A communication method and apparatus

Abstract

The application discloses a communication method and device, which can improve the efficiency of the master node scheduling transmission resources for the slave nodes in the scenario that one master node connects multiple slave nodes. The method comprises the following steps: a second node (a slave node) receives first information from a first node (a master node), the first information is used for indicating the transmission characteristics of second information, and the second information contains configuration information of a first transmission resource for the second node; the second node receives the second information based on the first information; and the second node performs data transmission with the first node on the first transmission resource. In this way, the master node can carry the configuration information of the transmission resources corresponding to multiple slave nodes in the second information, simultaneously send the second information to multiple slave nodes in a multicast manner, thereby improving the resource scheduling efficiency, and additionally, the influence on the service transmission of the slave nodes can be reduced or even avoided, and the service quality is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and apparatus. Background Technology

[0002] Short-range communication technology plays an important role in people's daily lives, with demands for it in fields such as smart terminals, smart homes, smart manufacturing, and smart cars. In a network system based on short-range communication technology, one device acts as the master node (also called the master device), and other devices act as slave nodes (also called slave devices). The master node can manage the slave nodes and has resource scheduling capabilities.

[0003] Therefore, when a master node connects to multiple slave nodes, how to effectively schedule resources for the slave nodes is an urgent problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a communication method and apparatus for improving resource scheduling efficiency.

[0005] Firstly, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a slave node. Taking a first node as the master node, a second node as the slave node, and the method being executed by the second node as an example, the method includes: the second node receiving first information from the first node, the first information indicating transmission characteristics of second information, the second information containing configuration information for a first transmission resource of the second node; the second node receiving the second information based on the first information; and the second node transmitting data with the first node on the first transmission resource. The transmission characteristics include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: start time, period, modulation scheme, coding scheme, code rate, available channel mapping information, or frequency hopping increment information.

[0006] In this embodiment, the slave node (i.e., the second node) first receives first information from the master node (i.e., the first node), and then receives second information from the first node based on the transmission characteristics indicated by the first information, thereby obtaining the transmission resources scheduled for it by the first node. This improves the flexibility of the master node in scheduling resources for the slave nodes, thus increasing the efficiency of resource scheduling. For example, the master node can carry configuration information of transmission resources corresponding to multiple slave nodes in the second information and send the second information to multiple slave nodes simultaneously via multicast, thus avoiding the need to schedule transmission resources individually for each slave node, thereby improving resource scheduling efficiency. When all available transmission resources in the system are occupied by multiple slave nodes, the master node can adjust the transmission resources of multiple slave nodes simultaneously via multicast, thereby effectively reducing or even avoiding the impact on the service transmission of slave nodes and improving service quality.

[0007] In one possible implementation, the second node also determines the first transmission resource based on the second information.

[0008] In one possible implementation, the first node sends a first message to the second node via unicast. For example, the first message may contain the identifier of the second node.

[0009] In this way, only the second node can receive the first information, which can improve the reliability of transmission.

[0010] In one possible implementation, the first node sends the second information via multicast. For example, the second information includes the identifier of the multicast group to which the second node belongs.

[0011] In this way, the first node can schedule transmission resources for one or more nodes in the multicast group to which the second node belongs through multicast, thereby improving resource scheduling efficiency.

[0012] In one possible implementation, when the second node transmits data with the first node on the first transmission resource, the data interaction between the second node and the first node can be periodic, for example, using transmission events as the basic event unit. Correspondingly, the second information can also be used to indicate at least one of the following: the interval of the transmission events corresponding to the first transmission resource, the number of transmission sub-events, the transmission direction of the transmission event or transmission sub-event, and the time length occupied in the time domain.

[0013] In this way, the second node can periodically interact with the first node based on the second information, thereby improving the reliability of data transmission.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the second information also includes configuration information of the second transmission resource, which corresponds to the third node, and the third node and the second node belong to the same multicast group.

[0015] In this way, the first node can simultaneously schedule transmission resources for the second and fourth nodes, which can improve resource scheduling efficiency.

[0016] In one possible implementation, the second node determines that the triggering condition is met and sends a first indication message to the first node. The first indication message is used to indicate that the triggering condition is met, thereby causing the first node to switch the resource scheduling method for the second node, for example, from multicast to unicast.

[0017] In this way, the first node can dynamically adjust the resource scheduling method for the second node, further improving the efficiency and reliability of resource scheduling.

[0018] In one possible implementation, the triggering conditions include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following:

[0019] The distance between the first node and the second node is greater than or equal to the first distance threshold;

[0020] The communication quality between the first node and the second node is less than or equal to the first communication quality threshold.

[0021] The number of second messages that the second node does not receive consecutively from the first node reaches a first quantity threshold; or, within a first time period, the second node does not receive any second messages from the first node; or, within a second time period, the number of second messages that the second node receives from the first node is less than a second quantity threshold.

[0022] In this way, the triggering conditions can be implemented in multiple ways, which can improve the flexibility of the solution.

[0023] In one possible implementation, the second node also receives third configuration information from the first node, which includes one or more of a first distance threshold, a first channel quality threshold, a first quantity threshold, and a second quantity threshold.

[0024] In this way, the first node can configure trigger conditions for the second node, which can further improve the reliability of the solution.

[0025] Secondly, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a master node. Taking a first node as the master node, a second node as the slave node, and the method being executed by the first node as an example, the method includes: the first node sending first information to the second node, the first information indicating the transmission characteristics of second information; the first node sending second information to the second node, the second information containing configuration information for a first transmission resource of the second node; and the first node transmitting data with the second node on the first transmission resource. The transmission characteristics include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: start time, period, modulation scheme, coding scheme, code rate, available channel mapping information, or frequency hopping increment information.

[0026] In one possible implementation, the first node also determines the first transmission resource.

[0027] In one possible implementation, the first node can send first information to the second node via unicast, and the first information contains the identifier of the second node.

[0028] In one possible implementation, the first node can send second information to the second node via multicast, and the second information contains the identifier of the multicast group to which the second node belongs.

[0029] In one possible implementation, the second information also includes configuration information of the second transmission resource, which corresponds to the third node, and the third node and the second node belong to the same multicast group.

[0030] In one possible implementation, the first node may also receive first indication information from the second node, which is used to indicate that the triggering condition is met.

[0031] In one possible implementation, the triggering conditions include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following:

[0032] The distance between the first node and the second node is greater than or equal to the first distance threshold;

[0033] The communication quality between the first node and the second node is less than or equal to the first communication quality threshold.

[0034] The number of second messages that the second node does not receive consecutively from the first node reaches a first quantity threshold; or, within a first time period, the second node does not receive any second messages from the first node; or, within a second time period, the number of second messages that the second node receives from the first node is less than a second quantity threshold.

[0035] In one possible implementation, the first node may also send third configuration information to the second node, which includes one or more of the following: a first distance threshold, a first channel quality threshold, a first quantity threshold, and a second quantity threshold.

[0036] The beneficial effects of any of the implementation methods in the second aspect above can be found in the beneficial effects of the corresponding implementation methods in the first aspect above, and will not be repeated here.

[0037] Thirdly, a communication device is provided, which may be a chip or integrated circuit on a second node, or the second node itself, without limitation herein. The device includes modules / units for performing the methods described in the first aspect or any possible implementation thereof.

[0038] For example, the device may include a transceiver unit and a processing unit. The transceiver unit is configured to receive first information from a first node, the first information indicating transmission characteristics of second information, the second information including configuration information for a first transmission resource of the second node; and to receive the second information based on the first information. The processing unit is configured to determine the first transmission resource based on the second information. The transceiver unit is also configured to perform data transmission with the first node on the first transmission resource. The transmission characteristics include one or more of the following: start time, period, modulation scheme, coding scheme, code rate, available channel mapping information, or frequency hopping increment information.

