Method and apparatus for enabling access to a wireless communication network

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for enabling access to a non-cell-based wireless communication network. The non-cell-based wireless communication network may include multiple access points and at least one central processing unit (CPU) controlling the access points. In one embodiment, the method may include obtaining an access assistance signal from an access assistance signal set. The access assistance signal set may include multiple access assistance signals that enable a user equipment to initially access the non-cell-based wireless communication network. The method may include broadcasting the access assistance signal. Multiple access points may simultaneously broadcast their respective access assistance signals.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure is directed generally to wireless communications, and more particularly to enabling initial access to a cell-less wireless communication network. Background Art

[0002] To enable a user equipment (UE) to initially access a traditional cellular system, a base station periodically broadcasts a signal called a downlink synchronization signal. The UE searches for this signal to perform cell search and synchronization.

[0003] To ensure that UEs receive the downlink synchronization signal, the base station can increase the downlink synchronization signal's transmit power. Due to their distance from the base station, user equipment at the cell edge may receive a weaker downlink synchronization signal with greater path loss. However, the system is designed to ensure that cell-edge UEs can correctly receive the broadcast synchronization signal. A typical approach is to increase the power of the broadcast signal so that the signal has sufficient signal strength when it reaches the cell-edge user equipment.

[0004] However, the initial access method used in traditional cellular systems is not applicable to wireless communication systems without cellular cells. Due to the significant architectural differences between traditional cellular systems and systems without cellular cells, simply increasing the power of the broadcast synchronization signal cannot guarantee that all user devices within the coverage area of ​​the system without cellular cells can receive the signal. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present disclosure is directed to methods, systems, and devices related to wireless communications, and more particularly, to methods, systems, and devices for initially accessing a wireless communication network without a cellular cell.

[0006] In one embodiment, a method performed by an access point in a non-cell-based wireless communication network is disclosed. The non-cell-based wireless communication network may include multiple access points and at least one central processing unit (CPU) controlling the access points. The method may include obtaining an access assistance signal from an access assistance signal set. The access assistance signal set may include multiple access assistance signals that enable a user equipment to initially access the non-cell-based wireless communication network. The method may include broadcasting the access assistance signal. Multiple access points may simultaneously broadcast their respective access assistance signals.

[0007] In another embodiment, a device for wireless communication may include a memory storing instructions and a processing circuit in communication with the memory. When the processing circuit executes the instructions, the processing circuit is configured to perform the above method.

[0008] In another embodiment, a computer-readable medium includes instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the above method.

[0009] These and other aspects and embodiments thereof are described in more detail in the drawings, the description, and the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figures 1A-1B An example diagram of a wireless communication network without cells is shown in accordance with various embodiments.

[0011] Figure 2 A flow chart of a method for enabling cell-less wireless communication network access according to an embodiment is shown.

[0012] Figures 3A-3B An example of obtaining an access assistance signal for each access point according to an embodiment is shown.

[0013] Figures 4A-4B An example of obtaining an access assistance signal for each access point according to an embodiment is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] The techniques and examples of the embodiments and / or examples in this disclosure can be used to improve performance in wireless communication systems. The term "exemplary" is used to mean "an example of..." and does not imply an ideal or preferred example, embodiment, or example unless otherwise specified. The section headings used in this disclosure are for ease of understanding and do not limit the techniques disclosed in the sections to only the corresponding sections. However, please note that the embodiments can be embodied in a variety of different forms, and therefore, the subject matter covered or claimed is intended to be interpreted as not being limited to any embodiment to be described below. Please also note that the embodiments can be embodied as methods, devices, components, or systems. Therefore, the embodiments of the present disclosure can take the form of hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof, for example.

[0015] A non-cellular radio access network provides network connectivity between user equipment and information or data networks (such as text, voice, or video communication networks, the Internet, etc.). Typically, a non-cellular radio access network may include multiple densely deployed access points (APs) and at least one central processing unit (CPU) that controls the access points. A UE can access the non-cellular radio access network via any AP. Figure 1A FIG1 shows an example system diagram of a non-cellular wireless communication network 100 including UE 102, access point 104, and CPU 124 according to various embodiments. AP 104 is densely deployed in the non-cellular network 100. AP 104 can be connected to CPU 124 by wire or wirelessly to form a network such as FIG104. Figure 1A Alternatively or additionally, the AP 104 in the cell-free network 100 may be connected to the CPU 124 by wire or wirelessly in other topological manners, for example, to form a Figure 1B Each of the CPUs 124 can control one or more APs 104 and manage communications between the APs 104 and UEs 102 and upper network nodes (such as macro base stations) of the cell-free network 100. In some embodiments, the CPUs 124 can be deployed in a macro base station.

