Communication method and device

Abstract

This application provides a communication method and device. The communication method includes: a first terminal receiving first COT request information from a second terminal; the first terminal sending first response information to the second terminal, the first response information including first confirmation information and / or second confirmation information; wherein the first confirmation information is used to indicate or confirm that the first terminal will initiate the first COT; and the second confirmation information is used to indicate or confirm that the first terminal will not initiate the first COT. This application can reduce power consumption during channel access.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communications, and more specifically, to communication methods and devices. Background Technology

[0002] In existing technologies, when a terminal operates on a sidelink in an unlicensed frequency band, it needs to perform different types of Listen before Talk (LBT) before sending sidelink data. Only when the LBT is successful can it successfully access the channel for sidelink transmission. When there is no Channel Occupancy Time (COT), the terminal needs to perform Type 1 LBT. Only after success can it initiate a COT. Other terminals that meet the conditions can also share the resources within this COT and use Type 2 LBT. In existing technologies, whether a terminal initiates a COT depends on whether it has data to send and whether Type 1 LBT is successful. It does not support scenarios where one terminal requests another terminal to initiate a COT for its own use.

[0003] Sidelink Unlicensed (SL-U) technology can be deployed in commercial scenarios such as wearable smart devices, smart homes, and the Industrial Internet. Since cost and power consumption of terminal devices are crucial metrics for commercial deployment, how to achieve energy savings for SL-U Reduced Capability (RedCap) terminals from a low-power perspective is a problem that needs further research.

[0004] When an SL-U terminal operates in an unlicensed frequency band, it needs to perform a Level-Based Listening (LBT) operation before transmitting data. RedCap terminals, in order to access the channel, need to continuously perform channel listening operations for a relatively long period, which results in significant power consumption. Therefore, how to save energy during the channel access process is a problem that needs to be studied. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a communication method and device that can reduce power consumption during channel access.

[0006] This application provides a communication method, including:

[0007] The first terminal receives the first channel occupancy time (COT) request information from the second terminal;

[0008] The first terminal sends a first response message to the second terminal, the first response message including a first confirmation message and / or a second confirmation message; wherein...

[0009] The first confirmation message is used to indicate or confirm that the first terminal will initiate the first COT;

[0010] The second confirmation message is used to indicate or confirm that the first terminal will not initiate the first COT.

[0011] This application also provides a communication method, including:

[0012] The second terminal sends the first COT request information to the first terminal;

[0013] The second terminal receives first response information from the first terminal, the first response information including first confirmation information and / or second confirmation information; wherein...

[0014] The first confirmation message is used to indicate or confirm that the first terminal will initiate the first COT;

[0015] The second confirmation message is used to indicate or confirm that the first terminal will not initiate the first COT.

[0016] This application embodiment also provides a first terminal, including:

[0017] The first receiving module is used to receive the first COT request information from the second terminal;

[0018] A first sending module is configured to send first response information to a second terminal, the first response information including first confirmation information and / or second confirmation information; wherein...

[0019] The first confirmation message is used to indicate or confirm that the first terminal will initiate the first COT;

[0020] The second confirmation message is used to indicate or confirm that the first terminal will not initiate the first COT.

[0021] This application embodiment also provides a second terminal, including:

[0022] The second sending module is used to send the first COT request information to the first terminal;

[0023] The second receiving module is configured to receive first response information from the first terminal, the first response information including first confirmation information and / or second confirmation information; wherein...

[0024] The first confirmation message is used to indicate or confirm that the first terminal will initiate the first COT;

[0025] The second confirmation message is used to indicate or confirm that the first terminal will not initiate the first COT.

[0026] This application also provides a communication device, including a processor, a memory, and a transceiver. The memory stores a computer program, and the processor calls and runs the computer program stored in the memory and controls the transceiver to cause the device to perform the methods described above.

[0027] This application also provides a chip for implementing the above-described method.

[0028] Specifically, the chip includes a processor for retrieving and running a computer program from memory, causing a device equipped with the chip to perform the methods described above.

[0029] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program that, when run by a device, causes the device to perform the above-described method.

[0030] This application also provides a computer program product, including computer program instructions that cause a computer to perform the above-described method.

[0031] This application also provides a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the above-described method.

[0032] In this embodiment of the application, after the first terminal receives the first COT request information from the second terminal, it can initiate a COT. The COT can be used by at least other terminals including the second terminal, thereby reducing the power consumption of other terminals during channel access. Attached Figure Description

[0033] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an application scenario of an embodiment of this application.

[0034] Figure 2A This is a schematic diagram of in-network communication.

[0035] Figure 2B This is a schematic diagram of side-by-side communication with partial network coverage.

[0036] Figure 2C This is a schematic diagram of outgoing communication outside network coverage.

[0037] Figure 2D This is a schematic diagram of a side-by-side communication system with a central control node.

[0038] Figure 3A This is a schematic diagram of a unicast transmission method in NR-V2X.

[0039] Figure 3B This is a schematic diagram of a multicast transmission method in NR-V2X.

[0040] Figure 3C This is a schematic diagram of a broadcast transmission method in NR-V2X.

[0041] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the channel occupancy time obtained by a communication device after a successful LBT on an unlicensed spectrum channel, and the resources used during that channel occupancy time for signal transmission.

[0042] Figure 5 This is a schematic flowchart of a communication method 500 according to an embodiment of this application.

[0043] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of Embodiment 1 of this application.

[0044] Figures 7A-7E This is a schematic diagram of Embodiment 2 of this application.

[0045] Figure 8A This is a schematic diagram of Embodiment 3 of this application. Figure 1 .

[0046] Figure 8B This is schematic diagram two of embodiment three of this application.

[0047] Figure 9A This is a schematic diagram of Embodiment 4 of this application. Figure 1 .

[0048] Figure 9B This is schematic diagram two of embodiment four of this application.

[0049] Figure 10 This is a schematic flowchart of a communication method 1000 according to an embodiment of this application.

[0050] Figure 11 This is a structural schematic diagram of the first terminal 1100 according to an embodiment of this application.

[0051] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first terminal 1200 according to an embodiment of this application.

[0052] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second terminal 1300 according to an embodiment of this application.

[0053] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second terminal 1400 according to an embodiment of this application.

[0054] Figure 15 This is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 1500 according to an embodiment of this application.

[0055] Figure 16 This is a schematic structural diagram of chip 1600 according to an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0056] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0057] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of the embodiments of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. The objects described by "first" and "second" may be the same or different.

[0058] The technical solutions of this application embodiment can be applied to various communication systems, such as: Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) system, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, Advanced Long Term Evolution (LTE-A) system, New Radio (NR) system, evolution of NR system, LTE-based access to unlicensed spectrum (LTE-U) system, NR-based access to unlicensed spectrum (NR-U) system, Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) system, Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN), and Wireless Fidelity (WF). Fidelity (WiFi), 5th-Generation (5G) communication systems, or other communication systems.

[0059] Traditional communication systems typically support a limited number of connections and are easy to implement. However, with the development of communication technology, mobile communication systems will not only support traditional communication but also, for example, device-to-device (D2D) communication, machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, or vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication. The embodiments of this application can also be applied to these communication systems.

[0060] In one implementation, the communication system in this application embodiment can be applied to a carrier aggregation (CA) scenario, a dual connectivity (DC) scenario, or a standalone (SA) network deployment scenario.

[0061] In one embodiment, the communication system in this application can be applied to unlicensed spectrum, wherein the unlicensed spectrum can also be considered as shared spectrum; or, the communication system in this application can also be applied to licensed spectrum, wherein the licensed spectrum can also be considered as non-shared spectrum.

[0062] This application describes various embodiments in conjunction with network devices and terminal devices. The terminal device may also be referred to as user equipment (UE), access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication device, user agent, or user device, etc.

[0063] Terminal devices can be stations (STAION, ST) in WLANs, cellular phones, cordless phones, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phones, Wireless Local Loop (WLL) stations, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) devices, handheld devices with wireless communication capabilities, computing devices or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem, in-vehicle devices, wearable devices, terminal devices in next-generation communication systems such as NR networks, or terminal devices in future evolved Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) networks, etc.

