CN115516879B

CN115516879B - A method and apparatus for verifying the location of user equipment

Info

Publication number: CN115516879B
Application number: CN202180000391.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 洪伟; 李小龙; 陈栋
Original assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co Ltd
Current assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-02-18
Filing date: 2021-02-18
Publication date: 2026-04-28
Anticipated expiration: 2041-02-18
Also published as: WO2022174375A1; CN115516879A

Abstract

This disclosure proposes a user equipment (UE) location verification method and apparatus. In this technical solution, the network device can perform location verification on the UE when it determines that location verification needs to be performed, thereby providing a way for the network device to perform location verification on the UE.

Description

User equipment positioning verification method and device

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of mobile communications technologies, and in particular, to a method and an apparatus for positioning and verifying a UE.

Background

In the current mobile communication network system, location information of a User Equipment (UE) may be reported to a network side. However, in some scenarios, the accuracy of the reported location information of the user equipment may not meet the requirements, and verification of the reported location information is required to obtain more accurate location information.

Disclosure of Invention

The present disclosure provides a method and an apparatus for positioning and verifying a UE, which can perform positioning and verifying by a session management function (SMF, session management function) network element or an access and mobility management function (AMF, ACCESS AND mobility management function) network element, i.e. obtain more accurate UE location information.

An embodiment of a first aspect of the present disclosure proposes a method for location verification of a user equipment UE, the method being applied in a first network element, the method comprising performing location verification on the UE when it is determined that location verification is performed for the UE.

An embodiment of a second aspect of the present disclosure provides a UE location verification apparatus, which is applied in a first network element, and includes a verification module configured to perform location verification on the UE when determining to perform location verification on the UE.

An embodiment of a third aspect of the present disclosure provides a communication device, including a transceiver, a memory, and a processor, respectively connected to the transceiver and the memory, configured to control, by executing computer-executable instructions on the memory, wireless signal transceiving of the transceiver, and capable of implementing the method according to the embodiment of the first aspect.

An embodiment of a fourth aspect of the present disclosure provides a computer storage medium, where the computer storage medium stores computer executable instructions, where the computer executable instructions, when executed by a processor, can implement the method described in the embodiment of the first aspect.

The method and the device for positioning verification of the UE provided by the embodiment of the disclosure provide a method for performing positioning verification on the UE by a first network element, so that the defect of lack of positioning verification in the prior art is overcome.

Additional aspects and advantages of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure.

Drawings

The foregoing and/or additional aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent and readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,

Wherein:

fig. 1 is a flowchart of a UE location verification method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 2 is a flowchart of a UE location verification method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 3 is a flowchart of a UE location verification method according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

fig. 4 is a flowchart of a UE location verification method according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

Fig. 5 is a flowchart of a UE location verification method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 6 is a flowchart of a UE location verification method according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

fig. 7 is a flowchart of a UE location verification method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a UE positioning verification device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a UE positioning verification device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like or similar reference numerals refer to like or similar elements or elements having like or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below by referring to the drawings are exemplary and intended for the purpose of explaining the present disclosure and are not to be construed as limiting the present disclosure.

In the current mobile communication network system, location information of a User Equipment (UE) may be reported to a network side. However, in some scenarios, the accuracy of the reported location information of the user equipment may not meet the requirements, and verification of the reported location information is required to obtain more accurate location information. However, in the prior art, a method of how to perform positioning verification is lacking.

Therefore, the application provides a method and a device for positioning and verifying UE, and provides a method for performing positioning and verifying UE by a session management function (SMF, session management function) or an access and mobility management function (AMF, ACCESS AND mobility management function) network element, thereby overcoming the defect of the lack of positioning and verifying in the prior art.

Fig. 1 shows a flowchart of a UE location verification method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method is performed by a first network element, thereby providing a method for performing location verification on a UE, as shown in fig. 1, the UE location verification method comprising the steps of:

S101, when it is determined to perform positioning verification for a UE, positioning verification is performed for the UE.

In this embodiment, the first network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE, and when it is determined to perform location verification for the UE, the first network element performs location verification for the UE. Wherein the first network element may determine to perform location verification on the UE for various reasons, e.g., may determine to perform location verification on the UE based on its own configuration information or may be in response to an indication issued by other network elements.

In the embodiment of the disclosure, the network equipment can perform positioning verification on the UE when determining to perform positioning verification on the UE, so that a method for performing positioning verification on the UE by the network equipment is provided, and the defect of the lack of how to perform positioning verification in the prior art is overcome.

In some embodiments, the first network element may comprise at least one of a session management function (SMF, session management function) network element and an access and mobility management function (AMF, ACCESS AND mobility management function) network element.

Fig. 2 shows a flowchart of a UE location verification method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method is performed by the SMF network element, thereby providing a method for performing location verification on the UE by the SMF network element, as shown in fig. 2, the UE location verification method comprising the steps of:

s201, when determining to perform positioning verification for a UE, performing positioning verification for the UE.

In this embodiment, the SMF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE, and when it is determined to perform location verification for the UE, the SMF network element performs location verification for the UE.

In some embodiments, the above step S201 may be implemented by at least one of the following steps S2011 and S2012.

And S2011, sending a positioning process triggering request to the position management function LMF network element to trigger the LMF network element to execute the positioning process.

In this embodiment, the SMF network element may perform location verification by triggering a location management function (LMF, location management function). Specifically, the SMF network element may send a location procedure triggering request to the LMF network element, so that the LMF network element performs a location procedure in response to the location procedure triggering request, thereby implementing location verification for the UE.

In some embodiments, a satellite link indication for indicating whether the UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul may be included in the trigger request, thereby triggering the LMF network element to perform a positioning procedure applicable to the satellite link according to the satellite link indication.

And 2012, sending a positioning verification request to the AMF network element of the access and mobility management function to trigger the AMF network element to respond to the positioning verification request to perform positioning verification on the UE, and receiving GNSS information of the UE fed back by the AMF network element.

In this embodiment, the SMF network element may perform location verification by requesting the AMF network element. Specifically, the SMF network element may send a location verification request to the AMF network element, where the location verification request is a higher precision location request, so that the AMF network element performs location verification on the UE in response to the location verification request, and then feeds back global navigation satellite system (GNSS, global navigation SATELLITE SYSTEM) information of the UE to the SMF network element, thereby implementing location verification on the UE.

In some embodiments, the location verification request includes a time period for performing location verification on the UE, for triggering the AMF network element to perform location verification on the UE in accordance with the time period.

In this embodiment, the SMF network element may request that the AMF network element perform location verification on the UE according to a certain time period. Specifically, the location verification request sent by the SMF network element to the AMF network element may include a time period for performing location verification on the UE, and after receiving the location verification request, the AMF network element may perform location verification on the UE according to the time period. In this way, it is avoided that a location verification is always performed on the UE, thereby saving resources.

In the embodiment of the disclosure, the SMF network element can perform positioning verification on the UE by triggering the LMF network element or requesting the AMF network element when determining to perform positioning verification on the UE, so that a method for performing positioning verification on the UE by the SMF network element is provided, and the defect of the lack of how to perform positioning verification in the prior art is overcome.

Fig. 3 shows a flowchart of a UE location verification method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method is performed by the SMF network element, thereby providing a method for performing location verification on the UE by the SMF network element, and on the basis of the embodiment shown in fig. 2, as shown in fig. 3, the UE location verification method includes the following steps:

S301, determining whether to perform positioning verification for the UE based on the positioning verification information or the positioning verification indication.

