Communication method and device

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides a communication method and device, belongs to the technical field of communication, and is used for realizing flexible and rapid data forwarding between low-cost relay equipment. In the method, a first relay device can receive first information from a network device through a control link, the first information can be used for determining a next hop relay device when the first relay device forwards data, that is, the first information can be routing related information. According to the embodiment of the invention, after the first relay device receives the first data, it can be determined that the first data needs to be forwarded to the second relay device according to the first information, so that flexible and rapid data forwarding between the relay devices, namely low-cost relay devices, can be realized, or a multi-hop routing function between the relay devices is realized, and the communication efficiency is improved.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] Currently, low-cost relay devices can have some digital processing functions and transparent forwarding functions. For example, a low-cost relay device can be a network controlled repeater (NCR). The NCR can perform relay communication between a base station and a terminal in a low-cost manner. For example, the NCR can act as a terminal to access the base station or a parent node, decode data transmitted on the control link, and has the function of amplifying and retransmitting radio frequency signals, which can improve the coverage area, especially the coverage of blind spots.

[0003] However, how to achieve flexible and fast data forwarding between low-cost relay devices is an urgent problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Embodiments of this application provide a communication method and apparatus to achieve flexible and fast data forwarding between low-cost relay devices.

[0005] This application adopts the following technical solutions:

[0006] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided. This method can be executed by a first relay device, or by a chip or circuit configured in the first relay device, or by a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the first relay device. The first relay device can be the above-mentioned low-cost relay device, such as an NCR. The method includes: the first relay device receives first information from a network device through a control link, receives first data, and forwards the first data to a second relay device. The first information is used to determine the next-hop relay device when the first relay device forwards data; the second relay device is the next-hop relay device when the first relay device forwards the first data.

[0007] Based on the method described in the first aspect, it can be known that the first relay device can receive the first information from the network device through the control link. The first information can be used to determine the next-hop relay device when the first relay device forwards data. That is, the first information can be routing-related information. After the first relay device receives the first data, it can determine that the first data needs to be forwarded to the second relay device according to the first information, so as to achieve flexible and fast data forwarding between relay devices, that is, low-cost relay devices, or in other words, achieve the multi-hop routing function between relay devices to improve the communication efficiency.

[0008] In a possible design solution, the first information is used to indicate the destination relay device for forwarding data and the first path for forwarding data, and the second relay device is the next-hop relay device of the first relay device in the first path. In this way, the first relay device can quickly determine the next-hop relay device when the first relay device forwards data according to the destination relay device and the first path for forwarding data, and the implementation process is simple.

[0009] Optionally, the first information includes the address of the destination relay device and the first path identifier, and the first path identifier is used to indicate the first path. That is to say, the first information indicates the next-hop relay device when the first relay device forwards data through the address of the destination relay device and the first path identifier. The first information can also indicate routing-related information by carrying other information or fields, which is not limited.

[0010] In a possible design solution, the first information is the information used for forwarding the first data. In other words, the first information is only the information used by the first relay device to forward the first data. When the first relay device receives other data, such as data #a, the first information cannot be used as the information for the first relay device to forward the first data. That is to say, the first information can be the information dynamically configured by the network device for the first relay device. Before each time the first relay device forwards data, it needs to determine the next-hop relay device according to the information sent by the network device through the control link, such as the above-mentioned first information and other routing-related information. After that, the first relay device forwards the data to the determined next-hop relay device, which can achieve dynamic scheduling and is more flexible.

[0011] Optionally, the second information is used to indicate the destination relay device for the second relay device to forward data and the second path for forwarding data, and the relay devices indicated by the second path include the second relay device. In this way, the second relay device can quickly determine the next-hop relay device when the second relay device forwards data according to the destination relay device and the second path for forwarding data, and the implementation process is simple. It can be understood that the first path and the second path can be the same or different, which is not limited.

[0012] Optionally, the second information includes the address of the destination relay device and the second path identifier, and the second path identifier is used to indicate the second path. That is to say, the second information indicates the next-hop relay device when the second relay device forwards data through the address of the destination relay device and the second path identifier. The second information can also indicate routing-related information by carrying other information or fields, which is not limited.

[0013] In a possible design, the first information is the information used for forwarding the data in the first data set, and the data in the first data set includes the first data. In other words, the first information can be the information used by the first relay device when forwarding multiple data, or rather, the first information can be the information semi-statically configured by the network device. Before the first information is updated or deactivated, the first relay device can use the first information to determine the next-hop relay device when forwarding data, saving overhead.

[0014] Optionally, before the first relay device receives the first data, the method described in the first aspect further includes: the first relay device receives the first indication information. The first indication information is used to indicate the activation of the first information, and the activated first information is used for forwarding the data in the first data set. That is, when the network device needs the first relay device to use the first information to determine the routing-related information, the network device indicates the activation of the first information through the first indication information. When the network device needs the first relay device to use other information to determine the routing-related information, the network device indicates the deactivation of the first information through the first indication information, so as to achieve on-demand indication and flexibility.

[0015] In a possible design, before the first relay device receives the first information through the control link, the method described in the first aspect further includes: the first relay device obtains the first address and the second address. The first address is the address assigned by the network device to the first relay device, and the second address is the address of the second relay device, which is used for subsequent data forwarding by the first device, improving the reliability of data forwarding. It can be understood that the first relay device can receive the first address and the second address from the network device through the control link, or the first relay device can receive the first address from the network device through the control link and receive the second address sent by the second relay device. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the implementation manner.

[0016] Optionally, after the first relay device obtains the first address and the second address, the method described in the first aspect further includes: the first relay device obtains the first correspondence. The first correspondence includes the correspondence between the second address and the physical location of the second relay device, so that when the first relay device needs to forward data to the second relay device subsequently, it can adjust the beam direction according to the physical location of the second relay device, so as to avoid the situation that the second relay device cannot receive the forwarded data or the received data quality cannot meet the requirements, and further improve the reliability of data forwarding.

[0017] Optionally, after the first relay device obtains the first address and the second address, the method described in the first aspect further includes: the first relay device obtains a routing list. The routing list includes at least one path identifier and the path corresponding to each path identifier in the at least one path identifier. The at least one path identifier includes a first path identifier, and the routing list may further include a second path identifier, which is not limited. The first relay device obtains the routing list for determining the next-hop relay device when the first relay device forwards data subsequently, improving the reliability of data forwarding.

[0018] In a possible design, the first relay device includes a first functional entity and a second functional entity. The first functional entity is used to decode the information received through the control link, and the second functional entity is used to forward the data. That is, the first relay device can have partial digital processing functions and transparent forwarding functions, thereby improving the coverage area, especially the coverage of blind spots.

[0019] Optionally, before the first relay device forwards the first data to the second relay device, the method described in the first aspect further includes: the first relay device decodes the first information through the first functional entity to determine the address of the destination relay device and the first path identifier, and determines the second relay device according to the address of the destination relay device, the first path identifier, and the routing list. That is, the first relay device uses the ability of partial physical layer decoding to determine the routing-related information, that is, the address of the destination relay device and the first path identifier, and queries the routing list to accurately determine the second relay device, improving the reliability of data forwarding.

[0020] Optionally, the first relay device forwarding the first data to the second relay device includes: the first relay device forwarding the first data to the second relay device according to the first correspondence. In this way, the first relay device can adjust the beam direction according to the physical location of the second relay device to avoid the situation that the second relay device cannot receive the forwarded data or the received data quality cannot meet the requirements, further improving the reliability of data forwarding.

[0021] Optionally, the first relay device forwarding the first data to the second relay device includes: the first relay device forwarding the first data to the second relay device through the second functional entity. That is, the first relay device realizes the transparent forwarding of the first data through the second functional entity. It can be understood that the first relay device can also perform digital regeneration forwarding on the data, that is, decode part of the data and then generate and forward the data to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the forwarded signal, which is not limited.

[0022] In a possible design, the first information further includes second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the first information is the information used for uplink data transmission and / or downlink data transmission, and the first data belongs to uplink data. In this way, the first relay device can clearly determine whether the first information is for uplink data transmission or downlink data transmission according to the second indication information, so as to avoid misidentification or incorrect identification.

[0023] In a possible design, the first information is carried in at least one of the following: Media Access Control - Control Element (MAC CE), Radio Resource Control (RRC) message, or Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), that is, carried in existing cells to reduce the implementation difficulty, or it can also be carried in new cells to improve the implementation flexibility, without limitation.

[0024] In a second aspect, a communication method is provided. This method can be executed by a network device, or can also be executed by a chip or circuit configured in the network device, or can also be executed by a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the network device. The method includes: The network device sends the first information to the first relay device through a control link, and sends the first data to the first relay device. The first information is used to determine the next-hop relay device when the first relay device forwards data.

[0025] In a possible design, the first information is used to indicate the destination relay device for forwarding data and the first path for forwarding data.

[0026] Optionally, the first information includes the address of the destination relay device and the first path identifier, and the first path identifier is used to indicate the first path.

[0027] In a possible design, the first information is the information used when the first data is forwarded.

[0028] Optionally, the method described in the second aspect further includes: The network device sends second information to the second relay device through a control link. The second relay device is the next-hop relay device of the first relay device in the first path, and the second information is used to determine the next-hop relay device when the second relay device forwards data, and the time-frequency resource position occupied by the second information is different from that of the first information.

[0029] Optionally, the second information is used to indicate the destination relay device for the second relay device to forward data and the second path for forwarding data, and the relay devices indicated by the second path include the second relay device.

[0030] Optionally, the second information includes the address of the destination relay device and the second path identifier, and the second path identifier is used to indicate the second path.

[0031] In a possible design, the first information is the information used for forwarding the data in the first data set, and the data in the first data set includes the first data.

[0032] Optionally, before the network device sends the first data to the first relay device, the method described in the second aspect further includes: the network device sends the first indication information to the first relay device. The first indication information is used to indicate the activation of the first information, and the activated first information is used when forwarding the data in the first data set.

[0033] In a possible design, before the network device sends the first information to the first relay device through the control link, the method described in the second aspect further includes: the network device sends the corresponding first address to the first relay device and sends the corresponding second address to the second relay device. The second relay device is the next-hop relay device of the first relay device in the first path, which is used for subsequent data forwarding by the first relay device to improve the reliability of data forwarding.

[0034] Optionally, after the network device sends the corresponding first address to the first relay device, the method described in the second aspect further includes: the network device sends the first corresponding relationship to the first relay device. The first corresponding relationship includes the corresponding relationship between the second address and the physical location of the second relay device.

[0035] Optionally, after the network device sends the corresponding first address to the first relay device, the method described in the second aspect further includes: the network device sends a routing list to the first relay device and the second relay device. The routing list includes at least one path identifier and the path corresponding to each path identifier in the at least one path identifier. The at least one path identifier includes the first path identifier, and the routing list may further include the second path identifier, which is not limited, for determining the next-hop relay device when the first relay device and the second relay device forward data subsequently, to improve the reliability of data forwarding.

[0036] In a possible design, the first information further includes the second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate that the first information is the information used for uplink data transmission and / or downlink data transmission, and the first data belongs to uplink data.

[0037] In a possible design, the first information is carried in at least one of the following: Media Access Control - Control Element (MAC CE), Radio Resource Control (RRC) message, or Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH).

[0038] For other technical effects of the communication method described in the second aspect, reference may be made to the technical effects of the communication method described in the first aspect, which will not be elaborated here.

[0039] In a third aspect, a communication device is provided. The device includes: modules for performing the method described in the first aspect above, for example, a transceiver module and a processing module. The transceiver module is used to indicate the transceiver function of the communication device, and the processing module is used to perform functions of the communication device other than the transceiver function.

[0040] For example, the transceiver module is used to receive first information from a network device through a control link, receive first data, and forward the first data to a second relay device. The first information is used to determine the next-hop relay device when the first relay device forwards data; the second relay device is the next-hop relay device when the first relay device forwards the first data.

[0041] In a possible design, the first information is used to indicate the destination relay device for forwarding data and the first path for forwarding data, and the second relay device is the next-hop relay device of the first relay device in the first path.

[0042] Optionally, the first information includes the address of the destination relay device and a first path identifier, and the first path identifier is used to indicate the first path.

[0043] In a possible design, the first information is the information used when forwarding the first data.

[0044] Optionally, the second information is used to indicate the destination relay device for the second relay device to forward data and the second path for forwarding data, and the relay devices indicated by the second path include the second relay device.

[0045] Optionally, the second information includes the address of the destination relay device and a second path identifier, and the second path identifier is used to indicate the second path.

[0046] In a possible design, the first information is the information used when forwarding the data in the first data set, and the data in the first data set includes the first data.

