Connection configuration method and terminal

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides a connection configuration method and a terminal. The connection configuration method comprises the following steps: a remote terminal performs connection configuration based on a timer, the connection configuration comprises connection configuration about at least two paths, and the at least two paths comprise a direct connection path and a non-direct connection path. According to the embodiment of the invention, connection configuration can be carried out based on the timer under the scene that the terminal and the network equipment are connected through at least two paths, and the applicable connection configuration scenes are richer.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communications, and more specifically, to a connection configuration method and a terminal. Background Art

[0002] With the development of wireless communication technology, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) introduced the relay from layer 2 terminal to network. In the relay system, the remote terminal can be connected to the network through a direct path, or through an indirect path, such as through a relay terminal. The remote terminal communicates with the network through the relay terminal, which can extend the communication distance and improve the communication reliability. The single-path path switching of the relay system can include switching from a direct path to an indirect path, or switching from an indirect path to a direct path. Summary of the invention

[0003] Embodiments of the present application provide a connection configuration method and a terminal.

[0004] The present application provides a connection configuration method, including:

[0005] The remote terminal performs connection configuration based on a timer, wherein the connection configuration includes connection configurations regarding at least two paths, and the at least two paths include a direct connection path and an indirect connection path.

[0006] The present application also provides a remote terminal, which includes:

[0007] The processing unit is configured to perform connection configuration based on a timer, wherein the connection configuration includes connection configuration regarding at least two paths, and the at least two paths include a direct connection path and an indirect connection path.

[0008] An embodiment of the present application also provides a communication device, including: a processor and a memory, the memory is used to store a computer program, and the processor is used to call and run the computer program stored in the memory so that the communication device executes the above method.

[0009] An embodiment of the present application also provides a chip, including: a processor, used to call and run a computer program from a memory, so that a device equipped with the chip executes the above method.

[0010] The embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program, which enables the device to execute the above method when the computer program is executed by the device.

[0011] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer program product, including computer program instructions, which enable a computer to execute the above method.

[0012] The embodiment of the present application also provides a computer program, which enables a computer to execute the above method.

[0013] In the embodiment of the present application, in a scenario where a terminal and a network device are connected via at least two paths, connection configuration can be performed based on a timer, and applicable connection configuration scenarios are more abundant. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of an application scenario according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0015] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of a relay scenario according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0016] Figure 3 It is a schematic flowchart of a connection configuration method according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0017] Figure 4 It is a schematic flowchart of a connection configuration method according to another embodiment of the present application.

[0018] Figure 5 It is a schematic flowchart of a connection configuration method according to another embodiment of the present application.

[0019] Figure 6 It is a schematic block diagram of a remote terminal according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0020] Figure 7 It is a schematic block diagram of a remote terminal according to another embodiment of the present application.

[0021] Figure 8 It is a schematic block diagram of a remote terminal according to another embodiment of the present application.

[0022] Fig. 9 It is a flowchart of the remote UE performing connection configuration to the direct connection path according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0023] Fig.10 This is a flowchart of a remote UE configuring a connection to a non-direct connection path according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0024] Fig.11 It is a schematic block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0025] Fig.12 is a schematic block diagram of a chip according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0026] Fig.13 It is a schematic block diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0028] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as: Global System of Mobile communication (GSM) system, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, Advanced Long Term Evolution (LTE-A) system, New Radio (NR) system, NR system evolution system, LTE on unlicensed spectrum (LTE-U) system, NR on unlicensed spectrum (NR-U) system, Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) system, Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN), Wireless Fidelity (Wireless Fidelity) system. Fidelity, WiFi), fifth-generation communication (5th-Generation, 5G) system or other communication systems, etc.

[0029] Generally speaking, traditional communication systems support a limited number of connections and are easy to implement. However, with the development of communication technology, mobile communication systems will not only support traditional communications, but will also support, for example, device to device (Device to Device, D2D) communication, machine to machine (Machine to Machine, M2M) communication, machine type communication (Machine Type Communication, MTC), vehicle to vehicle (V2V) communication, or vehicle to everything (V2X) communication, etc. The embodiments of the present application can also be applied to these communication systems.

[0030] Optionally, the communication system in the embodiment of the present application can be applied to a carrier aggregation (CA) scenario, a dual connectivity (DC) scenario, or a standalone (SA) networking scenario.

[0031] Optionally, the communication system in the embodiment of the present application can be applied to an unlicensed spectrum, wherein the unlicensed spectrum can also be considered as a shared spectrum; or, the communication system in the embodiment of the present application can also be applied to an authorized spectrum, wherein the authorized spectrum can also be considered as an unshared spectrum.

[0032] The embodiments of the present application describe various embodiments in conjunction with network devices and terminal devices, wherein the terminal device may also be referred to as user equipment (UE), access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication device, user agent or user device, etc.

[0033] The terminal device can be a station (STAION, ST) in a WLAN, a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) device, a handheld device with wireless communication function, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a terminal device in a next-generation communication system such as an NR network, or a terminal device in a future-evolved Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) network, etc.

[0034] In the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld, wearable or vehicle-mounted; it can also be deployed on the water surface (such as ships, etc.); it can also be deployed in the air (for example, on airplanes, balloons and satellites, etc.).

[0035] In the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal device in industrial control, a wireless terminal device in self driving, a wireless terminal device in remote medical, a wireless terminal device in a smart grid, a wireless terminal device in transportation safety, a wireless terminal device in a smart city, or a wireless terminal device in a smart home, etc.

[0036] As an example but not limitation, in the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device may also be a wearable device. Wearable devices may also be referred to as wearable smart devices, which are a general term for wearable devices that are intelligently designed and developed using wearable technology for daily wear, such as glasses, gloves, watches, clothing, and shoes. A wearable device is a portable device that is worn directly on the body or integrated into the user's clothes or accessories. Wearable devices are not only hardware devices, but also powerful functions achieved through software support, data interaction, and cloud interaction. Broadly speaking, wearable smart devices include full-featured, large-sized, and fully or partially independent of smartphones, such as smart watches or smart glasses, as well as devices that only focus on a certain type of application function and need to be used in conjunction with other devices such as smartphones, such as various types of smart bracelets and smart jewelry for vital sign monitoring.

[0037] In an embodiment of the present application, the network device may be a device for communicating with a mobile device. The network device may be an access point (AP) in WLAN, a base station (Base Transceiver Station, BTS) in GSM or CDMA, a base station (NodeB, NB) in WCDMA, an evolved base station (EvolutionalNode B, eNB or eNodeB) in LTE, or a relay station or access point, or a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, and a network device (gNB) in an NR network, or a network device in a future evolved PLMN network, or a network device in an NTN network, etc.

[0038] As an example but not limitation, in an embodiment of the present application, the network device may have a mobile characteristic, for example, the network device may be a mobile device. Optionally, the network device may be a satellite or a balloon station. For example, the satellite may be a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite, a medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite, a geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellite, a high elliptical orbit (HEO) satellite, etc. Optionally, the network device may also be a base station set up in a location such as land or water.

[0039] In an embodiment of the present application, the network device can provide services for a cell, and the terminal device communicates with the network device through the transmission resources used by the cell (for example, frequency domain resources, or spectrum resources). The cell can be a cell corresponding to the network device (for example, a base station), and the cell can belong to a macro base station or a base station corresponding to a small cell. The small cells here may include: metro cells, micro cells, pico cells, femto cells, etc. These small cells have the characteristics of small coverage and low transmission power, and are suitable for providing high-speed data transmission services.

