Patent Description:
Therefore, the <NUM> or pre-<NUM> communication system is also called a "Beyond <NUM> Network" communication system or a "Post LTE" system. To decrease propagation loss of the radio waves and increase the transmission distance, beamforming, massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), full dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antenna, analog beam forming, large scale antenna techniques are discussed in <NUM> communication systems. In the <NUM> system, hybrid FSK and QAM modulation (FQAM) and sliding window superposition coding (SWSC) as an advanced coding modulation (ACM), and filter bank multi carrier (FBMC), non-orthogonal multiple access(NOMA), and sparse code multiple access (SCMA) as an advanced access technology have also been developed.

The following publications concern reporting of the UE location:.

An aspect of the disclosure is to provide a method and apparatus for performing processing so that a mobile communication user, a mobile communication system operator, or a mobile communication service provider can request the location information of a user equipment (UE) from a mobile communication system, in order to provide a service or for other needs, and effectively receives the location information of the UE. If a plurality of location information requests are received via different mobile communication service providers or the like, a mobile communication system may select a gateway mobile location centre (GMLC) (a location information processing gateway) that processes a location information request and performs connection to the mobile communication system.

An aspect of the disclosure is to provide a method and apparatus for effectively performing processing when a GMLC performs connection to a mobile communication system and processes a location information request, by selecting the same GMLC for processing location information requests if the location information requests have identical or similar service requirements or require the location information of the same UE.

The technical subjects pursued in the disclosure may not be limited to the above mentioned technical subjects, and other technical subjects which are not mentioned may be clearly understood, through the following descriptions, by those skilled in the art to which the disclosure pertains.

A method performed by a UE location information processing gateway (a gateway mobile location centre (GMLC)) of a mobile communication system is defined as per the appended claims.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, if a mobile communication system processes location information requests with similar or same service requirements, the mobile communication system can select the same GMLC for processing the location information requests associated with the same UE, can minimize necessary connection to the mobile communication system including a UE and a network entity when the GMLC processes a plurality of location information requests associated with UEs, and thus, can efficiently process resources related to establishing and managing a connection to the mobile communication system, which is necessary for processing the location information requests.

Advantageous effects obtainable from the disclosure may not be limited to the above mentioned effects, and other effects which are not mentioned may be clearly understood, through the following descriptions, by those skilled in the art to which the disclosure pertains.

In the following description of the disclosure, a detailed description of known functions or configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the disclosure unnecessarily unclear. The terms which will be described below are terms defined in consideration of the functions in the disclosure, and may be different according to users, intentions of the users, or customs. Therefore, the definitions of the terms should be made based on the contents throughout the specification.

In the following description, terms for identifying access nodes, terms referring to network entities, terms referring to messages, terms referring to interfaces between network entities, terms referring to various identification information, and the like are illustratively used for the sake of convenience. Therefore, the disclosure is not limited by the terms as used below, and other terms referring to subjects having equivalent technical meanings may be used.

In the following description, the disclosure will be described using terms and names defined in the 3rd generation partnership project long term evolution (3GPP LTE) standards for the convenience of description. However, the disclosure is not limited by these terms and names, and may be applied in the same way to systems that conform other standards.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a procedure of processing a location information request associated with a user equipment (UE) in response to a request from a location service (LCS) client and a procedure of storing information associated with a GMLC that processes the location information request associated with the UE, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

In operation <NUM>, an external location information service client (LCS client) <NUM> may transmit LCS Service Request that requests the location information of a user equipment (UE) <NUM> to a gateway mobile location centre (GMLC) (a location information processing gateway) <NUM> of a mobile communication system.

In this instance, the LCS client <NUM> may select the GMLC <NUM> based on the address of a GMLC set in advance, and may transmit LCS Service Request to the GMLC <NUM>. In this instance, the LCS Service Request may include the ID (identification number) of the UE <NUM> of which the location information is requested, service requirements of location information, configuration information for expressing location information, a client type that requests location information, periodic location information reporting, or a condition for reporting location information such as reporting of location information when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

In operation <NUM>, the GMLC <NUM> that receives the LCS Service Request from the LCS client <NUM> in operation <NUM> may perform a Nudm SDM Get procedure with the UDM <NUM> that contains subscriber information of the UE <NUM>, in order to identify privacy information of the UE <NUM> which shows whether provision of the location information of the UE <NUM> to the corresponding LCS client <NUM> is allowed.