[0039] Fourthly, a communication device is provided, which may be a chip or integrated circuit on a first node, or the first node itself, without limitation herein. The device includes modules / units for performing the methods described in the second aspect or any possible implementation thereof.

[0040] For example, the device may include a transceiver unit and a processing unit; wherein the transceiver unit is configured to send first information to a second node, the first information indicating transmission characteristics of second information; and to send second information to the second node, the second information including configuration information for a first transmission resource of the second node; the processing unit is configured to determine the first transmission resource; the transceiver unit is further configured to perform data transmission with the second node on the first transmission resource; wherein the transmission characteristics include one or more of the following: start time, period, modulation scheme, coding scheme, code rate, available channel mapping information, or frequency hopping increment information.

[0041] Fifthly, a communication device is provided, comprising at least one processor and an interface circuit; the interface circuit is configured to receive code instructions and transmit them to the processor; the at least one processor executes the code instructions to perform the method as described in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect, or the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect.

[0042] In one possible implementation, the communication device may be a chip coupled to a memory for reading and executing program instructions stored in the memory to implement the method described in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect.

[0043] In a sixth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided for storing instructions that, when executed, cause the method described in the first aspect or any possible implementation thereof, or the second aspect or any possible implementation thereof, to be implemented.

[0044] In a seventh aspect, a computer program product containing instructions is provided, the computer program product storing instructions that, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as described in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect, or the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect.

[0045] Eighthly, a communication system is provided, comprising a first node and a second node, wherein the first node is configured to perform the method described in the second aspect or any possible implementation thereof, and the second node is configured to perform the method described in the first aspect or any possible implementation thereof.

[0046] Ninth aspect, a terminal is provided, the terminal including the means as described in the third or fourth aspect. Attached Figure Description

[0047] Figure 1 This is a network architecture diagram of a communication system applicable to embodiments of this application;

[0048] Figure 2 A flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0049] Figure 3 A flowchart illustrating another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0050] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of two consecutive transmission events;

[0051] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0052] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0053] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0054] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0055] The terms "system" and "network" in the embodiments of this application are used interchangeably. "At least one" refers to one or more, and "more than one" refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0056] Furthermore, unless otherwise stated, the ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" mentioned in the embodiments of this application are used to distinguish multiple objects and are not used to limit the order, sequence, priority, or importance of multiple objects. For example, the first priority criterion and the second priority criterion are only used to distinguish different criteria, and do not indicate that the content, priority, or importance of these two criteria are different.

[0057] Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having" in the embodiments, claims, and drawings of this application are not exclusive. For example, a process, method, system, product, or device that includes a series of steps or modules is not limited to the listed steps or modules, but may also include steps or modules not listed.

[0058] The embodiments of this application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0059] See Figure 1 This is a network architecture diagram of a communication system applicable to embodiments of this application. The communication system includes multiple nodes.

[0060] In this embodiment, the role (or attribute or characteristic) of a node includes two types: master node and slave node. Taking one master node as an example, such as the first node, there can be one or more slave nodes, such as the second, third, and fourth nodes. It should be understood that... Figure 1 The number of slave nodes is taken as an example of three, but it is not limited to this in practice.

[0061] In this embodiment, master nodes and slave nodes are two types of nodes distinguished by their logical functions. The master node can manage slave nodes and has resource scheduling capabilities. The master node can schedule transmission resources (transmission resources in this document include time-domain resources and / or frequency-domain resources, referred to as time-frequency resources) for slave nodes. Slave nodes obey the scheduling of the master node and can use the transmission resources scheduled by the master node for communication.

[0062] The master node and slave node can communicate in a network based on short-range communication technologies, including but not limited to: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Infrared Data Transmission (IrDA), general short-range communication technologies, and other short-range communication technologies that may exist in the future.

[0063] In specific implementations, the slave node can be a terminal device or a network device, and this application does not impose any restrictions. Similarly, the master node can be a terminal device or a network device, and this application does not impose any restrictions. For example, when the master node and slave node communicate via Bluetooth, both the master node and slave node can be terminal devices; specifically, the master node could be a smartphone, and the slave node could be a headset. For example, when the master node and slave node communicate via Wi-Fi, the master node can be a network device, and the slave node can be a terminal device; specifically, the master node could be an access point (AP), and the slave node could be a station (STA). It should be understood that the above are merely examples and not limitations; in practical applications, the master node and slave node can have other specific implementations.

[0064] It should be noted that the role of the same device can change when it communicates with different devices. For example, when a smartphone communicates with headphones, the smartphone is the master node and the headphones are the slave node; however, when the smartphone connects to a higher-priority device such as a cockpit domain controller (CDC), the smartphone needs to follow the CDC's instructions, and in this case, the CDC becomes the master node and the smartphone becomes the slave node.

[0065] exist Figure 1 In the communication system shown, when the master node schedules transmission resources for slave nodes, it can use unicast to schedule transmission resources individually for each slave node, with different slave nodes occupying different time-domain resources. For example, the master node and multiple slave nodes transmit via Classic Bluetooth (or traditional Bluetooth or standard Bluetooth). Classic Bluetooth is time-division multiplexing, so different slave nodes need to interact with the same master node in a time-division manner. When the master node needs to adjust the transmission resources of multiple slave nodes, it needs to schedule transmission resources for different slave nodes sequentially (e.g., first schedule transmission resources for the second node, then for the third node, and then for the fourth node), resulting in low resource scheduling efficiency and high resource overhead.

[0066] Furthermore, if all available transmission resources in the system are occupied by multiple slave nodes, adjusting the transmission resources of any two slave nodes will inevitably affect the service transmission of those slave nodes. For example, Figure 1 In the system shown, all available transmission resources are occupied by three slave nodes. The second node occupies the first portion of resources for transmitting the first service, the third node occupies the second portion for transmitting the second service, and the fourth node occupies the third portion for transmitting the third service. When the first node needs to adjust the resources occupied by the second and third nodes, it must at least suspend the service of the second or third node. For example: the first node first suspends the first service of the second node, freeing up the first portion of resources; then the first node schedules the freed-up first portion of resources to the third node; then the third node switches the transmission resources for the second service from the second portion of resources to the first portion of resources, freeing up the second portion of resources; then the first node schedules the second portion of resources back to the second node. Only after this can the second node continue transmitting the first service on the second portion of resources.

[0067] Therefore, this application provides a communication scheme in which, when a master node connects to multiple slave nodes, the master node can use multicast to simultaneously schedule resources for multiple slave nodes, thereby improving resource scheduling efficiency, saving resource overhead, and ensuring the continuity of service transmission. The following, in conjunction with... Figure 2 The plan will be described in more detail.

[0068] See Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application, which is applied to... Figure 1 The scenario shown is an example, but practical applications are certainly not limited to this. The method includes:

[0069] S201, The first node sends the first information to the second node; correspondingly, the second node receives the first information from the first node.

[0070] The first node is the master node. Correspondingly, the second, third, and fourth nodes are slave nodes. For an explanation of master and slave nodes, please refer to the relevant section above; it will not be repeated here.

[0071] In this embodiment, the first information is used to indicate the transmission characteristics of the second information. The first node can send the first information to the second node via unicast. Unicast refers to communication between a sender and a receiver, where the information sent by the sender explicitly targets that receiver; in this case, it refers to communication between the first node and the second node.

[0072] In one possible implementation, the first information may carry the identifier of the destination node (i.e., the receiver, i.e., the second node).

