Communication method, device and system

Abstract

The invention relates to a communication method, device and system. The method may be applied to a communication system comprising a plurality of network nodes. In the method, a first network node can obtain an uplink user plane address of a second network node through a message, and the first network node can be understood as a host network node; and then sending the uplink user plane address of the second network node to a child node of the second network node, namely a third network node. Thus, the third network node can send uplink user plane data, such as uplink feedback data, to the second network node according to the uplink user plane address of the second network node; wherein the receiving state of the downlink data can be fed back through the uplink feedback data. Through the method, the network node in the communication system not only can establish the user plane tunnel with the first network node, but also can establish the user plane tunnel with the second network node, so that the processing pressure of the first network node can be reduced, and the flexibility of data transmission in the communication system is improved.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] Multicast and broadcast service (MBS) is a service for multiple user equipment (UE), such as live broadcast service, public safety service, batch software update service, etc. MBS comes from the data server. First, the data server sends the MBS data to the core network device, then the core network device sends the MBS data to the base station, and finally the base station sends the MBS data to at least one UE that receives the MBS data. When sending from the core network device to the base station, the MBS is transmitted through a common transmission channel MBS session, and each MBS session can contain at least one MBS quality of service (QoS) flow. When sending from the base station to the UE, the data packet is transmitted through the MBS radio bearer. There are two transmission modes for an MBS radio bearer: the first can use point to multi-point (PTM) transmission mode; the second can use point to point (PTP) transmission mode.

[0003] In the fifth generation (5G) communication system, a centralized unit (CU)-distributed unit (DU) base station architecture is introduced. Currently, under the CU-DU architecture, integrated access link backhaul (IAB) technology is used for relay backhaul. However, the current method for processing data transmission in the IAB communication architecture only considers unicast services, that is, the service data transmitted once will only be sent to the UE under the base station or the next-level IAB base station through a specific IAB base station. Therefore, when transmitting MBS data, the donor base station in the IAB communication architecture needs to send multiple copies of the same data to multiple next-level IAB base stations, and receive multiple uplink user plane feedback data returned by multiple next-level IAB base stations. Therefore, how to improve the flexibility of data transmission in the IAB communication architecture is of research significance. Summary of the invention

[0004] Embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, device, and system for improving the flexibility of data transmission in an IAB communication architecture.

[0005] In a first aspect, a first communication method is provided, which can be applied to a communication system, specifically, multiple network nodes included in the communication system, or executed by other network devices including network node functions, or executed by a chip system (or, chip) or other functional modules, the chip system or functional module can realize the function of the network node, the chip system or functional module is, for example, set in the network node. The method includes: a first network node receives a first message from a second network node, the first message includes first address information; the first network node sends a second message to a third network node, the second message includes the first address information; the third network node sends a third message to the second network node according to the first address information, the third message includes the reception status of downlink data; wherein the downlink data is broadcast data or multicast data from the first network node; wherein the second network node is a child node of the first network node, and the third network node is a child node of the second network node. Optionally, the multicast data can be, for example, multicast data.

[0006] In this method, the first network node can obtain the uplink user plane address of each network node through the control plane; then, the uplink user plane address of the network node is sent to its child network node. In this way, the child network node can provide uplink feedback to the parent network node through the user plane based on the uplink user plane address. For example, the first network node may include a host network node, the second network node is a child node of the host network node, and is also a parent network node of the third network node, and the third network node may also be referred to as a child network node. Using the above method, when the child network node provides feedback on whether the downlink data is received, it directly provides feedback to its parent network node without providing uplink feedback to the host network node in the communication system, thereby reducing the processing pressure of the host network node and improving the flexibility of data transmission in the communication system.

[0007] In one possible design, the method also includes: the second network node receives N fourth messages from N child nodes, wherein the fourth message includes a reception status of downlink data, the N child nodes include the third network node, the N fourth messages include the third message, the reception status is successful reception of the downlink data, and N is a positive integer; and, the second network node receives Q fifth messages from Q first terminal devices, wherein the fifth message includes a reception status of downlink data, the reception status is successful reception of the downlink data, the first terminal device is a terminal device connected to the second network node, and Q is a positive integer; the second network node deletes a first data packet, the first data packet is a data packet corresponding to the N child nodes and the Q first terminal devices, and the first data packet includes the downlink data.

[0008] In this design, network nodes other than the host network nodes in the communication system can also have flow control functions and can manage connected sub-network nodes, so that the host network nodes do not need to manage indirectly connected sub-network nodes, reducing the management pressure of the host network nodes and improving the flexibility of data transmission in the communication system.

[0009] In one possible design, the method includes: the second network node sends a sixth message to the first network node, the sixth message includes a reception status of downlink data, and the reception status is successful reception of the downlink data.

[0010] In this design, the host network node controls the flow of the directly connected sub-network node, that is, determines whether the directly connected sub-network node successfully receives the downlink data; there is no need to manage the reception status of the indirectly connected sub-network node (such as the sub-node of the second network node) for the downlink data. Therefore, the management pressure of the host network node can be reduced and the flexibility of data transmission in the communication system can be improved.

[0011] For example, in this design, because the second network node receives the third message from the third network node; or, the second network node receives N fourth messages from N sub-nodes, and receives Q fifth messages from Q first terminal devices, the second network node can determine that the sub-network nodes and the first terminal devices have successfully received the downlink data, so the second network node's reception status of the downlink data must be fed back to the host network node uplink.

[0012] In one possible design, the method also includes: the first network node receives M seventh messages from M child nodes, wherein the seventh message includes a reception status of downlink data, the reception status is successful reception of the downlink data, the M child nodes include the second network node, and M is a positive integer; and, the first network node receives P eighth messages from P second terminal devices, wherein the eighth message includes a reception status of downlink data, the reception status is successful reception of the downlink data, the second terminal device is a terminal device connected to the first network node, and P is a positive integer; the first network node deletes a second data packet, the second data packet is a data packet corresponding to the M child nodes and the P second terminal devices, and the second data packet includes the downlink data.

[0013] In this design, the host network node can manage the downlink data packet after determining that the directly connected sub-network node and the terminal device have successfully received the downlink data. In this way, the host network node does not need to care about the reception status of the downlink data by the indirectly connected sub-network node. It is understandable that each sub-network node of the host network node can provide uplink feedback to the host network node on the successful reception of the downlink data after determining that its sub-network node and the terminal device have successfully received the downlink data.

[0014] In one possible design, before the third network node sends a third message to the second network node based on the first address information, the method also includes: the second network node receives the downlink data from the first network node; the second network node caches the downlink data; and the second network node sends the downlink data to the third network node.

[0015] In this design, in the downlink data transmission scenario, the host network node can also send downlink data to the directly connected sub-network nodes, and each sub-network node can send downlink data to the sub-network nodes of the next level to which it is directly connected, thereby reducing the transmission pressure of the host network node to send downlink data and improving the flexibility of data transmission in the communication system.

[0016] In one possible design, the first network node is an IAB-donor node; the second network node is a first IAB node; and the third network node is a second IAB node. The method provided in the present application can be applied to an IAB communication architecture to reduce the processing pressure of an IAB-donor node and improve the flexibility of data transmission in an IAB communication system.

[0017] In one possible design, the first network node includes a CU of the IAB-donor node. In this design, the first network node may include CU functionality in the IAB-donor node, which may be integrated into an IAB-donor base station.

[0018] In one possible design, the first message is a broadcast session establishment response message. In this design, network nodes at various levels in the communication system (including network nodes indirectly connected to the host network node through other network nodes, such as sub-network nodes at the second level, third level, etc. of the host node) can report the uplink user plane address to the host network node in the communication system through the broadcast session establishment process, so that the host network node can obtain the uplink user plane address of the network nodes at various levels, and then the uplink user plane address can be notified to the sub-nodes of the network node to establish a user plane tunnel between the two network nodes. In this way, some network nodes in the communication system do not need to establish a user plane tunnel with the host network node, thereby reducing the processing pressure of the host network node.

[0019] In one possible design, the second message is a broadcast session establishment request message; or, the second message is a multicast session establishment response message. In another possible design, the second message may also be other messages; or, the second message is a separate message. In this design, the first network node may carry the above-mentioned uplink user plane address through a broadcast session-related message, a multicast session-related message, other messages, or a separate message, so that network nodes at all levels in the communication system can obtain the uplink user plane address of their parent node.

[0020] In a second aspect, a second communication method is provided, which is performed by a first network node, or by other devices including the function of the first network node (e.g., a first network device), or by a chip system (or, chip) or other functional module, which can implement the function of the first network node, and the chip system or functional module is, for example, arranged in the first network node. The first network node is, for example, an access network device, which may be referred to as a second access network device, for example, one implementation of the second access network device is a base station. The method includes: a first network node receives a first message from a second network node, the first message including first address information; the first network node sends a second message to a third network node, the second message including the first address information; wherein the second network node is a child node of the first network node, and the third network node is a child node of the second network node.

[0021] In a possible design, the method also includes: the first network node receives a sixth message from the second network node, the sixth message includes a reception status of downlink data, and the reception status is successful reception of the downlink data.

[0022] In one possible design, the method also includes: the first network node receives M seventh messages from M child nodes, wherein the seventh message includes a reception status of downlink data, the reception status is successful reception of the downlink data, the M child nodes include the second network node, and M is a positive integer; and, the first network node receives P eighth messages from P second terminal devices, wherein the eighth message includes a reception status of downlink data, the reception status is successful reception of the downlink data, the second terminal device is a terminal device connected to the first network node, and P is a positive integer; the first network node deletes a second data packet, the second data packet is a data packet corresponding to the M child nodes and the P second terminal devices, and the second data packet includes the downlink data.

[0023] In one possible design, the method further includes: the first network node sending downlink data to the second network node.

[0024] In one possible design, the first network node is an IAB-donor node; the second network node is a first IAB node; and the third network node is a second IAB node.

[0025] In one possible design, the first network node includes a CU of the IAB-donor node.

[0026] In one possible design, the first message is a broadcast session establishment response message.

[0027] In one possible design, the second message is a broadcast session establishment request message; or, the second message is a multicast session establishment response message.

