference signal configuration.

In a possible implementation manner, the third information is carried in the second type positioning signaling.

In a possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving second information sent from a positioning function network element, the second information including configuration information of positioning reference signals of M terminal devices, and the second information is transmitted through a second type of positioning signaling; and sending the second information to the first terminal device through RRC signaling or MAC-CE or DCI.

In a possible implementation, the positioning type indicated by the positioning request type information is single positioning or multiple positioning. It can be seen that the positioning type can be determined as single positioning or multiple positioning through the positioning request type information, thereby improving the configuration adaptability of the positioning reference signal.

In a possible implementation, the group member information includes attribute information of each terminal device in the first positioning group, and the attribute information includes at least one of the following: device identification, device type, indication information, positioning reference signal transmission requirement information, and positioning method; wherein the indication information is used to indicate whether the terminal device is configured with a positioning reference signal. It can be seen that the configuration adaptability of the positioning reference signal can be increased through the group member information.

In a fourth aspect, the present application provides another positioning reference signal configuration method, which can be performed by a positioning function network element. The method comprises: receiving first information from a network device, the first information being used to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, the first positioning group including the first terminal device; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1; sending second information, the second information including configuration information of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices; wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information; the positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type of the requested positioning; the group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices.

It can be seen that the positioning function network element can receive part or all of the first information through the network device, and according to the first information, centrally configure the positioning reference signal for the M terminal devices in the first positioning group, thereby improving the configuration efficiency.

In a possible implementation, the method further includes: sending second information to the first terminal device; the second information is carried in the first type positioning signaling; the first positioning group includes the first terminal device. It can be seen that the positioning function network element can directly send the configuration information of the positioning reference signal to the first terminal device.

In a possible implementation, the method further includes: sending second information to the network device, where the second information is carried in the second type of positioning signaling. It can be seen that the positioning function network element can send the configuration information of the positioning reference signal through the network device.

In a possible implementation manner, the third information is carried in the second type of positioning signaling sent by the network device.

In a possible implementation, the positioning request type information indicates the positioning type as single positioning or multiple positioning. It can be seen that the positioning request type information can indicate the positioning type as single positioning or multiple positioning, so that the positioning reference signal can be better configured for the M terminal devices.

In a possible implementation, the group member information includes attribute information of each terminal device in the first positioning group, and the attribute information includes at least one of the following: device identification, device type, indication information, positioning reference signal transmission requirement information, and positioning method; wherein the indication information is used to indicate whether the terminal device is configured with a positioning reference signal. It can be seen that the adaptability of the positioning reference signal configured for the M terminal devices can be increased through the group member information.

In a fifth aspect, the present application provides another positioning reference signal configuration method, which can be executed by a positioning function network element, or by a device in the positioning function network element, such as a chip or a processor. The method includes: receiving first information from a first terminal device, the first information is used to request the configuration information of the positioning reference signal of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group includes the first terminal device; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1; sending second information to the first terminal device, the second information includes the configuration information of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices; the first positioning group includes the first terminal device; wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information; the positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type of the requested positioning; the group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices.

It can be seen that the positioning function network element can receive the first information from the first terminal device, and according to the first information, centrally configure the positioning reference signal for the M terminal devices in the first positioning group, which can improve the configuration efficiency.

In a possible implementation manner, the first information is carried in the first type positioning signaling, and the second information is carried in the first type positioning signaling.

In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which includes a sending unit and a receiving unit, wherein the sending unit is used to send first information, the first information is used to request the configuration information of the positioning reference signal of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, the first positioning group includes a first terminal device, and the first terminal device is used to send the first information; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1; the receiving unit is used to receive second information, and the second information includes the configuration information of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices. The first information includes at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information; the positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type of the requested positioning; the group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices.

In a seventh aspect, the present application provides another communication device, which includes a sending unit and a receiving unit, wherein the sending unit is used to receive first information from a first terminal device, the first information is used to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group includes the first terminal device; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1; the sending unit is used to send second information to the first terminal device, and the second information includes configuration information of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices. The first information includes at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information; the positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type of the requested positioning; the group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices.

In an eighth aspect, the present application provides another communication device, the communication device comprising a sending unit and a receiving unit, wherein the receiving unit is used to receive first information from a first terminal device, the first information is used to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, the first positioning group includes the first terminal device; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1; the sending unit is used to send a third information to the positioning function network element The third information includes part or all of the first information; wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information; the positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type requested for positioning; the group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of M terminal devices.

In a ninth aspect, the present application provides another communication device, which includes a sending unit and a receiving unit, wherein the receiving unit is used to receive first information from a network device, the first information is used to request the configuration information of the positioning reference signal of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group includes the first terminal device; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1; the sending unit is used to send second information, and the second information includes the configuration information of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices. The first information includes at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information; the positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type of the requested positioning; the group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices.

In a tenth aspect, the present application provides another communication device, which includes a sending unit and a receiving unit, wherein the receiving unit is used to receive first information from a first terminal device, the first information is used to request the configuration information of the positioning reference signal of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group includes the first terminal device; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1; the sending unit is used to send second information to the first terminal device, and the second information includes the configuration information of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices; the first positioning group includes the first terminal device. The first information includes at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information; the positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type of the requested positioning; the group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices.

In the eleventh aspect, the present application provides a communication device, comprising a processor, a memory, and a computer program or instructions stored in the memory, characterized in that the processor executes the computer program or instructions to implement the method as in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof, or implement the method as in the second aspect and any possible implementation thereof, or implement the method as in the third aspect and any possible implementation thereof, or implement the method as in the fourth aspect and any possible implementation thereof, or implement the method as in the fifth aspect and any possible implementation thereof.

In a twelfth aspect, the present application provides a chip, in one implementation, the chip is used to send first information, the first information is used to request the configuration information of the positioning reference signal of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, the first positioning group includes a first terminal device, and the first terminal device is used to send the first information; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1; receive second information, the second information includes the configuration information of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices. The first information includes at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information; the positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type of the requested positioning; the group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices.

In another implementation, the chip is used to receive first information from a first terminal device, where the first information is used to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group includes the first terminal device; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1; and sends to the first terminal device The second information includes configuration information of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices. The first information includes at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information; the positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type requested for positioning; the group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices.

In another implementation, the chip is used to receive first information from a first terminal device, the first information is used to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group includes the first terminal device; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1; and third information is sent to a positioning function network element, and the third information includes part or all of the first information. The first information includes at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information; the positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type of the requested positioning; the group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices.

In another implementation, the chip is used to receive first information from a network device, the first information is used to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group includes the first terminal device; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1; and send second information, the second information includes configuration information of the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices. The first information includes at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information; the positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type of the requested positioning; the group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices.

In another implementation, the chip is used to receive first information from a first terminal device, the first information is used to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group includes the first terminal device; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1; second information is sent to the first terminal device, and the second information includes configuration information of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices; the first positioning group includes the first terminal device. The first information includes at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information; the positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type of the requested positioning; the group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices.

In the thirteenth aspect, the present application provides a chip module, which includes a communication module, a power module, a storage module and a chip module, wherein: the power module is used to provide power to the chip module; the storage module is used to store data and instructions; the communication module is used for internal communication within the chip module, or for the chip module to communicate with external devices; the chip module is used to execute the method of the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof, or execute the method of the second aspect and any possible implementation thereof, or execute the method of the third aspect and any possible implementation thereof, or execute the method of the fourth aspect and any possible implementation thereof, or execute the method of the fifth aspect and any possible implementation thereof.

In a fourteenth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores computer-readable instructions, and when the computer-readable instructions are executed on a communication device, the communication device executes the method in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof, or executes the method in the second aspect and any possible implementation thereof. The method of the present invention may be implemented in any manner, or the method of the third aspect and any possible implementation thereof may be implemented, or the method of the fourth aspect and any possible implementation thereof may be implemented, or the method of the fifth aspect and any possible implementation thereof may be implemented.

