Communication method, device, system and storage medium

Abstract

The present application discloses a communication method, apparatus, system and storage medium, which belongs to the field of communication. The method includes: a first wireless unit RU receives the device identifications of m network devices sent by a first network device, the m network devices include the first network device, the m network devices are connected to each other, and m is an integer greater than 0; the first RU receives the device identifications of n network devices sent by a second RU, the second RU and the n network devices are connected, and n is an integer greater than 0; the first RU determines that the same device exists between the m network devices and the n network devices based on the m device identifications and the n device identifications; the first RU performs collaborative communication processing, and the collaborative communication processing is used to realize collaborative communication between the first RU and the second RU. The present application can make the channel reciprocity between the first RU and the second RU.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communications, and in particular to a communication method, device, system, and storage medium. Background Art

[0002] In a multi-user multi-input multi-output (MU-MIMO) service scenario, user equipment (UE) is close to each other, and each UE accesses a different radio unit (RU). Because the signals transmitted by each RU are co-frequency signals, when a first UE and a second UE are close to each other, the first UE will receive signals sent to the second UE by multiple RUs.

[0003] Assume that the multiple RUs include a first RU and a second RU. Due to the reciprocity of the first channel and the second channel between the first RU and the second RU, the first channel includes the downlink channel of the first RU and the uplink channel of the second RU, and the second channel includes the downlink channel of the second RU and the uplink channel of the first RU. Therefore, at the location of the first UE, the signal sent by the first RU to the second UE and the signal sent by the second RU cancel each other out. The reciprocity of the first channel and the second channel means that the delay characteristics and frequency characteristics of the first channel are respectively consistent with the delay characteristics and frequency characteristics of the second channel.

[0004] To make the first and second channels reciprocal, the first and second RUs receive synchronization signals from the network. Based on the received synchronization signals, the first and second RUs communicate collaboratively and calibrate the first and second channels based on the communication results. However, the phase and frequency differences between the synchronization signals received by the first and second RUs are significant, resulting in significant errors in the communication results obtained by the first and second RUs based on the received synchronization signals, making reciprocal communication difficult. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a communication method, apparatus, system, and storage medium to enable reciprocity of channels between a first RU and a second RU. The technical solution is as follows:

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method, in which a first wireless unit RU receives device identifiers of m network devices sent by a first network device, the m network devices include a first network device, the m network devices are connected to each other, and m is an integer greater than 0. The first RU receives device identifiers of n network devices sent by a second RU, the second RU and the n network devices are connected, and n is an integer greater than 0. The first RU determines that the m network devices and the n network devices are identical devices based on the m device identifiers and the n device identifiers. The first RU performs collaborative communication processing, and the collaborative communication processing is used to achieve collaborative communication between the first RU and the second RU.

[0007] The first RU is connected to the m network devices, and the second RU is connected to the n network devices. The first RU determines that the m network devices and the n network devices are identical based on the device identifiers of the m network devices sent by the first network device and the device identifiers of the n network devices sent by the second RU. Therefore, the network device directly connected to the first RU is the same as the network device directly connected to the second RU, or the network device directly connected to the first RU and the network device directly connected to the second RU are associated, for example, the network device directly connected to the first RU and the network device directly connected to the second RU are in an upstream and downstream relationship, or the network device directly connected to the first RU and the network device directly connected to the second RU have a common upstream device. In this way, the first RU and the second RU communicate collaboratively, making the channel between the first RU and the second RU reciprocal.

[0008] In one possible implementation, the first RU receives time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information sent by the first network device. The first RU performs channel correction processing based on the time synchronization information and / or the frequency synchronization information, and the channel correction processing is used to correct the channel between the first RU and the second RU. Since the same network device exists between the m network devices connected to the first RU and the n network devices connected to the second RU, the difference between the time synchronization information received by the first RU and the time synchronization information received by the second RU is very small, and the difference between the frequency synchronization information received by the first RU and the frequency synchronization information received by the second RU is also very small. In this way, the first RU performs channel correction processing based on the received time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information, thereby improving the accuracy of channel correction.

[0009] In another possible implementation, the channel between the first RU and the second RU includes a first channel and a second channel, the first channel includes the downlink channel of the first RU and the uplink channel of the second RU, and the second channel includes the downlink channel of the second RU and the uplink channel of the first RU. The first RU measures the delay difference between the transmission delay of the first channel and the transmission delay of the second channel based on the time synchronization information and / or the frequency synchronization information. The first RU performs channel correction processing based on the delay difference. Since the difference between the time synchronization information received by the first RU and the time synchronization information received by the second RU is very small, and the difference between the frequency synchronization information received by the first RU and the frequency synchronization information received by the second RU is also very small, the first RU measures the delay difference based on the received time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information, thereby improving the accuracy of measuring the delay difference and improving the accuracy of channel correction.

[0010] In another possible implementation, the first RU compensates for the transmission delay of the first channel or the transmission delay of the second channel based on the delay difference. Alternatively, the first RU sends the delay difference to the second RU, and the delay difference is used to compensate for the transmission delay of the first channel or the transmission delay of the second channel. This provides multiple channel correction methods, enriching the channel correction methods.

[0011] In another possible implementation, the first RU suppresses noise in the time synchronization information and / or noise in the frequency synchronization information. By suppressing the noise in the two information, the noise in the time synchronization information and / or errors in the frequency synchronization information can be eliminated.

[0012] In another possible implementation, a first RU receives time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information sent by a second network device through a first network device, where the second network device is an upstream device of the first network device. If more RUs are connected to the second network device than to the first network device, the first RU can use the time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information sent by the second network device, thereby expanding the number of RUs in the collaborative group.

[0013] In another possible implementation, the first RU sends m device identifiers to the second RU, so that the second RU determines whether to perform cooperative communication with the first RU based on the received device identifiers.

[0014] In another possible implementation, the first network device is a fronthaul device directly connected to the first RU.

[0015] In another possible implementation, the n network devices include a first network device, which is a fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU; or the n network devices include a third network device, which is a fronthaul device connected to the second RU, and the first network device is an upstream device of the third network device. This ensures that the network device directly connected to the first RU and the network device directly connected to the second RU are the same, or that the network device directly connected to the first RU and the network device directly connected to the second RU are associated.

[0016] In another possible implementation, the m network devices also include a second network device, which is an upstream device of the first network device. The n network devices also include the second network device, which is a fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU or an upstream device of the fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU. This ensures that the network device directly connected to the first RU and the network device directly connected to the second RU are associated.

[0017] In another possible implementation, the first RU adds the second RU to a cooperative group, where the RUs in the cooperative group are used for cooperative communication. Since the RUs in the cooperative group perform cooperative communication, it is ensured that the channels between the RUs in the cooperative group are reciprocal.

[0018] In another possible implementation, the manner in which the first network device sends the m device identifiers includes a broadcasting manner; and / or the manner in which the second RU sends the n device identifiers includes a broadcasting manner.

[0019] In another possible implementation, the first network device is an Ethernet switching device.

[0020] In the second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, in which a first network device sends device identifications of m network devices to a first wireless unit RU, where the m network devices include a first network device, and the m network devices are connected to each other, where m is an integer greater than 0, and the m device identifications are used to trigger the first RU to perform collaborative communication processing, and the collaborative communication processing is used to realize collaborative communication between the first RU and the second RU, and the second RU is connected to n network devices, where n is an integer greater than 0, and the same device exists between the m network devices and the n network devices.

[0021] The first RU is connected to the m network devices, and the second RU is connected to the n network devices. Since the first network device sends the device identifiers of the m network devices to the first RU, the first RU determines that the same devices exist between the m network devices and the n network devices based on the device identifiers of the m network devices sent by the first network device and the device identifiers of the n network devices sent by the second RU. Therefore, the network device directly connected to the first RU is the same as the network device directly connected to the second RU, or the network device directly connected to the first RU and the network device directly connected to the second RU are associated, for example, the network device directly connected to the first RU and the network device directly connected to the second RU are in an upstream and downstream relationship, or the network device directly connected to the first RU and the network device directly connected to the second RU have a common upstream device. In this way, the first RU and the second RU communicate collaboratively, making the channel between the first RU and the second RU reciprocal.

