An uplink cooperative transmission method and apparatus thereof

Abstract

The present application provides an uplink cooperative transmission method and apparatus thereof, which can be applied to systems such as vehicle-to-everything (V2X) and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V). In this method, a second terminal device can receive first control information from a network device, and the first control information is used to indicate a transport block (TB) of a first terminal device cached by the second terminal device. Furthermore, the second terminal device can send the TB of the first terminal device. In the embodiments of the present application, the TB sent by the second terminal device is the same as the TB sent by the first terminal device, which is beneficial to reducing the interference between the second terminal device and the first terminal device and improving the reception performance of the network device for the TB of the first terminal device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communication technologies, and in particular, to an uplink cooperative transmission method and apparatus thereof. Background Art

[0002] As the services supported by wireless communication systems have evolved from the initial voice and short message services to the current support for wireless high-speed data communication, higher requirements have been put forward for the next-generation wireless communication systems, such as 5G systems. To improve the capacity of communication systems and the coverage of networks, user cooperation technology has become one of the main supported features of the next-generation communication systems. For example, the first terminal device and the second terminal device perform uplink cooperative transmission in a loose-coupled uplink multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) manner.

[0003] However, in this MU-MIMO uplink cooperative transmission method, since the transport blocks (TBs) transmitted by the first terminal device and the second terminal device are different, the TBs transmitted by each other will interfere with each other, resulting in interference between the first terminal device and the second terminal device, and thus the receiving performance of the TBs separately sent by the network device to the first terminal device and the second terminal device is poor. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides an uplink cooperative transmission method and apparatus thereof, which can be applied to the Internet of Vehicles, such as vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, long term evolution-vehicle (LTE-V) for in-vehicle communication, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, etc., or can be used in fields such as intelligent driving and intelligent connected vehicles. By making the second terminal device and the first terminal device send the same transport block, the interference between the second terminal device and the first terminal device is reduced, and the receiving performance of the transport block by the network device is improved.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides an uplink cooperative transmission method. In this method, the second terminal device is a terminal device that assists the first terminal device in sending a transport block TB. The second terminal device receives first control information from a network device, and the first control information is used to indicate the transport block TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device. Thus, the second terminal device sends the TB of the first terminal device.

[0006] It can be seen that in the embodiment of the present application, the TB sent by the second terminal device is the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device, that is, the second terminal device and the first terminal device send the same TB, which is beneficial to reducing the interference between the second terminal device and the first terminal device and improving the receiving performance of the network device for this TB.

[0007] In an alternative embodiment, the method further includes: the second terminal device receives second control information from the network device, and the second control information is used to instruct the second terminal device to send the scrambling sequence of the TB. That is to say, the scrambling sequence indicated by the second control information is the same as the scrambling sequence used by the first terminal device to send the TB. Thus, the second terminal device and the first terminal device use the same scrambling sequence to generate the physical uplink shared channel PUSCH to send the TB, which can reduce the interference between the second terminal device and the first terminal device and improve the receiving performance of the network device for the TB of the first terminal device.

[0008] In an alternative embodiment, the second terminal device receiving the first control information from the network device includes: the second terminal device receives the first control information from the network device through multicast or unicast.

[0009] In an alternative embodiment, the first control information received through multicast is obtained by using a first radio network temporary identity (RNTI), and the first RNTI is used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device. It can be seen that if the second terminal device obtains the first control information by using the first RNTI, it indicates that the second terminal device receives the first control information through multicast.

[0010] In another alternative embodiment, the first control information received through unicast is obtained by using a second radio network temporary identity (RNTI), and the second RNTI is used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device. It can be seen that if the second terminal device obtains the first control information by using the second RNTI, it indicates that the second terminal device receives the first control information through unicast.

[0011] In an alternative embodiment, the first control information includes a preset value in a bit field, and the preset value is used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device; or, the preset value corresponds to the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device.

[0012] In another alternative embodiment, the first control information includes a process number of a preset Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ), and the HARQ process number is used to indicate the transport block (TB) of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device; or, the HARQ process number corresponds to the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device.

[0013] In one embodiment, the HARQ process number is configured by a network device through Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling.

[0014] In the embodiments of the present application, the implementation manners of the first control information may include, but are not limited to, any of the above-mentioned implementation manners. The optional implementation manners of the first control information may also be combined with each other to indicate one of the transport blocks (TBs) of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device, which is beneficial to flexibly select the indication manner of the first control information.

[0015] In a second aspect, the present application further provides an uplink cooperative transmission method. The uplink cooperative transmission method in this aspect corresponds to the uplink cooperative transmission method described in the first aspect, and the uplink cooperative transmission method in this aspect is described from the perspective of the network device. In this method, the network device determines the first control information, sends the first control information to the second terminal device, and then receives a transport block (TB) from the second terminal device. The first control information is used to indicate the transport block (TB) of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device. Therefore, the manner in which the network device sends the first control information to the second terminal device is beneficial for the second terminal device to send the TB of the first terminal device, that is, the TB sent by the second terminal device is the same as the TB sent by the first terminal device, which is beneficial to reducing the interference between the second terminal device and the first terminal device and improving the receiving performance of the network device.

[0016] In an alternative embodiment, the method further includes: the network device determines second control information and sends the second control information to the second terminal device. The second control information is used to indicate the scrambling code for the second terminal device to send the TB, and the scrambling code indicated by the second control information is the same as the scrambling code used by the first terminal device to send the TB. Therefore, the second terminal device and the first terminal device use the same scrambling code to generate a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) to send the TB, which can reduce the interference between the second terminal device and the first terminal device and improve the receiving performance of the network device for the TB of the first terminal device.

[0017] In an alternative embodiment, the network device sending the first control information to the second terminal device includes: the network device sending the first control information to the second terminal device through multicast or unicast. If the network device sends the first control information to the second terminal device through multicast, it is beneficial to reduce the signaling overhead of the network device.

[0018] In an alternative embodiment, the first control information sent by multicast is obtained by using a first radio network temporary identity (RNTI), and the first RNTI is used to indicate the transport block (TB) of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device. It can be seen that if the network device obtains the first control information by using the first RNTI, it indicates that the network device sends the first control information to the second terminal device by multicast.

[0019] In another alternative embodiment, the first control information sent by unicast is obtained by using a second radio network temporary identity (RNTI), and the second RNTI is used to indicate the transport block (TB) of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device. It can be seen that if the network device obtains the first control information by using the second RNTI, it indicates that the network device sends the first control information to the network device by unicast.

[0020] In another alternative embodiment, the first control information includes a preset value in a bit field, and the preset value is used to indicate the transport block (TB) of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device; or, the preset value corresponds to the transport block (TB) of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device.

[0021] In yet another alternative embodiment, the first control information includes a preset hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process number, and the HARQ process number is used to indicate the transport block (TB) of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device; or, the HARQ process number corresponds to the transport block (TB) of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device.

[0022] In one embodiment, the HARQ process number is configured by the network device through radio resource control (RRC) signaling.

[0023] In the embodiments of the present application, the implementation manners of the first control information may include, but are not limited to, any of the above implementation manners. The optional implementation manners of the first control information may also be combined with each other to indicate one of the transport blocks (TBs) of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device, thereby facilitating a flexible selection of the indication manner of the first control information.

[0024] In a third aspect, the present application further provides an uplink cooperative transmission method. The uplink cooperative transmission method in this aspect corresponds to the uplink cooperative transmission method described in the first aspect above and is described from the perspective of the first terminal device. In this method, the first terminal device receives third control information from the network device and sends the transport block (TB) of the first terminal device to the network device according to the third control information.

[0025] In the method provided in the embodiments of the present application, the second terminal device assists the first terminal device in sending the transport block of the first terminal device. Therefore, the TB sent by the second terminal device is the same as the TB sent by the first terminal device, which helps to reduce the interference between the first terminal device and the second terminal device, and further improves the reception performance of the network device for the TB.

[0026] In an alternative embodiment, the third control information is the same as the first control information mentioned above. Further, the third control information and the first control information may be the same field in the downlink control information DCI, and may be used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device.

[0027] In another alternative embodiment, the third control information is different from the first control information mentioned above. Further, the third control information may be a field in the DCI different from the first control information, and is used to indicate the TB cached by the first terminal device, and this TB is also the TB of the first terminal device that the second terminal device assists the first terminal device to transmit. It can also be said that the third control information is used to indicate that the first terminal device sends the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device. That is to say, the TB sent by the first terminal device according to the third control information is the same as the TB sent by the second terminal device according to the first control information.

[0028] In an alternative embodiment, the method further includes: the first terminal device receives second control information from the network device, and the second control information is used to indicate the scrambling code used by the second terminal device to send the TB. That is to say, the scrambling code indicated by the second control information is the same as the scrambling code used by the second terminal device to send the TB. Thus, the first terminal device and the second terminal device use the same scrambling code to generate the physical uplink shared channel PUSCH to send the TB, which can reduce the interference between the first terminal device and the second terminal device and improve the reception performance of the network device for the TB of the first terminal device.

[0029] In an alternative embodiment, the first terminal device receiving the third control information from the network device includes: the first terminal device receives the third control information from the network device through multicast or unicast.

[0030] In an alternative embodiment, the third control information received through multicast is obtained by using the first radio network temporary identity RNTI, and the first RNTI is used to indicate the TB cached by the first terminal device. It can be seen that if the first terminal device obtains the third control information by using the first RNTI, it indicates that the first terminal device receives the third control information through multicast.

[0031] In another alternative embodiment, the third control information received through unicast is obtained by using a second radio network temporary identity (RNTI), and the second RNTI is used to indicate the transport block (TB) cached by the first terminal device. It can be seen that if the first terminal device obtains the third control information by using the second RNTI, it indicates that the first terminal device receives the third control information through unicast.

[0032] In an alternative embodiment, the third control information includes a preset value in a bit field, and the preset value is used to indicate the TB cached by the first terminal device; or, the preset value corresponds to the TB cached by the first terminal device.

[0033] In yet another alternative embodiment, the third control information includes a preset hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process number, and the HARQ process number is used to indicate the TB cached by the first terminal device; or, the preset value corresponds to the TB of the first terminal device.

[0034] In an embodiment, the HARQ process number is configured by the network device through radio resource control (RRC) signaling.

[0035] In the embodiments of the present application, the implementation manners of the third control information may include, but are not limited to, any of the above-mentioned implementation manners. The alternative implementation manners of the third control information may also be combined with each other to indicate the TB cached by the first terminal device, thereby facilitating the flexible selection of the indication manner of the third control information.

[0036] In a fourth aspect, the present application further provides an uplink cooperative transmission method. The uplink cooperative transmission method in this aspect corresponds to the uplink cooperative transmission method described in the third aspect, and the uplink cooperative transmission method in this aspect is described from the perspective of the network device. In this method, the network device determines the third control information, sends the third control information to the first terminal device, and then receives the transport block (TB) from the first terminal device. The third control information indicates the TB cached by the first terminal device, which is beneficial to making the TB sent by the first terminal device the same as the TB sent by the second terminal device, thereby reducing the interference between the first terminal device and the second terminal device and improving the reception performance of the network device for the TB.

