Communication method and device, chip and storage medium

Abstract

The invention provides a communication method and device, a chip and a storage medium. The method comprises the following steps: target relay terminal equipment receives first indication information; the first indication information is used for indicating that the target relay terminal device is switched from a first cell to a second cell, the first cell is a cell under the source network device, the second cell is a cell under the target network device, and the target relay terminal device is a relay terminal device providing a relay service for at least one edge terminal device. If second indication information of at least one edge terminal device is received, switching from the first cell to a second cell; the second indication information of one piece of edge terminal equipment is used for indicating that the edge terminal equipment releases the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal equipment. According to the method provided by the invention, the switching time delay of the target relay terminal equipment can be reduced.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] A multi-path communication network is a network that can transmit data through the connection of at least one indirect path and at least one direct path. Its purpose is to improve the performance and reliability of the network by simultaneously using multiple paths to transmit data. Among them, the indirect path in the multi-path communication network can be a path through which a remote user equipment (Remote UE) is connected to a network device through a relay user equipment (Relay UE), that is, a relay communication link. The direct path refers to the communication link between the edge terminal device and the network device.

[0003] However, in the current multi-path communication system, when the signal quality between the Relay UE and the network device is poor and it is necessary to switch to another network device, there is a problem of high handover delay of the Relay UE. Therefore, how to reduce the handover delay of the Relay UE is a technical problem that needs to be solved urgently. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a communication method, apparatus, chip, and storage medium to reduce the handover delay of the Relay UE.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides a communication method, and the method includes:

[0006] Receiving first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate that a target relay terminal device switches from a first cell to a second cell, the first cell is a cell under a source network device, the second cell is a cell under a target network device, and the target relay terminal device is a relay terminal device that provides relay services for at least one edge terminal device;

[0007] If receiving second indication information of the at least one edge terminal device, then switching from the first cell to the second cell; the second indication information of an edge terminal device is used to indicate that the edge terminal device releases the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device.

[0008] Optionally, the first indication information is specifically used to indicate that the target relay terminal device switches from the first cell to the second cell after receiving the second indication information of the at least one edge terminal device.

[0009] Optionally, the step of switching from the first cell to the second cell if the second indication information of the at least one edge terminal device is received includes:

[0010] If the second indication information of the at least one edge terminal device is received within a first time period, then switch from the first cell to the second cell.

[0011] Optionally, the method further includes:

[0012] If the second indication information of all the edge terminal devices among the at least one edge terminal device is not received when the first time period is reached, then switch from the first cell to the second cell.

[0013] Optionally, the method further includes:

[0014] Receive third indication information, where the third indication information is used to indicate the first time period.

[0015] Optionally, the third indication information includes: an identifier of a timer and a duration of the timer; where the duration of the timer is the same as the first time period.

[0016] In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, where the method includes:

[0017] Send first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate that a target relay terminal device switches from a first cell to a second cell after receiving second indication information from at least one edge terminal device. The first cell is a cell under a source network device, the second cell is a cell under a target network device, and the target relay terminal device is a relay terminal device that provides relay services for the at least one edge terminal device. The second indication information of an edge terminal device is used to indicate that the edge terminal device releases a relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device.

[0018] Optionally, the method further includes:

[0019] Send third indication information, where the third indication information is used to indicate a first time period, and the first time period is used for the target relay terminal device to perform cell switching.

[0020] In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication method, where the method includes:

[0021] Receive fourth indication information, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate releasing a relay communication link configuration with a target relay terminal device, and the target relay terminal device is a relay terminal device that provides relay services for the edge terminal device;

[0022] After releasing the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device, send second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the edge terminal device has released the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device.

[0023] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, where the device includes:

[0024] A receiving module, configured to receive first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate that a target relay terminal device switches from a first cell to a second cell, the first cell is a cell under a source network device, the second cell is a cell under a target network device, and the target relay terminal device is a relay terminal device that provides relay services for at least one edge terminal device;

[0025] A control module, configured to switch from the first cell to the second cell if the second indication information of the at least one edge terminal device is received; the second indication information of an edge terminal device is used to indicate that the edge terminal device has released the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device.

[0026] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, where the device includes:

[0027] A sending module, configured to send first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate that a target relay terminal device switches from a first cell to a second cell after receiving second indication information from at least one edge terminal device, the first cell is a cell under a source network device, the second cell is a cell under a target network device, the target relay terminal device is a relay terminal device that provides relay services for the at least one edge terminal device, and the second indication information of an edge terminal device is used to indicate that the edge terminal device has released the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device.

[0028] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, where the device includes:

[0029] A receiving module, configured to receive fourth indication information, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate releasing the relay communication link configuration with a target relay terminal device, and the target relay terminal device is a relay terminal device that provides relay services for the edge terminal device;

[0030] A sending module, configured to send second indication information after releasing the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the edge terminal device has released the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device.

[0031] In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a communication device, including: a processor, a communication interface, and a memory; the processor is communicatively connected to the communication interface and the memory respectively;

[0032] The memory stores computer-executable instructions;

[0033] The communication interface communicates with an external device;

[0034] The processor executes the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory to implement the method described in any one of the first aspect, the second aspect, or the third aspect.