In operation <NUM>, after identifying whether the LCS client <NUM> is a client that is allowed to request the location information of the UE <NUM>, the GMLC <NUM> may perform a Nudm UECM Get procedure with the UDM <NUM> in order to identify the address of the access and mobility management function (AMF) <NUM> that manages connection to the UE <NUM>.

According to another embodiment of the disclosure, in operation <NUM> or operation <NUM>, the GMLC <NUM> may identify information indicating whether another GMLC that is processing the location information of the UE <NUM> is present in the UDM <NUM>, and if the UE <NUM> is roaming, the GMLC <NUM> may identify information associated with another GMLC that is processing the location information of the UE <NUM> in the roaming network of the UE <NUM>.

In operation <NUM>, if the GMLC <NUM> does not receive the information associated with another GMLC from the UDM <NUM>, and receives the address of the AMF <NUM> that manages connection of the UE <NUM>, the GMLC <NUM> may transmit Namf_Location_ProvidePositioningInfo Request that requests the location information of the UE <NUM> to the address of the AMF <NUM> identified in operation <NUM>.

If the UE <NUM> is roaming to the network of another operator, and information associated with a GMLC in the roaming network to which the UE <NUM> is roaming is not received via the UDM <NUM> in operation <NUM>, information associated with a GMLC in the roaming network may be received via a network repository function (NRF). In this instance, the GMLC <NUM> that receives the LCS Service Request may perform a procedure of transferring information associated with the LCS Service Request to the GMLC in the roaming network, and after the procedure, the GMLC in the roaming network may perform a procedure of requesting the location information of the UE <NUM> from the AMF <NUM> that manages the UE <NUM>.

In operation <NUM>, if reporting of the location information of the UE <NUM> is periodic location information reporting or location information reporting when a predetermined condition is satisfied, the AMF <NUM> that receives, from the GMLC <NUM>, the Namf_Location_ProvidePositioningInfo Request that requests the location information of the UE <NUM>, may transmit, to the GMLC <NUM> that transmits the Namf_Location_ProvidePositioningInfo Request, Namf_Location_ProvidePositioningInfo Response including information indicating that the location request including the corresponding location information reporting condition is successfully received and a procedure of obtaining the location information is to be performed according to the location information request.

In operation <NUM>, the GMLC <NUM> that receives the Namf_Location_ProvidePositioningInfo Response may transmit, to the LCS client <NUM> that has requested the same, LCS Service Response including information indicating that the location information request that includes the corresponding location information reporting condition is successfully transmitted, and a procedure of obtaining the location information is to be performed according to the corresponding location information request.

In operation <NUM>, if the GMLC that receives the Namf_Location_ProvidePositioningInfo Response is a GMLC in a roaming network, the corresponding GMLC may transmit, to the GMLC <NUM> that has performed a procedure of transferring the information of the LCS Service Request received from the LCS client <NUM> in operation <NUM>, information indicating that the location information request including the corresponding location information reporting condition is successfully transmitted and a procedure of obtaining the location information is to be performed according to the corresponding location information request, and the GMLC <NUM> that receives the same may transmit LCS Service Response including the information to the LCS client <NUM>.

In operation <NUM>, the GMLC <NUM> may store Nudm_UECM_Registration(GMLC Information) indicating that requesting of the location information associated with the UE <NUM> is being performed, in the UDM <NUM> as subscription information of the UE <NUM> for a location information service if the GMLC <NUM> does not receive information associated with a GMLC that is requesting the location information of the UE <NUM> via the UDM <NUM> in operation <NUM> or operation <NUM> after the GMLC <NUM> transmits the LCS Service Response to the LCS client <NUM> in operation <NUM>, or if additional information registration, such as another location information processing, or the like, is needed due to service requirements of different location information, after the GMLC <NUM> transmits the LCS Service Response to the LCS client <NUM> in operation <NUM>. In this instance, Nudm_UECM_Registration(GMLC Information) may include the address of the GMLC <NUM>, service requirements required by the location information request, and the like.

In operation <NUM>, after the AMF <NUM> receives the Namf_Location_ProvidePositioningInfo Request in operation <NUM>, the AMF <NUM> may perform a procedure of obtaining the location information according to the location information reporting condition, with the location management function (LMF) <NUM> that processes obtaining of the location information from the UE <NUM>, the UE <NUM> of which the location is requested, and the base station <NUM>.

