Communication method, device and communication system

Abstract

The invention discloses a communication method, a communication device and a communication system, which are used for enabling network equipment to acquire information of relay UE (User Equipment) which has an incidence relation with remote UE. The first terminal equipment sends first indication information to the first network equipment, the first indication information is used for indicating that the second terminal equipment exists or does not exist, and the second terminal equipment has the capability of providing a relay service for the first terminal equipment; the second terminal equipment meets a first condition, the first condition comprises that the first terminal equipment communicates with the second terminal equipment through a first interface, the first terminal equipment communicates with the first network equipment through a second interface, the first interface is an interface of a first standard, and the second interface is an interface of a second standard. Thus, the first network device can determine whether to acquire the identification information of the second terminal device according to the first indication information, and add a non-direct connection path for the first terminal device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method, device and communication system. Background Art

[0002] In a wireless communication system, a terminal device (user equipment, UE) can be directly connected to a network device, that is, the UE communicates with the network device through a direct path. In addition, the UE can also be connected to a network device through another UE, and the other UE provides a relay service for the UE, that is, the UE communicates with the network device through an indirect path. Among them, the UE that communicates with the network device through another UE can be called a remote UE, and the UE that provides a relay service for the remote UE can be called a relay UE.

[0003] The remote UE and the relay UE may communicate via a sidelink (SL) or a non-3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) link. The non-3GPP link may be, for example, a wired, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, or other link.

[0004] Currently, in the scenario where the remote UE and the relay UE communicate via a non-3GPP link, the association between the remote UE and the relay UE is pre-configured or static. Therefore, how the network device adds a non-direct connection path for the remote UE is an urgent problem to be solved. Summary of the invention

[0005] The embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, an apparatus, and a communication system for enabling a network device to obtain information of a relay UE that is associated with a remote UE.

[0006] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a first terminal device, or a component (such as a processor, chip, chip system, circuit or other, etc.) configured in the first terminal device, or a software module. The method includes: sending a first indication message to a first network device, the first indication message is used to indicate the existence or non-existence of a second terminal device, the second terminal device has the ability to provide a relay service for the first terminal device; the second terminal device satisfies a first condition, the first condition includes: the first terminal device communicates with the second terminal device through a first interface, the first terminal device communicates with the first network device through a second interface, the first interface is an interface of a first standard, and the second interface is an interface of a second standard.

[0007] In an embodiment of the present application, the first terminal device may send first indication information to the first network device to indicate the first network device whether there is or is not a second terminal device connected via a second interface, where the second interface is, for example, an interface that is not in the 3GPP standard. In this way, the first network device may obtain identification information of the second terminal device according to the first indication information and add a non-direct connection path for the first terminal device.

[0008] In a possible implementation manner, the first terminal device receives a first request message from the first network device, where the first request message is used to request identification information of the second terminal device.

[0009] In the above technical solution, when determining that the second terminal device exists, the first network device may send a first request message to the first terminal device to obtain identification information of the second terminal device for multi-path relay communication configuration.

[0010] In a possible implementation, the first terminal device sends an identifier of at least one second terminal device to the first network device.

[0011] In the above technical solution, the first terminal device sends the identification of at least one second terminal device to the first network device, so that the first network device can determine the second terminal device that provides relay service for the first terminal device based on the identification of the at least one second terminal device.

[0012] In one possible implementation, a first terminal device receives capability indication information from a first network device, the capability indication information being used to indicate the capability of terminal devices covered by the first network device to relay communications with other network devices via terminal devices covered by other network devices, and / or the capability of terminal devices covered by the first network device to relay communications via multiple terminal devices; the first terminal device determines the at least one second terminal device based on the capability indication information.

[0013] In the above technical solution, if the capability indication information indicates that the first network device supports the terminal devices covered by it to perform relay communication through the terminal devices covered by other network devices, the first terminal device can determine that some or all of the second terminal devices in the multiple second terminal devices that meet the first condition are the at least one second terminal device, so that the first network device can configure the first terminal device to perform cross-site multi-path relay communication. If the capability indication information indicates that the first network device does not support the terminal devices covered by it to perform relay communication through the terminal devices covered by other network devices, the first terminal device can only send the identifier of the second terminal device covered by the first network device to the first network device, thereby saving transmission overhead. If the first network device supports the terminal devices covered by it to perform relay communication through multiple terminal devices, the first terminal device can send the identifiers of multiple second terminal devices, so that the first network device can determine the second terminal device with higher transmission efficiency based on the identifiers of multiple second terminal devices to provide relay service for the first terminal device, which can improve the data transmission efficiency of the first terminal device. If the first network device does not support the terminal devices covered by it to perform relay communication through multiple terminal devices, the first terminal device can only send the identifier of one second terminal device to the first network device, which can save transmission overhead.

[0014] In a possible implementation manner, the first condition further includes: the second terminal device accesses or resides in a cell of the first network device.

[0015] In the above technical solution, if the second terminal device needs to access or reside in the cell of the first network device, the first network device can perform multi-path relay communication configuration after receiving the identification of at least one second terminal device, without further determining whether the second terminal device is in the cell covered by the same network device as the first terminal device, thereby improving the efficiency of the first network device in configuring the first terminal device to perform multi-path relay communication.

[0016] In a possible implementation, the first terminal device sends an identifier of the first network device to the second terminal device; or, the first terminal device sends a first cell identifier and a first parameter to the second terminal device, wherein the first cell identifier is used to indicate the cell accessed by the first terminal device, and the first parameter is used to indicate the length of the identifier of the network device.

[0017] In a possible implementation, the first terminal device receives second indication information from the second terminal device, where the second indication information is used to indicate that a cell accessed or resided by the second terminal device and a cell accessed by the first terminal device belong to the same network device.

[0018] In one possible implementation, the first terminal device receives an identifier of a network device from a second terminal device, and determines, based on the identifier of the network device, that the second terminal device accesses or resides in a cell of the first network device; or, the first terminal device receives a second cell identifier and a first parameter from a second terminal device, and determines, based on the second cell identifier and the first parameter, that the second terminal device accesses or resides in a cell of the first network device, wherein the second cell identifier is used to indicate the cell in which the second terminal device accesses or resides, and the first parameter is used to indicate the length of the identifier of the network device.

[0019] In a possible implementation manner, the first request message further includes a first identifier, where the first identifier is used to indicate the first cell.

[0020] In a possible implementation, the first terminal device determines at least one second terminal device accessing or residing in the first cell.

[0021] In the above technical solution, the first network device can instruct the first terminal device to report the second terminal device of the corresponding cell according to the situation of the cell it contains. The situation may be, for example, the number of terminal devices accessing each cell, or the data transmission efficiency of the terminal devices accessing each cell, etc., which helps the first network device to select the second terminal device with better communication quality.

[0022] In a possible implementation, a first terminal device sends an index of the first target terminal device and an identifier of the first terminal device to a first target terminal device, where the first target terminal device is a second terminal device that provides relay service for the first terminal device, and the index is allocated by the first terminal device to the first target terminal device.

[0023] In the above technical solution, if the first target terminal device determined by the first network device is in a non-RRC connection state, the first network device only knows the index (index) assigned by the first terminal device to the first target terminal device, but does not know the second terminal device corresponding to the index. Therefore, the first terminal device can send the index of the first target terminal device and the identifier of the first terminal device to the first target terminal device, so that after the first target terminal device establishes an RRC connection with the first network device, the first network device can know the second terminal device corresponding to the index.

[0024] In a possible implementation, the first terminal device sends a second identifier to the first network device, where the second identifier is used to indicate a cell in which at least one second terminal device resides or accesses.

[0025] In the above technical solution, the first network device can determine whether it can be configured to provide relay service for the first terminal device based on the second identifier, thereby reducing the probability that the first terminal device cannot perform relay communication through the second terminal device configured by the first network device.

[0026] In a possible implementation, the identifier of the second terminal device is a cell-radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) or an index allocated by the first terminal device to the second terminal device; the first terminal device allocates an index to the second terminal device in a non-RRC connected state.

[0027] In the above technical solution, the second terminal device is in an RRC connected state, and the first terminal device reports the C-RNTI of the second terminal device in accordance with the provisions of the existing protocol. If the second terminal device is in a non-RRC connected state, the first terminal device can assign an index to the second terminal device, so that the first terminal device does not need to trigger all second terminal devices to enter the RRC connected state. Only when it is determined that the second terminal device configured by the first network device to provide relay services for the first terminal device is in a non-RRC connected state, the second terminal device is triggered to establish an RRC connection with the first network device, which can reduce signaling overhead.

[0028] In a possible implementation, each second terminal device of the at least one second terminal device is in an RRC connected state; the first terminal device sends indication information to the second terminal device that meets the first condition, instructing it to enter the RRC connected state.

[0029] In a possible implementation, before the first terminal device sends indication information to the second terminal device that meets the first condition, the first terminal device sends a request message to the second terminal device that meets the first condition, for obtaining the RRC status information of the second terminal device that meets the first condition, and the first terminal device sends the indication information to the second terminal device that is in a non-RRC connected state, indicating entry into an RRC connected state.

[0030] In a possible implementation, the first indication information is carried in a first message and / or a terminal equipment assistance message (UE assistance information, UAI), and the first message is used to indicate that a radio resource control (radioresource control, RRC) connection establishment is completed, an RRC connection recovery is completed, an RRC connection reconstruction is completed, or an RRC reconfiguration is completed.

[0031] In the above technical solution, the first indication information is sent through existing signaling, which can reduce signaling overhead.

[0032] In the second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a first network device, or a component (such as a processor, chip, chip system, circuit or other, etc.) configured in the first network device, or a software module. The method includes: receiving a first indication message from a first terminal device, the first indication message is used to indicate the existence or non-existence of a second terminal device, and the second terminal device has the ability to provide a relay service for the first terminal device; the second terminal device satisfies a first condition, and the first condition includes: the first terminal device communicates with the second terminal device through a first interface, the first terminal device communicates with the first network device through a second interface, the first interface is an interface of a first standard, and the second interface is an interface of a second standard.

[0033] In a possible implementation, the first network device sends a first request message to the first terminal device, where the first request message is used to request an identifier of the second terminal device.

[0034] In a possible implementation, the first network device receives an identification of at least one second terminal device from the first terminal device.

[0035] In one possible implementation, the first network device sends capability indication information to the first terminal device, and the capability indication information is used to indicate the ability of the terminal devices covered by the first network device to relay communication with other network devices through terminal devices covered by other network devices, and the ability of the terminal devices covered by the first network device to relay communication through multiple terminal devices.

[0036] In a possible implementation manner, the first condition further includes: the second terminal device accesses or resides in a cell of the first network device.