[0028] In the second aspect, the beneficial effects of various possible designs can be found in the contents of various possible designs in the first aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0029] In a third aspect, a third communication method is provided, which is performed by a second network node, or by other devices including the function of the second network node (e.g., a second network device), or by a chip system (or, chip) or other functional module, which can implement the function of the second network node, and the chip system or functional module is, for example, arranged in the second network node. The second network node is, for example, an access network device, which may be referred to as a second access network device, for example, one implementation of the second access network device is a base station. The method includes: the second network node sends a first message to the first network node, the first message including first address information; wherein the second network node is a child node of the first network node.

[0030] In one possible design, the second network node receives N fourth messages from N child nodes, wherein the fourth message includes a reception status of downlink data, the N child nodes include the third network node, the N fourth messages include the third message, the reception status is successful reception of the downlink data, and N is a positive integer; and, the second network node receives Q fifth messages from Q first terminal devices, wherein the fifth message includes a reception status of downlink data, the reception status is successful reception of the downlink data, the first terminal device is a terminal device connected to the second network node, and Q is a positive integer; the second network node deletes a first data packet, the first data packet is a data packet corresponding to the N child nodes and the Q first terminal devices, and the first data packet includes the downlink data.

[0031] In a possible design, the second network node sends a sixth message to the first network node, where the sixth message includes a reception status of downlink data, where the reception status is successful reception of the downlink data.

[0032] In one possible design, before the second network node receives the third message from the third network device, the method also includes: the second network node receives the downlink data from the first network node; the second network node caches the downlink data; and the second network node sends the downlink data to the third network node.

[0033] In one possible design, the first network node is an IAB-donor node; the second network node is a first IAB node; and the third network node is a second IAB node.

[0034] In one possible design, the first network node includes a CU of the IAB-donor node.

[0035] In one possible design, the first message is a broadcast session establishment response message.

[0036] In one possible design, the second message is a broadcast session establishment request message; or, the second message is a multicast session establishment response message.

[0037] In the third aspect, the beneficial effects of various possible designs can be found in the contents of various possible designs in the first aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0038] In a fourth aspect, a fourth communication method is provided, which is executed by a third network node, or by other devices including the function of the third network node (e.g., a third network device), or by a chip system (or, chip) or other functional module, which can realize the function of the third network node, and the chip system or functional module is, for example, arranged in the third network node. The third network node is, for example, an access network device, which can be referred to as a second access network device, for example, one implementation of the second access network device is a base station. The method includes: the third network node receives a second message from the first network node, the second message includes first address information; the third network node sends a third message to the second network node according to the first address information, the third message includes the reception status of downlink data; wherein the downlink data is broadcast data or multicast data from the first network node; wherein the second network node is a child node of the first network node, and the third network node is a child node of the second network node.

[0039] In one possible design, the third network node receives downlink data from the second network node.

[0040] In one possible design, the first network node is an IAB-donor node; the second network node is a first IAB node; and the third network node is a second IAB node.

[0041] In one possible design, the first network node includes a CU of the IAB-donor node.

[0042] In one possible design, the first message is a broadcast session establishment response message.

[0043] In one possible design, the second message is a broadcast session establishment request message; or, the second message is a multicast session establishment response message.

[0044] In the fourth aspect, the beneficial effects of various possible designs can be found in the contents of various possible designs in the first aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0045] In a fifth aspect, a communication system is provided. The communication system includes a first network node, a second network node, and a third network node. The first network node is used to receive a first message from the second network node, the first message including first address information; the first network node is used to send a second message to the third network node, the second message including the first address information; the third network node is used to send a third message to the second network node according to the first address information, the third message including the reception status of downlink data; the downlink data is broadcast data or multicast data from the first network node; the second network node is a child node of the first network node, and the third network node is a child node of the second network node. Optionally, the multicast data may be, for example, multicast data.

[0046] In one possible design, the second network node is further used to: receive N fourth messages from N child nodes, wherein the fourth message includes a reception status of downlink data, the N child nodes include the third network node, the N fourth messages include the third message, the reception status is successful reception of the downlink data, and N is a positive integer; and receive Q fifth messages from Q first terminal devices, wherein the fifth message includes a reception status of downlink data, the reception status is successful reception of the downlink data, the first terminal device is a terminal device connected to the second network node, and Q is a positive integer; delete a first data packet, the first data packet is a data packet corresponding to the N child nodes and the Q first terminal devices, and the first data packet includes the downlink data.

[0047] In a possible design, the second network node is further used to send a sixth message to the first network node, where the sixth message includes a reception status of downlink data, and the reception status is successful reception of the downlink data.

[0048] In one possible design, the first network node is further used to: receive M seventh messages from M child nodes, wherein the seventh message includes a reception status of downlink data, the reception status is successful reception of the downlink data, the M child nodes include the second network node, and M is a positive integer; and receive P eighth messages from P second terminal devices, wherein the eighth message includes a reception status of downlink data, the reception status is successful reception of the downlink data, the second terminal device is a terminal device connected to the first network node, and P is a positive integer; and delete a second data packet, the second data packet is a data packet corresponding to the M child nodes and the P second terminal devices, and the second data packet includes the downlink data.

[0049] In a possible design, before the third network node sends a third message to the second network node based on the first address information, the second network node is further used to: receive the downlink data from the first network node; cache the downlink data; and send the downlink data to the third network node.

[0050] In one possible design, the first network node is an IAB-donor node; the second network node is a first IAB node; and the third network node is a second IAB node.

[0051] In one possible design, the first network node includes a CU of the IAB-donor node.

[0052] In one possible design, the first message is a broadcast session establishment response message.

[0053] In one possible design, the second message is a broadcast session establishment request message; or, the second message is a multicast session establishment response message. In another possible design, the second message may also be other messages; or, the second message is a separate message.

[0054] In the fifth aspect, the beneficial effects of various possible designs can be found in the contents of various possible designs in the first aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0055] In a sixth aspect, a communication device is provided. The communication device may be the first network node (or the first network device where the first network node is located) described in any one of the designs in the second aspect above. The communication device has the function of the first network node (or the first network device where the first network node is located). The communication device is, for example, the first network node (or the first network device where the first network node is located), or a larger device including the first network node (or the first network device where the first network node is located), or a functional module in the first network node (or the first network device where the first network node is located), such as a baseband device or a chip system. In an optional implementation, the communication device includes a baseband device and a radio frequency device. In another optional implementation, the communication device includes a processing unit (sometimes also referred to as a processing module) and a transceiver unit (sometimes also referred to as a transceiver module). The transceiver unit can realize a sending function and a receiving function. When the transceiver unit realizes the sending function, it can be called a sending unit (sometimes also referred to as a sending module), and when the transceiver unit realizes the receiving function, it can be called a receiving unit (sometimes also referred to as a receiving module). The sending unit and the receiving unit may be the same functional module, which is called a transceiver unit, and the functional module can realize the sending function and the receiving function; or, the sending unit and the receiving unit may be different functional modules, and the transceiver unit is a general term for these functional modules.

[0056] In an optional embodiment, the communication device also includes a storage unit (sometimes also referred to as a storage module), and the processing unit is used to couple with the storage unit and execute the program or instructions in the storage unit, so that the communication device can perform the function of the first network node (or the first network device where the first network node is located) described in any design of the second aspect above.

[0057] In the seventh aspect, a communication device is provided. The communication device may be the second network node (or the second network device where the second network node is located) described in any one of the designs in the third aspect above. The communication device has the functions of the second network node (or the second network device where the second network node is located). The communication device is, for example, a second network node (or a second network device where the second network node is located), or a larger device including a second network node (or a second network device where the second network node is located), or a functional module in the second network node (or a second network device where the second network node is located), such as a baseband device or a chip system. In an optional implementation, the communication device includes a baseband device and a radio frequency device. In another optional implementation, the communication device includes a processing unit (sometimes also referred to as a processing module) and a transceiver unit (sometimes also referred to as a transceiver module). For the implementation of the transceiver unit, reference may be made to the introduction of the sixth aspect.

[0058] In an optional embodiment, the communication device also includes a storage unit (sometimes also referred to as a storage module), and the processing unit is used to couple with the storage unit and execute the program or instructions in the storage unit, so that the communication device can perform the function of the second network node (or the second network device where the second network node is located) described in any design of the third aspect above.

[0059] In an eighth aspect, a communication device is provided. The communication device may be the third network node (or the third network device where the third network node is located) described in any one of the designs in the fourth aspect above. The communication device has the functions of the third network node (or the third network device where the third network node is located). The communication device is, for example, a third network node (or a third network device where the third network node is located), or a larger device including a third network node (or a third network device where the third network node is located), or a functional module in the third network node (or a third network device where the third network node is located), such as a baseband device or a chip system. In an optional implementation, the communication device includes a baseband device and a radio frequency device. In another optional implementation, the communication device includes a processing unit (sometimes also referred to as a processing module) and a transceiver unit (sometimes also referred to as a transceiver module). For the implementation of the transceiver unit, reference may be made to the introduction of the sixth aspect.

[0060] In an optional embodiment, the communication device also includes a storage unit (sometimes also referred to as a storage module), and the processing unit is used to couple with the storage unit and execute the program or instructions in the storage unit, so that the communication device can perform the function of the third network node (or the third network device where the third network node is located) described in any design of the fourth aspect above.

[0061] In a ninth aspect, a communication device is provided, which may be a first network node (or a first network device where the first network node is located), or a chip or chip system used in the first network node (or the first network device where the first network node is located). The communication device includes a communication interface and a processor, and optionally, also includes a memory. The memory is used to store a computer program, and the processor is coupled to the memory and the communication interface. When the processor reads the computer program or instruction, the communication device executes the method performed by the first network node (or the first network device where the first network node is located) in the above aspects.

[0062] In a tenth aspect, a communication device is provided, which may be a second network node (or a second network device where the second network node is located), or a chip or chip system used in a second network node (or a second network device where the second network node is located). The communication device includes a communication interface and a processor, and optionally, also includes a memory. The memory is used to store a computer program, and the processor is coupled to the memory and the communication interface. When the processor reads the computer program or instruction, the communication device executes the method performed by the second network node (or the second network device where the second network node is located) in the above aspects.