Wherein the positioning verification information includes at least one of satellite link indication and location identification information of the UE. The satellite link indication is used to indicate whether the UE is using at least one of satellite access and satellite backhaul. The location identification information comprises at least one of the following information, namely the identification of the cell where the UE is located, the identification of the access network node to which the cell belongs and the tracking area identification TAI corresponding to the UE.

The SMF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the satellite link indication and/or the location identification information of the UE. In some embodiments, the SMF network element may directly determine to perform location verification for the UE or determine not to perform location verification for the UE without making a decision. That is, the SMF network element may determine to perform location verification for the UE based on the satellite link indication and/or the location identification information of the UE, or the SMF network element may determine not to perform location verification for the UE based on the satellite link indication and/or the location identification information of the UE.

In some embodiments, the SMF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on a satellite link indication, wherein the satellite link indication is used to indicate whether the UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul. In some embodiments, the SMF network element may determine to perform location verification for the UE based on a satellite link indication, wherein the satellite link indication is used to indicate that the UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul. In some embodiments, the SMF network element may determine not to perform location verification for the UE based on a satellite link indication, wherein the satellite link indication is to indicate that the UE is not using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul. For example, if it is detected that the UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul, since the coverage of the satellite is typically large, it is possible to cover multiple service areas, e.g. multiple provinces, even countries, in which case the coverage identified by the UE's reported location information (typically cell identity, base station identity, etc.) may be larger than the area of interest, it may be necessary to perform UE location verification to identify more accurate location information of the UE, the SMF network element determining to perform location verification for the UE based on the satellite link indication indicating that the UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul. For another example, if it is detected that the UE is not using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul, then it may not be necessary to perform UE location verification, and the SMF network element determines not to perform location verification for the UE based on a satellite link indication indicating that the UE is not using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul. Thus, the SMF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on a satellite link indication indicating whether the UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul.

In other embodiments, the SMF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on location identification information of the UE, wherein the location identification information of the UE includes at least one of an identification of a cell in which the UE is located, an identification of an access network node to which the cell belongs, and a tracking area identification (TAI, tracking Area Identity) corresponding to the UE. In some embodiments, the SMF network element may determine to perform location verification for the UE based on the location identification information of the UE, or the SMF network element may determine not to perform location verification for the UE based on the location identification information of the UE. For example, if the traffic demand is to push advertisement information or the like to a UE entering an area, e.g., entering a mall or the like, and since the coverage identified by the reported location information (typically cell identity, base station identity, etc.) of the UE is typically larger than the area, in this case, in order to avoid false pushing of advertisement information to a UE not entering the area, it may be necessary to perform UE location verification to identify more accurate location information of the UE, the SMF network element may determine to perform location verification for the UE based on the location identification information of the UE. For another example, if the location identification information of the UE shows that the UE did not enter the mall, the SMF network element may not need to perform UE location verification, and may determine not to perform location verification for the UE based on the location identification information of the UE. Accordingly, the SMF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the location identification information of the UE.

In other embodiments, the SMF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on a satellite link indication and location identification information of the UE, wherein the satellite link indication is used for indicating whether the UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul, and the location identification information of the UE comprises at least one of an identification of a cell in which the UE is located, an identification of an access network node to which the cell belongs, and a tracking area identification TAI corresponding to the UE. In some embodiments, the SMF network element may determine to perform location verification for the UE based on a satellite link indication and location identification information of the UE, wherein the satellite link indication is used for indicating that the UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul, and the location identification information of the UE comprises at least one of an identification of a cell in which the UE is located, an identification of an access network node to which the cell belongs, and a tracking area identification TAI corresponding to the UE. In some embodiments, the SMF network element may determine not to perform location verification for the UE based on a satellite link indication and location identification information of the UE, wherein the satellite link indication is used for indicating that the UE is not using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul, and the location identification information of the UE comprises at least one of an identification of a cell in which the UE is located, an identification of an access network node to which the cell belongs, and a tracking area identification TAI corresponding to the UE. For example, if it is detected that a UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul, since the coverage of the satellite is typically large, it is possible to cover multiple service areas, e.g. multiple provinces, even countries, while traffic demands require pushing hints information etc. to the UE across the service area, in which case it may be necessary to perform UE positioning verification to more accurately identify if the UE crosses the service area, since it is difficult to identify if the UE crosses the service area by the UE's reported location information (typically cell identity, base station identity, etc.). Thus, the SMF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the satellite link indication and the location identification information of the UE.

Further, the SMF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the location verification indication. In this embodiment, the location verification indication may come from other network elements. For example, the location verification indication may be from a policy control function (PCF, policy control function) network element. The location verification indication may be derived by the other network element based on the location verification information. Wherein the positioning verification information may include at least one of a satellite link indication and location identification information of the UE. The satellite link indication may be used to indicate whether the UE is using at least one of satellite access and satellite backhaul. The location identification information may include at least one of an identification of a cell in which the UE is located, an identification of an access network node to which the cell belongs, and a tracking area identification TAI corresponding to the UE. The other network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the location verification information and send a location verification indication to the SMF network element when it is determined to perform location verification. The manner in which the other network element obtains the location verification indication based on the location verification information may refer to the description that the SMF network element determines whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the location verification information.

In particular, the other network elements may be derived based on the location verification information and the pre-configured policies in the other network elements. The pre-configuration policy may include at least one of information whether a UE using a satellite link needs finer granularity than a cell-level positioning granularity, UE traffic information requiring finer granularity than a cell-level positioning granularity, and policy information specifying an area requiring finer granularity than a cell-level positioning granularity. The other network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the location verification information and a pre-configured policy in the other network element, and send a location verification indication to the SMF network element when it is determined to perform location verification.

That is, the SMF network element may receive the location verification indication from the other network elements and determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the location verification indication. In some embodiments, the SMF network element may directly determine to perform location verification for the UE or determine not to perform location verification for the UE without making a decision. That is, the SMF network element may determine to perform location verification for the UE based on a location verification indication (e.g., the location verification indication may indicate to perform location verification), or the SMF network element may determine not to perform location verification for the UE based on a location verification indication (e.g., the location verification indication is a negative indication, i.e., it indicates to not perform location verification). Of course, in some embodiments, if no location verification indication is received, the default determination is not to perform location verification for the UE.

S302, when determining to perform positioning verification for a UE, performing positioning verification for the UE.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the SMF network element may perform location verification for the UE when it is determined to perform location verification for the UE. The specific implementation of step S302 may refer to the implementation of step S101 shown in fig. 1 or step S201 shown in fig. 2, which is not described in detail in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

In the embodiment of the disclosure, the SMF network element can determine whether to perform positioning verification for the UE based on the positioning verification information, and perform positioning verification for the UE when determining to perform positioning verification, so as to provide a method for performing positioning verification for the UE by the SMF network element, and make up for the defect of how to perform positioning verification in the prior art.

Fig. 4 shows a flowchart of a UE location verification method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method is performed by the SMF network element, thereby providing a method for performing location verification on the UE by the SMF network element, and on the basis of the embodiment shown in fig. 2, as shown in fig. 4, the UE location verification method includes the following steps:

S401, determining whether to perform positioning verification for the UE based on the positioning verification information.

In some embodiments, the above step S401 may be implemented by at least one of the following steps S4011 and S4012.

