Communication methods, devices and systems for terminal equipment

Abstract

This application provides a communication method, apparatus, and system. The method includes: a first terminal device sending a first message to a first area, the first area satisfying at least one of the following: the first area is located in a first direction from the first terminal device, or the distance between the first area and the first terminal device is within a first distance range; the first terminal device receiving one or more response messages, the one or more response messages including identification information of one or more second terminal devices, the one or more second terminal devices being located in the first area; the first terminal device determining that a first response message among the one or more response messages is a response message of a target terminal device, the first response message including the identification information of the target terminal device. Through the above method, the first terminal device can identify a specific target terminal device without knowing the identifier of the target terminal device, ultimately achieving the discovery of the target terminal device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communications, and more particularly to a communication method, apparatus and system for a terminal device. Background Technology

[0002] Device-to-Device (D2D) communication is a method that allows multiple terminal devices to communicate directly. This technology enables these user devices to share spectrum resources under the control of a cell network, effectively improving spectrum resource utilization. This technology supports both one-to-one and one-to-many communication between terminal devices. In one-to-one communication, when the distance between the source and target terminal devices is within the distance range supporting D2D communication (this distance range may vary depending on the application), they can communicate directly after discovering each other.

[0003] Discovery between a source terminal device and a target terminal device can be achieved through D2D discovery parameters. When a source terminal device wants to discover a target terminal device, it includes these discovery parameters in the message it sends for discovery. For example, the discovery parameters can be application-based. At least one terminal device other than the source and target terminal devices also holds these application-based discovery parameters. Therefore, the source terminal device can discover one or more terminal devices, including the target terminal device. However, using this method, without explicitly identifying the target terminal device, the source terminal device cannot distinguish the target terminal device from among these one or more terminal devices. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application describes a communication method, apparatus, and system for a terminal device.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication method for a terminal device, executed by a first terminal device. The method includes: the first terminal device sending a first message to a first area, the first area satisfying at least one of the following: the first area is located in a first direction from the first terminal device, or the distance between the first area and the first terminal device is within a first distance range; the first terminal device receiving one or more response messages, the one or more response messages including identification information of one or more second terminal devices located in the first area; and the first terminal device determining that the first response message in the one or more response messages is a response message of a target terminal device, the first response message including the identification information of the target terminal device. Through the above scheme, the first terminal device sends a first message to one or more second terminal devices in a first area that meet specific conditions, determines from one or more response messages of the one or more second terminal devices that the first response message is a response message of a target terminal device, and obtains the identification information of the target terminal device from the response message of the target terminal device, thereby achieving the discovery of the target terminal device without the first terminal device knowing the identification information of the target terminal device.

[0006] For example, "the one or more response messages include the identification information of one or more second terminal devices" can be understood as "each response message in the one or more response messages includes the identification information of a second terminal device." That is, each of the one or more second terminal devices sends a response message, and each response message sent by a second terminal device includes its own identification information. The above description also applies to the methods provided in other aspects of this application, and will not be repeated here.

[0007] For example, sending a first message to a first area can be understood as sending a first message to one or more second terminal devices in the first area, or as sending a first message to one or more second terminal devices in a first direction, or as sending a first message to one or more second terminal devices within a first distance range from the first terminal device.

[0008] In one possible implementation, the first terminal device determines that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device, including: the first terminal device's proximity-based service layer determines that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device.

[0009] In one possible implementation, the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device determines that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device. This includes: the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device receiving the distance between one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device from the access layer of the first terminal device; and the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device determining that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device based on the first distance range and the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device. It is understood that "the distance between one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device" in this implementation can be understood as "the distance between each of the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device," meaning that the distance may vary depending on the second terminal device. The above description also applies to the methods provided in this application and other aspects, and will not be repeated here. Specifically, the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device selects the response message of the target terminal device, i.e., the first response message, from the one or more response messages by comparing the first distance range and the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device. Specifically, the distance between the target terminal device and the first terminal device must satisfy a first distance range. In other words, if the distance between a terminal device and the first terminal device satisfies the first distance range, then that terminal device is the target terminal device; if the distance between the terminal device and the first terminal device does not satisfy the first distance range, then that terminal device is not the target terminal device, and its response message is also not a response message from the target terminal device. This specific implementation also applies to the description in this aspect or other aspects of this application regarding how to "determine that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device based on the first distance range and the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device," and will not be repeated here.

[0010] In one possible implementation, the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device determines that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device, including: the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device receiving the flight time between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device from the access layer of the first terminal device; the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device determining the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device based on the flight time between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device; and the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device determining that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device based on the first distance range and the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device. Specifically, the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device calculates the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device by multiplying the flight time between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device by the speed of light, according to the formula described above. This specific implementation also applies to the description in this application or other aspects regarding how to "determine the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device based on the flight time between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device". Similarly, the flight time in this embodiment refers to the flight time between one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device. It is understood that each second terminal device has a flight time with the first terminal device; that is, the flight time is one or more, depending on the number of second terminal devices, which will not be elaborated further below.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the first terminal device determines that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device, including: the access layer of the first terminal device determines that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device. This implementation can reduce the interaction between the access layer of the first terminal device and the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device, and reduce the complexity of the internal processing of the terminal device.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the access layer of the first terminal device determines that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device, including: the access layer of the first terminal device receiving the first distance range from the nearest neighbor-based service layer of the first terminal device; the access layer of the first terminal device determining the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device; and the access layer of the first terminal device determining that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device based on the first distance range and the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device.

[0013] In one possible implementation, the access layer of the first terminal device determines the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device by: the access layer of the first terminal device determining the flight time based on the time point corresponding to the source layer 2 identifier information used to send the first message and the time point corresponding to the destination layer 2 identifier information used to receive the one or more response messages; and the access layer of the first terminal device determining the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device based on the flight time. Specifically, when the access layer of the first terminal device sends the first message using the source layer 2 identifier information, it records the first time point. When the access layer of the first terminal device receives the one or more response messages, it records the destination layer 2 identifier information corresponding to each response message and the second time point corresponding to the receipt of the response message. When the source layer 2 identifier information and the destination layer 2 identifier information are the same, the time difference between the first time point and the second time point is calculated, i.e., the second time information. The first time information carried in the response message is subtracted from the second time information to obtain the third time information. The flight time between the second terminal device and the first terminal device is obtained by dividing the third time information by 2. The same applies to other second terminal devices.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the first terminal device sends a first message to a first region, comprising: the access layer of the first terminal device receiving the first message and demand information from the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device; and the access layer of the first terminal device sending the first message to the first region according to the demand information. It is understood that the access layer of the first terminal device sends the first message to the first region according to the requirements of the demand information, ensuring that the first region satisfies the aforementioned conditions; in other words, the location of the target terminal device and the first terminal device is consistent with the demand information. Through this implementation method, the first terminal device sends a message to the region where the target terminal device is located, avoiding the receipt and feedback of response messages by more non-target terminal devices, and reducing the complexity of subsequently determining the response message of the target terminal device.

[0015] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a communication method for a terminal device, executed by a first terminal device. The method includes: the first terminal device sending a first message; the first terminal device receiving one or more response messages; the first terminal device determining that the first response message among the one or more response messages is a response message of a target terminal device, the first response message including identification information of the target terminal device, wherein the first response message satisfies at least one of the following: the first response message originates from a first direction, or the distance between the target terminal device and the first terminal device obtained from the first response message is within a first distance range. Through the above scheme, the first terminal device sends a first message to one or more second terminal devices, the first message being an omnidirectional message; the first terminal device determines that the first response message is a response message of a target terminal device from one or more response messages of the one or more second terminal devices, and obtains the identification information of the target terminal device from the response message of the target terminal device, thereby achieving the discovery of the target terminal device without the first terminal device knowing the identification information of the target terminal device.

[0016] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the one or more response messages include the identifiers of one or more second terminal devices, wherein the target terminal device is one of the one or more second terminal devices.

[0017] In one possible implementation, the first terminal device determines that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device, including: the first terminal device's proximity-based service layer determines that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device.

[0018] In one possible implementation, the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device determines that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device, including: the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device receiving the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device from the access layer of the first terminal device; the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device determining that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device based on the first distance range and the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device.

[0019] In one possible implementation, the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device determines that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device, including: the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device receiving the flight time between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device from the access layer of the first terminal device; the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device determining the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device based on the flight time between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device; and the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device determining that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device based on the first distance range and the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device.

[0020] In one possible implementation, the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device determines that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device, including: the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device receiving the direction between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device from the access layer of the first terminal device; the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device determining that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device based on the first direction and the direction between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device. It is understood that "the direction between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device" in this implementation can be understood as "the direction between each of the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device," that is, the direction may vary depending on the second terminal device. The above description also applies to the methods provided in this aspect and other aspects of this application, and will not be repeated here. Specifically, the neighbor-based service layer of the first terminal device compares a first direction with the direction between the first terminal device and one or more second terminal devices. When the direction between the first terminal device and one or more second terminal devices is the same as the first direction, or within an allowable error range deviating from the first direction, the neighbor-based service layer of the first terminal device selects a second terminal device (i.e., the target terminal device) that meets the above conditions, thus determining that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device. This specific implementation also applies to the description in this aspect or other aspects of this application regarding how "the neighbor-based service layer of the first terminal device determines that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device based on the first direction and the direction between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device," and will not be repeated here.

[0021] In one possible implementation, the first terminal device determines that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device, including: the access layer of the first terminal device determines that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device.

[0022] In one possible implementation, the access layer of the first terminal device determines that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device, including: the access layer of the first terminal device receiving the first direction from the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device; the access layer of the first terminal device determining the direction between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device; and the access layer of the first terminal device determining that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device based on the first direction and the direction between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device.