[0037] In a possible implementation manner, the first request message further includes a first identifier, where the first identifier is used to indicate the first cell.

[0038] In one possible implementation, the first network device determines the first target terminal device based on the identifier of at least one second terminal device, and sends an RRC reconfiguration message to the first terminal device, where the RRC reconfiguration message is used to configure the first terminal device to perform relay communication through the first target terminal device, and the RRC reconfiguration message includes the identifier of the first target terminal device.

[0039] In a possible implementation, the first network device receives an index from a first target terminal device and an identifier of the first terminal device, where the first target terminal device is a second terminal device providing relay service for the first terminal device, and the index is allocated by the first terminal device to the first target terminal device.

[0040] In a possible implementation, the first network device sends an RRC reconfiguration message to the first target terminal device, where the RRC reconfiguration message is used to configure the first target terminal device to provide a relay service for the first terminal device, and the RRC reconfiguration message includes an identifier of the first terminal device.

[0041] In a possible implementation, the first network device receives a second identifier from the first terminal device, where the second identifier is used to indicate a cell in which at least one second terminal device resides or accesses.

[0042] In a possible implementation manner, the identifier of the second terminal device is a C-RNTI or an index allocated by the first terminal device to the second terminal device.

[0043] In a possible implementation, the first indication information is carried in a first message and / or UAI, and the first message is used to indicate that RRC connection establishment is complete, RRC connection recovery is complete, RRC connection reconstruction is complete, or RRC reconfiguration is complete.

[0044] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a second terminal device, or a component (such as a processor, a chip, a chip system, a circuit or other, etc.) configured in the second terminal device, or a software module. The method includes: receiving an index from a first terminal device and an identifier of the first terminal device, the second terminal device providing a relay service for the first terminal device, and the index is allocated by the first terminal device to the first target terminal device.

[0045] In a possible implementation, the second terminal device sends the index and the identifier of the first terminal device to the first network device.

[0046] In one possible implementation, the second terminal device receives an identifier of a network device from the first terminal device; or, the second terminal device receives a first cell identifier and a first parameter from the first terminal device, determines the cell accessed by the first terminal device based on the first cell identifier and the first parameter, and determines that the network device corresponding to the cell and the network device corresponding to the cell accessed or resided by the second terminal device belong to the same network device, the first cell identifier is used to indicate the cell accessed by the first terminal device, and the first parameter is used to indicate the length of the identifier of the network device.

[0047] In a possible implementation, the second terminal device sends second indication information to the first terminal device, where the second indication information is used to indicate that a cell accessed or resided by the second terminal device and a cell accessed by the first terminal device belong to the same network device.

[0048] In one possible implementation, the second terminal device sends an identifier of a network device to the first terminal device, and determines the cell in which the second terminal device accesses or resides on the first network device based on the identifier of the network device; or, the second terminal device sends a second cell identifier and a first parameter to the first terminal device, wherein the second cell identifier is used to indicate the cell in which the second terminal device accesses or resides, and the first parameter is used to indicate the length of the identifier of the network device.

[0049] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a first network device, or a component (such as a processor, a chip, a chip system, a circuit or other, etc.) configured in the first network device, or a software module. The method includes: sending a second request message to a second network device, the second request message is used to request to switch the first terminal device from the first network device to the second network device, the second request message includes an identifier of at least one third terminal device; the third terminal device satisfies a second condition, the second condition includes: the first terminal device communicates with the third terminal device through a first interface, the first terminal device communicates with the first network device through a second interface, the first interface is an interface of a first standard, and the second interface is an interface of a second standard.

[0050] In the above technical solution, when the first network device determines that the first terminal device needs to switch to the second network device, the first network device can carry the identifier of the third terminal device that meets the second condition in the request message sent to the second network device, so that the second network device can configure the first terminal device to perform multi-path relay communication. The first terminal device does not need to establish an RRC connection with the first network device and then perform signaling interaction to obtain the identifier of the third terminal device, which can save signaling overhead and improve the efficiency of configuring the first terminal device to perform multi-path relay communication.

[0051] In a possible implementation, the first network device receives a first response message from the second network device, where the first response message includes an identifier of a second target terminal device, where the second target terminal device is a third terminal device that provides a relay service for the first terminal device.

[0052] In a possible implementation, the first network device sends an RRC reconfiguration message to the first terminal device, where the RRC reconfiguration message includes an identifier of the second target terminal device.

[0053] In the above technical solution, when the first terminal device receives the RRC reconfiguration message of the first network device, it can know the third terminal device that provides relay service for it, and perform relay communication through the third terminal device, which helps to reduce the communication delay of the first terminal device when switching cells.

[0054] In a possible implementation, the second request message further includes a third identifier, where the third identifier is used to indicate a cell where at least one third terminal device resides or accesses.

[0055] In a possible implementation manner, the second condition further includes: the third terminal device accesses or resides in a cell of the second network device.

[0056] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a second network device, or a component (such as a processor, a chip, a chip system, a circuit or other, etc.) configured in the second network device, or a software module. The method includes: receiving a second request message from a first network device, the second request message is used to request to switch the first terminal device from the first network device to the second network device, the second request message includes an identifier of at least one third terminal device; the third terminal device satisfies a second condition, the second condition includes: the first terminal device communicates with the third terminal device through a first interface, the first terminal device communicates with the first network device through a second interface, the first interface is an interface of a first standard, and the second interface is an interface of a second standard.

[0057] In a possible implementation manner, a second target terminal device is determined from at least one third terminal device, and the second target terminal device is used to provide a relay service for the first terminal device.

[0058] In a possible implementation, the second network device sends a first response message to the first network device, where the first response message includes an identifier of the second target terminal device.

[0059] In a possible implementation, the second request message further includes a third identifier, where the third identifier is used to indicate a cell where at least one third terminal device resides or accesses.

[0060] In a possible implementation manner, the second condition further includes: the third terminal device accesses or resides in a cell of the second network device.

[0061] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, comprising a first terminal device for executing any implementation method of the first aspect, a first network device for executing any implementation method of the second aspect, and a second terminal device for executing any implementation method of the third aspect.

[0062] In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, comprising a first network device for implementing any method of the fourth aspect, and a second network device for executing any method of the fifth aspect.

[0063] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which may be a first terminal device, or a chip or module for the first terminal device. The device has the function of implementing any implementation method of the first aspect. The function may be implemented by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0064] In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which may be a first network device or a chip for the first network device. The device has the function of implementing any implementation method of the second aspect or the fourth aspect. The function may be implemented by hardware or by executing corresponding software implementation by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0065] In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which may be a second terminal device or a chip for a second terminal device. The device has the function of implementing any implementation method of the third aspect. The function may be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0066] In an eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which may be a second network device or a chip for a second network device. The device has the function of implementing any implementation method of the fifth aspect. The function may be implemented by hardware or by executing corresponding software implementation by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0067] In a twelfth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, including a processor and an interface circuit, wherein the processor is used to communicate with other devices through the interface circuit and execute any implementation method in the first to fifth aspects above. The processor includes one or more.

[0068] In a thirteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, comprising a processor coupled to a memory, the processor being used to call a program stored in the memory to execute any implementation method in the first to fifth aspects above. The memory may be located inside the device or outside the device. And the processor may be one or more.

[0069] In the fourteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, including a processor and a memory; the memory is used to store computer instructions, and when the device is running, the processor executes the computer instructions stored in the memory so that the device executes any implementation method in the above-mentioned first to fifth aspects.

[0070] In a fifteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, comprising a unit or means for executing each step of any implementation method in the first to fifth aspects above.

[0071] In the sixteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, wherein instructions are stored in the computer-readable storage medium, which, when executed on a communication device, enables any implementation method in the above-mentioned first to fifth aspects to be executed.

[0072] In the seventeenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are executed by a communication device, any implementation method in the above-mentioned first to fifth aspects is executed.

[0073] In the eighteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program, including a program code. When the computer runs the program code, the program code executes any implementation method in the above-mentioned first to fifth aspects.

[0074] In the nineteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application also provides a chip system, including: a processor, used to execute any implementation method of the first to fifth aspects above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0075] Figure 1A A schematic diagram of an application scenario applicable to an embodiment of the present application;

[0076] Figure 1B A schematic diagram of another application scenario applicable to the embodiments of the present application;

[0077] Figure 2 A flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0078] Figure 3A A flowchart of determining at least one relay UE 1 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0079] Figure 3B Another flowchart of determining at least one relay UE 1 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0080] Figure 4 A flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0081] Figure 5 A flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0082] Figure 6 A structural block diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0083] Figure 7 A structural block diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0084] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the embodiments of the present application will be further described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Below, some terms or concepts in the embodiments of the present application are explained to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0085] In the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device is a device with wireless transceiver function, which can be a fixed device, a mobile device, a handheld device (such as a mobile phone), a wearable device, a vehicle-mounted device, or a wireless device built into the above device (for example, a communication module, a modem, or a chip system, etc.). The terminal device is used to connect people, objects, machines, etc., and can be widely used in various scenarios, such as but not limited to the following scenarios: cellular communication, device-to-device communication (device-to-device, D2D), vehicle to everything (vehicle to everything, V2X), machine-to-machine / machine-type communications (machine-to-machine / machine-type communications, M2M / MTC), Internet of Things (Internet of Things, IoT), virtual reality (virtual reality, VR), augmented reality (augmented reality, AR), industrial control (industrial control), self-driving, remote medical, smart grid (smart grid), smart furniture, smart office, smart wear, smart transportation, smart city (smart city), drones, robots and other scenarios of terminal devices. The terminal device may sometimes be referred to as user equipment (UE), terminal, access station, UE station, remote station, wireless communication device, or user device, etc. For ease of description, the terminal device is described by taking UE as an example in the embodiments of the present application. In the present application, the terminal device may also be a functional module, chip, or chip system. Optionally, the functional module, chip, or chip system may be arranged in the terminal device.

[0086] In the embodiment of the present application, the network device is a device that provides access to the terminal device. The network device may include a radio access network (RAN) device, such as a base station. The network device may be a base station, an evolved Node B in a long term evolution (LTE) system or an advanced long term evolution (LTE-A), which may be referred to as eNB or e-NodeB for short), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next generation base station (next generation NodeB, gNB) in a fifth generation (5G) mobile communication system, a next generation base station in a sixth generation (6G) mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a Wi-Fi system, etc. It may also be an access network device in an open access network (open RAN, ORAN) system, etc. Optionally, the network device may also be a module or unit that completes part of the functions of the base station. For example, the network device may be a centralized unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), or a radio unit (RU). Among them, the CU can complete the functions of the radio resource control protocol and the packet data convergence layer protocol (PDCP) of the base station, and can also complete the function of the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP); the DU can complete the functions of the radio link control layer and the medium access control (MAC) layer of the base station, and can also complete the functions of part of the physical layer or all of the physical layer. In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU or RU may also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in the ORAN system, CU can also be called O-CU, DU can also be called open (open, O)-DU, CU-CP can also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP can also be called O-CUP-UP, and RU can also be called O-RU.