[0035] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a chip, on which a computer program is stored. When the computer program is executed by the chip, the method described in any one of the first aspect, the second aspect, or the third aspect is implemented.

[0036] In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, in which computer-executable instructions are stored. When the computer-executable instructions are executed by a computer, the method described in any one of the first aspect, the second aspect, or the third aspect is implemented.

[0037] In a tenth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product, which includes executable instructions stored in a readable storage medium. At least one processor of a communication device can read the executable instructions from the readable storage medium, and the at least one processor executes the executable instructions to enable the communication device to implement the method described in any one of the first aspect, the second aspect, or the third aspect above.

[0038] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution of the present application has the following beneficial effects:

[0039] The communication method, device, chip, and storage medium provided by the present application send first indication information from a source network device to a target relay terminal device, instructing the target relay terminal device to switch from a first cell under the source network device to a second cell under a target network device after receiving second indication information (indicating that an edge terminal device has released the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device) from at least one edge terminal device. The method of the present application does not need to wait for the time required for the edge terminal device to feedback to the source network device and for the source network device to instruct the target relay terminal device to perform the handover process after the edge terminal device releases the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device, thereby reducing the handover delay of the target relay terminal device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a multi-path communication system applied to an embodiment of the present application;

[0041] Figure 2 A flowchart of an existing method for switching a target relay terminal device;

[0042] Figure 3 A flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0043] Figure 4 A flowchart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0044] Figure 5 A schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] Figure 6 A schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0046] Figure 7 A schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0047] Figure 8 A schematic structural diagram of yet another communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application. Detailed implementation manners

[0048] Here, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail, and examples are shown in the drawings. When the following description refers to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements. The implementation manners described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all implementation manners consistent with the present application. Instead, they are merely examples of devices and methods consistent with some aspects of the present application as detailed in the appended claims.

[0049] In the present application, "equal to" can be used in combination with "less than" or "greater than", but not simultaneously with "less than" and "greater than". When "equal to" is used in combination with "less than", the technical solution adopted for "less than" is applicable. When "equal to" is used in combination with "greater than", the technical solution adopted for "greater than" is applicable.

[0050] For ease of understanding, first, the architecture of the current multi-path communication system will be described:

[0051] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the architecture of a multi-path communication system applied in an embodiment of the present application. As Figure 1As shown in the figure, the communication system includes: an edge terminal device, a relay terminal device, and a network device. Among them, the edge terminal device communicates with the network device not only through a direct path, but also through an indirect path formed by the relay terminal device within the coverage of the network device to communicate with the network device. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the number of edge terminal devices, relay terminal devices, and network devices included in the communication system. In addition, it should be understood that Figure 1 It is only a schematic diagram. The communication system may also include other network devices, which are not limited in this application. In Figure 1 it is not drawn.

[0052] Among them, the network device is usually a radio access network device.

[0053] The radio access network device is usually an access device through which a terminal device accesses the communication system wirelessly. Or rather, it is a radio access network (RAN) node (or device) that connects a terminal device to a wireless network. It can be an evolved Node B (eNB), a Radio Network Controller (RNC), a Node B (NB), a Base Station Controller (BSC), a Base Transceiver Station (BTS), a home base station (e.g., Home evolved NodeB, or HomeNode B, HNB), a BaseBand Unit (BBU), an access point (AP) in a Wireless Fidelity (WIFI) system, a wireless relay node, a wireless backhaul node, a transmission point (TP), or a transmission and reception point (TRP), etc. It can also be a network device or a transmission point (TRP or TP) in a 5G (such as new radio (NR)) system, or one or a group (including multiple antenna panels) of antenna panels of a base station in a 5G system. Or rather, it can also be a network node that constitutes a network device or a transmission point, such as a baseband unit (BBU), or a distributed unit (DU), etc. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technologies and specific device forms adopted by the radio access network device. In the embodiments of the present application, the radio access network device may also be simply referred to as a network device or a base station. If there is no special description, in the embodiments of the present application, the network device refers to the radio access network device.

[0054] A terminal device generally refers to a device that provides voice and / or data connectivity to users, and can also be called a terminal, user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), etc. The terminal device can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer (Pad), a computer with wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self-driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical surgery, a wireless terminal in smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in smart city, a wireless terminal in smart home, and so on.

[0055] By way of example and not limitation, in the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device can also be a wearable device. A wearable device can also be called a wearable intelligent device, which is a general term for devices developed by applying wearable technology to intelligent design of daily wear, such as glasses, gloves, watches, clothing, and shoes. A wearable device is a portable device that is directly worn on the body or integrated into the user's clothes or accessories. A wearable device is not only a hardware device, but also realizes powerful functions through software support, data interaction, and cloud interaction. Broadly speaking, wearable intelligent devices include those with complete functions and large sizes that can realize complete or partial functions without relying on a smart phone, such as smart watches or smart glasses, etc., and those that only focus on a certain type of application function and need to cooperate with other devices such as smart phones, such as various smart bracelets and smart jewelry for physical sign monitoring.

