Communication method, apparatus, and storage medium

Abstract

The application provides a communication method, device and storage medium. The method comprises the following steps: when a terminal activates PDCP repetition transmission autonomously, determining available uplink resources for PDCP repetition transmission; activating a target secondary RLC entity corresponding to a cell containing the available uplink resources; and using the target secondary RLC entity to perform PDCP repetition transmission. Therefore, when the terminal activates PDCP repetition transmission autonomously, the terminal does not need to obtain uplink resources for PDCP repetition transmission by interacting with a network device, the efficiency of obtaining uplink resources for PDCP repetition transmission is improved, and PDCP repetition transmission is performed in a timely manner.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communications, and more particularly to a communication method, apparatus, and storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] To address the high latency and reliability requirements of Ultra-Reliable and Low-Latency Communications (URLLC) services, communication systems introduce a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) retransmission mechanism. In the PDCP retransmission mechanism, the same PDCP layer Protocol Data Units (PDUs) are transmitted through multiple paths, thereby improving data transmission reliability and reducing transmission latency.

[0003] To meet the latency and reliability requirements of URLLC services, the terminal can autonomously activate the PDCP retransmission mechanism in the event of packet loss or packet transmission errors. The terminal can autonomously activate the PDCP retransmission mechanism by requesting uplink resources for PDCP retransmission from the network device through the Uplink Shared Resource Scheduling Request (SR) process.

[0004] However, the scheduling request process for uplink shared resources takes a long time, which means that after the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission, it cannot transmit subsequent data packets in a timely manner according to the PDCP retransmission method. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a communication method, apparatus, and storage medium to solve the problem of high overhead in time synchronization of communication systems.

[0006] In a first aspect, this application provides a communication method applied to a terminal, comprising:

[0007] When the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission, it determines the available uplink resources for PDCP retransmission.

[0008] Activate the target secondary RLC entity corresponding to the cell containing available uplink resources;

[0009] The target auxiliary RLC entity is used for repeated PDCP transmission.

[0010] Optionally, when the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission, it determines the available uplink resources for PDCP retransmission, including:

[0011] When the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission, it searches for available uplink resources in the uplink resources of the target cell.

[0012] The target cell includes the cell corresponding to the secondary RLC entity corresponding to the PDCP entity of the DRB to be retransmitted, or the target cell includes the cell corresponding to the secondary RLC entity corresponding to the PDCP entity and in an inactive state.

[0013] Optionally, available uplink resources include pre-configured uplink resources or dynamically scheduled resources. Available uplink resources are searched within the target cell's uplink resources, including:

[0014] Based on the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the uplink pre-configured resources, or based on the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the dynamically scheduled resources, find available uplink resources in the uplink resources of the target cell.

[0015] Optionally, based on the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the pre-configured uplink resources, or based on the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the dynamically scheduled resources, available uplink resources are searched in the uplink resources of the target cell, including:

[0016] In the uplink resources of the target cell, candidate uplink resources are determined. The candidate uplink resources conform to the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the pre-configured uplink resources, or conform to the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the dynamically scheduled resources. The logical channel data of the activated auxiliary RLC entity can be organized into the candidate uplink resources for transmission.

[0017] Among the candidate uplink resources, the available uplink resources are determined.

[0018] Optionally, among the candidate uplink resources, available uplink resources are determined, including at least one of the following:

[0019] The available uplink resources are determined as candidate uplink resources. Before PDCP retransmission is activated, the terminal determines which uplink resources can be skipped. Before PDCP retransmission is activated, the uplink resources that can be skipped are uplink resources that do not carry the Media Access Control Service Data Unit (MAC SDU) corresponding to the DRB.

[0020] The available uplink resource is determined as the earliest available uplink resource among the candidate uplink resources;

[0021] The available uplink resource is determined as the uplink resource with the minimum latency among the candidate uplink resources;

[0022] The available uplink resources are determined as the lowest priority uplink resources among the candidate uplink resources that carry logical channel data before PDCP retransmission activation;

[0023] The available uplink resources are determined to be the uplink resources belonging to the licensed frequency band cells among the candidate uplink resources.

[0024] Optionally, when the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission, it includes:

[0025] When the terminal repeatedly transmits PDCP from an inactive state to an active state;

[0026] Alternatively, when the terminal activates more auxiliary RLC entities for repeated transmissions of an active PDCP.

[0027] Optionally, before determining the available uplink resources for PDCP retransmission, the communication method further includes:

[0028] Receive a first message from the network device. The first message is used to configure the terminal's PDCP retransmission. The first message indicates at least one of the following:

[0029] Whether to allow the terminal to independently activate PDCP for repeated transmission;

[0030] The number of auxiliary RLC entities that the terminal is allowed to activate autonomously;

[0031] Identifier of the secondary RLC entity that the terminal is allowed to activate independently;

[0032] The priority of the logical channel corresponding to the auxiliary RLC entity when the terminal autonomously activates PDCP repeated transmission.

[0033] Optionally, a target secondary RLC entity is used for repeated PDCP transmissions, including:

[0034] In the target auxiliary RLC entity, PDCP is repeatedly transmitted on the uplink resources occupied by logical channel data whose logical channel priority is less than the priority threshold or whose logical channel priority is less than the logical channel priority of the logical channel corresponding to the target auxiliary RLC entity.

[0035] Optionally, after using a target auxiliary RLC entity and performing repeated PDCP transmissions, the communication method further includes:

[0036] Receive a second message from the network device, the second message indicating at least one of the following:

[0037] Reallocate uplink resources to the target auxiliary RLC entity;

[0038] Reallocate uplink resources to the logical channels occupied by repeated PDCP transmissions;

[0039] Deactivate PDCP repeat transmission.

[0040] Secondly, this application provides a communication method applied to a network device, comprising:

[0041] Receive uplink data from the terminal;

[0042] If the uplink data contains logical channel data corresponding to the target auxiliary RLC entity that the terminal has autonomously activated, then it is determined that the terminal has autonomously activated PDCP retransmission.

[0043] Optionally, before receiving uplink data from the terminal, the communication method may further include:

[0044] A first message is sent to the terminal. The first message is used to configure the terminal's PDCP retransmission. The first message indicates at least one of the following:

[0045] Whether to allow the terminal to independently activate PDCP for repeated transmission;

[0046] The number of auxiliary RLC entities that the terminal is allowed to activate autonomously;

[0047] Identifier of the secondary RLC entity that the terminal is allowed to activate independently;

[0048] The priority of the logical channel corresponding to the auxiliary RLC entity when the terminal autonomously activates PDCP repeated transmission.

[0049] Optionally, after determining that the terminal has autonomously activated PDCP retransmission, the communication method further includes:

[0050] A second message is sent to the terminal, the second message indicating at least one of the following:

[0051] Reallocate uplink resources to the target auxiliary RLC entity;

[0052] Reallocate uplink resources for logical channels that have been preempted by repeated PDCP transmissions;

[0053] Deactivate PDCP repeat transmission.

[0054] Thirdly, this application provides a communication device for use in a terminal, the communication device including a memory, a transceiver, and a processor:

[0055] Memory, used to store computer programs;

[0056] A transceiver is used to send and receive data under the control of a processor.

[0057] A processor is used to read computer programs from memory and perform the following operations:

[0058] When the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission, it determines the available uplink resources for PDCP retransmission.

[0059] Activate the target secondary RLC entity corresponding to the cell containing available uplink resources;

[0060] The target auxiliary RLC entity is used for repeated PDCP transmission.

[0061] Optionally, the processor also performs the following operations:

[0062] When the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission, it searches for available uplink resources in the uplink resources of the target cell.

[0063] The target cell includes the cell corresponding to the secondary RLC entity corresponding to the PDCP entity of the DRB to be retransmitted, or the target cell includes the cell corresponding to the secondary RLC entity corresponding to the PDCP entity and in an inactive state.

[0064] Optionally, the available uplink resources include pre-configured uplink resources or dynamically scheduled resources, and the processor also performs the following operations:

[0065] Based on the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the uplink pre-configured resources, or based on the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the dynamically scheduled resources, find available uplink resources in the uplink resources of the target cell.

[0066] Optionally, the processor also performs the following operations:

[0067] In the uplink resources of the target cell, candidate uplink resources are determined. The candidate uplink resources conform to the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the pre-configured uplink resources, or conform to the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the dynamically scheduled resources. The logical channel data of the activated auxiliary RLC entity can be organized into the candidate uplink resources for transmission.

[0068] Among the candidate uplink resources, the available uplink resources are determined.

[0069] Optionally, the processor also performs at least one of the following operations:

[0070] The available uplink resources are determined as candidate uplink resources. Before PDCP retransmission is activated, the terminal determines which uplink resources can be skipped. Before PDCP retransmission is activated, the uplink resources that can be skipped are uplink resources that do not carry the MAC SDU corresponding to the DRB.

[0071] The available uplink resource is determined as the earliest available uplink resource among the candidate uplink resources;

[0072] The available uplink resource is determined as the uplink resource with the minimum latency among the candidate uplink resources;

[0073] The available uplink resources are determined as the lowest priority uplink resources among the candidate uplink resources that carry logical channel data before PDCP retransmission activation;

[0074] The available uplink resources are determined to be the uplink resources belonging to the licensed frequency band cells among the candidate uplink resources.

[0075] Optionally, when the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission, it includes:

[0076] When the terminal repeatedly transmits PDCP from an inactive state to an active state;

[0077] Alternatively, when the terminal activates more auxiliary RLC entities for repeated transmissions of an active PDCP.

[0078] Optionally, the processor also performs the following operations:

[0079] Receive a first message from the network device. The first message is used to configure the terminal's PDCP retransmission. The first message indicates at least one of the following:

[0080] Whether to allow the terminal to independently activate PDCP for repeated transmission;

[0081] The number of auxiliary RLC entities that the terminal is allowed to activate autonomously;

[0082] Identifier of the secondary RLC entity that the terminal is allowed to activate independently;

[0083] The priority of the logical channel corresponding to the auxiliary RLC entity when the terminal autonomously activates PDCP repeated transmission.

[0084] Optionally, the processor also performs the following operations:

[0085] In the target auxiliary RLC entity, PDCP is repeatedly transmitted on the uplink resources occupied by logical channel data whose logical channel priority is less than the priority threshold or whose logical channel priority is less than the logical channel priority of the logical channel corresponding to the target auxiliary RLC entity.