[0037] In an alternative embodiment, the third control information is the same as the first control information mentioned above. Further, the third control information and the first control information may be the same field in the downlink control information (DCI), and may be used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device.

[0038] In another alternative implementation, the third control information is different from the aforementioned first control information. Further, the third control information may be a field in the DCI that is different from the first control information and is used to indicate the transport block (TB) cached by the first terminal device, and this TB is also the TB of the first terminal device that the second terminal device assists the first terminal device in transmitting. It can also be said that the third control information is used to indicate that the first terminal device sends the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device. That is to say, the TB sent by the first terminal device according to the third control information is the same as the TB sent by the second terminal device according to the first control information.

[0039] In an alternative implementation, the method further includes: the network device determines the second control information and sends the second control information to the first terminal device. The second control information is used to indicate the scrambling code for sending the TB, and the scrambling code indicated by the second control information is the same as the scrambling code used by the second terminal device to send the TB. Thus, the first terminal device and the second terminal device use the same scrambling code to generate the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) to send the TB, which can reduce the interference between the first terminal device and the second terminal device and improve the reception performance of the TB of the first terminal device by the network device.

[0040] In an alternative implementation, the network device sending the third control information to the first terminal device includes: the network device sending the third control information to the first terminal device by multicast or unicast. The method of the network device sending the third control information to the first terminal device by multicast is beneficial to reducing the signaling overhead of the network device.

[0041] In an alternative implementation, the third control information sent by multicast is obtained using the first radio network temporary identity (RNTI), and the first RNTI is used to indicate the TB cached by the first terminal device. It can be seen that if the network device obtains the first control information using the first RNTI, it indicates that the network device sends the third control information to the first terminal device by multicast.

[0042] In another alternative implementation, the third control information sent by unicast is obtained using the second radio network temporary identity (RNTI), and the second RNTI is used to indicate the TB cached by the first terminal device. It can be seen that if the network device obtains the third control information using the second RNTI, it indicates that the network device sends the third control information to the first terminal device by unicast.

[0043] In an alternative implementation, the third control information includes a preset value in a bit field, and the preset value is used to indicate the TB cached by the first terminal device; or the preset value corresponds to the TB cached by the first terminal device.

[0044] In yet another alternative embodiment, the third control information includes a process number of a preset Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ), and the HARQ process number is used to indicate a Transport Block (TB) cached by the first terminal device; or, the HARQ process number corresponds to the TB cached by the first terminal device.

[0045] In one embodiment, the HARQ process number is configured by a network device through Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling.

[0046] In the embodiments of the present application, the implementation manners of the third control information may include, but are not limited to, any of the above-mentioned implementation manners. Optional implementation manners of the third control information may also be combined with each other to indicate one of the TBs cached by the first terminal device, thereby facilitating a flexible selection of the indication manner of the third control information.

[0047] In a fifth aspect, the present application further provides an uplink cooperative transmission device. The uplink cooperative transmission device has some or all of the functions of the second terminal device described in the first aspect above, or has some or all of the functions of the first terminal device described in the third aspect above. For example, the functions of the uplink cooperative transmission device may include some or all of the functions in the embodiments of the second terminal device in the present application, or may have the functions of implementing any one of the embodiments in the present application alone. The functions may be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more units or modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0048] In a possible design, the structure of the uplink cooperative transmission device may include a processing unit and a transceiver unit. The processing unit is configured to support the uplink cooperative transmission device to execute corresponding functions in the above method. The transceiver unit is used to support communication between the uplink cooperative transmission device and other communication devices. The uplink cooperative transmission device may further include a storage unit, and the storage unit is used to be coupled with the processing unit and the transceiver unit, and stores necessary program instructions and data of the uplink cooperative transmission device.

[0049] In one embodiment, the uplink cooperative transmission device includes:

[0050] A transceiver unit, configured to receive first control information from a network device, where the first control information is used to indicate a Transport Block (TB) of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device;

[0051] The transceiver unit is further configured to send the TB to the network device.

[0052] In addition, in this aspect, for other optional implementation manners of the uplink cooperative transmission device, reference may be made to the relevant content in the first aspect above, which will not be elaborated here.

[0053] In another embodiment, the uplink cooperative transmission device includes:

[0054] A transceiver unit, configured to receive third control information from a network device;

[0055] The transceiver unit is further configured to send the transport block (TB) to the network device according to the third control information.

[0056] In addition, in this aspect, for other optional embodiments of the uplink cooperative transmission device, reference may be made to the relevant content of the third aspect above, which will not be elaborated here.

[0057] As an example, the transceiver unit may be a transceiver or a communication interface, the storage unit may be a memory, and the processing unit may be a processor.

[0058] In one embodiment, the uplink cooperative transmission device includes:

[0059] A transceiver, configured to receive first control information from a network device, where the first control information is used to indicate a transport block (TB) of a first terminal device cached by a second terminal device;

[0060] The transceiver is further configured to send the TB to the network device.

[0061] In addition, in this aspect, for other optional embodiments of the uplink cooperative transmission device, reference may be made to the relevant content of the first aspect above, which will not be elaborated here.

[0062] In another embodiment, the uplink cooperative transmission device includes:

[0063] A transceiver, configured to receive third control information from a network device;

[0064] The transceiver is further configured to send the TB to the network device according to the third control information.

[0065] In addition, in this aspect, for other optional embodiments of the uplink cooperative transmission device, reference may be made to the relevant content of the third aspect above, which will not be elaborated here.

[0066] In another embodiment, the uplink cooperative transmission device is a chip or a chip system. The processing unit may also be embodied as a processing circuit or a logic circuit; the transceiver unit may be an input / output interface, an interface circuit, an output circuit, an input circuit, a pin, or a related circuit on the chip or the chip system, etc.

[0067] In the implementation process, the processor can be used for, for example but not limited to, baseband-related processing, and the transceiver can be used for, for example but not limited to, radio frequency transceiver. The above devices can be respectively arranged on independent chips, or at least partially or entirely arranged on the same chip. For example, the processor can be further divided into an analog baseband processor and a digital baseband processor. Among them, the analog baseband processor can be integrated with the transceiver on the same chip, and the digital baseband processor can be arranged on an independent chip. With the continuous development of integrated circuit technology, more and more devices can be integrated on the same chip. For example, the digital baseband processor can be integrated with multiple application processors (such as but not limited to a graphics processor, a multimedia processor, etc.) on the same chip. Such a chip can be called a System on a Chip (SoC). Whether to arrange each device on different chips independently or to integrate and arrange them on one or more chips often depends on the needs of product design. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the implementation forms of the above devices.

[0068] In a sixth aspect, the present application further provides an uplink cooperative transmission device. The uplink cooperative transmission device has some or all of the functions of the network device in the method example described in the second aspect above, or the uplink cooperative transmission device has some or all of the functions of the network device in the method example described in the fourth aspect above. For example, the functions of the uplink cooperative transmission device can have some or all of the functions in the embodiments of the network device in the present application, or can have the functions of any single embodiment in the present application. The functions can be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more units or modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0069] In a possible design, the structure of the uplink cooperative transmission device may include a processing unit and a transceiver unit. The processing unit is configured to support the uplink cooperative transmission device to execute the corresponding functions in the above method. The transceiver unit is used to support the communication between the uplink cooperative transmission device and other communication devices. The uplink cooperative transmission device may further include a storage unit, and the storage unit is used to be coupled with the processing unit and the transceiver unit, and stores the necessary program instructions and data of the uplink cooperative transmission device.

[0070] In one implementation manner, the uplink cooperative transmission device includes:

[0071] A processing unit, configured to determine first control information, where the first control information is used to indicate a transport block TB of a first terminal device cached by a second terminal device;

[0072] A transceiver unit, configured to send the first control information to the second terminal device;

[0073] The transceiver unit is further configured to receive the TB from the second terminal device.

[0074] In addition, in this aspect, for other optional implementation manners of the uplink cooperative transmission device, reference may be made to the relevant content of the second aspect above, which will not be elaborated here.

[0075] As an example, the processing unit may be a processor, the transceiver unit may be a transceiver or a communication interface, and the storage unit may be a memory.

[0076] In another implementation manner, the uplink cooperative transmission device includes:

[0077] A processing unit, configured to determine third control information;

[0078] A transceiver unit, configured to send the third control information to a first terminal device;

[0079] The transceiver unit is further configured to receive a transport block TB from the first terminal device.

[0080] In addition, in this aspect, for other optional implementation manners of the uplink cooperative transmission device, reference may be made to the relevant content of the fourth aspect above, which will not be elaborated here.

[0081] In one implementation manner, the uplink cooperative transmission device includes:

[0082] A processor, configured to determine first control information, where the first control information is used to indicate a transport block TB of a first terminal device cached by a second terminal device.

[0083] A transceiver, configured to send the first control information to the second terminal device;

[0084] The transceiver is further configured to receive the TB from the second terminal device.

[0085] In this aspect, for other optional implementation manners of the uplink cooperative transmission device, reference may be made to the relevant content of the second aspect above, which will not be elaborated here.

[0086] In another implementation manner, the uplink cooperative transmission device includes:

[0087] A processor, configured to determine third control information;

[0088] A transceiver, configured to send the third control information to a first terminal device;

[0089] The transceiver is further configured to receive a transport block TB from the first terminal device.

[0090] In this aspect, for other optional implementation manners of the uplink cooperative transmission device, reference may be made to the relevant content of the fourth aspect above, which will not be elaborated here.

[0091] In another embodiment, the uplink cooperative transmission device is a chip or a chip system. The processing unit may also be embodied as a processing circuit or a logic circuit; the transceiver unit may be an input / output interface, an interface circuit, an output circuit, an input circuit, a pin, or a related circuit, etc. on the chip or the chip system.

[0092] In a seventh aspect, the present application further provides a processor for executing the above various methods. During the execution of these methods, the processes of sending the above information and receiving the above information in the above methods can be understood as the process of the processor outputting the above information and the process of the processor receiving the input above information. When outputting the above information, the processor outputs the above information to the transceiver for transmission by the transceiver. After the above information is output by the processor, other processing may be required before it reaches the transceiver. Similarly, when the processor receives the input above information, the transceiver receives the above information and inputs it to the processor. Further, after the transceiver receives the above information, the above information may need to be processed otherwise before being input to the processor.

[0093] Based on the above principle, for example, receiving the first control information mentioned in the foregoing method can be understood as the processor receiving the input first control information. For another example, sending the first control information can be understood as the processor outputting the first control information.

[0094] For operations such as transmission, sending, and receiving involved by the processor, if there is no special description, or if it does not conflict with its actual role or internal logic in the relevant description, they can all be more generally understood as operations of the processor outputting and receiving, inputting, etc., rather than the transmission, sending, and receiving operations directly performed by the radio frequency circuit and the antenna.

