A communication method and apparatus

Abstract

The application discloses a communication method and device, when the method is applied to a relay terminal device, the method comprises the following steps: receiving a paging sent by a network device to a second terminal device; forwarding the paging to the second terminal device or determining a sidelink resource according to first information, wherein the first information is used for indicating at least one of the following: a packet delay budget of forwarding the paging, a delay requirement of forwarding the paging or a priority of forwarding the paging. Through the way of obtaining the first information, the relay terminal device can forward the received paging sent by the network device to the second terminal device according to the first information, so as to ensure the delay of forwarding the paging, the priority of forwarding the paging and improve the performance of forwarding the paging.

Description

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202110703126.5, filed on June 24, 2021, entitled "A Communication Method, Terminal and Network Device", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and apparatus. Background Technology

[0004] Currently, in addition to communicating directly with the network, terminal devices can also communicate with the network through other terminal devices. For example, in public safety scenarios, relay terminal devices can act as relays for remote terminal devices, enabling remote terminal devices to communicate with the network through the relay terminal devices. This technology is called User Equipment to Network relay (UE2NW relay) technology.

[0005] With this technology, remote terminal devices can receive paging messages from the network through relay terminal devices. Specifically, in addition to listening for paging messages from other relay terminal devices, the relay terminal device also listens for paging messages from remote terminal devices and forwards the remote terminal devices' paging messages to them.

[0006] When a relay terminal device autonomously selects resources to forward a paging message to a remote terminal device, the relay terminal device cannot determine the packet delay budget (PDB) of the sidelink resources between the relay terminal device and the remote terminal device. Therefore, the relay terminal device cannot determine the corresponding sidelink resources based on the PDB and forward the paging message, resulting in the paging message forwarding delay not being guaranteed. Summary of the Invention

[0007] This application provides a communication method and apparatus to solve the problem that the latency of relay terminal equipment forwarding paging cannot be guaranteed in the prior art.

[0008] In a first aspect, this application provides a communication method applied to a first terminal device, or a component within the first terminal device, such as a chip, wherein the first terminal device may be a relay terminal device. The method includes: receiving a paging request from the network device sent to a second terminal device; and forwarding the paging request to the second terminal device or determining sidelink resources based on first information, wherein the first information indicates at least one of the following: a packet delay budget for forwarding the paging request, a delay requirement for forwarding the paging request, or a priority for forwarding the paging request.

[0009] When the first information indicates the PDB or latency requirement for forwarding paging, the relay terminal device can forward paging to the remote terminal device based on the PDB or latency requirement in the first information. This ensures that the latency of forwarding paging from the remote terminal device meets the latency limit requirement, improving the performance of the relay terminal device in forwarding paging from the remote terminal device. Alternatively, when the first information indicates the priority of forwarding paging, the relay terminal device can determine the priority of forwarding paging based on the first information. Therefore, the relay terminal device can forward paging to the remote terminal device according to the priority, ensuring that high-priority paging from the remote terminal device is forwarded first. Alternatively, the first terminal device can also determine sidelink resources based on the first information. These sidelink resources help ensure the latency of messages sent to the second terminal, improving the performance of the relay terminal device in forwarding messages from the remote terminal device.

[0010] One possible implementation of the method further includes: receiving first indication information from the network device, the first indication information being used to indicate the packet delay budget of the forwarding paging or the delay requirement of the forwarding paging.

[0011] By using the above method, the first terminal device can obtain the PDB or latency requirements for forwarding paging configured by the base station by sending the first indication information through the network device. Thus, the first terminal device can forward the paging to the second terminal device according to the PDB or latency requirements for forwarding paging, thereby ensuring the latency of forwarding the paging of the second terminal device.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving second indication information from the network device, the second indication information being used to indicate the priority of the forwarding paging.

[0013] By using the above method, the first terminal device can obtain the paging priority configured by the base station by sending the second indication information through the network device. Thus, the first terminal device can perform logical channel priority processing according to the paging priority, ensuring that the paging of high-priority remote terminal devices can be forwarded first.

[0014] One possible implementation is that the first indication information is carried in any of the following: a system information block, or radio resource control signaling;

[0015] One possible implementation is that the second indication information is carried in any of the following: a system information block, or radio resource control signaling.

[0016] For example, if the PDB or latency requirement for forwarding paging in the first information is based on the configuration of each cell, then the first information can be pre-configured, and therefore, the first indication information can be sent in the system information block. Alternatively, if the first information is based on the resource configuration of each resource pool or paging, then the first or second indication information can be carried in the system information block, sidelink pre-configuration, or radio resource control signaling. Another example is if the first information is based on the configuration of the first or second terminal device, and the first information can be determined when it is determined that the first terminal device provides relay services to the second terminal device; in this case, the first or second indication information can be carried in the radio resource control signaling. Yet another example is if the first information is based on the configuration of each paging, and the first information can be determined when the network device determines to send a paging to the second terminal device; in this case, the first or second indication information can be carried in the paging of the second terminal device, or it can be carried in the radio resource control signaling.

[0017] Using the above method, the first information can be flexibly configured, and correspondingly, the first instruction information or the second instruction information can also be flexibly configured.

[0018] In one possible implementation, the paging of the second terminal device includes: sixth indication information, which is used to indicate the packet delay budget for forwarding the paging or the delay requirement for forwarding the paging;

[0019] And / or, the paging of the second terminal device includes: seventh indication information, the seventh indication information being used to indicate the priority of the forwarded paging.

[0020] By using the above method, the paging message can carry indication information of the first information, so that the first terminal device can obtain the first information at the same time as receiving the paging sent from the network device to the second terminal device, and prepare for subsequent forwarding of the paging to the second terminal device or determining the side link resources based on the first information.

[0021] One possible implementation is to determine the priority of the forwarding paging based on the packet delay budget or the delay requirement of the forwarding paging.

[0022] Using the above method, the first terminal device can determine the priority of the forwarding paging based on the packet delay budget or the delay requirement of the forwarding paging, and then forward the paging to the second terminal device or determine the side link resources according to the priority of the forwarding paging.

[0023] One possible implementation is to determine the packet delay budget or the delay requirement of the forwarding paging based on the priority of the forwarding paging.

[0024] Using the above method, the first terminal device can determine the packet delay budget or the delay requirement of the forwarding paging based on the priority of the forwarding paging. Then, based on the packet delay budget or the delay requirement, it can forward the paging to the second terminal device or determine sidelink resources. Therefore, the first terminal device can flexibly determine the method of forwarding paging to the second terminal device or the method of determining sidelink resources, improving the flexibility of the first terminal device's forwarding paging performance.

[0025] One possible implementation involves determining the remaining packet delay budget for forwarding the paging based on the packet delay budget or the delay requirement of the forwarding paging; and forwarding the paging to the second terminal device based on the remaining packet delay budget for forwarding the paging.

[0026] Using the above method, the first terminal device can determine the remaining packet delay budget for forwarding the paging based on the first information, and forward the paging to the second terminal device according to the delay corresponding to the remaining packet delay budget for forwarding the paging, so as to ensure the delay of forwarding the paging.

[0027] Alternatively, one possible implementation is to determine the remaining latency requirement for forwarding the paging based on the packet latency budget or the latency requirement for forwarding the paging; and to forward the paging to the second terminal device based on the remaining latency requirement for forwarding the paging.

[0028] Using the above method, the first terminal device can determine the remaining delay requirement for forwarding the paging based on the first information, and forward the paging to the second terminal device according to the delay corresponding to the remaining delay requirement for forwarding the paging, so as to ensure the delay of forwarding the paging.

[0029] One possible implementation is that the sidelink resources are the sidelink resources used to forward paging to the second terminal device.

[0030] The first piece of information helps ensure the latency of forwarding paging to the second terminal device and improves the performance of the relay terminal device in forwarding paging to the remote terminal device.

[0031] One possible implementation involves determining the remaining packet delay budget for forwarding paging based on the packet delay budget or the delay requirement of forwarding paging; and selecting sidelink resources based on the remaining packet delay budget for forwarding paging.

[0032] By using the packet delay budget for forwarding paging in the first information or the delay requirement for forwarding paging, the remaining packet delay budget for forwarding paging can be determined, and the side link resources can be determined accordingly. These side link resources help ensure the delay of messages sent to the second terminal and improve the performance of relay terminal equipment in forwarding messages from remote terminal equipment.

[0033] One possible implementation is that the second terminal device is at least one of the following: a remote terminal device, a remote terminal device supporting Layer 2 relay, a terminal device supporting remote terminal device capabilities, a terminal device supporting Layer 2 relay capabilities, and a terminal device receiving and forwarding paging.

[0034] Using the above method, when the second terminal device is a remote terminal device, the network device can send a first indication message or a second indication message to the first terminal device, so that the first terminal device can obtain the first information and forward the paging to the second terminal device according to the first information. Therefore, when the second terminal device is not a remote terminal device, that is, when the first terminal device does not need to forward the paging, it can not receive the first indication message or the second indication message, so as to save signaling overhead and the overhead of the first terminal device receiving the first indication message or the second indication message.

[0035] One possible implementation is that the paging of the second terminal device includes at least one of the following:

[0036] Paging messages used to paging the second terminal device;

[0037] The third indication information is used to indicate that the second terminal device has been paged;

[0038] The fourth instruction information is used to instruct the first terminal device to forward the paging to the second terminal device.

[0039] Using the methods described above, network devices can send paging messages or paging instructions to second terminal devices in various ways to adapt to different scenarios.

[0040] One possible implementation is that forwarding the paging to the second terminal device includes at least one of the following:

[0041] Send a paging message for the second terminal device;

[0042] A fifth indication message is sent to the second terminal device, the fifth indication message being used to indicate that the second terminal device has been paged.

[0043] Using the above method, when the network device sends a paging message to the second terminal device, the first terminal device can also forward the received paging message to the second terminal device, or send a paging instruction to the second terminal device, such as sending a fifth instruction message to the second terminal device, to adapt to different scenarios.

[0044] Secondly, this application provides a communication method applied to a network device, or a component in a network device, such as a chip, which includes: sending a paging message for a second terminal device, the paging message carrying first information for a first terminal device to forward the paging message to the second terminal device based on the first information, the first information being used to indicate at least one of the following: packet delay budget for forwarding the paging message, delay requirement for forwarding the paging message, or priority for forwarding the paging message.

[0045] In this system, the first terminal device can be a relay terminal device. Using the method described above, the network device can send a paging message to the first terminal device. This paging message can be forwarded from the first terminal device to the second terminal device based on first information. When the first information indicates the PDB or latency requirements for forwarding the paging message, the relay terminal device can forward the paging message to the remote terminal device based on the PDB or latency requirements in the first information. This ensures that the latency of forwarding the paging message from the remote terminal device meets the latency limit requirement, improving the performance of the relay terminal device in forwarding paging messages from the remote terminal device. Alternatively, when the first information indicates the priority of forwarding the paging message, the relay terminal device can determine the priority of forwarding the paging message based on the first information. Therefore, the relay terminal device can forward the paging message to the remote terminal device according to the priority, ensuring that high-priority paging messages from remote terminal devices are forwarded first. Alternatively, the first terminal device can also determine sidelink resources based on the first information. These sidelink resources help ensure the latency of messages sent to the second terminal device, improving the performance of the relay terminal device in forwarding messages from the remote terminal device.

[0046] In one possible implementation, the paging of the second terminal device includes: sixth indication information, which is used to indicate the packet delay budget for forwarding the paging or the delay requirement for forwarding the paging;

[0047] And / or, the paging of the second terminal device includes: seventh indication information, the seventh indication information being used to indicate the priority of the forwarded paging.

[0048] By using the above method, the paging message can carry indication information, so that when the first terminal device receives the paging sent from the network device to the second terminal device, it can obtain at least one of the packet delay budget, paging delay requirement, or paging priority indicated by the first information, in order to prepare for forwarding the paging to the second terminal device or determining the sidelink resources according to the first information.

[0049] In one possible implementation, the first information is further used to determine sidelink resources, which are sidelink resources used to forward paging to the second terminal device.

[0050] The first piece of information helps ensure the latency of forwarding paging to the second terminal device and improves the performance of the relay terminal device in forwarding paging to the remote terminal device.

[0051] In one possible implementation, the first information is further used to determine the remaining packet delay budget for the forwarded paging, and the remaining packet delay budget is used to determine the sidelink resources.

[0052] By using the packet delay budget for forwarding paging in the first information or the delay requirement for forwarding paging, the remaining packet delay budget for forwarding paging can be determined, and the side link resources can be determined accordingly. These side link resources help ensure the delay of messages sent to the second terminal and improve the performance of relay terminal equipment in forwarding messages from remote terminal equipment.

[0053] In one possible implementation, before sending the first instruction information to the first terminal device or sending the second instruction information to the first terminal device, the second terminal device may be determined to be at least one of the following: a remote terminal device, a remote terminal device supporting Layer 2 relay, a terminal device supporting remote terminal device capabilities, a terminal device supporting Layer 2 relay remote terminal device capabilities, or a terminal device receiving and forwarding paging.

[0054] Using the above method, when the network device determines that the second terminal device is a remote terminal device, it can send a first indication message or a second indication message to the first terminal device so that the first terminal device can obtain the first information and forward the paging to the second terminal device according to the first information. Therefore, when the second terminal device is not a remote terminal device, that is, when the first terminal device does not need to forward the paging, it can not receive the first indication message or the second indication message, so as to save signaling overhead and the overhead of the first terminal device receiving the first indication message or the second indication message.

[0055] In one possible implementation, before sending the first indication information to the first terminal device or sending the second indication information to the first terminal device, an eighth indication information from the core network device may be received. The eighth indication information is used to indicate that the second terminal device is at least one of the following: a remote terminal device, a remote terminal device supporting Layer 2 relay, a terminal device supporting remote terminal device capabilities, a terminal device supporting Layer 2 relay capabilities, or a terminal device receiving and forwarding paging.

[0056] Using the above method, when the network device is an access network device, the access network device can receive the eighth indication information to determine that the second terminal device is a remote terminal device. Then, it can send the first indication information or the second indication information to the first terminal device so that the first terminal device can obtain the first information and forward the paging to the second terminal device according to the first information. Thus, when the second terminal device is not a remote terminal device, that is, when the first terminal device does not need to forward the paging, it can not receive the first indication information or the second indication information, thereby saving signaling overhead and the overhead of the first terminal device receiving the first indication information or the second indication information.

[0057] One possible implementation is that the paging of the second terminal device includes at least one of the following:

[0058] Paging messages used to paging the second terminal device;

[0059] The third indication information is used to indicate that the second terminal device has been paged;

[0060] The fourth instruction information is used to instruct the first terminal device to forward the paging to the second terminal device.

[0061] One possible implementation is that forwarding the paging to the second terminal device includes at least one of the following:

[0062] Send a paging message for the second terminal device;

[0063] A fifth indication message is sent to the second terminal device, the fifth indication message being used to indicate that the second terminal device has been paged.

[0064] Thirdly, this application provides a communication device, which can be a relay terminal device or a component within a relay terminal device, such as a chip. The communication device can be the first terminal device described in the first aspect above, such as a relay terminal device or a baseband device within a relay terminal device. In one optional implementation, the communication device includes a baseband device and a radio frequency device. In another optional implementation, the communication device includes a processing module (sometimes also called a processing unit), a transmitting module, and a receiving module (sometimes also called a transceiver module, transceiver unit, receiving unit, and transmitting unit). The implementation of the transceiver module can be referred to the description in the first aspect. The device may include a processing module and a transmitting module. Optionally, the device may also include a receiving module. The device can execute any method in the implementation method of the first aspect above.

[0065] In one alternative implementation, the communication device further includes a storage module, and the processing module is configured to couple with the storage module and execute programs or instructions in the storage unit to enable the communication device to perform the functions of the terminal device described in any of the first aspects above.

[0066] Fourthly, this application provides a communication device, which can be a network device or a component within a network device, such as a chip. The device may include a processing module and a receiving module. Optionally, the device may also include a transmitting module. The device can execute any of the methods described in the second aspect above. The network device is, for example, a base station or a baseband device within a base station. In one optional implementation, the communication device includes a baseband device and a radio frequency device. In another optional implementation, the communication device includes a processing module (sometimes also called a processing unit) and a transmitting module and a receiving module (sometimes also called a transceiver module, transceiver unit, receiving unit, and transmitting unit). The implementation of the transceiver unit can be found in the description of the second aspect.

[0067] In one alternative implementation, the communication device further includes a storage module, and the processing module is configured to couple with the storage module and execute programs or instructions in the storage unit to enable the communication device to perform the functions of the network device described in any of the second aspects above.

[0068] Fifthly, this application provides a communication device including a processor and a memory, the memory being used to store computer execution instructions. When the device is running, the processor executes the computer execution instructions stored in the memory to cause the device to perform any of the methods described in the first aspect above.

[0069] In a sixth aspect, this application provides a communication device including a processor and a memory, the memory being used to store computer execution instructions, wherein when the device is running, the processor executes the computer execution instructions stored in the memory to cause the device to perform any of the methods in the implementation method of the second aspect described above.

[0070] In a seventh aspect, embodiments of this application also provide a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform any of the methods implemented in the first to second aspects described above.

[0071] Eighthly, embodiments of this application also provide a computer program product, which includes a computer program that, when the computer program is run, causes any one of the implementation methods of the first to second aspects described above to be executed.

[0072] Ninthly, embodiments of this application also provide a chip system, including: a processor, configured to execute any of the implementation methods of the first to second aspects described above.

[0073] In a tenth aspect, embodiments of this application also provide a communication system, including as described in the third or fifth aspect, and as described in the fourth or sixth aspect. Optionally, the communication system may further include a second terminal device from each of the implementation methods of the first to second aspects described above. Attached Figure Description

[0074] Figure 1 This application provides a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system.

[0075] Figures 2A-2B This is a schematic diagram illustrating possible application scenarios provided for embodiments of this application;

[0076] Figures 3A-3B This is a schematic diagram illustrating possible application scenarios provided for embodiments of this application;

[0077] Figure 3C This is a schematic diagram of a possible paging scenario;

[0078] Figures 4A-4B A flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0079] Figures 5-8 A flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0080] Figures 9-11 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0081] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of this application, the following terms related to the embodiments of this application are introduced:

[0082] 1) PDB, one of the quality of service (QoS) parameters, is the upper limit of the latency for data packets to be transmitted between the sending user equipment (UE) and the receiving user equipment. The sending UE and the receiving UE can use the PC5 interface for PC5 communication.