[0023] In one possible implementation, the access layer of the first terminal device determines that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device, including: the access layer of the first terminal device receiving the first distance range from the nearest neighbor-based service layer of the first terminal device; the access layer of the first terminal device determining the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device; and the access layer of the first terminal device determining that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device based on the first distance range and the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device.

[0024] In one possible implementation, the one or more response messages include time information used to determine the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device. For example, the time information could be the time difference between the time when the second terminal device receives the first message and the time when it sends the response message.

[0025] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the first terminal device acquiring demand information, the demand information including at least one of the following: directional demand information for determining the first direction, or distance demand information for determining the first distance range.

[0026] In one possible implementation, the first terminal device obtains the demand information by having its proximity-based service layer acquire the demand information. For example, in one optional implementation, the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device generates the demand information based on instruction information from the terminal device.

[0027] In one possible implementation, the neighbor-based service layer of the first terminal device obtains the demand information by obtaining the demand information from the application layer of the first terminal device.

[0028] In one possible implementation, the distance requirement information includes at least one of the following: a first distance range, or a first power used to determine the first distance range. For example, the first power is the transmission power of the first terminal device, which can determine the first distance range.

[0029] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device including a processor; the processor is configured to read from a memory and run a program to implement the method as described in the first aspect above or any possible implementation, or to implement the method as described in the second aspect above or any possible implementation.

[0030] Fourthly, embodiments of this application provide a communication system including a first terminal device, which can perform the method of the first aspect or any possible implementation, or implement the method of the second aspect or any possible implementation above.

[0031] Fifthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer program product containing instructions that, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as described in the first aspect or any possible implementation, or the method as described in the second aspect or any possible implementation.

[0032] In a sixth aspect, embodiments of this application provide a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause a processor to perform the method as described in the first aspect or any possible implementation, or the method as described in the second aspect or any possible implementation. Attached Figure Description

[0033] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the network architecture of a ProSe communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application;

[0034] Figure 2A This is a schematic diagram illustrating a mode for discovering a target terminal device applicable to an embodiment of this application;

[0035] Figure 2B This is a schematic diagram illustrating another mode for discovering target terminal devices applicable to the embodiments of this application;

[0036] Figure 2C This is a schematic diagram illustrating an application scenario applicable to an embodiment of this application;

[0037] Figure 2DThis is a schematic diagram of a ranging method applicable to an embodiment of this application;

[0038] Figure 2E This is a schematic diagram illustrating an arrival angle and departure angle applicable to an embodiment of this application;

[0039] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating a method for discovering a target terminal device according to an embodiment of this application.

[0040] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating another method for discovering a target terminal device according to an embodiment of this application.

[0041] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating another method for discovering a target terminal device according to an embodiment of this application.

[0042] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating another method for discovering a target terminal device according to an embodiment of this application.

[0043] Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating another method for discovering a target terminal device according to an embodiment of this application.

[0044] Figure 8 This is a flowchart illustrating another method for discovering a target terminal device according to an embodiment of this application.

[0045] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided according to an embodiment of this application;

[0046] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided according to an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0047] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the embodiments of this application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application can be applied to various communication systems, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) systems, LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD) systems, 5th Generation (5G) mobile communication systems, or New Radio (NR) systems, or to future communication systems or other similar communication systems. The network architecture and service scenarios described in this application are for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solutions of this application and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided by this application. Those skilled in the art will understand that with the evolution of network architecture and the emergence of new service scenarios, the technical solutions provided by this application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0048] Device-to-device (DTM) communication is a method that allows multiple terminal devices to communicate directly. This technology enables these user devices to share spectrum resources under the control of a cell network, effectively improving spectrum resource utilization. The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards organization has developed DTM standards, also known as Proximity-based Services (ProSe). ProSe includes ProSe discovery, which can be called terminal device discovery, or target terminal device discovery. Its purpose is to enable a source terminal device that supports ProSe to discover another adjacent terminal device (target terminal device) that also supports ProSe. Through target terminal device discovery, the source terminal device and the target terminal device can communicate via the PC5 (ProSe Communication 5) interface.

[0049] Taking fifth-generation mobile communication systems as an example, ProSe is based on Figure 1 The network architecture of the communication system shown is used to implement this. Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the network architecture of a ProSe communication system, which includes a ProSe application server, a core network, a radio access network (RAN), and terminal equipment.

[0050] The ProSe Application Server is a server used to provide application services for ProSe. This server communicates with terminal devices through protocol data unit (PDU) sessions.

[0051] The core network may include one or more of the following network elements: access and mobility management function (AMF) network elements, session management function (SMF) network elements, user plane function (UPF) network elements, and 5G Direct Discovery Name Management Function (5G DDNMF) network elements. These network elements may also be referred to as devices, equipment, or entities, and this application does not limit this. For example, the 5G DDNMF network element may also be referred to as a 5G DDNMF device, 5G DDNMF equipment, or 5G DDNMF entity. For the convenience of the following description, abbreviations will be used; for example, "5G Direct Discovery Name Management Function network element" will be abbreviated as "5G DDNMF," and the same applies to other network elements.

[0052] AMF is responsible for mobility management of terminal devices. For example, mobility management includes mobility state management, assigning temporary user identities, authenticating and authorizing users, etc.

[0053] SMF is responsible for selecting and reselecting UPFs, allocating Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, establishing, modifying, or releasing PDU sessions, and controlling Quality of Service (QoS).

[0054] UPF is used for packet detection, routing, and forwarding. For example, UPF can act as an uplink classifier (ULCL) to support traffic splitting and forwarding to the data network, or UPF can act as a branching point (BP) to support multi-homed PDU sessions.

[0055] The 5G DDNMF is used for ProSe discovery, allocating discovery parameters to ProSe-enabled terminal devices. Typically, operators deploy one 5G DDNMF within a public land mobile network (PLMN). The 5G DDNMF interacts with the ProSe application server via the PC2 (ProSe Communication 2) interface, which is used by the 5G DDNMF to obtain ProSe discovery authorization information from the ProSe application server. The 5G DDNMF also interacts with terminal devices via the PC3 (ProSe Communication 3) interface, which is used by the terminal devices to obtain ProSe discovery parameters from the 5G DDNMF.

[0056] Each of the above network elements can be implemented by specified hardware, or by software instances on specified hardware, or by virtual functions instantiated on a suitable platform. Furthermore, each of the above network elements can be configured in a combined manner or separately, and this invention does not limit this.

[0057] The RAN (Radio Access Network) is used to implement wireless-related functions. Nodes in the RAN, also known as access network devices or base stations, are used to connect terminal devices to the wireless network. These access network devices can be base stations, evolved NodeBs (eNodeBs) in LTE systems or evolved LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) systems, next-generation NodeBs (gNBs) in 5G communication systems, transmission reception points (TRPs), base band units (BBUs), WiFi access points (APs), base stations in future mobile communication systems, or access nodes in WiFi systems. The wireless access network device can also be a module or unit that performs some of the functions of a base station; for example, it can be a central unit (CU) or a distributed unit (DU). This application does not limit the specific technology or device form used in the wireless access network device. For example, in one network structure, the wireless access network device can be a CU node, a DU node, or an access network device including both CU and DU nodes. Specifically, CU nodes are used to support protocols such as radio resource control (RRC), packet data convergence protocol (PDCP), and service data adaptation protocol (SDAP); DU nodes are used to support radio link control (RLC) layer protocols, medium access control (MAC) layer protocols, and physical layer protocols.

[0058] A terminal device is a device with wireless transceiver capabilities. It connects wirelessly to access network devices to access the communication system. Terminal devices can also be called terminals, user equipment (UE), mobile stations, mobile terminals, etc. Terminal devices can be mobile phones, tablets, computers with wireless transceiver capabilities, virtual reality terminal devices, augmented reality terminal devices, wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals in autonomous driving, wireless terminals in remote surgery, wireless terminals in smart grids, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart cities, or wireless terminals in smart homes, etc. This application does not limit the specific technology or device form used in the terminal device. As an example and not a limitation, the terminal device can also be a wearable device. Wearable devices, also called wearable smart devices or smart wearable devices, are a general term for devices that utilize wearable technology to intelligently design and develop everyday wearables, such as glasses, gloves, watches, clothing, and shoes. Wearable devices are portable devices worn directly on the body or integrated into the user's clothing or accessories. Wearable devices are not merely hardware devices; they achieve powerful functions through software support, data interaction, and cloud interaction. Wearable smart devices in a broad sense include those that are feature-rich, large in size, and capable of performing all or part of their functions without relying on a smartphone, such as smartwatches or smart glasses. They also include devices focused on a specific application function that require the use of other devices, such as smart bracelets, smart helmets, and smart jewelry for vital sign monitoring. Terminal devices can also be onboard modules, components, chips, or units integrated into a vehicle as one or more parts or units. The vehicle can implement the methods of this application through these built-in onboard modules, components, chips, or units.

[0059] Currently, methods for detecting target terminal devices can be used. Figure 2A and Figure 2B The pattern shown is implemented.

[0060] Figure 2A This is a schematic diagram of a mode for discovering target terminal devices, such as... Figure 2A As shown, this mode includes the following steps:

[0061] In step 201a, terminal device 1 (Discoverer UE) sends a discovery message. For example, this discovery message is a solicitation message. Correspondingly, terminal devices 2 and 3 (Discoveree UE) listen for and receive the discovery message.