[0047] Optionally, before the first relay device receives the first data, the transceiver module is further used to receive first indication information. The first indication information is used to indicate to activate the first information, and the activated first information is used when forwarding the data in the first data set.

[0048] In a possible design, before the first relay device receives the first information through the control link, the processing module is used to obtain a first address and a second address. The first address is the address assigned by the network device to the first relay device, and the second address is the address of the second relay device.

[0049] Optionally, after the first relay device obtains the first address and the second address, the processing module is further configured to obtain a first correspondence. The first correspondence includes the correspondence between the second address and the physical location of the second relay device.

[0050] Optionally, after the first relay device obtains the first address and the second address, the processing module is further configured to obtain a routing list. The routing list includes at least one path identifier and the path corresponding to each path identifier in the at least one path identifier, and the at least one path identifier includes a first path identifier.

[0051] In a possible design, the first relay device includes a first functional entity and a second functional entity. The first functional entity is configured to decode the information received through the control link, and the second functional entity is configured to forward the data.

[0052] Optionally, before the first relay device forwards the first data to the second relay device, the processing module is further configured to decode the first information through the first functional entity, determine the address of the destination relay device and the first path identifier, and determine the second relay device according to the address of the destination relay device, the first path identifier, and the routing list.

[0053] Optionally, the processing module is further configured to control the transceiver module to forward the first data to the second relay device according to the first correspondence.

[0054] Optionally, the transceiver module is further configured to forward the first data to the second relay device through the second functional entity.

[0055] In a possible design, the first information further includes second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate that the first information is the information used for uplink data transmission and / or downlink data transmission, and the first data belongs to uplink data.

[0056] In a possible design, the first information is carried in at least one of the following: Media Access Control - Control Element (MAC CE), Radio Resource Control (RRC) message, or Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH).

[0057] Optionally, the transceiver module may include a sending module and a receiving module. The sending module is configured to implement the sending function of the communication device described in the third aspect, and the receiving module is configured to implement the receiving function of the communication device described in the third aspect.

[0058] Optionally, the communication device described in the third aspect may further include a storage module, and the storage module stores programs or instructions. When the processing module executes the programs or instructions, the communication device can execute the communication method described in the first aspect.

[0059] It should be noted that the communication device described in the third aspect can be a relay device, or a chip (system) or other component or assembly that can be disposed in the relay device, or a device including the relay device. This embodiment does not make any limitations in this regard.

[0060] In addition, the technical effects of the communication device described in the third aspect can refer to the technical effects of the communication method described in the first aspect, and will not be elaborated here.

[0061] In a fourth aspect, a communication device is provided. The device includes modules for performing the method described in the second aspect above. For example, a transceiver module and a processing module. The transceiver module is used to indicate the transceiver function of the communication device, and the processing module is used to perform functions other than the transceiver function of the communication device.

[0062] For example, the transceiver module is used to send a first piece of information to a first relay device via a control link and send first data to the first relay device. The first piece of information is used to determine the next-hop relay device when the first relay device forwards the data.

[0063] In a possible design, the first piece of information is used to indicate the destination relay device for forwarding the data and the first path for forwarding the data.

[0064] Optionally, the first piece of information includes the address of the destination relay device and a first path identifier, and the first path identifier is used to indicate the first path.

[0065] In a possible design, the first piece of information is the information used when the first data is forwarded.

[0066] Optionally, the transceiver module is further used to send a second piece of information to a second relay device via the control link. The second relay device is the next-hop relay device of the first relay device in the first path, and the second piece of information is used to determine the next-hop relay device when the second relay device forwards the data. The time-frequency resource position occupied by the second piece of information is different from that of the first piece of information.

[0067] Optionally, the second piece of information is used to indicate the destination relay device for the second relay device to forward the data and the second path for forwarding the data. The relay devices indicated by the second path include the second relay device.

[0068] Optionally, the second piece of information includes the address of the destination relay device and a second path identifier, and the second path identifier is used to indicate the second path.

[0069] In a possible design, the first piece of information is the information used when the data in the first data set is forwarded. The data in the first data set includes the first data.

[0070] Optionally, before the network device sends the first data to the first relay device, the transceiver module is further configured to send first indication information to the first relay device. The first indication information is used to indicate the activation of the first information, and the activated first information is used when forwarding the data in the first data set.

[0071] In a possible design, before the network device sends the first information to the first relay device through the control link, the transceiver module is further configured to send the corresponding first address to the first relay device and send the corresponding second address to the second relay device. The second relay device is the next-hop relay device of the first relay device in the first path.

[0072] Optionally, after the network device sends the corresponding first address to the first relay device, the transceiver module is further configured to send a first correspondence relationship to the first relay device. The first correspondence relationship includes the correspondence relationship between the second address and the physical location of the second relay device.

[0073] Optionally, after the network device sends the corresponding first address to the first relay device, the transceiver module is further configured to send a routing list to the first relay device and the second relay device. The routing list includes at least one path identifier and the path corresponding to each path identifier in the at least one path identifier, and the at least one path identifier includes a first path identifier.

[0074] In a possible design, the first information further includes second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate that the first information is the information used for uplink data transmission and / or downlink data transmission, and the first data belongs to uplink data.

[0075] In a possible design, the first information is carried in at least one of the following: Media Access Control - Control Element (MAC CE), Radio Resource Control (RRC) message, or Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH).

[0076] Optionally, the transceiver module may include a sending module and a receiving module. The sending module is used to implement the sending function of the communication device described in the fourth aspect, and the receiving module is used to implement the receiving function of the communication device described in the fourth aspect.

[0077] Optionally, the communication device described in the fourth aspect may further include a storage module, and the storage module stores programs or instructions. When the processing module executes the programs or instructions, the communication device can execute the communication method described in the second aspect.

[0078] It should be noted that the communication device described in the fourth aspect may be a network device, or a chip (system) or other components or assemblies that can be set in the network device, or a device including the network device. This embodiment does not make any limitations in this regard.

[0079] In addition, for the technical effects of the communication device described in the fourth aspect, reference may be made to the technical effects of the communication method described in the second aspect, which will not be elaborated here.

[0080] In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided. The communication device includes: a processor configured to execute the communication method described in the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0081] In a possible design, the communication device described in the fifth aspect may further include a transceiver. The transceiver may be a transceiver circuit or an interface circuit. The transceiver may be used for the communication device described in the fifth aspect to communicate with other communication devices.

[0082] In a possible design, the communication device described in the fifth aspect may further include a memory. The memory may be integrated with the processor or may be provided separately. The memory may be used to store the computer programs and / or data involved in the communication method described in the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0083] In this embodiment, the communication device described in the fifth aspect may be a relay device, or a chip (system) or other component or assembly that can be disposed in the relay device, or a device including the relay device; or, the communication device described in the fifth aspect may be a network device, or a chip (system) or other component or assembly that can be disposed in the network device, or a device including the network device.

[0084] In addition, for the technical effects of the communication device described in the fifth aspect, reference may be made to the technical effects of the communication method described in the first aspect or the second aspect, which will not be elaborated here.

[0085] In a sixth aspect, a communication device is provided. The communication device includes: a processor coupled to a memory, the processor configured to execute a computer program stored in the memory so that the communication device executes the communication method described in the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0086] In a possible design, the communication device described in the sixth aspect may further include a transceiver. The transceiver may be a transceiver circuit or an interface circuit. The transceiver may be used for the communication device described in the sixth aspect to communicate with other communication devices.

[0087] In this embodiment, the communication device described in the sixth aspect may be a terminal device, or a chip (system) or other component or assembly that can be disposed in the terminal device, or a device including the terminal device; or, the communication device described in the sixth aspect may be a network device, or a chip (system) or other component or assembly that can be disposed in the network device, or a device including the network device.

[0088] In addition, for the technical effects of the communication device described in the sixth aspect, reference may be made to the technical effects of the communication method described in the first aspect or the second aspect, which will not be elaborated here.

[0089] In a seventh aspect, a communication device is provided, including: a processor and a memory; the memory is used to store a computer program, and when the processor executes the computer program, the communication device is caused to execute the communication method described in the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0090] In a possible design, the communication device described in the seventh aspect may further include a transceiver. The transceiver may be a transceiver circuit or an interface circuit. The transceiver may be used for the communication device described in the seventh aspect to communicate with other communication devices.

[0091] In this embodiment, the communication device described in the seventh aspect may be a terminal device, or a chip (system) or other component or assembly that can be disposed in the terminal device, or a device including the terminal device; or, the communication device described in the seventh aspect may be a network device, or a chip (system) or other component or assembly that can be disposed in the network device, or a device including the network device.

[0092] In addition, for the technical effects of the communication device described in the seventh aspect, reference may be made to the technical effects of the communication method described in the first aspect or the second aspect, which will not be elaborated here.

[0093] In an eighth aspect, a communication device is provided, including: a processor; the processor is used to be coupled with a memory, and after reading the computer program in the memory, execute the communication method described in the first aspect or the second aspect according to the computer program.

[0094] In a possible design, the communication device described in the eighth aspect may further include a transceiver. The transceiver may be a transceiver circuit or an interface circuit. The transceiver may be used for the communication device described in the eighth aspect to communicate with other communication devices.

[0095] In this embodiment, the communication device described in the eighth aspect may be a terminal device, or a chip (system) or other component or assembly that can be disposed in the terminal device, or a device including the terminal device; or, the communication device described in the eighth aspect may be a network device, or a chip (system) or other component or assembly that can be disposed in the network device, or a device including the network device.

[0096] In addition, for the technical effects of the communication device described in the eighth aspect, reference may be made to the technical effects of the communication method described in the first aspect or the second aspect, which will not be elaborated here.

[0097] In a ninth aspect, a communication system is provided. The communication system includes the first relay device described in the first aspect, and / or the network device described in the second aspect.

[0098] In a tenth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, including: a computer program or instruction; when the computer program or instruction runs on a computer, the computer is caused to execute the communication method described in the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0099] In an eleventh aspect, a computer program product is provided, including a computer program or instruction, when the computer program or instruction runs on a computer, the computer is caused to execute the communication method described in the first aspect or the second aspect. Description of the Drawings

[0100] Figure 1a It is a schematic diagram of an IAB network;

[0101] Figure 1b It is a schematic diagram of the architecture of IAB;

[0102] Figure 2a It is a first schematic diagram of the architecture of NCR;

[0103] Figure 2b It is a second schematic diagram of the architecture of NCR;

[0104] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram that multi-hop routing is not supported between satellite NCRs;

[0105] Figure 4 It is a first schematic diagram of the architecture of the communication system provided in this embodiment;

[0106] Figure 5 It is a second schematic diagram of the architecture of the communication system provided in this embodiment;

[0107] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of the architecture of the communication system provided in this embodiment Figure 3 ;

[0108] Figure 7 It is a first schematic diagram of the flowchart of the communication method provided in this embodiment;

[0109] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of semi-statically configuring the first information provided in this embodiment;

[0110] Figure 9 It is a schematic diagram of the data structure in the time-division multiplexing mode provided in this embodiment;

[0111] Figure 10 It is a schematic diagram of the data structure in the frequency-division multiplexing mode provided in this embodiment;

[0112] Figure 11Schematic diagram of the data structure of the combination of time division multiplexing and frequency division multiplexing provided in this embodiment;

[0113] Figure 12 Schematic diagram of the scenario provided in this embodiment;

[0114] Figure 13 Second schematic diagram of the process of the communication method provided in this embodiment;

[0115] Figure 14 Schematic diagram of the process of the communication method provided in this embodiment Figure 3 ;

[0116] Figure 15 First schematic diagram of the structure of the communication device provided in this embodiment;

[0117] Figure 16 Second schematic diagram of the structure of the communication device provided in this embodiment. Detailed implementation manners

[0118] For ease of understanding, the technical terms involved in this embodiment will be introduced first below.

[0119] 1. Non-terrestrial network (NTN) communication

[0120] Currently, the New Radio (NR) technology is evolving from version R18 to version R19. At the same time, the NR technology has entered the commercial deployment stage from the standardization stage. The original intention of the research on the NR standard protocol is a wireless communication technology designed for the ground cellular network scenario, which can provide users with wireless communication services with ultra-low latency, ultra-high reliability, ultra-high speed, and ultra-large connection. However, the cellular network cannot achieve global seamless coverage. For example, areas without ground base stations such as sea areas, polar regions, and rainforests cannot provide voice and data services for these areas without cellular network coverage.