[0063] In an eleventh aspect, a communication device is provided, which may be a third network node (or a third network device where the third network node is located), or a chip or chip system used in a third network node (or a third network device where the third network node is located). The communication device includes a communication interface and a processor, and optionally, also includes a memory. The memory is used to store a computer program, and the processor is coupled to the memory and the communication interface. When the processor reads the computer program or instruction, the communication device executes the method performed by the third network node (or the third network device where the third network node is located) in the above aspects.

[0064] In a twelfth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, wherein the computer-readable storage medium is used to store a computer program or instruction, and when the computer-readable storage medium is executed, the method executed by the first network node or the second network node or the third network node in the above aspects is implemented.

[0065] In a thirteenth aspect, a computer program product comprising instructions is provided, which, when executed on a computer, enables the methods described in the above aspects to be implemented.

[0066] In a fourteenth aspect, a chip system is provided, comprising a processor and an interface, wherein the processor is used to call and execute instructions from the interface so that the chip system implements the above-mentioned methods. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0067] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of CU-DU;

[0068] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an MBS;

[0069] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of an IAB communication architecture;

[0070] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a user plane protocol stack of an IAB communication architecture;

[0071] Figure 5 A topological diagram of an IAB communication architecture provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0072] Figure 6 Another topological diagram of an IAB communication architecture provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0073] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of a user plane protocol stack of an IAB communication architecture provided in this embodiment;

[0074] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of a process for sending uplink user plane feedback data provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0075] Fig. 9 One of the flow charts of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0076] Fig.10 A second flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0077] Fig.11 A third flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0078] Fig.12 A fourth flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0079] Fig.13 A fifth flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0080] Fig.14Flowchart 6 of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0081] Fig.15 A schematic diagram of a device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0082] Fig.16 A schematic diagram of another device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0083] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the embodiments of the present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0084] In the embodiments of the present application, the number of nouns, unless otherwise specified, means "singular noun or plural noun", that is, "one or more". "At least one" means one or more, and "plural" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c means: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a and b and c, where a, b, c can be single or multiple.

[0085] The ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" mentioned in the embodiments of the present application are used to distinguish multiple objects and are not used to limit the size, content, order, timing, priority or importance of the multiple objects.

[0086] Below, some terms or concepts in the embodiments of the present application are explained to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0087] (1) In the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device is a device with wireless transceiver function, which can be a fixed device, a mobile device, a handheld device (such as a mobile phone), a wearable device, a vehicle-mounted device, or a wireless device built into the above device (such as a communication module, a modem, or a chip system, etc.). The terminal device is used to connect people, objects, machines, etc., and can be widely used in various scenarios, such as but not limited to the following scenarios: sensing scenarios, cellular communications, device-to-device communications (D2D), vehicle to everything (V2X), machine-to-machine / machine-type communications (M2M / MTC), Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), industrial control, self-driving, remote medical, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wearable, smart transportation, smart city, drones, robots and other scenarios. For example, the terminal device can communicate wirelessly with a base station; wherein the base station can be, for example, an IAB-donor node in an embodiment of the present application, or an IAB node directly connected to an IAB-donor node, or an IAB node indirectly connected to an IAB-donor node, etc.

[0088] The terminal device may sometimes be referred to as user equipment (UE), terminal, access station, UE station, remote station, wireless communication device, or user device, etc.

[0089] In the embodiment of the present application, the communication device for realizing the function of the terminal device may be a terminal device, or may be a device capable of supporting the terminal device to realize the function, such as a chip system, which may be installed in the terminal device. In the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application, the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application is described by taking the device for realizing the function of the terminal device as an example that the terminal device is used as the device.

[0090] (2) The network equipment in the embodiments of the present application, for example, includes access network equipment and / or core network equipment. The access network equipment is a device with wireless transceiver function, which is used to communicate with the terminal device. The access network equipment includes but is not limited to base stations (base transceiver station (BTS), Node B, evolved node B (eNodeB) / eNB, or next generation node B (gNodeB) / gNB), transmission reception point (TRP), base station of subsequent evolution of the third generation partnership project (3GPP), access node in wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) system, wireless relay node, wireless backhaul node (such as IAB node), etc. The base station can be: macro base station, micro base station, micro-micro base station, small station, relay station, etc. Multiple base stations can support networks with the same access technology or networks with different access technologies. The base station can include one or more co-site or non-co-site transmission reception points.

[0091] The access network device can also be a wireless controller, a centralized unit (CU), and / or a distributed unit (DU) in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario. Among them, the CU-DU separated base station architecture is a newly introduced base station architecture in 5G. In the fourth generation (4G) base station architecture, each base station is deployed independently and connected to the 4G core network respectively. In the 5G architecture, the DU parts of different base stations are deployed independently, but the CU parts of different base stations are deployed centrally.

[0092] From the perspective of physical module structure, the internal structure of a 4G base station is divided into several modules, including a baseband unit (BBU), a remote radio unit (RRU), and an antenna. Each base station has a set of BBUs and is directly connected to the core network through the BBU. Under the 5G CU-DU separation architecture, the original RRU and antenna are merged into an active antenna unit (AAU), while the BBU is split into a DU and a CU. Each base station has a set of DUs, and multiple sites share the same CU for centralized management.

[0093] From the perspective of the protocol stack structure, in a 5G base station, the physical bottom layer in the BBU of the 4G base station is sunk to the AAU for processing, and the physical high layer, media access control (MAC) layer and radio resource control (RLC) layer with high real-time requirements are placed in the DU for processing, while the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer and radio resource control (RRC) layer with low real-time requirements are placed in the CU for processing.

[0094] For example, Figure 1 Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of CU-DU. In the CU-DU architecture, the interface between CU and DU is called F1 interface. Figure 1 As shown, the CU can be further separated into CU-control surface (CP) and CU-user surface (UP). The interface between CU-CP and CU-UP is called E1 interface. Among them, a base station generally has one CU-CP, multiple CU-UPs and multiple DUs. A DU can only be connected to one CU-CP, and a CU-UP can only be connected to one CU-CP. The interface between CU-CP and DU is called F1-C, and the interface between CU-UP and DU is called F1-U. As shown Figure 1 As shown, there may be multiple F1-Us between one DU and multiple CU-UPs. F1-U is usually used for data transmission and may also be called an F1-U tunnel.

[0095] The access network device may also be a server, etc. For example, the network device in the V2X technology may be a road side unit (RSU). The following describes the access network device using a base station as an example. The base station may communicate with the terminal device, or it may communicate with the terminal device through a relay station. The terminal device may communicate with multiple base stations in different access technologies. The core network device is used to implement functions such as mobility management, data processing, session management, policy and billing. The names of the devices that implement the core network functions in systems with different access technologies may be different, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this. Taking the 5G system as an example, the core network device includes: access and mobility management function (AMF), session management function (SMF), policy control function (PCF) or user plane function (UPF), etc.

[0096] In the embodiment of the present application, the communication device for realizing the function of the network device may be a network device, or may be a device capable of supporting the network device to realize the function, such as a chip system, which may be installed in the network device. In the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application, the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application is described by taking the device for realizing the function of the network device as an example that the network device is used as the device.

[0097] (3) Multicast and broadcast service (MBS)

[0098] MBS is a service for multiple UEs, such as live broadcast service, public safety service, batch software update service, etc.

[0099] Figure 2 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an MBS. Figure 2 As shown, MBS data comes from an MBS data server. First, the MBS data server sends the MBS data to the core network device. Then, the core network device sends the MBS data to the base station. Finally, the base station sends the MBS data to at least one UE that receives the MBS data. When the MBS data is sent from the core network device to the base station, it is transmitted through a common transmission channel (that is, an MBS session), and each MBS session can contain at least one MBS QoS flow. When the data packet is sent from the base station to the UE, it is transmitted through the MBS radio bearer. For an MBS radio bearer, there are two transmission modes:

[0100] The first one can adopt the PTM transmission mode; the second one can adopt the PTP transmission mode.

[0101] (4) IAB communication architecture

[0102] In the CU-DU architecture, the ideal backhaul technology is to connect the CU and DU with optical fiber. However, in the actual deployment of 5G wireless communications, due to deployment environment or deployment cost, some DU and CU connections cannot be achieved with optical fiber. Instead, wireless backhaul technology can be used, that is, IAB technology can be used for relay backhaul.

[0103] Figure 3 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an IAB communication architecture. Figure 3 As can be seen in FIG. 1 , the IAB host base station 30 is connected to the core network device 35 via a wired connection. Figure 3 There is no wire connection between the IAB base stations 31, 32, 33 and 34 in the core network device 35, but they are connected to the IAB host base station 30 through a wireless backhaul link, so that the UEs served by other IAB base stations are connected to the core network device 35.

[0104] Specifically, the IAB base station provides a wireless access link and a wireless backhaul link. The wireless access link is a communication link between the UE and the IAB base station (including the IAB host base station and other IAB base stations). The wireless backhaul link is a communication link between other IAB base stations or between other IAB base stations and the IAB host base station, which is used for data backhaul. Therefore, the IAB base station does not need a wired transmission network such as optical fiber for data backhaul.

[0105] In addition, from Figure 3 It can also be seen that there are multiple hops in the IAB communication architecture, that is, the IAB base station 32 and the IAB base station 33 are not directly connected to the IAB host base station 30, but are connected to the IAB host base station 30 through the IAB base station 31.

[0106] Considering that data transmission scenarios include downlink data transmission scenarios and uplink data transmission scenarios, the downlink data transmission scenarios and uplink data transmission scenarios based on the IAB communication architecture are introduced below.

[0107] (4-1) Downlink data is transmitted based on the IAB communication architecture. The downlink data may be, for example, MBS data.