[0040] Figure 1 A communication system 100 is exemplarily shown. The communication system 100 includes a network device 110 and two terminal devices 120. Optionally, the communication system 100 may include multiple network devices 110, and each network device 110 may include other number of terminal devices 120 within its coverage area, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0041] Optionally, the communication system 100 may also include other network entities such as a mobility management entity (Mobility Management Entity, MME), an access and mobility management function (Access and Mobility Management Function, AMF), etc., which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0042] Among them, the network equipment may include access network equipment and core network equipment. That is, the wireless communication system also includes multiple core networks for communicating with the access network equipment. The access network equipment may be an evolutionary base station (evolutional node B, referred to as eNB or e-NodeB) macro base station, micro base station (also called "small base station"), micro-micro base station, access point (AP), transmission point (TP) or new generation base station (new generation Node B, gNodeB) in a long-term evolution (LTE) system, a next-generation (mobile communication system) (next radio, NR) system or an authorized auxiliary access long-term evolution (LAA-LTE) system.

[0043] It should be understood that the device with communication function in the network / system in the embodiment of the present application can be referred to as a communication device. Figure 1 Taking the communication system shown as an example, the communication equipment may include network equipment and terminal equipment with communication functions. The network equipment and terminal equipment may be specific equipment in the embodiments of the present application and will not be repeated here. The communication equipment may also include other equipment in the communication system, such as network controllers, mobile management entities and other network entities, which are not limited to the embodiments of the present application.

[0044] It should be understood that the terms "system" and "network" are often used interchangeably in this article. The term "and / or" in this article is only a description of the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. In addition, the character " / " in this article generally indicates that the associated objects before and after are in an "or" relationship.

[0045] It should be understood that the "indication" mentioned in the embodiments of the present application can be a direct indication, an indirect indication, or an indication of an association relationship. For example, A indicates B, which can mean that A directly indicates B, for example, B can be obtained through A; it can also mean that A indirectly indicates B, for example, A indicates C, and B can be obtained through C; it can also mean that there is an association relationship between A and B.

[0046] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the term "corresponding" may indicate a direct or indirect correspondence between two items, or an association relationship between the two items, or a relationship between indication and being indicated, configuration and being configured, and the like.

[0047] To facilitate understanding of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the relevant technologies of the embodiments of the present application are described below. The following related technologies can be arbitrarily combined with the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application as optional solutions, and they all belong to the protection scope of the embodiments of the present application.

[0048] 3GPP Rel-17 introduced Layer 2 terminal-to-network relay, and the adaptation layer was placed at the Uu interface (air interface) between the relay UE and the gNB, and above the control plane and user plane radio link control (Radio Link Control, RLC) sublayers. The Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) / Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) and Radio Resource Control (RRC) of the Uu interface terminate between the remote terminal and the gNB. The RLC, Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) sublayers terminate in each link (for example, the link between the remote terminal and the relay terminal, and the link between the relay terminal and the gNB), see Figure 2 Whether the adaptation layer is also supported at the PC5 interface between the remote UE and the relay UE is left to the work item (WI) stage.

[0049] For L2 UE to network relay, uplink characteristics include:

[0050] The Uu adaptation layer of the relay terminal supports uplink bearer mapping between PC5 RLC channels, mapped to the Uu RLC channel on the relay UE Uu path. For uplink relay services, different end-to-end bearers (e.g., Signaling Radio Bearer (SRB), Data Radio Bearer (DRB)) of the same remote UE and / or different remote UEs can be N:1 mapped and data multiplexed on one Uu RLC channel.

[0051] The Uu Adaptation Layer is used to support remote terminal identification for uplink services (multiplexing data from multiple remote terminals). The remote terminal Uu radio bearer and the identification information of the remote terminal are included in the uplink Uu Adaptation Layer so that the gNB can associate the received data packets of a specific PDCP entity associated with the remote terminal Uu radio bearer.

[0052] For L2 UE to network relay, the downlink characteristics include:

[0053] The Uu Adaptation Layer may be used to support downlink bearer mapping at the gNB to map the end-to-end radio bearers (SRB, DRB) of the remote terminal to the Uu RLC channel over the relay UE-Uu path. The Uu Adaptation Layer may be used to support downlink N:1 bearer mapping and data multiplexing between multiple end-to-end radio bearers (e.g., SRB, DRB) of the remote terminal and / or different remote terminals and one Uu RLC channel on the relay UE Uu path.

[0054] The Uu adaptation layer needs to support the remote terminal identification of the downlink service. The identity information of the remote terminal Uu radio bearer and the identification information of the remote terminal need to be put into the Uu adaptation layer through the gNB at the downlink so that the relay UE can map the data packets received from the remote terminal Uu radio bearer to its related PC5 RLC channel.

[0055] In the related art, it is possible to handle the establishment, re-establishment, and restoration of the RRC connection when the UE is directly connected to the network; it is possible to handle the establishment, re-establishment, and restoration of the RRC connection when the UE is only connected to the network through a relay-UE. However, it does not address how to establish, re-establish, and restore the RRC connection when the remote UE is directly connected to the network and connected to the network through a relay-UE at the same time in a multi-path relay system.

[0056] In the related art, when the UE is only switched from a direct connection to an indirect connection, the switching process can be processed based on a timer; or when the UE is only switched from an indirect connection to a direct connection, the switching process can be processed based on a timer. However, in the switching of a multi-path relay system, for example, when the remote UE is configured from a single path to a multi-path, or from a multi-path to a single path, or from a multi-path to a multi-path, it is not clear how to process the connection configuration process based on a timer.

[0057] Figure 3 FIG. 3 is a schematic flow chart of a connection configuration method 300 according to an embodiment of the present application. The method may optionally be applied to Figure 1 The system shown in the figure is not limited thereto. The method includes at least part of the following contents:

[0058] S310. The remote terminal performs connection configuration based on a timer, wherein the connection configuration includes connection configuration regarding at least two paths, and the at least two paths include a direct connection path and an indirect connection path.

[0059] In an embodiment of the present application, the remote terminal may be connected to the network device through a single path. For example, the remote terminal is connected to the network device only through a direct path. For another example, the remote terminal is connected to the network device only through an indirect path, such as the remote terminal is connected to the network device through a relay terminal. The remote terminal may also be connected to the network device through multiple paths. For example, the remote terminal is connected to the network device through a direct path and an indirect path. The connection configuration of the remote terminal may include adding, deleting, releasing or switching the path between the remote terminal and the network device. The connection between the remote terminal and the network device before the connection configuration may include the original direct path and / or the original indirect path. The connection between the remote terminal and the network device after the connection configuration may include the target direct path and / or the target indirect path. If the connection between the remote terminal and the network device before the connection configuration includes at least two paths, or the connection between the remote terminal and the network device after the connection configuration includes at least two paths, or the original path includes at least two paths and the target path includes at least two paths, then the connection configuration belongs to a multi-path connection configuration.

[0060] In the embodiment of the present application, the timer of the embodiment of the present application may also be referred to as a timer, and the remote terminal may set a timer for timing the connection configuration process. The remote terminal may perform connection configuration based on the timer. For example, the timer is started or restarted when the multipath connection configuration is started, and the timer is in a running state during the connection configuration process. If the timer stops or times out, it can be determined that the connection configuration process has failed, thereby performing related failure processing operations.

[0061] In a possible implementation manner, the connection configuration includes a first connection configuration, after which the remote terminal is connected to the network device at least via a direct connection path, and the timer includes a first timer.

[0062] In an embodiment of the present application, the connection configuration may include a first connection configuration and a second connection configuration according to the path conditions after the connection configuration. After the remote terminal can perform the first connection configuration based on the first timer, the target path for connecting the remote terminal to the network device includes at least a direct path. That is to say, after the first connection configuration is performed, the remote terminal is connected to the network device at least through a direct path. In an embodiment of the present application, the original direct path before the first connection configuration is performed and the target direct path after the first connection configuration may be the same or different; the original non-direct path before the first connection configuration is performed and the target non-direct path after the first connection configuration may be the same or different.

[0063] In the embodiment of the present application, the remote terminal may perform the first connection configuration based on the first timer. For example, the remote terminal starts or restarts the first timer when performing the first connection configuration.