[0056] In addition, in the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device can also be a terminal device in the Internet of Things (IoT) network. IoT is an important part of the future development of information technology. Its main technical feature is to connect objects to the network through communication technology, so as to realize an intelligent network of human-machine interconnection and object-object interconnection. In the embodiments of the present application, IoT technology can realize functions such as massive connection, deep coverage, and power saving of terminal devices through, for example, narrow band (NB) technology.

[0057] Wireless access network devices and terminal devices can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; they can also be deployed on water; they can also be deployed on aircraft, balloons, artificial satellites, etc. in the air. Terminal devices can be in fixed positions or movable.

[0058] Wireless access network devices and terminal devices can communicate with each other and terminal devices can communicate with each other through licensed spectrum, or through unlicensed spectrum, or simultaneously through licensed spectrum and unlicensed spectrum. Wireless access network devices and terminal devices can communicate with each other and terminal devices can communicate with each other through spectrum below 6 gigahertz (GHz), or through spectrum above 6 GHz, or simultaneously use spectrum below 6 GHz and spectrum above 6 GHz. Embodiments of this application do not limit the spectrum resources used between wireless access network devices and terminal devices.

[0059] It should be understood that Figure 1 The communication system shown can be, for example, a 5G communication system, or a next-generation wireless local area network system, or other future communication systems, etc., without limitation here. Additionally, in embodiments of this application, the terms 5G and new radio (NR) can be equivalent.

[0060] Continuing to refer to Figure 1 , taking the NR communication system as an example, the NR communication architecture includes two communication interfaces, namely the PC5 interface and the Uu interface. The PC5 interface is a direct communication interface between terminal devices, that is, between terminal devices, using the PC5 interface, they can use the resources configured by the network device and directly communicate through a direct link without passing through the network device for relay. This direct communication link can also be called a sidelink or side chain (sidelink, SL). The direct communication between terminal devices through the direct link can also be called SL communication. The Uu interface is a communication interface for terminal devices to access the network device.

[0061] In embodiments of this application, between the edge terminal device and the network device, and between the relay terminal device and the network device are both Uu interfaces. Between the edge terminal device and the relay terminal device is the PC5 interface.

[0062] In an embodiment of the present application, a terminal device or a network device includes a hardware layer, an operating system layer running on the hardware layer, and an application layer running on the operating system layer. The hardware layer includes hardware such as a central processing unit (CPU), a memory management unit (MMU), and a memory (also referred to as main memory). The operating system can be any one or more computer operating systems that implement service processing through processes. For example, the Linux operating system, the Unix operating system, the Android operating system, the iOS operating system, or the Windows operating system, etc. The application layer includes applications such as a browser, an address book, a word processing software, and an instant messaging software. Moreover, the embodiment of the present application does not particularly limit the specific structure of the execution entity of the method provided by the embodiment of the present application. As long as it can communicate according to the method provided by the embodiment of the present application by running a program that records the code of the method provided by the embodiment of the present application. For example, the execution entity of the method provided by the embodiment of the present application can be a terminal device or a network device, or a functional module in the terminal device or the network device that can call and execute the program.

[0063] Currently, edge terminal devices for multi-path communication and relay terminal devices in multi-path communication are both in the Radio Resource Control (RRC) connected state. For a relay terminal device in the RRC connected state, its mobility is controlled by a network device (such as a base station). That is, when the signal quality between the relay terminal device and the network device is lower than a preset threshold, the currently serving network device switches the relay terminal device to another network device according to the measurement report reported by the relay terminal device. At this time, the currently serving network device can be referred to as the source network device, the other network device is referred to as the target network device, and the relay terminal device that needs to be switched is referred to as the target relay terminal device.

[0064] After the measurement report reported by the target relay terminal device to the source network device indicates that the signal quality is less than or equal to a preset threshold, if the source network device decides to switch the target relay terminal device to the target network device, it is necessary to first release the relay communication link configuration of the target relay terminal device at the edge terminal device connected to the target relay terminal device, and then switch the target relay terminal device to the target network device. Among them, the content included in the relay communication link configuration may refer to the specific configurations included in protocol layers such as the Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer, the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, and the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer. The specific configuration may refer to the prior art and will not be elaborated herein.

[0065] Figure 2 It is a schematic flowchart of an existing method for switching a target relay terminal device. As Figure 2 shown, the method includes:

[0066] S201. The source network device sends a Radio Resource Control Reconfiguration (RRCReconfiguration) signaling to the edge terminal device.

[0067] Correspondingly, the edge terminal device receives the Radio Resource Control Reconfiguration signaling sent by the source network device.

[0068] Among them, the Radio Resource Control Reconfiguration signaling carries an indication to release the relay communication link configuration of the edge terminal device and the target relay terminal device, that is, the configuration of the indirect path, so as to release the relay communication link configuration of the target relay terminal device at the edge terminal device.

[0069] S202. The edge terminal device performs a release operation of the relay communication link configuration according to the Radio Resource Control Reconfiguration signaling.

