A communication method and apparatus

Abstract

A communication method and apparatus, the method comprising: a network device determines a first message, wherein the first message includes a C-RNTI allocated by the network device for a second terminal device, the first message is used to instruct the second terminal device to establish a first signaling radio bearer with the network device, or the first message is the first radio resource control reconfiguration message. The network device sends the first message to the second terminal device through a first terminal device. Wherein, there is a connection between the network device and the first terminal device, and there is a sidelink unicast connection between the first terminal device and the second terminal device. By adopting the above method, when the second terminal device accesses the network device through the first terminal device, the second terminal device can obtain the C-RNTI as early as possible, ensuring that the second terminal device can successfully execute the RRC re-establishment process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of this application relate to the field of wireless communication, and in particular, to a communication method and apparatus. Background Art

[0002] Network elements involved in the UE-to-Network relay scenario include a network device, at least one relay user equipment (relay UE), and at least one remote UE. As Figure 1 shown, there is a connection between the network device and the relay UE, and there is a sidelink unicast connection between the relay UE and the remote UE. The relay UE can help the remote UE access the network device to obtain services. Taking downlink transmission as an example, the relay UE can help the remote UE obtain data of the remote UE through the network device and forward it to the remote UE. The situation of uplink transmission is similar. After the relay UE obtains data from the remote UE, it forwards it to the network device.

[0003] According to the existing protocol, the network device can only allocate a cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) to the remote UE through a synchronous reconfiguration process (i.e., a handover process). Therefore, if the remote UE does not initiate a handover process, the remote UE will not be able to obtain a C-RNTI. In the absence of a C-RNTI, when the remote UE fails to communicate with the network device, the remote UE cannot perform an RRC re-establishment process. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Embodiments of this application provide a communication method and apparatus for solving the problem that when the remote UE fails to communicate with the network device, the remote UE cannot perform an RRC re-establishment process because the remote UE does not have a C-RNTI.

[0005] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which may be executed by a network device or by components of the network device (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.). In this method, there is a connection between the network device and a first terminal device, and there is a sidelink unicast connection between the first terminal device and a second terminal device. The method includes: determining a first message and sending the first message to the second terminal device through the first terminal device. Wherein, the first message includes the C-RNTI allocated by the network device for the second terminal device, and the first message is used to instruct the second terminal device to establish a first signaling radio bearer with the network device, or the first message is the first radio resource control reconfiguration message.

[0006] By using the above method, when the second terminal device accesses the network device through the first terminal device, the second terminal device can obtain the C-RNTI as early as possible, ensuring that the second terminal device can successfully execute the RRC reestablishment process.

[0007] In a possible design, when the first message is used to instruct the second terminal device to establish a first signaling radio bearer with the network device, the first message is a radio resource control establishment message, or the first message is a radio resource control resume message, or the first message is a radio resource control reestablishment message.

[0008] By using the above method, the embodiments of the present application can be applied to multiple application scenarios and can ensure that the second terminal device obtains the C-RNTI as early as possible.

[0009] In a possible design, when determining the first message, the CU in the network device receives a second message and the C-RNTI from the DU in the network device. The second message is sent by the second terminal device to the DU through the first terminal device.

[0010] By using the above method, the DU can allocate the C-RNTI for the second terminal device, and the CU can send the C-RNTI through the first message.

[0011] In a possible design, when determining the first message, the CU in the network device receives a second message from the DU in the network device. The second message is sent by the second terminal device to the DU through the first terminal device. The CU sends a third message to the DU. The third message is used to request the DU to allocate the C-RNTI for the second terminal device, and the CU receives the C-RNTI from the DU.

[0012] Using the above method, the DU can allocate a C-RNTI for the second terminal device, and the CU can send the C-RNTI through the first message.

[0013] In a possible design, when determining the first message, the CU in the network device receives at least one C-RNTI from the DU in the network device. The CU receives a second message from the DU, and the second message is sent by the second terminal device to the DU through the first terminal device; the CU allocates the C-RNTI for the second terminal device, and the C-RNTI is one of the at least one C-RNTIs.

[0014] Using the above method, the DU can pre-allocate at least one C-RNTI for the CU, and the CU can allocate a C-RNTI for the second terminal device from the at least one C-RNTIs and send the C-RNTI through the first message.

[0015] In a possible design, the CU receives the identifier of the second terminal device from the DU, and the identifier of the second terminal device is the identifier allocated by the first terminal device for the second terminal device, and the identifier is used to distinguish different terminal devices accessing the network device through the first terminal device.

[0016] Using the above method, the CU can save the identifier of the second terminal device, which helps the CU maintain the context of the second terminal device.

[0017] In a possible design, the first message is a radio resource control establishment message, and the second message is a radio resource control establishment request message; or, the first message is a radio resource control resume message, and the second message is a radio resource control resume request message; or, the first message is a radio resource control re-establishment message, and the second message is a radio resource control re-establishment request message.

[0018] Using the above method, the combination of the first message and the second message can have various forms to be applicable to different scenarios.

[0019] In a possible design, the first message is the first radio resource control reconfiguration message, and the second message is a security mode completion message.

[0020] Among them, the first radio resource control reconfiguration message is the first radio resource control reconfiguration message configured by the network device for the second terminal device after the second terminal device establishes a radio resource control connection with the network device through the first terminal device. Using the above method can ensure that the second terminal device obtains the C-RNTI as early as possible, and ensure that the second terminal device can successfully execute the RRC re-establishment process.

[0021] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a second terminal device or by components of the second terminal device (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.). In this method, there is a connection between a network device and a first terminal device, and there is a sidelink unicast connection between the first terminal device and the second terminal device. The method includes: sending a second message to the network device through the first terminal device, and receiving a first message sent by the network device through the first terminal device. The first message includes a C-RNTI allocated by the network device for the second terminal device, and the first message is used to instruct the second terminal device to establish a first signaling radio bearer with the network device, or the first message is the first radio resource control reconfiguration message.

[0022] By using the above method, when the second terminal device accesses the network device through the first terminal device, the second terminal device can obtain the C-RNTI as early as possible, ensuring that the second terminal device can successfully execute the RRC re-establishment process.

[0023] In a possible design, when the first message is used to instruct the second terminal device to establish a first signaling radio bearer with the network device, the first message is a radio resource control establishment message, or the first message is a radio resource control resume message, or the first message is a radio resource control re-establishment message.

[0024] By using the above method, the embodiment of the present application can be applicable to a variety of application scenarios and can ensure that the second terminal device obtains the C-RNTI as early as possible.

[0025] In a possible design, the first message is a radio resource control establishment message, and the second message is a radio resource control establishment request message; or, the first message is a radio resource control resume message, and the second message is a radio resource control resume request message; or, the first message is a radio resource control re-establishment message, and the second message is a radio resource control re-establishment request message.

[0026] By using the above method, the combination of the first message and the second message can have various forms to be applicable to different scenarios.