[0064] In a possible implementation, the network device before connection configuration is a first network device, and the network device after connection configuration is a second network device. The first network device is a source network device, and the second network device is a target network device. The source network device and the target network device may be the same or different.

[0065] In a possible implementation manner, the first network device and the second network device are the same cell, cell group or device.

[0066] In a possible implementation manner, the first network device and the second network device are different cells, cell groups or devices.

[0067] In an embodiment of the present application, the original direct path before the first connection configuration is performed may be the first direct path, and the target direct path after the first connection configuration is performed may be the first direct path or the second direct path. The first direct path is different from the second direct path. The original indirect path after the first connection configuration may be the first indirect path, and the target indirect path may be the first indirect path or the second indirect path. The first indirect path is different from the second indirect path.

[0068] In a possible implementation manner, the first connection configuration includes: from being connected to the first network device through a first indirect connection path, to being configured to be connected to the second network device through a second direct connection path and a second indirect connection path.

[0069] In example 1-1, the remote terminal may switch from being connected to the first network device through a first indirect connection path to being connected to the second network device through a second indirect connection path, and then add being connected to the second network device through a second direct connection path.

[0070] In a possible implementation manner, the primary cell of the remote terminal is located on the second direct path or the second indirect path.

[0071] For example, in the case of Example 1-1, the primary cell of the remote terminal may be located on the first indirect path before the connection configuration is performed, and may change to be located on the second direct path or the second indirect path after the connection configuration is performed.

[0072] In a possible implementation manner, the first connection configuration includes: from being connected to the first network device through a first direct connection path, to being configured to be connected to the second network device through the first direct connection path and a second indirect connection path.

[0073] Example 1-2, if the first network device is the same as the second network device, the remote terminal can maintain the connection with the network device through the first direct connection path, and increase the connection with the network device through the second indirect connection path. If the first network device is different from the second network device, the remote terminal can switch from connecting to the first network device through the first direct connection path to connecting to the second network device through the first direct connection path, and increase the connection with the second network device through the second indirect connection path.

[0074] In a possible implementation manner, the first connection configuration includes: from being connected to the first network device through a first direct connection path, to being configured to be connected to the second network device through a second direct connection path and a second indirect connection path.

[0075] In example 1-3, the remote terminal may switch from being connected to the first network device via the first direct connection path to being connected to the second network device via the second direct connection path, and may also be connected to the second network device via the second indirect connection path.

[0076] In a possible implementation manner, the primary cell of the remote terminal changes from a first direct path to a second indirect path.

[0077] For example, in the case of Example 1-2 or Example 1-3, the primary cell of the remote terminal may be located on the first direct path before the connection configuration is performed, and may be changed to be located on the second indirect path after the connection configuration is performed.

[0078] In a possible implementation manner, the first connection configuration includes: from being connected to the first network device through a first indirect connection path and a first direct connection path, being configured to be connected to the second network device through the first direct connection path.

[0079] Example 1-4, if the first network device is the same as the second network device, the remote terminal can remain connected to the network device through the first direct connection path, and the remote terminal can release the first indirect connection path. If the first network device is different from the second network device, the remote terminal can switch from being connected to the first network device through the first direct connection path and the first indirect connection path to being connected to the second network device through the first direct connection path, and the remote terminal can release the first indirect connection path.

[0080] In a possible implementation manner, the primary cell of the remote terminal changes from a first indirect path to a first direct path.

[0081] For example, in the case of Examples 1-4, the primary cell of the remote terminal may be located on the first non-direct path before the connection configuration is performed, and may be changed to be located on the first direct path after the connection configuration is performed.

[0082] In a possible implementation manner, the first connection configuration includes: switching from connecting to the first network device through a first indirect connection path and a first direct connection path to connecting to the second network device through a second direct connection path.

[0083] In example 1-5, the remote terminal may switch from being connected to the first network device through the first indirect connection path and the first direct connection path to being connected to the second network device through the second direct connection path, and the remote terminal may release the first indirect connection path.

[0084] In a possible implementation manner, the primary cell of the remote terminal changes from a first indirect connection path to a second direct connection path.

[0085] For example, in the case of Examples 1-5, the primary cell of the remote terminal may be located on a first non-direct connection path before the connection configuration is performed, and may be changed to be located on a second direct connection path after the connection configuration is performed.

[0086] In a possible implementation manner, the first connection configuration includes: from being connected to the first network device through a first indirect connection path and a first direct connection path, being configured to be connected to the second network device through the first indirect connection path and the first direct connection path.

[0087] Example 1-6, if the first network device is the same as the second network device, the remote terminal can remain connected to the network device through the first indirect path and the first direct path. If the first network device is different from the second network device, the remote terminal can switch from being connected to the first network device through the first indirect path and the first direct path to being connected to the second network device through the first indirect path and the first direct path.

[0088] In a possible implementation manner, the first connection configuration includes: from being connected to the first network device through a first indirect connection path and a first direct connection path, being configured to be connected to the second network device through a second indirect connection path and a first direct connection path.

[0089] Example 1-7, if the first network device is the same as the second network device, the remote terminal can switch from connecting to the network device through the first non-direct path to connecting to the network device through the second non-direct path, and can remain connected to the network device through the first direct path. If the first network device is different from the second network device, the remote terminal can switch from connecting to the first network device through the first non-direct path and the first direct path to connecting to the second network device through the second non-direct path and the first direct path.

[0090] In a possible implementation manner, the primary cell of the remote terminal changes from a first indirect path to a first direct path.

[0091] For example, in the case of Example 1-6 or Example 1-7, the primary cell of the remote terminal may be located on the first non-direct path before the connection configuration is performed, and may be changed to be located on the first direct path after the connection configuration is performed.

[0092] In a possible implementation manner, the first connection configuration includes: from being connected to the first network device through a first indirect connection path and a first direct connection path, to being configured to be connected to the second network device through the first indirect connection path and the second direct connection path.

[0093] Example 1-8, if the first network device is the same as the second network device, the remote terminal can maintain the connection with the network device through the first non-direct connection path, and switch from connecting with the network device through the first direct connection path to connecting with the network device through the second direct connection path. If the first network device is different from the second network device, the remote terminal can switch from connecting with the first network device through the first non-direct connection path and the first direct connection path to connecting with the second network device through the first non-direct connection path and the second direct connection path.

[0094] In a possible implementation manner, the first connection configuration includes: connecting to the first network device through a first indirect connection path and a first direct connection path, and configuring to connect to the second network device through a second indirect connection path and a second direct connection path.

[0095] In example 1-9, the remote terminal may switch from being connected to the first network device via the first indirect connection path and the first direct connection path to being connected to the second network device via the second indirect connection path and the second direct connection path.

[0096] In a possible implementation manner, the primary cell of the remote terminal changes from a first indirect connection path to a second direct connection path.

[0097] For example, in the case of Example 1-8 or Example 1-9, the primary cell of the remote terminal may be located on a first non-direct path before the connection configuration is performed, and may be changed to be located on a second direct path after the connection configuration is performed.

[0098] In a possible implementation, Figure 4 As shown, the method also includes:

[0099] S410: The remote terminal receives a first message, where the first message is used to trigger the remote terminal to perform the first connection configuration.

[0100] In an embodiment of the present application, a remote terminal receives a first message from a network device, and based on the first message, triggers the remote terminal to perform the first connection configuration, so that the remote terminal after the first connection configuration is connected to the network device at least through a direct path. The original path and / or the target path of the first connection configuration may include at least two paths, and the process of the first connection configuration includes the process of connecting multiple paths.

[0101] In a possible implementation manner, the first message is also used to start or restart the first timer.

[0102] In an embodiment of the present application, the remote terminal may perform a first connection configuration in response to receiving a first message and start or restart a first timer; or it may perform a first connection configuration based on specific content of the first message and start or restart the first timer.