[0073] In another possible implementation, the first information can carry a pre-agreed identifier between the sending and receiving ends to indicate the link between them. For example, the master node (first node) configures access address 01 to identify the communication link between the first node and the second node (slave node); the master node (first node) configures access address 02 to identify the communication link between the first node and the third node (slave node). In this case, different access addresses can also be carried in the first information to distinguish between unicast communication between the first node and the second node or between the first node and the third node. The pre-agreed identifier between the sending and receiving ends can be determined through negotiation between the sending and receiving ends (i.e., the master node and the slave node), or it can be configured by the master node for the slave node.

[0074] Optionally, the first node may carry the first information in the connection request sent to the second node. In specific implementations, the first node may send the first information when the first node establishes an initial connection with the second node, or when the first node reconfigures the connection with the second node (e.g., reconfiguring connection resources after changes in transmission services). Alternatively, the first information may be carried in other control signaling, and this application does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0075] S202, the first node sends the second information; correspondingly, the second node receives the second information based on the first information.

[0076] In this embodiment, the second information includes configuration information for the first transmission resources of the second node. The second node can send the second information via multicast. Multicast, also known as multitarget broadcast, refers to communication between a sender and multiple receivers, where the information sent by the sender explicitly targets all of the receivers; in this case, it refers to the communication between the first node and the second node in the multicast group.

[0077] Generally, the second message can carry the identifier of the multicast group to which the second node belongs, ensuring that only nodes within the multicast group (including the second node) can receive the second message. In one possible implementation, the second message can carry an access address as the identifier of the multicast group. It should be noted that in some possible implementations, there may only be one node in the multicast group.

[0078] In one possible design, the transmission characteristics of the second information indicated by the first information are used by the second node to receive the second information. The transmission characteristics of the second information may include one or more of the following: time-domain location information, frequency-domain location information, encoding information, etc. Accordingly, the second node receives the second information multicast by the first node based on one or more of the following: time-domain location information, frequency-domain location information, encoding information, etc.

[0079] The frequency domain location information, coding information, and time domain location information of the second information are described in detail below.

[0080] 1. Frequency domain location information of the second information:

[0081] In a specific implementation, the frequency domain location information of the second information can be one or more of the following: the frequency band of the carrier carrying the second information, the center frequency, the frequency offset, etc.

[0082] Optionally, the first information may not include the frequency domain location information of the second information. For example, the protocol may specify or the master and slave nodes may agree on a fixed operating frequency band, which can save costs. For example, the first and second nodes can transmit via Bluetooth, which operates in the globally common 2.4GHz Industrial Scientific Medical (ISM) band.

[0083] 2. Encoding information for the second piece of information:

[0084] In a specific implementation, the encoding information of the second information can be one or more of the following: modulation scheme, coding scheme, coding rate, available channel map, frequency hopping increment information, etc.

[0085] 1) Modulation method:

[0086] Modulation is the process of converting a signal generated by a source into a form suitable for wireless transmission. Common modulation methods are divided into analog modulation and digital modulation. Analog modulation includes amplitude modulation (AM), frequency modulation (FM), and phase modulation (PM). Digital modulation includes amplitude shift keying (ASK), frequency shift keying (FSK), phase shift keying (PSK), and differential phase shift keying (DPSK). For digital modulation, the modulation method defines how many bits of information a single radio resource element or radio resource unit can carry. For example, common digital modulation methods include: binary phase shift keying (BPSK), quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK), quadrature amplitude modulation (16QAM) with 16 symbols, QAM with 256 symbols (256QAM), and QAM with 1024 symbols (1024QAM), etc. If a single radio resource element or radio resource unit carries a small amount of bit information, it is called a low modulation scheme. If a single radio resource element or radio resource unit carries a large amount of bit information, it is called a high modulation scheme.

[0087] In one possible implementation, Gaussian Frequency Shift Keying (GFSK) encoding can be used.

[0088] 2) Encoding method:

[0089] Generally, to ensure the reliability of information transmission at the physical layer, the information to be sent needs to be physically encoded. Common encoding methods include Polar coding, Low-density Parity-check (LDPC) coding, and Reed-Solomon coding. Considering the complexity and varying interference resistance of different encoding methods, different methods can be used in different scenarios.

[0090] In one possible implementation, 0 can be used to indicate Polar encoding and 1 to indicate LDPC encoding.

[0091] Of course, for convenience, a fixed encoding method can also be used, such as Polar encoding.

[0092] 3) Bitrate:

[0093] For the same encoding, the same bitrate or different bitrates can be used; this application does not impose any restrictions.

[0094] In one possible implementation, the code rate defines the ratio of the number of bits in the input code to the number of bits in the output code. For example, with a code rate of 1 / 3, if the input data bits are m bits, after channel coding, the output bits are n bits, then m / n = 1 / 3. Understandably, a lower code rate indicates that more redundant bits are added during the coding process to combat channel interference; therefore, more total data bits need to be transmitted.

[0095] In one possible implementation, a 0-signature encoding rate of 1 / 3 and a 1-signature encoding rate of 5 / 6 can be used.

[0096] Understandably, the modulation method, coding method, and code rate together determine how many useful bits of information a single radio resource element or radio resource unit can transmit.

[0097] In another possible implementation, an index can be used to correspond to the modulation scheme and coding rate. For example, one index corresponds to a combination of modulation scheme and coding rate, where different indices correspond to different combinations of modulation scheme and coding rate. For instance, 00 indicates that the modulation scheme is BPSK and the coding rate is 1 / 3; 01 indicates that the modulation scheme is BPSK and the coding rate is 5 / 6; 10 indicates that the modulation scheme is QPSK and the coding rate is 1 / 3; 11 indicates that the modulation scheme is QPSK and the coding rate is 5 / 6.

[0098] 4) Available channel mapping information, which indicates which carrier frequencies or channels are available.

[0099] In practical applications, channels can be divided into available channels and unavailable channels. For example, channels with poor conditions, high traffic, or severe interference can be considered unavailable channels. The specifics depend on the implementation and the scenario.

[0100] In one possible implementation, the available channel mapping information also indicates which carrier frequencies or channels are unavailable.

[0101] In one possible implementation, available channel mapping information can be indicated by a bit table. For example, for channels 0-39, each bit corresponds to one channel, with 1 indicating that the channel is available and 0 indicating that the channel is unavailable.

[0102] 5) Frequency hopping increment information:

[0103] Frequency-Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) is a technique that uses pseudo-random code sequences for frequency shift keying, causing the carrier frequency to continuously jump and thus spreading the spectrum. Different carrier frequencies are also called channels.

[0104] For example, there is usually a mapping table that indicates that different carrier frequencies are named as channels with different numbers.

[0105] For example, in Bluetooth Low Energy, the 40 channels (channel numbers 0-39) are divided into broadcast channels and data channels; 37 are data channels and 3 are broadcast channels. The lowest center frequency for the 40 channels is 2402MHz, and the highest is 2480MHz. The first channel has a frequency of 2402MHz, and each subsequent channel increases the frequency by 20MHz.

[0106] Frequency hopping increment information is used to indicate the size of the frequency hopping interval. That is, the frequency or channel interval between two adjacent frequency hopping events. In a frequency hopping system, different channel intervals can be used for frequency modulation. For example, the channel interval can be a random number between 5 and 16.

[0107] In one possible implementation, the frequency hopping sequence can be determined by calculating available channel mapping information, frequency hopping increment information, etc.

[0108] Optionally, the first information may not include the modulation scheme, coding scheme, code rate, available channel mapping information, frequency hopping increment information, etc. of the second information. For example, the modulation scheme, coding scheme, code rate, available channel mapping information, frequency hopping increment information, etc. may be fixed as specified by the protocol or agreed upon by the master node and the slave node, which can save overhead.

[0109] 3. Temporal location information of the second piece of information:

[0110] In a specific implementation, the second information can be periodically transmitted information. For example, the second information can be a periodically transmitted multicast signaling, the name of which may be a management frame, a control frame (C frame), or other names, which are not limited in this application. Correspondingly, the time-domain location information of the second information may include one or more of the following: the period of the second information, the start time of the second information, etc.