[0027] In a possible design, the first message is the first radio resource control reconfiguration message, and the second message is a security mode completion message.

[0028] By using the above method, it can ensure that the second terminal device obtains the C-RNTI as early as possible.

[0029] Third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a second terminal device or by components of the second terminal device (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.). In this method, there is a connection between a first network device and a first terminal device, and there is a sidelink unicast connection between the first terminal device and the second terminal device. The method includes: determining that communication between the first terminal device and the first network device fails, and then when it is determined that the C-RNTI has not been obtained from the first network device, the second terminal device enters the idle state; or, when it is determined that the C-RNTI has been obtained from the first network device, the second terminal device triggers an RRC reestablishment process.

[0030] By using the above method, when the second terminal device determines that communication between the first terminal device and the first network device fails, the second terminal device needs to decide subsequent actions based on whether there is a C-RNTI, which can avoid the second terminal device triggering an RRC reestablishment process when there is no C-RNTI, resulting in an RRC reestablishment failure, and then initiating an RRC connection establishment process, bringing additional latency.

[0031] In a possible design, after entering the idle state, cell reselection is performed, and a radio resource control establishment request message is sent to a second network device through the selected cell; or, after entering the idle state, relay terminal device reselection is performed, and a radio resource control establishment request message is sent to a second network device through the reselected relay terminal device.

[0032] By using the above method, the second terminal device can be avoided from triggering an RRC reestablishment process when there is no C-RNTI.

[0033] In a possible design, when it is determined that the C-RNTI has been obtained from the first network device and the RRC reestablishment process is triggered, cell reselection is performed, and a radio resource control reestablishment request message is sent to a second network device through the selected cell; or, when it is determined that the C-RNTI has been obtained from the first network device and the RRC reestablishment process is triggered, relay terminal device reselection is performed, and a radio resource control reestablishment request message is sent to a second network device through the reselected relay terminal device.

[0034] By using the above method, the second terminal device can be made to trigger an RRC reestablishment process only when it is determined that the C-RNTI has been obtained.

[0035] In a possible design, when it is determined that communication between the first terminal device and the first network device fails, at least one of the following preset events is detected. The preset events include: an RLF occurs on the sidelink between the second terminal device and the first terminal device; a failure occurs in the configuration provided by the first network device for the second terminal device; an SRB integrity check fails between the second terminal device and the first terminal device; an RLF occurs in the connection between the first terminal device and the first network device; a failure occurs in the configuration provided by the first network device for the first terminal device; an air interface SRB integrity check fails for the first terminal device; an uplink out-of-sync occurs in the air interface of the first terminal device.

[0036] Using the above method, the second terminal device can determine that communication between the first terminal device and the first network device fails by detecting the preset event.

[0037] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a first terminal device or by a component (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) of the first terminal device. In this method, there is a connection between a network device and the first terminal device, and there is a sidelink unicast connection between the first terminal device and a second terminal device. The method includes: receiving at least one C-RNTI from the network device, and sending a first C-RNTI to the second terminal device, where the first C-RNTI is one of the at least one C-RNTI. The first terminal device sends the first C-RNTI to the network device.

[0038] Using the above method, the network device allocates at least one C-RNTI to the first terminal device, and the first terminal device allocates a C-RNTI to the second terminal device, which can ensure that the second terminal device obtains the C-RNTI as early as possible. It ensures that the second terminal device can successfully complete the RRC re-establishment process if communication with the network device fails in the subsequent process.

[0039] In a possible design, when sending the first C-RNTI to the second terminal device, a unicast connection establishment request response message including the first C-RNTI is sent to the second terminal device; or when sending the first C-RNTI to the second terminal device, a sidelink radio resource control message including the first C-RNTI is sent to the second terminal device.

[0040] Using the above method, the first terminal device can notify the second terminal device of the first C-RNTI in multiple ways.

[0041] In a possible design, when sending the first C-RNTI to the network device, the first C-RNTI and a first identifier are sent to the network device, where the first identifier is an identifier assigned by the first terminal device to the second terminal device, and the first identifier is used to distinguish different terminal devices accessing the network device through the first terminal device.

[0042] By using the above method, the first terminal device can notify the network device of the first C-RNTI.

[0043] In a possible design, when sending the first C-RNTI to the network device, a radio resource control message from the second terminal device is received and sent to the network device. The radio resource control message includes the first C-RNTI.

[0044] By using the above method, the first terminal device can notify the network device of the first C-RNTI.

[0045] In a possible design, when receiving at least one C-RNTI from the network device, it is determined to become a relay terminal device, and indication information is sent to the network device, and at least one C-RNTI is received from the network device. The indication information is used to indicate that the first terminal device becomes a relay terminal device.

[0046] By using the above method, the first terminal device triggers the network device to configure at least one C-RNTI for the first terminal device by notifying the network device that the first terminal device becomes a relay terminal device.

[0047] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a network device or by a component of the network device (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.). In this method, there is a connection between the network device and a first terminal device, and there is a sidelink unicast connection between the first terminal device and a second terminal device. The method includes: sending at least one C-RNTI to the first terminal device, and receiving a first C-RNTI from the first terminal device, where the first C-RNTI is one of the at least one C-RNTI, and the first C-RNTI is the C-RNTI of the second terminal device.

[0048] By using the above method, the network device allocates at least one C-RNTI to the first terminal device, and the first terminal device allocates a C-RNTI to the second terminal device, which can ensure that the second terminal device obtains the C-RNTI as early as possible. It ensures that in a subsequent process, if the second terminal device fails to communicate with the network device, it can successfully complete the RRC re-establishment process.

[0049] In a possible design, when receiving the first C-RNTI from the first terminal device, the first C-RNTI and a first identifier from the first terminal device are received. The first identifier is an identifier allocated by the first terminal device for the second terminal device, and the first identifier is used to distinguish different terminal devices accessing the network device through the first terminal device.

[0050] By using the above method, the first terminal device can notify the network device of the first C-RNTI.

[0051] In a possible design, when receiving the first C-RNTI from the first terminal device, a radio resource control message sent by the second terminal device through the first terminal device is received. The radio resource control message includes the first C-RNTI;

[0052] By using the above method, the second terminal device can notify the network device of the first C-RNTI through the first terminal device.

[0053] In a possible design, the CU in the network device receives a fourth message from the DU in the network device. The fourth message includes the at least one C-RNTI.

[0054] By using the above method, the DU can allocate at least one C-RNTI for the first terminal device, and the CU can send at least one C-RNTI to the first terminal device.

[0055] In a possible design, the CU in the network device sends a fifth message to the DU in the network device. The fifth message is used to request the DU to allocate the at least one C-RNTI. The CU receives the at least one C-RNTI from the DU.

[0056] By using the above method, the DU can allocate at least one C-RNTI for the first terminal device, and the CU can send at least one C-RNTI to the first terminal device.