[0064] In the embodiments of this application, the terminal device can be deployed on land, including indoor or outdoor, handheld, wearable or vehicle-mounted; it can also be deployed on water (such as ships); and it can also be deployed in the air (such as airplanes, balloons and satellites).

[0065] In the embodiments of this application, the terminal device may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver capabilities, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal device in industrial control, a wireless terminal device in self-driving, a wireless terminal device in remote medical care, a wireless terminal device in a smart grid, a wireless terminal device in transportation safety, a wireless terminal device in a smart city, or a wireless terminal device in a smart home, etc.

[0066] By way of example and not limitation, in this embodiment, the terminal device can also be a wearable device. Wearable devices, also known as wearable smart devices, are a general term for devices that utilize wearable technology to intelligently design and develop everyday wearables, such as glasses, gloves, watches, clothing, and shoes. Wearable devices are portable devices that are worn directly on the body or integrated into the user's clothing or accessories. Wearable devices are not merely hardware devices, but also achieve powerful functions through software support, data interaction, and cloud interaction. Broadly speaking, wearable smart devices include those that are feature-rich, large in size, and can achieve complete or partial functions without relying on a smartphone, such as smartwatches or smart glasses, as well as those that focus on a specific type of application function and require the use of other devices such as smartphones, such as various smart bracelets and smart jewelry for vital sign monitoring.

[0067] In the embodiments of this application, the network device can be a device for communicating with mobile devices. The network device can be an access point (AP) in WLAN, a base station (BTS) in GSM or CDMA, a base station (NodeB, NB) in WCDMA, an evolved Node B (eNB or eNodeB) in LTE, a relay station or access point, or a vehicle-mounted device, wearable device, or a network device (gNB) in an NR network, or a network device in a future evolved PLMN network or an NTN network, etc.

[0068] By way of example and not limitation, in this embodiment, the network device may have mobility characteristics; for example, the network device may be a mobile device. Optionally, the network device may be a satellite or a balloon station. For example, the satellite may be a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite, a medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellite, a geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellite, a high elliptical orbit (HEO) satellite, etc. Optionally, the network device may also be a base station located on land, water, or other similar locations.

[0069] In this embodiment, the network device can provide services to a cell. The terminal device communicates with the network device through the transmission resources (e.g., frequency domain resources, or spectrum resources) used by the cell. The cell can be the cell corresponding to the network device (e.g., a base station). The cell can belong to a macro base station or to a base station corresponding to a small cell. The small cell can include: metro cell, micro cell, pico cell, femto cell, etc. These small cells have the characteristics of small coverage area and low transmission power, and are suitable for providing high-speed data transmission services.

[0070] Figure 1 An exemplary communication system 100 is shown. The communication system includes a network device 110 and two terminal devices 120. In one embodiment, the communication system 100 may include multiple network devices 110, and the coverage area of ​​each network device 110 may include other numbers of terminal devices 120, which is not limited in this application embodiment.

[0071] In one embodiment, the communication system 100 may also include other network entities such as a Mobility Management Entity (MME) and an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), which are not limited in this application.

[0072] Network equipment can be further divided into access network equipment and core network equipment. That is, the wireless communication system also includes multiple core networks used to communicate with the access network equipment. Access network equipment can be evolved Node Bs (eNBs or e-NodeBs) in Long-Term Evolution (LTE), Next-Generation Radio (NR) (mobile communication system), or Authorized Auxiliary Access Long-Term Evolution (LAA-LTE) systems, such as macro base stations, micro base stations (also called "small base stations"), pico base stations, access points (APs), transmission points (TPs), or new generation Node Bs (gNodeBs).

[0073] It should be understood that devices with communication functions in the network / system of this application embodiment can be referred to as communication devices. Figure 1 Taking the communication system shown as an example, the communication equipment may include network devices and terminal devices with communication functions. The network devices and terminal devices may be specific devices in the embodiments of this application, which will not be described in detail here. The communication equipment may also include other devices in the communication system, such as network controllers, mobility management entities and other network entities, which are not limited in the embodiments of this application.

[0074] It should be understood that the terms "system" and "network" are often used interchangeably in this document. The term "and / or" in this document merely describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone. Furthermore, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0075] It should be understood that the term "instruction" mentioned in the embodiments of this application can be a direct instruction, an indirect instruction, or an indication of a relationship. For example, A instructing B can mean that A directly instructs B, such as B being able to obtain information through A; it can also mean that A indirectly instructs B, such as A instructing C, so B can obtain information through C; or it can mean that there is a relationship between A and B.

[0076] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the term "correspondence" may indicate that there is a direct or indirect correspondence between two things, or that there is an association between two things, or that there is a relationship of instruction and being instructed, configuration and being configured, etc.

[0077] To facilitate understanding of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the relevant technologies of the embodiments of this application are described below. The following relevant technologies are optional solutions and can be combined with the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application in any way, and they all fall within the protection scope of the embodiments of this application.

[0078] I. Side-to-side communication technology:

[0079] In side-by-side communication technology, based on the network coverage of the communicating terminal, it can be divided into side-by-side communication within network coverage, side-by-side communication with partial network coverage, side-by-side communication outside network coverage, and side-by-side communication with a central control node, as follows: Figures 2A-2D As shown.

[0080] like Figure 2A In side-link communication within network coverage, all terminals conducting side-link communication are within the coverage area of ​​the same base station. Therefore, all of these terminals can conduct side-link communication based on the same side-link configuration by receiving configuration signaling from the base station.

[0081] like Figure 2B In partial network coverage sidelink communication scenarios, some terminals performing sidelink communication are located within the base station's coverage area. These terminals can receive configuration signaling from the base station and perform sidelink communication according to the base station's configuration. Terminals located outside the network coverage area cannot receive the base station's configuration signaling. In this case, terminals outside the network coverage area will determine their sidelink configuration and perform sidelink communication based on pre-configuration information and information carried in the Physical Sidelink Broadcast Channel (PSBCH) sent by terminals within the network coverage area.

[0082] like Figure 2C For side-by-side communication outside network coverage, all terminals conducting side-by-side communication are located outside the network coverage area, and all terminals determine their side-by-side configuration based on pre-configuration information to conduct side-by-side communication.

[0083] like Figure 2D For side-link communication with a central control node, multiple terminals form a communication group. This communication group has a central control node, which can also be called the cluster head (CH). The central control node has one of the following functions: responsible for establishing the communication group; allowing members to join or leave the group; coordinating resources, allocating side-link transmission resources to other terminals, receiving side-link feedback information from other terminals, and coordinating resources with other communication groups.

[0084] II. Device-to-Device (D2D) / Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X)

[0085] Device-to-device communication is a sidelink (SL) transmission technology based on D2D. Unlike traditional cellular systems where data is received or transmitted through base stations, it offers higher spectral efficiency and lower transmission latency. Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) systems employ direct terminal-to-terminal communication, and currently two transmission modes are defined: Mode 1 and Mode 2.

[0086] In the first mode, the terminal's transmission resources are allocated by the base station, and the terminal transmits data on the side link according to the resources allocated by the base station. The base station can allocate resources for a single transmission or for semi-static transmission. For example... Figure 2A In this scenario, the terminal is located within the network coverage area, and the network allocates transmission resources for the terminal to use for side-by-side transmission.

[0087] Second mode: The terminal selects a resource from the resource pool for data transmission. For example... Figure 2C In this scenario, the terminal is located outside the cell coverage area, and it autonomously selects transmission resources from a pre-configured resource pool for sideline transmission; or, as... Figure 2A In this process, the terminal autonomously selects transmission resources from the resource pool configured in the network for side-channel transmission;

[0088] III. NR-V2X:

[0089] In NR-V2X, autonomous driving needs to be supported, which places higher demands on data interaction between vehicles, such as higher throughput, lower latency, higher reliability, wider coverage, and more flexible resource allocation.