[0087] For example, the network device may be a macro base station, a micro base station (also called a small station) or an indoor station, or a relay node or a donor node, etc. The network device may also be a radio network controller (RNC), a node B (NB), a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a home base station (e.g., a home evolved NodeB, or a home Node B, HNB), a base band unit (BBU) or a remote radio unit (RRU), or a Wi-Fi access point (AP), or a base band pool (BBU pool) and RRU in a cloud radio access network (CRAN), etc. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form adopted by the network device.

[0088] In the embodiment of the present application, the communication device for realizing the function of the network device may be a network device, or may be a device capable of supporting the network device to realize the function, such as a chip system, which may be installed in the network device. In the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application, the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application is described by taking the device for realizing the function of the network device as an example that the network device is used as the device.

[0089] In the embodiments of the present application, the number of nouns, unless otherwise specified, means "singular noun or plural noun", that is, "one or more". "At least one" means one or more, and "plural" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c means: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a and b and c, where a, b, c can be single or multiple.

[0090] The ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" mentioned in the embodiments of the present application are used to distinguish multiple objects, and are not used to limit the size, content, order, timing, priority or importance of the multiple objects. For example, the first information and the second information can be the same information or different information, and such names do not indicate the difference in content, size, sender / receiver, priority or importance of the two information.

[0091] The technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application can be applied to the fourth generation mobile communication technology (the 4th generation, 4G) system, such as the long term evolution (long term evolution, LTE) system, or can be applied to the fifth generation mobile communication technology (the 5th generation, 5G) system, such as the new radio (new radio, NR) system, or can also be applied to the next generation mobile communication system or other similar communication systems, such as the sixth generation mobile communication technology (the 6th generation, 6G) system, etc., without specific limitation. In addition, the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application can be applied to device-to-device (D2D) scenarios, such as NR-D2D scenarios, etc., or can be applied to vehicle to everything (V2X) scenarios, such as NR-V2X scenarios or vehicle to vehicle (vehicle-to-vehicle, V2V), etc. Alternatively, the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application can be used in the fields of intelligent driving, assisted driving, or intelligent networked vehicles.

[0092] The technical features involved in the embodiments of the present application are introduced as follows.

[0093] The remote UE can communicate with the network device (taking the base station as an example below) through a direct path, and can also communicate with the base station through an indirect path. On the direct path, the remote UE and the base station can communicate through an interface of the second standard (for example, the second interface), and the second interface is an interface of the second standard. The second standard is, for example, the 3GPP standard, and the second interface is, for example, the Uu interface. On the indirect path, the remote UE can communicate with the base station through the relay UE, the relay UE and the base station can communicate through the above-mentioned second interface, and the remote UE and the relay UE can communicate through an interface of the second standard (for example, the third interface), for example, the remote UE and the relay UE communicate through SL, and the third interface is, for example, the PC5 interface. Alternatively, the remote UE and the relay UE may communicate via a first standard interface (e.g., a first interface), for example, the remote UE and the relay UE may communicate via an ideal non-3GPP link, and the first interface may be, for example, a wired link interface (e.g., a universal serial bus (USB) interface), a Bluetooth connection interface, or a Wi-Fi connection interface.

[0094] In the scenario where the remote UE and the relay UE communicate via a non-3GPP link, the association between the remote UE and the relay UE is pre-configured or static, that is, the relay UE that can provide relay services for a certain remote UE is specified in advance. Therefore, when the base station adds a non-direct path for the remote UE, it needs to obtain the identification information of the relay UE that can provide relay services for it from the remote UE. However, the base station does not know the link used when the remote UE and the relay UE communicate, so the base station does not know whether it needs to obtain the identification information of the relay UE that can provide relay services for the remote UE.

[0095] In order to solve this technical problem, a technical solution of an embodiment of the present application is provided. In the embodiment of the present application, the remote UE can send a first indication message to the base station to inform the base station whether there is a relay UE connected via a non-3GPP link, so that the base station can determine whether it needs to obtain the identification information of the relay UE that can provide relay service for the remote UE according to the first indication message.

[0096] The embodiment of the present application is applicable to the scenario where the remote UE has maintained a direct connection path (path 1) and needs to add an indirect connection path (path 2). This scenario can also be called a multi-path relay scenario. Figure 1A and Figure 1B , which is a schematic diagram of two application scenarios of the embodiments of the present application. Figure 1A In the example, the remote terminal device is initially connected to the network device via a direct path (path 1), and a new indirect path (path 2) needs to be created (or added) to connect the remote terminal device to the network device via a relay path. Figure 1B In the example, the remote terminal device is initially connected to network device 1 via a direct path (path 1). The direct path needs to be switched to network device 2 (path 3). In addition, a new (or added) non-direct path (path 2) needs to be created to connect the remote terminal device to network device 2 via a relay path.

[0097] The terminal device communicates with the network device through the Uu interface. Figure 1A For example, the remote terminal device communicates with the network device through the Uu interface, and the relay terminal device communicates with the network device through the Uu interface, wherein the Uu interface belongs to the 3GPP standard interface. The remote terminal device and the relay terminal device communicate through a non-3GPP link, that is, the remote terminal device and the relay terminal device communicate through a non-3GPP standard interface. Optionally, for the scenario of multi-path relay in which the remote UE and the relay UE are connected through a non-3GPP link, the network architecture can also be referred to as a terminal aggregation (UE aggregation) communication architecture. In the UE aggregation communication architecture, the remote UE can also be referred to as a service terminal / service user (SUE, service UE), and the relay UE can also be referred to as a collaborative terminal / collaborative user (CUE, collaboration UE).

[0098] The method provided by the embodiment of the present application is described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings corresponding to the various embodiments of the present application, all optional steps are represented by dotted lines. In addition, for ease of understanding, the following text is described in terms of remote UE and relayUE. The "remote UE" mentioned below can be replaced by a "first terminal device", the "relay UE 1" mentioned below can be replaced by a "second terminal device", and the "relay UE 2" mentioned below can be replaced by a "third terminal device".

[0099] This application embodiment provides a communication method, see Figure 2 , which is a flowchart of the method. This method can be applied in Figure 1A The network architecture shown in Figure 1A The network architecture shown in FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 1 , the remote UE described below may be Figure 1A The remote terminal device in the network architecture shown in FIG. 1 may be a relay UE 1 described below. Figure 1A In the network architecture shown in FIG. 1 , the first network device described below may be a relay terminal device. Figure 1A Network devices in the network architecture shown.

[0100] S201: The first terminal device sends first indication information to the first network device. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the first indication information from the first terminal device. The first indication information is used to indicate whether the second terminal device exists or not.

[0101] The first terminal device (e.g., remote UE) may send the first indication information to the first network device through the second interface, and the second interface is an interface of the second standard. The first indication information may indicate that there is a second terminal device (e.g., relay UE 1) that meets the first condition, or may also indicate that there is no relay UE 1 that meets the first condition. Among them, the first condition includes that relay UE 1 is connected to the remote UE through a first interface, and the first interface is an interface of the first standard. Optionally, the first standard and the second standard are different, for example, the first standard is a non-3GPP standard, and the second standard is a 3GPP standard. Taking the first standard being a non-3GPP standard and the second standard being a 3GPP standard as an example, the first interface may be an interface such as a USB interface, a Bluetooth connection interface, or a Wi-Fi connection interface, and the second interface may be a Uu interface. In the following embodiments, connection through the first interface may also be replaced by connection through a non-3GPP link.

[0102] There may be multiple ways to implement the first indication information, which are described below with examples.

[0103] 1. A first optional implementation manner of the first indication information.

[0104] The first indication information is carried in a first message, and the first message is, for example, a message sent by the remote UE to the first network device to indicate that RRC connection establishment is complete, RRC connection recovery is complete, RRC connection reestablishment is complete, or RRC reconfiguration is complete.

[0105] When the remote UE reports the information of the relay UE, the remote UE needs to be in the RRC connection state. In the embodiment of the present application, the first indication information can be sent by using the completion message sent by the remote UE to the network device. For example, the remote UE can send the first indication information by using the RRC connection establishment completion (RRCSetupComplete) message sent to the first network device after the remote UE establishes an RRC connection with the first network device; or, the remote UE can also send the first indication information by using the RRC reconfiguration completion (RRCReconfigurationComplete) message sent to the first network device after the remote UE cell switches; or, the remote UE can also send the first indication information by using the RRC reestablishment completion (RRCReestablishmentComplete) message sent to the first network device after the remote UE reestablishes the RRC connection with the first network device; or, the remote UE can also send the first indication information by using the RRC recovery completion (RRCResumeComplete) message sent to the first network device after the remote UE restores the RRC connection with the first network device. Optionally, the remoteUE may carry the first indication information in one or more of the above-mentioned completion messages. For example, the remote UE may carry the first indication information in all completion messages sent to the first network device, or may only carry the first indication information in the RRCSetupComplete message. This embodiment of the present application is not limited.

[0106] 2. A second optional implementation manner of the first indication information.

[0107] The first indication information is carried in the UAI.

[0108] When the remote UE is in an RRC connected state, the network device may send an RRCReconfiguration message to the remote UE to instruct the remote UE to report the UAI. In an embodiment of the present application, the UAI sent by the remote UE to the network device may be used to send the first indication information. For example, when at least one of the following conditions is met, the remote UE may send the UAI to the first network device, and use the UAI to send the first indication information to the first network device.

[0109] 1. The remote UE determines that a link failure occurs between the remote UE and the relay UE 1. For example, the interface between the remote UE and the relay UE 1 is disconnected.

[0110] 2. The remote UE determines that the remote UE and the relay UE 1 cannot communicate normally. For example, the quality of the communication link between the remote UE and the relay UE 1 is lower than a threshold.

[0111] 3. The remote UE determines that relay UE 1 moves to a cell covered by other network devices.

[0112] As described above, two implementation methods of the first indication information are introduced, but the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. In one possible method, any message occurring before the first network device configures the remote UE to add a non-directly connected path can carry the first indication information.