[0057] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device. The device includes a module for executing the first aspect and any possible design in the first aspect; or the device includes a module for executing the second aspect and any possible design in the second aspect; or, the device includes a module for executing the third aspect and any possible design in the third aspect; or, the device includes a module for executing the fourth aspect and any possible design in the fourth aspect. Or, the device includes a module for executing the fifth aspect and any possible design in the fifth aspect.

[0058] In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, including a processor and an interface circuit. The interface circuit is configured to receive a signal from another communication device outside the communication device and transmit it to the processor, or send a signal from the processor to another communication device outside the communication device. The processor is configured to implement any possible design in the first aspect and the first aspect through logic circuits or by executing code instructions, or implement any possible design in the second aspect and the second aspect, or implement any possible design in the third aspect and the third aspect, or implement any possible design in the fourth aspect and the fourth aspect, or implement any possible design in the fifth aspect and the fifth aspect.

[0059] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are executed by a communication device, they implement any possible design in the first aspect and the first aspect, or implement any possible design in the second aspect and the second aspect, or implement any possible design in the third aspect and the third aspect, or implement any possible design in the fourth aspect and the fourth aspect, or implement any possible design in the fifth aspect and the fifth aspect.

[0060] In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product including a program. When it runs on a communication device, it causes the communication device to execute any possible design in the first aspect and the first aspect, or execute any possible design in the second aspect and the second aspect, or execute any possible design in the third aspect and the third aspect, or execute any possible design in the fourth aspect and the fourth aspect, or implement any possible design in the fifth aspect and the fifth aspect.

[0061] In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system including a network device, a first terminal device, and a second terminal device. There is a connection between the network device and the first terminal device, and there is a sidelink unicast connection between the first terminal device and the second terminal device. The network device is configured to execute any possible design in the first aspect, and the second terminal device is configured to execute any possible design in the second aspect. Alternatively, the second terminal device is configured to execute any possible design in the third aspect. Alternatively, the network device is configured to execute any possible design in the fifth aspect, and the first terminal device is configured to execute any possible design in the fourth aspect.

[0062] In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip system, which includes at least one processor for supporting a network device to implement the functions involved in the above first to fifth aspects or any specific implementation manner of the first to fifth aspects. In a possible design, the chip system may further include a memory for storing necessary program instructions and data of the terminal device. The chip system may be composed of chips or may include chips and other discrete devices. Optionally, the chip system further includes an interface circuit, and the interface circuit provides program instructions and / or data for the at least one processor. Description of the Drawings

[0063] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the UE-to-Network relay architecture applied in the embodiment of the present application;

[0064] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the L2 UE-to-Network relay control plane protocol stack in the embodiment of the present application;

[0065] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the L2 UE-to-Network relay user plane protocol stack in the embodiment of the present application;

[0066] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of direct communication between UEs through the PC5 interface in the embodiment of the present application;

[0067] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the contention-based random access process in the embodiment of the present application;

[0068] Figure 6 It is one of the overview flowcharts of a communication method in the embodiment of the present application;

[0069] Figure 7 It is one of the schematic diagrams of the establishment of an RRC connection between a Remote UE and a base station through a relay UE in the embodiment of the present application;

[0070] Figure 8 It is the second schematic diagram of the establishment of an RRC connection between a Remote UE and a base station through a relay UE in the embodiment of the present application;

[0071] Figure 9 It is the second overview flowchart of a communication method in the embodiment of the present application;

[0072] Figure 10 It is the third overview flowchart of a communication method in the embodiment of the present application;

[0073] Figure 11One of the schematic structural diagrams of a device in an embodiment of the present application;

[0074] Figure 12 Another schematic structural diagram of a device in an embodiment of the present application. Detailed implementation manners

[0075] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the architecture of the communication system applied in the embodiments of the present application. The embodiments of the present application are applicable to the UE-to-Network relay scenario, where UE-to-Network relay is considered a technology that can effectively improve cell coverage.

[0076] Among them, the network device can also be called a radio access device. The network device can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next generation NodeB (gNB) in a 5G mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a WiFi system, etc.; it can also be a module or unit that completes some functions of the base station. For example, it can be a central unit (CU) or a distributed unit (DU). The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technologies and specific device forms adopted by the radio access network device.

[0077] The terminal device can also be called a terminal, a user equipment (UE), a mobile station, a mobile terminal, etc. The terminal device can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a computer with a wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality terminal device, an augmented reality terminal device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in unmanned driving, a wireless terminal in remote surgery, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in a smart city, a wireless terminal in a smart home, etc. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technologies and specific device forms adopted by the terminal device.

[0078] The network device and the terminal device can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; they can also be deployed on the water surface; they can also be deployed on airplanes, balloons, and artificial satellites in the air. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the application scenarios of the network device and the terminal device.

[0079] From the perspective of the user plane protocol stack, UE-to-Network relay is divided into two types, one is L3 relay and the other is L2 relay. The embodiments of the present application are mainly applicable to the L2 relay architecture.

[0080] Under the L2 relay architecture, the control plane protocol stack between the remote UE and the network device is as follows Figure 2 shown. As shown in Figure 2, it is schematically shown with the LTE protocol stack as the baseline.

[0081] Under the L2 relay architecture, the user data can be relayed below the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer. At this time, the schematic diagram of the user plane protocol stack is as follows Figure 3 shown. Figure 3 It is an L2 architecture designed based on the long term evolution (LTE) system. Compared with the new radio (NR) system, the user plane protocol stack lacks the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) protocol layer. This SDAP layer is above the PDCP layer and below the IP layer.

[0082] As Figure 2 and Figure 3 shown, there is no peer adaptation layer between the remote UE and the relay UE. It can be understood that there can also be a peer adaptation layer between the remote UE and the relay UE. That is, in the control plane / user plane protocol stack of the remote UE, there will also be an adaptation layer between the PDCP layer and the radio link control service data unit (RLC) layer. Correspondingly, there will also be an adaptation layer in the left half of the protocol stack of the relay UE, which is above the RLC layer.

[0083] In a wireless communication system, data communication can be carried out between terminal devices through the network, or directly between terminal devices without the help of network devices. Among them, the interface between terminal devices is called the PC5 interface, and the Uu interface between the terminal device and the network device is as follows Figure 4 shown. The link between terminal devices is called the sidelink. A typical application scenario of sidelink communication is the vehicle-to-everything (V2X) service (hereinafter referred to as the vehicle network). In the vehicle network, each vehicle is a UE, and data can be directly transmitted between UEs through the sidelink without passing through the network, so the communication delay can be effectively reduced.

[0084] Among them, broadcast, unicast, and multicast are supported on the sidelink.

[0085] Sidelink broadcast communication is similar to a network device broadcasting system information, that is, the terminal device sends broadcast service data externally without encryption. Any other terminal device within the effective reception range can receive the data of this broadcast service if it is interested in this broadcast service.

