Information indication method, repeater and network equipment

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides an information indication method, a repeater and network equipment. The method comprises the following steps: a repeater obtains first information; and the transponder determines to receive or transmit on an access link at a first time by using a first beam at least based on the first information and / or a communication standard definition rule.

Description

Information indication method, repeater and network device Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communication technology. Background Art

[0002] Compared with traditional 3G (third generation mobile communication technology) and 4G (fourth generation mobile communication technology) systems, 5G (fifth generation mobile communication technology) systems can provide larger bandwidth and higher data rates, and can support more types of terminals and vertical services.

[0003] To this end, in addition to traditional telecom spectrum, 5G systems are also being deployed on new spectrum with significantly higher frequencies than the traditional telecom spectrum used by 3G and 4G systems. For example, 5G systems can be deployed in millimeter wave bands (28 GHz, 38 GHz, 60 GHz, and above).

[0004] According to the propagation laws of wireless signals, the higher the carrier frequency, the more severe the signal fading during propagation. Therefore, in actual deployment, 5G systems require cell coverage enhancement methods even more than previous 3G and 4G systems, especially 5G systems deployed in the millimeter wave frequency band. How to better enhance 5G system cell coverage has become a pressing issue.

[0005] It should be noted that the above introduction to the technical background is merely intended to provide a clear and complete description of the technical solutions of this application and facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art. Simply because these solutions are described in the background technology section of this application, it should not be assumed that the above technical solutions are well known to those skilled in the art.

[0006] Summary of the Invention

[0007] To better address coverage issues in cellular mobile communication system deployments, RF relays (RF relays / repeaters) are commonly used to amplify and forward communication signals between terminal devices and network equipment. RF relays are widely used in 3G and 4G system deployments. Generally speaking, RF relays are devices that amplify and forward signals between network equipment and terminal devices in the RF domain.

[0008] The inventors discovered that using radio frequency repeaters to enhance coverage is a viable solution to the coverage issues encountered during 5G system deployment. However, traditional repeaters lack the ability to communicate with network equipment and cannot adjust forwarding based on actual network conditions. Therefore, while such repeaters can help enhance signal strength to a certain extent in 5G systems, they lack flexibility and are unable to adapt to complex environmental changes. Compared to similar radio frequency repeaters deployed in 3G and 4G systems, their forwarding efficiency and effectiveness are inferior.

[0009] To address at least one of the above-mentioned issues, embodiments of the present application provide an information indication method, a repeater, and a network device. The repeater has the ability to communicate with network devices, enabling better signal coverage and adapting to environmental changes under network configurations (for example, reducing interference with other network devices and terminal devices during forwarding), thereby improving the transmission efficiency of the entire network.

[0010] According to one aspect of an embodiment of the present application, there is provided an information indication method, including:

[0011] The forwarder obtains the first information;

[0012] The repeater determines to receive or transmit on an access (AC) link using a first beam at a first time based at least on the first information and / or a communication standard definition rule.

[0013] According to another aspect of an embodiment of the present application, a repeater is provided, including:

[0014] an acquiring unit configured to acquire first information;

[0015] A determining unit, which determines, based at least on the first information and / or a communication standard definition rule, to use a first beam to receive or transmit on an access link at a first time.

[0016] According to another aspect of an embodiment of the present application, there is provided an information indication method, including:

[0017] The network device sends first information to the forwarder;

[0018] The repeater determines to use the first beam to receive or transmit on the access (AC) link at the first time based at least on the first information and / or a communication standard definition rule.

[0019] According to another aspect of an embodiment of the present application, a network device is provided, including:

[0020] a sending unit configured to send first information to the forwarder;

[0021] The repeater determines to use the first beam to receive or transmit on the access link at the first time based at least on the first information and / or a communication standard definition rule.

[0022] According to another aspect of an embodiment of the present application, a communication system is provided, including:

[0023] a network device that sends first information to the forwarder; and

[0024] A repeater determines, based at least on the first information and / or a communication standard definition rule, to use a first beam to receive or transmit on an access link at a first time.

[0025] One of the beneficial effects of the embodiments of the present application is that: a forwarder obtains first information; and the forwarder determines, based at least on the first information and / or communication standard definition rules, to use a first beam to receive or transmit on an access (AC) link at a first time. Thus, the forwarder can determine forwarding of the AC link based on the first information and / or communication standard definition rules, thereby better enhancing signal coverage and responding to changes in the environment and primary services within the cell, thereby improving the transmission efficiency of the entire network.

[0026] With reference to the following description and accompanying drawings, specific embodiments of the present application are disclosed in detail, indicating the manner in which the principles of the present application can be employed. It should be understood that the embodiments of the present application are not limited in scope. Within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the embodiments of the present application include many variations, modifications and equivalents.

[0027] Features described and / or illustrated with respect to one embodiment may be used in the same or similar manner in one or more other embodiments, combined with features in other embodiments, or substituted for features in other embodiments.

[0028] It should be emphasized that the term "include / comprising" when used herein refers to the presence of features, integers, steps or components, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The elements and features described in one figure or one embodiment of the present application can be combined with the elements and features shown in one or more other figures or embodiments. In addition, in the accompanying drawings, similar reference numerals represent corresponding parts in several figures and can be used to indicate corresponding parts used in more than one embodiment.

[0030] The included drawings are used to provide a further understanding of the embodiments of the present application, which constitute a part of the specification, are used to illustrate the implementation methods of the present application, and together with the text description, explain the principles of the present application. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without inventive work. In the drawings:

[0031] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario of an embodiment of the present application;

[0032] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of an NCR according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0033] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of NCR forwarding according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0034] FIG4 is another schematic diagram of NCR forwarding according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0035] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of an information indication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0036] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of a transponder according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0037] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of information indication according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0038] FIG8 is a schematic diagram of a network device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0039] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] The above and other features of the present application will become apparent through the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description and the accompanying drawings, specific embodiments of the present application are disclosed in detail, which illustrate some embodiments in which the principles of the present application can be adopted. It should be understood that the present application is not limited to the described embodiments. On the contrary, the present application includes all modifications, variations and equivalents that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

[0041] In the embodiments of the present application, the terms "first", "second", etc. are used to distinguish different elements from the name, but do not indicate the spatial arrangement or temporal order of these elements, and these elements should not be limited by these terms. The term "and / or" includes any one and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed terms. The terms "comprising", "including", "having", etc. refer to the presence of the stated features, elements, components or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components or components.

[0042] In the embodiments of this application, the singular forms "a," "the," etc. include plural forms and should be broadly understood to mean "a" or "a type" rather than being limited to "one." Furthermore, the term "said" should be understood to include both singular and plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, the term "according to" should be understood to mean "at least in part based on...", and the term "based on" should be understood to mean "at least in part based on...", unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0043] In the embodiments of the present application, the term "communication network" or "wireless communication network" may refer to a network that complies with any of the following communication standards, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE), enhanced Long Term Evolution (LTE-A, LTE-Advanced), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), High-Speed ​​Packet Access (HSPA), etc.

[0044] Furthermore, communication between devices in the communication system may be carried out according to communication protocols of any stage, for example, including but not limited to the following communication protocols: 1G (generation), 2G, 2.5G, 2.75G, 3G, 4G, 4.5G and future 5G, New Radio (NR), etc., and / or other currently known or future communication protocols to be developed.

[0045] In the embodiments of the present application, the term "network device" refers to, for example, a device in a communication system that connects a terminal device to the communication network and provides services to the terminal device. Network devices may include, but are not limited to, the following devices: base station (BS), access point (AP), transmission reception point (TRP), broadcast transmitter, mobile management entity (MME), gateway, server, radio network controller (RNC), base station controller (BSC), etc.

[0046] Base stations may include, but are not limited to, NodeB (NB), evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), 5G base stations (gNB), IAB hosts, and the like. They may also include remote radio heads (RRHs), remote radio units (RRUs), relays, or low-power nodes (e.g., femto, pico, etc.). The term "base station" may include some or all of their functions, and each base station may provide communication coverage for a specific geographic area. The term "cell" may refer to a base station and / or its coverage area, depending on the context in which the term is used.

[0047] In the embodiments of the present application, the term "user equipment" (UE) refers to, for example, a device that accesses a communication network through a network device and receives network services, and may also be referred to as "terminal equipment" (TE). Terminal equipment may be fixed or mobile, and may also be referred to as a mobile station (MS), terminal, user, subscriber station (SS), access terminal (AT), station, etc.

[0048] Terminal devices may include, but are not limited to, the following devices: cellular phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), wireless modems, wireless communication devices, handheld devices, machine-type communication devices, laptop computers, cordless phones, smartphones, smart watches, digital cameras, etc.

[0049] For another example, in scenarios such as the Internet of Things (IoT), the terminal device can also be a machine or device for monitoring or measurement, including but not limited to: machine type communication (MTC) terminal, vehicle-mounted communication terminal, device-to-device (D2D) terminal, machine-to-machine (M2M) terminal, and so on.

[0050] To enhance coverage, 3GPP Rel-17 introduced RF repeaters to forward transmissions between user equipment (UE) and network equipment (base stations). The RF repeaters introduced in Rel-17 are transparent to both the network and user equipment, meaning they are unaware of their presence.

[0051] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario of an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 1, for the convenience of explanation, a network device (such as a 5G base station gNB) 101, a repeater (Repeater) 102 and a terminal device (such as UE) 103 are taken as an example for explanation, but the present application is not limited to this.

[0052] As shown in Figure 1, terminal device 103 establishes a connection with network device 101 and communicates with it. To improve communication quality, the channels / signals transmitted between terminal device 103 and network device 101 are forwarded via repeater 102. The channel / signal interaction between network device 101, terminal device 103, and repeater 102 all utilizes a beam-based reception and transmission method.

[0053] As shown in FIG1 , the network device 101 may have a cell / carrier, and the network device 101, the forwarder 102, and the terminal device 103 may forward / communicate in the cell; however, the present application is not limited thereto, for example, the network device 101 may also have other cells / carriers.

[0054] In the embodiments of the present application, existing services or future services can be transmitted between the network device and the terminal device. For example, these services may include but are not limited to: enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), massive machine type communication (mMTC), ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC), and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, etc.

[0055] Traditional repeaters lack the ability to communicate with network devices. Therefore, while they can help boost signal strength, they lack the flexibility to adapt to complex environmental changes. Deploying traditional repeaters in 5G networks (especially those operating at higher frequencies) can cause unnecessary interference to other network devices and / or terminal devices, thereby reducing the transmission efficiency (e.g., throughput) of the entire network. To make repeater forwarding more flexible and adaptable to the characteristics of 5G networks, network devices need to assist the repeaters and be able to configure their forwarding according to network conditions.

[0056] To enhance NR coverage, 3GPP Release 18 proposes a network-controlled repeater (NCR) solution to forward signals between network devices and terminal devices. The NCR can communicate directly with network devices via a control link to assist in NCR forwarding operations.

[0057] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an NCR according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 2, NCR 202 is configured between network device 201 and terminal device 203. NCR 202 may include the following two modules / components: a mobile terminal (NCR-MT) and a forwarding module (NCR-Fwd); the NCR-Fwd may also be referred to as a routing unit (NCR-RU) of the NCR-RU. The NCR-MT is used to communicate with the network device, and the NCR-Fwd is used to forward signals between the network device and the terminal device.

[0058] As shown in Figure 2, the NCR of the embodiment of the present application can have three links: a control link (C-link), a backhaul link (BH link) for forwarding, and an access link (AC link). Among them, the C-link is used for communication between the NCR and network devices. The BH link is used for the forwarder to receive signals to be forwarded from the network device, or to forward signals from the terminal device to the network device. The AC link is used for the forwarder to forward signals from the network device to the terminal device, or to receive signals to be forwarded from the terminal device.

[0059] The inventors recognize that 5G systems are more complex than previous 3G and 4G systems. For example, they must support a wider variety of services and terminal types and must be deployed in multiple frequency bands and scenarios. Compared to traditional RF repeaters, NCRs must have beam-based capabilities.

[0060] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of NCR forwarding in accordance with an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 3, a forwarder uses a transmit beam on an AC link to forward signals from a network device. Figure 4 is another schematic diagram of NCR forwarding in accordance with an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 4, a forwarder uses a receive beam on an AC link to receive signals for forwarding to a network device.

[0061] However, the inventors have found that there is currently no specific solution for how the repeater determines the AC link beam and other information. In other words, how the repeater determines the AC link forwarding information (beam, time, signal direction, etc.) has become an urgent problem to be solved.

[0062] In addition, during the service process, conflicts between different service types and terminal types are also allowed, and a system conflict resolution solution is provided. For example, when a URLLC service with high reliability and latency requirements arrives, the ongoing transmission of eMBB service data may be interrupted or abandoned so that the URLLC service data with higher priority can be transmitted in a timely and reliable manner. In addition, due to the advanced and complex functions of the 5G system, the network side may have reconfiguration and rewriting operations during configuration and scheduling. The main purpose of NCR is to cover areas with poor network signal quality. The terminals served by NCR can be various terminals. Therefore, the signals forwarded by NCR for interaction between the network side and the terminal side may have different priorities.

[0063] In view of the above understanding, the inventors also believe that considering how NCR avoids or handles conflicts in configurations such as beam indication in the AC link is a further urgent problem to be solved in the process of designing NCR serving 5G networks.

[0064] The following describes various implementations of the present application in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. These implementations are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the present application.