[0113] Optionally, in a scenario where the remote UE and the relay UE communicate via a non-3GPP link, the current standard assumes that the association relationship between the remote UE and the relay UE 1 is preconfigured or static, so before executing S201, the remote UE may also determine whether there is a relay UE 1 associated with it, and if there is a relay UE 1 associated with it, the remote UE may determine that there is a relay UE 1 that satisfies the first condition, and if there is no relay UE 1 associated with it, the remote UE may determine that there is no relay UE 1 that satisfies the first condition. In the following embodiments, the relay UE 1 that satisfies the first condition may also be understood as the relay UE 1 that has an association relationship with the remote UE, and there may be only one or more relay UE 1s that satisfy the first condition.

[0114] Optionally, when determining that there is a relay UE 1 associated with the remote UE, the remote UE may further determine whether the first interface between the remote UE and the relay UE 1 can work normally. If it can work normally, it is determined that there is a relay UE 1 that meets the first condition; if it cannot work normally, it indicates that the remote UE cannot communicate with the first network device through the relay UE 1, that is, the relay UE 1 cannot provide a relay service for the remote UE, so the remote UE can determine that there is no relay UE 1 that meets the first condition.

[0115] Alternatively, when the remote UE determines that there is a relay UE 1 associated with it, it may further determine whether the link quality between it and the relay UE 1 is higher than a threshold. If it is higher than the threshold, it is determined that there is a relay UE 1 that satisfies the first condition; if it is lower than the threshold, it is determined that there is no relay UE 1 that satisfies the first condition. The link quality may be represented by parameters such as data transmission rate, and the threshold may be related to the parameter type. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific value of the threshold.

[0116] After receiving the first indication information, if the first indication information indicates that there is a relay UE 1 that meets the first condition, the first network device may obtain the identification information of the relay UE 1 from the remote UE. If the first indication information indicates that there is no relay UE 1 that meets the first condition, the first network device may not obtain the identification information of the relay UE. Therefore, optionally, after S201, steps S202 and S203 may also be included. For example, if the first indication information indicates that there is no relay UE 1, S202 and S203 may not be executed, and if the first indication information indicates that there is a relay UE 1, S202 and S203 may be executed.

[0117] S202: The first network device sends a first request message to the first terminal device. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the first request message from the first network device. The first request message is used to request identification information of the second terminal device.

[0118] Optionally, the first request information may include a first identifier for indicating the first cell. For example, the first network device may determine the number of UEs accessing each cell in the cells it contains, and determine that the cell with the least number of UEs accessing is the first cell, which helps to improve the data transmission efficiency of the non-direct path.

[0119] After receiving the first request message, the remote UE can determine the relay UE 1 accessing or residing in the first cell according to the first identifier. For example, the remote UE can obtain the identifier of the cell accessed or residing by the relay UE 1 through the non-3GPP link between the remote UE and the relay UE 1, and determine the relay UE 1 residing in the first cell according to the obtained identifier. The first identifier can be, for example, an identifier obtained by combining one or more of the NR cell global identifier (NCGI), cellIdentity, or physical cell identity (PCI).

[0120] S203: The first terminal device sends the identification of at least one second terminal device to the first network device. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the identification of at least one second terminal device from the first terminal device.

[0121] Optionally, the identifier of the at least one relay UE 1 may be sent through a second message, or may be carried in the first message of S201 and sent. If the identifier of the at least one relay UE 1 is sent through a second message, the remote UE may send the second message after receiving the first request message from the first network device, or may send the second message to the first network device after sending the first indication information to the first network device. Therefore, after executing S201, S203 may also be executed, and S202 is not executed.

[0122] The identification of the at least one relay UE 1 can be the following two cases.

[0123] Case 1: each relay UE 1 in the at least one relay UE 1 is in an RRC connected state, and the identifier of the at least one relay UE 1 is the C-RNTI of each relay UE 1.

[0124] Case 2: The at least one relay UE 1 includes a first relay UE 1 in an RRC connected state and a second relay UE 1 in a non-RRC connected state (i.e., an RRC idle state or an RRC inactive state). The identifier of the first relay UE 1 is the C-RNTI of the first relay UE 1, and the identifier of the second relay UE 1 is the index assigned to it by the remote UE.

[0125] For the above situation 1, the remote UE can also trigger the at least one relay UE 1 to enter the RRC connected state. Optionally, the remote UE can send indication information (for example, third indication information) to all or part of the relay UE 1 that meet the first condition, for indicating entering the RRC connected state. The relay UE 1 that receives the third indication information can determine whether to trigger the RRC connection establishment process based on its current RRC state. For example, if the relay UE 1 that receives the third indication information is currently in the RRC connected state, the relay UE can maintain the current RRC connected state, which can also be understood as that the relay UE does not have to perform any operation for entering the RRC connected state. If the relay UE 1 that receives the third indication information is in the RRC idle state, the relay UE triggers the RRC connection establishment process. Optionally, if the remote UE sends the third indication information only to some relay UEs 1, the relay UE 1 corresponding to the identifier of at least one relay UE 1 sent by the remote UE to the first network device in S203 may be at least one relay UE 1 in the some relay UE 1.

[0126] Alternatively, the remote UE may also send a request message for obtaining the RRC state to all or part of the relay UE 1 that meets the first condition, and receive a response message from the all or part of the relay UE 1. The remote UE may determine the relay UE 1 in the non-RRC connected state based on the response message from each relay UE 1, and send the third indication information to the relay UE 1 in the non-RRC connected state, and the relay UE 1 that receives the third indication information may trigger the RRC connection establishment process.

[0127] In the above embodiment, the establishment of the RRC connection by the relay UE 1 may refer to the process of establishing the RRC connection by the terminal device in the related art, which will not be described in detail here.

[0128] Optionally, the remote UE may also receive a C-RNTI from the at least one relay UE 1. For example, the remote UE may send a request message to the at least one relay UE 1 to obtain the C-RNTI of the at least one relay UE 1; or, each relay UE 1 sends its corresponding C-RNTI to the remote UE after entering the RRC connected state each time.

[0129] For the above situation 2, the remote UE may send a request message for obtaining the RRC status to all or part of the relay UE 1 that meet the first condition. Optionally, the response message sent by the relay UE 1 in the RRC connected state based on the request message may include not only the RRC status information but also the C-RNTI, and the response message sent by the relay UE 1 in the non-RRC connected state may only include the RRC status information. The remote UE may determine the relay UE 1 in the non-RRC connected state based on the response message from the relay UE 1, and assign an index to the relay UE 1 in the non-RRC connected state.

[0130] Optionally, the remote UE may also send to the first network device a second identifier for indicating the serving cell of the at least one relay UE 1. Optionally, the second identifier may be sent, for example, via the second message, or may be carried in the first message in S201, or may be sent via a third message.

[0131] As described in the above situation 2, the at least one relay UE 1 may include a relay UE 1 in an RRC connected state, and may also include a relay UE 1 in a non-RRC connected state. For the relay UE 1 in the RRC connected state, the second identifier is the identifier of the cell to which the relay UE 1 accesses, and for the relay UE 1 in the non-RRC connected state, the second identifier is the identifier of the cell in which the relay UE 1 resides. The second identifier may be, for example, obtained by the remote UE measuring the at least one relay UE 1; or, the second identifier may be obtained by the remote UE sending a request message to the at least one relay UE 1 to obtain the identifier of the access or resided cell, based on the response message of the at least one relay UE 1.

[0132] The second identifier can be used by the first network device to determine the relay UE 1 that can provide relay service for the remote UE. In the following embodiments, the relay UE 1 that can provide relay service for the remote UE can also be referred to as a candidate relay UE. For example, if the cell indicated by the second identifier of a relay UE 1 belongs to the cell it contains, the first network device can determine that the relay UE 1 is a candidate relay UE. Optionally, if the first request information sent by the first network device to the remote UE includes the first identifier, indicating that at least one relay UE 1 can be used as a candidate relay UE, the first network device may not determine the relevant operations of the candidate relay UE based on the second identifier.

[0133] As mentioned above, there may be only one or more relay UE 1s that meet the first condition. Optionally, when there is only one relay UE 1 that meets the first condition, the remote UE sends the identifier of the relay UE 1 to the first network device. When there are more than one relay UE 1s that meet the first condition, before executing S203, S204 may also be executed.

[0134] S204: The first terminal device determines at least one second terminal device from a plurality of second terminal devices.

[0135] Optionally, the remote UE may determine the at least one relay UE 1 based on the first request message. For example, if the first request message includes a first identifier, the remote UE may determine the relay UE 1 accessing or residing in the first cell based on the first identifier, and determine that some or all of the relay UE 1 accessing or residing in the first cell are the at least one relay UE 1. If the first request message does not include the first identifier, the remote UE may determine that some or all of the relay UE 1 among the multiple relay UE 1s that meet the first condition are the at least one relay UE 1.

[0136] Alternatively, the remote UE may also determine the at least one relay UE 1 based on the capability of the first network device. The capability is, for example, the capability of the terminal devices covered by the first network device to relay communication through the terminal devices covered by other network devices, and / or the capability of the terminal devices covered by the first network device to relay communication through multiple terminal devices. Optionally, before the remote UE determines the at least one relay UE 1 based on the capability of the first network device, it may also receive capability indication information from the first network device to indicate the capability of the first network device.

[0137] Optionally, the first network device may send the capability indication information in a variety of ways, which are described below with examples.

[0138] 1. The first network device carries the capability indication information in a system information block (SIB) broadcast by the first network device.

[0139] 2. The first network device carries the capability indication information in the RRCReconfiguration information sent to the remote UE.

[0140] 3. The first network device carries the capability indication information in the first request message in S202.

[0141] The first network device can indicate the ability of the terminal devices covered by the first network device to relay communication through the terminal devices covered by other network devices and the ability of the terminal devices covered by the first network device to relay communication through multiple terminal devices through the same information. For example, if the first network device is a network device of version (release) 18, it indicates that the first network device does not support the terminal devices covered by it to relay communication through the terminal devices covered by other network devices, and the first network device does not support the terminal devices covered by it to relay communication through multiple terminal devices, wherein the first network device does not support the terminal devices covered by it to communicate through multiple terminal devices can also be understood as the first network device only supports the terminal devices covered by it to relay communication through one terminal device. If the first network device is an R19 network device, it indicates that the first network device supports the terminal devices covered by it to relay communication through the terminal devices covered by other network devices, and the first network device supports the terminal devices covered by it to communicate through multiple terminal devices. Therefore, the first network device can simultaneously indicate the ability of the terminal devices covered by the first network device to relay communication through terminal devices covered by other network devices and the ability of the terminal devices covered by the first network device to relay communication through multiple terminal devices through the version information of the first network device.

[0142] Alternatively, the first network device may also indicate the ability of the terminal devices covered by the first network device to relay communication through terminal devices covered by other network devices and the ability of the terminal devices covered by the first network device to relay communication through multiple terminal devices through different information. For example, the first network device may indicate the ability of the terminal devices of the first network device to relay communication through terminal devices covered by other network devices through first capability information, and indicate the ability of the terminal devices covered by the first network device to relay communication through multiple terminal devices through second capability information.