In a fifteenth aspect, the present application provides a computer program or a computer program product, comprising codes or instructions, which, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to execute a method as in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof, or execute a method as in the second aspect and any possible implementation thereof, or execute a method as in the third aspect and any possible implementation thereof, or execute a method as in the fourth aspect and any possible implementation thereof, or execute a method as in the fifth aspect and any possible implementation thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG1A is a schematic diagram of a scenario of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG1B is a schematic diagram of another scenario of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a process of Uu port positioning provided in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG3 is a schematic diagram of an LPP protocol architecture provided in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG4 is a schematic diagram of an LPP signaling interaction process provided in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG5 is a schematic diagram of an NRPPa signaling interaction process provided in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG6 is a schematic diagram of a flow chart of a positioning reference signal configuration method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG7 is a schematic diagram of a flow chart of another positioning reference signal configuration method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG8 is a schematic diagram of a flow chart of another positioning reference signal configuration method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG9 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG10 is a schematic diagram of the structure of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a chip module provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed ways

The terms used in the following embodiments of the present application are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments, and are not intended to be used as limitations to the present application. As used in the specification and appended claims of the present application, the singular expressions "one", "a kind of", "the", "above", "the" and "this" are intended to also include plural expressions, unless there is a clear indication to the contrary in the context. It should also be understood that the term "and/or" used in the present application refers to and includes any or all possible combinations of one or more listed items.

It should be noted that the terms "first", "second", "third", etc. in the specification and claims of the present application and in the above-mentioned drawings are used to distinguish similar objects, and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that the data used in this way can be interchangeable where appropriate, so that the embodiments of the present application described herein can be implemented in an order other than that illustrated or described herein. In addition, the term "comprising" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions, for example, a process, method, system, product, or server that includes a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units that are clearly listed, but may include other steps or units that are not clearly listed or inherent to these processes, methods, products, or devices.

First, the system architecture involved in this application is explained.

The embodiments of the present application may be applied to a fifth generation (5G) system, which may also be referred to as an NR system; or may also be applied to a sixth generation (6G) system, or a seventh generation (7G) system. system, or other communication systems in the future; or it can also be used for device to device (D2D) system, machine to machine (M2M) system, long term evolution (LTE) system, etc.

For example, but not limited to, the method provided in the embodiment of the present application can be applied to the communication system shown in Figure 1A. Figure 1A is a scene diagram of a communication system. The communication system may include but is not limited to one or more positioning groups 110, as well as network devices 120 and positioning function network elements 130. Among them, the positioning group 110 may include a terminal device 101 and a terminal device 102. It should be noted that the number and form of devices shown in Figure 1A are for example only and do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments of the present application.

The terminal device may be a device with wireless transceiver function, and may also be referred to as a terminal. The terminal device may refer to various forms of user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), access terminal equipment, vehicle-mounted terminal equipment, industrial control terminal equipment, UE unit, UE station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal equipment, mobile device, UE terminal equipment, wireless communication equipment, UE agent or UE device, etc. The terminal device may also be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld device with wireless communication function, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, a wearable device, a terminal device in a future communication system, etc. The terminal device may be fixed or mobile. In some embodiments, the terminal device may also be a device with transceiver function, such as a chip module. Among them, the chip module may include a chip and may also include other discrete devices. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form adopted by the terminal device.

A network device may be a device that provides wireless communication functions for a terminal device, and may also be referred to as a network device or a radio access network (RAN) device, etc. The network device may include, but is not limited to: an evolved node B (eNB), a radio network controller (RNC), a node B (NB), a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a home network device (e.g., a home evolved Node B, or a home Node B, HNB), a baseband unit (BBU), an access point (AP) in a wireless fidelity (WIFI) system, a wireless relay node, a wireless backhaul node, a transmission and reception point (TRP), a transmission point (TP), etc.; it may also be a device used in a 5G, 6G or even 7G system, such as a gNB in an NR system, or a transmission point (TRP or TP). In some embodiments, the network device may also be a device that provides wireless communication functions for the terminal device, such as a chip module. For example, the chip module may include a chip and may also include other discrete devices. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form used by the network device.

The positioning function network element is responsible for locating the terminal device, and can also be described as a positioning management network element, a positioning management device, a positioning device, a location server, etc. The positioning function network element can be a location management function (LMF) in the 5G core network, or it can be a network element with the same function as LMF in a future communication system, such as a network element with the same function as LMF in a 6G system. The positioning function network element of this application takes LMF as an example.

In the embodiment of the present application, the communication link between the terminal device 101 and the terminal device 102 in the positioning group can be called a side link (SL port). The side link can also be described as a side link, a straight link, a direct link, a direct link, an auxiliary link or a PC5 link. The communication interface between the network device 120 and the terminal device (such as the terminal device 101) can be called The communication link between the network device 120 and the terminal device (such as the terminal device 101) is called a Uu link, and the Uu link can also be described as a Uu link or a main link. For the sake of simplicity, FIG. 1A only shows the uplink and downlink between the terminal device 101 and the network device 120. In fact, there may also be an uplink and downlink between the terminal device 102 and the network device 120. It should be noted that the terminal devices 101 and 102 can access the same network device or different network devices, for example, the terminal device 101 accesses the network device 1, and the terminal device 102 accesses the network device 2.

Exemplarily, in a new radio (NR) system, the network device 120 and the positioning function network element 130 may implement signaling interaction through the NR positioning protocol A (NR positioning protocol A, NRPPa). Exemplarily, the terminal device 101 or the terminal device 102 and the positioning function network element 130 may implement signaling interaction through the LTE positioning protocol (LTE positioning protocol, LPP). For the sake of simplicity, FIG. 1A only shows the LPP signaling interaction between the terminal device 102 and the positioning function network element 130. In fact, there may also be LPP signaling interaction between the terminal device 101 and the positioning function network element 130. Also for the simplicity of FIG. 1A, FIG. 1A only shows the logical LPP signaling between the terminal device 102 and the positioning function network element 130. In fact, the LPP signaling sent by the terminal device 102 needs to be transparently transmitted to the positioning function network element 130 through the network device 120 and the access and mobility management function (AMF) network element. In FIG. 1A , for ease of observation, the process of LPP signaling passing through the network device 120 and the AMF network element is omitted.

For example, but not limited to, the method provided in the embodiment of the present application can also be applied to the communication system shown in Figure 1B. Figure 1B is a scene diagram of another communication system. The communication system may include but is not limited to a positioning group 140, a network device 150 and a positioning function network element 160. Among them, the positioning group may include but is not limited to four terminal devices, namely UE1, UE2, UE3 and UE4. Exemplarily, positioning reference signals can be sent between UE1 and UE2, between UE1 and UE3, and between UE1 and UE4. In the present application, the positioning function network element 160 takes LMF as an example. It should be noted that the number and form of devices shown in Figure 1B are for example only and do not constitute a limitation on the embodiment of the present application. Exemplarily, UE1 may be within the network coverage of the network device 150, and UE2, UE3 and UE4 are outside the network coverage of the network device 150. Exemplarily, UE1, UE2, UE3 and UE4 may all be within the network coverage of the network device 150.

It can be understood that the communication system described in the embodiment of the present application is for more clearly illustrating the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solution provided by the embodiment of the present application. Those skilled in the art can know that with the evolution of the system architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application is also applicable to similar technical problems.

Secondly, the relevant names or terms involved in this application are explained to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

1.Uu port positioning

Uu port positioning refers to the positioning achieved by the positioning reference signal between the terminal device and the network device sent through the Uu port (or cellular network communication interface). Uu port positioning can also be described as main positioning, main link positioning or Uu link positioning. The positioning reference signal between the terminal device and the network device can be a channel sounding reference signal (SRS) and/or a positioning reference signal (PRS).

Uu port positioning can be divided into uplink (UL) positioning and downlink (DL) positioning. The positioning request types of Uu port positioning are mainly divided into the following three types: mobile originated location request (MO-LR), mobile terminated location request (MT-LR) and network Network induced location request (NI-LR). MO-LR is a location request sent by the terminal device to the current serving public land mobile network (PLMN); MT-LR is a location request initiated by the location service (LCS) client, internal or external application function (AF) to the current serving PLMN; NI-LR is a location request initiated by the terminal device's serving AMF for regulatory services, such as emergency calls from the terminal device.