[0121] Compared with terrestrial communication, NTN communication has the characteristics of a large coverage area and flexible networking, and can achieve global network seamless coverage. The NTN network is both a supplement to the current ground network and can be regarded as an independent communication system that provides users with global high-speed network access. Currently, research institutes, communication organizations, communication companies, etc. around the world are all participating in the research on NTN communication technology and standard formulation, aiming to build a unified communication network for sky, air, and ground communication.

[0122] NTN communication involves networking using devices such as drones, high-altitude platforms, and satellites to provide services such as data transmission and voice communication for user terminals (UE). The altitude of high-altitude platform devices is generally 8 - 50 km above the ground. According to the orbital altitude of satellites, satellite communication systems can be classified into the following three types: geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellite communication systems, also known as geosynchronous orbit satellite systems; medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite communication systems; and low earth orbit (LEO) satellite communication systems.

[0123] Among them, the GEO satellite has an orbital altitude of 35,786 km. Its main advantages are that it can remain stationary relative to the ground and provide a large coverage area. However, GEO satellite communication also has obvious disadvantages: 1) The GEO satellite orbit is far from the earth, resulting in large free-space propagation losses, which makes the communication link budget tight. To increase the transmit / receive gain, a satellite needs to be equipped with a large-aperture antenna; 2) The communication transmission delay is large, with a round-trip delay of about 500 ms, which cannot meet the requirements of low-latency services; 3) The GEO orbit resources are relatively tight, the launch cost is high, and it cannot provide coverage for the polar regions of the earth. The orbital altitude of MEO satellites is in the range of 2,000 - 35,786 km. The advantage is that global coverage can be achieved with a relatively small number of satellites. However, its orbital altitude is higher than that of LEO, and the communication transmission delay is still larger compared to LEO satellite communication. Considering the advantages and disadvantages of MEO satellite communication, MEO satellites are mainly used for positioning and navigation.

[0124] The orbital altitude of LEO satellites is in the range of 300 - 2,000 km. LEO satellites have a lower orbital altitude than MEO and GEO satellites, and have the advantages of smaller data propagation delay, smaller transmission loss, and lower launch cost. Therefore, LEO satellite communication has received increasing attention in recent years.

[0125] 2. Integrated Access Backhaul (IAB)

[0126] The purpose of IAB technology is to support wireless backhaul and relay links, enabling flexible and very dense deployment of NR cells without proportionally encrypting the wired transmission network. The main application scenarios of IAB can include: high cost of fiber deployment, site densification, coverage extension and blind spot filling on streets, coverage extension and blind spot filling indoors, etc.

[0127] Figure 1a For the schematic diagram of the IAB network, as Figure 1aAs shown, an IAB node can provide wireless access services for a user equipment (UE), and the IAB node can also be referred to as a relay node. The UE can be connected to the IAB-node through an access link, and the IAB-node can be connected to an IAB-donor through a backhaul link. The UE can also be directly connected to the IAB-donor through the access link. For example, the UE can send data to the IAB-node through the access link, and the IAB-node then connects to the IAB donor through the backhaul link for data transmission. Similarly, the IAB-donor can send data to the IAB-node through the backhaul link, and the IAB-node then sends the data to the UE through the access link; or, the UE can also directly send data to the IAB-donor through the access link. Similarly, the IAB-donor can directly send data to the UE through the access link.

[0128] Figure 1b is a schematic diagram of the IAB architecture, as Figure 1b shown, IAB supports wireless backhaul between base stations, and wireless backhaul is achieved between base stations through the Uu interface. This architecture mainly includes: 5G core network (5G core, 5GC) and 5G access network (NG-RAN). Among them, NG-RAN can include gNodeB (gNB), IAB-donor and IAB-node. The gNodeB and IAB-donor can establish a connection with the 5GC through the NG interface.

[0129] The IAB-donor can be a gNodeB that supports IAB additional functions (also known as gNodeB-donor). The IAB-donor can be connected to the core network through a non-IAB connection, such as optical fiber. The IAB-donor can include an IAB donor centralized unit (IAB-donor-CU) and an IAB-donor-DU. The IAB-donor-CU can provide connections for the IAB-donor-DU and the IAB-node-DU; the IAB-donor-DU can provide access for the UE or IAB-MT.

[0130] The IAB-node can support access and fronthaul functions, including the IAB-node mobile terminal (IAB-node-MT) and the IAB-node distributed unit (IAB-node-DU, also known as DU). The IAB-node-MT can be connected to the DU of its parent node or the IAB-donor-DU as an ordinary UE, serving as a wireless transmission fronthaul link; the IAB-node-DU can be a pole station cell on the access side under the IAB-node, providing blind coverage and access for ordinary UEs or lower-level IAB-node-MTs.

[0131] It can be understood that a connection can be established between the IAB-donor-CU and the gNodeB through the Xn-C interface; a connection can be established between the IAB-node-DU and the IAB-donor-CU through the F1 interface, and this F1 interface can be fully inherited from the F1 interface between the DU and the CU; a connection can be established between the parent node IAB-donor-DU and the IAB-node-MT through the Uu interface.

[0132] The CU is a logical node that bears the radio resource control (RRC), service data adaption protocol (SDAP), and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) of the gNodeB, and is used to control the operations of one or more DUs. The DU is a logical node that bears the radio link control (RLC), medium access control (MAC), and physical layer (PHY) of the gNodeB. The CU and the DU it controls are connected through the F1 interface. The F1 application protocol (F1AP) is used to transfer the configuration information of the radio bearers between the CU and the DU, and to establish a general packet radio service (GPRS) tunneling protocol (GTP) between the DU and the CU for each radio bearer.

[0133] 3. Network Control Repeater

[0134] NCR is a type of network device similar to the IAB. NCR can perform relay communication between the base station and the terminal in a low-cost manner. For example, NCR can act as a terminal to access the base station or the parent node, and has the function of amplifying and retransmitting radiofrequency (RF) signals, which can improve the coverage area, especially the coverage of blind spots. Therefore, NCR can also be called a network-controlled relay device, a relay device that can directionally amplify signals, an intelligent relay device, a network-assisted relay device, a controllable relay device, etc., without limitation.

[0135] NCR can include: NCR Mobile Termination (NCR-MT) and NCR Forwarding (NCR-Fwd). Among them, NCR-MT has the function of establishing a connection with the parent node. The established connection can be a connection based on the Uu interface (the connection between gNB and UE), that is, NCR-MT accesses the parent node as a UE. Optionally, NCR has the function of establishing a connection with the child node. For example, as Figure 2a shown, NCR#a can establish a connection with the parent node gNB / gateway (GW) as a child node. NCR#a can establish a connection with gNB as a UE through the NCR-MT functional entity; NCR#b can establish a connection with the parent node NCR#1 or gNB as a child node. NCR#b can establish a connection with NCR#1 or gNB as a UE through the NCR-MT functional entity.

[0136] It can be understood that the connection established by NCR-MT with the parent node is called the control link (C-link). The parent node and the child node can decode the data transmitted on this link, that is, they have digital processing functions. Control information or side control information (SCI) is sent or received through the control link. SCI can be used to control the behavior on the backhaul link, control link, and access link, such as beam indication direction, switching relay device, power control, etc.

[0137] NCR-Fwd can be used to amplify and forward uplink / downlink radiofrequency signals between gNB / GW and UE through the backhaul link and access link. It can be understood that the side control information transmitted on the control link is used to control the behavior of this NCR-Fwd. For example, as Figure 2bAs shown in the figure, the architecture mainly includes: 5GC, NG-RAN, and UE. Among them, NG-RAN can include gNodeB, gNodeB-donor, and NCR. gNodeB and gNodeB-donor can establish a connection with 5GC through the NG interface.

[0138] gNodeB-donor can include donor-CU and donor-DU, and a connection can be established between donor-CU and donor-DU through the F1 interface.

[0139] NCR can include NCR-MT and NCR-Fwd. Figure 2b Taking NCR#1, NCR#2, and NCR#3 as examples. NCR#1 can include NCR-MT#1 and NCR-Fwd#1. NCR-Fwd#1 can be used to transparently transmit the data of gNB. A connection can be established between donor-DU and NCR-MT# through the Uu interface. At this time, NCR#1 can establish a connection with donor-DU as a UE through NCR-MT#1.

[0140] NCR#2 is a child node of NCR#1. NCR#2 can include NCR-MT#2 and NCR-Fwd#2. NCR-Fwd#2 can forward the data sent by NCR-Fwd#1 for transparent data transmission. A connection can be established between NCR-MT#2 and gNB through the Uu interface, that is, NCR-Fwd#1 can transparently forward the data between gNB and NCR-MT#2. At this time, NCR#2 can establish a connection with gNB as a UE through NCR-MT#2.

[0141] NCR#3 is a child node of NCR#2. NCR#3 can include NCR-MT#3 and NCR-Fwd#3. NCR-Fwd#3 can establish a connection with gNB for transparent data transmission. A connection can be established between NCR-MT#3 and gNB through the Uu interface, that is, NCR-Fwd#1 and NCR-Fwd#2 can transparently forward the data between gNB and NCR-MT#3. At this time, NCR#3 can establish a connection with gNB as a UE through NCR-MT#3.

[0142] A connection can be established between UE and gNB through the Uu interface. At this time, the data between UE and gNB is transparently forwarded through NCR-Fwd#1, NCR-Fwd#2, and NCR-Fwd#3.

[0143] It can be understood that the above control link and backhaul link are the differences in logical concepts and will not be elaborated later.

[0144] Currently, low-cost relay devices can have partial digital processing functions and transparent forwarding functions. For example, a low-cost relay device can be an NCR. However, multi-hop routing functions cannot be supported between low-cost relay devices, that is, flexible and fast data forwarding cannot be achieved between low-cost relay devices. How to achieve flexible and fast data forwarding between low-cost relay devices is an urgent problem to be solved.

[0145] Exemplarily, a regenerative satellite has high complexity and high cost. To reduce costs, for future large-scale constellations, low-cost satellites have become a development trend. Taking a low-cost relay device as a satellite NCR as an example, the satellite NCR can have NCR functions. It can be understood that the gNB / GW cannot guarantee coverage / connection for each satellite NCR (satellite NCR). Therefore, the multi-hop routing function needs to be implemented by inter-satellite forwarding. For example, as Figure 3 shown, the gNB / GW establishes a connection for satellite NCR#1, but cannot provide connections for satellite NCR#2 and satellite NCR#3. The data between the gNB / GW and the UE needs to be forwarded through the satellites NCR. However, the SCI carried in the control link between the gNB / GW and satellite NCR#1 does not carry routing-related information, and satellite NCR#1 does not know whether to forward the data to satellite NCR#2 or NCR#3. Therefore, flexible and fast data forwarding between satellite NCRs cannot be achieved. In addition, the high-speed movement of satellites causes dynamic changes in the topological relationship between relay devices, and a dynamic routing mechanism is required to achieve flexible and fast data forwarding.

[0146] In view of the above technical problems, the embodiments of the present application propose the following technical solutions to achieve flexible and fast data forwarding between low-cost relay devices.

[0147] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0148] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system, a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication system, a device-to-device (D2D) communication system, 4G, such as a long term evolution (LTE) system, a worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication system, 5G, such as a new radio (NR) system, and future communication systems, etc.

[0149] Aspects, embodiments or features of the present application will be presented in the context of a system that may include multiple devices, components, modules, etc. It should be understood and appreciated that each system may include additional devices, components, modules, etc., and / or may not include all of the devices, components, modules, etc. discussed in connection with the figures. In addition, combinations of these solutions may also be used.

[0150] In addition, in the embodiments of the present application, words such as "exemplary", "for example", etc. are used to indicate examples, illustrations or explanations. Any embodiment or design solution described as "exemplary" in the present application should not be construed as being more preferred or having more advantages than other embodiments or design solutions. Rather, the use of the word "exemplary" is intended to present concepts in a specific manner.

[0151] In the embodiments of the present application, "information", "signal", "message", "channel", "signaling" may sometimes be used interchangeably. It should be noted that when the distinction is not emphasized, their intended meanings are matched. "Of", "corresponding", and "corresponding to" may sometimes be used interchangeably. It should be noted that when the distinction is not emphasized, their intended meanings are matched. In addition, the " / " mentioned in the present application may be used to represent an "or" relationship. It can be understood that in the present application, "indicating" may include direct indication, indirect indication, display indication, implicit indication. When it is described that a certain indication information is used to indicate A, it can be understood that the indication information carries A, directly indicates A, or indirectly indicates A.