[0065] In an embodiment of the present application, a repeater can communicate with a network device. The repeater can receive a communication channel / signal sent by the network device and demodulate / decode the channel / signal to obtain information sent by the network device to the repeater. This signal processing process is hereinafter referred to as "communication". The repeater can also forward a channel / signal transmitted between a network device and a terminal device. The repeater does not demodulate / decode the channel / signal, but can perform amplification and other processing. This signal processing process is hereinafter referred to as "forwarding". "Communication" and "forwarding" are collectively referred to as "transmission". In addition, "sending or receiving on an AC link" can be equivalent to "forwarding on an AC link", and "sending or receiving on a control link" can be equivalent to "communicating on a control link". The above terms are for convenience of explanation only and do not constitute a limitation of this application.

[0066] For convenience, the channel / signal used for direct communication between a network device and a repeater, or between a third device (e.g., a terminal device) and a repeater, can be referred to as a communication signal. When transmitting a communication signal, the repeater must encode and / or modulate it, and when receiving a communication signal, the repeater must decode and / or demodulate it. Furthermore, the channel / signal forwarded by a repeater can be referred to as a forwarded signal. The repeater may perform signal processing such as amplification on the forwarded signal, but does not decode and / or demodulate it.

[0067] In the embodiments of the present application, the repeater can also be expressed as a repeater, a RF repeater, a repeater, a RF repeater; or it can also be expressed as a repeater node, a repeater node, a repeater node; or it can also be expressed as an intelligent repeater, an intelligent repeater, an intelligent repeater, an intelligent repeater node, an intelligent repeater node, an intelligent repeater node, etc., but the present application is not limited to this.

[0068] In an embodiment of the present application, the network device can be a device of the service cell of the terminal device, a device of the cell where the repeater is located, a device of the service cell of the repeater, or a parent node of the repeater. The present application does not impose any restrictions on the name of the repeater. As long as the device can realize the above functions, it is included in the scope of the repeater of the present application.

[0069] In the embodiment of the present application, beam can also be expressed as a lobe, a reference signal (RS), a transmission configuration indication (TCI), a spatial domain filter, etc.; or, it can also be expressed as a beam index, a lobe index, a reference signal index, a transmission configuration indication index, a spatial domain filter index, etc. The above-mentioned reference signals are, for example, a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), a sounding reference signal (SRS), an RS for use by a repeater, an RS sent by a repeater, etc. The above-mentioned TCI can also be expressed as a TCI state. The embodiments of the present application are not limited to this.

[0070] Embodiments of the first aspect

[0071] An embodiment of the present application provides an information indication method, which is described from the perspective of a forwarder.

[0072] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of an information indication method according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG5 , the method includes:

[0073] 501, the forwarder obtains first information; and

[0074] 502. The repeater determines, based at least on the first information and / or a communication standard definition rule, to use a first beam to receive or transmit on an access (AC) link at a first time.

[0075] It is worth noting that FIG5 above is merely a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the present application, and the present application is not limited thereto. For example, the execution order of the various operations may be appropriately adjusted, and other operations may be added or some operations may be reduced. Those skilled in the art may make appropriate modifications based on the above description, and are not limited to the description of FIG5 above.

[0076] Therefore, the repeater can determine the forwarding of the AC link based on the first information and / or communication standard definition rules, which can better enhance signal coverage and cope with changes in the environment and main services in the cell, thereby improving the transmission efficiency of the entire network.

[0077] In some embodiments, the repeater determines the first beam and / or the first time according to at least one of the following: communication standard definition rules, dynamic signaling, semi-static signaling, and Operation Administration and Maintenance (OAM) configuration information.

[0078] For example, the first beam can be determined by the NCR itself using predefined rules in a standard protocol. For another example, the number of beams used for AC link forwarding can be set by the NCR at the factory, and the NCR can then select one of multiple beams. For another example, the NCR can determine the first beam by receiving system information and / or utilizing other information. Determining the first beam based on predefined rules or factory settings can help reduce NCR complexity and lower NCR equipment costs. For example, this implementation can be applied to periodically transmitted public signals.

[0079] For another example, the network side (gNB or OAM) configures / indicates the first beam for the NCR. This can be done through dynamic signaling, semi-static signaling, or OAM configuration information. Having the network side configure / indicate the first beam for the NCR provides greater flexibility, allowing the network side to configure / indicate the first beam for the NCR based on actual needs. For example, this implementation can be applied to aperiodic signals, etc.

[0080] In some embodiments, the first time includes at least one time unit, the at least one time unit is continuous in the time domain, or the at least one time unit is discontinuous in the time domain. The time unit is, for example, a subframe, a time slot, a symbol, a mini-slot, etc.

[0081] In some embodiments, the first information is carried by semi-static signaling, and / or the first information is configured by an OAM entity, and / or the first information is carried by a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) or dynamic signaling.

[0082] In some embodiments, the first information is used to indicate the first time, and / or the first information is used to indicate the first beam, and / or the first information is used to instruct the forwarder to receive or transmit on the access link. The flexibility of the first information indication facilitates the reuse of existing signaling and / or indication information in the 5G system in different application scenarios, which can reduce standardization work, accelerate the standardization process, help speed up industry upgrading, and enable the telecommunications industry to adapt to emerging applications and emerging fields more quickly and better.

[0083] For example, the first beam is determined by the NCR according to a predefined rule, and the first time is indicated by first information (for example, by receiving dynamic signaling, semi-static signaling, or OAM configuration).

[0084] For another example, the first time is determined by the NCR according to a predefined rule, and the first beam is indicated through first information (for example, by receiving dynamic signaling, semi-static signaling, or OAM configuration).

[0085] For another example, the first beam and the first time are both determined by the NCR according to predefined rules, and the forwarder is instructed to receive or transmit on the access link through first information (for example, by receiving dynamic signaling, semi-static signaling or OAM configuration).

[0086] In some embodiments, the indication of the first beam is based on a beam index, and / or the indication of the first beam is based on a synchronization signal block (SSB) index, and / or the indication of the first beam is based on a reference signal index. The indication of the first beam based on the beam index may also be a beam number of an AC link. The indication of the first beam based on the SSB index or the reference signal index may also be that the first beam is named according to the SSB index or the reference signal index.

[0087] The indication of the first beam may be an indication of a beam index corresponding to the first beam, and / or an indication of an SSB index corresponding to the first beam, and / or an indication of a reference signal index corresponding to the first beam. The beam and the beam index (or SSB index, or reference signal index) have a one-to-one correspondence. The correspondence between the beam and the beam index (or SSB index, or reference signal index) may be determined by the repeater, or indicated by the network side repeater. Once the correspondence between the beam and the beam index (or SSB index, or reference signal index) is determined, it will not change, or it will not change until the repeater is reset and / or reconfigured and / or re-indicated and / or restarted or started next time.

[0088] In some embodiments, the first information is used to instruct the repeater to use the first beam to receive or transmit on the access link at the first time.

[0089] For example, the first time, the first beam, and the forwarding direction are all indicated by the first information.

[0090] In some embodiments, the first information is used to indicate the first time and the first beam; the repeater obtains second information, and the second information is at least used by the repeater to determine whether to use the first beam to receive or send on the access link at the first time.

[0091] In some embodiments, the second information is carried by dynamic signaling and / or semi-static signaling, and / or the second information is configured by an OAM entity.

[0092] For example, the first time and the first beam are indicated by the first information, and other information (such as the forwarding direction, etc.) is indicated by the second information.

[0093] In some embodiments, the second information at least indicates that the first time includes uplink time units and / or downlink time units and / or flexible time units. For example, the second information includes time division duplex (TDD) uplink and downlink configuration information.

[0094] For example, when the network side indicates a beam, it can also indicate the forwarding direction of the beam.

[0095] For another example, the AC link has consistency in transmission and reception, that is, the beams used for forwarding uplink or downlink are consistent. In this case, even if the network side does not specify whether the beam is uplink or downlink, for example, only indicating one beam (for example, indicating the index of the beam), the network side and the NCR will not be ambiguous about which beam it is. In this case, in a specific embodiment, the NCR can also judge / determine the propagation direction of the signal forwarded by the indicated beam in combination with other information (for example, TDD config). This embodiment can reduce repeated indications.

[0096] In some embodiments, the repeater determines to use the first beam to receive on the access link during the uplink time unit of the first time.

[0097] In some embodiments, the repeater determines to use the first beam to transmit on the access link during a downlink time unit of the first time.

[0098] In some embodiments, the repeater determines to receive or transmit on the access link using the first beam during at least one flexible time unit of the first time.

[0099] In some embodiments, the forwarder determines that at least one flexible time unit of the first time does not perform reception and does not perform transmission on the access link.

[0100] In some embodiments, the first information is used to indicate a first time, and the first time is related to a first signal. The first signal is not generated by the repeater, and / or the repeater does not demodulate or decode the first signal. That is, the first signal is the aforementioned forwarded signal.

[0101] For example, the first information indicates the time (first time) of forwarding the common signal, and the first beam is determined by the NCR itself, or determined according to predefined rules, or determined randomly. The repeater does not perform signal processing such as demodulation on the signal it forwards. The repeater only amplifies the signal it forwards. The performance of the beam used by the repeater in the AC link can be evaluated by measurements of third-party equipment (such as terminal equipment) and / or network-side measurements. The repeater does not perform any measurements on the signal it forwards. Therefore, the specific correspondence between the name of the beam and the beam will not affect the network side's indication and configuration of the forwarding behavior of the repeater. The NCR's self-determination of the beam can reduce the network side's indication / configuration signaling overhead and reduce the complexity of the network side.

[0102] In some embodiments, the repeater determines the first beam, where the first beam is associated with the first signal; and the repeater determines to use the first beam to receive or transmit the first signal on the access link at the first time.

[0103] In some embodiments, the first signal includes at least an SSB with an index of n; the first information includes system information, and the first time includes at least a time unit corresponding to the SSB index n.

[0104] In some embodiments, a repeater determines the SSB index n for transmission on the access link.

[0105] In some embodiments, the SSB index n is configured or indicated by the network side, and / or, the SSB index n is predefined by the communication standard, and / or, the SSB index n is pre-set in the repeater.

[0106] In some embodiments, a repeater determines the first beam for transmitting the SSB with index n on the access link.

[0107] In some embodiments, the repeater determines the number N of SSBs to be sent on the access link and / or the index of the N SSBs to be sent on the access link, and the SSB index n is one of the indexes of the N SSBs; the number N of SSBs and / or the index of the N SSBs are pre-set, or the number N of SSBs and / or the index of the N SSBs are predefined by the communication standard, or the number N of SSBs and / or the index of the N SSBs are configured or indicated for the repeater by the network side.

[0108] In some embodiments, the value of the number of SSBs N is pre-set, and the forwarder reports the number of SSBs N to the network side. In addition, the network side configures / indicates the indexes of the N SSBs to the forwarder.

[0109] In some embodiments, the repeater determines N beams for transmitting the N SSBs on the access link, and determines a correspondence between the N beams and the N SSBs.

[0110] For example, N may also be the number of beams used to forward SSB, and / or, N may also be the number of forwarding beams supported by the repeater on the AC link, and / or, N may also be the number of forwarding beams used by the repeater on the AC link.

[0111] In some embodiments, the forwarder determines the N beams used to transmit the N SSBs on the access link based on a network-side configuration and / or instruction, or the forwarder determines the N beams used to transmit the N SSBs on the access link based on a communication standard-defined rule, or the forwarder independently determines the N beams used to transmit the N SSBs on the access link. For example, a communication standard-defined rule states that SSBs with smaller index numbers correspond to beams with smaller index numbers.

[0112] In some embodiments, the first beam corresponds to the SSB index n in a one-to-one relationship, and the one-to-one correspondence remains unchanged until the repeater is restarted and / or reconfigured. This can avoid ambiguity when the network side configures / instructs the NCR to forward the AC link beam.

[0113] For example, the NCR independently determines the beam to be used and does not change it after determination.

[0114] In some embodiments, the first time further includes a time unit or a random access opportunity (RACH occasion) corresponding to the SSB index n for sending a random access preamble (RACH preamble). The first signal further includes a signal transmitted using time domain and / or frequency domain resources corresponding to the time unit or the random access opportunity (RACH occasion) corresponding to the SSB index n for sending a random access preamble (RACH preamble).

[0115] In some embodiments, the first signal includes at least one of the following signals, channels, or information, or the first signal is related to at least one of the following signals, channels, or information:

[0116] Synchronization signal (SS),

[0117] Synchronization Signal Block (SSB),

[0118] System Information Block (SIB),

[0119] Master Information Block (MIB),

[0120] Msg1 (Random Access Channel, RACH),

[0121] Msg2,

[0122] Msg3,

[0123] Msg4,

[0124] Msg5,

[0125] Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) for scheduling (or triggering) Msg1 and / or Msg2 and / or Msg3 and / or Msg4 and / or Msg5,

[0126] Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) used to carry Msg2 and / or Msg4,

[0127] Physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) used to carry Msg3 and / or Msg5,

[0128] Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSIRS),

[0129] Sounding Reference Signal (SRS),

[0130] Beam Failure Recovery (BFR),

[0131] Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) used to carry Beam Failure Recovery (BFR),

[0132] ACK / NACK information,

[0133] Physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) used to carry ACK / NACK information,

[0134] Scheduling Request (SR),

[0135] Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) used to carry SR.

[0136] In some embodiments, the repeater determines, based at least on the first information, to receive or transmit the first signal on the access link using the first beam at the first time.

[0137] In some embodiments, the first information includes location information of the first signal in the time domain and / or frequency domain, and / or the first information is carried by one or more signalings.

[0138] In some embodiments, the first information includes at least system information; and the repeater determines, based at least on the first information, to receive or send a signal related to the first signal at the first time.

[0139] The above is a schematic description of the first information, the first beam, the first time, etc., but the present application is not limited thereto.

[0140] Since the AC link is the forwarding link of the NCR, the NCR may or may not know what the signal it is forwarding is. In other words, even if the NCR does not know what the signal it is forwarding is, it does not affect the NCR's signal forwarding.