[0022] In one possible implementation, the first network device sends time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information to the first RU. In this way, the first RU can perform channel correction processing based on the time synchronization information and / or the frequency synchronization information. Since the same network device exists between the m network devices connected to the first RU and the n network devices connected to the second RU, the difference between the time synchronization information received by the first RU and the time synchronization information received by the second RU is very small, and the difference between the frequency synchronization information received by the first RU and the frequency synchronization information received by the second RU is also very small. In this way, the first RU performs channel correction processing based on the received time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information, thereby improving the accuracy of channel correction.

[0023] In another possible implementation, the first network device filters noise in the time synchronization information and / or noise in the frequency synchronization information, thereby reducing errors in the time synchronization information and the frequency synchronization information.

[0024] In another possible implementation, the first network device is a fronthaul device directly connected to the first RU.

[0025] In another possible implementation, the m network devices also include a second network device, which is an upstream device of the first network device. The n network devices also include the second network device, which is a fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU or an upstream device of the fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU. This ensures that the network device directly connected to the first RU and the network device directly connected to the second RU are associated.

[0026] In another possible implementation, the n network devices include the first network device, which is a fronthaul device connected to the second RU; or the n network devices include the first network device and a third network device, which is a fronthaul device connected to the second RU, and the first network device is an upstream device of the third network device. This ensures that the network device directly connected to the first RU and the network device directly connected to the second RU are the same, or that the network device directly connected to the first RU and the network device directly connected to the second RU are associated.

[0027] In another possible implementation, the manner in which the first network device sends the m device identifiers includes a broadcasting manner.

[0028] In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication device for executing the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect. Specifically, the device includes a unit for executing the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect.

[0029] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication device for executing the method in the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect. Specifically, the device includes a unit for executing the method in the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect.

[0030] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication device comprising at least one processor and a memory, wherein the at least one processor is used to couple with the memory, read and execute instructions in the memory, so as to implement the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect.

[0031] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication device comprising at least one processor and a memory, wherein the at least one processor is used to couple with the memory, read and execute instructions in the memory, so as to implement the method in the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect.

[0032] In the seventh aspect, the present application provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and the computer program is loaded by a processor to implement the above-mentioned first aspect, second aspect, any possible implementation of the first aspect or any possible implementation method of the second aspect.

[0033] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program, wherein the computer program is loaded by a processor to execute the method of the first aspect, the second aspect, any possible implementation of the first aspect, or any possible implementation of the second aspect.

[0034] In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a communication system, which includes the apparatus described in the third aspect and the apparatus described in the fourth aspect, or the system includes the apparatus described in the fifth aspect and the apparatus described in the sixth aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a network architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0036] Figure 2 This is another network architecture diagram provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0037] Figure 3 This is another network architecture diagram provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0038] Figure 4 This is another network architecture diagram provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0039] Figure 5 This is another network architecture diagram provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0040] Figure 6 This is a flow chart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0041] Figure 7 This is another network architecture diagram provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0042] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of an RU structure provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0043] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0044] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of another communication device structure provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of another communication device structure provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0046] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of another communication device structure provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0047] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the communication system structure provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] The embodiments of the present application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0049] See also Figure 1, an embodiment of the present application provides a network architecture 100, which includes: multiple RUs, which are connected to a fronthaul network.

[0050] In some embodiments, each of the plurality of RUs is connected to a network device in a fronthaul network so that the RU is connected to the fronthaul network. The plurality of RUs can wirelessly communicate with a UE so that the UE is connected to the network through the plurality of RUs.

[0051] For example, see Figure 1 The multiple RUs include RU1, RU2, and RU3. RU1, RU2, and RU3 communicate wirelessly with UE1. RU1 and RU2 are directly connected to network device 1 of the fronthaul network, and RU3 is directly connected to network device 2 of the fronthaul network, allowing UE1 to connect to the network. Similarly, UE2 and UE3 can also communicate wirelessly with RU1, RU2, and RU3, allowing UE2 and UE3 to connect to the network.

[0052] In some embodiments, the fronthaul network is Ethernet, and the network device directly connected to the RU is an Ethernet switching device, such as an Ethernet switch.

[0053] For any UE in the network architecture 100, multiple RUs in the network architecture 100 send signals to the UE. The UE may be close to at least one other UE, resulting in the UE being able to receive not only the signals sent to the UE by the multiple RUs, but also other signals, where the other signals are signals sent to other UEs by the multiple RUs.

[0054] For ease of explanation, this UE is referred to as the first UE, and the other UE is referred to as the second UE. The multiple RUs include the first RU and the second RU. Because the first UE and the second UE are relatively close, the first UE receives the first signal sent by the first and second RUs to the first UE, and can also receive the second signal sent by the first and second RUs to the second UE. In other words, the first RU can receive two first signals and two second signals.

[0055] Since the first signal and the second signal are co-frequency signals, if the first signal and the second signal are not orthogonal, after the first UE receives the two first signals and the two second signals, the two second signals will cause co-channel interference with the two first signals at the first UE. If the first signal and the second signal are orthogonal, after the first UE receives the two first signals and the two second signals, the two first signals will be phase-superimposed at the first UE, and the two second signals will be phase-cancelled, thereby preventing the two second signals from causing co-channel interference with the two first signals.

[0056] For example, see Figure 2Assume that UE1 and UE2 are close to each other. RU1 and RU2 both send signal 1 to UE1, and both send signal 2 to UE2. UE1 receives both signal 1 and signal 2, which are co-frequency signals. UE2 also receives both signal 1 and signal 2.

[0057] If signal 1 and signal 2 are not orthogonal, signal 2 will cause co-channel interference to signal 1 on UE1, and signal 1 will cause co-channel interference to signal 2 on UE2.

[0058] If signal 1 and signal 2 are orthogonal, the peak positions of the two signals 1 are the same on UE1, and the trough positions of the two signals 1 are the same, so that the two signals 1 are phase-superimposed. On UE1, the trough position of signal 2 sent by RU1 is the same as the peak position of signal 2 sent by RU2, and the peak position of signal 2 sent by RU1 is the same as the trough position of signal 2 sent by RU2, such as Figure 2 This will cause the two signals 2 to be phase-cancelled, so that signal 2 will not cause co-channel interference to signal 1 on UE1.

[0059] To ensure orthogonality between the first and second signals, the first and second channels between the first and second RUs must be reciprocal. The first channel includes the downlink channel of the first RU and the uplink channel of the second RU, while the second channel includes the downlink channel of the second RU and the uplink channel of the first RU. When the first and second channels are reciprocal, the first signal transmitted by the first RU and the second signal transmitted by the second RU are orthogonal.

[0060] In some embodiments, the downlink channel of the first RU includes the transmit channel of the first RU, the uplink channel of the second RU includes the receive channel of the second RU, the downlink channel of the second RU includes the transmit channel of the second RU, and the uplink channel of the second RU includes the receive channel of the second RU.

[0061] In order to make the first channel and the second channel between the first RU and the second RU reciprocal, the first RU needs to perform cooperative communication processing, and the cooperative communication processing is used to realize the cooperative communication between the first RU and the second RU.

[0062] In some embodiments, the coordinated communication process includes a channel correction process for correcting the first channel and the second channel between the first RU and the second RU. Specifically, the first RU and the second RU use the channel correction process to correct the first channel and the second channel between the first RU and the second RU, making the channels between the first RU and the second RU reciprocal.

[0063] The first RU includes a local clock, and the second RU includes a local clock. If the local clocks of the first RU and the local clocks of the second RU meet a first specified condition, the first RU and the second RU can accurately calibrate the first channel and the second channel between them through channel calibration, making the first channel and the second channel reciprocal, thereby improving the accuracy of channel calibration. If the local clocks of the first RU and the local clocks of the second RU do not meet the first specified condition, the first channel and the second RU cannot be accurately calibrated through channel calibration, and the first channel and the second channel cannot be reciprocal.