S4011, determining whether to perform location verification for the UE based on a pre-configured policy and location verification information in an SMF network element, wherein the pre-configured policy includes at least one of information whether the UE using a satellite link requires finer granularity than cell level location granularity, UE traffic information requiring finer granularity than cell level location granularity, and policy information specifying an area requiring finer granularity than cell level location granularity.

The SMF network element may be pre-configured with a policy that may include at least one of information whether a UE using a satellite link needs finer granularity than cell-level positioning granularity, UE traffic information that needs finer granularity than cell-level positioning granularity, and policy information that specifies a region that needs finer granularity than cell-level positioning granularity.

In this embodiment, the SMF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on location verification information including satellite link indication and/or location identification information of the UE and a pre-configuration policy. In some embodiments, the SMF network element may directly determine to perform location verification for the UE or determine not to perform location verification for the UE without making a decision. That is, the SMF network element may determine to perform location verification for the UE based on location verification information and a pre-configured policy including satellite link indication and/or location identification information of the UE, or the SMF network element may determine not to perform location verification for the UE based on location verification information and a pre-configured policy including satellite link indication and/or location identification information of the UE.

In some embodiments, the SMF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on a satellite link indication and a pre-configured policy, wherein the satellite link indication is used to indicate whether the UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul. In some embodiments, the SMF network element may determine to perform location verification for the UE based on a satellite link indication and a pre-configured policy, wherein the satellite link indication is to indicate that the UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul. In some embodiments, the SMF network element may determine not to perform location verification for the UE based on a satellite link indication and a pre-configured policy, wherein the satellite link indication is to indicate that the UE is not using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul. For example, if it is detected that a UE uses satellite access and/or satellite backhaul, since the coverage of the satellite is typically large, it is possible to cover multiple service areas, e.g. multiple provinces, even countries, in which case the coverage identified by the UE's reported location information (typically cell identity, base station identity, etc.) may be larger than the area of interest, whereas if the preconfigured policy in the SMF network element indicates that the UE using satellite access and/or satellite link needs a finer granularity than the cell-level positioning granularity, then UE location verification needs to be performed to identify more accurate location information of the UE, the SMF network element determines to perform location verification for the UE based on the satellite link indication and the preconfigured policy indicating that the UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul, whereas if the preconfigured policy in the SMF network element indicates that the UE using satellite access and/or satellite link does not need a finer granularity than the cell-level positioning granularity, then UE location verification need not be performed, the SMF network element determines to perform location verification for the UE based on the satellite link indication and the preconfigured policy indicating that the UE is not using satellite access and/or satellite link indication and the backhaul. Thus, the SMF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on a satellite link indication and a pre-configuration policy indicating whether the UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul.

In other embodiments, the SMF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on location identification information of the UE and a pre-configured policy, where the location identification information of the UE includes at least one of an identification of a cell in which the UE is located, an identification of an access network node to which the cell belongs, and a tracking area identification TAI corresponding to the UE. In some embodiments, the SMF network element may determine to perform location verification for the UE based on the location identification information and the pre-configuration policy of the UE, or the SMF network element may determine not to perform location verification for the UE based on the location identification information and the pre-configuration policy of the UE. For example, the policy preconfigured in the SMF network element indicates that a UE subscribed service with a granularity finer than the cell-level location granularity is required, if the UE has subscribed to a certain service of the above-mentioned UE subscribed services, for example, the service is to push advertisement information to a UE entering a certain area, for example, entering a place such as a mall, etc., and since the coverage identified by the reported location information (typically a cell identity, a base station identity, etc.) of the UE is typically larger than the area, in which case, in order to avoid erroneous push of advertisement information to a UE not entering the area, UE location verification needs to be performed to identify more accurate location information of the UE, the SMF network element may determine to perform location verification for the UE based on the location identification information of the UE and the preconfigured policy. For another example, if the location identification information of the UE shows that the UE did not enter the mall, then it may not be necessary to perform UE location verification, and the SMF network element may determine not to perform location verification for the UE based on the location identification information of the UE and the pre-configuration policy. Thus, the SMF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the location identification information of the UE and the pre-configuration policy.

In other embodiments, the SMF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on a satellite link indication, the location identification information of the UE, and a pre-configured policy, wherein the satellite link indication is used to indicate whether the UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul, and the location identification information of the UE includes at least one of an identification of a cell in which the UE is located, an identification of an access network node to which the cell belongs, and a tracking area identification TAI corresponding to the UE. In some embodiments, the SMF network element may determine to perform location verification for the UE based on a satellite link indication, the satellite link indication indicating that the UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul, location identification information of the UE including at least one of an identification of a cell in which the UE is located, an identification of an access network node to which the cell belongs, and a tracking area identification TAI corresponding to the UE, and a pre-configured policy. In some embodiments, the SMF network element may determine not to perform location verification for the UE based on a satellite link indication, the location identification information of the UE, and a pre-configured policy, wherein the satellite link indication is used to indicate that the UE is not using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul, and the location identification information of the UE includes at least one of an identification of a cell in which the UE is located, an identification of an access network node to which the cell belongs, and a tracking area identification TAI corresponding to the UE. For example, if it is detected that a UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul, since the coverage of the satellite is typically large, it is possible to cover multiple service areas, e.g. multiple provinces, even countries, and the UE has subscribed to a service for a UE that requires a finer granularity than cell-level positioning granularity as indicated by a policy preconfigured in the SMF network element, e.g. subscription services apply different tariffs for UEs crossing the service area, etc., in which case it is difficult to identify if the UE crosses the service area by the UE's reported location information (typically cell identity, base station identity, etc.), a UE positioning verification needs to be performed to more accurately identify if the UE crosses the service area. Thus, the SMF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the satellite link indication, the location identification information of the UE, and the pre-configuration policy.

S4012, reporting the positioning verification information to a policy control function PCF network element, so that the PCF network element determines whether to execute positioning verification for the UE based on the positioning verification information and a preconfigured policy in the PCF network element, and determining to execute positioning verification for the UE when receiving positioning verification indication information from the PCF network element.

Wherein the pre-configuration policy includes at least one of information whether a UE using the satellite link needs finer granularity than cell-level positioning granularity, UE traffic information requiring finer granularity than cell-level positioning granularity, and policy information specifying an area requiring finer granularity than cell-level positioning granularity, the positioning verification indication information including a positioning verification indication indicating that positioning verification is performed and being sent for the PCF network element when determining that positioning verification is performed for the UE.

In this embodiment, the SMF network element may report location verification information to a policy control function (PCF, policy control function) network element, where the PCF network element is preconfigured with a policy, which may include at least one of information whether a UE using a satellite link needs finer granularity than cell-level location granularity, UE traffic information requiring finer granularity than cell-level location granularity, and policy information specifying an area requiring finer granularity than cell-level location granularity, and the PCF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the location verification information including a satellite link indication and/or location identification information of the UE and the preconfigured policy. The manner in which the PCF network element determines whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the location verification information and the pre-configuration policy is similar to the manner in which the SMF network element determines whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the location verification information and the pre-configuration policy, and reference may be made to the above description, which is not repeated herein. If the PCF network element determines to perform location verification for the UE, the PCF network element may send a location verification indication to the SMF network element to instruct the SMF network element to perform location verification.

In some embodiments, the location verification indication information is carried in an SM policy association setup response or an SM policy association modification response and is sent by the PCF network element to the SMF network element.

In this embodiment, the PCF network element may send the location verification indication information to the SMF network element through a session management (SM, session management) policy association setup response or an SM policy association modification response. Specifically, the location verification indication information may be carried in an SM policy association setup response or an SM policy association modification response.