[0090] LTE-V2X supports broadcast transmission, while NR-V2X introduces unicast and multicast transmission methods. For unicast transmission, there is only one receiving terminal. Figure 3A This is a schematic diagram of a unicast transmission method in NR-V2X. Figure 3AIn this process, unicast transmission occurs between UE1 and UE2. For multicast transmission, the receiving end is all terminals within a communication group, or all terminals within a certain transmission distance. Figure 3B This is a schematic diagram of a multicast transmission method in NR-V2X, such as... Figure 3B UE1, UE2, UE3, and UE4 form a communication group, where UE1 transmits data, and the other terminal devices in the group are receiving terminals. For broadcast transmission, the receiving terminal is any terminal surrounding the transmitting terminal. Figure 3C This is a schematic diagram of a broadcast transmission method in NR-V2X. Figure 3C In this diagram, UE1 is the sending terminal, and the other terminals around it, UE2-UE6, are all receiving terminals.

[0091] IV. 5G Unlicensed (Unlicensed) Spectrum Communication NR-U

[0092] NR systems enable seamless cellular network coverage, high spectral efficiency, high peak data rates, and high reliability. In Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, unlicensed spectrum (or unlicensed spectrum) has been implemented as a supplementary band to licensed spectrum for cellular networks. Similarly, NR systems can also utilize unlicensed spectrum as part of 5G cellular network technology to provide services to users. NR systems used on unlicensed spectrum are discussed in relevant standards and are referred to as NR-unlicensed (NR-U).

[0093] The NR-U system supports two networking modes: licensed spectrum assisted access and unlicensed spectrum independent access. The former requires the use of licensed spectrum to access the network, with unlicensed spectrum used as a secondary carrier; the latter can be used to form an independent network through unlicensed spectrum, and the UE can directly access the network through unlicensed spectrum.

[0094] Unlicensed spectrum refers to spectrum allocated by a country or region for use in wireless communication. This spectrum is generally considered shared spectrum, meaning that communication equipment can use it as long as it meets the regulatory requirements set by the country or region for that spectrum, without needing to apply for a proprietary spectrum license from the designated spectrum management agency. Because the use of unlicensed spectrum requires compliance with the specific regulations of each country and region, such as the "listen-before-talk" (LBT) principle, NR technology needs to be enhanced to adapt to the regulatory requirements of unlicensed frequency bands while efficiently utilizing unlicensed spectrum to provide services. Relevant standards primarily standardize NR-U technology aspects such as channel listening procedures, initial access procedures, control channel design, HARQ and scheduling, and scheduling-free licensed transmission.

[0095] V. Channel Monitoring

[0096] To ensure the harmonious coexistence of various communication systems using unlicensed spectrum, some countries and regions have stipulated regulatory requirements for the use of unlicensed spectrum. For example, according to some regulations, when communicating using unlicensed spectrum, communication devices must adhere to the "Listen Before Talk (LBT)" principle. This means that before transmitting signals through a channel on unlicensed spectrum, the communication device must first perform LBT (listen before talk), or channel monitoring. Only if the channel monitoring result is that the channel is idle or the LBT is successful can the communication device transmit signals through that channel; if the channel monitoring result is that the channel is busy or the LBT fails, then the communication device cannot transmit signals through that channel. Furthermore, to ensure fairness in the use of shared spectrum resources, if a communication device successfully performs an LBT on a channel on unlicensed spectrum, the duration for which the communication device can use that channel for communication transmission cannot exceed a certain limit. This mechanism limits the maximum duration of communication after a successful LBT, allowing different communication devices to access the shared channel and enabling different communication systems to coexist amicably on the shared spectrum.

[0097] Because channel sensing offers benefits such as interference avoidance and amicable coexistence for communication systems on shared spectrum, it is a necessary feature for communication equipment in unlicensed NR systems. From a network deployment perspective, channel sensing includes two mechanisms: load-based equipment (LBE) LBT, also known as dynamic channel sensing or dynamic channel occupancy, and frame-based equipment (FBE) LBT, also known as semi-static channel sensing or semi-static channel occupancy.

[0098] VI. Dynamic Channel Monitoring

[0099] Dynamic channel sensing (DLS) can also be considered a channel quiz (LBT) based on level-of-beam (LBE). Its channel sensing principle is that the communication equipment performs a LBT on an unlicensed spectrum carrier after the service arrives, and begins signal transmission on that carrier after a successful LBT. Dynamic channel sensing LBT methods include Type 1 and Type 2 channel access methods. Type 1 channel access (also known as Type 1 LBT) is a multi-slot channel detection method with random backoff based on contention window size adjustment. The corresponding channel access priority class (CAPC) p can be selected according to the priority of the service to be transmitted. Type 2 channel access (also known as Type 2 LBT) is a channel access method based on fixed-length listening slots. Type 2 channel access includes Type 2A, Type 2B, and Type 2C channel access. Type 1 channel access is mainly used for communication equipment to initiate channel occupancy, while Type 2 channel access is mainly used for communication equipment to share channel occupancy.

[0100] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the channel occupancy time obtained by a communication device after a successful LBT on an unlicensed spectrum channel, and the resources used during that channel occupancy time for signal transmission.

[0101] VI. Default channel access method on the base station side: Type 1 channel access

[0102] Taking a base station as an example, the channel access parameters corresponding to the channel access priority p on the base station side are shown in Table 1. In Table 1, mp refers to the number of backoff slots corresponding to the channel access priority p, CWp refers to the size of the contention window (CW) corresponding to the channel access priority p, CWmin,p refers to the minimum value of CWp corresponding to the channel access priority p, CWmax,p refers to the maximum value of CWp corresponding to the channel access priority p, and Tmcot,p refers to the length of the channel occupancy time (COT) corresponding to the channel access priority p.

[0103] Once the channel access process is complete, the base station can use the channel to transmit the intended service. The maximum duration for which the base station can use the channel for transmission cannot exceed Tmcot,p.

[0104] Table 1 - Channel access parameters corresponding to different channel access priorities p

[0105]

[0106] VII. Channel Occupancy Time Sharing on the Base Station Side

[0107] When a base station initiates a Channel Access Controller (COT), it can use the resources within the COT for downlink transmission and also share these resources with the UE for uplink transmission. When sharing COT resources with the UE for uplink transmission, the UE can use Type 2 channel access, including Type 2A, Type 2B, or Type 2C channel access. Type 2A, Type 2B, and Type 2C channel access are all channel access methods based on fixed-length listening time slots.

[0108] In existing technologies, when a terminal operates on a sidelink in an unlicensed frequency band, it needs to perform different types of LBTs before sending sidelink data. Only when the LBT is successful can it successfully access the channel for sidelink transmission. When no COT exists, the terminal needs to perform a Type 1 LBT. Only after success can it initiate a COT. Other terminals that meet the conditions can also share the resources within this COT and use Type 2 LBT. In existing technologies, whether a terminal initiates a COT depends on whether it has data to send and whether the Type 1 LBT is successful. It does not support scenarios where one terminal requests another terminal to initiate a COT for its own use.

[0109] Currently, standardization efforts are underway to deploy SL technology in unlicensed frequency bands, namely SL-U technology. SL-U technology can be deployed in commercial scenarios such as wearable smart devices, smart homes, and the Industrial Internet. In the discussion of the Rel-18 SL-U project, all terminals had the same capabilities, and low-capability terminals were not considered. However, the cost and power consumption of terminal devices are very important metrics for commercial deployment. The low cost and low power consumption of low-capability or weak-capability terminals (RedCap UE, ReducedCapability UE) can provide a convenient path for the commercialization of SL-U technology. From the perspective of low power consumption, how SL-U RedCap terminals can achieve energy saving is a problem that needs to be studied.

[0110] When an SL-U terminal operates in an unlicensed frequency band, it must first perform a back-to-the-air (LBT) operation before transmitting data. When the terminal performs Type 1 channel access, it first needs to determine the size of the random back-to-the-air counter N, where N is a random value within CWp. For example, when CAPC is 4 and CWp is 1023, assuming N is 1000, the terminal needs at least Td + N*Tsl = Tf + mp*Tsl + N*Tsl = 16 + 7*9 + 1000*9 = 9079 microseconds to perform Type 1 channel access. This means the RedCap terminal needs to continuously perform at least 9ms of channel listening operations to access the channel, resulting in significant power consumption. Therefore, how to save power during the channel access process is a problem that needs to be studied.

[0111] This application provides a communication method. Figure 5 This is a schematic flowchart of a communication method 500 according to an embodiment of this application, which can be applied to... Figure 1-4 The system shown is not limited to this. The method includes at least a portion of the following.

