Relay communication method, device and system

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides a relay communication method, device and system which are used for reducing message transmission delay and power consumption of a relay device. The method comprises the following steps: receiving a first message from a second node through a first channel; the first channel is a channel between the second node and the first node, and the first message comprises an identifier of the first channel; determining a second channel corresponding to the first channel according to the first mapping relation; wherein the first mapping relationship comprises a mapping relationship between the first channel and a second channel, and the second channel is a channel between the first node and the third node; and sending a second message to the third node through the second channel, wherein the second message comprises the identifier of the second channel.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to relay communication methods, apparatus and systems. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, nodes in the StarSpark wireless communication system can include management (grant, G) nodes and terminal (termina, T) nodes. G nodes can have relay capabilities. Specifically, a G node can generate a PDU2 message based on a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) 1 message from a T1 node and send the PDU2 message to a T2 node, thereby enabling communication between T1 and T2 nodes.

[0003] In relay communication, reducing message transmission latency and power consumption of relay devices are urgent technical problems that need to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a relay communication method, apparatus, and system for reducing message transmission delay and power consumption of the relay device.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the embodiments of this application adopt the following technical solutions:

[0006] In a first aspect, a relay communication method is provided. The apparatus for executing the relay communication method can be the access layer of a first node, or a module in which the access layer of the first node resides, such as a chip or a chip system. The relay communication method includes: receiving a first message from a second node through a first channel; the first channel being a channel between the second node and the first node, and the first message including an identifier of the first channel; determining a second channel corresponding to the first channel according to a first mapping relationship; wherein the first mapping relationship includes a mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel, and the second channel being a channel between the first node and a third node; and sending a second message to the third node through the second channel, the second message including an identifier of the second channel.

[0007] In the relay communication method provided in this application embodiment, the message only passes through the access layer of the first node and does not need to pass through the service layer of the first node. On the one hand, there is no need for interaction between the access layer and the service layer of the first node, thereby reducing the overall transmission latency of the message. On the other hand, since the transmission of the message does not require the participation of the service layer, the chip where the service layer is located can be in a sleep state, thereby reducing the power consumption of the first node.

[0008] In conjunction with the first aspect described above, in one possible implementation, the method further includes: transmitting the first message to the service layer of the first node when the first mapping relationship does not include a mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel, or when the access layer of the first node does not have the first mapping relationship; and obtaining the second message from the service layer of the first node. In this scheme, determining the second channel corresponding to the first channel according to the transmission channel mapping table, and the subsequent action of generating the second message, can be performed at the service layer of the first node. That is, if the first mapping relationship does not include a mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel, or if the access layer of the first node does not have the first mapping relationship, existing relay communication methods can be executed, thereby increasing the compatibility of this scheme with existing technologies.

[0009] In conjunction with the first aspect described above, in one possible implementation, the method further includes: obtaining the first mapping relationship from the service layer of the first node. In this scheme, the access layer of the first node can pre-obtain the first mapping relationship, including the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel, from the service layer of the first node, so that the access layer of the first node can subsequently generate a second message based on the first mapping relationship and the first message.

[0010] In conjunction with the first aspect described above, in one possible implementation, obtaining the first mapping relationship from the service layer of the first node includes: obtaining the first mapping relationship from the service layer of the first node while the chip housing the service layer of the first node is in a sleep state. In this solution, the fact that the chip housing the service layer of the first node is in a sleep state can trigger the service layer of the first node to transmit the first mapping relationship to the access layer of the first node. Therefore, even if the chip housing the service layer of the first node is in a sleep state, it will not affect the first node's provision of relay services, thereby achieving the technical effect of reducing the power consumption of the first node.

[0011] In conjunction with the first aspect described above, in one possible implementation, the method further includes: obtaining the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel from the service layer of the first node; and adding the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel to the first mapping relationship. In this scheme, the access layer of the first node can add the obtained transmission channel mapping table entries to the existing transmission channel mapping table.

[0012] In conjunction with the first aspect described above, in one possible implementation, obtaining the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel from the service layer of the first node includes: obtaining the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel from the service layer of the first node when the QoS information of the service of the second node meets preset conditions; or, obtaining the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel from the service layer of the first node when the first request from the second node includes first indication information; wherein the first request is used to request the establishment of a relay channel, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the relay channel is a high-performance relay channel. In this scheme, the first node can determine whether a high-performance relay channel needs to be established; or, the second node can determine whether a high-performance relay channel needs to be established, and if so, the second node can notify the first node.

[0013] In conjunction with the first aspect described above, in one possible implementation, the method further includes: broadcasting second indication information, which indicates that the first node has the capability to provide relay services by the access layer. In this scheme, other nodes besides the first node can be aware that the first node has the capability to provide high-performance relay services, thereby allowing other nodes to determine whether to establish a high-performance relay channel based on the QoS information of their own services.

[0014] In conjunction with the first aspect described above, in one possible implementation, the method further includes: obtaining third indication information from the service layer of the first node, or receiving third indication information from the second node; wherein the third indication information is used to indicate the deletion of the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel; and deleting the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel from the first mapping relationship. In this scheme, determining whether to delete the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel can be performed by the first node or by the second node, and notifying the first node.

[0015] Secondly, a communication device is provided for implementing the above-described method. This communication device includes modules, units, or means corresponding to the implementation of the above-described method. These modules, units, or means can be implemented in hardware, software, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules or units corresponding to the above-described functions.

[0016] In conjunction with the second aspect above, in one possible implementation, the communication device is an access layer entity, comprising: a transceiver module and a processing module; the transceiver module is configured to receive a first message from a second node through a first channel; the first channel is a channel between the second node and the first node, and the first message includes an identifier of the first channel; the processing module is configured to determine a second channel corresponding to the first channel according to a first mapping relationship; wherein the first mapping relationship includes a mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel, and the second channel is a channel between the first node and a third node; the transceiver module is further configured to send a second message to the third node through the second channel, the second message including an identifier of the second channel.