[0152] In the present application, the information indicated by the indication information is referred to as the information to be indicated. In the specific implementation process, there are many ways to indicate the information to be indicated. For example, but not limited to, the information to be indicated can be directly indicated, such as the information to be indicated itself or the index of the information to be indicated, etc., or the information to be indicated can be indirectly indicated by indicating other information, where there is an association relationship between the other information and the information to be indicated. It is also possible to only indicate a part of the information to be indicated, while the other parts of the information to be indicated are known or pre-agreed. For example, the arrangement order of each piece of information pre-agreed (such as stipulated by a protocol) can also be used to indicate specific information, thereby reducing the indication overhead to a certain extent.

[0153] The information to be indicated can be sent as a whole or divided into multiple sub-information and sent separately. Moreover, the sending periods and / or sending timings of these sub-informations can be the same or different. The specific sending method is not limited in this application. Among them, the sending periods and / or sending timings of these sub-informations can be predefined, for example, predefined according to a protocol, or can be configured by the transmitting device by sending configuration information to the receiving device.

[0154] The network architecture and service scenarios described in the embodiments of this application are to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of this application. Those of ordinary skill in the art know that with the evolution of the network architecture and the emergence of new service scenarios, the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of this application are equally applicable to similar technical problems.

[0155] To facilitate the understanding of the embodiments of this application, first, take Figure 4 the communication system shown in Figure 4 as an example to detail the communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application. Exemplarily,

[0156] As Figure 4 shown, the communication system mainly includes: a network device, a relay device. Optionally, the communication system further includes a terminal device.

[0157] Among them, there can be multiple network devices, such as the first network device, the second network device, etc. The network device can be a device with wireless transceiver functions, or it can also be a chip or chip system disposed in the device, located in the access network (AN) of the communication system, and used to provide access services for terminals. For example, the network device can be referred to as a radio access network (RAN) device. Specifically, it can be an access network device for the next-generation mobile communication system, such as a 6G base station. Or in the next-generation mobile communication system, the network device can also have other naming methods, all of which are covered within the protection scope of this embodiment, and this embodiment does not make any limitations in this regard. Or, the network device can also include 5G, such as the gNB in the new radio (NR) system, or one or a group (including multiple antenna panels) of antenna panels of the base station in 5G. Or, it can also be a network node constituting the gNB, transmission and reception point (TRP) or transmission point (TP) or transmission measurement function (TMF), such as a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), or a radio unit (RU), an RSU with base station functions, or a wired access gateway, or a core network element in 5G, etc. Or, the network device can also include: an access point (AP) in a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system, a wireless relay node, a wireless backhaul node, various forms of macro base stations, micro base stations (also called small stations), relay stations, access points, wearable devices, in-vehicle devices, and so on.

[0158] Among them, the CU and the DU can be set separately, or can also be included in the same network element, such as in a baseband unit (BBU). The RU can be included in a radio frequency device or a radio frequency unit, such as included in a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH). It can be understood that the network device can be a CU node, or a DU node, or a device including a CU node and a DU node. In addition, the CU can be classified as a network device in the radio access network (RAN), or the CU can be classified as a network device in the core network (CN), which is not limited here.

[0159] In different systems, the CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU, or RU may also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in the ORAN system, the CU can also be called an O-CU (Open CU), the DU can also be called an O-DU, the CU-CP can also be called an O-CU-CP, the CU-UP can also be called an O-CU-UP, and the RU can also be called an O-RU. For the convenience of description, the CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and RU are used as examples in this application. Any one of the CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU, and RU in this embodiment can be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0160] In this embodiment, the form of the network device is not limited. The device for implementing the functions of the network device can be the network device; it can also be a device capable of supporting the network device to implement this function, such as a chip system. This device can be installed in the network device or used in matching with the network device.

[0161] The relay device can be a low-cost relay device with partial digital processing functions and transparent forwarding functions. Among them, the transparent forwarding function can refer to the functions of amplifying and forwarding RF signals and frequency shifting. For example, the relay device can be a satellite NCR, or a ground NCR, etc., without limitation. Optionally, the relay device can also be a relay device with strong regeneration forwarding (or digital forwarding) capabilities, providing a regeneration forwarding function. The regeneration forwarding function has data processing capabilities (such as coding / decoding, recombination, retransmission, etc.) and has the functions of a base station or some functions of a base station (such as an IAB node, a gNB-DU, or a UE-relay, etc.), without limitation. There can be multiple relay devices, such as a first relay device and a second relay device. For specific introductions, reference can be made to the relevant introductions in the above technical terms section, which will not be elaborated here. It should be noted that the relay devices referred to in the embodiments of this application are all the low-cost relay devices, and will not be elaborated hereinafter.

[0162] The terminal device(s) can be one or more, such as the first terminal device, the second terminal device, the third terminal device, etc. The terminal device can be a terminal device with transceiver functions, or it can also be a chip or chip system disposed in the terminal device. The terminal device can also be referred to as user equipment (UE), access terminal device, subscriber unit, user station, mobile station (MS), mobile unit, remote station, remote terminal device, mobile device, user terminal device, terminal device, wireless communication device, user agent, or user device. The terminal device in the embodiments of the present application can be a mobile phone, cellular phone, smart phone, tablet (Pad), wireless data card, personal digital assistant (PDA), wireless modem, handset, laptop computer, machine type communication (MTC) terminal device, computer with wireless transceiver functions, virtual reality (VR) terminal device, augmented reality (AR) terminal device, smart home devices (such as refrigerators, TVs, air conditioners, electricity meters, etc.), smart robots, robotic arms, workshop equipment, wireless terminal devices in self-driving, wireless terminal devices in industrial control, wireless terminal devices in self-driving, wireless terminal devices in remote medical, wireless terminal devices in smart grid, wireless terminal devices in transportation safety, wireless terminal devices in smart city, wireless terminal devices in smart home, in-vehicle terminal devices, roadside units (RSUs) with terminal device functions, flight devices (such as smart robots, hot air balloons, drones, airplanes), etc. The terminal device in the present application can also be an in-vehicle module, in-vehicle module group, in-vehicle component, in-vehicle chip, or in-vehicle unit built into a vehicle as one or more components or units. The terminal device can also be other devices with terminal device functions. For example, the terminal device can also be a device that serves as a terminal device in D2D communication.

[0163] Embodiments of this application do not limit the form of the terminal device. The device for implementing the functions of the terminal device may be the terminal device; or it may be a device capable of supporting the terminal device to implement the functions, such as a chip system. This device may be installed in the terminal device or used in matching with the terminal device. In the embodiments of this application, the chip system may be composed of chips or may include chips and other discrete devices.

[0164] In this communication system, the first relay device may receive the first information from the network device through the control link. The first information may be used to determine the next-hop relay device when the first relay device forwards data. That is to say, the first information may be routing-related information. After the first relay device receives the first data, it may determine that the first data needs to be forwarded to the second relay device according to the first information, so as to realize the flexible and fast forwarding of data between relay devices, that is, low-cost relay devices. Or rather, realize the multi-hop routing function between relay devices to improve the communication efficiency.

[0165] Exemplarily, Figure 5 FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system applicable to the communication method provided in this embodiment. As Figure 5 shown, this communication system is a satellite communication system, which mainly includes: a terminal device, a gateway station (which may also be referred to as a ground station or a gateway station), and satellites (which may also be referred to as satellite base stations), such as Satellite 1 and Satellite 2, etc. It should be noted that Figure 5 the satellites shown may be low-cost satellites NCR, with partial digital processing functions and transparent forwarding functions.

[0166] Among them, the link between the satellite and the terminal device may be referred to as a service link, the link between the satellite and the gateway station may be referred to as a feeder link, and the link between satellites may be referred to as an inter-satellite link. Satellites can be divided into transparent mode and regenerative mode according to the working mode. When the satellite works in the transparent mode, the satellite only has the function of signal transparent forwarding, and the GW has the function of gNB or part of the functions of gNB. At this time, the GW can be regarded as a base station; when the satellite works in the regenerative mode, the satellite has the ability to process digital signals, and the satellite has the function of gNB or part of the functions of gNB. At this time, the satellite can be regarded as a base station. In addition, the gNB (base station) is connected to the core network. Multiple satellites cooperate to jointly provide services for terminal devices in the overlapping coverage area. As Figure 5 shown, the GW cannot provide coverage / connection for Satellite 2. Therefore, the GW needs to forward data to Satellite 2 through Satellite 1, and Satellite 2 then sends it to the terminal device. Or, the UE needs to send data to Satellite 1 through Satellite 2, and Satellite 1 then sends it to the GW to realize the multi-hop routing function between satellites.

[0167] Exemplarily,Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system applicable to the communication method provided in this embodiment Figure 3 , such as Figure 6 shown, this communication system is an air-to-ground (ATG) communication system, which mainly includes: a network device and a terminal device. Among them, the network device may include a ground base station, a satellite, etc., and the terminal device may include a high-altitude aircraft, an in-flight handheld terminal, etc. It should be noted that Figure 6 the network device in Figure 6 may be a low-cost relay device, with partial digital processing functions and transparent forwarding functions; in addition, Figure 6 some of the network devices in Figure 6 may also be relay devices with strong regeneration forwarding (or digital forwarding) capabilities. For example, Figure 6 the relay device 3 in Figure 6 may be a relay device with strong regeneration forwarding capabilities, providing a regeneration forwarding function. The regeneration forwarding function has data processing capabilities (such as coding / decoding, recombination, and retransmission, etc.), and has the functions of a base station or part of a base station (such as an IAB node, a gNB-DU, or a UE-relay, etc.). As Figure 6 shown, base station 1 cannot provide coverage / connection for the high-altitude aircraft. Therefore, base station 1 needs to forward data to the high-altitude aircraft through satellite 2 and relay device 3, and the high-altitude aircraft also needs to forward data to base station 1 through relay device 3 and satellite 2 to achieve the multi-hop routing function.

[0168] It should be understood that Figure 6 the height between the base station and the terminal device shown in Figure 6 is 6 - 12 km, and the coverage diameter of the base station is 100 - 300 km, which are only examples and should not be construed as limitations to this embodiment.

[0169] It should be noted that the network architecture and service scenarios described in this embodiment are for more clearly explaining the technical solution of this embodiment, and do not constitute limitations to the technical solution provided in this embodiment. As known to those of ordinary skill in the art, with the evolution of the network architecture and the emergence of new service scenarios, the technical solution provided in this embodiment is equally applicable to similar technical problems.

[0170] It can be understood that Figures 4 - 6 for the sake of easy understanding, the simplified schematic diagram shown, this communication system may also include other network devices, relay devices, or terminal devices, Figures 4 - 6 which are not drawn.

[0171] For the convenience of understanding, the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application will be specifically described below in conjunction with Figures 7 - 14 .

[0172] Exemplarily, Figure 7FIG. 1 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. This method can be applicable to the communication among a network device, a first relay device, and a second relay device in the above communication system. It can be understood that the communication system may further include a terminal device or other relay devices, such as a third relay device, a fourth relay device, etc. For ease of understanding, the embodiment of the present application takes the first relay device and the second relay device as examples for introduction, and will not be elaborated hereinafter.

[0173] Specifically, as Figure 7 shown, the process of this communication method is as follows:

[0174] S701, the network device sends a first piece of information to the first relay device through a control link. Correspondingly, the first relay device receives the first piece of information from the network device through the control link.

[0175] S702, the network device sends first data to the first relay device. Correspondingly, the first relay device receives the first data from the network device.

[0176] S703, the first relay device forwards the first data to the second relay device.

[0177] The following specifically introduces steps S701 - S703.

[0178] The above step S701 will be introduced.

[0179] Among them, the first relay device can be a low - cost relay device, which has partial digital processing functions and transparent forwarding functions, such as the above NCR (satellite NCR, or terrestrial NCR, etc.), without limitation. For ease of understanding, the first relay device is denoted as NCR#1, and will not be elaborated hereinafter.

[0180] The first relay device may include a first functional entity and a second functional entity. The first functional entity can be used to decode the information received through the control link, and the second functional entity is used to forward the data. For example, the second functional entity can transparently forward the data through a backhaul link or an access link. Exemplarily, the first functional entity can be NCR - MT, denoted as NCR - MT#1. The satellite NCR - MT#1 can access the network device as a UE through the Uu interface; the second functional entity can be NCR - Fwd, denoted as NCR - Fwd#1.

[0181] The control link can be a connection established between the NCR - MT and its parent node. For example, the connection established between NCR - MT#1 and the network device. This control link can be used to carry or send control information, and this control information can be the first piece of information. The specific introduction of the first relay device can refer to the relevant introduction in the above technical terms part, and will not be elaborated hereinafter.

[0182] Before introducing the first information in detail, first introduce the steps before the network device sends the first information to the first relay device via the control link.