[0083] 2) A terminal device is a device with wireless transceiver capabilities. It can be a fixed device, a mobile device, a handheld device (e.g., a mobile phone), a wearable device, an in-vehicle device, or a wireless device (e.g., a communication module, modem, or chip system) built into the aforementioned devices. The terminal device is used to connect people, objects, and machines, and can be widely used in various scenarios, including but not limited to the following: cellular communication, device-to-device (D2D) communication, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-to-machine / machine-type communications (M2M / MTC) communication, Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), industrial control, self-driving, remote medical care, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wearables, smart transportation, smart city, drones, robots, and other similar scenarios. The terminal device may sometimes be referred to as user equipment (UE), terminal, access station, UE station, remote station, wireless communication equipment, or user device, etc. For ease of description, the terminal device in this application embodiment will be described using UE as an example.

[0084] In situations where a terminal device is far from a network device (e.g., outside the network device's coverage area), at the edge of the network device's coverage area, has a poor link quality with the network device, cannot be directly served by the network device, does not have a Uu interface, has low battery power, is in power-saving mode, or wants to conserve power, the terminal device can communicate with the network device through a UE-to-Network relay UE. In this embodiment, the relay terminal device can also be called a relay user equipment (relay UE), and it can be a terminal device that provides network access to a remote terminal device. A remote terminal device can also be called a remote user equipment (remote UE). In other words, a remote UE refers to a UE that needs relay services from other UEs to access the network; a relay UE refers to a UE that provides relay services to other UEs. The relay UE providing relay services to the remote UE can be understood as follows: information sent by the remote UE to the network device is forwarded to the network device through the relay UE, and information sent by the network device to the remote UE is also forwarded to the remote UE through the relay UE.

[0085] 3) Network equipment, including, for example, access network equipment and / or core network equipment. The access network equipment is a device with wireless transceiver capabilities, used to communicate with the terminal equipment. The access network equipment includes, but is not limited to, base stations (BTS, Node B, eNodeB / eNB, or gNodeB / gNB), transmission reception points (TRPs), base stations evolved from the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP), access nodes, wireless relay nodes, and wireless backhaul nodes in Wi-Fi systems. The base station can be: macro base station, micro base station, pico base station, small cell, relay station, etc. Multiple base stations can support networks using the same access technology mentioned above, or networks using different access technologies mentioned above. A base station can contain one or more co-located or non-co-located transmission and reception points. Network equipment can also be a radio controller, centralized unit (CU), and / or distributed unit (DU) in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario. Network equipment can also be servers, wearable devices, or vehicle-mounted equipment. For example, in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology, the network equipment can be a roadside unit (RSU). The following description of access network equipment uses a base station as an example. A base station can communicate with a terminal device or through a relay station. A terminal device can communicate with multiple base stations in different access technologies. The core network equipment is used to implement functions such as mobility management, data processing, session management, policy and charging. The names of the equipment implementing core network functions may differ in systems using different access technologies; this application does not limit this. Taking a 5G system as an example, the core network equipment includes: access and mobility management function (AMF), session management function (SMF), policy control function (PCF), or user plane function (UPF), etc.

[0086] In this application embodiment, the communication device used to implement the network device function can be a network device itself, or it can be a device capable of supporting the network device in implementing that function, such as a chip system. This device can be installed within the network device. In the technical solutions provided in this application embodiment, the example of a network device being used to implement the network device function is used to describe the technical solutions provided in this application embodiment.

[0087] 4) NR side link relay

[0088] In 3GPP Release 16, the first version of the NR sidelink was standardized for NR V2X. This version focused on supporting V2X-related road safety services. Release 17 initiated the NR sidelink relay project, researching sidelink-based relay functions to improve sidelink / network coverage and UE power efficiency, and considering broader applications and services. NR sidelink relay functions specifically include UE-to-Network coverage extension and UE-to-UE coverage extension. Release 13 standardized the ProSe UE-to-Network relay function, which is based on EUTRA technology and cannot be applied to NR systems (including NG-RAN and NR-based sidelink communication). In the ProSe UE-to-Network relay function of Release 13, the relay UE forwards data between the remote UE and the network / PDN at the IP layer, belonging to Layer-3 relay. Release 17's NR sidelink relay research investigates Layer-3 relay and Layer-2 relay. In Layer 2 relaying, relay terminal devices can perform relaying based on the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer or protocol layers below the PDCP layer (e.g., Backhaul Adaptation Protocol (BAP) layer, also known as the adaptation layer, Radio Link Control (RLC) layer). Access network devices and remote terminal devices can have corresponding PDCP, Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP), and RRC layers. The Radio Link Control (RLC), Media Access Control (MAC), and Physical (PHY) layers are end-to-end between the remote terminal device and the relay terminal device, and between the relay terminal device and the access network device. An RRC connection can be established between the remote terminal device and the access network device, and RRC messages can be exchanged through the relay terminal device. In this case, it can be considered that the remote terminal device communicates with the access network device through the relay terminal device.

[0089] Device-to-device (D2D) communication over cellular networks, also known as proximity service (ProSe) in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), is a technology that enables direct communication between terminal devices under network control. It can increase the spectrum efficiency of cellular communication systems, reduce the transmit power of terminal devices, and to some extent alleviate the problem of spectrum scarcity in wireless communication systems.

[0090] ProSe Direct Communication allows direct communication between two or more adjacent ProSe-enabled UEs without the need for any network nodes. ProSe Direct Communication can be implemented through the access layer functionality of sidelink communication.

[0091] 5G ProSe Direct Communication enables direct communication between two or more adjacent ProSe-enabled UEs without going through any network nodes, using NR technology.

[0092] ProSe UE-to-Network relay (hereinafter referred to as relay UE), or 5G ProSe UE-to-Networkrelay, is a UE that provides support for remote UE to connect to the network.

[0093] Sidelink communication: Direct communication between two or more adjacent UEs without needing to go through any network nodes.

[0094] NR sidelink communication enables access layer functionality for vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication between two or more UEs. It uses NR technology and bypasses any network nodes. NR sidelink communication can also enable 5G ProSe Direct Communication.

[0095] PC5 reference points / interfaces, and reference points / interfaces between UEs.

[0096] Uu reference point / interface: The reference point / interface between the UE and the radio access network (e.g., next generation (NG)-RAN, evolved universal mobiletelecommunications system terrestrial radio access network, E-UTRAN).

[0097] For example, you can refer to Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a scenario where a remote UE connects to the network via a relay UE. Figure 1 Taking the core network accessed by the relay UE as an example, which is either a 5G core network (5GC) or an evolved packet core network (EPC), the remote UE and the relay UE can use NR sidelink communication or sidelink communication on the PC5 interface. Specifically, the remote UE and the relay UE are connected through the PC5 interface, while the relay UE and the radio access network (RAN) are connected through the Uu interface.

[0098] SL transmission occurs between a source and a destination. The source can be identified by a source layer-2 ID, and the destination by a destination layer-2 ID. The source layer-2 ID identifies the sender of data in SL communication, and the destination layer-2 ID identifies the target or receiver of data in SL communication. The sender refers to the source of SL communication (or a Media Access Control (MAC) Protocol Data Unit, PDU), and the receiver refers to the destination of SL communication (or a MAC PDU).

[0099] A PC5 radio resource control (RRC) connection is a logical connection between two UEs sharing a source-destination pair. Once a PC5 unicast link is established between the two UEs, the corresponding PC5-RRC connection is also established. There is a one-to-one correspondence between PC5-RRC connections and PC5 unicast links.

[0100] The slidelink signaling channel (SL-SCH) can transmit data from the common control channel (SCCH), data from the stealing channel (STCH), and channel elements (CEs) for medium access control (MAC) (e.g., MAC CEs for sidelink channel state information reporting). The SL-SCH transport channel supports both UE-driven resource selection and base station-scheduled resource allocation.

[0101] 5) Radio Resource Control (RRC) status: Terminal devices have three RRC statuses: RRC connected, RRC idle, and RRC inactive.

[0102] RRC connection state (or, can also be simply called connection state. In this article, "connection state" and "RRC connection state" are the same concept and the two terms can be used interchangeably): The terminal device has established an RRC connection with the network and can transmit data.

[0103] RRC idle state (or simply idle state; in this article, "idle state" and "RRC idle state" are the same concept and the two terms can be used interchangeably): The terminal device has not established an RRC connection with the base station, and the base station has not stored the context of the terminal device. If the terminal device needs to transition from the RRC idle state to the RRC connected state, it needs to initiate an RRC connection establishment process.

[0104] RRC inactive state (or, also known as RRC inactive state, or simply inactive state or inactive state. In this article, "inactive state," "deactivated state," "deactivated state," "inactive state," "RRC inactive state," or "RRC deactivated state" are all the same concept and these terms are interchangeable): A terminal device previously entered the RRC connected state at an anchor base station, and then the anchor base station released the RRC connection, but the anchor base station preserved the context of the terminal device. If the terminal device needs to re-enter the RRC connected state from the RRC inactive state, it needs to initiate an RRC connection recovery process at the currently camped base station. Because the terminal device may be in a mobile state, the base station currently camped by the terminal device and the anchor base station of the terminal device may be the same base station or different base stations. The RRC recovery process has shorter latency and lower signaling overhead compared to the RRC establishment process. However, the base station needs to preserve the context of the terminal device, which will consume the base station's storage overhead.

[0105] 6) When the terminal device is in the RRC idle state or RRC inactive state, if the terminal device's service has been registered in the core network, the network may page the terminal device. Pagers can help the network find UEs in the idle state or inactive state. Accordingly, the terminal device needs to listen for pagers.

[0106] When the terminal device is in the radio resource control (RRC) idle state or inactive state, the UE needs to listen for paging because the network may page the UE.

[0107] The terminal device can wake up during its paging occasion (PO) to monitor downlink control information (DCI), or in other words, listen to the PDCCH. It can sleep during other times, thus reducing power consumption. The UE can listen to one PO per DRX cycle. A PO is a set of PDCCH listening occasions, which can include multiple subframes or multiple orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols.

[0108] Currently, the paging DCI can include a 2-bit field indicating whether it includes scheduling information, a short message, or both. The scheduling information is used to schedule the paging message; for example, it may include time-frequency resource information or modulation / coding information. The short message may indicate changes in system information, Earthquake and Tsunami Warning System (ETWS) notifications, or Commercial Mobile Alert Service (CMAS) notifications.

[0109] After the UE detects the paging DCI, it decodes the DCI. If the paging DCI includes scheduling information for the paging message, the UE receives the paging message. If the paging DCI does not include scheduling information and only includes a short message, the UE does not need to receive the paging message.

[0110] 7) The terms "system" and "network" in the embodiments of this application can be used interchangeably. "At least one" means one or more, and "more than one" means two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, or B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the related objects before and after are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can mean: a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0111] Furthermore, unless otherwise stated, the ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" mentioned in the embodiments of this application are used to distinguish multiple objects and are not used to limit the size, content, order, timing, priority, or importance of multiple objects. For example, the first identifier and the second identifier can be the same identifier or different identifiers, and such names do not indicate that the two identifiers are different in terms of information size, content, priority, or importance.

[0112] The technical solutions provided in this application can be applied to fourth-generation (4G) mobile communication systems, such as LTE systems, or to 5G systems, such as NR systems, or to next-generation mobile communication systems or other similar communication systems, without specific limitations. Furthermore, the technical solutions provided in this application can be applied to device-to-device (D2D) scenarios, such as NR-D2D scenarios, or to vehicle-to-everything (V2X) scenarios, such as NR-V2X scenarios. For example, they can be applied to vehicle networking, such as V2X, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), or to fields such as intelligent driving, assisted driving, or intelligent connected vehicles.

[0113] One application scenario of this application embodiment can be referred to. Figure 1 Additionally, you can refer to... Figure 2A This is a schematic diagram of another application scenario of this application embodiment. Figure 2A This includes terminal device 1, terminal device 2, access network equipment, core network equipment 1, and core network equipment 2. The access network equipment is the network device to which terminal device 1 accesses. Core network equipment 1 serves terminal device 1, and core network equipment 2 serves terminal device 2. Terminal device 1 is a relay terminal device, and terminal device 2 is a remote terminal device; in other words, terminal device 1 provides relay services to terminal device 2. This relay service from terminal device 1 to terminal device 2 can be understood as follows: information sent by terminal device 2 to the access network equipment is forwarded to the access network equipment via terminal device 1, and information sent by the access network equipment to terminal device 2 is also forwarded to terminal device 2 via terminal device 1.

[0114] Considering the possibility of relay terminal equipment relocation, the relay terminal equipment can switch access network equipment. See also... Figure 2B This is a schematic diagram of another application scenario of this application embodiment. Figure 2BThis includes terminal device 1, terminal device 2, access network device 1, access network device 2, and core network equipment. Access network device 1 is the access network device that terminal device 1 initially connects to, and access network device 2 is the access network device that terminal device 1 connects to after handover. The core network equipment serves terminal device 1. Terminal device 1 is a relay terminal device, and terminal device 2 is a remote terminal device; in other words, terminal device 1 provides relay services to terminal device 2. This relay service from terminal device 1 to terminal device 2 can be understood as follows: information sent by terminal device 2 to access network device 1 is forwarded to access network device 1 through terminal device 1, and information sent by access network device 1 to terminal device 2 is also forwarded to terminal device 2 through terminal device 1.

[0115] For example, access network device 1 can be the last access network device that terminal device 1 accesses. The core network device can send a message to access network device 1, and access network device 1 can forward the message sent by the core network device to terminal device 1. Access network device 1 can also forward the message to access network device 2. After terminal device 1 accesses access network device 2, access network device 2 can send the message to terminal device 1.

[0116] For example, such as Figure 3A This is a schematic diagram illustrating an application scenario according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 3A In this process, the remote terminal device connects to the relay terminal device, and the remote terminal device can communicate with network devices through the relay terminal device. (See also...) Figure 3B This is a schematic diagram illustrating another application scenario of this application embodiment. Figure 3B In this process, the remote terminal device is connected to the relay terminal device, and the remote terminal device can communicate with the network device through the relay terminal device. Figure 3A and Figure 3B The difference is that, Figure 3A In the middle, the remote terminal equipment is within the coverage area. Figure 3B In this case, the remote terminal device is outside the coverage area.

[0117] Figure 3A or Figure 3B The network devices in this context include, for example, access network devices, such as base stations. The access network device corresponds to different devices in different systems; for example, in a 4G system it may correspond to an eNB, while in a 5G system it may correspond to a 5G access network device, such as a gNB. Of course, the technical solutions provided in this application embodiment can also be applied to future mobile communication systems. Figure 3A or Figure 3BThe access network equipment mentioned can also correspond to network equipment in future mobile communication systems. This application embodiment uses a base station as an example of access network equipment; however, referring to the preceding description, access network equipment can also be devices such as RSUs (Radio Service Units).

[0118] Figure 1 , Figures 2A-2B , Figures 3A-3B The access network equipment in this context is, for example, a base station. The access network equipment corresponds to different devices in different systems; for example, in a 4G system it may correspond to an eNB, while in a 5G system it may correspond to the access network equipment in 5G, such as a gNB. Of course, the technical solutions provided in this application embodiment can also be applied to future mobile communication systems. Figure 1 , Figures 2A-2B , Figures 3A-3B The access network equipment in this context can also correspond to the network equipment in future mobile communication systems. Figure 1 , Figures 2A-2B , Figures 3A-3B Taking a base station as an example of access network equipment, as mentioned earlier, access network equipment can also include devices such as RSUs (Remote Units). Furthermore, Figure 1 , Figures 2A-2B , Figures 3A-3B The core network equipment in the network can be, for example, AMF, or other core network equipment.

[0119] Since the remote terminal device directly registers its services with the core network, when the core network equipment needs to access the remote terminal device's services, it will paging the remote terminal device through the radio access network (RAN). The remote terminal device needs to camp on the air interface to listen for paging. Because the Uu interface has high power consumption, this will result in significant energy consumption for the remote terminal device. Furthermore, a typical implementation of the remote terminal device is through wearable devices such as smartwatches or smart bracelets. In this scenario, the battery capacity of the remote terminal device is obviously limited. If the remote terminal device consumes a lot of power due to camping on the Uu air interface to listen for paging, it will reduce the device's usage time, potentially leading to insufficient power for normal operation or requiring frequent charging, which is inconvenient.

[0120] Additionally, considering scenarios where the remote UE is outside the coverage area, the remote terminal device may not be able to camp on the Uu air interface to listen for paging.

[0121] To conserve power of the remote UE or to extend network coverage, the remote terminal device can connect to the relay UE. The relay terminal device then listens for paging messages on behalf of the remote terminal device. This means the remote terminal device does not need to listen for paging messages on its Uu interface; this task is performed by the relay terminal device. The relay UE listens for paging messages on the remote terminal device's PO.

[0122] The relay UE can be in RRC connected state (RRC_Connected), RRC idle state (RRC_Idle), or RRC inactive state (RRC_Inactive). The relay terminal device can send monitored paging messages to the remote terminal device via the PC5 interface. For example, see [reference needed]. Figure 3C This describes the implementation process of relay terminal equipment listening to and paging on behalf of remote terminal equipment.

[0123] S31. The base station sends a paging message to the relay terminal equipment, and the relay terminal equipment receives the paging message from the base station.

[0124] For example, this paging can be used to page remote terminal devices.

[0125] The relay UE listens for / receives paging from the remote UE, and forwards the paging to the remote UE. Listening for / receiving paging from the remote UE includes one or more of the following:

[0126] 1) Paging message;

[0127] 2) Indication information used to indicate that a remote UE has been paged;

[0128] 3) Instruction information used to instruct relay UE to send paging messages to remote UE.

[0129] There are two ways for a relay UE to listen to / receive paging:

[0130] 1. The relay UE listens for paging on the PO of the remote UE. The relay UE can be in RRC_Connected state, or it can be in RRC_Idle or RRC_Inactive state.