[0112] S510: The first terminal receives the first COT request information from the second terminal;

[0113] S520: The first terminal sends a first response message to the second terminal, the first response message including a first confirmation message and / or a second confirmation message; wherein...

[0114] The first confirmation information is used to indicate or confirm that the first terminal will initiate the first COT (or will initiate the first COT);

[0115] The second confirmation message is used to indicate or confirm that the first terminal will not initiate the first COT.

[0116] In some implementations, the second terminal may be a RedCap UE (RedCap UE).

[0117] In some implementations, the first terminal may be a normally capable terminal or a non-RedCap UE. The first terminal may satisfy a first condition, which includes at least one of the following:

[0118] The first terminal is a target receiving terminal for the side link information sent by the second terminal;

[0119] The first terminal is a terminal with normal capabilities or a non-RedCap UE;

[0120] The first terminal has Type 1 LBT capability;

[0121] The first terminal has sidelink sensing capability.

[0122] In one example, the sidelink information transmitted by the second terminal may include at least one of the following: Physical Sidelink Control Channel (PSCCH), Physical Sidelink Shared Channel (PSSCH), Physical Sidelink Feedback Channel (PSFCH), and Sidelink Synchronization Signal Block (S-SSB). The S-SSB may include at least one of the following: Sidelink Primary Synchronization Signal (S-PSS), Sidelink Secondary Synchronization Signal (S-SSS), and Physical Sidelink Broadcasting Channel (PSBCH). That is, the first terminal may be a target receiving terminal for the PSCCH, PSSCH, PSFCH, and S-SSB (including S-PSS, S-SSS, and PSBCH) information transmitted by the second terminal.

[0123] In one example, the first terminal sends a first response message within a first time range. For instance, if the second terminal sends the first COT request message at time T1, the first terminal sends the first response message within the time range [T1+t1, T1+t2]; or, if the first terminal receives the first COT request message at time T2, the first terminal sends the first response message within the time range [T2+t3, T2+t4], where t1, t2, t3, and t4 are preset values. Sending the first response message within the first time range facilitates the second terminal's reception of the first response message.

[0124] In this manner, after receiving a first COT request from a second terminal (such as a RedCap terminal), the first terminal can initiate a COT (such as the first COT mentioned above) for use by other terminals, including at least the second terminal. This achieves the goal of one terminal requesting another terminal to initiate a COT for its own use. In the method proposed in this application, since the normally capable terminal initiates a COT for use by other terminals including the less capable terminal based on the request of the less capable terminal, the less capable terminal does not need to initiate a Type 1 LBT, thus avoiding the large power consumption caused by the Type 1 LBT for the less capable terminal.

[0125] In some implementations, the first COT to be initiated by the first terminal may satisfy a second condition, which mainly includes restrictions on the time-domain and frequency-domain resources occupied by the first COT, the time-domain start time, CAPC priority, etc. For example, the second condition includes at least one of the following:

[0126] The first COT includes at least one of one or more time-domain resources indicated or reserved by the second terminal;

[0127] The first COT includes the resource block (RB set, ResourceBlock set) to which the frequency domain resources occupied by the first COT request information belong;

[0128] The first COT includes a first frequency domain resource or a set of first frequency domain resources indicated or reserved by the second terminal;

[0129] The first COT includes the resource block to which the first frequency domain resource belongs or the resource block (RB set) to which the first frequency domain resource set belongs;

[0130] The time-domain start time of the first COT is no later than the first moment;

[0131] The time domain start time of the first COT is no later than the second time, which includes the time domain start time of one or more time domain resources indicated or reserved by the second terminal;

[0132] The CAPC level of the first COT is no higher than the CAPC level indicated in the first COT request information.

[0133] In one example, one or more time-domain resources indicated or reserved by the second terminal include side row time slots.

[0134] In one example, one or more time-domain resources indicated or reserved by the second terminal are indicated or reserved by at least one of the following:

[0135] First COT request information;

[0136] First side row information.

[0137] In one example, the first frequency domain resource or the first set of frequency domain resources indicated or reserved by the second terminal can be indicated or reserved through at least one of the following:

[0138] The first COT request information;

[0139] First side row information.

[0140] One or more time-domain resources indicated or reserved by the second terminal, as well as the first frequency-domain resources or the first frequency-domain resource set indicated or reserved by the second terminal, can be used for the second terminal to send side-link information.

[0141] In one example, the aforementioned first moment can be indicated or scheduled through at least one of the following:

[0142] The first COT request information;

[0143] First side row information.

[0144] In the above context, the first side information may include at least one of PSCCH, PSSCH, PSFCH, and the Media Access Layer Control Element (MAC CE).

[0145] In some implementations, after the first terminal sends the first response information, it may execute a first type LBT (Type 1 LBT). In one example, the first terminal determines a third time; the first terminal begins executing Type 1 LBT at that third time.

[0146] The first terminal can decide for itself when to start executing Type1 LBT (i.e., the third moment).

[0147] Alternatively, the start time of Type 1 LBT execution (i.e., the third time mentioned above) can be earlier than the time domain start time of the first COT.

[0148] In the above example, frequency domain resources may include unlicensed frequency domain resources.

[0149] In some implementations, after the first terminal sends the first response information to the second terminal, the process further includes the first terminal initiating a first COT. This first COT can be used by the second terminal and / or other terminals. In one example, when the first terminal initiates the first COT, it may carry COT indication information, which includes at least one of the following:

[0150] The first COT time domain resources;

[0151] The first COT frequency domain resource set;

[0152] The time-domain start time of the first COT;

[0153] The first COT CAPC level.

[0154] According to the COT indication information, the second terminal (such as a weak terminal) and / or other terminals can use the first COT. Therefore, the weak terminal does not need to initiate Type 1 LBT, thereby avoiding the large amount of power consumption generated by the weak terminal due to Type 1 LBT.

[0155] The embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0156] Example 1:

[0157] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of Embodiment 1 of this application. (As shown...) Figure 6 As shown, after receiving the first COT request information from the second terminal, the first terminal sends a first response message within a first time range. This first response message includes either a first confirmation message or a second confirmation message. The first confirmation message can be used to indicate / confirm that the first terminal will initiate the first COT (or is about to initiate the first COT); the second confirmation message can be used to indicate / confirm that the first terminal will not initiate the first COT.

[0158] For example, let T1 be the time when the second terminal sends the first COT request information, and let T2 be the time when the first terminal sends the first response information within the time range of [T1+t1, T1+t2]. Alternatively, let T2 be the time when the first terminal receives the first COT request information, and let T2 be the time when the first terminal sends the first response information within the time range of [T2+t3, T2+t4], where t1, t2, t3, and t4 are preset values. Sending the first response information within the first time range facilitates the second terminal's reception of the first response information.

[0159] After sending the first confirmation message (i.e., indicating / confirming that the first terminal will initiate the first COT), the first terminal can initiate the first COT. Figure 6 In this context, the first COT initiated by the first terminal includes the side-by-side resources indicated / reserved by the second terminal in the time domain.

[0160] Furthermore, the first COT initiated by the first terminal may include, in the frequency domain, the RB set to which the frequency domain resources occupied by the first COT request information belong, or the first frequency domain resources / first frequency domain resource set indicated / reserved by the second terminal, or the RB set to which the first frequency domain resources belong or the RB set to which the first frequency domain resource set belongs. The frequency domain resources occupied by the first COT will be described in detail in subsequent embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0161] Example 2:

[0162] This embodiment mainly describes the start position and duration of the first COT in the time domain. The duration of the first COT initiated by the first terminal may include at least one of the sideline resources reserved by the second terminal. These sideline resources may include time slots in the sideline time domain resources.

[0163] Figures 7A-7E This is a schematic diagram of Embodiment 2 of this application. (As shown...) Figures 7A-7E In this context, the first COT initiated by the first terminal includes one or more of the sideline resources reserved by the second terminal. Figures 7A-7E For ease of display, the first response information sent by the first terminal after receiving the first COT request information is not shown. In fact, in this embodiment, after receiving the first COT request information, the first terminal may send a first response information, and if the first response information is a first confirmation information (i.e., indicating / confirming that the first terminal will initiate the first COT), the first terminal initiates the first COT, which includes at least one of the sideline resources reserved / instructed by the second terminal.