[0016] AP 104 may include various wireless network access points capable of wirelessly communicating with one or more UEs over a network. Each type of these APs may be configured to perform a corresponding set of wireless network functions. The wireless network function sets between different types of access points may not be exactly the same. However, the wireless network function sets between different types of access points may overlap in functionality. AP 104 may include transceiver circuitry 114 coupled to antenna 116, which may include various types of antennas 118 to enable wireless communication with UE 102. Transceiver circuitry 114 may also be coupled to one or more processors 120, which may also be coupled to memory 122 or other storage devices. Memory 122 may store therein instructions or code that, when read and executed by processor 120, causes processor 120 to implement the various methods described herein.

[0017] The UE 102 may include, but is not limited to, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, an in-vehicle communication device, a roadside communication device, a smart electronic device, or an appliance (including an air conditioner, a television, a refrigerator, an oven, or other devices capable of wireless communication over a network). The UE 102 may include a transceiver circuit 106 coupled to an antenna 108 to implement wireless communication with the access point 104. The transceiver circuit 106 may also be coupled to a processor 110, which may further be coupled to a memory 112 or other storage device. The memory 112 may store therein instructions or codes that, when read and executed by the processor 110, cause the processor 110 to implement one of the various methods described herein.

[0018] In addition to the UE, AP, and CPU, the network 100 may also include any other network nodes having different functions, such as network nodes in the core network of the wireless communication network 100. Furthermore, although various embodiments will be discussed in the context of a specific example wireless communication network 100, the underlying principles are applicable to other applicable wireless communication networks.

[0019] The cell-free network 100 transmits / receives wireless signals to / from the UE 102 via the AP 104. Figure 1A As shown, when the network 100 without a cellular cell transmits data traffic (i.e., downlink data transmission) to the UE 102, the CPU 124 can transmit the data traffic to the AP 104 that can communicate with the UE 102 (e.g., the AP 104 around the UE 102), and then, the AP 104 can transmit a wireless signal carrying the data traffic to the UE 102. These APs 104 can transmit the same data traffic to the UE 102, but use different wireless signals to carry the data traffic. During the data transmission phase, it is assumed that the AP already knows the channel conditions between the UE and the AP. Therefore, the AP can generate a wireless signal based on the known channel conditions. In particular, the AP can adjust the amplitude and phase of the wireless signal s carrying the data traffic so that the wireless signals transmitted from different APs can be constructively combined. For example, if the AP n Know AP n and UE k The channel gain between nk , then AP n Can transmit signal s n ,in In this way, UE k From AP n The received signal is And UE k The superimposed signals received from multiple APs (e.g., N APs) will be As indicated, the superimposed signals are constructively combined, which is also referred to as transmit beamforming. More precisely, these distributed APs transmit data to the UEs via distributed transmit beamforming.

[0020] On the other hand, when UE 102 transmits data to AP 104 (i.e., uplink data transmission), AP 104 can estimate the channel between AP 104 and UE 102 based on the reference signal transmitted from UE 102, weight the signal received from UE 102 based on the estimated channel, accumulate the weighted signal with the signal transmitted from the previous AP, and then transmit the accumulated signal to the next AP, and so on, until the accumulated signal is transmitted to CPU 124. CPU 124 can demodulate and decode the accumulated signal. For example, by UE k The transmitted signal is s k , while AP n From UE k The received signal is y nk =h nk s k , where hnk From UE k Antenna to AP n The channel gain of AP n By estimating the UE k The reference signal is used to obtain such channel gain. n Can be used (Right now ) weights the received signal and then adds the received signal to the signal from the previous AP. n-1 The signal transmitted Accumulate and get the signal It will be sent to the next AP, and so on, and the last AP N-1 The signal sent to CPU 124 is For UE k Transmitted signal, AP0 to AP N-1 The accumulation of is constructive combining, which is also called receive beamforming. More precisely, the distributed AP receives the signal from the UE in distributed receive beamforming.