[0103] In a possible implementation, the first message includes a first indication, where the first indication is used to indicate whether the remote terminal starts or restarts the first timer.

[0104] For example, if the first message includes the first indication, it indicates that the first timer needs to be started or restarted; if the first message does not include the first indication, it indicates that the first timer does not need to be started or restarted. For another example, the first indication may include one or more indication bits, and different values ​​are used to indicate whether to start or restart the first timer. The value of the first indication is the first value, indicating that the first timer needs to be started or restarted. The value of the first indication is the second value or a null value, indicating that the first timer does not need to be started or restarted.

[0105] In a possible implementation manner, the first message includes a second indication, where the second indication is used to indicate an identifier of the first timer and / or the second timer used by the remote terminal.

[0106] In the embodiment of the present application, the second indication may indicate the specific identification of the first timer and / or the second timer, for example, name, model, etc. The second indication may also indicate the working time, start time, etc. of the first timer and / or the second timer.

[0107] In a possible implementation manner, the first timer and / or the second timer is T304.

[0108] In the embodiment of the present application, T304 may be a timer in a relevant standard. For example, the first timer is T304, and the second timer is a timer of another type. For another example, the second timer is T304, and the first timer is a timer of another type. For another example, both the first timer and the second timer are T304.

[0109] In a possible implementation manner, the stop condition of the first timer includes at least one of the following:

[0110] The remote terminal completes a random access process on a second direct connection path, that is, a direct connection path after connection configuration;

[0111] The remote terminal receives a second message from the network device, where the second message is used to instruct the release of at least one of the following: the second direct path, a cell related to the second direct path, and a cell group related to the second direct path.

[0112] In an embodiment of the present application, the first timer after being started may time out after a set working time, or the first timer may be stopped under certain conditions.

[0113] In a possible implementation manner, when the first timer times out, the remote terminal performs at least one of the following:

[0114] RRC connection re-establishment process;

[0115] Error reporting process.

[0116] In the embodiment of the present application, if the first timer times out, it may indicate that the remote terminal has not successfully completed the current connection configuration process. In this case, the remote terminal may perform an RRC connection re-establishment process to maintain the connection with the network through reconnection. The remote terminal may also perform an error reporting process to report the result and / or cause of the failure of the current connection configuration.

[0117] In a possible implementation manner, the error reporting process is triggered when a first condition is met.

[0118] In a possible implementation, the first condition includes at least one of the following:

[0119] The remote terminal does not suspend transmission on the first indirect path and / or the second indirect path;

[0120] No radio link failure (RLF) occurs to the remote terminal on the first indirect connection path and / or the second indirect connection path;

[0121] The second timer of the remote terminal is not in running state.

[0122] In an embodiment of the present application, the remote terminal may trigger an error reporting process based on certain conditions. For example, if the remote terminal does not suspend transmission on the first non-direct path before or after the connection configuration, or the remote terminal does not suspend transmission on the second non-direct path after the connection configuration. For another example, the remote terminal does not have an RLF on the first non-direct path before or after the connection configuration, and the remote terminal does not have an RLF on the second non-direct path after the connection configuration. For another example, if a second timer for timing error reporting is set and the second timer is in a running state, error reporting is not required; if the second timer is in a non-running state, such as stopped, error reporting is required.

[0123] In a possible implementation, the second timer is triggered by a handover command or a signal quality indication. For example, the remote terminal receives a handover command or a signal quality indication from the network device, and the handover command or the signal quality indication may trigger the second timer to start or restart. The second timer may also have other triggering modes, for example, the remote terminal simultaneously starts the first timer and the second timer when performing the first connection configuration.

[0124] In a possible implementation manner, the connection configuration includes a second connection configuration, after which the remote terminal is connected to the network device at least via a non-direct connection path, and the timer includes a third timer.

[0125] In an embodiment of the present application, after the remote terminal performs the second connection configuration based on the timer, the target path for connecting the remote terminal to the network device includes at least an indirect connection path. That is, after the second connection configuration, the remote terminal is connected to the network device at least through an indirect connection path. In an embodiment of the present application, the original direct connection path before the second connection configuration and the target direct connection path after the second connection configuration can be the same or different; the original indirect connection path before the second connection configuration and the target indirect connection path after the second connection configuration can be the same or different.

[0126] In the embodiment of the present application, the remote terminal may perform the second connection configuration based on the third timer. For example, the remote terminal starts or restarts the third timer when performing the second connection configuration.

[0127] In an embodiment of the present application, the original direct path before the second connection configuration is performed may be the first direct path, and the target direct path after the second connection configuration is performed may be the first direct path or the second direct path. The first direct path is different from the second direct path. The original indirect path before the second connection configuration is performed may be the first indirect path, and the target indirect path after the second connection configuration is performed may be the first indirect path or the second indirect path. The first indirect path is different from the second indirect path.

[0128] In a possible implementation manner, the second connection configuration includes: from being connected to the first network device through a first direct connection path, to being configured to be connected to the second network device through a second direct connection path and a second indirect connection path.

[0129] Example 2-1, the remote terminal can switch from being connected to the first network device through the first direct connection path to being connected to the second network device through the second direct connection path, and add being connected to the second network device through the second indirect connection path.

[0130] In a possible implementation manner, the primary cell of the remote terminal is located on the second direct path or the second indirect path.

[0131] For example, in the case of Example 2-1, the primary cell of the remote terminal may be located on the first direct path before the connection configuration is performed, and may change to be located on the second direct path or the second indirect path after the connection configuration is performed.

[0132] In a possible implementation manner, the second connection configuration includes: from being connected to the first network device through a first indirect connection path, to being configured to be connected to the second network device through a second direct connection path and a second indirect connection path.

[0133] Example 2-2: The remote terminal may switch from being connected to the first network device through a first indirect connection path to being connected to the second network device through a second indirect connection path, and add being connected to the network device through the second direct connection path.

[0134] In a possible implementation manner, the second connection configuration includes: from being connected to the first network device through the first indirect connection path, being configured to be connected to the second network device through the second direct connection path and the first indirect connection path.

[0135] Example 2-3, if the first network device is the same as the second network device, the remote terminal can remain connected to the first network device through the first indirect path. If the first network device is different from the second network device, the remote terminal can switch from being connected to the first network device through the first indirect path to being connected to the second network device through the second indirect path, and add being connected to the second network device through the second direct path.

[0136] In a possible implementation manner, the primary cell of the remote terminal changes from a first indirect connection path to a second direct connection path.

[0137] For example, in the case of Example 2-2 or Example 2-3, the primary cell of the remote terminal may be located on a first non-direct path before the connection configuration is performed, and may be changed to be located on a second direct path after the connection configuration is performed.

[0138] In a possible implementation manner, the second connection configuration includes: from being connected to the first network device through the first indirect connection path and the first direct connection path, being configured to be connected to the second network device through the second indirect connection path.

[0139] In example 2-4, the remote terminal may switch from being connected to the first network device through the first indirect connection path and the first direct connection path to being connected to the second network device through the second indirect connection path, and the first direct connection path may be released.

[0140] In a possible implementation manner, the primary cell of the remote terminal changes from a first indirect connection path to a second indirect connection path.

[0141] For example, in the case of Example 2-4, the primary cell of the remote terminal may be located on a first indirect path before the connection configuration is performed, and may be changed to be located on a second indirect path after the connection configuration is performed.

[0142] In a possible implementation manner, the second connection configuration includes: from being connected to the first network device through the first indirect connection path and the first direct connection path, being configured to be connected to the second network device through the first indirect connection path.

[0143] Example 2-5, if the first network device is the same as the second network device, the remote terminal can remain connected to the first network device through the first non-direct path and release the first direct path. If the first network device is different from the second network device, the remote terminal can switch from being connected to the first network device through the first non-direct path and the first direct path to being connected to the second network device through the second non-direct path and releasing the first direct path.

[0144] In a possible implementation manner, the primary cell of the remote terminal changes from a first direct path to a first indirect path.