[0183] In a possible design solution, before the network device sends the first information to the first relay device via the control link, the above method embodiment may further include:

[0184] The network device sends the corresponding first address to the first relay device. The network device sends the corresponding second address to the second relay device.

[0185] Among them, the first address is the address assigned by the network device to the first relay device. The network device can send the first address to the first relay device via the control link. That is, the first address can be the address (NCR address) assigned by the network device to the first relay device, denoted as address#1. The first address can be understood as the identifier of the first relay device and can be used to identify the first relay device. In other words, the first address corresponds one-to-one with the first relay device. It can be understood that the first address can be characterized by the value of bits. For example, address#1 can be characterized by an 8-bit (bit) value. For example, 00000001 can be used to characterize address#1.

[0186] It should be noted that the above 8 bits are only examples. Address#1 can also occupy other numbers of bits. For example, address#1 can be characterized by a 2-bit or 4-bit value, etc., without limitation. The naming of the above first address is only an example. The first address can also be any other possible naming, such as the first identifier, etc., without limitation.

[0187] The second address is the address assigned by the network device to the second relay device. Among them, the second relay device can be a low-cost relay device with partial digital processing functions and transparent forwarding functions, such as the above NCR (satellite NCR, or ground NCR, etc.), without limitation. For ease of understanding, the second relay device is denoted as NCR#2 and will not be elaborated later. The second relay device can include a first functional entity and a second functional entity. The first functional entity can be NCR-MT, denoted as NCR-MT#2. NCR-MT#2 can access NCR#1 as a UE through the Uu interface. The second functional entity can be NCR-Fwd, denoted as NCR-Fwd#2. It can be understood that the specific introduction of the second relay device can refer to the relevant introduction of the first relay device above and will not be elaborated.

[0188] The second address can be the address (NCR address) assigned by the network device to the second relay device, denoted as address#2. The second address can be understood as the identifier of the second relay device and can be used to identify the second relay device. In other words, the second address corresponds one-to-one with the second relay device. It can be understood that the second address can be characterized by the value of bits. For example, address#2 can be characterized by an 8-bit (bit) value. For instance, 00000002 can be used to represent address#2.

[0189] It should be noted that the above 8 bits are only examples. Address#2 can also occupy other numbers of bits. For example, address#2 can be characterized by the values of 2 bits, 4 bits, etc., without limitation. The naming of the above second address is only an example, and the second address can also be any other possible naming, such as the second identifier, etc., without limitation.

[0190] It should be understood that the above second relay device can be a child node of the first relay device. That is to say, the second relay device can be the next hop or the next relay device of the first relay device. Or rather, the first relay device can be the parent node of the second relay device. That is to say, the first relay device can be the previous hop or the previous relay device of the second relay device.

[0191] In this case, the first relay device obtains the first address and the second address.

[0192] It can be understood that the first relay device can receive the first address from the network device through the control link.

[0193] The following takes the following two methods as examples to specifically introduce how the first relay device obtains the second address.

[0194] Method 1: The network device sends the second address to the first relay device through the control link.

[0195] That is to say, the network device can directly send the address of its corresponding child node (the second relay device) to each parent node (the first relay device).

[0196] Method 2: The second relay device sends or reports the second address assigned by the network device to the first relay device.

[0197] That is to say, the child node (the second relay device) can send or report the address assigned by the network device, that is, the second address, to its parent node (the first relay device). The embodiments of the present application do not limit the method for the first relay device to obtain the second address.

[0198] It should be understood that the network device allocating the first address to the second relay device, the network device allocating the second address to the second relay device, and the second relay device reporting its second address to the second relay device are all carried over the control link.

[0199] It should be noted that the network device allocating the first address to the first relay device and the second address to the second relay device is after the network device authorizes / verifies the first relay device and the second relay device. The purpose of the network device authorizing / verifying the first relay device and the second relay device is: the network device determines that the first relay device and the second relay device are relay devices with partial digital processing functions and transparent forwarding functions, rather than just ordinary terminal devices. For example, the operations, administration and maintenance (OAM) function on the RAN side can identify and authorize / verify NCR#1 and NCR#2. Another example is that the access and mobility management function (AMF) network element of the core network can identify and authorize / verify NCR#1 and NCR#2. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific implementation process.

[0200] In a possible design solution, after the first relay device obtains the first address and the second address, the above method embodiments may further include:

[0201] The first relay device obtains the first correspondence. The second relay device obtains the second correspondence.

[0202] Among them, the first correspondence may include the correspondence between the second address and the physical location of the second relay device. That is, the parent node needs to obtain the correspondence between the address and the physical location of its child node for subsequent sending of information or data to the second relay device, such as the following second information or first data, etc. The physical location of the second relay device can also be called the geographical location and can be represented by absolute coordinates or relative coordinates. For example, the latitude and longitude range, ephemeris information, etc. are not limited. It can be understood that the network device can send the first correspondence to the first relay device through the control link, or the second relay device can send the first correspondence to the first relay device, which is not limited.

[0203] The second correspondence relationship may include the correspondence relationship between the first address and the physical location of the first relay device. That is, the child node needs to obtain the correspondence relationship between the address and the physical location of its parent node for subsequent reception of information or data from the first relay device, such as the following second information or first data. The physical location of the first relay device may also be referred to as the geographical location, which can be represented by absolute coordinates or relative coordinates. For example, the longitude and latitude range, ephemeris information, etc. are not limited. It can be understood that the network device may send the second correspondence relationship to the second relay device through the control link, or the first relay device may send the second correspondence relationship to the second relay device, which is not limited.

[0204] In a possible design solution, after the first relay device obtains the first address and the second address, the above-mentioned method embodiments may further include:

[0205] The network device sends a routing list to the first relay device. Correspondingly, the first relay device obtains the routing list.

[0206] The network device sends a routing list to the second relay device. Correspondingly, the second relay device obtains the routing list.

[0207] The network device may configure a routing list for each relay device, such as the first relay device and the second relay device, through the control link. The routing list may include at least one path identifier (ID) and the path corresponding to each path identifier in the at least one path identifier. Each path identifier corresponds to a specific path for forwarding data, which is used when the first relay device and the second relay device forward data. It can be understood that the routing list in the embodiments of the present application may at least include the following first path identifier and the following second path identifier.

[0208] It can be understood that the path identifier may also be replaced with other possible names such as path index, which is not limited. For example, taking the routing list shown in Table 1 as an example, the routing list may include: Path ID#1, Path ID#2... etc. The specific path corresponding to Path ID#1 may be: NCR#1 → NCR#2; the specific path corresponding to Path ID#2 may be: NCR#1 → NCR#2 → NCR#3. NCR#3 may be other NCRs in the communication system, and NCR#3 may be a child node of NCR#2.

[0209] Table 1

[0210] Path Identification (ID / Index) Specific Path ...... ...... Path ID#1 NCR#1 → NCR#2 Path ID#2 NCR#1 → NCR#2 → NCR#3 ...... ......

[0211] It can be understood that the above Table 1 is only an example, and the routing list may also include any possible path IDs and specific paths, which is not limited.

[0212] The first piece of information can be used to determine the next-hop relay device when the first relay device forwards data. The next-hop relay device can be a child node of the first relay device. That is to say, the first piece of information can be understood as routing-related information. Combining the above steps, the content of the first piece of information will be specifically introduced below by taking the following three cases as examples.

[0213] Case 1: The first piece of information can be used to indicate the destination relay device for forwarding data and the first path for forwarding data.

[0214] The first piece of information can indicate the address of the destination relay device and the first path of the relay devices that the data for forwarding passes through / traverses, so as to determine the next-hop relay device when the first relay device forwards data. Or rather, the first relay device can determine the next-hop relay device when forwarding data according to the address of the destination relay device and the first path. The second relay device can be the next-hop relay device of the first relay device in the first path. That is to say, the first relay device can determine that the next-hop relay device when forwarding data is the second relay device according to the address of the destination relay device and the first path.

[0215] Optionally, the first piece of information can include the address of the destination relay device and a first path identifier, and the first path identifier can be used to indicate the first path. The first relay device can determine whether itself is the destination relay device according to the first address and the address of the destination relay device. If the first relay device determines that it is not the destination relay device, the first relay device can query the first path corresponding to the first path identifier according to the first path identifier and a pre-configured routing list; the first relay device can determine the next-hop relay device for the first relay device to forward data according to the first path. It can be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, it is assumed that the first relay device is not the destination relay device and the first relay device needs to forward data to other relay devices.

[0216] For example, as shown in Table 1 above, assuming that the first path identifier is Path ID#1 and the address of the destination relay device is address#2, then NCR#1 can determine that the next-hop relay device for forwarding data is NCR#2 according to Path ID#1, so as to be used for subsequent NCR#1 to forward data to NCR#2 (such as the following first data).

[0217] Case 2: The first piece of information can be used to indicate the next-hop relay device when the first relay device forwards data.

[0218] The first relay device can directly determine the next-hop relay device when forwarding data according to the first piece of information. For example, the first piece of information can directly indicate that the next-hop relay device when the first relay device forwards data is the second relay device, or the first piece of information can directly indicate that the first relay device forwards the data to the second relay device.

[0219] Optionally, the first information may include the address of the next-hop relay device when the first relay device forwards data. For example, the address of the second relay device, i.e., the second address. The first relay device may determine to forward data (such as the following first data) to the second relay device according to the second address. It can be understood that if the address of the next-hop relay device when the first relay device forwards data included in the first information is the first address, or the first information does not include the address of any relay device, it may indicate that the first address is the address of the destination relay device, that is, the first relay device is the destination relay device for forwarding data. It can be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, assuming that the first relay device is not the destination relay device, the first relay device needs to forward data to other relay devices. For example, the first information includes address#2, and NCR#1 may determine that the next-hop relay device for forwarding data is NCR#2 according to the first information.

[0220] Case 3: The first information may be used to indicate the destination relay device.

[0221] The first information may directly indicate the destination relay device. For example, the first information may include the address of the destination relay device. The first relay device needs to determine the next-hop relay device when forwarding data according to the address of the destination relay device and the routing list.

[0222] Exemplarily, the first relay device needs to determine one or more paths in the routing list that include the first relay device and the destination relay device according to the first address and the address of the destination relay device, and on the one or more paths, the position of the first relay device is ahead of the destination relay device, or rather, the first relay device is before the destination relay device. The first relay device needs to forward data until the destination relay device.

[0223] It can be understood that if the first address is the same as the address of the destination relay device, it may indicate that the first relay device is the destination relay device, and the first relay device does not need to continue to forward data to other relay devices. In the embodiments of the present application, assuming that the first relay device is not the destination relay device, the first relay device needs to forward data to other relay devices.

[0224] If the first relay device only selects one path that meets the conditions, the first relay device directly determines the next-hop relay device when forwarding data according to the path; if the first relay device selects multiple paths that meet the conditions, the first relay device may select a target path from the multiple paths to determine the next-hop relay device when forwarding data. For example, the first relay device may select a path with a shorter distance between the first relay device and the destination relay device as the target path; or for another example, the first relay device may determine the one with a higher priority as the target path according to the priority corresponding to each path, without limitation.

[0225] For example, the first piece of information includes address#2. NCR#1 can determine path ID#1 and path ID#2 based on address#2 and the routing list shown in Table 1 above. Moreover, the path between NCR#1 and NCR#2 in path ID#1 is shorter. Therefore, NCR#1 can select the path indicated by path ID#1 to determine the data forwarding to NCR#2. Alternatively, assuming the priority of path ID#1 is higher than that of path ID#2, NCR#1 can select the path indicated by path ID#1 to determine the data forwarding to NCR#2.

[0226] It can be understood that in combination with the above Cases 1 - 3, the first piece of information can be dynamically configured by the network device for the first relay device, or the first piece of information can also be semi - statically configured by the network device. The following uses the following two cases as examples for specific introduction.

[0227] Case a: The first piece of information is the information used for forwarding the first data.

[0228] That is to say, the first piece of information is only the information used for the first relay device to forward the first data. When the first relay device receives other data, such as data#a, the first piece of information cannot be used as the information for the first relay device to forward the first data. That is to say, the first piece of information can be the information dynamically configured by the network device for the first relay device. Before each data forwarding by the first relay device, it is necessary to determine the next - hop relay device according to the information sent by the network device through the control link, such as the above - mentioned first piece of information and other routing - related information. Then, the first relay device forwards the data to the next - hop relay device. The forwarded data may include: the routing - related information (such as the following second piece of information) configured by the network device for the next - hop relay device for use when the next - hop relay device forwards data, so as to achieve dynamic scheduling and be more flexible.

[0229] It should be noted that the specific introduction of the second piece of information can refer to the relevant content in the following introduction of steps S702 and S703 and will not be elaborated here.