[0086] Optionally, the processor also performs the following operations:

[0087] Receive a second message from the network device, the second message indicating at least one of the following:

[0088] Reallocate uplink resources to the target auxiliary RLC entity;

[0089] Reallocate uplink resources to the logical channels occupied by repeated PDCP transmissions;

[0090] Deactivate PDCP repeat transmission.

[0091] Fourthly, this application provides a communication device for use in network equipment, the communication device including a memory, a transceiver, and a processor:

[0092] Memory, used to store computer programs;

[0093] A transceiver is used to send and receive data under the control of a processor.

[0094] A processor is used to read computer programs from memory and perform the following operations:

[0095] Receive uplink data from the terminal;

[0096] If the uplink data contains logical channel data corresponding to the target auxiliary RLC entity that the terminal has autonomously activated, then it is determined that the terminal has autonomously activated PDCP retransmission.

[0097] Optionally, the processor also performs the following operations:

[0098] A first message is sent to the terminal. The first message is used to configure the terminal's PDCP retransmission. The first message indicates at least one of the following:

[0099] Whether to allow the terminal to independently activate PDCP for repeated transmission;

[0100] The number of auxiliary RLC entities that the terminal is allowed to activate autonomously;

[0101] Identifier of the secondary RLC entity that the terminal is allowed to activate independently;

[0102] The priority of the logical channel corresponding to the auxiliary RLC entity when the terminal autonomously activates PDCP repeated transmission.

[0103] Optionally, the processor also performs the following operations:

[0104] A second message is sent to the terminal, the second message indicating at least one of the following:

[0105] Reallocate uplink resources to the target auxiliary RLC entity;

[0106] Reallocate uplink resources for logical channels that have been preempted by repeated PDCP transmissions;

[0107] Deactivate PDCP repeat transmission.

[0108] Fifthly, this application provides a communication device for use in a terminal, comprising:

[0109] The processing unit is used to determine the available uplink resources for PDCP retransmission when the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission, and to activate the target secondary RLC entity corresponding to the cell containing the available uplink resources.

[0110] The transceiver unit is used to perform repeated PDCP transmissions using the target auxiliary RLC entity.

[0111] Optionally, the processing unit is specifically used for:

[0112] When the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission, it searches for available uplink resources in the uplink resources of the target cell.

[0113] The target cell includes the cell corresponding to the secondary RLC entity corresponding to the PDCP entity of the DRB to be retransmitted, or the target cell includes the cell corresponding to the secondary RLC entity corresponding to the PDCP entity and in an inactive state.

[0114] Optionally, available uplink resources include pre-configured uplink resources or dynamically scheduled resources, and the processing unit is specifically used for:

[0115] Based on the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the uplink pre-configured resources, or based on the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the dynamically scheduled resources, find available uplink resources in the uplink resources of the target cell.

[0116] Optionally, the processing unit is specifically used for:

[0117] In the uplink resources of the target cell, candidate uplink resources are determined. The candidate uplink resources conform to the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the pre-configured uplink resources, or conform to the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the dynamically scheduled resources. The logical channel data of the activated auxiliary RLC entity can be organized into the candidate uplink resources for transmission.

[0118] Among the candidate uplink resources, the available uplink resources are determined.

[0119] Optionally, the processing unit is specifically used for at least one of the following:

[0120] The available uplink resources are determined as candidate uplink resources. Before PDCP retransmission is activated, the terminal determines which uplink resources can be skipped. Before PDCP retransmission is activated, the uplink resources that can be skipped are uplink resources that do not carry the MAC SDU corresponding to the DRB.

[0121] The available uplink resource is determined as the earliest available uplink resource among the candidate uplink resources;

[0122] The available uplink resource is determined as the uplink resource with the minimum latency among the candidate uplink resources;

[0123] The available uplink resources are determined as the lowest priority uplink resources among the candidate uplink resources that carry logical channel data before PDCP retransmission activation;

[0124] The available uplink resources are determined to be the uplink resources belonging to the licensed frequency band cells among the candidate uplink resources.

[0125] Optionally, when the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission, it includes:

[0126] When the terminal repeatedly transmits PDCP from an inactive state to an active state;

[0127] Alternatively, when the terminal activates more auxiliary RLC entities for repeated transmissions of an active PDCP.

[0128] Optionally, the transceiver unit is also used for:

[0129] Receive a first message from the network device. The first message is used to configure the terminal's PDCP retransmission. The first message indicates at least one of the following:

[0130] Whether to allow the terminal to independently activate PDCP for repeated transmission;

[0131] The number of auxiliary RLC entities that the terminal is allowed to activate autonomously;

[0132] Identifier of the secondary RLC entity that the terminal is allowed to activate independently;

[0133] The priority of the logical channel corresponding to the auxiliary RLC entity when the terminal autonomously activates PDCP repeated transmission.

[0134] Optionally, the transceiver unit is specifically used for:

[0135] In the target auxiliary RLC entity, PDCP is repeatedly transmitted on the uplink resources occupied by logical channel data whose logical channel priority is less than the priority threshold or whose logical channel priority is less than the logical channel priority of the logical channel corresponding to the target auxiliary RLC entity.

[0136] Optionally, the transceiver unit is also used for:

[0137] Receive a second message from the network device, the second message indicating at least one of the following:

[0138] Reallocate uplink resources to the target auxiliary RLC entity;

[0139] Reallocate uplink resources to the logical channels occupied by repeated PDCP transmissions;

[0140] Deactivate PDCP repeat transmission.

[0141] Sixthly, this application provides a communication device applied to a network device, comprising:

[0142] The transceiver unit is used to receive uplink data from the terminal;

[0143] The processing unit is used to determine that the terminal has autonomously activated PDCP retransmission if the uplink data contains logical channel data corresponding to the target auxiliary RLC entity autonomously activated by the terminal.

[0144] Optionally, the transceiver unit is also used for:

[0145] A first message is sent to the terminal. The first message is used to configure the terminal's PDCP retransmission. The first message indicates at least one of the following:

[0146] Whether to allow the terminal to independently activate PDCP for repeated transmission;

[0147] The number of auxiliary RLC entities that the terminal is allowed to activate autonomously;

[0148] Identifier of the secondary RLC entity that the terminal is allowed to activate independently;

[0149] The priority of the logical channel corresponding to the auxiliary RLC entity when the terminal autonomously activates PDCP repeated transmission.

[0150] Optionally, the transceiver unit is also used for:

[0151] A second message is sent to the terminal, the second message indicating at least one of the following:

[0152] Reallocate uplink resources to the target auxiliary RLC entity;

[0153] Reallocate uplink resources for logical channels that have been preempted by repeated PDCP transmissions;

[0154] Deactivate PDCP repeat transmission.

[0155] In a seventh aspect, this application provides a processor-readable storage medium storing a computer program for causing a processor to perform the communication method described in the first or second aspect.

[0156] Eighthly, this application provides a computer program product containing instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the communication method as described in the first or second aspect above.

[0157] Ninthly, this application provides a communication system including a terminal as described above and a network device as described above, wherein the terminal executes the communication method described in the first aspect above, and the network device executes the communication method described in the second aspect above.

[0158] This application provides a communication method, apparatus, and storage medium in which, when a terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission, it does not need to obtain uplink resources for PDCP retransmission by interacting with network equipment. Instead, it can directly determine the available uplink resources for PDCP retransmission on the terminal side, and use the target secondary RLC entity corresponding to the cell containing available uplink resources to perform PDCP retransmission, ensuring that the terminal can perform PDCP retransmission in a timely manner after autonomously activating PDCP retransmission.

[0159] It should be understood that the description in the foregoing summary section is not intended to limit the key or essential features of the embodiments of the present invention, nor is it intended to restrict the scope of the invention. Other features of the invention will become readily apparent from the following description. Attached Figure Description

[0160] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0161] Figure 1(a) is a schematic diagram of the PDCP retransmission model under CA;

[0162] Figure 1(b) is a schematic diagram of the PDCP retransmission model under DC;

[0163] Figure 2 A schematic diagram illustrating the application scenarios provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0164] Figure 3 A flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0165] Figure 4 A flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in another embodiment of this application;

[0166] Figure 5 A flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in another embodiment of this application;

[0167] Figure 6 Example diagram of selecting CG type 1 for PDCP repeated transmission for the terminal;

[0168] Figure 7 A flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in another embodiment of this application;

[0169] Figure 8 Example diagram of selecting CG type 2 for PDCP retransmission for the terminal;

[0170] Figure 9 A flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in another embodiment of this application;

[0171] Figure 10 An example diagram showing the selection of dynamically scheduled resources for repeated PDCP transmissions by the terminal;

[0172] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0173] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in another embodiment of this application;

[0174] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in another embodiment of this application;

[0175] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in another embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0176] In this application, the term "and / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0177] In the embodiments of this application, the term "multiple" refers to two or more, and other quantifiers are similar.

[0178] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0179] To deepen the understanding of the technical solution of this application, we will first briefly explain PDCP retransmission.

[0180] Referring to Figures 1(a) and 1(b), Figure 1(a) is a schematic diagram of the PDCP repetitive transmission model under Carrier Aggregation (CA), and Figure 1(b) is a schematic diagram of the PDCP repetitive transmission model under Dual Connectivity (DC). In Figures 1(a) and 1(b), the number of repetitive transmission paths in PDCP repetitive transmission is 4 as an example.

[0181] As shown in Figures 1(a) and 1(b), one Data Radio Bearer (DRB) in the PDCP layer corresponds to one PDCP entity. Transmission is performed at the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer through four Logical Channels (LCHs), each corresponding to an RLC entity. For example, in Figures 1(a) and 1(b), the PDCP entity corresponds to four RLC entities: RLC1, RLC2, RLC3, and RLC4, and each RLC entity corresponds to logical channels LCH1, LCH2, LCH3, and LCH4, respectively. As shown in Figure 1(a), in the CA's PDCP retransmission model, the multiple logical channels corresponding to the retransmitted DRBs are processed by a single MAC entity at the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer. As shown in Figure 1(b), in the DC's PDCP retransmission model, the multiple logical channels corresponding to the retransmitted DRBs at different nodes are mapped to the respective MAC entities of each node for transmission. In DC, different nodes include master nodes (Master Node, Main Node, or Primary Node, MN or PN) or secondary nodes (Secondary Node, SN).