[0145] For example, in the case of Example 2-5, the primary cell of the remote terminal may be located on the first direct path before the connection configuration is performed, and may be changed to be located on the first indirect path after the connection configuration is performed.

[0146] In a possible implementation manner, the second connection configuration includes: from being connected to the first network device through a first indirect connection path and a first direct connection path, being configured to be connected to the second network device through a second indirect connection path and a second direct connection path.

[0147] In example 2-6, the remote terminal may switch from being connected to the first network device via the first indirect connection path and the first direct connection path to being connected to the second network device via the second indirect connection path and the second direct connection path.

[0148] In a possible implementation manner, the second connection configuration includes: from being connected to the first network device through the first indirect connection path and the first direct connection path, being configured to be connected to the second network device through the second indirect connection path and the first direct connection path.

[0149] Example 2-7, if the first network device is the same as the second network device, the remote terminal can remain connected to the network device through the first direct path, and switch from connecting to the network device through the first indirect path to connecting to the network device through the second indirect path. If the first network device is different from the second network device, the remote terminal can switch from connecting to the first network device through the first indirect path and the first direct path to connecting to the second network device through the second indirect path and the first direct path.

[0150] In a possible implementation manner, the primary cell of the remote terminal changes from a first direct path to a second indirect path.

[0151] For example, in the case of Example 2-6 or Example 2-7, the primary cell of the remote terminal may be located on the first direct path before the connection configuration is performed, and may be changed to be located on the second indirect path after the connection configuration is performed.

[0152] In a possible implementation, the second connection configuration includes:

[0153] The slave is connected to the first network device via the first indirect connection path and the first direct connection path, and is configured to be connected to the second network device via the first indirect connection path and the first direct connection path.

[0154] Example 2-8, if the first network device is the same as the second network device, the remote terminal can remain connected to the network device through the first indirect path and the first direct path. If the first network device is different from the second network device, the remote terminal can switch from being connected to the first network device through the first indirect path and the first direct path to being connected to the second network device through the first indirect path and the first direct path.

[0155] In a possible implementation, the second connection configuration includes:

[0156] The slave is connected to the first network device via the first indirect connection path and the first direct connection path, and is configured to be connected to the second network device via the first indirect connection path and the second direct connection path.

[0157] Example 2-9, if the first network device is the same as the second network device, the remote terminal can maintain the connection with the network device through the first non-direct connection path and increase the connection with the network device through the second direct connection path. If the first network device is different from the second network device, the remote terminal can switch from connecting to the first network device through the first non-direct connection path and the first direct connection path to connecting to the second network device through the first non-direct connection path and the second direct connection path.

[0158] In a possible implementation manner, the primary cell of the remote terminal changes from a first direct path to a first indirect path.

[0159] For example, in the case of Example 2-8 or Example 2-9, the primary cell of the remote terminal may be located on the first direct path before the connection configuration is performed, and may be changed to be located on the first indirect path after the connection configuration is performed.

[0160] In a possible implementation, Figure 5 As shown, the method also includes:

[0161] S510: The remote terminal receives a third message, where the third message is used to trigger the remote terminal to perform the second connection configuration.

[0162] In an embodiment of the present application, the remote terminal receives a third message from the network device, and based on the third message, triggers the remote terminal to perform the second connection configuration, so that the remote terminal after the second connection configuration is connected to the network device at least through a non-direct path. The original path and / or the target path of the second connection configuration may include at least two paths, and the process of the second connection configuration includes the process of connecting multiple paths.

[0163] In a possible implementation manner, the third message is also used to start or restart a third timer.

[0164] In an embodiment of the present application, the remote terminal can perform a second connection configuration in response to receiving a third message and start or restart the third timer; it can also perform a second connection configuration based on the specific content of the third message and start or restart the third timer.

[0165] In a possible implementation manner, the third message includes a third indication, where the third indication is used to indicate whether the remote terminal starts or restarts a third timer.

[0166] For example, if the third message includes the third indication, it indicates that the third timer needs to be started or restarted; if the third message does not include the third indication, it indicates that the third timer does not need to be started or restarted. For another example, the third indication may include one or more indication bits, and different values ​​are used to indicate whether to start or restart the third timer. The value of the third indication is the third value, indicating that the third timer needs to be started or restarted. The value of the third indication is the fourth value or a null value, indicating that the third timer does not need to be started or restarted.

[0167] In a possible implementation manner, the third message includes a fourth indication, where the fourth indication is used to indicate an identifier of a third timer and / or a fourth timer used by the remote terminal.

[0168] In the embodiment of the present application, the fourth indication may indicate the specific identification of the third timer and / or the fourth timer, for example, name, model, etc. The fourth indication may also indicate the working time, start time, etc. of the third timer and / or the fourth timer.

[0169] In a possible implementation manner, the third timer and / or the fourth timer is T420.

[0170] In the embodiment of the present application, T420 may be a timer in a relevant standard. For example, the third timer is T420, and the fourth timer is a timer of another type. For another example, the fourth timer is T420, and the third timer is a timer of another type. For another example, both the third timer and the fourth timer are T420.

[0171] In a possible implementation manner, the stop condition of the third timer includes at least one of the following:

[0172] The remote terminal receives a fourth message from the relay terminal, where the fourth message is a PC5-S message;

[0173] The remote terminal receives a fifth message from the relay terminal, where the fifth message is a PC5-RRC message;

[0174] The remote terminal receives a sixth message from the network device, where the sixth message is used to indicate the release of at least one of the following: the second indirect path, a cell related to the second indirect path, and a cell group related to the second indirect path.

[0175] In an embodiment of the present application, the third timer after being started may time out after a set working time, or the third timer may be stopped under certain conditions.

[0176] In a possible implementation manner, the PC5-S message is sent by the relay terminal after receiving the seventh message from the network device; or

[0177] The PC5-RRC message is sent by the relay terminal after receiving the eighth message from the network device.

[0178] In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: when the third timer times out, the remote terminal performs at least one of the following:

[0179] RRC connection re-establishment process;

[0180] Error reporting process.

[0181] In a possible implementation manner, the error reporting process is triggered when the second condition is met.

[0182] In a possible implementation, the second condition includes at least one of the following:

[0183] The remote terminal does not suspend transmission on the first direct connection path and / or the second direct connection path;

[0184] The remote terminal does not experience RLF on the first direct connection path and / or the second direct connection path;

[0185] The fourth timer of the remote terminal is not in running state.

[0186] In an embodiment of the present application, the second condition that needs to be met when the fourth timer times out to trigger the error reporting process is similar to the first condition that needs to be met when the second timer times out to trigger the error reporting process. Please refer to the above description of the first condition and will not be repeated here.

[0187] In a possible implementation, the fourth timer is triggered by a handover command or a signal quality indication. For example, the remote terminal receives a handover command or a signal quality indication from the network device, and the handover command or the signal quality indication may trigger the fourth timer to start or restart. The fourth timer may also have other triggering modes, for example, the remote terminal simultaneously starts the third timer and the fourth timer when performing the second connection configuration.

[0188] In the embodiment of the present application, in a scenario where a terminal and a network device are connected via at least two paths, connection configuration can be performed based on a timer, and applicable connection configuration scenarios are more abundant.

[0189] Figure 6 is a schematic block diagram of a remote terminal 600 according to an embodiment of the present application. The remote terminal 600 may include:

[0190] The processing unit 610 is configured to perform connection configuration based on a timer, wherein the connection configuration includes connection configuration regarding at least two paths, and the at least two paths include a direct connection path and an indirect connection path.

[0191] In a possible implementation manner, the connection configuration includes a first connection configuration, after which the remote terminal is connected to the network device at least via a direct connection path, and the timer includes a first timer.

[0192] In a possible implementation manner, the first connection configuration includes: from being connected to the first network device through a first indirect connection path, to being configured to be connected to the second network device through a second direct connection path and a second indirect connection path.