[0070] S203. After the release operation of the relay communication link configuration of the edge terminal device is completed, the edge terminal device sends a Radio Resource Control Reconfiguration Complete (RRCReconfiguration Complete) signaling to the source network device.

[0071] Correspondingly, the source network device receives the radio resource configuration reconfiguration completion signaling replied by the edge terminal device.

[0072] Wherein, the radio resource configuration reconfiguration completion signaling indicates that the edge terminal device has released the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device.

[0073] S204. The source network device sends a radio resource configuration reconfiguration signaling to the target relay terminal device.

[0074] Correspondingly, the target relay terminal device receives the radio resource configuration reconfiguration signaling sent by the source network device.

[0075] Wherein, the radio resource configuration reconfiguration signaling carries an indication for the target relay terminal device to switch to another source network device, and a handover configuration for switching to another source network device.

[0076] S205. The target relay terminal device performs a cell handover operation according to the radio resource configuration reconfiguration signaling to switch to the target network device.

[0077] However, before the source network device switches the target relay terminal device, it is necessary to first release the relay communication link configuration of the target relay terminal device at the edge terminal device, resulting in a relatively high handover delay of the target relay terminal device. Further, when the signal quality between the target relay terminal device and the source network device is poor, it is easy to cause a handover failure problem.

[0078] In view of this, the present application provides a communication method. By the source network device simultaneously sending a signaling for releasing the relay communication link configuration between the edge terminal device and the target relay terminal device to the edge terminal device, and sending a handover instruction to the relay terminal device, after the edge terminal device completes the configuration release, the edge terminal device directly indicates to the target relay terminal device that the edge terminal device has released the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device, and then the target relay terminal device switches from the first cell of the source network device to the second cell of the target network device, without waiting for the interaction between the edge terminal device and the source network device after the relay communication link configuration is released, and the process that the source network device sends a handover indication after learning that the edge terminal device has completed the configuration release, thereby reducing the handover delay of the relay terminal device.

[0079] In the embodiments of the present application, the source network device involved is any one of the aforementioned network devices, and the edge terminal device and the target relay terminal device are any one of the aforementioned terminal devices. Among them, the source network device, the edge terminal device, and the target relay terminal device can be not only electronic devices, but also devices, chips, etc. that implement their corresponding functions. In the embodiments of the present application, the source network device, the edge terminal device, and the target relay terminal device are all taken as electronic devices as an example for introduction.

[0080] The technical solution of the present application and how the technical solution of the present application solves the above technical problems will be described in detail below with specific embodiments. These specific embodiments below can be combined with each other, and the same or similar concepts or processes may not be repeated in some embodiments. The embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0081] Figure 3 It is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. As Figure 3 shown, the communication method may include:

[0082] S301. The source network device sends first indication information to the target relay terminal device and sends fourth indication information to at least one edge terminal device.

[0083] Correspondingly, the target relay terminal device receives the first indication information sent by the source network device, and at least one edge terminal device receives the fourth indication information sent by the source network device.

[0084] Among them, the source network device sending the first indication information to the target relay terminal device and sending the fourth indication information to the edge terminal device can be sent simultaneously. For example, when the sending times of the first indication information and the fourth indication information are within a preset time interval, it can be considered as simultaneous sending. The preset time interval can be configured according to actual needs. The "simultaneous" mentioned later in the present application is all the "simultaneous" mentioned here, and no further explanation will be given later. The first indication information is used to instruct the target relay terminal device to switch from the first cell to the second cell. The first cell is a cell under the source network device, and the second cell is a cell under the target network device.

[0085] The first indication information includes information indicating the target network device. For example, it may include the identification of the target network device (such as name, number, etc.), the network configuration information of the target network device, etc., so that the target relay terminal device can obtain the information of the target network device and switch to the target network device subsequently. The first indication information also includes the information that the target relay terminal device needs to wait for the second indication information sent by the edge terminal device after receiving the first indication information sent by the source network device, and then switch from the first cell to the second cell. The second indication information is used to indicate that the edge terminal device has released the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device.

[0086] The fourth indication information is used to indicate that the edge terminal device releases the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device. The target relay terminal device is a relay terminal device that provides relay services for the edge terminal device. The first indication information and the fourth indication information may be, for example, the aforementioned RRCReconfiguration signaling.

[0087] S302. The edge terminal device performs the release operation of the relay communication link configuration according to the fourth indication information.

[0088] Among them, the release operation of the relay communication link configuration of the edge terminal device is the same as the existing release operation performed according to the RRCReconfiguration signaling, and will not be elaborated here.

[0089] S303. After releasing the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device, the edge terminal device sends the second indication information to the target relay terminal device.

[0090] Correspondingly, the target relay terminal device receives the second indication information sent by the edge terminal device.

[0091] Among them, the second indication information is used to indicate that the edge terminal device has released the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device, that is, it indicates that the edge terminal device has completed the operation of releasing the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device.