[0182] As shown in Figures 1(a) and 1(b), the same PDCP entity corresponds to different RLC entities, and the data of the logical channels corresponding to different RLC entities are mapped to different cells (i.e., different carriers) for transmission. In other words, there is a correspondence between RLC entities and cells, and different RLC entities correspond to different cells. For example, RLC1, RLC2, RLC3, and RLC4 correspond to cells cell1 (CC1), cell2 (CC2), cell3 (CC3), and cell4 (CC4), respectively.

[0183] Before PDCP retransmission is activated, the RLC entity carrying DRB data is called the primary RLC entity, and the corresponding logical channel is the primary logical channel, which cannot be deactivated. After PDCP retransmission, the RLC entity used to transmit the replicated PDCP Protocol Data Unit (PDU) is called the secondary RLC entity, and the corresponding logical channel is the secondary logical channel.

[0184] Normally, when a network device activates PDCP retransmission, if the secondary RLC entity has data, it will allocate uplink resources to the secondary RLC entity to achieve the actual execution of uplink DRB PDCP retransmission. For URLLC services, considering that the network device cannot send retransmission activation commands and allocate uplink resources in a timely manner, the terminal activates PDCP retransmission autonomously. When the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission, the network device is unaware that the terminal has activated PDCP retransmission. The terminal needs to request uplink resources for PDCP retransmission from the network device through the uplink shared resource SR procedure before the network device becomes aware of the activation and allocates uplink resources. During this process, the network device has difficulty allocating uplink resources to the terminal in a timely manner, resulting in the terminal not obtaining uplink resources promptly after autonomously activating PDCP retransmission and thus being unable to execute PDCP retransmission in a timely manner.

[0185] To address the aforementioned issues, embodiments of this application provide a communication method, apparatus, and storage medium. When a terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission, it determines available uplink resources for PDCP retransmission, activates the target secondary RLC entity corresponding to the cell containing the available uplink resources, and uses the target secondary RLC entity for PDCP retransmission. Therefore, it eliminates the need to interact with network devices after autonomous activation to request uplink resources for PDCP retransmission; instead, the uplink resources for PDCP retransmission are determined on the terminal side, and then the corresponding secondary RLC entity is activated, enabling timely execution of PDCP retransmission.

[0186] The method and apparatus are based on the same concept of the application. Since the methods and apparatus solve problems in similar ways, the implementation of the apparatus and methods can refer to each other, and the repeated parts will not be described again.

[0187] The technical solutions provided in this application can be applied to various systems, especially 5G systems. For example, applicable systems include Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD), Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE-A), Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), and 5G New Radio (NR). All of these systems include terminals and network equipment. The systems may also include a core network component, such as Evolved Packet System (EPS) and 5G systems (5GS).

[0188] The terminal involved in the embodiments of this application can be a device that provides voice and / or data connectivity to a user, a handheld device with wireless connectivity, or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem. The name of the terminal may differ in different systems; for example, in a 5G system, the terminal can be called a User Equipment (UE). The wireless terminal can communicate with one or more core networks (CNs) via a Radio Access Network (RAN). The wireless terminal can be a mobile terminal, such as a mobile phone (or "cellular" phone) and a computer with a mobile terminal, for example, a portable, pocket-sized, handheld, computer-embedded, or vehicle-mounted mobile device that exchanges voice and / or data with the RAN. Examples include Personal Communication Service (PCS) phones, cordless phones, Session Initiated Protocol (SIP) phones, Wireless Local Loop (WLL) stations, and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). The wireless terminal can also be referred to as a system, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, access point, remote terminal, access terminal, user terminal, user agent, or user device, but is not limited to these terms in the embodiments of this application.

[0189] The network device involved in this application embodiment can be a base station, which may include multiple cells providing services to terminals. Depending on the specific application, a base station may also be called an access point, or a device in an access network that communicates with a wireless terminal via one or more sectors on the air interface, or other names. The network device can be used to exchange received air frames with Internet Protocol (IP) packets, acting as a router between the wireless terminal and the rest of the access network, where the rest of the access network may include an Internet Protocol (IP) communication network. The network device can also coordinate the attribute management of the air interface. For example, the network equipment involved in the embodiments of this application can be a base transceiver station (BTS) in a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) or Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), a NodeB in a Wide-band Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system, an evolved Node B (eNB or e-NodeB) in a long term evolution (LTE) system, a 5G base station (gNB) in a next generation system, a Home evolved Node B (HeNB), a relay node, a femto, a pico, etc., and is not limited in the embodiments of this application. In some network structures, the network equipment may include centralized unit (CU) nodes and distributed unit (DU) nodes, and the centralized unit and distributed unit may also be geographically separated.

[0190] Network devices and terminals can each use one or more antennas for Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) transmission. MIMO transmission can be Single-User MIMO (SU-MIMO) or Multiple-User MIMO (MU-MIMO). Depending on the configuration and number of antenna combinations, MIMO transmission can be 2D-MIMO, 3D-MIMO, FD-MIMO, or massive-MIMO, and can also be diversity transmission, precoding transmission, or beamforming transmission, etc.

[0191] refer to Figure 2 , Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an application scenario provided in an embodiment of this application. This embodiment provides a communication system, which includes a network device 210 and a terminal 220. Figure 2 (Taking three terminals as an example). In the communication system, terminal 220 can autonomously activate DRB PDCP retransmission in the event of packet loss or packet transmission errors to retransmit data packets and ensure correct data transmission.

[0192] refer to Figure 3 , Figure 3 This is a schematic flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in one embodiment of this application. Figure 3 As shown, the method in this embodiment may include:

[0193] S301. When the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission, it determines the available uplink resources for PDCP retransmission.

[0194] In this embodiment, the terminal can determine to autonomously activate PDCP retransmission in cases such as packet loss or transmission failure on the logical channel of the primary RLC entity corresponding to the PDCP entity corresponding to the DRB. Here, there are no restrictions on the triggering conditions of the PDCP retransmission mechanism. When autonomously activating PDCP retransmission, the terminal can determine the uplink resources available for PDCP retransmission, i.e., the available uplink resources for PDCP retransmission, within the uplink resources of the cell where the terminal is located.

[0195] When a terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission, it determines the available uplink resources for PDCP retransmission. This can be done either simultaneously with or after the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission. Since determining the available uplink resources for PDCP retransmission does not require back-and-forth interaction with network devices, determining the available uplink resources after the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission still effectively improves the execution efficiency of PDCP retransmission after autonomous activation.

[0196] Optionally, the terminal's autonomous activation of PDCP retransmission includes: the terminal changing the PDCP retransmission from an inactive state to an active state, or the terminal activating more auxiliary RLC entities for the PDCP retransmission in the active state. Thus, this embodiment can achieve timely execution of PDCP retransmission after a PDCP retransmission under different activation conditions.

[0197] Therefore, in one possible implementation of S301 above, when the terminal switches the PDCP repeat transmission from an inactive state to an active state, the available uplink resources for the PDCP repeat transmission are determined. Alternatively, when the terminal activates more secondary RLC entities for the active PDCP repeat transmission, the available uplink resources for the PDCP repeat transmission are determined. Specifically, when the PDCP repeat transmission is active, the PDCP PDU is transmitted through the logical channel corresponding to the primary RLC entity; when the PDCP repeat transmission is inactive, the PDCP PDU and the replicated PDCP PDU are transmitted through the logical channels corresponding to the primary RLC and some of the secondary RLC entities, respectively.

[0198] In another possible implementation of S301 above, when the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission, it searches for available uplink resources in the uplink resources of the target cell. The target cell includes the cell corresponding to the secondary RLC entity corresponding to the PDCP entity of the DRB to be retransmitted, or the target cell includes the cell corresponding to a secondary RLC entity corresponding to the PDCP entity of the DRB to be retransmitted but in an inactive state. Therefore, based on the characteristic that the replicated PDCP PCU in PDCP retransmission is transmitted via the logical channel corresponding to the activated secondary RLC entity, available uplink resources for PDCP retransmission are determined in the uplink resources of the cell corresponding to the secondary RLC entity, or further, in the uplink resources of the cell corresponding to the inactive secondary RLC entity.

[0199] Therefore, taking the cells corresponding to each RLC entity corresponding to the PDCP entity of the DRB to be retransmitted as all cells, when the terminal activates an inactive PDCP retransmission, it can determine the target cell as a cell other than the cell corresponding to the primary RLC entity. Alternatively, when the terminal activates more secondary RLC entities in an already activated PDCP retransmission, it can determine the target cell as a cell other than the cell corresponding to the primary RLC entity, or determine the target cell as a cell other than the cell corresponding to the primary RLC entity and the cell corresponding to the already activated secondary RLC entities.

[0200] In another possible implementation of S301 above, the available uplink resources for PDCP retransmission include configured grant (CG) or dynamic grant (DG) resources. Therefore, available uplink resources for PDCP retransmission can be found in the configured grant or dynamic grant resources of the target cell, improving the diversity and richness of available uplink resources for PDCP retransmission.

[0201] In determining available uplink resources, available uplink resources for PDCP retransmission can be searched among the uplink resources of the target cell based on the Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the pre-configured uplink resources, or based on the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the dynamically scheduled resources. Specifically, uplink pre-configured resources suitable for PDCP retransmission can be searched among the pre-configured uplink resources of the target cell based on the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the pre-configured uplink resources. Alternatively, dynamically scheduled resources suitable for PDCP retransmission can be searched among the dynamically scheduled resources of the target cell based on the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the dynamically scheduled resources. Thus, by constraining the search for uplink resources through LCP configuration and uplink transmission priority configuration, the availability and rationality of the searched uplink resources are ensured.

[0202] Optionally, the process of searching for available uplink resources for PDCP retransmission in the uplink resources of the target cell according to the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the uplink pre-configured resources, or according to the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the dynamically scheduled resources, includes: first, determining candidate uplink resources in the uplink resources of the target cell, wherein the candidate uplink resources conform to the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the uplink pre-configured resources, or the candidate uplink resources conform to the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the dynamically scheduled resources. The conformity of candidate uplink resources with LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration means that the logical channel data of the activated secondary RLC entity can be organized into the candidate uplink resources for transmission; then, determining available uplink resources for PDCP retransmission in the candidate uplink resources. Thus, under the constraints of LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration, uplink pre-configured resources or dynamically scheduled resources that can be used for data transmission on the logical channel corresponding to the auxiliary RLC entity are obtained. Then, the uplink pre-configured resources or dynamically scheduled resources (i.e., candidate uplink resources) can be directly determined as available uplink resources, or the candidate uplink resources can be further screened to further improve the rationality of available uplink resources.