[0193] In a possible implementation manner, the primary cell of the remote terminal is located on the second direct path or the second indirect path.

[0194] In a possible implementation manner, the first connection configuration includes: from being connected to the first network device through a first direct connection path, to being configured to be connected to the second network device through the first direct connection path and a second indirect connection path.

[0195] In a possible implementation manner, the first connection configuration includes: from being connected to the first network device through a first direct connection path, to being configured to be connected to the second network device through a second direct connection path and a second indirect connection path.

[0196] In a possible implementation manner, the primary cell of the remote terminal changes from a first direct path to a second indirect path.

[0197] In a possible implementation manner, the first connection configuration includes: from being connected to the first network device through a first indirect connection path and a first direct connection path, being configured to be connected to the second network device through the first direct connection path.

[0198] In a possible implementation manner, the primary cell of the remote terminal changes from a first indirect path to a first direct path.

[0199] In a possible implementation manner, the first connection configuration includes: switching from connecting to the first network device through a first indirect connection path and a first direct connection path to connecting to the second network device through a second direct connection path.

[0200] In a possible implementation manner, the primary cell of the remote terminal changes from a first indirect connection path to a second direct connection path.

[0201] In a possible implementation manner, the first connection configuration includes: from being connected to the first network device through a first indirect connection path and a first direct connection path, being configured to be connected to the second network device through the first indirect connection path and the first direct connection path.

[0202] In a possible implementation manner, the first connection configuration includes: from being connected to the first network device through a first indirect connection path and a first direct connection path, being configured to be connected to the second network device through a second indirect connection path and a first direct connection path.

[0203] In a possible implementation manner, the primary cell of the remote terminal changes from a first indirect path to a first direct path.

[0204] In a possible implementation manner, the first connection configuration includes: from being connected to the first network device through a first indirect connection path and a first direct connection path, to being configured to be connected to the second network device through the first indirect connection path and the second direct connection path.

[0205] In a possible implementation manner, the first connection configuration includes: connecting to the first network device through a first indirect connection path and a first direct connection path, and configuring to connect to the second network device through a second indirect connection path and a second direct connection path.

[0206] In a possible implementation manner, the primary cell of the remote terminal changes from a first indirect connection path to a second direct connection path.

[0207] In a possible implementation, Figure 7 As shown, the remote terminal 700 may also include:

[0208] The first receiving unit 710 is configured to receive a first message, where the first message is used to trigger the remote terminal to perform the first connection configuration.

[0209] In a possible implementation manner, the first message is also used to start or restart the first timer.

[0210] In a possible implementation, the first message includes a first indication, where the first indication is used to indicate whether the remote terminal starts or restarts the first timer.

[0211] In a possible implementation manner, the first message includes a second indication, where the second indication is used to indicate an identifier of the first timer and / or the second timer used by the remote terminal.

[0212] In a possible implementation manner, the first timer and / or the second timer is T304.

[0213] In a possible implementation manner, the stop condition of the first timer includes at least one of the following:

[0214] The remote terminal completes a random access process on the second direct connection path;

[0215] The remote terminal receives a second message from the network device, where the second message is used to instruct the release of at least one of the following: the second direct path, a cell related to the second direct path, and a cell group related to the second direct path.

[0216] In a possible implementation manner, the processing unit 610 is further configured to, when the first timer times out, cause the remote terminal to perform at least one of the following:

[0217] RRC connection re-establishment process;

[0218] Error reporting process.

[0219] In a possible implementation manner, the error reporting process is triggered when a first condition is met.

[0220] In a possible implementation, the first condition includes at least one of the following:

[0221] The remote terminal does not suspend transmission on the first indirect path and / or the second indirect path;

[0222] No radio link failure RLF occurs to the remote terminal on the first indirect connection path and / or the second indirect connection path;

[0223] The second timer of the remote terminal is not in running state.

[0224] In a possible implementation manner, the second timer is triggered by a handover command or a signal quality indication.

[0225] In a possible implementation manner, the connection configuration includes a second connection configuration, after which the remote terminal is connected to the network device at least via a non-direct connection path, and the timer includes a third timer.

[0226] In a possible implementation, the second connection configuration includes:

[0227] The slave is connected to the first network device via a first direct connection path, and is configured to be connected to the second network device via a second direct connection path and a second indirect connection path.

[0228] In a possible implementation manner, the primary cell of the remote terminal is located on the second direct path or the second indirect path.

[0229] In a possible implementation, the second connection configuration includes:

[0230] The slave is connected to the first network device via a first indirect connection path and is configured to be connected to the second network device via a second direct connection path and a second indirect connection path.

[0231] In a possible implementation, the second connection configuration includes:

[0232] The slave is connected to the first network device via a first indirect connection path and is configured to be connected to the second network device via a second direct connection path and the first indirect connection path.

[0233] In a possible implementation manner, the primary cell of the remote terminal changes from a first indirect connection path to a second direct connection path.

[0234] In a possible implementation, the second connection configuration includes:

[0235] The slave is connected to the first network device through a first indirect connection path and a first direct connection path, and is configured to be connected to the second network device through a second indirect connection path.

[0236] In a possible implementation manner, the primary cell of the remote terminal changes from a first indirect connection path to a second indirect connection path.

[0237] In a possible implementation, the second connection configuration includes:

[0238] The slave is connected to the first network device through the first indirect connection path and the first direct connection path, and is configured to be connected to the second network device through the first indirect connection path.

[0239] In a possible implementation manner, the primary cell of the remote terminal changes from a first direct path to a first indirect path.

[0240] In a possible implementation, the second connection configuration includes:

[0241] The slave is connected to the first network device via a first indirect connection path and a first direct connection path, and is configured to be connected to the second network device via a second indirect connection path and a second direct connection path.

[0242] In a possible implementation, the second connection configuration includes:

[0243] The slave is connected to the first network device via a first indirect connection path and a first direct connection path, and is configured to be connected to the second network device via a second indirect connection path and the first direct connection path.

[0244] In a possible implementation manner, the primary cell of the remote terminal changes from a first direct path to a second indirect path.

[0245] In a possible implementation, the second connection configuration includes:

[0246] The slave is connected to the first network device via the first indirect connection path and the first direct connection path, and is configured to be connected to the second network device via the first indirect connection path and the first direct connection path.

[0247] In a possible implementation, the second connection configuration includes:

[0248] The slave is connected to the first network device via the first indirect connection path and the first direct connection path, and is configured to be connected to the second network device via the first indirect connection path and the second direct connection path.

[0249] In a possible implementation manner, the primary cell of the remote terminal changes from a first direct path to a first indirect path.

[0250] In a possible implementation, Figure 8 As shown, the remote terminal 800 further includes:

[0251] The second receiving unit 810 is used to receive a third message, where the third message is used to trigger the remote terminal to perform the second connection configuration.

[0252] In a possible implementation manner, the third message is also used to start or restart a third timer.

[0253] In a possible implementation manner, the third message includes a third indication, where the third indication is used to indicate whether the remote terminal starts or restarts a third timer.

[0254] In a possible implementation manner, the third message includes a fourth indication, where the fourth indication is used to indicate an identifier of a third timer and / or a fourth timer used by the remote terminal.

[0255] In a possible implementation manner, the third timer and / or the fourth timer is T420.

[0256] In a possible implementation manner, the stop condition of the third timer includes at least one of the following:

[0257] The remote terminal receives a fourth message from the relay terminal, where the fourth message is a PC5-S message;

[0258] The remote terminal receives a fifth message from the relay terminal, where the fifth message is a PC5-RRC message;

[0259] The remote terminal receives a sixth message from the network device, where the sixth message is used to indicate the release of at least one of the following: the second indirect path, a cell related to the second indirect path, and a cell group related to the second indirect path.