[0131] 2. When the relay UE is in the RRC_Connected state, the base station sends dedicated signaling to the relay UE, which includes or indicates the paging of the remote UE.

[0132] For dedicated signaling methods, the base station can send a paging message to the relay terminal equipment, and the relay terminal equipment can listen for / receive paging messages from the remote terminal equipment of the base station. Listening for / receiving paging messages from remote UEs can include one or more of the following: listening for / receiving paging DCI, listening for / receiving paging messages, and listening for / receiving paging indications.

[0133] When relay UEs listen to the paging messages (POs) of remote UEs, the base station does not need to send a separate paging message to the relay terminal equipment. For example, the base station can send a paging message in the paging channel, and all terminal equipment can receive this paging message. Therefore, the relay terminal equipment can also receive paging messages from remote terminal equipment sent by the base station.

[0134] Of course, before sending a paging message, the base station can first send a paging DCI. For example, if the paging DCI includes paging scheduling information, the base station will then send a paging message. After receiving the paging DCI, the relay terminal equipment will also listen for paging messages.

[0135] If the relay terminal equipment can determine the PO (Point of Purchase) of the remote terminal equipment, it will wake up when the PO arrives and listen for paging messages for the remote terminal equipment. If the base station needs to paging the remote terminal equipment, it will also perform paging on that PO. Listening for paging messages on the PO can involve listening for DCI (Distributed Central Interchange) messages used to schedule paging messages on the PO.

[0136] S32. The relay terminal equipment forwards the paging to the remote terminal equipment.

[0137] Correspondingly, the remote terminal device receives the forwarded paging sent by the relay terminal device.

[0138] After determining whether a received paging message is intended for a remote terminal device, the relay terminal device forwards the paging message to the remote terminal device. In addition to listening for paging messages from other relay terminal devices, the relay terminal device also listens for paging messages from remote terminal devices and forwards them to those devices.

[0139] In the various embodiments of this application, the forwarding of a paging message from one terminal device to another terminal device can be understood as one terminal device sending a paging message it is monitoring or receiving from another terminal device to that other terminal device. For example, it may be monitoring or receiving a paging message from another terminal device, or monitoring or receiving indication information indicating that another terminal device has been paged, or monitoring or receiving indication information indicating that it is sending a paging message to another terminal device. Alternatively, it can be a forwarded paging message generated after monitoring or receiving a paging message from another terminal device, for example, generating indication information indicating that the other terminal device has been paged. Therefore, a forwarded paging message can be at least one of the following: one terminal device forwarding indication information indicating that the other terminal device has been paged to another terminal device, one terminal device forwarding indication information for paging to another terminal device, or one terminal device forwarding a paging message to another terminal device. For example, forwarding a paging message from a first terminal device to a second terminal device may include the first terminal device sending a paging message received from a network device (including a paging message for paging the second terminal device, a third indication message, or a fourth indication message, wherein the third indication message indicates that the first terminal device has been paging; and the fourth indication message indicates that the first terminal device forwards the paging message to the second terminal device) and the first terminal device sending an indication message (a fifth indication message, indicating that the second terminal device has been paging) to the second terminal device. Furthermore, in various embodiments of this application, the description "the first terminal device forwards a paging message to the second terminal device" is equivalent to "the second terminal device receives a paging message from a network device through the first terminal device." Similarly, the description "the second terminal device forwards a paging message for the first terminal device" is equivalent to "the first terminal device receives a paging message from a network device through the second terminal device." For example, relay UE listening to or receiving paging from remote terminal equipment can be understood as relay UE listening to or receiving paging from remote terminal equipment including one or more of the following: listening to or receiving paging DCI, listening to or receiving paging messages, and listening to or receiving paging indications.

[0140] One possible implementation is that the relay terminal device can use the SL-SCH transmission channel to forward paging to the remote terminal device. When the relay terminal device performs autonomous resource selection, it can select sidelink resources based on the remaining packet delay budget (PDB) of the SL data. For example, the higher layers (V2X layer or ProSe layer) of the relay terminal device can pass the PDB of the SL data to the access (AS) layer, allowing the relay terminal device to determine the remaining packet delay budget itself. For instance, the relay terminal device can determine the remaining PDB based on the SL data's PDB and the buffering time of the SL data. Based on the remaining PDB, the relay terminal device selects sidelink resources that satisfy the remaining packet delay budget condition of the SL data.

[0141] For example, for a certain QoS flow, the PDB parameter value between UEs is 5ms, and the SL data buffering time is 4ms. Therefore, the remaining PDB between the relay terminal device and the remote terminal device is 1ms. Thus, the relay terminal device can send the SL data based on the remaining PDB of 1ms to ensure service latency requirements.

[0142] In the above-mentioned method of relay terminal equipment forwarding paging from remote terminal equipment, when the relay UE autonomously selects resources, the relay UE does not know the PDB of the paging forwarded by the relay terminal equipment to the remote terminal equipment. Therefore, it cannot determine the remaining PDB of the paging forwarded by the relay terminal equipment to the remote terminal equipment, and thus cannot select resources based on the remaining PDB of the paging forwarded by the relay terminal equipment to the remote terminal equipment. As a result, the latency of the relay terminal equipment forwarding the paging to the remote terminal equipment cannot be guaranteed, and the reliability of transmission performance is reduced.

[0143] To address the aforementioned issues, this application provides a communication method to ensure latency in forwarding paging messages from a relay terminal device to a remote terminal device. The communication method and apparatus provided in this application will be described in detail below with reference to different scenarios and accompanying drawings.

[0144] Example 1

[0145] By configuring the relay terminal equipment with either the PDB for forwarding paging (forwarding paging PDB) or the latency requirement for forwarding paging to the remote terminal equipment (forwarding paging latency requirement), the relay terminal equipment can determine the PDB for forwarding paging to the remote terminal equipment or the latency requirement. Thus, the relay terminal equipment forwards paging to the remote terminal equipment according to the forwarding paging PDB or the latency requirement, thereby ensuring the latency of paging being forwarded.

[0146] like Figure 4A The diagram shown is a flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application. In the following description, this method will be applied to... Figure 1 , Figures 2A-2B , Figures 3A-3B The network architecture shown is an example.

[0147] For ease of explanation, the following description uses the example of the method being executed by a network device and a terminal device. The network device described below can be a core network device and / or access network device serving a first terminal device, or it can be a core network device and / or access network device serving a second terminal device. The core network device is, for example, an AMF (Advanced Feature Provider), and the access network device is, for example, a base station. If the embodiments of this application are applied to… Figure 1 Given the network architecture shown, the second terminal device described below can be... Figure 1 In the network architecture shown, terminal device 2 (i.e., remote terminal device), the first terminal device mentioned below can be... Figure 1 Terminal device 1 (i.e., relay terminal device) in the network architecture shown, or, if the embodiments of this application are applied to Figures 2A-2B Given the network architecture shown, the second terminal device described below can be... Figure 1 , Figures 2A-2B , Figures 3A-3B In the network architecture shown, terminal device 2 (i.e., remote terminal device), the first terminal device mentioned below can be... Figure 1 , Figures 2A-2B , Figures 3A-3B In the network architecture shown, terminal device 1 (i.e., relay terminal device), the network device referred to below can be... Figure 1 , Figures 2A-2B , Figures 3A-3B The core network device 1 or base station in the network architecture shown. Specifically, the following steps are included:

[0148] S401: The first terminal device obtains the first information.

[0149] That is, the first terminal device obtains first information. This first information indicates at least one of the following: the packet latency budget for forwarding paging, and the latency requirement for forwarding paging. The forwarding paging can be a forwarding paging corresponding to a paging sent by the network device to the second terminal device.

[0150] One possible implementation is that the first information may include at least one of the following: packet delay budget for forwarding paging and delay requirement for forwarding paging. In this case, the first terminal device can directly obtain at least one of the packet delay budget for forwarding paging and delay requirement for forwarding paging based on the first information.

[0151] Another possible implementation is that the first terminal device can obtain indication information of at least one of the packet delay budget and the delay requirement for forwarding paging based on the first information, and then obtain at least one of the packet delay budget and the delay requirement for forwarding paging according to the indication information. Specific methods can be found in the descriptions of the first, second, sixth, and seventh indication information below, and will not be repeated here.

[0152] In some embodiments, the first terminal device may obtain one or more of the packet delay budget and the delay requirement for forwarding paging based on the paging delay information.

[0153] The latency information for forwarding paging may include at least one of the following: the value of the packet latency budget (PDB) for forwarding paging, the range of the PDB for forwarding paging, the maximum or minimum value of the PDB for forwarding paging, the value of the latency requirement for forwarding paging, the range of the latency requirement for forwarding paging, and the maximum or minimum value of the latency requirement for forwarding paging.

[0154] One possible implementation is that, when the forwarding paging latency information is the value of the forwarding paging packet latency budget (forwarding paging PDB), the first terminal device can obtain the forwarding paging packet latency budget based on the forwarding paging latency information. Alternatively, when the forwarding paging latency information is the value of the forwarding paging packet latency budget (forwarding paging PDB), the first terminal device can obtain the forwarding paging latency requirement based on the forwarding paging latency information. Alternatively, when the forwarding paging latency information is the value of the forwarding paging latency requirement, the first terminal device can obtain the forwarding paging latency requirement based on the forwarding paging latency information. Alternatively, when the forwarding paging latency information is the value of the forwarding paging latency requirement, the first terminal device can obtain the forwarding paging packet latency budget (forwarding paging PDB) based on the forwarding paging latency information.

[0155] Another possible implementation is that when the paging delay information includes the range of the paging PDB, the maximum or minimum value of the paging PDB, the value of the paging delay requirement, the range of the paging delay requirement, the maximum or minimum value of the paging delay requirement, etc., the first terminal device can determine the value of the paging PDB or the value of the paging delay requirement based on the paging delay information.

[0156] For example, if the latency information falls within the range of the forwarded paging PDB or latency requirement, the first terminal device can determine that the forwarded paging PDB or latency requirement is a value within that range based on the latency information. Alternatively, if the latency information represents the maximum value of the forwarded paging PDB or latency requirement, the first terminal device can determine that the forwarded paging PDB or latency requirement is less than or equal to that maximum value based on the latency information. Or, if the latency information represents the minimum value of the forwarded paging PDB or latency requirement, the first terminal device can determine that the forwarded paging PDB or latency requirement is greater than or equal to that maximum value based on the latency information.

[0157] For example, the first terminal device can also determine the value of the forwarding paging PDB or delay requirement based on one or more of the following: the range of the forwarding paging PDB or delay requirement in the delay information; the maximum or minimum value of the forwarding paging PDB or delay requirement; the priority of forwarding paging; the sidelink communication channel status between the second terminal device and the first terminal device (e.g., channel quality, channel busyness or congestion); the load of the first terminal device; the capability of the first terminal device; and the QoS of the service of the second terminal device.

[0158] There are several ways for the first terminal device to obtain the delay information of forwarding paging. The following examples illustrate methods A1 and A2.

[0159] In method A1, the first terminal device can obtain the paging delay information through the network device's instructions.

[0160] Network devices can determine paging delay information in various ways. For example, a network device can determine paging delay information based on one or more of the following: network paging performance indicators (KPIs), paging priority of the second terminal device, sidelink communication channel status between the second and first terminal devices (e.g., channel quality, channel busyness or congestion), load of the first terminal device, capacity of the first terminal device, QoS of the service of the second terminal device, and priority of allocation and retention (ARP) of the data that triggered paging of the second terminal device.

[0161] The paging priority of the second terminal device can be determined based on one or more of the following: the QoS of the second terminal device's service, the allocation and reservation priority of the data that triggered the paging of the second terminal device. For CN paging, the paging priority of the second terminal device can be determined by the core network element. The core network element can indicate the paging priority of the second terminal device to the access network device, and the access network device can initiate paging of the second terminal device according to the paging priority of the second terminal device. In the RAN paging scenario, the paging priority of the second terminal device can be determined by the last serving access network device (e.g., serving base station) or anchor access network device (e.g., anchor base station) of the second terminal device. The last serving access network device (e.g., serving base station) or anchor access network device (e.g., anchor base station) of the second terminal device can initiate paging of the second terminal device. Alternatively, the last serving access network device (e.g., serving base station) or anchor access network device (e.g., anchor base station) of the second terminal device can indicate the paging priority of the second terminal device to other access network devices (e.g., neighboring base stations, the current serving base station of the second terminal device, or the new serving base station of the second terminal device). Thus, the other access network devices can initiate paging of the second terminal device based on the paging priority of the second terminal device.

[0162] In some embodiments, the network device may send first indication information. This first indication information may be used to indicate the value of the PDB or latency requirement for forwarding paging (i.e., the first indication information may be used to indicate the PDB or latency requirement for forwarding paging), or it may be used to indicate the range of the PDB or latency requirement for forwarding paging, or it may be used to indicate the maximum or minimum value of the PDB or latency requirement for forwarding paging, etc., without limitation. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the first indication information and determines the latency information for forwarding paging based on the first indication information. Accordingly, the first terminal device can determine the value of the PDB or latency requirement for forwarding paging based on the latency information for forwarding paging.

[0163] One possible implementation is that the first indication information is carried in any of the following: a system information block, or radio resource control signaling.

[0164] For example, the network device may include the first indication information in a broadcast signal (e.g., a system information block (SIB)). Alternatively, the network device may include the first indication information in RRC signaling sent to the UE. Corresponding to the first terminal device, the network device may include the first indication information in RRC-specific signaling sent to the first terminal device.

[0165] Another possible implementation is that the core network device sends a first indication message to the first terminal device. For example, the core network device includes the first indication message in the Non-access stratum (NAS) signaling.

[0166] It should be noted that network devices can send paging and first indication information simultaneously, or they can send paging and first indication information separately. For example, paging and first indication information can be sent in the same message or in different messages, which is not limited here.

[0167] In another possible implementation, the network device can also carry sixth indication information in the paging of the second terminal device. This sixth indication information can be used to indicate the paging forwarding delay information; that is, the paging forwarding delay information is indicated simultaneously with sending the paging to the first terminal device. Accordingly, after receiving the sixth indication information, the first terminal device can determine the paging forwarding delay information based on it, and then determine the PDB or delay requirement value for the paging forwarding based on this information.

[0168] Network devices can determine the paging delay information in various ways. Correspondingly, there can also be multiple ways to send the first or sixth indication information. The following examples illustrate methods a1 to a6.

[0169] Method a1: The latency information for forwarding paging can be based on each cell, each resource pool, or each terminal device (first terminal device or second terminal device), or the resource configuration for forwarding paging.

[0170] In Example a1.1, the paging forwarding delay information can be configured per cell. That is, one cell corresponds to one paging forwarding delay information. The first terminal device determines the paging forwarding delay information corresponding to the cell serving the first terminal device. In this case, the first indication information can be sent by the network device in a system information block. The first terminal device receives the system information block of the serving cell sent by the network device. This system information block may contain the first indication information, and the first terminal device determines the paging forwarding delay information based on the first indication information.

[0171] Network devices can also establish a correspondence between cells and paging delay information. For example, paging delay information can correspond to cell identifiers. The network device determines the paging delay information based on the cell accessed by the first terminal device, or, when the first terminal device accesses or camps on a cell, it can also determine the paging delay information based on the cell accessed or camped on by the first terminal device. Furthermore, the paging delay information can also be determined based on the cell accessed by the first terminal device and the cell accessed by the second terminal device. No further limitations are imposed here. In this case, the first indication information can be sent in radio resource control signaling or NAS signaling.

[0172] In Example a1.2, the paging delay information can be configured based on a resource pool.

[0173] One resource pool corresponds to one paging delay information. The first terminal device determines the paging delay information corresponding to the resource pool used for paging. In this case, the first indication information can be sent in a system information block, NAS signaling, or radio resource control signaling. One possible implementation is that the first terminal device receives a resource pool configuration sent by the network device, and the first indication information can be included in the resource pool configuration. The first terminal device determines the configuration of the resource pool used for paging, which includes the first indication information, and determines the paging delay information based on the first indication information. Another possible implementation is that there is a correspondence between the first indication information and the resource pool. The network device indicates the correspondence between the first indication information and the resource pool, the first terminal device determines the resource pool used for paging, and determines the first indication information corresponding to that resource pool based on the correspondence, and determines the paging delay information based on the first indication information. Another possible implementation is that the network device determines the correspondence between the resource pool and the paging delay information, and the network device determines the paging delay information corresponding to the resource pool based on the paging resource pool forwarded by the first terminal device, and sends the first indication information indicating the paging delay information to the first terminal device.

[0174] Example a1.3, the paging delay information can be configured based on the first terminal device (e.g., per relay UE).

[0175] One first terminal device corresponds to one paging delay information. The first terminal device forwards the paging delay information corresponding to the paging to one or more second terminal devices. The first terminal device receives a first indication information sent by the network device for itself, and determines the paging delay information based on the first indication information. At this time, the first indication information may be sent in Radio Resource Control signaling or NAS signaling.

[0176] For example, a network device can determine latency information when it determines that a first terminal device is providing relay service to a second terminal device. When the second terminal device updates the first terminal device providing relay service, it can update the paging forwarding latency information. Alternatively, when the first terminal device updates the second terminal device providing relay service to the second terminal device, it can update this first information. The network device can establish a correspondence between the identifier of the first terminal device and the paging forwarding latency information. One possible implementation is that the network device can determine the paging forwarding latency information of the first terminal device based on its capabilities. In this approach, the paging forwarding latency information used by the first terminal device is the same when forwarding paging to different second terminal devices. In this case, the network device can determine the paging forwarding latency information based on the first terminal device.

[0177] Example a1.4, the paging delay information can be configured based on a second terminal device (e.g., per remote UE).

[0178] One second terminal device corresponds to one paging delay information. A first terminal device forwards a paging message to a second terminal device, corresponding to the paging delay information. The first terminal device receives a first indication message from the network device for that second terminal device. This first indication message can be sent in Radio Resource Control (RANC) signaling or NAS (Network Access Controller) signaling. In one possible implementation, there is a correspondence between the first indication message and the second terminal device. The network device indicates the correspondence between the first indication message and the second terminal device, the first terminal device determines to forward a paging message to a second terminal device, determines the first indication message corresponding to that second terminal device based on the correspondence, and determines the paging delay information based on the first indication message.