[0203] Optionally, the available uplink resources are determined from the candidate uplink resources, including at least one of the following: the available uplink resources are those that the terminal can skip before PDCP retransmission activation; the available uplink resources are those with the lowest latency among the candidate uplink resources; the available uplink resources are those with the lowest priority carrying logical channel data before PDCP retransmission activation among the candidate uplink resources; the available uplink resources are those belonging to licensed frequency band cells among the candidate uplink resources. Thus, from one or more aspects, such as transmission latency and stability, suitable available uplink resources for PDCP retransmission are selected from multiple candidate uplink resources to improve the communication efficiency and quality of PDCP retransmission as much as possible.

[0204] Specifically, before PDCP retransmission is activated, the terminal determines that the uplink resources that can be skipped are those that do not carry MAC Service Data Units (SDUs) corresponding to DRBs. In other words, these skippable uplink resources do not carry any MAC SDUs corresponding to DRBs before the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission. If a candidate uplink resource is determined to be the skippable uplink resource, then after PDCP retransmission is activated, this uplink resource will not carry MAC SDUs corresponding to any DRBs other than the one to be retransmitted. Determining available uplink resources as those that the terminal determines can be skipped before PDCP retransmission is activated among the candidate uplink resources can prevent PDCP retransmission from affecting the transmission of other DRBs besides the one to be retransmitted.

[0205] Among the candidate uplink resources, the uplink resource with the lowest latency refers to the uplink resource with the lowest uplink transmission latency. Identifying the available uplink resource as the uplink resource with the lowest latency among the candidate uplink resources is beneficial to improving the transmission efficiency of PDCP retransmissions.

[0206] Among these methods, the available uplink resources are determined to be the lowest priority uplink resources that carry logical channel data before PDCP retransmission is activated, thereby avoiding the impact of PDCP retransmission on the transmission of higher priority logical channel data and thus avoiding impact on terminal communication.

[0207] Among them, licensed frequency band cells have higher reliability than unlicensed frequency band cells. Therefore, identifying available uplink resources as those belonging to licensed frequency band cells is beneficial to improving the reliability of available uplink resources and the reliability of PDCP retransmission.

[0208] S302. The terminal activates the target secondary RLC entity corresponding to the cell containing available uplink resources.

[0209] In this embodiment, since the logical channels corresponding to different RLC entities are mapped to different cells for transmission in the PDCP retransmission model, after determining the available uplink resources for PDCP retransmission, the data of the logical channels corresponding to the secondary RLC entities of the cell containing the available uplink resources can be transmitted on those available uplink resources. Therefore, after determining the available uplink resources for PDCP retransmission, the secondary RLC entity corresponding to the cell containing the available uplink resources can be activated. For ease of description, the secondary RLC entity corresponding to the cell containing the available uplink resources is referred to as the target secondary RLC entity. The activated target secondary RLC entity is used for PDCP retransmission.

[0210] S303. The terminal uses the target auxiliary RLC entity to perform repeated PDCP transmission.

[0211] In this embodiment, after activating the target secondary RLC entity, the target secondary RLC entity sends logical channel data containing replicated PDCP PDUs to the network device on the available uplink resources for PDCP retransmission in the cell corresponding to the target secondary RLC entity as determined in the above steps, thereby realizing PDCP retransmission. Therefore, it is not necessary to request the allocation of uplink resources for PDCP retransmission from the network device after activating the target secondary RLC entity and wait for the network device to allocate uplink resources for PDCP retransmission. This solves the problem that the terminal cannot perform PDCP retransmission in a timely manner because the network device is unaware of the terminal's autonomous activation of PDCP retransmission and cannot allocate uplink resources in a timely manner. After activating the target secondary RLC entity, that is, after activating PDCP retransmission, the terminal can perform PDCP retransmission on the available uplink resources in a timely manner.

[0212] In one possible implementation of S303 above, considering that the available uplink resources are not specifically allocated to the terminal by the network device for PDCP retransmission, but are used for data transmission on other logical channels and are occupied by other logical channel data, the terminal can perform PDCP retransmission on the uplink resources occupied by logical channel data with a logical channel priority lower than the priority threshold, or on the uplink resources occupied by logical channel data with a logical channel priority lower than the logical channel priority corresponding to the target secondary RLC. In other words, the terminal can preempt the uplink resources occupied by logical channel data with lower logical channel priority for PDCP retransmission. Thus, while achieving PDCP retransmission, it avoids PDCP retransmission affecting the transmission of logical channel data with higher logical channel priority.

[0213] refer to Figure 4 , Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in another embodiment of this application. For example... Figure 4 As shown, the method in this embodiment may include:

[0214] S401. When the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission, it determines the available uplink resources for PDCP retransmission.

[0215] S402. The terminal activates the target secondary RLC entity corresponding to the cell containing available uplink resources.

[0216] S403. The terminal uses the target auxiliary RLC entity to perform repeated PDCP transmission.

[0217] The implementation principles and technical effects of S401 to S403 can be referred to in the aforementioned embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0218] S404. If the network device receives uplink data from the terminal containing logical channel data corresponding to the target auxiliary RLC entity that the terminal has autonomously activated, the network device determines that the terminal has autonomously activated PDCP retransmission.

[0219] In this embodiment, during PDCP retransmission, the terminal can use uplink resources to send uplink data to the network device through the primary RLC entity and the activated secondary RLC entity corresponding to the PDCP entity of the DRB to be retransmitted. After receiving the uplink data, if the network device was inactive before the PDCP retransmission, and the uplink data contains logical channel data corresponding to the secondary RLC entity, or if the network device receives logical channel data corresponding to the secondary RLC entity, then the network device determines that the terminal has autonomously activated PDCP retransmission. If the terminal was in an active state before the PDCP retransmission, and the uplink data contains logical channel data corresponding to a new secondary RLC entity, or if the network device receives logical channel data corresponding to a new secondary RLC entity, then the network device determines that the terminal has autonomously activated PDCP retransmission.

[0220] Therefore, when a terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission, it first determines the available uplink resources available for PDCP retransmission on its own side, and then activates the target secondary RLC entity corresponding to the cell containing the available uplink resources. Using the target secondary RLC entity, timely execution of PDCP retransmission is achieved. During the execution of PDCP retransmission, the network device knows that the terminal has autonomously activated PDCP retransmission based on uplink data from the terminal. This effectively improves the efficiency of PDCP retransmission.

[0221] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4As shown, the communication method may further include: S400, the terminal receives a first message from the network device, the first message being used to configure the terminal's PDCP retransmission. The first message may indicate at least one of the following: whether the terminal is allowed to autonomously activate PDCP retransmission, the number of secondary RLC entities allowed for autonomous activation, the identifiers of the secondary RLC entities allowed for autonomous activation, and the priority of the logical channel corresponding to the secondary RLC entity when the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission. Thus, the network device can flexibly configure the autonomous activation of the terminal's PDCP retransmission.

[0222] Network devices can send a first message at any time. In particular, when a network device determines that it needs to improve the transmission reliability of a corresponding DRB, it sends a first message to the terminal. Figure 4 Taking S400 preceding S401 as an example, but not limited to S400 preceding S401, the first message can be Radio Resource Control (RCC) signaling. When the network device is configured to allow the terminal to autonomously activate PDCP retransmission, the terminal can perform operations such as autonomously activating PDCP retransmission, determining available uplink resources, activating secondary RLC entities, and performing PDCP retransmission as described in the previous embodiments. When the network device is configured with a number of secondary RLC entities that the terminal can autonomously activate, the terminal can determine the number of target secondary RLC entities corresponding to the cell containing available uplink resources, under the constraint of this number. When the network device is configured with identifiers of secondary RLC entities that the terminal can autonomously activate, that is, when it is configured with which secondary RLC entities the terminal is allowed to autonomously activate, the terminal can determine the target secondary RLC entity within the range of these secondary RLC entities.

[0223] Network devices configure the priority of the logical channel corresponding to the secondary RLC entity when the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission via the first message. This allows the priority of the logical channel corresponding to the secondary RLC entity to differ from the priority of the logical channel corresponding to the secondary RLC entity before autonomous activation of PDCP retransmission. The priority configuration of the logical channel corresponding to the secondary RLC entity can adapt to the actual needs of retransmission, improving the configuration flexibility and versatility of PDCP retransmission.

[0224] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4As shown, the communication method after S404 further includes: S405, the network device sends a second message to the terminal, the second message indicating at least one of the following: reallocating uplink resources for the target secondary RLC entity, reallocating uplink resources for the logical channel occupied by PDCP repetition transmission, and deactivating PDCP repetition transmission. Thus, after determining that the terminal autonomously activates PDCP repetition transmission, the network device controls the terminal to deactivate PDCP repetition transmission to flexibly control PDCP repetition transmission; and / or, allocates uplink resources for the next PDCP repetition transmission to ensure the execution of subsequent PDCP repetition transmissions; and / or, considering that the terminal occupies uplink resources in the cell during the process of autonomously activating PDCP repetition transmission to execute PDCP repetition transmission in a timely manner, the network device allocates uplink resources for the logical channel whose resources are preempted by PDCP repetition transmission, minimizing and compensating for the impact of PDCP repetition transmission on other data transmissions as much as possible.

[0225] Where available uplink resources include pre-configured uplink resources or dynamically scheduled resources, the network device instructs, via a second message, to reallocate uplink resources for the target secondary RLC entity. This includes: the network device instructing, via a second message, to reallocate pre-configured uplink resources for the target secondary RLC entity; or, the network device instructing, via a second message, to reallocate dynamically scheduled resources for the target secondary RLC entity. The network device instructs, via a second message, to reallocate uplink resources for logical channels occupied by repeated PDCP transmissions. This includes: the network device instructing, via a second message, to reallocate pre-configured uplink resources for logical channels occupied by repeated PDCP transmissions; or, the network device instructing, via a second message, to reallocate dynamically scheduled resources for logical channels occupied by repeated PDCP transmissions.

[0226] Optionally, in addition to the network device instructing the terminal to activate PDCP repeat transmission via a second message, the terminal can also activate PDCP repeat transmission independently.