[0141] The network configures NCR to forward signals in a specific transmission direction (e.g., uplink or downlink, or from the network to the terminal or vice versa) at a specified time and using a specified beam. This reduces the complexity of the communication protocol and lowers the cost of implementing NCR, helping to increase the cost-effectiveness of NCR equipment and enabling it to better serve more actual network services.

[0142] On the other hand, the NCR can also identify the type of signal it forwards, for example, whether the signal is a public signal (such as SS, SSB, SIB, MIB, RACH, etc.) or other signal (such as a proprietary signal of a terminal device served by the NCR, etc.). In this way, the NCR device with this capability can autonomously obtain relevant information about the signal forwarding to a certain extent, thereby reducing the complexity of the network-side equipment, reducing the cost of network equipment, and reducing the configuration information exchanged between the network side and the NCR, so that more time domain / frequency domain / spatial domain resources can be used to transmit business data and thus improve spectrum utilization efficiency.

[0143] The following schematically illustrates how the NCR avoids or handles conflicts in configurations such as beam indication in the AC link.

[0144] In some embodiments, the forwarder obtains third information, the third information being associated with a second time, the second time at least partially overlapping with the first time;

[0145] The third information is also used to indicate the second beam that the repeater forwards in the access link, and / or, the third information is also used to indicate the forwarding direction of the repeater in the access link within the at least partially overlapping time, and / or, the third information is also used to indicate the transmission direction and / or switch status related to the at least partially overlapping time.

[0146] The following schematically illustrates a case where the second beam differs from the first beam, i.e., a beam conflict occurs. The following uses the concept of priority in conflict resolution as an example to illustrate that the priority of the first beam is higher than or equal to the priority of the second beam; the present application is not limited thereto.

[0147] In some embodiments, the third information is at least used to instruct the forwarder to use the second beam to forward on the access link at the second time, and the forwarding direction is consistent with or inconsistent with the forwarding direction determined by the forwarder at the first time, and the forwarder uses the first beam to receive or send on the access link at the first time.

[0148] For example, the forwarder determines, based at least on the first information, to use the first beam to receive on the access link at the first time, and the third information is used to instruct the forwarder to use the second beam to receive on the access link at the second time, and the forwarder uses the first beam to receive on the access link at the first time.

[0149] For another example, the forwarder determines to use the first beam to transmit on the access link at the first time based at least on the first information, and the third information is used to instruct the forwarder to use the second beam to transmit on the access link at the second time, and the forwarder uses the first beam to transmit on the access link at the first time.

[0150] For another example, the forwarder determines, based at least on the first information, to use the first beam to receive on the access link at the first time, and the third information is used to instruct the forwarder to use the second beam to send on the access link at the second time, and the forwarder uses the first beam to receive on the access link at the first time.

[0151] For another example, the forwarder determines, at least based on the first information, to use the first beam to transmit on the access link at the first time, and the third information is used to instruct the forwarder to use the second beam to receive on the access link at the second time, and the forwarder uses the first beam to transmit on the access link at the first time.

[0152] In some embodiments, the priority of the first beam is configured and / or indicated by the network side, or the priority of the first beam is defined by a communication standard, or the priority of the first beam is determined by the forwarder at least based on the first information.

[0153] In some embodiments, the priority of at least one time unit included in the first time is higher than or equal to a preset priority, or higher than or equal to the priority of any time unit included in the second time, or higher than or equal to the priority of any time unit included in the at least partially overlapping time. During conflict resolution, the forwarding priority associated with the first time, determined by the forwarder, is higher than or equal to the forwarding priority associated with the second time.

[0154] For example, the priority of the time unit is configured and / or indicated by the network side, or the priority of the time unit is defined by a communication standard, or the priority of the time unit is at least determined by a signal related to the time unit.

[0155] In some embodiments, the third information is further used to indicate a second beam for forwarding by the forwarder on the access link, wherein the third information instructs the forwarder to use the second beam to receive or transmit a second signal on the access link at the second time; the priority of the second signal is lower than or equal to the priority of the first signal. During conflict resolution, the forwarding priority associated with the first signal determined by the forwarder is higher than or equal to the forwarding priority associated with the second signal.

[0156] In some embodiments, the priority of the first signal and / or the second signal is defined by a communication standard, or the priority of the first signal and / or the second signal is configured and / or indicated by a network side.

[0157] In some embodiments, the first signal has the highest priority.

[0158] For example, the priority of the first signal is equal to or higher than the priority of other signals received or sent by the NCR on the AC link; or, the priority of the first signal is equal to or higher than other signals received or sent by the NCR on the AC link within the first time; or, the priority of signals received or sent by the NCR on the AC link is divided into M levels, and the priority of the first signal is the highest level.

[0159] In some embodiments, the first information is carried by semi-static signaling and / or configured by an OAM entity, and the third information is carried by dynamic signaling. For example, the priority of the first information carried by the semi-static signaling or configured by OAM is higher than or equal to the priority of the third information carried by dynamic signaling. During conflict resolution, the forwarding priority associated with the first information carried by the semi-static signaling or configured by OAM is higher than or equal to the forwarding priority associated with the third information carried by dynamic signaling.

[0160] As a result, when a conflict occurs, the forwarding of more important public signals can be effectively guaranteed, thereby avoiding adverse consequences such as failure of terminal equipment to access the network, link failure, and beam failure due to poor public signal transmission quality. Semi-static signaling can be used to indicate the forwarding of more important, periodically sent or received public signals, such as SSB signals, SIB signals, and signals that may include RACH. Dynamic signaling bearer can be used to indicate the forwarding of dynamic or relatively dynamic data, such as PDSCH and / or PUSCH of terminal equipment served by NCR.

[0161] In some embodiments, the first information is carried by dynamic signaling, the third information is carried by semi-static signaling and / or indicated by OAM, or the third information is carried by dynamic signaling; the semi-static signaling includes MAC CE and / or RRC signaling; the forwarder receives the third information before receiving the first information.

[0162] Therefore, information can be rewritten through dynamic signaling. For example, this method can ensure that more important signals to be forwarded are forwarded reliably and efficiently. Among the terminals served by NCR, when a URLLC service with high reliability and latency requirements arrives at one terminal, it needs to send or receive URLLC service signals. The network side can use dynamic signaling to rewrite the forwarding configuration / indication to ensure that the URLLC service signal is forwarded reliably and promptly.

[0163] In some embodiments, the first information is carried by semi-static signaling, the third information is carried by semi-static signaling and / or by OAM indication and / or dynamic signaling; the semi-static signaling includes MAC CE and / or RRC signaling; the forwarder receives the third information before receiving the first information.

[0164] Thus, information can be rewritten (or updated, or reconfigured, etc.) through semi-static signaling. For example, using this method, when the network side adjusts the transmission of a periodically transmitted common signal, the network side can be allowed to rewrite the forwarding configuration of the periodically transmitted common signal so that the forwarder adapts to the forwarding of the adjusted common signal.

[0165] The above implementation methods can be combined, for example, applied in different scenarios to provide better flexibility for forwarding of repeaters while ensuring forwarding of important signals.

[0166] The following schematically illustrates the situation where the transmission directions are inconsistent, that is, a conflict occurs in the transmission directions.

[0167] In some embodiments, the third information is also used to indicate the transmission direction and / or switch status related to the at least partially overlapping time, wherein the third information is at least used to indicate the signal transmission direction of one time unit of the at least partially overlapping time; wherein the signal transmission direction of the one time unit is inconsistent with the signal transmission direction determined by the repeater based on the first information on the access link at the first time using the first beam.

[0168] In some embodiments, the repeater receives or transmits on the access link using the first beam at the first time.

[0169] For example, the repeater determines to use the first beam to receive (uplink) on the access link at the first time, and the third information is at least used to indicate that one time unit in the at least partially overlapping time is a downlink time unit or a flexible time unit.

[0170] For another example, the repeater determines to use the first beam to transmit (downlink) on the access link at the first time, and the third information is at least used to indicate that one time unit in the at least partially overlapping time is an uplink time unit or a flexible time unit.

[0171] In some embodiments, the repeater does not receive and / or does not transmit on the access link during a time unit in which the signal transmission directions are inconsistent.

[0172] For example, the forwarder determines to use the first beam to receive (uplink) on the access link at the first time, and the third information is at least used to indicate that one of the time units included in the first time is a downlink time unit or a flexible time unit; the forwarder does not receive in the downlink time unit or the flexible time unit, or does not receive at the first time.

[0173] For another example, the forwarder determines to use the first beam to transmit (downlink) on the access link at the first time, and the third information is at least used to indicate that one of the time units included in the first time is an uplink time unit or a flexible time unit; the forwarder does not transmit in the uplink time unit or the flexible time unit, or does not transmit at the first time.

[0174] The following schematically illustrates the situation of the OFF time, that is, the forwarding time conflicts with the OFF time.

[0175] In some embodiments, the third information is used to at least indicate that at least one time unit among the time units included in the first time is not used for receiving or sending. The at least one time unit not used for receiving or sending is an OFF time unit, a sleep / dormancy time unit, or a null time unit.

[0176] In some embodiments, the repeater receives or transmits the first beam on the access link at the first time. For example, since the first signal is very important for initial access of the terminal device, it needs to be forwarded even in the OFF state.

[0177] In some embodiments, the forwarder does not receive and / or does not send on the access link during the time unit indicated as not for receiving or sending. Thus, the NCR does not forward during the OFF time, which can improve energy saving efficiency.

[0178] In some embodiments, the third information is carried by signaling, and the signaling is used to at least indicate an OFF time. For example, the signaling is also used to indicate a TDD UL / DL configuration, and the OFF is a state of a time unit in the TDD UL / DL configuration. For example, the signaling is dedicated signaling for indicating the OFF time. For example, the signaling is DRX signaling.

[0179] In some embodiments, the signaling is further used to indicate an uplink time unit, and / or a downlink time unit, and / or a flexible time unit. For example, the signaling is at least used to indicate a TDD UL DL configuration.

[0180] The following schematically illustrates the situation of C-link, where a conflict occurs between the forwarding link and the control link.

[0181] In some embodiments, the repeater obtains fourth information, the fourth information being associated with a third time, the third time at least partially overlapping with the first time.

[0182] In some embodiments, the fourth information is at least used to instruct the forwarder to receive a signal from the network side or send a signal to the network side on the control link at the third time.

[0183] In some embodiments, the repeater receives a signal from the network side or sends a generated signal to the network side at the control link at the third time.

[0184] Therefore, NCR prioritizes ensuring the connection with network devices to avoid affecting the forwarding of AC links due to unreliable connections with the network side.

[0185] For example, the repeater determines, based at least on the first information, to use the first beam to receive on the access link at the first time, and the fourth information is used to instruct the repeater to receive on the control link at the third time; the repeater does not receive on the access link at the at least partially overlapping time.

[0186] For another example, the forwarder determines, based at least on the first information, to use the first beam to transmit on the access link at the first time, and the fourth information is used to instruct the forwarder to transmit on the control link at the third time; the forwarder does not transmit on the access link at the at least partially overlapping time.

[0187] For another example, the forwarder determines to use the first beam to receive on the access link at the first time based at least on the first information, and the fourth information is used to instruct the forwarder to receive on the control link at the third time; the forwarder does not receive on the access link at the first time.

[0188] For another example, the forwarder determines, based at least on the first information, to use the first beam to transmit on the access link at the first time, and the fourth information is used to instruct the forwarder to transmit on the control link at the third time; the forwarder does not transmit on the access link at the first time.

[0189] In some embodiments, the repeater receives or transmits on the access link using the first beam at the first time.

[0190] Therefore, NCR prioritizes the stability of the AC link, which helps protect the transmission of high-priority terminal devices, such as terminal devices with URLLC services.

[0191] For example, the repeater determines, based at least on the first information, to use the first beam to receive on the access link at the first time, and the fourth information is used to instruct the repeater to receive a signal from the network side on the control link at the third time; the repeater does not receive a signal from the network side on the control link at a time that at least partially overlaps.

[0192] For another example, the forwarder determines to use the first beam to transmit on the access link at the first time based at least on the first information, and the fourth information is used to instruct the forwarder to send a signal to the network side on the control link at the third time; the forwarder does not send a signal to the network side on the control link at a time that at least partially overlaps.

[0193] For another example, the forwarder determines to use the first beam to receive in the access link at the first time based at least on the first information, and the fourth information is used to instruct the forwarder to receive a signal from the network side in the control link at the third time; the forwarder does not receive a signal from the network side in the control link at the third time.

[0194] For another example, the forwarder determines to use the first beam to transmit on the access link at the first time based at least on the first information, and the fourth information is used to instruct the forwarder to send a signal to the network side on the control link at the third time; the forwarder does not send a signal to the network side on the control link at the third time.

[0195] In some embodiments, the fourth information is used to instruct the forwarder to generate and send at least one of the following signals to the network side at the third time:

[0196] Msg1(RACH, preamble),

[0197] BFR,

[0198] SR,

[0199] A / N,

[0200] SRS,

[0201] Msg3,

[0202] Msg5,

[0203] Non-periodic CSI reporting,

[0204] Semi-continuous CSI reporting.

[0205] In some embodiments, the fourth information is used to instruct the forwarder to receive at least one of the following signals from the network side at the third time:

[0206] Msg2,

[0207] Msg4,

[0208] Schedule PDCCH for Msg2 and / or Msg4,

[0209] CSIRS,

[0210] BFRR;

[0211] And the signal is demodulated or decoded by the transponder.

[0212] The above schematically illustrates how the NCR handles conflicts in configurations such as beam indication in the AC link, and the present application is not limited thereto. To avoid conflicts, the network side and the forwarder may also follow certain strategies or behaviors.

[0213] The following is a schematic illustration of the network-side conflict avoidance behavior.