[0111] The period of the second information: The second information appears repeatedly at a preset time interval, and the time taken for one repetition (i.e., the preset time interval) is the period of the second information. For ease of distinction, this article may refer to the period of the second information as the first period.

[0112] The start time of the second information: the starting position of the time domain resource corresponding to the second information, that is, the moment when the transmission of the second information begins.

[0113] Optionally, the start time of the second information can be an offset, which the first node uses to indicate the start time of the second information. For example, in one implementation, the offset is used to indicate the time interval between the start point of the current frame (e.g., the first information) and the start point of the multicast signaling, where the unit of the time interval can be a time slot; or, in another implementation, the offset is used to indicate the time interval between the end point of the current frame (e.g., the first information) and the start point of the multicast signaling, where the unit of the time interval can be a time slot, a frame, or other time units (e.g., milliseconds); or, in yet another implementation, the offset is used to indicate the time interval between the start / end point of the broadcast frame and the start point of the multicast signaling, where the unit of the time interval can be a time slot, a frame, or other time units (e.g., milliseconds). The broadcast frame is received by all slave nodes. It is understood that since multicast signaling can be sent periodically, the offset here can point to the time-domain location information of the first multicast signaling.

[0114] In one possible design, the data interaction between the transmitting and receiving nodes (i.e., the node receiving data and the node sending data, mainly referring to the master node and the slave node in this paper) can be periodic, that is, the master node and the slave node repeatedly interact with each other at fixed time intervals. For ease of distinction, this paper refers to the period of interaction between the master node and the slave node as the second period.

[0115] The interaction between the master node and the slave node can use transmission events as the basic unit of transmission. A transmission event is defined as the data exchange that occurs between the master node and the slave node within one second cycle. The time interval between two consecutive transmission events (which can be the duration of one second cycle, the time interval between the start times of two consecutive transmission events, or the time interval between the end times of two consecutive transmission events, etc.) is called the transmission event interval.

[0116] In each transmission event interval (which can be each second cycle), the master node sends data to the slave node at least once, and the slave node sends data to the master node at least once. The order in which the master node sends data to the slave node and the slave node sends data to the master node within each transmission event interval (which can be each second cycle) is not critical.

[0117] Furthermore, a transmission sub-event can be defined as the master node sending data to the slave node and the slave node sending data to the master node, or vice versa.

[0118] A transmission event may contain one or more transmission sub-events. In other words, within a transmission event interval (i.e., a second cycle), the master node may interact with the slave node multiple times or only once; this application does not impose any restrictions.

[0119] Optionally, within a transmission event interval (which can be a second period), if multiple transmission sub-events exist, these multiple transmission sub-events can also occur at fixed time intervals. The time interval between two consecutive transmission sub-events (which can be the time interval between the start times of two consecutive transmission sub-events, or the time interval between the end times of two consecutive transmission sub-events, etc.) can be called the transmission sub-event interval.

[0120] For example, see Figure 4 This diagram illustrates two consecutive transmission events. The interaction period between the master and slave nodes (i.e., the second period, or the transmission event interval) is ΔT. Within each second period (e.g., the time interval T0–T1 or T1–T2), the master and slave nodes experience one transmission event. Furthermore, each transmission event specifically includes two sub-transmission events. Each sub-transmission event comprises one process of the master node sending data to the slave node and one process of the slave node sending data to the master node. Within each transmission event interval, the sub-transmission event interval is Δt.

[0121] It should be understood that, Figure 4 In this example, each transmission event contains two transmission sub-events, and each transmission sub-event is initiated by the master node sending data first, but the actual implementation is not limited to this.

[0122] It should be noted that in each transmission event or sub-event, the master node is not necessarily the first to send data; the slave node can also send data first. The specific order in which the master node and slave node send data in each transmission event or sub-event can be based on the configuration of transmission resources or the agreement of the protocol.

[0123] In the embodiments of this application, multiple transmission events or transmission sub-events can be transmitted using frequency hopping mode, that is, multiple transmission events or transmission sub-events can be transmitted using different channels respectively. Correspondingly, the second information can also be used to indicate at least one of the following: the interval of the transmission event corresponding to the first transmission resource, the number of transmission sub-events, the transmission direction of the transmission event or transmission sub-event, and the time length occupied in the time domain.

[0124] The definition of the transmission event interval can be found in the above description. The number of transmission sub-events can be the number of transmission sub-events occurring within a transmission event interval (i.e., the number of transmission sub-events contained in a single transmission event). The direction of a transmission event can be the direction of data transmission within a transmission event interval, such as whether the master node or slave node sends data first. The direction of a transmission sub-event can be the direction of data transmission within a transmission sub-event interval, such as whether the master node or slave node sends data first. The time duration in the time domain can be the time duration of a transmission event in the time domain (which could be the duration of the second period or the length of the transmission event interval), or the time duration of a transmission sub-event in the time domain (which could be the length of the transmission sub-event interval), etc.

[0125] In one possible implementation, the master node may only configure the number of transmission sub-events, while the time resources occupied by each transmission sub-event during actual data transmission may be indeterminate. For example, each transmission event may contain only one transmission sub-event. The master node sends data to the slave node, and after the slave node receives the data, it waits for the inter-frame space (which can be used for the slave node to perform transmit / receive conversion) before starting to send data back to the master node. The maximum time length occupied by a single transmission sub-event in the time domain can be agreed upon by the protocol.

[0126] In another possible implementation, the master node can configure the number of transmitted sub-events, as well as the time resources occupied by the master node and slave node in the time domain in a single transmitted sub-event.

[0127] Optionally, within each transmission event, the master node and slave node alternately send data.

[0128] It should be understood that in this article, a transmission event can also be called a connection event; a transmission sub-event can also be called a connection sub-event.

[0129] In a practical implementation, the second information may include configuration information for transmission resources used by the second node, in addition to the configuration information for the first transmission resource. For example, the second information may also include configuration information for the second transmission resource, which corresponds to the third node, and the third node and the second node belong to the same multicast group.

[0130] For ease of distinction, this document refers to the configuration information of the first transmission resource used for the second node as the first configuration information, and the configuration information of the second transmission resource used for the third node as the second configuration information. It should be understood that this example assumes a multicast group containing two nodes (the second node and the third node), but the actual implementation is not limited to this. A multicast group can contain one or more nodes.

[0131] In one possible design, the configuration information of the transmission resources of different slave nodes in the second information is located in different fields of the second information. For example, the first configuration information is located in the first field of the second information, and the second configuration information is located in the second field of the second information.

[0132] In practical implementation, when a multicast group contains multiple slave nodes, the second information can carry the configuration information of the transmission resources corresponding to all slave nodes, or it can carry only the configuration information of the transmission resources corresponding to some slave nodes. This application does not impose any restrictions. For example, if a multicast group contains a second node and a third node, the protocol stipulates that the first field in the second information is used to carry the first configuration information of the first transmission resource for the second node, and the second field is used to carry the second configuration information of the second transmission resource for the third node. When the first node only needs to schedule resources for the second node, the second field can be set to empty (i.e., not containing the second field) or the value of the second field can be set to 0.

[0133] In practical implementation, when a multicast group contains multiple slave nodes, the second information can carry indication information to specify the slave node corresponding to this resource configuration. For example, it can indicate that this resource configuration only carries the configuration information of the transmission resources corresponding to a portion of the multiple slave nodes. For instance, if the multicast group contains a second node and a third node, the second information can carry indication information to indicate that the second node corresponds to this resource configuration. In this case, after the third node obtains this indication information, it can stop reading the second information, thereby saving system overhead and energy consumption.