[0260] In a possible implementation manner, the PC5-S message is sent by the relay terminal after receiving the seventh message from the network device; or

[0261] The PC5-RRC message is sent by the relay terminal after receiving the eighth message from the network device.

[0262] In a possible implementation manner, the processing unit 610 is configured to, when the third timer times out, cause the remote terminal to perform at least one of the following:

[0263] RRC connection re-establishment process;

[0264] Error reporting process.

[0265] In a possible implementation manner, the error reporting process is triggered when the second condition is met.

[0266] In a possible implementation, the second condition includes at least one of the following:

[0267] The remote terminal does not suspend transmission on the first direct connection path and / or the second direct connection path;

[0268] The remote terminal does not experience RLF on the first direct connection path and / or the second direct connection path;

[0269] The fourth timer of the remote terminal is not in running state.

[0270] In a possible implementation manner, the fourth timer is triggered by a handover command or a signal quality indication.

[0271] In a possible implementation manner, the first network device is a source network device, and the second network device is a target network device.

[0272] In a possible implementation manner, the first network device and the second network device are the same cell, cell group or device.

[0273] In a possible implementation manner, the first network device and the second network device are different cells, cell groups or devices.

[0274] The remote terminals 600, 700, and 800 of the embodiments of the present application can implement the corresponding functions of the remote terminals in the aforementioned method embodiments. The processes, functions, implementation methods, and beneficial effects corresponding to the modules (submodules, units, or components, etc.) in the remote terminals 600, 700, and 800 can be found in the corresponding descriptions in the aforementioned method embodiments, and will not be repeated here. It should be noted that the functions described by the modules (submodules, units, or components, etc.) in the remote terminals 600, 700, and 800 of the embodiments of the application can be implemented by different modules (submodules, units, or components, etc.), or by the same module (submodule, unit, or component, etc.).

[0275] The following are some specific process examples of the connection configuration method of the embodiment of the present application:

[0276] Example 1: The remote UE configures a connection to a direct path.

[0277] The connection configuration in this example may refer to the first connection configuration in the above embodiment, and may include operations such as switching, adding or deleting paths, so that the remote UE is connected to the network device at least through a direct connection path after the first connection configuration.

[0278] In this example, the “connection configuration to the direct connection path” may include at least one of the following situations:

[0279] The remote UE is originally connected to the original network device through an indirect path, and is connected to the target network device through a direct path and an indirect path after configuration; wherein the primary cell can be located on a direct path or an indirect path.

[0280] The remote UE was originally connected to the original network device through a direct path, and was connected to the target network device through a direct path and an indirect path after configuration; the direct path changed, or the primary cell changed from the direct path to the indirect path.

[0281] The remote UE was originally connected to the original network device through a direct path and an indirect path, and was connected to the target network device through a direct path after configuration; wherein the direct path changed, or the primary cell changed from an indirect path to a direct path.

[0282] The remote UE originally connected to the original network device through a direct path and an indirect path, and after configuration, also connected to the target network device through a direct path and an indirect path; wherein a change in the direct path occurs, or the primary cell changes from an indirect path to a direct path.

[0283] In this example, the original network device and the target network device may be the same or different.

[0284] like Fig. 9 As shown, the connection configuration process of this example may include the following steps:

[0285] S910: The remote UE receives a first message from the network, triggering a handover process to a target direct connection path. The first message may be used to instruct the UE to perform a handover.

[0286] S920: The remote UE starts a first timer X1.

[0287] In one implementation, the first message includes a first indication indicating whether the remote UE needs to start a first timer.

[0288] In one implementation, the first timer may be T304.

[0289] In one implementation, the first timer may not be T304.

[0290] In one implementation, the first message includes a second indication indicating an identifier of a first timer to be used by the remote UE, for example, T304 or other first timers.

[0291] S930: The first timer X1 may stop or time out, as follows:

[0292] a. The stop condition of the first timer includes at least one of the following:

[0293] The remote UE completes the random access process on the target direct connection path;

[0294] The remote UE receives a second message from the network, indicating to release the direct connection path, or a cell or cell group related to the direct connection path.

[0295] b. The timeout result of the first timer includes at least one of the following:

[0296] The remote UE performs the RRC connection re-establishment process;

[0297] The remote UE performs an error reporting process to report to the network that the handover process has failed.

[0298] In one implementation, the error reporting process is triggered when the first condition is met.

[0299] In one embodiment, the first condition includes at least one of the following:

[0300] The remote UE does not suspend transmission on the indirect connection;

[0301] The remote UE does not experience RLF on the indirect connection;

[0302] The second timer of the remote UE is not running.

[0303] In one implementation, the second timer is triggered by a handover command or a signal quality indication.

[0304] In one implementation, the second timer may be started simultaneously with the first timer, or may be started independently of the first timer. The second timer may be started based on the first indication and / or the second indication in the first message.

[0305] Example 2: The remote UE configures a connection to a non-direct path.

[0306] The connection configuration in this example may refer to the second connection configuration in the above embodiment, and may include operations such as switching, adding or deleting paths, so that the remote UE is connected to the network device at least through a non-direct path after the second connection configuration.

[0307] In this example, “connection configuration to a non-directly connected path” may include at least one of the following situations:

[0308] The remote UE is originally connected to the original network device through a direct connection path, and is connected to the target network device through a direct connection path and an indirect connection path after configuration; wherein the primary cell can be located on the direct connection path or the indirect connection path.

[0309] The remote UE was originally connected to the original network device through an indirect path, and after configuration, it was connected to the target network device through a direct path and an indirect path; the indirect path changed, or the primary cell changed from the indirect path to the direct path.

[0310] The remote UE was originally connected to the original network device through a direct path and an indirect path, and was connected to the target network device through an indirect path after configuration; a change occurred in the indirect path, or the primary cell changed from a direct path to an indirect path.

[0311] The remote UE was originally connected to the original network device through a direct path and an indirect path, and was also connected to the target network device through a direct path and an indirect path after configuration; a change occurred in the indirect path, or the primary cell changed from a direct path to an indirect path.

[0312] In this example, the original network device and the target network device may be the same or different.

[0313] like Fig.10 As shown, the connection configuration process of this example may include the following steps:

[0314] S1010: The remote UE receives a third message from the network, triggering a handover process to a target direct connection path. The third message may be used to instruct the remote UE to perform a handover.

[0315] S1020. The remote UE starts a third timer X3.

[0316] In one implementation, the second message includes a third indication, indicating whether the remote UE needs to start a second timer. In one implementation, the third timer may be T420.

[0317] In one implementation, the third timer may not be T420.

[0318] In one implementation, the second message includes a fourth indication, indicating that the remote UE should use an identifier of a third timer of the third timer, for example, T420 or another third timer.

[0319] S1030: The third timer X3 may stop or time out, as follows:

[0320] a. The stop condition of the third timer includes at least one of the following:

[0321] The remote UE receives a fourth message from the relay UE, which is a PC5-S message;

[0322] The remote UE receives a fifth message from the relay UE, which is a PC5-RRC message;

[0323] The remote UE receives a sixth message from the network, indicating to release the cell or cell group related to the indirect path or the direct path.

[0324] Optionally, the relay UE sends the PC5-S message after receiving the seventh message from the network. Optionally, the relay UE sends the PC5-RRC message after receiving the seventh message from the network.

[0325] b. The timeout result of the third timer includes at least one of the following:

[0326] The remote UE performs the RRC connection re-establishment process;

[0327] The remote UE performs a relay UE reselection process;

[0328] The remote UE performs an error reporting process to report to the network that the handover process has failed.

[0329] In one implementation, the error reporting process is triggered when the second condition is met.

[0330] In one embodiment, the second condition includes at least one of the following

[0331] The remote UE does not suspend transmission on the direct connection;

[0332] The remote UE does not experience RLF on the direct connection;

[0333] The fourth timer of the remote UE is not running, and the optional fourth timer is triggered by a handover command or a signal quality indication.