[0164] The sideline resources reserved / indicated by the second terminal can be indicated by the first COT request information or by sideline information, such as by at least one of PSCCH, PSSCH, PSFCH, and MAC CE.

[0165] Furthermore, when the first terminal initiates the first COT, the CAPC level of the first COT may not be higher than the CAPC level indicated in the first COT request information. That is, the CAPC level of the first COT is equal to or lower than the CAPC level of the data that the second terminal is about to send, so that the second terminal can use the first COT to send data.

[0166] In one example, when a first terminal initiates a first COT, it may carry COT indication information to facilitate the use of the first COT by a second terminal and / or other terminals. This COT indication information may include at least one of the following: the time-domain resources of the first COT, the set of frequency-domain resources of the first COT, the time-domain start time of the first COT, and the CAPC level of the first COT. Based on this COT indication information, the second terminal and / or other terminals can determine the time-domain and frequency-domain locations of the first COT, as well as the corresponding CAPC level, thereby enabling them to use the first COT.

[0167] For example, when a terminal uses the first COT, it determines whether its own service's CAPC level is higher than or equal to the first COT's CAPC level. If it is higher than or equal to the first COT's CAPC level, then the terminal can use the first COT. Taking the CAPC levels as five levels (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5), with smaller values ​​indicating higher levels, for example: if the first COT's CAPC level is 2, and the CAPC level of the data terminal A needs to send is 1, then terminal A can use the first COT to send data. However, if the first COT's CAPC level is 2, and the CAPC level of the data terminal B needs to send is 5, then terminal B cannot use the first COT to send data.

[0168] Example 3:

[0169] This embodiment mainly introduces the position of the first COT in the frequency domain.

[0170] Figure 8A This is a schematic diagram of Embodiment 3 of this application. Figure 1 .exist Figure 8A In the example shown, the first COT includes, in the frequency domain, the sideline resources occupied by the second terminal when sending the first COT request information. For example... Figure 8A As shown, when the second terminal sends the first COT request information, the sideline resources it occupies belong to RB set 1. Therefore, the first COT initiated by the first terminal must contain at least RB set 1.

[0171] Figure 8B This is schematic diagram two of embodiment three of this application. Figure 8B In the example shown, the first COT includes, in the frequency domain, the sideline resources reserved / indicated by the second terminal, or the RBset occupied by the sideline resources reserved / indicated by the second terminal. For example... Figure 8B As shown, the second terminal sends a first COT request message on RB set 1. The sideline resources reserved / indicated by the first COT request message occupy part or all of the sideline resources in RB set 1 and RB set 2. Therefore, when the first terminal initiates the first COT, the first COT may include RB set 1 and / or RB set 2.

[0172] Figure 8B In the example shown, the sideline resource reserved / indicated by the second terminal is indicated via the first COT request information. In other examples, the second terminal may also indicate / reserve sideline resources via sideline information, for example, via at least one of PSCCH, PSSCH, PSFCH, and MAC CE.

[0173] Furthermore, when the first terminal initiates the first COT, the CAPC level of the first COT may not be higher than the CAPC level indicated in the first COT request information. That is, the CAPC level of the first COT is equal to or lower than the CAPC level of the data that the second terminal is about to send, so that the second terminal can use the first COT to send data.

[0174] In one example, when the first terminal initiates the first COT, it may carry COT indication information to facilitate the use of the first COT by the second terminal and / or other terminals. The COT indication information may include at least one of the following: the time domain resources of the first COT, the frequency domain resource set of the first COT, the time domain start time of the first COT, and the CAPC level of the first COT.

[0175] Example 4:

[0176] This embodiment mainly introduces the starting position of the first COT in the time domain, that is, the time domain start time of the first COT.

[0177] In one example, the second terminal can indicate or schedule a time; therefore, the first terminal initiates the first COT no later than that time. For example... Figure 9A As shown, in this example, the first COT request information sent by the second terminal indicates time n. Therefore, the time domain start time of the first terminal initiating the first COT cannot be later than time n. Alternatively, the second terminal can also indicate time n through side-channel information, for example, through at least one of PSCCH, PSSCH, PSFCH, and MAC CE. In this example, the second terminal indicates / reserves time n by displaying the indication.

[0178] In one example, the second terminal can implicitly indicate or reserve time n. For instance, if the second terminal indicates / resers one or more time-domain resources through a first COT request or side-channel information, the time-domain start time of those one or more time-domain resources can be considered as time n. Therefore, the time-domain start time of the first terminal initiating the first COT cannot be later than the time-domain start time of those one or more time-domain resources. Figure 9B As shown in this example, the second terminal reserved side-link resources in the first COT request information sent by the second terminal. Therefore, the time domain start time of the first terminal initiating the first COT cannot be later than the time domain start time of the side-link resources reserved by the second terminal.

[0179] Furthermore, when the first terminal initiates the first COT, the CAPC level of the first COT may not be higher than the CAPC level indicated in the first COT request information. That is, the CAPC level of the first COT is equal to or lower than the CAPC level of the data that the second terminal is about to send, so that the second terminal can use the first COT to send data.

[0180] In one example, when the first terminal initiates the first COT, it may carry COT indication information to facilitate the use of the first COT by the second terminal and / or other terminals. The COT indication information may include at least one of the following: the time domain resources of the first COT, the frequency domain resource set of the first COT, the time domain start time of the first COT, and the CAPC level of the first COT.

[0181] In the above embodiments, the first terminal may include a terminal with normal capabilities or a non-RedCap UE, and the second terminal may include a RedCap UE. The first COT initiated by the first terminal can be used by the second terminal and / or other terminals.

[0182] The above embodiments are not independent of each other, and the contents of different embodiments can be combined with each other. The specific combination methods will not be described in detail here.

[0183] In the method for a sidelink terminal to initiate a COT according to the embodiments of this application, after the first terminal receives a first COT request information initiated by the second terminal, the first terminal can initiate a COT for use by other terminals, including at least the second terminal (a Redcap weak-capability terminal). The COT initiated by the first terminal meets certain conditions in terms of occupied time-domain resources, frequency-domain resources, time-domain start time, and CAPC level. Furthermore, when initiating the first COT, the first terminal can carry COT indication information, which facilitates the use of the COT by the second terminal and / or other terminals. Therefore, the weak-capability terminal does not need to initiate a Type 1 LBT, thereby avoiding the large power consumption caused by the Type 1 LBT for the weak-capability terminal.

[0184] This application also proposes a communication method. Figure 10 This is a schematic flowchart of a communication method 1000 according to an embodiment of this application, which can be applied to... Figure 1-4 The system shown is not limited to this. The method includes at least a portion of the following.

[0185] S1010: The second terminal sends the first COT request information to the first terminal;

[0186] S1020: The second terminal receives first response information from the first terminal, the first response information including first confirmation information and / or second confirmation information; wherein...

[0187] The first confirmation message is used to indicate or confirm that the first terminal will initiate the first COT;

[0188] The second confirmation message is used to indicate or confirm that the first terminal will not initiate the first COT.

[0189] In some implementations, the second terminal includes a weakly capable terminal.

[0190] In some implementations, the first terminal satisfies a first condition, which includes at least one of the following:

[0191] The first terminal is a target receiving terminal for the side link information sent by the second terminal;

[0192] The first terminal is a terminal with normal capabilities or a terminal with non-weak capabilities;

[0193] The first terminal has the first type of LBT capability;

[0194] The first terminal has side-link sensing capabilities.

[0195] In this way, a weak terminal can request a COT from a normal terminal or a non-weak terminal for use by the weak terminal or other terminals. Therefore, the weak terminal does not need to initiate a Type 1 LBT, thus avoiding the large power consumption caused by the Type 1 LBT.

[0196] In some implementations, the sidelink information sent by the second terminal includes at least one of PSCCH, PSSCH, PSFCH, and S-SSB.

[0197] In some implementations, S-SSB includes at least one of S-PSS, S-SSS, and PSBCH.