(1) Uu port positioning process

Taking MO-LR as an example, please refer to Figure 2, which is a schematic diagram of the positioning process of MO-LR in Uu port positioning. As shown in Figure 2, the Uu port positioning system includes three parts: terminal equipment (UE), access network equipment and core network equipment, wherein the core network equipment includes access and mobility management function (AMF) equipment and positioning management function (LMF) equipment. The positioning process shown in Figure 2 includes but is not limited to the following steps:

S201, UE triggers a service request to establish a signaling connection with AMF.

When the UE is in the connection management–idle (CM-IDLE) state, the UE can trigger a service request to establish a signaling connection with the AMF.

S202, UE sends MO-LR to AMF.

Among them, MO-LR can be carried in the UL non-access-stratum (NAS) transport message. The NAS message sent by the UE can be sent directly to the AMF. Optionally, the MO-LR request information may include an LPP positioning message, and the LPP positioning message may include a positioning request type, such as a request to estimate the UE's location information, or a request to estimate the UE's location information and send the UE's location information to the LCS client or AF, or a request for positioning assistance data, etc. In the case where the MO-LR includes a request to estimate the UE's location information, or includes a request to estimate the UE's location information and send it to the LCS client or AF, the MO-LR may also carry positioning service quality (QoS) requirement information. Optionally, the QoS requirement information may include one or more of the positioning accuracy, positioning response time, LCS QoS level, and other information.

S203, AMF selects LMF and initiates a positioning request message to LMF.

AMF selects a suitable LMF based on local configuration information or other information. Exemplarily, the other information may be QoS requirement information. Optionally, the positioning request information may be a location determination request (nlmf_location_determinelocation request) message. The positioning request information may include LCS-related identification information, current serving cell identification, UE type, and UE positioning requirement information. Among them, the UE positioning requirement information is used to indicate whether the UE performs positioning estimation, and/or whether the UE requests positioning assistance information, etc.

S204, LMF initiates the UE positioning process (UE positioning).

The UE positioning process is used to obtain the positioning estimation result of the UE. Optionally, the UE positioning process may include a positioning capability interaction process, a positioning auxiliary information configuration process, a positioning measurement request process, a positioning result reporting process, and the like.

S205, LMF sends positioning information to AMF.

If the UE positioning estimation result obtained in S204 meets the LCS QoS requirement, the LMF may send positioning information to the AMF. For example, the positioning information may be a determine location request response (nlmf_location_determinelocation response) information. The positioning information carries the UE positioning estimation result.

S206, AMF sends positioning information to the UE.

The AMF sends the positioning estimation result that meets the LCS QoS requirement information to the downlink (DL) NAS TRANSPORT (MO-LR response) information is sent to the terminal device.

(2) LPP protocol

In the positioning process of the above-mentioned Uu port, the signaling interaction process between the terminal device and the LMF is involved. Among them, the signaling interaction between the terminal device and the LMF is mainly used to enable the LMF to learn the positioning capability of the terminal device, configure auxiliary information for the terminal device, request positioning measurement, and obtain the positioning estimation result of the terminal device. The terminal device and the LMF transmit signaling information between the two through the LPP protocol. The schematic diagram of the LPP protocol architecture involved in the signaling interaction between the terminal device and the LMF is shown in Figure 3. The air interface between the terminal device and the next generation radio access network (NG-RAN) can be the NR-Uu port or the LTE-Uu port, the air interface between the NG-RAN and the AMF can be the NG-C port, and the air interface between the AMF and the LMF can be the NL1 port.

Specifically, as shown in FIG3 , the protocol stack of the terminal device at the Uu port includes, from top to bottom: LPP, NAS, radio resource control (RRC), service data adaptation protocol (SDAP), packet data convergence protocol (PDCP), radio link control (RLC), medium access control (MAC), physical layer (PHY), where SDAP, PDCP, RLC, and MAC are called layer 2 protocols, referred to as L2 protocols, and the physical layer protocol is called layer 1 protocol, referred to as L1 protocols. Among them, the peer protocol layer of LPP is located in LMF, the peer protocol layer of NAS is located in AMF, and the peer protocol layers of other protocol layers are located in NG RAN. The protocol stack of NG-RAN at the Uu port includes, from top to bottom: RRC, SDAP, PDCP, RLC, MAC, and PHY, and the peer protocol layers of these protocol layers are all located in the terminal device. The protocol stack of NG-RAN at the NG-C port includes, from top to bottom, NG application protocol (NGAP), stream control transmission protocol (SCTP), internet protocol (IP), L2, L1. The equivalent protocol layers of these protocol layers are all located in AMF. The protocol stack of AMF at the NG-C port includes, from top to bottom, NAS, NGAP, SCTP, IP, L2, L1. Among them, the equivalent protocol layer of NAS is located in the terminal device, and the equivalent protocol layers of other protocol layers are located in NG RAN. The protocol stack of AMF at the NL1 port includes, from top to bottom, hyper text transfer protocol 2.0 (HTTP2.0), transport layer security (TLS), transmission control protocol (TCP), IP, L2, L1. The equivalent protocol layers of these protocol layers are all located in LMF. The protocol stack of LMF at the NL1 port includes LPP, HTTP2.0, TLS, TCP, IP, L2, and L1 from top to bottom. Among them, the peer protocol layer of LPP is located in the terminal device, and the peer protocol layers of other protocol layers are located in AMF.

Among them, there is also a relay function at the top layer of the NG RAN node and AMF, which means that the upper layer signaling can be transparently transmitted. For example, the upper layer NAS signaling can be transparently transmitted at the NG RAN node. The LPP signaling can be transparently transmitted at the AMF node.

Furthermore, the interaction of positioning capabilities, positioning assistance information, and positioning measurement information between the terminal device and the LMF can be carried through LPP signaling. The LPP signaling interaction process between the terminal device and the LMF is shown in Figure 4, including but not limited to the following steps:

S401, LMF sends an LPP request capabilities message to the terminal device.

S402, the terminal device sends an LPP provide capabilities message to the LMF.

The terminal device responds to the LPP request capability message to provide the positioning capability to the LMF and sends the LPP provision capability message through LPP signaling. The positioning capability provided by the terminal device to the LMF includes one or more of the following: the capability of different positioning methods (such as DL-AoD) supported by the terminal device, the capability of the positioning mode ... The PRS resource capability of the terminal device, the measurement capability supported by the terminal device, the quasi co-location (QCL) processing capability of the terminal device, and whether the terminal device supports periodic reporting capabilities, etc. Among them, the positioning mode can be based on UE positioning (that is, the UE does the positioning solution itself) or UE-assisted positioning (that is, the LMF does the positioning solution).

S403, LMF sends LPP provide assistance data (LPP provide assistance data) to the terminal device.

Assistance data refers to the auxiliary information required by LMF for terminal equipment positioning. The auxiliary information may include PRS configuration information, positioning calculation auxiliary information, and auxiliary information adapted for specific positioning methods. For example, the auxiliary information adapted for a specific method may be auxiliary information of the global navigation satellite system (GNSS).

S404, LMF sends an LPP request location information (LPP request location information) message to the terminal device.

The request location information can be used by the LMF to request the terminal device to perform positioning measurement or request the terminal device to perform positioning estimation.

S405, the terminal device obtains location information.

The terminal device may perform positioning measurement or positioning estimation by using the auxiliary information received during execution of S403, thereby obtaining location information.

S406, the terminal device sends LPP provide location information (LPP provide location information) to LMF.

The location information provided by the LPP may include reporting of positioning measurement results or reporting of positioning estimation results.

(3) NRPPa protocol

The positioning process of the above-mentioned Uu port involves the signaling interaction process between the network device and the LMF. Among them, the signaling interaction between the network device and the LMF is carried by NRPPa signaling, and the interaction content carried by the NRPPa signaling may include the interaction of positioning auxiliary information, the interaction of positioning information, the interaction of measurement information, the interaction of transmission and reception point (TRP) information, etc. As shown in Figure 5, the interaction process of NRPPa signaling between the network device and the LMF may include but is not limited to the following steps:

S501, LMF sends NRPPa procedural request information to the network device.

S502, the network device sends NRPPa procedural response information to LMF.