[0017] In conjunction with the second aspect above, in one possible implementation, the transceiver module is further configured to transmit the first message to the service layer of the first node when the first mapping relationship does not include the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel, or when the access layer of the first node does not have the first mapping relationship; and to obtain the second message from the service layer of the first node.

[0018] In conjunction with the second aspect above, in one possible implementation, the transceiver module is further configured to obtain the first mapping relationship from the service layer of the first node.

[0019] In conjunction with the second aspect above, in one possible implementation, the transceiver module is further configured to obtain the first mapping relationship from the service layer of the first node, including: obtaining the first mapping relationship from the service layer of the first node when the chip where the service layer of the first node is located is in a sleep state.

[0020] In conjunction with the second aspect above, in one possible implementation, the transceiver module is further configured to obtain the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel from the service layer of the first node; the processing module is further configured to add the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel to the first mapping relationship.

[0021] In conjunction with the second aspect above, in one possible implementation, the transceiver module is further configured to obtain the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel from the service layer of the first node, including: obtaining the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel from the service layer of the first node when the QoS information of the service of the second node meets preset conditions; or, obtaining the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel from the service layer of the first node when the first request from the second node includes first indication information; wherein the first request is used to request the establishment of a relay channel, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the relay channel is a high-performance relay channel.

[0022] In conjunction with the second aspect above, in one possible implementation, the transceiver module is further configured to broadcast second indication information, which indicates that the first node has the capability to receive relay services from the access layer.

[0023] In conjunction with the second aspect above, in one possible implementation, the transceiver module is configured to acquire third indication information from the service layer of the first node, or receive third indication information from the second node; wherein the third indication information is used to indicate the deletion of the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel; the processing module is further configured to delete the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel from the first mapping relationship.

[0024] In conjunction with the second aspect above, in one possible implementation, the communication device is also used to transmit Bluetooth signals or Wi-Fi signals, with at least one of the StarScan module, Bluetooth module, and Wi-Fi module sharing a radio frequency (RF) unit.

[0025] In conjunction with the second aspect above, in one possible implementation, the communication device is also used to transmit Bluetooth signals, but does not support the transmission of Wi-Fi signals. The Star Flash module and the Bluetooth module are located in the same subsystem of the communication device, and this subsystem and the power management module (PMU) are integrated in the communication device.

[0026] In conjunction with the second aspect above, in one possible implementation, the communication device is also used to transmit Bluetooth signals or Wi-Fi signals, wherein at least one of the Bluetooth module or Wi-Fi module and the StarSpark module coexist and communicate with each other through different antennas, and the coexistence strategy is channel avoidance.

[0027] Thirdly, a communication device is provided, comprising: a processor; the processor being coupled to a memory and, after reading computer instructions stored in the memory, executing the method described in the first aspect above according to the instructions.

[0028] In conjunction with the third aspect above, in one possible implementation, the communication device further includes a memory for storing computer instructions.

[0029] In conjunction with the third aspect described above, in one possible implementation, the communication device further includes a communication interface; this communication interface is used for communication between the communication device and other devices. For example, the communication interface may be a transceiver, an input / output interface, an interface circuit, an output circuit, an input circuit, a pin, or related circuitry, etc.

[0030] In conjunction with the third aspect described above, in one possible implementation, the communication device can be a chip or a chip system. When the communication device is a chip system, it can be composed of chips or may include chips and other discrete components.

[0031] In conjunction with the third aspect above, in one possible implementation, when the communication device is a chip or chip system, the aforementioned communication interface can be an input / output interface, interface circuit, output circuit, input circuit, pin, or related circuit on the chip or chip system. The aforementioned processor can also be embodied as a processing circuit or logic circuit.

[0032] Fourthly, a communication system is provided, comprising: a first node, a second node, and a third node; wherein the access layer of the first node is used to perform the method described in the first aspect.

[0033] Fifthly, a computer-readable storage medium is provided that stores instructions which, when executed on a computer, enable the computer to perform the method described in the first aspect.

[0034] In a sixth aspect, a computer program product containing instructions is provided that, when run on a computer, enables the computer to perform the method described in the first aspect.

[0035] In a seventh aspect, a chip is provided, the chip comprising: a processor configured to execute instructions that cause a device including the chip to perform the method described in the first aspect.

[0036] In conjunction with the seventh aspect above, in one possible implementation, the chip also includes a memory for storing instructions.

[0037] The technical effects of any possible implementation of aspects two through seven can be found in the first aspect and its different implementations mentioned above, and will not be repeated here. Attached Figure Description

[0038] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating communication between different T nodes via a G node.

[0039] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a relay service transmission channel;

[0040] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the current data forwarding process;

[0041] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the protocol architecture for G nodes or T nodes;

[0042] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0043] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the composition of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0044] Figure 7 A flowchart of a relay communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0045] Figure 8 A schematic diagram illustrating the data forwarding process in current relay communication methods and the relay communication methods provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0046] Figure 9 Flowchart of a specific example of the relay communication method provided in the embodiments of this application Figure 1 ;

[0047] Figure 10 Flowchart of a specific example of the relay communication method provided in the embodiments of this application Figure 2 ;

[0048] Figure 11 Flowchart of a specific example of the relay communication method provided in the embodiments of this application Figure 3 ;

[0049] Figure 12 A schematic diagram of the instructions for DLI interaction between the basic service layer of the first node and the star-flash access layer of the first node provided in this application embodiment;

[0050] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the composition of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0051] To facilitate understanding of the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the current relay communication methods in the Star Flash wireless communication system are first introduced.

[0052] Figure 1This diagram illustrates communication between different nodes T via nodes G. Node T1 can communicate with node T2 through a G node with relay capabilities. Similarly, node T2 can communicate with node T1 through a G node with relay capabilities. Solid lines represent the actual transmission path of the message, while dashed lines indicate communication between T1 and T2 via nodes G. Communication between T1 and T2 requires the assistance of nodes G, especially when node T1 is outside the signal coverage area of ​​node T2, and / or node T2 is outside the signal coverage area of ​​node T1.