In operation <NUM>, if the AMF <NUM> receives the location information of the UE <NUM> from the LMF <NUM>, the AMF <NUM> may transmit Namf_Location_EventNotify to the GMLC <NUM> so as to transfer the location information of the UE <NUM> received from the LMF <NUM>.

In operation <NUM>, the GMLC <NUM> that receives the same may transfer LCS Service Response including the location information of the UE <NUM> to the LCS client <NUM>. If the GMLC that receives the Namf_Location_EventNotify is a GMLC in a roaming network, the GMLC in the roaming network may perform a procedure of transferring the location information of the UE <NUM> to the GMLC <NUM> that has received the location information request associated with the UE <NUM> from the LCS client <NUM>, and the GMLC <NUM> that receives the location information of the UE <NUM> may transfer the LCS Service Response to the LCS client <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a procedure of processing a location information request associated with a UE in response to a request from an application function (AF) and a network exposure function (NEF), and a procedure of storing information associated with a GMLC that processes the location information request associated with the UE, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

In operation <NUM>, an external application function (AF) <NUM> transmits LCS Service Request that requests location information of the UE <NUM> to an NEF <NUM>.

In this instance, the AF <NUM> may transmit the LCS Service Request to the NEF <NUM> based on the address of the NEF <NUM> set in advance. In this instance, the LCS Service Request may include the ID (identification number) of the UE <NUM> of which the location information is requested, service requirements of location information, configuration information for expressing location information, a client type that requests location information, periodic location information reporting, or a condition for reporting location information such as reporting of location information when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

In operation <NUM>, the NEF <NUM> that receives the LCS Service Request from the AF <NUM> in operation <NUM> may select the GMLC <NUM> using the address of a GMLC set in advance. In addition, if the address of the GMLC is not set, the NEF <NUM> may transmit a request to an NRF, so as to obtain the address of the GMLC <NUM> to which the location information of the UE <NUM> is to be transferred. According to another embodiment of the disclosure, the NEF <NUM> may obtain, from the UDM <NUM>, the address of the GMLC <NUM> that is processing a location information request associated with the UE <NUM>.

In operation <NUM>, the NEF <NUM> may transmit Ngmlc_ProvideLocation Request that requests the location information of the UE <NUM> to the selected GMLC <NUM>.

In operation <NUM>, the GMLC <NUM> that receives the Ngmlc_ProvideLocation Request from the NEF <NUM> in operation <NUM> may perform a Nudm_SDM_Get procedure with the UDM <NUM> that contains subscriber information of the UE <NUM> in order to identify privacy information of the UE <NUM> which shows whether provision of the location information of the UE <NUM> to the LCS client <NUM> that requests the location information of the UE <NUM> is allowed.

In operation <NUM>, after identifying whether the LCS client <NUM> is a client that is allowed to request the location information of the UE <NUM>, the GMLC <NUM> may perform a Nudm_UECM_Get procedure with the UDM <NUM> in order to identify the address of the AMF <NUM> that manages connection to the UE <NUM>.

According to another embodiment of the disclosure, in operation <NUM> or operation <NUM>, the GMLC <NUM> may identify information indicating whether another GMLC that is processing the location information of the UE is present in the UDM <NUM>, and the GMLC <NUM> may identify information associated with another GMLC that is processing the location information of the UE <NUM> in a roaming network of the UE <NUM> if the UE <NUM> is roaming.

If the UE <NUM> is roaming to the network of another operator, and information associated with a GMLC in a roaming network to which the UE <NUM> is roaming is not received via the UDM <NUM> in operation <NUM> or operation <NUM>, information associated with a GMLC in the roaming network may be received via an NRF. In this instance, the GMLC <NUM> that receives the Ngmlc_ProvideLocation Request may perform a procedure of transferring information associated with the LCS Service Request to the GMLC in the roaming network, and after the procedure, the GMLC in the roaming network may perform a procedure of requesting the location information of the UE <NUM> from the AMF <NUM> that manages the UE <NUM>.

In operation <NUM>, if reporting of the location information of the UE <NUM> is periodic location information reporting or location information reporting when a predetermined condition is satisfied, the AMF <NUM> that receives, from the GMLC <NUM>, Namf_Location_ProvidePositioningInfo Request that requests the location information of the UE <NUM>, may transmit Namf_Location_ProvidePositioningInfo Response including information indicating that the location request including the corresponding location information reporting condition is successfully received and a procedure of obtaining the location information is to be performed according to the location information request to the GMLC <NUM> that transmits the Namf_Location_ProvidePositioningInfo Request.