[0062] The discovery message is a broadcast message and an omnidirectional message, meaning that terminal devices in all directions around terminal device 1 can receive the discovery message.

[0063] The discovery message may include a message type (e.g., Solicitation), a Destination Layer 2 ID, a Source Layer 2 ID, a User InfoID, and discovery parameters. In this discovery message, the Destination Layer 2 ID is a broadcast address, the Source Layer 2 ID is the Layer 2 ID of the terminal device 1, the User InfoID is the identifier of the terminal device 1 (which may be its application layer identifier), and the discovery parameters include a ProSe Application ID or a ProSe Query Code. It should be noted that the ProSe Query Code is the ProSe Query Code corresponding to the target terminal device. Before step 201a, the terminal device 1 obtains the ProSe Query Code corresponding to the target terminal device from the 5G DDNMF.

[0064] In step 202a, terminal device 2 and terminal device 3 send a response message to terminal device 1 in response to the discovery message. The response message may include a message type (e.g., Response), a destination layer 2 identifier, a source layer 2 identifier, a user information identifier, and discovery parameters. In this response message, the destination layer 2 identifier is the source layer 2 identifier from the discovery message in step 201, and the source layer 2 identifier is the destination layer 2 identifier from the discovery message in step 201. The user information identifier is the identifier of the terminal device sending the response message, such as the application layer identifier of terminal device 3. The discovery parameters include a ProSe application ID or a ProSe response code.

[0065] It should be noted that when the discovery parameter in the discovery message is a ProSe application identifier, any terminal device interested in the ProSe application identifier in the discovery parameter can send a response message through step 202. However, when the discovery parameter in the discovery message is a ProSe query codeword, since only specific terminal devices have the ProSe response codeword corresponding to the same ProSe query codeword, only specific terminal devices will send a response message to terminal device 1. The response message includes the ProSe response codeword corresponding to the ProSe query codeword. In other words, when the discovery parameter is a ProSe query codeword, only specific terminal devices can discover each other with terminal device 1 and conduct subsequent ProSe communication.

[0066] Should Figure 2A The method shown can be understood as terminal device 1 actively sending a discovery message to find the target terminal device. When the target terminal device (e.g., terminal device 2 or terminal device 3) determines that the discovery message contains discovery parameters that it can match or is interested in, it sends a response message to terminal device 1.

[0067] Figure 2B This is a schematic diagram of another mode for discovering target terminal devices, such as... Figure 2B As shown, this mode includes the following steps:

[0068] In step 201b, terminal device 1 (Announcing UE) sends a discovery message. For example, this discovery message is an announcement message. Correspondingly, at least one of terminal device 2 or terminal device 3 (Monitoring UE) listens for and receives the discovery message.

[0069] The discovery message may include a message type (i.e., Announcement), a destination Layer 2 identifier, a source Layer 2 identifier, a user information identifier, and discovery parameters. For example, the discovery parameters may include a ProSe application identifier or a ProSe Restricted Code. Similarly, the ProSe Restricted Code is a code corresponding to terminal device 1. Before step 201b, terminal device 1 obtains the ProSe Restricted Code from the 5G DDNMF.

[0070] Subsequently, when at least one of terminal device 2 or terminal device 3 is interested in the discovery parameters in the discovery message (and can match the discovery parameters, such as the ProSe application identifier), it can initiate a connection establishment request to terminal device 1.

[0071] Figure 2B The method shown can be understood as terminal device 1 sending a discovery message to at least one of the surrounding terminal devices 2 or 3, informing terminal device 2 or terminal device 3 that: terminal device 1 wants to initiate a discovery request, and terminal devices that can match the discovery parameters in the discovery message should initiate a connection establishment request to terminal device 1 in the subsequent time.

[0072] Based on the above Figure 2AThe method shown is illustrated below. In actual implementation, the discovery message is generated by the ProSe layer of terminal device 1 and sent to the Access Stratum layer (AS layer) of terminal device 1. The ProSe layer of terminal device 1 also sends the source layer 2 identifier and destination layer 2 identifier to its AS layer for sending the discovery message. The AS layers of terminal devices 2 and 3 receive the discovery message and send it to their respective ProSe layers. Similarly, the response message is also generated by the ProSe layers of terminal devices 2 and 3 and sent to their respective AS layers, which then send the response message to terminal device 1.

[0073] However, during the above process, when the parameter is found to be the ProSe application identifier, terminal device 1 may receive at least two response messages. If terminal device 1 has specific requirements, taking a museum scenario as an example, such as... Figure 2C As shown, when terminal device 1 wants to discover a terminal device attached to a specific exhibit, but terminal device 1 does not know the identification information of the terminal device attached to that specific exhibit (e.g., terminal device 2 is attached to a specific exhibit), terminal device 1 does not know that it is terminal device 2 attached to that specific exhibit, that is, terminal device 1 does not know the identification information of terminal device 2. Terminal device 2 is interested in the discovery parameter (which is the ProSe application identifier) ​​in the discovery message sent by terminal device 1. Terminal devices 1 and 2 can use this discovery parameter to discover the target terminal device, that is, according to... Figure 2A In this mode, terminal device 2 sends a response message to terminal device 1, or according to... Figure 2B In this mode, terminal device 2 initiates a connection establishment request to terminal device 1. However, terminal devices 3 and 4 are also interested in the discovery parameters in the discovery message sent by terminal device 1, and terminal device 1 can also receive messages from terminal devices 3 and 4. At this time, terminal device 1 cannot identify which of terminal devices 2, 3, and 4 is the terminal device attached to a specific exhibit, that is, it cannot identify the target terminal device as terminal device 2, and therefore cannot achieve the discovery of the target terminal device, thus failing to meet the user's needs.

[0074] The problem this application aims to solve is how to discover a specific target terminal device when the terminal device cannot obtain the identification information of the target terminal device in advance. Taking the above example, this application aims to provide a solution that enables terminal device 1 to discover the target terminal device (terminal device 2) in scenarios similar to those described above.

[0075] To make the solution of this application clearer and easier to understand, before introducing the embodiments provided in this application, we will first introduce the two methods involved in this application.

[0076] 1. Methods for measuring distance

[0077] Measuring distance can also be called distance measurement. For convenience, the term "distance measurement" will be used as a shorthand term in the following text.

[0078] The principle of communication-based ranging methods is to calculate the time of flight (TOF) of electromagnetic waves between two terminal devices, and then multiply this TOF by the speed of electromagnetic wave propagation in the medium to obtain the distance between the two terminal devices. In practice, since the medium is air or a vacuum, this speed is generally calculated based on the speed of light.

[0079] like Figure 2D As shown, terminal device 1 is the initiating terminal device. Terminal device 1 sends ranging information and records the time T1 of sending the ranging information. Terminal device 2 is the feedback terminal device. Terminal device 2 receives the ranging information and records the time T3 of receiving the ranging information. After receiving the ranging information, terminal device 2 initiates the sending of feedback information to terminal device 1 and records the initiation time T4. The terminal device calculates the time difference between T4 and T3, i.e., Treply in the figure, which is used as part of the feedback information. The time difference between the initiation action and the sending action can be ignored. When terminal device 1 receives the feedback information from terminal device 2, it records the time T2 and calculates the time difference between T2 and T1, i.e., Tround in the figure. The terminal device can then calculate the Time of Flight (TOF) using the following formula:

[0080] TOF = (Tround - Treply) / 2

[0081] Then, based on this Time-of-Flight (TOF) time, terminal device 1 can calculate the distance between terminal device 1 and terminal device 2 using the following formula:

[0082] Distance = TOF * V, where V can be the speed of light.

[0083] From another perspective, the Time-of-Flight (TOF) can be seen as the average time for a one-way message transmission between two terminal devices.

[0084] 2. Methods for measuring angles

[0085] Methods for measuring the angle between communication-based terminal devices can include measuring the angle of arrival (AoA) and measuring the angle of departure (AoD).

[0086] like Figure 2E As shown, Figure 2E The left figure (a) is a schematic diagram of the departure angle, which is the angle between the direction in which terminal device 1 sends a message to terminal device 2 and the reference direction of terminal device 1.

[0087] Figure 2E The right figure (b) is a schematic diagram of the angle of arrival, which is the angle between the direction in which terminal device 1 receives a message from terminal device 2 and the reference direction of terminal device 1.

[0088] By determining the departure angle or arrival angle, terminal device 1 can determine the direction of terminal device 2 relative to terminal device 1. Therefore, the method of measuring angles can help terminal device 1 determine the relative angle of terminal device 2 to terminal device 1.

[0089] Using the two different methods described above, terminal device 1 can determine the position information of terminal device 2 relative to terminal device 1 by using at least one of distance information or angle information.

[0090] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating a method for discovering a target terminal device according to an embodiment of this application. The terminal device 1 in the above example can be... Figure 3 The source terminal device in the middle, terminal device 2 can be Figure 3 The target terminal device in the process.

[0091] For example, this method includes the following steps:

[0092] Step 301: The application layer (APP layer) of the source terminal device sends the request information to the ProSe layer of the source terminal device.

[0093] This requirement information includes directional information, which is used to discover the target terminal device.

[0094] For example, the direction information can be angle information, where the angle information can be a departure angle. The direction information is used to instruct the source terminal device to send a message at a specific angle with reference to a reference direction. From another perspective, the direction information is used to indicate the direction of the target terminal device relative to the source terminal device. When the source terminal device sends a message according to the direction information, only terminal devices in the direction indicated by the direction information can receive the message.

[0095] Alternatively, in another possible implementation, this requirement information can be generated by the ProSe layer of the source terminal device. For example, the ProSe layer of the source terminal device can generate this requirement information based on user settings.