2. Positioning reference signal

The positioning reference signal is a known signal provided by the transmitter to the receiver for positioning. The positioning reference signal involved in the embodiment of the present application refers to a reference signal transmitted between terminal devices and used to implement the positioning function. For example, in the communication system in Figures 1A and 1B, the positioning function is realized by sending a positioning reference signal through the side link (SL) port between terminal devices. It should be noted that the positioning reference signal between terminal devices can be called a sidelink positioning reference signal (sidelink positioning reference signal, SL-PRS) or SPRS, etc. With the evolution of the standard, the positioning reference signal between terminal devices may adopt other names. In this application, the positioning reference signal between terminal devices takes SL-PRS as an example.

Among them, SL port positioning refers to positioning achieved by a positioning reference signal sent between terminal devices, for example, positioning achieved by a positioning reference signal sent between terminal device A and terminal device B. SL port positioning can also be described as side link positioning, edge link positioning, etc. The specific implementation process of SL port positioning is not limited in this application. For example, in the communication system in Figure 1B, UE2, UE3 and UE4 can respectively send positioning reference signals to UE1, and UE1 can measure the received positioning reference signals and determine the location information of UE1 based on the obtained measurement results.

3. Target UE and anchor UE

The target UE is a terminal device that needs to be positioned, and the anchor UE is a terminal device in the same positioning group as the target UE and is used to assist the target UE in positioning. For example, as shown in FIG1B , assuming that UE1 is the target UE, UE2, UE3 and UE4 in the positioning group may be anchor UEs.

The following is an explanation of the positioning reference signal configuration method provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Please refer to Figure 6, which is a flow chart of a positioning reference signal configuration method provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 6, the positioning reference signal configuration method may include but is not limited to the following steps:

S601, a first terminal device sends first information to a network device. Correspondingly, the network device receives the first information from the first terminal device. The first information is used to request configuration information of positioning reference signals of M terminal devices in a first positioning group.

The first terminal device is a terminal device that initiates a positioning reference signal configuration request in a communication system. In one implementation, the first terminal device may be a target UE. In another implementation, the first terminal device may be an anchor UE. The network device is a base station, for example, the network device may be a gNB in an NR system.

The first terminal device is within the network coverage of the network device and can send the first information to the network device through the uplink. The first information is used to request the configuration information of the positioning reference signal of M (M≥1, and M is an integer) terminal devices. The M terminal devices belong to the first positioning group, and similarly, the first terminal device also belongs to the first positioning group. The positioning group refers to a terminal device set consisting of multiple terminal devices. Optionally, the above-mentioned M terminal devices may be all or part of the terminal devices in the first positioning group.

Among them, the first information sent by the first terminal device may include at least one of the following: positioning request type information, positioning reference signal transmission end information, and group information of the first positioning group.

The positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type of the positioning request. Optionally, the positioning type is single positioning or multiple positioning. Single positioning refers to performing one positioning. Multiple positioning refers to performing multiple positioning. For example, the specific type of the requested multiple positioning may be a delayed MT-LR (deferred MT-LR) type. The deferred MT-LR request may include a variety of positioning trigger conditions, such as periodic triggering or event triggering. Among them, periodic triggered positioning may be called periodic positioning, that is, periodic positioning is performed at a certain frequency. Exemplarily, periodic positioning may be performed once every half an hour, or multiple positioning (such as 3 times) may be performed within a time range (such as 1 day). Event-triggered positioning may be called event-triggered positioning, and event-triggered positioning may be multiple non-periodic positioning. The time interval between event-triggered positioning may be random. Among them, event triggering may include triggering based on area events, triggering based on behavior events, and triggering based on UE availability events. It should be noted that for the specific description of event triggering and event-triggered positioning, please refer to the 3GPP standard protocol technical specification (technical specification, TS) version 23.273, namely 3GPP TS 23.273.

Optionally, the positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type requested by the target UE in the first positioning group. Optionally, the positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type requested by each terminal device in the first positioning group. Optionally, the positioning type requested for positioning may specifically be a positioning request type such as MT-LR, MO-LR, NI-LR or deferred MT-LR.

The positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices in the first positioning group. Optionally, the positioning reference signal transmission end information can be used to indicate the predicted transmission end time of the positioning reference signal.

The group information of the first positioning group includes a group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group.

Among them, the group identifier of the first positioning group is used to identify the positioning group. Exemplarily, it is assumed that there are 4 terminal devices in the first positioning group as shown in Figure 1B, namely UE1, UE2, UE3 and UE4. UE1-UE4 can form a positioning group, and a group identifier can be used to identify the positioning group. Exemplarily, the group identifier can be determined in any of the following ways: using the target layer 2 identifier in V2X; determined by the group identifier information provided by the application layer; determined according to the service type in V2X, such as the service provider identifier (provider service identifier, PSID) or the intelligent transportation system application object identifier (intelligent transportation system-application object identification, ITS-AID); determined by the UE itself; allocated by the positioning function network element or network equipment.

Optionally, the group member information includes attribute information of each terminal device in the first positioning group. The attribute information includes at least one of the following: device identification, device type, indication information, positioning reference signal transmission requirement information and positioning method.

Among them, the indication information is used to indicate whether to configure the positioning reference signal. Exemplarily, assume that there are 4 terminal devices in the first positioning group as shown in Figure 1B, namely UE1, UE2, UE3 and UE4. UE1 is the target UE, UE2, UE3 and UE4 are anchor UEs, and UE1 is the first terminal device. In this case, UE4 may not need the network device to configure the positioning reference signal (which can be marked as 0 in the indication information), and UE1, UE2 and UE3 all need the network device to configure the positioning reference signal (which can be marked as 111 in the indication information). At this time, M=3, and the indication information can be expressed as 1110. It should be noted that the embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific representation rules adopted by the indication information.

Optionally, the positioning reference signal transmission requirement information is used to indicate whether to transmit the positioning reference signal. Exemplarily, there are 4 terminal devices in the first positioning group as shown in FIG1B, namely UE1, UE2, UE3 and UE4. Assume that UE1 is the target UE, UE2, UE3 and UE4 are anchor UEs, and UE1 is the first terminal device. Optionally, UE1 may send a positioning reference signal (which may be marked as 1), and UE2, UE3 and UE4 may not send a positioning reference signal (which may be marked as 000). In this case, M=1, and the positioning reference signal transmission requirement information may be expressed as 1000. Optionally, UE1 may not send a positioning reference signal (which may be marked as 0), and UE2, UE3 and UE4 may send a positioning reference signal (which may be marked as 111). In this case, M=3, and the positioning reference signal transmission requirement information may be expressed as 0111. It should be noted that the embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific representation rules adopted by the positioning reference signal transmission requirement information.

Optionally, the positioning methods may include: time difference of arrival (TDoA), round-trip time (RTT), multiple round-trip time (Multi-RTT), angle of arrival (AoA), angle-of-departure (AoD), etc.

In a possible implementation, the first information may also include positioning requirement information and/or recommended configuration information. The positioning requirement information is used to describe the positioning requirement of the second terminal device in the first positioning group; the recommended configuration information is used to indicate the configuration information of the positioning reference signal recommended by each terminal device in the first positioning group.

Optionally, the positioning requirement may be a positioning QoS requirement. The positioning QoS requirement may include information such as positioning accuracy and positioning response time. For example, positioning accuracy may be divided into horizontal accuracy and vertical accuracy. Response time may be divided into no delay, low delay, and delay tolerance.

Optionally, the recommended configuration information is used to indicate the configuration information of the recommended configuration of each terminal device in the first positioning group. The configuration information may include at least one of the following information: time-frequency resources, sequence type, bandwidth, time domain period (period and end time of period) and other parameters of the positioning reference signal PRS. The time-frequency resources may include parameters such as frequency domain comb tooth size, the number of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols occupied by the positioning reference signal, and the positioning reference signal pattern.

Optionally, the second terminal device may be the same as or different from the first terminal device. If the second terminal device is the same as the first terminal device, it indicates that the first terminal device is the target UE, and the configuration information of the positioning reference signal requested by the first message is used to locate the first terminal device. If the second terminal device is different from the first terminal device, the first terminal device is the anchor UE, the second terminal device is the target UE, and the configuration information of the positioning reference signal requested by the first message is used to locate the second terminal device.