[0086] Sidelink unicast communication is similar to the data communication after establishing an RRC connection between a terminal device and a network device. A unicast connection needs to be established between two terminal devices first. After establishing the unicast connection, the two terminal devices can perform data communication based on the negotiated identifier. This data can be encrypted or unencrypted. Compared with broadcasting, in unicast communication, only the two terminal devices that have established the unicast connection can perform this unicast communication.

[0087] Sidelink multicast communication refers to the communication between all terminal devices within a communication group. Any terminal device within the group can send and receive the data of this multicast service.

[0088] In NR, the RRC states of the terminal device include the connected state (RRC_CONNECTED), the deactivated state or the third state (RRC_INACTIVE), and the idle state (RRC_IDLE). Among them, when the terminal device is in the connected state, the terminal device has established links with both the network device and the core network. When data arrives at the core network, it can be directly transmitted to the terminal device; when the terminal device is in the deactivated state, it means that the terminal device has established links with the network device and the core network before, but the link from the terminal device to the network device has been released. Although the link has been released, the network device will store the context of the terminal device. When data needs to be transmitted, the network device can quickly restore this link; when the terminal device is in the idle state, there is no link between the terminal device and the network device and the core network. When data needs to be transmitted, a link from the terminal device to the network device and the core network needs to be established.

[0089] As Figure 5 shown is the contention-based random access procedure. In Figure 5 , when a UE in the idle state or the deactivated state performs initial access with the base station through the Uu interface, it needs to perform contention-based random access with the base station first. The specific random access procedure is as follows:

[0090] S501: The UE sends a random access preamble to the base station.

[0091] S502: The base station sends a random access response message to the UE.

[0092] S503: The UE sends a message for scheduled transmission to the base station. Exemplarily, when the UE is in the idle state, the UE sends an RRC Setup Request message to the base station. When the UE is in the deactivated state, the UE sends an RRC Resume Request message to the base station.

[0093] S504: The base station sends a message for contention resolution to the UE. Exemplarily, when the UE is in the idle state, the base station sends an RRC Setup message to the UE. Or, when the UE is in the deactivated state, the base station sends an RRC Resume message to the UE.

[0094] Among them, in step 2, the base station allocates a temporary C-RNTI for the UE, and the UE stores this temporary C-RNTI. After the UE receives the message for contention resolution from the base station in step 4, the UE uses this temporary C-RNTI as the C-RNTI.

[0095] When performing a cell handover for a connected UE, the target base station carries a synchronization reconfiguration information element in the handover command, and this information element includes the C-RNTI.

[0096] Subsequently, after the UE completes random access or performs a cell handover, when the UE identifies a communication failure with the base station, such as an RLF or a base station configuration failure, etc., the UE will trigger an RRC re-establishment process. Specifically, the UE needs to derive a short MAC-I based on the C-RNTI and carry it in the RRC Re-establishment Request message and send it to the base station.

[0097] Therefore, combining the above, it can be seen that the C-RNTI is allocated by the media access control (MAC) layer of the base station for the UE. However, when the remote UE accesses the base station through the Relay UE, the random access procedure is not performed between the remote UE and the base station, so the C-RNTI cannot be obtained in a timely manner. According to the existing protocol, the base station can only allocate the C-RNTI for the UE through the synchronous reconfiguration process (i.e., the handover process). In this way, if the remote UE does not initiate the handover process, the remote UE cannot obtain the C-RNTI. Further, in the absence of the C-RNTI, if the remote UE fails to communicate with the base station, such as a radio link failure (RLF) or a reconfiguration failure occurs, the remote UE triggers the RRC re-establishment process according to the protocol. Since there is no C-RNTI, the message authentication code-integrity (shortMAC-I) cannot be derived. Therefore, the remote UE cannot execute the RRC re-establishment process.

[0098] Based on this, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method for solving the problem that when the remote UE fails to communicate with the network device, the remote UE cannot execute the RRC re-establishment process due to the absence of the C-RNTI for the remote UE. As Figure 6 shown, the method includes:

[0099] S601: The second terminal device sends a second message to the network device through the first terminal device.

[0100] Correspondingly, the network device receives the second message through the first terminal device. It can be understood that the second message is used to request the C-RNTI.

[0101] S602: The network device determines a first message. The first message includes the C-RNTI allocated by the network device for the second terminal device.

[0102] S603: The network device sends the first message to the second terminal device through the first terminal device.

[0103] Correspondingly, the second terminal device receives the first message from the network device through the first terminal device.

[0104] In some embodiments, the first message is used to instruct the second terminal device to establish a first signaling radio bearer with the network device. The first signaling radio bearer can be used to transmit RRC configuration-related messages between the second terminal device and the network device, or can also transmit non-access stratum (NAS) messages. In a UE-to-Network relay system, the first signaling radio bearer can be understood as a signaling radio bearer established by the second terminal with the network device through the first terminal. Optionally, the first message includes the PDCP configuration of the first signaling radio bearer and the associated sidelink configuration, where the associated sidelink configuration can include one or more of the sidelink radio link control (RLC) configuration, sidelink MAC configuration, and sidelink physical layer configuration for implementing the first signaling radio bearer between the second terminal and the first terminal. Exemplarily, the first signaling radio bearer is SRB1.

[0105] Among them, the first message can adopt the following design: the first message is a Radio Resource Control Setup (RRCSetup) message, or the first message is a Radio Resource Control Resume (RRCResume) message, or the first message is a Radio Resource Control Reestablishment (RRCRestablishment) message. It can be understood that if the first message is a Radio Resource Control Setup message, the second message is a Radio Resource Control Setup Request (RRCSetupRequest) message; or if the first message is a Radio Resource Control Resume message, the second message is a Radio Resource Control Resume Request (RRCResumeRequest) message; or if the first message is a Radio Resource Control Reestablishment message, the second message is a Radio Resource Control Reestablishment Request (RRCRestablishmentRequest) message.

[0106] Exemplarily, as shown in Table 1, when the second terminal device switches from the idle state to the connected state, the second terminal device sends a Radio Resource Control (RRC) establishment request message to the network device via the first terminal device, and the network device sends an RRC establishment message to the second terminal device via the first terminal device. The RRC establishment message includes the C-RNTI allocated to the second terminal device. When the second terminal device switches from the deactivated state to the connected state, the second terminal device sends an RRC resume request message to the network device via the first terminal device, and the network device sends an RRC resume message to the second terminal device via the first terminal device. The RRC resume message includes the C-RNTI allocated to the second terminal device. When the second terminal device performs the RRC re-establishment procedure, the second terminal device sends an RRC re-establishment request message to the network device via the first terminal device, and the network device sends an RRC re-establishment message to the second terminal device via the first terminal device. The RRC re-establishment message includes the C-RNTI allocated to the second terminal device.