[0143] Optionally, when the first network device indicates through different information the ability of the covered terminal device to relay communication through terminal devices covered by other network devices and the ability of the terminal device covered by the first network device to relay communication through multiple terminal devices, the first network device may only indicate the ability of the terminal device covered by the first network device to relay communication through terminal devices covered by other network devices, and in this case the first network device only sends the first capability information to the remote UE; or it may also only indicate the ability of the terminal device covered by the first network device to relay communication through multiple terminal devices, and in this case the first network device only sends the second capability information to the remote UE; or it may also simultaneously indicate the ability of the terminal device of the first network device to relay communication through terminal devices covered by other network devices and the ability of the terminal device covered by the first network device to relay communication through multiple terminal devices, and in this case the first network device may send the first capability information and the second capability information to the remote UE.

[0144] The capability indication information sent by the first network device is introduced above. The following describes an implementation manner in which the remote UE determines the at least one relay UE 1 based on the capability indication information from the first network device.

[0145] Among them, since the second capability information mainly affects the number of relay UE 1 identifiers sent by the remote UE to the first network device, that is, the second capability information is mainly used to determine the number of the at least one relay UE 1. For example, if the second capability information indicates that the first network device supports the terminal devices covered by it to perform relay communication through multiple terminal devices, the at least one relay UE 1 may include one or more relay UE 1. If the second capability information indicates that the first network device does not support the terminal devices covered by it to perform relay communication through multiple terminal devices, the at least one relay UE 1 only includes one relay UE 1. Therefore, if the remote UE only receives the second capability information, the remote UE can determine the corresponding number of relay UE 1 from the multiple relay UE 1s that meet the first condition based on the second capability information. If the remote UE receives the first capability information and the second capability information, the remote UE can first determine the relay UE 1 based on the first capability information, and then determine the corresponding number of relay UE 1 based on the second capability information.

[0146] If the remote UE receives the first capability information, and the first capability information indicates that the first network device supports the terminal devices covered by it to relay communication through the terminal devices covered by other network devices, the remote UE can determine that some or all of the multiple relay UE 1s that meet the first condition are the at least one relay UE 1.

[0147] If the remote receives the first capability information, and the first capability information indicates that the first network device does not support the terminal device covered by it to relay communication through the terminal device covered by other network devices, at least one relay UE 1 accessing or residing in the cell of the first network device can also be determined from the multiple relay UE 1s that meet the first condition. Figure 3A and Figure 3B , are two flow charts for determining at least one relay UE 1 provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 3A or Figure 3B The embodiment shown can be used with Figure 2 The illustrated embodiment is combined with application, e.g. Figure 3A or Figure 3B The embodiment shown can be regarded as Figure 2 A refinement of S204 is shown.

[0148] S301: The first terminal device sends the identifier of the first network device, or the first cell identifier and the first parameter to the second terminal device. Correspondingly, the second terminal device receives the identifier of the first network device, or the first cell identifier and the first parameter from the first terminal device. The first cell identifier is used to indicate the cell accessed by the remote UE, and the first parameter is used to indicate the length of the identifier of the network device.

[0149] The remote UE may determine the identity of the first network device (e.g., gNB ID#1) based on the identity of the cell to which it accesses (i.e., the first cell identity) and the first parameter, and send the determined identity of the first network device to the relay UE 1; or the remote UE may also send the first cell identity and the first parameter to the relay UE 1, and the relay UE 1 determines the identity of the network device to which the cell to which the remote UE accesses belongs. The cell identity is, for example, NCGI or NR cell identity (NR cell identity, NCI). In the following embodiments, NCGI is taken as an example, and the first parameter is, for example, gNB-ID-Length.

[0150] S302: The second terminal device determines, based on the identifier of the first network device, or the first cell identifier and the first parameter, whether the cell accessed by the first terminal device belongs to the same network device as the cell accessed or resided by the first terminal device.

[0151] Among them, the cell accessed by the remote UE and the cell accessed or resided by relay UE 1 belong to the same network device, which can also be understood as the service network device of the remote UE is the same as the service network device of relay UE 1. When relay UE 1 is in an RRC connected state, the service network device of relay UE 1 can be understood as the network device accessed by relay UE 1. When relay UE 1 is in a non-RRC connected state, the service network device of relay UE 1 can be understood as the network device where relay UE 1 resides.

[0152] Relay UE 1 can determine the identifier of the network device to which the remote UE accesses the cell (gNB ID#1) and the identifier of the network device to which the relay UE 1 accesses or resides (for example, gNB ID#2), and determine whether it and the remote UE are located in the cell covered by the same network device based on gNB ID#1 and gNB ID#2. For example, relay UE 1 can determine whether gNB ID#1 and gNB ID#2 are the same. If gNB ID#1 and gNB ID#2 are the same, it indicates that the cell to which it accesses or resides belongs to the same network device as the cell to which the remote UE accesses, and the relay UE 1 can execute S304. If gNB ID#1 and gNB ID#2 are the same, it indicates that the cell to which it accesses or resides does not belong to the same network device as the cell to which the remote UE accesses, and the relay UE 1 does not execute S304.

[0153] Optionally, if relay UE 1 receives an identifier of the first network device from the remote UE, relay UE 1 may determine the identifier of the network device to which the access or resides cell belongs based on the NCGI and gNB-ID-Length of the cell to which it accesses or resides before determining whether it and the remote UE are located in the same cell covered by the same network device based on gNB ID#1 and gNB ID#2; if relay UE 1 receives NCGI and gNB-ID-Length from the remote UE, relay UE 1 may determine the identifier of the network device to which the remote UE accesses the cell (gNB ID#1) based on the received NCGI and gNB-ID-Length, and determine the identifier of the network device to which the access or resides cell belongs based on the NCGI and gNB-ID-Length of the cell to which it accesses or resides before determining whether it and the remote UE are located in the same cell covered by the same network device based on gNB ID#1 and gNB ID#2.

[0154] S303: The second terminal device sends second indication information to the first terminal device. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the second indication information from the second terminal device. The second indication information is used to indicate that the cell where it resides or accesses belongs to the same network device as the cell accessed by the first terminal device.

[0155] S304: The first terminal device determines the at least one second terminal device based on the second indication information.

[0156] If the remote UE receives the second indication information from a certain relay UE 1 (for example, relay UE 1-a), it can be determined that the cell where the relay UE 1-a resides or accesses belongs to the same network device as the cell it accesses. Therefore, the remote UE can determine the at least one relay UE 1 from the relay UE 1 that sends the second indication information. If the remote UE does not receive the second indication information from a certain relay UE 1 (for example, relay UE 1-b), it indicates that the cell where the relay UE 1-b accesses or resides belongs to a different network device than the cell accessed by the remote UE.

[0157] S305: The first terminal device receives the identifier of the network device from the second terminal device, or receives the second cell identifier and the first parameter from the second terminal device, wherein the second cell identifier is used to indicate the cell where the second terminal device resides or accesses, and the first parameter is used to indicate the length of the identifier of the network device.

[0158] S306: The first terminal device determines the at least one second terminal device based on the identifier of the network device, or the second cell identifier and the first parameter.

[0159] The remote UE can determine the identifier of the first network device (for example, gNB ID#1), and the identifier of the network device to which the relay UE1 accesses or resides (for example, gNB ID#2), and determine whether the relay UE 1 and the remote UE are located in the cell covered by the same network device based on gNB ID#1 and gNB ID#2. The manner in which the remote UE determines whether the relay UE 1 and the remote UE are located in the cell covered by the same network device based on gNB ID#1 and gNB ID#2 can refer to the manner in which the relay UE 1 determines whether the relay UE 1 and the remote UE are located in the cell covered by the same network device based on gNB ID#1 and gNB ID#2 in S303, which will not be repeated here.

[0160] Optionally, the remote UE may also send indication information to the relay UE 1 accessing or residing in the cell of other network devices, so as to instruct the relay UE 1 accessing or residing in the cell of other network devices to perform cell reselection.

[0161] After receiving the identifier of the at least one relay UE 1, the first network device may also determine the first target terminal device (e.g., target relay UE 1) that provides relay service for the remote UE based on the identifier of the at least one relay UE 1, and send an RRCReconfiguration message to the remote UE to configure the remote UE to communicate with the first network device through the target relay UE 1. The RRCReconfiguration message carries the identifier of the target relay UE 1.

[0162] Optionally, if the target relay UE 1 is in the RRC connected state, the first network device may send an RRCReconfiguration message to the target relay UE 1 to configure the target relay UE 1 to provide a relay service for the remote UE. The RRCReconfiguration message carries an identifier of the remote UE.

[0163] If the target relay UE 1 is in a non-RRC connected state, the remote UE may also trigger the target relay UE 1 to establish an RRC connection with the first network device after receiving the RRCReconfiguration message. Figure 4 The illustrated embodiment introduces a process in which the remote UE triggers the target relay UE 1 to establish an RRC connection with the first network device.

[0164] S401: The first terminal device sends an index of the first target terminal device and an identifier of the first terminal device to the first target terminal device. Correspondingly, the first target terminal device receives the index of the first target terminal device and the identifier of the first terminal device from the first terminal device.

[0165] For example, the remote UE may send the index allocated to the target relay UE 1 and the identifier of the remote UE to the target relay UE 1 through the third message, wherein the identifier of the remote UE may be the C-RNTI of the remote UE.

[0166] If the target relay UE 1 determined by the first network device is in a non-RRC connection state, the first network device only knows the index assigned by the remote UE to the target relay UE 1, but does not know the relay UE 1 corresponding to the index. Therefore, the remote UE can send the index of the target relay UE 1 and the identifier of the remote UE to the target relay UE 1, so that after the target relay UE 1 establishes an RRC connection with the first network device, the first network device can know the relay UE 1 corresponding to the index.

[0167] Optionally, the target relay UE 1 needs to be in an RRC connected state when providing a relay service for the remote UE, so the remote UE may also trigger the target relay UE 1 to establish an RRC connection with the first network device through the third message. Alternatively, the remote UE may also perform the following S402.

[0168] S402: The first terminal device sends a fourth message to the first target terminal device. Correspondingly, the first target terminal device receives the fourth message from the first terminal device. The fourth message is used to trigger the first target terminal device to establish an RRC connection with the first network device.

[0169] Among them, S402 can be executed before or after S401, or can also be executed simultaneously with S401, and this application does not impose any limitation.

[0170] S403: The first target terminal device sends the index and the identifier of the first terminal device to the first network device. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the index and the identifier of the first terminal device from the first target terminal device.