In a possible implementation, the first terminal device may belong to multiple positioning groups, for example, the first terminal device may belong to positioning group 1 and positioning group 2. When sending the first information, the first terminal device may select one positioning group from the multiple positioning groups as the first positioning group, and the specific selection rule is not limited in this application.

Optionally, taking the first terminal device and the second terminal device as the same terminal device as an example, the first terminal device is the target UE, and a positioning group can be constructed through the positioning discovery process. Among them, the first terminal device can send discovery signals to each other with other terminal devices. Assuming that the signal quality of the discovery signal sent by the terminal device 1, the terminal device 2, the terminal device 3, the terminal device 4 and other devices meets the requirements of the first terminal device (for example, the signal receiving power RSRP is greater than the threshold), the terminal device 1-4 can send feedback information to the first terminal device, and the first terminal device can select any number of terminal devices (such as terminal devices 1-3) from the above-mentioned terminal devices according to the feedback information and its own positioning requirements to form a first positioning group with the first terminal device, and the terminal devices 1-3 can be anchor UEs. Optionally, the number of anchor UEs can be adaptively changed according to the actual positioning scenario. For example, the number and location information of the required anchor UEs can be determined according to whether the positioning of the target UE is absolute positioning or relative positioning. Exemplarily, if the target UE needs to be absolutely positioned, such as locating the latitude and longitude values of the target UE, at least three anchor UEs are required to assist in locating the target UE through methods such as three-point positioning. If the target UE needs to be relatively positioned (for example, relative to the position of the network device), one or more anchor UEs and the relative position of each anchor UE (for example, direction, distance, etc. relative to the network device) are required to assist the target UE in positioning.

S602, the network device sends second information to the first terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the second information from the first terminal device. The second information includes configuration information of positioning reference signals of M terminal devices.

After receiving the first information sent by the first terminal, the network device may configure the positioning reference signal for the M terminal devices in the first positioning group according to the first information, thereby generating the second information. Optionally, the configuration information of the positioning reference signal may include dynamic parameters (such as time-frequency resource location parameters) and semi-static parameters, wherein the semi-static parameters may include bandwidth, positioning reference signal period, frequency domain comb tooth size, signal pattern, number of positioning reference signal resources, mute design and other parameters.

In one possible implementation, the second information may be carried in radio resource control (RRC) signaling or media access control element (MAC control element, MAC CE) or downlink control information (DCI) sent by the network device.

Exemplarily, please refer to FIG. 1B , assuming that the first positioning group includes four terminal devices, namely UE1, UE2, UE3, UE4, and a network device, and UE1 is within the network coverage of the network device. Optionally, FIG. 1B may also include a positioning function network element. Assuming that UE1 is the target UE, UE2, UE3, and UE4 are anchor UEs. The configuration of positioning reference signals between terminal devices in the first positioning group and the positioning of the target UE can be achieved in the following manner.

Method 1: UE1, as the first terminal device, sends the first information, which is used to request the positioning reference signal configuration information of UE2, UE3, and UE4 (in this case, M=3). After receiving the second information, UE1 sends the second information to UE2, UE3, and UE4 respectively, where the second information includes the positioning reference signal configuration information of UE2, UE3, and UE4. Configuration information. UE2, UE3 and UE4 can send positioning reference signals to UE1 respectively, and UE1 measures and settles positioning for each positioning reference signal, thereby obtaining the positioning information of UE1.

Method 2: UE1, as the first terminal device, sends the first information, which is used to request the positioning reference signal configuration information of UE1 (in this case, M=1). After receiving the second information, UE1 can send positioning reference signals to UE2, UE3 and UE4 respectively, wherein the second information includes the positioning reference signal configuration information of UE1. UE2, UE3 and UE4 can measure the positioning reference signals they receive respectively, obtain the measurement results, and feed the measurement results back to UE1. UE1 can perform positioning settlement based on the measurement results, thereby obtaining the positioning information of UE1.

It should be noted that, based on the same inventive concept, the specific implementation process and principles of the above-mentioned method 1 and method 2 can refer to the technical details and principles in S601-S602 in the embodiment shown in Figure 6, which will not be repeated here.

In the embodiment of the present application, the network device can centrally configure the positioning reference signal for the M terminal devices in the first positioning group, which can improve the configuration efficiency and avoid the M terminals requesting the base station to configure the positioning reference signal. In addition, it can only be required that the first terminal device is within the network coverage of the network device. When there are other terminal devices in the first positioning group that are outside the network coverage, the positioning reference signal can also be configured for the above other terminal devices, thereby avoiding unnecessary perception processes between the terminal devices, saving the energy consumption of the terminal devices, and reducing the overhead of the communication system.

Please refer to Figure 7, which is a flow chart of another positioning reference signal configuration method provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 7, the positioning reference signal configuration method may include but is not limited to the following steps:

S701, a first terminal device sends first information to a network device. Correspondingly, the network device receives the first information from the first terminal device. The first information is used to request configuration information of positioning reference signals of M terminal devices in a first positioning group.

The first terminal device belongs to a first positioning group. The first positioning group includes M terminal devices. The network device is a base station, for example, the network device may be a gNB in an NR system. Optionally, the first terminal device is within a network coverage of the network device and may send first information to the network device via an uplink.

The first information may include at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information. The group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group. The positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices.

Based on the same inventive concept, the first information in step S701 can refer to the specific description of the first information in step S601 in the embodiment of FIG. 6 , which will not be repeated here.

S702, the network device sends third information to the positioning function network element. Correspondingly, the positioning function network element receives the third information from the network device. The third information includes part or all of the first information.

The positioning function network element may be LMF.

In a possible implementation, the third information is carried in the second type of positioning signaling. The second type of positioning signaling may be NRPPa signaling. Specifically, the third information may be carried by the following information elements of NRPPa signaling: position information response, position information update, assistance information feedback, measurement response, measurement report, and other information elements.

S703, the positioning function network element sends second information to the network device. Correspondingly, the network device receives the second information from the positioning function network element. The second information includes configuration information of the positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices.

The positioning function network element may configure positioning reference signals for the M terminal devices in the first positioning group according to the received third information, thereby generating the second information.

In a possible implementation, the second information may be transmitted via a second type of positioning signaling. The second type of positioning signaling may be NRPPa signaling. Specifically, the second information may be carried via the following information elements of the NRPPa signaling: position information response, position information update, assistance information feedback, measurement response, measure report, and other information elements.

Based on the same inventive concept, the second information in step S703 can refer to the specific description of the second information in step S602 in the embodiment of FIG. 6 , which will not be repeated here.

S704, the network device sends second information to the first terminal device. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the second information from the network device. The second information includes configuration information of positioning reference signals of M terminal devices.

It should be noted that the execution process of step S704 can refer to the specific description of step S602 in the embodiment of FIG. 6 , which will not be repeated here.

In an embodiment of the present application, the network device may send all or part of the first information from the first terminal device to the positioning function network element, and the positioning function network element may centrally configure the positioning reference signal for the M terminal devices in the first positioning group, which may improve the configuration efficiency, thereby avoiding the M terminals from requesting the positioning function network element to configure the positioning reference signal. At the same time, by sending the first information through the first terminal device, the configuration of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices in the first positioning group may be realized, the signaling transmission between other terminal devices and the network device in the first positioning group may be reduced, the signaling overhead may be reduced, and the unnecessary resource perception process of the terminal devices outside the network coverage may be avoided, thereby saving the energy consumption of other terminal devices in the first positioning group and the overhead of the communication system.

In a possible implementation, the positioning function network element may also directly send the second information to the first terminal device, and the step of transmitting the second information between the positioning function network element and the network device, and the step of transmitting the second information between the network device and the first terminal device may be omitted. The second information sent to the first terminal may be carried in a first type of positioning signaling. The first type of positioning signaling may be LPP signaling. Optionally, the second information may be carried in a signaling element such as provide assistance data.