[0108] Compared with ordinary base stations, IAB base stations have a new protocol layer, namely the backhaul adaptation protocol (BAP), whose main function is routing, that is, after receiving data, it determines the next destination of the data, which can also be understood as: whether to submit the data to the higher layer of this IAB base station for processing and then send it to the UE connected to this IAB base station; or forward the data to the next hop node, that is, forward it to the next IAB base station. The basis for determining the destination of the data is: the BAP address and path identifier (PATH ID) included in the packet header of the data packet; the BAP address is used to identify the destination address of the data in the IAB communication architecture, and the PATH ID is used to identify the path of data transmission in the network. The BAP address and PATH ID can also be collectively referred to as the routing address (routing ID). Specifically, taking downlink data transmission as an example, when each IAB base station is established, the IAB host base station 30 will allocate an address of the IAB base station itself, that is, a BAP address, to the IAB base station; at the same time, in the return routing information, the next hop IAB base station corresponding to different routing IDs is specified by the PATH ID, and the destination IAB base station corresponding to different routing IDs is specified by the BAP address. Based on this, it can be understood that before the IAB host base station 30 sends downlink data, the BAP layer will add the BAP address and PATH ID to the BAP packet header.

[0109] See also Figure 4 , which is a structural diagram of the user plane protocol stack of the IAB communication architecture. Take the IAB host base station 30, IAB base station 31, IAB base station 32 and the UE connected to the IAB base station 32 as examples. After the IAB base station 31 receives the downlink data, it compares it with the BAP address assigned to itself. In one possible scenario, if the BAP address in the header of the downlink data packet is the same as its own BAP address, it proves that the downlink data is sent to itself, so the downlink data is submitted to the upper layer for processing and then sent to the UE connected to itself. In another possible scenario, if the BAP address in the header of the downlink data packet is different from its own BAP address, it proves that the downlink data is not sent to itself, and then according to the BAP address and PATH ID in the header of the downlink data packet, it is sent to the next-hop IAB base station (such as Figure 4 The IAB base station 32 in the embodiment, and so on.

[0110] like Figure 4As shown, the IAB donor base station 30 can implement the function of CU, that is, connect one or more IAB base stations, such as IAB base station 31. The IAB donor base station 30 can also implement the function of DU, that is, connect one or more UEs. For the sake of distinction, in the following embodiments, the unit that implements the CU function of the IAB donor base station 30 is referred to as an IAB-donor node 30, or as an IAB-donor-CU.

[0111] Taking IAB base station 31 as an example, other IAB base stations in the IAB communication architecture except IAB host base station 30 can implement the function of IAB-DU, and can provide wireless data backhaul to downstream IAB base stations (such as IAB base station 32 and IAB base station 33) or connected UEs. IAB base station 31 can also implement the function of IAB-passive service (mobile terminated, MT), and can connect to the upstream IAB-donor-DU. For ease of distinction, in the following embodiments, the unit that implements the DU function in the IAB base station is referred to as an IAB node, or IAB-DU, such as IAB node 31, IAB node 32, IAB node 33, and IAB node 34.

[0112] Based on the IAB communication architecture introduced above, the existing IAB communication architecture and data transmission processing method only consider unicast services, that is, the downlink data of a certain transmission will only be sent to the UE under the base station or the next-level IAB base station through a specific IAB base station. Figure 5 , is a topological diagram of an IAB communication architecture provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 5 As shown, the sub-nodes connected to the IAB-donor node 30 include: IAB node 31 and IAB node 34; the sub-nodes connected to the IAB node 31 include: IAB node 32 and IAB node 33. Figure 4 In the user plane protocol stack structure introduced, if the IAB-donor node 30 wants to send downlink data from the IAB-donor node 30 to the IAB node 32, a separate user plane tunnel needs to be established between the IAB-donor node 30 and the IAB node 32, that is, the IAB-donor node 30 sends data to the IAB node 32 separately, and this part of the data needs to pass through the IAB node 31. However, for the IAB node 31, a transparent transmission method is adopted.

[0113] Combined with the above Figure 2In the MBS scenario introduced, IAB-donor node 30 sends four copies of the same downlink data to IAB node 31, IAB node 32, IAB node 33 and IAB node 34 respectively. As a result, IAB-donor node 30 is under great transmission pressure. Correspondingly, IAB-donor node 30 may also need to receive uplink user plane data (such as uplink user plane feedback data) from IAB node 31, IAB node 32, IAB node 33 and IAB node 34. Therefore, the data transmission method in the current protocol is less flexible. How to optimize the data transmission method in a multi-level communication system such as the IAB communication architecture is of great research significance.

[0114] Considering that in the IAB communication architecture, IAB node 32 and IAB node 33 are child nodes of IAB node 31, the data received by IAB node 32 and IAB node 33 must pass through IAB node 31. Therefore, in order to reduce the transmission pressure of IAB-donor node 30, IAB node 31 can be used to send MBS. In this way, IAB-donor node 30 only needs to establish a user plane tunnel with IAB node 31, and in the scenario of sending downlink data from IAB node 31 to IAB node 33, only one copy of data needs to be sent to IAB node 31. Figure 6 , is another topological diagram of an IAB communication architecture provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 6 As shown, the IAB-donor node 30 establishes a user plane tunnel with the IAB node 31, and the IAB-donor node 30 establishes a user plane tunnel with the IAB node 34; the IAB node 31 establishes a user plane tunnel with the IAB node 32, and the IAB node 31 establishes a user plane tunnel with the IAB node 33. Figure 7 , which is another structural diagram of the user plane protocol stack of the IAB communication architecture. The IAB-donor node 30 can send downlink data to the IAB node 31 through the user plane tunnel between the IAB node 31. The IAB node 31 can cache the downlink data. The IAB node 31 can send downlink data to the IAB node 32 through the user plane tunnel between the IAB node 32. Figure 7 As not shown in the figure, the IAB node 31 may also send downlink data to the IAB node 33 through the user plane tunnel between the IAB node 31 and the IAB node 33. It can be understood that based on Figure 7 In the user plane protocol stack shown, the downlink data received by the IAB node 32 at this time comes from the IAB node 31.

[0115] (4-2) Uplink data is transmitted based on the IAB communication architecture. The uplink data may be, for example, uplink feedback data for MBS data; wherein flow control may be implemented through the uplink feedback data.

[0116] based on Figure 4 and Figure 5 As described above, the IAB-donor node 30 establishes a user plane tunnel with each IAB node separately. Therefore, corresponding to the downlink data, each IAB node sends uplink feedback data through the user plane tunnel between the IAB-donor node 30. Figure 8 , is a schematic diagram of a process for sending uplink feedback data provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 8 The following steps may be included:

[0117] Step 801: A host node (English name may be: node hosting NR PDCP) receives a downlink data reception status from a corresponding node (English name may be: corresponding node). Exemplarily, the downlink data reception status may be transmitted via a DL DATA DELIVERY STATUS frame.

[0118] Combination Figure 5 In the topology shown, the node hosting NR PDCP corresponds to the IAB-donor node 30, which is the CU in the IAB communication architecture; the corresponding node corresponds to each IAB node, such as IAB node 31 to IAB node 34, which is the DU in the IAB communication architecture. It can be understood that when the node hosting NR PDCP receives DL DATA DELIVERY STATUS frames from all corresponding nodes, and the DL DATA DELIVERY STATUS frame is used to indicate that the downlink data is successfully received, the node hosting NR PDCP can delete the cached downlink data. When the DL DATA DELIVERY STATUS frame indicates that the downlink data reception failed, the node hosting NR PDCP can retransmit the downlink data to the corresponding node where the reception failed. In this way, flow control can be achieved through the node hosting NR PDCP.

[0119] Based on the current IAB communication architecture, only the IAB-donor node 30 has the flow control function of the node hosting NR PDCP, and other IAB nodes except the IAB-donor node 30 only have the function of the corresponding node.

[0120] based on Figure 6 and Figure 7In the scenario of establishing a user plane tunnel between IAB nodes, the user plane tunnel can be used not only for Figure 6 and Figure 7 The scenario of transmitting downlink data described above can also be applied to the scenario of transmitting uplink data. However, since the IAB node receives MBS data from the IAB-donor node 30 in a broadcast or multicast manner, the IAB node can only obtain the address of the IAB-donor node 30. In the scenario where a user plane tunnel is established between the IAB nodes, the IAB node will also directly feedback the uplink data to the IAB-donor node 30. For example, the IAB node 32 feedbacks the uplink data to the IAB-donor node 30, but cannot feedback the uplink data to the IAB node 31. Therefore, it is worth studying how to optimize the feedback method of uplink data in the scenario where a user plane tunnel is established between the IAB nodes.

[0121] In view of this, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method. In the method, the IAB-donor node 30 receives the uplink user plane address reported by each IAB node during the process of establishing a broadcast or multicast session with each IAB node on the control plane; and the IAB-donor node 30 sends the uplink user plane address of the IAB node to the child node of the IAB node, for example, sends the uplink user plane address of the IAB node 31 to the IAB node 32 and the IAB node 33. In this way, the IAB node can obtain the uplink user plane address of the parent node, so that the uplink user plane data can be sent to the parent node, such as the uplink user plane feedback data, and the uplink user plane feedback data can be used to feedback the reception status of the downlink data. In the IAB communication architecture, the IAB node that can serve as the parent node can be not only the IAB-donor node 30, but also other IAB nodes, such as the IAB node 31. Therefore, the processing pressure of the IAB-donor node 30 on the uplink user plane feedback data can be reduced.

[0122] Furthermore, the IAB-donor node 30 only needs to manage directly connected IAB nodes, while IAB nodes that are not directly connected can be managed by their parent nodes (for example, IAB node 32 is managed by IAB node 31, and IAB node 31 is the parent node of IAB node 32), thereby achieving decentralized management and reducing the processing performance requirements of the IAB-donor node 30.

[0123] The communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application can be applied to the scenario of transmitting downlink data by broadcast or multicast. Among them, the multicast method can include a multicast method. The following embodiments are introduced by taking the broadcast method as an example, and the implementation of the multicast method can refer to the implementation of the broadcast method. In addition, the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application can be specifically applied to the scenario where the reception status of the downlink data needs to be fed back uplink.

