RU2827775C2 - Positioning method and device for this - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: communication.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a positioning method. Method is designed to be performed by a backbone network device and comprises a step of transmitting a positioning message, wherein the positioning message contains time information used to indicate to the network access device or the terminal device the time for returning the response information. Consequently, the time of each stage in the positioning process is controlled by the reference network device, so that the backbone network device can complete the preparatory operations for positioning during the prescribed time interval.

EFFECT: reduced positioning delay.

10 cl, 20 dwg

Description

Field of technology to which the present invention relates

[01] The present disclosure relates to the field of communication technology and, more particularly, to a positioning method and device therefor.

Prior art of the present invention

[02] In communication systems, determining the location of a terminal device can be performed using a variety of positioning technologies. Before actually positioning the terminal device, the backbone network device needs to complete preparatory operations for positioning, such as operations of determining the positioning capabilities of the terminal device, obtaining a sounding reference symbol (SRS) of the terminal device, providing auxiliary information for positioning to the terminal device, etc.

[03] The time required to perform each of the above-mentioned preparatory operations for positioning is not controlled by the backbone device, which may result in the backbone device being unable to complete the preparatory operations before the specified time.

Brief description of the present invention

[04] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a positioning method and device are provided, which can be applied to positioning services in a communication system. A backbone network device transmits a positioning message containing time information for indicating to a network access device or a terminal device a time interval during which it is necessary to return response information to the backbone network device. Therefore, the time of each step in the positioning process is controlled by the backbone network device, so that the backbone network device can complete preparation operations for positioning within a prescribed time interval and reduce positioning delay.

[05] According to a first aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a positioning method is provided, which is performed by a backbone network device and includes a step of transmitting a positioning message. The positioning message contains time information configured to indicate a time of returning response information.

[06] According to this technology, the backbone network device transmits a positioning message containing time information to indicate to the network access device or the terminal device the time interval within which it is necessary to return response information to the backbone network device. Therefore, the time of each step in the positioning process is controlled by the backbone network device, so that the backbone network device can complete the preparation operations for positioning within the prescribed time interval and reduce the positioning delay.

[07] If necessary, the transmission of a positioning message includes the following stages:

[08] transmitting a positioning message to a network access device; or

[09] transmitting a positioning message to the terminal device.

[010] According to an embodiment, the above-mentioned time information is any one of the following: a time instant or a time interval.

[011] If necessary, the above positioning message is any one of the following messages:

[012] terminal device capability request message;

[013] positioning measurement result request message;

[014] a positioning information request message; and

[015] Positioning activation request message.

[016] According to an embodiment, the method additionally provides

stages:

[017] receiving a positioning request message, wherein the positioning request message includes a predetermined location time; and

[018] determining time information according to a predetermined location time.

[019] If necessary, the above-mentioned determination of time information according to a predetermined location time provides;

[020] determining time information according to a predetermined location time and a time when the positioning request message was received.

[021] If necessary, the above-mentioned determination of time information according to a predetermined location time provides;

[022] determining time information according to a predetermined location time and positioning message type.

[023] According to a second aspect of embodiments of the present disclosure, a positioning method is provided, which is performed by a network access device and comprises the following step:

[024] receiving a positioning message, wherein the positioning message comprises time information configured to indicate a time for returning response information.

[025] According to an embodiment, the time information is a point in time or a time interval.

[026] According to a possible embodiment, the time information is a point in time, and the method further comprises the step of:

[027] return of response information before this point in time.

[028] According to another possible embodiment, the time information is a time interval, and the method comprises the following steps:

[029] starting the first timer immediately after receiving the positioning message; and

[030] return response information before the time value on the first timer reaches the time interval value.

[031] If necessary, the positioning message is any one of the following messages: a positioning information request message, a positioning measurement result request message, or a positioning activation request message.

[032] If necessary, the positioning message is a positioning information request message, and the method further comprises the step of:

[033] within a time specified in the time information, returning configuration information of an uplink positioning reference signal corresponding to a specified terminal device, wherein the specified terminal device is the terminal device specified in the positioning information request message.

[034] If necessary, the positioning message is a positioning activation request message, and the method further comprises the step of:

[035] within the time specified in the time information, return the positioning activation response message.

[036] According to a third aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a positioning method is provided, which is performed by a terminal device and includes the following step:

[037] receiving a positioning message, wherein the positioning message comprises time information configured to indicate a time for returning response information.

[038] When necessary, the time information is a point in time or a time interval.

[039] If necessary, the time information is a point in time, and the method further comprises the step of:

[040] return of response information before this point in time.

[041] If necessary, the time information is a time interval, and the method comprises the following steps:

[042] starting the first timer immediately after receiving the positioning message; and

[043] return response information before the time value on the first timer reaches the time interval value.

[044] If necessary, the positioning message is a message requesting capabilities of the terminal device, and the method further comprises the step of:

[045] within the time specified in the time information, returning the positioning capability information of the terminal device.

[046] According to a fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a communication device is provided that has part or all of the functions for implementing the backbone network device for the above-described method according to the first aspect. For example, the device may have the functions that are described in some or all of the embodiments of the present disclosure, or may also have the functions for separately implementing any of the embodiments of the present disclosure. The functions may be implemented using hardware, or may be implemented by executing corresponding software on the hardware. The hardware or software comprises one or more elements or modules corresponding to the above-mentioned functions.

[047] According to a fifth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a communication device is provided that has part or all of the functions for implementing the network access device for implementing the above-described method according to the second aspect. For example, the device may have the functions that are described in some or all of the embodiments of the present disclosure, or may also have functions for separately implementing any of the embodiments of the present disclosure. The functions may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by executing corresponding software on the hardware. The hardware or software comprises one or more elements or modules corresponding to the above-mentioned functions.

[048] According to a sixth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a communication device is provided that has part or all of the functions for implementing the terminal device for the above-described method according to the third aspect. For example, the device may have the functions that are described in some or all of the embodiments of the present disclosure, or may also have the functions for separately implementing any of the embodiments of the present disclosure. The functions may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by executing corresponding software on the hardware. The hardware or software comprises one or more elements or modules corresponding to the above-mentioned functions.

[049] According to an embodiment, each of the above-mentioned devices may include a transmitting and receiving module and a processor module, and the processor module is configured to facilitate the device to perform the corresponding functions of the above-mentioned method. The transmitting and receiving module is configured to support data exchange between the device and other devices. The device may additionally include a storage module, which is configured to be connected to the transmitting and receiving module and to the processor module and to store the necessary computer programs and data for the communication device.

[050] As an example, the processing module may be a processor, the transmit/receive module may be a transceiver or a communication interface, and the storage module may be a memory.

[051] According to a seventh aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a communication device that includes a processor that, upon running a computer program stored in a memory, implements the method according to the first aspect described above.

[052] According to an eighth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a communication device that includes a processor that, upon running a computer program stored in a memory, implements the method according to the above-described second aspect.

[053] According to a ninth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a communication device that includes a processor that, upon running a computer program stored in a memory, implements the method according to the above-described third aspect.

[054] According to a tenth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a communication device is provided that includes a processor and a memory in which a computer program is stored. The processor is configured to execute the computer program stored in the memory to cause the communication device to implement the method according to the first aspect described above.

[055] According to an eleventh aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a communication device is provided that includes a processor and a memory in which a computer program is stored. The processor is configured to execute the computer program stored in the memory to cause the communication device to implement the method according to the above-described second aspect.

[056] According to a twelfth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a communication device is provided that includes a processor and a memory in which a computer program is stored. The processor is configured to execute the computer program stored in the memory to cause the communication device to implement the method according to the above-described third aspect.