Please refer to Figure 8, which is a flow chart of another positioning reference signal configuration method provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 8, the method may include but is not limited to the following steps:

S801, a first terminal device sends first information to a positioning function network element. Correspondingly, the positioning function network element receives the first information from the first terminal device. The first information is used to request configuration information of positioning reference signals of M terminal devices in a first positioning group.

The first terminal device belongs to the first positioning group. The first positioning group includes M terminal devices. The positioning function network element may be an LMF. Among them, the first information may include at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information. The group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group. Among them, the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices.

In a possible implementation, the first terminal device may send the first information to the positioning function network element via a first type of positioning signaling, wherein the first type of positioning signaling may be an LPP signaling, and specifically, the first information may be carried in a signaling element such as a request assistance data.

Based on the same inventive concept, the first information in step S801 can refer to the specific description of the first information in step S601 in the embodiment of FIG. 6 , which will not be repeated here.

S802, the positioning function network element sends second information to the first terminal device. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the second information from the positioning function network element. The second information includes positioning reference signal configuration information of M terminal devices.

After receiving the first information, the positioning function network element may configure positioning reference signals for the M terminal devices in the first positioning group according to the first information, thereby generating second information.

In a possible implementation, the positioning function network element may carry the second information in the first type of positioning signaling. Accordingly, the first terminal device may receive the second information from the positioning function network element through the first type of positioning signaling. The first type of positioning signaling may be LPP signaling. Optionally, the second information may be carried in a signaling element such as provide assistance data.

Based on the same inventive concept, the second information in step S802 can refer to the specific description of the second information in step S602 in the embodiment of FIG. 6 , which will not be repeated here.

In an embodiment of the present application, the first terminal device may send the first information to the positioning function network element, and the positioning function network element may centrally configure the positioning reference signal for the M terminal devices in the first positioning group based on the first information, thereby improving the configuration efficiency. At the same time, by sending the first information through the first terminal device, the configuration of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices in the first positioning group can be realized, which can reduce the signaling transmission between other terminal devices in the first positioning group and the positioning function network element, and reduce the signaling overhead. It can also avoid unnecessary resource perception processes of terminal devices, thereby saving energy consumption of other terminal devices in the first positioning group and the overhead of the communication system.

Please refer to Fig. 9, which is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Fig. 9, the communication device 90 includes a sending unit 910 and a receiving unit 920.

In one implementation, the communication device 90 is a first terminal device or a device matching the first terminal device:

The sending unit 910 is used to send the first information, the first information is used to request the configuration information of the positioning reference signal of each terminal device in the M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to the first positioning group, the first positioning group includes the first terminal device, and the first terminal device is used to send the first information; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1. The receiving unit 920 is used to receive the second information, the second information includes the configuration information of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices. Among them, the first information includes at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information; the positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type of the requested positioning; the group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices.

Among them, the first information includes at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information; the positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type requested for positioning; the group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of M terminal devices.

Optionally, the positioning request type information indicates a positioning type of single positioning or multiple positioning.

Optionally, the group member information includes attribute information of each terminal device in the first positioning group, and the attribute information includes at least one of the following: device identification, device type, indication information, positioning reference signal transmission requirement information, and positioning method; wherein the indication information is used to indicate whether the terminal device is configured with a positioning reference signal.

Optionally, the first information also includes positioning requirement information and/or recommended configuration information; the positioning requirement information is used to describe the positioning requirement of the second terminal device in the first positioning group, and the second terminal device is the terminal device requesting positioning; the recommended configuration information is used to indicate the configuration information of the positioning reference signal recommended for each terminal device in the first positioning group.

Optionally, the sending unit 910 is further used to send first information to a network device, wherein the first terminal device is within the network coverage of the network device.

Optionally, the second information is carried in the radio resource control RRC signaling or the media access control element MAC CE or the downlink control information DCI sent by the network device, or the second information is carried in the first type of positioning signaling sent by the positioning function network element.

Optionally, the sending unit 910 is further used to send first information to the positioning function network element through the first type of positioning signaling; the receiving unit 920 is further used to receive second information from the positioning function network element through the first type of positioning signaling.

The communication device 90 can also be used to implement other functions of the first terminal device in the embodiments corresponding to Figures 6-8, which will not be described in detail here. Based on the same inventive concept, the principle and beneficial effect of the communication device 90 provided in the embodiment of the present application to solve the problem are similar to the principle and beneficial effect of the first terminal device in the method embodiment of the present application to solve the problem, which can be referred to the principle and beneficial effect of the implementation of the method, and will not be described here for the sake of brevity.

In another implementation, the communication device 90 is a network device or a device matching a network device:

The receiving unit 920 is configured to receive first information from a first terminal device, where the first information is used to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group includes the first terminal device; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1. The sending unit 910 is configured to send second information to the first terminal device, where the second information includes configuration information of positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices.

Optionally, the second information is carried in radio resource control RRC signaling or media access control element MAC CE or downlink control information DCI sent to the first terminal device.

The communication device 90 can also be used to implement other functions of the network device in the embodiment corresponding to FIG6 , which will not be described in detail here. Based on the same inventive concept, the principle and beneficial effect of the communication device 90 provided in the embodiment of the present application to solve the problem are similar to the principle and beneficial effect of the network device in the embodiment of the method of the present application to solve the problem, which can be referred to the principle and beneficial effect of the implementation of the method, and will not be described in detail here for the sake of concise description.

The receiving unit 920 receives first information from a first terminal device, where the first information is used to request M terminal devices. Configuration information of the positioning reference signal of each terminal device in the first positioning group; M terminal devices belong to the first positioning group, and the first positioning group includes the first terminal device; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1. The sending unit 910 sends third information to the positioning function network element, and the third information includes part or all of the first information.

Optionally, the third information is carried in the second type positioning signaling.

Optionally, the receiving unit 920 is also used to receive second information sent from the positioning function network element, where the second information includes configuration information of the positioning reference signal of M terminal devices, and the second information is transmitted through the second type of positioning signaling; the sending unit 910 is also used to send the second information to the first terminal device through RRC signaling or MAC-CE or DCI.

The communication device 90 can also be used to implement other functions of the network device in the embodiment corresponding to FIG. 7, which will not be described in detail here. Based on the same inventive concept, the principle and beneficial effect of the communication device 90 provided in the embodiment of the present application to solve the problem are similar to the principle and beneficial effect of the network device in the embodiment of the method of the present application to solve the problem, which can be referred to the principle and beneficial effect of the implementation of the method, and will not be described in detail here for the sake of concise description.

In another implementation, the communication device 90 is a positioning function network element or a device matching the positioning function network element:

The receiving unit 920 is configured to receive first information from a network device, where the first information is used to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group includes the first terminal device; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1. The sending unit 910 is configured to send second information, where the second information includes configuration information of positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices.

Optionally, the sending unit 910 is further used to send second information to the first terminal device; the second information is carried in the first type of positioning signaling; and the first positioning group includes the first terminal device.

Optionally, the sending unit 910 is further configured to send second information to the network device, where the second information is carried in the second type of positioning signaling.

Optionally, the third information is carried in the second type of positioning signaling sent by the network device.

Optionally, the group member information includes attribute information of each terminal device in the first positioning group, and the attribute information includes the following: At least one item: device identification, device type, indication information, positioning reference signal transmission requirement information, positioning method; wherein the indication information is used to indicate whether the terminal device is configured with a positioning reference signal.

The communication device 90 can also be used to implement other functions of the positioning function network element in the embodiment corresponding to Figure 7, which will not be repeated here. Based on the same inventive concept, the principle and beneficial effect of the communication device 90 provided in the embodiment of the present application to solve the problem are similar to the principle and beneficial effect of the positioning function network element in the method embodiment of the present application to solve the problem, which can be referred to the principle and beneficial effect of the implementation of the method, and will not be repeated here for the sake of concise description.

The receiving unit 920 is configured to receive first information from a first terminal device, where the first information is used to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group includes the first terminal device; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1. The sending unit 910 is configured to send second information to the first terminal device, where the second information includes configuration information of positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices; and the first positioning group includes the first terminal device.

Optionally, the first information is carried in the first type positioning signaling, and the second information is carried in the first type positioning signaling.