In some embodiments, the location verification indication information includes a time period for performing location verification on the UE.

In this embodiment, the PCF network element may determine to perform location verification for the UE for a certain period of time. The PCF network element may send a time period for performing location verification on the UE and a location verification indication to the SMF network element to instruct the SMF network element to perform location verification on the UE according to the time period. In this way, it is avoided that a location verification is always performed on the UE, thereby saving resources.

S402, when determining to perform positioning verification for a UE, performing positioning verification for the UE.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the SMF network element may perform location verification for the UE when it is determined to perform location verification for the UE. The specific implementation of step S402 may refer to the implementation of step S101 shown in fig. 1 or step S201 shown in fig. 2, which is not described in detail in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

In the embodiment of the disclosure, the SMF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the location verification information and the pre-configuration policy, or may send the location verification information to the PCF network element, so that the PCF network element determines whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the location verification information and the pre-configuration policy, and performs location verification for the UE when determining to perform the location verification, thereby providing a method for performing location verification for the UE by the SMF network element, and making up for the deficiency of how to perform location verification in the prior art.

Fig. 5 shows a flowchart of a UE location verification method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method is performed by the AMF network element, thereby providing a method for performing location verification on the UE by the AMF network element, as shown in fig. 5, the UE location verification method comprises the following steps:

S501, when determining to perform positioning verification for a UE, performing positioning verification for the UE.

In this embodiment, the AMF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE, and when it is determined to perform location verification for the UE, the AMF network element performs location verification for the UE.

In some embodiments, step S501 described above may be implemented by at least one of the following steps S5011 and S5012.

S5011, a location procedure triggering request is sent to a location management function LMF network element to trigger the LMF network element to perform a location procedure.

In this embodiment, the AMF network element may perform location verification by triggering a location management function (LMF, location management function). Specifically, the AMF network element may send a positioning procedure triggering request to the LMF network element, so that the LMF network element performs a positioning procedure in response to the positioning procedure triggering request, thereby implementing positioning verification for the UE.

S5012, sending an autonomous mode global navigation satellite system GNSS positioning request to the UE to trigger the UE to execute an autonomous mode GNSS positioning process, and receiving GNSS information of the UE fed back by the UE.

In this embodiment, the AMF network element may perform location verification by triggering the UE. Specifically, the AMF network element may send an autonomous mode global navigation satellite system (GNSS, global navigation SATELLITE SYSTEM) positioning request to the UE, so that the UE may perform a self-organizing mode GNSS positioning procedure in response to the autonomous mode GNSS request and then feed back GNSS information of the UE to the AMF network element, thereby implementing positioning verification of the UE.

In the embodiment of the disclosure, the AMF network element can perform the positioning verification on the UE by triggering the LMF network element or triggering the UE when determining to perform the positioning verification on the UE, so that the method for performing the positioning verification on the UE by the AMF network element is provided, and the defect of the lack of how to perform the positioning verification in the prior art is overcome.

Fig. 6 shows a flowchart of a UE location verification method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method is performed by the AMF network element, thereby providing a method for performing location verification on the UE by the AMF network element, and on the basis of the embodiment shown in fig. 5, as shown in fig. 6, the UE location verification method comprises the following steps:

s601, it is determined whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the location verification information or the location verification indication.

The AMF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the satellite link indication and/or location identification information of the UE. In some embodiments, the AMF network element may directly determine to perform location verification for the UE or determine not to perform location verification for the UE without making a decision. That is, the AMF network element may determine to perform location verification for the UE based on the satellite link indication and/or the location identification information of the UE, or the AMF network element may determine not to perform location verification for the UE based on the satellite link indication and/or the location identification information of the UE.

In some embodiments, the AMF network element may determine whether to perform positioning verification for the UE based on a satellite link indication, wherein the satellite link indication is used to indicate whether the UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul. In some embodiments, the AMF network element may determine to perform location verification for the UE based on a satellite link indication, wherein the satellite link indication is used to indicate that the UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul. In some embodiments, the AMF network element may determine not to perform location verification for the UE based on a satellite link indication, wherein the satellite link indication is to indicate that the UE is not using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul. For example, if it is detected that the UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul, since the coverage of the satellite is typically large, it is possible to cover multiple service areas, e.g. multiple provinces, even countries, in which case the coverage identified by the UE's reported location information (typically cell identity, base station identity, etc.) may be larger than the area of interest, it may be necessary to perform UE location verification to identify more accurate location information of the UE, the AMF network element determining to perform location verification for the UE based on the satellite link indication indicating that the UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul. For another example, if it is detected that the UE is not using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul, it may not be necessary to perform UE location verification, and the AMF network element determines not to perform location verification for the UE based on a satellite link indication indicating that the UE is not using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul. . Accordingly, the AMF network element may determine whether to perform positioning verification for the UE based on a satellite link indication indicating whether the UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul.

In other embodiments, the AMF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on location identification information of the UE, where the location identification information of the UE includes at least one of an identification of a cell in which the UE is located, an identification of an access network node to which the cell belongs, and a tracking area identification TAI corresponding to the UE. In some embodiments, the AMF network element may determine to perform location verification for the UE based on the location identification information of the UE, or the AMF network element may determine not to perform location verification for the UE based on the location identification information of the UE. For example, if the traffic demand is to push advertisement information or the like to a UE entering an area, e.g., entering a mall or the like, and since the coverage identified by the reported location information (typically cell identity, base station identity, etc.) of the UE is typically larger than the area, in this case, in order to avoid false pushing of advertisement information to a UE not entering the area, it may be necessary to perform UE location verification to identify more accurate location information of the UE, the AMF network element may determine to perform location verification for the UE based on the location identification information of the UE. For another example, if the location identification information of the UE shows that the UE did not enter the mall, then it may not be necessary to perform UE location verification, and the AMF network element may determine not to perform location verification for the UE based on the location identification information of the UE. Accordingly, the AMF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the location identification information of the UE.

In other embodiments, the AMF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on a satellite link indication and location identification information of the UE, wherein the satellite link indication is used for indicating whether the UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul, and the location identification information of the UE comprises at least one of an identification of a cell in which the UE is located, an identification of an access network node to which the cell belongs, and a tracking area identification TAI corresponding to the UE. In some embodiments, the AMF network element may determine to perform location verification for the UE based on a satellite link indication and location identification information of the UE, wherein the satellite link indication is used for indicating that the UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul, and the location identification information of the UE comprises at least one of an identification of a cell in which the UE is located, an identification of an access network node to which the cell belongs, and a tracking area identification TAI corresponding to the UE. In some embodiments, the AMF network element may determine not to perform location verification for the UE based on a satellite link indication and location identification information of the UE, wherein the satellite link indication is used for indicating that the UE is not using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul, and the location identification information of the UE comprises at least one of an identification of a cell in which the UE is located, an identification of an access network node to which the cell belongs, and a tracking area identification TAI corresponding to the UE. For example, if it is detected that a UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul, since the coverage of the satellite is typically large, it is possible to cover multiple service areas, e.g. multiple provinces, even countries, while traffic demands require pushing hints information etc. to the UE across the service area, in which case it may be necessary to perform UE positioning verification to more accurately identify if the UE crosses the service area, since it is difficult to identify if the UE crosses the service area by the UE's reported location information (typically cell identity, base station identity, etc.). As another example, if it is detected that a UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul, since the coverage of the satellite is typically large, it is possible to cover multiple service areas, e.g. multiple provinces, even countries, whereas if the UE crosses a border, it is possible to employ different operators in different countries, in which case it is difficult to identify if the UE crosses a border by means of the reported location information of the UE (typically cell identity, base station identity, etc.), it is necessary to perform UE location verification to more accurately identify if the UE crosses a border in order to be able to reselect a local mobility management anchor (PLMA, previously attached local mobility anchor) network element. Accordingly, the AMF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the satellite link indication and the location identification information of the UE.