[0124] This application embodiment provides a communication method, see Fig. 9 , which is a flow chart of the method. Fig. 9 The process described in the description is introduced by taking IAB-donor node 30, IAB node 31 and IAB node 32 as examples; wherein IAB node 31 is a child node of IAB-donor node 30, and IAB node 32 is a child node of IAB node 31. It can be understood that when other IAB nodes are used as parent nodes, the content of IAB node 31 described in the embodiment of the present application can be referred to, for example, IAB node 32 can also be used as a parent node to connect to downstream IAB nodes; when used as a child node of other IAB nodes (which can also be understood as non-IAB-donor nodes 30), the content of IAB node 32 described in the embodiment of the present application can be referred to.

[0125] S901 : The IAB-donor node 30 sends a broadcast session establishment request message to the IAB node 31 . Correspondingly, the IAB node 31 receives the broadcast session establishment request message from the IAB-donor node 30 .

[0126] Exemplarily, the establishment of a broadcast session between the IAB-donor node 30 and the IAB node 31 may be performed according to the broadcast session establishment process in the existing TS38.401 protocol, which is not described in detail in this application. In addition, the establishment of a broadcast session between the IAB-donor node 30 and each IAB node described in the following embodiments may also be performed according to the broadcast session establishment process in the existing TS38.401 protocol, which is not described in the following embodiments.

[0127] S902 : The IAB node 31 sends a broadcast session establishment response message to the IAB-donor node 30 , where the broadcast session establishment response message includes an uplink user plane address. Correspondingly, the IAB-donor node 30 receives the broadcast session establishment response message from the IAB node 31 .

[0128] Exemplarily, the uplink user plane address is used to receive uplink user plane data, for example, the user plane data may be feedback data, and the feedback data may be used to feedback the reception status of the downlink user plane data. For example, it may be represented by a new uplink transport layer (new UL TNL) address. The new UL TNL address is used to receive uplink user plane feedback data from a child node, for example, the IAB node 31 receives uplink user plane feedback data from the IAB node 32.

[0129] Optionally, the broadcast session establishment response message may also carry a downlink receiving address (English name may be expressed as: F1-U TNL DU) of the IAB node 31, and the F1-U TNL DU may be used to receive downlink user plane data of the parent node. For example, the IAB-donor node 30 sends downlink user plane data to the IAB node 31 according to the F1-U TNL DU; correspondingly, the IAB node 31 receives the downlink user plane data of the IAB-donor node 30.

[0130] In addition, it should be noted that in the scenario where the multicast mode is multicast, the IAB node 31 sends a multicast session establishment request message to the IAB-donor node 30, so the uplink user plane address of the IAB node 31 can also be carried in the multicast session establishment request message.

[0131] S903 : The IAB-donor node 30 sends a broadcast session establishment request message to the IAB node 32 , where the broadcast session establishment request message includes the new UL TNL address of the IAB node 31 . Correspondingly, the IAB node 32 receives the broadcast session establishment request message from the IAB-donor node 30 .

[0132] In this way, the IAB-donor node 30 may carry the new UL TNL address of the IAB node 31 through the broadcast session establishment request message sent to the IAB node 32 .

[0133] Optionally, the broadcast session establishment request message may also include the uplink user plane address of the IAB-donor node 30. In this way, the IAB node 32 can not only obtain the uplink user plane address of the parent node, but also obtain the uplink user plane address of the IAB-donor node 30.

[0134] S904 : The IAB node 32 sends a broadcast session establishment response message to the IAB-donor node 30 . Correspondingly, the IAB-donor node 30 receives the broadcast session establishment response message from the IAB node 32 .

[0135] Optionally, similar to the IAB node 31, the IAB node 32 may also send the uplink user plane address of the IAB node 32 to the IAB-donor node 30 by broadcasting a session establishment response message. In this way, the IAB-donor node 30 may obtain the uplink user plane address of the IAB node 32.

[0136] Alternatively, the broadcast session establishment response message may also carry the downlink receiving address of the IAB node 32. Accordingly, the IAB-donor node 30 may obtain the downlink receiving address of the IAB node 32 from the received broadcast session establishment response message. Based on this, the IAB-donor node 30 may send the downlink receiving address of the IAB node 32 to the IAB node 31, so that a user plane tunnel between the IAB node 31 and the IAB node 32 may be established. For example, the IAB node 31 sends downlink user plane data to the IAB node 32 according to the downlink receiving address of the IAB node 32; accordingly, the IAB node 32 receives the downlink user plane data of the IAB node 31.

[0137] The above S901 to S904 introduce that the IAB-donor node 30 can obtain the uplink user plane address of each IAB node through the broadcast session establishment process of the control plane; and based on the uplink user plane address of the IAB node 31 that has been obtained, the uplink user plane address of the IAB node 31 can be notified to the IAB node 32 during the process of establishing a broadcast session with the IAB node 32 (that is, the child node of the IAB node 31), so that the IAB node 32 can obtain the uplink user plane address of the IAB node 31, thereby realizing the transmission of uplink data through the user plane, such as uplink user plane feedback data, etc.

[0138] Based on the implementation process of S901 and S904, the following describes how the IAB node 32 sends uplink user plane data, such as sending uplink user plane feedback data, through S905 to S909.

[0139] S905 : The IAB-donor node 30 sends downlink user plane data to the IAB node 31 . Correspondingly, the IAB node 31 receives the downlink user plane data from the IAB-donor node 30 .

[0140] Exemplarily, the downlink user plane data may be, for example, MBS data.

[0141] S906. The IAB node 31 buffers the downlink user plane data.

[0142] It can be understood that since the IAB node 31 has the user plane management function, the IAB node 31 can cache downlink user plane data. Optionally, when the IAB node 31 receives downlink user plane data reception failure feedback from the child node, data retransmission can be performed based on the cached downlink user plane data.

[0143] S907 : The IAB node 31 sends the downlink user plane data to the IAB node 32 . Correspondingly, the IAB node 32 receives the downlink user plane data from the IAB node 31 .

[0144] S908 : The IAB node 32 sends an uplink feedback message to the IAB node 31 according to the uplink user plane address. Correspondingly, the IAB node 31 receives the uplink feedback message from the IAB node 32 .

[0145] Optionally, when the IAB node 32 successfully receives the downlink user plane data, the uplink feedback message may be used to indicate that the reception status of the downlink user plane data is successful reception.

[0146] Alternatively, when the IAB node 32 fails to successfully receive the downlink user plane data, the uplink feedback message may be used to indicate that the reception status of the downlink user plane data is reception failure (or unsuccessful reception, etc.).

[0147] It should be noted that in the current standard definition, Figure 8 The node hosting NR PDCP introduced corresponds to the IAB-donor node 30, that is, the CU in the IAB communication architecture. Through the method provided in the present application, the node hosting NR PDCP can correspond to any IAB node in the IAB communication architecture that has a flow control function (or is understood to be able to receive uplink feedback messages from the user plane), for example, it can include the IAB-donor node 30, and can also include the IAB node 31. Correspondingly, the corresponding node is an IAB node that interacts with the node hosting NR PDCP. For example, in the scenario where the IAB node 31 receives an uplink feedback message from the IAB node 32, the IAB node 32 is the corresponding node, and the IAB node 31 is the nodehosting NR PDCP.

[0148] In a possible scenario, the IAB node 32 can obtain the uplink user plane address of the IAB node 31 and the uplink user plane address of the IAB-donor node 30 based on the broadcast session establishment request message of S903. In this scenario, the IAB node 32 can also send an uplink feedback message to the IAB-donor node 30 according to the uplink user plane address of the IAB-donor node 30. Alternatively, the IAB node 32 can determine to send the uplink feedback message to the IAB node 31 or the IAB-donor node 30 according to the instruction of the IAB-donor node 30. In this way, the flexibility of the IAB node 32 in performing uplink feedback can be improved to meet the needs of more business scenarios. For example, in some scenarios with high requirements for the response to uplink feedback, the IAB node 32 can be instructed to directly perform uplink feedback to the IAB-donor node 30.

[0149] S909 . The IAB node 31 determines, based on the uplink feedback message, that the IAB node 32 successfully receives the downlink user plane data, and deletes the cached downlink user plane data.

[0150] Alternatively, the IAB node 31 determines that the uplink feedback message indicates that the downlink user plane data is not successfully received, and may retransmit the downlink user plane data to the IAB node 32 .

[0151] pass Fig. 9 In the communication method shown, the CU included in the IAB host base station in the IAB communication architecture can obtain the uplink user plane address of each IAB base station as a DU through the broadcast session establishment process of the control plane; and send the uplink user plane address of the IAB base station to another IAB base station (that is, the child node of the IAB base station) during the process of establishing a broadcast session between the control plane and another IAB base station (that is, the child node of the IAB base station), so that uplink data can be transmitted between IAB base stations. Therefore, through this method, not only the IAB host base station has a flow control function, but other IAB base stations except the IAB host base station can also have a flow control function, for example, data retransmission and other management can be realized, thereby reducing the processing pressure of the IAB host base station.

[0152] This application embodiment provides another communication method, see Fig.10 , which is a flow chart of the method. Fig.10The process described in the description is still described by taking IAB-donor node 30, IAB node 31 and IAB node 32 as examples; wherein IAB node 31 is a child node of IAB-donor node 30, and IAB node 32 is a child node of IAB node 31. It can be understood that when other IAB nodes are used as parent nodes, the content of IAB node 31 described in the embodiment of the present application can be referred to, for example, IAB node 32 can also be used as a parent node to connect to downstream IAB nodes; when used as child nodes of other IAB nodes (which can also be understood as non-IAB-donor nodes 30), the content of IAB node 32 described in the embodiment of the present application can be referred to.

[0153] S1001 : The IAB-donor node 30 sends a broadcast session establishment request message to the IAB node 31 . Correspondingly, the IAB node 31 receives the broadcast session establishment request message from the IAB-donor node 30 .

[0154] Exemplarily, the establishment of a broadcast session between the IAB-donor node 30 and the IAB node 31 may be performed according to the broadcast session establishment process in the existing TS38.401 protocol, which is not described in detail in this application.

[0155] S1002 : The IAB node 31 sends a broadcast session establishment response message to the IAB-donor node 30 , where the broadcast session establishment response message includes an uplink user plane address. Correspondingly, the IAB-donor node 30 receives the broadcast session establishment response message from the IAB node 31 .