[0214] In some embodiments, the network side does not send indication information that is inconsistent with the first information;

[0215] In some embodiments, the network side does not instruct the repeater to use a beam other than the first beam to transmit or receive at the first time.

[0216] In some embodiments, the network side does not indicate that the first time is an OFF time.

[0217] In some embodiments, when the first information is at least used to indicate that the forwarder uses the first beam to receive on the access link at the first time, the network side does not indicate that the first time includes downlink time units and / or flexible time units.

[0218] In some embodiments, when the first information is at least used to indicate that the forwarder uses the first beam to transmit on the access link at the first time, the network side does not indicate that the first time includes uplink time units and / or flexible time units.

[0219] The following is a schematic illustration of the conflict avoidance behavior on the forwarder side.

[0220] In some embodiments, the forwarder does not expect to be instructed with indication information that is inconsistent with the first information;

[0221] In some embodiments, the repeater does not desire to be instructed to transmit or receive using a beam other than the first beam at the first time.

[0222] In some embodiments, the repeater does not desire to be indicated that the first time is an OFF time.

[0223] In some embodiments, when the first information is at least used to instruct the repeater to use the first beam to receive on the access link at the first time, the repeater does not expect to be instructed that the first time includes downlink time units and / or flexible time units.

[0224] In some embodiments, when the first information is at least used to instruct the repeater to transmit on the access link using the first beam at the first time, the repeater does not expect to be instructed that the first time includes uplink time units and / or flexible time units.

[0225] The above is a schematic description of how to handle or avoid conflicts. The following is a further description of priorities.

[0226] In some embodiments, it can be expressed as a priority of beams: the priority of one part of the beams is higher than the priority of another part.

[0227] For example, beams used to forward certain signals have a higher priority, such as beams used to forward high-priority signals such as SSB.

[0228] For another example, the network side configures a part of beams with a high priority, such as specifying a part of beam scheduling index; or, the network side configures or indicates the priority of a beam.

[0229] For another example, it is agreed in advance that the beams indicated by certain signaling have a high priority, for example, the beams configured by OAM have a high priority, and / or the beams indicated by semi-static indications have a high priority, and / or the beams indicated by dynamic indications have a high priority.

[0230] In some embodiments, it may be manifested as the priority of the forwarded signal: the forwarded signal itself has a priority.

[0231] For example, signals with higher priorities may include at least one of the following: SS, SSB, SIB, MIB, RACH, PDCCH for scheduling Msg2 and / or Msg3 and / or Msg4 and / or Msg5, PDSCH for carrying Msg2 and / or Msg4, PUSCH for carrying Msg3 and / or Msg5, CSIRS, SRS, etc. Of course, signals other than the above signals may also be used, and this application is not limited thereto.

[0232] For another example, the NCR may identify a signal with a higher priority. When a beam used to forward the signal conflicts with other beams, the NCR uses the beam forwarding the signal to transmit and / or receive.

[0233] For another example, the NCR can distinguish between a signal with a higher priority and part or all of the other signals. When the beam used to forward the signal conflicts with other beams (for example, a beam used to forward part or all of the other signals, or a beam that is not sure which signal it forwards), the NCR uses the beam forwarding the signal to send and / or receive.

[0234] For example, the signal used by the terminal device served by NCR to report BFR (beam failure report) may also have a higher priority, so that the network side can receive the BFR from the terminal side in time and perform appropriate processing to avoid further and larger link failures.

[0235] For another example, the signal priority is indicated by the network side.

[0236] In some embodiments, it can be expressed as indication / configuration information or signaling priority.

[0237] For example, the beam configured by OAM has a high priority, and / or the beam indicated semi-statically has a high priority, and / or the beam indicated dynamically has a high priority.

[0238] For example, the important signals in the above examples are mostly related to key processes and capabilities such as initial access, channel tracking, and channel measurement of the served terminal devices. Therefore, semi-static signaling or signaling configured by OAM may have a higher priority.

[0239] For example, when a terminal device served by an NCR has services that require high reliability and latency, the network may send dynamic signaling to indicate a new transmission beam to the NCR. In this case, priorities may be divided into three categories: for example, beams used for forwarding SSBs have the highest priority, dynamic rewriting has the second highest priority, and other indications have a lower priority.

[0240] In some embodiments, it can be expressed as a priority of the forwarding direction: the forwarding direction has a priority.

[0241] For example, beam conflicts may occur between uplink forwarding and downlink forwarding. The downlink forwarding beam can be given higher priority and have a higher priority on the network side in communications, which can guarantee the services of more terminal devices served by the network device.

[0242] For another example, in the case of a beam forwarding direction conflict, the uplink forwarding beam may be given priority so that the network side can promptly obtain the request or reported information of the terminal device served by the NCR.

[0243] In some embodiments, it can be expressed as the priority of the time unit / time period for the beam to be used or forwarded.

[0244] For example, NCR can determine (based on received instructions or system information obtained by itself) at what times more important signals may need to be forwarded. These times or time periods have higher priorities, and the beams associated with these times or time periods have higher priorities in beam conflicts.

[0245] The above embodiments are merely exemplary of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Appropriate modifications may be made based on the above embodiments. For example, the above embodiments may be used alone, or one or more of the above embodiments may be combined.

[0246] According to an embodiment of the present application, a forwarder obtains first information; the forwarder determines, based at least on the first information and / or communication standard definition rules, to use a first beam to receive or transmit on an access (AC) link at a first time. Thus, the forwarder can determine forwarding of the AC link based on the first information and / or communication standard definition rules, thereby better enhancing signal coverage and responding to changes in the environment and primary services within the cell, thereby improving the transmission efficiency of the entire network.

[0247] Embodiments of the second aspect

[0248] An embodiment of the present application provides a forwarder, which may be, for example, the aforementioned NCR, or a network device or terminal device with a forwarding function, or one or more parts or components configured in the NCR, network device or terminal device.

[0249] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a repeater according to an embodiment of the present application. Since the principle of solving the problem by the repeater is the same as the method of the embodiment of the first aspect, its specific implementation can refer to the embodiment of the first aspect, and the same contents will not be repeated.

[0250] As shown in FIG6 , the forwarder 600 of the embodiment of the present application includes:

[0251] An acquiring unit 601 is configured to acquire first information;

[0252] The determining unit 602 determines, based at least on the first information and / or a communication standard definition rule, to use a first beam to receive or transmit on an access (AC) link at a first time.

[0253] In some embodiments, the determining unit 602 determines the first beam and / or the first time according to at least one of the following: communication standard definition rules, dynamic signaling, semi-static signaling, and Operation Administration and Maintenance (OAM) configuration information.

[0254] In some embodiments, the first time includes at least one time unit, and the at least one time unit is continuous or discontinuous in the time domain.

[0255] In some embodiments, the first information is carried by semi-static signaling, and / or the first information is configured by an OAM entity, and / or the first information is carried by PDCCH or dynamic signaling.

[0256] In some embodiments, the first information is used to indicate the first time, and / or, the first information is used to indicate the first beam, and / or, the first information is used to instruct the repeater to receive or transmit on the access link.

[0257] In some embodiments, the indication of the first beam is based on a beam index, and / or the indication of the first beam is based on a synchronization signal block (SSB) index, and / or the indication of the first beam is based on a reference signal index.

[0258] In some embodiments, the first information is used to instruct the repeater to use the first beam to receive or transmit on the access link at the first time.

[0259] In some embodiments, the first information is used to indicate the first time and the first beam;

[0260] The acquiring unit 601 further acquires second information, where the second information is at least used by the determining unit 602 to determine whether to use the first beam to receive or transmit on the access link at the first time.

[0261] In some embodiments, the second information at least indicates that the first time includes uplink time units and / or downlink time units and / or flexible time units.

[0262] In some embodiments, the second information includes time division duplex (TDD) uplink and downlink configuration information, the second information is carried by dynamic signaling and / or semi-static signaling, and / or the second information is configured by an OAM entity.

[0263] In some embodiments, the determining unit 602 determines to use the first beam to receive on the access link in the uplink time unit of the first time, and / or,

[0264] The determining unit 602 determines to use the first beam to transmit on the access link in the downlink time unit of the first time, and / or

[0265] The determining unit 602 determines to use the first beam to receive or transmit on the access link in at least one flexible time unit of the first time, and / or,

[0266] The determining unit 602 determines that at least one flexible time unit in the first time is not to be received or sent on the access link.

[0267] In some embodiments, the first information is used to indicate the first time, and the first time is related to the first signal.

[0268] In some embodiments, the first signal is not generated by the repeater, and / or the repeater does not demodulate and decode the first signal.

[0269] In some embodiments, the determining unit 602 determines the first beam, where the first beam is related to the first signal; the determining unit 602 determines to use the first beam to receive or send the first signal on the access link at the first time.

[0270] In some embodiments, the first signal comprises at least an SSB indexed as n;

[0271] The first information includes system information, and the first time includes at least the time unit corresponding to the SSB index n.

[0272] In some embodiments, the determining unit 602 determines the SSB index n for transmission on the access link.

[0273] In some embodiments, the SSB index n is configured or indicated by the network side, and / or, the SSB index n is predefined by the communication standard, and / or, the SSB index n is pre-set in the repeater.

[0274] In some embodiments, the determining unit 602 determines the first beam for sending the SSB with index n on the access link.

[0275] In some embodiments, the determining unit 602 determines the number N of SSBs and / or the indexes of the N SSBs for transmission on the access link, and the SSB index n is one of the indexes of the N SSBs;

[0276] The number of SSBs N and / or the index of N SSBs are pre-set, or the number of SSBs N and / or the index of N SSBs are pre-defined by the communication standard, or the number of SSBs N and / or the index of N SSBs are configured or indicated by the network side for the repeater.

[0277] In some embodiments, the value of the number of SSBs N is pre-set, wherein the forwarder reports the number of SSBs N to the network side; and the network side configures / indicates the index of the N SSBs for the forwarder.

[0278] In some embodiments, the determining unit 602 determines N beams for sending N SSBs on the access link, and determines a correspondence between the N beams and the N SSBs.

[0279] In some embodiments, the determination unit 602 determines the N beams used to send the N SSBs on the access link according to the network side configuration and / or instructions, or the determination unit 602 determines the N beams used to send the N SSBs on the access link according to the communication standard definition rules, or the determination unit 602 determines the N beams used to send the N SSBs on the access link by itself.

[0280] In some embodiments, the first beam corresponds to the SSB index n in a one-to-one relationship, and the one-to-one correspondence remains unchanged until the repeater is restarted and / or reconfigured.

[0281] In some embodiments, the first time further includes a time unit or a random access opportunity (RACH occasion) corresponding to the SSB index n for sending a random access preamble (RACH preamble);

[0282] The first signal further includes a signal transmitted using the time unit corresponding to the SSB index n for sending a random access preamble (RACH preamble) or the time domain and / or frequency domain resources corresponding to the random access opportunity (RACH occasion).

[0283] In some embodiments, the first signal includes at least one of the following signals or channels or information, or the first signal is related to at least one of the following signals or channels or information:

[0284] Synchronization signal (SS),

[0285] Synchronization Signal Block (SSB),

[0286] System Information Block (SIB),

[0287] Master Information Block (MIB),

[0288] Msg1 (Random Access Channel, RACH),

[0289] Msg2,

[0290] Msg3,

[0291] Msg4,

[0292] Msg5,

[0293] Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) for scheduling (or triggering) Msg1 and / or Msg2 and / or Msg3 and / or Msg4 and / or Msg5,

[0294] Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) used to carry Msg2 and / or Msg4,

[0295] Physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) used to carry Msg3 and / or Msg5,

[0296] Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSIRS),

[0297] Sounding Reference Signal (SRS),

[0298] Beam Failure Recovery (BFR),

[0299] Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) used to carry Beam Failure Recovery (BFR),

[0300] ACK / NACK information,

[0301] Physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) used to carry ACK / NACK information,

[0302] Scheduling Request (SR),

[0303] Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) used to carry SR.

[0304] In some embodiments, the determining unit 602 determines, based at least on the first information, to use the first beam to receive or send the first signal on the access link at the first time.

[0305] In some embodiments, the first information includes location information of the first signal in the time domain and / or frequency domain, and / or the first information is carried by one or more signalings.

[0306] In some embodiments, the first information includes at least system information;

[0307] The determining unit 602 determines, at least according to the first information, to receive or send a signal related to the first signal at the first time.

[0308] In some embodiments, the acquiring unit 601 acquires third information, where the third information is related to a second time, and the second time at least partially overlaps with the first time;

[0309] The third information is also used to indicate the second beam that the repeater forwards in the access link, and / or, the third information is also used to indicate the forwarding direction of the repeater in the access link within the at least partially overlapping time, and / or, the third information is also used to indicate the transmission direction and / or switch status related to the at least partially overlapping time.

[0310] In some embodiments, the second beam is different from the first beam, and / or,

[0311] The forwarding direction during the at least partially overlapping time is inconsistent with the forwarding direction on the access link during the first time determined by the forwarder, and / or

[0312] The at least partially overlapping time-related transmission direction and / or switch state is inconsistent with the direction of forwarding on the access link determined by the forwarder at the first time.

[0313] In some embodiments, the third information is at least used to instruct the forwarder to use the second beam to forward on the access link at the second time, the forwarding direction is consistent with or inconsistent with the forwarding direction determined by the forwarder at the first time, and the second beam is the same as or different from the first beam;

[0314] As shown in FIG6 , the forwarder 600 further includes:

[0315] The forwarding unit 603 uses the first beam to receive or send on the access link at the first time.

[0316] In some embodiments, the determining unit 602 determines, based at least on the first information, to use the first beam to receive on the access link at the first time, and the third information is used to instruct the forwarder to use the second beam to receive on the access link at the second time.