[0107] Table 1

[0108]

[0109] In some other embodiments, the first message is the first S806: Radio Resource Control Reconfiguration (RRCReconfiguration) message. When the first message is the first RRC reconfiguration message, the second message is the SecurityModeComplete message. Specifically, the network device sends a SecurityModeCommand message to the second terminal device via the first terminal device, and the second terminal device sends a SecurityModeComplete message to the network device via the first terminal device. Then, the network device sends an RRC reconfiguration message to the second terminal device via the first terminal device. The RRC reconfiguration message includes the C-RNTI allocated to the second terminal device.

[0110] For S601, when the network device adopts a CU-DU architecture, the CU generates the first message and the DU allocates the C-RNTI. Specifically, the network device can determine the first message by, but not limited to, the following solutions.

[0111] Solution 1: The CU receives the second message and the C-RNTI from the DU. The CU generates the first message, and the first message includes the C-RNTI allocated to the second terminal device. Exemplarily, the second message and the C-RNTI can be carried by the F1 interface message.

[0112] Solution 2: The CU receives a second message from the DU. When the CU confirms to allow the second terminal device to establish an RRC connection with itself through the first terminal device, the CU sends a third message to the DU, and the third message is used to request the DU to allocate a C-RNTI for the second terminal device. The CU receives the C-RNTI from the DU. The CU generates a first message, and the first message includes the C-RNTI allocated for the second terminal device.

[0113] Solution 3: The CU receives at least one C-RNTI from the DU. The CU receives a second message from the DU. When the CU confirms to allow the second terminal device to establish an RRC connection with itself through the first terminal device, the CU allocates a C-RNTI for the second terminal device, and the C-RNTI is one of the at least one C-RNTI. Wherein, after the CU allocates the C-RNTI for the second terminal device, the CU may send a notification message to the DU, and the notification message includes the C-RNTI allocated for the second terminal device.

[0114] In addition, when the CU determines that the number of at least one C-RNTI sent by the DU is insufficient, the CU may send a request message to the DU, and the request message is used to request the DU to allocate at least one C-RNTI. Optionally, the request message may further carry the number of C-RNTIs requested to be allocated by the DU. For example, when the CU determines to allocate a C-RNTI for the second terminal device but the N C-RNTIs sent by the DU to the CU have been allocated to other terminal devices, the CU may send a request message to the DU, and the request message is used to request the DU to re-allocate K C-RNTIs, where N and K are positive integers. Optionally, since the DU may include cells, the request message may further carry cell identification information, which is used to indicate which cell's C-RNTI the CU requests.

[0115] When the CU determines that the number of at least one C-RNTI sent by the DU is large, the CU may send an indication message to the DU, and the indication message is used to inform the DU of the redundant C-RNTIs, that is, to return a part of the C-RNTIs allocated by the DU. Among them, the CU can know the relay capability of the first terminal device, but the DU does not know the relay capability of the first terminal device. Exemplarily, the CU can know the relay capability of the first terminal device through the UE capabilities reported by the first terminal device. Or, the CU can also obtain the relay capability of the first terminal device from the core network. Or, during the handover process, the CU can also obtain the relay capability of the first terminal device from the source base station. In a possible implementation manner, the DU sends a preset maximum number of C-RNTIs to the CU according to the preset maximum allocation number. If the CU determines according to the relay capability of the first terminal device that the maximum number of relay terminal devices supported by the first terminal device is less than the preset maximum allocation number, the CU may send an indication message to the DU, and the indication message is used to inform the DU of the redundant C-RNTIs.

[0116] Furthermore, for the above three solutions, the CU may also receive the identifier of the second terminal device from the DU. This identifier is the identifier assigned by the first terminal device to the second terminal device, and is used to distinguish different terminal devices accessing the network device through the first terminal device. Among them, the identifier of the second terminal device can be used by the CU to maintain the context of the second terminal device. At the same time, the CU may also receive the F1 interface identifier (i.e., F1AP ID) of the second terminal device from the DU and the identifier of the first terminal device. Among them, the identifier of the first terminal device may be the F1 interface identifier assigned by the DU to the first terminal device, and the F1 interface identifier of the second terminal device is also assigned by the DU to the second terminal device.

[0117] By using the above method, when the second terminal device accesses the network device through the first terminal device, the second terminal device can obtain the C-RNTI as early as possible, which ensures that the second terminal device can successfully execute the RRC reestablishment process, and when the second terminal device triggers the RRC reestablishment, the context of the second terminal device can be restored through the target base station.

[0118] As Figure 7 shown, the following takes the example of a remote UE transitioning from the idle state to the connected state to illustrate one of the specific processes for the base station to allocate a C-RNTI to the remote UE.

[0119] S701: The remote UE sends an RRCSetupRequest message to the base station through the relay UE.

[0120] Among them, the RRCSetupRequest message is used to request to establish an RRC connection with the base station. The relay UE may send the RRCSetupRequest message as a cell in the uplink RRC message generated by itself to the base station, or use the RRCSetupRequest message as a radio link control service data unit (RLC SDU), or a packet data convergence protocol protocol data unit (PDCP PDU). The embodiments of the present application do not make any limitations in this regard.

[0121] S702: The base station confirms to allow the remote UE to establish an RRC connection with itself through the relay UE, and sends an RRCSetup message to the remote UE through the relay UE. Among them, the RRCSetup message includes the C-RNTI assigned by the base station to the remote UE.

[0122] After the remote UE receives the RRC Setup message, the remote UE saves the C-RNTI included in the RRC Setup message.

[0123] Similarly, the relay UE may send the RRC Setup message to the remote UE as an information element in the downlink RRC message generated by itself, or use the RRC Setup message as an RLC SDU, or use the RRC Setup message as a PDC PDU. The embodiments of the present application do not make any limitations thereto.

[0124] It can be understood that when the architecture of the base station is a CU-DU architecture, the base station may adopt, but is not limited to, any one of the above three solutions to determine the first information, which will not be elaborated here.

[0125] S703: The remote UE sends a Radio Resource Control Setup Complete (RRC Setup Complete) message to the base station through the relay UE.

[0126] As Figure 8 shown, the following takes the remote UE transitioning from the idle state to the connected state as an example to illustrate the second specific process of the base station allocating the C-RNTI to the remote UE.

[0127] S801: The remote UE sends an RRC Setup Request message to the base station through the relay UE.

[0128] S802: The base station confirms that it allows the remote UE to establish an RRC connection with itself through the relay UE, and sends an RRC Setup message to the remote UE through the relay UE.

[0129] Here, the RRC Setup message does not include the C-RNTI allocated by the base station to the remote UE.

[0130] S803: The remote UE sends an RRC Setup Complete message to the base station through the relay UE.

[0131] S804: The base station sends a Security Mode Command message to the remote UE through the relay UE.

[0132] S805: The remote UE sends a Security Mode Complete message to the base station through the relay UE.