[0156] Exemplarily, the uplink user plane address is used to receive uplink user plane data, for example, the user plane data may be feedback data, and the feedback data may be used to feedback the reception status of the downlink user plane data. For example, it may be represented by a new UL TNL address. The new UL TNL address is used to receive uplink user plane feedback data from a child node, for example, the IAB node 31 receives uplink user plane feedback data from the IAB node 32.

[0157] Optionally, the broadcast session establishment response message may also carry a downlink receiving address (English name may be expressed as: F1-U TNL DU) of the IAB node 31, and the F1-U TNL DU may be used to receive downlink user plane data of the parent node. For example, the IAB-donor node 30 sends downlink user plane data to the IAB node 31 according to the F1-U TNL DU; correspondingly, the IAB node 31 receives the downlink user plane data of the IAB-donor node 30.

[0158] S1003 : The IAB-donor node 30 sends a broadcast session establishment request message to the IAB node 32 . Correspondingly, the IAB node 32 receives the broadcast session establishment request message from the IAB-donor node 30 .

[0159] S1004 : The IAB node 32 sends a broadcast session establishment response message to the IAB-donor node 30 . Correspondingly, the IAB-donor node 30 receives the broadcast session establishment response message from the IAB node 32 .

[0160] Optionally, similar to the IAB node 31, the IAB node 32 may also send the uplink user plane address of the IAB node 32 to the IAB-donor node 30 by broadcasting a session establishment response message. In this way, the IAB-donor node 30 may obtain the uplink user plane address of the IAB node 32.

[0161] Alternatively, the broadcast session establishment response message may also carry the downlink receiving address of the IAB node 32. Accordingly, the IAB-donor node 30 may obtain the downlink receiving address of the IAB node 32 from the received broadcast session establishment response message. Based on this, the IAB-donor node 30 may send the downlink receiving address of the IAB node 32 to the IAB node 31, so that a user plane tunnel between the IAB node 31 and the IAB node 32 may be established. For example, the IAB node 31 sends downlink user plane data to the IAB node 32 according to the downlink receiving address of the IAB node 32; accordingly, the IAB node 32 receives the downlink user plane data of the IAB node 31.

[0162] The above S1001 to S1004 describe that the IAB-donor node 30 can obtain the uplink user plane address of each IAB node through the broadcast session establishment process of the control plane.

[0163] S1005 , the IAB-donor node 30 sends a second message to the IAB node 32 , where the second message includes the uplink user plane address of the IAB node 31 , that is, the new UL TNL address of the IAB node. Correspondingly, the IAB node 32 receives the second message from the IAB-donor node 30 .

[0164] Exemplarily, the IAB-donor node 30 may carry the new UL TNL address of the IAB node 31 through a broadcast session establishment request message or through a separate control plane message (eg, the second message).

[0165] Optionally, the second message may also include the uplink user plane address of the IAB-donor node 30. In this way, the IAB node 32 can not only obtain the uplink user plane address of the parent node, but also obtain the uplink user plane address of the IAB-donor node 30.

[0166] Based on the implementation process of S1001 and S1005, the following describes how the IAB node 32 sends uplink user plane data, such as sending uplink user plane feedback data, through S1006 to S1010.

[0167] S1006 : The IAB-donor node 30 sends downlink user plane data to the IAB node 31 . Correspondingly, the IAB node 31 receives the downlink user plane data from the IAB-donor node 30 .

[0168] Exemplarily, the downlink user plane data may be, for example, MBS data.

[0169] S1007. The IAB node 31 buffers the downlink user plane data.

[0170] It can be understood that since the IAB node 31 has the user plane management function, the IAB node 31 can cache downlink user plane data. Optionally, when the IAB node 31 receives downlink user plane data reception failure feedback from the child node, data retransmission can be performed based on the cached downlink user plane data.

[0171] S1008 : The IAB node 31 sends downlink user plane data to the IAB node 32 . Correspondingly, the IAB node 32 receives the downlink user plane data from the IAB node 31 .

[0172] S1009 : The IAB node 32 sends an uplink feedback message to the IAB node 31 according to the uplink user plane address. Correspondingly, the IAB node 31 receives the uplink feedback message from the IAB node 32 .

[0173] Optionally, when the IAB node 32 successfully receives the downlink user plane data, the uplink feedback message may be used to indicate that the reception status of the downlink user plane data is successful reception.

[0174] Alternatively, when the IAB node 32 fails to successfully receive the downlink user plane data, the uplink feedback message may be used to indicate that the reception status of the downlink user plane data is reception failure (or unsuccessful reception, etc.).

[0175] It should be noted that in the current standard definition, Figure 8The node hosting NR PDCP introduced corresponds to the IAB-donor node 30, that is, the CU in the IAB communication architecture. Through the method provided in the present application, the node hosting NR PDCP can correspond to any IAB node in the IAB communication architecture that has a flow control function (or is understood to be able to receive uplink feedback messages from the user plane), for example, it can include the IAB-donor node 30, and can also include the IAB node 31. Correspondingly, the corresponding node is an IAB node that interacts with the node hosting NR PDCP. For example, in the scenario where the IAB node 31 receives an uplink feedback message from the IAB node 32, the IAB node 32 is the corresponding node, and the IAB node 31 is the nodehosting NR PDCP.

[0176] In a possible scenario, the IAB node 32 can obtain the uplink user plane address of the IAB node 31 and the uplink user plane address of the IAB-donor node 30 based on the second message of S1005. In this scenario, the IAB node 32 can also send an uplink feedback message to the IAB-donor node 30 according to the uplink user plane address of the IAB-donor node 30. Alternatively, the IAB node 32 can determine to send the uplink feedback message to the IAB node 31 or the IAB-donor node 30 according to the instruction of the IAB-donor node 30. In this way, the flexibility of the IAB node 32 in performing uplink feedback can be improved to meet the needs of more business scenarios. For example, in some scenarios with high requirements for the response to uplink feedback, the IAB node 32 can be instructed to directly perform uplink feedback to the IAB-donor node 30.

[0177] S1010. The IAB node 31 determines, based on the uplink feedback message, that the IAB node 32 successfully receives the downlink user plane data, and deletes the cached downlink user plane data.

[0178] Alternatively, the IAB node 31 determines that the uplink feedback message indicates that the downlink user plane data is not successfully received, and may retransmit the downlink user plane data to the IAB node 32 .

[0179] pass Fig.10In the communication method shown, the CU included in the IAB host base station in the IAB communication architecture can obtain the uplink user plane address of each IAB base station as a DU through the multicast or broadcast session establishment process of the control plane. Then, the uplink user plane address of the IAB base station is sent to another IAB base station (that is, a child node of the IAB base station) through a control plane message, so that uplink data can be transmitted between IAB base stations, such as uplink user plane feedback data. Therefore, through this method, not only the IAB host base station has a flow control function, but other IAB base stations other than the IAB host base station can also have a flow control function, for example, data retransmission and other management can be realized, thereby reducing the processing pressure of the IAB host base station.

[0180] This application embodiment provides another communication method, see Fig.11 , which is a flow chart of the method. The implementation process of the IAB node obtaining the uplink user plane address can be referred to in the aforementioned Fig. 9 and Fig.10 Considering the complexity of the IAB communication architecture, an IAB node can not only connect to one or more downstream IAB nodes, but also connect to one or more downstream terminal devices. Fig.11 Take, as an example, that the IAB node 31 is not only connected to the downstream IAB node 32 but also to the first terminal device; and that the IAB-donor node 30 is not only connected to the IAB node 31 but also to the second terminal device.

[0181] S1101A, the IAB node 32 sends an uplink feedback message to the IAB node 31 according to the uplink user plane address of the IAB node 31. Correspondingly, the IAB node 31 receives the uplink feedback message from the IAB node 32.

[0182] It should be noted that other IAB nodes connected to the IAB node 31 can refer to the IAB node 32 and send an uplink feedback message to the IAB node 31. For example, the IAB node 33 sends an uplink feedback message to the IAB node 31 according to the uplink user plane address of the IAB node 31. Accordingly, the IAB node 31 receives the uplink feedback message from the IAB node 33.

[0183] Exemplarily, the IAB node 32 may receive, through a radio bearer, downlink user plane data sent by the IAB node 31 in a multicast or broadcast manner.

[0184] Optionally, when the IAB node 32 successfully receives the downlink user plane data, the uplink feedback message may be used to indicate that the reception status of the downlink user plane data is successfully received. Alternatively, when the IAB node 32 fails to successfully receive the downlink user plane data, the uplink feedback message may also be used to indicate that the reception status of the downlink user plane data is unsuccessfully received (or failed to receive). For example, the uplink feedback message may be a DOWNLINK DATA DELIEVERY STATUS frame (or a DL DATA DELIVERYSTATUS frame), which is used to indicate the reception status of the downlink user plane data.

[0185] S1101B, the first terminal device sends an uplink feedback message to the IAB node 31 according to the uplink user plane address of the IAB node 31. Correspondingly, the IAB node 31 receives the uplink feedback message from the first terminal device.

[0186] It should be noted that other terminal devices connected to the IAB node 31 can refer to the first terminal device and send an uplink feedback message to the IAB node 31 .

[0187] Exemplarily, the first terminal device may receive downlink user plane data from the IAB node 31 in the air interface. When the first terminal device is configured with an acknowledgement mode (AM), the first terminal device needs to perform uplink feedback.

[0188] Optionally, when the first terminal device successfully receives the downlink user plane data, the uplink feedback message can be used to indicate that the reception status of the downlink user plane data is successfully received. Alternatively, when the first terminal device fails to successfully receive the downlink user plane data, the uplink feedback message can also be used to indicate that the reception status of the downlink user plane data is unsuccessfully received (or failed to receive).