In operation <NUM>, the GMLC <NUM> that receives the Namf_Location_ProvidePositioningInfo Response may transmit, to the NEF <NUM> that requests the same, Namf_Location_ProvideLocation response including information indicating that the location information request that includes the corresponding location information reporting condition is successfully transmitted, and a procedure of obtaining the location information is to be performed according to the corresponding location request.

If the GMLC that receives the Namf_Location_ProvidePositioningInfo Response in operation <NUM> is a GMLC in a roaming network, the corresponding GMLC may transmit, to the GMLC <NUM> that has received the Ngmlc_ProvideLocation Request from the NEF <NUM> in operation <NUM>, information indicating that the location information request including the corresponding location information reporting condition is successfully transmitted and a procedure of obtaining the location information is to be performed according to the corresponding location information request, and the GMLC <NUM> that receives the same may transmit Ngmlc_ProvideLocation Request including the information to the NEF <NUM>.

In operation <NUM>, the NEF <NUM> that receives the Ngmlc_ProvideLocation Response may transmit, to the AF <NUM>, LCS Service Response including information indicating that the location information request that includes the corresponding location information reporting condition is successfully transmitted and a procedure of obtaining the location information is to be performed according to the corresponding location information request.

In operation <NUM>, after transmitting the Ngmlc_ProvideLocation Request to the NEF <NUM>, the GMLC <NUM> may store Nudm_UECM_Registration(GMLC Information) indicating that requesting of the location information associated with the UE <NUM> is being performed, in the UDM <NUM> as subscription information of the UE <NUM> for a location information service. In this instance, Nudm_UECM_Registration(GMLC Information) may include the address of the GMLC <NUM>, service requirements required by the location information request, and the like.

In operation <NUM>, after the AMF <NUM> receives the Namf_Location_ProvidePositioningInfo Request in operation <NUM>, the AMF <NUM> may perform a procedure of obtaining the location information according to the location information reporting condition, with the LMF <NUM> that processes obtaining of the location information from the UE <NUM>, the UE <NUM> of which the location is requested, and the base station <NUM>.

In operation <NUM>, the GMLC <NUM> that receives the same may transfer Ngmlc_EventNotify including the location information of the UE <NUM> to the NEF <NUM>. If the GMLC <NUM> that receives the Namf_Location_EventNotify is a GMLC in a roaming network, the GMLC in the roaming network may perform a procedure of transferring the location information of the UE <NUM> to the GMLC <NUM> which has received the location information request associated with the UE <NUM> from the NEF <NUM>, and the GMLC <NUM> that receives the location information of the UE <NUM> may transfer Ngmlc_EventNotify including the location information of the UE <NUM> to the NEF <NUM>.

In operation <NUM>, the NEF <NUM> that receives Ngmlc_EventNotify from the GMLC <NUM> may transfer LCS Service Response to the AF <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a procedure of processing the location information request associated with a UE and a procedure of selecting a GMLC that processes the location information request associated with the UE, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

In operation <NUM>, the external location information service client (LCS client) <NUM> may transmit LCS Service Request that requests the location information of the UE <NUM> to GMLC_2 <NUM> (a location information processing gateway) of a mobile communication system.

In this instance, the LCS client <NUM> may select the GMLC_2 <NUM> based on the address of a GMLC set in advance, and may transmit LCS Service Request to the GMLC_2 <NUM>. In this instance, the LCS Service Request may include the ID (identification number) of the UE <NUM> of which the location information is requested, service requirements of location information, configuration information for expressing location information, a client type that requests location information, periodic location information reporting, or a condition for reporting location information such as reporting of location information when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

According to another embodiment, in operation <NUM>, the GMLC_2 <NUM> of the mobile communication system may receive LCS Service Request including the location information request associated with the UE <NUM> from an AF via an NEF.

In operation <NUM>, the GMLC_2 <NUM> that receives the LCS Service Request in operation <NUM> may perform a Nudm_SDM_Get procedure with the UDM <NUM> that contains subscriber information of the UE <NUM>, in order to identify privacy information of the UE <NUM> which shows whether provision of the location information of the UE <NUM> to the corresponding LCS client <NUM> is allowed.