[0133] S806: The base station sends an RRC Reconfiguration message to the remote UE via the relay UE. The RRC Reconfiguration message includes the C-RNTI allocated by the base station for the remote UE.

[0134] This RRC Reconfiguration message is the first RRC reconfiguration message configured by the base station for the remote UE after the remote UE establishes an RRC connection with the base station via the relay UE.

[0135] Exemplarily, the RRC Reconfiguration message may further include the Uu PDCP configuration, SL RLC configuration, SL MAC configuration, SL resource pool configuration, and SL physical channel configuration of the remote UE.

[0136] S807: The remote UE sends an RRC Reconfiguration Complete message to the base station via the relay UE. At this time, the protocol stack can refer to Figure 2 as shown.

[0137] Adopting Figure 7 and Figure 8 the embodiments shown, when the remote UE accesses the base station via the relay UE, the remote UE can obtain the C-RNTI as early as possible, ensuring that the remote UE can successfully execute the RRC re-establishment process.

[0138] It can be understood that the above Figure 7 and Figure 8 The shown process is described by taking the remote UE entering the connected state from the idle state as an example. The remote UE needs to perform an RRC connection establishment process with the base station via the relay UE. The messages involved include the RRC Setup Request message, RRC Setup message, and RRC Setup Complete message. The above Figure 7 and Figure 8The embodiments shown can also be equally applicable to the scenario where the UE transitions from the deactivated state to the connected state and the RRC reestablishment process of the UE. For the scenario where the remote UE transitions from the deactivated state to the connected state, the remote UE needs to perform an RRC connection recovery process between the relay UE and the base station. The messages involved include the RRC Resume Request message, the RRC Resume message, and the RRC Resume Complete message. For the scenario where the remote UE performs RRC reestablishment through the relay UE, the remote UE needs to perform an RRC reestablishment process between the relay UE and the base station. The messages involved include the RRC Reestablishment Request message, the RRC Reestablishment message, and the RRC Reestablishment Complete message.

[0139] An embodiment of the present application provides a communication method for solving the problem that when communication between a remote UE and a network device fails, the remote UE cannot execute the RRC reestablishment process due to the absence of a C-RNTI at the remote UE. As Figure 9 shown, the method includes:

[0140] S901: The second terminal device determines that communication with the first network device through the first terminal device fails.

[0141] The second terminal device detects at least one of the following preset events to determine that communication with the first network device through the first terminal device fails. The preset events include that the sidelink between the second terminal device and the first terminal device has an RLF, the second terminal device determines that the configuration provided by the first network device for the second terminal device fails, the second terminal device and the first terminal device have a signaling radio bearer (SRB) integrity check failure, the connection between the first terminal device and the first network device has an RLF, the second terminal device determines that the configuration provided by the first network device for the first terminal device fails, the first terminal device has an air interface SRB integrity check failure, the first terminal device has an uplink out-of-sync of the air interface, etc. The above air interface refers to the Uu interface.

[0142] In one example, the RRC reconfiguration message sent by the first network device to the second terminal device via the first terminal device includes an RRC configuration. If the second terminal device fails to execute this RRC configuration, the second terminal device determines that the configuration provided by the first network device for the second terminal device has failed. Generally, the reason for such a failure may be that the RRC configuration does not match the capabilities of the second terminal device, which can be understood as the capabilities required by the RRC configuration are not possessed by the second terminal device. Or there are problems with encoding or decoding, resulting in the second terminal device being unable to correctly parse the RRC configuration.

[0143] In another example, the RRC reconfiguration message sent by the first network device to the first terminal device includes an RRC configuration. If the first terminal device fails to execute this RRC configuration, the first terminal device determines that the configuration provided by the first network device for the first terminal device has failed. Further, the first terminal device will inform the second terminal device that the configuration has failed, and then the second terminal device determines that the configuration provided by the first network device for the first terminal device has failed.

[0144] It should be understood that the above preset events are only examples and may also include other situations, which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0145] S902: The second terminal device determines whether it has obtained the C-RNTI from the first network device. If so, it executes S903A; otherwise, it executes S903B.

[0146] S903A: The second terminal device determines that it has obtained the C-RNTI from the first network device, and then the second terminal device triggers the RRC reestablishment process.

[0147] Exemplarily, the second terminal device may perform cell reselection and send a radio resource control reestablishment request message to the second network device via the selected cell. Or, the second terminal device may also perform relay terminal device reselection and send a radio resource control reestablishment request message to the second network device via the reselected relay terminal device. It can be understood that the second network device may be the same as or different from the first network device. In this case, the RRC state of the second terminal device is still the connected state, which can be understood as the second terminal device will save the access stratum configuration configured by the first network device.

[0148] S903B: The second terminal device determines that it has not obtained the C-RNTI from the first network device, and then the second terminal device enters the idle state.

[0149] Among them, the second terminal device enters the idle state from the connected state, that is, releases the RRC connection, or releases the access stratum (AS) configuration, or the second terminal device releases radio resources, such as one or more of PDCP, RLC, adaptation layer entity, MAC configuration SDAP, etc.

[0150] Further, after the second terminal device enters the idle state, the second terminal device may perform cell reselection and send a radio resource control establishment request message to the second network device through the selected cell. Alternatively, the second terminal device may also perform relay terminal device reselection and send a radio resource control establishment request message to the second network device through the reselected relay terminal device. It can be understood that the second network device may be the same as or different from the first network device.

[0151] It can also be understood that when the second terminal device determines that it has not obtained the C-RNTI from the first network device, the second terminal device triggers the RRC connection establishment process. Among them, the RRC connection establishment process here includes that the second terminal device first enters the idle state, and then the second terminal device may perform cell reselection and send a radio resource control establishment request message to the second network device through the selected cell. Alternatively, the second terminal device first enters the idle state, and then the second terminal device may also perform relay terminal device reselection and send a radio resource control establishment request message to the second network device through the reselected relay terminal device.

[0152] This embodiment can be applied to a scenario where the first network device cannot ensure to provide the C-RNTI for the second terminal device as early as possible. By using the method provided in this embodiment, considering that when the second terminal device determines that the communication with the first network device fails through the first terminal device, the second terminal device needs to decide the subsequent actions based on whether there is a C-RNTI, it can avoid the second terminal device still triggering the RRC re-establishment process without a C-RNTI, resulting in the failure of the RRC re-establishment, and then turning to initiate the RRC connection establishment process, bringing additional delay.

[0153] An embodiment of the present application provides a communication method for solving the problem that when a remote UE fails to communicate with a network device, the remote UE cannot perform the RRC re-establishment process due to the lack of C-RNTI. As Figure 10 shown, the method includes:

[0154] S1001: The network device sends at least one C-RNTI to the first terminal device.

[0155] The at least one C-RNTI can also be referred to as a C-RNTI list.

[0156] Among them, when the network device determines that the first terminal device is a relay terminal device, it may send at least one C-RNTI to the first terminal device.