[057] According to a thirteenth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a computer-readable storage medium is provided for storing instructions used by the above-described backbone network device. The instructions, when executed, cause the backbone network device to implement the method according to the above-described first aspect.

[058] According to a fourteenth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a computer-readable storage medium is provided for storing commands used by the above-described network access device. The commands, when executed, cause the network access device to implement the method according to the above-described second aspect.

[059] According to a fifteenth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a computer-readable storage medium is provided for storing commands used by the above-described terminal device. The commands, when executed, cause the network access terminal device to implement the method according to the above-described third aspect.

[060] According to a sixteenth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a product in the form of a computer program, which comprises a computer program that, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to implement the method according to the first aspect described above.

[061] According to a seventeenth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a product in the form of a computer program is provided, which comprises a computer program that, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to implement the method according to the above-described second aspect.

[062] According to an eighteenth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a product in the form of a computer program that comprises a computer program that, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to implement the method according to the above-described third aspect.

[063] According to a nineteenth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a chip system is proposed that comprises at least one processor and one interface for supporting the implementation by a backbone network device of the functions used according to the first aspect, for example, determining or processing at least one set of data and information used in the above-mentioned method. According to a possible industrial example, the chip system further comprises a memory for storing the necessary computer programs and data for the backbone network device. The chip system may consist of chips or may comprise chips and other discrete devices.

[064] According to a twentieth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a chip system is proposed that comprises at least one processor and one interface for supporting the implementation by a network access device of the functions used according to the second aspect, for example, determining or processing at least one set of data and information used in the above-mentioned method. According to a possible industrial example, the chip system further comprises a memory for storing the necessary computer programs and data for the network access device. The chip system may consist of chips or may comprise chips and other discrete devices.

[065] According to a twenty-first aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a microcircuit system is proposed that comprises at least one processor and one interface, for supporting the execution by a terminal device of the functions used according to the third aspect, for example, determining or processing at least one set of data and information used in the above-mentioned method. According to a possible industrial example, the microcircuit system further comprises a memory for storing the necessary computer programs and data for the terminal device. The microcircuit system may consist of microcircuits or may comprise microcircuits and other discrete devices.

[066] According to a twenty-second aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer program that, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to implement the method according to the first aspect described above.

[067] According to a twenty-third aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer program that, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to implement the method according to the above-described second aspect.

[068] According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer program that, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to implement the method according to the above-described third aspect.

Brief description of the figures

[069] To provide a more understandable description of the technical solutions according to the embodiments of the present disclosure or the prior art, figures used to explain the embodiments of the present disclosure are described below.

[070] Fig. 1 shows a diagram of the architecture of a communication system proposed in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

[071] Fig. 2 shows a flow chart of a positioning method according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[072] Fig. 3 shows a flow chart of a positioning method according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[073] Fig. 4 shows a flow chart of a positioning method according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[074] Fig. 5 shows a flow chart of a positioning method according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[075] Fig. 6 shows a flow chart of a positioning method according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[076] Fig. 7 shows a flow chart of a positioning method according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[077] Fig. 8 shows a flow chart of a positioning method according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[078] Fig. 9 shows a flow chart of a positioning method according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[079] Fig. 10 shows a flow chart of a positioning method according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[080] Fig. 11 shows a flow chart of a positioning method according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[081] Fig. 12 shows a flow chart of a positioning method according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[082] Fig. 13 shows a flow chart of a positioning method according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[083] Fig. 14 shows a flow chart of a positioning method according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[084] Fig. 15 shows a flow chart of a positioning method according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[085] Fig. 16 shows a flow chart of a positioning method according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[086] Fig. 17 shows a flow chart of a positioning method according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[087] Fig. 18 shows a block diagram of a communications device according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[088] Fig. 19 shows a block diagram of another communication device according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[089] Fig. 20 shows a block diagram of a microcircuit according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

Detailed disclosure of the present invention

[090] For better understanding, the terms used in the description of the present disclosure are explained below.

[091] 1. Positioning protocol (LPP) message in the long term evolution (LTE) communication system

[092] The LPP protocol is a general-purpose communication system programming protocol, the main function of this protocol is to ensure the exchange of positioning assistance data and positioning information between the network and the terminal. In fact, this protocol can be used in both the control plane and the data plane.

[093] The LPP protocol message can be used to transmit a message between a core network device and a terminal device.

[094] 2. New radio positioning protocol A (NRPPa) message

[095] The NRPPa protocol is a protocol configured to standardize signaling procedures in the control plane of the network layer of a wireless network between a base station and a location management function (LMF) device. The NRPPa protocol message between the LMF device and the gNB base station can be classified into messages not associated with the UE equipment and messages associated with the UE equipment.

[096] A non-UE associated message may be used to transmit TRP information, measurement information, auxiliary information, and the like between a base station and an LMF device. A UE associated message may be used to transmit specified UE associated information between a base station and an LMF device, such as TRP configuration information of a terminal device.

[097] To better understand the positioning method proposed according to embodiments of the present disclosure, a communication system in which embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied is described below.

[098] Fig. 1 shows a diagram of the architecture of a communication system proposed according to embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 1, the communication system may include, among other things, a backbone network device, a network access device, and a terminal device. The number and type of devices shown in Fig. 1 are used only as an example, and do not impose any limitation on the embodiments of the present disclosure. The communication system in practical implementations may include two or more network access devices, two or more terminal devices, and two or more backbone network devices. As an example for illustration, the communication system shown in Fig. 1 includes one backbone network device 11, one terminal device 12, and one network access device 10.

[099] It should be noted that the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to various communication systems, such as a long term evolution (LTE) communication system, a fifth generation (5G) mobile communication system, a 5G new radio (NR) system, or any other new mobile communication systems in the future. The base station 10 according to the embodiments of the present disclosure is a network side entity for transmitting or receiving signals. For example, the network access device 10 may be an evolved NodeB (eNB), a next generation base station (gNB) in the NR system, a base station in other future mobile communication systems, or an access node in a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system. The embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit a specific technology and a specific type of device used as the network access device.

[0100] The core network device 11 and the network access device 10 proposed according to the embodiments of the present disclosure may be composed of a central unit (CU) and distributed units (DU). The central unit CU may also be called a control unit. When using the CU-DU structure, the protocol layer of a network device, such as a base station, may be divided so that part of the functions of the protocol layer are centrally managed in the CU, some or all of the remaining functions of the protocol layer are distributed among the DUs, and the CU centrally manages the DUs.

[0101] The terminal device 12 according to the embodiments of the present disclosure is a user-side entity for receiving or transmitting signals, such as a mobile phone. The terminal device may also be called a terminal, a user equipment (UE), a mobile station (MS), a mobile terminal (MT), and so on. The terminal device may be a device with a communication function, such as an automobile, a smart automobile, a mobile phone, a wearable device, a tablet, a computer with a wireless transmitting and receiving function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless communication terminal device for an industrial control system, a wireless communication terminal device for unmanned automatic driving, a wireless communication terminal device for remote medical surgery, a wireless communication terminal device for a smart grid, a wireless communication terminal device for ensuring transportation safety, a wireless communication terminal device in a smart city, a wireless communication terminal device in a smart home, and the like. The embodiments of the present disclosure do not in any way limit the specific technology and the specific type of device used as a terminal device.

[0102] It should be understood that, according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the described communication systems are intended to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure, and do not impose any limitations on the technical solutions proposed according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. Those of ordinary skill in the art know that as the architecture of communication systems evolves and new service provision scenarios emerge, the technical solutions proposed according to the embodiments of the present disclosure will still be applicable to solving similar technical problems.

[0103] The positioning method and device for this proposed according to the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0104] As shown in Fig. 2 with a flow chart of a method for positioning according to embodiments of the present disclosure, this method is performed by a device of the reference network. As shown in Fig. 2, this method may include, among other things, the following step.