[0064] In some embodiments, the first specified condition includes the time difference between the current time instant of the local clock of the first RU and the current time instant of the local clock of the second RU being less than a specified time difference threshold. Therefore, if the local clocks of the first RU and the local clocks of the second RU meet the first specified condition, the difference between the local clocks of the first RU and the local clocks of the second RU is small. If the local clocks of the first RU and the local clocks of the second RU do not meet the first specified condition, the difference between the local clocks of the first RU and the local clocks of the second RU is large.

[0065] In an embodiment of the present application, a first RU receives first synchronization information sent by a network device in a fronthaul network, the first synchronization information including first time synchronization information and / or first frequency synchronization information, and synchronizes the local clock of the first RU based on the first synchronization information. A second RU receives second synchronization information sent by a network device in the fronthaul network, the second synchronization information including second time synchronization information and / or second frequency synchronization information, and synchronizes the local clock of the second RU based on the second synchronization information. The first synchronization information and the second synchronization information may be information sent by the same network device, or may be information sent by two different network devices.

[0066] If the first synchronization information and the second synchronization information meet the second specified condition, the synchronized local clock in the first RU and the synchronized local clock in the second RU meet the first specified condition. If the first synchronization information and the second synchronization information do not meet the second specified condition, the synchronized local clock in the first RU and the synchronized local clock in the second RU do not meet the first specified condition.

[0067] The second specified condition includes one or more of the following conditions:

[0068] The information difference between the first synchronization information and the second synchronization information does not exceed a specified difference value, or the noise in the first synchronization information and the noise in the second synchronization information do not exceed a specified noise threshold.

[0069] The first synchronization information includes first time synchronization information and / or first frequency synchronization information, and the second synchronization information includes second time synchronization information and / or second frequency synchronization information.

[0070] For the network device that sends the first synchronization information, the network device includes a local clock, the first time synchronization information includes the time measured by the local clock of the network device, and the first frequency synchronization information includes the operating frequency of the local clock of the network device.

[0071] For the network device that sends the second synchronization information, the network device includes a local clock, the second time synchronization information includes the time of the local clock of the network device, and the second frequency synchronization information includes the artifact frequency of the local clock of the network device.

[0072] In some embodiments, the information difference between the first synchronization information and the second synchronization information includes: a time difference between the first time synchronization information and the second time synchronization information, and / or a frequency difference between the first frequency synchronization information and the second frequency synchronization information.

[0073] In some embodiments, the information difference between the first synchronization information and the second synchronization information does not exceed a specified difference value, including: the time difference between the first time synchronization information and the second time synchronization information does not exceed a specified time difference threshold, and / or the frequency difference between the first frequency synchronization information and the second frequency synchronization information does not exceed a specified frequency difference threshold. Optionally, the specified time difference threshold and the specified frequency difference threshold are smaller, for example, the specified time difference threshold and / or the specified frequency difference threshold are 0.

[0074] In some embodiments, the noise in the first synchronization information and the noise in the second synchronization information do not exceed the specified noise threshold, including: the noise in the first time synchronization information and the noise in the second time synchronization information do not exceed the first specified noise threshold, and / or, the noise in the first frequency synchronization information and the noise in the second frequency synchronization information do not exceed the second specified noise threshold, and the first specified noise threshold and the second specified noise threshold may be equal or unequal.

[0075] See also Figure 1 The network architecture 100 also includes a base station unit (BU) 101 and / or a clock source 102. BU 101 and / or the clock source 102 sends synchronization information to the fronthaul network. When each network device in the fronthaul network receives the synchronization information, the network device synchronizes its own local clock based on the received synchronization information, generates new synchronization information based on the synchronized local clock, and sends the new synchronization information.

[0076] In some embodiments, if the first RU and the second RU are located close to each other, when deploying the first RU and the second RU, the first RU and the second RU are preferably connected to the same network device, or connected to two related network devices, so that the first synchronization information received by the first RU and the second synchronization information received by the second RU meet the second specified condition.

[0077] Among them, for the m network devices connected to the first RU and the n network devices connected to the second RU, if there is an identical device between the m network devices and the n network devices, the first RU and the second RU are connected to the same network device, or the first RU and the second RU are connected to two associated network devices, and m and n are both integers greater than 0.

[0078] In some embodiments, in the following situations, there are identical devices between the m network devices and the n network devices, and the situations are respectively.

[0079] Case 1, see Figure 3 The m network devices connected to the first RU11 and the n network devices connected to the second RU12 both include the first network device 13. The first network device 13 is a fronthaul device directly connected to the first RU11 and also a fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU12.

[0080] Case 2, see Figure 4 The m network devices connected to first RU 11 include first network device 13 and second network device 14. First network device 13 is a fronthaul device directly connected to first RU 11, and second network device 14 is an upstream device of first network device 11. The n network devices connected to second RU 12 include second network device 12. Second network device 12 is a fronthaul device directly connected to second RU 12. In scenario 2, first network device 13 and second network device 14 are associated. Optionally, the m network devices may further include a fourth network device 16, and the n network devices may further include a fourth network device 16, and fourth network device 16 is an upstream device of second network device 14.

[0081] Case 3, see Figure 5The m network devices connected to first RU11 include first network device 13 and second network device 14. First network device 13 is a fronthaul device directly connected to first RU11, and second network device 14 is an upstream device of first network device 13. The n network devices connected to second RU12 include third network device 15 and second network device 14. Third network device 15 is a fronthaul device directly connected to second RU12, and second network device 12 is also an upstream device of third RU15. In scenario 2, first network device 13 and third network device 15 are associated. Optionally, the m network devices may also include fourth network device 16, and the n network devices may also include fourth network device 16, and fourth network device 16 is an upstream device of second network device 14.

[0082] The above only lists cases 1 to 3. Of course, there may be other cases in actual implementation, and they will not be listed here one by one.

[0083] For network devices connected to RUs, the connection mentioned here includes direct connection and indirect connection. If the RU is directly connected to the network device, the network device and the RU do not need to be connected through other network devices. For example, see Figure 4 and Figure 5 , the first RU11 and the first network device 13 are not connected through other network devices, that is, the first RU11 and the first network device 13 are directly connected.

[0084] If the RU is connected to the network indirectly, the RU and the network device must be connected through one or more other network devices. For example, see Figure 4 or Figure 5 , the first RU 11 and the fourth network device 16 need to be connected through the second network device 14 , that is, the first RU 11 and the fourth network device 16 are indirectly connected.

[0085] The upstream device mentioned above, for example, the upstream device of first network device 13, is the network device through which the path between first network device 13 and BU 101 passes, or the network device through which the path between first network device 13 and the clock source of the fronthaul network passes. Therefore, the upstream device of first network device 13 is closer to BU 102 or clock source 102 than to first network device 13.

[0086] Optionally, the BU described in the embodiment of the present application includes an indoor baseband processing unit (building baseband unit, BBU), a distributed unit (distribute unit, DU), a centralized unit (centralized unit, CU) or other network elements or devices with baseband signal processing functions and / or wireless unit control and management functions. The RU described in the embodiment of the present application can also be called a radio frequency unit, including a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna unit (AAU) or other network elements or devices with radio frequency signals, intermediate frequency signals or intermediate radio frequency signal processing capabilities. Of course, with the development of technology and the evolution of system architecture, other types of networks may also appear. In this case, BU and RU may be divided or named in other ways. In other words, the system architecture described in the embodiment of the present application is to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application. As the system architecture evolves, the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application is also applicable to similar technical problems. The fronthaul network described in the embodiment of the present application refers to the transmission network used to connect the BU and the RU.

[0087] See also Figure 6 , the embodiment of the present application provides a communication method 600, the communication method 600 is applied to Figure 1 The network architecture 100 shown may be applied to Figure 3 、 Figure 4 or Figure 5 The network architecture shown includes:

[0088] Step 601: A first network device sends device identifiers of m network devices to a first RU, where the m network devices include the first network device, and the m network devices are connected, where m is an integer greater than 0.