[0227] Based on available uplink resources, including pre-configured uplink resources or dynamically scheduled resources, and pre-configured uplink resources including CG type1 and CG type2, the following provides multiple embodiments of this application from the aspects of CG type1, CG type2, and dynamically scheduled resources.

[0228] In CG type 1, when pre-configuring uplink resources, the network device directly allocates the period, start point, time-frequency domain resources, and transmission format of the pre-configured resources. Transmission formats include, for example, Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) and Redundancy Version (RV). In CG type 2, when pre-configuring uplink resources, the network device only configures the period of the pre-configured resources. The network device subsequently allocates the start point, time-frequency domain resources, and transmission format of the pre-configured resources using Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) scheduling commands and activates them using PDCCH scheduling commands. In dynamic scheduling, the network device uses PDCCH to carry Downlink Control Information (DCI) messages. The DCI carries resource allocation information, and the terminal performs data transmission and reception based on this resource allocation. Dynamic scheduling takes effect only once.

[0229] refer to Figure 5 , Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in another embodiment of this application. In this embodiment, the terminal autonomously selects CG type 1 for terminal-autonomous activated PDCP repetitive transmission. Figure 5 As shown, the method in this embodiment may include:

[0230] S501, Network devices configure DRB for repeated PDCP transmission to terminals.

[0231] The network device can configure one or more DRBs to be repeatedly transmitted via PDCP to the terminal. This can be configured through the first message. For details, please refer to the aforementioned embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0232] S502. When the terminal triggers the PDCP retransmission condition for autonomously activating the target DRB, it determines the target CG type1 for PDCP retransmission and activates the target secondary RLC entity corresponding to the cell containing the target CG type1.

[0233] The target DRB is the DRB currently autonomously activated for PDCP retransmission, i.e., the DRB to be retransmitted in the aforementioned embodiments. The terminal triggers the PDCP retransmission condition, for example, when the terminal receives a data transmission error message (such as a HARQ NACK message) for uplink transmission containing the target DRB, it autonomously activates PDCP retransmission. The available uplink resources for PDCP retransmission can be determined using the method described in the aforementioned embodiments. The target CG type1 for PDCP retransmission is determined within the CG type1 of the target cell; specific details are as described in the aforementioned embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0234] S503. The terminal uses the target auxiliary RLC entity to send subsequent data packets of the target DRB to the network device on the target CG type1 or according to the scheduling of the network device, in the manner of activating PDCP repeated transmission.

[0235] In this embodiment, after the terminal performs PDCP retransmission on the target CG type1, subsequent data packets can be retransmitted according to the scheduling of the network device. For example, after the network device determines that the terminal has autonomously activated PDCP retransmission, it can allocate CG type1, CG type2 or dynamically schedule resources for the secondary RLC entity corresponding to the cell containing the target CG type1.

[0236] S504. When the network device parses uplink data containing target auxiliary RLC entity logical channel data from the uplink data of the terminal, it determines that the terminal has autonomously activated uplink transmission.

[0237] The implementation principle and technical effects of S504 can be referred to in the aforementioned embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0238] Following S504, optionally, the network device may allocate uplink resources for the logical channel corresponding to the auxiliary RLC entity activated by the terminal and / or for the logical channel whose uplink resources have been preempted by repeated PDCP transmissions.

[0239] Optionally, after S504, the network device may determine whether the terminal will autonomously activate PDCP repeat transmission based on the data subsequently sent by the terminal, or the network device may instruct the terminal to activate PDCP repeat transmission.

[0240] refer to Figure 6 , Figure 6 Example diagram showing the selection of CG type 1 for repeated PDCP transmissions on the terminal. (See diagram below.) Figure 6 As shown, the network device is configured with three DRBs for the terminal, namely DRB1, DRB2, and DRB3.

[0241] like Figure 6As shown, for DRB1, the network equipment is configured with PDCP retransmission for DRB1. The PDCP entity corresponding to DRB1 is PDCP1, and the corresponding RLC entities for PDCP retransmission of DRB1 are RLC11, RLC12, and RLC13, respectively. RLC11, RLC12, and RLC13 correspond to cells CC1, CC2, and CC3, respectively. Specifically, RLC11 corresponds to logical channel LCH11 and can only transmit on CC1 when retransmission is active; RLC12 corresponds to logical channel LCH12 and can only transmit on CC2 when retransmission is active; RLC13 corresponds to logical channel LCH13 and can only transmit on CC3 when retransmission is active. RLC11 is the primary RLC entity, and LCH11 is the primary RLC channel; RLC11 and LCH11 are always active. RLC12 and RLC13 are secondary RLC channels and can be deactivated. Figure 6 In the DC scenario, CC1 is on MN, and CC2 and CC3 are on SN.

[0242] like Figure 6 As shown, for DRB2 and DRB3, the network device is not configured for PDCP retransmission. The PDCP entity for DRB2 is PDCP2, the RLC entity is RLC2, and the logical channel is LCH2. That is, DRB2 data is transmitted through PDCP entity PDCP2, RLC entity RLC2, and logical channel LCH2. Similarly, the PDCP entity for DRB3 is PDCP3, the RLC entity is RLC3, and the logical channel is LCH3. That is, DRB3 data is transmitted through PDCP entity PDCP3, RLC entity RLC3, and logical channel LCH3.

[0243] like Figure 6 As shown, the network device configures CG type 1 resource CG1 on CC1, which is pre-configured for data transmission of the primary RLC entity RLC11 of DRB1; during the time period T1 to T2, the network device configures CG type 1 resource CG2 on CC2 for the terminal (e.g., Figure 6 The Type-1CG configuration at T1 and the Type-1CG deconfiguration at T2) originally pre-configured for DRB2 resource transmission; during the time period T3 to T4, the network device configured CG type 1 resource CG3 for the terminal on CC3 (e.g., Figure 6 (Type-1CG configuration at T3 and Type-1CG deconfiguration at T4) This resource was originally pre-configured for DRB3 resource transmission.

[0244] In this embodiment, the initial state of PDCP retransmission of DRB1 is inactive, and the data of DRB1 is transmitted on CC1. The terminal meets the conditions for triggering autonomous activation of PDCP retransmission (e.g., ...). Figure 6 After receiving the HARQ NACK message, the uplink resource for sending duplicate PDCP data packets can be selected based on the available uplink resources on CC1 or CC2. Depending on the cell where the uplink resource is located, the corresponding cell is activated, and the secondary RLC entity transmitting data in that cell is also activated. After activating the secondary RLC entity, the logical channel data corresponding to that secondary RLC entity is a replicated PDCP PDU. PDCP duplicate transmission is performed by preempting the available uplink resources in the cell (CC1 or CC2) where the secondary RLC is located.

[0245] like Figure 6 As shown, during time periods T1 to T2, after receiving the HARQ NACK corresponding to DRB1, the terminal preempts CG type 1 resource CG2 on CC2 for repeated DRB1 PDCP transmission. During time periods T3 to T4, after receiving the HARQ NACK corresponding to DRB1, the terminal preempts CG type 1 resource CG3 on CC3 for repeated DRB1 PDCP transmission.

[0246] refer to Figure 7 , Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in another embodiment of this application. In this embodiment, the terminal autonomously selects CG type 2 for terminal-autonomous activated PDCP repetitive transmission. Figure 7 As shown, the method in this embodiment may include:

[0247] S701, Network devices configure DRB for repeated PDCP transmission to terminals.

[0248] The network device can configure one or more DRBs to be repeatedly transmitted via PDCP to the terminal. This can be configured through the first message. For details, please refer to the aforementioned embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0249] S702. When the terminal triggers the PDCP retransmission condition for autonomously activating the target DRB, it determines the target CG type2 for PDCP retransmission and activates the target secondary RLC entity corresponding to the cell containing the target CG type2.

[0250] The target DRB is the DRB currently autonomously activated for PDCP retransmission, which is also the DRB to be retransmitted in the aforementioned embodiments. The available uplink resources for PDCP retransmission can be determined in the target CG type2 of the target cell through the methods used in the aforementioned embodiments. Specific details are as described in the aforementioned embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0251] S703. The terminal uses the target auxiliary RLC entity to send subsequent data packets of the target DRB to the network device on the target CG type2 or according to the scheduling of the network device, in the manner of activating PDCP repeated transmission.

[0252] In this embodiment, after the terminal performs PDCP retransmission on the target CG type2, subsequent data packets can be retransmitted according to the scheduling of the network device. For example, after the network device determines that the terminal has autonomously activated PDCP retransmission, it can allocate CG type1, CG type2 or dynamically schedule resources for the secondary RLC entity corresponding to the cell containing the target CG type2.

[0253] S704. When the network device parses uplink data containing auxiliary RLC entity logical channel data from the uplink data of the terminal, it determines that the terminal has autonomously activated uplink transmission.

[0254] The implementation principle and technical effects of S704 can be referred to in the aforementioned embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0255] Following S704, optionally, the network device allocates uplink resources for the logical channel corresponding to the auxiliary RLC entity activated by the terminal and / or for the logical channel whose uplink resources have been preempted by repeated PDCP transmissions.

[0256] Following S704, optionally, the network device can determine whether the terminal will autonomously activate PDCP repeat transmission based on the data subsequently sent by the terminal, or the network device can instruct the terminal to activate PDCP repeat transmission.

[0257] refer to Figure 8 , Figure 8 Example diagram of selecting CG type2 for repeated PDCP transmission for the terminal. Figure 8 DRB configuration and Figure 6 Same, can be referenced Figure 6 The description in the text will not be repeated here.

[0258] in, Figure 8 In the DC scenario, CC1 is on MN, and CC2 and CC3 are on SN.

[0259] like Figure 8As shown, the network device configures CG type 1 resource CG1 on CC1, which is pre-configured for data transmission of the primary RLC entity RLC11 of DRB1; during the time period T1 to T2, the network device activates CG type 2 resource CG2 on CC2 for the terminal (e.g., Figure 8 (Type-2CG activated at T1, Type-2CG deactivated at T2), this resource was originally pre-configured for DRB2 resource transmission; during the time period T3-T4, the network device activated CG type 2 resource CG3 on CC3 for the terminal (e.g., Figure 8 (Type-2CG activated at T3 and deactivated at T4), this resource was originally pre-configured for DRB3 resource transmission.