[0105] At step 21, a positioning message is transmitted, wherein the positioning message comprises time information configured to indicate a time for returning the response information.

[0106] The positioning message may be sent by a backbone network device to a network access device, or may be sent by a backbone network device to a terminal device, and is not limited in any way in this disclosure.

[0107] The backbone network device may be an LMF device, this is not limited in any way in the present disclosure.

[0108] If necessary, the time information may be any one of the following: a time instant or a time interval.

[0109] That is, the backbone network device may indicate the time when the network access device or the terminal device returns the response information. For example, the time information is the time t ₁ , which means that the network access device or the terminal device returns the response information before the time t ₁ .

[0110] According to an alternative embodiment, the backbone network device may also instruct the network access device or the terminal device to start a timer at the time of receiving the positioning message sent by the backbone network device and to return response information within a time interval specified in the time information. For example, the time information is a time interval t ₂ , and the time when the network access device or the terminal device receives the positioning message is t ₃ , then the network access device or the terminal device must return response information before the time t ₃ + t ₂ .

[0111] If necessary, the positioning message is any one of the following messages: a terminal device capability request message, a positioning measurement result request message, a positioning information request message, or a positioning activation request message.

[0112] The terminal device capability request message is a message that a backbone network device sends to a terminal device, it is used to obtain positioning capability information of the terminal device, for example in the form of an LPP message: LPP Capability Request.

[0113] The positioning information request message is a message that a core network device sends to a network access device, it is used to obtain configuration information of the reference uplink positioning signal corresponding to the specified terminal device, for example in the form of an NRPPa: positioning information request message.

[0114] The positioning activation request message is a message that a core network device sends to a network access device, it is used to start an operation in the network access device of transmitting an activation command to a terminal device to activate an uplink reference positioning signal negotiated for the terminal device, or to indicate to the network access device the need to send a deactivation command to the terminal device to deactivate the uplink reference positioning signal negotiated for the terminal device, for example, an NRPPa: positioning activation request message, in a case where the configuration information of the uplink reference positioning signal received by the core network device indicates a non-periodic or semi-continuous nature of the signal.

[0115] The positioning measurement result request message is a message that a reference network device sends to a network access device, it is used to obtain the measurement result of the reference uplink positioning signal, for example in the form of a NRPPa: measurement result request message.

[0116] According to the implementation of embodiments of the present disclosure, the backbone network device instructs the network access device or the terminal device to return response information to the backbone network device within a time interval specified in the time information when transmitting the positioning message containing the time information. Therefore, the time of each step in the positioning process is controlled by the backbone network device, so that the backbone network device can complete the preparatory operations for positioning within a prescribed time interval and reduce the positioning delay.

[0117] As shown in Fig. 3 with a flow chart of a method for positioning according to embodiments of the present disclosure, this method is performed by a device of the reference network. As shown in Fig. 3, this method may include, among other things, the following steps.

[0118] At step 31, a positioning request message is received, wherein the positioning request message includes a predetermined location time.

[0119] The positioning request message may be sent to the backbone device by the terminal device, the positioning service agent, or the application function (AF). The predetermined positioning time is the time of the measurement of the positioning result of the desired target terminal device, that is, the target terminal performs the positioning measurement at this time, and/or the base station performs the positioning measurement of the target terminal at this time. For example, the predetermined positioning time is a scheduled positioning time. The scheduled positioning time may be a time point or may be a time interval, this is not limited in any way in the present disclosure.

[0120] In step 32, time information is determined according to a predetermined location time.

[0121] The time information may be a point in time or may be a time interval, this is not limited in any way in this disclosure.

[0122] More specifically, after receiving a positioning request message containing a predetermined positioning time, the reference network device may determine information about the time corresponding to each positioning preparation procedure according to a process required for the positioning preparation operation and the predetermined positioning time.

[0123] If necessary, the reference network device may determine the time information according to a predetermined location time and a time when the positioning request message was received.

[0124] For example, if a positioning request message was received at time t _m , and the predetermined location time is time interval t _n , then the backbone network device may determine that it is necessary to return positioning information before time t _m +t _n , thereby determining time information corresponding to each positioning preparation process.

[0125] According to an alternative embodiment, if the positioning request message was received at time t _m , and the predetermined location time is time t _n , then the backbone network device may determine that it is necessary to return positioning information before time t _n . That is, it is necessary to complete each positioning preparation process within a time period t _n - t _m , thereby determining time information corresponding to each positioning preparation process.

[0126] It should be noted that the above examples are illustrative only and cannot be used to limit the time information according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0127] If necessary, the reference network device may also determine time information according to a predetermined location time and positioning message type.

[0128] According to the present disclosure, the positioning message may be sent by the backbone network device to the network access device, or may be sent to the terminal device. Different protocols may be used for different types of positioning messages, so that their corresponding data compression methods may be different, so that the length of the time interval required by the network access device or the terminal device to process the corresponding message may be different. Therefore, according to the present disclosure, the backbone network device can determine time information according to the type of positioning message and the predetermined location time.

[0129] For example, the corresponding time information when the positioning message is a terminal device capability request message is different from the corresponding time information when the positioning message is a positioning information request message. According to an alternative embodiment, the corresponding time information when the positioning message is a terminal device capability request message is different from the corresponding time information when the positioning message is a positioning activation request message.

[0130] It should be noted that when the positioning message is any one of the following messages: a terminal device capability request message, a positioning measurement result request message, a positioning information request message, or a positioning activation request message, the corresponding time information may be the same or different.

[0131] At step 33, a positioning message is transmitted, wherein the positioning message comprises time information configured to indicate a time for returning the response information.

[0132] As for the specific forms of implementation of the positioning message sent by the backbone network device and the type of the positioning message, detailed descriptions of other embodiments of the present disclosure can be seen, but this will not be described again here.

[0133] According to the implementation of embodiments of the present disclosure, the backbone network device determines time information contained in a positioning message according to a received positioning request message containing a predetermined location time, so that both the network access device and the terminal device can return response information within the time specified in the time information. Therefore, the backbone network device can complete preparation operations for positioning before the predetermined location time and reduce positioning delay.

[0134] As shown in Fig. 4 with a flow chart of a method for positioning according to embodiments of the present disclosure, this method is performed by a device of the reference network. As shown in Fig. 4, this method may include, among other things, the following steps.

[0135] At step 41, a positioning request message sent by the terminal device is received, wherein the positioning request message includes a predetermined location time.

[0136] In step 42, time information corresponding to the positioning information request message is determined according to a predetermined location time.

[0137] As for the specific forms of implementation of the above-mentioned steps 41 and 42, one can refer to the detailed descriptions of other embodiments of the present disclosure, this will not be described again here.

[0138] At step 43, a positioning information request message is transmitted to the network access device, wherein the positioning information request message comprises time information configured to indicate to the network access device a time to return response information.

[0139] The positioning information request message is a message that the core network device sends to the network access device, and it is used to obtain configuration information of the reference uplink positioning signal corresponding to the specified terminal device. The core network device may send the positioning information request message to the network access device using the NRPPa message.

[0140] The time information may be a point in time or may be a time interval, this is not limited in any way in this disclosure.

[0141] At step 44, configuration information of an uplink positioning reference signal corresponding to a specified terminal device is received and returned by a network access device within a time specified in the time information, wherein the specified terminal device is a terminal device specified in the positioning information request message.

[0142] The network access device may use the NRPPa message to return to the backbone network device configuration information of the uplink reference positioning signal corresponding to the specified terminal device.

[0143] As to the specific forms of implementation of this stage, one can look at the detailed descriptions of other embodiments of the present disclosure, this will not be described again here.