[0053] exist Figure 1 In this context, communication between T1 and T2 via the G node can also be referred to as relay communication or transmission channel relay communication. Relay capability can also be called transmission channel relay capability. This will be explained uniformly here and will not be elaborated upon further below.

[0054] Relay communication applications include Sparklink Basic (SLB) communication and Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) communication. In SLB (or WiFi) communication, any two T nodes (or stations, STAs) may exchange data. For example, in environments where SLB (or WiFi) gateways are deployed, such as homes, businesses, shopping malls, or airports, data transmission between smartphones and printers, personal computers (PCs), tablets, televisions, or set-top boxes under the same gateway's jurisdiction requires relay forwarding through the SLB (or WiFi) gateway.

[0055] Since relay capability is an optional capability of the StarSignal device, when node T1 wants to communicate with node T2 through node G, node T1 can use the connection management capability to query the relevant signaling to confirm that node G has relay capability.

[0056] After node T1 confirms that node G has relay capabilities, node G can interact with node T2 regarding the relay service discovery process. The signaling data involved in the relay service discovery process can be transmitted based on the SLB relay service management transmission channel and relay service management frames. After the relay service discovery process is completed, the basic application layers of nodes T1 and T2 can obtain relevant information required for communication, including port, service, and quality of service (QoS) requirements. Furthermore, based on the aforementioned information, the connection management functional units of the basic service layers of nodes T1, G, and T2 can establish a relay service transmission channel between nodes T1 and T2 for relay service data transmission through the interaction of relay control signaling.

[0057] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a relay service transmission channel is shown. Each relay service transmission channel can consist of a sub-relay service transmission channel 1 and a sub-relay service transmission channel 2, used to carry relay service data between node T1 and node G, and between node G and node T2, respectively. To achieve relay service data forwarding, after establishing the relay service transmission channel between T1 and T2 via relay control signaling, the connection management unit of node G can generate and maintain a transmission channel mapping table. The information included in each entry of the transmission channel mapping table (i.e., each entry in the transmission channel mapping table) is shown in Table 1.

[0058] Table 1

[0059]

[0060] Currently, the relay capability of G nodes is achieved through the basic service layer. Figure 3 This diagram illustrates the current data forwarding process. Taking the transmission of Protocol Data Unit (PDU) message 1 by node T1 as an example, it is assumed that the data frame header encapsulation information corresponding to PDU message 1 includes TCIDy. PDU message 1 can enter the sub-relay service transmission channel 1 from the basic application layer of node T1, via the basic service layer and the star-flash access layer of node T1. The star-flash access layer of node G receives PDU message 1 from node T1 through sub-relay service transmission channel 1 and transmits PDU message 1 to the basic service layer of node G. In the basic service layer of node G, TCIDy in PDU message 1 can be replaced with TCIDj according to the transmission channel mapping table to generate PDU message 2. Optionally, the cyclic redundancy check (CRC) information included in PDU message 1 can also be updated, and the updated CRC information is included in PDU message 2. Afterwards, the basic service layer of node G can transmit PDU message 2 to the star-flash access layer of node G. The G node's Star Flash Access Layer can send PDU message 2 via Sub-Relay Service Transmission Channel 2, the T2 node's Star Flash Access Layer, and the T2 node's Basic Service Layer to the T2 node's Basic Application Layer, thereby realizing data transmission from the T1 node to the T2 node.

[0061] Since the transmission channel mapping table resides in the basic service layer, the relay capability of node G needs to be implemented with the help of the basic service layer. This method may have the following problems:

[0062] Problem 1: High overall message transmission latency.

[0063] Since the basic service layer of the G node is located above the G node's star-flash access layer, the forwarding of packets through the basic service layer of the G node involves more internal interactions within the G node, namely, the interaction between the basic service layer and the star-flash access layer of the G node. This results in high overall packet transmission latency.

[0064] Question 2: The power consumption of G nodes is high.

[0065] Figure 4 The diagram illustrates the protocol architecture of a G-node or T-node. The upper layer of SparkLink can include a basic application layer and a basic service layer. The lower layer can include a SparkLink access layer, which can be based on SLB or SparkLink Low Energy (SLE) technology. The upper and lower layers can communicate via a data link interface (DLI).

[0066] In one possible implementation, the upper and lower layers of the StarScan layer can reside on different chips. For example, the upper layer could be located on chip A, and the lower layer on chip B. Since the basic service layer needs to participate in relay communication, chip A cannot be in a sleep state, which would result in high power consumption for the G node.

[0067] To address the aforementioned issues, in the relay communication method provided in this application embodiment, the service layer of the relay device can transmit the transmission channel mapping table or a portion of the transmission channel mapping table entries to the access layer of the relay device via DLI. Thus, the relay capability of the relay device only needs to be implemented through the access layer, while the data forwarding process does not require the participation of the service layer, thereby achieving the technical effect of reducing message transmission latency and the power consumption of the relay device.

[0068] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, " / " indicates that the objects before and after are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B can represent A or B. "And / or" in this application is merely a description of 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, and B alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. Furthermore, in the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" refers to two or more. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple. Furthermore, to facilitate a clear description of the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the terms "first" and "second" are used in the embodiments of this application to distinguish identical or similar items with substantially the same function and effect. Those skilled in the art will understand that the terms "first" and "second" do not limit the quantity or execution order, and the terms "first" and "second" are not necessarily different.

[0069] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this application. The communication system may include at least one terminal node and at least one management node. As an example, Figure 5 The diagram shows a management node, terminal node 1, terminal node 2, and terminal node 3. When the management node has relay capabilities, any two of terminal nodes 1, 2, and 3 can communicate via relay through the management node.

[0070] For example, Figure 5 The illustrated communication system could be a StarScan wireless communication system.

[0071] in, Figure 5 The terminal node in the communication system can be a node that receives data scheduling information and sends data according to the data scheduling information; it can be called a T node. Figure 5 The management node in the communication system can be the node that sends data scheduling information, and can be called a G node.