Furthermore, the AMF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the location verification indication. In this embodiment, the location verification indication may come from other network elements. For example, the location verification indication may be from a PCF network element or from an SMF network element. The location verification indication may be derived by the other network element based on the location verification information. Wherein the positioning verification information may include at least one of a satellite link indication and location identification information of the UE. The satellite link indication may be used to indicate whether the UE is using at least one of satellite access and satellite backhaul. The location identification information may include at least one of an identification of a cell in which the UE is located, an identification of an access network node to which the cell belongs, and a tracking area identification TAI corresponding to the UE. The other network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the location verification information and send a location verification indication to the AMF network element when it is determined to perform location verification. The manner in which the other network element obtains the location verification indication based on the location verification information may refer to the description that the above AMF network element determines whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the location verification information.

In particular, the other network elements may be derived based on the location verification information and the pre-configured policies in the other network elements. The pre-configuration policy may include at least one of information whether a UE using a satellite link needs finer granularity than a cell-level positioning granularity, UE traffic information requiring finer granularity than a cell-level positioning granularity, and policy information specifying an area requiring finer granularity than a cell-level positioning granularity. The other network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the location verification information and a policy pre-configured in the other network element, and send a location verification indication to the AMF network element when it is determined to perform location verification.

That is, the AMF network element may receive the location verification indication from the other network elements and determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the location verification indication. In some embodiments, the AMF network element may directly determine to perform location verification for the UE or determine not to perform location verification for the UE without making a decision. That is, the AMF network element may determine to perform location verification for the UE based on a location verification indication (e.g., the location verification indication may indicate location verification is performed), or the AMF network element may determine not to perform location verification for the UE based on a location verification indication (e.g., the location verification indication is a negative indication, i.e., it indicates no location verification is performed). Of course, in some embodiments, if no location verification indication is received, the default determination is not to perform location verification for the UE.

S602, when it is determined to perform positioning verification for a UE, positioning verification is performed for the UE.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the AMF network element may perform location verification for a UE when it is determined to perform location verification for the UE. The specific implementation of step S602 may refer to the implementation of step S101 shown in fig. 1 or step S501 shown in fig. 5, which is not described in detail in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

In the embodiment of the disclosure, the AMF network element can determine whether to execute positioning verification for the UE based on the positioning verification information, and execute the positioning verification for the UE when determining to execute the positioning verification, so that a method for executing the positioning verification for the UE by the AMF network element is provided, and the defect of the lack of how to execute the positioning verification in the prior art is overcome.

Fig. 7 shows a flowchart of a UE location verification method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method is performed by the AMF network element, thereby providing a method for performing location verification on the UE by the AMF network element, and on the basis of the embodiment shown in fig. 5, as shown in fig. 7, the UE location verification method comprises the following steps:

s701, based on the positioning verification information, it is determined whether to perform positioning verification for the UE.

In some embodiments, the above step S701 may be implemented by at least one of the following steps S7011 and S7013.

S7011, determining whether to perform location verification for the UE based on a pre-configured policy and location verification information in the AMF network element, wherein the pre-configured policy includes at least one of information whether the UE using the satellite link requires a granularity finer than a cell-level location granularity, UE traffic information requiring a granularity finer than a cell-level location granularity, and policy information specifying an area requiring a granularity finer than a cell-level location granularity.

The AMF network element may be preconfigured with a policy that may include at least one of information whether a UE using a satellite link needs finer granularity than cell-level positioning granularity, UE traffic information that needs finer granularity than cell-level positioning granularity, and policy information that specifies an area that needs finer granularity than cell-level positioning granularity.

In this embodiment, the AMF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on location verification information including satellite link indication and/or location identification information of the UE and a pre-configuration policy. In some embodiments, the AMF network element may directly determine to perform location verification for the UE or determine not to perform location verification for the UE without making a decision. That is, the AMF network element may determine to perform location verification for the UE based on the location verification information and the pre-configuration policy including the satellite link indication and/or the location identification information of the UE, or the AMF network element may determine not to perform location verification for the UE based on the location verification information and the pre-configuration policy including the satellite link indication and/or the location identification information of the UE.

In some embodiments, the AMF network element may determine whether to perform positioning verification for the UE based on a satellite link indication and a pre-configured policy, wherein the satellite link indication is used to indicate whether the UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul. In some embodiments, the AMF network element may determine to perform location verification for the UE based on a satellite link indication and a pre-configured policy, wherein the satellite link indication is to indicate that the UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul. In some embodiments, the AMF network element may determine not to perform location verification for the UE based on a satellite link indication and a pre-configured policy, wherein the satellite link indication is to indicate that the UE is not using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul. For example, if it is detected that a UE uses satellite access and/or satellite backhaul, since the coverage of the satellite is typically large, it is possible to cover multiple service areas, e.g. multiple provinces, even countries, in which case the coverage identified by the reported location information (typically cell identity, base station identity, etc.) of the UE may be larger than the area of interest, whereas if the preconfigured policy in the AMF network element indicates that the UE using satellite access and/or satellite link needs a finer granularity than the cell-level positioning granularity, then UE location verification needs to be performed to identify more accurate location information of the UE, the AMF network element determines to perform location verification for the UE based on the satellite link indication and the preconfigured policy indicating that the UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul, whereas if the preconfigured policy in the AMF network element indicates that the UE using satellite access and/or satellite link does not need a finer granularity than the cell-level positioning granularity, then UE location verification need not be performed, the AMF network element determines to perform location verification for the UE based on the satellite link indication and the preconfigured policy indicating that the UE is not using satellite access and/or satellite link. Accordingly, the AMF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on a satellite link indication and a pre-configuration policy indicating whether the UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul.

In other embodiments, the AMF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on location identification information of the UE and a pre-configured policy, where the location identification information of the UE includes at least one of an identification of a cell in which the UE is located, an identification of an access network node to which the cell belongs, and a tracking area identification TAI corresponding to the UE. In some embodiments, the AMF network element may determine to perform location verification for the UE based on the location identification information and the pre-configuration policy of the UE, or the AMF network element may determine not to perform location verification for the UE based on the location identification information and the pre-configuration policy of the UE. For example, the policy preconfigured in the AMF network element indicates that a UE subscribed service with a granularity finer than the cell-level location granularity is required, if the UE has subscribed to a certain service of the above-mentioned UE subscribed services, for example, the service is to push advertisement information to a UE entering a certain area, for example, entering a place such as a mall, etc., and since the coverage identified by the reported location information (typically a cell identity, a base station identity, etc.) of the UE is typically larger than the area, in which case, in order to avoid mistakenly pushing advertisement information to a UE not entering the area, UE location verification needs to be performed to identify more accurate location information of the UE, the AMF network element may determine to perform location verification for the UE based on the location identification information of the UE and the preconfigured policy. As another example, a preconfigured policy in an AMF network element indicates that an area of finer granularity than cell-level positioning granularity is required, and if a UE enters the area, the AMF network element may determine to perform positioning verification for the UE based on the location identification information of the UE and the preconfigured policy because coverage granularity identified by the reported location information (typically cell identification, base station identification, etc.) of the UE does not meet the granularity required for the area, in which case UE positioning verification needs to be performed to identify more accurate location information of the UE. For another example, if the location identification information of the UE shows that the UE does not enter the area, then it may not be necessary to perform UE location verification, and the AMF network element may determine not to perform location verification for the UE based on the location identification information of the UE and the pre-configured policy. Accordingly, the AMF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the location identification information of the UE and the pre-configuration policy.