[0230] Case b: The first piece of information is the information used for forwarding the data in the first data set. The data in the first data set includes the first data.

[0231] That is, the first information can be the information used by the first relay device to forward multiple pieces of data. Or rather, the first information can be the information semi-statically configured by the network device or pre-configured information. Before the first information is updated or deactivated, the first relay device can use this first information to determine the next-hop relay device when forwarding data. It should be understood that before the first information is updated or deactivated, the data that the first relay device determines to forward using this first information is the data in the first data set. The data in the first data set can be one or more, without limitation.

[0232] For example, as Figure 8 shown, taking the first information including address#2 and path ID#1 as an example, before the first information is updated or deactivated, the first relay device can use the path #1 indicated by address#2 and path ID#1 to forward data; when the first information is updated to the first information #1, assuming the first information #1 includes address#3 and path ID#2, the first relay device can use the path #2 indicated by address#3 and path ID#2 to continue forwarding data.

[0233] It can be understood that the network device can pre-configure routing-related information for each relay device through the control link. After that, when the network device and the terminal device transmit data, the data may not include routing-related information. For example, when the first relay device forwards data to the second relay device, the forwarded data may not include the routing-related information configured by the network device for the second relay device. The second relay device can directly forward the data according to the routing-related information pre-configured by the network device to save overhead.

[0234] In the above case b, the above method embodiment may further include:

[0235] The network device sends first indication information to the first relay device through the control link. Correspondingly, the first relay device receives the first indication information (through the control link).

[0236] Among them, the first indication information can be used to indicate the activation of the first information, and the activated first information is used when forwarding the data in the first data set. That is, after the network device activates the first information through the first indication information, the first relay device can use the first information to forward data until the first information is updated or deactivated.

[0237] The first indication information can be carried in at least one of the following: medium access control - control element (MAC CE), radio resource control (RRC) message, or physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), without limitation. It can be understood that the PDCCH can carry downlink control information (DCI), that is, the first indication information can be carried in the MAC CE, RRC message, or DCI.

[0238] Optionally, the network device can also send the addresses and routing lists of each relay device to each relay device through the control link. After that, the network device sends indication information, such as indication information #a, to each control link through the control link to indicate activating or determining which path in the routing list each relay device specifically uses, so that when each relay device forwards data, it can use this path to determine the next-hop relay device for forwarding the data. It should be noted that the path activated by the network device includes the destination relay device for forwarding the data.

[0239] For example, the network device can send the addresses and routing lists of each relay device to each relay device through the RRC message. Then, the network device can activate which path in the routing list is specifically used through the MAC CE or DCI for each relay device to determine the next-hop relay device when forwarding data.

[0240] The network device can also indicate activating or determining which path in the routing list each relay device uses through a multi-level indication method. For example, the network device can send indication information, such as indication information #a1, to each relay device through the control link to indicate activating or determining a partial path in the routing list used by each relay device. After that, the network device can send indication information, such as indication information #a2, to each relay device through the control link to indicate activating or determining which specific path in the routing list each relay device uses.

[0241] For example, (1) the network device may configure Routing List #1 for each relay device through an RRC message. The Routing List #1 may include 20 path identifiers, denoted as Path ID #a1 - Path ID #a20, and the 20 path identifiers respectively correspond to 20 different paths; (2) the network device may send Indication Information #a1 to each relay device through a MAC CE to activate or determine that each relay device uses some of the paths in the routing list. For example, Indication Information #a1 indicates to activate Path ID #a5 - Path ID #a10 among the 20 path identifiers; (3) the network device may send Indication Information #a2 to each relay device through a DCI to indicate which specific path in the routing list each relay device is to activate or use. For example, if Indication Information #a2 indicates to activate Path ID #a8, then when each relay device forwards data, it may use the path corresponding to Path ID #a8 to determine the next-hop relay device for forwarding the data.

[0242] It should be noted that the forwarding paths activated by the network device for each relay device may be the same or different, without limitation. When the forwarding paths activated by the network device for each relay device are not completely the same, it is only necessary to ensure that the forwarding paths activated for each relay device can forward the data to the required destination relay device. The embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0243] Optionally, the first information further includes second indication information.

[0244] The second indication information may be used to indicate that the first information is the information used for uplink data transmission and / or downlink data transmission. The first data belongs to uplink data. Thus, the first relay device may clearly determine whether the first information is for data transmission or downlink data transmission according to the second indication information, so as to avoid misidentification or incorrect recognition.

[0245] In a possible design, the first information may be carried in at least one of the following: MAC CE, RRC message, or PDCCH (such as DCI), that is, carried in existing signaling elements, so as to reduce the implementation difficulty. The first information may also be carried in a new signaling element, such as a newly defined MAC CE, RRC message, or PDCCH (such as DCI), so as to improve the implementation flexibility, without limitation.

[0246] Exemplarily, taking the above-mentioned Case 1 as an example, assume that a new PDCCH format is newly defined, or rather, a new DCI format is newly defined. As shown in Table 2, the DCI format may at least include the following fields: an identifier for DCI formats, a destination NCR address, and a path ID. Among them, the identifier for DCI formats can be used to indicate that the DCI format is for routing-related configurations for DL or UL. That is, the identifier for DCI formats (i.e., the above-mentioned second indication information) can indicate that the DCI format is the information used for uplink data transmission and / or downlink data transmission, and can occupy 1 bit; the address of the destination relay device can indicate the address of the destination relay device when forwarding data, and can occupy 8 bits; the path ID can be used to indicate the path ID when forwarding data, and can occupy 4 bits. It should be understood that the number of bits occupied by each field in the DCI format is not limited to the values in Table 2. In addition, the DCI format may also include any other possible fields, which are not limited.

[0247] Table 2

[0248]

[0249] It can be understood that the naming of the first information is only for example, and the first information can also be any other possible naming, such as the first control information, etc., which are not limited.

[0250] The above-mentioned step S702 will be introduced.

[0251] Among them, the first data can be the data that the first relay device needs to forward. The first data can include the data transmitted between the network device and the terminal device. For example, data related to services, etc., will not be elaborated. The network device can send the first data to the first relay device through the feedback link. It can be understood that step S702 corresponds to downlink transmission. In uplink transmission, the terminal device can send data to the relay device, such as the first relay device, through the access link. The implementation principle is similar to that of downlink transmission and can be understood by reference and will not be elaborated.

[0252] As described above, the network device can send routing-related information to each relay device through the control link, and send downlink data to the relay device through the feedback link. The relay devices can forward the downlink data to the terminal device through the feedback link; the terminal device can send uplink data to the relay device through the access link, and the relay devices can forward the downlink data to the network device through the feedback link. For the above situation a, the control link and the feedback link / access link can use time-division multiplexing, frequency-division multiplexing, or a combination of time-division multiplexing and frequency-division multiplexing to send information or data. The following is a specific introduction.

[0253] (1) Time-division multiplexing method.

[0254] As Figure 9 shown, the control link and the feedback link / access link occupy different time-domain resources and are distributed in a time-division manner. The time-frequency resource position occupied by the control link is before the time-frequency resource position occupied by the feedback link / access link. The control link can carry routing-related information, such as the address and path ID of the destination relay device. The feedback link / access link can carry the forwarded data. Taking NCR as an example, NCR-MT can decode the control link part to obtain the destination NCR address and path ID. NCR can forward the data in the feedback link / access link to the next-hop NCR, network device (for uplink transmission, if this NCR is the destination NCR), or terminal device (for downlink transmission, if this NCR is the destination NCR) according to this destination NCR address and path ID, without limitation.

[0255] For example, taking the above NCR#1 as an example, assume that the first information occupies slot #i, and the first data occupies slot #i + k + 1. NCR-MT#1 can decode the first information in slot #i to obtain address #2 and path ID #1. Then, NCR can forward the corresponding data in slot #i + k + 1 to NCR#2 according to address #2 and path ID #1 through NCR-Fwd#1. Here, k represents the timing offset value, which can be used to indicate the offset value between the time slot where the routing-related information is located and the time slot of the forwarding resource, and the unit can be a time slot.

[0256] (2) Frequency-division multiplexing method.

[0257] As Figure 10As shown in the figure, the control link occupies different frequency-domain resources from the backhaul link / access link and is distributed in a frequency-division manner. The control link can carry routing-related information, such as the address of the destination relay device and the path ID. The backhaul link / access link can carry the data to be forwarded. Taking NCR as an example, the NCR-MT can decode the frequency-domain resource part corresponding to the control link to obtain the destination NCR address and the path ID. The NCR can, according to this destination NCR address and the path ID, forward the data in the backhaul link / access link to the next-hop NCR, network device (for upstream transmission, if this NCR is the destination NCR), or terminal device (for downstream transmission, if this NCR is the destination NCR), without limitation.

[0258] For example, taking the above NCR#1 as an example, assuming that the first information occupies frequency band #x and the first data occupies frequency band #y, the NCR-MT#1 can decode the first information in frequency band #x to obtain address#2 and the path ID#1. After that, the NCR can, according to address#2 and the path ID#1, forward the corresponding data in frequency band #y to NCR#2 through NCR-Fwd#1.

[0259] (3) The combination mode of time-division multiplexing and frequency-division multiplexing.

[0260] Such as Figure 11 As shown in the figure, the control link and the backhaul link / access link can use the combination mode of time-division multiplexing and frequency-division multiplexing to realize the simultaneous transmission of data on multiple paths. It can be understood that the multiple paths of data transmitted through frequency-division multiplexing can be set with different routing information, such as setting different destination relay device addresses and path IDs, to realize the multi-hop routing of different NCR addresses and different paths for multiple data packets.

[0261] It can be understood that its implementation principle is similar to the above time-division multiplexing mode and frequency-division multiplexing mode, and can be referred to for understanding, without further elaboration.

[0262] In the above case a, the first data may further include the routing information of the subsequent relay network devices in the forwarding path of the network device for the first relay device. Exemplarily, the first data may further include the second information. For the specific introduction, reference can be made to the relevant content in the following introduction to step S703, without further elaboration.

[0263] It can be understood that the naming of the first data is only for example, and the first data may also be any other possible naming, such as data#1, etc., without limitation.

[0264] The above step S703 will be introduced.

[0265] Among them, the first relay device can transparently forward the first data, or the first relay device can also perform digital regeneration forwarding on the data part in the first data, that is, decode the data part, then encode it to generate data and then forward it, so as to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the forwarded signal. The embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0266] In a possible design solution, for the above-mentioned situation a, the first data may include second information, and the second information can be used to determine the next-hop relay device when the second relay device forwards data. The time-frequency resource positions occupied by the second information and the first information are different. Or rather, after the network device sends the first information to the first relay device through the control link, the network device sends the second information to the second relay device through the control link. The first relay device can determine to forward the first data to the second relay device according to the first information; the second relay device receives the first data and determines to forward the data other than the second information in the first data (denoted as second data) to the next-hop destination relay device until the destination relay device according to the second information in the first data.

[0267] The following takes the following three situations as examples to specifically introduce the content of the second information.

[0268] Situation 4: The second information is used to indicate the destination relay device for the second relay device to forward data and the second path for forwarding data, and the relay devices indicated by the second path include the second relay device.

[0269] Optionally, the second information can indicate the address of the destination relay device and the second path of the relay devices that the forwarded data has passed through / traversed, and is used to determine the next-hop relay device when the second relay device forwards data. Or rather, the second relay device can determine the next-hop relay device when forwarding data according to the address of the destination relay device and the second path.

[0270] Optionally, the second information may include the address of the destination relay device and a second path identifier, where the second path identifier may be used to indicate the second path. The second relay device may determine whether it is the destination relay device according to the second address and the address of the destination relay device. If the second relay device determines that it is not the destination relay device, the second relay device may query the second path corresponding to the second path identifier according to the second path identifier and a pre-configured routing list; the second relay device may determine the next-hop relay device for the second relay device to forward the data according to the second path, and forward the second data to the next-hop relay device, for example, the third relay device; if the second relay device is the destination relay device, the second relay device forwards the second data to the corresponding terminal device. That is, the second relay device may act as an end node to establish a connection with the terminal device, or the second relay device may also act as an intermediate node. The second relay device may receive the first data from the first relay device and forward the second data to the third relay device according to the second information, without limitation.

[0271] Case 5: The second information may be used to indicate the next-hop relay device when the second relay device forwards the data.

[0272] The second relay device directly determines the next-hop relay device for forwarding the data according to the first information. For example, the second information may directly indicate that the next-hop relay device for the second relay device to forward the data is the third relay device, or the second information may directly indicate that the second relay device forwards the data to the third relay device.