[0144] According to the implementation of embodiments of the present disclosure, the backbone network device determines time information corresponding to a positioning information request message according to a received positioning request message containing a predetermined positioning time, then sends a positioning information request message containing the time information to a network access device, and receives configuration information of an uplink reference positioning signal corresponding to a specified terminal device, returned by the network access device within the time specified in the time information. Therefore, the backbone network device can complete preparation operations for positioning before the predetermined positioning time and reduce positioning delay.

[0145] As shown in Fig. 5 with a flow chart of a method for positioning according to embodiments of the present disclosure, this method is performed by a device of the reference network. As shown in Fig. 5, this method may include, among other things, the following steps.

[0146] At step 51, a positioning information request message is transmitted to the network access device, wherein the positioning information request message comprises time information configured to indicate to the network access device a time to return response information.

[0147] The positioning information request message is a message that the core network device sends to the network access device, it is used to obtain configuration information of the reference uplink positioning signal corresponding to the specified terminal device. The core network device may send the positioning information request message to the network access device using the NRPPa message.

[0148] The time information may be a point in time or may be a time interval, this is not limited in any way in this disclosure.

[0149] At step 52, configuration information of the uplink positioning reference signal corresponding to the specified terminal device is received and returned by the network access device within the time specified in the time information.

[0150] The specified terminal device is the terminal device specified in the positioning information request message.

[0151] The network access device may use the NRPPa message to return to the backbone network device configuration information of the uplink reference positioning signal corresponding to the specified terminal device.

[0152] As to the specific forms of implementation of this stage, one can look at the detailed descriptions of other embodiments of the present disclosure, this will not be described again here.

[0153] According to the implementation of embodiments of the present disclosure, the backbone network device sends a positioning information request message containing time information to the network access device, and receives configuration information of the reference uplink positioning signal corresponding to the specified terminal device, returned by the network access device within the time specified in the time information. Therefore, the backbone network device can complete preparation operations for positioning before a predetermined location time and reduce positioning delay.

[0154] As shown in Fig. 6 with a flow chart of a method for positioning according to embodiments of the present disclosure, this method is performed by a device of the reference network. As shown in Fig. 6, this method may include, among other things, the following steps.

[0155] At step 61, a positioning activation request message is transmitted to the network access device, wherein the positioning activation request message comprises time information configured to indicate a time for returning response information.

[0156] The positioning activation request message is a message that a backbone network device sends to a network access device, it is used to initiate an operation in the network access device of transmitting an activation command to a terminal device to activate an uplink reference positioning signal specified for the terminal device, or to indicate to the network access device the need to send a deactivation command to the terminal device to deactivate the uplink reference positioning signal specified for the terminal device, in a case where the configuration information of the uplink reference positioning signal received by the backbone network device indicates a non-periodic or semi-continuous nature of the signal.

[0157] The backbone network device may send a positioning information request message to the network access device using an NRPPa message.

[0158] At step 62, a positioning activation response message returned by the network access device is received within the time specified in the time information.

[0159] The positioning activation response message is a message that the network access device returns to the backbone network device, it is used to send back information whether to activate or deactivate the uplink reference positioning signal specified for the terminal device.

[0160] According to the implementation of embodiments of the present disclosure, the backbone network device sends a positioning activation request message containing time information to the network access device, and receives a positioning activation response message returned by the network access device within the time specified in the time information. Therefore, the backbone network device can complete preparation operations for positioning before a predetermined location time and reduce positioning delay.

[0161] As shown in Fig. 7 with a flow chart of a method for positioning according to embodiments of the present disclosure, this method is performed by a device of the reference network. As shown in Fig. 7, this method may include, among other things, the following steps.

[0162] At step 71, a positioning request message sent by the terminal device is received, wherein the positioning request message includes a predetermined location time.

[0163] In step 72, time information corresponding to the positioning information request message is determined according to a predetermined location time.

[0164] At step 73, a positioning information request message is transmitted to the network access device, wherein the positioning information request message comprises time information configured to indicate a time for returning response information.

[0165] At step 74, configuration information of the uplink positioning reference signal corresponding to the specified terminal device is received and returned by the network access device within the time specified in the time information.

[0166] The specified terminal device is the terminal device specified in the positioning information request message.

[0167] As to the specific forms of implementation of the above-mentioned steps 71-74, one can refer to the detailed descriptions of other embodiments of the present disclosure, this will not be described again here.

[0168] In step 75, time information corresponding to the positioning activation request message is determined according to a predetermined location time.

[0169] The time information may be a point in time or may be a time interval, this is not limited in any way in this disclosure.

[0170] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the time information corresponding to the positioning information request message and the time information corresponding to the positioning activation request message may be the same or different.

[0171] As to the specific forms of implementation of this stage, one can look at the detailed descriptions of other embodiments of the present disclosure, this will not be described again here.

[0172] At step 76, a positioning activation request message is transmitted to the network access device, wherein the positioning activation request message comprises time information configured to indicate a time for returning response information.

[0173] The positioning activation request message is a message that a backbone network device sends to a network access device, it is used to initiate an operation in the network access device of transmitting an activation command to a terminal device to activate an uplink reference positioning signal specified for the terminal device, or to indicate to the network access device the need to send a deactivation command to the terminal device to deactivate the uplink reference positioning signal specified for the terminal device, in a case where the configuration information of the uplink reference positioning signal received by the backbone network device indicates a non-periodic or semi-continuous nature of the signal.

[0174] The backbone network device may send a positioning information request message to the network access device using an NRPPa message.

[0175] At step 77, a positioning activation response message returned by the network access device is received within the time specified in the time information.

[0176] The positioning activation response message is a message that the network access device returns to the backbone network device, it is used to send back information whether to activate or deactivate the reference uplink positioning signal specified for the terminal device.

[0177] According to the implementation of embodiments of the present disclosure, the backbone network device determines time information corresponding to a positioning information request message according to a received positioning request message containing a predetermined positioning time, then sends a positioning information request message containing the time information to the network access device, and receives configuration information of an uplink reference positioning signal corresponding to a specified terminal device returned by the network access device within the time specified in the time information, and finally sends a positioning activation request message containing the time information to the network access device, and receives a positioning activation response message returned by the network access device within the time specified in the time information. Therefore, the backbone network device can complete preparation operations for positioning before the predetermined positioning time and reduce positioning delay.

[0178] As shown in Fig. 8 with a flow chart of a method for positioning according to embodiments of the present disclosure, this method is performed by a device of the reference network. As shown in Fig. 8, this method may include, among other things, the following steps.

[0179] At step 81, a positioning measurement result request message is transmitted to the network access device, wherein the positioning measurement result request message comprises time information configured to indicate to the network access device a time to return response information.

[0180] The time information may be a point in time or may be a time interval, this is not limited in any way in this disclosure.

[0181] The positioning measurement result request message is a message that a reference network device sends to a network access device, and is used to obtain a measurement result of a reference uplink positioning signal.

[0182] At step 82, a positioning measurement result message returned by the network access device is received within the time specified in the time information.

[0183] The network access device may use the NRPPa message to return a positioning measurement result message to the backbone network device.

[0184] According to the implementation of embodiments of the present disclosure, the backbone network device sends a positioning measurement result request message to the network access device containing time information, and receives the positioning measurement result message returned by the network access device within the time specified in the time information. Therefore, the backbone network device can complete preparation operations for positioning before a predetermined location time and reduce positioning delay.

[0185] As shown in Fig. 9 with a flow chart of a method for positioning according to embodiments of the present disclosure, this method is performed by a device of the reference network. As shown in Fig. 9, this method may include, among other things, the following steps.

[0186] At step 91, a terminal device capability request message is transmitted to the terminal device, wherein the terminal device capability request message comprises time information configured to indicate to the terminal device a time to return response information.