[0021] The aforementioned data transmission phase in a cell-free network involves the relevant APs knowing the channel gain between the UE and the AP, respectively. Therefore, signals received from or sent to the UE can be constructively combined. In contrast, during the initial access phase, the UE does not even know whether it is covered by the cell-free network. The UE can only detect the cell-free network by detecting signals broadcast by the cell-free network. For example, cell-free network 100 may broadcast signals via AP 104. These signals are broadcast on specific time-frequency resources. During the initial access phase, AP 104 is completely unaware of the channel gain between AP 104 and UE 102. In this case, when the signals broadcast by AP 104 reach UE 102, it is likely that these signals cannot be constructively combined, and even worse, may be destructively combined, forming broadcast holes. Therefore, even if the UE is geographically close to the AP, some UEs may not be able to obtain the broadcast signal for initial access. If the UE is constantly located in a broadcast hole, the UE cannot access the cell-free network 100, which is unacceptable. One of the objectives of the present disclosure is to enable UEs to initially access a cell-free network.

[0022] Figure 2An exemplary embodiment 200 for enabling a UE 102 to initially access a network 100 without a cell is shown. The AP 104 may obtain an access assistance signal (210) from an access assistance signal set and broadcast the access assistance signal, for example, to UEs covered by the AP 104 (220). The access assistance signal set may include G access assistance signals, where G is an integer and G>1. In one embodiment, the G access assistance signals may be preconfigured, for example, in a wireless communication protocol between the AP 104 and the UE 102. Each of the APs 104 may broadcast one or more access assistance signals to the UE 102 within a specific broadcast. The UE 102 may identify the access assistance signals when receiving them from the AP 104. In one embodiment, the AP 104 may coordinate with other APs in the network 100 without a cell to simultaneously broadcast their respective access assistance signals. Each AP may broadcast the same or different access assistance signals simultaneously. Alternatively or additionally, each AP may broadcast the same or different number of access assistance signals simultaneously.

[0023] In some embodiments, the AP 104 may obtain the access assistance signal in the access assistance signal set based on at least one of an identifier of the AP 104, a number of times the AP 104 has broadcast the access assistance signal, and a cardinality generated by the AP 104. The identifier of the AP 104 may include, for example, a device identifier of the AP 104, a physical identifier of the AP 104, a network temporary identifier of the AP 104, and the like. The cardinality may include, for example, a random number, a pseudo-random number, a system clock of the AP 104, and the like.

[0024] In an embodiment, the AP 104 may receive indication information indicating an access assistance signal in the access assistance signal set from the CPU 124. Alternatively or additionally, the AP 104 may receive the indication information from a base station of a cellular system that performs wired / wireless communication with the wireless communication network 100 without a cellular cell. For example, the indication information may include an index value of the access assistance signal in the access assistance signal set. The CPU 124 / base station may determine the indication information including the index value and transmit the indication information including the index value to the AP 104. The AP 104 may then obtain the access assistance signal in the access assistance signal set having the index value.

[0025] Taking the CPU 124 as an example, for each AP controlled by the CPU 124, the CPU 124 may specify an access assistance signal for broadcasting based on the identifier of the AP. Figure 3AAs shown in FIG, N APs are numbered 0, 1, ..., N-2, N-1 as AP identifiers. The G access assistance signals in the access assistance signal set can be indexed by 0, 1, 2, ..., G-2, G-1. Like this, for the nth AP, where 0≤n≤N-1, the CPU 124 can assign the access assistance signal with an index value equal to mod(n,G) to the nth AP. In this way, as Figure 3B As shown, APs can be divided into multiple groups. Each group has G APs. The G APs in the same group are assigned different access assistance signals, and the access assistance signals are repeated between groups.

[0026] UE 102 can receive multiple different access assistance signals from N APs. When access assistance signals are broadcast in this manner, a broadcast hole can only form when all access assistance signals are destructively combined, which may occur with a very low probability. As long as some of the broadcast access assistance signals reach UE 102 without being destructively combined, UE 102 can successfully receive the access assistance signals. UE 102 can then obtain information related to initial access from the access assistance signals and thereby complete initial access.

[0027] Optionally, for a particular AP, CPU 124 may specify a different access assistance signal in each broadcast (e.g., based on the AP identifier and the number of times the AP has previously broadcast an access assistance signal). In one embodiment, N APs are numbered 0, 1, ..., N-2, N-1. In the Dth broadcast of the nth AP, CPU 124 may specify an access assistance signal for the nth AP with an index value equal to f(n, D), where D is an integer and D ≥ 1. f(n, D) is a function of n and D, and the value of the function changes with the values ​​of the parameters n and D.