[0317] The forwarding unit 603 uses the first beam to receive on the access link at the first time.

[0318] In some embodiments, the determining unit 602 determines, based at least on the first information, to use the first beam to transmit on the access link at the first time, and the third information is used to instruct the repeater to use the second beam to transmit on the access link at the second time.

[0319] The forwarding unit 603 uses the first beam to send on the access link at the first time.

[0320] In some embodiments, the determining unit 602 determines, based at least on the first information, to use the first beam to receive on the access link at the first time, and the third information is used to instruct the forwarder to use the second beam to transmit on the access link at the second time.

[0321] The forwarding unit 603 uses the first beam to receive on the access link at the first time.

[0322] In some embodiments, the determining unit 602 determines, based at least on the first information, to use the first beam to transmit on the access link at the first time, and the third information is used to instruct the forwarder to use the second beam to receive on the access link at the second time.

[0323] The forwarding unit 603 uses the first beam to send on the access link at the first time.

[0324] In some embodiments, the priority of the first beam is higher than or equal to the priority of the second beam.

[0325] In some embodiments, the priority of the first beam is configured and / or indicated by the network side, or the priority of the first beam is defined by a communication standard, or the priority of the first beam is determined by the forwarder at least based on the first information.

[0326] In some embodiments, the priority of at least one time unit included in the first time is higher than or equal to the preset priority, or higher than or equal to the priority of any time unit in the second time, or higher than or equal to the priority of any time unit in the at least partially overlapping time.

[0327] In some embodiments, the priority of the time unit is configured and / or indicated by the network side, or the priority of the time unit is defined by a communication standard, or the priority of the time unit is at least determined by a signal related to the time unit.

[0328] In some embodiments, the third information is further used to indicate a second beam that the forwarder forwards on the access link, wherein:

[0329] The third information instructs the repeater to use the second beam to receive or send a second signal on the access link at the second time; the priority of the second signal is lower than or equal to the priority of the first signal.

[0330] In some embodiments, the priority of the first signal and / or the second signal is defined by a communication standard, or the priority of the first signal and / or the second signal is configured and / or indicated by a network side.

[0331] In some embodiments, the first signal has the highest priority.

[0332] In some embodiments, the first information is carried by semi-static signaling and / or configured by an OAM entity, and the third information is carried by dynamic signaling.

[0333] In some embodiments, the first information is carried by dynamic signaling, and the third information is carried by semi-static signaling and / or carried by dynamic signaling and / or indicated by OAM;

[0334] The semi-static signaling includes MAC CE and / or RRC signaling;

[0335] The repeater receives the third information before receiving the first information.

[0336] In some embodiments, the first information is carried by semi-static signaling, and the third information is carried by semi-static signaling and / or indicated by OAM and / or carried by dynamic signaling;

[0337] The semi-static signaling includes MAC CE and / or RRC signaling;

[0338] The repeater receives the third information before receiving the first information.

[0339] In some embodiments, the third information is further used to indicate a transmission direction and / or a switch state associated with the at least partially overlapping time, wherein:

[0340] The third information is at least used to indicate the signal transmission direction of one time unit of the at least partially overlapping time; wherein, the signal transmission direction of the one time unit is inconsistent with the signal transmission direction determined by the repeater based on the first information on the access link at the first time using the first beam.

[0341] In some embodiments, the forwarding unit 603 uses the first beam to receive or transmit on the access link at the first time.

[0342] In some embodiments, the determination unit 602 determines to use the first beam to receive (uplink) in the access link at the first time, and the third information is at least used to indicate that one time unit in the at least partially overlapping time is a downlink time unit or a flexible time unit.

[0343] In some embodiments, the determination unit 602 determines to use the first beam to send (downlink) on the access link at the first time, and the third information is at least used to indicate that one time unit in the at least partially overlapping time is an uplink time unit or a flexible time unit.

[0344] In some embodiments, the forwarding unit 603 does not receive and / or does not send on the access link during the time unit in which the signal transmission directions are inconsistent.

[0345] In some embodiments, the determining unit 602 determines to use the first beam to receive (uplink) on the access link at the first time, and the third information is used to at least indicate that one of the time units included in the first time is a downlink time unit or a flexible time unit;

[0346] The forwarding unit 603 does not receive in the downlink time unit or the flexible time unit, or does not receive in the first time.

[0347] In some embodiments, the determining unit 602 determines to use the first beam to transmit (downlink) on the access link at the first time, and the third information is at least used to indicate that one of the time units included in the first time is an uplink time unit or a flexible time unit;

[0348] The forwarding unit 603 does not send in the uplink time unit or the flexible time unit, or does not send in the first time.

[0349] In some embodiments, the third information is at least used to indicate that at least one time unit among the time units included in the first time is not used for receiving or sending.

[0350] In some embodiments, the forwarding unit 603 uses the first beam to receive or transmit on the access link at the first time.

[0351] In some embodiments, the forwarding unit 603 does not receive and / or does not send on the access link during the time unit indicated as not being used for receiving or sending.

[0352] In some embodiments, the third information is carried by signaling, and the signaling is at least used to indicate an OFF time.

[0353] In some embodiments, the signaling is further used to indicate an uplink time unit, and / or a downlink time unit, and / or a flexible time unit.

[0354] In some embodiments, the at least one time unit not used for receiving or sending is an OFF time unit, or a sleep (dormancy) time unit, or a null time unit.

[0355] In some embodiments, the acquiring unit 601 obtains fourth information, where the fourth information is related to a third time, and the third time at least partially overlaps with the first time.

[0356] In some embodiments, the fourth information is at least used to instruct the forwarder to receive a signal from the network side or send a signal to the network side on the control link at the third time.

[0357] In some embodiments, the forwarding unit 603 receives a signal from the network side or sends a generated signal to the network side at the control link at the third time.

[0358] In some embodiments, the repeater determines, based at least on the first information, to use the first beam to receive on the access link at the first time, and the fourth information is used to instruct the repeater to receive on the control link at the third time;

[0359] The forwarding unit 603 does not receive on the access link during the at least partially overlapping time.

[0360] In some embodiments, the determining unit 602 determines, based at least on the first information, to use the first beam to transmit on the access link at the first time, and the fourth information is used to instruct the forwarder to transmit on the control link at the third time;

[0361] The forwarding unit 603 does not send on the access link during the at least partially overlapping time.

[0362] In some embodiments, the determining unit 602 determines, based at least on the first information, to use the first beam to receive on the access link at the first time, and the fourth information is used to instruct the forwarder to receive on the control link at the third time;

[0363] The forwarding unit 603 does not receive data on the access link at the first time.

[0364] In some embodiments, the determining unit 602 determines, based at least on the first information, to use the first beam to transmit on the access link at the first time, and the fourth information is used to instruct the forwarder to transmit on the control link at the third time;

[0365] The forwarding unit 603 does not send on the access link at the first time.

[0366] In some embodiments, the forwarding unit 603 uses the first beam to receive or transmit on the access link at the first time.

[0367] In some embodiments, the determining unit 602 determines, based at least on the first information, to use the first beam to receive on the access link at the first time, and the fourth information is used to instruct the forwarder to receive a signal from the network side on the control link at the third time;

[0368] The forwarding unit 603 does not receive signals from the network side on the control link at at least partially overlapping times.

[0369] In some embodiments, the determining unit 602 determines, based at least on the first information, to use the first beam to transmit on the access link at the first time, and the fourth information is used to instruct the forwarder to transmit a signal to the network side on the control link at the third time;

[0370] The forwarding unit 603 does not send signals to the network side on the control link during at least partially overlapping times.

[0371] In some embodiments, the determining unit 602 determines, based at least on the first information, to use the first beam to receive on the access link at the first time, and the fourth information is used to instruct the forwarder to receive a signal from the network side on the control link at the third time;

[0372] The forwarding unit 603 does not receive a signal from the network side on the control link at the third time.

[0373] In some embodiments, the determining unit 602 determines, based at least on the first information, to use the first beam to transmit on the access link at the first time, and the fourth information is used to instruct the forwarder to transmit a signal to the network side on the control link at the third time;

[0374] The forwarding unit 603 does not send a signal to the network side on the control link at the third time.

[0375] In some embodiments, the fourth information is used to instruct the forwarder to generate and send at least one of the following signals to the network side at the third time:

[0376] Msg1(RACH, preamble),

[0377] BFR,

[0378] SR,

[0379] A / N,

[0380] SRS,

[0381] Msg3,

[0382] Msg5,

[0383] Non-periodic CSI reporting,

[0384] Semi-continuous CSI reporting.

[0385] In some embodiments, the fourth information is used to instruct the forwarder to receive at least one of the following signals from the network side at the third time:

[0386] Msg2,

[0387] Msg4,

[0388] Schedule PDCCH for Msg2 and / or Msg4,

[0389] CSIRS,

[0390] BFRR;

[0391] And the signal is demodulated or decoded by the transponder.

[0392] In some embodiments, the forwarder does not expect to be instructed with indication information that is inconsistent with the first information;

[0393] In some embodiments, the repeater does not desire to be instructed to transmit or receive using a beam other than the first beam at the first time.

[0394] In some embodiments, the repeater does not desire to be indicated that the first time is an OFF time.

[0395] In some embodiments, when the first information is at least used to instruct the repeater to use the first beam to receive on the access link at the first time, the repeater does not expect to be instructed that the first time includes a downlink time unit and / or a flexible time unit;

[0396] and / or

[0397] When the first information is at least used to instruct the repeater to transmit on the access link using the first beam at the first time, the repeater does not expect to be instructed that the first time includes uplink time units and / or flexible time units.

[0398] In addition, for the sake of simplicity, FIG6 only illustrates the connection relationship or signal direction between various components or modules. However, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that various related technologies such as bus connection can be used. The above-mentioned components or modules can be implemented by hardware facilities such as processors, memories, transmitters, and receivers; the implementation of this application is not limited to this.

[0399] The above embodiments are merely exemplary of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Appropriate modifications may be made based on the above embodiments. For example, the above embodiments may be used alone, or one or more of the above embodiments may be combined.

[0400] According to an embodiment of the present application, a forwarder obtains first information; the forwarder determines, based at least on the first information and / or communication standard definition rules, to use a first beam to receive or transmit on an access (AC) link at a first time. Thus, the forwarder can determine forwarding of the AC link based on the first information and / or communication standard definition rules, thereby better enhancing signal coverage and responding to changes in the environment and primary services within the cell, thereby improving the transmission efficiency of the entire network.

[0401] Embodiments of the third aspect

[0402] An embodiment of the present application provides an information indication method, which is explained from the perspective of a network device, and the contents that are the same as those in the embodiment of the first aspect will not be repeated.

[0403] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of an information indication method according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG7 , the method includes:

[0404] 701, the network device sends first information to the forwarder;

[0405] The repeater determines to use the first beam to receive or transmit on the access (AC) link at the first time based at least on the first information and / or a communication standard definition rule.

[0406] It is worth noting that FIG7 above is merely a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the present application, and the present application is not limited thereto. For example, the execution order of the various operations may be appropriately adjusted, and other operations may be added or some operations may be reduced. Those skilled in the art may make appropriate modifications based on the above description, and are not limited to the description of FIG7 above.

[0407] In some embodiments, the network device may send a forwarding signal (e.g., destined for a terminal device and forwarded by the forwarder) and / or a communication signal (e.g., destined for the forwarder) to the forwarder, or the network device may receive a forwarding signal (e.g., generated and sent by a terminal device and forwarded by the forwarder) and / or a communication signal (e.g., generated and sent by the forwarder) from the forwarder.

[0408] In some embodiments, the first time includes at least one time unit, and the at least one time unit is continuous or discontinuous in the time domain.

[0409] In some embodiments, the first information is carried by semi-static signaling, and / or the first information is configured by an OAM entity, and / or the first information is carried by PDCCH or dynamic signaling.

[0410] In some embodiments, the first information is used to indicate the first time, and / or, the first information is used to indicate the first beam, and / or, the first information is used to instruct the repeater to receive or transmit on the access link.

[0411] In some embodiments, the indication of the first beam is based on a beam index, and / or the indication of the first beam is based on a synchronization signal block (SSB) index, and / or the indication of the first beam is based on a reference signal index.

[0412] In some embodiments, the first information is used to instruct the repeater to use the first beam to receive or transmit on the access link at the first time.

[0413] In some embodiments, the first information is used to indicate the first time and the first beam;

[0414] The network device sends second information to the repeater, where the second information is at least used by the repeater to determine whether to use the first beam to receive or transmit on the access link at the first time.

[0415] In some embodiments, the second information at least indicates that the first time includes uplink time units and / or downlink time units and / or flexible time units.

[0416] In some embodiments, the second information includes time division duplex (TDD) uplink and downlink configuration information, the second information is carried by dynamic signaling and / or semi-static signaling, and / or the second information is configured by an OAM entity.

[0417] In some embodiments, the first information is used to indicate the first time, and the first time is related to the first signal.

[0418] In some embodiments, the first signal is not generated by the repeater, and / or the repeater does not demodulate and decode the first signal.

[0419] In some embodiments, the network device sends third information to the forwarder, the third information being associated with a second time, the second time at least partially overlapping with the first time;

[0420] The third information is also used to indicate the second beam that the repeater forwards in the access link, and / or, the third information is also used to indicate the forwarding direction of the repeater in the access link within the at least partially overlapping time, and / or, the third information is also used to indicate the transmission direction and / or switch status related to the at least partially overlapping time.

[0421] In some embodiments, the second beam is different from the first beam, and / or,

[0422] The forwarding direction during the at least partially overlapping time is inconsistent with the forwarding direction on the access link during the first time determined by the forwarder, and / or

[0423] The at least partially overlapping time-related transmission direction and / or switch state is inconsistent with the direction of forwarding on the access link determined by the forwarder at the first time.