[0089] The first RU is any RU in the foregoing network architecture, and the m network devices are network devices connected to the first RU.

[0090] In some embodiments, the first network device is a fronthaul device to which the first RU is directly connected. When m is equal to 1, the m network devices are the first network device. When m is greater than 1, the m network devices also include an upstream device of the first network device.

[0091] In some embodiments, the first network device sends the device identifications of the m network devices to each RU connected to the first network device in a broadcast manner.

[0092] The first network device periodically transmits the device identifications of the m network devices, or randomly transmits the device identifications of the m network devices, or transmits the device identifications of the m network devices upon detecting a new RU connected to the first network device. Of course, there may be other ways to trigger the first network device to transmit the device identifications of the m network devices, which are not listed here.

[0093] For RUs other than the first RU, the network devices connected to the other RUs also perform the operation of step 301 above in the same manner as the first network device. For ease of explanation, the other RUs are referred to as second RUs. For the network device connected to the second RU, the network device sends device identifiers of n network devices to the second RU, where n is an integer greater than 0. The n network devices include the network device, and the n network devices are connected to the second RU.

[0094] Here are a few examples to illustrate this step:

[0095] Example 1, see Figure 3 , m and n are both equal to 1, the first network device 13 sends the device identification “ID13” of the first network device 13 to the first RU11 , and sends the device identification “ID13” of the first network device 13 to the second RU12 .

[0096] Example 2, see Figure 4 First network device 13 sends m network device identifiers to first RU 11. These m network device identifiers include the device identifier "ID13" of first network device 13. Optionally, these m network device identifiers may also include the device identifier "ID14" of second network device 14 and / or the device identifier "ID16" of fourth network device 16. Second network device 14 sends n network device identifiers to second RU 12. These n network device identifiers include the device identifier "ID14" of second network device 14. Optionally, these n network device identifiers may also include the device identifier "ID16" of fourth network device 16.

[0097] Example 3, see Figure 5First network device 13 sends m network device identifiers to first RU 11. These m network device identifiers include the first network device 13's identifier "ID13." Optionally, these m network device identifiers may also include the second network device 14's identifier "ID14" and / or the fourth network device 16's identifier "ID16." Third network device 15 sends n network device identifiers to second RU 12. These n network device identifiers include the third network device 15's identifier "ID15." Optionally, these n network device identifiers may also include the fourth network device 16's identifier "16."

[0098] Example 4, see Figure 7 First network device 13 sends m network device identifiers to first RU 11. These m network device identifiers include ID 13 of first network device 13. Optionally, these m network device identifiers may also include ID 16 of fourth network device 16. Third network device 15 sends n network device identifiers to second RU 12. These n network device identifiers include ID 15 of third network device 15. Optionally, these n network device identifiers may also include ID 13 of first network device 13 and / or ID 16 of fourth network device 16. First network device 13 is the upstream device of fourth network device 16.

[0099] Step 602: The first RU receives the device identifiers of the m network devices, and sends the device identifiers of the m network devices to other RUs except the first RU.

[0100] In some embodiments, the RUs other than the first RU include neighbor RUs of the first RU.

[0101] In step 602, the first RU sends the device identifiers of the m network devices to other RUs except the first RU in a broadcast manner.

[0102] The other RUs except the first RU also perform the operation of step 602 as the first RU does. That is, other RUs may send the device identification of the network device to the first RU.

[0103] For example, in Examples 1 to 4 listed above, the neighbor RU of the second RU includes the first RU. After receiving the device identifications of the n network devices, the second RU broadcasts the device identifications of the n network devices to the neighbor RUs of the second RU.

[0104] Step 603: The first RU receives the device identifications of the n network devices sent by the second RU, and determines that the m network devices and the n network devices are identical based on the device identifications of the m network devices and the device identifications of the n network devices.

[0105] When the first RU determines that the m network devices and the n network devices have the same device, the first RU adds the second RU to a cooperation group including the first RU and the second RU, and then executes step 604 .

[0106] In step 603, the first RU compares the device identifiers of the m network devices with the device identifiers of the n network devices. If the comparison shows that the device identifiers of the m network devices and the device identifiers of the n network devices are identical, it is determined that the m network devices and the n network devices are identical. If the comparison shows that the device identifiers of the m network devices and the device identifiers of the n network devices are not identical, it is determined that the m network devices and the n network devices are not identical.

[0107] In some embodiments, the operation of the first RU adding the second RU to the collaborative group is: the first RU sets a label for the second RU, and the label is used to identify the collaborative group; or, the first RU adds the device identification of the second RU to a device identification set, and the device identification set includes the device identification of each RU in the same collaborative group.

[0108] The neighboring RUs of the first RU may include other RUs in addition to the second RU. The first RU continues to perform the operation of step 603 to add the other RUs to the cooperative group. RUs in the same cooperative group are connected to the same network device or to related network devices.

[0109] For example, in Example 1 above, the device identifiers of the m network devices received by the first RU11 include the device identifier "ID13" of the first network device 13, and the device identifiers of the n network devices received by the first RU11 also include the device identifier "ID13" of the first network device 13. The device identifiers of the m network devices and the device identifiers of the n network devices have the same device identifier "ID13", so the first RU11 adds the second RU12 to the collaborative group.

[0110] For Example 2 above, assume that the device identifiers of m network devices received by the first RU 11 include the device identifier "ID13" of the first network device 13, the device identifier "ID14" of the second network device 14, and the device identifier "ID16" of the fourth network device. Furthermore, assume that the device identifiers of n network devices received by the first RU 11 include the device identifier "ID14" of the second network device and the device identifier "ID16" of the fourth network device 16. The device identifiers of the m network devices and the device identifiers of the n network devices have the same device identifiers "ID14" and "ID16", so the first RU 11 adds the second RU 12 to the collaborative group.

[0111] For Example 3 above, assume that the device identifiers of m network devices received by the first RU11 include the device identifier "ID13" of the first network device 13, the device identifier "ID14" of the second network device 14, and the device identifier "ID16" of the fourth network device. Furthermore, assume that the device identifiers of n network devices received by the first RU11 include the device identifier "ID15" of the third network device, the device identifier "ID14" of the second network device 14, and the device identifier "ID16" of the fourth network device. The device identifiers of the m network devices and the device identifiers of the n network devices share the same device identifiers "ID14" and "ID16." Therefore, the first RU11 adds the second RU12 to the collaborative group.

[0112] For Example 4 above, assume that the device identifiers of the m network devices received by the first RU11 include the device identifier "ID13" of the first network device 13 and the device identifier "ID16" of the fourth network device. Furthermore, assume that the device identifiers of the n network devices received by the first RU11 include the device identifier "ID15" of the third network device, the device identifier "ID13" of the first network device 13, and the device identifier "ID16" of the fourth network device. The device identifiers of the m network devices and the device identifiers of the n network devices share the same device identifiers "ID13" and "ID16." Therefore, the first RU11 adds the second RU12 to the collaborative group.

[0113] For any RU in the cooperative group other than the first RU, the RU is still referred to as the second RU. The first RU performs cooperative communication processing for the second RU. This cooperative communication processing is used to achieve cooperative communication between the first RU and the second RU. Cooperative communication here refers to the first RU and the second RU cooperating to communicate with the UE. Specifically, the cooperative communication processing can be performed through the following operations 604 to 605.

[0114] In some embodiments, the cooperative communication processing includes channel correction processing, etc., where the channel correction processing is used to correct the channel between the first RU and the second RU.

[0115] Step 604: The first RU receives first synchronization information sent by the first network device, where the first synchronization information includes first time synchronization information and / or first frequency synchronization information.

[0116] In some embodiments, the first time synchronization information and the first frequency synchronization information are generated by a first network device. The first network device includes a local clock, and the first network device generates the first time synchronization information and / or the first frequency synchronization information using the local clock. Optionally, the first time synchronization information includes the time the local clock is keeping, for example, the first time synchronization information includes the current time the local clock is keeping. The first frequency synchronization information includes the operating frequency of the local clock.