[0028] For example, f(n, D)=mod(n+fix(n / G)*D, G), where fix(n / G)*D represents a cyclic shift. Figure 4A It shows the access assistance signals assigned to N APs when the access assistance signal is broadcasted for the first time (ie, D=1). Figure 4BThe access assistance signals assigned to N APs during the second broadcast of the access assistance signal (i.e., D=2) are shown. Including a cyclic shift can further increase the randomness of the broadcast access assistance signal. Although UE 102 may be located in a broadcast hole during a particular broadcast time, due to the variation in the access assistance signal broadcast by the AP, UE 102 may receive the access assistance signal in the next broadcast. Because each AP may broadcast a different access assistance signal in each broadcast, and different APs may broadcast different access assistance signals, the probability of a UE being located in a broadcast hole multiple times in a row is very low. This can prevent the UE from being located in a broadcast hole for a long time.

[0029] Alternatively, for a specific AP, the CPU 124 may designate multiple access assistance signals for the specific AP to be broadcast simultaneously. That is, the AP may broadcast multiple access assistance signals in a broadcast. In addition, each AP may broadcast a different number of access assistance signals in the same broadcast time. For example, in a specific broadcast, the CPU 124 may designate multiple access assistance signals for the specific AP to be broadcast simultaneously. n The access auxiliary signal is assigned to the nth AP (i.e. AP n ), where W n is an integer and W n ≥ 1. In this way, although AP n Broadcast W n Some of the access assistance signals may be destructively combined with access assistance signals broadcast by other APs, but n Others of the access assistance signals may avoid such destructive combining, or may even be constructively combined with access assistance signals broadcast by other APs. This increases the likelihood that the UE will receive the broadcast access assistance signal.

[0030] In another embodiment, the indication information received from the CPU 124 / base station may partially indicate the target access assistance signal to be broadcast by the AP 104. For example, a predetermined formula used to calculate the index value of the target access assistance signal includes two parameters, a first parameter and a second parameter. The indication information may include the value of only the first parameter. Therefore, the AP 104 may determine the value of the second parameter and then calculate the index value using the values ​​of the first parameter and the second parameter using the predetermined formula. In this example, the AP 104 may determine the value of the second parameter based on an identifier of the AP 104, the number of times the AP 104 has broadcast access assistance signals, a base number generated by the AP 104, and the like.

[0031] In another embodiment, rather than receiving an indication from the CPU 124 / base station, each AP can autonomously determine the target access assistance signal to be broadcast by the AP. For example, the AP 104 can determine an index value of the target access assistance signal to be broadcast by the AP 104 based on an identifier of the AP 104, which can be represented as, for example, a number n, where n is an integer. The G access assistance signals in the access assistance signal set can be indexed as 0, 1, 2, ..., G-2, G-1. Thus, the AP 104 can determine the index value to be equal to, for example, mod(n,G).

[0032] Alternatively or additionally, AP 104 may autonomously determine an index value of the target access assisting signal based on an identifier of AP 104 and the number of times AP 104 has broadcast the access assisting signal. For example, N APs are numbered 0, 1, ..., N-2, N-1. Where the identifier of AP 104 is represented as AP 104 number n, where 0≤n≤N-1, and D represents the number of times AP 104 has broadcast the access assisting signal, AP 104 may determine that the value of the index value is equal to f(n, D). f(n, D) is a function of n and D, and the value of the function changes as the values ​​of the parameters n and D change. For example, f(n, D) = mod(n+fix(n / G)*D, G), where fix(n / G)*D represents a cyclic shift.

[0033] Alternatively or additionally, the AP 104 may autonomously determine an index value of the target access assistance signal based on, for example, a random number r generated by the AP 104. For example, the G access assistance signals in the access assistance signal set may be indexed by 0, 1, 2, ..., G-2, G-1. The AP 104 may determine the index value to be equal to mod(r, G).

