Method for positioning wireless terminal, and related device and system

A method for positioning a wireless terminal, the method comprising:

• receiving, by a first access point, a positioning request message sent by the wireless terminal;
• obtaining, by the first access point, a positioning service period from a location server;
• sending, by the first access point, the positioning service period and an identifier of a positioning channel to the wireless terminal, so that the wireless terminal switches to the positioning channel in the positioning service period and broadcasts a location measurement message comprising a broadcast sending time through the positioning channel;
• switching, by at least three access points in an access point group where the first access point is located, to the positioning channel in the positioning service period;
• and
• receiving, through the positioning channel, the location measurement message broadcast by the wireless terminal;
• and
• obtaining, by the at least three access points, positioning measurement data after receiving the location measurement message, so as to estimate a location of the wireless terminal.

A wireless terminal, comprising:

• an obtaining unit, configured to send a positioning request message to a first access point and obtain a positioning service period and an identifier of a positioning channel;
• a switching unit, configured to switch to the positioning channel in the positioning service period;
• and
• a broadcast unit, configured to broadcast a location measurement message comprising a broadcast sending time through the positioning channel, so that at least three access points in an access point group where the first access point is located can obtain positioning measurement data after receiving the location measurement message, so as to estimate a location of the wireless terminal.

An access point, comprising:

• an obtaining unit, configured to obtain a positioning service period from a location server;
• a transceiver unit, configured to send the positioning service period and an identifier of a positioning channel to a wireless terminal, so that the wireless terminal switches to the positioning channel in the positioning service period and broadcasts a location measurement message comprising a broadcast sending time through the positioning channel;
• a switching unit, configured to switch to the positioning channel in the positioning service period;
• wherein the transceiver unit is further configured to receive, through the positioning channel, the location measurement message broadcast by the wireless terminal;
• and
• a control unit, configured to, after the transceiver unit receives the location measurement message, obtain positioning measurement data and send the positioning measurement data to the location server, wherein the location server estimates a location of the wireless terminal according to the positioning measurement data sent by at least three access points in an access point group where the access point is located.