[0198] In some implementations, the first COT satisfies a second condition, which includes at least one of the following:

[0199] The first COT includes at least one of one or more time-domain resources indicated or reserved by the second terminal;

[0200] The first COT includes the resource block to which the frequency domain resources occupied by the first COT request information belong;

[0201] The first COT includes a first frequency domain resource or a set of first frequency domain resources indicated or reserved by the second terminal;

[0202] The first COT includes the resource block to which the first frequency domain resource belongs or the resource block to which the first frequency domain resource set belongs;

[0203] The time-domain start time of the first COT is no later than the first moment;

[0204] The time domain start time of the first COT is no later than the second time, whereby the second time includes the time domain start time of one or more time domain resources indicated or reserved by the second terminal.

[0205] The channel access priority CAPC level of the first COT is not higher than the CAPC level indicated in the first COT request information.

[0206] The first COT initiated by the first terminal can meet certain conditions in terms of occupied time domain resources, frequency domain resources, time domain start time and CAPC level, so that the second terminal and / or other terminals can use the first COT.

[0207] In some implementations, one or more time-domain resources include side-row time slots.

[0208] In some implementations, one or more time-domain resources are indicated or reserved by at least one of the following:

[0209] First COT request information;

[0210] First side row information.

[0211] In some implementations, the first frequency domain resource or the first frequency domain resource set is indicated or reserved by at least one of the following:

[0212] First COT request information;

[0213] First side row information.

[0214] In some implementations, this first moment is indicated or scheduled through at least one of the following:

[0215] First COT request information;

[0216] First side row information.

[0217] In some implementations, the first side row information includes at least one of: PSCCH, PSSCH, PSFCH, and MAC CE.

[0218] In some implementations, the second terminal may also perform LBT on the first COT.

[0219] In some implementations, the first COT is used by the second terminal and / or other terminals.

[0220] This application also proposes a first terminal. Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first terminal 1100 according to an embodiment of this application, including:

[0221] The first receiving module 1110 is used to receive the first COT request information from the second terminal;

[0222] The first sending module 1120 is configured to send first response information to the second terminal, the first response information including first confirmation information and / or second confirmation information; wherein...

[0223] The first confirmation message is used to indicate or confirm that the first terminal will initiate the first COT;

[0224] The second confirmation message is used to indicate or confirm that the first terminal will not initiate the first COT.

[0225] In some implementations, the first terminal satisfies a first condition, which includes at least one of the following:

[0226] The first terminal is a target receiving terminal for the side link information sent by the second terminal;

[0227] The first terminal is a terminal with normal capabilities or a terminal with non-weak capabilities;

[0228] The first terminal has the first type of Listen-Before-Speak (LBT) capability;

[0229] The first terminal has side-link sensing capabilities.

[0230] In some implementations, the sidelink information sent by the second terminal includes at least one of PSCCH, PSSCH, PSFCH, and S-SSB.

[0231] In some implementations, S-SSB includes at least one of S-PSS, S-SSS, and PSBCH.

[0232] In some implementations, the first COT satisfies a second condition, which includes at least one of the following:

[0233] The first COT includes at least one of one or more time-domain resources indicated or reserved by the second terminal;

[0234] The first COT includes the resource block to which the frequency domain resources occupied by the first COT request information belong;

[0235] The first COT includes a first frequency domain resource or a set of first frequency domain resources indicated or reserved by the second terminal;

[0236] The first COT includes the resource block to which the first frequency domain resource belongs or the resource block to which the first frequency domain resource set belongs;

[0237] The time-domain start time of the first COT is no later than the first moment;

[0238] The time domain start time of the first COT is no later than the second time, whereby the second time includes the time domain start time of one or more time domain resources indicated or reserved by the second terminal.

[0239] The channel access priority CAPC level of the first COT is not higher than the CAPC level indicated in the first COT request information.

[0240] In some implementations, one or more time-domain resources include side-row time slots.

[0241] In some implementations, one or more time-domain resources are indicated or reserved by at least one of the following:

[0242] First COT request information;

[0243] First side row information.

[0244] In some implementations, the first frequency domain resource or the first frequency domain resource set is indicated or reserved by at least one of the following:

[0245] First COT request information;

[0246] First side row information.

[0247] In some implementations, the first moment is indicated or scheduled via at least one of the following:

[0248] First COT request information;

[0249] First side row information.

[0250] In some implementations, the first side row information includes at least one of: PSCCH, PSSCH, PSFCH, and MAC CE.

[0251] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a first terminal 1200 according to an embodiment of this application. The first terminal 1200 includes one or more features of the above-described first terminal 1200 embodiment. In one possible implementation, this embodiment further includes:

[0252] The first execution module 1230 is used to execute the first type of LBT.

[0253] In some implementations, the first execution module 1230 is used for:

[0254] Determine the third moment;

[0255] The first type of LBT will begin execution at the third moment.

[0256] In some implementations, the third time point is earlier than the time-domain start time of the first COT.

[0257] In some implementations, it also includes an initiation module 1240 for initiating a first COT.

[0258] In some implementations, the initiating module 1240 is used to carry COT indication information when initiating the first COT, the COT indication information including at least one of the following:

[0259] The first COT time domain resources;

[0260] The first COT frequency domain resource set;

[0261] The time-domain start time of the first COT;

[0262] The first COT CAPC level.

[0263] In some implementations, the first COT is used by a second terminal and / or other terminals.

[0264] In some implementations, the second terminal includes a weakly capable terminal.

[0265] It should be understood that the above and other operations and / or functions of the modules in the first terminal according to the embodiments of this application are respectively for implementing Figure 5 The corresponding process of the first terminal in method 500 will not be elaborated here for the sake of brevity.

[0266] This application also proposes a second terminal. Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second terminal 1300 according to an embodiment of this application, including:

[0267] The second sending module 1310 is used to send the first COT request information to the first terminal;

[0268] The second receiving module 1320 is configured to receive first response information from the first terminal, the first response information including first confirmation information and / or second confirmation information; wherein...

[0269] The first confirmation message is used to indicate or confirm that the first terminal will initiate the first COT;

[0270] The second confirmation message is used to indicate or confirm that the first terminal will not initiate the first COT.

[0271] In some implementations, the second terminal includes a weakly capable terminal.

[0272] In some implementations, the first terminal satisfies a first condition, which includes at least one of the following:

[0273] The first terminal is a target receiving terminal for the side link information sent by the second terminal;

[0274] The first terminal is a terminal with normal capabilities or a terminal with non-weak capabilities;

[0275] The first terminal has the first type of LBT capability;

[0276] The first terminal has side-link sensing capabilities.

[0277] In some implementations, the sidelink information sent by the second terminal includes at least one of PSCCH, PSSCH, PSFCH, and S-SSB.

[0278] In some implementations, S-SSB includes at least one of S-PSS, S-SSS, and PSBCH.

[0279] In some implementations, the first COT satisfies a second condition, which includes at least one of the following:

[0280] The first COT includes at least one of one or more time-domain resources indicated or reserved by the second terminal;

[0281] The first COT includes the resource block to which the frequency domain resources occupied by the first COT request information belong;

[0282] The first COT includes a first frequency domain resource or a set of first frequency domain resources indicated or reserved by the second terminal;

[0283] The first COT includes the resource block to which the first frequency domain resource belongs or the resource block to which the first frequency domain resource set belongs;

[0284] The time-domain start time of the first COT is no later than the first moment;

[0285] The time domain start time of the first COT is no later than the second time, whereby the second time includes the time domain start time of one or more time domain resources indicated or reserved by the second terminal.

[0286] The channel access priority CAPC level of the first COT is not higher than the CAPC level indicated in the first COT request information.

[0287] In some implementations, one or more time-domain resources include side-row time slots.

[0288] In some implementations, one or more time-domain resources are indicated or reserved by at least one of the following:

[0289] First COT request information;

[0290] First side row information.

[0291] In some implementations, the first frequency domain resource or the first frequency domain resource set is indicated or reserved by at least one of the following:

[0292] First COT request information;

[0293] First side row information.

[0294] In some implementations, the first moment is indicated or scheduled via at least one of the following:

[0295] First COT request information;

[0296] First side row information.