[0187] The time information may be a point in time or may be a time interval, this is not limited in any way in this disclosure.

[0188] The terminal device capability request message is a message that a core network device sends to a terminal device, and it is used to obtain positioning capability information of the terminal device. The core network device may send the terminal device capability request message to the terminal device using an LPP message.

[0189] At step 92, positioning capability information of the terminal device returned by the terminal device within the time specified in the time information is received.

[0190] The terminal device may use the LPP message to return to the backbone network device information about the positioning capabilities of the terminal device.

[0191] According to the implementation of embodiments of the present disclosure, the backbone network device sends a message to the terminal device requesting capabilities of the terminal device containing time information, and receives positioning capability information of the terminal device returned by the terminal device within the time specified in the time information. Therefore, the backbone network device can complete preparation operations for positioning before a predetermined location time and reduce positioning delay.

[0192] As shown in Fig. 10 with a flow chart of a method for positioning according to embodiments of the present disclosure, this method is performed by a reference network device. As shown in Fig. 10, this method may include, among other things, the following steps.

[0193] At step 101, a positioning request message is received, wherein the positioning request message includes a predetermined location time.

[0194] In step 102, time information corresponding to the terminal device capability request message is determined according to a predetermined location time.

[0195] As for the specific forms of implementation of the above-mentioned steps 101 and 102, one can refer to the detailed descriptions of other embodiments of the present disclosure, this will not be described again here.

[0196] At step 103, a terminal device capability request message is transmitted to the terminal device, wherein the terminal device capability request message comprises time information configured to indicate to the terminal device a time to return response information.

[0197] The time information may be a point in time or may be a time interval, this is not limited in any way in this disclosure.

[0198] The terminal device capability request message is a message that a core network device sends to a terminal device, and it is used to obtain positioning capability information of the terminal device. The core network device may send the terminal device capability request message to the terminal device using an LPP message.

[0199] At step 104, positioning capability information of the terminal device returned by the terminal device within the time specified in the time information is received.

[0200] The terminal device may use the LPP message to return information about the positioning capabilities of the terminal device to the backbone network device.

[0201] According to the implementation of embodiments of the present disclosure, the backbone network device determines time information corresponding to a terminal device capability request message according to a received positioning request message containing a predetermined positioning time, and the backbone network device sends the terminal device capability request message containing the time information to the terminal device, and receives positioning capability information of the terminal device returned by the terminal device within the time specified in the time information. Therefore, the backbone network device can complete preparation operations for positioning before the predetermined positioning time and reduce positioning delay.

[0202] As shown in Fig. 11 with a flow chart of a method for positioning according to embodiments of the present disclosure, this method is performed by a network access device. As shown in Fig. 11, this method may include, among other things, the following step.

[0203] At step 111, a positioning message is received, wherein the positioning message comprises time information configured to indicate a time for returning response information.

[0204] A positioning message is sent by a backbone network device to a network access device.

[0205] If necessary, the positioning message is any one of the following messages: a positioning information request message, a positioning measurement result request message, or a positioning activation request message.

[0206] If necessary, the time information is a point in time or a time interval.

[0207] If necessary, the time information is a time point, and the network access device returns response information before the corresponding time point arrives.

[0208] For example, if the time information is instant t _i , then the network access device must return the response information before instant t _i .

[0209] If necessary, the time information is a time interval, and the network access device, after receiving the positioning message, starts the first timer; and returns response information until the time value on the first timer reaches the time interval value.

[0210] For example, the time information is a time interval t _a , and the time when the network access device receives the positioning message is t _b , then the network access device must start the first timer at time t _b , and the network access device must return response information before the time value on the first timer reaches the value of the time interval t _a , that is, before the time t _b +t _a .

[0211] According to the implementation of embodiments of the present disclosure, a network access device receives a positioning message sent by a backbone network device and returns response information within a time specified in the time information. As a result, the network access device returns response information within a time specified in the time information, so that the backbone network device can complete preparation operations for positioning within a prescribed time interval and reduce positioning delay.

[0212] As shown in Fig. 12 with a flow chart of a method for positioning according to embodiments of the present disclosure, this method is performed by a network access device. As shown in Fig. 12, this method may include, among other things, the following steps.

[0213] At step 121, a positioning information request message is received, wherein the positioning information request message comprises time information configured by the backbone network device to indicate to the network access device a time to return response information.

[0214] The time information may be a point in time or may be a time interval, this is not limited in any way in this disclosure.

[0215] A positioning information request message is a message that a backbone network device sends to a network access device, and it is used to obtain configuration information of an uplink reference positioning signal corresponding to a specified terminal device.

[0216] In step 122, configuration information of the uplink positioning reference signal corresponding to the specified terminal device is returned within the time specified in the time information.

[0217] The specified terminal device is the terminal device specified in the positioning information request message.

[0218] After receiving the positioning information request message sent by the core network device, the network access device needs to determine configuration information of the reference uplink positioning signal corresponding to the specified terminal device and return the configuration information of the reference uplink positioning signal corresponding to the specified terminal device within a time specified in the time information.

[0219] The network access device may return to the backbone network device the configuration information of the uplink reference positioning signal corresponding to the specified terminal device using the NRPPa message.

[0220] According to the implementation of embodiments of the present disclosure, a network access device receives a positioning information request message sent by a backbone network device and returns configuration information of a reference uplink positioning signal corresponding to a specified terminal device within a time specified in the time information. As a result, the backbone network device can complete preparation operations for positioning within a prescribed time interval and reduce positioning delay.

[0221] As shown in Fig. 13 with a flow chart of a method for positioning according to embodiments of the present disclosure, this method is performed by a network access device. As shown in Fig. 13, this method may include, among other things, the following steps.

[0222] At step 131, a positioning measurement result request message sent by a reference network device is received, wherein the positioning measurement result request message contains time information configured to indicate to the network access device a time to return response information.

[0223] The time information may be a point in time or may be a time interval, this is not limited in any way in this disclosure.

[0224] The positioning measurement result request message is a message that a reference network device sends to a network access device, and is used to obtain a measurement result of a reference uplink positioning signal.

[0225] In step 132, the positioning measurement result message is returned to the reference network device within the time specified in the time information.

[0226] According to the implementation of embodiments of the present disclosure, a network access device receives a positioning measurement result request message sent by a backbone network device, containing time information, and returns a positioning measurement result message within a time specified in the time information. Therefore, the backbone network device can complete preparation operations for positioning before a predetermined location time and reduce positioning delay.

[0227] As shown in Fig. 14 with a flow chart of a method for positioning according to embodiments of the present disclosure, this method is performed by a network access device. As shown in Fig. 14, this method may include, among other things, the following steps.

[0228] At step 141, a positioning activation request message is received, wherein the positioning activation request message comprises time information configured to indicate to the network access device a time to return response information.

[0229] The positioning activation request message is a message that a backbone network device sends to a network access device, it is used to initiate an operation in the network access device of transmitting an activation command to a terminal device to activate an uplink positioning reference signal specified for the terminal device, or to indicate to the network access device the need to send a deactivation command to the terminal device to deactivate the uplink positioning reference signal specified for the terminal device, in a case where the configuration information of the uplink positioning reference signal received by the backbone network device indicates a non-periodic or semi-continuous nature of the signal.

[0230] In step 142, the positioning activation response message is returned within the time specified in the time information.

[0231] The positioning activation response message is a message that the network access device returns to the core network device, it is used to send back information on whether to activate or deactivate the reference uplink positioning signal specified for the terminal device. The network access device may return the positioning activation response message to the core network device using the NRPPa message.