[0273] Optionally, the second information may include the address of the next-hop relay device when the second relay device forwards the data, such as the address of the third relay device, denoted as the third address. The first relay device may determine to forward the data, such as the second data, to the third relay device according to the third address.

[0274] It can be understood that the third address is the address configured for the third relay device by the network device through the control link, and its implementation principle is similar to the above-mentioned network device allocating the first address and the second address, which will not be elaborated here. If the address of the next-hop relay device when the second relay device forwards the data included in the second information is the second address, or the second information does not include the address of any relay device, it may indicate that the second address is the address of the destination relay device, that is, the second relay device is the destination relay device for forwarding the data, without limitation.

[0275] Case 6: The second information may be used to indicate the destination relay device.

[0276] The second information may directly indicate the destination relay device. For example, the second information may include the address of the destination relay device. The second relay device needs to determine the next-hop relay device for forwarding the data according to the address of the destination relay device and the routing list.

[0277] Exemplarily, the second relay device needs to determine one or more paths in the routing list that include the second relay device and the destination relay device according to the second address and the address of the destination relay device. On the one or more paths, the position of the second relay device is ahead of the destination relay device, or in other words, the second relay device is before the destination relay device. The second relay device needs to forward the data until the destination relay device.

[0278] It can be understood that if the second address is the same as the address of the destination relay device, it can be characterized that the second relay device is the destination relay device, and the second relay device does not need to continue forwarding the data to other relay devices; if the second address is different from the address of the destination relay device, the second relay device can determine the next-hop relay device for the second relay device to forward the data according to the selected one or more paths and the address of the destination relay device, which is not limited.

[0279] It can be understood that the relevant introduction of the second information is similar to the above-mentioned first information, and can be understood by reference without further elaboration.

[0280] Before the first relay device forwards the first data to the second relay device, the first relay device can determine that the next-hop relay device for the first relay device to forward the first data is the second relay device according to the first information. The following is a specific introduction.

[0281] In a possible design solution, corresponding to the above situation 1, the method embodiment may further include:

[0282] The first relay device decodes the first information through the first functional entity to determine the address of the destination relay device and the first path identifier;

[0283] The first relay device determines the second relay device according to the address of the destination relay device, the first path identifier and the routing list.

[0284] Exemplarily, if the first information includes address#2 and path ID#1, NCR-MT#1 can determine address#2 and path ID#1 according to the first information, and determine that the next-hop device of NCR#1 is NCR#2 according to address#2, path ID#1 and the routing list shown in Table 1 above.

[0285] In a possible design solution, corresponding to the above situation 2, before the first relay device forwards the first data to the second relay device through the backhaul link, the method embodiment may further include:

[0286] The first relay device decodes the first information through the first functional entity to determine the second address;

[0287] The first relay device determines the second relay device according to the second address.

[0288] Exemplarily, if the first information includes address#2, NCR-MT#1 can determine address#2 according to the first information, and determine that the next-hop device of NCR#1 is NCR#2 according to address#2.

[0289] In a possible design solution, corresponding to the above case 3, before the first relay device forwards the first data to the second relay device through the feedback link, the above method embodiment may further include:

[0290] The first relay device decodes the first information through the first functional entity to determine the address of the destination relay device.

[0291] The first relay device determines the second relay device according to the address of the destination relay device and the routing list.

[0292] Exemplarily, if the first information includes address#2, NCR-MT#1 can determine address#2 according to the first information, and determine that the next-hop relay device of NCR#1 is NCR#2 according to address#2 and the routing list shown in Table 1 above.

[0293] The following specifically introduces the first relay device forwarding the first data to the second relay device.

[0294] In a possible design solution, the first relay device forwarding the first data to the second relay device includes:

[0295] The first relay device forwards the first data to the second relay device through the second functional entity.

[0296] Exemplarily, NCR-MT#1 can send the first data to NCR#2 through the feedback link.

[0297] Optionally, the first relay device transparently forwards the first data to the second relay device according to the first correspondence.

[0298] That is, the first relay device can adjust the beam direction according to the physical location of the second relay device to avoid the situation that the second relay device cannot receive the forwarded first data or the quality of the received first data cannot meet the requirements, which can further improve the reliability of data forwarding.

[0299] In summary, the first relay device can receive the first information from the network device through the control link. The first information can be used to determine the next-hop relay device when the first relay device forwards data. That is, the first information can be routing-related information. After the first relay device receives the first data, it can determine that the first data needs to be forwarded to the second relay device according to the first information, so as to realize the flexible and fast forwarding of data between relay devices, that is, low-cost relay devices. Or, the multi-hop routing function between relay devices can be realized to improve the communication efficiency.

[0300] It can be understood that the above method embodiments are introduced by taking the downlink transmission as an example. Optionally, for the uplink transmission, the first relay device and the second relay device can use the same forwarding path as the downlink transmission, but in the opposite direction.

[0301] Optionally, for the uplink transmission, the first relay device and the second relay device can use a forwarding path different from the uplink transmission. The network device can configure the routing information for the uplink transmission (similar to the downlink transmission routing configuration, which will not be elaborated here). Or, the terminal device can also configure the routing information for the uplink transmission. For example, the address and path ID of the destination relay device can be carried through the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) / uplink control information (UCI). The embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0302] The above combines the method embodiments to introduce the overall process of the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application. For ease of understanding, the above method is introduced below by taking the following two scenarios as examples.

[0303] As Figure 12 shown, the communication system may include a gNB, satellite NCR#A, terrestrial NCR#B, satellite NCR#C, UE#a, and UE#b. Among them, UE#a establishes a connection with the gNB through the terrestrial NCR#B, and UE#b establishes a connection with the gNB through the satellite NCR#C. The gNB cannot provide coverage for the terrestrial NCR#B and the satellite NCR#C.

[0304] Scenario 1, for case 1 in step S701 above, as Figure 13 shown, the method may include:

[0305] S1301, the NCR and the UE establish a Uu interface connection with the gNB.

[0306] The NCR can access the parent node as a UE through the Uu interface. For example, the satellite NCR#A can access the gNB as a UE through the Uu interface, the terrestrial NCR#B can access the satellite NCR#A or the gNB as a UE through the Uu interface, and the satellite NCR#C can access the terrestrial satellite NCR#B or the gNB as a UE through the Uu interface.

[0307] It can be understood that UE#a can establish a Uu interface connection with the gNB through the terrestrial NCR#B; UE#b can establish a Uu interface connection with the gNB through the satellite NCR#C.

[0308] S1302, the gNB allocates an NCR address to the NCR through the control link.

[0309] After the gNB or the core network successfully identifies and authorizes / verifies the satellite NCR#A, the terrestrial NCR#B, and the satellite NCR#C, the gNB can allocate NCR addresses to each NCR. For example, the gNB can allocate address#A to the satellite NCR#A, address#B to the terrestrial NCR#B, and address#C to the satellite NCR#C through the control link.

[0310] S1303, the satellite NCR#A obtains address#B.

[0311] The terrestrial NCR#B can send address#B of the terrestrial NCR#B to the satellite NCR#A; alternatively, the gNB can send address#B of the terrestrial NCR#B to the satellite NCR#A.

[0312] S1304, the terrestrial NCR#B obtains address#C.

[0313] The satellite NCR#C can send address#C of the satellite NCR#C to the terrestrial NCR#B; alternatively, the gNB can send address#C of the satellite NCR#C to the terrestrial NCR#B.

[0314] S1305, the gNB configures the routing list #1 for the NCR through the control link.

[0315] The gNB can allocate the routing list #1 to the satellite NCR#A, the terrestrial NCR#B, and the satellite NCR#C through the control link. As shown in Table 3, the routing list #1 can include ID#1 and ID#2. The path corresponding to ID#1 is: satellite NCR#A → terrestrial NCR#B; the path corresponding to ID#2 is: satellite NCR#A → terrestrial NCR#B → satellite NCR#C.

[0316] Table 3

[0317] Path ID Specific Path ID#1 Satellite NCR#A → Ground NCR#B ID#2 Satellite NCR#A → Ground NCR#B → Satellite NCR#C

[0318] S1306, when the gNB transmits data to UE#a, the gNB sends Information #1 to satellite NCR#A via the control link.

[0319] Taking the example that the gNB needs to send data to UE#b, Information #1 can be the routing-related information configured by the gNB for satellite NCR#A, and Information #1 can carry address#B (i.e., the address of the destination relay device) and ID#1.

[0320] S1307, satellite NCR#A decodes Information #1 to determine the next-hop NCR.

[0321] Satellite NCR#A can decode Information #1 through NCR-MT#A to obtain address#B and ID#1. Satellite NCR#A can determine that the next-hop NCR is ground NCR#B based on address#B, ID#1, and routing list #1.

[0322] S1308, the network device sends Data #1 to satellite NCR#A via the backhaul link.

[0323] The network device can send Data #1 to NCR-Fwd#A of satellite NCR#A via the backhaul link.

[0324] S1309, satellite NCR#A sends Data #1 to ground NCR#B via the backhaul link.

[0325] Based on the decoding result of NCR-MT#A, satellite NCR#A can transparently transmit Data #1 to NCR-Fwd#B of ground NCR#B through NCR-Fwd#A. It can be understood that Data #1 includes Information #2 and Data #2, and Information #2 can be the routing-related information configured by the network device for ground NCR#B, and Information #2 can carry address#C (i.e., the address of the destination relay device) and ID#1.

[0326] S1310, ground NCR#B decodes Information #2 to determine the next-hop NCR.

[0327] Satellite NCR#B can receive Information #2 via the control link and decode Information #2 using NCR-MT#B to obtain address#B and ID#1. At this time, ground NCR#B can determine that ground NCR#B is the destination relay device based on address#B, ID#1, and routing list #1.

[0328] S1311, satellite NCR#B sends Data #2 to UE#a via the access link.

[0329] Satellite NCR#B sends data #2 to UE#a via NCR-Fwd#B.

[0330] It can be understood that the embodiments of the present application do not limit the sequence of establishing the Uu interface connection between the UE and the NCR and the Uu interface connection between the NCR and the gNB in step S1301 above; the embodiments of the present application do not limit the sequence between step S1303 and step S1304.

[0331] Scenario 2: For case 2 in step S701 above, as Figure 14 shown, the method may include:

[0332] S1401, the NCR and the UE establish a Uu interface connection with the gNB.

[0333] S1402, the gNB allocates an NCR address to the NCR via the control link.

[0334] S1403, satellite NCR#A obtains address#B.

[0335] S1404, terrestrial NCR#B obtains address#C.

[0336] S1405, the gNB configures a routing list #1 for the NCR via the control link.

[0337] It can be understood that the implementation processes of steps S1401 - S1405 are similar to those of steps S1301 - S1305 above, and can be understood by reference without further elaboration.

[0338] S1406, the gNB sends information #1 to each NCR via the control link.

[0339] The gNB can send information #1 to satellite NCR#A, terrestrial NCR#B, and satellite NCR#C in advance via the control link, where address#B (i.e., the address of the destination relay device) and ID#1 can be carried.

[0340] S1407, the gNB sends activation information #1 to each NCR via the control link.

[0341] The gNB can send activation information #1 to satellite NCR#A, terrestrial NCR#B, and satellite NCR#C via the control link to activate information #1, so that satellite NCR#A, terrestrial NCR#B, and satellite NCR#C use information #l to determine the next-hop NCR when forwarding data.

[0342] It should be noted that before information #1 is updated or deactivated, satellite NCR#A, terrestrial NCR#B, and satellite NCR#C all use information #l to forward data.

[0343] S1408, when the gNB needs to send data to UE#b, the network device sends data#a to satellite NCR#A through the backhaul link.

[0344] Among them, data#a can be the data that the gNB needs to send to UE#a and does not include any routing-related information.

[0345] S1409, satellite NCR#A decodes information#1 to determine the next-hop NCR.

[0346] Satellite NCR#A can decode information#1 through NCR-MT#A to obtain address#B and ID#1. Satellite NCR#A can determine that the next-hop relay device is terrestrial NCR#B according to address#B, ID#1, and routing list#1.

[0347] S1410, satellite NCR#A sends data#a to terrestrial NCR#B through the backhaul link.

[0348] Based on the decoding result of NCR-MT#A, satellite NCR#A can transparently transmit data#a to NCR-Fwd#B of terrestrial NCR#B through NCR-Fwd#A.

[0349] S1411, terrestrial NCR#B decodes information#1 to determine the next-hop NCR.