[0334] In one implementation, the fourth timer may be started simultaneously with the third timer, or may be started independently of the third timer. The fourth timer may be started based on the first indication and / or the second indication in the third message.

[0335] Fig.11 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 1100 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 1100 includes a processor 1110, and the processor 1110 can call and run a computer program from a memory to enable the communication device 1100 to implement the method in the embodiment of the present application.

[0336] Optionally, the communication device 1100 may further include a memory 1120. The processor 1110 may call and run a computer program from the memory 1120, so that the communication device 1100 implements the method in the embodiment of the present application.

[0337] The memory 1120 may be a separate device independent of the processor 1110 , or may be integrated into the processor 1110 .

[0338] Optionally, the communication device 1100 may further include a transceiver 1130, and the processor 1110 may control the transceiver 1130 to communicate with other devices, specifically, may send information or data to other devices, or receive information or data sent by other devices.

[0339] The transceiver 1130 may include a transmitter and a receiver. The transceiver 1130 may further include an antenna, and the number of the antennas may be one or more.

[0340] Optionally, the communication device 1100 may be a remote terminal of an embodiment of the present application, and the communication device 1100 may implement the corresponding processes implemented by the remote terminal in each method of the embodiment of the present application, which will not be described here for the sake of brevity.

[0341] Fig.12 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a chip 1200 according to an embodiment of the present application. The chip 1200 includes a processor 1210, and the processor 1210 can call and run a computer program from a memory to implement the method in the embodiment of the present application.

[0342] Optionally, the chip 1200 may further include a memory 1220. The processor 1210 may call and run a computer program from the memory 1220 to implement the method executed by the remote terminal in the embodiment of the present application.

[0343] The memory 1220 may be a separate device independent of the processor 1210 , or may be integrated into the processor 1210 .

[0344] Optionally, the chip 1200 may further include an input interface 1230. The processor 1210 may control the input interface 1230 to communicate with other devices or chips, and specifically, may obtain information or data sent by other devices or chips.

[0345] Optionally, the chip 1200 may further include an output interface 1240. The processor 1210 may control the output interface 1240 to communicate with other devices or chips, and specifically, may output information or data to other devices or chips.

[0346] Optionally, the chip can be applied to the remote terminal in the embodiments of the present application, and the chip can implement the corresponding processes implemented by the remote terminal in each method of the embodiments of the present application. For the sake of brevity, they will not be repeated here.

[0347] It should be understood that the chip mentioned in the embodiments of the present application can also be called a system-level chip, a system chip, a chip system or a system-on-chip chip, etc.

[0348] The processor mentioned above may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. Among them, the general-purpose processor mentioned above may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor, etc.

[0349] The memory mentioned above may be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memories. Among them, the non-volatile memory may be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable ROM (PROM), an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM) or a flash memory. The volatile memory may be a random access memory (RAM).

[0350] It should be understood that the above-mentioned memory is exemplary but not restrictive. For example, the memory in the embodiments of the present application may also be static random access memory (static RAM, SRAM), dynamic random access memory (dynamic RAM, DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (synchronoμs DRAM, SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (doubledata rate SDRAM, DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (enhanced SDRAM, ESDRAM), synchronous link dynamic random access memory (synch link DRAM, SLDRAM) and direct RAM bus random access memory (Direct Rambμs RAM, DR RAM), etc. That is to say, the memory in the embodiments of the present application is intended to include but not limited to these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0351] Fig.13 1 is a schematic block diagram of a communication system 1300 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication system 1300 includes a remote terminal 1310, a relay terminal 1320, and a network device 1330. The remote terminal 1310 can be directly connected to the network device 1330, or can be connected to the network device 1330 through the relay terminal 1320.

[0352] A remote terminal is used for performing connection configuration based on a timer, wherein the connection configuration includes connection configuration regarding at least two paths, and the at least two paths include a direct connection path and an indirect connection path.

[0353] The remote terminal 1310 can be used to implement the corresponding functions implemented by the remote terminal in the above method, and the network device 1320 can be used to implement the corresponding functions implemented by the network device in the above method. For the sake of brevity, they will not be described in detail here.

[0354] In the above embodiments, it can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the process or function in accordance with the embodiment of the present application is generated in whole or in part. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable devices. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium, for example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from a website site, computer, server or data center by wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (Digital Subscriber Line, DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) mode to another website site, computer, server or data center. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server, data center, etc. that contains one or more available media integrations. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (eg, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (eg, a DVD), or a semiconductor medium (eg, a solid state disk (SSD)).

[0355] It should be understood that in the various embodiments of the present application, the size of the serial numbers of the above-mentioned processes does not mean the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0356] Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0357] The above is only a specific implementation of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art who is familiar with the present technical field can easily think of changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in the present application, which should be included in the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application should be based on the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A connection configuration method, comprising: The remote terminal performs connection configuration based on a timer, wherein the connection configuration includes connection configuration regarding at least two paths, and the at least two paths include a direct connection path and an indirect connection path.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The connection configuration includes a second connection configuration, after which the remote terminal is connected to the network device at least via a non-direct connection path, and the timer includes a third timer.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein: The second connection configuration includes: from being connected to the first network device through a first direct connection path, to being configured to be connected to the second network device through the first direct connection path and a second indirect connection path.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein: The second connection configuration includes: from being connected to the first network device through the first indirect connection path and the first direct connection path, being configured to be connected to the second network device through the second indirect connection path and the first direct connection path.

5. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein: The method further comprises: The remote terminal receives a third message, where the third message is used to trigger the remote terminal to perform the second connection configuration.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein: The third message is also used to start or restart a third timer.

7. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein: The stopping condition of the third timer includes that the remote terminal receives a fifth message from the relay terminal, and the fifth message is a PC5-RRC message.

8. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein: The method further comprises: When the third timer times out, the remote terminal performs an error reporting process.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein: The error reporting process is triggered when a second condition is met, and the second condition includes that the remote terminal does not suspend transmission of the first direct connection path.

10. The method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein: The first network device is a source network device, and the second network device is a target network device.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein: The first network device and the second network device are the same device.

12. A remote terminal, comprising: A processing unit is configured to perform connection configuration based on a timer, wherein the connection configuration includes connection configuration regarding at least two paths, and the at least two paths include a direct connection path and an indirect connection path.

13. The remote terminal according to claim 12, wherein: The connection configuration includes a second connection configuration, after which the remote terminal is connected to the network device at least via a non-direct connection path, and the timer includes a third timer.

14. The remote terminal according to claim 13, wherein: The second connection configuration includes: from being connected to the first network device through a first direct connection path, to being configured to be connected to the second network device through the first direct connection path and a second indirect connection path.

15. The remote terminal according to claim 13, wherein: The second connection configuration includes: from being connected to the first network device through the first indirect connection path and the first direct connection path, being configured to be connected to the second network device through the second indirect connection path and the first direct connection path.

16. The remote terminal according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein: The remote terminal also includes: The second receiving unit is used to receive a third message, where the third message is used to trigger the remote terminal to perform the second connection configuration.

17. The remote terminal according to claim 16, wherein: The third message is also used to start or restart a third timer.

18. The remote terminal according to any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein: The stopping condition of the third timer includes that the remote terminal receives a fifth message from the relay terminal, and the fifth message is a PC5-RRC message.

19. The remote terminal according to any one of claims 13 to 18, wherein: The remote terminal also includes: The processing unit is configured to cause the remote terminal to execute an error reporting process when the third timer times out.

20. The remote terminal according to claim 19, wherein: The error reporting process is triggered when a second condition is met, and the second condition includes that the remote terminal does not suspend transmission of the first direct connection path.

21. The remote terminal according to claim 13 or 14, wherein: The first network device is a source network device, and the second network device is a target network device.

22. The remote terminal according to claim 21, wherein: The first network device and the second network device are the same device.

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