[0096] Step 302: The ProSe layer of the source terminal device sends a discovery message and demand information to the AS layer of the source terminal device.

[0097] For example, the ProSe layer of the source terminal device generates a discovery message, which may include a message type (e.g., Solicitation) and discovery parameters. These discovery parameters include a ProSe application ID. This ProSe application ID can be obtained from a 5G DDNMF network element or from the application layer of the source terminal device. Optionally, the discovery message may also include identification information of the source terminal device. This identification information can be the application layer identification information of the source terminal device, which identifies a specific terminal device within a certain type of application identified by the ProSe application ID. For example, the ProSe application ID might be used to identify a type of chat software, and the application identification information might be used to identify the terminal device within that type of chat software.

[0098] The ProSe layer of the source terminal device also determines the Destination Layer 2 ID and Source Layer 2 ID used to send the discovery message. The Destination Layer 2 ID is a broadcast address, and the Source Layer 2 ID is the Layer 2 ID of the source terminal device. For example, the ProSe layer of the source terminal device determines the Destination Layer 2 ID used to send the discovery message based on network configuration information. For example, the source terminal device obtains the network configuration information from a policy control function network element (not shown in the figure). This network configuration information includes the correspondence between ProSe application identifiers and Destination Layer 2 IDs, or it may include the correspondence between application identifier information and Destination Layer 2 IDs, or it may be the correspondence between message type and Destination Layer 2 IDs. The message type can be a directed discovery message, a ranging message, or other types of discovery messages, which are not limited herein. For example, the ProSe layer of the source terminal device sends the Destination Layer 2 ID and Source Layer 2 ID used to send the discovery message to the AS layer of the source terminal device.

[0099] In one possible implementation, the discovery message can be replaced with a ranging message or a directional discovery message. That is, the ProSe layer of the source terminal device sends a ranging message or a directional discovery message to the AS layer of the source terminal device. The information included in the ranging message or the directional discovery message can be the same as the information included in the aforementioned discovery message.

[0100] Step 303: Set angle information at the AS layer of the source terminal device.

[0101] For example, the AS layer of the source terminal device determines the angle (e.g., departure angle) for sending the discovery message in step 302 based on the direction information in the demand information. In other words, the AS layer of the source terminal device sets the angle information for subsequent message transmission. Specifically, this angle is the angle at which the transmitting antenna of the source terminal device transmits the signal.

[0102] Step 304: The source terminal device sends a discovery message. Correspondingly, the target terminal device receives the discovery message.

[0103] For example, the AS layer of the source terminal device sends a discovery message using the destination layer 2 identifier and the source layer 2 identifier received from the ProSe layer of the source terminal device.

[0104] For example, the AS layer of the source terminal device sends the discovery message according to the settings in step 303. In other words, only terminal devices in the direction indicated by the angle information can receive the discovery message.

[0105] If the message sent from the ProSe layer of the source terminal device to the AS layer of the source terminal device in step 302 is a ranging message, then the AS layer of the source terminal device sends the ranging message in this step. Similarly, if the message sent from the ProSe layer of the source terminal device to the AS layer of the source terminal device in step 302 is a direction discovery message, then the AS layer of the source terminal device sends the direction discovery message in this step.

[0106] Step 305: The target terminal device sends a response message. Correspondingly, the source terminal device receives the response message.

[0107] For example, the AS layer of the source terminal device receives the response message.

[0108] For example, the ProSe layer of the target terminal device sends a response message to the AS layer of the target terminal device, and the AS layer of the target terminal device sends a response message.

[0109] For example, the target terminal device also determines the destination Layer 2 identifier and the source Layer 2 identifier used to send the response message. The destination Layer 2 identifier is the source Layer 2 identifier of the received discovery message, and the source Layer 2 identifier is identification information assigned by the target terminal device itself.

[0110] The response message can be a response to the discovery message in step 304 or a PC5 connection establishment request message for the target terminal device. If there is one terminal device in the direction corresponding to the angle information, there may be one response message; if there are multiple terminal devices, there may be multiple response messages. The above description also applies to other embodiments in this application, and will not be repeated here.

[0111] In addition, the response message also includes other information, such as the identification information of the target terminal device, which can be the application layer identification information of the target terminal device.

[0112] Step 306: The AS layer of the source terminal device sends a response message to the ProSe layer of the source terminal device.

[0113] This response message is the response message received in step 305.

[0114] Step 307: The ProSe layer of the source terminal device determines the response message of the target terminal device.

[0115] It should be understood that the response message received by the ProSe layer of the source terminal device through step 306 is the response message of the target terminal device.

[0116] Ultimately, the source terminal device obtains the identification information of the target terminal device based on the response message from the target terminal device.

[0117] Step 308: Establish PC5 connection between the source terminal device and the target terminal device.

[0118] It should be noted that if there is only one target terminal device, and the response message of the target terminal device determined by the ProSe layer of the source terminal device through the above steps is the response message of multiple target terminal devices, the source terminal device can provide the information of these multiple target terminal devices to the user through a visual interface, and the source terminal device determines the target terminal device according to the user's selection.

[0119] It should be noted that, in this embodiment, one possible implementation is that the source terminal device can calculate the angle of arrival of the received response message and compare it with angle information. If the error between the angle of arrival of the response message and the angle information is within a certain range (this range depends on the specific implementation and is not limited in this application), then in step 306, the AS layer of the source terminal device sends the response message to the ProSe layer of the source terminal device. This implementation serves as a verification method to further ensure that the response message received by the ProSe layer of the source terminal device is the response message of the target terminal device. This implementation method can be found in [reference needed]. Figure 6 Description of step 605.

[0120] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the ProSe layer of the source terminal device can be replaced with a ranging layer, a discovery layer, or a layer with the same or similar functions and other names. When the ProSe layer of the source terminal device is a layer with a different name, some message names in this embodiment may change accordingly. For example, the discovery message can be a directional discovery message or a ranging message. This application does not limit this, and other embodiments are similar and will not be described in detail here.

[0121] pass Figure 3 The method shown in the embodiment allows the source terminal device to obtain demand information without knowing the target terminal's identifier. Based on this demand information, the source terminal device sets the direction (angle) for sending the discovery message and sends the discovery message in that direction. The terminal device that receives the discovery message is the target terminal device. The target terminal device sends a response message to the source terminal device, which then obtains the target terminal device's response message. Finally, the source terminal device extracts the target terminal device's identifier from the response message, thus achieving the discovery of the target terminal device.

[0122] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating a method for discovering a target terminal device according to an embodiment of this application. The terminal device 1 in the above example can be... Figure 4 The source terminal device in the middle, terminal device 2 can be Figure 4 The target terminal device in the process.

[0123] For example, this method includes the following steps:

[0124] Step 401: The application layer of the source terminal device sends the request information to the ProSe layer of the source terminal device.

[0125] This requirement information includes power information, which is used to discover target terminal devices.

[0126] For example, this power information can be used to indicate the transmission power of the source terminal device's transmitting antenna, meaning that the target terminal device is within the signal coverage area of ​​the source terminal device. Alternatively, this power information can also be used to limit the number of terminal devices that receive messages sent by the source terminal device, reducing the cost of subsequently filtering out the target terminal device.

[0127] Alternatively, in another possible implementation, this requirement information can be generated by the ProSe layer of the source terminal device. For example, the ProSe layer of the source terminal device can generate this requirement information based on user settings.

[0128] Step 402: The ProSe layer of the source terminal device sends a discovery message and demand information to the AS layer of the source terminal device.

[0129] This step can be referred to in the description of step 302.

[0130] Step 403: Set the transmit power at the AS layer of the source terminal device.

[0131] For example, the AS layer of the source terminal device determines the transmission power of the transmitting antenna used to send the discovery message in step 402 based on the power information in the demand information. That is, the AS layer of the source terminal device sets the transmission power of the source terminal device for subsequent message transmission.

[0132] Step 404: The source terminal device sends a discovery message. Correspondingly, the target terminal device receives the discovery message.

[0133] For example, the AS layer of the source terminal device sends a discovery message using the destination layer 2 identifier and the source layer 2 identifier received from the ProSe layer of the source terminal device.

[0134] For example, the AS layer of the source terminal device sends the discovery message according to the settings in step 403. In other words, only terminal devices within the signal coverage range indicated by the transmit power of the source terminal device can receive the discovery message.

[0135] If the discovery message sent by the ProSe layer of the source terminal device to the AS layer of the source terminal device in step 402 is a ranging message, then the AS layer of the source terminal device sends the ranging message in this step. Similarly, if the discovery message sent by the ProSe layer of the source terminal device to the AS layer of the source terminal device in step 402 is a directed discovery message, then the AS layer of the source terminal device sends a directed discovery message in this step.

[0136] Step 405: The target terminal device sends a response message. Correspondingly, the source terminal device receives the response message.

[0137] Step 406: The AS layer of the source terminal device sends a response message to the ProSe layer of the source terminal device.

[0138] Step 407: The ProSe layer of the source terminal device determines the response message of the target terminal device.

[0139] Step 408: Establish PC5 connection between the source terminal device and the target terminal device.

[0140] Steps 405 to 408 can be referenced. Figure 3 The description of steps 305 to 308 in the text.

[0141] pass Figure 4The method shown in the embodiment allows the source terminal device to obtain demand information without knowing the target terminal's identifier. Based on this demand information, the source terminal device sets the transmission power for sending a discovery message and sends the discovery message at that power. The terminal device that receives the discovery message is the target terminal device. The target terminal device sends a response message to the source terminal device, which then obtains the target terminal device's response message. Finally, the source terminal device extracts the target terminal device's identifier from the response message, thus achieving the discovery of the target terminal device.