[0072] The communication link for transmission from the grant node to the terminal node refers to the communication link between the grant node and the terminal node. This link can carry data channels, control channels, broadcast channels, synchronization signals, etc., between the grant node and the terminal node, and can be called a G-link. The symbols used for transmission in the G-link are called G symbols.

[0073] A communication link for transmission from a terminal node to a grant node refers to the communication link between the terminal node and the management node. This link can carry data channels, access channels, feedback signals, etc., from the terminal node to the management node, and can be called a T-link. The symbols used for transmission in a T-link are called T symbols.

[0074] A communication domain refers to the G-link and T-link resources of a management node in a communication system. A communication domain can also be referred to as a cell.

[0075] in, Figure 5 The terminal node can be located within the beam / cell coverage area of ​​the management node, and the management node can provide communication services to the terminal node. For example, the management node can use channel coding to encode downlink data, and after constellation modulation, transmit it to the terminal node via the air interface (i.e., the management node is the transmitting device, and the terminal node is the receiving device); the terminal node can also use channel coding to encode uplink data, and after constellation modulation, send it to the management node via the air interface (i.e., the terminal node is the transmitting device, and the management node is the receiving device). It is understood that when management nodes communicate with each other, or when terminal nodes communicate with each other, communication can also be based on channel coding; that is, the transmitting and receiving devices can both be management nodes or both be terminal nodes, without restriction.

[0076] Figure 5 The terminal node in the context can also be a device with wireless transceiver capabilities or a chip or chip system that can be configured on the device. It allows users to access the network and is used to provide voice and / or data connectivity to users. The terminal node can also be called user equipment (UE), subscriber unit, terminal, mobile station (MS), or mobile terminal (MT), etc.

[0077] For example, Figure 5 The terminal node can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, or a computer with wireless transceiver capabilities. Terminal nodes can also be user stations, mobile stations, remote stations, remote terminal nodes, mobile terminal nodes, user terminal nodes, wireless communication devices, user agents, user devices, cellular phones, cordless phones, session initiation protocol (SIP) phones, wireless local loop (WLL) stations, personal digital assistants (PDAs), handheld devices with wireless communication capabilities, computing devices, processing devices connected to wireless modems, in-vehicle devices, wearable devices, terminal nodes in the Internet of Things (IoT), smart home devices (e.g., refrigerators, televisions, air conditioners, electricity meters, etc.), intelligent robots, robotic arms, workshop equipment, virtual reality (VR) terminals, augmented reality (AR) terminals, wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals in autonomous driving, wireless terminals in telemedicine, wireless terminals in smart grids, wireless terminals in smart cities, wireless terminals in smart homes, vehicles with vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication capabilities, intelligent connected vehicles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with U2U (U2U) communication capabilities, terminal nodes in future networks, or terminal nodes in future evolved public land mobile networks (PLMNs) are not restricted.

[0078] in, Figure 5 The management node can be any device deployed in the access network capable of wireless communication with terminal nodes. It can also be a chip or chip system configurable within such devices, a logic node or logic module, or a function implemented in software. It can be used to implement functions such as wireless physical control, resource scheduling and wireless resource management, wireless access control, and mobility management. Specifically, the management node can be a device supporting wired access or a device supporting wireless access.

[0079] For example, the management node can be an SLB gateway. For example, the management node can consist of one or more access network (AN) / radio access network (RAN) nodes. AN / RAN nodes can be: evolved Node B (gNB), transmission reception point (TRP), evolved Node B (eNB), radio network controller (RNC), Node B (NB), base station controller (BSC), base transceiver station (BTS), home base station (e.g., home evolved Node B, or home Node B (HNB)), base band unit (BBU), or access point (AP) in WiFi communication, etc.

[0080] In another example, the management node may include a baseband unit (BBU) and a remote radio unit (RRU). The BBU and RRU can be located in different locations; for example, the RRU can be deployed remotely to a high-traffic area, while the BBU is located in the central equipment room. Alternatively, the BBU and RRU can be located in the same equipment room. Furthermore, the BBU and RRU can be different components within the same rack.

[0081] In another example, the management node can be a device that includes centralized unit (CU) nodes, distributed unit (DU) nodes, or both CU and DU nodes. For instance, the management node can be logically divided into CUs and DUs, with some protocol layer functions centrally controlled by the CU, and the remaining partial or complete protocol layer functions distributed across the DU, which is then centrally controlled by the CU. CUs and DUs can be separate entities or included in the same network element, such as a BBU. Furthermore, the centralized unit (CU) can be further divided into a control plane (CU-CP) and a user plane (CU-UP).

[0082] In another example, the management node may also be a device that includes a radio unit (RU), or a device that includes a CU, a DU, and a RU. The RU may be included in a radio frequency device or radio frequency unit, such as an RRU, an active antenna unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH).

[0083] It is understood that CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU, or RU may have different names in different systems, but those skilled in the art will understand their meaning. For example, in an open radioaccess network (O-RAN) system, CU can also be called O-CU (open CU), DU can also be called O-DU, CU-CP can also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP can also be called O-CU-UP, and RU can also be called O-RU. For ease of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and RU as examples. Any of the units among CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU, and RU in this application can be implemented through a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of software and hardware modules.

[0084] Based on the above description of the terminal node and the management node, optionally, the communication method provided in the embodiments of this application can be implemented by the aforementioned terminal node or management node, or by components of the terminal node or management node, such as by application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or software (such as program code in memory) deployed in the terminal node or management node, without limitation.

[0085] This application embodiment also provides a method such as Figure 6 The communication device shown can be used for both terminal nodes and management nodes. Figure 6 The shown composition structure, or including Figure 6 The components shown.

[0086] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the composition of a communication device 600 provided in an embodiment of this application. The communication device 600 can be a terminal node, a chip within a terminal node, or a system-on-a-chip; it can also be a management node, a chip within a management node, or a system-on-a-chip. For example... Figure 6 As shown, the communication device 600 includes a processor 601, a transceiver 602, and a communication line 603.

[0087] Furthermore, the communication device 600 may also include a memory 604. The processor 601, memory 604, and transceiver 602 can be connected via a communication line 603.