In operation <NUM>, after identifying whether the LCS client <NUM> is a client that is allowed to request the location information of the UE <NUM>, the GMLC_2 <NUM> may perform a Nudm_UECM_Get procedure with the UDM <NUM> in order to identify the address of the AMF <NUM> that manages connection to the UE <NUM>.

According to another embodiment of the disclosure, in operation <NUM> or operation <NUM>, the GMLC (GMLC <NUM><NUM>) may identify information indicating whether another GMLC that is processing the location information of the UE <NUM> is present in the UDM <NUM>, and if the UE <NUM> is roaming, the GMLC may identify information associated with another GMLC that is processing the location information of the UE <NUM> in the roaming network of the UE <NUM>.

In operation <NUM>, if the GMLC_2 <NUM> receives, from the UDM <NUM>, the information associated with GMLC_1 <NUM> which is another GMLC that is processing the location information request associated with the UE <NUM>, the GMLC_2 <NUM> may transmit Ngmlc_ProvideLocation Request for transferring the existing received location information request associated with the UE <NUM> to the GMLC_1 <NUM>. In this instance, the GMLC_2 <NUM> may transfer the Ngmlc _ProvideLocation Request including the information associated with the AMF <NUM> that is performing connection to the UE <NUM>.

In operation <NUM>, the GMLC_1 <NUM> that receives the Ngmlc_ProvideLocation Request may determine whether the location information request associated with the UE <NUM> included in the Ngmlc _ProvideLocation Request received from the GMLC_2 <NUM> needs to be processed separately from the existing location information request that is being processed with the UE <NUM> or can be processed as information received via the existing location information request.

If the GMLC_1 <NUM> determines that the location information request needs to be performed separately from the existing location information request, the GMLC_1 <NUM> may perform a procedure of selecting the AMF <NUM> that is performing connection of the UE <NUM>, based on information included in operation <NUM> or via communication with the UDM <NUM>, and transmitting Namf_Location_ProvidePositioningInfo Request that requests the location information of the UE <NUM> to the AMF <NUM>, in operation <NUM>.

According to another embodiment of the disclosure, if it is determined that the location information request associated with the UE <NUM> included in the Ngmlc_ProvideLocation Request received from the GMLC_2 <NUM> in operation <NUM> is capable of being processed concurrently with the existing location information request that is being performed in the UE <NUM> in operation <NUM>, the GMLC_1 <NUM> may not proceed with operation <NUM>.

In operation <NUM>, the AMF <NUM> that receives Namf_Location_ProvidePositioningInfo Request that requests the location information of the UE <NUM> from the GMLC_1 <NUM> may perform a procedure of obtaining the location information according to the location information reporting condition, with the LMF <NUM> for processing obtaining of the location information from the UE <NUM>, the UE <NUM> of which the location information is requested, and the base station <NUM>.

In operation <NUM>, if the AMF <NUM> receives the location information of the UE <NUM> from the LMF <NUM>, the AMF <NUM> may transfer Namf_Location_ProvidePositioningInfo Response that transfers the location information of the UE <NUM> to the GMLC_1 <NUM>.

In operation <NUM>, after receiving information associated with the Namf_Location_ProvidePositioningInfo Response, if the GMLC_1 <NUM> determines that the corresponding location information also needs to be transferred to the GMLC_2 <NUM> based on information that distinguishes an LCS service request message or information associated with the LCS client <NUM> or the AF to which the location information of the UE <NUM> is to be transferred, the GMLC_1 <NUM> may transmit Ngmlc_ProvideLocation Response to the GMLC_2 <NUM>.

In operation <NUM>, the GMLC_2 <NUM> may transmit LCS Service Response or Ngmlc_ProvideLocation Response which indicates the location information of the UE <NUM> to the LCS client <NUM>, an NEF, or the like, based on the Ngmlc_ProvideLocation Response received from the GMLC_1 <NUM>.