[0134] In practical implementation, when a multicast group contains multiple slave nodes, S201 can be executed separately for each slave node. For example, the first node sends first information (carrying the destination identifier of the second node) to the second node, and then sends third information (carrying the destination identifier of the third node) to the third node. The third information is used to indicate the transmission characteristics of the second information. After the first node executes S201 for each slave node, it sends the second information via multicast. Each slave node in the multicast group (such as the second node and the third node) receives the second information and obtains the transmission resources allocated to it by the first node based on the second information.

[0135] In practical implementation, multiple slave nodes connected to the same master node can be all assigned to a single multicast group, or they can be assigned to multiple different multicast groups; this application does not impose any restrictions. For example, the multicast group to which a slave node belongs can be determined based on its distance from the master node. Specifically, the master node assigns slave nodes whose distance from the master node is less than or equal to a first distance value to the first multicast group, slave nodes whose distance from the master node is greater than the first distance value but less than or equal to a second distance value to the second multicast group, and slave nodes whose distance from the master node is greater than the second distance value to the third multicast group. Optionally, the transmission characteristics of the second information sent by the master node to different multicast groups can be different. For example, the bit rate of the second information sent by the master node to the first multicast group can be higher than the bit rate of the second information sent by the master node to the second multicast group, and the bit rate of the second information sent by the master node to the second multicast group can be higher than the bit rate of the second information sent by the master node to the third multicast group. In this way, the reliability of communication and the communication resource overhead can be further balanced.

[0136] S203, The first node and the second node transmit data on the first transmission resource.

[0137] In one implementation, the master node (first node) can send first information via unicast to each slave node (including the second node) in the multicast group, indicating the transmission characteristics of second information subsequently sent by the master node via multicast. The master node sends the second information via multicast and simultaneously schedules transmission resources for multiple slave nodes in the multicast group. Each slave node in the multicast group receives the second information based on the previously received first information and then obtains the transmission resources scheduled for it by the master node according to the second information. This allows the master node to simultaneously schedule transmission resources for multiple slave nodes, improving resource scheduling efficiency. Furthermore, when all available transmission resources in the system are occupied by multiple slave nodes, the master node can simultaneously adjust the transmission resources of multiple slave nodes via multicast, effectively reducing or even avoiding the impact on slave node service transmission and improving service quality.

[0138] In practical applications, when a multicast group contains multiple slave nodes, the master node needs to accommodate slave nodes with poor communication quality (or channel conditions). Therefore, the second information can use a lower modulation scheme and a lower coding rate to ensure that slave nodes with poor communication quality can also accurately receive the second information. However, the lower the coding rate, the longer the generated codewords and the larger the amount of information transmitted, resulting in high system resource overhead. Therefore, this application also provides a communication scheme where, for slave nodes with good communication quality, the master node can use multicast to schedule transmission resources for them (i.e.,...). Figure 2 (As shown in the diagram), for slave nodes with poor communication quality, the master node can use unicast to schedule transmission resources for them. The following combines... Figure 3This plan will be described in more detail.

[0139] See Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application, which is applied to... Figure 1 The scenario shown is an example, but practical applications are certainly not limited to this. The method includes:

[0140] S301. The first node (master node) obtains the communication quality of each of the multiple slave nodes (e.g., the second node, the third node, and the fourth node); the first node determines the resource scheduling method of each slave node based on its communication quality, wherein the resource scheduling method includes multicast and unicast.

[0141] Understandably, step S301 is an optional step.

[0142] In one possible implementation, the communication quality of the slave nodes can be obtained by the master node or slave nodes performing signal measurements. For example, the master node broadcasts measurement signals; each slave node receives and measures the broadcast measurement signals, generates corresponding measurement results, and feeds them back to the master node; then, the master node determines whether to use multicast or unicast for resource scheduling on each slave node based on the measurement results reported by each slave node. Alternatively, each slave node sends measurement signals; the master node receives and measures the measurement signals sent by each slave node, generates corresponding measurement results, and then determines whether to use multicast or unicast for resource scheduling on each slave node based on the corresponding measurement results.

[0143] Optionally, the measurement results may include signal received power, signal received strength, etc. The master node can compare the measurement results corresponding to each slave node with a set threshold to determine the resource scheduling method for each slave node. For example, for a slave node whose signal received power ≤ a first power value and / or signal received strength ≤ a first strength value, the master node determines that its resource scheduling method is unicast; for a slave node whose signal received power ≥ a second power value and / or signal received strength ≥ a second strength value, the master node determines that its resource scheduling method is multicast, where the first power value ≤ the second power value and the first strength value ≤ the second strength value.

[0144] In one possible implementation, the master node may not need to specifically send broadcast measurement signals; the signals sent by the master node to the slave node can be used for signal measurement.

[0145] In one possible implementation, communication quality may include metrics such as Reference Signal Receiving Power (RSRP), Reference Signal Receiving Quality (RSRQ), Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), or signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).

[0146] RSRP: The average signal power received on all resource particles / resource cells carrying the reference signal within a symbol. Optionally, the RSRP value represents the power value of each subcarrier.

[0147] RSSI: Total received power across all resource particles / resource cells of one or more symbols within the node probe bandwidth.

[0148] RSRQ: Obtained by certain calculations from RSRP and RSSI, it can reflect the combined effect of signal strength and interference.

[0149] SNR: The ratio between the useful signal level and the electromagnetic noise level measured under specified conditions.

[0150] In another possible implementation, the slave node can determine the communication quality based on its distance from the master node. Generally, the farther the slave node is from the master node, the greater the signal attenuation, and therefore the worse the communication quality. There are various ways for the master node to obtain the distance to the slave node, and this application does not impose any restrictions. For example, the slave node reports its own location information to the master node, and the master node calculates the distance from the slave node to the master node based on its own location information and the slave node's location information; or, for example, the master node configures the timing for the slave node to send location signals, the slave node sends location signals at the predetermined time according to the master node's configuration, the master node receives the location signals sent by the slave node, and the master node calculates the distance from the slave node to the master node based on the time difference between the reception time and the transmission time of the location signal.

[0151] Optionally, the master node can compare the distance to each slave node with a set threshold to determine the resource scheduling method for each slave node. For example, for a slave node whose distance is ≤ a first distance value, the master node determines that its resource scheduling method is multicast; for a slave node whose distance is ≥ a second distance value, the master node determines that its resource scheduling method is unicast, where the first distance value ≤ the second distance value.

[0152] For ease of description, the resource scheduling methods of the second and third nodes will be used as multicast methods in the following text, and the resource scheduling methods of the fourth node will be used as unicast methods.

[0153] S302A, the first node uses multicast to schedule transmission resources for the second and third nodes.

[0154] For example, a first node sends first information to a second node via unicast, and the second node receives the first information. The first node also sends third information to a third node via unicast, and the third node receives the third information. The first information carries the identifier of the second node, and the third information carries the identifier of the third node. The first information indicates the transmission characteristics of the second information, and the third information indicates the transmission characteristics of the second information. After sending the first and third information, the first node sends the second information via multicast. The second information contains the identifier of a first multicast group, which includes both the second and third nodes. The second information contains first configuration information for a first transmission resource for the second node and second configuration information for a second transmission resource for the third node. The second node detects the second information based on the first information and obtains the first configuration information for the first transmission resource based on the second information. The third node detects the second information based on the third information and obtains the second configuration information for the second transmission resource based on the second information. After this, the second node can transmit data with the first node on the first transmission resource, and the second node can transmit data with the first node on the second transmission resource.

[0155] For the specific implementation of this step, please refer to the description of the relevant embodiments in S201 to S203 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0156] S302B, the first node uses unicast to schedule transmission resources for the fourth node.