[0142] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating another method for discovering a target terminal device according to an embodiment of this application. The terminal device 1 in the above example can be... Figure 5 The source terminal device in the middle, terminal device 2 can be Figure 5 The target terminal device in the process.

[0143] For example, this method includes the following steps:

[0144] Step 501: The application layer of the source terminal device sends the request information to the ProSe layer of the source terminal device.

[0145] This requirement information includes distance information, which is used to discover the target terminal device.

[0146] This distance information is used to indicate the distance between the source terminal device and the target terminal device. For example, this distance information includes a distance requirement, which can be a specific value or a range of values; no limitation is made in this application. For example, the distance requirement is 5 meters. Furthermore, this distance information is also used to instruct the source terminal device to perform distance calculations.

[0147] Alternatively, in another possible implementation, the requirement information can be generated by the ProSe layer of the source terminal device. For example, the ProSe layer of the source terminal device can generate the requirement information based on user settings.

[0148] Step 502: The ProSe layer of the source terminal device sends a discovery message and demand information to the AS layer of the source terminal device.

[0149] The discovery message can be found in the description in step 302, and will not be repeated here.

[0150] This requirement information is the requirement information from step 501.

[0151] One possible implementation is that this step may not include the distance requirement, but the ProSe layer of the source terminal device also sends information to the AS layer of the source terminal device instructing it to obtain distance measurement information.

[0152] In one possible implementation, the discovery message can be replaced with a ranging message or a direction discovery message. That is, the ProSe layer of the source terminal device sends a ranging message or a direction discovery message to the AS layer of the source terminal device. The information included in the ranging message or direction discovery message can be the same as the information included in the discovery message. Since the ranging information or direction discovery message can implicitly indicate distance measurement, if the demand information in step 501 includes a distance demand, then the distance demand or the information used to indicate obtaining distance measurement information in that step is optional.

[0153] Step 503: The source terminal device sends a discovery message.

[0154] Accordingly, the target terminal device or other terminal devices receive the discovery message. It should be noted that "target terminal device or other terminal devices" is intended to indicate that there can be one or more terminal devices receiving the discovery message.

[0155] For example, the AS layer of the source terminal device sends a discovery message. This discovery message is an omnidirectional message.

[0156] For example, the AS layer of the source terminal device sends a discovery message using the destination layer 2 identifier and the source layer 2 identifier received from the ProSe layer of the source terminal device.

[0157] Since the AS layer of the source terminal device has already learned from the ProSe layer of the source terminal device that it needs to obtain measurement information—for example, the AS layer of the source terminal device receives distance information from the ProSe layer of the source terminal device in the request information, or information indicating the acquisition of distance measurement information—the AS layer of the source terminal device records the time point when the discovery message was sent. For example, the AS layer of the source terminal device records the source layer 2 identifier in the discovery message and the corresponding time point when the discovery message was sent.

[0158] If the message sent from the ProSe layer of the source terminal device to the AS layer of the source terminal device in step 502 is a ranging message, then the AS layer of the source terminal device sends the ranging message in this step. Similarly, if the message sent from the ProSe layer of the source terminal device to the AS layer of the source terminal device in step 502 is a direction discovery message, then the AS layer of the source terminal device sends the direction discovery message in this step.

[0159] Optionally, the AS layer of the source terminal device determines the AS layer configuration information used to send the discovery message. This AS layer configuration information includes logical channel information or physical layer resource pool information. For example, the source terminal device obtains the AS layer configuration information used to send the discovery message from a policy control function network element, or the source terminal device receives the AS layer configuration information used to send the message from the RAN.

[0160] Optionally, the AS layer of the source terminal device may also send indication information in this step, which is used to instruct the target terminal device or other terminal devices to carry Treply time information in the subsequent response message.

[0161] Step 504: The target terminal device or other terminal device sends a response message. Correspondingly, the source terminal device receives the response message.

[0162] For example, the AS layer of the source terminal device receives the response message.

[0163] This response message is the response message to the discovery message in step 503.

[0164] The target terminal device or other terminal device is a terminal device that is interested in the discovery parameters in the aforementioned discovery message. For example, taking the target terminal device as an example, the ProSe layer of the target terminal device sends a response message to the AS layer of the target terminal device, and the AS layer of the target terminal device sends a response message.

[0165] Optionally, taking the target terminal device as an example, the target terminal device further determines the destination Layer 2 identifier and the source Layer 2 identifier used to send the response message. The destination Layer 2 identifier is the source Layer 2 identifier of the received discovery message, and the source Layer 2 identifier is identification information assigned by the target terminal device or other terminal devices themselves. The same applies to other terminal devices.

[0166] The response message can be a response to the discovery message in step 503 or a request message to establish a PC5 connection.

[0167] The response message carries a Treply parameter, which represents the time difference between the terminal device receiving the discovery message and sending its response message, or the time difference between the terminal device's AS layer receiving the discovery message and sending its response message. For example, the terminal device receiving the discovery message, i.e., the target terminal device or other terminal devices, follows the procedure as follows: Figure 2D The method shown calculates the Treply and sends it to the AS layer of the source terminal device, enabling the AS layer of the source terminal device to obtain the Treply simultaneously with receiving the response message. Specifically, taking the target terminal device as an example, the AS layer of the target terminal device records the first time point of receiving the discovery message, stores the correspondence between the source layer 2 identifier in the discovery message and the first time point, and receives the source layer 2 identifier in the discovery message from the ProSe layer of the target terminal device as the destination layer 2 identifier of the response message, determines the second time point of sending the response message, and uses the difference between the second time point and the first time point as the Treply.

[0168] Optionally, the target terminal device or other terminal device receiving the discovery message determines that it needs to calculate Treply based on at least one of the following: the destination Layer 2 identifier used to send the discovery message, the logical channel information used to send the discovery message, and the physical resource pool information used to send the discovery message. For example, the destination Layer 2 identifier used to send the discovery message is a Layer 2 identifier obtained by the source terminal device from the core network. Correspondingly, the terminal device (target terminal device or other terminal device) obtains the same Layer 2 identifier from the core network, which can be used to instruct the terminal device (target terminal device or other terminal device) to calculate Treply.

[0169] For example, taking a target terminal device as an example, the target terminal device obtains the network configuration information from the policy control function network element. This network configuration information may include the correspondence between message types and the destination layer 2 identifier of the received messages. The message type may be a directed discovery message, a ranging message, or other types of discovery messages; this document does not limit this. For example, if the target terminal device receives a ranging message, it determines that it needs to calculate Treply based on this correspondence.

[0170] Similar to the source terminal equipment, the target terminal equipment can also receive at least one of logical channel information and physical resource pool information from the RAN for receiving directional discovery messages or ranging messages. Taking the target terminal equipment as an example, when the target terminal equipment records the time point of receiving the discovery message in step 503, i.e., the first time point, based on at least one of the destination layer 2 identifier used to send the discovery message, the logical channel information used to send the discovery message, and the physical resource pool information used to send the discovery message, it then calculates Treply.

[0171] In addition, the response message may include other information, such as the identification information of the target terminal device, such as the application layer identification information of the target terminal device.

[0172] Step 505: The AS layer of the source terminal device calculates the distance value or TOF.

[0173] For example, the AS layer of the source terminal device records the time point when the response message is received. For example, the AS layer of the source terminal device records the time point when the response message is received based on the destination Layer 2 identifier in the response message, and calculates the Tround based on the source Layer 2 identifier recorded in step 503 and the corresponding time point when the discovery message was sent, and then calculates the TOF value according to the aforementioned method. It can be understood that the terminal devices identified by the destination Layer 2 identifier in the response message and the source Layer 2 identifier in the discovery message are both source terminal devices. Therefore, the AS layer of the source terminal device establishes the relationship between the discovery message and the response message based on the destination Layer 2 identifier and the source Layer 2 identifier, thereby calculating the TOF value according to the aforementioned method.

[0174] The AS layer of the source terminal device can further obtain the distance value based on the TOF value. This distance value is the actual distance between the terminal device that sent the response message (one of the target terminal device and other terminal devices) and the source terminal device, which will not be elaborated further below.

[0175] It is understandable that if the response message consists of multiple messages, i.e. response messages from multiple terminal devices, then the distance value or TOF is obtained for the response messages from different terminal devices corresponding to that message.

[0176] Step 506: The source terminal device determines the response message from the target terminal device.

[0177] One possible implementation is that the AS layer of the source terminal device sends a response message and the corresponding distance measurement information (distance value or TOF; i.e., if the AS layer of the source terminal device calculates a distance value, then the measurement information is the distance value; otherwise, it is TOF) to the ProSe layer of the source terminal device. When there are multiple response messages, the AS layer of the source terminal device sends each message and its corresponding distance measurement information to the ProSe layer of the source terminal device. The ProSe layer of the source terminal device determines the response message of the target terminal device. It should be understood that the ProSe layer of the source terminal device filters the response message of the target terminal device from one or more response messages. For example, the response message sent by the AS layer of the source terminal device to the ProSe layer of the source terminal device is the response message received in step 505, or the response message is the response message received in step 505 after removing the Treply message. For example, if the ProSe layer of the source terminal device does not send a distance requirement to the AS layer of the source terminal device in step 502, but sends an instruction to the AS layer of the source terminal device to obtain distance measurement information, this possible implementation can be used for this step.