[0424] In some embodiments, the first information is carried by semi-static signaling and / or configured by an OAM entity, and the third information is carried by dynamic signaling.

[0425] In some embodiments, the first information is carried by dynamic signaling, and the third information is carried by semi-static signaling and / or carried by dynamic signaling and / or indicated by OAM;

[0426] The semi-static signaling includes MAC CE and / or RRC signaling;

[0427] The repeater receives the third information before receiving the first information.

[0428] In some embodiments, the first information is carried by semi-static signaling, and the third information is carried by semi-static signaling and / or indicated by OAM and / or carried by dynamic signaling;

[0429] The semi-static signaling includes MAC CE and / or RRC signaling;

[0430] The repeater receives the third information before receiving the first information.

[0431] In some embodiments, the network device sends fourth information to the forwarder, the fourth information being associated with a third time, the third time at least partially overlapping with the first time.

[0432] In some embodiments, the fourth information is at least used to instruct the forwarder to receive a signal from the network side or send a signal to the network side on the control link at the third time.

[0433] In some embodiments, the fourth information is used to instruct the forwarder to generate and send at least one of the following signals to the network side at the third time:

[0434] Msg1(RACH, preamble),

[0435] BFR,

[0436] SR,

[0437] A / N,

[0438] SRS,

[0439] Msg3,

[0440] Msg5,

[0441] Non-periodic CSI reporting,

[0442] Semi-continuous CSI reporting.

[0443] In some embodiments, the fourth information is used to instruct the forwarder to receive at least one of the following signals from the network side at the third time:

[0444] Msg2,

[0445] Msg4,

[0446] Schedule PDCCH for Msg2 and / or Msg4,

[0447] CSIRS,

[0448] BFRR;

[0449] And the signal is demodulated or decoded by the transponder.

[0450] In some embodiments, the network side does not send indication information that is inconsistent with the first information;

[0451] In some embodiments, the network side does not instruct the repeater to use a beam other than the first beam to transmit or receive at the first time.

[0452] In some embodiments, the network side does not indicate that the first time is an OFF time.

[0453] In some embodiments, when the first information is at least used to instruct the forwarder to use the first beam to receive on the access link at the first time, the network side does not indicate that the first time includes a downlink time unit and / or a flexible time unit;

[0454] and / or

[0455] In a case where the first information is at least used to instruct the forwarder to use the first beam to transmit on the access link at the first time, the network side does not indicate that the first time includes uplink time units and / or flexible time units.

[0456] The above only describes the steps or processes related to the present application, but the present application is not limited thereto. The method of the embodiment of the present application may also include other steps or processes. For the specific content of these steps or processes, reference may be made to the relevant art.

[0457] The above embodiments are merely exemplary of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Appropriate modifications may be made based on the above embodiments. For example, the above embodiments may be used alone, or one or more of the above embodiments may be combined.

[0458] According to an embodiment of the present application, a network device sends first information to a forwarder; the forwarder determines, based at least on the first information and / or communication standard definition rules, to use a first beam to receive or transmit on an access (AC) link at a first time. Thus, the forwarder can determine forwarding of the AC link based on the first information and / or communication standard definition rules, thereby better enhancing signal coverage and responding to changes in the environment and primary services within the cell, thereby improving the transmission efficiency of the entire network.

[0459] Embodiments of the fourth aspect

[0460] An embodiment of the present application provides a network device.

[0461] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of a network device according to an embodiment of the present application. Since the principle of solving the problem by the network device is the same as the method of the embodiment of the third aspect, its specific implementation can refer to the embodiment of the third aspect, and the same contents will not be repeated.

[0462] As shown in FIG8 , the network device 800 of the embodiment of the present application includes:

[0463] A sending unit 801, which sends first information to a forwarder;

[0464] The repeater determines to use the first beam to receive or transmit on the access link at the first time based at least on the first information and / or a communication standard definition rule.

[0465] In some embodiments, the network device may send a forwarding signal (e.g., destined for a terminal device and forwarded by the forwarder) and / or a communication signal (e.g., destined for the forwarder) to the forwarder, or the network device may receive a forwarding signal (e.g., generated and sent by a terminal device and forwarded by the forwarder) and / or a communication signal (e.g., generated and sent by the forwarder) from the forwarder.

[0466] In some embodiments, the sending unit 801 sends second information to the repeater, where the second information is at least used by the repeater to determine whether to use the first beam to receive or transmit on the access link at the first time.

[0467] In some embodiments, the sending unit 801 sends third information to the forwarder, where the third information is associated with a second time, and the second time at least partially overlaps with the first time;

[0468] The third information is also used to indicate the second beam that the repeater forwards in the access link, and / or, the third information is also used to indicate the forwarding direction of the repeater in the access link within the at least partially overlapping time, and / or, the third information is also used to indicate the transmission direction and / or switch status related to the at least partially overlapping time.

[0469] In some embodiments, the sending unit 801 sends fourth information to the forwarder, where the fourth information is related to a third time, and the third time at least partially overlaps with the first time.

[0470] In some embodiments, the fourth information is at least used to instruct the forwarder to receive a signal from the network side or send a signal to the network side on the control link at the third time.

[0471] It is worth noting that the above only describes the components or modules related to the present application, but the present application is not limited thereto. The network device 800 of the embodiment of the present application may also include other components or modules. For the specific contents of these components or modules, reference may be made to the relevant art.

[0472] In addition, for the sake of simplicity, FIG8 only illustrates the connection relationship or signal direction between various components or modules. However, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that various related technologies such as bus connection can be used. The above-mentioned components or modules can be implemented by hardware facilities such as processors, memories, transmitters, and receivers; the implementation of this application is not limited to this.

[0473] The above embodiments are merely exemplary of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Appropriate modifications may be made based on the above embodiments. For example, the above embodiments may be used alone, or one or more of the above embodiments may be combined.

[0474] According to an embodiment of the present application, a network device sends first information to a forwarder; the forwarder determines, based at least on the first information and / or communication standard definition rules, to use a first beam to receive or transmit on an access (AC) link at a first time. Thus, the forwarder can determine forwarding of the AC link based on the first information and / or communication standard definition rules, thereby better enhancing signal coverage and responding to changes in the environment and primary services within the cell, thereby improving the transmission efficiency of the entire network.

[0475] Embodiments of the fifth aspect

[0476] An embodiment of the present application provides a communication system. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the communication system of the embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 1, the communication system 100 includes a network device 101, a repeater 102 and a terminal device 103. For simplicity, Figure 1 only uses a network device, a repeater and a terminal device as an example for illustration, but the embodiment of the present application is not limited to this.

[0477] In an embodiment of the present application, existing services or future services can be transmitted between the network device 101 and the terminal device 103. For example, these services may include but are not limited to: enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), massive machine type communication (mMTC), ultra-reliable and low-latency communication (URLLC), and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, etc. The forwarder 102 is configured to execute the information indication method described in the embodiment of the first aspect, and the network device 101 is configured to execute the information indication method described in the embodiment of the third aspect, the contents of which are incorporated herein and will not be repeated here.

[0478] An embodiment of the present application further provides an electronic device, which may be, for example, a repeater or a network device.

[0479] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the electronic device according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 9, electronic device 900 may include a processor 910 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU)) and a memory 920 coupled to processor 910. Memory 920 may store various data and may also store an information processing program 930, which is executed under the control of processor 910.

[0480] For example, the processor 910 may be configured to execute a program to implement the information indication method as described in the embodiment of the first aspect. For example, the processor 910 may be configured to perform the following control: obtaining first information; and determining, based at least on the first information and / or communication standard definition rules, to use a first beam to receive or transmit on an access (AC) link at a first time.

[0481] For another example, the processor 910 may be configured to execute a program to implement the information indication method as described in the embodiment of the third aspect. For example, the processor 910 may be configured to perform the following control: sending first information to a forwarder; causing the forwarder to determine, based at least on the first information and / or communication standard definition rules, to use a first beam to receive or transmit on an access (AC) link at a first time.

[0482] In addition, as shown in FIG9 , the electronic device 900 may further include: a transceiver 940 and an antenna 950; wherein, the functions of the above components are similar to those in the prior art and are not further described here. It is worth noting that the electronic device 900 does not necessarily include all the components shown in FIG9 ; in addition, the electronic device 900 may also include components not shown in FIG9 , and reference may be made to the prior art for details.

[0483] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable program, wherein when the program is executed in a repeater, the program causes the computer to execute the information indication method described in the embodiment of the first aspect in the repeater.

[0484] An embodiment of the present application also provides a storage medium storing a computer-readable program, wherein the computer-readable program enables a computer to execute the information indication method described in the embodiment of the first aspect in a repeater.

[0485] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable program, wherein when the program is executed in a network device, the program causes a computer to execute the information indication method described in the embodiment of the third aspect in the network device.

[0486] An embodiment of the present application also provides a storage medium storing a computer-readable program, wherein the computer-readable program enables a computer to execute the information indication method described in the embodiment of the third aspect in a network device.

[0487] The above devices and methods of the present application can be implemented by hardware or by a combination of hardware and software. The present application relates to such a computer-readable program that, when executed by a logic component, enables the logic component to implement the devices or components described above, or enables the logic component to implement the various methods or steps described above. The logic component is, for example, a field programmable logic component, a microprocessor, a processor used in a computer, etc. The present application also relates to a storage medium for storing the above program, such as a hard disk, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a DVD, a flash memory, etc.

[0488] The method / device described in conjunction with the embodiments of the present application can be directly embodied as hardware, a software module executed by a processor, or a combination of the two. For example, one or more of the functional block diagrams shown in the figure and / or one or more combinations of functional block diagrams can correspond to various software modules of the computer program flow or to various hardware modules. These software modules can respectively correspond to the various steps shown in the figure. These hardware modules can be implemented by solidifying these software modules, for example, using a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

[0489] The software module may be located in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. A storage medium may be coupled to a processor so that the processor can read information from and write information to the storage medium; or the storage medium may be an integral part of the processor. The processor and storage medium may be located in an ASIC. The software module may be stored in the memory of a mobile terminal or in a memory card that can be inserted into the mobile terminal. For example, if a device (such as a mobile terminal) uses a large-capacity MEGA-SIM card or a large-capacity flash memory device, the software module may be stored in the MEGA-SIM card or the large-capacity flash memory device.

[0490] One or more of the functional blocks and / or one or more combinations of functional blocks described in the accompanying drawings may be implemented as a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, a discrete hardware component, or any appropriate combination thereof for performing the functions described in this application. One or more of the functional blocks and / or one or more combinations of functional blocks described in the accompanying drawings may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, such as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in communication with a DSP, or any other such configuration.

[0491] The present application has been described above in conjunction with specific embodiments. However, those skilled in the art should understand that these descriptions are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application. Those skilled in the art may make various modifications and variations to the present application based on the spirit and principles of the present application, and such modifications and variations are also within the scope of the present application.

[0492] Regarding the above implementation methods disclosed in this embodiment, the following additional notes are also disclosed:

[0493] 1. An information indication method, comprising:

[0494] The forwarder obtains the first information;

[0495] The repeater determines to receive or transmit on an access (AC) link using a first beam at a first time based at least on the first information and / or a communication standard definition rule.

[0496] 2. The method according to Supplement 1, wherein the method further comprises:

[0497] The repeater determines the first beam and / or the first time according to at least one of the following: a communication standard definition rule, dynamic signaling, semi-static signaling, and Operation Administration and Maintenance (OAM) configuration information.

[0498] 3. The method according to Note 1 or 2, wherein the method further comprises:

[0499] The first time includes at least one time unit, and the at least one time unit is continuous or discontinuous in the time domain.

[0500] 4. The method according to any one of Notes 1 to 3, wherein:

[0501] The first information is carried by semi-static signaling, and / or the first information is configured by an OAM entity, and / or the first information is carried by PDCCH or dynamic signaling.

[0502] 5. The method according to any one of Notes 1 to 4, wherein:

[0503] The first information is used to indicate the first time, and / or the first information is used to indicate the first beam, and / or the first information is used to instruct the repeater to receive or transmit on the access link.

[0504] 6. The method according to any one of Notes 1 to 5, wherein:

[0505] The indication of the first beam is based on a beam index, and / or the indication of the first beam is based on a synchronization signal block (SSB) index, and / or the indication of the first beam is based on a reference signal index.

[0506] 7. The method according to any one of Notes 1 to 6, wherein:

[0507] The first information is used to instruct the repeater to use the first beam to receive or transmit on the access link at the first time.

[0508] 8. The method according to any one of Notes 1 to 6, wherein:

[0509] The first information is used to indicate the first time and the first beam; the method further includes:

[0510] The repeater obtains second information, where the second information is at least used by the repeater to determine whether to use the first beam to receive or transmit on the access link at the first time.

[0511] 9. The method according to Supplementary Note 8, wherein:

[0512] The second information at least indicates that the first time includes uplink time units and / or downlink time units and / or flexible time units.

[0513] 10. The method according to Supplement 8 or 9, wherein:

[0514] The second information includes time division duplex (TDD) uplink and downlink configuration information, the second information is carried by dynamic signaling and / or semi-static signaling, and / or the second information is configured by an OAM entity.

[0515] 11. The method according to Supplementary Note 9, wherein:

[0516] The repeater determines to use the first beam to receive on the access link in the uplink time unit of the first time, and / or

[0517] The repeater determines to use the first beam to transmit on the access link in the downlink time unit of the first time, and / or

[0518] The repeater determines to use the first beam to receive or transmit on the access link in at least one flexible time unit of the first time, and / or

[0519] The forwarder determines that at least one flexible time unit of the first time is not to be received and not to be transmitted on the access link.