[0232] According to the implementation of embodiments of the present disclosure, a network access device receives a positioning activation request message sent by a backbone network device and returns a positioning activation response message within a time specified in the time information. As a result, the backbone network device can complete preparation operations for positioning within a prescribed time interval and reduce positioning delay.

[0233] As shown in Fig. 15 with a flow chart of a method for positioning according to embodiments of the present disclosure, this method is performed by a network access device. As shown in Fig. 15, this method may include, among other things, the following steps.

[0234] At step 151, a positioning information request message is received, wherein the positioning information request message comprises time information configured by the backbone network device to indicate to the network access device a time to return response information.

[0235] In step 152, configuration information of the uplink positioning reference signal corresponding to the specified terminal device is returned within a time specified in the time information, wherein the specified terminal device is the terminal device specified in the positioning information request message.

[0236] As for the specific forms of implementation of the above-mentioned steps 151 and 152, one can refer to the detailed descriptions of other embodiments of the present disclosure, this will not be described again here.

[0237] At step 153, a positioning activation request message is received, wherein the positioning activation request message comprises time information configured to indicate to the network access device a time to return response information.

[0238] The positioning activation request message is a message that a backbone network device sends to a network access device, it is used to initiate an operation in the network access device of transmitting an activation command to a terminal device to activate an uplink reference positioning signal specified for the terminal device, or to indicate to the network access device the need to send a deactivation command to the terminal device to deactivate the uplink reference positioning signal specified for the terminal device, in a case where the configuration information of the uplink reference positioning signal received by the backbone network device indicates a non-periodic or semi-continuous nature of the signal.

[0239] In step 154, the positioning activation response message is returned within the time specified in the time information.

[0240] The positioning activation response message is a message that the network access device returns to the core network device, it is used to send back information on whether to activate or deactivate the reference uplink positioning signal negotiated for the terminal device. The network access device may return the positioning activation response message to the core network device using the NRPPa message.

[0241] According to the implementation of embodiments of the present disclosure, a network access device receives a positioning information request message and returns configuration information of an uplink positioning reference signal corresponding to a specified terminal device within a time specified in the time information, and if the configuration information of the uplink positioning reference signal indicates the existence of a non-periodic or semi-continuous positioning reference signal, the network access device receives a positioning activation request message and returns a positioning activation response message within a time specified in the time information. As a result, the core network device can complete preparation operations for positioning within a prescribed time interval and reduce positioning delay.

[0242] As shown in Fig. 16 with a flow chart of a method for positioning according to embodiments of the present disclosure, this method is performed by a terminal device. As shown in Fig. 16, this method may include, among other things, the following step.

[0243] At step 161, a positioning message is received, wherein the positioning message comprises time information configured to indicate a time for returning response information.

[0244] A positioning message is sent by a backbone device to a terminal device.

[0245] If necessary, the positioning message is a message requesting the capabilities of the terminal device.

[0246] If necessary, the time information is a point in time or a time interval.

[0247] If necessary, the time information is a time point, and the terminal device returns response information before the corresponding time point arrives.

[0248] For example, if the time information is time t _c , then the terminal device must return the response information before time t _ci .

[0249] If necessary, the time information is a time interval, and the terminal device, after receiving the positioning message, starts the first timer; and returns response information until the time value on the first timer reaches the time interval value.

[0250] For example, the time information is a time interval t _d , and the time when the terminal device receives the positioning message is t _e , then the terminal device must start the first timer at time t _e , and the terminal device must return response information before the time value on the first timer reaches the value of the time interval t _d , that is, before time t _e +t _d .

[0251] According to the implementation of embodiments of the present disclosure, the terminal device receives a positioning message and returns response information within a time specified in the time information. As a result, the backbone network device can complete preparation operations for positioning within a prescribed time interval and reduce positioning delay.

[0252] As shown in Fig. 17 with a flow chart of a method for positioning according to embodiments of the present disclosure, this method is performed by a terminal device. As shown in Fig. 17, this method may include, among other things, the following steps.

[0253] At step 171, a terminal device capability request message is received, wherein the terminal device capability request message comprises time information configured by the backbone device to indicate to the terminal device a time to return response information.

[0254] The time information may be a point in time or may be a time interval, this is not limited in any way in this disclosure.

[0255] A terminal device capability request message is sent by a core network device to a terminal device, and it is used to obtain positioning capability information of the terminal device. The core network device may send the terminal device capability request message to the terminal device using an LPP message.

[0256] At step 172, the positioning capability information of the terminal device is returned within the time specified in the time information.

[0257] For example, if the time information is a time point, the terminal device shall return the positioning capability information of the terminal device to the backbone network device using the LPP message before the time point. If necessary, if the time information is a time interval, the terminal device shall start the first timer immediately after receiving the terminal device capability request message and shall return the positioning capability information of the terminal device before the time value on the first timer reaches the time interval value.

[0258] According to the implementation of embodiments of the present disclosure, the terminal device receives a message requesting capabilities of the terminal device and returns information about the positioning capabilities of the terminal device within a time specified in the time information. As a result, the backbone network device completes preparation operations for positioning within a prescribed time interval and reduces positioning delay.

[0259] In the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure, the methods proposed according to the embodiments of the present disclosure are introduced when viewed from the side of a backbone network device, a network access device, and a terminal device, respectively. In order to implement various functions according to the methods proposed according to the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure, the backbone network device, the network access device, and the terminal device may include hardware and a software module, and implement the above-mentioned functions by using hardware, a software module, or hardware in conjunction with a software module. Some function among the above-mentioned functions may be implemented by using hardware, a software module, or hardware in conjunction with a software module.

[0260] Fig. 18 shows a block diagram of a communication device 180 according to embodiments of the present disclosure, where the communication device 180 shown in Fig. 18 may include a transmitting and receiving module 1801 and a processing module 1802. The transmitting and receiving module 1801 may include a transmitting module and/or a receiving module, where the transmitting module is configured to implement a transmitting function, and the receiving module is configured to implement a receiving function. The transmitting and receiving module 1801 may implement a transmitting function and/or a receiving function.

[0261] The communication device 180 may be a backbone network device (e.g., a backbone network device according to the above-mentioned embodiments of the method), equipment in a backbone network device, or equipment that can be used together with the backbone network device. According to an alternative embodiment, the communication device 180 may be a network access device (e.g., a network access device according to the above-mentioned embodiments of the method), equipment in a network access device, or equipment that can be used together with the network access device. According to an alternative embodiment, the communication device 180 may also be a terminal device, equipment in a terminal device, or equipment that can be used together with a terminal device.

[0262] More specifically, if the communication device 180 is a backbone network device (e.g., a backbone network device according to the above-mentioned embodiments of the method):

[0263] the transmitting/receiving module 1801 is configured to transmit a positioning message. The positioning message contains time information configured to indicate a time of returning the response information.

[0264] If necessary, the transmitting and receiving module 1801 is specially configured to:

[0265] transmit a positioning message to the network access device; or

[0266] transmit positioning messages to the terminal device.

[0267] If necessary, the time information may be any one of the following: a time instant or a time interval.

[0268] If necessary, the positioning message is any one of the following messages:

[0269] terminal device capability request message;

[0270] positioning measurement result request message;

[0271] a positioning information request message; and

[0272] Positioning activation request message.

[0273] If necessary, the transmitting and receiving module 1801 is specially configured to:

[0274] receive a positioning request message, wherein the positioning request message includes a predetermined location time.

[0275] If necessary, the communication device 180 further includes a processor module 1802 that is configured to determine time information according to a predetermined location time.

[0276] If necessary, the transmitting and receiving module 1801 is additionally configured to:

[0277] determine time information according to a predetermined location time and a time when the positioning request message was received.

[0278] If necessary, the transmitting and receiving module 1801 is additionally configured to:

[0279] determine time information according to a predetermined location time and positioning message type.