[0260] In this embodiment, the initial state of PDCP retransmission of DRB1 is inactive, and the data of DRB1 is transmitted on CC1. The terminal meets the conditions for triggering autonomous activation of PDCP retransmission (e.g., ...). Figure 8 After receiving the HARQ NACK message, the uplink resource for sending duplicate PDCP data packets can be selected based on the available uplink resources on CC1 or CC2. Depending on the cell where the uplink resource is located, the corresponding cell is activated, and the secondary RLC entity transmitting data in that cell is also activated. After activating the secondary RLC entity, the logical channel data corresponding to that secondary RLC entity is a replicated PDCP PDU. PDCP duplicate transmission is performed by preempting the available uplink resources in the cell (CC1 or CC2) where the secondary RLC is located.

[0261] like Figure 8 As shown, during time periods T1 to T2, after receiving the HARQ NACK corresponding to DRB1, the terminal preempts CG type 2 resource CG2 on CC2 for repeated DRB1 PDCP transmission. During time periods T3 to T4, after receiving the HARQ NACK corresponding to DRB1, the terminal preempts CG type 2 resource CG3 on CC3 for repeated DRB1 PDCP transmission.

[0262] refer to Figure 9 , Figure 9 This is a flowchart illustrating a communication method according to another embodiment of this application. In this embodiment, the terminal autonomously selects dynamically scheduled resources for terminal-autonomous activated PDCP repetitive transmission. Figure 9 As shown, the method in this embodiment may include:

[0263] S901, Network devices configure DRB for repeated PDCP transmission to terminals.

[0264] The network device can configure one or more DRBs to be repeatedly transmitted via PDCP to the terminal. This can be configured through the first message. For details, please refer to the aforementioned embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0265] S902. When the terminal triggers the PDCP retransmission condition for autonomously activating the target DRB, it determines the target dynamic scheduling resource for PDCP retransmission and activates the target auxiliary RLC entity corresponding to the cell containing the target dynamic resource.

[0266] The target DRB is the DRB currently autonomously activated for PDCP retransmission, i.e., the DRB to be retransmitted in the aforementioned embodiments. The available uplink resources for PDCP retransmission can be determined through the methods described in the aforementioned embodiments, allowing for dynamic resource scheduling in the target cell (e.g.,...). Figure 10 In the dynamic scheduling resource DG1 of CC2 or the dynamic scheduling resource DG3 of CC3, the target dynamic scheduling resource for PDCP repeated transmission is determined. For details, please refer to the above embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0267] S903: The terminal uses the target auxiliary RLC entity and, according to the network device scheduling, sends subsequent data packets of the target DRB in the manner of activating PDCP repeated transmission.

[0268] In this embodiment, after the terminal performs PDCP retransmission on the target dynamic scheduling resource, subsequent data packets can be retransmitted according to the scheduling of the network device. For example, after the network device determines that the terminal has autonomously activated PDCP retransmission, it can allocate CG type1, CG type2 or dynamic scheduling resources to the secondary RLC entity corresponding to the cell containing the target CG type2.

[0269] S904. When the network device parses uplink data containing auxiliary RLC entity logical channel data from the uplink data of the terminal, it determines that the terminal has autonomously activated uplink transmission.

[0270] The implementation principle and technical effects of S904 can be referred to the aforementioned embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0271] Following S904, optionally, the network device allocates uplink resources for the logical channel corresponding to the auxiliary RLC entity activated by the terminal and / or for the logical channel whose uplink resources have been preempted by repeated PDCP transmissions.

[0272] Following S904, optionally, the network device can determine whether the terminal will autonomously activate PDCP repeat transmission based on the data subsequently sent by the terminal, or the network device can instruct the terminal to activate PDCP repeat transmission.

[0273] refer to Figure 10 , Figure 10An example diagram showing the selection of dynamically scheduled resources for repeated PDCP transmissions by the terminal. Figure 10 DRB configuration and Figure 6 Same, can be referenced Figure 6 The description in the text will not be repeated here.

[0274] in, Figure 10 In the DC scenario, CC1 is on MN, and CC2 and CC3 are on SN.

[0275] like Figure 10 As shown, the network device configures CG type 1 resource CG1 on CC1, which is pre-configured for data transmission of the primary RLC entity RLC11 of DRB1; at time T1, the network device dynamically configures dynamic scheduling resource DG2 for the terminal on CC2 (e.g., via...). Figure 10 (As shown in the dynamic configuration of PDCCH at T1), when DRB1's PDCP is repeatedly transmitted, DG2 can be used for data transmission of the secondary RLC entity RLC12 corresponding to DRB1; at time point T2, the network device dynamically configures the dynamic scheduling resource DG3 for the terminal on CC3 (e.g., through...). Figure 10 (As shown in the PDCCH dynamic configuration at T2), when the PDCP of DRB1 is repeatedly transmitted, DG3 can be used for data transmission of the auxiliary RLC entity RLC13 corresponding to DRB1.

[0276] like Figure 10 As shown, before time point T1, after receiving the HARQ NACK corresponding to DRB1, the terminal preempts the dynamic scheduling resource DG2 on CC2 for repeated transmission of DRB1 PDCP. Before time period T2, after receiving the HARQ NACK corresponding to DRB1, the terminal preempts the dynamic scheduling resource DG3 on CC3 for repeated transmission of DRB1 PDCP.

[0277] On the terminal side, embodiments of this application provide a communication device, which can be a terminal. For example... Figure 11 As shown, the communication device may include a transceiver 1101, a processor 1102, and a memory 1103.

[0278] Transceiver 1101 is used to receive and send data under the control of processor 1102.

[0279] Among them, Figure 11In this context, the bus architecture can include any number of interconnected buses and bridges, specifically linking various circuits of one or more processors represented by processor 1102 and memory represented by memory 1103 together. The bus architecture can also link various other circuits such as peripheral devices, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art and therefore will not be described further herein. The bus interface provides an interface. The transceiver 1101 can be multiple elements, including a transmitter and a receiver, providing a unit for communicating with various other devices over a transmission medium, including wireless channels, wired channels, optical fibers, etc. Optionally, the communication device may also include a user interface 1104, which, for different user equipment, can also be an interface capable of connecting external or internal devices, including but not limited to keypads, displays, speakers, microphones, joysticks, etc.

[0280] The processor 1102 is responsible for managing the bus architecture and general processing, and the memory 1103 can store the data used by the processor 1102 when performing operations.

[0281] Optionally, the processor 1102 may be a central processing unit (CPU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), and the processor may also adopt a multi-core architecture.

[0282] The processor 1102 executes any of the methods described in the embodiments of this application concerning the terminal according to the obtained executable instructions by calling a computer program stored in the memory 1103. The processor and the memory may also be physically separated.

[0283] Specifically, when the processor 1102 executes the computer program stored in the memory 1103, it performs the following operations: when the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission, it determines the available uplink resources for PDCP retransmission; activates the target secondary RLC entity corresponding to the cell containing the available uplink resources; and uses the target secondary RLC entity to perform PDCP retransmission.

[0284] Optionally, the processor 1102 further performs the following operations: when the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission, it searches for available uplink resources in the uplink resources of the target cell; wherein, the target cell includes the cell corresponding to the secondary RLC entity corresponding to the PDCP entity of the DRB to be retransmitted, or, the target cell includes the cell corresponding to the secondary RLC entity corresponding to the PDCP entity and in an inactive state.

[0285] Optionally, the available uplink resources include pre-configured uplink resources or dynamically scheduled resources. The processor 1102 further performs the following operations: based on the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the pre-configured uplink resources, or based on the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the dynamically scheduled resources, it searches for available uplink resources in the uplink resources of the target cell.

[0286] Optionally, the processor 1102 further performs the following operations: in the uplink resources of the target cell, it determines candidate uplink resources that conform to the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the uplink pre-configured resources, or conforms to the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the dynamically scheduled resources, and the logical channel data of the activated secondary RLC entity can be organized into the candidate uplink resources for transmission; in the candidate uplink resources, it determines available uplink resources.

[0287] Optionally, the processor 1102 further performs at least one of the following operations: determining the available uplink resources among the candidate uplink resources that the terminal can skip before PDCP retransmission activation; determining the uplink resources that can be skipped before PDCP retransmission activation as uplink resources that do not carry MAC SDUs corresponding to DRBs; determining the available uplink resources as the earliest available uplink resources among the candidate uplink resources; determining the available uplink resources as the uplink resources with the minimum latency among the candidate uplink resources; determining the available uplink resources as the uplink resources with the lowest priority carrying logical channel data among the candidate uplink resources before PDCP retransmission activation; and determining the available uplink resources as uplink resources belonging to licensed frequency band cells among the candidate uplink resources.

[0288] Optionally, the processor 1102 may also perform the following operations: if the terminal needs to switch the PDCP repeat transmission from an inactive state to an active state, then determine that the terminal needs to activate the PDCP repeat transmission independently; or, if the terminal needs to activate more auxiliary RLC entities for the PDCP repeat transmission that is in an active state, then determine that the terminal needs to activate the PDCP repeat transmission independently.

[0289] Optionally, the processor 1102 further performs the following operations: receiving a first message from the network device, the first message being used to configure the terminal's PDCP retransmission. The first message indicates at least one of the following: whether the terminal is allowed to autonomously activate PDCP retransmission; the number of secondary RLC entities that the terminal is allowed to autonomously activate; the identifiers of the secondary RLC entities that the terminal is allowed to autonomously activate; and the priority of the logical channel corresponding to the secondary RLC entity when the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission.

[0290] Optionally, the processor 1102 further performs the following operations: in the target secondary RLC entity, performs PDCP retransmission on the uplink resources occupied by logical channel data whose logical channel priority is less than the priority threshold or whose logical channel priority is less than the logical channel priority of the logical channel corresponding to the target secondary RLC entity.

[0291] Optionally, the processor 1102 further performs the following operations: receiving a second message from the network device. The second message indicates at least one of the following: reallocating uplink resources for the target secondary RLC entity; reallocating uplink resources for the logical channel occupied by PDCP retransmissions; and deactivating PDCP retransmissions.

[0292] It should be noted that the device provided in this application can implement all the method steps implemented by the terminal in the above method embodiment and can achieve the same technical effect. Therefore, the parts and beneficial effects that are the same as those in the method embodiment will not be described in detail here.

[0293] On the network side, embodiments of this application provide a communication device, which can be a network device. For example... Figure 12 As shown, the communication device includes: transceiver 1201, processor 1202 and memory 1203.