[0157] Specifically, the first node sends a fourth message to the fourth node via unicast. This fourth message carries the identifier of the destination node (i.e., the fourth node) and the third transmission resource scheduled by the first node for the fourth node. Accordingly, the fourth node determines that the fourth message is intended for it based on the identifier in the fourth message, receives the fourth message, and then obtains the third transmission resource scheduled by the first node based on the fourth message. Once the fourth node obtains the third transmission resource, the fourth node and the first node transmit data on that resource.

[0158] Taking Bluetooth transmission between the first node and the fourth node as an example, the first node can carry fourth information in the Bluetooth connection request sent to the fourth node. In specific implementation, the first node can send the fourth information when the first node and the fourth node establish an initial Bluetooth connection, or the first node can send the fourth information when the first node and the fourth node re-establish a Bluetooth connection (e.g., when reconfiguring the connection after a change in transmission services). This application does not impose any restrictions.

[0159] As can be seen from the above, in this embodiment, the master node (first node) can use different resource scheduling methods to schedule transmission resources for different slave nodes, making resource scheduling more flexible and efficient, and further improving the reliability of communication.

[0160] Considering that in practical applications, the master node and / or slave node may move, and the communication quality between the master node and slave node may change, this application embodiment also provides a communication scheme for flexibly adjusting the resource scheduling method of the slave node.

[0161] (I) Taking the second node as an example, this article introduces the method of switching from multicast to unicast:

[0162] After S202, during the data transmission process between the second node and the first node on the first transmission resource, if the second node determines that the first triggering condition is met, it sends a first indication message to the first node. The first indication message is used to indicate that the first triggering condition is met.

[0163] Optionally, after receiving the first instruction information, the first node switches the resource scheduling mode of the second node from multicast mode to unicast mode.

[0164] In one possible implementation, when the second node determines that the first triggering condition is met, it sends a first request message (the first request message is a first indication information, or the first request message carries the first indication information) to the first node, requesting that the resource scheduling mode of the second node be switched from multicast mode to unicast mode. In response to the first request message, the first node switches the resource scheduling mode of the second node from multicast mode to unicast mode, determines that it will use unicast mode to schedule resources for the second node in the next resource scheduling, and sends a first response message to the second node to indicate that the first node has switched the resource scheduling mode of the second node from multicast mode to unicast mode. After receiving the first response message returned by the first node, the second node confirms that its own scheduling mode has switched from multicast mode to unicast mode based on the first response message. It can then stop receiving multicast messages sent by the first node and instead receive unicast messages sent by the first node to the second node, and perform data transmission with the first node based on the transmission resources configured in the unicast message.

[0165] In another possible implementation, when the second node determines that the first triggering condition is met, it sends a first request message (the first request message is a first indication information, or the first request message carries the first indication information) to the first node, requesting that the resource scheduling mode of the second node be switched from multicast mode to unicast mode. In response to the first request message, the first node switches the resource scheduling mode of the second node from multicast mode to unicast mode, and determines that it will use unicast mode to schedule resources for the second node in the next time, but does not return a response message. After determining that the first triggering condition is met or after sending the first request message to the first node, the second node defaults to switching its own scheduling mode from multicast mode to unicast mode, and can no longer receive multicast messages sent by the first node, but instead receive unicast messages sent by the first node to the second node, and perform data transmission with the first node based on the transmission resources configured in the unicast message.

[0166] In practical implementation, the first triggering condition may include, but is not limited to, the following three:

[0167] 1) The distance between the first node and the second node is greater than or equal to the first distance threshold;

[0168] 2) The communication quality between the first node and the second node is less than or equal to the first communication quality threshold;

[0169] For example, communication quality includes, but is not limited to, signal received power and signal received strength.

[0170] 3) The number of second information messages that the second node has not received from the first node consecutively reaches the first quantity threshold M1; or, within the first duration T1, the second node has not received any second information messages from the first node; or, within the second duration T2, the number of second information messages that the second node receives from the first node is less than the second quantity threshold M2.

[0171] Where M1 and M2 are positive integers. T1 and T2 can be the same or different.

[0172] For example, the second information is a periodically transmitted multicast signaling with a period duration of T0. If the second node does not receive the second information in each of the M1 consecutive periods, that is, the number of times the second node has not received the second information from the first node consecutively reaches M1, then the second node sends the first indication information; or, if the second node does not receive the second information from the first node within T1, where T1≥T0, then the second node sends the first indication information; or, if the number of times the second node receives the second information from the first node within T2 is less than M2, where T2≥T0, then the second node sends the first indication information.

[0173] In specific implementation, the aforementioned first triggering condition can be configured by the first node to the second node, or agreed upon by the protocol, or agreed upon by the first node and the second node respectively. This application does not impose any restrictions.

[0174] For example, the first node can send third configuration information to the second node, wherein the third configuration information may include one or more of a first distance threshold, a first channel quality threshold, a first quantity threshold, and a second quantity threshold; the second node receives the third configuration information and configures a first triggering condition according to the third configuration information. The third configuration information may be carried in the first and / or second information, or in other information, or the first node may send the third configuration information to the second node separately; this application does not impose any restrictions.

[0175] (II) Taking the fourth node as an example, this section introduces the method of unicast to multicast switching:

[0176] After S302B, during the data transmission between the fourth node and the first node on the third transmission resource, if the fourth node determines that the second triggering condition is met, it sends a second indication message to the first node. The second indication message is used to indicate that the second triggering condition is met.

[0177] Optionally, after receiving the second instruction information, the first node switches the resource scheduling mode of the fourth node from unicast to multicast.

[0178] In one possible implementation, when the fourth node determines that the second triggering condition is met, it sends a second request message (the second request message is a second indication information, or the second request message carries the second indication information) to the first node, requesting that the resource scheduling mode of the fourth node be switched from unicast mode to multicast mode. In response to the second request message, the first node switches the resource scheduling mode of the fourth node from unicast mode to multicast mode, determines that it will use multicast mode to schedule resources for the fourth node in the next resource scheduling, and sends a second response message to the fourth node, indicating that the first node has switched the resource scheduling mode of the fourth node from unicast mode to multicast mode. After receiving the second response message returned by the first node, the fourth node confirms that its own scheduling mode has switched from unicast mode to multicast mode based on the second response message. It can then stop receiving unicast messages sent by the first node and instead receive multicast messages sent by the first node, and perform data transmission with the first node based on the transmission resources configured in the multicast message.

[0179] In another possible implementation, when the fourth node determines that the second triggering condition is met, it sends a second request message (the second request message is a second indication information, or the second request message carries the second indication information) to the first node, requesting that the resource scheduling mode of the fourth node be switched from unicast mode to multicast mode. The first node responds to the second request message, switches the resource scheduling mode of the fourth node from unicast mode to multicast mode, and determines that it will use multicast mode to schedule resources for the fourth node in the next time, but does not return a response message. After determining that the second triggering condition is met or after sending the second request message to the first node, the fourth node defaults to switching its own scheduling mode from unicast mode to multicast mode, and can no longer receive unicast messages sent by the first node, but instead receive multicast messages sent by the first node, and perform data transmission with the first node based on the transmission resources configured in the multicast message.

[0180] In practical implementation, the second triggering condition may include, but is not limited to, the following three:

[0181] 1) The distance between the first node and the fourth node is less than or equal to the second distance threshold;

[0182] Wherein, the second distance threshold is less than or equal to the first distance threshold mentioned above.

[0183] 2) The communication quality between the first node and the fourth node is greater than or equal to the second communication quality threshold;

[0184] The second communication quality threshold is greater than or equal to the first communication quality threshold mentioned above.

[0185] 3) The number of second messages continuously received by the fourth node from the first node reaches the third quantity threshold M3; or, within the third duration T3, the fourth node receives second messages from the first node; or, within the fourth duration T4, the number of second messages received by the fourth node from the first node is greater than or equal to the fourth quantity threshold M4.