[0092] The operation of completing the release of the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device may be, for example, reclaiming the resources used to support the relay communication link related to the target relay terminal device from the network resource pool, and / or updating the system state related to the relay communication link, etc., to represent the completion of the release operation of the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device.

[0093] The second indication information is transmitted through the PC5 interface between the edge terminal device and the target relay terminal device. The edge terminal device only releases the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device, but the PC5 link between the edge terminal device and the relay terminal device has not been released, and the two can still communicate through the connection of the PC5 interface to transmit the second indication information.

[0094] In addition, the edge terminal device also sends a configuration release completion response message to the source network device, so that the source network device knows that the edge terminal device has released the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device.

[0095] Optionally, the second indication information can be sent by the edge terminal device to the target relay terminal device before sending the configuration release completion response message to the source network device, or can be sent to the target relay terminal device simultaneously when sending the configuration release completion response message to the source network device, so as to further reduce the handover delay of the target relay terminal device.

[0096] S304. If the target relay terminal device receives the second indication information of at least one edge terminal device, it switches from the first cell to the second cell.

[0097] The target relay terminal device is a relay terminal device that provides relay services for at least one edge terminal device. The target relay terminal device can switch from the first cell to the second cell only after receiving the second indication information sent by all edge terminal devices using the relay services provided by it.

[0098] In the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application, the source network device sends the first indication information to the target relay terminal device, instructing the target relay terminal device to switch from the first cell under the source network device to the second cell under the target network device after receiving the second indication information (indicating that the edge terminal device has released the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device) from at least one edge terminal device. The method of the present application does not need to wait for the time required for the edge terminal device to feedback to the source network device and the source network device to instruct the target relay terminal device to perform handover after the edge terminal device releases the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device, thereby reducing the handover delay of the target relay terminal device.

[0099] In addition, since the edge terminal device may have an abnormal release when releasing the relay communication link configuration related to the target relay terminal device, or the second indication information may have an abnormal transmission when the edge terminal device sends the second indication information. Therefore, optionally, a first duration can also be set to prevent the target relay terminal device from waiting for a long time when it cannot receive the second indication information, resulting in being unable to switch from the first cell to the second cell.

[0100] Among them, the first duration can be pre-configured in the target relay terminal device, or can be sent by the source network device to the target relay terminal device. The first duration can be for a single cell handover operation, or for multiple cell handover operations within a preset time period, or can be used by the target relay terminal device each time it performs a cell handover operation, etc. The time length of the first duration can be set according to actual requirements, and this application does not limit it.

[0101] Next, the method provided in the embodiments of the present application will be described respectively in the cases where the number of edge terminal devices using the relay service provided by the target relay terminal device is one or multiple.

[0102] Case A: The number of edge terminal devices using the relay service provided by the target relay terminal device is 1.

[0103] If the target relay terminal device receives the second indication information of the edge terminal device within the first duration, indicating that the edge terminal device has released the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device, the target relay terminal device switches from the first cell to the second cell.

[0104] If the second indication information of the edge terminal device is not received when the first duration is reached, indicating that there may be an abnormal release or an abnormal transmission of the second indication information of the edge terminal device. To avoid the target relay terminal device waiting for a long time and being unable to switch from the first cell to the second cell, the target relay terminal device does not need to continue waiting and directly switches from the first cell to the second cell.

[0105] Case B: The number of edge terminal devices using the relay service provided by the target relay terminal device is multiple.

[0106] If the target relay terminal device receives the second indication information of all edge terminal devices within the first duration, indicating that all the multiple edge terminal devices have released the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device, the target relay terminal device switches from the first cell to the second cell.

[0107] If the target relay terminal device does not receive the second indication information of all edge terminal devices when the first duration is reached, indicating that there may be an abnormal release or an abnormal transmission of the second indication information of some edge terminal devices. However, due to the arrival of the first duration, the target relay terminal device switches from the first cell to the second cell.

[0108] For any of the above cases A and B, it can be set to be indicated in the first indication information, that is, the target relay terminal device determines whether it needs to wait to receive the second indication information of at least one edge terminal device and then switch from the first cell to the second cell according to the method indicated by the first indication information.

[0109] Next, taking the example that the first duration is sent by the source network device to the target relay terminal device, how the target relay terminal device obtains the first duration will be described.

[0110] Figure 4 It is a schematic flowchart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of this application. As Figure 4 shown, the method may further include:

[0111] S401. The source network device sends third indication information to the target relay terminal device.

[0112] Correspondingly, the target relay terminal device receives the third indication information sent by the source network device.

[0113] Wherein, the third indication information is used to indicate a first duration, and the first duration is used for the target relay terminal device to perform cell switching.

[0114] Optionally, the first duration may be included in the third indication information, or the third indication information includes an identifier indicating the first duration. When the third indication information includes an identifier indicating the first duration, at least one first duration may be preset in the target relay terminal device, and the target relay terminal device may determine the corresponding first duration from the preset at least one first duration according to the identifier of the first duration in the third indication information.