In other embodiments, the AMF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on a satellite link indication, the location identification information of the UE, and a pre-configured policy, wherein the satellite link indication is used to indicate whether the UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul, and the location identification information of the UE includes at least one of an identification of a cell in which the UE is located, an identification of an access network node to which the cell belongs, and a tracking area identification TAI corresponding to the UE. In some embodiments, the AMF network element may determine to perform location verification for the UE based on a satellite link indication, the satellite link indication indicating that the UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul, location identification information of the UE including at least one of an identification of a cell in which the UE is located, an identification of an access network node to which the cell belongs, and a tracking area identification TAI corresponding to the UE, and a pre-configured policy. In some embodiments, the AMF network element may determine not to perform location verification for the UE based on a satellite link indication, the location identification information of the UE, and a pre-configured policy, wherein the satellite link indication is used to indicate that the UE is not using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul, and the location identification information of the UE includes at least one of an identification of a cell in which the UE is located, an identification of an access network node to which the cell belongs, and a tracking area identification TAI corresponding to the UE. For example, if it is detected that a UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul, since the coverage of the satellite is typically large, it is possible to cover multiple service areas, e.g. multiple provinces, even countries, and the UE has subscribed to a service for a UE that requires a finer granularity than cell-level positioning granularity as indicated by a policy preconfigured in the AMF network element, e.g. the subscription service requires a different tariff for the UE crossing the service area, etc., in which case it is difficult to identify if the UE crosses the service area by the UE's reported location information (typically cell identity, base station identity, etc.), a UE positioning verification needs to be performed to more accurately identify if the UE crosses the service area. As another example, if it is detected that a UE is using satellite access and/or satellite backhaul, since the coverage of the satellite is typically large, it is possible to cover multiple service areas, e.g. multiple provinces, even countries, whereas if the UE crosses a border, it is possible to employ different operators in different countries, in which case it is difficult to identify if the UE crosses a border by means of the reported location information of the UE (typically cell identity, base station identity, etc.), it is necessary to perform UE location verification to more accurately identify if the UE crosses a border in order to be able to reselect a local mobility management anchor (PLMA, previously attached local mobility anchor) network element. Accordingly, the AMF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the satellite link indication, the location identification information of the UE, and the pre-configuration policy.

S7012, the positioning verification information is reported to a policy control function PCF network element, so that the PCF network element determines whether to execute positioning verification for the UE based on the positioning verification information and a pre-configured policy in the PCF network element, and determines to execute positioning verification for the UE when positioning verification indication information is received from the PCF network element.

In this embodiment, the AMF network element may report the location verification information to a policy control function (PCF, policy control function) network element, where the PCF network element is preconfigured with a policy, which may include at least one of information whether a UE using a satellite link needs finer granularity than cell-level location granularity, UE traffic information requiring finer granularity than cell-level location granularity, and policy information specifying an area requiring finer granularity than cell-level location granularity, and the PCF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the location verification information including the satellite link indication and/or the location identification information of the UE and the preconfigured policy. The manner in which the PCF network element determines whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the location verification information and the pre-configuration policy is similar to the manner in which the AMF network element determines whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the location verification information and the pre-configuration policy, which may be referred to above, and no repeated complaints are made here. If the PCF network element determines to perform location verification for the UE, the PCF network element may send a location verification indication to the AMF network element to instruct the AMF network element to perform location verification.

S7013, reporting the positioning verification information to the SMF network element so that the SMF network element can determine whether to execute positioning verification for the UE based on the positioning verification information and a pre-configuration strategy in the SMF network element, and determining to execute positioning verification for the UE when a positioning verification request is received from the SMF network element.

The pre-configuration policy includes at least one of information whether a UE using a satellite link needs finer granularity than cell-level positioning granularity, UE traffic information requiring finer granularity than cell-level positioning granularity, and policy information specifying an area requiring finer granularity than cell-level positioning granularity, a positioning verification request being sent by an SMF network element when determining to perform positioning verification for the UE.

In this embodiment, the AMF network element may report the location verification information to the SMF network element, and the SMF network element is preconfigured with a policy, where the policy may include at least one of information whether a UE using a satellite link needs information with a granularity finer than a cell-level location granularity, UE traffic information with a granularity finer than a cell-level location granularity, and policy information specifying an area with a granularity finer than a cell-level location granularity, and the SMF network element may determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the location verification information including a satellite link indication and/or location identification information of the UE and the preconfigured policy. If the SMF network element determines to perform location verification for the UE, the SMF network element may send a location verification request to the AMF network element, where the location verification request is a higher precision location request, so that the AMF network element feeds back global navigation satellite system (GNSS, global navigation SATELLITE SYSTEM) information of the UE to the SMF network element after performing location verification for the UE in response to the location verification request, thereby implementing location verification for the UE.

In some embodiments, the location verification indication information is carried in a UE policy association setup response or a UE policy association modification response and sent by the PCF network element to the AMF network element.

In this embodiment, the PCF network element may send the location verification indication information to the AMF network element through the UE policy association setup response or the UE policy association modification response. In particular, the location verification indication information may be carried in a UE policy association setup response or a UE policy association modification response.

In some embodiments, the location verification indication information is carried in an access and mobility management (AM, ACCESS AND mobility management) policy association setup response or an AM policy association modification response to be sent by the PCF network element to the AMF network element.

In this embodiment, the PCF network element may send the location verification indication information to the AMF network element through an AM policy association setup response or an AM policy association modification response. In particular, the location verification indication information may be carried in a UE policy association setup response or a UE policy association modification response.

In this embodiment, the PCF network element may determine to perform location verification for the UE for a certain period of time. The PCF network element may send a time period for performing location verification on the UE and a location verification indication to the AMF network element to instruct the AMF network element to perform location verification on the UE according to the time period. In this way, it is avoided that a location verification is always performed on the UE, thereby saving resources.

S702, when determining to perform positioning verification for a UE, performing positioning verification for the UE.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the AMF network element may perform location verification for a UE when it is determined to perform location verification for the UE. The specific implementation of step S802 may refer to the implementation of step S101 shown in fig. 1 or step S501 shown in fig. 5, which is not described in detail in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

In the embodiment of the disclosure, the AMF network element may determine whether to perform positioning verification for the UE based on the positioning verification information and the pre-configuration policy, or may send the positioning verification information to the PCF network element, so that the PCF network element determines whether to perform positioning verification for the UE based on the positioning verification information and the pre-configuration policy, and performs positioning verification for the UE when determining to perform positioning verification, thereby providing a method for performing positioning verification for the UE by the AMF network element, and making up for the defect of how to perform positioning verification in the prior art.