[0095] In the implementation process, the above processor may be a processor specifically used to execute these methods, or a processor that executes computer instructions in a memory to execute these methods, such as a general-purpose processor. The above memory may be a non-transitory memory, such as a read-only memory (ROM), which may be integrated with the processor on the same chip or may be separately provided on different chips. The present application embodiment does not limit the type of the memory and the setting manner of the memory and the processor.

[0096] In an eighth aspect, the present application further provides a communication system, which includes at least one first terminal device, at least one second terminal device, and at least one network device in the above aspect. In another possible design, the system may further include other devices that interact with the first terminal device, the second terminal device, or the network device in the solution provided by the present application.

[0097] In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing instructions, which, when executed by a communication device, implement the method described in the first aspect above.

[0098] In a tenth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing instructions, which, when executed by a communication device, implement the method described in the second aspect above.

[0099] In an eleventh aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing instructions, which, when executed by a communication device, implement the method described in the third aspect above.

[0100] In a twelfth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing instructions, which, when executed by a communication device, implement the method described in the fourth aspect above.

[0101] In a thirteenth aspect, the present application further provides a computer program product including instructions, which, when running on a communication device, cause the communication device to execute the method described in the first aspect above.

[0102] In a fourteenth aspect, the present application further provides a computer program product including instructions, which, when running on a communication device, cause the communication device to execute the method described in the second aspect above.

[0103] In a fifteenth aspect, the present application further provides a computer program product including instructions, which, when running on a communication device, cause the communication device to execute the method described in the third aspect above.

[0104] In a sixteenth aspect, the present application further provides a computer program product including instructions, which, when running on a communication device, cause the communication device to execute the method described in the fourth aspect above.

[0105] In a seventeenth aspect, the present application provides a chip system, which includes a processor and an interface. The interface is used to obtain programs or instructions, and the processor is used to call the programs or instructions to implement or support a second terminal device in implementing the functions involved in the first aspect. For example, determining or processing at least one of the data and information involved in the above method. In a possible design, the chip system further includes a memory, and the memory is used to store necessary program instructions and data of the terminal. This chip system can be composed of chips or can include chips and other discrete devices.

[0106] In an eighteenth aspect, the present application provides a chip system, which includes a processor and an interface. The interface is used to obtain programs or instructions, and the processor is used to call the programs or instructions to implement or support a network device in implementing the functions involved in the second aspect. For example, determining or processing at least one of the data and information involved in the above method. In a possible design, the chip system further includes a memory, and the memory is used to store necessary program instructions and data of the first terminal device. This chip system can be composed of chips or can include chips and other discrete devices.

[0107] In a nineteenth aspect, the present application provides a chip system, which includes a processor and an interface. The interface is used to obtain programs or instructions, and the processor is used to call the programs or instructions to implement or support a first terminal device in implementing the functions involved in the third aspect. For example, determining or processing at least one of the data and information involved in the above method. In a possible design, the chip system further includes a memory, and the memory is used to store necessary program instructions and data of the network device. This chip system can be composed of chips or can include chips and other discrete devices.

[0108] In a twentieth aspect, the present application provides a chip system, which includes a processor and an interface. The interface is used to obtain programs or instructions, and the processor is used to call the programs or instructions to implement or support a network device in implementing the functions involved in the fourth aspect. For example, determining or processing at least one of the data and information involved in the above method. In a possible design, the chip system further includes a memory, and the memory is used to store necessary program instructions and data of the network device. This chip system can be composed of chips or can include chips and other discrete devices. Description of the Drawings

[0109] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0110] Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a collaborative cache provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0111] Figure 3 It is a schematic flow chart of an uplink cooperative transmission method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0112] Figure 4a It is a schematic diagram of an RNTI sequence provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0113] Figure 4b It is a schematic diagram of another RNTI sequence provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0114] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of a bit field provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0115] Figure 6 It is a schematic flow chart of another uplink cooperative transmission method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0116] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of an uplink cooperative transmission scenario provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0117] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of a comparison of transmission performance provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0118] Figure 9 It is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0119] Figure 10 It is a schematic structural diagram of a chip provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0120] Figure 11 It is a schematic structural diagram of another uplink cooperative transmission device provided by an embodiment of the present application. Detailed implementation manners

[0121] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0122] First, in order to better understand the uplink cooperative transmission method disclosed in the embodiments of the present application, a communication system applicable to the embodiments of the present application will be described.

[0123] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 1 which is a schematic structural diagram of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application. The communication system may include, but is not limited to, a network device, a first terminal device, and a second terminal device. Figure 1 The number and form of the devices shown are for illustration purposes and do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments of the present application. In practical applications, there may be two or more network devices, two or more first terminal devices, and two or more second terminal devices.Figure 1 The communication system shown is described by taking a network device, a first terminal device, a second terminal device, and the network device being able to provide services for the first terminal device and the second terminal device, and the second terminal device assisting the first terminal device in sending a transport block as an example. Among them, Figure 1 the network device in is taken as a base station as an example, and the first terminal device and the second terminal device are taken as mobile phones as an example.

[0124] The technical solution of this application can be applied to various communication systems. For example, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) system, LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD) system, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), 4G system, and with the continuous development of communication technology, the technical solution of this application can also be used in subsequent evolved communication systems, such as 5G system, 6G system, and so on.

[0125] In the embodiments of this application, the network device is an entity on the network side for transmitting or receiving signals. The network device can be a device with wireless transceiver functions or a chip that can be set in the device. The network device includes but is not limited to: evolved node B (eNB), radio network controller (RNC), Node B (NB), base station controller (BSC), base transceiver station (BTS), home network device (for example, home evolved Node B, or homeNode B, HNB), baseband unit (BBU), access point (AP) in a wireless fidelity (WIFI) system, wireless relay node, wireless backhaul node, transmission and reception point (TRP or transmission point, TP), etc. It can also be a device used in 4G, 5G, or even 6G systems, such as gNB in the NR system, or transmission point (TRP or TP), one or a group (including multiple antenna panels) of antenna panels of a network device in a 4G system, or it can also be a network node that constitutes a gNB or a transmission point, such as a baseband unit (BBU), or a distributed unit (DU), or a picocell, or a femtocell, or a road side unit (RSU) in an intelligent driving scenario.

[0126] In the embodiments of the present application, the first terminal device and the second terminal device are entities on the terminal side for receiving or transmitting signals. The first terminal device and the second terminal device can also be referred to as user equipment (UE), terminal, access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile device, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, user agent or user device, and can be applied to 4G, 5G or even 6G systems. The terminals in the embodiments of the present application can be mobile phones, tablets (Pad), computers with wireless transceiver functions, virtual reality (VR) terminals, augmented reality (AR) terminals, wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals in self-driving, wireless terminals in remote medical, wireless terminals in smart grid, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart city, wireless terminals in smart home, RSU of the aforementioned wireless terminal types, etc.

[0127] For the convenience of understanding the embodiments disclosed in the present application, the following two points are explained.

[0128] (1) In the embodiments disclosed in the present application, the scenarios are described by taking the scenarios of the NR network in the wireless communication network as an example. It should be noted that the solutions in the embodiments disclosed in the present application can also be applied to other wireless communication networks, and the corresponding names can also be replaced by the corresponding function names in other wireless communication networks.

[0129] (2) The embodiments disclosed in the present application will present various aspects, embodiments or features of the present application around a system including multiple devices, components, modules, etc. It should be understood and clear that each system may include additional devices, components, modules, etc., and / or may not include all the devices, components, modules, etc. discussed in conjunction with the drawings. In addition, combinations of these solutions can also be used.

[0130] Secondly, a brief introduction to the relevant concepts involved in the embodiments of the present application is given.

[0131] 1. Uplink cooperative transmission

[0132] Uplink cooperative transmission: The transmission scenario where a cooperation user equipment (CUE) assists a target user equipment (TUE) to send a transport block (TB) to a network device is called uplink cooperative transmission. The target user equipment and the cooperation user equipment belong to the same cooperation user equipment group. In the embodiments of the present application, the target user equipment is marked as the first terminal device, and the cooperation user equipment is marked as the second terminal device.

[0133] The second terminal device can be determined by the first terminal device negotiating with each terminal device on its own, or the network device can determine the second terminal device for cooperative transmission for the first terminal device. For example, the network device determines three terminal devices whose distance from the first terminal device is less than a preset value as the second terminal devices to assist the first terminal device in transmitting the TB, and respectively notifies the first terminal device and each second terminal device through radio resource control (RRC) signaling, so that the second terminal device can assist the first terminal device in transmitting the TB.

[0134] 2. Cooperative caching

[0135] Cooperation buffer is a buffer in the first terminal device or the second terminal device for caching the TB for the cooperative transmission between the first terminal device and the second terminal device, and this TB is the TB of the first terminal device. The TBs that the second terminal device assists the first terminal device in transmitting can be one or more. Therefore, one or more cooperation buffers can be included in the first terminal device or the second terminal device, and one cooperation buffer can store one or more TBs of the first terminal device.

[0136] As Figure 2 shown, after the first terminal device determines that the second terminal device assists the first terminal device in transmitting the TB, the first terminal device sends the TB that needs to be assisted by the second terminal device to the second terminal device through the sidelink (SL) at the physical layer, and this TB will be cached in the cooperation buffer of the first terminal device. In addition, after the second terminal device receives the TB from the first terminal device through the SL, it will also cache this TB in the cooperation buffer of the second terminal device. It can be seen that the TB for the cooperative transmission between the first terminal device and the second terminal device is cached in the cooperation buffers of both the first terminal device and the second terminal device.

[0137] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the naming of the cooperation buffer. The following embodiments take the buffer in the first terminal device and the second terminal device that stores the TBs assisted by the second terminal device for the first terminal device as the cooperation buffer as an example for illustration.

[0138] At present, uplink cooperative transmission is carried out between terminal devices in an uplink multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) manner. That is, after the first terminal device determines that the second terminal device assists the first terminal device in transmitting the transport block (TB), the first terminal device sends the TB1 that needs to be cooperatively transmitted by the second terminal device to the second terminal device. Then, according to the scheduling of the base station, the first terminal device and the second terminal device respectively send TB2 and TB1 on the same time-frequency resource, that is, the first terminal device and the second terminal device respectively send different TBs on the same time-frequency resource. Since the TBs sent by the first terminal device and the second terminal device are different, there will be interference between the respective transmitted TBs, resulting in interference between the first terminal device and the second terminal device, and further causing the receiving performance of the network device for the TBs respectively sent by the first terminal device and the second terminal device to be poor.

[0139] Therefore, how to improve the receiving performance of the network device for the transport block during the uplink cooperative transmission process is still one of the problems that need to be solved urgently at present.