[0179] For example, a network device can determine latency information when it determines that a first terminal device is providing relay service to a second terminal device. This latency information can be updated when the second terminal device updates the first terminal device providing relay service. Alternatively, the latency information for forwarding paging can be updated when the first terminal device updates the second terminal device to provide relay service to the second terminal device. The network device can establish a correspondence between the identifier of the second terminal device and the latency information for forwarding paging. One possible implementation is that the network device can determine the latency information for forwarding paging of the second terminal device based on its capabilities. In this approach, the same latency information is used when different first terminal devices forward paging to the same second terminal device. Alternatively, the same latency information is used when the first terminal device forwards different paging to the same second terminal device. In this case, the network device can determine the latency information for forwarding paging based on the second terminal device.

[0180] In Example a1.5, the delay information for forwarding paging can be based on the configuration of the sidelink radio bearer (e.g., sidelink SRB) or sidelink logical channel used for forwarding paging.

[0181] The sidelink radio bearer or sidelink logical channel used for forwarding paging has corresponding forwarding paging delay information. The first terminal device determines the forwarding paging delay information corresponding to the sidelink radio bearer or sidelink logical channel used for forwarding paging. In this case, the first indication information can be sent in a system information block, NAS signaling, or radio resource control signaling. In one possible implementation, the first terminal device receives a sidelink radio bearer configuration or sidelink logical channel configuration sent by the network device, and the first indication information can be included in the sidelink radio bearer configuration or sidelink logical channel configuration. The first terminal device determines the configuration of the sidelink radio bearer or sidelink logical channel used for forwarding paging, which includes the first indication information, and determines the forwarding paging delay information based on the first indication information. In another possible implementation, the first indication information has a correspondence with the sidelink radio bearer or sidelink logical channel. The network device indicates the correspondence between first indication information and a sidelink radio bearer or sidelink logical channel. The first terminal device determines the sidelink radio bearer or sidelink logical channel used for forwarding paging, and determines the first indication information corresponding to the sidelink radio bearer or sidelink logical channel according to the correspondence. It then determines the paging forwarding delay information based on the first indication information. Alternatively, the network device determines the correspondence between the sidelink radio bearer or sidelink logical channel and the paging forwarding delay information. Based on the sidelink radio bearer or sidelink logical channel used by the first terminal device for forwarding paging, the network device determines the paging forwarding delay information corresponding to that sidelink radio bearer or sidelink logical channel, and sends the first indication information indicating the paging forwarding delay information to the first terminal device.

[0182] Example a1.6: Forwarding paging delay information can be based on the MACCE configuration on the side link used for forwarding paging.

[0183] The MAC CE on the sidelink used for paging forwarding has corresponding paging forwarding delay information. The first terminal device determines the paging forwarding delay information corresponding to the MAC CE on the sidelink used for paging forwarding. In this case, the first indication information can be sent in a system information block, NAS signaling, or radio resource control signaling. One possible implementation is that the first indication information corresponds to a MAC CE on the sidelink. The network device indicates the correspondence between the first indication information and the MAC CE on the sidelink, and the first terminal device determines the first indication information corresponding to the MAC CE on the sidelink used for paging forwarding based on the correspondence, and determines the paging forwarding delay information based on the first indication information. Another possible implementation is that the network device determines the correspondence between the MAC CE on the sidelink and the paging forwarding delay information, and the network device determines the paging forwarding delay information corresponding to the MAC CE on the sidelink used by the first terminal device for paging forwarding, and sends the first indication information indicating the paging forwarding delay information to the first terminal device.

[0184] Method a2: Forwarding paging latency information is configured based on each paging or each paging message.

[0185] That is, one paging corresponds to one forwarding paging delay information, meaning the first terminal device needs to apply this forwarding paging delay information when forwarding the paging. Alternatively, one paging message corresponds to one forwarding paging delay information, meaning the first terminal device needs to apply this forwarding paging delay information when forwarding the paging in the paging message. Different paging messages may correspond to different forwarding paging delay information. The network device may carry sixth indication information indicating the forwarding paging delay information in the paging of the second terminal device. Alternatively, the network device may carry sixth indication information indicating the forwarding paging delay information in the signaling where the paging of the second terminal device is located.

[0186] One possible implementation is that the paging of the second terminal device is a paging message used to page the second terminal device. The paging message contains one or more paging records, each containing the identifier (UE-identity, UE ID) of the paged terminal device. A paging record for the second terminal device refers to a paging record in which the terminal identifier is the identifier of the second terminal device. Some paging records also contain sixth indication information. The first terminal device determines that the identifier of the terminal device in the paging record is the identifier of the second terminal device, and determines the paging forwarding delay information based on the sixth indication information in the paging record.

[0187] Another possible implementation involves the second terminal device using a paging message. This paging message contains one or more paging records, each containing the identifier of the paging terminal device. The paging message also contains one or more sixth indication information entries, each corresponding to a paging record. The first terminal device determines that the identifier of the terminal device in the paging record is the identifier of the second terminal device, determines the corresponding sixth indication information based on the correspondence, and determines the paging forwarding delay information based on the sixth indication information.

[0188] In another possible implementation, the paging of the second terminal device is a paging message for paging the second terminal device. The paging message contains one or more paging records, each containing the identifier of the paging terminal device. The paging message also contains sixth indication information, and the one or more paging records in the paging message correspond to this sixth indication information. The first terminal device determines that the identifier of the terminal device in the paging record in the paging message is the identifier of the second terminal device, and determines the paging forwarding delay information based on the sixth indication information in the paging message.

[0189] Optionally, considering that the paging forwarding delay information can only be used when the first terminal device forwards the paging to the second terminal device, and is not needed for the UE that directly listens to the paging sent by the base station, in order to reduce signaling overhead, the base station can configure the paging forwarding delay information only for the second terminal device or only for the second terminal device that receives the paging through the first terminal device.

[0190] In method a3, after the network device determines that the second terminal device corresponding to the paging is a remote terminal device, it determines to send the first instruction information or the sixth instruction information to the first terminal device.

[0191] The network device may determine that the second terminal device in a paging call is a remote terminal device in the following ways: based on the capabilities or identifier of the second terminal device, or by determining that the terminal device is a remote terminal device supporting L2 relay, or by determining that the terminal device is a UE capable of acting as a remote terminal device, or by determining that the terminal device is a UE capable of acting as a remote terminal device supporting L2 relay, or by determining that the terminal device is a UE that (may) receive and forward paging calls. The network device here may be a core network element (e.g., AMF), or the last serving gNB or anchor gNB of the remote terminal device.

[0192] It should be noted that mode a3 can be combined with mode a1 or mode a2, and is used by the network device to execute mode a1 or mode a2 when it determines that the second terminal device is a remote terminal device. For example, when the network device determines that the second terminal device is a remote terminal device, it can send a first indication information or a sixth indication information to the first terminal device, so that the first terminal device obtains the paging delay information of the remote terminal device.

[0193] One possible implementation is that the paging listened to by the UE in the RRC idle state can be CN paging (CN-initiated paging). For CN paging, the core network element (e.g., AMF) can send a paging message to the access network device (e.g., the base station (NG-RAN node)). After receiving the paging message, the base station then paging the UE.

[0194] In this scenario, after the core network element (such as AMF) determines that the paging UE is a remote terminal device, it sends the eighth indication information to the access network device. The eighth indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device to be paging is a remote terminal device.

[0195] Specifically, the eighth indication information can be used to indicate that the terminal device is a remote terminal device, or that the terminal device is a remote terminal device supporting L2 relay, or that the terminal device is a UE capable of acting as a remote terminal device, or that the terminal device is a UE capable of acting as a remote terminal device supporting L2 relay, or that the terminal device is a UE that (may) receive and forward paging messages. The eighth indication information can be included in the paging message sent by the core network element to the access network device. It should be noted that the core network element sending the eighth indication information can be a network device serving the second terminal device. This network device can be a different network device from the network device sending the first indication information or the sixth indication information, or it can be the same network device; no limitation is made here.

[0196] After receiving a paging message and the eighth indication message from the terminal device, the access network device can determine whether to send the first indication message or the sixth indication message for the paging. If the access network device receives a paging message from the terminal device but does not receive the eighth indication message, it can determine whether to send the first indication message or the sixth indication message for the paging.

[0197] Another possible implementation is that the paging listened to by the UE in the RRC inactive state can be RAN paging (RAN-initiated paging). In the RAN paging scenario, the remote terminal equipment moves while inactive, which may cause changes in the access network equipment it accesses. The last serving gNB or the anchor gNB of the UE in the RRC inactive state can be the base station that stores the UE's UE context, or it can be the base station that last released the UE to the RRC inactive state, for example, the base station that released the UE from the RRC connected state to the RRC inactive state.

[0198] For RAN paging, the UE's last serving gNB or the UE's anchor gNB can also page the remote terminal equipment (e.g., RAN paging via the Xn interface application protocol, AP) to neighboring base stations, the UE's current serving base station, or the UE's new serving base station. Correspondingly, the remote terminal equipment can be identified as the paging UE by the remote terminal equipment's last serving access network device (last serving gNB) or anchor gNB (anchor gNB).

[0199] After determining that the paging UE is a remote terminal device, the last serving access network device or anchor access network device may send a first indication message or a sixth indication message for the paging of that terminal device. Conversely, if it is determined that the paging UE is not a remote terminal device, the access network device may not send the first indication message or the sixth indication message for the paging of that terminal device.

[0200] For example, the last serving access network device (last serving base station) or anchor access network device (anchor base station) of the remote terminal equipment can also send an eighth indication message to other access network devices (e.g., other base stations besides the last serving base station, adjacent base stations, the current serving base station, or a new serving base station). This eighth indication message is used to indicate that the terminal equipment to be paged is a remote terminal equipment. After receiving the paging message and the eighth indication message from the terminal equipment, the other access network devices can send a first indication message or a sixth indication message in response to the paging. Correspondingly, if other access network devices do not receive the eighth indication message, they may not send the first or sixth indication message in response to the paging of the terminal equipment. The eighth indication message can be included in the XnAP RAN Paging sent by the last serving access network device or the anchor access network device to other access network devices. It should be noted that the access network device sending the eighth indication message can be a network device serving the second terminal equipment. This network device and the access network device sending the first indication message can be different network devices or the same network device, which is not limited here.

[0201] Method a4: Configure network devices with default paging latency information.

[0202] For example, the default forwarding paging latency information could be a default forwarding paging PDB or latency requirement value configured in the network device.

[0203] It should be noted that the default paging forwarding latency information configured for network devices can also be determined by referring to at least one of methods a1, a2, and a3. For example, the paging forwarding latency information determined in methods a1 to a3 can also be used as the default paging forwarding latency information. For instance, the default paging forwarding latency information can be determined based on each first terminal device, each second terminal device, each cell, or each paging resource. Specific implementation methods can be found in methods a1 to a3 above, and will not be elaborated further here.

[0204] One possible implementation is that method a4 can be combined with any of methods a1 to a3. For example, when the first terminal device does not receive the first instruction information or the sixth instruction information, the first terminal device can determine the forwarding paging delay information corresponding to the paging of the second terminal device based on the default forwarding paging delay information; that is, the forwarding paging delay information corresponding to the first terminal device forwarding the paging to the second terminal device is the default forwarding paging delay information. When the first terminal device receives the first instruction information or the sixth instruction information, the first terminal device determines the forwarding paging delay information corresponding to the paging of the second terminal device based on the first instruction information or the sixth instruction information.

[0205] In method A2, the paging delay information can be pre-configured or pre-defined.

[0206] In some embodiments, the paging forwarding delay information may be pre-configured. For example, the sidelink pre-configuration may include indication information regarding the paging forwarding delay. This sidelink pre-configuration may be pre-configured in the mobile equipment (ME) or configured in the Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC). Alternatively, the paging forwarding delay information may be predefined, for example, as specified in a standard protocol.

[0207] It should be noted that, in mode A2, at least one of Examples a1.2, a1.5, a1.6, and mode a4 in mode A1 can be referred to determine the paging forwarding delay information. The difference from mode A1 is that the paging forwarding delay information in mode A2 is not configured by the network device, but is pre-configured or predefined. The first indication information can be included in the pre-configuration, or the first indication information is predefined, for example, as specified in a standard protocol. Accordingly, the first terminal device determines the paging forwarding delay information based on the first indication information, and correspondingly, the first terminal device can determine the value of the PDB or delay requirement for paging forwarding based on the paging forwarding delay information. Referring to Example a1.2, the resource pool configuration is pre-configured or predefined. Alternatively, the correspondence between the first indication information and the resource pool is pre-configured or predefined. Referring to Example a1.5, the sidelink radio bearer configuration or sidelink logical channel configuration is pre-configured or predefined. Alternatively, the correspondence between the first indication information and the sidelink radio bearer or sidelink logical channel is preconfigured or predefined. In Reference Example a1.6, the correspondence between the first indication information and the MAC CE on the sidelink is preconfigured or predefined. In Reference Mode a4, the default forwarding paging delay information is preconfigured or predefined.

[0208] One possible implementation is that the pre-configured or pre-defined default forwarding paging delay information can be combined with any of the methods a1 to a3 in A1. For example, when the first terminal device does not receive the first indication information or the sixth indication information, the first terminal device can determine the forwarding paging delay information corresponding to the paging of the second terminal device based on the default forwarding paging delay information; that is, the forwarding paging delay information corresponding to the first terminal device forwarding the paging to the second terminal device is the default forwarding paging delay information. When the first terminal device receives the first indication information or the sixth indication information, the first terminal device determines the forwarding paging delay information corresponding to the paging of the second terminal device based on the first indication information or the sixth indication information.

[0209] S402: The first terminal device receives a paging message from the second terminal device of the network device.

[0210] The paging function of the second terminal device includes one or more of the following:

[0211] Paging messages used to paging second terminal devices;

[0212] The third instruction information is used to indicate that the second terminal device has been paged;

[0213] The fourth instruction information is used to instruct the first terminal device to forward the paging to the second terminal device.

[0214] The paging message used to page the second terminal device can refer to a paging message containing the paging record of the second terminal device, where the paging record of the second terminal device refers to a paging record containing the identifier of the second terminal device. In specific implementation, such as... Figure 4B As shown, S402 may include at least one of S402-1 to S402-3.

[0215] S402-1: The first terminal device receives a paging message sent by the network device for paging the second terminal device.

[0216] S402-2: The first terminal device receives the third instruction information sent by the network device.

[0217] S402-3: The first terminal device receives the fourth instruction information sent by the network device.

[0218] For example, when S402-1 and S402-3 are executed simultaneously, the first terminal device can receive a paging message and a fourth indication information sent by the network device, enabling the first terminal device to determine whether to forward the paging to the second terminal device. As another example, when S402-2 and S402-3 are executed simultaneously, the first terminal device can receive a third indication information and a fourth indication information, enabling the first terminal device to determine that the second terminal device has been paged and to determine whether to forward the paging to the second terminal device. As yet another example, when S402-1 and S402-2 are executed simultaneously, the first terminal device can receive a paging message and a fourth indication information sent by the network device, enabling the first terminal device to determine whether to forward the paging message or forward the paging indication (e.g., forward the fifth indication information) to the second terminal device. Of course, S402-1, S402-2, and S402-3 can also be executed simultaneously. In this case, the first terminal device can determine whether to forward the paging message to the second terminal device and forward the paging message to the second terminal device.

[0219] It should be noted that the order of S401 and S402 is not limited, and S401 and S402 can also be simultaneous. For example, the base station sends the first indication information to the first terminal device and the paging of the second terminal device in the same signaling. Alternatively, the base station includes the sixth indication information in the paging of the second terminal device. For details, please refer to S401, which will not be repeated here.

[0220] S403a: The first terminal device forwards the paging to the second terminal device.

[0221] In this process, the first terminal device forwards the paging message to the second terminal device after receiving a paging message from the base station.

[0222] The forwarding of a paging message from the first terminal device to the second terminal device may include one or more of the following:

[0223] Send a paging message for the second terminal device;

[0224] A fifth indication message is sent to the second terminal device, the fifth indication message being used to indicate that the second terminal device has been paged.

[0225] That is, the forwarding of a paging message from the first terminal device to the second terminal device may include one or more of the following:

[0226] Send the paging message for paging the second terminal device to the second terminal device;

[0227] Send the third instruction information to the second terminal device;

[0228] Send the fourth instruction information to the second terminal device;

[0229] A fifth indication message is sent to the second terminal device, the fifth indication message being used to indicate that the second terminal device has been paged.

[0230] In the specific implementation process, such as Figure 4B As shown, S403a may include at least one of S403-1 to S403-4.

[0231] When S402 includes S402-1, S403 may include S403-1: the first terminal device sends (or forwards) a paging message to the second terminal device. This paging message is the paging message received by the first terminal device in S402-1. The forwarding method can be transparent transmission, or the first terminal device can parse the paging message and then forward it to the second terminal device; this is not limited here.

[0232] When S402 includes S402-2, S403 may include S403-2: the first terminal device forwards (or sends) third indication information to the second terminal device. This third indication information is the third indication information received by the first terminal device in S402-2. The forwarding method can be transparent transmission, or the first terminal device can parse the third indication information and then forward it to the second terminal device; this is not limited here.

[0233] When S402 includes S402-3, S403 may include S403-3: the first terminal device forwards (or sends) the fourth indication information to the second terminal device. This fourth indication information is the fourth indication information received by the first terminal device in S402-3. The forwarding method can be transparent transmission, or the first terminal device can parse the fourth indication information and then forward it to the second terminal device; this is not limited here.

[0234] S403a can also determine a fifth indication message based on receiving a paging message from the base station for the second terminal device, for example, after receiving at least one of S402-1 to S402-3. This fifth indication message is used to indicate that the second terminal device has been paging. Therefore, S403a may also include S403-4: the first terminal device sends the fifth indication message to the second terminal device.