The communication device 90 can also be used to implement other functions of the positioning function network element in the embodiment corresponding to Figure 8, which will not be repeated here. Based on the same inventive concept, the principle and beneficial effect of the communication device 90 provided in the embodiment of the present application to solve the problem are similar to the principle and beneficial effect of the positioning function network element in the method embodiment of the present application to solve the problem, which can be referred to the principle and beneficial effect of the implementation of the method, and will not be repeated here for the sake of concise description.

Please refer to Figure 10, which is another communication device 100 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 100 may include a transceiver 1010 and a processor 1020. Optionally, the communication device may also include a memory 1030. Among them, the transceiver 1010, the processor 1020, and the memory 1030 may be connected via a bus 1040 or other methods. The bus is represented by a bold line in Figure 10, and the connection method between other components is only schematically illustrated and is not intended to be limiting. The bus can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For ease of representation, only one bold line is used in Figure 10, but it does not mean that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

The coupling in the embodiment of the present application is an indirect coupling or communication connection between devices, units or modules, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms, and is used for information exchange between devices, units or modules. The specific connection medium between the above-mentioned transceiver 1010, processor 1020, and memory 1030 is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

The memory 1030 may include a read-only memory and a random access memory, and provides instructions and data to the processor 1020. A portion of the memory 1030 may also include a nonvolatile random access memory.

The processor 1020 may be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, and optionally, the processor 1020 may also be any conventional processor, etc.

In an optional implementation, the memory 1030 is used to store program instructions; the processor 1020 is used to call the program instructions stored in the memory 1030 to execute the steps executed by the first terminal device in the corresponding embodiments of Figures 6-8.

In another optional implementation, the memory 1030 is used to store program instructions; the processor 1020 is used to call the program instructions stored in the memory 1030 to execute the steps performed by the network device in the corresponding embodiments of Figures 6-8.

In yet another optional implementation, the memory 1030 is used to store program instructions; the processor 1020 is used to call the program instructions stored in the memory 1030 to execute the steps performed by the positioning function network element in the corresponding embodiments of Figures 6-8.

In the embodiment of the present application, the method provided in the embodiment of the present application can be implemented by running a computer program (including program code) capable of executing each step involved in the above method on a general computing device such as a computer including a CPU, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM) and other processing elements and storage elements. The computer program can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, for example, and loaded into the above computing device through the computer-readable recording medium and run therein.

Based on the same inventive concept, the principles and beneficial effects of solving the problems by the communication device 100 provided in the embodiment of the present application are similar to the principles and beneficial effects of solving the problems in the embodiments shown in Figures 6 to 8 of the present application. Please refer to the principles and beneficial effects of the implementation of the method. For the sake of concise description, they will not be repeated here.

The aforementioned communication device may be, for example, a chip or a chip module.

The embodiment of the present application also provides a chip, which can execute the relevant steps of the first terminal device in the aforementioned method embodiment. For example, the chip is used to: send first information, the first information is used to request the configuration information of the positioning reference signal of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to the first positioning group, the first positioning group includes the first terminal device, and the first terminal device is used to send the first information; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1; receive second information, the second information includes the configuration information of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices; wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information; positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type of the requested positioning; the group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices.

Specifically, in this case, the operations performed by the chip can refer to the introduction of the first terminal device in the embodiments corresponding to FIG. 6 to FIG. 8 above.

In another implementation, the chip can execute the relevant steps of the network device in the aforementioned method embodiment. For example, the chip is used to: receive first information from a first terminal device, the first information is used to request the configuration information of the positioning reference signal of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group includes the first terminal device; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1; send second information to the first terminal device, the second information includes the configuration information of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices; wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information; the positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type of the requested positioning; the group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices.

Specifically, in this case, the operations performed by the chip can refer to the introduction of the network device in the embodiment corresponding to FIG. 6 above.

In another implementation, the chip can execute the relevant steps of the network device in the aforementioned method embodiment. For example, the chip is used to: receive first information from a first terminal device, the first information is used to request the configuration information of the positioning reference signal of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group includes the first terminal device; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1; send third information to the positioning function network element, the third information includes part or all of the first information; wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information; positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type of the requested positioning; the group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices.

Specifically, in this case, the operations performed by the chip can refer to the introduction of the network device in the embodiment corresponding to FIG. 7 above.

In another implementation, the chip can execute the relevant steps of the positioning function network element in the aforementioned method embodiment. For example, the chip is used to: receive first information from a network device, the first information is used to request the configuration information of the positioning reference signal of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to the first positioning group, and the first positioning group includes the first terminal device; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1; send second information, the second information includes the configuration information of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices; wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information; the positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type of the requested positioning; the group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices.

Specifically, in this case, the operations performed by the chip may refer to the introduction of the positioning function network element in the embodiment corresponding to FIG. 7 above.

In another implementation, the chip can execute the steps related to the positioning function network element in the aforementioned method embodiment. For example, the chip is used to: receive first information from a first terminal device, the first information is used to request the configuration information of the positioning reference signal of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group includes the first terminal device; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1; send second information to the first terminal device, the second information includes the configuration information of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices; the first positioning group includes the first terminal device; wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, positioning reference signal transmission End information; positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type requested; the group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of M terminal devices.

Specifically, in this case, the operations performed by the chip may refer to the introduction of the positioning function network element in the embodiment corresponding to FIG. 8 above.

Please refer to FIG11 , which is a schematic diagram of the structure of a chip module provided in an embodiment of the present application. The chip module 11 can execute the relevant steps of the communication device 90 in the aforementioned method embodiment, and the chip module includes: a communication interface 1110 and a chip 1120 .

Among them, the communication interface is used for internal communication of the chip module, or for the chip module to communicate with external devices; the chip is used to implement the function of the communication device in the embodiment of the present application, and specifically refer to the corresponding embodiments of Figures 6-8. Optionally, the chip module 11 may also include a storage module 1130 and a power module 1140. The storage module 1130 is used to store data and instructions. The power module 1140 is used to provide power to the chip module.

For each device or product applied to or integrated in the chip module, each module contained therein can be implemented by hardware such as circuits, and different modules can be located in the same component of the chip module (such as a chip, circuit module, etc.) or in different components. Alternatively, at least some of the modules can be implemented by a software program that runs on a processor integrated inside the chip module, and the remaining (if any) modules can be implemented by hardware such as circuits.

An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, in which one or more instructions are stored, and the one or more instructions are suitable for being loaded by a processor and executing the method provided by the above method embodiment.

The embodiment of the present application also provides a computer program product including a computer program or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are executed on a computer, the computer executes the method provided by the above method embodiment.

Regarding the various modules/units included in the various devices and products described in the above embodiments, they can be software modules/units, or hardware modules/units, or they can be partially software modules/units and partially hardware modules/units. For example, for various devices and products applied to or integrated in a chip, the various modules/units included therein can all be implemented in the form of hardware such as circuits, or at least some of the modules/units can be implemented in the form of software programs, which run on a processor integrated inside the chip, and the remaining (if any) modules/units can be implemented in the form of hardware such as circuits; for various devices and products applied to or integrated in a chip module, the various modules/units included therein can all be implemented in the form of hardware such as circuits, and different modules/units can be located in the same component (such as a chip, circuit module, etc.) or different components of the chip module, or at least some of the modules/units can be implemented in the form of hardware such as circuits. The element can be implemented in the form of a software program, which runs on a processor integrated inside the chip module, and the remaining (if any) modules/units can be implemented in the form of hardware such as circuits; for various devices and products applied to or integrated in the terminal, the various modules/units contained therein can be implemented in the form of hardware such as circuits, and different modules/units can be located in the same component (for example, chip, circuit module, etc.) or in different components in the terminal, or, at least some modules/units can be implemented in the form of a software program, which runs on a processor integrated inside the terminal, and the remaining (if any) modules/units can be implemented in the form of hardware such as circuits.

It should be noted that, for the sake of simplicity, the above-mentioned method embodiments are described as a series of action combinations, but those skilled in the art should be aware that the present application is not limited to the order of the actions described, because according to the present application, some steps can be performed in other orders or simultaneously. It should be noted that the embodiments described in the specification are all preferred embodiments, and the actions and modules involved are not necessarily required for this application.