According to another embodiment of the disclosure, in operation <NUM>, if reporting of the location information of the UE <NUM> is periodic location information reporting or location information reporting when a predetermined condition is satisfied, the AMF <NUM> that receives, from the GMLC (GMLC_1 <NUM>), Namf_Location_ProvidePositioningInfo Request that requests the location information of the UE <NUM>, may transmit, to the GMLC_2 <NUM> that transmits the Namf_Location_ProvidePositioningInfo Request via the method or the like illustrated in the embodiment of <FIG>, Namf_Location_ProvidePositioningInfo Response including information indicating that the location request including the corresponding location information reporting condition is successfully received and a procedure of obtaining the location information is to be performed according to the location information request. The GMLC_1 <NUM> that receives the Namf_Location_ProvidePositioningInfo Response may transmit, to the GMLC_2 <NUM>, Ngmlc _ProvideLocation Response including information indicating that the location request that includes the corresponding location information reporting condition is successfully transmitted and the corresponding location request is to be performed. The GMLC_2 <NUM> may transmit LCS Service Response or Ngmlc_ProvideLocation Response to the LCS client <NUM> or the NEF, based on the information received from the GMLC_1 <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a procedure in which a GMLC or an NEF obtains information associated with a GMLC that processes the location information of a UE and a related parameter from a unified data management (UDM), according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

In operation <NUM>, a GMLC or an NEF <NUM> may transmit Nudm_SDM_Get Request to a UDM <NUM> in order to request the information associated with the GMLC that processes the location information of the UE. In this instance, the Nudm_SDM_Get Request includes information indicating that the requested information is context related to a UE location service and/or information associated with a UE (e.g., UE identification information (e.g., subscription permanent identifier (SUPI), or the like). In the embodiment, the information indicating that the requested information is a context related to a UE location service is referred to as UE Context in Location Data.

If the UDM <NUM> receives the Nudm_SDM_Get Request that requests UE Context in Location Data from the GMLC or NEF <NUM> in operation <NUM>, the UDM <NUM> may transfer GMLC information including the information associated with a GMLC that is processing the location information request associated with the UE and related service requirements (e.g., quality of service (QoS) or the like), or the like to the GMLC or NEF <NUM> in operation <NUM>.

Table <NUM> below is an example of GMLC information.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a procedure in which a GMLC stores information associated with a GMLC that processes the location information of a UE, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

In operation <NUM>, a GMLC <NUM> transmits Nudm_UECM_Registration Request to a UDM <NUM> in order to store, in the UDM <NUM>, the fact that the GMLC <NUM> is processing the location information of the UE. In this instance, via the Nudm_UECM_Registration Request, GMLC information including the information associated with the GMLC that is processing the location information request associated with the UE, related service requirements, or the like may be transferred. In this instance, the information associated with the GMLC may include the address or the ID (identification number) of the GMLC, and the like.

In operation <NUM>, after receiving the Nudm _UECM_Registration Request, the UDM <NUM> may store, in subscriber information of the UE, the GMLC information as information associated with a UE context related to a UE location service, and may transmit Nudm_UECM_Registration Response to the GMLC.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a procedure in which a GMLC or an NEF obtains, from a UDM, information associated with a GMLC that processes the location information of a UE, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

In operation <NUM>, a GMLC or NEF <NUM> may transmit Nudm_UECM_Get Request to a UDM <NUM> in order to request the address or ID (identification number) information associated with a GMLC that processes the location information of the UE. In this instance, the Nudm_UECM_Get Request includes information indicating that the requested information is information associated with a GMLC that is processing the location information request associated with the UE and/or information associated with the corresponding UE (e.g., UE identification information (e.g., subscription permanent identifier (SUPI), or the like).

In operation <NUM>, if the UDM <NUM> receives, from the GMLC or NEF <NUM>, Nudm_UECM_Get Request that requests the address or ID information associated with the GMLC, the UDM <NUM> may return, to the GMLC or NEF <NUM>, the ID or address of the GMLC that is processing the location information request associated with the UE via Nudm_UECM_Get Response.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating the structure of a UE according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the UE may include a transceiver <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, and a storage <NUM>. In the disclosure, the controller may be defined as a circuit, an application-specified integrated circuit, or at least one processor.

The transceiver <NUM> may perform signal transmission or reception with another network entity. The transceiver <NUM> may receive, for example, system information from a base station, and may receive a synchronization signal or a reference signal.

The controller <NUM> may control overall operation of the UE according to the embodiments of the disclosure. For example, the controller <NUM> may control a signal flow among blocks so that operation is performed according to the flowcharts of <FIG>. For example, the controller <NUM> may control operations proposed in the disclosure in order to process the location information of a UE which is concurrently produced in a mobile communication system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

The storage <NUM> may store at least one piece of information among information transmitted or received via the transceiver <NUM> and information produced by the controller <NUM>. For example, the storage <NUM> may store information needed for processing the location information of a UE which is concurrently produced in a mobile communication system according to the above-described embodiment.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating the structure of a base station according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the base station may include a transceiver <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, and a storage <NUM>. In the disclosure, the controller may be defined as a circuit, an application-specified integrated circuit, or at least one processor.