[0115] Exemplarily, taking the example that the implementation manner of the first duration is implemented by a timer, the third indication information includes an identifier of the timer and / or the duration of the timer. Wherein, the duration of the timer is the same as the first duration. The timer may be a timer with a preset duration, and the target relay terminal device may determine the timer corresponding to this cell switching according to the identifier of the timer; or, the target relay terminal device includes multiple timers with no set duration (these timers may also be used for other processing operations of the target relay terminal device), the target relay terminal device may determine the timer corresponding to this cell switching according to the identifier of the timer, and determine the duration of the timer according to the duration of the timer. Or, the target relay terminal device temporarily constructs a timer that meets the duration according to the duration of the timer, etc. This application does not limit the type of the timer.

[0116] In a possible implementation manner, the third indication information may be included in the first indication information.

[0117] In another possible implementation manner, the third indication information may be an indication information independent of the first indication information. It may be sent to the target relay terminal device after determining that the network quality between the source network device and the target relay terminal device is poor and before sending the first indication information, or may be sent simultaneously with the first indication information.

[0118] The method provided by the embodiments of the present application, by setting the first duration, avoids the problem that the target relay terminal device waits for a long time due to abnormal configuration release and / or abnormal transmission of the second indication information when the edge terminal device releases the relay communication link configuration related to the target relay terminal device, further improves the stability of cell handover of the target relay terminal device, and reduces the handover delay.

[0119] Figure 5 It is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided by the embodiments of the present application. It can be understood that the communication device can correspondingly implement the operations or steps of the target relay terminal device in the foregoing various method embodiments. The communication device may be the target relay terminal device or a component configurable in the target relay terminal device, such as a chip, a chip module, etc. As Figure 5 shown, the communication device may include: a receiving module 501, a control module 502. Optionally, the receiving module 501 and the sending module may be integrated into a transceiver module or separated.

[0120] The receiving module 501 is configured to receive first indication information for instructing the target relay terminal device to switch from a first cell to a second cell. The first cell is a cell under the source network device, the second cell is a cell under the target network device, and the target relay terminal device is a relay terminal device that provides relay services for at least one edge terminal device.

[0121] The control module 502 is configured to switch from the first cell to the second cell if the second indication information of the at least one edge terminal device is received. The second indication information of an edge terminal device is used to indicate that the edge terminal device has released the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device.

[0122] Optionally, the first indication information is specifically used to instruct the target relay terminal device to switch from the first cell to the second cell after receiving the second indication information of the at least one edge terminal device.

[0123] Optionally, the control module 502 is specifically configured to switch from the first cell to the second cell if the second indication information of the at least one edge terminal device is received within the first time period.

[0124] Optionally, the control module 502 is further configured to switch from the first cell to the second cell when the first time period arrives and the second indication information of all edge terminal devices in the at least one edge terminal device is not received.

[0125] Optionally, the receiving module 501 is further configured to receive third indication information for indicating the first time period.

[0126] Optionally, the third indication information includes: the identifier of a timer and the duration of the timer. The duration of the timer is the same as the first time period.

[0127] The communication device provided in this embodiment can perform the actions of the target relay terminal device in the foregoing method embodiment, and its implementation principle and technical effects are similar, which will not be elaborated here.

[0128] Figure 6 FIG. is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. It can be understood that the communication device can correspondingly implement the operations or steps of the corresponding source network device in the foregoing method embodiments. The communication device can be a source network device or a component configurable in the source network device, such as a chip, a chip module, etc. As Figure 6 shown, the communication device may include: a sending module 601. Optionally, the receiving module and the sending module 601 may be integrated into a transceiver module or separated.

[0129] The sending module 601 is configured to send first indication information for indicating that the target relay terminal device switches from the first cell to the second cell after receiving the second indication information from at least one edge terminal device. The first cell is a cell under the source network device, and the second cell is a cell under the target network device. The target relay terminal device is a relay terminal device that provides relay services for the at least one edge terminal device. The second indication information of an edge terminal device is used to indicate that the edge terminal device releases the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device.

[0130] Optionally, the sending module 601 is further configured to send third indication information for indicating the first time period, and the first time period is used for the target relay terminal device to perform cell switching.

[0131] The communication device provided in this embodiment can perform the actions of the source network device in the foregoing method embodiment, and its implementation principle and technical effects are similar, which will not be elaborated here.

[0132] Figure 7 The figure is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application. It can be understood that this communication device can correspondingly implement the operations or steps of the corresponding edge terminal device in the foregoing various method embodiments. This communication device can be an edge terminal device or a component configurable in an edge terminal device, such as a chip, a chip module, etc. As Figure 7 shown, this communication device may include: a receiving module 701 and a transmitting module 702. Optionally, the receiving module 701 and the transmitting module 702 may be integrated into a transceiver module or separated.

[0133] The receiving module 701 is configured to receive fourth indication information, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate releasing the relay communication link configuration with a target relay terminal device, and the target relay terminal device is a relay terminal device that provides relay services for this edge terminal device.

[0134] The transmitting module 702 is configured to send second indication information after releasing the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device, where the second indication information is used to indicate that this edge terminal device has released the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device.

[0135] The communication device provided in this embodiment can perform the actions of the edge terminal device in the foregoing method embodiments, and its implementation principles and technical effects are similar, which will not be elaborated here.