[0294] Transceiver 1201 is used to receive and send data under the control of processor 1202.

[0295] Among them, Figure 12In this context, the bus architecture can include any number of interconnected buses and bridges, specifically linking various circuits together, represented by one or more processors (processor 1202) and memory (memory 1203). The bus architecture can also link together various other circuits such as peripheral devices, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art and therefore will not be described further herein. The bus interface provides an interface. The transceiver 1201 can be multiple elements, including a transmitter and a receiver, providing a unit for communicating with various other devices over a transmission medium, including wireless channels, wired channels, optical fibers, etc. The processor 1202 is responsible for managing the bus architecture and general processing, and the memory 1203 can store data used by the processor 1202 during operation.

[0296] The processor 1202 can be a CPU, ASIC, FPGA or CPLD, and the processor can also adopt a multi-core architecture.

[0297] The processor 1202 executes any of the methods described in this application embodiment concerning a network device according to the obtained executable instructions by calling a computer program stored in the memory 1203. The processor and the memory may also be physically separated.

[0298] Specifically, when the processor 1202 executes the computer program stored in the memory 1203, it performs the following operations: receiving uplink data from the terminal; if the uplink data contains logical channel data corresponding to the target auxiliary RLC entity that the terminal has autonomously activated, it determines that the terminal has autonomously activated PDCP retransmission.

[0299] Optionally, the processor 1202 further performs the following operations: sending a first message to the terminal, the first message being used to configure the terminal's PDCP retransmission. The first message indicates at least one of the following: whether the terminal is allowed to autonomously activate PDCP retransmission; the number of secondary RLC entities that the terminal is allowed to autonomously activate; the identifiers of the secondary RLC entities that the terminal is allowed to autonomously activate; and the priority of the logical channel corresponding to the secondary RLC entity when the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission.

[0300] Optionally, the processor 1202 further performs the following operations: sending a second message to the terminal. The second message indicates at least one of the following: reallocating uplink resources for the target secondary RLC entity; reallocating uplink resources for the logical channel preempted by PDCP retransmission; and deactivating PDCP retransmission.

[0301] It should be noted that the apparatus provided in this application can implement all the method steps implemented by the network device in the above method embodiment and can achieve the same technical effect. Therefore, the parts and beneficial effects that are the same as those in the method embodiment will not be described in detail here.

[0302] On the terminal side, embodiments of this application also provide a communication device, which can be a terminal. For example... Figure 13 As shown, the communication device includes a processing unit 1301 and a transceiver unit 1302.

[0303] The processing unit 1301 is used to determine the available uplink resources for PDCP repeated transmission when the terminal autonomously activates PDCP repeated transmission, and activate the target secondary RLC entity corresponding to the cell containing the available uplink resources.

[0304] The transceiver unit 1302 is used to perform PDCP repeated transmission using the target auxiliary RLC entity.

[0305] Optionally, the processing unit 1301 is specifically used to: when the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission, search for available uplink resources in the uplink resources of the target cell; wherein, the target cell includes the cell corresponding to the secondary RLC entity corresponding to the PDCP entity of the DRB to be retransmitted, or, the target cell includes the cell corresponding to the secondary RLC entity corresponding to the PDCP entity and in an inactive state.

[0306] Optionally, available uplink resources include pre-configured uplink resources or dynamically scheduled resources. Processing unit 1301 is specifically used to: search for available uplink resources in the target cell's uplink resources based on the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the pre-configured uplink resources, or based on the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the dynamically scheduled resources.

[0307] Optionally, the processing unit 1301 is specifically used to: determine candidate uplink resources in the uplink resources of the target cell, wherein the candidate uplink resources conform to the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the uplink pre-configured resources, or conform to the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the dynamically scheduled resources, and the logical channel data of the activated secondary RLC entity can be organized into the candidate uplink resources for transmission; and determine available uplink resources in the candidate uplink resources.

[0308] Optionally, the processing unit 1301 is specifically used for at least one of the following: determining the available uplink resources as candidate uplink resources that the terminal can skip before PDCP retransmission activation; determining the uplink resources that can be skipped before PDCP retransmission activation as uplink resources that do not carry MAC SDUs corresponding to DRBs; determining the available uplink resources as the earliest available uplink resources among candidate uplink resources; determining the available uplink resources as the uplink resources with the smallest latency among candidate uplink resources; determining the available uplink resources as the uplink resources with the lowest priority carrying logical channel data among candidate uplink resources before PDCP retransmission activation; and determining the available uplink resources as uplink resources belonging to licensed frequency band cells among candidate uplink resources.

[0309] Optionally, the processing unit 1301 is further configured to: determine that the terminal needs to independently activate PDCP repeated transmission if the terminal needs to switch the PDCP repeated transmission from an inactive state to an active state; or determine that the terminal needs to independently activate PDCP repeated transmission if the terminal needs to activate more auxiliary RLC entities for the PDCP repeated transmission that is in an active state.

[0310] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1302 is further configured to: receive a first message from the network device, the first message being used to configure the terminal's PDCP retransmission. The first message indicates at least one of the following: whether the terminal is allowed to autonomously activate PDCP retransmission; the number of secondary RLC entities that the terminal is allowed to autonomously activate; the identifiers of the secondary RLC entities that the terminal is allowed to autonomously activate; and the priority of the logical channel corresponding to the secondary RLC entity when the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission.

[0311] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1302 is specifically used to: perform PDCP repeated transmission on the uplink resources occupied by logical channel data in the target auxiliary RLC entity where the logical channel priority is less than the priority threshold or the logical channel priority is less than the logical channel priority of the logical channel corresponding to the target auxiliary RLC entity.

[0312] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1302 is further configured to: receive a second message from the network device. The second message indicates at least one of the following: reallocating uplink resources for the target secondary RLC entity; reallocating uplink resources for the logical channel occupied by PDCP retransmission; and deactivating PDCP retransmission.

[0313] It should be noted that the device provided in this application can implement all the method steps implemented by the terminal in the above method embodiment and can achieve the same technical effect. Therefore, the parts and beneficial effects that are the same as those in the method embodiment will not be described in detail here.

[0314] On the network side, this application embodiment also provides a communication device, which can be a network device. For example... Figure 14 As shown, the communication device includes a transceiver unit 1401 and a processing unit 1402.

[0315] The transceiver unit 1401 is used to receive uplink data from the terminal.

[0316] The processing unit 1402 is used to determine that the terminal has autonomously activated PDCP repeated transmission if the uplink data contains logical channel data corresponding to the target auxiliary RLC entity autonomously activated by the terminal.

[0317] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1401 is further configured to: send a first message to the terminal, the first message being used to configure the terminal's PDCP retransmission. The first message indicates at least one of the following: whether the terminal is allowed to autonomously activate PDCP retransmission; the number of secondary RLC entities that the terminal is allowed to autonomously activate; the identifiers of the secondary RLC entities that the terminal is allowed to autonomously activate; and the priority of the logical channel corresponding to the secondary RLC entity when the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission.

[0318] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1401 is further configured to: send a second message to the terminal. The second message indicates at least one of the following: reallocating uplink resources for the target secondary RLC entity; reallocating uplink resources for the logical channel preempted by PDCP retransmission; and deactivating PDCP retransmission.

[0319] It should be noted that the apparatus provided in this application can implement all the method steps implemented by the network device in the above method embodiment and can achieve the same technical effect. Therefore, the parts and beneficial effects that are the same as those in the method embodiment will not be described in detail here.

[0320] It should be noted that the division of units in the embodiments of this application is illustrative and only represents one logical functional division. In actual implementation, other division methods may be used. Furthermore, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit. The integrated units described above can be implemented in hardware or as software functional units.

[0321] If the integrated unit is implemented as a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a processor-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or all or part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) or processor to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0322] On the terminal side, embodiments of this application provide a processor-readable storage medium storing a computer program. The computer program is used to cause the processor to execute any of the methods described in the embodiments of this application concerning the terminal. This enables the processor to implement all the method steps implemented by the terminal in the above method embodiments and achieve the same technical effects. Therefore, the parts and beneficial effects that are the same as those in the method embodiments will not be specifically described here.

[0323] On the network side, embodiments of this application provide a processor-readable storage medium storing a computer program. The computer program is used to cause the processor to execute any of the methods described in the embodiments of this application concerning a network device. This enables the processor to implement all the method steps implemented by the network device in the above method embodiments and achieve the same technical effects. Therefore, the parts and beneficial effects that are the same as those in the method embodiments will not be described in detail here.

[0324] The processor-readable storage medium can be any available medium or data storage device that the processor can access, including but not limited to magnetic memory (e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, magneto-optical disk (MO)), optical memory (e.g., CD, DVD, BD, HVD), and semiconductor memory (e.g., ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, non-volatile memory (NAND FLASH), solid-state drive (SSD)).

[0325] On the terminal side, this application provides a computer program product containing instructions. When the instructions are run on the computer, the computer executes all the method steps implemented by the terminal in the above method embodiment, and can achieve the same technical effect. Here, the parts that are the same as those in the method embodiment and the beneficial effects will not be described in detail.

[0326] On the network side, this application provides a computer program product containing instructions. When the instructions are run on a computer, the computer executes all the method steps implemented by the network device in the above method embodiment, and can achieve the same technical effect. Here, the parts that are the same as those in the method embodiment and the beneficial effects will not be described in detail.

[0327] Those skilled in the art will understand that embodiments of this application can be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Therefore, this application can take the form of a completely hardware embodiment, a completely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, this application can take the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-usable storage media (including, but not limited to, disk storage and optical storage) containing computer-usable program code.

[0328] This application is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus, and computer program products according to embodiments of this application. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer-executable instructions. These computer-executable instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, special-purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions specified in one or more blocks of the flowchart illustrations and / or one or more blocks of the block diagrams.

[0329] These processor-executable instructions may also be stored in a processor-readable memory that can instruct a computer or other programmable data processing device to operate in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the processor-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means that implement the functions specified in one or more flowcharts and / or one or more block diagrams.

[0330] These processor-executable instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process, such that the instructions, which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus, provide steps for implementing the functions specified in one or more flowcharts and / or one or more block diagrams.