[0171] As mentioned above, if the target relay UE 1 determined by the first network device is in a non-RRC connected state, the first network device only knows the index of the target relay UE 1, but does not know the relay UE 1 corresponding to the index. Therefore, when the target relay UE 1 receives the index and the C-RNTI of the remote UE, it can send the index and the C-RNTI of the remote UE to the first network device. For example, the target relay UE 1 can carry the index and the C-RNTI of the remote UE in the RRCSetupComplete message sent to the first network device. After receiving the index and the C-RNTI of the remote UE from the target relay UE 1, the first network device can determine the correspondence between the index and the relay UE 1, and send an RRCReconfiguration message to the target relay UE 1 to configure the target relay UE 1 to provide relay service for the remote UE.

[0172] In some embodiments, the sending and receiving of information between the first network device and the remote UE and the relay UE (e.g., the target relay UE 1) in the above process is implemented by the DU, and the decision and processing of the first network device (e.g., the specific content of the signaling interacted between the first network device and the remote UE and the target relay UE 1) is implemented by the CU. For example, the DU receives the first indication information from the remote UE and sends the first indication information to the CU; the CU determines whether it is necessary to send a first request message to the remote UE based on the first indication information, and when it is determined that the first request message needs to be sent to the remote UE, the CU sends the first request message to the DU, and the DU then sends the first request message to the remote UE.

[0173] In the ORAN system, the sending and receiving of information between the first network device and the remote UE and the relay UE (e.g., the target relay UE 1) in the above process is implemented by the O-DU, and the decision and processing of the first network device (e.g., the specific content of the signaling interacting between the first network device and the remote UE and the target relay UE 1) is implemented by the O-CU. For example, the O-DU receives the first indication information from the remote UE and sends the first indication information to the O-CU; the O-CU determines whether it is necessary to send a first request message to the remote UE based on the first indication information, and when it is determined that the first request message needs to be sent to the remote UE, it sends the first request message to the O-DU, and the O-DU then sends the first request message to the remote UE. Optionally, the operation of the O-CU in the ORAN system can also be implemented by the O-CU-CP.

[0174] In the above technical solution, the remote UE sends the first indication information to the network device, indicating the presence or absence of the relay UE 1 that meets the first condition, so that the network device can obtain the identification information of the relay UE connected to the remote UE through the non-3GPP link according to the first indication information. And the remote UE can send the identification of the relay UE 1 in the non-RRC connection state to the network device, so that the remote UE does not need to trigger the relay UE 1 to enter the RRC connection state before the network device sends the identification of the relay UE 1, thereby reducing the signaling overhead.

[0175] Based on the above embodiments, the present application also provides a communication method, please refer to Figure 5 , which is a flowchart of the method. This method can be applied in Figure 1B The network architecture shown in Figure 1B The network architecture shown in FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 1 , the remote UE described below may be Figure 1B The remote terminal device in the network architecture shown in FIG. 1 may be a relay UE 2 described below. Figure 1B In the network architecture shown in FIG. 1 , the first network device described below may be a relay terminal device. Figure 1B In the network architecture shown, the network device 1 and the second network device may be Figure 1B Network device 2 in the network architecture shown.

[0176] S501: The first network device sends a second request message to the second network device. Correspondingly, the second network device receives the second request message from the first network device. The second request message includes an identifier of at least one third terminal device.

[0177] Among them, the third terminal device (for example, relay UE 2) meets the second condition, and the second condition includes that relay UE2 is connected to the remote UE through a first interface. The first interface can refer to S201 and will not be repeated here.

[0178] The first network device may determine whether it is necessary to switch the remote UE to a cell of another network device. For example, the first network device may determine whether it is necessary to switch the remote UE to a cell of another network device based on a measurement report reported by the remote UE. The measurement report may be, for example, a measurement report obtained by the remote UE measuring a relay UE that meets the first condition. The measurement report may include information such as an identifier of the relay UE and an identifier of a cell where the relay UE accesses or resides. The identifier of the relay UE may be a C-RNTI, and the identifier of the cell may be an NCGI.

[0179] When the first network device determines that the remote UE needs to be handed over to the second network device, a second request message may be sent to the second network device, and the second request message may be, for example, a handover (HO) request message. Optionally, the second request message may also include fourth indication information and / or a third identifier, wherein the fourth indication information is used to indicate that there is a relay UE 2 that meets the second condition, and the third identifier is used to indicate a cell where the at least one relay UE 2 accesses or resides.

[0180] Optionally, if the relay UE 2 performs a cell handover or cell reselection, the identity of the relay UE 2 may change. For example, the first relay UE 2 initially accesses the cell of the second network device, and then performs a cell handover to the cell of another network device (for example, a third network device). The C-RNTI of the first relay UE 2 changes, and the identity of the first relay UE 2 saved by the first network device may still be the C-RNTI (for example, C-RNTI-1) allocated to it by the second network device, so that when the second network device configures the remote UE to perform relay communication through the first relay UE 2, the remote UE cannot find the relay UE identified as C-RNTI-1. Therefore, before executing S501, the first network device may also send a third request message to the remote UE to request to obtain the latest identity information of the relay UE 2.

[0181] Optionally, the second condition may also include that the relay UE 2 accesses or resides in a cell of the second network device. Therefore, before executing S501, the first network device may also determine at least one relay UE 2 that accesses or resides in a cell of the second network device.

[0182] S502: The second network device determines a second target terminal device that provides a relay service for the first terminal device based on the identifier of the at least one third terminal device.

[0183] Optionally, the second network device may determine the relay UE 2 accessing or residing in the cell of the second network device based on the third identifier, and determine the second target terminal device (eg, target relay UE 2) from the relay UE 2 accessing or residing in the cell of the second network device.

[0184] S503: The second network device sends a first response message to the first network device. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the first response message from the second network device. The first response message includes the identifier of the second target terminal device.

[0185] The second network device may send a first response message to the first network device to confirm that the remote UE can be received. The first response message may be, for example, a HO ACK message.

[0186] S504: The first network device sends an RRCReconfiguration message to the first terminal device. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the RRCReconfiguration message from the first network device. The RRCReconfiguration message includes the identifier of the target relayUE 2.

[0187] The RRCReconfiguration message is used to configure the remote UE to switch to the second network device. When the remote UE receives the RRCReconfiguration message, it can initiate random access to the second network device according to the RRCReconfiguration message. And the remote UE can also communicate with the second network device through the second relay UE 2.

[0188] Optionally, the RRCReconfigurationComplete message sent by the first network device to the second network device may include fifth indication information, used to indicate the presence or absence of relay UE 2 that meets the second condition.

[0189] In some embodiments, the information interaction between the first network device and the second network device in the above process may be an interaction between a CU (e.g., CU1) and a CU (e.g., CU2), and the sending and receiving of information between the first network device and the remote UE is implemented by the DU (e.g., DU1) of the first network device. For example, CU1 sends a second request message to CU2; CU2 may determine the target relay UE 2 for providing relay service for the remote UE based on the second request message, and send a first response message to CU1; after receiving the first response message, CU1 sends an RRCReconfiguration message to DU1, and DU1 then sends the RRCReconfiguration message to the remote UE.

[0190] In the ORAN system, the information interaction between the first network device and the second network device in the above process may be the interaction between the O-CU (for example, O-CU1) and the O-CU (for example, O-CU2), and the sending and receiving of information between the first network device and the remote UE is implemented by the O-DU (for example, O-DU1) of the first network device. For example, O-CU1 sends a second request message to O-CU2; O-CU2 may determine the target relay UE 2 for providing relay service for the remote UE based on the second request message, and send a first response message to O-CU1; after receiving the first response message, O-CU1 sends an RRCReconfiguration message to O-DU1, and O-DU1 then sends the RRCReconfiguration message to the remote UE. Optionally, the operation of the O-CU in the ORAN system may be implemented by the O-CU-CP.

[0191] In the above technical solution, when the first network device sends a switching request to the second network device, the identification information of the relay UE is carried in the request message sent, so that the second network device can determine the relay UE that provides relay service for the remote UE based on the identification information of the relay UE. Compared with the remote UE accessing the cell of the second network device and then sending at least one relay UE 2 identification to the second network device based on the request message of the second network device, the signaling overhead can be reduced, and the efficiency of the second network device in configuring a non-direct path for the remote UE can be improved.

[0192] Figure 6 and Figure 7 The following is a schematic diagram of the structure of possible communication devices provided by the embodiments of the present application. These communication devices can be used to implement the above Figure 2 to Figure 5In the method embodiment, the function of the first terminal device, the second terminal device, the first network device or the second network device can be realized, so the beneficial effects of the above method embodiment can also be achieved. In the embodiment of the present application, the communication device can be the first terminal device, the second terminal device, the first network device or the second network device, or it can be a module (such as a chip) applied to the first terminal device, the second terminal device, the first network device or the second network device.

[0193] Figure 6 The communication device 600 shown includes a transceiver unit 601 and a processing unit 602. The communication device 600 is used to implement the functions of the first terminal device, the second terminal device, the first network device or the second network device in the above method embodiment.

[0194] When the communication device 600 is used to execute the function of the first terminal device in the above method embodiment, the transceiver unit 601 is used to send a first indication message to the first network device, and the first indication message is used to indicate the existence or non-existence of a second terminal device, and the second terminal device can provide a relay service for the first terminal device; the second terminal device satisfies a first condition, and the first condition includes: the first terminal device communicates with the second terminal device through a first interface, and the first terminal device communicates with the first network device through a second interface, and the first interface is an interface of a first standard, and the second interface is an interface of a second standard.

[0195] In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver unit 601 is further used for receiving a first request message from the first network device, where the first request message is used to request identification information of the second terminal device.

[0196] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 601 is further configured to send an identifier of at least one second terminal device to the first network device.

[0197] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 601 is also used to receive capability indication information from the first network device, where the capability indication information is used to indicate the ability of the terminal device covered by the first network device to relay communication with the other network device through the terminal device covered by the other network device, and / or the ability of the terminal device covered by the first network device to relay communication through multiple terminal devices; the processing unit 602 is used to determine the at least one second terminal device based on the capability indication information.

[0198] In a possible implementation manner, the first condition further includes: the second terminal device accesses or resides in a cell of the first network device.

[0199] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 601 is also used to send the identifier of the first network device to the second terminal device; or, to send the first cell identifier and the first parameter to the second terminal device, where the first cell identifier is used to indicate the cell accessed by the first terminal device, and the first parameter is used to indicate the length of the identifier of the network device.

[0200] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 601 is further used to receive second indication information from a second terminal device, where the second indication information is used to indicate that a cell accessed or resided by the second terminal device and a cell accessed by the first terminal device belong to the same network device.