[0136] Optionally, the above communication device may further include at least one storage module, and the storage module may include data and / or instructions. Other modules in the communication device (such as the receiving module, the transmitting module, the processing module, etc.) can read the data and / or instructions in the storage module to implement corresponding methods.

[0137] It should be noted that it should be understood that in actual implementation, the transmitting module can be a transmitter, the receiving module can be a receiver, or the transmitting module and the receiving module are implemented through a transceiver, or the transmitting module and the receiving module are implemented through a communication port. And the processing module can be implemented in the form of software called by a processing element; it can also be implemented in the form of hardware. For example, the processing module can be at least one separately established processing element, or can be integrated in a certain chip of the above device. In addition, it can also be stored in the memory of the above device in the form of program code, and called and executed by a certain processing element of the above device to perform the functions of the above processing module. In addition, all or part of these modules can be integrated together or independently implemented. The processing element mentioned here can be an integrated circuit with signal processing capabilities. In the implementation process, each step of the above method or the above various modules can be completed through the hardware integrated logic circuit or software-form instructions in the processor element.

[0138] For example, the above modules may be one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the above methods, such as: one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or one or more digital signal processors (DSPs), or one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), etc. Again, when a certain module above is implemented in the form of a processing element invoking program code, the processing element may be a general-purpose processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU) or other processor that can invoke program code. Again, these modules may be integrated together and implemented in the form of a system-on-a-chip (SOC).

[0139] Figure 8 This is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application. As Figure 8 shown, the communication device 800 may include: at least one processor 801, a memory 802, and a transceiver 803. Among them, the processor 801, the transceiver 803, and the memory 802 communicate with each other through an internal connection path. The memory 802 is used to store instructions, and the processor 801 is used to execute the instructions stored in the memory 802 to control the transceiver 803 to send feedback information and / or receive feedback information.

[0140] Among them, the communication device may be, for example, the aforementioned target relay terminal device, or the aforementioned source network device, or may be the aforementioned edge terminal device.

[0141] It should be understood that the communication device may correspond to the target relay terminal device in the above method embodiment, or may correspond to the source network device in the above method embodiment, or an edge terminal device. And it can be used to execute each step and / or process executed by the target relay terminal device, or the source network device, or the edge terminal device in the above method embodiment. Optionally, the memory 802 may include a read-only memory and a random access memory, and provide instructions and data to the processor 801. A part of the memory 802 may also include a non-volatile random access memory. The memory 802 may be a separate device or may be integrated in the processor 801. The processor 801 may be used to execute the instructions stored in the memory 802, and when the processor 801 executes the instructions stored in the memory, the processor 801 is used to execute each step and / or process of the above method embodiment.

[0142] Among them, the transceiver 803 may include a transmitter and a receiver. The transceiver 803 may further include an antenna, and the number of antennas may be one or more. The processor 801 and the memory 802 and the transceiver 803 may be devices integrated on different chips. For example, the processor 801 and the memory 802 may be integrated in a baseband chip, and the transceiver 803 may be integrated in a radio frequency chip. The processor 801 and the memory 802 and the transceiver 803 may also be devices integrated on the same chip. This application does not limit this.

[0143] Optionally, the communication device is a component configured in a target relay terminal device, or a source network device, or an edge terminal device, such as a chip, a chip system, etc.

[0144] Among them, the transceiver 803 may also be a communication interface, such as an input interface and / or an output interface, a circuit, etc. The transceiver 803 and the processor 801 and the memory 802 may all be integrated in the same chip, such as integrated in a baseband chip.

[0145] It should be understood that the above communication device may be one or more chips. For example, the communication device may be a field programmable gate array (FPGA), may be an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), may also be a system on chip (SoC), may also be a central processor unit (CPU), may also be a network processor (NP), may also be a digital signal processing circuit (DSP), may also be a micro controller unit (MCU), may also be a programmable logic device (PLD) or other integrated chips.

[0146] In the implementation process, each step of the above method may be completed by the integrated logic circuit in the hardware of the processor or the instructions in the form of software. The steps of the method disclosed in combination with the embodiments of the present application may be directly embodied as being executed and completed by the hardware processor, or executed and completed by the combination of the hardware and software modules in the processor. The software module may be located in a mature storage medium in the art such as a random access memory, a flash memory, a read only memory, a programmable read only memory, or an electrically erasable programmable memory, a register, etc. This storage medium is located in the memory, and the processor reads the information in the memory and combines its hardware to complete the steps of the above method. To avoid repetition, it will not be described in detail here.

[0147] It should be noted that the processor in the embodiments of the present application may be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. In the implementation process, each step of the above method embodiments can be completed by the integrated logic circuit in the hardware of the processor or instructions in the form of software. The above processor may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components. It can implement or execute each method, step, and logic block diagram disclosed in the embodiments of the present application. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may also be any conventional processor, etc. The steps of the method disclosed in combination with the embodiments of the present application can be directly embodied as being executed and completed by the hardware decoding processor, or executed and completed by a combination of the hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software module may be located in a mature storage medium in the art such as random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, or electrically erasable programmable memory, registers, etc. This storage medium is located in the memory, and the processor reads the information in the memory and combines its hardware to complete the steps of the above method.