[0140] The embodiment of the present application provides an uplink cooperative transmission method 100. In the uplink cooperative transmission method 100, the network device determines the first control information and the third control information, and sends the first control information to the second terminal device and sends the third control information to the first terminal device. The first control information is used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device, and the third control information is used to indicate the TB cached by the first terminal device. Thus, the second terminal device and the first terminal device can send the TB of the first terminal device, that is, the second terminal device and the first terminal device can send the same TB, which is beneficial to reducing the interference between the second terminal device and the first terminal device and improving the receiving performance of the network device for the TB of the first terminal device.

[0141] The embodiment of the present application further provides an uplink cooperative transmission method 200. Compared with the uplink cooperative transmission method 100, in the uplink cooperative transmission method 200, the network device also sends the second control information to the second terminal device and the first terminal device. The second control information is used to indicate the scrambling code for the second terminal device to send the TB of the first terminal device. Thus, the second terminal device and the first terminal device can use the same scrambling code to generate the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) to send the TB, which can reduce the interference between the second terminal device and the first terminal device and improve the receiving performance of the network device for the TB of the first terminal device.

[0142] The embodiments of the present application and their related implementation manners are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0143] Please refer to Figure 3 ,Figure 3 It is a schematic flowchart of an uplink cooperative transmission method 100 provided by an embodiment of the present application. The uplink cooperative transmission method 100 is described from the perspective of the interaction among a second terminal device, a first terminal device, and a network device. The uplink cooperative transmission method 100 includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0144] S101. The network device determines first control information, where the first control information is used to indicate a transport block (TB) of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device;

[0145] S102. The network device determines third control information;

[0146] S101 may be executed before S102, or S101 may also be executed after S102. The embodiments of the present application do not make a limitation.

[0147] Among them, the first control information is used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device, or the first control information is used to indicate one of the multiple TBs of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device. That is to say, if only one TB of the first terminal device is cached in the cooperative cache of the second terminal device, the first control information is used to indicate the TB in the cooperative cache; if multiple TBs of the first terminal device are cached in the cooperative cache of the second terminal device, the first control information is used to indicate one of the TBs cached in the cooperative cache.

[0148] In one implementation, the third control information is the same as the aforementioned first control information. Further, the third control information and the first control information may be the same field in downlink control information (DCI), and may be used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device.

[0149] In another implementation, the third control information is different from the first control information. Further, the third control information may be a field in DCI different from the first control information, and is used to indicate the TB cached by the first terminal device, and this TB is also the TB of the first terminal device that the second terminal device assists the first terminal device to transmit. It can also be said that the third control information is used to indicate that the first terminal device sends the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device. That is to say, the TB sent by the first terminal device according to the third control information is the same as the TB sent by the second terminal device according to the first control information.

[0150] S103. The network device sends the first control information to the second terminal device;

[0151] S104. The network device sends the third control information to the first terminal device;

[0152] S103 can be executed before S104 or after S104, and the embodiments of this application do not make any limitations in this regard.

[0153] S105. The second terminal device receives first control information from the network device;

[0154] S106. The first terminal device receives third control information from the network device;

[0155] S105 can be executed before S106 or after S106, and the embodiments of this application do not make any limitations in this regard.

[0156] In one implementation, in steps S102 and S103, the network device may multicast DCI, and the DCI includes the first control information and the third control information. That is, in S104, the second terminal device receives the first control information from the network device, including: the second terminal device receives the first control information from the network device through multicast. In S105, the first terminal device receives the third control information from the network device, including: the first terminal device receives the third control information from the network device through multicast.

[0157] In one implementation, the first control information received through multicast is obtained by using a first radio network temporary identity (RNTI). Specifically, the second terminal device descrambles the cyclic redundancy check (CRC) calculated for the DCI by using the first RNTI to obtain the first control information received through multicast. That is to say, if the second terminal device successfully descrambles the CRC calculated for the DCI by using the first RNTI, then the second terminal device receives the first control information through multicast.

[0158] Correspondingly, the first control information multicast by the network device is obtained by using the first RNTI. Specifically, the network device calculates the CRC for the DCI, and then scrambles the CRC by using the first RNTI to obtain the scrambled DCI, that is, obtains the DCI multicast, and the DCI multicast includes the first control information multicast. That is to say, the network device scrambles the CRC calculated for the DCI by using the first RNTI to obtain the DCI multicast, and then multicasts the DCI to the second terminal device, so as to implement the network device to multicast the first control information to the second terminal device.

[0159] For example, the DCI includes 10 bits. After the network device encodes the DCI, the encoded DCI includes 20 bits and a 5-bit CRC. The first RNTI includes 5 bits. The network device scrambles the CRC using the first RNTI to obtain a DCI including 25 bits. The DCI including 25 bits is the DCI obtained by the network device for multicast transmission, and the DCI includes the first control information transmitted by multicast.

[0160] In one implementation, the first RNTI is a newly introduced RNTI by the network device, and this RNTI is used to obtain the first control information transmitted by multicast. That is to say, the first RNTI is different from the RNTI originally used by the network device. The first RNTI is a dedicated RNTI for scrambling the CRC calculated for the DCI including the first control information.

[0161] Optionally, before the network device sends the first control information to the second terminal device, it sends the first RNTI to the second terminal device via RRC signaling, which is beneficial for the second terminal device to learn the first RNTI in advance.

[0162] In one implementation, the third control information received by multicast is obtained using the first RNTI. The implementation of the first RNTI can be referred to in the above-mentioned first control information and will not be elaborated here.

[0163] In another implementation, in steps S102 and S103, the network device can send the DCI in a unicast manner respectively. For example, it sends DCI1 to the second terminal device and DCI2 to the second terminal device. Among them, DCI1 includes the first control information and DCI2 includes the third control information. That is, in S104, the second terminal device receives the first control information from the network device, including: the second terminal device receives the first control information from the network device by unicast. In S105, the first terminal device receives the third control information from the network device, including: the first terminal device receives the third control information from the network device by unicast.

[0164] In one implementation manner, the first control information received through unicast is obtained by using a second radio network temporary identity (RNTI), and the third control information received through unicast is obtained by using the second RNTI. Specifically, the second terminal device descrambles the cyclic redundancy check (CRC) calculated for the first downlink control information (DCI) by using the second RNTI of the second terminal device to obtain the first DCI received through unicast, and this DCI includes the first control information received through unicast; the first terminal device descrambles the CRC calculated for the second DCI by using the second RNTI of the first terminal device to obtain the second DCI received through unicast, and this DCI includes the third control information received through unicast. That is to say, if the second terminal device successfully descrambles the CRC calculated for the first DCI by using the second RNTI of the second terminal device, then the second terminal device receives the first control information through unicast; if the first terminal device successfully descrambles the CRC calculated for the second DCI by using the second RNTI of the first terminal device, then the first terminal device receives the third control information through unicast.

[0165] Correspondingly, the first control information sent by the network device through unicast is obtained by using the second RNTI. Specifically, the network device calculates the CRC for the first DCI, and then scrambles the CRC by using the second RNTI of the second terminal device to obtain the first DCI sent to the second terminal device through unicast, and this DCI includes the first control information sent to the second terminal device through unicast; the network device scrambles the CRC calculated for the second DCI by using the second RNTI of the first terminal device to obtain the second DCI sent to the first terminal device through unicast, and this DCI includes the third control information sent to the first terminal device through unicast. Then, the network device sends the first DCI to the second terminal device and sends the second DCI to the first terminal device.

[0166] Wherein, the second RNTI of the second terminal device is obtained by the network device based on the original RNTI of the second terminal device and a preset rule. The original RNTI of the second terminal device is the RNTI used by the network device to obtain other information unicast to the second terminal device, and the preset rule can be a rule pre-negotiated between the network device and the second terminal device; the second RNTI of the first terminal device is obtained by the network device based on the original RNTI of the first terminal device and a preset rule. The original RNTI of the first terminal device is the RNTI used by the network device to obtain other information unicast to the first terminal device, and the preset rule can be a rule pre-negotiated between the network device and the first terminal device. That is to say, the first control information and the third control information sent by the network device to the second terminal device and the first terminal device through unicast respectively are obtained by the network device using different RNTIs for the first control information and the third control information.

[0167] For example, the RNTI sequence used by the network device to obtain other information unicast to the second terminal device is '1011' as shown in Figure 4a . The preset rule negotiated in advance between the network device and the second terminal device is to add a 3-bit sequence of all 1s after the RNTI sequence used to obtain other information unicast to the second terminal device. Then, the second RNTI-A sequence used by the network device to determine the first control information unicast to the second terminal device is '1011111' as shown in Figure 4a .

[0168] For another example, the RNTI sequence used by the network device to obtain other information unicast to the first terminal device is '101' as shown in Figure 4b . The preset rule negotiated in advance between the network device and the first terminal device is to add a 2-bit sequence of all 0s before the RNTI sequence used to obtain other information unicast to the first terminal device. Then, the second RNTI-B sequence used by the network device to determine the third control information unicast to the first terminal device is '00101' as shown in Figure 4b . Therefore, the network device scrambles the CRC calculated for the first DCI including the first control information with the sequence '1011111' to obtain the scrambled first DCI, and sends the scrambled first DCI to the second terminal device; and scrambles the CRC calculated for the second DCI including the third control information with the sequence '00101' to obtain the scrambled second DCI, and sends the scrambled second DCI to the first terminal device. That is to say, the network device uses different second RNTIs to scramble the CRCs calculated for the first DCI and the second DCI respectively, and obtains the first control information unicast to the second terminal device and the third control information unicast to the first terminal device respectively.

[0169] In one implementation, before the second terminal device receives the first control information from the network device, the second terminal device also receives a TB from the first terminal device. The TB is the TB that the first terminal device needs the second terminal device to assist in transmitting, that is, the second terminal device obtains the TB to assist the first terminal device in transmitting.

[0170] In one implementation, before the first terminal device receives the third control information from the network device, the first terminal device sends the TB that needs to be assisted by the second terminal device to the second terminal device, so that the second terminal device can assist the first terminal device in transmitting the TB.

[0171] S107. The second terminal device sends the TB to the network device;

[0172] The second terminal device sending the TB to the network device can be understood as: The second terminal device reads the TB from the cooperative cache that caches the TB indicated by the first control information according to the first control information, and sends the TB to the network device.

[0173] S108. The first terminal device sends the TB to the network device;

[0174] The first terminal device sending the TB to the network device can be understood as: The first terminal device reads the TB from the cooperative cache that caches the TB indicated by the third control information according to the third control information, and sends the TB to the network device.

[0175] The first control information is used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device, and the third control information is used to indicate the TB cached by the first terminal device, which is beneficial for both the second terminal device and the first terminal device to send the TB of the first terminal device, that is, the second terminal device and the first terminal device send the same TB, which is beneficial to reducing the interference between the second terminal device and the first terminal device and improving the reception performance of the network device for the TB of the first terminal device.

[0176] S109. The network device receives the TB from the second terminal device and the first terminal device.