[0088] The processor 601 can be a central processing unit (CPU), a general-purpose processor, a network processor (NP), a digital signal processor (DSP), a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a programmable logic device (PLD), or any combination thereof. The processor 601 can also be other devices with processing capabilities, such as circuits, devices, or software modules, without limitation.

[0089] Transceiver 602 is used to communicate with other devices or other communication networks. These other communication networks can be Ethernet, RAN, wireless local area networks (WLAN), etc. Transceiver 602 can be a module, circuit, transceiver, or any device capable of enabling communication.

[0090] Communication line 603 is used to transmit information between the components included in communication device 600.

[0091] Memory 604 is used to store instructions. These instructions can be computer programs.

[0092] The memory 604 can be a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device that can store static information and / or instructions; it can also be a random access memory (RAM) or other type of dynamic storage device that can store information and / or instructions; it can also be an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, optical disc storage (including compressed optical discs, laser discs, optical discs, digital universal optical discs, Blu-ray discs, etc.), magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, etc., without limitation.

[0093] It should be noted that the memory 604 can exist independently of the processor 601, or it can be integrated with the processor 601. The memory 604 can be used to store instructions, program code, or some data, etc. The memory 604 can be located inside or outside the communication device 600, without limitation. The processor 601 is used to execute the instructions stored in the memory 604 to implement the communication method provided in the following embodiments of this application.

[0094] In one example, processor 601 may include one or more CPUs, for example Figure 6 CPU0 and CPU1 in the CPU.

[0095] As an optional implementation, the communication device 600 includes multiple processors, for example, besides Figure 6 In addition to processor 601, it may also include processor 607.

[0096] As an optional implementation, the communication device 600 also includes an output device 605 and an input device 606. For example, the input device 606 is a device such as a keyboard, mouse, microphone, or joystick, and the output device 605 is a device such as a display screen or speaker.

[0097] It should be noted that the communication device 600 can be a desktop computer, laptop computer, network server, mobile phone, tablet computer, wireless terminal, embedded device, chip system, or other device. Figure 6 Equipment with a similar structure. Furthermore... Figure 6 The structural composition shown does not constitute a limitation on the communication device, except... Figure 6 In addition to the components shown, the communication device may include more or fewer components than illustrated, or combine certain components, or have different component arrangements.

[0098] The following will combine Figures 1 to 6 The relay communication method provided in the embodiments of this application will be described in detail.

[0099] Figure 7 A flowchart of a relay communication method provided in an embodiment of this application is shown, including the following steps:

[0100] Step S701: The second node sends a first message to the access layer of the first node through the first channel. Correspondingly, the access layer of the first node receives the first message from the second node through the first channel. The first channel is the channel between the second node and the first node, and the first message includes the identifier of the first channel.

[0101] Combination Figure 1In this embodiment of the application, the first node can be a G node, the second node can be a T1 node, and the third node can be a T2 node. Alternatively, the first node can be a G node, the second node can be a T2 node, and the third node can be a T1 node.

[0102] In this embodiment, the first node, the second node, and the third node can all be T nodes. Alternatively, the first node and the third node can be T nodes, and the second node can be a G node. Or, the first node and the second node can be T nodes, and the third node can be a G node. This embodiment does not limit the types of the first node, the second node, and the third node.

[0103] Combination Figure 5 In this embodiment of the application, the first node can be a management node, and the second and third nodes can be any two of the terminal nodes 1, 2 and 3.

[0104] For example, the access layer can be the aforementioned satellite flash access layer, which may include a physical layer and a data link layer. The data link layer may include a media access control (MAC) layer and a logical link control (LLC) layer. The service layer can be the aforementioned basic service layer. The first channel may belong to the aforementioned sub-relay service transmission channel 1, and the second channel may belong to the aforementioned sub-relay service transmission channel 2.

[0105] For example, the first message and the second message in the embodiments of this application can be PDU messages.

[0106] For example, the identifier of the first channel included in the first message may include the identifier of the first channel on the first node side, such as the aforementioned TCIDy. Optionally, the identifier of the first channel included in the first message may also include the transmission channel identifier of the first channel on the second node side, such as the aforementioned TCIDx.

[0107] Step S702: The access layer of the first node determines the second channel corresponding to the first channel based on the first mapping relationship. The first mapping relationship includes the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel, and the second channel is the channel between the first node and the third node.

[0108] For example, the first mapping relationship can be the same as the aforementioned transmission channel mapping table located at the basic service layer, or it can be a partial entry of the aforementioned transmission channel mapping table located at the basic service layer. The mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel can be included in a transmission channel mapping table entry. The information included in each transmission channel mapping table entry can be as shown in Table 1 above. The star-flash access layer identifier of the T2 node can be replaced with the star-flash access layer identifier of the target group, or it can be replaced with an identifier used to identify the broadcast transmission mode. That is to say, the first mapping relationship or transmission channel mapping table can be used not only for unicast, but also for multicast and broadcast; this application embodiment does not limit the transmission mode in any way.

[0109] In this embodiment, the first mapping relationship or transmission channel mapping table is used to determine the next-hop node (i.e., the third node) of the relay device (i.e., the first node) in the message transmission direction. This embodiment does not limit the specific content or storage format of the first mapping relationship or transmission channel mapping table.

[0110] Optionally, the relay communication method provided in this application embodiment further includes: when the first mapping relationship does not include the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel, or when the access layer of the first node does not have the first mapping relationship, the access layer of the first node transmits a first message to the service layer of the first node. Correspondingly, the service layer of the first node obtains the first message from the access layer of the first node. The service layer of the first node transmits a second message to the access layer of the first node. Correspondingly, the access layer of the first node obtains the second message from the service layer of the first node. In this scheme, determining the second channel corresponding to the first channel according to the transmission channel mapping table, and the subsequent generation of the second message, can be performed at the service layer of the first node. That is, if the first mapping relationship does not include the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel, or if the access layer of the first node does not have the first mapping relationship, existing relay communication methods can be executed, thereby increasing the compatibility of this scheme with existing technologies.