[0235] In other embodiments, when S402-1 and S402-3 are executed simultaneously, the first terminal device may receive a paging message and a fourth indication information sent by the network device. At this time, the first terminal device may execute S403-1 and S403-3, or the first terminal device may execute S403-1 and S403-4, to enable the first terminal device to determine whether to forward the paging to the second terminal device. For example, when S402-2 and S402-3 are executed simultaneously, the first terminal device may receive a third indication information and a fourth indication information. At this time, the first terminal device may execute S403-2 and S403-3, or the first terminal device may execute S403-2 and S403-4, to enable the first terminal device to determine that the second terminal device has been paging and to determine whether to forward the paging to the second terminal device. For example, when S402-1 and S402-2 are executed simultaneously, the first terminal device can receive a paging message and a fourth indication information sent by the network device. At this time, the first terminal device can execute S403-1 and S403-2, or S403-1 and S403-4, or S403-2 and S403-3, or S403-1, S402-2, and S403-4, so that the first terminal device determines to forward the paging message or forward the paging indication (e.g., forward the fifth indication information) to the second terminal device. Alternatively, S402-1, S402-2, and S402-3 can be executed simultaneously. In this case, the first terminal device can determine that the second terminal device is forwarding the paging message and forwards the paging message to the second terminal device. Other possible implementations of S403a can be found in the above examples and will not be elaborated upon here.

[0236] There are multiple implementation methods in S403a. The following examples illustrate method c1 and method c2.

[0237] In method c1, the first terminal device forwards a paging request to the second terminal device based on the first information.

[0238] One possible implementation is that the first terminal device can determine the remaining PDB for forwarding the paging based on the PDB or latency requirements, and then forward the paging to the second terminal device based on the remaining PDB.

[0239] For example, the first terminal device can determine the remaining PDB for forwarding the paging based on the PDB of the forwarded paging, and then forward the paging to the second terminal device based on the remaining PDB. For instance, if the PDB for forwarding the paging is 2ms, the remaining PDB can be determined to be 1ms based on the paging buffering time of the first terminal device, such as 1ms. Therefore, the first terminal device can forward the paging to the second terminal device within 1ms.

[0240] Another possible implementation is that the first terminal device can determine the remaining delay requirement for forwarding the paging based on the delay requirement for forwarding the paging, and forward the paging to the second terminal device based on the remaining delay requirement for forwarding the paging.

[0241] For example, the remaining latency requirement can be determined based on the paging latency requirement and the paging forwarding capability of the first terminal device. After determining the remaining latency requirement, the first terminal device can forward the paging to the second terminal device according to the remaining latency requirement of the paging.

[0242] Forwarding paging messages can be referenced. Figure 4B At least one of S403-1 to S403-4 in the above, which will not be elaborated here.

[0243] In method c2, the first terminal device determines the sidelink resource for forwarding paging from the first terminal device to the second terminal device based on the first information. The first terminal device can use this SL resource to forward paging to the second terminal device. The content of the forwarded paging can be found in [reference needed]. Figure 4B At least one of S403-1 to S403-4 in the above, which will not be elaborated here.

[0244] For example, the first terminal device determines the sidelink resources used by the first terminal device to forward the paging to the second terminal device based on the PDB or latency requirements for forwarding the paging.

[0245] In method c2.1, the first terminal device determines the SL resources to be used to forward the paging to the second terminal device based on the PDB or latency requirements for forwarding the paging.

[0246] One possible implementation is that the first terminal device may receive paging requests from multiple second terminal devices. In this case, the first terminal device can determine an SL resource to forward the paging to one of the second terminal devices in the logical channel prioritization procedure (LCP) based on the PDB or delay requirements of the forwarding paging requests corresponding to the multiple second terminal devices.

[0247] In method c2.2, the first terminal device determines the remaining PDB for forwarding the paging based on the PDB or latency requirements, and selects SL resources based on the remaining PDB for forwarding the paging. The selected SL resources are the sidelink resources used by the first terminal device to forward the paging to the second terminal device.

[0248] After receiving a paging request from a base station for a second terminal device, the first terminal device selects a sidelink resource (SL) for forwarding the paging request to the second terminal device. In some embodiments, the SL resource selected by the first terminal device satisfies the remaining PDB for forwarding the paging request; for example, the time domain position of the SL resource selected by the first terminal device is earlier than or equal to the current time domain position plus the remaining PDB.

[0249] For example, if the sidelink grant (SL grant) resource selected by the first terminal device cannot satisfy the remaining PDB for forwarding paging, then the selected SL grant is cleared, and / or the selection or reselection of sidelink resources is triggered.

[0250] Using the above method, the first terminal device can obtain the forwarding PDB or latency requirements of paging by configuring the base station or by using predefined forwarding PDB or latency requirements. The first terminal device forwards the paging to the second terminal device according to the forwarding PDB or latency requirements, or the first terminal device selects SL resources according to the forwarding PDB or latency requirements, thereby ensuring that the latency of the paging of the second terminal device meets the latency limit requirement and improving the performance of the first terminal device in forwarding the paging of the second terminal device.

[0251] S403b: The first terminal device selects sidelink resources based on the first information.

[0252] In this process, the first terminal device selects sidelink resources after receiving a paging message from the base station for the second terminal device. Specifically, the first terminal device can determine the sidelink resources based on the PDB or latency requirements for forwarding the paging message. These sidelink resources can be used to forward the paging message to the second terminal device, to send other messages to the second terminal device, or to send messages to other terminal devices.

[0253] One possible implementation is that the first terminal device determines the remaining PDB for forwarding paging based on the PDB or latency requirements of forwarding paging, and selects SL resources based on the remaining PDB for forwarding paging.

[0254] In some embodiments, the SL resource selected by the first terminal device satisfies the remaining PDB for forwarding paging. For example, the time domain position of the SL resource selected by the first terminal device is earlier than or equal to the current time domain position plus the remaining PDB.

[0255] For example, if the sidelink grant (SL grant) resource selected by the first terminal device cannot satisfy the remaining PDB for forwarding paging, then the selected SL grant is cleared, and / or the selection or reselection of sidelink resources is triggered.

[0256] The first piece of information helps ensure the latency of messages sent to the second terminal and improves the performance of the first terminal device in forwarding messages from the second terminal device.

[0257] It should be noted that S403a and S403b can be executed together, or they can be executed separately in different scenarios; no restrictions are imposed here.

[0258] Example 2

[0259] In some embodiments, for CN paging, core network elements (e.g., AMF) can include paging priority indication information in the paging message sent to the base station. For RAN paging, the remote terminal equipment (UE) may be in an inactive state. The access network device (e.g., the last serving base station) or anchor access network device (e.g., the anchor base station) that the UE last accessed can determine the paging priority based on the context of the UE and send the paging priority to other base stations. Access network devices (e.g., base stations) can paging the UE based on the paging priority, for example, prioritizing the transmission of high-priority paging during the paging time. However, when a relay terminal device forwards a paging to a remote terminal device, the paging priority configured by the network device cannot be considered, which may result in high-priority paging not being forwarded first.

[0260] To address this issue, this application provides a communication method in which a base station indicates the priority of paging forwarding to a relay terminal device, enabling high-priority paging to be forwarded preferentially. For example... Figure 5 The diagram shown is a flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application. This method is applied to... Figure 1 , Figures 2A-2B , Figures 3A-3B The network architecture shown is an example. The network devices described below can be core network devices and / or access network devices serving the first terminal device. The core network device is, for example, an AMF (Advanced Network Provider), and the access network device is, for example, a base station. If the embodiments of this application are applied to… Figure 1 Given the network architecture shown, the second terminal device described below can be... Figure 1 In the network architecture shown, terminal device 2 (i.e., remote terminal device), the first terminal device mentioned below can be... Figure 1 Terminal device 1 (i.e., relay terminal device) in the network architecture shown specifically includes the following steps:

[0261] S501: The first terminal device obtains the first information.

[0262] The first information can be used to indicate the priority of forwarding paging. In one possible implementation of Example 2, the first information may include the priority of forwarding paging. The forwarding paging can be the forwarding paging corresponding to a paging sent by the network device to the second terminal device.

[0263] There are several ways for the first terminal device to obtain the priority of forwarding paging. The following examples illustrate methods B1 and B2.

[0264] In method B1, the first terminal device can obtain the priority for forwarding paging through the method indicated by the network device.

[0265] Network devices can determine the priority of forwarding paging in various ways. For example, a network device can determine the priority of forwarding paging based on one or more of the following: network paging metrics (KPIs), paging priority of the second terminal device, sidelink communication channel status between the second and first terminal devices (e.g., channel quality, channel busyness or congestion), load of the first terminal device, capacity of the first terminal device, QoS of the service of the second terminal device, and priority of allocation and retention (ARP) corresponding to the data that triggered paging of the second terminal device.

[0266] In some embodiments, the network device sends second indication information. This second indication information indicates the priority for forwarding paging. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the second indication information and determines the priority for forwarding paging based on it.

[0267] One possible implementation is that the second indication information is carried in any of the following: a system information block (SIB) or radio resource control (RRC) signaling. For example, the network device may include the second indication information in RRC-specific signaling sent to the first terminal device. Alternatively, the network device may include the second indication information in a broadcast signal (e.g., a SIB). Or, the network device may include the second indication information in RRC signaling sent to the UE. Corresponding to the first terminal device, the network device may include the second indication information in the RRC-specific signaling sent to the first terminal device.

[0268] Another possible implementation is that the core network device sends a second indication message to the first terminal device. For example, the core network device includes the second indication message in the Non-access stratum (NAS) signaling.

[0269] It should be noted that network devices can send paging and second indication information simultaneously, or they can send them separately. For example, paging and second indication information can be sent in the same message or in different messages; this is not limited here. Additionally, the first indication information can be sent together with the second indication information or sent separately; this is not limited here either.

[0270] In another possible implementation, the network device can also carry a seventh indication information in the paging of the second terminal device. This seventh indication information can be used to indicate the priority of forwarding the paging; that is, the priority of forwarding the paging is indicated simultaneously when sending a paging to the first terminal device. Accordingly, after receiving the seventh indication information, the first terminal device can determine the priority of forwarding the paging based on it.

[0271] Network devices can determine the priority of forwarding paging in a variety of ways. Correspondingly, network devices can also send second or seventh instruction information in a variety of ways. The following examples illustrate methods b1 to b5.

[0272] Method b1: The priority of forwarding paging is based on the configuration of each second terminal device (e.g., per remote UE).

[0273] One second terminal device corresponds to one paging priority. A first terminal device forwarding a paging to a second terminal device corresponds to the paging priority of that second terminal device. The first terminal device receives second indication information sent by the network device for that second terminal device. In this case, the second indication information can be sent in Radio Resource Control (RANC) signaling or NAS (Network Access Control) signaling. One possible implementation is that there is a correspondence between the second indication information and the second terminal device. The network device indicates the correspondence between the second indication information and the second terminal device, the first terminal device determines to forward a paging to a second terminal device, determines the second indication information corresponding to that first terminal device based on the correspondence, and determines the paging priority based on the second indication information.

[0274] For example, the priority of forwarding paging can be determined by the network device based on the services of the second terminal device, the capabilities of the second terminal device, or the capabilities of the first terminal device. The network device can determine the priority of forwarding paging when it determines that the first terminal device provides relay services to the second terminal device. When the second terminal device updates the first terminal device providing relay services, the priority of forwarding paging can be updated. Alternatively, when the first terminal device updates the second terminal device to provide relay services to the second terminal device, the priority of forwarding paging can be updated. The network device can establish a correspondence between the identifier of the second terminal device and the priority of forwarding paging. Specifically, the method of configuring the first indication information based on each second terminal device in method a1.4 can be used to determine the second indication information, which will not be elaborated further here.

[0275] Method b2: The priority of forwarding paging is based on the transmission resource configuration used by forwarding paging.

[0276] The transmission resources include one of the following: sidelink radio bearers, sidelink logical channels, and MAC CEs on the sidelink. For example, the priority of forwarding paging is configured based on the sidelink SRB used for forwarding paging, or the priority of forwarding paging is configured based on the MAC CEs on the sidelink used for forwarding paging.

[0277] The sidelink radio bearer or sidelink logical channel used for forwarding paging has a corresponding forwarding paging priority. The first terminal device determines the forwarding paging priority corresponding to the sidelink radio bearer or sidelink logical channel used for forwarding paging. At this time, the second indication information can be sent in the system information block, NAS signaling, or radio resource control signaling.

[0278] In one possible implementation, a first terminal device receives a sidelink radio bearer configuration or a sidelink logical channel configuration sent by a network device, and second indication information may be included in the sidelink radio bearer configuration or the sidelink logical channel configuration. The first terminal device determines the configuration of the sidelink radio bearer or the sidelink logical channel configuration used for forwarding paging, which includes the second indication information, and determines the priority of forwarding paging based on the second indication information.

[0279] Another possible implementation involves a correspondence between the second indication information and a sidelink radio bearer or a sidelink logical channel. The network device indicates the correspondence between the second indication information and the sidelink radio bearer or the sidelink logical channel. The first terminal device determines the sidelink radio bearer or the sidelink logical channel used for forwarding paging, and determines the second indication information corresponding to that sidelink radio bearer or the sidelink logical channel based on the correspondence. The priority for forwarding paging is then determined based on the second indication information.

[0280] In another possible implementation, the network device determines the correspondence between the sidelink radio bearer or sidelink logical channel and the priority of forwarding paging. Based on the sidelink radio bearer or sidelink logical channel used by the first terminal device to forward paging, the network device determines the priority of forwarding paging corresponding to the sidelink radio bearer or sidelink logical channel, and sends second indication information indicating the priority of forwarding paging to the first terminal device.

[0281] In other embodiments, the MAC CE on the sidelink used for forwarding paging has a corresponding forwarding paging priority. The first terminal device determines the forwarding paging priority corresponding to the MAC CE on the sidelink used for forwarding paging based on the MAC CE on that sidelink. In this case, the second indication information may be sent in a system information block, NAS signaling, or radio resource control signaling.

[0282] In one possible implementation, the second indication information corresponds to a MAC CE on the sidelink. The network device indicates the correspondence between the second indication information and the MAC CE on the sidelink, and the first terminal device determines the second indication information corresponding to the MAC CE on the sidelink used for forwarding paging based on the correspondence, and determines the priority of forwarding paging based on the second indication information. In another possible implementation, the network device determines the correspondence between the MAC CE on the sidelink and the priority of forwarding paging, determines the priority of forwarding paging corresponding to the MAC CE on the sidelink used by the first terminal device for forwarding paging, and sends the second indication information indicating the priority of forwarding paging to the first terminal device.

[0283] Method b3: The priority of forwarding paging is configured based on per paging or per paging message.

[0284] That is, a paging message corresponds to a forwarding paging priority, meaning that the relay terminal device needs to apply that forwarding paging priority when forwarding the paging. Alternatively, a paging message corresponds to a forwarding paging priority, meaning that the first terminal device needs to apply that forwarding paging priority when forwarding the paging in the paging message. Different paging messages may correspond to different forwarding paging priorities. The network device may carry a seventh indication information indicating the forwarding paging priority in the paging of the second terminal device. Alternatively, the network device may carry the seventh indication information indicating the forwarding paging priority in the signaling of the paging of the second terminal device.

[0285] One possible implementation is that the paging of the second terminal device is a paging message used to page the second terminal device. The paging message contains one or more paging records, each containing the identifier (UE-Identity, UE ID) of the paged terminal device. A paging record for the second terminal device refers to a paging record in which the terminal identifier (UE-Identity, UE ID) is the identifier of the second terminal device. Some paging records also contain seventh indication information. The first terminal device determines that the identifier of the terminal device in the paging record is the identifier of the second terminal device and determines the priority based on the seventh indication information in that paging record.

[0286] Another possible implementation involves the second terminal device using a paging message. This paging message contains one or more paging records, each containing the identifier of the paging terminal device. The paging message also contains one or more seventh indication messages, each corresponding to a paging record. The first terminal device determines that the identifier of the terminal device in the paging record is the identifier of the second terminal device, determines the corresponding seventh indication message based on the correspondence, and then determines the priority based on the seventh indication message.

[0287] In another possible implementation, the paging of the second terminal device is a paging message for paging the second terminal device. The paging message contains one or more paging records, each containing the identifier of the paged terminal device. The paging message also contains a seventh indication, and the one or more paging records in the paging message correspond to this seventh indication. The first terminal device determines that the identifier of the terminal device in the paging record in the paging message is the identifier of the second terminal device, and determines the priority based on the seventh indication in the paging message.

[0288] Since the priority of forwarding paging is only required when the first terminal device forwards paging to the second terminal device, and is not required for UEs that directly listen to paging sent by the base station, in order to reduce signaling overhead, the base station can configure the priority of forwarding paging only for the second terminal device or only for the second terminal device that receives paging through the first terminal device.

[0289] In method b4, after the network device determines that the second terminal device corresponding to the paging is a remote terminal device, it determines to send the second instruction information or the seventh instruction information to the first terminal device.

[0290] The network device may determine that the second terminal device in a paging call is a remote terminal device in the following ways: based on the capabilities or identifier of the second terminal device, it may determine that the terminal device is a remote terminal device supporting L2 relay; it may determine that the terminal device is a UE capable of acting as a remote terminal device; it may determine that the terminal device is a UE capable of acting as a remote terminal device supporting L2 relay; or it may determine that the terminal device is a UE that (may) receive and forward paging calls. Here, the network device may be a core network element (e.g., AMF), or the last serving gNB or anchor gNB of the remote terminal device.

[0291] It should be noted that mode b4 can be combined with modes b1 to b3, and is used by the network device to execute any one of modes b1 to b3 when it determines that the second terminal device is a remote terminal device. For example, when the network device determines that the second terminal device is a remote terminal device, it can send a second indication message or a seventh indication message to the first terminal device, so that the first terminal device obtains the priority of forwarding paging from the remote terminal device.

[0292] In Scenario 1, for CN paging, after the core network element (e.g., AMF) determines that the paging UE is a remote terminal device, it can send an eighth indication message to the access network device. This eighth indication message indicates that the UE corresponding to the paging is a remote terminal device. Alternatively, the eighth indication message indicates that the terminal device is a remote terminal device, or that the terminal device is a remote terminal device supporting L2 relay, or that the terminal device is a UE capable of acting as a remote terminal device, or that the terminal device is a UE capable of acting as a remote terminal device supporting L2 relay, or that the terminal device (may) receive and forward paging messages. The eighth indication message can be included in the paging message sent by the core network element to the access network device. It should be noted that the core network element sending the eighth indication message can be a network device serving the second terminal device. This network device can be a different network device from the network device sending the second or seventh indication message, or it can be the same network device; this is not limited here.