[0177] It can be seen that in the embodiments of the present application, the first control information is used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device, and the third control information is used to indicate the TB cached by the first terminal device. This TB is also the TB cached by the second terminal device to assist the first terminal device. Furthermore, both the second terminal device according to the first control information and the first terminal device according to the third control information can send the TB of the first terminal device, that is, the second terminal device and the first terminal device can send the same TB, which is beneficial to reducing the interference between the second terminal device and the first terminal device and improving the reception performance of the network device for this transport block.

[0178] In the embodiments of the present application, the first control information indicates the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device, or indicates one of the multiple TBs of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device. The implementation manners of the first control information will be described below based on two cases where the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device is one and multiple respectively. The implementation manners of the first control information may include but are not limited to the following:

[0179] Case 1. The TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device is one

[0180] That is to say, the TB that the second terminal device assists the first terminal device to transmit is one, that is, there is one TB of the first terminal device cached in the cooperative cache of the second terminal device.

[0181] In one implementation, the first control information includes a preset value of a bit field, and the preset value is used to indicate the transport block (TB) of the first terminal device cached in the second terminal device. That is to say, the preset value is used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached in the cooperative cache of the second terminal device.

[0182] In one implementation, the bit field is newly introduced by the network device and is different from the original bit field in the first control information. For example, the bit field is a newly introduced bit field A by the network device. The bit field A includes one bit, and the preset value of the bit field A can indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached in the second terminal device through the index shown in Table 1. As shown in Table 1, when the index is '0', it is used to indicate the TB cached in the non-cooperative cache, that is, it does not indicate the TB of the first terminal device, indicating that the second terminal device sends the TB in other caches; when the index is '1', it is used to indicate the TB cached in the cooperative cache, that is, it indicates the TB of the first terminal device cached in the second terminal device, indicating that the second terminal device needs to send the TB cached in the cooperative cache of the second terminal device.

[0183] Table 1

[0184] Index Indication 0 TB cached in non - cooperative cache 1 TB cached in cooperative cache

[0185] In another implementation, the bit field is a bit field in the network device that still has reserved bits, and the preset value of this bit field is the reserved bit. The reserved bit of this bit field can be understood as that before the network device is used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached in the second terminal device, the reserved bit of this bit field has not been used for other indications.

[0186] For example, if the bit field B includes three bits and the value of the bit field B is '101' and has not been used for other indications, the network device determines that the first control information includes the preset value '101' of the bit field B, and '101' is used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached in the second terminal device, indicating that the second terminal device needs to send the TB in the cooperative cache.

[0187] In yet another implementation, the preset value of the bit field is a preset combination of multiple bit fields, and this preset combination of multiple bit fields has not been used for other indications before the network device is used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached in the second terminal device.

[0188] For example, as Figure 5As shown, one value of bit field A is '110', and one value of bit field B is '0011'. The combination of the value of bit field A and the value of bit field B is '1100011'. If this combination is not used for other indications, the network device determines that the first control information includes the preset value of bit field C as '1100011', and '1100011' is used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device, indicating that the second terminal device needs to send the TB in the cooperative cache.

[0189] In another implementation, the first control information includes a preset hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process number, and the HARQ process number is used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device. That is to say, the HARQ process number is used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached in the cooperative cache of the second terminal device, indicating that the second terminal device needs to send the TB in the cooperative cache.

[0190] In one implementation, the preset HARQ process number is configured by the network device to the first terminal device and the second terminal device through RRC signaling. For example, the network device notifies the first terminal device and the second terminal device through RRC signaling that when the HARQ process number is 8, it is used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device. Then the first control information includes the HARQ process number 8. When the second terminal device learns through RRC signaling that the first control information includes the HARQ process number 8, it indicates that the second terminal device needs to send the TB in the cooperative cache.

[0191] In yet another implementation, the first control information includes a first RNTI, and the first RNTI is used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device. That is to say, the first RNTI is used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached in the cooperative cache of the second terminal device. The implementation of the first RNTI can be referred to in S104 and will not be elaborated here.

[0192] In yet another implementation, the first control information includes a second RNTI, and the second RNTI is used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device. That is to say, the second RNTI is used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached in the cooperative cache of the second terminal device. The implementation of the second RNTI can be referred to in S104 and will not be elaborated here.

[0193] Case 2: There are multiple TBs of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device

[0194] That is to say, there are multiple transport blocks (TBs) that the second terminal device assists the first terminal device in transmitting. In the first terminal device and the second terminal device, one or more cooperative caches can be used to cache these multiple TBs. Therefore, the implementation manners of the first control information are described from two aspects: caching these multiple TBs in one cooperative cache and each cooperative cache among multiple cooperative caches caching multiple TBs.

[0195] Embodiment 2.1: There are multiple transport blocks (TBs) of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device, and one transport block (TB) of the first terminal device is cached in one cooperative cache.

[0196] In one implementation manner, the first control information includes a preset value of a bit field, and this preset value corresponds to the transport block (TB) of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device. For example, the first control information includes bit field A, and bit field A includes two bits. The preset value of the bit field can indicate, through an index table as shown in Table 2, a transport block (TB) in one of the multiple cooperative caches in the second terminal device, that is, the transport block (TB) corresponding to the index among the transport blocks (TBs) of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device. Among them, '00' indicates the transport block (TB) cached in the non - cooperative cache, '01' indicates the transport block (TB) cached in cooperative cache No. 1, '10' indicates the transport block (TB) cached in cooperative cache No. 2, and '11' indicates the transport block (TB) cached in cooperative cache No. 3. If the preset value of the bit field included in the first control information received by the second terminal device is '10', then the first control information corresponds to the transport block (TB) cached in cooperative cache No. 2, indicating that the second terminal device needs to transmit the transport block (TB) cached in cooperative cache No. 2.

[0197] Table 2

[0198] Index Indication 00 TB cached in non - cooperative cache 01 TB cached in cooperative cache No. 1 10 TB cached in cooperative cache No. 2 11 TB cached in cooperative cache No. 3

[0199] In another implementation manner, the first control information includes a preset hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process number, and this HARQ process number corresponds to the transport block (TB) of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device. That is to say, different HARQ process numbers correspond to transport blocks (TBs) cached in different cooperative caches in the second terminal device.

[0200] For example, as shown in Table 3, HARQ process number 0 indicates the transport block (TB) cached in the non - cooperative cache in the second terminal device, HARQ process number 1 indicates the transport block (TB) cached in cooperative cache No. 1 in the second terminal device, and HARQ process number 2 indicates the transport block (TB) cached in cooperative cache No. 2 in the second terminal device. If the first control information received by the second terminal device includes HARQ process number 3, then the first control information corresponds to the transport block (TB) cached in cooperative cache No. 3, indicating that the second terminal device needs to transmit the transport block (TB) cached in cooperative cache No. 3.

[0201] Table 3

[0202] HARQ process number Indication 0 TB cached in non - cooperative cache 1 TB cached in cooperative cache No. 1 2 TB cached in cooperative cache No. 2 3 TB cached in cooperative cache No. 3

[0203] It can be seen that if there are multiple cooperative caches in the second terminal device that cache the TBs of the first terminal device, and each cooperative cache stores the TBs of one first terminal device, the second terminal device can determine the TBs in one of the multiple cooperative caches in the second terminal device through the above two implementation manners of the first control information, which is beneficial for the second terminal device to send the same TBs.

[0204] Implementation manner 2.2: There are multiple TBs of the first terminal device cached in the second terminal device, and multiple TBs of the first terminal device are cached in one cooperative cache

[0205] In one implementation manner, the first control information includes a preset value in a bit field and a preset HARQ process number. The preset value is used to indicate the cooperative cache in the second terminal device that caches the TBs of the first terminal device, and the preset HARQ process number is used to indicate the TB corresponding to this HARQ process number in the cooperative cache indicated by the preset value. That is to say, the second terminal device can determine one cooperative cache among multiple cooperative caches according to the preset value in the bit field of the first control information, and can determine one TB among the multiple TBs cached in this cooperative cache according to the HARQ process number in the first control information. Thus, the second terminal device reads the TB from the determined cooperative cache and sends the TB to the network device.

[0206] For example, the first control information includes bit field B. The preset value of bit field B indicates the cooperative cache in the second terminal device that caches the TBs of the second terminal device through the index shown in Table 4. The preset HARQ process number included in the first control information indicates the TB corresponding to this HARQ process number in the cooperative cache indicated by the preset value of bit field B through Table 5. If the preset value of bit field B in the first control information is '11' and the preset HARQ process number is No. 2, the first control information indicates the No. 2 TB cached in the No. 3 cooperative cache in the second terminal device, indicating that the second terminal device needs to send the No. 2 TB cached in the No. 3 cooperative cache to the network device.

[0207] Table 4

[0208] Index Indication 00 Non - cooperative cache 01 Cooperative cache No. 1 10 Cooperative cache No. 2 11 Cooperative cache No. 3

[0209] Table 5

[0210] HARQ process number Indication 1 TB No. 1 2 TB No. 2 3 TB No. 3 4 TB No. 4

[0211] In another implementation manner, the first control information includes a preset HARQ process number and a preset value of a bit field. The preset HARQ process number is used to indicate the cooperative cache in the second terminal device that caches the TB of the first terminal device, and the preset value of the bit field is used to indicate the TB corresponding to the preset value in the cooperative cache indicated by the HARQ process number.

[0212] That is to say, the second terminal device can determine a cooperative cache among multiple cooperative caches according to the HARQ process number in the first control information, and can determine a TB among multiple TBs cached in the cooperative cache according to the preset value of the bit field in the first control information. Thus, the second terminal device reads the TB from the determined cooperative cache and sends the TB to the network device.

[0213] For example, the preset HARQ process number included in the first control information is shown in Table 6 to indicate the cooperative cache in the second terminal device that caches the TB of the first terminal device. The first control information includes a bit field C, and the bit field C includes two bits. The bit field C indicates the TB corresponding to the preset value in the cooperative cache indicated by the HARQ process number through the index shown in Table 7. For example, if the preset HARQ process number included in the first control information is No. 3 and the preset value of the bit field C is '01', then the first control information is used to indicate the 1st TB cached in the 3rd cooperative cache in the second terminal device, indicating that the second terminal device needs to send the 1st TB cached in the 3rd cooperative cache to the network device.

[0214] Table 6

[0215] HARQ process number Indication 0 Non - cooperative cache 1 Cooperative cache No. 1 2 Cooperative cache No. 2 3 Cooperative cache No. 3

[0216] Table 7

[0217] Index Indication 00 TB No. 0 01 TB No. 1 10 TB No. 1 11 TB No. 3

[0218] It can be seen that if there are multiple cooperative caches in the second terminal device and multiple TBs of the first terminal device are stored in one cooperative cache, the second terminal device can determine a cooperative cache from the multiple cooperative caches of the second terminal device and determine a TB from the multiple TBs cached in the cooperative cache according to the above implementation manner of the first control information, which is beneficial for the second terminal device and the first terminal device to send the same TB.