[0297] In some implementations, the first side row information includes at least one of: PSCCH, PSSCH, PSFCH, and MAC CE.

[0298] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a second terminal 1400 according to an embodiment of this application. The second terminal 1400 includes one or more features of the second terminal 1300 embodiment described above. In one possible implementation, this embodiment of the application further includes:

[0299] The second execution module 1430 is used to execute LBT on the first COT.

[0300] In some implementations, the first COT is used by a second terminal and / or other terminals.

[0301] It should be understood that the above and other operations and / or functions of the modules in the communication device according to the embodiments of this application are respectively for implementing Figure 10 The corresponding process of the second terminal in Method 1000 will not be described in detail here for the sake of brevity.

[0302] It should be noted that the functions described in the various modules (sub-modules, units, or components, etc.) of the communication device in the embodiments of this application can be implemented by different modules (sub-modules, units, or components, etc.) or by the same module (sub-module, unit, or component, etc.). For example, the first receiving module and the second receiving module can be different modules or the same module, both of which can realize their corresponding functions in the embodiments of this application. In addition, the transmitting module and receiving module in the embodiments of this application can be implemented by the transceiver of the device, and some or all of the other modules can be implemented by the processor of the device.

[0303] Figure 15 This is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 1500 according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 15 The communication device 1500 shown includes a processor 1510, which can call and run computer programs from memory to implement the methods in the embodiments of this application.

[0304] In some implementations, such as Figure 15 As shown, the communication device 1500 may further include a memory 1520. The processor 1510 can retrieve and run computer programs from the memory 1520 to implement the communication device in this embodiment.

[0305] The memory 1520 can be a separate device independent of the processor 1510, or it can be integrated into the processor 1510.

[0306] In some implementations, such as Figure 15 As shown, the communication device 1500 may also include a transceiver 1530, and the processor 1510 may control the transceiver 1530 to communicate with other devices. Specifically, it may send information or data to other devices or receive information or data sent by other devices.

[0307] The transceiver 1530 may include a transmitter and a receiver. The transceiver 1530 may further include an antenna, and the number of antennas may be one or more.

[0308] In some implementations, the communication device 1500 may be the communication device of the present application embodiment, and the communication device 1500 may implement the corresponding processes implemented by the communication device in the various methods of the present application embodiment. For the sake of brevity, it will not be described in detail here.

[0309] Figure 16 This is a schematic structural diagram of chip 1600 according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 16 The chip 1600 shown includes a processor 1610, which can call and run computer programs from memory to implement the methods in the embodiments of this application.

[0310] In some implementations, such as Figure 16 As shown, chip 1600 may further include memory 1620. Processor 1610 can retrieve and run computer programs from memory 1620 to implement the methods described in this embodiment.

[0311] The memory 1620 can be a separate device independent of the processor 1610, or it can be integrated into the processor 1610.

[0312] In some implementations, the chip 1600 may further include an input interface 1630. The processor 1610 can control the input interface 1630 to communicate with other devices or chips; specifically, it can acquire information or data sent by other devices or chips.

[0313] In some embodiments, the chip 1600 may further include an output interface 1640. The processor 1610 can control the output interface 1640 to communicate with other devices or chips; specifically, it can output information or data to other devices or chips.

[0314] In some implementations, the chip can be applied to the communication device in the embodiments of this application, and the chip can implement the corresponding processes implemented by the network device in the various methods of the embodiments of this application. For the sake of brevity, it will not be described in detail here.

[0315] It should be understood that the chip mentioned in the embodiments of this application may also be referred to as a system-on-a-chip, system chip, chip system, or system-on-a-chip, etc.

[0316] The processors mentioned above can be general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. Among them, the general-purpose processors mentioned above can be microprocessors or any conventional processor.

[0317] The aforementioned memory can be volatile memory or non-volatile memory, or a combination of both. Non-volatile memory can be read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory can be random access memory (RAM).

[0318] It should be understood that the above-described memory is exemplary and not a limiting description. For example, the memory in the embodiments of this application may also be 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), synchronous link dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct memory bus RAM (DR RAM), etc. That is to say, the memory in the embodiments of this application is intended to include, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0319] In the above embodiments, implementation can be achieved, in whole or in part, through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, it can be implemented, in whole or in part, as a computer program product. This computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When these computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of this application are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. 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 via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium accessible to a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available media can be magnetic media (e.g., floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes), optical media (e.g., DVDs), or semiconductor media (e.g., solid-state drives (SSDs)).

[0320] It should be understood that in the various embodiments of this application, the order of the above-mentioned processes does not imply the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of this application.

[0321] Those skilled in the art will understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0322] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, comprising: The first terminal receives the first channel occupancy time (COT) request information from the second terminal; The first terminal sends a first response message to the second terminal, the first response message including a first confirmation message and / or a second confirmation message; wherein... The first confirmation information is used to indicate or confirm that the first terminal will initiate the first COT; The second confirmation information is used to indicate or confirm that the first terminal will not initiate the first COT; Wherein, the first COT satisfies the second condition, and the second condition includes at least one of the following: The first COT includes at least one of one or more time-domain resources indicated or reserved by the second terminal; The first COT includes the resource block to which the frequency domain resources occupied by the first COT request information belong; The first COT includes the first frequency domain resource or the first frequency domain resource set indicated or reserved by the second terminal; The first COT includes the resource block to which the first frequency domain resource belongs or the resource block to which the first frequency domain resource set belongs; The time-domain start time of the first COT is no later than the first moment; The time-domain start time of the first COT is no later than the second time, which includes the time-domain start time of one or more time-domain resources indicated or reserved by the second terminal.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The first terminal also satisfies a first condition, which includes at least one of the following: The first terminal is a target receiving terminal for the side link information sent by the second terminal; The first terminal is a terminal with normal capabilities or a terminal with non-weak capabilities; The first terminal has the first type of Listen-Before-Speak (LBT) capability; The first terminal has side link sensing capability.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein, The sidelink information sent by the second terminal includes at least one of the following: Physical Sidelink Control Channel (PSCCH), Physical Sidelink Shared Channel (PSSCH), Physical Sidelink Feedback Channel (PSFCH), and Sidelink Synchronization Signal Block (S-SSB).

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein, The S-SSB includes at least one of the sideline primary synchronization signal S-PSS, the sideline secondary synchronization signal S-SSS, and the physical sideline broadcast channel PSBCH.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The one or more time-domain resources include side row time slots.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The one or more time-domain resources are indicated or reserved through at least one of the following: The first COT request information; First side row information.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The first frequency domain resource or the first frequency domain resource set is indicated or reserved through at least one of the following: The first COT request information; First side row information.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The first moment is indicated or scheduled by at least one of the following: The first COT request information; First side row information.

9. The method according to any one of claims 6-8, wherein, The first side information includes at least one of: PSCCH, PSSCH, PSFCH, and Media Access Layer Control Unit (MAC CE).

10. The method according to any one of claims 1-9, further comprising: the first terminal performing a first type of LBT.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein, The first terminal performing the first type of LBT includes: The first terminal determines the third moment; The first terminal begins executing the first type of LBT at the third time.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein, The third time point is earlier than the time domain start time of the first COT.

13. The method according to any one of claims 10-12, further comprising: the first terminal initiating the first COT.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising, when the first terminal initiates the first COT, carrying COT indication information, the COT indication information including at least one of the following: The temporal domain resources of the first COT; The frequency domain resource set of the first COT; The time-domain start time of the first COT; The CAPC level of the first COT.

15. The method according to any one of claims 1-14, wherein, The first COT is used by the second terminal and / or other terminals.

16. The method according to any one of claims 1-15, wherein, The second terminal includes a weakly capable terminal.

17. A communication method, comprising: The second terminal sends the first COT request information to the first terminal; The second terminal receives first response information from the first terminal, the first response information including first confirmation information and / or second confirmation information; wherein, The first confirmation information is used to indicate or confirm that the first terminal will initiate the first COT; The second confirmation information is used to indicate or confirm that the first terminal will not initiate the first COT; Wherein, the first COT satisfies the second condition, and the second condition includes at least one of the following: The first COT includes at least one of one or more time-domain resources indicated or reserved by the second terminal; The first COT includes the resource block to which the frequency domain resources occupied by the first COT request information belong; The first COT includes the first frequency domain resource or the first frequency domain resource set indicated or reserved by the second terminal; The first COT includes the resource block to which the first frequency domain resource belongs or the resource block to which the first frequency domain resource set belongs; The time-domain start time of the first COT is no later than the first moment; The time-domain start time of the first COT is no later than the second time, which includes the time-domain start time of one or more time-domain resources indicated or reserved by the second terminal.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein, The second terminal includes a weakly capable terminal.