[0157] In one example, when the first terminal device determines to become a relay terminal device, the first terminal device sends indication information to the network device. The indication information is used to indicate that the first terminal device becomes a relay terminal device. After receiving the indication information, the network device sends at least one C-RNTI to the first terminal device. Among them, the first terminal device may determine that it can become a relay terminal device by, but not limited to, the following methods: the first terminal device obtains an RSRP range through network device broadcasting or pre-configuration, measures the cell reference signal, compares the measured RSRP with the RSRP range, and when the measured RSRP belongs to the RSRP range, the first terminal device determines to become a relay terminal device.

[0158] In another example, the second terminal device establishes a unicast connection with the first terminal device and sends a message to the network device through the first terminal device. When the network device determines that the message is the first message forwarded by the first terminal device, the network device determines that the first terminal device is a relay terminal device, and the second terminal device is the first terminal device to access the network device through the first terminal device. At this time, the network device sends at least one C-RNTI to the first terminal device.

[0159] It should be understood that the above examples of triggering the network device to send at least one C-RNTI to the first terminal device are only for illustration and are not limitations of the embodiments of this application.

[0160] In addition, when the network device adopts a CU-DU architecture, the DU allocates at least one C-RNTI, and the CU sends at least one C-RNTI. Specifically, the network device may determine at least one C-RNTI by, but not limited to, the following schemes.

[0161] Solution A: The CU receives a fourth message from the DU, and the fourth message includes at least one C-RNTI.

[0162] Solution B: The CU sends a fifth message to the DU, and the fifth message is used to request the DU to allocate at least one C-RNTI. The CU receives at least one C-RNTI from the DU. Optionally, the fifth message may further include the number of C-RNTIs requested to be allocated by the DU.

[0163] Therefore, the above design can ensure that the C-RNTI allocated by the first terminal device to the second terminal device does not conflict with the C-RNTI allocated by the network device itself to other terminal devices in the cell.

[0164] Exemplarily, when the CU determines that the first terminal device is a relay terminal device, it sends a fifth message to the DU. The method by which the CU determines that the first terminal device becomes a relay terminal device can refer to S1001, which will not be elaborated here.

[0165] Optionally, since the DU may include cells, the fifth message may also carry cell identification information, which is used to indicate which cell's C-RNTI the CU requests.

[0166] S1002: The first terminal device sends a first C-RNTI to the second terminal device, where the first C-RNTI is one of at least one C-RNTI.

[0167] Exemplarily, the first terminal device sending the C-RNTI to the second terminal device may occur during the establishment process of the unicast connection between the first terminal device and the second terminal device, or after the unicast connection is established. For example, the first terminal device sends a unicast connection establishment request response message to the second terminal device, and the unicast connection establishment request response message includes the first C-RNTI. Among them, the unicast connection establishment request response message is used to indicate that the unicast connection is established. Another example is that after the unicast connection is established, the first terminal device sends a sidelink radio resource control message to the second terminal device, and the sidelink radio resource control message includes the first C-RNTI. With the above design, it can ensure that the second terminal device obtains the C-RNTI as early as possible.

[0168] S1003: The first terminal device sends the first C-RNTI to the network device.

[0169] In one example, the first terminal device sends the first C-RNTI and a first identifier to the network device. The first identifier is an identifier assigned by the first terminal device to the second terminal device, and the first identifier is used to distinguish different terminal devices accessing the network device through the first terminal device.

[0170] In another example, the first terminal device receives a radio resource control message from the second terminal device, and the first terminal device sends the radio resource control message to the network device. The radio resource control message includes the first C-RNTI. For example, the first C-RNTI may be included in an RRCSetupRequest message, an RRCSetupComplete message, or other uplink RRC messages.

[0171] It should be understood that the embodiments of the present application are not limited to the timing sequence of S1002 and S1003. It may be executed in the order of S1002, S1003, or in the order of S1003, S1002.

[0172] By adopting the above method, the network device allocates at least one C-RNTI to the first terminal device, and the first terminal device allocates a C-RNTI to the second terminal device, which can ensure that the second terminal device obtains the C-RNTI as early as possible. It is ensured that in the subsequent process, if the communication between the second terminal device and the network device fails, the RRC reestablishment process can be successfully completed.

[0173] It can be understood that, in order to implement the functions in the above embodiments, the network device and the terminal device include corresponding hardware structures and / or software modules for executing each function. Those skilled in the art should easily realize that, combining the units and method steps of each example described in the embodiments disclosed in the present application, the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a certain function is executed in the way of hardware or computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application scenario and design constraint conditions of the technical solution.

[0174] Figure 11 and Figure 12 FIG. is a schematic structural diagram of a possible communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application. These communication devices can be used to implement the functions of the terminal device or the network device in the above method embodiments, and thus can also achieve the beneficial effects possessed by the above method embodiments. In the embodiments of the present application, the communication device can be, for example, Figure 1 the RAN or RelayUE or Remote UE shown, or can also be a module (such as a chip) applied to the terminal device or the RAN.

[0175] Such as Figure 11 shown, the communication device 1100 includes a processing unit 1110 and a transceiver unit 1120. The communication device 1100 is used to implement the above Figure 6 , Figure 7 , Figure 8 , Figure 9 or Figure 10 the functions of the terminal device or the network device in the method embodiments shown.

[0176] When the communication device 1100 is used to implement Figure 6 or Figure 7 or Figure 8 the functions of the network device in the method embodiments shown: The processing unit 1110 is used to determine a first message, where the first message includes the C-RNTI allocated by the network device to the second terminal device, and the first message is used to instruct the second terminal device to establish a first signaling radio bearer with the network device, or the first message is the first radio resource control reconfiguration message. The transceiver unit 1120 is used to send the first message to the second terminal device through the first terminal device.

[0177] When the communication device 1100 is used to implementFigure 6 or Figure 7 or Figure 8 When implementing the function of the second terminal device or the Remote UE in the method embodiments shown: The processing unit 1110 invokes the transceiver unit 1120 to execute: sending a second message to the network device through the first terminal device; receiving a first message sent by the network device through the first terminal device, where the first message includes the C-RNTI allocated by the network device for the second terminal device, and the first message is used to instruct the second terminal device to establish a first signaling radio bearer with the network device, or the first message is the first radio resource control reconfiguration message.

[0178] When the communication device 1100 is used to implement Figure 9 the function of the second terminal device in the method embodiments shown: The processing unit 1110 invokes the transceiver unit 1120 to execute: determining that communication with the first network device through the first terminal device fails; determining that the C-RNTI is not obtained from the first network device, and then entering the idle state; or, determining that the C-RNTI has been obtained from the first network device, and then triggering the RRC re-establishment process.