[0189] S1102, IAB node 31 determines that each connected IAB node and each terminal device successfully receives downlink user plane data, and deletes the cached downlink user plane data. Among them, each IAB node connected to the IAB node 31 may include, for example, an IAB node 32 and an IAB node 33, and each terminal device connected to the IAB node 31 may include, for example, a first terminal device. It is understandable that the IAB node 31 determines that the IAB node 32, the IAB node 33, and the first terminal device all successfully receive downlink user plane data, and deletes the cached downlink user plane data. It is also understandable that the IAB node 31 determines that at least one of the IAB node 32, the IAB node 33, and the first terminal device has failed to successfully receive downlink user plane data, and data retransmission may be performed based on the cached downlink user plane data.

[0190] S1103A, the IAB node 31 sends an uplink feedback message to the IAB-donor node 30 according to the uplink user plane address of the IAB-donor node 30. Correspondingly, the IAB-donor node 30 receives the uplink feedback message from the IAB node 31.

[0191] It should be noted that other IAB nodes connected to the IAB-donor node 30 can refer to the IAB node 31 and send an uplink feedback message to the IAB-donor node 30. For example, the IAB node 33 sends an uplink feedback message to the IAB-donor node 30 according to the uplink user plane address of the IAB-donor node 30. Correspondingly, the IAB-donor node 30 receives the uplink feedback message from the IAB node 34.

[0192] Exemplarily, the IAB node 31 may receive downlink user plane data from the IAB-donor node 30 through a radio bearer.

[0193] Optionally, when the IAB node 31 successfully receives the downlink user plane data, the uplink feedback message may be used to indicate that the reception status of the downlink user plane data is successfully received. Alternatively, when the IAB node 31 fails to successfully receive the downlink user plane data, the uplink feedback message may also be used to indicate that the reception status of the downlink user plane data is unsuccessfully received (or failed to receive). For example, the uplink feedback message may be a DOWNLINK DATA DELIEVERY STATUS frame (or DL ​​DATA DELIVERYSTATUS frame) for the reception status of the downlink user plane data.

[0194] S1103B, the second terminal device sends an uplink feedback message to the IAB-donor node 30 according to the uplink user plane address of the IAB-donor node 30. Correspondingly, the IAB-donor node 30 receives the uplink feedback message from the second terminal device.

[0195] It should be noted that other terminal devices connected to the IAB-donor node 30 can refer to the second terminal device and send an uplink feedback message to the IAB-donor node 30 .

[0196] Exemplarily, the second terminal device may receive downlink user plane data from the IAB-donor node 30 in the air interface. When the second terminal device is configured with AM, the second terminal device needs to perform uplink feedback.

[0197] Optionally, when the second terminal device successfully receives the downlink user plane data, the uplink feedback message can be used to indicate that the reception status of the downlink user plane data is successfully received. Alternatively, when the second terminal device fails to successfully receive the broadcast or multicast downlink user plane data, the uplink feedback message can also be used to indicate that the reception status of the downlink user plane data is unsuccessfully received (or failed to receive).

[0198] S1104. The IAB-donor node 30 determines that each connected IAB node and each terminal device successfully receives downlink user plane data, and deletes the cached downlink user plane data.

[0199] The various IAB nodes connected to the IAB-donor node 30 may include, for example, an IAB node 31 and an IAB node 34, and the various terminal devices connected to the IAB-donor node 30 may include, for example, a second terminal device. It is understandable that the IAB-donor node 30 determines that the IAB node 31, the IAB node 34, and the second terminal device have all successfully received the downlink user plane data, and deletes the cached downlink user plane data. It is also understandable that the IAB-donor node 30 determines that at least one of the IAB node 31, the IAB node 34, and the second terminal device has failed to successfully receive the downlink user plane data, and data retransmission may be performed based on the cached downlink user plane data.

[0200] pass Fig.11 As described above, the IAB node 31 can implement flow control. Therefore, the method provided by the embodiment of the present application can reduce the processing pressure of flow control of the IAB-donor node 30.

[0201] This application embodiment provides another communication method, see Fig.12 , which is a flow chart of the method.

[0202] S1201: A first network node receives a first message from a second network node, where the first message includes first address information. Accordingly, the second network node sends the first message to the first network node.

[0203] The second network node is a child node of the first network node. For example, the first network node may be the IAB-donor node 30 described in the aforementioned embodiment, and the second network node may be the IAB node 31 described in the aforementioned embodiment. For example, in a broadcast scenario, the first message may be a broadcast session establishment response message sent by the IAB node 31 to the IAB-donor node 30; or, in a scenario where the multicast mode is multicast, the first message may also be a multicast session establishment request message sent by the IAB node 31 to the IAB-donor node 30; or, it may be other messages or separate messages sent by the IAB node 31 to the IAB-donor node 30 on the control plane.

[0204] S1202: The first network node sends a second message to a third network node, where the second message includes the first address information. Correspondingly, the third network node receives the second message from the first network node.

[0205] The third network node is a child node of the second network node. For example, the third network node may be the IAB node 32 described in the foregoing embodiment. For example, in a broadcast scenario, the second message may be a broadcast session establishment request message sent by the IAB-donor node 30 to the IAB node 32; or, in a scenario where the multicast mode is multicast, the second message may also be a multicast session establishment response message from the IAB-donor node 30 to the IAB node 32; or, it may be other messages or separate messages sent by the IAB-donor node 30 to the IAB node 32 on the control side.

[0206] S1203: The third network node sends a third message to the second network node according to the first address information, wherein the third message includes a reception status of downlink data; wherein the downlink data is broadcast data or multicast data from the first network node. Exemplarily, the reception status of the downlink data can be classified as successful reception or unsuccessful reception.

[0207] Correspondingly, the second network node receives a third message from the third network node. Optionally, when the third message indicates that the reception status of the downlink data is unsuccessful reception, the downlink data can be retransmitted to the third network node based on the cached downlink data. Alternatively, when the third message indicates that the reception status of the downlink data is successful reception, it can be determined that the third network node successfully receives the downlink data.

[0208] For the processing of the uplink feedback message by the second network node, see Fig.13 , which is a flow chart of the method.

[0209] S1301, the second network node receives N fourth messages from N subnodes, wherein the fourth message includes a reception status of downlink data. For example, the N subnodes may be downstream IAB nodes connected to the IAB node 31. Therefore, it can be understood that the N subnodes include the third network node, the N fourth messages include the third message, and the reception status is successful reception of the downlink data, and N is a positive integer.

[0210] S1302, the second network node receives Q fifth messages from Q first terminal devices, wherein the fifth messages include a reception status of downlink data. For example, the Q first terminal devices may be terminal devices connected to the IAB node 31. Exemplarily, the reception status is successful reception of the downlink data, and Q is a positive integer.

[0211] It should be noted that the present application does not limit the execution order between S1301 and S1302.

[0212] S1303 , the second network node deletes a first data packet, the first data packet is a data packet corresponding to the N child nodes and the Q first terminal devices, and the first data packet includes the downlink data packet. For example, the first data packet is a downlink data packet cached on the IAB node 31 .

[0213] Furthermore, after the second network node determines that it and the connected N sub-nodes and Q first terminal devices have successfully received the downlink data, it can also provide uplink feedback to the first network node. For details on the first network node's processing of the uplink feedback message, see Fig.14 , which is a flow chart of the method.

[0214] S1401, the first network node receives M seventh messages from M child nodes, wherein the seventh messages include a reception status of downlink data. For example, the M child nodes may be downstream IAB nodes connected to the IAB-donor node 30. Therefore, it can be understood that the M child nodes include the second network node, and M is a positive integer.

[0215] S1402, the first network node receives P eighth messages from P second terminal devices, wherein the eighth message includes a reception status of downlink data. For example, the P second terminal devices may be terminal devices connected to the IAB-donor node 30. Exemplarily, the reception status is successful reception of the downlink data, and P is a positive integer.

[0216] It should be noted that the present application does not limit the execution order between S1401 and S1402.

[0217] S1403: The first network node deletes a second data packet, where the second data packet is a data packet corresponding to the M child nodes and the P second terminal devices, and the second data packet includes the downlink data. For example, the second data packet is a downlink data packet cached on the IAB-donor node 30.

[0218] Fig.15 A schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application is given. The communication device 1500 may be Fig. 9 Fig.14 The network node or the circuit system of the network node described in any of the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings is used to implement the method corresponding to the network node in the above method embodiment; wherein the network node can be a first network node (such as the IAB-donor node 30 in the above embodiment), a second network node (such as the IAB node 31 in the above embodiment), or a third network node (such as the IAB node 32 in the above embodiment). Alternatively, the communication device 1500 can be Figures 9 to 14 The circuit system of any network node described in any of the embodiments shown in any of the accompanying drawings is used to implement the method corresponding to the network node in the above method embodiment. For example, one circuit system is a chip system.

[0219] The communication device 1500 includes at least one processor 1501. The processor 1501 can be used for internal processing of the device to implement certain control processing functions. Optionally, the processor 1501 includes instructions. Optionally, the processor 1501 can store data. Optionally, different processors can be independent devices, can be located in different physical locations, and can be located on different integrated circuits. Optionally, different processors can be integrated into one or more processors, for example, integrated on one or more integrated circuits.

[0220] Optionally, the communication device 1500 includes one or more memories 1503 for storing instructions. Optionally, data may also be stored in the memory 1503. The processor and memory may be provided separately or integrated together.

[0221] Optionally, the communication device 1500 includes a communication line 1502 and at least one communication interface 1504. Since the memory 1503, the communication line 1502 and the communication interface 1504 are all optional, Fig.15 Indicated by dotted lines.

[0222] Optionally, the communication device 1500 may further include a transceiver and / or an antenna. The transceiver may be used to send information to other devices or receive information from other devices. The transceiver may be referred to as a transceiver, a transceiver circuit, an input / output interface, etc., and is used to implement the transceiver function of the communication device 1500 through an antenna. Optionally, the transceiver includes a transmitter and a receiver. Exemplarily, the transmitter may be used to generate a radio frequency signal from a baseband signal, and the receiver may be used to convert the radio frequency signal into a baseband signal.

[0223] Processor 1501 may include a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of the program of the present application.

[0224] The communication link 1502 may include a pathway to transmit information between the above-mentioned components.

[0225] The communication interface 1504 uses any transceiver-like device for communicating with other devices or communication networks, such as Ethernet, radio access network (RAN), wireless local area networks (WLAN), wired access networks, etc.