19. The method according to claim 17 or 18, wherein, The first terminal satisfies a first condition, which includes at least one of the following: The first terminal is a target receiving terminal for the side link information sent by the second terminal; The first terminal is a terminal with normal capabilities or a terminal with non-weak capabilities; The first terminal has the first type of LBT capability; The first terminal has side link sensing capability.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein, The sidelink information sent by the second terminal includes at least one of PSCCH, PSSCH, PSFCH and S-SSB.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein, The S-SSB includes at least one of S-PSS, S-SSS, and PSBCH.

22. The method according to claim 17, wherein, The one or more time-domain resources include side row time slots.

23. The method according to claim 17, wherein, The one or more time-domain resources are indicated or reserved through at least one of the following: The first COT request information; First side row information.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein, The first frequency domain resource or the first frequency domain resource set is indicated or reserved through at least one of the following: The first COT request information; First side row information.

25. The method according to claim 17, wherein, The first moment is indicated or scheduled by at least one of the following: The first COT request information; First side row information.

26. The method according to any one of claims 23-25, wherein, The first side-line information includes at least one of PSCCH, PSSCH, PSFCH, and MAC CE.

27. The method according to any one of claims 17-26, further comprising: the second terminal performing LBT on the first COT.

28. The method according to any one of claims 17-27, wherein, The first COT is used by the second terminal and / or other terminals.

29. A first terminal, comprising: The first receiving module is used to receive the first COT request information from the second terminal; A first sending module is configured to send first response information to the second terminal, the first response information including first confirmation information and / or second confirmation information; wherein... The first confirmation information is used to indicate or confirm that the first terminal will initiate the first COT; The second confirmation information is used to indicate or confirm that the first terminal will not initiate the first COT; Wherein, the first COT satisfies the second condition, and the second condition includes at least one of the following: The first COT includes at least one of one or more time-domain resources indicated or reserved by the second terminal; The first COT includes the resource block to which the frequency domain resources occupied by the first COT request information belong; The first COT includes the first frequency domain resource or the first frequency domain resource set indicated or reserved by the second terminal; The first COT includes the resource block to which the first frequency domain resource belongs or the resource block to which the first frequency domain resource set belongs; The time-domain start time of the first COT is no later than the first moment; The time-domain start time of the first COT is no later than the second time, which includes the time-domain start time of one or more time-domain resources indicated or reserved by the second terminal.

30. The first terminal according to claim 29, wherein, The first terminal satisfies a first condition, which includes at least one of the following: The first terminal is a target receiving terminal for the side link information sent by the second terminal; The first terminal is a terminal with normal capabilities or a terminal with non-weak capabilities; The first terminal has the first type of Listen-Before-Speak (LBT) capability; The first terminal has side link sensing capability.

31. The first terminal according to claim 30, wherein, The sidelink information sent by the second terminal includes at least one of PSCCH, PSSCH, PSFCH and S-SSB.

32. The first terminal according to claim 31, wherein, The S-SSB includes at least one of S-PSS, S-SSS, and PSBCH.

33. The first terminal according to claim 29, wherein, The one or more time-domain resources include side row time slots.

34. The first terminal according to claim 29, wherein, The one or more time-domain resources are indicated or reserved through at least one of the following: The first COT request information; First side row information.

35. The first terminal according to claim 29, wherein, The first frequency domain resource or the first frequency domain resource set is indicated or reserved through at least one of the following: The first COT request information; First side row information.

36. The first terminal according to claim 29, wherein, The first moment is indicated or scheduled by at least one of the following: The first COT request information; First side row information.

37. The first terminal according to any one of claims 34-36, wherein, The first side-line information includes at least one of PSCCH, PSSCH, PSFCH, and MAC CE.

38. The first terminal according to any one of claims 29-37 further includes a first execution module for executing a first type of LBT.

39. The first terminal according to claim 38, wherein, The first execution module is used for: Determine the third moment; The first type of LBT is executed at the third time.

40. The first terminal according to claim 39, wherein, The third time point is earlier than the time domain start time of the first COT.

41. The first terminal according to any one of claims 38-40, further comprising an initiation module for initiating the first COT.

42. The first terminal according to claim 41, wherein, The initiation module is used to carry COT indication information when initiating the first COT, the COT indication information including at least one of the following: The temporal domain resources of the first COT; The frequency domain resource set of the first COT; The time-domain start time of the first COT; The CAPC level of the first COT.

43. The first terminal according to any one of claims 29-42, wherein, The first COT is used by the second terminal and / or other terminals.

44. The first terminal according to any one of claims 29-43, wherein, The second terminal includes a weakly capable terminal.

45. A second terminal, comprising: The second sending module is used to send the first COT request information to the first terminal; The second receiving module is configured to receive first response information from the first terminal, wherein the first response information includes first confirmation information and / or second confirmation information; wherein... The first confirmation information is used to indicate or confirm that the first terminal will initiate the first COT; The second confirmation information is used to indicate or confirm that the first terminal will not initiate the first COT; Wherein, the first COT satisfies the second condition, and the second condition includes at least one of the following: The first COT includes at least one of one or more time-domain resources indicated or reserved by the second terminal; The first COT includes the resource block to which the frequency domain resources occupied by the first COT request information belong; The first COT includes the first frequency domain resource or the first frequency domain resource set indicated or reserved by the second terminal; The first COT includes the resource block to which the first frequency domain resource belongs or the resource block to which the first frequency domain resource set belongs; The time-domain start time of the first COT is no later than the first moment; The time-domain start time of the first COT is no later than the second time, which includes the time-domain start time of one or more time-domain resources indicated or reserved by the second terminal.

46. ​​The second terminal according to claim 45, wherein, The second terminal includes a weakly capable terminal.

47. The second terminal according to claim 45 or 46, wherein, The first terminal satisfies a first condition, which includes at least one of the following: The first terminal is a target receiving terminal for the side link information sent by the second terminal; The first terminal is a terminal with normal capabilities or a terminal with non-weak capabilities; The first terminal has the first type of LBT capability; The first terminal has side link sensing capability.

48. The second terminal according to claim 47, wherein, The sidelink information sent by the second terminal includes at least one of PSCCH, PSSCH, PSFCH and S-SSB.

49. The second terminal according to claim 48, wherein, The S-SSB includes at least one of S-PSS, S-SSS, and PSBCH.

50. The second terminal according to claim 45, wherein, The one or more time-domain resources include side row time slots.

51. The second terminal according to claim 45, wherein, The one or more time-domain resources are indicated or reserved through at least one of the following: The first COT request information; First side row information.

52. The second terminal according to claim 45, wherein, The first frequency domain resource or the first frequency domain resource set is indicated or reserved through at least one of the following: The first COT request information; First side row information.

53. The second terminal according to claim 45, wherein, The first moment is indicated or scheduled by at least one of the following: The first COT request information; First side row information.

54. The second terminal according to any one of claims 51-53, wherein, The first side-line information includes at least one of PSCCH, PSSCH, PSFCH, and MAC CE.

55. The second terminal according to any one of claims 45-54 further includes a second execution module for executing LBT on the first COT.

56. The second terminal according to any one of claims 45-55, wherein, The first COT is used by the second terminal and / or other terminals.

57. A communication device, comprising: A processor, a memory, and a transceiver, the memory for storing a computer program, the processor for calling and running the computer program stored in the memory, and controlling the transceiver to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 16 or 17 to 28.

58. A chip, comprising: A processor for retrieving and running a computer program from memory, causing a device having the chip mounted to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 16 or 17 to 28.

59. A computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program that causes a computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 16 or 17 to 28.

60. A computer program product comprising computer program instructions that cause a computer to perform the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16 or 17 to 28.

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