[0179] When the communication device 1100 is used to implement Figure 10 the function of the first terminal device in the method embodiments shown: The processing unit 1110 invokes the transceiver unit 1120 to execute: receiving at least one C-RNTI from the network device; sending a first C-RNTI to the second terminal device, where the first C-RNTI is one of the at least one C-RNTI; sending the first C-RNTI to the network device.

[0180] When the communication device 1100 is used to implement Figure 10 the function of the network device in the method embodiments shown: The processing unit 1110 invokes the transceiver unit 1120 to execute: sending at least one C-RNTI to the first terminal device; receiving a first C-RNTI from the first terminal device, where the first C-RNTI is one of the at least one C-RNTI, and the first C-RNTI is the C-RNTI of the second terminal device.

[0181] For a more detailed description of the above processing unit 1110 and transceiver unit 1120, reference can be directly made to Figure 6 , Figure 7 , Figure 8 , Figure 9 or Figure 10 the relevant descriptions in the method embodiments shown, and details are not repeated here.

[0182] Such as Figure 12As shown, the communication device 1200 includes a processor 1210 and an interface circuit 1220. The processor 1210 and the interface circuit 1220 are coupled to each other. It can be understood that the interface circuit 1220 can be a transceiver or an input / output interface. Optionally, the communication device 1200 may further include a memory 1230 for storing instructions executed by the processor 1210 or storing input data required for the processor 1210 to run instructions or storing data generated after the processor 1210 runs instructions.

[0183] When the communication device 1200 is used to implement Figure 6 , Figure 7 , Figure 8 , Figure 9 or Figure 10 the method shown, the processor 1210 is used to implement the functions of the above-mentioned processing unit 1110, and the interface circuit 1220 is used to implement the functions of the above-mentioned transceiver unit 1120.

[0184] When the above communication device is a chip applied to a terminal device, the terminal device chip implements the functions of the terminal device in the above method embodiment. The terminal device chip receives information from other modules (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna) in the terminal device, and this information is sent by a network device to the terminal device; or, the terminal device chip sends information to other modules (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna) in the terminal device, and this information is sent by the terminal device to the network device.

[0185] When the above communication device is a chip applied to a network device, the network device chip implements the functions of the network device in the above method embodiment. The network device chip receives information from other modules (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna) in the network device, and this information is sent by a terminal device to the network device; or, the network device chip sends information to other modules (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna) in the network device, and this information is sent by the network device to the terminal device.

[0186] It can be understood that the processor in the embodiments of the present application can be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0187] The method steps in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in a hardware manner or by a processor executing software instructions. The software instructions can be composed of corresponding software modules, and the software modules can be stored in a random access memory (RAM), flash memory, read-only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM), electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), registers, hard disks, removable hard disks, CD-ROMs, or any other form of storage medium well-known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. Of course, the storage medium can also be a component of the processor. The processor and the storage medium can be located in an ASIC. Additionally, the ASIC can be located in a network device or a terminal device. Of course, the processor and the storage medium can also exist as discrete components in a network device or a terminal device.

[0188] In the above embodiments, it can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are executed in whole or in part. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a user device, or other programmable devices. The computer program or instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer program or instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center in a wired or wireless manner. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that the computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center integrating one or more available media. The available medium can be a magnetic medium, such as a floppy disk, hard disk, or magnetic tape; it can also be an optical medium, such as a digital video disc (DVD); or it can be a semiconductor medium, such as a solid state drive (SSD).

[0189] In various embodiments of the present application, without special instructions and logical conflicts, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced to each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their internal logical relationships.

[0190] In the present application, "at least one" means one or more, and "a plurality" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. In the written description of the present application, the character " / " generally means that the associated objects before and after are in an "or" relationship; in the formulas of the present application, the character " / " means that the associated objects before and after are in a "division" relationship.

[0191] It can be understood that the various numerical numbers involved in the embodiments of the present application are only for the convenience of description and are not used to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. The magnitudes of the serial numbers of the above processes do not mean the sequence of execution, and the execution sequence of each process should be determined according to its function and internal logic.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, there is a connection between a network device and a first terminal device, there is a sidelink unicast connection between the first terminal device and a second terminal device, and the second terminal device enters the connected state from the idle state, or the second terminal device enters the connected state from the deactivated state; the method includes: determining a first message, wherein the first message includes a cell radio network temporary identity C-RNTI allocated by the network device for the second terminal device; wherein, determining the first message includes: a centralized unit CU in the network device receives a second message and the C-RNTI from a distributed unit DU in the network device; the second message is sent by the second terminal device to the DU through the first terminal device; sending the first message to the second terminal device through the first terminal device, and the first message is the first radio resource control reconfiguration message sent to the second terminal device through the first terminal device.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, determining the first message includes: the CU in the network device receives a second message from the DU in the network device, and the second message is sent by the second terminal device to the DU through the first terminal device; the CU sends a third message to the DU, and the third message is used to request the DU to allocate the C-RNTI for the second terminal device; the CU receives the C-RNTI from the DU.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, determining the first message includes: the CU in the network device receives at least one C-RNTI from the DU in the network device; the CU receives a second message from the DU, and the second message is sent by the second terminal device to the DU through the first terminal device; the CU allocates the C-RNTI for the second terminal device, and the C-RNTI is one of the at least one C-RNTI.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, further includes: the CU receives the identity of the second terminal device from the DU, and the identity of the second terminal device is an identity allocated by the first terminal device for the second terminal device, and the identity is used to distinguish different terminal devices accessing the network device through the first terminal device and receiving the second message through the first terminal device.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, the first message is the first radio resource control reconfiguration message, and the second message is a security mode completion message.

6. A communication method, characterized in that, there is a connection between a network device and a first terminal device, there is a sidelink unicast connection between the first terminal device and a second terminal device, and the second terminal device enters the connected state from the idle state, or the second terminal device enters the connected state from the deactivated state; the method includes: Send a second message to the network device via the first terminal device; Receive a first message sent by the network device via the first terminal device, where the first message includes the C-RNTI allocated by the network device for the second terminal device, and the first message is the first radio resource control reconfiguration message sent by the network device to the second terminal device via the first terminal device; wherein, the C-RNTI is allocated by the DU in the network device for the second terminal, and the first message is sent by the CU in the network device.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that, the first message is the first radio resource control reconfiguration message, and the second message is a security mode completion message.

8. A communication device, characterized in that, it includes a module for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A communication device, characterized in that, it includes a processor and an interface circuit. The interface circuit is used to receive signals from other communication devices outside the communication device and transmit them to the processor or send signals from the processor to other communication devices outside the communication device. The processor is used to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 through logic circuits or by executing code instructions.

10. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, the storage medium stores a computer program or instructions, and when the computer program or instructions are executed by a communication device, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 is implemented.

11. A chip system, characterized in that, the chip system includes at least one processor, and the at least one processor is used to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

12. A computer program product, characterized in that, the computer program product includes a program or instructions, and when the program or instructions are executed by a device, the device is caused to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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