[0034] Alternatively, AP 104 may autonomously determine the number of access assistance signals that AP 104 may simultaneously broadcast in a particular broadcast. AP 104 may make this determination independently of other APs within the non-cellular wireless communication network 100. AP 104 may determine the number of access assistance signals based on, for example, an identifier of AP 104, a cardinality generated by AP 104, the number of times AP 104 has previously broadcast access assistance signals, information received from CPU 124, information received from a base station of a cellular system, and the like. In an example, the maximum number of access assistance signals that an AP may broadcast in a single broadcast is set to 8. AP 104 may determine the number of access assistance signals to be broadcast in a single broadcast to be equal to, for example, mod(n,8)+1, where n may represent the identifier of AP 104. Alternatively or additionally, AP 104 may determine to broadcast a different number of access assistance signals in separate broadcasts of access assistance signals.

[0035] Alternatively or additionally, the AP 104 may select each of the multiple access assistance signals to be broadcast by the AP 104 independently of one another. For example, the AP 104 may not select a particular access assistance signal simply because the AP 104 has already selected another particular access assistance signal. In this way, the randomness of the access assistance signals simultaneously broadcast by the AP 104 may be increased, thereby minimizing outright collisions between access assistance signals broadcast by different APs.

[0036] As described above, after identifying the target access assistance signal to be broadcast by the AP 104 based on, for example, an identifier of the AP 104, a cardinality generated by the AP 104, the number of times the AP 104 has broadcast an access assistance signal, information received from the CPU 124, information received from a base station of the cellular system, and / or the like, the AP 104 can obtain the target access assistance signal based on the identification.

[0037] In an embodiment, the access assistance signal set is stored in the memory 122 of the AP 104, for example, and the target access assistance signal is indicated as an index value of the target access assistance signal in the access assistance signal set. The AP 104 can directly retrieve the target access assistance signal from the access assistance signal set with the index value.

[0038] In another embodiment, the AP 104 may include a sequence generator, for example, implemented as a circuit. The sequence generator may be capable of generating each access assistance signal in the access assistance signal set. For example, each access assistance signal may correspond to a respective initial state. The sequence generator may generate the access assistance signal based on the initial state corresponding to the access assistance signal. The initial state may be, for example, a predetermined number or a bit sequence of a given length. Similar to obtaining the index value of the target access assistance signal to be broadcast by the AP 104 as described above, the AP 104 may obtain the initial state for the target access assistance signal based on, for example, an identifier of the AP 104, a cardinality generated by the AP 104, the number of times the AP 104 has broadcast the access assistance signal, indication information indicating the target access assistance signal received from the CPU 124, indication information indicating the target access assistance signal received from a base station of the cellular system, and the like.

[0039] In an example, the indication information received from the CPU 124 may include an initial state for the target access assistance signal. Thus, the AP 104 may input the initial state to the sequence generator, which may then generate the target access assistance signal and output it to the AP 104.

[0040] refer to Figure 2After obtaining the access assistance signal, AP 104 may broadcast the access assistance signal. Under the control of CPU 124, each AP may simultaneously broadcast its respective access assistance signal. In one embodiment, each AP 104 may simultaneously broadcast a different number of access assistance signals. This simultaneous broadcasting may increase the likelihood that UE 102 can receive at least one of the broadcast access assistance signals.

[0041] Optionally, the access auxiliary signal set can be pre-configured in a wireless communication network without a cellular cell. For example, the wireless communication network without a cellular cell can define that the access auxiliary signals in the access auxiliary signal set can occupy predetermined time-frequency resources. The access auxiliary signals in the access auxiliary signal set can be multiplexed in predetermined time-frequency resources by, for example, a frequency division multiplexing method, a time division multiplexing method, and a code division multiplexing method. The frequency division multiplexing method can be, for example, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). In one embodiment, each of the access auxiliary signals in the access auxiliary signal set can occupy one subcarrier of an OFDM waveform in the time-frequency resources. Alternatively, each of the access auxiliary signals in the access auxiliary signal set can occupy two subcarriers or a small number of subcarriers of an OFDM waveform in the time-frequency resources. Alternatively, each of the access auxiliary signals in the access auxiliary signal set can occupy a small number of evenly distributed subcarriers of an OFDM waveform in the time-frequency resources.