[0117] The first network device also receives the third synchronization information sent by the upstream device of the first network device, and synchronizes the local clock of the first network device based on the third synchronization information.

[0118] During implementation, the third synchronization information includes third time synchronization information and / or third frequency synchronization information. The third time synchronization information includes the time instant of the upstream device's clock, and the third frequency synchronization information includes the operating frequency of the upstream device's clock. The first network device obtains the transmission delay of the third synchronization information and, based on the transmission time and the third synchronization information, performs time synchronization on the first network device's local clock, synchronizing the current time instant of the first network device's local clock with the current time instant of the upstream device's clock. Furthermore, / or, based on the third frequency synchronization information, the first network device performs frequency synchronization on the first network device's local clock, synchronizing the operating frequency of the first network device's local clock with the operating frequency of the upstream device's clock.

[0119] The clock source of the BU or the fronthaul network sends synchronization information to the fronthaul network. After receiving the synchronization information, any network device in the fronthaul network synchronizes its local clock based on the synchronization information, just like the first network device. The device then generates synchronization information based on the synchronized local clock and sends the generated synchronization information.

[0120] In some embodiments, the first synchronization information is generated by an upstream device of the first network device, and the first network device receives the first synchronization information sent by the upstream device and sends the first synchronization information to the first RU. That is, the first RU receives the first time synchronization information and / or first frequency synchronization information sent by the upstream device of the first network device through the first network device.

[0121] Similarly, for a second RU in the same cooperative group, the second RU will also receive second synchronization information sent by the network device connected to the second RU, where the second synchronization information includes second time synchronization information and / or second frequency synchronization information.

[0122] It should be noted that: the first RU and the second RU are in the same collaborative group, and for the network device connected to the second RU, the first network device connected to the first RU and the network device may be the same network device, or the first network device and the network device may be associated. Therefore, the difference between the local clock of the first network device and the local clock of the network device is very small, and the local clock of the first network device and the local clock of the network device are synchronized or basically synchronized, so the information difference between the first synchronization information sent by the first network device and the second synchronization information sent by the network device does not exceed the specified difference. In other words: the time difference between the first time synchronization information and the second time synchronization information does not exceed the specified time difference threshold, and / or the frequency difference between the first frequency synchronization information and the second frequency synchronization information does not exceed the specified frequency difference threshold.

[0123] In some embodiments, before sending the first time step information and / or the first frequency synchronization information, the first network device further filters noise in the first time synchronization information and / or noise in the second frequency synchronization information.

[0124] During the transmission process of the first time synchronization information and / or the first frequency synchronization information, the first time synchronization information and / or the first frequency synchronization information may generate noise. Therefore, after the first RU receives the first synchronization information, the noise in the first synchronization information is suppressed. That is, after the first RU receives the first time synchronization information, the noise in the first time synchronization information is suppressed, and / or after the first RU receives the first frequency synchronization information, the noise in the first frequency synchronization information is suppressed.

[0125] The noise in the first time synchronization information includes error information in the first time synchronization information, and the first frequency synchronization information includes error information in the first frequency synchronization information. Therefore, suppressing the noise in the first time synchronization information can eliminate the error information in the first time synchronization information, and suppressing the noise in the first frequency synchronization information can eliminate the error information in the first frequency synchronization information.

[0126] In some embodiments, the first RU includes an interface chip or a filter, and the first RU filters the noise in the first time synchronization information through the interface chip or the filter to suppress the noise in the first time synchronization information; and / or, the first RU filters the noise in the first frequency synchronization information through the interface chip or the filter to suppress the noise in the first frequency synchronization information.

[0127] The first network device transmits first time step information and / or first frequency synchronization information via a signal. The first time step information is carried on the time synchronization signal, and the first frequency synchronization information is carried on the frequency synchronization signal. The time synchronization signal includes noise associated with the first time synchronization information, and the frequency synchronization signal includes noise associated with the first frequency synchronization information. Therefore, the first network device or first RU filters the noise in the time synchronization signal to filter the noise associated with the first time synchronization information, and the first network device or first RU filters the noise in the frequency synchronization signal to filter the noise associated with the first frequency synchronization information.

[0128] After receiving the second synchronization information, the second RU suppresses the noise in the second synchronization information. That is, after receiving the second time synchronization information, the second RU also suppresses the noise in the second time synchronization information, and / or after receiving the second frequency synchronization information, the second RU also suppresses the noise in the second frequency synchronization information.

[0129] The noise in the first synchronization information after the first RU is suppressed and the noise in the second synchronization information after the second RU is suppressed do not exceed the specified noise threshold. In other words, the noise in the first time synchronization information and the noise in the second time synchronization information do not exceed the first specified noise threshold, and / or the noise in the first frequency synchronization information and the noise in the second frequency synchronization information do not exceed the second specified noise threshold.

[0130] That is, the information difference between the first synchronization information in the first RU and the second synchronization information in the second RU does not exceed a specified difference, and the noise in the first synchronization information in the first RU and the noise in the second synchronization information in the second RU do not exceed a specified noise threshold. In other words, the first synchronization information in the first RU and the second synchronization information in the second RU meet the second specified condition.

[0131] Step 605: The first RU performs channel correction processing based on the first time synchronization information and / or the first frequency synchronization information.

[0132] The channel between the first RU and the second RU includes a first channel and a second channel, the first channel includes a downlink channel of the first RU and an uplink channel of the second RU, and the second channel includes a downlink channel of the second RU and an uplink channel of the first RU;

[0133] In step 605, the first RU measures the delay difference between the transmission delay of the first channel and the transmission delay of the second channel based on the first time synchronization information and / or the first frequency synchronization information, and performs channel correction based on the delay difference.

[0134] In some embodiments, the first RU performs channel correction processing through the following operations 6051-6057, and the operations 6051-6057 are respectively.

[0135] 6051: The first RU synchronizes its local clock based on the first time synchronization information and / or the first frequency synchronization information.

[0136] In 6051, the first RU obtains the transmission delay of the first time synchronization information, and performs time synchronization on the local clock of the first RU based on the first time synchronization information and the transmission delay of the first time synchronization information. And / or, the first RU performs frequency synchronization on the local clock of the first RU based on the first frequency synchronization information.

[0137] See also Figure 8 The first RU includes a comparator, a filter, and a signal generator. The filter is connected to the comparator and the signal generator, respectively. The signal generator is also connected to the first RU's local clock and the comparator. The signal generator is used to generate a first frequency signal, which is input to the first RU's local clock. The first RU's local clock is timed based on the first frequency signal. That is, the first frequency signal is the operating frequency of the first RU's local clock.

[0138] In some embodiments, the first RU performs frequency synchronization on a local clock of the first RU based on the first frequency synchronization information as follows: a comparator receives a first frequency signal input by a signal generator, compares the first frequency synchronization information received by the first RU with the frequency of the first frequency signal, and obtains a frequency difference value, where the frequency difference value is the frequency difference between the first frequency synchronization information and the frequency difference value; and inputs a second frequency signal into the filter, where the frequency of the second frequency signal is equal to the frequency difference value.

[0139] The filter filters the second frequency signal to obtain a third frequency signal, which is input to the signal generator. The signal generator compensates the first frequency signal generated by it based on the third frequency signal, and inputs the compensated first frequency signal to the local clock of the first RU.

[0140] In some embodiments, the comparator includes a phase detector (PD), the filter includes a low-pass filter (LPF), and the signal generator includes a voltage controlled crystal oscillator (VCXO).

[0141] Similarly, the second RU obtains the transmission delay of the second time synchronization information, and performs time synchronization on the local clock of the second RU based on the second time synchronization information and the transmission delay of the second time synchronization information. And / or, the second RU performs frequency synchronization on the local clock of the second RU based on the second frequency synchronization information.