[0293] Upon receiving the instruction, along with the corresponding paging and eighth instruction information, the access network device (e.g., a base station) may send a second instruction or a seventh instruction to the first terminal device in response to the paging. Conversely, if the access network device receives a paging from the second terminal device but does not receive the eighth instruction information, it may choose not to send the second or seventh instruction information in response to the paging.

[0294] In Scenario 2, for RAN paging, the UE's last serving gNB or anchor gNB can be the base station storing the UE's UE context, or the base station that last released the UE to the RRC inactive state, for example, the base station that released the UE from the RRC connected state to the RRC inactive state. When the UE's last serving gNB or anchor gNB paging a remote terminal device, it can also send RAN paging (e.g., XnAP RAN Paging) to neighboring base stations, the UE's current serving base station, or the UE's new serving base station. These neighboring base stations, the UE's current serving base station, or the UE's new serving base station are used to paging the remote terminal device. Correspondingly, the remote terminal device's last serving access network device (last serving gNB) or anchor access network device (anchor gNB) can determine that the paging UE is a remote terminal device.

[0295] The access network device that the remote terminal device finally accesses can determine that the second terminal device is a remote terminal device based on the accessed second terminal device. Specifically, the determination method may be: determining that the second terminal device is a remote terminal device based on the capabilities or representation of the second terminal device; or determining that the second terminal device is a remote terminal device that supports L2 relay; or determining that the second terminal device is a UE with the capability to act as a remote terminal device; or determining that the second terminal device is a UE with the capability to act as a remote terminal device that supports L2 relay; or determining that the second terminal device is (or may be) a UE that receives and forwards paging.

[0296] After determining that the second terminal device is a remote terminal device, the access network device that the remote terminal device last accesses may send a second indication message or a seventh indication message to the first terminal device in response to a paging request from that terminal device. Conversely, if it determines that the terminal device is not a remote terminal device, the access network device may not send a second indication message or a seventh indication message in response to a paging request from that terminal device.

[0297] For example, the last access network device (the last serving base station) that the remote terminal device accesses or the UE's anchor gNB can send an eighth indication message to other access network devices (e.g., other base stations besides the last serving base station, neighboring base stations, or the UE's current serving base station or the UE's new serving base station). After receiving the eighth indication message and the corresponding paging message for the terminal device, the other access network devices can send a second indication message or a seventh indication message to the first terminal device in response to the paging message. Accordingly, if an access network device receives the paging message from the terminal device and has not received the eighth indication message, it can determine that it will not send the second or seventh indication message in response to the paging message.

[0298] In method b5, the priority for forwarding paging can be the default value.

[0299] For example, the default value could be a default value for forwarding paging priority configured in the network device settings.

[0300] It should be noted that the default paging forwarding latency information configured for network devices can also be determined by referring to method b1 or method b2, which determines the default paging forwarding priority. For example, the paging forwarding priority determined in method b1 or b2 can also be used as the default paging forwarding priority. The default paging forwarding priority can be determined based on each second terminal device or based on the resources available for each paging request. For specific implementation details, please refer to method b1 or b2 above; further elaboration will not be provided here.

[0301] In one possible scenario, mode b5 can be combined with any of modes b1 to b3. For example, when the first terminal device does not receive the second or seventh indication information, the first terminal device can determine the priority of the forwarding paging corresponding to the paging of the second terminal device based on the default value, that is, the paging of the second terminal device corresponds to the default forwarding paging priority.

[0302] Method B2: The priority of forwarding paging is pre-configured or predefined.

[0303] The priority of paging forwarding can be pre-configured. For example, the sidelink pre-configuration includes indication information of the paging forwarding priority. This sidelink pre-configuration can be pre-configured in the mobile equipment (ME) or configured in the Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC). Alternatively, the paging forwarding priority can be predefined, for example, as specified in a standard protocol.

[0304] For example, in scenarios considering the latency of services provided by the second terminal device, a priority relationship can be established between the priorities of services and other services. For instance, if the priority of service 1 is higher than the priority of forwarding paging, then the priority of the first terminal device forwarding messages of service 1 can be set to priority 1, and the priority of forwarding paging can be set to priority 2, with priority 1 being higher than priority 2. If the priority of service 1 is lower than the priority of forwarding paging, then the priority of the first terminal device forwarding messages of service 1 can be set to priority 3, and the priority of forwarding paging can be set to priority 4, with priority 4 being higher than priority 3.

[0305] For example, the priority of forwarding paging can be configured on the radio bearer (PC5 SRB) used for forwarding paging, or on the PC5 radio link control (RLC) bearer used for forwarding paging, or on the MAC CE on the sidelink used for forwarding paging. For instance, a resource can be prioritized, and when that resource is used for forwarding paging, its priority can be used as the priority of the forwarding paging. For example, if the priority of radio bearer (PC5 SRB) 1 is confirmed to be priority 1, and forwarding paging 1 uses radio bearer (PC5 SRB) 1 to send, the forwarding paging priority of forwarding paging 1 can be confirmed to be priority 1.

[0306] For example, the priority of forwarding paging can be configured on the logical channels on the sidelink used for forwarding paging. In scenarios that consider the latency of the second terminal device's services, when using LCP for forwarding, the logical channel configuration on each sidelink can correspond to a corresponding priority. Therefore, after determining the logical channel configuration on the sidelink selected for forwarding paging, the priority of forwarding paging can be determined based on the priority of the logical channel configuration on each sidelink.

[0307] It should be noted that in mode B2, the priority of forwarding paging can also be determined by referring to mode b2 or mode b5 in mode B1. The difference from mode B1 is that the priority of forwarding paging in mode B2 is not configured by the network device, but is pre-configured or predefined. The second indication information can be included in the pre-configuration, or the second indication information is predefined, for example, as specified in a standard protocol. Accordingly, the first terminal device determines the priority of forwarding paging based on the second indication information. When referring to mode b2, the transmission resource configuration used for forwarding paging is pre-configured or predefined. Alternatively, the correspondence between the second indication information and the transmission resources used for forwarding paging is pre-configured or predefined. When referring to mode b5, the default priority of forwarding paging is pre-configured or predefined.

[0308] One possible implementation is that the pre-configured or pre-defined default forwarding paging priority can be combined with any of the methods b1 to b4 in B1. For example, when the first terminal device does not receive the first indication information or the sixth indication information, the first terminal device can determine the forwarding paging priority corresponding to the paging of the second terminal device based on the default forwarding paging priority; that is, the forwarding paging priority corresponding to the first terminal device forwarding the paging to the second terminal device is the default forwarding paging priority. When the first terminal device receives the first indication information or the sixth indication information, the first terminal device determines the forwarding paging priority corresponding to the paging of the second terminal device based on the first indication information or the sixth indication information.

[0309] S502: The first terminal device receives a paging message from the second terminal device of the network device.

[0310] For a detailed implementation method, please refer to S402, which will not be repeated here.

[0311] It should be noted that the order of S501 and S502 is not limited, and S501 and S502 can also be performed simultaneously. For example, the base station sends the second indication information to the first terminal device and a paging message to the second terminal device in the same signaling message. Alternatively, the base station may include the second indication information in the paging message to the second terminal device sent to the first terminal device. For details, please refer to method b5, which will not be elaborated here.

[0312] S503a: The first terminal device forwards the paging to the second terminal device.

[0313] In this embodiment, after receiving a paging message from the base station for the second terminal device, the first terminal device forwards the paging message to the second terminal device. In some embodiments, the forwarded paging message can be at least one of the following: a paging message, or a fifth indication message. The fifth indication message is used to indicate that the second terminal device has been paged.

[0314] There are multiple implementation methods in S503a. The following examples illustrate method d1 and method d2.

[0315] In method d1, the first terminal device forwards a paging request to the second terminal device based on the first information.

[0316] For example, the first terminal device can forward a paging message to the second terminal device based on the priority of forwarding the paging message.

[0317] One possible implementation is that the higher the priority of a forwarded paging, the more likely it is to be transmitted. A smaller priority value corresponds to a higher priority, or vice versa.

[0318] For example, if a first terminal device receives three paging requests to be forwarded, it can determine the forwarding order based on the priority of these three requests and forward them accordingly. Alternatively, the first terminal device can determine the sidelink resources for forwarding the paging requests based on their priority, with higher-priority paging requests using sidelink resources earlier than lower-priority paging requests.

[0319] In method d2, the first terminal device determines the sideline resources for forwarding the paging to the second terminal device based on the priority of paging forwarding. The first terminal device then uses these sideline resources to forward the paging to the second terminal device.

[0320] When the first terminal device receives a paging message from the network device, it can receive the paging priority of the paging message. Then, based on the paging priority, it determines the SL resource and uses the SL resource to forward the paging to the second terminal device corresponding to the paging priority.

[0321] When a first terminal device selects a terminal device to send a message for a SL grant, it can determine that the SL grant is used to forward a paging message to a second terminal device based on the priority of forwarding paging, and then use the SL grant to forward the paging message to the second terminal device. One possible implementation is that if the priority of forwarding a paging message to the second terminal device is higher than the priority of sending a message to other terminals, the relay terminal determines that the SL grant is used to forward a paging message to the second terminal device. Another possible implementation is that if the priority of forwarding a paging message to the second terminal device is higher than the priority of forwarding a paging message to other terminals, the relay terminal determines that the SL grant is used to forward a paging message to the second terminal device.

[0322] For example, a first terminal device receives two forwarding paging requests, such as forwarding paging 1 and forwarding paging 2. Forwarding paging 1 is used to forward to a second terminal device 1, and forwarding paging 2 is used to forward to a second terminal device 2. In this case, the first terminal device can determine the forwarding target of the SL resource based on the forwarding priority of forwarding paging 1 and forwarding paging 2. For example, if the forwarding priority of forwarding paging 1 is higher than the forwarding priority of forwarding paging 2, then the first terminal device determines that the SL grant is used to forward paging 1 to the second terminal device 1.

[0323] When selecting a terminal device to send a message for a SL grant, the first terminal device can determine whether the SL grant is to be used to forward a paging message to the second terminal device based on the priority of the logical channel on the sidelink used for forwarding the paging. One possible implementation is that if the priority of the logical channel on the sidelink used to forward the paging message to the second terminal device is higher than the priority of the logical channel on the sidelink used to send messages to other terminals, then the relay terminal determines that the SL grant is to be used to forward a paging message to the second terminal device. Another possible implementation is that if the priority of the logical channel on the sidelink used to forward the paging message to the second terminal device is higher than the priority of the logical channel on the sidelink used to forward the paging message to other terminals, then the relay terminal determines that the SL grant is to be used to forward a paging message to the second terminal device.

[0324] In one implementation, the priority of the logical channel on the sidelink used for paging forwarding is determined based on the paging forwarding priority. For example, the priority of the logical channel on the sidelink used for paging forwarding is the paging forwarding priority.

[0325] Alternatively, the first terminal device determines the priority of the logical channel on the sidelink used for forwarding paging based on the correspondence between the priority of the logical channel on the sidelink used for forwarding paging and the priority of forwarding paging, as well as the priority of the paging to be forwarded. The correspondence can be configured by the base station or defined in a standard protocol, and is not limited here.

[0326] Using the above method, the first terminal device can obtain the paging priority by configuring the paging priority through the base station or by using a predefined paging priority. Thus, the first terminal device can forward the paging to the second terminal device according to the paging priority, or the first terminal device can perform the LCP process according to the paging priority to ensure that the paging of the high-priority second terminal device can be forwarded first.

[0327] S503b: The first terminal device determines the side link resources based on the first information.

[0328] Specifically, the first terminal device can determine the sidelink resources based on the priority of forwarding paging. These sidelink resources can be used for sending forwarded paging messages to the second terminal device, or they can be used for sending other messages to the second terminal device. The specific determination method can be found in method c2, and will not be elaborated further here.

[0329] The first piece of information helps ensure the forwarding priority of messages sent to the second terminal, thereby improving the performance of the first terminal device in forwarding messages from the second terminal device.

[0330] It should be noted that S503a and S503b can be executed together, or they can be executed separately in different scenarios; no limitation is made here.

[0331] Example 3

[0332] like Figure 6 The diagram shown is a flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application. In the following description, this method will be applied to... Figure 1 , Figures 2A-2B , Figures 3A-3B The network architecture shown is an example. The network devices described below can be core network devices and / or access network devices serving the first terminal device. The core network device is, for example, an AMF (Advanced Network Provider), and the access network device is, for example, a base station. If the embodiments of this application are applied to… Figure 1 Given the network architecture shown, the second terminal device described below can be... Figure 1 In the network architecture shown, terminal device 2 (e.g., a remote terminal device), the first terminal device mentioned below can be... Figure 1 Terminal device 1 (e.g., a relay terminal device) in the network architecture shown. Includes the following steps:

[0333] S601: The first terminal device obtains the first information.

[0334] The first piece of information is used to indicate the paging delay information and the paging priority. Specific implementation details can be found in S401 and S501, and will not be repeated here.

[0335] S602: The first terminal device receives a paging message from the second terminal device of the network device.

[0336] For specific implementation details, please refer to S402 and S502, which will not be repeated here.

[0337] S603a: The first terminal device forwards the paging to the second terminal device.

[0338] In this embodiment, after receiving a paging message from the base station for the second terminal device, the first terminal device forwards the paging message to the second terminal device. In some embodiments, forwarding the paging message can be any of the following: a paging message or a fifth indication message, wherein the fifth indication message is used to indicate that the second terminal device has been paged.

[0339] In S603a, there are multiple implementation methods. The following examples illustrate methods e1 to e2.

[0340] In method e1, the first terminal device forwards a paging request to the second terminal device based on at least one of the following: the PDB or latency requirement for forwarding the paging request, and the priority of forwarding the paging request.

[0341] For example, the first terminal device determines the remaining PDB for forwarding the paging based on the PDB or latency requirements, and forwards the paging to the second terminal device based on the remaining PDB. For a specific implementation method, please refer to method c1, which will not be elaborated here.

[0342] For example, the first terminal device forwards the paging to the second terminal device according to the priority of paging forwarding. For example, the specific implementation method can be referred to method d1, which will not be repeated here.

[0343] For example, the first terminal device determines the remaining PDB for forwarding the paging based on the PDB or latency requirements, and forwards the paging to the second terminal device according to the remaining PDB and the priority of the forwarding paging. For specific implementation methods, please refer to methods c1 and d1, which will not be elaborated here.

[0344] In method e2, the first terminal device determines the sidelink resources for forwarding paging between the first terminal device and the second terminal device based on at least one of the PDB or latency requirements for forwarding paging and the priority of forwarding paging. The first terminal device can use these SL resources to forward paging to the second terminal device.

[0345] In method e2.1, the first terminal device determines the sidelink resources for forwarding paging between itself and the second terminal device based on the PDB or latency requirements for forwarding paging. The first terminal device can use these SL resources to forward paging to the second terminal device. For specific implementation details, please refer to method c2.1, which will not be elaborated further here.

[0346] In method e2.2, the first terminal device determines the paging-side crosslink resources of the second terminal device based on the priority of forwarding paging and the packet delay budget of the forwarding paging. Alternatively, the first terminal device determines the paging-side crosslink resources of the second terminal device based on the priority of forwarding paging and the delay requirements of the forwarding paging. The first terminal device can use these SL resources to forward paging to the second terminal device.

[0347] For example, the first terminal device can first determine the forwarding paging to be forwarded based on the priority of forwarding paging, and then determine the packet delay budget or the delay requirement of the forwarding paging corresponding to the determined forwarding paging, and select the side link resources. Specific implementation methods can refer to methods c2.1 and d2, or a combination of methods c2.1 and d2.

[0348] In method e2.3, the first terminal device determines the remaining packet delay budget for the second terminal device's paging based on the priority of forwarding paging, the packet delay budget of the forwarding paging, or the delay requirement of the forwarding paging; the first terminal device selects a sidelink resource based on the remaining packet delay budget of the second terminal device's paging. The first terminal device can use this SL resource to forward the paging to the second terminal device.

[0349] For example, the forwarding paging to be forwarded can be determined first based on the priority of forwarding paging. Then, based on the determined forwarding paging to be forwarded, the packet delay budget of the forwarding paging corresponding to that forwarding paging or the delay requirement of the forwarding paging can be determined to determine the remaining packet delay budget of the paging of the second terminal device. The first terminal device selects sidelink resources based on the remaining packet delay budget of the paging of the second terminal device. The specific implementation method can refer to the combination of methods c2.2 and d2, which will not be elaborated here.

[0350] Using the above method, the first terminal device can obtain the forwarding paging PDB or latency requirements by configuring the forwarding paging PDB or latency requirements through the base station, or by using predefined forwarding paging PDB or latency requirements. The first terminal device can also obtain the forwarding paging priority by configuring the forwarding paging priority through the base station, or by using predefined forwarding paging priorities.

[0351] Furthermore, the first terminal device forwards the paging to the second terminal device according to the PDB or latency requirements and the priority of forwarding the paging, thereby ensuring that the latency of forwarding the paging of the second terminal device meets the latency limit requirement, and also ensuring that the paging of the high-priority second terminal device can be forwarded first, thus improving the performance of the first terminal device in forwarding the paging of the second terminal device.

[0352] S603b: The first terminal device determines the side link resources based on the first information.

[0353] Specifically, the first terminal device can determine the sidelink resources based on at least one of the following: the PDB for forwarding paging, latency requirements, or forwarding priority. These sidelink resources can be used for sending forwarded paging messages to the second terminal device, or they can be used for sending other messages to the second terminal device. For specific implementation details, please refer to S403b or S503b; further elaboration will not be provided here.

[0354] The first piece of information helps ensure the latency and forwarding priority of messages sent to the second terminal, thereby improving the performance of the relay terminal device in forwarding messages from the second terminal device.

[0355] It should be noted that S603a and S603b can be executed together, or they can be executed separately in different scenarios; no restrictions are imposed here.