[0201] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 601 is further used to receive an identifier of a network device from a second terminal device; the processing unit 602 is further used to determine, based on the identifier of the network device, a cell in which the second terminal device accesses or resides on the first network device; or, the transceiver unit 601 is further used to receive a second cell identifier and a first parameter from the second terminal device, and the processing unit 602 is further used to determine, based on the second cell identifier and the first parameter, a cell in which the second terminal device accesses or resides on the first network device, wherein the second cell identifier is used to indicate the cell in which the second terminal device accesses or resides, and the first parameter is used to indicate the length of the identifier of the network device.

[0202] In a possible implementation manner, the first request message further includes a first identifier, where the first identifier is used to indicate the first cell.

[0203] In a possible implementation, the processing unit 602 is further configured to determine at least one second terminal device accessing or residing in the first cell.

[0204] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 601 is also used to send the index of the first target terminal device and the identifier of the first terminal device to the first target terminal device. The first target terminal device is a second terminal device that provides relay service for the first terminal device, and the index is allocated by the first terminal device to the first target terminal device.

[0205] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 601 is further configured to send a second identifier to the first network device, where the second identifier is used to indicate a cell in which at least one second terminal device resides or accesses.

[0206] In a possible implementation, the identifier of the second terminal device is a cell-radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) or an index allocated by the first terminal device to the second terminal device; the processing unit 602 is also used to allocate an index to the second terminal device in a non-RRC connected state.

[0207] In a possible implementation, each second terminal device of the at least one second terminal device is in an RRC connected state; the transceiver unit 601 is further used to send indication information to the second terminal device that meets the first condition, indicating entry into the RRC connected state.

[0208] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 601, before sending the indication information to the second terminal device that meets the first condition, is also used to send a request message to the second terminal device that meets the first condition, so as to obtain the RRC status information of the second terminal device that meets the first condition, and send the indication information to the second terminal device in the non-RRC connected state, instructing to enter the RRC connected state.

[0209] In a possible implementation, the first indication information is carried in a first message and / or a terminal equipment assistance message (UE assistance information, UAI), and the first message is used to indicate that a radio resource control (radioresource control, RRC) connection establishment is completed, an RRC connection recovery is completed, an RRC connection reconstruction is completed, or an RRC reconfiguration is completed.

[0210] When the communication device 600 is used to execute the function of the first network device in the above method embodiment, the transceiver unit 601 is used to receive a first indication message from the first terminal device, and the first indication message is used to indicate the existence or non-existence of a second terminal device, and the second terminal device can provide a relay service for the first terminal device; the second terminal device satisfies a first condition, and the first condition includes: the first terminal device communicates with the second terminal device through a first interface, and the first terminal device communicates with the first network device through a second interface, and the first interface is an interface of a first standard, and the second interface is an interface of a second standard.

[0211] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 601 is further configured to send a first request message to the first terminal device, where the first request message is used to request an identifier of the second terminal device.

[0212] In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver unit 601 is further configured to receive an identification of at least one second terminal device from the first terminal device.

[0213] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 601 is also used to send capability indication information to the first terminal device, where the capability indication information is used to indicate the ability of the terminal device covered by the first network device to relay communication with other network devices through terminal devices covered by other network devices, and the ability of the terminal device covered by the first network device to relay communication through multiple terminal devices.

[0214] In a possible implementation manner, the first condition further includes: the second terminal device accesses or resides in a cell of the first network device.

[0215] In a possible implementation manner, the first request message further includes a first identifier, where the first identifier is used to indicate the first cell.

[0216] In a possible implementation, the processing unit 602 is also used to determine the first target terminal device based on the identifier of at least one second terminal device, and send an RRC reconfiguration message to the first terminal device through the transceiver unit 601, where the RRC reconfiguration message is used to configure the first terminal device to perform relay communication through the first target terminal device, and the RRC reconfiguration message includes the identifier of the first target terminal device.

[0217] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 601 is also used to receive an index from a first target terminal device and an identifier of the first terminal device, where the first target terminal device is a second terminal device that provides relay services for the first terminal device, and the index is allocated by the first terminal device to the first target terminal device.

[0218] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 601 is further used to send an RRC reconfiguration message to the first target terminal device, where the RRC reconfiguration message is used to configure the first target terminal device to provide a relay service for the first terminal device, and the RRC reconfiguration message includes an identifier of the first terminal device.

[0219] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 601 is further configured to receive a second identifier from the first terminal device, where the second identifier is used to indicate a cell in which at least one second terminal device resides or accesses.

[0220] In a possible implementation manner, the identifier of the second terminal device is a C-RNTI or an index allocated by the first terminal device to the second terminal device.

[0221] In a possible implementation, the first indication information is carried in a first message and / or UAI, and the first message is used to indicate that RRC connection establishment is complete, RRC connection recovery is complete, RRC connection reconstruction is complete, or RRC reconfiguration is complete.

[0222] When the communication device 600 is used to execute the function of the second terminal device in the above method embodiment, the transceiver unit 601 is used to receive the index from the first terminal device and the identifier of the first terminal device, and the second terminal device provides relay service for the first terminal device, and the index is allocated by the first terminal device to the first target terminal device.

[0223] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 601 is further configured to send the index and the identifier of the first terminal device to the first network device.

[0224] In one possible implementation, the transceiver unit 601 is further used to receive an identifier of a network device from the first terminal device; or, the transceiver unit 601 is further used to receive a first cell identifier and a first parameter from the first terminal device; the processing unit 602 is used to determine the cell accessed by the first terminal device based on the first cell identifier and the first parameter, and to determine that the network device corresponding to the cell and the network device corresponding to the cell accessed or resided by the second terminal device belong to the same network device, the first cell identifier is used to indicate the cell accessed by the first terminal device, and the first parameter is used to indicate the length of the identifier of the network device.

[0225] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 601 is further used to send second indication information to the first terminal device, where the second indication information is used to indicate that a cell accessed or resided by the second terminal device and a cell accessed by the first terminal device belong to the same network device.

[0226] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 601 is further used to send an identifier of a network device to the first terminal device; the processing unit 602 is further used to determine, based on the identifier of the network device, a cell in which a second terminal device accesses or resides on the first network device; or, the transceiver unit 601 is further used to send a second cell identifier and a first parameter to the first terminal device, wherein the second cell identifier is used to indicate a cell in which the second terminal device accesses or resides, and the first parameter is used to indicate the length of the identifier of the network device.

[0227] When the communication device 600 is used to execute the function of the first network device in the above method embodiment, the transceiver unit 601 is used to send a second request message to the second network device, and the second request message is used to request to switch the first terminal device from the first network device to the second network device. The second request message includes an identifier of at least one third terminal device; the third terminal device satisfies a second condition, and the second condition includes: the first terminal device communicates with the third terminal device through a first interface, and the first terminal device communicates with the first network device through a second interface, the first interface is an interface of the first standard, and the second interface is an interface of the second standard.

[0228] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 601 is further configured to receive a first response message from the second network device, where the first response message includes an identifier of a second target terminal device, where the second target terminal device is a third terminal device that provides relay services for the first terminal device.

[0229] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 601 is further configured to send an RRC reconfiguration message to the first terminal device, where the RRC reconfiguration message includes an identifier of the second target terminal device.

[0230] In a possible implementation, the second request message further includes a third identifier, where the third identifier is used to indicate a cell where at least one third terminal device resides or accesses.

[0231] In a possible implementation manner, the second condition further includes: the third terminal device accesses or resides in a cell of the second network device.

[0232] When the communication device 600 is used to execute the function of the second network device in the above method embodiment, the transceiver unit 601 is used to receive a second request message from the first network device, the second request message is used to request to switch the first terminal device from the first network device to the second network device, and the second request message includes an identifier of at least one third terminal device; the third terminal device satisfies a second condition, and the second condition includes: the first terminal device communicates with the third terminal device through a first interface, the first terminal device communicates with the first network device through a second interface, the first interface is an interface of a first standard, and the second interface is an interface of a second standard.

[0233] In a possible implementation, the processing unit 602 is configured to determine a second target terminal device from at least one third terminal device, where the second target terminal device is configured to provide a relay service for the first terminal device.

[0234] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 601 is further configured to send a first response message to the first network device, where the first response message includes an identifier of the second target terminal device.

[0235] In a possible implementation, the second request message further includes a third identifier, where the third identifier is used to indicate a cell where at least one third terminal device resides or accesses.

[0236] In a possible implementation manner, the second condition further includes: the third terminal device accesses or resides in a cell of the second network device.

[0237] For a more detailed description of the processing unit 602 and the transceiver unit 601, reference may be made to the relevant description in the above method embodiment, which will not be repeated here.

[0238] Figure 7The communication device 110 shown includes necessary forms of means such as modules, units, elements, circuits, or interfaces, which are appropriately configured together to implement the present solution. The communication device 110 may be the first terminal device, the second terminal device, the first network device, or the second network device in the above method embodiment, or may be a component (such as a chip) in the first terminal device, the second terminal device, the first network device, or the second network device. The communication device 110 includes one or more processors 111. The processor 111 may be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, etc. For example, it may be a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor may be used to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processing unit may be used to control the communication device (such as the first terminal device, the second terminal device, the first network device, the second network device, or the chip, etc.), execute software programs, and process data of software programs.

[0239] Optionally, in one design, the processor 111 may include a program 113 (sometimes also referred to as code or instruction), and the program 113 may be executed on the processor 111 to enable the communication device 110 to perform the method described in the above method embodiment. In another possible design, the communication device 110 includes a circuit ( Figure 7 (not shown), the circuit is used to implement the functions of the first terminal device, the second terminal device, the first network device and the second network device in the above method embodiment.

[0240] Optionally, the communication device 110 may include one or more memories 112 on which a program 114 (sometimes also referred to as code or instructions) is stored. The program 114 can be executed on the processor 111 so that the communication device 110 executes the method described in the above method embodiment.

[0241] Optionally, the processor 111 and / or the memory 112 may include an artificial intelligence (AI) module 117, 118, and the AI ​​module is used to implement AI-related functions. The AI ​​module may be implemented by software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. For example, the AI ​​module may include a wireless network intelligent resource control (RAN intelligent controller, RIC) module. For example, the AI ​​module may be a near real-time RIC or a non-real-time RIC.

[0242] Optionally, data may also be stored in the processor 111 and / or the memory 112. The processor and the memory may be provided separately or integrated together.