[0142] The first synchronization information and the second synchronization information satisfy the second specified condition, namely, the time difference between the first time synchronization information and the second time synchronization information does not exceed the specified time difference threshold, and the frequency difference between the first frequency synchronization information and the second frequency synchronization information does not exceed the specified frequency difference threshold. Thus, the first RU performs frequency synchronization on its local clock based on the first frequency synchronization information, and the second RU performs frequency synchronization on its local clock based on the second frequency synchronization information, so that the frequency difference between the operating frequency of the local clock of the first RU and the operating frequency of the local clock of the second RU does not exceed the specified frequency difference threshold. The frequency difference between the operating frequency of the local clock of the first RU and the operating frequency of the local clock of the second RU is also called a frequency deviation, and the frequency deviation does not exceed the specified frequency difference threshold.

[0143] The first RU synchronizes its local clock based on the first time synchronization information, and the second RU synchronizes its local clock based on the second frequency synchronization signal. Because the frequency offset between the local clocks of the first RU and the second RU does not exceed the specified frequency difference threshold, the time difference between the current time being measured by the local clocks of the first RU and the second RU does not exceed the specified time difference threshold. Therefore, the synchronized local clocks of the first RU and the synchronized local clocks of the second RU meet the first specified condition. That is, the time difference between the current time being measured by the local clocks of the first RU and the second RU is less than the specified time difference threshold.

[0144] 6052: The first RU sends the first correction information to the second RU and obtains the first sending time T1 from the local clock of the first RU. The first sending time T1 is the time when the first correction information is sent.

[0145] The first RU sends the first correction information to the second RU through the downlink channel of the first RU.

[0146] 6053: The second RU receives the first correction information and obtains the first receiving time T2 from the local clock of the second RU. The first receiving time T2 is the time when the first correction information is received.

[0147] The second RU receives the first correction information sent by the first RU through the uplink channel of the second RU.

[0148] 6054: The second RU sends second correction information to the first RU.

[0149] The second RU sends the second correction information through the uplink channel of the second RU.

[0150] In 6054, the second RU obtains the second sending time T3 from the local clock of the second RU. The second sending time T3 is the time when the second RU sends the second correction information.

[0151] In some embodiments, the second correction information includes the first receiving time T2 and the second sending time T3. Alternatively, the second RU sends the first receiving time T2 and the second sending time T3 to the first RU.

[0152] 6055: The first RU receives the second correction information and obtains the second receiving time T4, the first receiving time T2, and the second sending time T3. The second receiving time T4 is the time when the second correction information is received.

[0153] In step 6055, upon receiving the second correction information, the first RU obtains the second reception time T4 from its local clock. The second correction information includes the first reception time T2 and the second transmission time T3. The first RU obtains the first reception time T2 and the second transmission time T3 from the second correction information. Alternatively, the first RU receives the first reception time T2 and the second transmission time T3 sent by the second RU.

[0154] 6056: The first RU obtains the delay difference between the transmission delay of the first channel and the transmission delay of the second channel based on T1, T2, T3, and T4.

[0155] The transmission delay of the first channel is equal to T2-T1, the transmission delay of the second channel is equal to T4-T3, and the delay difference between the transmission delay of the first channel and the transmission delay of the second channel is equal to (T2-T1)-T4-T3.

[0156] Because the time difference between the current timing of the local clock of the first RU and the current timing of the local clock of the second RU is less than the specified time difference threshold, the obtained T1, T2, T3, and T4 are more accurate, which improves the accuracy of obtaining the delay difference and thus improves the accuracy of channel correction.

[0157] 6057: The first RU performs channel correction based on the delay difference.

[0158] In some embodiments, the first RU compensates for the transmission delay of the first channel or the transmission delay of the second channel based on the delay difference, so that the transmission delay of the first channel is equal to the transmission delay of the second channel, so as to perform channel correction processing on the first channel and the second channel, and make the first channel and the second channel reciprocal.

[0159] In some embodiments, the first RU sends the delay difference to the second RU, and the second RU compensates for the transmission delay of the first channel or the transmission delay of the second channel based on the delay difference, so that the transmission delay of the first channel and the transmission delay of the second channel are equal, so as to perform channel correction processing on the first channel and the second channel, making the first channel and the second channel reciprocal.

[0160] After the first RU performs channel correction, the first and second RUs communicate with the first UE, and then with the second UE. The first UE can receive signals from the first and second RUs, as well as signals sent to the second UE. However, at the first UE, the signals sent from the first and second RUs to the second UE are canceled out. Similarly, the second UE can receive signals from the first and second RUs, as well as signals sent to the first UE. However, at the second UE, the signals sent from the first and second RUs to the first UE are canceled out, enabling the first and second RUs to coordinate communication with the UEs.

[0161] In an embodiment of the present application, the first RU is connected to m network devices, and the second RU is connected to n network devices. The first RU determines that the same device exists between the m network devices and the n network devices based on the device identifiers of the m network devices sent by the first network device and the device identifiers of the n network devices sent by the second RU. In the case of determining that the same device exists between the m network devices and the n network devices, it can be concluded that the network device directly connected to the first RU is the same as the network device directly connected to the second RU, or the network device directly connected to the first RU and the network device directly connected to the second RU are associated, for example, the network device directly connected to the first RU and the network device directly connected to the second RU are in an upstream and downstream relationship, or the network device directly connected to the first RU and the network device directly connected to the second RU have a common upstream device. In this way, the first RU makes the first synchronization information received by the first RU and the second synchronization information received by the second RU meet the above-mentioned second specified condition, the first RU synchronizes the local clock of the first RU based on the first synchronization information, and the second RU synchronizes the local clock of the second RU based on the second synchronization information, so that the difference between the local clock of the first RU and the local clock of the second RU is very small, close to 0. In this way, the first RU and the second RU communicate in a coordinated manner, that is, the first RU and the second RU perform channel calibration, thereby improving the accuracy of the channel calibration and making the channels between the first RU and the second RU reciprocal.

[0162] See also Figure 9, the embodiment of the present application provides a communication device 900, the device 900 is deployed on the RU in any of the above embodiments. For example, deployed on the above Figure 1 or Figure 2 On RU1, RU2 or RU3 in the network architecture shown, or deployed on the Figure 3 、 Figure 4 、 Figure 5 、 Figure 6 or Figure 7 In the embodiment shown, the device 900 includes:

[0163] A receiving unit 901 is configured to receive device identifiers of m network devices sent by a first network device, where the m network devices include the first network device and are connected to each other, and m is an integer greater than 0;

[0164] The receiving unit 901 is further configured to receive device identifiers of n network devices sent by the second RU, the second RU being connected to the n network devices, where n is an integer greater than 0;

[0165] A processing unit 902 is configured to determine, based on the m device identifiers and the n device identifiers, whether the m network devices and the n network devices are identical devices;

[0166] The processing unit 902 is further configured to perform collaborative communication processing, where the collaborative communication processing is configured to enable collaborative communication between the apparatus 900 and the second RU.

[0167] Optionally, for a detailed implementation process of the receiving unit 901 receiving the m device identifiers and the n device identifiers, see Figure 6 The relevant contents of steps 601 to 603 in the method 600 are not described in detail here.

[0168] Optionally, the detailed implementation process of the processing unit 902 determining the same device and performing the collaborative communication process is as follows: Figure 6 The relevant contents of step 604 and step 605 in the method 600 are not described in detail here.

[0169] Optionally, the receiving unit 901 is further configured to receive time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information sent by the first network device.

[0170] The processing unit 902 is configured to perform channel correction processing based on the time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information, where the channel correction processing is used to correct a channel between the apparatus 900 and the second RU.

[0171] Optionally, for a detailed implementation process of the receiving unit 901 receiving the time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information, see Figure 6The relevant contents in step 604 of the method 600 are not described in detail here.

[0172] Optionally, the detailed implementation process of the channel correction processing performed by the processing unit 902 is as follows: Figure 6 The relevant contents in step 605 of the method 600 are not described in detail here.

[0173] Optionally, the channel between the device 900 and the second RU includes a first channel and a second channel, the first channel includes a downlink channel of the device 900 and an uplink channel of the second RU, and the second channel includes a downlink channel of the second RU and an uplink channel of the device 900.