[0520] 12. The method according to any one of Notes 1 to 6, wherein:

[0521] The first information is used to indicate the first time, and the first time is related to the first signal.

[0522] 13. The method according to Note 12, wherein the first signal is not generated by the repeater, and / or the repeater does not demodulate and decode the first signal.

[0523] 14. The method according to Supplement 12 or 13, wherein:

[0524] The repeater determines the first beam, the first beam being associated with the first signal;

[0525] The repeater determines to use the first beam to receive or transmit the first signal on the access link at the first time.

[0526] 15. The method according to Supplement 14, wherein:

[0527] The first signal comprises at least an SSB with an index of n;

[0528] The first information includes system information, and the first time includes at least the time unit corresponding to the SSB index n.

[0529] 16. The method according to Supplementary Note 15, further comprising:

[0530] The forwarder determines the SSB index n for transmission on the access link.

[0531] 17. The method according to Supplement 16, wherein:

[0532] The SSB index n is configured or indicated by the network side, and / or the SSB index n is predefined by the communication standard, and / or the SSB index n is pre-set in the repeater.

[0533] 18. The method according to any one of Notes 15 to 17, further comprising:

[0534] The repeater determines the first beam for transmitting the SSB with index n on the access link.

[0535] 19. The method according to any one of Notes 15 to 18, wherein the method further comprises:

[0536] The forwarder determines the number N of SSBs and / or the indexes of the N SSBs for transmission on the access link, wherein the SSB index n is one of the indexes of the N SSBs;

[0537] The number of SSBs N and / or the index of N SSBs are pre-set, or the number of SSBs N and / or the index of N SSBs are pre-defined by the communication standard, or the number of SSBs N and / or the index of N SSBs are configured or indicated by the network side for the repeater.

[0538] 20. The method according to Note 19, wherein the value of the number of SSBs N is preset, wherein the method further comprises:

[0539] The forwarder reports the number N of SSBs to the network side.

[0540] 21. The method according to Supplement 19 or 20, wherein the method further comprises:

[0541] The repeater determines N beams for sending the N SSBs on the access link, and determines a correspondence between the N beams and the N SSBs.

[0542] 22. The method according to Note 21, wherein:

[0543] The repeater determines the N beams for sending the N SSBs on the access link according to the network side configuration and / or instructions, or the repeater determines the N beams for sending the N SSBs on the access link according to the communication standard definition rules, or the repeater determines the N beams for sending the N SSBs on the access link by itself.

[0544] 23. The method according to any one of Notes 15 to 22, wherein:

[0545] The first beam corresponds to the SSB index n one-to-one, and the one-to-one correspondence remains unchanged until the repeater is restarted and / or reconfigured.

[0546] 24. The method according to any one of Notes 15 to 23, wherein:

[0547] The first time further includes a time unit or a random access opportunity (RACH occasion) corresponding to the SSB index n for sending a random access preamble (RACH preamble);

[0548] The first signal further includes a signal transmitted using the time unit corresponding to the SSB index n for sending a random access preamble (RACH preamble) or the time domain and / or frequency domain resources corresponding to the random access opportunity (RACH occasion).

[0549] 25. The method according to any one of Notes 12 to 24, wherein:

[0550] The first signal includes at least one of the following signals, channels, or information, or the first signal is related to at least one of the following signals, channels, or information:

[0551] Synchronization signal (SS),

[0552] Synchronization Signal Block (SSB),

[0553] System Information Block (SIB),

[0554] Master Information Block (MIB),

[0555] Msg1 (Random Access Channel, RACH),

[0556] Msg2,

[0557] Msg3,

[0558] Msg4,

[0559] Msg5,

[0560] Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) for scheduling (or triggering) Msg1 and / or Msg2 and / or Msg3 and / or Msg4 and / or Msg5,

[0561] Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) used to carry Msg2 and / or Msg4,

[0562] Physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) used to carry Msg3 and / or Msg5,

[0563] Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSIRS),

[0564] Sounding Reference Signal (SRS),

[0565] Beam Failure Recovery (BFR),

[0566] Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) used to carry Beam Failure Recovery (BFR),

[0567] ACK / NACK information,

[0568] Physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) used to carry ACK / NACK information,

[0569] Scheduling Request (SR),

[0570] Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) used to carry SR.

[0571] 26. The method according to Note 25, wherein:

[0572] The repeater determines, based at least on the first information, to use the first beam to receive or transmit the first signal on the access link at the first time.

[0573] 27. The method according to Note 25 or 26, wherein the first information includes location information of the first signal in the time domain and / or frequency domain, and / or the first information is carried by one or more signalings.

[0574] 28. The method according to any one of Notes 25 to 27, wherein:

[0575] The first information at least includes system information; the method further includes:

[0576] The repeater determines, at least based on the first information, to receive or send a signal related to the first signal at the first time.

[0577] 29. The method according to any one of Notes 1 to 28, wherein the method further comprises:

[0578] The forwarder obtains third information, the third information being associated with a second time, the second time at least partially overlapping with the first time;

[0579] The third information is also used to indicate the second beam that the repeater forwards in the access link, and / or, the third information is also used to indicate the forwarding direction of the repeater in the access link within the at least partially overlapping time, and / or, the third information is also used to indicate the transmission direction and / or switch status related to the at least partially overlapping time.

[0580] 30. The method according to Supplement 29, wherein:

[0581] The second beam is different from the first beam, and / or,

[0582] The forwarding direction during the at least partially overlapping time is inconsistent with the forwarding direction on the access link during the first time determined by the forwarder, and / or

[0583] The at least partially overlapping time-related transmission direction and / or switch state is inconsistent with the direction of forwarding on the access link determined by the forwarder at the first time.

[0584] 31. The method according to Note 29 or 30, wherein:

[0585] The third information is at least used to instruct the forwarder to use the second beam to forward on the access link at the second time, the forwarding direction is consistent with or inconsistent with the forwarding direction determined by the forwarder at the first time, and the second beam is the same as or different from the first beam; the method further includes:

[0586] The repeater receives or transmits on the access link using the first beam at the first time.

[0587] 32. The method according to Note 31, wherein:

[0588] The repeater determines, based at least on the first information, to use the first beam to receive on the access link at the first time, and the third information is used to instruct the repeater to use the second beam to receive on the access link at the second time.

[0589] The repeater receives on the access link using the first beam at the first time.

[0590] 33. The method according to Note 31, wherein:

[0591] The repeater determines, based at least on the first information, to use the first beam to transmit on the access link at the first time, and the third information is used to instruct the repeater to use the second beam to transmit on the access link at the second time.

[0592] The repeater transmits on the access link using the first beam at the first time.

[0593] 34. The method according to Note 31, wherein:

[0594] The repeater determines, based at least on the first information, to use the first beam to receive on the access link at the first time, and the third information is used to instruct the repeater to use the second beam to transmit on the access link at the second time.

[0595] The repeater receives on the access link using the first beam at the first time.

[0596] 35. The method according to Note 31, wherein:

[0597] The repeater determines, based at least on the first information, to use the first beam to transmit on the access link at the first time, and the third information is used to instruct the repeater to use the second beam to receive on the access link at the second time.

[0598] The repeater transmits on the access link using the first beam at the first time.

[0599] 36. The method according to any one of Notes 31 to 35, wherein the priority of the first beam is higher than or equal to the priority of the second beam.

[0600] 37. The method according to Note 36, wherein the priority of the first beam is configured and / or indicated by the network side, or the priority of the first beam is defined by the communication standard, or the priority of the first beam is determined by the forwarder at least based on the first information.

[0601] 38. A method according to any one of Notes 31 to 37, wherein the priority of at least one time unit included in the first time is higher than or equal to the preset priority, or higher than or equal to the priority of any time unit in the second time, or higher than or equal to the priority of any time unit in the at least partially overlapping time.

[0602] 39. The method according to Note 38, wherein the priority of the time unit is configured and / or indicated by the network side, or the priority of the time unit is defined by a communication standard, or the priority of the time unit is at least determined by a signal related to the time unit.

[0603] 40. The method according to any one of Notes 31 to 39, wherein the third information is further used to indicate a second beam that the forwarder forwards on the access link, wherein:

[0604] The third information instructs the repeater to use the second beam to receive or send a second signal on the access link at the second time; the priority of the second signal is lower than or equal to the priority of the first signal.

[0605] 41. The method according to Note 40, wherein the priority of the first signal and / or the second signal is defined by a communication standard, or the priority of the first signal and / or the second signal is configured and / or indicated by the network side.

[0606] 42. The method according to Note 40 or 41, wherein the first signal has the highest priority.

[0607] 43. The method according to any one of Notes 29 to 42, wherein the first information is carried by semi-static signaling and / or configured by an OAM entity, and the third information is carried by dynamic signaling.

[0608] 44. The method according to any one of Notes 29 to 42, wherein the first information is carried by dynamic signaling, and the third information is carried by semi-static signaling and / or carried by dynamic signaling and / or indicated by OAM;

[0609] The semi-static signaling includes MAC CE and / or RRC signaling;

[0610] The repeater receives the third information before receiving the first information.

[0611] 45. The method according to any one of Notes 29 to 42, wherein the first information is carried by semi-static signaling, and the third information is carried by semi-static signaling and / or indicated by OAM and / or carried by dynamic signaling;

[0612] The semi-static signaling includes MAC CE and / or RRC signaling;

[0613] The repeater receives the third information before receiving the first information.

[0614] 46. ​​The method according to Note 29 or 30, wherein the third information is further used to indicate a transmission direction and / or a switch state associated with the at least partially overlapping time, wherein:

[0615] The third information is at least used to indicate the signal transmission direction of one time unit of the at least partially overlapping time; wherein, the signal transmission direction of the one time unit is inconsistent with the signal transmission direction determined by the repeater based on the first information on the access link at the first time using the first beam.

[0616] 47. The method according to Supplement 46, wherein the method further comprises:

[0617] The repeater receives or transmits on the access link using the first beam at the first time.

[0618] 48. The method according to Note 47, wherein:

[0619] The repeater determines to use the first beam to receive (uplink) on the access link at the first time, and the third information is at least used to indicate that one time unit in the at least partially overlapping time is a downlink time unit or a flexible time unit.

[0620] 49. The method according to Note 47, wherein:

[0621] The repeater determines to use the first beam to transmit (downlink) on the access link at the first time, and the third information is at least used to indicate that one time unit in the at least partially overlapping time is an uplink time unit or a flexible time unit.

[0622] 50. The method according to Supplement 46, wherein the method further comprises:

[0623] The repeater does not receive and / or does not send on the access link during the time unit in which the signal transmission directions are inconsistent.

[0624] 51. The method according to Note 50, wherein:

[0625] The forwarder determines to use the first beam to receive (uplink) on the access link at the first time, and the third information is at least used to indicate that one of the time units included in the first time is a downlink time unit or a flexible time unit;

[0626] The forwarder does not perform reception in the downlink time unit or the flexible time unit, or does not perform reception in the first time.

[0627] 52. The method according to Note 50, wherein:

[0628] The forwarder determines to use the first beam to transmit (downlink) on the access link at the first time, and the third information is at least used to indicate that one of the time units included in the first time is an uplink time unit or a flexible time unit;

[0629] The forwarder does not send in the uplink time unit or the flexible time unit, or does not send in the first time.

[0630] 53. The method according to Note 29 or 30, wherein the third information is at least used to indicate that at least one time unit among the time units contained in the first time is not used for receiving or sending.

[0631] 54. The method according to Supplementary Note 53, wherein the method further comprises:

[0632] The repeater receives or transmits on the access link using the first beam at the first time.

[0633] 55. The method according to Supplementary Note 53, wherein the method further comprises:

[0634] The forwarder does not receive and / or does not transmit on the access link during the time unit indicated as not for reception or transmission.

[0635] 56. The method according to any one of Notes 53 to 55, wherein:

[0636] The third information is carried by signaling, and the signaling is at least used to indicate an off time.

[0637] 57. The method according to Note 56, wherein:

[0638] The signaling is further used to indicate an uplink time unit, and / or a downlink time unit, and / or a flexible time unit.

[0639] 58. A method according to any one of Notes 53 to 57, wherein the at least one time unit not used for receiving or sending is an OFF time unit, or a sleep / dormancy time unit, or a null time unit.

[0640] 59. The method according to any one of Notes 1 to 58, wherein the method further comprises:

[0641] The repeater obtains fourth information, the fourth information being associated with a third time, the third time at least partially overlapping with the first time.

[0642] 60. The method according to Note 59, wherein the fourth information is at least used to instruct the repeater to receive a signal from the network side or send a signal to the network side in the control link at the third time.

[0643] 61. The method according to Note 60, wherein the repeater receives a signal from the network side or sends a generated signal to the network side at the control link at the third time.

[0644] 62. The method according to Note 61, wherein:

[0645] The forwarder determines, based at least on the first information, to use the first beam to receive on the access link at the first time, and the fourth information is used to instruct the forwarder to receive on the control link at the third time;

[0646] The repeater does not receive on the access link during the at least partially overlapping time.

[0647] 63. The method according to Note 61, wherein:

[0648] The forwarder determines, based at least on the first information, to use the first beam to transmit on the access link at the first time, and the fourth information is used to instruct the forwarder to transmit on the control link at the third time;

[0649] The repeater does not transmit on the access link during the at least partially overlapping times.

[0650] 64. The method according to Note 61, wherein:

[0651] The forwarder determines, based at least on the first information, to use the first beam to receive on the access link at the first time, and the fourth information is used to instruct the forwarder to receive on the control link at the third time;

[0652] The forwarder does not receive on the access link at the first time.

[0653] 65. The method according to Note 61, wherein:

[0654] The forwarder determines, based at least on the first information, to use the first beam to transmit on the access link at the first time, and the fourth information is used to instruct the forwarder to transmit on the control link at the third time;

[0655] The forwarder does not transmit on the access link at the first time.