[0243] Optionally, the communication device 110 may further include a transceiver 115 and / or an antenna 116. The processor 111 may also be sometimes referred to as a processing unit, which controls the communication device (e.g., a RAN node or a terminal). The transceiver 115 may also be sometimes referred to as a transceiver unit, a transceiver, a transceiver circuit, or a transceiver, etc., which is used to implement the transceiver function of the communication device through the antenna 116.

[0244] The embodiment of the present application also provides a communication device, including a processor coupled to a memory, the processor is used to call a program stored in the memory to execute the operation performed by the first terminal device, the second terminal device, the first network device or the second network device in the above method embodiment. The memory can be located inside the device or outside the device. And the processor can be one or more.

[0245] An embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, including a processor and a memory; the memory is used to store computer instructions, and when the device is running, the processor executes the computer instructions stored in the memory to perform the operations performed by the first terminal device, the second terminal device, the first network device or the second network device in the above method embodiment.

[0246] An embodiment of the present application also provides a chip system, including: a processor, used to execute the operations performed by the first terminal device, the second terminal device, the first network device or the second network device in the above method embodiment.

[0247] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, in which instructions are stored. When the computer-readable storage medium is run on a communication device, the operations performed by a remote terminal device, a relay terminal device or an access network device in the above method embodiment are executed.

[0248] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are executed by a communication device, the operations performed by the first terminal device, the second terminal device, the first network device or the second network device in the above method embodiment are executed.

[0249] The method steps in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented by hardware, or by a processor executing software instructions. The software instructions can be composed of corresponding software modules, and the software modules can be stored in a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, an erasable programmable read-only memory, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, a register, a hard disk, a mobile hard disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. Of course, the storage medium can also be a component of the processor. The processor and the storage medium can be located in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC can be located in a base station or a terminal. Of course, the processor and the storage medium can also be present in a base station or a terminal as discrete components.

[0250] In the above embodiments, it can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented by software, it can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer program or instruction is loaded and executed on a computer, the process or function described in the embodiment of the present application is executed in whole or in part. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a base station, a user device or other programmable device. The computer program or instruction may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium, for example, the computer program or instruction may be transmitted from one website site, computer, server or data center to another website site, computer, server or data center by wired or wireless means. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available medium may be a magnetic medium, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a tape; it may also be an optical medium, for example, a digital video disc; it may also be a semiconductor medium, for example, a solid-state hard disk. The computer-readable storage medium may be a volatile or nonvolatile storage medium, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile types of storage media.

[0251] In the various embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified or provided for in any logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between the different embodiments are consistent and may be referenced to each other, and the technical features in the different embodiments may be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a first terminal device, the method includes: Sending first indication information to the first network device, where the first indication information is used to indicate the existence of a second terminal device or the absence of the second terminal device, and the second terminal device has the ability to provide a relay service for the first terminal device; The second terminal device satisfies a first condition, which includes: the first terminal device communicates with the second terminal device through a first interface, the first terminal device communicates with the first network device through a second interface, the first interface is an interface of a first standard, and the second interface is an interface of a second standard.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The method further comprises: A first request message is received from the first network device, where the first request message is used to request identification information of the second terminal device.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The method further comprises: Sending an identifier of at least one second terminal device to the first network device.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The method further comprises: Receive capability indication information from the first network device, wherein the capability indication information is used to indicate the ability of terminal devices covered by the first network device to relay communication with other network devices through terminal devices covered by other network devices, and / or the ability of terminal devices covered by the first network device to relay communication through multiple terminal devices.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The first condition also includes: the second terminal device accesses or resides in the cell of the first network device.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that The method further comprises: sending the identifier of the first network device to the second terminal device; or, A first cell identifier and a first parameter are sent to the second terminal device, where the first cell identifier is used to indicate a cell accessed by the first terminal device, and the first parameter is used to indicate the length of an identifier of a network device.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that The method further comprises: Receive second indication information from the second terminal device, where the second indication information is used to indicate that a cell accessed or resided by the second terminal device and a cell accessed by the first terminal device belong to the same network device.

8. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that: The method further comprises: receiving an identifier of a network device from the second terminal device, and determining, based on the identifier of the network device, that the second terminal device accesses or resides in a cell of the first network device; or, Receive a second cell identifier and a first parameter from the second terminal device, and determine the cell in which the second terminal device accesses or resides on the first network device based on the second cell identifier and the first parameter, wherein the second cell identifier is used to indicate the cell in which the second terminal device accesses or resides, and the first parameter is used to indicate the length of the identifier of the network device.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The method further comprises: A second identifier is sent to the first network device, where the second identifier is used to indicate a cell in which the at least one second terminal device resides or accesses.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The method further comprises: An index of the first target terminal device and an identifier of the first terminal device are sent to a first target terminal device, where the first target terminal device is a second terminal device that provides a relay service for the first terminal device, and the index is allocated by the first terminal device to the first target terminal device.

11. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a first network device, the method comprises: Receiving first indication information from a first terminal device, where the first indication message is used to indicate the existence of a second terminal device or the absence of the second terminal device, and the second terminal device has the ability to provide a relay service for the first terminal device; The second terminal device satisfies a first condition, which includes: the first terminal device communicates with the second terminal device through a first interface, the first terminal device communicates with the first network device through a second interface, the first interface is an interface of a first standard, and the second interface is an interface of a second standard.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The method further comprises: A first request message is sent to the first terminal device, where the first request message is used to request an identifier of the second terminal device.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that The method further comprises: An identification of at least one second terminal device is received from the first terminal device.

14. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that: The method further comprises: Send capability indication information to the first terminal device, where the capability indication information is used to indicate the ability of the terminal devices covered by the first network device to relay communication with other network devices through terminal devices covered by other network devices, and the ability of the terminal devices covered by the first network device to relay communication through multiple terminal devices.

15. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that: The first condition also includes: the second terminal device accesses or resides in the cell of the first network device.

16. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that: The method further comprises: A second identifier is received from the first terminal device, where the second identifier is used to indicate a cell in which the at least one second terminal device resides or accesses.

17. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 16, characterized in that: The method further comprises: An index from a first target terminal device and an identifier of the first terminal device are received, where the first target terminal device is a second terminal device that provides a relay service for the first terminal device, and the index is allocated by the first terminal device to the first target terminal device.

18. The method according to claim 2 or 12, characterized in that The first request message also includes a first identifier, where the first identifier is used to indicate the first cell.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that The method further comprises: Determine at least one second terminal device accessing or residing in the first cell.

20. The method according to claim 3 or 13, characterized in that The identifier of the second terminal device is a cell radio network temporary identifier C-RNTI or an index allocated by the first terminal device to the second terminal device.

21. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that: The first indication information is carried in a first message and / or a terminal device auxiliary message, and the first message is used to indicate that the radio resource control RRC connection establishment is completed, the RRC connection recovery is completed, the RRC connection reconstruction is completed, or the RRC reconfiguration is completed.

22. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a second terminal device, the method includes: An index from a first terminal device and an identifier of the first terminal device are received, wherein the index is allocated by the first terminal device to the second terminal device, and the second terminal device provides a relay service for the first terminal device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein: The method further comprises: The index and the identifier of the first terminal device are sent to the first network device.

24. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a first network device, the method comprises: Sending a second request message to a second network device, where the second request message is used to request that the first terminal device be switched from the first network device to the second network device, and the second request message includes an identifier of at least one third terminal device; The third terminal device satisfies the second condition, which includes: the first terminal device communicates with the third terminal device through a first interface, the first terminal device communicates with the first network device through a second interface, the first interface is an interface of the first standard, and the second interface is an interface of the second standard.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein: The method further comprises: A first response message is received from the second network device, where the first response message includes an identifier of a second target terminal device, and the second target terminal device is a third terminal device that provides a relay service for the first terminal device.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein: The method further comprises: A radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration message is sent to the first terminal device, wherein the RRC reconfiguration message includes an identifier of the second target terminal device.

27. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to the second network device, the method comprises: receiving a second request message from the first network device, where the second request message is used to request that the first terminal device be switched from the first network device to the second network device, and the second request message includes an identifier of at least one third terminal device; The third terminal device satisfies the second condition, which includes: the first terminal device communicates with the third terminal device through a first interface, the first terminal device communicates with the first network device through a second interface, the first interface is an interface of the first standard, and the second interface is an interface of the second standard.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein: The method further comprises: A second target terminal device is determined from the at least one third terminal device, where the second target terminal device is used to provide a relay service for the first terminal device.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein: The method further comprises: A first response message is sent to the first network device, where the first response message includes an identifier of the second target terminal device.

30. The method according to any one of claims 24 to 29, characterized in that: The second request message also includes a third identifier, and the third identifier is used to indicate the cell where the at least one third terminal device resides or accesses.

31. The method according to any one of claims 24 to 30, characterized in that: The second condition also includes: the third terminal device accesses or resides in the cell of the second network device.

32. A communication system, characterized in that: It comprises a first terminal device for executing the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 10 and 19 to 21, a first network device for executing the method as described in any one of claims 11 to 21, and a second terminal device for executing the method as described in claim 22 or 23.

33. A communication system, characterized in that: It comprises a first network device for executing the method according to any one of claims 24 to 26 and 30 to 31, and a second network device for executing the method according to any one of claims 27 to 31.

34. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises a processor and a memory, wherein the memory is coupled to the processor, and the processor is used to call computer instructions in the memory to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, 19 to 21, or to execute the method according to any one of claims 11 to 21, or to execute the method according to any one of claims 22 to 23, or to execute the method according to any one of claims 24 to 26, 30 to 31, or to execute the method according to any one of claims 27 to 31.

35. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium stores computer-executable instructions, which, when called by the computer, are used to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10 or 19 to 21, or to execute the method according to any one of claims 11 to 21, or to execute the method according to any one of claims 22 to 23, or to execute the method according to any one of claims 24 to 26 or 30 to 31, or to execute the method according to any one of claims 27 to 31.

36. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product includes a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, 19 to 21, or enables the computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 11 to 21, or enables the computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 22 to 23, or enables the computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 24 to 26, 30 to 31, or enables the computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 27 to 31.

37. A computer program, characterized in that The method comprises a program code, and when the computer runs the program code, the program code executes the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, 19 to 21, or the program code executes the method according to any one of claims 11 to 21, or the program code executes the method according to any one of claims 22 to 23, or the program code executes the method according to any one of claims 24 to 26, 30 to 31, or the program code executes the method according to any one of claims 27 to 31.

38. A chip, characterized in that: The chip is coupled to the memory and is used to read and execute program instructions stored in the memory to implement the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 10, 19 to 21, or the method as described in any one of claims 11 to 21, or the method as described in any one of claims 22 to 23, or the method as described in any one of claims 24 to 26, 30 to 31, or the method as described in any one of claims 27 to 31.

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