[0356] Example 4

[0357] like Figure 7 The diagram shown is a flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application. In the following description, this method will be applied to... Figure 1 , Figures 2A-2B , Figures 3A-3B Taking the network architecture shown as an example, the priority of paging forwarding is obtained through relay terminal equipment, and the PDB or latency requirements for paging forwarding are determined based on the priority, so that high-priority paging can be forwarded first while ensuring latency requirements are met. Figure 7 The diagram shown is a flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application. This method is applied to... Figure 1 , Figures 2A-2B , Figures 3A-3B The network architecture shown is an example. The network devices described below can be core network devices and / or access network devices serving the first terminal device. The core network device is, for example, an AMF (Advanced Network Provider), and the access network device is, for example, a base station. If the embodiments of this application are applied to… Figure 1 Given the network architecture shown, the second terminal device described below can be... Figure 1 In the network architecture shown, terminal device 2 (i.e., remote terminal device), the first terminal device mentioned below can be... Figure 1 The network architecture shown includes terminal device 1 (i.e., relay terminal device). Specifically, it includes the following steps:

[0358] S701: The first terminal device obtains the first information.

[0359] The first piece of information may include the priority of forwarding the paging, which may be a paging sent by the network device to the second terminal device. The content of the paging and the method by which the network device sends the paging can be referred to in S501, and will not be repeated here.

[0360] There are several ways for the first terminal device to obtain the priority for forwarding paging. For example, the first terminal device can obtain the priority for forwarding paging through instructions from the network device (e.g., the network device sends a second instruction message to the first terminal device). Alternatively, the priority for forwarding paging may be predefined. For specific examples, please refer to the examples of methods B1 and B2 in S501, which will not be elaborated upon here.

[0361] In some embodiments, the network device sends second indication information. This second indication information is used to indicate the priority of forwarding paging. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the second indication information and determines the priority of forwarding paging based on it. The network device can determine the second indication information in various ways, as illustrated in examples 1-2, which will not be repeated here. The network device can also send the second indication information in various ways, including including it in the RRC-specific signaling sent to the first terminal device. For example, when the network device is a base station, it can include the second indication information in the RRC signaling sent to the UE. Specific sending methods can be found in methods b1-b5, which will not be repeated here.

[0362] S702: The first terminal device determines the paging delay information according to the priority of paging forwarding.

[0363] One possible implementation is that the first terminal device can determine at least one of the PDB or latency requirements for forwarding paging based on the priority of forwarding paging.

[0364] In some embodiments, the first terminal device may determine the forwarding delay information corresponding to the paging to be forwarded based on the correspondence between the first information and the priority of forwarding paging, and the priority of the paging to be forwarded.

[0365] One possible implementation is that the first terminal device can establish a correspondence between the PDB of forwarded paging and the priority of forwarded paging, or a correspondence between latency requirements and the priority of forwarded paging. For example, a paging with a higher priority can correspond to a smaller PDB of forwarded paging, and a paging with a lower priority can correspond to a larger PDB of forwarded paging, to ensure that high-priority paging can be forwarded first and to ensure that the latency of paging forwarding by the second terminal device meets the latency requirements.

[0366] The first terminal device can determine the PDB of the forwarded paging based on the correspondence between the PDB of the forwarded paging and the priority of the forwarded paging, i.e., the priority of the forwarded paging. Alternatively, the first terminal device can determine the latency requirement of the forwarded paging based on the correspondence between the latency requirement of the forwarded paging and the priority of the forwarded paging, i.e., the priority of the forwarded paging.

[0367] In some embodiments, the correspondence between the PDB of forwarded paging and the priority of forwarded paging, or the correspondence between the latency requirement and the priority of forwarded paging, may be configured by the base station or defined in the standard protocol, and is not limited here.

[0368] Optionally, network devices (e.g., base stations) can also be configured with a default forwarding paging delay information (forwarding paging PDB or delay requirement), or the default forwarding paging PDB or delay requirement is predefined, for example, pre-configured, or specified in a standard protocol.

[0369] For example, if the first terminal device does not receive the second indication information corresponding to the forwarded paging sent by the network device, the first terminal device can use the default forwarded paging PDB / latency requirement as the forwarded paging PDB or latency requirement corresponding to the forwarded paging.

[0370] S703: The first terminal device receives a paging message from the second terminal device of the network device.

[0371] The content of the paging message sent by the network device (e.g., the base station) to the second terminal device can be referred to in S402, and will not be repeated here.

[0372] It should be noted that the order of S702 and S703 is not limited, nor is the order of S701 and S703. S702 and S703 can also be performed simultaneously, as can S701 and S703. For example, the base station sends the second indication information and a paging message to the second terminal device to the first terminal device in the same signaling message. Alternatively, the base station includes the second indication information in the paging message to the second terminal device sent to the first terminal device. See method a5 for details, which will not be elaborated upon here.

[0373] S704a: The first terminal device forwards the paging to the second terminal device.

[0374] One possible implementation is that the first terminal device forwards the paging message to the second terminal device based on the paging delay information. That is, the first terminal device forwards the paging message to the second terminal device based on the paging delay information. In some embodiments, the paging message can be any of the following: a paging message, or fifth indication information.

[0375] There are multiple implementation methods in S704a. The following examples illustrate method f1 and method f2.

[0376] In method f1, the first terminal device forwards the paging to the second terminal device based on the PDB or latency requirements for forwarding the paging.

[0377] Specifically, the first terminal device determines the remaining PDB for forwarding the paging based on the PDB or latency requirements, and then forwards the paging to the second terminal device based on the remaining PDB. For details, please refer to method c1, which will not be elaborated upon here.

[0378] In method f2, the first terminal device determines the sidelink resources for forwarding paging between the first terminal device and the second terminal device based on the paging forwarding delay information. The first terminal device can use these SL resources to forward paging to the second terminal device.

[0379] In method f2.1, the first terminal device can determine the side link resources for forwarding paging between the first terminal device and the second terminal device based on the PDB or latency requirements for forwarding paging.

[0380] In method f2.2, the first terminal device determines the remaining PDB for forwarding the paging based on the PDB or latency requirements, and selects the SL resource based on the remaining PDB. The first terminal device can then use this SL resource to forward the paging to the second terminal device.

[0381] For example, the SL resource selected by the first terminal device satisfies the remaining PDB for paging, meaning the time domain position of the selected SL resource is earlier than or equal to the current time domain position plus the remaining PDB. As another example, if the sidelink grant (SL grant) resource selected by the first terminal device cannot satisfy the remaining PDB for paging, then the selected SL grant is cleared, and / or, the selection or reselection of sidelink resources is triggered.

[0382] One possible implementation is that the first terminal device may receive paging requests from multiple second terminal devices. In this case, the first terminal device can use the SL resources corresponding to each second terminal device in the LCP to forward the paging requests to the second terminal devices.

[0383] The specific implementation of S704a can be found in S403a, and will not be elaborated here.

[0384] Another possible implementation is that the first terminal device can forward a paging message to the second terminal device based on the paging delay information and the paging priority. For example, the first terminal device can forward a paging message to the second terminal device based on the paging priority, the PDB (Programmable Node) requirement, or the delay requirement. In this case, the first terminal device may determine which paging message to send to the second terminal device based on the paging message received from the base station.

[0385] One possible implementation is that the first terminal device determines the forwarding paging based on the paging received from the network device and sent to the second terminal device, the priority of the forwarding paging corresponding to that paging, and the PDB or latency requirements of the forwarding paging corresponding to that paging. Then, after determining the forwarding paging, the first terminal device sends the forwarding paging to the second terminal device. Specific implementation methods can be found in methods c2 and d2, and will not be elaborated further here.

[0386] The above method ensures that high-priority paging is forwarded first, while guaranteeing the latency of paging forwarding to the second terminal device. Furthermore, the first terminal device can determine the PDB or latency requirements for forwarding paging based on the paging priority, thus eliminating the need for the base station to indicate the PDB or latency requirements for forwarding paging.

[0387] S704b: The first terminal device selects sidelink resources based on the first information.

[0388] In some embodiments, the first terminal device may determine the sidelink resources based on the PDB or latency requirements for forwarding paging, wherein the sidelink resources may be sidelink resources for sending forwarded paging to the second terminal device, or sidelink resources for sending other messages to the second terminal device.

[0389] In other embodiments, the first terminal device may also determine the sidelink resources based on the PDB or latency requirements of forwarding paging and the priority of forwarding paging. For details, please refer to the implementation methods in S403b, S503b or S603b, which will not be repeated here.

[0390] The first piece of information helps ensure the latency of messages sent to the second terminal and improves the performance of the first terminal device in forwarding messages from the second terminal device.

[0391] It should be noted that S703a and S703b can be executed together, or they can be executed separately in different scenarios; this is not limited here.

[0392] Example 5

[0393] like Figure 8 The diagram shown is a flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application. In the following description, this method will be applied to... Figure 1 , Figures 2A-2B , Figures 3A-3B Taking the network architecture shown as an example, the PDB or latency requirements for forwarding paging are obtained through relay terminal equipment. The priority of forwarding paging is determined, thereby ensuring that high-priority paging is forwarded first while guaranteeing latency requirements. For example... Figure 8 The diagram shown is a flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application. This method is applied to... Figure 1 , Figures 2A-2B , Figures 3A-3B The network architecture shown is an example. The network devices described below can be core network devices and / or access network devices serving the first terminal device. The core network device is, for example, an AMF (Advanced Network Provider), and the access network device is, for example, a base station. If the embodiments of this application are applied to… Figure 1 Given the network architecture shown, the second terminal device described below can be... Figure 1 In the network architecture shown, terminal device 2 (i.e., remote terminal device), the first terminal device mentioned below can be... Figure 1 The network architecture shown includes terminal device 1 (i.e., relay terminal device). Specifically, it includes the following steps:

[0394] S801: The first terminal device obtains the first information.

[0395] The first information may include paging delay information, which may include at least one of the following: the value of the paging packet delay budget (PDB), the range of the paging PDB, the maximum or minimum value of the paging PDB, the value of the paging delay requirement, the range of the paging delay requirement, and the maximum or minimum value of the paging delay requirement.

[0396] There are several ways for the first terminal device to obtain the paging forwarding delay information. For example, the first terminal device can obtain the paging forwarding delay information through a method indicated by the network device (e.g., sending a first indication message). Alternatively, the PDB or delay requirements for paging forwarding can be preset. For specific examples, please refer to the examples of methods A1, A2, B1, and B2 in S401, which will not be elaborated here.

[0397] S802: The first terminal device determines the priority of forwarding the paging based on the paging delay information.

[0398] One possible implementation is that the first terminal device determines the priority of forwarding paging based on at least one of the PDB or latency requirements of forwarding paging.

[0399] In some embodiments, the first terminal device can determine the priority of the paging to be forwarded based on the correspondence between the paging delay information and the paging priority, and the paging delay information corresponding to the paging to be forwarded. The correspondence between the paging delay information and the paging priority can be configured by the base station or defined in a standard protocol, and is not limited here.

[0400] For example, the first terminal device can determine the priority of forwarding paging based on the correspondence between the PDB for forwarding paging and the priority of forwarding paging, as well as the PDB to be forwarded paging. Alternatively, the first terminal device can determine the priority of forwarding paging based on the correspondence between the latency requirements for forwarding paging and the priority of forwarding paging, as well as the latency requirements for forwarding paging.

[0401] The correspondence can be configured by the base station or defined in the standard protocol.

[0402] The base station can also configure a default forwarding paging priority, or the default forwarding paging priority can be predefined, for example, pre-configured, or specified in a standard protocol. When the first terminal device does not receive the first indication information, the first terminal device can use the default forwarding paging priority as the forwarding paging priority, that is, the forwarding paging priority is the default forwarding paging priority.

[0403] S803: The first terminal device receives a paging message from the second terminal device of the network device.

[0404] It should be noted that the order of S801 and S802 is not limited, and S801 and S802 can also be performed simultaneously. For example, the base station sends the first indication information to the first terminal device and the paging of the second terminal device in the same signaling. Alternatively, the base station includes the first indication information in the paging of the second terminal device sent to the first terminal device. See method b5 for details, which will not be repeated here. For specific implementation methods, refer to S402, which will not be repeated here.

[0405] S804a: The first terminal device forwards the paging to the second terminal device based on the first information.

[0406] In this embodiment, after receiving a paging message from the base station for the second terminal device, the first terminal device forwards the paging message to the second terminal device. In some embodiments, the forwarded paging message can be any of the following: a paging message, or indication information indicating that the second terminal device has been paged.

[0407] S804a can be implemented in multiple ways. The following examples illustrate methods g1 and g2.

[0408] In method g1, the first terminal device forwards the paging to the second terminal device according to the priority of forwarding the paging.

[0409] One possible implementation is that the higher the priority of the forwarded paging, the more likely the forwarded paging will be transmitted. A smaller priority value corresponds to a higher priority, or vice versa. See method d1 for details, which will not be elaborated upon here.

[0410] Alternatively, the first terminal device may forward the paging to the second terminal device based on the paging priority and paging delay information. For details, please refer to methods d1, e1, or f1, which will not be elaborated upon here.

[0411] In method g2, the first terminal device determines the sidelink resources for forwarding paging between itself and the second terminal device based on the priority of paging forwarding. The first terminal device uses these SL resources to forward paging to the second terminal device.

[0412] One possible implementation involves the first terminal device performing the LCP procedure based on the priority of the forwarding paging. When the first terminal device receives a paging message from the network device, it receives the paging priority of that message. Then, based on the forwarding paging priority, it determines the SL resource and uses that SL resource to send the forwarding paging to the second terminal device corresponding to that priority. For details, please refer to method d2, which will not be elaborated upon here.

[0413] Alternatively, the first terminal device determines the sidelink resources for forwarding paging between itself and the second terminal device based on at least one of the following: the priority of forwarding paging and the delay information of forwarding paging. The first terminal device then uses these SL resources to forward paging to the second terminal device. For details, please refer to methods d2, e2, or f2, which will not be elaborated upon here.

[0414] The above method ensures that high-priority paging is forwarded preferentially while guaranteeing the latency of paging forwarding for remote UEs. Furthermore, the first terminal device can determine the forwarding priority based on the PDB or latency requirements of the forwarded paging, thus eliminating the need for network devices to indicate the forwarding priority to the first terminal device and reducing signaling overhead for network devices.

[0415] S804b: The first terminal device selects sidelink resources based on the first information.

[0416] One possible implementation is that the first terminal device can determine the sidelink resources based on the priority of forwarding paging. These sidelink resources can be used for sending forwarded paging messages to the second terminal device, or they can be used for sending other messages to the second terminal device. For details on the determination method, please refer to S503b, which will not be elaborated here.

[0417] Another possible implementation is that the first terminal device can determine the sidelink resources based on at least one of the forwarding paging priority and forwarding paging delay information. These sidelink resources can be used for sending forwarded paging messages to the second terminal device, or they can be used for sending other messages to the second terminal device. Specific determination methods can be found in S603b, S704b, etc., and will not be elaborated further here.

[0418] The first piece of information helps ensure the latency of messages sent to the second terminal and improves the performance of the first terminal device in forwarding messages from the second terminal device.

[0419] It should be noted that S804a and S804b can be executed together, or they can be executed separately in different scenarios; no restrictions are imposed here.

[0420] In the embodiments provided above, the methods provided by the embodiments of this application have been described from the perspective of interaction between various devices. To implement the functions of the methods provided in the embodiments of this application, network devices or terminal devices may include hardware structures and / or software modules, implementing the above functions in the form of hardware structures, software modules, or a combination of hardware structures and software modules. Whether a particular function is executed in the form of hardware structures, software modules, or a combination of hardware structures and software modules depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0421] The module division in this embodiment is illustrative and represents only one logical functional division; in actual implementation, other division methods may be used. Furthermore, the functional modules in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into a single processor, exist as separate physical entities, or be integrated into a single module. The integrated modules described above can be implemented in hardware or as software functional modules.

[0422] like Figure 9 As shown, this application provides a communication device 900. In some embodiments, the communication device 900 can be a terminal device, or a component in a terminal device, such as a chip. For example, the communication device 900 can be a first terminal device in the above embodiments. The first terminal device can be a relay terminal device. The communication device 900 may include a processing module 910, a transmitting module 920, and a receiving module 930.

[0423] In some embodiments, the receiving module 930 is configured to receive a paging message sent from the network device to the second terminal device; the processing module 910 is configured to forward the paging message to the second terminal device or determine sidelink resources through the sending module 920 according to first information, wherein the first information is used to indicate at least one of the following: packet delay budget for forwarding the paging message, delay requirement for forwarding the paging message, or priority for forwarding the paging message.

[0424] One possible implementation of the method further includes: receiving first indication information from the network device, the first indication information being used to indicate the packet delay budget of the forwarding paging or the delay requirement of the forwarding paging.

[0425] In one possible implementation, the receiving module 930 is further configured to receive second indication information from the network device, the second indication information being used to indicate the priority of the forwarding paging.

[0426] One possible implementation is that the first indication information is carried in any of the following: a system information block, or radio resource control signaling;

[0427] One possible implementation is that the second indication information is carried in any of the following: a system information block, or radio resource control signaling.

[0428] In one possible implementation, the paging of the second terminal device includes: sixth indication information, which is used to indicate the packet delay budget for forwarding the paging or the delay requirement for forwarding the paging;

[0429] And / or, the paging of the second terminal device includes: seventh indication information, the seventh indication information being used to indicate the priority of the forwarded paging.

[0430] One possible implementation is that the processing module 910 is used to determine the priority of the forwarding paging based on the packet delay budget of the forwarding paging or the delay requirement of the forwarding paging.

[0431] One possible implementation is that the processing module 910 is used to determine the packet delay budget or the delay requirement of the forwarding paging based on the priority of the forwarding paging.

[0432] One possible implementation is that the processing module 910 is used to determine the remaining packet delay budget for forwarding the paging based on the packet delay budget of the forwarding paging or the delay requirement of the forwarding paging; and to forward the paging to the second terminal device through the sending module 920 based on the remaining packet delay budget for forwarding the paging.

[0433] One possible implementation is that the sidelink resources are the sidelink resources used to forward paging to the second terminal device.

[0434] One possible implementation is that the processing module 910 is used to determine the remaining packet delay budget of the forwarding paging based on the packet delay budget of the forwarding paging or the delay requirement of the forwarding paging; and select side link resources based on the remaining packet delay budget of the forwarding paging.