[0111] For example, the first mapping relationship does not include the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel, including the following situations: the access layer of the first node has a transmission channel mapping table, but the transmission channel mapping table is empty; or, the access layer of the first node has some transmission channel mapping table entries, but the existing entries do not include the entry corresponding to the first message (or the first channel), in other words, the existing entries do not include the identifier of the first channel.

[0112] Step S703: The access layer of the first node sends a second message to the third node through the second channel. Correspondingly, the third node receives the second message from the access layer of the first node through the second channel. The second message includes the identifier of the second channel.

[0113] For example, the identifier of the second channel included in the second message may include the identifier of the second channel on the third node side, such as the aforementioned TCIDj. Optionally, the identifier of the second channel included in the second message may also include the identifier of the second channel on the first node side, such as the aforementioned TCIDi.

[0114] For example, the access layer of the first node can replace the identifier of the first channel included in the first message with the identifier of the second channel to generate a second message. The process by which the access layer of the first node generates the second message based on the first message and the first mapping relationship is similar to the process by which the service layer of the first node generates the second message based on the first message and the first mapping relationship in the prior art, and will not be described in detail here.

[0115] Combination Figure 3 , Figure 8 The diagram illustrates the data forwarding process in current relay communication methods and the relay communication method provided in this application embodiment. Clearly, in the relay communication method provided in this application embodiment, the message only passes through the access layer of the first node and does not need to pass through the service layer of the first node. On the one hand, there is no need for interaction between the access layer and the service layer of the first node, thereby reducing the overall transmission latency of the message. On the other hand, since the transmission of the message does not require the participation of the service layer, the chip where the service layer is located can be in a sleep state, thereby reducing the power consumption of the first node. Given that the relay communication method provided in this application embodiment has the characteristics of low latency and low power consumption, it can also be called a high-performance relay communication method. Correspondingly, the relay service provided by the first node can also be called a high-performance relay service.

[0116] Combination Figure 7 , Figure 9 The flowchart illustrates a specific example of the relay communication method provided in the embodiments of this application. Figure 1 This example includes the following steps:

[0117] Step S901: The second node sends a first message to the first node's stroboscopic access layer through the first channel. Correspondingly, the first node's stroboscopic access layer receives the first message from the second node through the first channel.

[0118] The relevant description of step S901 can be found in the relevant description of step S701 above, and will not be repeated here.

[0119] Step S902: The first node's star-flash access layer determines whether a transmission channel mapping table exists. If the determination result is yes, then proceed to step S903; if the determination result is no, then proceed to step S904.

[0120] Step S903: The first node's star-flash access layer determines whether the transmission channel mapping table is empty. If the determination result is yes, then proceed to step S904; if the determination result is no, then proceed to step S905.

[0121] Step S904: The first node's stroboscopic access layer transmits a first message to the first node's basic service layer. Correspondingly, the first node's basic service layer receives the first message from the first node's stroboscopic access layer. After step S904, the first node's basic service layer generates a second message based on the first message and the transmission channel mapping table, and transmits the second message to the first node's stroboscopic access layer. Step S904 and subsequent steps are the same as existing relay communication methods and will not be described again here.

[0122] Step S905: The star-flash access layer of the first node determines whether the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel can be found in the transmission channel mapping table. If the determination result is yes, then proceed to step S906; if the determination result is no, then proceed to step S904.

[0123] When the judgment result is yes, the star-flash access layer of the first node can determine the second channel according to the transmission channel mapping table. For details, please refer to the relevant description of step S702 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0124] Step S906: The first node's star-flash access layer sends a second message to the third node through the second channel. Correspondingly, the third node receives the second message from the first node's access layer through the second channel.

[0125] The relevant description of step S906 can be found in the relevant description of step S703 above, and will not be repeated here.

[0126] In one possible implementation, the relay communication method provided in this application further includes: the service layer of the first node transmitting a first mapping relationship to the access layer of the first node. Correspondingly, the access layer of the first node obtains the first mapping relationship from the service layer of the first node. In this scheme, the access layer of the first node can pre-obtain the first mapping relationship, including the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel, from the service layer of the first node, so that the access layer of the first node can subsequently generate a second message based on the first mapping relationship and the first message.

[0127] In this embodiment of the application, the first mapping relationship is transmitted from the service layer of the first node to the access layer of the first node, which can also be referred to as the download of the first mapping relationship or the download of the transmission channel mapping table.

[0128] Optionally, the service layer of the first node transmits the first mapping relationship to the access layer of the first node. Correspondingly, the access layer of the first node obtains the first mapping relationship from the service layer of the first node, including: when the chip containing the service layer of the first node is in a sleep state, the service layer of the first node transmits the first mapping relationship to the access layer of the first node. Correspondingly, the access layer of the first node obtains the first mapping relationship from the service layer of the first node. In this scheme, the chip containing the service layer of the first node is in a sleep state, which can trigger the service layer of the first node to transmit the first mapping relationship to the access layer of the first node. Therefore, even if the chip containing the service layer of the first node is in a sleep state, it will not affect the first node's provision of relay services, thereby achieving the technical effect of reducing the power consumption of the first node.

[0129] For example, when chip A, where the basic service layer of the first node is located, is in sleep mode, the low-power module of chip A can notify the connection management function module of the basic service layer of the first node to transmit all the entries of the transmission channel mapping table to the star flash access layer of the first node, so that the first node can provide relay services normally.

[0130] In another possible implementation, the relay communication method provided in this application further includes: the service layer of the first node transmitting the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel to the access layer of the first node. Correspondingly, the access layer of the first node obtains the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel from the service layer of the first node. The access layer of the first node adds the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel to the first mapping relationship. In this scheme, the access layer of the first node can add the obtained transmission channel mapping table entries to an existing transmission channel mapping table.

[0131] In this embodiment of the application, the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel is transmitted from the service layer of the first node to the access layer of the first node. This can also be referred to as the download of the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel, or the download of the channel mapping table entries.