[0148] It can be understood that the memory in the embodiments of the present application can be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or can include both volatile and non-volatile memories. Among them, the non-volatile memory can be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory can be a random access memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache. By way of example but not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchlink dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct rambus random access memory (DR RAM). It should be noted that the memories described herein are intended to include but not be limited to these and any other suitable types of memories.

[0149] The embodiments of the present application further provide a communication system, which includes the target relay terminal device, the source network device, and the edge terminal device in the foregoing embodiments.

[0150] The present application also provides a chip, on which a computer program is stored. When the computer program is executed by the chip, the method in the foregoing embodiments is implemented.

[0151] The present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which can include: various media that can store program codes, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disc. Specifically, program instructions are stored in the computer-readable storage medium, and when the program instructions are executed, the method in the foregoing embodiments is implemented.

[0152] The present application also provides a computer program product, which includes execution instructions stored in a readable storage medium. At least one processor of the communication device can read the execution instructions from the readable storage medium, and the execution of the execution instructions by the at least one processor enables the communication device to implement the communication methods provided by the above various embodiments.

[0153] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, rather than to limit them; although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or perform equivalent replacements on some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: Receiving first indication information for instructing a target relay terminal device to switch from a first cell to a second cell, where the first cell is a cell under a source network device, the second cell is a cell under a target network device, and the target relay terminal device is a relay terminal device that provides relay services for at least one edge terminal device; If second indication information of the at least one edge terminal device is received, then switching from the first cell to the second cell; the second indication information of an edge terminal device is used to indicate that the edge terminal device has released the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The first indication information is specifically used to instruct the target relay terminal device to switch from the first cell to the second cell after receiving the second indication information of the at least one edge terminal device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein The "if second indication information of the at least one edge terminal device is received, then switching from the first cell to the second cell" includes: If the second indication information of the at least one edge terminal device is received within a first duration, then switching from the first cell to the second cell.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The method further includes: If, when the first duration is reached, the second indication information of all edge terminal devices among the at least one edge terminal device is not received, then switching from the first cell to the second cell.

5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receiving third indication information for instructing the first duration.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein The third indication information includes: an identifier of a timer and a duration of the timer; where the duration of the timer is the same as the first duration.

7. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: Sending first indication information for instructing a target relay terminal device to switch from a first cell to a second cell after receiving second indication information from at least one edge terminal device, where the first cell is a cell under a source network device, the second cell is a cell under a target network device, the target relay terminal device is a relay terminal device that provides relay services for the at least one edge terminal device, and the second indication information of an edge terminal device is used to indicate that the edge terminal device has released the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein The method further includes: Sending third indication information for instructing a first duration, where the first duration is used for the target relay terminal device to perform cell switching.

9. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: Receiving fourth indication information for instructing to release the relay communication link configuration with a target relay terminal device, where the target relay terminal device is a relay terminal device that provides relay services for the edge terminal device; After releasing the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device, sending second indication information for indicating that the edge terminal device has released the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device.

10. A communication device, characterized in that, The apparatus includes: A receiving module, configured to receive first indication information for instructing a target relay terminal device to switch from a first cell to a second cell, where the first cell is a cell under a source network device, the second cell is a cell under a target network device, and the target relay terminal device is a relay terminal device that provides relay services for at least one edge terminal device; A control module, configured to switch from the first cell to the second cell if second indication information of the at least one edge terminal device is received; the second indication information of an edge terminal device is used to indicate that the edge terminal device has released the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device.

11. A communication device, characterized in that, The apparatus includes: A sending module, configured to send first indication information for instructing a target relay terminal device to switch from a first cell to a second cell after receiving second indication information from at least one edge terminal device, where the first cell is a cell under a source network device, the second cell is a cell under a target network device, the target relay terminal device is a relay terminal device that provides relay services for the at least one edge terminal device, and the second indication information of an edge terminal device is used to indicate that the edge terminal device has released the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device.

12. A communication device, characterized in that, The apparatus includes: A receiving module, configured to receive fourth indication information for instructing to release the relay communication link configuration with a target relay terminal device, where the target relay terminal device is a relay terminal device that provides relay services for the edge terminal device; A sending module, configured to send second indication information after releasing the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the edge terminal device has released the relay communication link configuration with the target relay terminal device.

13. A communication device, characterized in that, The apparatus includes: a processor, a transceiver, and a memory; the processor is communicatively connected to the transceiver and the memory respectively; The memory stores computer-executable instructions; The transceiver communicates with external devices; The processor executes the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory to implement the method according to any one of claims 1-9.

14. A chip, characterized in that, A computer program is stored on the chip, and when the computer program is executed by the chip, the method according to any one of claims 1-9 is implemented.

15. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, Computer-executable instructions are stored in the computer-readable storage medium, and when the computer-executable instructions are executed by a computer, they are used to implement the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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