[0656] 66. The method according to Note 60, wherein:

[0657] The repeater receives or transmits on the access link using the first beam at the first time.

[0658] 67. The method according to Note 66, wherein:

[0659] The forwarder determines, based at least on the first information, to use the first beam to receive on the access link at the first time, and the fourth information is used to instruct the forwarder to receive a signal from the network side on the control link at the third time;

[0660] The repeater does not receive signals from the network side on the control link at at least partially overlapping times.

[0661] 68. The method according to Note 66, wherein:

[0662] The forwarder determines, based at least on the first information, to use the first beam to transmit on the access link at the first time, and the fourth information is used to instruct the forwarder to transmit a signal to the network side on the control link at the third time;

[0663] The repeater does not send signals to the network side on the control link at at least partially overlapping times.

[0664] 69. The method according to Note 66, wherein:

[0665] The forwarder determines, based at least on the first information, to use the first beam to receive on the access link at the first time, and the fourth information is used to instruct the forwarder to receive a signal from the network side on the control link at the third time;

[0666] The repeater does not receive a signal from the network side on the control link at the third time.

[0667] 70. The method according to Note 66, wherein:

[0668] The forwarder determines, based at least on the first information, to use the first beam to transmit on the access link at the first time, and the fourth information is used to instruct the forwarder to transmit a signal to the network side on the control link at the third time;

[0669] The repeater does not send a signal to the network side on the control link at the third time.

[0670] 71. The method according to any one of Notes 59 to 70, wherein the fourth information is used to instruct the forwarder to generate and send at least one of the following signals to the network side at the third time:

[0671] Msg1(RACH, preamble),

[0672] BFR,

[0673] SR,

[0674] A / N,

[0675] SRS,

[0676] Msg3,

[0677] Msg5,

[0678] Non-periodic CSI reporting,

[0679] Semi-continuous CSI reporting.

[0680] 72. The method according to any one of notes 59 to 70, wherein the fourth information is used to instruct the forwarder to receive at least one of the following signals from the network side at the third time:

[0681] Msg2,

[0682] Msg4,

[0683] Schedule PDCCH for Msg2 and / or Msg4,

[0684] CSIRS,

[0685] BFRR;

[0686] And the signal is demodulated or decoded by the transponder.

[0687] 73. The method according to any one of Notes 1 to 72, wherein the forwarder does not expect to be instructed with indication information inconsistent with the first information;

[0688] 74. A method according to any one of Notes 1 to 73, wherein the repeater does not expect to be instructed to transmit or receive using a beam other than the first beam at the first time.

[0689] 75. A method according to any one of notes 1 to 74, wherein the repeater does not expect to be indicated that the first time is an OFF time.

[0690] 76. The method according to any one of Notes 1 to 75, wherein:

[0691] In a case where the first information is at least used to instruct the forwarder to use the first beam to receive on the access link at the first time, the forwarder does not expect to be instructed that the first time includes a downlink time unit and / or a flexible time unit;

[0692] and / or

[0693] When the first information is at least used to instruct the repeater to transmit on the access link using the first beam at the first time, the repeater does not expect to be instructed that the first time includes uplink time units and / or flexible time units.

[0694] 77. An information indication method, comprising:

[0695] The network device sends first information to the forwarder;

[0696] The repeater determines to use the first beam to receive or transmit on the access (AC) link at the first time based at least on the first information and / or a communication standard definition rule.

[0697] 78. The method according to Supplement 77, wherein:

[0698] The first time includes at least one time unit, and the at least one time unit is continuous or discontinuous in the time domain.

[0699] 79. The method according to Note 77 or 78, wherein:

[0700] The first information is carried by semi-static signaling, and / or the first information is configured by an OAM entity, and / or the first information is carried by PDCCH or dynamic signaling.

[0701] 80. The method according to any one of Notes 77 to 79, wherein:

[0702] The first information is used to indicate the first time, and / or the first information is used to indicate the first beam, and / or the first information is used to instruct the repeater to receive or transmit on the access link.

[0703] 81. The method according to any one of Notes 77 to 80, wherein:

[0704] The indication of the first beam is based on a beam index, and / or the indication of the first beam is based on a synchronization signal block (SSB) index, and / or the indication of the first beam is based on a reference signal index.

[0705] 82. The method according to any one of Notes 77 to 81, wherein:

[0706] The first information is used to instruct the repeater to use the first beam to receive or transmit on the access link at the first time.

[0707] 83. The method according to any one of Notes 77 to 82, wherein:

[0708] The first information is used to indicate the first time and the first beam; the method further includes:

[0709] Second information is sent to the repeater, where the second information is at least used by the repeater to determine whether to use the first beam to receive or transmit on the access link at the first time.

[0710] 84. The method according to Note 83, wherein:

[0711] The second information at least indicates that the first time includes uplink time units and / or downlink time units and / or flexible time units.

[0712] 85. The method according to Supplement 83 or 84, wherein:

[0713] The second information includes time division duplex (TDD) uplink and downlink configuration information, the second information is carried by dynamic signaling and / or semi-static signaling, and / or the second information is configured by an OAM entity.

[0714] 86. The method according to any one of Notes 77 to 82, wherein:

[0715] The first information is used to indicate the first time, and the first time is related to the first signal.

[0716] 87. The method according to Note 86, wherein the first signal is not generated by the repeater, and / or the repeater does not demodulate and decode the first signal.

[0717] 88. The method according to any one of Notes 77 to 87, wherein the method further comprises:

[0718] sending third information to the forwarder, the third information being associated with a second time, the second time at least partially overlapping with the first time;

[0719] The third information is also used to indicate the second beam that the repeater forwards in the access link, and / or, the third information is also used to indicate the forwarding direction of the repeater in the access link within the at least partially overlapping time, and / or, the third information is also used to indicate the transmission direction and / or switch status related to the at least partially overlapping time.

[0720] 89. The method according to Supplement 88, wherein:

[0721] The second beam is different from the first beam, and / or,

[0722] The forwarding direction during the at least partially overlapping time is inconsistent with the forwarding direction on the access link during the first time determined by the forwarder, and / or

[0723] The at least partially overlapping time-related transmission direction and / or switch state is inconsistent with the direction of forwarding on the access link determined by the forwarder at the first time.

[0724] 90. The method according to Note 88 or 89, wherein the first information is carried by semi-static signaling and / or configured by an OAM entity, and the third information is carried by dynamic signaling.

[0725] 91. The method according to any one of Notes 88 to 90, wherein the first information is carried by dynamic signaling, and the third information is carried by semi-static signaling and / or carried by dynamic signaling and / or indicated by OAM;

[0726] The semi-static signaling includes MAC CE and / or RRC signaling;

[0727] The repeater receives the third information before receiving the first information.

[0728] 92. The method according to any one of Notes 88 to 90, wherein the first information is carried by semi-static signaling, and the third information is carried by semi-static signaling and / or indicated by OAM and / or carried by dynamic signaling;

[0729] The semi-static signaling includes MAC CE and / or RRC signaling;

[0730] The repeater receives the third information before receiving the first information.

[0731] 93. The method according to any one of Notes 77 to 92, wherein the method further comprises:

[0732] Fourth information is sent to the repeater, the fourth information being associated with a third time, the third time at least partially overlapping with the first time.

[0733] 94. The method according to Note 93, wherein the fourth information is at least used to instruct the repeater to receive a signal from the network side or send a signal to the network side in the control link at the third time.

[0734] 95. The method according to note 93 or 94, wherein the fourth information is used to instruct the forwarder to generate and send at least one of the following signals to the network side at the third time:

[0735] Msg1(RACH, preamble),

[0736] BFR,

[0737] SR,

[0738] A / N,

[0739] SRS,

[0740] Msg3,

[0741] Msg5,

[0742] Non-periodic CSI reporting,

[0743] Semi-continuous CSI reporting.

[0744] 96. The method according to note 93 or 94, wherein the fourth information is used to instruct the forwarder to receive at least one of the following signals from the network side at the third time:

[0745] Msg2,

[0746] Msg4,

[0747] Schedule PDCCH for Msg2 and / or Msg4,

[0748] CSIRS,

[0749] BFRR;

[0750] And the signal is demodulated or decoded by the transponder.

[0751] 97. The method according to any one of Notes 77 to 96, wherein the network side does not send indication information that is inconsistent with the first information;

[0752] 98. A method according to any one of Notes 77 to 97, wherein the network side does not instruct the repeater to use a beam other than the first beam for transmission or reception at the first time.

[0753] 99. A method according to any one of Notes 77 to 98, wherein the network side does not indicate that the first time is an OFF time.

[0754] 100. The method according to any one of Notes 77 to 99, wherein:

[0755] In a case where the first information is at least used to instruct the forwarder to use the first beam to receive on the access link at the first time, the network side does not indicate that the first time includes a downlink time unit and / or a flexible time unit;

[0756] and / or

[0757] In a case where the first information is at least used to instruct the forwarder to use the first beam to transmit on the access link at the first time, the network side does not indicate that the first time includes uplink time units and / or flexible time units.

[0758] 101. A repeater comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program, and the processor is configured to execute the computer program to implement the information indication method as described in any one of Notes 1 to 76.

[0759] 102. A network device comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program, and the processor is configured to execute the computer program to implement the information indication method as described in any one of Notes 77 to 100.

Claims

1. A transponder, comprising: an acquiring unit configured to acquire first information; A determining unit, which determines, based at least on the first information and / or a communication standard definition rule, to use a first beam to receive or transmit on an access link at a first time.

2. The repeater according to claim 1, wherein: The determining unit determines the first beam and / or the first time according to at least one of the following: communication standard definition rules, dynamic signaling, semi-static signaling, and operation management and maintenance configuration information.

3. The repeater according to claim 1, wherein: The first time includes at least one time unit, and the at least one time unit is continuous or discontinuous in the time domain.

4. The repeater according to claim 1, wherein: The first information is carried by semi-static signaling, and / or, The first information is configured by an operation management and maintenance entity, and / or, The first information is carried by a physical downlink control channel or dynamic signaling.

5. The repeater according to claim 1, wherein The first information is used to indicate the first time, and / or, The first information is used to indicate the first beam, and / or, The first information is used to instruct the forwarder to receive or send on the access link. The repeater according to claim 1 , wherein: The first information is used to indicate the first time and the first beam; The acquisition unit further acquires second information, where the second information is at least used by the repeater to determine whether to use the first beam to receive or transmit on the access link at the first time.

7. The repeater according to claim 6, wherein: The second information at least indicates that the first time includes uplink time units and / or downlink time units and / or flexible time units.

8. The repeater according to claim 1, wherein: The acquiring unit further acquires third information, where the third information is related to a second time, and the second time at least partially overlaps with the first time; The third information is also used to indicate the second beam that the repeater forwards in the access link, and / or, the third information is also used to indicate the forwarding direction of the repeater in the access link within the at least partially overlapping time, and / or, the third information is also used to indicate the transmission direction and / or switch status related to the at least partially overlapping time.

9. The repeater according to claim 8, wherein: The second beam is different from the first beam, and / or, The forwarding direction during the at least partially overlapping time is inconsistent with the forwarding direction on the access link during the first time determined by the forwarder, and / or The at least partially overlapping time-related transmission direction and / or switch state is inconsistent with the direction of forwarding on the access link determined by the forwarder at the first time.

10. The repeater according to claim 8, wherein The third information is at least used to instruct the forwarder to use the second beam to forward on the access link at the second time, the forwarding direction is consistent with or inconsistent with the forwarding direction determined by the forwarder at the first time, and the second beam is the same as or different from the first beam.

11. The repeater according to claim 10, wherein: The repeater further comprises: A forwarding unit, which uses the first beam to receive or send on the access link at the first time.

12. The repeater according to claim 8, wherein: The first information is carried by semi-static signaling and / or configured by an operation, management and maintenance entity, and the third information is carried by dynamic signaling.

13. The repeater according to claim 8, wherein: The third information is further used to indicate a transmission direction and / or a switch state associated with the at least partially overlapping time, The third information is at least used to indicate the signal transmission direction of a time unit of the at least partially overlapping time; wherein the signal transmission direction of the one time unit is inconsistent with the signal transmission direction determined by the repeater based on the first information on the access link at the first time using the first beam.

14. The repeater according to claim 13, wherein: The repeater further comprises: A forwarding unit that uses the first beam to receive or transmit on the access link at the first time, and / or does not receive and / or does not transmit on the access link within a time unit in which the signal transmission direction is inconsistent.

15. The repeater according to claim 8, wherein The third information is at least used to indicate that at least one time unit among the time units included in the first time is not used for receiving or sending.

16. The repeater according to claim 15, wherein: The repeater further comprises: A forwarding unit that receives or transmits on the access link using the first beam at the first time, and / or does not receive and / or does not transmit on the access link within a time unit indicated as not being used for reception or transmission.

17. The repeater according to claim 1, wherein: The acquiring unit obtains fourth information, where the fourth information is related to a third time, and the third time at least partially overlaps with the first time; The fourth information is at least used to instruct the repeater to receive a signal from the network side or send a signal to the network side on the control link at the third time.

18. The repeater according to claim 17, wherein: The repeater further comprises: A forwarding unit receives a signal from the network side or sends a generated signal to the network side at the control link at the third time, or uses the first beam to receive or send at the access link at the first time.

19. A network device comprising: a sending unit configured to send first information to the forwarder; The repeater determines to use the first beam to receive or transmit on the access link at the first time based at least on the first information and / or a communication standard definition rule.

20. A communication system comprising: a network device that sends first information to the forwarder; as well as A repeater determines, based at least on the first information and / or a communication standard definition rule, to use a first beam to receive or transmit on an access link at a first time.

Images