[0331] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this application without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. Therefore, if such modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims of this application and their equivalents, this application also intends to include such modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to terminals, including: When the terminal autonomously activates the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) retransmission, it searches for available uplink resources for the PDCP retransmission in the uplink resources of the target cell; wherein, the target cell includes the cell corresponding to the auxiliary RLC entity corresponding to the PDCP entity of the Data Radio Bearer (DRB) to be retransmitted. Activate the target secondary radio link control (RLC) entity corresponding to the cell containing the available uplink resources; Using the target secondary RLC entity, the PDCP repeat transmission is performed on the available uplink resources; The available uplink resources include pre-configured uplink resources or dynamically scheduled resources. The step of searching for the available uplink resources in the target cell includes: In the uplink resources of the target cell, candidate uplink resources are determined. The candidate uplink resources conform to the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the uplink pre-configured resources, or conform to the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the dynamically scheduled resources. The logical channel data of the activated auxiliary RLC entity can be organized into the candidate uplink resources for transmission. The available uplink resource is determined from the candidate uplink resources.

2. The communication method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Determining the available uplink resource from the candidate uplink resources includes at least one of the following: The available uplink resources are determined to be the uplink resources that the terminal can skip before the PDCP retransmission is activated among the candidate uplink resources. The uplink resources that can be skipped before the PDCP retransmission is the uplink resources that do not carry the Media Access Control Service Data Unit (MAC SDU) corresponding to the DRB. The available uplink resource is determined to be the earliest available uplink resource among the candidate uplink resources; The available uplink resource is determined to be the uplink resource with the minimum latency among the candidate uplink resources; The available uplink resource is determined to be the uplink resource with the lowest priority carrying logical channel data among the candidate uplink resources before the PDCP retransmission activation; The available uplink resources are determined to be the uplink resources belonging to the licensed frequency band cells among the candidate uplink resources.

3. The communication method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, When the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission, it includes: When the terminal switches the PDCP retransmission from an inactive state to an active state; Alternatively, when the terminal is in an active PDCP state and repeatedly transmits to activate more auxiliary RLC entities.

4. The communication method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Before searching for available uplink resources for the PDCP retransmission, the communication method further includes: A first message is received from a network device, the first message being used to configure PDCP retransmission of the terminal, the first message indicating at least one of the following: Whether the terminal is allowed to autonomously activate PDCP retransmission; The number of auxiliary RLC entities that the terminal is allowed to activate autonomously; The identifier of the auxiliary RLC entity that the terminal is allowed to activate autonomously; The terminal autonomously activates the priority of the logical channel corresponding to the auxiliary RLC entity when PDCP is repeatedly transmitted.

5. The communication method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Using the target secondary RLC entity, the PDCP retransmission is performed, including: In the target auxiliary RLC entity, the PDCP repeated transmission is performed on the uplink resources occupied by logical channel data whose logical channel priority is less than the priority threshold or whose logical channel priority is less than the logical channel priority of the logical channel corresponding to the target auxiliary RLC entity.

6. The communication method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, After using the target auxiliary RLC entity to perform the PDCP repeated transmission, the communication method further includes: Receive a second message from the network device, the second message indicating at least one of the following: Reallocate uplink resources to the target auxiliary RLC entity; Reallocate uplink resources to the logical channels occupied by the repeated PDCP transmissions; Deactivate the PDCP retransmission.

7. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to network devices, including: Receive uplink data from the terminal on available uplink resources; the available uplink resources include pre-configured uplink resources or dynamically scheduled resources; If the uplink data contains logical channel data corresponding to the target secondary RLC entity autonomously activated by the terminal, then it is determined that the terminal has autonomously activated PDCP retransmission. The target secondary RLC entity corresponds to a cell with available uplink resources. The available uplink resources are determined from candidate uplink resources when the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission. The candidate uplink resources are determined from the uplink resources of the target cell. The target cell includes the cell corresponding to the secondary RLC entity corresponding to the PDCP entity of the data radio bearer (DRB) to be retransmitted. The candidate uplink resources conform to the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the uplink pre-configured resources, or conform to the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the dynamically scheduled resources. The logical channel data of the activated secondary RLC entity can be organized into the candidate uplink resources for transmission.

8. The communication method according to claim 7, characterized in that, Before receiving uplink data from the terminal, the communication method further includes: Send a first message to the terminal, the first message being used to configure the terminal's PDCP retransmission, the first message indicating at least one of the following: Whether the terminal is allowed to autonomously activate PDCP retransmission; The number of auxiliary RLC entities that the terminal is allowed to activate autonomously; The identifier of the auxiliary RLC entity that the terminal is allowed to activate autonomously; The terminal autonomously activates the priority of the logical channel corresponding to the auxiliary RLC entity when PDCP is repeatedly transmitted.

9. The communication method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, After determining that the terminal has autonomously activated PDCP retransmission, the communication method further includes: A second message is sent to the terminal, the second message indicating at least one of the following: Reallocate uplink resources to the target auxiliary RLC entity; Reallocate uplink resources to the logical channels preempted by repeated PDCP transmissions; Deactivate the PDCP retransmission.

10. A communication device, characterized in that, Applied to a terminal, the communication device includes a memory, a transceiver, and a processor: The memory is used to store computer programs; The transceiver is used to send and receive data under the control of the processor; The processor is configured to read the computer program in the memory and perform the following operations: When the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission, it searches for available uplink resources for PDCP retransmission in the uplink resources of the target cell; wherein, the target cell includes the cell corresponding to the auxiliary RLC entity corresponding to the PDCP entity of the DRB to be retransmitted. Activate the target secondary RLC entity corresponding to the cell containing the available uplink resources; Using the target secondary RLC entity, the PDCP repeat transmission is performed on the available uplink resources; The available uplink resources include pre-configured uplink resources or dynamically scheduled resources. The step of searching for the available uplink resources in the target cell includes: In the uplink resources of the target cell, candidate uplink resources are determined. The candidate uplink resources conform to the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the pre-configured uplink resources, or conform to the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the dynamically scheduled resources. The logical channel data corresponding to the target auxiliary RLC entity can be organized into the pre-configured resources or the dynamically scheduled resources for transmission. The available uplink resource is determined from the candidate uplink resources.

11. The communication device according to claim 10, characterized in that, The processor specifically performs at least one of the following operations: The available uplink resources are determined to be uplink resources that the terminal can skip before the PDCP retransmission is activated. The uplink resources that can be skipped before the PDCP retransmission is activated are uplink resources that do not carry MAC SDUs corresponding to DRBs. The available uplink resource is determined to be the earliest available uplink resource among the candidate uplink resources; The available uplink resource is determined to be the uplink resource with the minimum latency among the candidate uplink resources; The available uplink resource is determined to be the uplink resource with the lowest priority carrying logical channel data among the candidate uplink resources before the PDCP retransmission activation; Determine the uplink resources belonging to the licensed frequency band cells among the candidate uplink resources from the available uplink resources.

12. The communication device according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that, The processor also performs the following operations: Receive a second message from the network device, the second message indicating at least one of the following: Reallocate uplink resources to the target auxiliary RLC entity; Reallocate uplink resources to the logical channels occupied by the repeated PDCP transmissions; Deactivate the PDCP retransmission.

13. A communication device, characterized in that, Applied to network equipment, the communication device includes a memory, a transceiver, and a processor: The memory is used to store computer programs; The transceiver is used to send and receive data under the control of the processor; The processor is configured to read the computer program in the memory and perform the following operations: Receive uplink data from the terminal on available uplink resources; the available uplink resources include pre-configured uplink resources or dynamically scheduled resources; If the uplink data contains logical channel data corresponding to the target secondary RLC entity autonomously activated by the terminal, then it is determined that the terminal has autonomously activated PDCP retransmission. The target secondary RLC entity corresponds to a cell with available uplink resources. The available uplink resources are determined from candidate uplink resources when the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission. The candidate uplink resources are determined from the uplink resources of the target cell. The target cell includes the cell corresponding to the secondary RLC entity corresponding to the PDCP entity of the data radio bearer (DRB) to be retransmitted. The candidate uplink resources conform to the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the uplink pre-configured resources, or conform to the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the dynamically scheduled resources. The logical channel data of the activated secondary RLC entity can be organized into the candidate uplink resources for transmission.

14. The communication device according to claim 13, characterized in that, The processor also performs the following operations: A second message is sent to the terminal, the second message indicating at least one of the following: Reallocate uplink resources to the target auxiliary RLC entity; Reallocate uplink resources to the logical channels preempted by repeated PDCP transmissions; Deactivate the PDCP retransmission.

15. A communication device, characterized in that, Applied to terminals, including: The processing unit is configured to, when the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission, search for available uplink resources for PDCP retransmission in the uplink resources of the target cell, and activate the target secondary RLC entity corresponding to the cell containing the available uplink resources; wherein, the target cell includes the cell corresponding to the secondary RLC entity corresponding to the PDCP entity of the data radio bearer DRB to be retransmitted. Transceiver unit, configured to use the target auxiliary RLC entity to perform the PDCP retransmission on the available uplink resources; The available uplink resources include pre-configured uplink resources or dynamically scheduled resources. When the processing unit searches for available uplink resources in the uplink resources of the target cell, it specifically determines candidate uplink resources in the uplink resources of the target cell. The candidate uplink resources conform to the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the pre-configured uplink resources, or conform to the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the dynamically scheduled resources. The logical channel data of the activated secondary RLC entity can be organized into the candidate uplink resources for transmission. The available uplink resources are then determined from the candidate uplink resources.

16. A communication device, characterized in that, Applied to network devices, including: A transceiver unit is used to receive uplink data from a terminal on available uplink resources; the available uplink resources include pre-configured uplink resources or dynamically scheduled resources. The processing unit is configured to determine that the terminal has autonomously activated PDCP retransmission if the uplink data contains logical channel data corresponding to the target secondary RLC entity autonomously activated by the terminal. The target secondary RLC entity corresponds to a cell with available uplink resources. The available uplink resources are determined from candidate uplink resources when the terminal autonomously activates PDCP retransmission. The candidate uplink resources are determined from the uplink resources of the target cell. The target cell includes the cell corresponding to the secondary RLC entity corresponding to the PDCP entity of the data radio bearer (DRB) to be retransmitted. The candidate uplink resources conform to the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the uplink pre-configured resources, or conform to the LCP configuration and / or uplink transmission priority configuration of the dynamically scheduled resources. The logical channel data of the activated secondary RLC entity can be organized into the candidate uplink resources for transmission.

17. A processor-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The processor-readable storage medium stores a computer program for causing the processor to perform the communication method according to any one of claims 1-9.

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