Corresponding to the UE positioning verification methods provided in the foregoing several embodiments, the present disclosure also provides a UE positioning verification device, and since the UE positioning verification device provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure corresponds to the UE positioning verification method provided in the foregoing several embodiments, implementation of the UE positioning verification method is also applicable to the UE positioning verification device provided in the present embodiment, and will not be described in detail in the present embodiment. Fig. 8 to 9 are schematic structural diagrams of a UE positioning verification apparatus according to the present disclosure.

Fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a UE positioning verification device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The device is applied to the first network element.

As shown in fig. 8, the UE positioning verification apparatus 800 includes:

a verification module 801, configured to perform location verification on the UE when determining to perform location verification on the UE.

In some embodiments, the verification module 801 is configured to send a location procedure triggering request to a location management function LMF network element to trigger the LMF network element to perform a location procedure.

In some embodiments, the triggering request includes a satellite link indication to trigger the LMF network element to perform a positioning procedure applicable to a satellite link according to the satellite link indication, where the satellite link indication is used to indicate whether the UE is using at least one of satellite access and satellite backhaul.

In some embodiments, when the first network element includes an SMF network element, the verification module 801 is configured to send a location verification request to an access and mobility management function AMF network element to trigger the AMF network element to perform location verification on the UE in response to the location verification request and receive GNSS information of the UE fed back by the AMF network element.

In some embodiments, the location verification request includes a time period for performing location verification on the UE, for triggering the AMF network element to perform location verification on the UE according to the time period.

In some embodiments, when the first network element comprises an AMF network element, the verification module 801 is configured to send an autonomous mode global navigation satellite system, GNSS, positioning request to the UE to trigger the UE to perform an autonomous mode GNSS positioning procedure, and receive GNSS information of the UE fed back by the UE.

In some embodiments, referring to fig. 9, the ue location verification apparatus 800 further includes:

A determining module 802, configured to determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the location verification information. The positioning verification information comprises at least one of satellite link indication and position identification information of the UE, wherein the satellite link indication is used for indicating whether the UE is using at least one of satellite access and satellite backhaul, and the position identification information comprises at least one of the following information, namely an identification of a cell where the UE is located, an identification of an access network node where the cell belongs and a tracking area identification TAI corresponding to the UE.

In some embodiments, the determining module 802 is configured to determine whether to perform location verification for the UE based on a preconfigured policy in the first network element and the location verification information, wherein the preconfigured policy includes at least one of information whether the UE using the satellite link requires finer granularity than cell-level location granularity, UE traffic information requiring finer granularity than cell-level location granularity, and policy information specifying an area requiring finer granularity than cell-level location granularity.

In some embodiments, the determining module 802 is configured to report the location verification information to a policy control function, PCF, network element, so that the PCF determines whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the location verification information and a preconfigured policy in the PCF network element, wherein the preconfigured policy includes at least one of information whether a UE using a satellite link needs finer granularity than cell level location granularity, UE traffic information requiring finer granularity than cell level location granularity, and policy information specifying an area requiring finer granularity than cell level location granularity, and upon receiving location verification indication information from the PCF network element, determine to perform location verification for the UE, wherein the location verification indication information includes a location verification indication indicating to perform location verification and is sent for the PCF network element when determining to perform location verification for the UE.

In some embodiments, when the first network element comprises an AMF network element, the determining module 802 is configured to report the location verification information to an SMF network element, such that the SMF network element determines whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the location verification information and a pre-configured policy in the SMF network element, wherein the pre-configured policy comprises at least one of information whether a UE using a satellite link needs finer granularity than cell level location granularity, UE traffic information requiring finer granularity than cell level location granularity, and policy information specifying an area requiring finer granularity than cell level location granularity, and upon receiving location verification indication information from the SMF network element, determine to perform location verification for the UE, wherein the location verification indication information comprises a location verification indication indicating to perform location verification and is sent for the SMF network element when determining to perform location verification for the UE.

In some embodiments, the location verification indication information further comprises a time period for performing location verification on the UE.

In some embodiments, when the first network element comprises an SMF network element, location verification indication information is carried in a session management (SM, session management) policy association setup response or SM policy association modification response and sent by the PCF network element to the SMF network element.

In some embodiments, when the first network element includes an AMF network element, the location verification indication information is carried in a UE policy association setup response or a UE policy association modification response and sent by the PCF network element to the AMF network element.

In some embodiments, when the first network element comprises an AMF network element, the location verification indication information is carried in an access and mobility management (AM, ACCESS AND mobility management) policy association setup response or an AM policy association modification response and sent by the PCF network element to the AMF network element.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the present disclosure also provides a communication device and a computer-readable storage medium.

As shown in fig. 10, is a block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Communication devices are intended to represent various forms of digital computers, such as laptops, desktops, personal digital assistants, servers, blade servers, mainframes, and other appropriate computers. The communication device may also represent various forms of mobile apparatuses such as personal digital processing, cellular telephones, smartphones, wearable devices, and other similar computing apparatuses. The components shown herein, their connections and relationships, and their functions, are meant to be exemplary only, and are not meant to limit implementations of the disclosure described and/or claimed herein.

As shown in fig. 10, the communication device includes one or more processors 1010, memory 1020, and interfaces for connecting components, including a high-speed interface and a low-speed interface. The various components are interconnected using different buses and may be mounted on a common motherboard or in other manners as desired. The processor may process instructions executing within the communication device, including instructions stored in or on memory to display graphical information of the GUI on an external input/output device, such as a display device coupled to the interface. In other embodiments, multiple processors and/or multiple buses may be used, if desired, along with multiple memories and multiple memories. Also, multiple communication devices may be connected, each providing a portion of the necessary operations (e.g., as a server array, a set of blade servers, or a multiprocessor system). One processor 1010 is illustrated in fig. 10.

Memory 1020 is a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium provided by the present disclosure. Wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the at least one processor to perform the data transmission methods provided by the present disclosure. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of the present disclosure stores computer instructions for causing a computer to perform the data transmission method provided by the present disclosure.

The memory 1020 serves as a non-transitory computer readable storage medium for storing non-transitory software programs, non-transitory computer executable programs, and modules, such as program instructions/modules corresponding to the data transmission method in the embodiments of the present disclosure. The processor 1010 executes various functional applications of the server and data processing, i.e., implements the data transmission method in the above-described method embodiments, by running non-transitory software programs, instructions, and modules stored in the memory 1020.

The memory 1020 may include a storage program area that may store an operating system, application programs required for at least one function, and a storage data area that may store data created according to the use of the location communication device, etc. In addition, memory 1020 may include high-speed random access memory and may also include non-transitory memory, such as at least one magnetic disk storage device, flash memory device, or other non-transitory solid state storage device. Memory 1020 optionally includes memory located remotely from processor 1010, which may be connected to a location communication device via a network. Examples of such networks include, but are not limited to, the internet, intranets, local area networks, mobile communication networks, and combinations thereof.

The communication device may further comprise input means 1030 and output means 1040. The processor 1010, memory 1020, input device 1030, and output device 1040 may be connected by a bus or other means, for example in fig. 10.

The input device 1030 may receive input numeric or character information and generate key signal inputs related to positioning user settings and function controls of the communication device, such as input devices for a touch screen, keypad, mouse, trackpad, touchpad, joystick, one or more mouse buttons, trackball, joystick, and the like. The output means 1040 may include a display device, auxiliary lighting means (e.g., LEDs), tactile feedback means (e.g., vibration motors), and the like. The display device may include, but is not limited to, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), a Light Emitting Diode (LED) display, and a plasma display. In some implementations, the display device may be a touch screen.