[0186] Where M3 and M4 are positive integers. T3 and T4 can be the same or different; T3 and T1 can be the same or different; T4 and T2 can be the same or different; M3 and M1 can be the same or different; M4 and M2 can be the same or different.

[0187] It should be understood that although the second message is not sent specifically to the fourth node (i.e., the second message does not carry configuration information for the transmission resources used by the fourth node), it may be able to receive the second message when the communication quality of the fourth node improves. Therefore, when the fourth node receives the second message, it can send a second indication message to the first node.

[0188] For example, the second information is a periodically transmitted multicast signaling with a period duration of T0. If the fourth node receives the second information in each of the M3 consecutive periods, that is, the number of second information received by the fourth node from the first node reaches M3, then the fourth node sends the second indication information; or, if the fourth node receives the second information from the first node within T3, where T3≥T0, then the fourth node sends the second indication information; or, if the number of second information received by the fourth node from the first node within T4 is greater than or equal to M4, where T4≥T0, then the fourth node sends the second indication information.

[0189] In specific implementation, the aforementioned second triggering condition can be configured by the first node to the fourth node, or agreed upon by the protocol, or agreed upon by the first node and the fourth node respectively. This application does not impose any restrictions.

[0190] For example, the first node can send fourth configuration information to the fourth node, wherein the fourth configuration information may include one or more of the following: a second distance threshold, a second channel quality threshold, a third quantity threshold, and a fourth quantity threshold; the fourth node receives the fourth configuration information and configures the second triggering condition according to the fourth configuration information. The fourth configuration information may be carried in the fourth information, or in other information, or the first node may send the fourth configuration information to the fourth node separately; this application does not impose any restrictions.

[0191] In a specific implementation, the first node can configure the first trigger condition and the second trigger condition for the same slave node at the same time. For example, the third configuration information mentioned above can also carry one or more of the second distance threshold, the second channel quality threshold, the third quantity threshold, and the fourth quantity threshold. The fourth configuration information mentioned above can also carry one or more of the first distance threshold, the first channel quality threshold, the first quantity threshold, and the second quantity threshold.

[0192] As can be seen from the above, in this embodiment of the application, the master node can switch the resource scheduling mode of the slave node based on the mobility or communication quality of the master node / slave node, making resource scheduling more flexible and efficient, and further improving the reliability of communication.

[0193] It should be understood that the above embodiments can be combined with each other to achieve different technical effects.

[0194] Based on the same technical concept, this application also provides a communication device, which may include a module, unit, or means for performing any method step in the above method embodiments. The function, unit, or means may be implemented by software, or by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software.

[0195] For example, see Figure 5The device may include a transceiver unit 501 and a processing unit 502, wherein the transceiver unit 501 is used to communicate with other nodes besides the node where the device is located, and the processing unit 502 can implement the method executed by any node in the above method embodiments by controlling the transceiver module 501.

[0196] For example, when the device is located at the second node, the transceiver unit 501 is used to receive first information from the first node, the first information being used to indicate the transmission characteristics of the second information, the second information including configuration information for the first transmission resource of the second node; based on the first information, the second information is received; the processing unit 502 is used to determine the first transmission resource based on the second information; the transceiver unit 501 is also used to perform data transmission with the first node on the first transmission resource; wherein, the transmission characteristics include one or more of the following: start time, period, modulation method, coding method, code rate, available channel mapping information, or frequency hopping increment information.

[0197] For example, when the device is located at the first node, the transceiver unit 501 is used to send first information to the second node, the first information being used to indicate the transmission characteristics of the second information; and to send second information to the second node, the second information containing configuration information for the first transmission resource of the second node; the processing unit 502 is used to determine the first transmission resource; the transceiver unit 501 is also used to perform data transmission with the second node on the first transmission resource; wherein, the transmission characteristics include one or more of the following: start time, period, modulation method, coding method, code rate, available channel mapping information, or frequency hopping increment information.

[0198] It should be understood that all relevant content of each step involved in the above method embodiments can be referenced from the functional description of the corresponding functional module, and will not be repeated here.

[0199] In practical implementation, the above-mentioned device can take many product forms. Several possible product forms are introduced below.

[0200] See Figure 6 This application also provides a communication device, including a transceiver 601 and a processor 602, wherein the processor 602 is coupled to the transceiver 601, and the processor 602 and the transceiver 601 cooperate to execute the method executed by any node in the above method embodiments.

[0201] See Figure 7 This application also provides a communication device, including a processor 701 and a memory 702; the memory 702 is used to store computer execution instructions; the processor 701 is used to execute the computer execution instructions stored in the memory 702, so that the communication device executes the method executed by any node in the above method embodiments.

[0202] See Figure 8 This application also provides a communication device, including at least one processor 801 and an interface circuit 802; the interface circuit 802 is used to receive code instructions and transmit them to the at least one processor 801; the at least one processor 801 executes the code instructions to perform the method executed by any node in the above method embodiments. It should be understood that... Figure 8 This only illustrates one processor, 801; it is not limited to this.

[0203] In one possible implementation, the communication device can be a chip. Optionally, the chip can be coupled to a memory for reading and executing program instructions stored in the memory to implement the method executed by any node in the above method embodiments. It should be understood that the processor mentioned in the embodiments of this application can be implemented in hardware or software. When implemented in hardware, the processor can be a logic circuit, integrated circuit, etc. When implemented in software, the processor can be a general-purpose processor that reads software code stored in memory.

[0204] For example, the processor can be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. A general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0205] It should be understood that the memory mentioned in the embodiments of this application can be volatile memory or non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory can be read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory. The volatile memory can be random access memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache. By way of example, but not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as Static RAM (SRAM), Dynamic RAM (DRAM), Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), Double Data Rate Synchronous DRAM (DDR SDRAM), Enhanced Synchronous DRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and Direct RAM (DR RAM).

[0206] It should be noted that when the processor is a general-purpose processor, DSP, ASIC, FPGA, or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, or discrete hardware component, the memory (storage module) can be integrated into the processor.

[0207] It should be noted that the memories described herein are intended to include, but are not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memories.

[0208] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing instructions that, when executed, enable the method executed by any node in the above method embodiments to be implemented.

[0209] This application also provides a computer program product containing instructions. The computer program product stores instructions that, when run on a computer, cause the computer to execute the method executed at any node in the above method embodiments.

[0210] This application also provides a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the method executed by any node in the above method embodiments to be executed.

[0211] This application also provides a terminal that can execute the method executed by any node in the above method embodiments.

[0212] The terminal can be any terminal that supports short-range communication. Examples of terminals include: mobile phones, tablets, laptops, PDAs, mobile internet devices (MIDs), point-of-sale (POS) terminals, wearable devices (such as glasses, gloves, watches, clothing, and shoes), virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals in self-driving, wireless terminals in remote medical surgery, wireless terminals in smart grids, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart cities, wireless terminals in smart homes, Internet of Things (IoT) terminals, various smart meters (smart water meters, smart electricity meters, smart gas meters), eLTE-DSA UEs, and devices with integrated access and backhaul (IAB) capabilities.

[0213] 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 embodied on one or more computer-usable storage media (including but not limited to disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, etc.) containing computer-usable program code.

[0214] This application is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to this application. It should 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 program instructions. These computer program 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, generate instructions for implementing the flowchart illustrations. Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A device that provides the functions specified in one or more boxes.

[0215] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to function in a particular manner, or may be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process.