[0042] As an example, the access assistance signal set may include G access assistance signals, where G>1. The predetermined time-frequency resources may be divided into G subchannels or G subcarriers by means of frequency division multiplexing (e.g., orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)). Each of the G subchannels / subcarriers may respectively carry one of the G access assistance signals. For example, the predetermined time-frequency resources may be divided into 8 subchannels / subcarriers by means of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing. Each of the subchannels / subcarriers may respectively carry one access assistance signal. That is, one access assistance signal may be transmitted on only one subcarrier. In this way, an access assistance signal set including 8 access assistance signals is formed, and the access assistance signal to be broadcast by the access point may occupy a subchannel / subcarrier. The access assistance signals broadcast by different access points may occupy the same subchannel / subcarrier or different subchannels / subcarriers.

[0043] As another example, the access assistance signal set may include G access assistance signals. By means of frequency division multiplexing and code division multiplexing, the predetermined time-frequency resources may be divided into G1 subchannels, and each of the G1 subchannels carries Q access assistance signals, where G=G1*Q. Here, the Q signals may be Q sequences. For example, the predetermined time-frequency resources may be divided into 8 subchannels, and each of the 8 subchannels carries 8 sequences by means of code division multiplexing. In this way, an access assistance set including 64 access assistance signals may be formed. In this case, the access assistance signal to be broadcast by the access point is a sequence of occupied subchannels. The access assistance signals broadcast by different access points may be on the same subchannel or on different subchannels. In the same subchannel, the sequences of broadcast access assistance signals may be the same or different.

[0044] As another example, the access assistance signal set may include G access assistance signals. By means of frequency division multiplexing and time division multiplexing, the predetermined time-frequency resources may be divided into G1 subchannels, and each of the G1 subchannels carries Q access assistance signals, where G=G1*Q. Here, the Q signals may be Q sequences. In this case, the access assistance signal to be broadcast by the access point is a sequence of occupied subchannels. The access assistance signals broadcast by different access points may be on the same subchannel or on different subchannels. In the same subchannel, the sequences of broadcast access assistance signals may be the same or different.

[0045] As another example, the access assistance signal set may include G access assistance signals. Predetermined time-frequency resources may be divided into G signals through code division multiplexing. In this case, the G signals may be considered as G sequences. Thus, the access assistance signals to be broadcast by the access point may be generated based on sequences. Access assistance signals broadcast by different access points may be generated based on the same sequence or different sequences.

[0046] The access assistance signal sequences discussed above may include, for example, a Zadoff-Chu sequence, a Walsh-Hadamard sequence, a discrete Fourier transform sequence, an m-sequence, a pseudo-noise sequence, a maximum length shift register sequence, and a Gold sequence. In one embodiment, all access assistance signals in an access assistance signal set are orthogonal to one another. Alternatively or additionally, at least a portion of the access assistance signals in the access assistance signal set are non-orthogonal to one another.

[0047] Throughout the specification and claims, terms may have nuanced meanings suggested or implied by the context, beyond those explicitly stated. Similarly, the phrase "in one embodiment / implementation" used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, and the phrase "in another embodiment / implementation" used herein does not necessarily refer to a different embodiment. For example, claimed subject matter is intended to include combinations of all or part of the example embodiments.

[0048] In general, terms can be understood at least in part from their use in the context. For example, terms such as "and," "or," or "and / or," as used herein, can include multiple meanings that can depend at least in part on the context in which the terms are used. Typically, "or," if used in an associative list, such as A, B, or C, is intended to mean that A, B, and C are used in an inclusive sense, and A, B, or C are used in an exclusive sense. Furthermore, the term "one or more," as used herein, can depend at least in part on the context and can be used to describe any feature, structure, or characteristic in a singular sense, or can be used to describe a combination of features, structures, or characteristics in a plural sense. Similarly, terms such as "a," "an," or "the" can be understood to convey singular usage or to convey plural usage, again depending at least in part on the context. Furthermore, the term "based on" can be understood to not necessarily be intended to convey an exclusive set of factors, but can allow for the presence of additional factors that are not necessarily explicitly described, again depending at least in part on the context.

[0049] Throughout this specification, references to features, advantages, or similar language do not imply that all features and advantages that can be achieved with the present solution should be included or incorporated in any single embodiment thereof. Rather, language referring to features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present solution. Thus, discussions of features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.

[0050] Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the present solution may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Based on the description herein, one of ordinary skill in the relevant art will recognize that the present solution may be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other cases, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the present solution.