[0280] In the operation of the communication device proposed according to the present disclosure, the backbone network device transmits a positioning message containing time information to the network access device and the terminal device, so that the network access device and the terminal device return response information to the backbone network device within a time interval specified in the time information. Therefore, the backbone network device completes preparation operations for positioning within a prescribed time interval and reduces positioning delay.

[0281] According to an alternative embodiment, if the data transmission device 180 is a network access device:

[0282] the transmitting and receiving module 1801 is configured to receive a positioning message. The positioning message contains time information configured to indicate a time of returning the response information.

[0283] If necessary, the time information is a point in time or a time interval.

[0284] According to an alternative embodiment, the time information is a point in time, and the receiving/transmitting module 1801 is specially configured to:

[0285] return response information before this point in time.

[0286] According to an alternative embodiment, the time information is a time interval, and the transmitting and receiving module 1801 is specially configured to:

[0287] immediately after receiving the positioning message, start the first timer; and

[0288] return response information until the time value on the first timer reaches the time interval value.

[0289] If necessary, the positioning message is any one of the following messages: a positioning information request message, a positioning measurement result request message, or a positioning activation request message.

[0290] If necessary, the positioning message is a positioning information request message, and the transmitting/receiving module 1801 is specially configured to:

[0291] within a time specified in the time information, return configuration information of an uplink positioning reference signal corresponding to a specified terminal device, wherein the specified terminal device is a terminal device specified in the positioning information request message.

[0292] If necessary, the positioning message is a positioning activation request message, and the transmitting/receiving module 1801 is specially configured to:

[0293] within the time specified in the time information, return a positioning activation response message.

[0294] In the operation of the communication device proposed according to the present disclosure, the network access device receives a positioning message sent by the backbone network device and returns response information within a time specified in the time information. As a result, the backbone network device completes preparation operations for positioning within a prescribed time interval and reduces positioning delay.

[0295] Therefore, the reference network device completes the preparatory operations for positioning within a prescribed time interval and reduces the positioning delay.

[0296] According to an alternative embodiment, if the data transmission device 180 is a terminal device:

[0297] the transmitting/receiving module 1801 is configured to receive a positioning message. The positioning message contains time information configured to indicate a time of returning response information.

[0298] If necessary, the time information is a point in time or a time interval.

[0299] If necessary, the time information is a time point, and the transmitting and receiving module 1801 is specially configured to:

[0300] return response information before this time.

[0301] According to an alternative embodiment, the time information is a time interval, and the transmitting and receiving module 1801 is specially configured to:

[0302] immediately after receiving the positioning message, start the first timer; and

[0303] return response information until the time value on the first timer reaches the time interval value.

[0304] If necessary, the positioning message is a message requesting the capabilities of the terminal device, and the transceiver module 1801 is specially configured to:

[0305] within the time specified in the time information, return information about the positioning capabilities of the terminal device.

[0306] In the operation of the communication device proposed according to the present disclosure, the terminal device receives a message requesting capabilities of the terminal device and returns information about the positioning capabilities of the terminal device within a time specified in the time information. As a result, the backbone network device completes preparation operations for positioning within a prescribed time interval and reduces positioning delay.

[0307] Fig. 19 shows a block diagram of another communication device 19 proposed according to embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein the communication device 19 may be a network device, may also be a terminal device (for example, a terminal device according to the above-mentioned embodiments), may also be a chip, a chip system, or a processor that helps the network device implement the above-mentioned methods, and may also be a chip, a chip system, or a processor that helps the terminal device implement the above-mentioned methods. The device may be configured to implement the methods as described in the above-mentioned embodiments of the method, and for a more detailed description, see the descriptions in the above-mentioned embodiments of the method.

[0308] The communication device 190 may include one or more processors 1901. The processor 1901 may be a general-purpose processor or a special-purpose processor. For example, it may be a baseband processor or a central processor. The baseband processor may be configured to process a data transmission protocol and transmitted data, and the central processor may be configured to control the communication device (e.g., a base station, a radio modem chip, a terminal device, a terminal device chip, a DU or CU, etc.) to execute computer programs and to process data of the computer programs.

[0309] If necessary, the communication device 190 may further include one or more memories 1902 for storing therein a computer program 1904. The processor 1901 executes the computer program 1904 to cause the communication device 190 to implement the methods described in the above embodiments of the methods. If necessary, the memory 1902 may store data therein. The communication device 190 and the memory 1902 may be separate or may be integrated together.

[0310] If necessary, the communication device 190 may further include a transceiver 1905 and an antenna 1906. The transceiver 1905 may be called a transceiver unit, a transceiver machine, a transceiver circuit, and the like, and is designed to implement reception and transmission functions. The transceiver 1905 may include a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver may be called a receiving machine, a receiving circuit, and the like, and is designed to implement the reception function. The transmitter may be called a transmitting machine, a transmitting circuit, and the like, and is designed to implement the transmission function.

[0311] If necessary, the communication device 190 may include one or more interface circuits 1907. The interface circuit 1907 is configured to receive command codes and transmit the command codes to the processor 1901. The processor 1901 executes the command codes to cause the communication device 190 to implement the methods described in the above embodiments of the methods.

[0312] The communication device 190 is a backbone network device (e.g., a terminal device according to the above embodiment of the method): the transceiver 1905 is configured to implement step 21 shown in Fig. 2, step 31 and step 33 shown in Fig. 3, step 41, step 42, step 43 and step 44 shown in Fig. 4, etc. The processor 1901 may be configured to implement step 32 shown in Fig. 3, etc.

[0313] The communication device 190 is a network access device: the transceiver 1905 is configured to implement stage 111 shown in Fig. 11, stage 121 and stage 122 shown in Fig. 12, stage 131 and stage 132 shown in Fig. 13, etc.

[0314] The communication device 190 is a terminal device: the transceiver 1905 may be configured to respond to step 161 shown in Fig. 16, step 171 and step 172 shown in Fig. 17, etc.

[0315] According to an embodiment, the processor 1901 may include a transceiver configured to implement reception and transmission functions. For example, the transceiver may be a transceiver circuit, an interface, or an interface circuit. The transceiver circuit, interface, or interface circuit configured to implement the reception and transmission functions may be separate or may be integrated together. The aforementioned transceiver circuit, interface, or interface circuit may be configured to read or write codes/data, or the aforementioned transceiver circuit, interface, or interface circuit may be configured to transmit or forward signals.

[0316] According to an embodiment, the processor 1901 may store within itself a computer program 1903 that, when executed on the processor 1901, causes the communication device 190 to implement the methods described in the above embodiments of the methods. The computer program 1903 may be embedded in the processor 1901, in which case the processor 1901 may be implemented as hardware.

[0317] According to an embodiment, the communication device 190 may include a circuit, and the circuit may implement the functions of transmitting, receiving, or communicating according to the above-mentioned embodiments of the methods. The processor and the transceiver described in this disclosure may be implemented as an integrated circuit (IC), an analog IC, a high-frequency integrated circuit (HF-IC), a digital-to-analog IC, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a printed circuit board (PCB), an electronic device, and the like. The processor and the transceiver may also be manufactured using various IC manufacturing technologies, such as complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology, N-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (N-MOS) technology, positive-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor (P-MOS) technology, bipolar junction transistor (BJT) technology, bipolar CMOS (BiCMOS) technology, silicon-germanium (SiGe) technology, gallium-arsenide (GaAs) technology, etc.

