Locating method in multi-connectivity network, terminal device and location management function entity

Abstract

A terminal device, a location management function entity and a method for positioning a terminal device in a multi-connectivity network are provided. The terminal device includes a processor and a memory connected to the processor and storing instructions. The processor, when executing the instructions, is configured to generate a locating message of the terminal device using a first radio access technology (RAT). The processor is further configured to cause the terminal device to send the locating message of the terminal device to the location management function entity through signaling over an air interface using a second RAT.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A terminal device, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory connected to the processor and storing instructions, wherein the processor, when executing the instructions, is configured to:
 generate a locating message of the terminal device using a first radio access technology (RAT), wherein the locating message of the terminal device is configured for determining a location of the terminal device, and the locating message of the terminal device comprises a first locating parameter of a cell of a first node and a second locating parameter of a cell of a second node, wherein the first node corresponds to the first RAT and the second node corresponds to a second RAT; and 
 cause the terminal device to send the locating message of the terminal device to a location management function entity through signaling over an air interface using the second RAT. 
   
     
     
         2 . The terminal device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first node is a secondary node providing a service to the terminal device in a multi-connectivity network. 
     
     
         3 . The terminal device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second node is a primary node providing a service to the terminal device in a multi-connectivity network. 
     
     
         4 . The terminal device according to  claim 3 , wherein to cause the terminal device to send the locating message of the terminal device, the processor is further configured to:
 cause the terminal device to send the locating message of the terminal device to the location management function entity through a radio resource control (RRC) layer of the primary node.   
     
     
         5 . The terminal device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first locating parameter comprises time difference of arrival (TDoA) or a cell identifier (ID), and the second locating parameter comprises time difference of arrival (TDoA) or a cell identifier (ID). 
     
     
         6 . The terminal device according to  claim 1 , wherein the locating message comprises a plurality of locating parameters of a plurality of cells of the first node. 
     
     
         7 . A location management function entity, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory connected to the processor and storing instructions, wherein the processor, when executing the instructions, is configured to:
 receive a locating message of a terminal device sent from the terminal device through signaling over an air interface using a second radio access technology (RAT), wherein the locating message of the terminal device comprises a first locating parameter of a cell of a first node and a second locating parameter of a cell of a second node, wherein the first node corresponds to a first RAT and the second node corresponds to the second RAT; and 
 locate the terminal device according to the locating message of the terminal device. 
   
     
     
         8 . The location management function entity according to  claim 7 , wherein the first node is a secondary node providing a service to the terminal device in a multi-connectivity network. 
     
     
         9 . The location management function entity according to  claim 7 , wherein the second node is a primary node providing a service to the terminal device in a multi-connectivity network. 
     
     
         10 . The location management function entity according to  claim 7 , wherein the locating message of the terminal device comprises a plurality of locating parameter of a plurality of cells of the first node, and the processor is further configured to:
 select a target cell from the plurality of cells; and   locate the terminal device according to the locating parameter of the target cell.   
     
     
         11 . The locating management entity according to  claim 10 , wherein each one of the locating parameters of the cell comprises a respective cell identifier (ID) or an indicator of a primary cell or a secondary cell, and the processor is further configured to select the target cell according to the cell IDs or the indicators. 
     
     
         12 . The locating management entity according to  claim 7 , wherein the first locating parameter comprises time difference of arrival (TDoA) or a cell ID, and the second locating parameter comprises time difference of arrival (TDoA) or a cell ID. 
     
     
         13 . The locating management entity according to  claim 7 , wherein the first RAT is Long-Term Evolution (LTE), and the second RAT is New Radio (NR). 
     
     
         14 . A method for positioning a terminal device in a multi-connectivity network, comprising:
 receiving, by a location management function entity, a locating message of the terminal device sent from the terminal device through signaling over an air interface using a second radio access technology (RAT), wherein the locating message of the terminal device comprises a first locating parameter of a cell of a first node and a second locating parameter of a cell of a second node, wherein the first node corresponds to a first RAT and the second node corresponds to the second RAT; and   locating, by the location management function entity, the terminal device according to the locating message of the terminal device.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the first node is a secondary node providing a service to the terminal device in a multi-connectivity network. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the second node is a primary node providing a service to the terminal device in a multi-connectivity network. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the locating message of the terminal device comprises a plurality of locating parameter of a plurality of cells of the first node, and the method further comprises:
 selecting, by the location management function entity, a target cell from the plurality of cells,   wherein locating, by the location management function entity, the terminal device according to the locating message of the terminal device comprises:
 locating, by the location management function entity, the terminal device according to the locating parameter of the target cell. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein each one of the locating parameters of the cell comprises a respective cell identifier (ID) or an indicator of a primary cell or a secondary cell, and the method further comprises:
 selecting, by the location management function entity, the target cell according to the cell IDs or the indicators.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the first locating parameter comprises time difference of arrival (TDoA) or a cell ID, and the second locating parameter comprises time difference of arrival (TDoA) or a cell ID. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the first RAT is Long-Term Evolution (LTE), and the second RAT is New Radio (NR).