[0219] In addition, for the case where the third control information is the first control information, that is, the two are in the same field, the related implementation manners of the third control information are the same as those of the first control information. For the case where the third control information is a field different from the first control information, the indication manner of the third control information may refer to the implementation manner of the first control information. The difference between the indication manner of the third control information and the implementation manner of the first control information is that the functions of the third control information and the first control information are different. As described above, the third control information is used to indicate the TB cached by the first terminal device or to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device and sent by the first terminal device.

[0220] In the following, for the case where the third control information is a field different from the first control information, the implementation manners of the third control information will be described respectively based on two cases: one TB and multiple TBs are cached in the cooperative cache of the first terminal device.

[0221] Case 1: One TB is cached in the first terminal device

[0222] That is to say, only one TB that needs the second terminal device to assist the first terminal device in transmission is cached in the cooperative cache of the first terminal device.

[0223] In one implementation manner, the third control information includes a preset value in a bit field, and the preset value is used to indicate the TB cached by the first terminal device. That is to say, the preset value is used to indicate the TB cached in the cooperative cache of the first terminal device. The implementation manner of the preset value in this bit field can refer to the implementation manner of the preset value in a bit field in Case 1 of the above-mentioned implementation manner of the first control information, and will not be elaborated here.

[0224] In another implementation manner, the third control information includes a preset hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process number, and the HARQ process number is used to indicate the TB cached by the first terminal device. That is to say, the HARQ process number is used to indicate the TB cached in the cooperative cache of the first terminal device, indicating that the first terminal device needs to send the TB in the cooperative cache. The implementation manner of the HARQ process number can refer to the implementation manner of the HARQ process number in Case 1 of the above-mentioned implementation manner of the first control information, and will not be elaborated here.

[0225] In yet another implementation manner, the first control information includes a first RNTI, and the first RNTI is used to indicate the TB cached by the first terminal device. That is to say, the first RNTI is used to indicate the TB cached in the cooperative cache of the first terminal device. The implementation manner of the first RNTI can be referred to as described in S104 and will not be elaborated here.

[0226] In another implementation manner, the first control information includes a second RNTI, and the second RNTI is used to indicate the TBs cached by the first terminal device. That is to say, the second RNTI is used to indicate the TBs cached in the cooperative cache of the first terminal device. The implementation manner of the second RNTI can be referred to in S104 and will not be elaborated here.

[0227] Case 2: There are multiple TBs of the first terminal device cached by the first terminal device

[0228] That is to say, there are multiple TBs of the second terminal device assisting the first terminal device in transmission cached in the first terminal device. In the first terminal device, one or more cooperative caches can be used to cache these multiple TBs. Therefore, the implementation manner of the third control information will be elaborated from two aspects: caching these multiple TBs in one cooperative cache and each of the multiple cooperative caches caching multiple TBs.

[0229] Implementation manner 2.1: There are multiple TBs of the first terminal device cached by the first terminal device, and one cooperative cache caches one TB

[0230] In one implementation manner, the third control information includes a preset value of a bit field, and the preset value corresponds to the TB cached by the first terminal device, and this TB is one of the multiple TBs. The implementation manner of the preset value of this bit field can be referred to the implementation manner of the preset value in Case 1 of the implementation manner of the above first control information and will not be elaborated here.

[0231] In another implementation manner, the third control information includes a preset HARQ process number, and the HARQ process number corresponds to the TB of the first terminal device, and this TB is one of the multiple TBs. That is to say, different HARQ process numbers correspond to the TBs cached in different cooperative caches in the first terminal device. The implementation manner of this HARQ process number can be referred to the implementation manner in Case 1 of the implementation manner of the above first control information and will not be elaborated here.

[0232] Implementation manner 2.2: There are multiple TBs cached by the first terminal device, and one cooperative cache caches multiple TBs

[0233] In one implementation manner, the third control information includes a preset value of a bit field and a preset HARQ process number. The preset value is used to indicate the cooperative cache in the first terminal device corresponding to this preset value, and the preset HARQ process number is used to indicate the TB corresponding to this HARQ process number in the cooperative cache indicated by the preset value. The implementation manner of the preset value of this bit field and this HARQ process number can be referred to the implementation manner in Case 2 of the implementation manner of the above first control information and will not be elaborated here.

[0234] In another embodiment, the third control information includes a preset HARQ process number and a preset value of a bit field. The preset HARQ process number is used to indicate the cooperative cache corresponding to the HARQ process number in the first terminal device, and the preset value of the bit field is used to indicate the transport block (TB) corresponding to the preset value in the cooperative cache indicated by the HARQ process number. The implementation manners of the HARQ process number and the preset value of the bit field can refer to the situation 2 in the implementation manner of the above first control information, and will not be elaborated here.

[0235] In the embodiments of the present application, taking the second terminal device and the first terminal device as an example of sending the same TB using the same scrambling code, an uplink cooperative transmission method 200 is proposed. Figure 6 It is a schematic flowchart of the uplink cooperative transmission method 200.

[0236] S201. The network device determines first control information, where the first control information is used to indicate the transport block (TB) of the first terminal device cached in the second terminal device.

[0237] S202. The network device determines third control information.

[0238] S203. The network device sends the first control information to the second terminal device.

[0239] S204. The network device sends the third control information to the first terminal device.

[0240] S205. The second terminal device receives the first control information from the network device.

[0241] S206. The first terminal device receives the third control information from the network device.

[0242] The implementation manners of S201 - S206 are the same as those of S101 - S106 above, and will not be elaborated here.

[0243] S207. The network device determines second control information, where the second control information is used to indicate the scrambling code for sending the TB.

[0244] The second control information is used to indicate the scrambling code for sending the first terminal device, so that the first terminal device and the second terminal device use the same scrambling code to generate the PUSCH to send the TB of the first terminal device, which can reduce the interference between the first terminal device and the second terminal device and improve the receiving performance of the network device for the transport block.

[0245] In one implementation, the second control information is further used to indicate the DMRS sequence, carrier identification, modulation and coding scheme, redundancy version, etc. of the TB to be transmitted. The information indicated by the second control information is used to transmit the TB indicated by the first control information, that is, to transmit the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device.

[0246] In one implementation, the first control information and the second control information are in one DCI. If the first control information and the second control information are in one DCI, the first control information and the second control information are respectively different fields in one DCI. Optionally, the first control information and the second control information may also be in different DCIs respectively.

[0247] S208. The network device sends the second control information to the second terminal device;

[0248] In one implementation, the network device sends the second control information to the first terminal device and the second terminal device simultaneously by multicast, that is, S207 and S208 may be: the network device sends the second control information to the second terminal device and the first terminal device. This method can reduce the signaling overhead of the network device.

[0249] If the network device sends the second control information to the second terminal device and the first terminal device by multicast, the network device can use the above-mentioned first RNTI to obtain the second control information sent by multicast, or use other RNTIs to obtain the second control information sent by multicast. This application does not make any limitations.

[0250] In another implementation, the network device sends the second control information to the first terminal device and the second terminal device respectively by unicast, that is, as described in S207 and S208.

[0251] If the network device sends the second control information to the second terminal device and the first terminal device by unicast, the network device can use the above-mentioned second RNTI to obtain the second control information sent by unicast, or use other RNTIs to obtain the second control information sent by unicast. This application does not make any limitations.

[0252] S209. The network device sends the second control information to the first terminal device;

[0253] The manner in which the network device sends the second control information to the first terminal device is the same as that of sending the second control information to the second terminal device. That is to say, if the network device sends the second control information to the second terminal device by multicast, then the network device sends the second control information to the first terminal device by multicast; if the network device sends the second control information to the second terminal device by unicast, then the network device sends the second control information to the first terminal device by unicast.

[0254] S210. The second terminal device receives the second control information from the network device;

[0255] S211. The first terminal device receives the second control information from the network device;

[0256] S210 and S211 correspond to S208 and S209. That is, if the network device sends the second control information to the first terminal device and the second terminal device by multicast, then the first terminal device and the second terminal device receive the second control information from the network device by multicast simultaneously; if the network device sends the second control information to the first terminal device and the second terminal device by unicast, then the first terminal device and the second terminal device receive the second control information from the network device by unicast respectively.

[0257] S212. The second terminal device sends the TB to the network device;

[0258] S213. The first terminal device sends the TB to the network device;

[0259] In the embodiments of the present application, the second terminal device and the first terminal device sending the TB to the network device can be understood as: the second terminal device reads the TB from the cooperative cache storing the TB indicated by the first control information according to the first control information, and the first terminal device reads the TB from the cooperative cache storing the TB indicated by the third control information according to the third control information, and generates a PUSCH using the scrambling code indicated by the second control information, and sends the TB using the PUSCH. That is, the first terminal device and the second terminal device send the same TB using the same scrambling code, which can reduce the interference between the first terminal device and the second terminal device and improve the receiving performance of the TB of the network device for the first terminal device.

[0260] S214. The network device receives the TB from the second terminal device and the first terminal device.

[0261] In the embodiments of the present application, the second terminal device and the first terminal device generate a PUSCH using the same scrambling code and send the same TB using the PUSCH. Therefore, the first terminal device and the second terminal device can be regarded as Figure 7A virtual terminal device is shown. The virtual terminal device sends PUSCH and TB to a network device according to scheduling information sent by a base station through a dedicated physical control channel (DPCCH). In addition, the signals carried by each antenna of the virtual terminal device come from the same TB. Therefore, for the network device, it can be regarded as a terminal device with distributed antennas transmitting data to the network device. This uplink cooperative transmission can be called distributed MIMO cooperative technology. For example, the second terminal device has two transmitting antennas, and the first terminal device also has two transmitting antennas. When the first terminal device and the second terminal device use the distributed MIMO cooperative technology, the first terminal device and the second terminal device form a terminal device with 4 distributed transmitting antennas to transmit the same TB to the network device, and the signals transmitted by each antenna come from the same TB.

[0262] Performance comparison between the distributed MIMO cooperative technology and the MU-MIMO cooperative technology in the embodiments of this application Figure 8 As shown, from Figure 8 it can be seen that the distributed MIMO cooperative technology has higher spectral efficiency than MU-MIMO, that is, it transmits TBs with more bit information within the same time-frequency resources. This is because when the distributed MIMO cooperative technology is used for uplink cooperative transmission, the first terminal device and the second terminal device send the same TB in the same time-frequency resources. Therefore, the power and the number of antennas used to send this TB are more than those when the first terminal device and the second terminal device use the MU-MIMO cooperative technology for uplink cooperative transmission. Therefore, the embodiments of this application can improve the receiving performance of the network device for transport blocks.

[0263] In the embodiments of this application, the implementation manners of the second control information indicating the scrambling code of the TB of the first terminal device to be sent may include but are not limited to the following several:

[0264] In one implementation manner, the second control information is configured through RRC signaling. That is, the network device sends the second control information to the second terminal device and the first terminal device through RRC signaling, so that the second terminal device and the first terminal device use the information indicated by the second control information to send the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device.