Various implementations of the systems and techniques described here can be realized in digital electronic circuitry, integrated circuitry, application specific ASIC (application specific integrated circuit), computer hardware, firmware, software, and/or combinations thereof. These various embodiments may include being implemented in one or more computer programs that are executable and/or interpretable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor, which may be a special or general purpose programmable processor, operable to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device.

These computing programs (also referred to as programs, software applications, or code) include machine instructions for a programmable processor, and may be implemented in a high-level procedural and/or object-oriented programming language, and/or in assembly/machine language. As used herein, the terms "machine-readable medium" and "computer-readable medium" refer to any computer program product, apparatus, and/or device (e.g., magnetic discs, optical disks, memory, programmable Logic Devices (PLDs)) used to provide machine instructions and/or data to a programmable processor, including a machine-readable medium that receives machine instructions as a machine-readable signal. The term "machine-readable signal" refers to any signal used to provide machine instructions and/or data to a programmable processor.

To provide for interaction with a user, the systems and techniques described here can be implemented on a computer having a display device (e.g., a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor) for displaying information to the user and a keyboard and a pointing device (e.g., a mouse or a trackball) by which the user can provide input to the computer. Other kinds of devices may also be used to provide for interaction with a user, for example, feedback provided to the user may be any form of sensory feedback (e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback), and input from the user may be received in any form, including acoustic input, speech input, or tactile input.

The systems and techniques described here can be implemented in a computing system that includes a background component (e.g., as a data server), or that includes a middleware component (e.g., an application server), or that includes a front-end component (e.g., a user computer having a graphical user interface or a web browser through which a user can interact with an implementation of the systems and techniques described here), or any combination of such background, middleware, or front-end components. The components of the system can be interconnected by any form or medium of digital data communication (e.g., a communication network). Examples of communication networks include a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), and the Internet.

The computer system may include a client and a server. The client and server are typically remote from each other and typically interact through a communication network. The relationship of client and server arises by virtue of computer programs running on the respective computers and having a client-server relationship to each other.

It should be appreciated that various forms of the flows shown above may be used to reorder, add, or delete steps. For example, the steps recited in the present disclosure may be performed in parallel, sequentially, or in a different order, provided that the desired results of the disclosed aspects are achieved, and are not limited herein.

The above detailed description should not be taken as limiting the scope of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alternatives are possible, depending on design requirements and other factors. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present disclosure are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A method for positioning and verifying a UE, the method being applied to a first network element, the first network element including at least one of a session management function SMF network element and an access and mobility management function AMF network element, the method comprising:

determining whether to perform location verification for a UE based on location verification information, wherein the location verification information includes at least a satellite link indication;

performing location verification for the UE when it is determined to perform location verification for the UE;

The determining whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the location verification information includes:

Determining whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the location verification information and a pre-configured policy in the first network element, wherein the pre-configured policy includes at least one of information whether a UE using a satellite link requires information of a granularity finer than a cell-level location granularity, UE traffic information of a granularity finer than a cell-level location granularity, and policy information specifying an area of a granularity finer than a cell-level location granularity;

Or alternatively

The method comprises the steps of reporting the positioning verification information to a policy control function PCF network element, so that the PCF network element determines whether to execute positioning verification for the UE based on the positioning verification information and a preconfigured policy in the PCF network element, wherein the preconfigured policy comprises at least one of information of whether the UE using a satellite link needs information with granularity finer than cell-level positioning granularity, UE service information with granularity finer than cell-level positioning granularity and policy information specifying an area with granularity finer than cell-level positioning granularity, and determining to execute positioning verification for the UE when positioning verification indication information is received from the PCF network element, wherein the positioning verification indication information comprises positioning verification indication indicating to execute positioning verification and is sent by the PCF network element when determining to execute positioning verification for the UE.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing location verification on the UE comprises:

And sending a positioning process triggering request to a Location Management Function (LMF) network element to trigger the LMF network element to execute a positioning process.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the trigger request includes a satellite link indication to trigger the LMF network element to perform a positioning procedure applicable to a satellite link based on the satellite link indication, the satellite link indication indicating whether the UE is using at least one of satellite access and satellite backhaul.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein when the first network element comprises an SMF network element, the performing location verification on the UE comprises:

sending a location verification request to an access and mobility management function AMF network element to trigger the AMF network element to perform location verification on the UE, and

And receiving GNSS information of the UE fed back by the AMF network element.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the location verification request comprises a time period for performing location verification on the UE.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein when the first network element comprises an AMF network element, the performing location verification on the UE comprises:

transmitting an autonomous mode Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning request to the UE to trigger the UE to perform an autonomous mode GNSS positioning procedure, and

And receiving GNSS information of the UE fed back by the UE.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein when the first network element comprises an AMF network element, the determining whether to perform location verification for a UE based on location verification information comprises:

Reporting the location verification information to an SMF network element so that the SMF network element determines whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the location verification information and a preconfigured policy in the SMF network element, wherein the preconfigured policy comprises at least one of information whether the UE using a satellite link needs information of a granularity finer than a cell-level location granularity, UE traffic information of a granularity finer than a cell-level location granularity, and policy information specifying an area of a granularity finer than a cell-level location granularity, and

Upon receiving location verification indication information from the SMF network element, determining to perform location verification for the UE, wherein the location verification indication information comprises a location verification indication indicating to perform location verification and is sent for the SMF network element upon determining to perform location verification for the UE.

8. The method of claim 1 or 7, wherein the location verification indication information further comprises a time period for performing location verification on the UE.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the location verification indication information is carried in a session management SM policy association setup response or a SM policy association modification response to be sent by the PCF network element to the SMF network element when the first network element comprises the SMF network element.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the location verification indication information is carried in a UE policy association setup response or a UE policy association modification response to be sent by the PCF network element to the AMF network element when the first network element comprises the AMF network element.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the location verification indication information is carried in an access and mobility management, AM, policy association setup response or an AM policy association modification response to be sent by the PCF network element to the AMF network element when the first network element comprises the AMF network element.

12. A user equipment, UE, location verification apparatus, the apparatus being applied in a first network element, the first network element comprising at least one of a session management function, SMF, network element and an access and mobility management function, AMF, network element, the apparatus comprising:

A determining module configured to determine whether to perform positioning verification for a UE based on positioning verification information, wherein the positioning verification information includes at least a satellite link indication;

A verification module configured to perform location verification for the UE when it is determined to perform location verification for the UE;

the determining module is specifically configured to:

Or alternatively

Reporting the location verification information to a policy control function PCF network element so that the PCF network element determines whether to perform location verification for the UE based on the location verification information and a preconfigured policy in the PCF network element, wherein the preconfigured policy comprises at least one of information whether the UE using a satellite link needs information of a granularity finer than a cell-level location granularity, UE traffic information of a granularity finer than a cell-level location granularity, and policy information specifying an area of a granularity finer than a cell-level location granularity, and

Upon receiving location verification indication information from the PCF network element, determining to perform location verification for the UE, wherein the location verification indication information includes a location verification indication indicating to perform location verification and is sent for the PCF network element upon determining to perform location verification for the UE.

13. A communication device comprising a transceiver, a memory, and a processor, coupled to the transceiver and the memory, respectively, configured to control wireless signal transceiving of the transceiver and to enable the method of any one of claims 1-11 by executing computer-executable instructions on the memory.

14. A computer storage medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions which, when executed by a processor, are capable of carrying out the method of any one of claims 1 to 11.