[0318] The communication device described in the above-mentioned embodiments may be a network device or a terminal device (for example, a terminal device according to the above-mentioned embodiments of the method), but the scope of the communication device described in the present disclosure is not limited in any way, and the structure of the data transmission communication device is not limited to that shown in Fig. 19. The communication device may be a stand-alone device or may be part of a larger device. For example, the communication device may be:

[0319] (1) a stand-alone integrated circuit (IC), or microcircuit, or microcircuit system, or subsystem;

[0320] (2) a set of one or more integrated circuits, whereby the set of integrated circuits may also contain a memory component for storing data and computer programs;

[0321] (3) an ASIC chip, such as a modem;

[0322] (4) a module that can be built into other devices;

[0323] (5) a receiver, a terminal device, an intelligent terminal device, a cellular telephone, a wireless communication device, a hand-held device, a mobile device, a device in a vehicle, a network device, a cloud device, or an artificial intelligence device; or

[0324] (6) others.

[0325] In the case where the communication device can be a microcircuit or a system of microcircuits, the block diagram of the microcircuit 200 shown in Fig. 20 can be used. The microcircuit shown in Fig. 20 includes a processor 2001 and an interface 2002. One or more processors 2001 can be provided in the microcircuit and more than one interface 2002 can be provided.

[0326] In the case where the microcircuit is configured to implement the functions of the backbone network device according to embodiments of the present disclosure:

[0327] interface 2002 is configured to implement step 21 shown in Fig. 2, step 31, step 32 and step 33 shown in Fig. 3, step 41, step 42, step 43 and step 44 shown in Fig. 4, etc.

[0328] In the case where the microcircuit is configured to implement the functions of the network access device according to embodiments of the present disclosure:

[0329] interface 2002 is configured to implement step 111 shown in Fig. 11, step 121 and step 122 shown in Fig. 12, step 131 and step 132 shown in Fig. 13, etc.

[0330] In the case where the microcircuit is configured to implement the functions of the terminal device according to embodiments of the present disclosure:

[0331] Interface 2002 is configured to implement step 161 shown in Fig. 16, step 171 and step 172 shown in Fig. 17, etc.

[0332] If necessary, the microcircuit additionally contains memory 2003 for storing the necessary computer programs and data.

[0333] Those skilled in the art may also appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks and steps listed in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented as electronic hardware, a computer program, or a combination of both. Whether such functions are implemented as hardware or software depends on the particular requirements of the application and the design of the overall system. For each particular application, those skilled in the art may use various methods to implement the functions described, but such implementations should not be construed as departing from the scope of protection of embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0334] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a system for transmitting a report on the lead time of a response signal in an uplink channel is also proposed. The system includes a communication device in the form of a terminal device and a communication device in the form of a network device, as described in the above-mentioned embodiments shown in Fig. 14, or the system includes a communication device in the form of a terminal device and a communication device in the form of a network device, as described in the above-mentioned embodiments shown in Fig. 10.

[0335] According to the present disclosure, there is also provided a computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to implement the functions of any of the above-mentioned embodiments of the method.

[0336] According to the present disclosure, there is also provided a product in the form of a computer program that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to implement the functions of any of the above-mentioned embodiments of the method.

[0337] The above embodiments may be implemented in whole or in part using software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, the above embodiments may be implemented in whole or in part as a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs. When the computer program is loaded and executed on a computer, all or a portion of the processes or functions according to the embodiments of the present disclosure will be implemented. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer program may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium or may be transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, a computer program may be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center by wired means (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, or digital subscriber line (DSL)) or by wireless means (e.g., infrared, radio, or microwave). A computer-readable storage medium may be any accessible medium that can be accessed by a computer or a storage device such as a server or data center combined with one or more accessible media. An accessible medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., a floppy disk, hard disk, or magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., a high-density digital video disc (DVD)) or a semiconductor medium (e.g., a solid-state drive (SSD)) etc.

[0338] Those of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate that the first, second and other ordinal numbers mentioned in the description of the present disclosure are different from each other only for convenience of description and are not intended to limit the scope of embodiments of the present disclosure, nor are they intended to represent a sequential order.

[0339] As used in the description of the present disclosure, the term "at least one" may be understood as one or more, and the term "plurality" may cover two, three, four or more, and this is not limited in any way in the present disclosure. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, for a number of technical features, such technical features are distinguished from each other by terms such as "first", "second", "third", "A", "B", "C", "D", etc., and such technical features described using the terms "first", "second", "third", "A", "B", "C" and "D" do not exhibit any ordering by priority or size.

[0340] The correspondences shown in each table in the description of the present disclosure may be arranged or predetermined. The values of the information in each table are only examples and may be arranged with other values, this is not limited in any way in the present disclosure. When arranging the correspondence between the information and various parameters, it is not necessary to arrange all the correspondences shown in the tables. For example, the correspondences shown in some rows of the tables in the description of the present disclosure may not be arranged. As another example, appropriate changes or adjustments (e.g., splitting, combining, and so on) can be made based on the above-mentioned tables. The names of the parameters shown in the headings of the above-mentioned tables may take other values understood in the communication device, and the values or representations of the parameters may be other values or representations understood in the communication device. When implementing the above mentioned tables, you can also use other data structures, for example, you can use arrays, queues, containers, stacks, linear tables, pointers, linked lists, trees, graphs, structure bodies, classes, heaps, hash tables.

[0341] The term "preset" in the description of the present disclosure may be understood to mean to determine, predetermine, store, pre-save, pre-coordinate, pre-configure, fix, or pre-start.

[0342] Those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that the blocks and steps of the algorithms in the various examples described in connection with embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented using electronic hardware or a combination of computer programs and electronic hardware. Whether such functions are implemented as hardware or software depends on the particular applications and design constraints of the technical solution. For each particular application, those skilled in the art may use different methods to implement the functions described, but such implementations should not be construed as going beyond the scope of the present disclosure.

[0343] Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that, for convenience and brevity of description, a particular operating process in the above-mentioned system, device or unit may refer to a corresponding process in previous embodiments of the method and will not be repeated herein.

[0344] Only some specific embodiments of the present disclosure are described above, but the scope of legal protection of the present disclosure is not limited to them. Any changes and replacements that are understandable to those skilled in the art and are within the technical solution of the present disclosure fall within the scope of legal protection of the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of legal protection of the present disclosure should be determined by the scope of legal protection of the claims of the present disclosure.

Claims (23)

1. A positioning method that is performed by a reference network device and includes the following stage: transmitting a positioning message, wherein the positioning message comprises time information configured to indicate a time for returning the response information. 2. The method according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the transmission of the positioning message includes the following stages: transmitting a positioning message to a network access device; or transmitting a positioning message to a terminal device. 3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the time information can be any one of the following: a moment in time or a time interval. 4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the positioning message is any one of the following messages: message requesting terminal device capabilities; a positioning measurement result request message; a positioning information request message; and message requesting positioning activation. 5. The method according to any of paragraphs 1-4, which additionally provides the following steps: receiving a positioning request message, wherein the positioning request message includes a predetermined location time; and determining the time information according to the preset location time. 6. The method according to paragraph 5, characterized in that determining the time information according to a predetermined location time provides for at least one of the stages: determining time information according to a predetermined location time and a time when the positioning request message was received; or determining the time information according to the preset location time and positioning message type. 7. A positioning method that is performed by a network access device and includes the stage: receiving a positioning message, wherein the positioning message comprises time information configured to indicate a time for returning response information. 8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the positioning message is any one of the following messages: a message with a request for positioning information, a message with a request for a result of positioning measurements, or a message with a request for activation of positioning. 9. A positioning method that is performed by a terminal device and includes the stage: receiving a positioning message, wherein the positioning message comprises time information configured to indicate a time for returning response information. 10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the positioning message is a message with a request for the capabilities of the terminal device, and the method additionally provides for the step of: within the time specified in the time information, return information on the positioning capabilities of the terminal device.