[0132] For example, the first mapping relationship, or the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel, can be included in the instruction to add a transmission channel mapping table entry. Information regarding the instruction to add a transmission channel mapping table entry can be found in Table 2.

[0133] Table 2

[0134]

[0135] The identifier occupies 2 bytes. When the number of entries in the transmission channel mapping table is N, the instruction parameters occupy N*(6+6+2*4) = 20N bytes. The parameter values ​​and corresponding descriptions for the instruction execution status are shown in Table 3.

[0136] Table 3

[0137]

[0138] The following lists two triggering conditions for the service layer of the first node to transmit the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel to the access layer of the first node. It should be noted that conditions 1 and 2 below are only examples; in actual implementation, there may be other situations requiring the establishment of a high-performance relay channel between the second node and the third node, and this application does not impose any limitations on these situations. The high-performance relay channel can be used to execute the relay communication method provided in the embodiments of this application. For example, the high-performance relay channel can be... Figure 8 The dotted lines shown correspond to data transmission paths. Since high-performance relay channels can be used to implement high-performance relay communication methods, their establishment and use can reduce message transmission latency and the power consumption of the first node. An analysis of the technical effects achievable by high-performance relay channels can be found in [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 8 The analysis of the technical effects achievable by the high-performance relay communication method in the illustrated embodiments will not be repeated here.

[0139] 1) Condition 1: The service layer of the first node determines that the QoS information of the second node meets the preset conditions.

[0140] Optionally, the second node can send QoS information to the first node. If the service layer of the first node determines that the QoS information of the second node meets preset conditions, the service layer of the first node transmits the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel to the access layer of the first node. Correspondingly, the access layer of the first node obtains the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel from the service layer of the first node.

[0141] The relay channel in this application embodiment can also be referred to as a relay service channel.

[0142] For example, the preset conditions may include message transmission delay being lower than a first threshold.

[0143] In condition 1, the first node can determine whether a high-performance relay channel needs to be established.

[0144] Combining condition 1, Figure 10 The flowchart illustrates a specific example of the relay communication method provided in the embodiments of this application. Figure 2 This example includes the following steps:

[0145] Step S1001: The basic service layer of the first node establishes a relay channel according to the existing standards.

[0146] Step S1001 also requires the participation of the second and third nodes. Specifically, step S1001 also requires the participation of the connection management function unit of the basic service layer of the second and third nodes. The specific process of step S1001 can be found in existing standards and will not be repeated here.

[0147] Step S1002: The basic service layer of the first node determines that a high-performance relay channel needs to be established between the second and third nodes.

[0148] Specifically, step S1002 can be achieved by condition 1.

[0149] Step S1003: The basic service layer of the first node transmits an instruction to add a transmission channel mapping table entry to the star-speed access layer of the first node via DLI. Correspondingly, the star-speed access layer of the first node obtains the instruction to add a transmission channel mapping table entry from the basic service layer of the first node via DLI.

[0150] The instruction to add an entry to the transmission channel mapping table can include the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel.

[0151] For example, steps S1001 to S1003 can be executed by the connection management function unit of the basic service layer of the first node.

[0152] Step S1004: Add a transmission channel mapping table entry to the star flash access layer of the first node.

[0153] For example, if the first node's stroboscopic access layer does not have a transmission channel mapping table, the first node's stroboscopic access layer can add a new mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel as a transmission channel mapping table; if the first node's stroboscopic access layer already has a transmission channel mapping table, the first node's stroboscopic access layer can add the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel to the existing transmission channel mapping table.

[0154] Step S1005: The StarSpark Access Layer of the first node transmits the instruction execution status to the basic service layer of the first node via DLI. Correspondingly, the basic service layer of the first node obtains the instruction execution status from the StarSpark Access Layer of the first node via DLI.

[0155] If the first node's StarSpark access layer successfully receives the instruction to add a transmission channel mapping table entry and successfully stores the mapping relationship between the first and second channels, the instruction execution status is successful; if the first node's StarSpark access layer determines that the instruction to add a transmission channel mapping table entry is invalid or contains an error, the instruction execution status is failed.

[0156] 2) Condition 2: The first request from the second node includes first indication information. The first request is used to request the establishment of a relay channel, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the relay channel is a high-performance relay channel.

[0157] For example, the first request can be a high-performance trunk channel establishment request. The first request can be implemented by adding first indication information to an existing trunk channel establishment request.

[0158] Optionally, the access layer of the first node broadcasts second indication information, which indicates that the first node has the capability to provide relay services by the access layer. In this scheme, other nodes besides the first node can know that the first node has the capability to provide high-performance relay services, so that other nodes can determine whether to establish a high-performance relay channel based on the QoS information of their own services.

[0159] The first node's ability to provide relay services from the access layer can be understood as: the first node possesses the ability to provide high-performance relay services; or, the first node possesses the ability to provide (high-performance) relay services solely from the access layer. When the first node provides high-performance relay services, the data forwarding process can proceed without the involvement of the service layer. The presence of at least one entry in the access layer's transmission channel mapping table signifies that the first node possesses the ability to provide relay services from the access layer.

[0160] In condition 2, the second node can determine whether a high-performance relay channel needs to be established. If so, the second node can notify the first node.

[0161] Combining condition 2, Figure 11 The flowchart illustrates a specific example of the relay communication method provided in the embodiments of this application. Figure 3 This example includes the following steps:

[0162] Step S1101: The first node broadcasts the second indication information. Correspondingly, the second node and the third node receive the second indication information.

[0163] Step S1101 can be executed during the service discovery process.

[0164] Step S1102: The second node determines the need to establish a high-performance relay channel based on the QoS information.

[0165] Step S1103: The second node sends a high-performance relay channel establishment request to the first node. Correspondingly, the first node receives the high-performance relay channel establishment request from the second node.

[0166] Step S1104: The first node sends a high-performance relay channel establishment response to the second node. Correspondingly, the second node receives the high-performance relay channel establishment response from the first node.

[0167] Step S1105: The first node sends a high-performance relay channel establishment request to the third node. Correspondingly, the third node receives the high-performance relay channel establishment request from the first node.

