Positioning method and related device

A method comprising:

• sending, by a mobility management network element and to a location management function (LMF) network element, a positioning request message comprising current access types of a terminal device and connectivity states of the terminal device corresponding to the current access types, wherein the connectivity states comprise a first state of a first link between the terminal device and a first access point of a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) access type and a second state of a second link between the terminal device and a second access point of a non-3GPP (N3GPP) access type, and wherein the current access types comprise the 3GPP access type and the N3GPP access type;
• determining, by the LMF network element based on the current access types and the connectivity states, a positioning method for the terminal device and an access type applicable to the positioning method, wherein the access type applicable to the positioning method is one of the current access types, and wherein a connectivity state corresponding to the access type applicable to the positioning method is a connected state;
• sending, by the LMF network element, the positioning method and the access type applicable to the positioning method to the mobility management network element;
• and
• obtaining, by the mobility management network element, a positioning parameter based on the positioning method and the access type applicable to the positioning method.

An apparatus comprising:

• a memory configured to store instructions;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to:
• receive, from a mobility management network element, a positioning request message comprising current access types of a terminal device and connectivity states of the terminal device corresponding to the current access types, wherein the connectivity states comprise a first state of a first link between the terminal device and a first access point of a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) access type and a second state of a second link between the terminal device and a second access point of a non-3GPP (N3GPP) access type, and wherein the current access types comprise the 3GPP access type and the N3GPP access type;
• determine, based on the current access types and the connectivity states, a positioning method for the terminal device and an access type applicable to the positioning method, wherein the access type applicable to the positioning method is one of the current access types, and wherein a connectivity state corresponding to the access type applicable to the positioning method is a connected state;
• and
• send the positioning method and the access type applicable to the positioning method to the mobility management network element.

A communications system comprising:

• a mobility management network element;
• and
• a location management function (LMF) network element configured to:
• receive, from the mobility management network element, a positioning request message comprising current access types of a terminal device and connectivity states of the terminal device corresponding to the current access types, wherein the connectivity states comprise a first state of a first link between the terminal device and a first access point of a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) access type and a second state of a second link between the terminal device and a second access point of a non-3GPP (N3GPP) access type, and wherein the current access types comprise the 3GPP access type and the N3GPP access type;
• determine, based on the current access types and the connectivity states, a positioning method for the terminal device and an access type applicable to the positioning method, wherein the access type applicable to the positioning method is one of the current access types, and wherein a connectivity state corresponding to the access type applicable to the positioning method is a connected state;
• and
• send the positioning method and the access type applicable to the positioning method to the mobility management network element.

A non-transitory computer program product comprising instructions that are stored on a computer-readable medium and that, when executed by a processor, cause an apparatus to:

• receive, from a mobility management network element, a positioning request message comprising current access types of a terminal device and connectivity states of the terminal device corresponding to the current access types, wherein the connectivity states comprise a first state of a first link between the terminal device and a first access point of a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) access type and a second state of a second link between the terminal device and a second access point of a non-3GPP (N3GPP) access type, wherein the current access types comprise the 3GPP access type and the N3GPP access type;
• determine, based on the current access types and the connectivity states, a positioning method for the terminal device and an access type applicable to the positioning method, wherein the access type applicable to the positioning method is one of the current access types, and wherein a connectivity state corresponding to the access type applicable to the positioning method is a connected state;
• and
• send the positioning method and the access type applicable to the positioning method to the mobility management network element.