[0178] Specifically, for example, if the ProSe layer of the source terminal device receives a distance value corresponding to the response message, then the ProSe layer of the source terminal device compares this distance value with the distance requirement and filters out the response message of the target terminal device from the response messages. For example, if the distance requirement is 5 meters, then the ProSe layer of the source terminal device filters out the response message of the terminal device whose distance measurement information is within the allowable error range of 5 meters. This filtered response message is the response message of the target terminal device. The allowable error range depends on the actual implementation; it can be set by the user, built into the source terminal device, or obtained by the source terminal device through other channels. This document does not impose any limitations on this. As another example, if the ProSe layer of the source terminal device receives a Time-of-Flight (TOF) value corresponding to the response message, the ProSe layer of the source terminal device calculates the distance value based on the TOF value and then filters out the response message of the target terminal device using the method described above.

[0179] One possible implementation is that the AS layer of the source terminal device determines the response message of the target terminal device.

[0180] Specifically, if the AS layer of the source terminal device calculates the Time of Message (TOF) corresponding to the message in step 505, then the AS layer of the source terminal device calculates the distance value based on the TOF. The AS layer of the source terminal device compares the distance value with the distance requirement and filters out the response messages of the target terminal device from the response messages. The filtering method can refer to the description of the filtering method of the ProSe layer of the source terminal device above. This implementation can reduce the amount of interaction between the AS layer and the ProSe layer of the source terminal device.

[0181] For example, after the AS layer of the source terminal device determines the response message of the target terminal device, the response message of the target terminal device is sent to the ProSe layer of the source terminal device.

[0182] Ultimately, the source terminal device obtains the identification information of the target terminal device based on the response message from the target terminal device. For example, the ProSe layer of the source terminal device obtains the identification information of the target terminal device based on the response message from the target terminal device.

[0183] Step 507: The source terminal device and the target terminal device establish a PC5 connection.

[0184] Subsequently, the source terminal device can obtain other information from the target terminal device.

[0185] pass Figure 5The method shown in the embodiment allows the source terminal device to obtain distance requirement information without knowing the identifier of the target terminal. By comparing the distance requirement information with the distance value received between the source terminal device and the target terminal device, the response message of the target terminal device is filtered out. Finally, the identifier information of the target terminal device is obtained from the response message of the target terminal device, thereby realizing the discovery of the target terminal device.

[0186] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating another method for discovering a target terminal device according to an embodiment of this application. The terminal device 1 in the above example can be... Figure 6 The source terminal device in the middle, terminal device 2 can be Figure 6 The target terminal device in the process.

[0187] For example, this method includes the following steps:

[0188] Step 601: The application layer of the source terminal device sends the request information to the ProSe layer of the source terminal device.

[0189] If the requirement information includes direction information, then the direction information includes angle information. The angle information indicates the angle of arrival of the message received from the target terminal device. The direction information indicates the direction between the source terminal device and the target terminal device.

[0190] Optionally, the requirement information can be generated by the ProSe layer of the source terminal device. In one optional implementation, the ProSe layer of the source terminal device can generate the requirement information according to the user's settings.

[0191] Step 602: The ProSe layer of the source terminal device sends a discovery message and demand information to the AS layer of the source terminal device.

[0192] This discovery message can be referenced. Figure 3 The description of step 302 in the document. This requirement information is the same as the requirement information in step 601.

[0193] Step 603: The source terminal device sends a discovery message.

[0194] Accordingly, the target terminal device or other terminal devices receive the discovery message. It should be noted that "target terminal device or other terminal devices" is intended to indicate that there can be one or more terminal devices receiving the discovery message.

[0195] For example, the AS layer of the source terminal device sends a discovery message. This discovery message is an omnidirectional message.

[0196] For example, the AS layer of the source terminal device sends a discovery message using the destination layer 2 identifier and the source layer 2 identifier received from the ProSe layer of the source terminal device.

[0197] Step 604: The target terminal device or other terminal device sends a response message. Correspondingly, the source terminal device receives the response message.

[0198] This response message is the response message to the discovery message in step 603.

[0199] For example, the AS layer of the source terminal device receives the response message.

[0200] The target terminal device or other terminal device is a terminal device that is interested in the discovery parameters in the aforementioned discovery message. For example, taking the target terminal device as an example, the ProSe layer of the target terminal device sends a response message to the AS layer of the target terminal device, and the AS layer of the target terminal device sends a response message.

[0201] Step 605: The AS layer of the source terminal device calculates the angle of arrival.

[0202] The AS layer calculation step 604 of the source terminal device determines the angle of arrival corresponding to the response message. It is understood that if there are multiple response messages, there will be multiple angles of arrival.

[0203] Step 606: The source terminal device determines the response message from the target terminal device.

[0204] One possible implementation involves the source terminal device's AS layer sending a response message and its corresponding angle of arrival to the source terminal device's ProSe layer. The source terminal device's ProSe layer then determines the target terminal device's response message based on this angle of arrival and the direction information in the demand information.

[0205] One possible implementation involves the AS layer of the source terminal device determining the response message of the target terminal device. This implementation can reduce the amount of interaction between the AS layer and the ProSe layer of the source terminal device.

[0206] For details on how to implement this step, please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 5 The description in step 506.

[0207] Ultimately, the source terminal device obtains the target terminal device's identification information based on the target terminal device's response message. For example, if the source terminal device's ProSe layer obtains the target terminal device's response message, and the target terminal device's response message includes the target terminal device's identifier, then the source terminal device's ProSe layer can obtain the target terminal device's identifier accordingly.

[0208] Step 608: The source terminal device and the target terminal device complete the PC5 connection establishment.

[0209] Subsequently, the source terminal device can obtain other information from the target terminal device.

[0210] pass Figure 6 The method shown in the embodiment allows the source terminal device to obtain directional information without knowing the identifier of the target terminal. By comparing this directional information with the angle (angle of arrival) between the received terminal device and the source terminal device, the response message of the target terminal device is filtered out. Finally, the identifier information of the target terminal device is obtained from the response message of the target terminal device, thereby realizing the discovery of the target terminal device.

[0211] It should be noted that in different application scenarios, Figures 3 to 6 The methods shown can be used in combination.

[0212] For example, when the demand information is direction information and power information, Figure 3 and Figure 4 The methods shown can be used in combination, that is... Figure 3 and Figure 4 The AS layer of the source terminal device sets the angle information and transmission power according to the requirement information. The response message received by the source terminal device is the response message of the target terminal device, and finally the identification information of the target terminal device is obtained from the response message of the target terminal device.

[0213] For example, when the required information consists of direction and distance information, one possible combination is... Figure 3 and Figure 5 The methods shown can be used in combination. The AS layer of the source terminal device sets angle information according to the requirement information and sends a discovery message according to the setting. The AS layer of the source terminal device calculates the TOF or distance value. Finally, through the method in step 506, the source terminal device filters out the response message of the target terminal device and obtains the identification information of the target terminal device from the response message of the target terminal device. Another possible combination method is... Figure 5 and Figure 6 The methods shown can be used in combination. The AS layer of the source terminal device calculates the TOF or distance value and the angle of arrival. By comparing the direction information and the angle of arrival in the demand information, and comparing the distance information and the TOF, or comparing the distance information and the distance value, the source terminal device filters out the response message of the target terminal device, and finally obtains the identification information of the target terminal device from the response message of the target terminal device.

[0214] For example, when the demand information consists of power information and distance information, Figure 4 and Figure 5The methods shown can be used in combination. The AS layer of the source terminal device sets the transmission power according to the requirement information and sends a discovery message according to the setting. The AS layer of the source terminal device calculates the TOF or distance value. Finally, through the method in step 506, the source terminal device filters out the response message of the target terminal device and finally obtains the identification information of the target terminal device from the response message of the target terminal device.

[0215] Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating another method for discovering a target terminal device according to an embodiment of this application. This flowchart will be combined with… Figures 3 to 6 The first terminal device in this embodiment can be described as follows. Figures 3 to 6 The source terminal device in the middle, the access layer of the first terminal device can be Figures 3 to 6 In the source terminal device's AS layer, the first terminal device's proximity-based service layer can be... Figures 3 to 6 In this embodiment, one or more second terminal devices can be the ProSe layer of the source terminal device. Figures 3 to 6 The term refers to the target terminal device or other terminal devices in the process.

[0216] For example, the method includes the following steps:

[0217] Step 701: The first terminal device sends a first message to the first area.

[0218] This step can be referenced. Figure 3 Steps 303 and 304 in the text, or, Figure 4 The description of steps 403 and 404 in the text.

[0219] The first region satisfies at least one of the following: the first region is located in a first direction from the first terminal device, or the distance between the first region and the first terminal device is within a first distance range. The first direction can be... Figure 3 The directional information in the middle, the first distance range can be Figure 5 Distance requirements in the process.

[0220] One possible implementation is that the first message includes either a discovery message or a ranging message. The first message can be... Figures 3 to 6 The discovery message, ranging message, or directional discovery message.

[0221] One possible implementation further includes: a first terminal device acquiring demand information, the demand information including at least one of the following: directional demand information for determining the first direction, or distance demand information for determining the first distance range. This implementation can be found in [reference needed]. Figure 3 Step 301 in Figure 4 Step 401 in Figure 5 Step 501 or Figure 6 The description of step 601 in the document. The demand information for this direction is... Figure 3 Directional information or Figure 6 The direction information in the distance requirement is... Figure 4 Power information or Figure 5 The distance information in the middle. It is understandable that, based on... Figure 4 The method sets the power information as distance requirement information. By setting the transmission power of the source terminal device's transmitting antenna, only terminal devices within the signal coverage area of ​​the source terminal device can receive the aforementioned first message. In other words, the power information indirectly reflects the distance between the terminal device capable of receiving the first message and the source terminal device, and therefore can be understood as a kind of distance requirement information.