[0265] In another implementation, the second control information is determined based on a second control information indication from a network device. The second control information indication is used to indicate one of a plurality of scrambling codes. The plurality of scrambling codes are configured by the network device for the second terminal device and the first terminal through RRC signaling. That is, the network device uses the second control information indication to inform the second terminal device and the first terminal device that the scrambling code used to transmit the transport block (TB) of the first terminal device cached in the second terminal device is one of the scrambling codes configured by the RRC signaling. Thus, the second terminal device and the first terminal device use the scrambling code indicated by the second control information indication to transmit the TB. For example, three scrambling codes pre-configured by the network device, including scrambling code 0, scrambling code 1, scrambling code 2, and scrambling code 0, are indicated by the second control information indication for indicating the scrambling code through the index shown in Table 8. It can be seen that if the second control information indication is '10', the second control information indication is used to indicate scrambling code 3, which means that the second terminal device and the first terminal device use scrambling code 3 to transmit the TB of the first terminal device cached in the second terminal device.

[0266] Table 8

[0267] Index Indication 00 Scrambling code No. 0 01 Scrambling code No. 1 10 Scrambling code No. 2 11 Scrambling code No. 3

[0268] In yet another implementation, the second control information is determined based on a second control information indication from a network device. The second control information indication is used to indicate one of multiple sets of scheduling information, and each set of scheduling information includes a scrambling code. The multiple sets of scheduling information are configured by the network device for the second terminal device and the first terminal through RRC signaling. That is to say, the network device can pre-inform the second terminal device or the first terminal device of multiple sets of scheduling information through RRC signaling, and each set of scheduling information includes a DMRS sequence and a scrambling code.

[0269] For example, assume that the first set of scheduling information includes DMRS sequence 1 and scrambling code 2; the second set of scheduling information includes DMRS sequence 2 and scrambling code 2; the second terminal device and the first terminal device receive a second control information indication from the network device, and the second control information indication is used to indicate the first set of scheduling information among the two sets of scheduling information configured by the radio resource control (RRC) signaling; furthermore, the first terminal device and the second terminal device can transmit the TB of the first terminal device cached in the second terminal device based on the scrambling code in the second set of scheduling information.

[0270] In the embodiments provided in the present application above, the method provided in the embodiments of the present application is introduced from the perspectives of the interactions between the network device and the second terminal device, the first terminal device, and the network device respectively. To implement each function in the method provided in the embodiments of the present application above, the network device and the terminal may include a hardware structure and / or a software module, and implement the above functions in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a combination of a hardware structure and a software module. Whether a certain function among the above functions is executed in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a combination of a hardware structure and a software module depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0271] Figure 9 A schematic structural diagram of a communication device is given. The communication device 900 may be a second terminal device, a first terminal device, a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports the network device to implement the above method, etc., and may also be a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports the second terminal device and the first terminal device to implement the above method. This device can be used to implement the method described in the above method embodiments, and specific reference can be made to the description in the above method embodiments.

[0272] The communication device 900 may include one or more processors 901. The processor 901 may be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, etc. For example, it may be a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processing unit can be used to control a communication device (such as a base station, a baseband chip, a terminal, a terminal chip, a DU, or a CU, etc.), execute a software program, and process the data of the software program.

[0273] Optionally, the communication device 900 may include one or more memories 902, on which there may be stored instructions 904 that can be run on the processor 901, so that the communication device 900 executes the method described in the above method embodiments. Optionally, data may also be stored in the memory 902. The processor 901 and the memory 902 may be provided separately or integrated together.

[0274] Optionally, the communication device 900 may further include a transceiver 905 and an antenna 906. The transceiver 905 may be referred to as a transceiver unit, a transceiver, or a transceiver circuit, etc., and is used to implement the transceiver function. The transceiver 905 may include a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver may be referred to as a receiver or a receiving circuit, etc., and is used to implement the receiving function; the transmitter may be referred to as a transmitter or a transmitting circuit, etc., and is used to implement the transmitting function.

[0275] The communication device 900 is a network device: the processor 901 is used to execute S101 and S102 in the uplink collaborative transmission method 100; execute S201, S202, and S207 in the uplink collaborative transmission method 200; the transceiver 905 is used to execute S103, S104, and S109 in the uplink collaborative transmission method 100; and execute S203, S204, S208, S209, and S214 in the uplink collaborative transmission method 200.

[0276] The communication device 900 is a second terminal device: the transceiver 905 is used to execute S105 and S107 in the uplink cooperative transmission method 100; and execute S205, S210, and S212 in the uplink cooperative transmission method 200.

[0277] The communication device 900 is a first terminal device: the transceiver 905 is used to execute S106 and S108 in the uplink cooperative transmission method 100; the transceiver 905 is used to execute S206, S211, and S213 in the uplink cooperative transmission method 200.

[0278] In another possible design, the processor 901 may include a transceiver for implementing the receiving and sending functions. For example, the transceiver may be a transceiver circuit, or an interface, or an interface circuit. The transceiver circuit, interface, or interface circuit for implementing the receiving and sending functions may be separate or integrated. The above-mentioned transceiver circuit, interface, or interface circuit may be used for reading and writing code / data, or the above-mentioned transceiver circuit, interface, or interface circuit may be used for transmitting or delivering signals.

[0279] In another possible design, optionally, the processor 901 may store an instruction 903, and the instruction 903 runs on the processor 901, so that the communication device 900 can execute the method described in the above method embodiment. The instruction 903 may be solidified in the processor 901, in which case the processor 901 may be implemented by hardware.

[0280] In yet another possible design, the communication device 900 may include circuitry that can implement the functions of transmitting, receiving, or communicating in the foregoing method embodiments. The processor and transceiver described in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented on an integrated circuit (IC), analog IC, radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), mixed-signal IC, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), printed circuit board (PCB), electronic device, etc. The processor and transceiver may also be fabricated using various IC process technologies, such as complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), N-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS), P-type metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS), bipolar junction transistor (BJT), BiCMOS, silicon germanium (SiGe), gallium arsenide (GaAs), etc.

[0281] The communication device described in the above embodiments may be a network device or a terminal, but the scope of the communication device described in the embodiments of the present application is not limited thereto, and the structure of the communication device may not be restricted by Figure 9 . The communication device may be an independent device or may be a part of a larger device. For example, the communication device may be:

[0282] (1) An independent integrated circuit (IC), or chip, or chip system or subsystem;

[0283] (2) A collection of one or more ICs, optionally, the IC collection may also include a storage component for storing data and instructions;

[0284] (3) An ASIC, such as a modem (MSM);

[0285] (4) A module that can be embedded in other devices;

[0286] (5) A receiver, terminal, smart terminal, cellular phone, wireless device, handset, mobile unit, vehicle-mounted device, network device, cloud device, artificial intelligence device, etc.;

[0287] (6) Others, etc.

[0288] For the case where the communication device can be a chip or a chip system, reference can be made to Figure 10 the structural schematic diagram of the chip shown. Figure 10 The chip 1000 shown includes a processor 1001 and an interface 1002. Among them, the number of processors 1001 can be one or more, and the number of interfaces 1002 can be multiple.

[0289] In one design, for the case where the chip is used to implement the functions of the second terminal device in the embodiments of the present application:

[0290] The interface 1002 is used to receive first control information from a network device, and the first control information is used to indicate a transport block TB of a first terminal device cached by the second terminal device;

[0291] The interface 1002 is further used to send the TB to the network device.

[0292] Optionally, the chip further includes a memory 1003, and the memory 1003 is used to store necessary program instructions and data of the second terminal device.

[0293] In one design, for the case where the chip is used to implement the functions of the first terminal device in the embodiments of the present application:

[0294] The interface 1002 is used to receive third control information from a network device;

[0295] The interface 1002 is further used to send the TB to the network device according to the third control information.

[0296] Optionally, the chip further includes a memory 1003, and the memory 1003 is used to store necessary program instructions and data of the first terminal device.

[0297] In one design, for the case where the chip is used to implement the functions of the network device in the embodiments of the present application:

[0298] The processor 1001 is used to determine first control information, and the first control information is used to indicate a transport block TB of a first terminal device cached by a second terminal device;

[0299] The interface 1002 is used to send the first control information to the second terminal device;

[0300] The interface 1002 is further used to receive the TB from the second terminal device.

[0301] Optionally, the chip further includes a memory 1003, and the memory 1003 is used to store necessary program instructions and data of the network device.

[0302] In another design, for the case where the chip is used to implement the functions of the network device in the embodiments of the present application:

[0303] The processor 1001 is configured to determine third control information;

[0304] The interface 1002 is configured to send the third control information to the first terminal device;

[0305] The interface 1002 is further configured to receive a transport block TB from the first terminal device.

[0306] Optionally, the chip further includes a memory 1003, and the memory 1003 is used to store program instructions and data necessary for the network device.

[0307] Those skilled in the art can also understand that the various illustrative logical blocks and steps listed in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented by electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of both. Whether such a function is implemented by hardware or software depends on the specific application and the design requirements of the entire system. Those skilled in the art can use various methods to implement the described function for each specific application, but such an implementation should not be construed as exceeding the scope of protection of the embodiments of the present application.

[0308] The embodiments of the present application and the method embodiments shown in the uplink cooperative transmission method 100 and the uplink cooperative transmission method 200 are based on the same concept, and the technical effects brought by them are also the same. For the specific principle, please refer to the description of the embodiments shown in the uplink cooperative transmission method 100 and the uplink cooperative transmission method 200, and details are not described herein.

[0309] As Figure 11 shown, the embodiments of the present application provide another uplink cooperative transmission device 1100. The uplink cooperative transmission device may be a second terminal device, or a component of the second terminal device (for example, an integrated circuit, a chip, etc.). Or, the uplink cooperative transmission device may be a network device, or a component of the network device (for example, an integrated circuit, a chip, etc.). Or, the uplink cooperative transmission device may be a first terminal device, or a component of the first terminal device (for example, an integrated circuit, a chip, etc.). The uplink cooperative transmission device may also be other communication units for implementing the method in the method embodiments of the present application. The uplink cooperative transmission device 1100 may include a processing unit 1101. Optionally, it may further include a transceiver unit 1102 and a storage unit 1103.

[0310] In a possible design, as Figure 11One or more of the units may be implemented by one or more processors, or by one or more processors and a memory; or by one or more processors and a transceiver; or by one or more processors, a memory, and a transceiver. The embodiments of the present application do not limit this. The processor, memory, and transceiver may be provided separately or integrated.

[0311] The uplink cooperative transmission device has the functions of implementing the first terminal device, the second terminal device, or the network device described in the embodiments of the present application. For example, the uplink cooperative transmission device includes modules, units, or means corresponding to the steps involved in the terminal device described in the embodiments of the present application for the terminal device. The functions, units, or means may be implemented by software, or by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software, or by a combination of software and hardware. For details, reference may be further made to the corresponding descriptions in the foregoing corresponding method embodiments.