[0216] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this application without departing from the scope of protection 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, include: Receive first information from a first node, the first information being used to indicate the transmission characteristics of second information, the second information containing configuration information for a first transmission resource of the second node; Based on the first information, receive the second information; Data is transmitted with the first node on the first transmission resource; The transmission features include one or more of the following: start time, period, modulation scheme, coding scheme, code rate, available channel mapping information, or frequency hopping increment information; The second information is further used to indicate at least one of the following: the interval of the transmission event corresponding to the first transmission resource, the number of transmission sub-events, the transmission direction of the transmission event or transmission sub-event, and the time length occupied in the time domain.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first information includes the identifier of the second node.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second information includes the identifier of the multicast group to which the second node belongs.

4. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second information includes the identifier of the multicast group to which the second node belongs.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second information also includes configuration information for a second transmission resource, which corresponds to a third node, and the third node and the second node belong to the same multicast group.

6. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second information also includes configuration information for a second transmission resource, which corresponds to a third node, and the third node and the second node belong to the same multicast group.

7. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The second information also includes configuration information for a second transmission resource, which corresponds to a third node, and the third node and the second node belong to the same multicast group.

8. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The second information also includes configuration information for a second transmission resource, which corresponds to a third node, and the third node and the second node belong to the same multicast group.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The method further includes: Once the triggering condition is determined to be met, a first indication message is sent to the first node, the first indication message being used to indicate that the triggering condition is met.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The triggering conditions include one or more of the following: The distance between the first node and the second node is greater than or equal to a first distance threshold; The channel quality between the first node and the second node is less than or equal to the first channel quality threshold. The number of second messages that the second node has not received consecutively from the first node reaches a first quantity threshold; Alternatively, within the first time period, the second node does not receive the second information from the first node; or, within the second time period, the number of second information received by the second node from the first node is less than the second quantity threshold.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive third configuration information from the first node, the third configuration information including one or more of the first distance threshold, the first channel quality threshold, the first quantity threshold, and the second quantity threshold.

12. A communication method, characterized in that, include: Send first information to the second node, wherein the first information is used to indicate the transmission characteristics of the second information; Send the second information to the second node, the second information containing configuration information for the first transmission resource of the second node; Data is transmitted with the second node on the first transmission resource; The transmission features include one or more of the following: start time, period, modulation scheme, coding scheme, code rate, available channel mapping information, or frequency hopping increment information; The second information is further used to indicate at least one of the following: the interval of the transmission event corresponding to the first transmission resource, the number of transmission sub-events, the transmission direction of the transmission event or transmission sub-event, and the time length occupied in the time domain.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, Sending the first information to the second node includes: The first information, which includes the identifier of the second node, is sent to the second node via unicast.

14. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, Sending the second information to the second node includes: The second information is sent to the second node via multicast, and the second information contains the identifier of the multicast group to which the second node belongs.

15. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that, Sending the second information to the second node includes: The second information is sent to the second node via multicast, and the second information contains the identifier of the multicast group to which the second node belongs.

16. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, The second information also includes configuration information for a second transmission resource, which corresponds to a third node, and the third node and the second node belong to the same multicast group.

17. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that, The second information also includes configuration information for a second transmission resource, which corresponds to a third node, and the third node and the second node belong to the same multicast group.

18. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that, The second information also includes configuration information for a second transmission resource, which corresponds to a third node, and the third node and the second node belong to the same multicast group.

19. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that, The second information also includes configuration information for a second transmission resource, which corresponds to a third node, and the third node and the second node belong to the same multicast group.

20. The method according to any one of claims 12-19, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive first indication information from the second node, the first indication information being used to indicate that the triggering condition is met.

21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that, The triggering conditions include one or more of the following: The distance between the first node and the second node is greater than or equal to the first distance threshold; The channel quality between the first node and the second node is less than or equal to the first channel quality threshold. The number of second messages that the second node has not received consecutively from the first node reaches a first quantity threshold; Alternatively, within the first time period, the second node does not receive the second information from the first node; or, within the second time period, the number of second information received by the second node from the first node is less than the second quantity threshold.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send third configuration information to the second node, the third configuration information including one or more of the first distance threshold, the first channel quality threshold, the first quantity threshold, and the second quantity threshold.

23. A communication device, characterized in that, include: A transceiver unit is configured to receive first information from a first node, the first information being used to indicate the transmission characteristics of second information, the second information including configuration information for a first transmission resource of the second node; Based on the first information, receive the second information; Processing unit, configured to determine the first transmission resource based on the second information; The transceiver unit is further configured to transmit data with the first node on the first transmission resource; The transmission features include one or more of the following: start time, period, modulation scheme, coding scheme, code rate, available channel mapping information, or frequency hopping increment information; The second information is further used to indicate at least one of the following: the interval of the transmission event corresponding to the first transmission resource, the number of transmission sub-events, the transmission direction of the transmission event or transmission sub-event, and the time length occupied in the time domain.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, characterized in that, The first information includes the identifier of the second node.

25. The apparatus according to claim 23, characterized in that, The second information includes the identifier of the multicast group to which the second node belongs.

26. The apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that, The second information includes the identifier of the multicast group to which the second node belongs.

27. The apparatus according to any one of claims 23-26, characterized in that, The transceiver unit is also used for: When the triggering condition is met, a first indication message is sent to the first node, the first indication message being used to indicate that the triggering condition is met.

28. A communication device, characterized in that, include: A transceiver unit is used to send first information to a second node, wherein the first information is used to indicate the transmission characteristics of the second information. Send the second information to the second node, the second information containing configuration information for the first transmission resource of the second node; Processing unit, configured to determine the first transmission resource; The transceiver unit is also used to transmit data with the second node on the first transmission resource; The transmission features include one or more of the following: start time, period, modulation scheme, coding scheme, code rate, available channel mapping information, or frequency hopping increment information; The second information is further used to indicate at least one of the following: the interval of the transmission event corresponding to the first transmission resource, the number of transmission sub-events, the transmission direction of the transmission event or transmission sub-event, and the time length occupied in the time domain.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28, characterized in that, When the transceiver unit sends the first information to the second node, it is specifically used for: The first information, which includes the identifier of the second node, is sent to the second node via unicast.

30. The apparatus according to claim 28, characterized in that, When the transceiver unit sends the second information to the second node, it is specifically used for: The second information is sent to the second node via multicast, and the second information contains the identifier of the multicast group to which the second node belongs.

31. The apparatus according to claim 29, characterized in that, When the transceiver unit sends the second information to the second node, it is specifically used for: The second information is sent to the second node via multicast, and the second information contains the identifier of the multicast group to which the second node belongs.

32. The apparatus according to any one of claims 28-31, characterized in that, The transceiver unit is also used for: Receive first indication information from the second node, the first indication information being used to indicate that the triggering condition is met.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32, characterized in that, The triggering conditions include one or more of the following: The distance between the first node and the second node is greater than or equal to the first distance threshold; The channel quality between the first node and the second node is less than or equal to the first channel quality threshold. The number of second messages that the second node has not received consecutively from the first node reaches a first quantity threshold; Alternatively, within the first time period, the second node does not receive the second information from the first node; or, within the second time period, the number of second information received by the second node from the first node is less than the second quantity threshold.

34. A communication device, characterized in that, It includes at least one processor and an interface circuit; the interface circuit is used to transmit code instructions to the at least one processor; the at least one processor executes the code instructions to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-11 or 12-22.

35. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The readable storage medium is used to store instructions that, when executed, cause the method as described in any one of claims 1-11 or 12-22 to be implemented.

36. A computer program product containing instructions, characterized in that, The computer program product stores instructions that, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-11 or 12-22.

37. A communication system, characterized in that, It includes a first node and a second node, wherein the first node is used to perform the method as described in any one of claims 12-22, and the second node is used to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-11.

38. A terminal, characterized in that, The terminal includes the device as described in any one of claims 23-27 or 28-33.

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