The transceiver <NUM> may perform signal transmission or reception with another network entity. The transceiver <NUM> may transmit, for example, system information to a UE, and may transmit a synchronization signal or a reference signal.

The controller <NUM> may control overall operation of the base station according to the embodiments of the disclosure. For example, the controller <NUM> may control a signal flow among blocks so that operation is performed according to the flowcharts of <FIG>. Particularly, the controller <NUM> may control operations proposed in the disclosure in order to process the location information of a UE which is concurrently produced in a mobile communication system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating the structure of a GMLC or an NEF according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the GMLC or NEF may include a transceiver <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, and a storage <NUM>. In the disclosure, the controller may be defined as a circuit, an application-specified integrated circuit, or at least one processor.

The transceiver <NUM> may perform signal transmission or reception with another network entity. The transceiver <NUM> may receive, for example, system information from the AMF <NUM>, and may receive a synchronization signal or a reference signal.

The controller <NUM> may control overall operation of the GMLC or NEF according to the embodiments of the disclosure. For example, the controller <NUM> may control a signal flow among blocks so that operation is performed according to the flowcharts of <FIG>. For example, the controller <NUM> may control operations proposed in the disclosure in order to process the location information of a UE which is concurrently produced in a mobile communication system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating the structure of a UDM according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the UDM may include a transceiver <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, and a storage <NUM>. In the disclosure, the controller may be defined as a circuit, an application-specified integrated circuit, or at least one processor.

The transceiver <NUM> may perform signal transmission or reception with another network entity. The transceiver <NUM> may transmit, for example, system information from the AMF <NUM>, and may transmit a synchronization signal or a reference signal.

The controller <NUM> may control overall operation of the UDM according to the embodiments of the disclosure. For example, the controller <NUM> may control a signal flow among blocks so that operation is performed according to the flowcharts of <FIG>. Particularly, the controller <NUM> may control operations proposed in the disclosure in order to process the location information of a UE which is concurrently produced in a mobile communication system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Although not explicitly illustrated in the disclosure, network entities illustrated in <FIG> (e.g., the AMF <NUM>, the LMF <NUM>, the AF <NUM>, or the like) may have structures identical or similar to those illustrated in <FIG>. For example, the AMF <NUM>, the LMF <NUM>, the AF <NUM>, or the like may include a transceiver, a controller, and/or a storage.

In this instance, the transceiver may perform transmission or reception of a signal with another network entity. The transceiver may transmit, for example, system information to a base station, and may transmit a synchronization signal or a reference signal.

The controller may control overall operation of a corresponding network entity according to the embodiments of the disclosure. For example, the controller may control a signal flow among blocks so that operation is performed according to the flowcharts of <FIG>. Particularly, the controller may control operations proposed in the disclosure in order to process the location information of a UE which is concurrently produced in a mobile communication system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Claim 1:
A method performed by a first gateway mobile location centre, GMLC (<NUM>), of a mobile communication system, the method comprising:
receiving, from a network entity that requires location information of a user equipment, UE (<NUM>), a message that requests the location information of the UE (<NUM>);
transmitting a message that requests the location information of the UE (<NUM>) to an access and mobility management function, AMF (<NUM>), associated with the UE (<NUM>);
receiving a message including the location information of the UE (<NUM>) from the AMF (<NUM>); and
transferring, to the network entity, a message including the location information of the UE (<NUM>) received from the AMF (<NUM>),
wherein the transmitting of the message that requests the location information of the UE (<NUM>) to the AMF (<NUM>) comprises:
identifying whether a second GMLC (<NUM>) that is processing the location information of the UE (<NUM>) is present;
transmitting a message that requests the location information of the UE (<NUM>) to the second GMLC (<NUM>), in case that the second GMLC (<NUM>) is present;
receiving a message including the location information of the UE (<NUM>) from the second GMLC (<NUM>); and
transmitting the message that requests the location information of the UE (<NUM>) to the AMF (<NUM>) in case that the second GMLC (<NUM>) is not present.