[0226] The memory 1503 may be a read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage devices that can store static information and instructions, a random access memory (RAM) or other types of dynamic storage devices that can store information and instructions, or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, optical disc storage (including compressed optical disc, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc, Blu-ray disc, etc.), a magnetic disk storage medium or other magnetic storage device, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store the desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and can be accessed by a computer, but is not limited thereto. The memory 1503 may exist independently and be connected to the processor 1501 via the communication line 1502. Alternatively, the memory 1503 may also be integrated with the processor 1501.

[0227] The memory 1503 is used to store computer-executable instructions for executing the solution of the present application, and the execution is controlled by the processor 1501. The processor 1501 is used to execute the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 1503, thereby realizing Figures 9 to 14 The steps performed by the first network node and / or the second network node and / or the third network node in the embodiments shown in any one of the accompanying drawings.

[0228] Optionally, the computer-executable instructions in the embodiments of the present application may also be referred to as application code, which is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0229] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the processor 1501 may include one or more CPUs, such as Fig.15 CPU0 and CPU1 in.

[0230] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the communication device 1500 may include multiple processors, such as Fig.15 1501 and 1505. Each of these processors may be a single-CPU processor or a multi-CPU processor. A processor herein may refer to one or more devices, circuits, and / or processing cores for processing data (e.g., computer program instructions).

[0231] when Fig.15 When the device shown is a chip, for example, a chip of a first network node (or a first network device where the first network node is located), a chip of a second network node (or a second network device where the second network node is located), or a chip of a third network node (or a third network device where the third network node is located), the chip includes a processor 1501 (may also include a processor 1505), a communication line 1502 and a communication interface 1504, and optionally, the chip may include a memory 1503. Specifically, the communication interface 1504 may be an input interface, a pin or a circuit, etc. The memory 1503 may be a register, a cache, etc. The processor 1501 and the processor 1505 may be a general-purpose CPU, a microprocessor, an ASIC, or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of the program of the communication method of any of the above embodiments.

[0232] The embodiment of the present application can divide the functional modules of the device according to the above method example. For example, each functional module can be divided according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The above integrated modules can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional modules. It should be noted that the division of modules in the embodiment of the present application is schematic and is only a logical functional division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation. For example, in the case of dividing each functional module according to each function, Fig.16 A schematic diagram of a device is shown, and the device 1600 may be the first network node (or the first network device where the first network node is located), the second network node (or the second network device where the second network node is located), or the third network node (or the second network device where the second network node is located) involved in each of the above method embodiments, or a chip in the first network node (or the first network device where the first network node is located), or a chip in the second network node (or the second network device where the second network node is located), or a chip in the third network node (or the third network device where the third network node is located). The device 1600 includes a sending unit 1601, a processing unit 1602, and a receiving unit 1603.

[0233] It should be understood that the device 1600 can be used to implement the steps performed by the first network node or the second network node or the third network node in the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, and the relevant features can refer to the above Figures 9 to 14 The embodiments shown in any of the accompanying drawings will not be described in detail here.

[0234] Optional, Fig.16 The functions / implementation processes of the sending unit 1601, the receiving unit 1603 and the processing unit 1602 can be Fig.15 The processor 1501 in the embodiment calls the computer execution instructions stored in the memory 1503 to implement. Or, Fig.16 The function / implementation process of the processing unit 1602 in Fig.15 The processor 1501 in the embodiment calls the computer execution instruction stored in the memory 1503 to implement, Fig.16 The functions / implementation processes of the sending unit 1601 and the receiving unit 1603 can be Fig.15 This is implemented by the communication interface 1504 in.

[0235] Optionally, when the device 1600 is a chip or a circuit, the functions / implementation processes of the sending unit 1601 and the receiving unit 1603 can also be implemented through pins or circuits.

[0236] The present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program or instruction. When the computer program or instruction is executed, the method performed by the first network node and / or the second network node and / or the third network node in the aforementioned method embodiment is implemented. In this way, the functions described in the above embodiments can be implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as independent products. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application can be essentially or in other words, the part that contributes or the part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to perform all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The storage medium includes: various media that can store program codes, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a ROM, a RAM, a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

[0237] The present application also provides a computer program product, which includes: a computer program code, when the computer program code is executed on a computer, the computer executes the method executed by the first network node and / or the second network node and / or the third network node in any of the aforementioned method embodiments.

[0238] An embodiment of the present application further provides a processing device, including a processor and an interface; the processor is used to execute the method executed by the first network node and / or the second network node and / or the third network node involved in any of the above method embodiments.

[0239] 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 described in the embodiment of the present application is generated in whole or in part. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium, for example, the computer instructions may be transmitted from a website site, computer, server or data center by wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, 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 may be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more available media integrated. The available medium may be a magnetic medium, (e.g., a floppy disk, a hard disk, a tape), an optical medium (e.g., a DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., a solid state disk (SSD)), etc.

[0240] The various illustrative logic units and circuits described in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented or operated by a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an ASIC, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gates or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination of the above. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor, and optionally, the general-purpose processor can also be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller or state machine. The processor can also be implemented by a combination of computing devices, such as a digital signal processor and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors combined with a digital signal processor core, or any other similar configuration.

[0241] The steps of the method or algorithm described in the embodiments of the present application can be directly embedded in the hardware, the software unit executed by the processor, or the combination of the two. The software unit can be stored in RAM, flash memory, ROM, erasable programmable read-only memory (erasable programmable read-only memory, EPROM), EEPROM, register, hard disk, removable disk, CD-ROM or other storage media of any form in the art. Exemplarily, the storage medium can be connected to the processor so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and can write information to the storage medium. Optionally, the storage medium can also be integrated into the processor. The processor and the storage medium can be arranged in an ASIC, and the ASIC can be arranged in a terminal device. Optionally, the processor and the storage medium can also be arranged in different components in the terminal device.

[0242] These computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device so that a series of operating steps are executed on the computer or other programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process, thereby providing instructions for implementing the process. Figure 1 A process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A step that specifies a function in one or more boxes.

[0243] The contents of the various embodiments of the present application may refer to each other. If there is no special explanation and logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced to each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their internal logical relationships.

[0244] It is understandable that in the embodiment of the present application, the first network node and / or the second network node and / or the third network node can perform some or all of the steps in the embodiment of the present application, and these steps or operations are only examples. In the embodiment of the present application, other operations or variations of various operations can also be performed. In addition, the various steps can be performed in different orders presented in the embodiment of the present application, and it is possible that not all operations in the embodiment of the present application need to be performed.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The first network node receives a first message from the second network node, wherein the first message includes first address information; The first network node sends a second message to a third network node, where the second message includes the first address information; The third network node sends a third message to the second network node according to the first address information, wherein the third message includes a reception status of downlink data; wherein the downlink data is broadcast data or multicast data from the first network node; The second network node is a child node of the first network node, and the third network node is a child node of the second network node.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Also includes: The second network node receives N fourth messages from N child nodes, wherein the fourth messages include a reception status of downlink data, the N child nodes include the third network node, the N fourth messages include the third message, the reception status is successful reception of the downlink data, and N is a positive integer; and The second network node receives Q fifth messages from Q first terminal devices, wherein the fifth message includes a reception status of downlink data, the reception status is successful reception of the downlink data, the first terminal device is a terminal device connected to the second network node, and Q is a positive integer; The second network node deletes a first data packet, where the first data packet is a data packet corresponding to the N child nodes and the Q first terminal devices, and the first data packet includes the downlink data.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: Also includes: The second network node sends a sixth message to the first network node, where the sixth message includes a reception status of downlink data, where the reception status indicates that the downlink data is successfully received.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that Also includes: The first network node receives M seventh messages from M child nodes, wherein the seventh message includes a reception status of downlink data, the reception status is successful reception of the downlink data, the M child nodes include the second network node, and M is a positive integer; and The first network node receives P eighth messages from P second terminal devices, wherein the eighth message includes a reception status of downlink data, the reception status is successful reception of the downlink data, the second terminal device is a terminal device connected to the first network node, and P is a positive integer; The first network node deletes a second data packet, where the second data packet is a data packet corresponding to the M sub-nodes and the P second terminal devices, and the second data packet includes the downlink data.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that Before the third network node sends a third message to the second network node according to the first address information, the method further includes: The second network node receives the downlink data from the first network node; The second network node caches the downlink data; The second network node sends the downlink data to the third network node.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The first network node is an access backhaul integrated IAB-host donor node; The second network node is a first IAB node; The third network node is a second IAB node.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that The first network node comprises a centralized unit CU of the IAB-donor node.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that The first message is a broadcast session establishment response message.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that The second message is a broadcast session establishment request message; or, the second message is a multicast session establishment response message.

10. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device includes a processing unit and a transceiver unit, and the processing unit is coupled to the transceiver unit to execute the method executed by the first network node as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, or execute the method executed by the second network node as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, or execute the method executed by the third network node as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device includes a processor and a memory, the memory is used to store a computer program, and the processor is used to execute the computer program stored on the memory, so that the communication device performs the method performed by the first network node as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, or the communication device performs the method performed by the second network node as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, or the communication device performs the method performed by the third network node as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.

12. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium is used to store a computer program. When the computer program is run on a computer, the computer executes the method executed by the first network node as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, or the computer executes the method executed by the second network node as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, or the computer executes the method executed by the third network node as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.

13. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product comprises a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method executed by the first network node as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, or enables the computer to execute the method executed by the second network node as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, or enables the computer to execute the method executed by the second network node as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.

14. A chip system, characterized in that: The chip system comprises: A processor and an interface, the processor being used to call and run instructions from the interface, and when the processor executes the instructions, the method executed by the first network node as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 is implemented, or the method executed by the second network node as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 is implemented, or the method executed by the third network node as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 is implemented.

15. A communication system, characterized in that: The communication system comprises a first network node, a second network node and a third network node, wherein: The first network node is used to execute the method executed by the first network node as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, the second network node is used to execute the method executed by the second network node as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, and the third network node is used to execute the method executed by the third network node as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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