[0435] One possible implementation is that the second terminal device is at least one of the following: a remote terminal device, a remote terminal device supporting Layer 2 relay, a terminal device supporting remote terminal device capabilities, a terminal device supporting Layer 2 relay capabilities, and a terminal device receiving and forwarding paging.

[0436] One possible implementation is that the paging of the second terminal device includes at least one of the following:

[0437] Paging messages used to paging the second terminal device;

[0438] The third indication information is used to indicate that the second terminal device has been paged;

[0439] The fourth instruction information is used to instruct the first terminal device to forward the paging to the second terminal device.

[0440] One possible implementation is that forwarding the paging to the second terminal device includes at least one of the following:

[0441] Forward the paging message sent to the second terminal device;

[0442] A fifth indication message is sent to the second terminal device, the fifth indication message being used to indicate that the second terminal device has been paged.

[0443] like Figure 10 As shown, this application provides a communication device 1000. In some embodiments, the communication device 1000 may be a network device or a component in a network device, such as a chip. The communication device 1000 may include a processing module 1010, a transmitting module 1020, and may also include a receiving module 1030.

[0444] The processing module 1010 is used to send a paging message for the second terminal device through the sending module 1020. The paging message for the second terminal device is used by the first terminal device to forward the paging message to the second terminal device according to the first information. The first information is used to indicate at least one of the following: packet delay budget for forwarding the paging message, delay requirement for forwarding the paging message, or priority for forwarding the paging message.

[0445] In one possible implementation, the processing module 1010 is configured to send first indication information to the first terminal device via the sending module 1020, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate the packet delay budget of the forwarding paging or the delay requirement of the forwarding paging.

[0446] One possible implementation is that the processing module 1010 is used to send second indication information to the first terminal device through the sending module 1020, the second indication information being used to indicate the priority of the forwarding paging.

[0447] One possible implementation is that the first indication information is carried in any of the following: a system information block, or radio resource control signaling;

[0448] Alternatively, the second instruction information may be carried in any of the following: a system information block or a radio resource control signaling.

[0449] In one possible implementation, the paging of the second terminal device includes: sixth indication information, which is used to indicate the packet delay budget for forwarding the paging or the delay requirement for forwarding the paging;

[0450] And / or, the paging of the second terminal device includes: seventh indication information, the seventh indication information being used to indicate the priority of the forwarded paging.

[0451] In one possible implementation, the first information is further used to determine sidelink resources, which are sidelink resources used to forward paging to the second terminal device.

[0452] In one possible implementation, the first information is further used to determine the remaining packet delay budget for forwarding paging, and the remaining packet delay budget for forwarding paging is further used to determine the sidelink resources.

[0453] In one possible implementation, before the processing module 1010 sends the first indication information or the second indication information to the first terminal device through the sending module 1020, it is further configured to determine that the second terminal device is at least one of the following: a remote terminal device, a remote terminal device supporting Layer 2 relay, a terminal device supporting remote terminal device capabilities, a terminal device supporting Layer 2 relay capabilities, or a terminal device receiving and forwarding paging.

[0454] In one possible implementation, before the processing module 1010 sends the first indication information or the second indication information to the first terminal device through the sending module 1020, it is further configured to receive an eighth indication information from the core network device through the receiving module 1030. The eighth indication information is used to indicate that the second terminal device is at least one of the following: a remote terminal device, a remote terminal device supporting Layer 2 relay, a terminal device supporting remote terminal device capabilities, a terminal device supporting Layer 2 relay capabilities, or a terminal device receiving and forwarding paging.

[0455] One possible implementation is that the paging of the second terminal device includes at least one of the following:

[0456] A paging message sent to the second terminal device;

[0457] The third indication information is used to indicate that the second terminal device has been paged;

[0458] The fourth instruction information is used to instruct the first terminal device to forward the paging to the second terminal device.

[0459] One possible implementation is that forwarding the paging to the second terminal device includes at least one of the following:

[0460] Send a paging message for the second terminal device;

[0461] A fifth indication message is sent to the second terminal device, the fifth indication message being used to indicate that the second terminal device has been paged.

[0462] Optionally, the communication device 900 or 1000 may further include a storage unit for storing data or instructions (also referred to as code or program). Each of the aforementioned units can interact with or be coupled to the storage unit to implement the corresponding method or function. For example, the processing module 910 or 1010 can read the data or instructions from the storage unit, enabling the communication device to implement the method described in the above embodiments.

[0463] It should be understood that the division of units in the above device is merely a logical functional division. In actual implementation, they can be fully or partially integrated into a single physical entity, or they can be physically separated. Furthermore, all units in the device can be implemented entirely through software calls from processing elements; all units can be implemented entirely in hardware; or some units can be implemented through software calls from processing elements, and some units can be implemented in hardware. For example, each unit can be a separate processing element, or it can be integrated into a chip within the device. Alternatively, it can be stored as a program in memory, called and executed by a processing element of the device. Moreover, these units can be fully or partially integrated together, or implemented independently. The processing element mentioned here can also be called a processor, which can be an integrated circuit with signal processing capabilities. In the implementation process, each step of the above method or each of the above units can be implemented through integrated logic circuits in the processor element, or it can be implemented through software calls from processing elements.

[0464] In one example, a unit in any of the above devices can be one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the methods described above, such as: one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or one or more digital signal processors (DSPs), or one or more field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or a combination of at least two of these forms of integrated circuits. As another example, when a unit in the device can be implemented in the form of a processing element scheduler, the processing element can be a general-purpose processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU) or other processor capable of calling programs. Furthermore, these units can be integrated together to implement a system-on-a-chip (SOC).

[0465] The receiving unit described above (e.g., a receiving unit) is an interface circuit of the device used to receive signals from other devices. For example, when the device is implemented as a chip, the receiving unit is an interface circuit for the chip to receive signals from other chips or devices. The transmitting unit described above (e.g., a transmitting unit) is an interface circuit of the device used to transmit signals to other devices. For example, when the device is implemented as a chip, the transmitting unit is an interface circuit for the chip to transmit signals to other chips or devices.

[0466] refer to Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. This communication device is used to implement the operation of the network device or terminal device described in the above embodiments. Figure 11 As shown, taking a communication device as an example of a terminal device, the communication device includes: an antenna 1110, a radio frequency (RF) device 1120, and a signal processing unit 1130. The antenna 1110 is connected to the RF device 1120. In the downlink direction, the RF device 1120 receives information sent by network devices or other terminal devices through the antenna 1110, and sends the information sent by the network devices or other terminal devices to the signal processing unit 1130 for processing. In the uplink direction, the signal processing unit 1130 processes the information from the terminal device and sends it to the RF device 1120. The RF device 1120 processes the information from the terminal device and then sends it to the network devices or other terminal devices through the antenna 1110.

[0467] Taking a network device as an example, the communication device includes an antenna 1110, a radio frequency (RF) device 1120, and a signal processing unit 1130. The antenna 1110 is connected to the RF device 1120. In the uplink direction, the RF device 1120 receives information sent by a first terminal or other terminal device through the antenna 1110 and sends the information to the signal processing unit 1130 for processing. In the downlink direction, the signal processing unit 1130 processes the information from the network device and sends it to the RF device 1120. The RF device 1120 processes the information from the network device and then sends it to the first terminal or other terminal device through the antenna 1110.

[0468] The signal processing section 1130 is used to process data at each communication protocol layer. The signal processing section 1130 can be a subsystem of the communication device. The communication device may also include other subsystems, such as a central processing subsystem for processing the communication device's operating system and application layers; or a peripheral subsystem for connecting to other devices. The signal processing section 1130 can be a separately configured chip. Optionally, the above-mentioned components can be located within the signal processing section 1130.

[0469] The signal processing section 1130 may include one or more processing elements 1131, such as a main control CPU and other integrated circuits, as well as interface circuitry 1133. Furthermore, the signal processing section 1130 may also include a storage element 1132. The storage element 1132 is used to store data and programs. The program for executing the method performed by the communication device in the above methods may or may not be stored in the storage element 1132, for example, it may be stored in a memory outside the signal processing section 1130. When needed, the signal processing section 1130 loads the program into a cache for use. The interface circuitry 1133 is used for communication with other devices. The above-mentioned devices may be located in the signal processing section 1130, which can be implemented by a chip. The chip includes at least one processing element and an interface circuit, wherein the processing element is used to execute the steps of any of the methods performed by the communication device, and the interface circuitry is used to communicate with other devices. In one implementation, the unit implementing each step of the above method can be implemented in the form of a processing element scheduler. For example, the device includes a processing element and a storage element. The processing element calls the program stored in the storage element to execute the method executed by the communication device in the above method embodiments. The storage element can be a storage element located on the same chip as the processing element, i.e., an on-chip storage element.

[0470] In another implementation, the program for executing the method performed by the communication device in the above method can be located on a storage element on a different chip than the processing element, i.e., an off-chip storage element. In this case, the processing element calls or loads the program from the off-chip storage element onto the on-chip storage element to call and execute the method executed by the communication device (network device or terminal device) in the above method embodiments.

[0471] In another implementation, the unit in the communication device that implements each step of the above method can be configured as one or more processing elements disposed on the signal processing section 1130. These processing elements can be integrated circuits, such as one or more ASICs, one or more DSPs, one or more FPGAs, or combinations of these types of integrated circuits. These integrated circuits can be integrated together to form a chip.

[0472] The units implementing each step of the above method can be integrated together as a system-on-a-chip (SOC). This SOC chip is used to implement the above method. The chip can integrate at least one processing element and a storage element, with the processing element calling a stored program from the storage element to implement the method executed by the communication device; alternatively, the chip can integrate at least one integrated circuit to implement the method executed by the communication device; or, a combination of the above implementation methods can be used, with some unit functions implemented by the processing element calling a program, and some unit functions implemented by the integrated circuit.

[0473] As can be seen, the above apparatus may include at least one processing element and an interface circuit, wherein at least one processing element is used to execute the method provided by any of the communication devices in the above method embodiments. The processing element may execute part or all of the steps executed by the communication device in a first manner: that is, by calling a program stored in a storage element; or in a second manner: that is, by combining instructions with the integrated logic circuits of the hardware in the processor element; of course, part or all of the steps executed by the communication device may also be executed by combining the first and second methods.

[0474] The processing element here, as described above, can be a general-purpose processor, such as a CPU, or one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the above methods, such as one or more ASICs, or one or more microprocessors (DSPs), or one or more FPGAs, or a combination of at least two of these integrated circuit forms. The storage element can be a single memory or a collective term for multiple storage elements.

[0475] It is understood that the memory in the embodiments of this application can be volatile memory or non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memory. The 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. The volatile memory can be random access memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache. By way of example, but not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchronous linked dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct rambus RAM (DR RAM). It should be noted that the memory used in the systems and methods described herein is intended to include, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0476] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program thereon, which, when executed by a computer, implements the method described in any of the method embodiments corresponding to the network device or the first terminal device in the above embodiments.

[0477] This application also provides a computer program product that, when executed by a computer, implements the method described in any of the method embodiments of the network device or the first terminal device described above.

[0478] This application also provides a communication system, which includes the network device and the first terminal device described in the above embodiments, and optionally, may also include a second terminal device.

[0479] This application also provides an apparatus including units for implementing the methods described in any embodiment of this application.

[0480] This application also provides the following solutions: In CN paging, the AMF can include a paging priority indication in the paging message sent to the gNB, so that the gNB can prioritize the transmission of the paging accordingly. In RAN paging, the gNB can determine the paging priority and indicate the paging priority to other gNBs in the RAN paging message. When the UE receives a paging directly from the gNB, the gNB can perform priority processing for different pagings, for example, prioritizing the transmission of a paging with higher priority in a paging time. However, in the case of relay paging, if the relay UE does not have priority information, paging priority cannot be achieved. For example, the relay UE receives two pagings with paging priority 1 (higher priority) and paging priority 8 (lower priority). Without any priority information, the relay UE may forward the paging with paging priority 8 before forwarding the paging with paging priority 1. In this case, the higher priority paging does not take precedence over the lower priority paging, rendering the paging priority indicated by the core network useless and failing to achieve the priority effect. If the base station provides paging priority information to the relay UE, higher-priority paging messages can be transmitted first. Therefore, this standard proposes to discuss whether the gNB provides paging priority information for each paging message to the relay UE.

[0481] Where there is no conflict, the solutions of the above embodiments can be used in combination. The above embodiments can be implemented, in whole or in part, by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, they can be implemented, in whole or in part, in the form of a computer program product. A computer program product includes one or more computer programs. When the computer program is loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of this application are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transferred from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, a computer program can be transferred from one website, computer, server, or data center to another via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available media can be magnetic media (e.g., floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes), optical media (e.g., high-density digital video discs (DVDs)), or semiconductor media (e.g., solid-state disks (SSDs)).

[0482] This application also provides a processing apparatus, including a processor and an interface; the processor is used to execute the method described in any of the method embodiments of the network device or the first terminal device described above.

[0483] It should be understood that the aforementioned processing device can be a chip. The processor can be implemented in hardware or software. When implemented in hardware, the processor can be a logic circuit, integrated circuit, etc. When implemented in software, the processor can be a general-purpose processor that reads software code stored in memory. The memory can be integrated into the processor or located outside the processor and exist independently.

[0484] The above are merely specific embodiments of this application, but the protection scope of the embodiments of this application 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 embodiments of this application should be included within the protection scope of the embodiments of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of the embodiments of this application should be determined by the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to the first terminal device, including: Receives a paging message from a second terminal device in the network equipment; Based on the first information, determine the remaining packet delay budget for forwarding paging, wherein the first information is used to indicate at least one of the following: packet delay budget for forwarding paging, delay requirement for forwarding paging, or priority of forwarding paging; Based on the remaining packet delay budget for forwarding the paging, the paging is forwarded to the second terminal device or a sidelink resource is determined, wherein the sidelink resource is the sidelink resource used to forward the paging to the second terminal device.

2. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive first indication information from the network device, the first indication information being used to indicate the packet delay budget or the delay requirement of the forwarding paging.

3. The method as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The first indication information is carried in any of the following: system information block, radio resource control signaling.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive a second indication information from the network device, the second indication information being used to indicate the priority of the forwarding paging.

5. The method as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The second instruction information is carried in any of the following: system information block, radio resource control signaling.

6. The method as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The paging of the second terminal device includes: sixth indication information, which is used to indicate the packet delay budget of the forwarded paging or the delay requirement of the forwarded paging; And / or, the paging of the second terminal device includes: seventh indication information, the seventh indication information being used to indicate the priority of the forwarded paging.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The method further includes: The priority of the forwarding paging is determined based on the packet delay budget or the delay requirement of the forwarding paging.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The method further includes: determining the packet delay budget or the delay requirement of the forwarding paging based on the priority of the forwarding paging.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The step of determining the remaining packet delay budget for forwarding paging based on the first information includes: The remaining packet delay budget for forwarding paging is determined based on the packet delay budget for forwarding paging or the delay requirement for forwarding paging.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, The second terminal device is at least one of the following: a remote terminal device, a remote terminal device supporting Layer 2 relay, a terminal device supporting remote terminal device capabilities, a terminal device supporting Layer 2 relay capabilities, and a terminal device for receiving and forwarding paging.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1-10, characterized in that, The paging of the second terminal device includes at least one of the following: Paging messages used to paging the second terminal device; The third indication information is used to indicate that the second terminal device has been paged; The fourth instruction information is used to instruct the first terminal device to forward the paging to the second terminal device.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1-11, characterized in that, The forwarding of the paging to the second terminal device includes at least one of the following: Send a paging message for the second terminal device; A fifth indication message is sent to the second terminal device, the fifth indication message being used to indicate that the second terminal device has been paged.

13. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to network devices, including: A paging message is sent to a second terminal device, the paging message carrying first information, which allows the first terminal device to determine the remaining packet delay budget for forwarding the paging message based on the first information, and to forward the paging message to the second terminal device or determine sidelink resources based on the remaining packet delay budget for forwarding the paging message. The first information is used to indicate at least one of the following: packet delay budget for forwarding the paging message, delay requirement for forwarding the paging message, or priority for forwarding the paging message. The sidelink resources are the sidelink resources used by the first terminal device to forward the paging message to the second terminal device.

14. The method as described in claim 13, characterized in that, The first information is also used to determine the remaining packet delay budget for the forwarded paging, and the remaining packet delay budget is used to determine the sidelink resources.

15. The method as described in claim 13 or 14, characterized in that, Before sending the paging message to the first terminal device, the method further includes: The second terminal device is determined to be at least one of the following: a remote terminal device, a remote terminal device supporting Layer 2 relay, a terminal device supporting remote terminal device capabilities, a terminal device supporting Layer 2 relay capabilities, or a terminal device receiving and forwarding paging.

16. The method according to any one of claims 13-15, characterized in that, Before sending the paging message to the first terminal device, the method further includes: The device receives a seventh indication message from a core network device, the seventh indication message indicating that the second terminal device is at least one of the following: a remote terminal device, a remote terminal device supporting Layer 2 relay, a terminal device supporting remote terminal device capabilities, a terminal device supporting Layer 2 relay capabilities, or a terminal device receiving and forwarding paging.

17. The method according to any one of claims 13-16, characterized in that, The paging of the second terminal device includes at least one of the following: Paging messages used to paging the second terminal device; The third indication information is used to indicate that the second terminal device has been paged; The fourth instruction information is used to instruct the first terminal device to forward the paging to the second terminal device.

18. The method according to any one of claims 13-17, characterized in that, The forwarding of the paging to the second terminal device includes at least one of the following: Send a paging message for the second terminal device; A fifth indication message is sent to the second terminal device, the fifth indication message being used to indicate that the second terminal device has been paged.

19. A communication device, characterized in that, include: A processor and a communication interface, the communication interface being used for the device to communicate, the processor being coupled to a memory for storing programs or instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-12.

20. A communication device, characterized in that, include: A processor and a communication interface, the communication interface being used for the device to communicate, the processor being coupled to a memory for storing programs or instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 13-18.

21. A communication system, characterized in that, Includes: the communication device as described in claim 19 and the communication device as described in claim 20.

22. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-12 or 13-18.

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