[0222] In one possible scenario, the first terminal device obtains the demand information through a proximity-based service layer.

[0223] In another possible scenario, the neighbor-based service layer of the first terminal device obtains the demand information from the application layer of the first terminal device.

[0224] One possible implementation is that the distance requirement information includes at least one of the following: a first distance range, or a first power, wherein the first power is used to determine the first distance range. The first power is... Figure 4 The power information in the data.

[0225] In one possible implementation, the access layer of the first terminal device receives the first message and demand information from the neighbor-based service layer of the first terminal device; the access layer of the first terminal device sends the first message to the first area according to the demand information.

[0226] Step 702: The first terminal device receives one or more response messages.

[0227] This step can be referenced. Figure 3 Step 305 in the middle Figure 4 Step 405 in the middle Figure 5 Step 504 or Figure 6 The description of step 604. This one or more response messages can be... Figures 3 to 6 The response message in the middle.

[0228] One possible implementation is that the one or more response messages include time information, which is used to determine the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device. This distance is... Figure 5 The distance value in the time information is... Figure 5The Treply described above also applies to other implementations in this embodiment, and will not be repeated here.

[0229] Step 703: The first terminal device determines that the first response message among the one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device. This step can be referred to... Figure 5 The description of steps 505 and 506 in the text.

[0230] One possible implementation is that the first terminal device determines, based on its proximity-based service layer, that the first response message among one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device.

[0231] This implementation method may include the following scenarios:

[0232] In one possible scenario, the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device receives the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device from the access layer of the first terminal device; the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device determines, based on the first distance range and the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device, that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device.

[0233] In another possible scenario, the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device receives the flight time between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device from the access layer of the first terminal device; the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device determines the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device based on the flight time between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device; the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device determines, based on the first distance range and the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device, that the first response message in the one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device. The flight time is... Figure 5 The TOF described above also applies to other implementations in this embodiment, and will not be repeated here.

[0234] One possible implementation is that the access layer of the first terminal device determines that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device.

[0235] One possible implementation is as follows: the access layer of the first terminal device receives the first distance range from the neighbor-based service layer of the first terminal device; the access layer of the first terminal device determines the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device; the access layer of the first terminal device determines, based on the first distance range and the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device, that the first response message in the one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device.

[0236] In one possible implementation, the access layer of the first terminal device determines the flight time based on the time point corresponding to the source layer 2 identifier information used to send the first message and the time point corresponding to the destination layer 2 identifier information used to receive the one or more response messages; the access layer of the first terminal device determines the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device based on the flight time.

[0237] Figure 7 The beneficial effects of the method shown can be referenced. Figures 3 to 6 The beneficial effects of the method shown will not be elaborated here.

[0238] Figure 8 This is a flowchart illustrating another method for discovering a target terminal device according to an embodiment of this application. This flowchart will be combined with… Figure 5 or Figure 6 The first terminal device in this embodiment can be described as follows. Figure 5 or Figure 6 The source terminal device in the middle, the access layer of the first terminal device can be Figure 5 or Figure 6 In the source terminal device's AS layer, the first terminal device's proximity-based service layer can be... Figure 5 or Figure 6 The ProSe layer of the source terminal device in the middle.

[0239] For example, the method includes the following steps:

[0240] Step 801: The first terminal device sends the first message.

[0241] This step can be referenced. Figure 5 Step 503 or Figure 6 The description in step 603.

[0242] One possible implementation is that the first message includes a discovery message or a ranging message.

[0243] One possible implementation further includes: a first terminal device acquiring demand information, the demand information including at least one of the following: directional demand information for determining the first direction, or distance demand information for determining the first distance range. This implementation can be found in [reference needed]. Figure 5 Step 501 or Figure 6 The description of step 601 in the text. This distance requirement information or first distance range is... Figure 5 The distance information in the middle, the demand information in this direction or the first direction is Figure 6 Directional information within.

[0244] In one possible scenario, the first terminal device obtains the demand information through a proximity-based service layer.

[0245] In another possible scenario, the neighbor-based service layer of the first terminal device obtains the demand information from the application layer of the first terminal device.

[0246] One possible implementation is that the distance requirement information includes a first distance range.

[0247] Step 802: The first terminal device receives one or more response messages.

[0248] This step can be referenced. Figure 5 Step 504 or Figure 6 The description of step 604. This one or more response messages can be... Figure 5 or Figure 6 The response message in the middle.

[0249] One possible implementation is that the one or more response messages include time information, which is used to determine the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device. This distance is... Figure 5 The distance value described above also applies to other implementations in this embodiment, and will not be repeated here. This time information is... Figure 5 The Treply described above also applies to other implementations in this embodiment, and will not be repeated here.

[0250] Step 803: The first terminal device determines that the first response message among the one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device.

[0251] The first response message includes the identification information of the target terminal device, wherein the first response message satisfies at least one of the following: the first response message comes from a first direction, or the distance between the target terminal device and the first terminal device obtained according to the first response message is within a first distance range.

[0252] One possible implementation is that the one or more response messages include the identifiers of one or more second terminal devices, and the target terminal device is one of the one or more second terminal devices.

[0253] One possible implementation is that the first terminal device determines, based on its proximity-based service layer, that the first response message among one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device.

[0254] This implementation method also includes the following possible scenarios:

[0255] In one possible scenario, the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device receives the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device from the access layer of the first terminal device; the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device determines, based on the first distance range and the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device, that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device. This step can be referred to... Figure 5 The description of steps 505 and 506 in the text.

[0256] In another possible scenario, the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device receives the flight time between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device from the access layer of the first terminal device; the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device determines the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device based on the flight time between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device; the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device determines, based on the first distance range and the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device, that the first response message in the one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device. The flight time is... Figure 5 The Time-of-Flight (TOF) method described above also applies to other implementations in this embodiment, and will not be repeated here. This step can be referred to... Figure 5 The description of steps 505 and 506 in the text.

[0257] In another possible scenario, the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device receives the direction between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device from the access layer of the first terminal device; the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device determines, based on the first direction and the direction between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device, that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device. This direction... Figure 6 The angle of arrival, as described above, also applies to other implementations in this embodiment and will not be repeated here. This step can be referred to... Figure 6The description of steps 605 and 606 in the text.

[0258] One possible implementation is that the access layer of the first terminal device determines that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device.

[0259] This implementation method also includes the following possible scenarios:

[0260] In one possible scenario, the access layer of the first terminal device receives the first direction from the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device; the access layer of the first terminal device determines the direction between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device; based on the first direction and the direction between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device, the access layer of the first terminal device determines that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device. This step can be referred to... Figure 6 The description of steps 605 and 606 in the text.

[0261] In another possible scenario, the access layer of the first terminal device receives the first distance range from the proximity-based service layer of the first terminal device; the access layer of the first terminal device determines the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device; based on the first distance range and the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device, the access layer of the first terminal device determines that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device. This step can be referred to... Figure 5 The description of steps 505 and 506 in the text.

[0262] Figure 8 The beneficial effects of the method shown can be referenced. Figure 5 or Figure 6 The beneficial effects of the method shown will not be elaborated here.

[0263] Accordingly, embodiments of this application also provide a communication device, which can be the source terminal device in the above method embodiments, or a device including the functions of the source terminal device, or a component with functions similar to the source terminal device. It is understood that, in order to achieve the above functions, the communication device includes hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the execution of each function. Those skilled in the art should readily recognize that, based on the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein, this application can be implemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in hardware or by computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0264] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided according to an embodiment of this application.

[0265] The communication device includes a processing module 901, a receiving module 902, and a transmitting module 903. The processing module 901 processes data. The receiving module 902 receives content from other units or network elements, and the transmitting module 903 receives content from other units or network elements. It should be understood that the processing module 901 in this embodiment can be implemented by a processor or processor-related circuit components (or, referred to as processing circuitry), the receiving module 902 can be implemented by a receiver or receiver-related circuit components, and the transmitting module 903 can be implemented by a transmitter or transmitter-related circuit components.

[0266] For example, the communication device may be a communication device equipment, or it may be a chip or other combination device or component that has the functions of the aforementioned communication device equipment applied in the communication device equipment.

[0267] For example, the communication device can be Figures 3 to 8 Any of the source terminal devices or the first terminal devices.

[0268] When the communication device is a source terminal device or a first terminal device, the sending module 903 is used to send a first message (e.g., ...) to the first area through the processing module 901. Figure 3 Step 304 in the middle, Figure 4 Step 404 and Figure 7 In step 701), the first region satisfies at least one of the following: the first region is located in a first direction of the first terminal device, or the distance between the first region and the first terminal device is within a first distance range. The receiving module 902 is configured to receive one or more response messages (e.g., ...). Figure 3Step 305 in the middle, Figure 4 Step 405 in the middle, Figure 5 Step 504 in the middle, Figure 6 Step 604 and Figure 7 In step 702), the one or more response messages include identification information of one or more second terminal devices, which are located in the first area. The processing module 901 is used to determine that the first response message in the one or more response messages is a response message from the target terminal device (e.g., ...). Figure 3 Step 307 in the middle, Figure 4 Step 407 in the middle, Figure 5 Steps 505 and 506 in the text, Figure 6 Steps 605 and 606 in the process, and Figure 7 In step 703), the first response message includes the identification information of the target terminal device.

[0269] Furthermore, the modules described above can also be used to support other processes related to the techniques described herein. The beneficial effects are detailed in the preceding descriptions and will not be repeated here.