[0174] The processing unit 902 is configured to measure a delay difference between a transmission delay of the first channel and a transmission delay of the second channel based on the time synchronization information and / or the frequency synchronization information; and perform channel correction processing based on the delay difference.

[0175] Optionally, for a detailed implementation of the delay difference measurement by the processing unit 902, see Figure 6 The relevant contents of steps 6051-6056 in the method 600 are not described in detail here.

[0176] Optionally, the processing unit 902 is configured to compensate for the transmission delay of the first channel or the transmission delay of the second channel based on the delay difference.

[0177] Optionally, the detailed implementation process of the processing unit 902 compensating the transmission delay of the first channel or the transmission delay of the second channel is as follows: Figure 6 The relevant contents in step 6057 in the method 600 are not described in detail here.

[0178] Optionally, the apparatus 900 further includes a sending unit 903;

[0179] The sending unit 903 is configured to send the delay difference to the second RU, where the delay difference is used to compensate for the transmission delay of the first channel or the transmission delay of the second channel.

[0180] Optionally, the processing unit 902 is further configured to suppress noise in the time synchronization information and / or noise in the frequency synchronization information.

[0181] Optionally, for a detailed implementation of the noise suppression by the processing unit 902, see Figure 6 The relevant contents in step 604 of the method 600 are not described in detail here.

[0182] Optionally, the receiving unit 901 is configured to receive time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information sent by a second network device through a first network device, where the second network device is an upstream device of the first network device.

[0183] Optionally, for a detailed implementation process of the receiving unit 901 receiving the time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information, see Figure 6 The relevant contents in step 604 of the method 600 are not described in detail here.

[0184] Optionally, the first network device is a fronthaul device directly connected to the apparatus 900 .

[0185] Optionally, the n network devices include a first network device, and the first network device is a fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU; or,

[0186] The n network devices include a third network device, where the third network device is a fronthaul device connected to the second RU, and the first network device is an upstream device of the third network device.

[0187] Optionally, the m network devices also include a second network device, which is an upstream device of the first network device, and the n network devices include a second network device, which is a fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU or an upstream device of the fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU.

[0188] Optionally, the processing unit 902 is further configured to add the second RU to a cooperative group, where the RUs in the cooperative group are used for cooperative communication.

[0189] Optionally, for a detailed implementation process of the processing unit 902 adding the second RU to the cooperative group, see Figure 6 The relevant contents in step 603 of the method 600 are not described in detail here.

[0190] Optionally, the manner in which the first network device sends the m device identifiers includes a broadcast manner; and / or the manner in which the second RU sends the n device identifiers includes a broadcast manner.

[0191] In an embodiment of the present application, the apparatus is connected to the m network devices, and the second RU is connected to the n network devices. The processing unit determines that the m network devices and the n network devices are identical based on the device identifiers of the m network devices sent by the first network device and the device identifiers of the n network devices sent by the second RU. Therefore, the network device directly connected to the apparatus and the network device directly connected to the second RU are the same, or the network device directly connected to the apparatus and the network device directly connected to the second RU are associated, and the processing unit communicates with the second RU in a coordinated manner, thereby making the channel between the apparatus and the second RU reciprocal.

[0192] See also Figure 10 , the embodiment of the present application provides a communication device 1000, the device 1000 is deployed on the network device of any of the above embodiments. For example, deployed on the above Figure 1 or Figure 2 On the network devices (such as network device 1, network device 2, ...) in the network architecture shown, or deployed on the above Figure 3 、 Figure 4 、 Figure 5 、 Figure 6 or Figure 7 In the embodiment shown, the first network device, the second network device, or the third network device, etc. The apparatus 1000 includes:

[0193] The sending unit 1001 is used to send the device identifications of m network devices to the first wireless unit RU, where the m network devices include the device 1000, and the m network devices are connected to each other, where m is an integer greater than 0. The m device identifications are used to trigger the first RU to perform collaborative communication processing, and the collaborative communication processing is used to realize collaborative communication between the first RU and the second RU, and the second RU is connected to n network devices, where n is an integer greater than 0, and the same device exists between the m network devices and the n network devices.

[0194] Optionally, for the detailed implementation process of the sending unit 1001 sending the device identifications of m network devices, see Figure 6 The relevant contents in step 601 of the method 600 are not described in detail here.

[0195] Optionally, the sending unit 1001 is further configured to send time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information to the first RU.

[0196] Optionally, for a detailed implementation process of the sending unit 1001 sending the time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information, see Figure 6 The relevant contents in step 604 of the method 600 are not described in detail here.

[0197] Optionally, the apparatus 1000 further includes a processing unit 1002,

[0198] The processing unit 1002 is configured to filter the noise of the time synchronization information and / or the noise of the frequency synchronization information.

[0199] Optionally, for a detailed implementation of the noise filtering by the processing unit 1002, see Figure 6 The relevant contents in step 604 of the method 600 are not described in detail here.

[0200] Optionally, the apparatus 1000 is a fronthaul device connected to the first RU.

[0201] Optionally, the m network devices also include a second network device, which is an upstream device of the apparatus 1000, and the n network devices include a second network device, which is a fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU or an upstream device of the fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU.

[0202] Optionally, the n network devices include the apparatus 1000, and the apparatus is a fronthaul device connected to the second RU; or,

[0203] The n network devices include the apparatus 1000 and a third network device. The third network device is a fronthaul device connected to the second RU, and the apparatus 1000 is an upstream device of the third network device.

[0204] Optionally, the manner in which the sending unit 1001 sends the m device identifiers includes a broadcasting manner.

[0205] In an embodiment of the present application, the first RU is connected to the m network devices, and the second RU is connected to the n network devices. Since the transceiver unit sends the device identifiers of the m network devices to the first RU, the first RU determines that the m network devices and the n network devices are identical devices based on the device identifiers of the m network devices sent by the transceiver unit and the device identifiers of the n network devices sent by the second RU. Therefore, the network device directly connected to the first RU and the network device directly connected to the second RU are the same, or the network device directly connected to the first RU and the network device directly connected to the second RU are associated, so that the first RU and the second RU can communicate in a coordinated manner, and the channels between the first RU and the second RU can be reciprocated.

[0206] See also Figure 11 , the present application embodiment provides a schematic diagram of a communication device 1100. The device 1100 may be the RU in any of the above embodiments. For example, the device 1100 may be the above Figure 1 or Figure 2 On RU1, RU2 or RU3 in the network architecture shown, or Figure 3 、 Figure 4 、 Figure 5 、 Figure 6 or Figure 7 The first RU or the second RU in the illustrated embodiment. The apparatus 1100 includes at least one processor 1101 , internal connections 1102 , a memory 1103 and at least one transceiver 1104 .

[0207] The device 1100 is a hardware structure device that can be used to implement Figure 9The functional modules in the device 900 are as follows. For example, those skilled in the art may think of Figure 9 The processing unit 902 in the device 900 shown can be implemented by the at least one processor 1101 calling the code in the memory 1103. Figure 9 The receiving unit 901 and the sending unit 903 in the device 900 shown can be implemented by the transceiver 1104 .

[0208] Optionally, the device 1100 may also be used to implement the functions of the RU (such as the first RU described above) in any of the above embodiments.

[0209] Optionally, the processor 1101 may be a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a network processor (NP), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of the program of the present application.

[0210] The internal connection 1102 may include a path for transmitting information between the components. Optionally, the internal connection 1102 is a single board or a bus.

[0211] The transceiver 1104 is used to communicate with other devices or communication networks.

[0212] The above-mentioned memory 1103 can be a read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage devices that can store static information and instructions, a random access memory (RAM) or other types of dynamic storage devices that can store information and instructions, or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, optical disc storage (including compressed optical disc, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc, Blu-ray disc, etc.), a magnetic disk storage medium or other magnetic storage device, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and can be accessed by a computer, but is not limited to this. The memory can exist independently and be connected to the processor through a bus. The memory can also be integrated with the processor.