The steps in the method of the embodiment of the present application can be adjusted in order, combined and deleted according to actual needs.

The modules in the device of the embodiment of the present application can be merged, divided and deleted according to actual needs.

A person of ordinary skill in the art can understand that all or part of the steps in the various methods of the above embodiments can be completed by instructing related hardware through a program, and the program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, which can include: a flash drive, ROM, RAM, a magnetic disk or an optical disk, etc.

The above disclosure is only a preferred embodiment of the present application, which is only a part of the embodiments of the present application and cannot be used to limit the scope of rights of the present application.

Claims

A positioning reference signal configuration method, characterized by comprising:

Sending first information, where the first information is used to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, the first positioning group includes a first terminal device, and the first terminal device is used to send the first information; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1;

receiving second information, where the second information includes configuration information of positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices;

Among them, the first information includes at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information; the positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type requested for positioning; the group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices.
The method according to claim 1 is characterized in that the positioning type indicated by the positioning request type information is single positioning or multiple positioning.
The method as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that the group member information includes attribute information of each terminal device in the first positioning group, and the attribute information includes at least one of the following: device identification, device type, indication information, positioning reference signal transmission requirement information, and positioning method; wherein the indication information is used to indicate whether to configure the positioning reference signal.
The method as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that the first information also includes positioning requirement information and/or recommended configuration information; the positioning requirement information is used to describe the positioning requirement of the second terminal device in the first positioning group, and the second terminal device is a terminal device requesting positioning; the recommended configuration information is used to indicate the configuration information of the positioning reference signal recommended for each terminal device in the first positioning group.
The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the first terminal device is the same as or different from the second terminal device.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that sending the first information comprises:

A first message is sent to a network device, where the first terminal device is within the network coverage of the network device.
The method as claimed in claim 6 is characterized in that the second information is carried in the radio resource control RRC signaling or the media access control element MAC CE or the downlink control information DCI sent by the network device, or the second information is carried in the first type of positioning signaling sent by the positioning function network element.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that sending the first information comprises:

Sending first information to a positioning function network element through a first type of positioning signaling;

The receiving of the second information comprises:

Second information is received from the positioning function network element through the first type positioning signaling.
A positioning reference signal configuration method, characterized in that the method comprises:

Receive first information from a first terminal device, where the first information is used to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group includes the first terminal device; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1;

Sending second information to the first terminal device, where the second information includes configuration information of positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices;

Among them, the first information includes at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information; the positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type requested for positioning; the group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices.
The method as claimed in claim 9 is characterized in that the second information is carried in the radio resource control RRC signaling or the media access control element MAC CE or the downlink control information DCI sent to the first terminal device.
A positioning reference signal configuration method, characterized in that the method comprises:

Receive first information from a first terminal device, where the first information is used to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group includes the first terminal device; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1;

Sending third information to the positioning function network element, where the third information includes part or all of the first information;

Among them, the first information includes at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information; the positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type requested for positioning; the group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices.
The method as claimed in claim 11 is characterized in that the third information is carried in the second type positioning signaling.
The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the method further comprises:

receiving second information sent from the positioning function network element, where the second information includes configuration information of positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices, and the second information is transmitted through second type positioning signaling;

The second information is sent to the first terminal device via RRC signaling, MAC-CE or DCI.
A positioning reference signal configuration method, characterized in that the method comprises:

receiving third information from a network device, the third information including part or all of the first information, the first information being used to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1;

Sending second information, where the second information includes configuration information of positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices;

Among them, the first information includes at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information; the positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type requested for positioning; the group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices.
The method according to claim 14, wherein sending the second information comprises:

Sending second information to a first terminal device; the second information is carried in a first type of positioning signaling; the first positioning group includes the first terminal device.
The method according to claim 14, wherein sending the second information comprises:

Sending second information to the network device, where the second information is carried in a second type of positioning signaling.
The method according to any one of claims 14 to 15 is characterized in that the third information is carried in the second type positioning signaling sent by the network device.
A positioning reference signal configuration method, characterized in that the method comprises:

Receive first information from a first terminal device, where the first information is used to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group includes the first terminal device; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1;

Sending second information to the first terminal device, where the second information includes configuration information of positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices; the first positioning group includes the first terminal device;

Among them, the first information includes at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information; the positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type requested for positioning; the group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices.
The method as claimed in claim 18 is characterized in that the first information is carried in a first type of positioning signaling, and the second information is carried in the first type of positioning signaling.
A communication device, characterized in that the communication device comprises:

a sending unit, configured to send first information, wherein the first information is used to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, the first positioning group includes a first terminal device, and the first terminal device is used to send the first information; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1;

A receiving unit, configured to receive second information, where the second information includes configuration information of positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices;

The first information includes at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information; the positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type of the requested positioning; The group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices.
A communication device, characterized in that the communication device comprises:

A receiving unit, configured to receive first information from a first terminal device, wherein the first information is used to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group includes the first terminal device; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1;

A sending unit, configured to send second information to the first terminal device, where the second information includes configuration information of positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices;

Among them, the first information includes at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information; the positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type requested for positioning; the group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices.
A communication device, characterized in that the communication device comprises:

A receiving unit, configured to receive first information from a first terminal device, wherein the first information is used to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, and the first positioning group includes the first terminal device; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1;

A sending unit, configured to send third information to a positioning function network element, wherein the third information includes part or all of the first information;

Among them, the first information includes at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information; the positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type requested for positioning; the group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices.
A communication device, characterized in that the communication device comprises:

A receiving unit, configured to receive third information from a network device, the third information including part or all of the first information, the first information being used to request configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each terminal device in M terminal devices; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1;

A sending unit, configured to send second information, where the second information includes configuration information of positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices;

Among them, the first information includes at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information; the positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type requested for positioning; the group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices.
A communication device, characterized in that the communication device comprises:

A receiving unit, configured to receive first information from a first terminal device, wherein the first information is used to request M terminals Configuration information of a positioning reference signal of each terminal device in the device; the M terminal devices belong to a first positioning group, the first positioning group includes the first terminal device; M is an integer greater than or equal to 1;

A sending unit, configured to send second information to the first terminal device, where the second information includes configuration information of positioning reference signals of the M terminal devices; the first positioning group includes the first terminal device;

Among them, the first information includes at least one of the following: positioning request type information, group information of the first positioning group, and positioning reference signal transmission end information; the positioning request type information is used to indicate the positioning type requested for positioning; the group information of the first positioning group includes the group identifier and/or group member information of the first positioning group; the positioning reference signal transmission end information is used to indicate the transmission end time of the positioning reference signal of the M terminal devices.
A communication device, comprising a processor, a memory, and a computer program or instruction stored on the memory, characterized in that the processor executes the computer program or instruction to implement the steps of the method described in any one of claims 1 to 8, or implement the steps of the method described in any one of claims 9 to 10, or implement the steps of the method described in any one of claims 11 to 13, or implement the steps of the method described in any one of claims 14 to 17, or implement the steps of the method described in any one of claims 18 to 19.
A chip, comprising a processor, characterized in that the processor executes the steps of the method described in any one of claims 1 to 8, or executes the steps of the method described in any one of claims 9 to 10, or executes the steps of the method described in any one of claims 11 to 13, or executes the steps of the method described in any one of claims 14 to 17, or executes the steps of the method described in any one of claims 18 to 19.
A chip module, characterized in that the chip module includes a communication interface and a chip, wherein: the communication interface is used for internal communication within the chip module, or for the chip module to communicate with an external device; the chip is used to execute the steps of the method described in any one of claims 1 to 8, or the steps of the method described in any one of claims 9 to 10, or the steps of the method described in any one of claims 11 to 13, or the steps of the method described in any one of claims 14 to 17, or the steps of the method described in any one of claims 18 to 19.
A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that it stores a computer program or instruction, which, when executed, implements the steps of the method described in any one of claims 1 to 8, or implements the steps of the method described in any one of claims 9 to 10, or implements the steps of the method described in any one of claims 11 to 13, or implements the steps of the method described in any one of claims 14 to 17, or implements the steps of the method described in any one of claims 18 to 19.