Claims

1. A method performed by an access point in a wireless communication network without a cell, the wireless communication network comprising a plurality of access points and at least one central processing unit controlling the access points, the method comprising: obtaining one or more access assistance signals from an access assistance signal set, wherein the access assistance signal set comprises a plurality of access assistance signals, the plurality of access assistance signals enabling a user equipment to initially access the cell-free wireless communication network; and Coordinate with other access points in a plurality of access points to simultaneously broadcast one or more access assistance signals obtained by the access point and one or more access assistance signals obtained by the other access points, wherein each of the one or more access assistance signals is independently determined by the plurality of access points from the set of access assistance signals.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein Obtaining the one or more access assistance signals comprises: obtaining one or more access assistance signals in the access assistance signal set based on at least one of the following: an identifier of the access point, the number of times the access point has broadcast an access assistance signal, and A cardinality generated by the access point.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein Obtaining the one or more access assistance signals comprises: receiving, from a central processing unit controlling the access point or a base station of a cellular system, indication information indicating one or more access assistance signals in the access assistance signal set; Based on the indication information, one or more access assistance signals in the access assistance signal set are obtained.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein: Obtaining the one or more access assistance signals comprises: obtaining, based on the indication information and at least one of the following: an identifier of the access point, the number of times the access point has broadcast an access assistance signal, and A cardinality generated by the access point.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein Obtaining the one or more access assistance signals comprises: The one or more access assistance signals are obtained by a sequence generator capable of generating each access assistance signal in the access assistance signal set.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein: Obtaining the one or more access assistance signals comprises: The one or more access assistance signals are obtained by a sequence generator based on at least one of the following: an identifier of the access point, the number of times the access point has broadcast an access assistance signal, a cardinality generated by said access point, indication information indicating the one or more access assistance signals received from a central processing unit controlling the access point, and Indication information indicating the one or more access assistance signals is received from a base station of the cellular system.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein: Obtaining the one or more access assistance signals comprises: An initial state for the sequence generator is obtained based on at least one of the following: an identifier of the access point, the number of times the access point has broadcast an access assistance signal, a cardinality generated by said access point, indication information indicating the one or more access assistance signals received from a central processing unit controlling the access point, and Indication information indicating the one or more access assistance signals received from a base station of the cellular system; and The one or more access assistance signals are obtained from the sequence generator that generates the one or more access assistance signals based on the initial state.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein The access assistance signal set is stored in the access point, and obtaining the one or more access assistance signals comprises: obtaining the one or more access assistance signals from the stored set of access assistance signals based on at least one of: an identifier of the access point, the number of times the access point has broadcast an access assistance signal, a cardinality generated by said access point, indication information indicating the one or more access assistance signals received from a central processing unit controlling the access point, and Indication information indicating the one or more access assistance signals is received from a base station of the cellular system.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein Obtaining the one or more access assistance signals comprises: obtaining a plurality of access assistance signals from the access assistance signal set; and The broadcasting of the one or more access assistance signals comprises: The plurality of access assistance signals are broadcast simultaneously.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: Determining a plurality of multiple access assistance signals based on at least one of the following: an identifier of the access point, the number of times the access point has broadcast an access assistance signal, a cardinality generated by said access point, information received from the central processing unit, and Information received from a base station in a cellular system.

11. The method according to any one of claims 2, 4, 6-8 and 10, wherein the identifier of the access point comprises: a device identifier of the access point, a physical identifier of the access point, or A network temporary identifier for the access point.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein The access assistance signal set is pre-configured in the wireless communication network without a cellular cell, and the access assistance signals in the access assistance signal set occupy predetermined time-frequency resources.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein: The access auxiliary signals in the access auxiliary signal set are multiplexed in the predetermined time-frequency resources by at least one of the following methods: Frequency division multiplexing method, Time division multiplexing methods, and Code division multiplexing method.

14. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein: Each access auxiliary signal in the access auxiliary signal set occupies a subcarrier of a frequency resource.

15. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein The plurality of access assistance signals include at least one of a Zadoff-Chu sequence, a Walsh-Hadamard sequence, a discrete Fourier transform sequence, an m-sequence, a pseudo noise sequence, a maximum length shift register sequence, and a Gold sequence.

16. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein The plurality of access assistance signals are orthogonal to each other.

17. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein At least a portion of the plurality of access assistance signals are non-orthogonal to each other.

18. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein: At least a portion of the plurality of access points simultaneously broadcast different numbers of access assistance signals.

19. A device comprising a processor and a memory, wherein: The processor is configured to read computer code from the memory to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 18.

20. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 18.

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