[0312] In a possible design, an uplink cooperative transmission device 1100 may include:

[0313] A transceiver unit 1102, configured to receive first control information from a network device, where the first control information is used to indicate a transport block TB of a first terminal device cached by the second terminal device;

[0314] The transceiver unit 1102 is further configured to send the TB to the network device.

[0315] For optional implementation manners of the embodiments of the present application, reference may be made to the relevant content described in the uplink cooperative transmission method 100 and the uplink cooperative transmission method 200 in the foregoing method embodiments. Details are not described herein again.

[0316] In another possible design, an uplink cooperative transmission device 1100 may include:

[0317] A transceiver unit 1102, configured to receive first control information from a network device, where the first control information is used to indicate a transport block TB of a first terminal device cached by the second terminal device;

[0318] The transceiver unit 1102 is further configured to send the TB to the network device.

[0319] For optional implementation manners of the embodiments of the present application, reference may be made to the relevant content described in the uplink cooperative transmission method 100 and the uplink cooperative transmission method 200 in the foregoing method embodiments. Details are not described herein again.

[0320] In another possible design, an uplink cooperative transmission device 1100 may include:

[0321] A processing unit 1101, configured to determine first control information for indicating a transport block TB cached by the first terminal device;

[0322] A transceiver unit 1102, configured to send the first control information to the second terminal device;

[0323] The transceiver unit 1102 is further configured to receive the TB from the second terminal device.

[0324] For optional implementation manners of the embodiments of this application, reference may be made to the relevant content described in the uplink cooperative transmission method 100 and the uplink cooperative transmission method 200 in the foregoing method embodiments. Details are not described herein again.

[0325] In another possible design, an uplink cooperative transmission apparatus 1100 may include:

[0326] A processing unit 1101, configured to determine third control information;

[0327] A transceiver unit 1102, configured to send the third control information to the first terminal device;

[0328] The transceiver unit 1102 is further configured to receive a transport block TB from the first terminal device.

[0329] For optional implementation manners of the embodiments of this application, reference may be made to the relevant content described in the uplink cooperative transmission method 100 and the uplink cooperative transmission method 200 in the foregoing method embodiments. Details are not described herein again.

[0330] The embodiments of this application and the method embodiments shown in the uplink cooperative transmission method 100 and the uplink cooperative transmission method 200 are based on the same concept, and the technical effects brought thereby are also the same. For the specific principle, reference may be made to the description of the embodiments shown in the uplink cooperative transmission method 100 and the uplink cooperative transmission method 200, which are not elaborated herein.

[0331] It can be understood that some optional features in the embodiments of this application may, in some scenarios, be implemented independently without relying on other features, such as the current underlying solution, to solve the corresponding technical problems and achieve the corresponding effects. In some scenarios, they may also be combined with other features according to requirements. Correspondingly, the communication apparatuses given in the embodiments of this application can also implement these features or functions accordingly, which are not elaborated herein.

[0332] Those skilled in the art can also understand that the various illustrative logical blocks and steps listed in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented by electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of both. Whether such a function is implemented by hardware or software depends on the specific application and the design requirements of the entire system.

[0333] It should be understood that the processor in the embodiments of the present application may be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. In the implementation process, the steps of the above method embodiments can be completed by the integrated logic circuit in the hardware of the processor or instructions in software form. The above processor may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components.

[0334] It can be understood that the memory in the embodiments of the present application can be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or can include both volatile and non-volatile memories. Among them, the non-volatile memory can be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable ROM (PROM), an erasable PROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory can be a random access memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache. By way of example but not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct rambus RAM (DR RAM). It should be noted that the memory of the systems and methods described herein is intended to include but not be limited to these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0335] The present application also provides a computer-readable medium for storing computer software instructions, which, when executed by a communication device, implement the functions of any of the above method embodiments.

[0336] The present application also provides a computer program product for storing computer software instructions, which, when executed by a communication device, implement the functions of any of the above method embodiments.

[0337] 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 instructions. When the computer instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are generated in whole or in part. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable devices. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center by wire (such as coaxial cable, fiber optic, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wirelessly (such as infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.). The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more integrated available media. The available medium can be a magnetic medium (such as a floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium (such as a high-density digital video disc (DVD)), or a semiconductor medium (such as a solid state disk (SSD)), etc.

[0338] As described above, the foregoing are only specific embodiments of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily think of changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in the present application, and all of them should be covered by the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An uplink cooperative transmission method, characterized in that The method includes: A second terminal device receives first control information from a network device, where the first control information is used to indicate a transport block (TB) of a first terminal device cached by the second terminal device; the TB indicated by the first control information is the same as the TB indicated by third control information sent by the network device to the first terminal device, and the third control information is used for the first terminal device to send the indicated TB. The second terminal device sends the TB to the network device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The method further includes: The second terminal device receives second control information from the network device, where the second control information is used to indicate a scrambling code for the second terminal device to send the TB.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The second terminal device receiving the first control information from the network device includes: The second terminal device receives the first control information from the network device through multicast or unicast.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The first control information received through multicast is obtained by using a first radio network temporary identifier (RNTI), and the first RNTI is used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device.

5. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first control information received through unicast is obtained by using a second radio network temporary identifier (RNTI), and the second RNTI is used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein The first control information includes a preset value in a bit field, and the preset value is used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device; or, The preset value corresponds to the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein The first control information includes a preset hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process number, and the HARQ process number is used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device; or, The HARQ process number corresponds to the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device.

8. An uplink cooperative transmission method, characterized in that, The method includes: A network device determines first control information, where the first control information is used to indicate a transport block (TB) of a first terminal device cached by a second terminal device, and the TB indicated by the first control information is the same as the TB indicated by third control information sent by the network device to the first terminal device, and the third control information is used for the first terminal device to send the indicated TB. The network device sends the first control information to the second terminal device. The network device receives the TB from the second terminal device.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein The method further includes: The network device determines second control information, where the second control information is used to indicate a scrambling code for the second terminal device to send the TB. The network device sends the second control information to the second terminal device.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that The network device sending the first control information to the second terminal device includes: The network device sends the first control information to the second terminal device through multicast or unicast.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that, The first control information sent through multicast is obtained by using a first radio network temporary identifier (RNTI), and the first RNTI is used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein The first control information sent via unicast is obtained by using a second Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI), and the second RNTI is used to indicate the transport block (TB) of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device.

13. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, The first control information includes a preset value in a bit field, and the preset value is used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device; or, The preset value corresponds to the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein The first control information includes a preset Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) process number, and the HARQ process number is used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device; or, The HARQ process number corresponds to the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device.

15. An uplink cooperative transmission device, characterized in that, Comprising: a transceiver unit, configured to receive first control information from a network device, where the first control information is used to indicate a transport block (TB) of a first terminal device cached by a second terminal device, and the TB indicated by the first control information is the same as the TB indicated by third control information sent by the network device to the first terminal device, and the third control information is for the TB indicated by the first terminal device; The transceiver unit is further configured to send the TB to the network device.

16. The uplink cooperative transmission device according to claim 15, wherein The transceiver unit is further configured to receive second control information from the network device, where the second control information is used to indicate a scrambling code for the second terminal device to send the TB.

17. The uplink cooperative transmission device according to claim 15 or 16, wherein The transceiver unit is specifically configured to receive the first control information from the network device via multicast or unicast.

18. The uplink cooperative transmission device according to claim 17, wherein The first control information received via multicast is obtained by using a first Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI), and the first RNTI is used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device.

19. The uplink cooperative transmission device according to claim 18, characterized in that, The first control information received via unicast is obtained by using a second Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI), and the second RNTI is used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device.

20. The uplink cooperative transmission device according to claim 18, wherein The first control information includes a preset value in a bit field, and the preset value is used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device; or, The preset value corresponds to the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device.

21. The uplink cooperative transmission device according to claim 18, wherein The first control information includes a preset Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) process number, and the HARQ process number is used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device; or, The HARQ process number corresponds to the TB of the first terminal device cached by the second terminal device.

22. An uplink cooperative transmission device, characterized in that, Comprising: a processing unit, configured to determine first control information, where the first control information is used to indicate a transport block (TB) of a first terminal device cached by a second terminal device, and the TB indicated by the first control information is the same as the TB indicated by third control information sent by the device to the first terminal device, and the third control information is for the TB indicated by the first terminal device; A transceiver unit, configured to send the first control information to the second terminal device; The transceiver unit is further configured to receive the TB from the second terminal device.

23. The uplink cooperative transmission device according to claim 22, wherein The processing unit is further configured to determine second control information for instructing the second terminal device to send a scrambling code of the TB; The transceiver unit is further configured to send the second control information to the second terminal device.

24. The uplink cooperative transmission device according to claim 22 or 23, wherein The transceiver unit is specifically configured to send the first control information to the second terminal device by multicast or unicast.

25. The uplink cooperative transmission device according to claim 24, wherein The first control information sent by multicast is obtained by using a first radio network temporary identifier (RNTI), and the first RNTI is used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached in the second terminal device.

26. The uplink cooperative transmission device according to claim 24, characterized in that, The first control information sent by unicast is obtained by using a second radio network temporary identifier (RNTI), and the second RNTI is used to indicate the TB of the first terminal device cached in the second terminal device.

27. The uplink cooperative transmission device according to claim 25, wherein The first control information includes a preset value in a bit field for indicating the TB of the first terminal device cached in the second terminal device; or The preset value corresponds to the TB of the first terminal device cached in the second terminal device.

28. The uplink cooperative transmission device according to claim 25, wherein The first control information includes a preset hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process number for indicating the TB of the first terminal device cached in the second terminal device; or The HARQ process number corresponds to the TB of the first terminal device cached in the second terminal device.

29. A communication device, characterized in that, The device includes a processor and a memory, and a computer program is stored in the memory. The processor executes the computer program stored in the memory to enable the device to execute the method according to any one of claims 1-7.

30. A communication device, characterized in that, The device includes a processor and a memory, and a computer program is stored in the memory. The processor executes the computer program stored in the memory to enable the device to execute the method according to any one of claims 8-14.

31. A communication device, characterized in that, Comprising: A processor and an interface circuit; The interface circuit is configured to receive code instructions and transmit them to the processor; The processor is configured to run the code instructions to execute the method according to any one of claims 1-7.

32. A communication device, characterized in that, Comprising: A processor and an interface circuit; The interface circuit is configured to receive code instructions and transmit them to the processor; The processor is configured to run the code instructions to execute the method according to any one of claims 8-14.

33. A computer-readable storage medium for storing instructions that, when executed, implement the method according to any one of claims 1-7.

34. A computer-readable storage medium for storing instructions that, when executed, implement the method according to any one of claims 8-14.

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