[0213] The memory 1103 is used to store application code for executing the solution of the present application, and the execution is controlled by the processor 1101. The processor 1101 is used to execute the application code stored in the memory 1103 and cooperate with at least one transceiver 1104, so that the device 1100 can implement the functions of the method of the present invention.

[0214] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the processor 1101 may include one or more CPUs, such as Figure 11 CPU0 and CPU1 in.

[0215] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the apparatus 1100 may include multiple processors, such as Figure 11 1 and 1107. Each of these processors may be a single-CPU processor or a multi-CPU processor. A processor herein may refer to one or more devices, circuits, and / or processing cores for processing data (e.g., computer program instructions).

[0216] See also Figure 12 , the present application embodiment provides a schematic diagram of a communication device 1200. The device 1200 can be a network device in any of the above embodiments. For example, the device 1200 can be the above Figure 1 or Figure 2 The network devices in the network architecture shown (such as network device 1, network device 2, ...), or the above Figure 3 、 Figure 4 、 Figure 5 、 Figure 6 or Figure 7 The first network device, the second network device or the third network device in the illustrated embodiment, etc. The apparatus 1200 includes at least one processor 1201 , an internal connection 1202 , a memory 1203 and at least one transceiver 1204 .

[0217] The device 1200 is a hardware structure device that can be used to implement Figure 10 The functional modules in the device 1000 are as follows. For example, those skilled in the art may think of Figure 10 The processing unit 1002 in the device 1000 shown can be implemented by the at least one processor 1201 calling the code in the memory 1203. Figure 10 The sending unit 1001 in the device 1000 shown can be implemented by the transceiver 1204 .

[0218] Optionally, the apparatus 1200 may also be used to implement the functions of the network device (such as the first network device) in any of the above embodiments.

[0219] Optionally, the processor 1201 may be a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a network processor (NP), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of the program of the present application.

[0220] The internal connection 1202 may include a path for transmitting information between the components. Optionally, the internal connection 1202 is a single board or a bus.

[0221] The transceiver 1204 is used to communicate with other devices or communication networks.

[0222] The memory 1203 may be a read-only memory (ROM) or other static storage device capable of storing static information and instructions, a random access memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage device capable of storing information and instructions, or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, an optical disc storage (including a compact disc, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc, Blu-ray disc, etc.), a magnetic disk storage medium or other magnetic storage device, or any other medium capable of carrying or storing desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and capable of being accessed by a computer, but not limited thereto. The memory may be independent and connected to the processor via a bus. The memory may also be integrated with the processor.

[0223] The memory 1203 is used to store application code for executing the solution of the present application, and the execution is controlled by the processor 1201. The processor 1201 is used to execute the application code stored in the memory 1203 and cooperate with at least one transceiver 1204, so that the device 1200 can implement the functions of the method of the present invention.

[0224] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the processor 1201 may include one or more CPUs, such as Figure 12 CPU0 and CPU1 in.

[0225] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the apparatus 1200 may include multiple processors, such as Figure 12 1 and 1207. Each of these processors may be a single-CPU processor or a multi-CPU processor. A processor herein may refer to one or more devices, circuits, and / or processing cores for processing data (e.g., computer program instructions).

[0226] See also Figure 13 , the embodiment of the present application provides a communication system 1300, the system 1300 includes the following Figure 9 The device 900 shown and Figure 10 The device 1000 shown, or the system 1300 includes Figure 11 The device 1100 shown and Figure 12 The device 1200 is shown.

[0227] Alternatively, as Figure 9 The device 900 shown or Figure 11 The device 1100 shown is a first RU 1301, such as Figure 10 The device 1000 shown or Figure 12 The illustrated apparatus 1200 is a first network device 1302 .

[0228] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the steps to implement the above embodiments may be accomplished by hardware, or by a program to instruct the relevant hardware, and the program may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, which may be a read-only memory, a disk, or an optical disk, etc.

[0229] The above description is merely an optional embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the present application. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the principles of the present application shall be included in the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: The first wireless unit RU receives device identifiers of m network devices sent by a first network device, where the m network devices include the first network device and are connected to each other, and m is an integer greater than 0; The first RU receives device identifiers of n network devices sent by the second RU, and the second RU is connected to the n network devices, where n is an integer greater than 0; The first RU determines, based on the m device identifiers and the n device identifiers, that the m network devices and the n network devices are identical devices; The first RU performs collaborative communication processing, where the collaborative communication processing is used to implement collaborative communication between the first RU and the second RU.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The first RU performs collaborative communication processing, including: The first RU receives time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information sent by the first network device; The first RU performs a channel correction process based on the time synchronization information and / or the frequency synchronization information, where the channel correction process is used to correct a channel between the first RU and the second RU.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein The channel between the first RU and the second RU includes a first channel and a second channel, the first channel includes a downlink channel of the first RU and an uplink channel of the second RU, and the second channel includes a downlink channel of the second RU and an uplink channel of the first RU; The first RU performing channel correction processing based on the time synchronization information and / or the frequency synchronization information, including: The first RU measures, based on the time synchronization information and / or the frequency synchronization information, a delay difference between a transmission delay of the first channel and a transmission delay of the second channel; The first RU performs the channel correction process based on the delay difference.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein The first RU performs the channel correction process based on the delay difference, including: The first RU compensates for the transmission delay of the first channel or the transmission delay of the second channel based on the delay difference; or The first RU sends the delay difference to the second RU, where the delay difference is used to compensate for the transmission delay of the first channel or the transmission delay of the second channel.

5. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that Before the first RU performs channel correction based on the time synchronization information and / or the frequency synchronization information, the method further includes: The first RU suppresses noise of the time synchronization information and / or noise of the frequency synchronization information.

6. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein: The first RU receiving the time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information sent by the first network device includes: The first RU receives the time synchronization information and / or the frequency synchronization information sent by a second network device through the first network device, where the second network device is an upstream device of the first network device.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The first network device is a fronthaul device directly connected to the first RU.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein The n network devices include the first network device, and the first network device is a fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU; or The n network devices include a third network device, where the third network device is a fronthaul device connected to the second RU, and the first network device is an upstream device of the third network device.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein The m network devices also include a second network device, which is an upstream device of the first network device. The n network devices include the second network device, which is a fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU or an upstream device of the fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first RU adds the second RU to a cooperative group, where the RUs in the cooperative group are used for cooperative communication.

11. The method of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 or 9, wherein: The manner in which the first network device sends the m device identifiers includes a broadcast manner; and / or the manner in which the second RU sends the n device identifiers includes a broadcast manner.

12. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: The first network device sends the device identifications of m network devices to the first wireless unit RU, where the m network devices include the first network device and are connected to each other, where m is an integer greater than 0. The m device identifications are used to trigger the first RU to perform collaborative communication processing, where the collaborative communication processing is used to achieve collaborative communication between the first RU and the second RU, where the second RU is connected to n network devices, where n is an integer greater than 0, and the same device exists between the m network devices and the n network devices.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein: The method further comprises: The first network device sends time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information to the first RU.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein Before the first network device sends the time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information to the first RU, the method further includes: The first network device filters noise of the time synchronization information and / or noise of the frequency synchronization information.

15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein: The first network device is a fronthaul device connected to the first RU.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein The m network devices also include a second network device, which is an upstream device of the first network device. The n network devices include the second network device, which is a fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU or an upstream device of the fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein The n network devices include the first network device, and the first network device is a fronthaul device connected to the second RU; or The n network devices include a first network device and a third network device, the third network device is a fronthaul device connected to the second RU, and the first network device is an upstream device of the third network device.

18. The method of claim 12, 13, 14, 16 or 17, wherein: The manner in which the first network device sends the m device identifiers includes a broadcasting manner.

19. A communication device, characterized in that: The system comprises at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to be coupled to a memory, read and execute instructions in the memory, so as to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 18.

20. A communication system, characterized in that: The method comprises a first wireless unit RU and a first network device, wherein the first RU is used to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, and the first network device is used to execute the method according to any one of claims 12 to 18.

21. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, characterized in that: When the computer program is executed by a computer, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 18 is implemented.

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