[0350] Satellite NCR#B can use NCR-MT#B to decode information#2 to obtain address#B and ID#1. At this time, terrestrial NCR#B can determine that terrestrial NCR#B is the destination relay device according to address#, ID#1, and routing list#1.

[0351] S1412, satellite NCR#B sends data#a to UE#a through the access link.

[0352] It can be understood that the embodiments of the present application do not limit the sequence of establishing the Uu interface connection between the UE and the NCR and the Uu interface connection between the NCR and the gNB in step S1401 above; the embodiments of the present application do not limit the sequence of step S1403 and step S1404; the embodiments of the present application do not limit the sequence of step S1410 and step S1411, that is, satellite NCR#A and terrestrial NCR#B can first decode information#1 to determine the next-hop NCR. After that, satellite NCR#A and terrestrial NCR#B execute step S1410 and step S1412.

[0353] It can be understood that in the above Scenario 1 and Scenario 2, Information #1 and / or Information #2 can be carried in at least one of the following: MAC CE, RRC message, or PDCCH (such as DCI), without limitation.

[0354] The above combination Figures 7 - 14 has described in detail the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application. The following combination Figures 15 - 16 will describe in detail the communication device for executing the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application.

[0355] Figure 15 is the first schematic structural diagram of the communication device provided by the embodiments of the present application. Exemplarily, as Figure 15 shown, the communication device 1500 includes: a transceiver module 1501 and a processing module 1502. For the sake of convenience of description, Figure 15 only the main components of the communication device are shown.

[0356] Among them, the transceiver module 1501 is used to execute the transceiver function of the method shown above Figure 7 , and the processing module 1502 is used to execute other functions of the method shown above Figure 7 except for the transceiver function.

[0357] Optionally, the transceiver module 1501 may include a sending module ( Figure 15 , not shown in Figure 15 ) and a receiving module (

[0358] , not shown in Figure 15 ). Among them, the sending module is used to implement the sending function of the communication device 1500, and the receiving module is used to implement the receiving function of the communication device 1500. Figure 7 Optionally, the communication device 1500 may further include a storage module (

[0359] , not shown in

[0360] ), and the storage module stores programs or instructions. When the processing module 1502 executes the programs or instructions, the communication device 1500 can execute the functions of the first relay device and / or the network device in the method shown above Figure 7 .

[0361] Exemplarily, Figure 16FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application. The communication device may be a relay device or a network device, or may be a chip (system) or other component or assembly that can be disposed in a relay device or a network device. As Figure 16 shown, the communication device 1600 may include a processor 1601. Optionally, the communication device 1600 may further include a memory 1602 and / or a transceiver 1603. Among them, the processor 1601 is coupled to the memory 1602 and the transceiver 1603, and may be connected through a communication bus, for example.

[0362] The following Figure 16 specifically introduces each component of the communication device 1600:

[0363] Among them, the processor 1601 is the control center of the communication device 1600, and may be a single processor or a collective term for multiple processing elements. For example, the processor 1601 is one or more central processing units (CPUs), or may be an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or may be one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the embodiments of the present application. For example: one or more digital signal processors (DSPs), or one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).

[0364] Optionally, the processor 1601 may execute various functions of the communication device 1600 by running or executing software programs stored in the memory 1602 and calling data stored in the memory 1602, for example, executing the Figures 6 - 11 communication method shown above.

[0365] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the processor 1601 may include one or more CPUs, such as Figure 16 the CPU0 and CPU1 shown in

[0366] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the communication device 1600 may also include multiple processors, such as Figure 16 the processor 1601 and the processor 1604 shown in

[0367] Among them, the memory 1602 is used to store the software program for executing the solution of this application, and is controlled by the processor 1601 for execution. The specific implementation manner can refer to the above method embodiment and will not be elaborated here.

[0368] Optionally, the memory 1602 can 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 discs, laser discs, optical discs, digital versatile discs, Blu-ray discs, etc.), magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, 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 not limited thereto. The memory 1602 can be integrated with the processor 1601 or exist independently, and is coupled to the processor 1601 through the interface circuit of the communication device 1600 ( Figure 16 not shown in the figure), and the embodiments of this application do not make specific limitations on this.

[0369] The transceiver 1603 is used for communication with other communication devices. For example, when the communication device 1600 is a relay device, the transceiver 1603 can be used for communication with a network device / terminal device, or for communication with another relay device. Another example is that when the communication device 1600 is a network device, the transceiver 1603 can be used for communication with a relay device, or for communication with another network device.

[0370] Optionally, the transceiver 1603 can include a receiver and a transmitter ( Figure 16 not shown separately in the figure). Among them, the receiver is used to implement the receiving function, and the transmitter is used to implement the sending function.

[0371] Optionally, the transceiver 1603 can be integrated with the processor 1601 or exist independently, and is coupled to the processor 1601 through the interface circuit of the communication device 1600 ( Figure 16 not shown in the figure), and the embodiments of this application do not make specific limitations on this.

[0372] It should be noted that Figure 16The structure of the communication device 1600 shown does not constitute a limitation on the communication device. An actual communication device may include more or fewer components than shown, or combine certain components, or have a different component arrangement.

[0373] In addition, for the technical effects of the communication device 1600, reference may be made to the technical effects of the communication method described in the foregoing method embodiments, which will not be elaborated herein.

[0374] An embodiment of the present application provides a communication system. The communication system may include: a first relay device and a network device. Optionally, the communication system may further include a second relay device and a terminal device.

[0375] It should be understood that the processor in the embodiments of the present application may be a central processing unit (CPU), and the processor may also be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may also be any conventional processor, etc.

[0376] It should also be understood that the memory in the embodiments of the present application may be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memories. Among them, the non-volatile memory may be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable ROM (PROM), an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory may be a random access memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache. By way of example but not limitation, many forms of random access memory (RAM) are available, such as static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct rambus RAM (DR RAM).

[0377] The above embodiments can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware (such as circuits), firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, the above embodiments 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 or computer programs. When the computer instructions or computer programs are loaded or executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are generated in whole or in part. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable devices. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired (such as infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or a data center that contains one or more collections of available media. The available media can be magnetic media (such as floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes), optical media (such as DVDs), or semiconductor media. The semiconductor media can be a solid-state drive.

[0378] It should be understood that the term "and / or" in this document is merely a description of the association relationship between associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. Here, A and B can be singular or plural. Additionally, the character " / " in this document generally represents an "or" relationship between the associated objects before and after, but it may also represent an "and / or" relationship. The specific meaning can be understood by referring to the context.

[0379] In the present application, "at least one" means one or more, and "a plurality" means two or more. "At least one of the following" or its similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single items or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c, a - b, a - c, b - c, or a - b - c, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0380] It should be understood that in various embodiments of the present application, the magnitudes of the sequence numbers of the above processes do not imply the order of execution. The order of execution of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation to the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0381] Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or in a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are executed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Skilled professionals may use different methods for each specific application to implement the described functions, but such implementation should not be considered to exceed the scope of this application.

[0382] Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments and will not be elaborated herein.

[0383] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the division of the units is only a logical function division, and there may be other division methods in actual implementation. For example, multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the displayed or discussed couplings or direct couplings or communication connections to each other can be through some interfaces, and the indirect couplings or communication connections of the devices or units can be in electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0384] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components displayed as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place, or may be distributed to multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of this embodiment.

[0385] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated in a processing unit, or each unit can exist physically alone, or two or more units can be integrated in one unit.

[0386] When the above-mentioned function is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on such an understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that makes a contribution to the prior art, or a part of this technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for causing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in various embodiments of this application. The foregoing storage medium includes: various media that can store program codes, such as USB flash drives, mobile hard disks, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical discs.

[0387] The above is only the specific implementation manner of this application, but the protection scope of this application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed by this application can easily think of changes or substitutions, which should all be covered by the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this application should be based on the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, it includes: The first relay device receives first information from a network device through a control link; wherein, the first information is used to determine the next-hop relay device when the first relay device forwards data; The first relay device receives first data; The first relay device forwards the first data to a second relay device; wherein, the second relay device is the next-hop relay device when the first relay device forwards the first data.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first information is used to indicate the destination relay device for forwarding data and the first path for forwarding data, and the second relay device is the next-hop relay device of the first relay device in the first path.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first information includes the address of the destination relay device and a first path identifier, and the first path identifier is used to indicate the first path.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first information is the information used when forwarding the first data.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first data includes the second information, the second information is used to determine the next-hop relay device when the second relay device forwards data, and the time-frequency resource position occupied by the second information is different from that of the first information.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The second information is used to indicate the destination relay device for the second relay device to forward data and the second path for forwarding data, and the relay devices indicated by the second path include the second relay device.

7. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first information is the information used when forwarding the data in the first data set, and the data in the first data set includes the first data.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, Before the first relay device receives the first data, the method further includes: The first relay device receives first indication information; wherein, the first indication information is used to indicate activating the first information, and the activated first information is used when forwarding the data in the first data set.

9. The method according to any one of claims 3-8, characterized in that, Before the first relay device receives the first information through the control link, the method further includes: The first relay device obtains a first address and a second address; wherein, the first address is the address assigned by the network device to the first relay device, and the second address is the address of the second relay device.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that, After the first relay device obtains the first address and the second address, the method further includes: The first relay device obtains a first correspondence; wherein, the first correspondence includes the correspondence between the second address and the physical location of the second relay device.

11. The method according to any one of claims 3-10, characterized in that, The first relay device includes a first functional entity and a second functional entity. The first functional entity is configured to decode the information received through the control link, and the second functional entity is configured to forward the data.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein, before the first relay device forwards the first data to the second relay device, the method further includes: the first relay device decodes the first information through the first functional entity to determine the address of the destination relay device and the first path identifier; the first relay device determines the second relay device according to the address of the destination relay device and the first path identifier.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein, the first relay device forwarding the first data to the second relay device includes: the first relay device forwards the first data to the second relay device according to the first correspondence.

14. The method according to any one of claims 1-13, wherein, the first information is carried in at least one of the following: Media Access Control - Control Element (MAC CE), Radio Resource Control (RRC) message, or Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH).

15. A communication method, wherein, it includes: a network device sends first information to a first relay device through a control link; wherein, the first information is used to determine the next-hop relay device when the first relay device forwards data; the network device sends first data to the first relay device.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein, the first information is used to indicate the destination relay device for forwarding the data and the first path for forwarding the data.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein, the first information includes the address of the destination relay device and a first path identifier, and the first path identifier is used to indicate the first path.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein, the first information is the information used when forwarding the first data.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein, the method further includes: the network device sends second information to a second relay device through a control link; wherein, the second relay device is the next-hop relay device of the first relay device in the first path, the second information is used to determine the next-hop relay device when the second relay device forwards data, and the time-frequency resource position occupied by the second information is different from that of the first information.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein, the second information is used to indicate the destination relay device for the second relay device to forward the data and the second path for forwarding the data, and the relay devices indicated by the second path include the second relay device.

21. The method according to claim 17, wherein, the first information is the information used when forwarding the data in a first data set, and the data in the first data set includes the first data.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein, before the network device sends the first data to the first relay device, the method further includes: the network device sends first indication information to the first relay device; wherein, the first indication information is used to indicate the activation of the first information, and the activated first information is used for forwarding the data in the first data set.

23. The method according to any one of claims 16-22, wherein, before the network device sends the first information to the first relay device through a control link, the method further includes: the network device sends a corresponding first address to the first relay device; the network device sends a corresponding second address to a second relay device; wherein, the second relay device is the next-hop relay device of the first relay device in the first path.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein, after the network device sends the corresponding first address to the first relay device, the method further includes: the network device sends a first corresponding relationship to the first relay device; wherein, the first corresponding relationship includes the corresponding relationship between the second address and the physical location of the second relay device.

25. The method according to any one of claims 15-24, wherein, the first information is carried in at least one of the following: Media Access Control - Control Element MAC CE, Radio Resource Control RRC message, or Physical Downlink Control Channel PDCCH.

26. A communication device, wherein, the device includes: a module for executing the method according to any one of claims 1-25.

27. A communication device, wherein, the communication device includes: a processor; when the processor executes computer instructions, the communication device is caused to execute the method according to any one of claims 1-25.

28. A communication chip, wherein, instructions are stored therein, and when the chip runs on a communication device, the method according to any one of claims 1-25 is implemented.

29. A computer-readable storage medium, wherein, the computer-readable storage medium includes a computer program or instructions, and when the computer program or instructions run on a computer, the computer is caused to execute the method according to any one of claims 1-25.

30. A computer program product, wherein, the computer program product includes a computer program or instructions, and when the computer program or instructions are run by a communication device, the method according to any one of claims 1-25 is executed.

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