[0270] When the communication device is a source terminal device or a first terminal device, the sending module 903 is used to send a first message (e.g., Figure 5 Steps 501 to 503 in the process, Figure 6 Steps 601 to 603 in the process, and Figure 8 Step 801). The receiving module 902 is used to receive one or more response messages (e.g., ...). Figure 5 Step 504 in the middle, Figure 6 Step 604 and Figure 8 Step 802). The processing module 901 is used to determine that the first response message in the one or more response messages is a response message of the target terminal device (e.g., ...). Figure 5 Steps 505 and 506 in the text, Figure 6 Steps 605 and 606 in the process, and Figure 8 In step 803), the first response message includes the identification information of the target terminal device, wherein the first response message satisfies at least one of the following: the first response message comes from a first direction, or the distance between the target terminal device and the first terminal device obtained according to the first response message is within a first distance range.

[0271] Furthermore, the modules described above can also be used to support other processes related to the techniques described herein. The beneficial effects are detailed in the preceding descriptions and will not be repeated here.

[0272] Figure 10This is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided according to an embodiment of this application. The communication device includes: a processor 1001, a communication interface 1002, and a memory 1003. The processor 1001, communication interface 1002, and memory 1003 can be interconnected via a bus 1004. The bus 1004 can be a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus or an extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus, etc. The bus 1004 can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, and a control bus, etc. For ease of illustration, Figure 10 The term "bus" is represented by a single line, but this does not imply that there is only one bus or one type of bus. Processor 1001 can be a central processing unit (CPU), a network processor (NP), or a combination of a CPU and an NP. The processor may further include hardware chips. These hardware chips can be application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), or combinations thereof. The PLD can be a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a generic array logic (GAL), or any combination thereof. Memory 1003 can be volatile memory or non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memory. Non-volatile memory can be read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory can be random access memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache.

[0273] For example, the communication device can be Figures 3 to 8 Any of the source terminal devices or the first terminal devices.

[0274] The processor 1001 is used to implement the data processing operation of the communication device, and the communication interface 1002 is used to implement the receiving and sending operations of the communication device.

[0275] When the communication device is a source terminal device or a first terminal device, the communication interface 1002 is used to send a first message to the first area (e.g., Figure 3 Steps 301 to 304 in the process, Figure 4 Steps 401 to 404 in the process, and Figure 7 In step 701), the first region satisfies at least one of the following: the first region is located in a first direction of the first terminal device, or the distance between the first region and the first terminal device is within a first distance range, and is used to receive one or more response messages (e.g. Figure 3 Step 305 in the middle, Figure 4 Step 405 in the middle, Figure 5 Step 504 in the middle, Figure 6 Step 604 and Figure 7 In step 702), the one or more response messages include identification information of one or more second terminal devices, which are located in the first region. The processor 1001 is used to determine that the first response message in the one or more response messages is a response message of the target terminal device (e.g., ...). Figure 3 Step 307 in the middle, Figure 4 Step 407 in the middle, Figure 5 Steps 505 and 506 in the text, Figure 6 Steps 605 and 606 in the process, and Figure 7 (Step 703 in the document). Furthermore, the modules described above can also be used to support other processes of the technology described herein. Beneficial effects can be found in the preceding descriptions, and will not be repeated here.

[0276] When the communication device is a source terminal device or a first terminal device, the communication interface 1002 is used to send a first message (e.g., Figure 5 Steps 501 to 503 in the process, Figure 6 Steps 601 to 603 in the process, and Figure 8 Step 801), and for receiving one or more response messages (e.g. Figure 5 Step 504 in the middle, Figure 6 Step 604 and Figure 8 Step 802). Processor 1001 is used to determine that the first response message among the one or more response messages is a response message of the target terminal device (e.g., ...). Figure 5 Steps 505 and 506 in the text, Figure 6 Steps 605 and 606 in the process, and Figure 8 In step 803), the first response message includes the identification information of the target terminal device, wherein the first response message satisfies at least one of the following: the first response message originates from a first direction, or the distance between the target terminal device and the first terminal device obtained according to the first response message is within a first distance range. Furthermore, the above modules can also be used to support other processes of the technology described herein. Beneficial effects can be referred to the preceding description, and will not be repeated here.

[0277] This application provides a communication system, which includes the aforementioned first terminal device or source terminal device, wherein the first terminal device performs... Figures 3 to 8 The method executed by the first terminal device or the source terminal device in any of the embodiments shown, wherein the source terminal device executes... Figures 3 to 8 The method executed by the first terminal device or the source terminal device in any of the embodiments shown.

[0278] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program. When the computer program is executed by a computer, the computer can implement the methods provided in the above embodiments. Figures 3 to 8 The process related to the first terminal device or the source terminal device in any of the embodiments shown, or the computer can implement the methods provided in the above embodiments. Figures 3 to 8 The process related to the second terminal device, the target terminal device, or other terminal devices in any of the embodiments shown.

[0279] This application also provides a computer program product for storing a computer program. When the computer program is executed by a computer, the computer can implement the methods provided in the above embodiments. Figures 3 to 8 The process related to the first terminal device or the source terminal device in any of the embodiments shown, or the computer can implement the methods provided in the above embodiments. Figures 3 to 8 The process related to the second terminal device, the target terminal device, or other terminal devices in any of the embodiments shown.

[0280] This application also provides a chip, including a processor. The processor is used to read and run a computer program stored in a memory to execute corresponding operations and / or processes in the billing method provided in this application, performed by a source terminal device or a first terminal device. Optionally, the chip also includes a memory, which is connected to the processor via a circuit or wire. The processor is used to read and execute the computer program in the memory. Further optionally, the chip also includes a communication interface, to which the processor is connected. The communication interface is used to receive processed data and / or information, which the processor obtains and processes. The communication interface may be an input / output interface, interface circuit, output circuit, input circuit, pin, or related circuit on the chip. The processor may also be a processing circuit or a logic circuit.

[0281] The aforementioned chip can also be replaced with a chip system, which will not be elaborated here.

[0282] The terms “comprising” and “having”, and any variations thereof, in this application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that includes a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units that are expressly listed, but may include other steps or units that are not expressly listed or that are inherent to such process, method, product, or apparatus.

[0283] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0284] Those skilled in the art will understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0285] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0286] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. The purpose of this embodiment can be achieved by selecting some or all of the units, depending on the actual situation.

[0287] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0288] If the aforementioned functions are implemented as software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a portion of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0289] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a specific order. Additionally, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but may optionally include steps or units not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products, or apparatuses.

[0290] Although this application has been described in conjunction with specific features and embodiments, it is obvious that various modifications and combinations can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. Accordingly, this specification and drawings are merely exemplary illustrations of this application as defined by the appended claims, and are considered to cover any and all modifications, variations, combinations, or equivalents within the scope of this application. Clearly, those skilled in the art can make various alterations and modifications to this application without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. Thus, if such modifications and modifications of this application fall within the scope of the claims of this application and their equivalents, this application is also intended to include such modifications and modifications.

[0291] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method for a terminal device, characterized in that, The method includes: The first terminal device sends the first message; The first terminal device receives one or more response messages; The first terminal device determines, based on the nearest neighbor service layer, that the first response message among one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device. The first response message includes the identification information of the target terminal device. The first response message satisfies at least one of the following: the first response message comes from a first direction, or the distance between the target terminal device and the first terminal device obtained from the first response message is within a first distance range. The first terminal device's proximity-based service layer determines that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device, including: the first terminal device's proximity-based service layer receiving the distance between one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device from the first terminal device's access layer; the first terminal device's proximity-based service layer determining that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device based on the first distance range and the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device; or... The first terminal device's proximity-based service layer receives the flight time between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device from the first terminal device's access layer; the first terminal device's proximity-based service layer determines the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device based on the flight time between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device; the first terminal device's proximity-based service layer determines, based on the first distance range and the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device, that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device; or... The first terminal device's proximity-based service layer receives the direction between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device from the access layer of the first terminal device; the first terminal device's proximity-based service layer determines, based on the first direction and the direction between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device, that the first response message in one or more response messages is the response message of the target terminal device.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: The one or more response messages include the identifiers of one or more second terminal devices, and the target terminal device is one of the one or more second terminal devices.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first message sent by the first terminal device specifically includes: The first terminal device sends the first message to the first area, wherein the first area satisfies at least one of the following: the first area is located in a first direction of the first terminal device, or the distance between the first area and the first terminal device is within a first distance range; The one or more second terminal devices are located in the first area.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The one or more response messages include time information, which is used to determine the distance between the one or more second terminal devices and the first terminal device.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, Also includes: The first terminal device acquires demand information, which includes at least one of the following: directional demand information for determining the first direction, or distance demand information for determining the first distance range.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first terminal device obtains the demand information, including: The first terminal device obtains the demand information based on the nearest neighbor service layer.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first terminal device obtains the demand information based on the nearest neighbor service layer, including: The neighbor-based service layer of the first terminal device obtains the demand information from the application layer of the first terminal device.

8. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The distance requirement information includes at least one of the following: a first distance range, or a first power, wherein the first power is used to determine the first distance range.

9. A communication device, characterized in that, Including the processor; The processor is used to read from memory and run programs to implement the method as described in any one of claims 1-8.

10. A computer program product containing instructions, characterized in that, When it is run on a computer, it causes the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

11. A communication system, characterized in that, Includes a first terminal device and one or more second terminal devices; The first terminal device is configured to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 8; The one or more second terminal devices are used to send and receive the first message and send the response message.

12. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause a processor to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

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