[0168] Step S1106: The third node sends a high-performance relay channel establishment response to the first node. Correspondingly, the first node receives the high-performance relay channel establishment response from the third node.

[0169] The relevant descriptions of the high-performance relay channel establishment request in steps S1103 and S1105 can be found in the relevant description of the first request, and will not be repeated here.

[0170] Through steps S1103 to S1106 described above, a relay channel can be established according to existing standards, which is equivalent to step S1001 described above. In other words, steps S1103 to S1106 can be executed during the existing relay channel establishment process.

[0171] In steps S1103 and S1105, the high-performance relay channel establishment response is used to indicate that the relay channels between the second node and the first node, and between the first node and the third node, have been successfully established, respectively.

[0172] Step S1107: Download the entry of the transmission channel mapping table for the first node.

[0173] For details on the implementation of step S1107, please refer to steps S1003 to S1005.

[0174] Steps S1103 to S1107 can be executed during the establishment of an existing high-performance relay channel.

[0175] After step S1107, a high-performance relay transmission process can be performed, i.e. Figure 7 or Figure 9 The example shown.

[0176] Optionally, the relay communication method provided in this application embodiment further includes: the service layer of the first node transmitting third indication information to the access layer of the first node. Correspondingly, the access layer of the first node obtains the third indication information from the service layer of the first node. Alternatively, the second node sends the third indication information to the access layer of the first node. Correspondingly, the access layer of the first node receives the third indication information from the second node. The third indication information is used to indicate the deletion of the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel. The access layer of the first node deletes the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel from the first mapping relationship. In this scheme, determining whether to delete the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel can be performed by the first node or by the second node, and the first node is notified.

[0177] When the third instruction information is transmitted between the service layer and the access layer of the first node, the third instruction information can be an instruction to add an entry to the transmission channel mapping table.

[0178] Information regarding instructions for deleting entries in the transport channel mapping table is shown in Table 4.

[0179] Table 4

[0180]

[0181] The identifier occupies 2 bytes. The difference between the identifier included in the instruction to delete a transmission channel mapping table entry and the identifier included in the instruction to add a transmission channel mapping table entry can be 1. For example, the identifier included in the instruction to add a transmission channel mapping table entry can be 0x123F, and the identifier included in the instruction to delete a transmission channel mapping table entry can be 0x1240, where 0x represents a hexadecimal number. When the number of transmission channel mapping table entries is N, the instruction parameters occupy N*(6+6+2*4) = 20N bytes. The parameter values ​​and corresponding parameter descriptions for the instruction execution status are shown in Table 3.

[0182] For example, Figure 12 This diagram illustrates the commands exchanged between the basic service layer and the StarSpark access layer of the first node via DLI. Command 1 can be used to add an entry to the transmission channel mapping table, and can be used to add all or part of the entries. Command 2 can be the execution status feedback command corresponding to Command 1. Command 3 can be used to delete an entry from the transmission channel mapping table, and can be used to add all or part of the entries. Command 4 can be the execution status feedback command corresponding to Command 3.

[0183] It is understood that, in the above embodiments, the methods and / or steps implemented by the access layer of the first node can also be implemented by components (e.g., chips or circuits) that can be used in the access layer of the first node or by means of the access layer of the first node; the methods and / or steps implemented by the service layer of the first node can also be implemented by components (e.g., chips or circuits) that can be used in the service layer of the first node or by means of the service layer of the first node; the methods and / or steps implemented by the second node can also be implemented by components (e.g., chips or circuits) that can be used in the second node or by means of the second node; and the methods and / or steps implemented by the third node can also be implemented by components (e.g., chips or circuits) that can be used in the third node or by means of the third node.

[0184] It is understood that the access layer of the first node, the service layer of the first node, the second node, or the third node, in order to implement the above functions, include corresponding hardware structures and / or software modules for executing each function. Those skilled in the art should readily recognize that, based on the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein, this application can be implemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in hardware or by computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0185] This application embodiment can divide the access layer, service layer, second node, or third node of the first node into functional modules according to the above method embodiment. For example, each function can be divided into a separate functional module, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The integrated module can be implemented in hardware or as a software functional module. It should be noted that the module division in this application embodiment is illustrative and only represents one logical functional division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods.

[0186] For example, the access layer of the first node in this embodiment can adopt... Figure 13 The communication device 1300 shown is implemented in the form of an access layer entity. This access layer entity may include a media access entity and a link control entity. The communication device 1300 may include a transceiver module 1301 and a processing module 1302. The communication device 1300 is used to implement the above-described... Figure 7 , Figure 9 and Figure 10 The method embodiment shown illustrates the function of the access layer of the first node.

[0187] For example, when the communication device 1300 is used to implement the above... Figure 7 In the method embodiment shown, when the access layer of the first node functions, the transceiver module 1301 is used to receive a first message from the second node through a first channel. The processing module 1302 is used to determine the second channel corresponding to the first channel according to a first mapping relationship. The transceiver module 1301 is also used to send a second message to the third node through the second channel.

[0188] For a more detailed description of the transceiver module 1301 and the processing module 1302 mentioned above, please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 7 , Figure 9 and Figure 10 The relevant descriptions in the method embodiments shown.

[0189] In this embodiment, the communication device 1300 is presented in an integrated manner, divided into various functional modules. Here, "module" can refer to a specific ASIC, circuit, processor and memory executing one or more software or firmware programs, integrated logic circuit, and / or other devices that can provide the above-mentioned functions.

[0190] In a simplified embodiment, those skilled in the art will recognize that the communication device 1300 can employ... Figure 6 The communication device 600 shown is in the form of this device.

[0191] for example, Figure 6 The processors 601 and / or 607 in the communication device 600 shown can execute the relay communication method in the above-described method embodiment by calling computer execution instructions stored in the memory 604. Specifically, Figure 13 Some functions / implementation processes of the transceiver module 1301 in the middle can be achieved through... Figure 6 It is implemented using transceiver 602. Figure 13 Some functions / implementation processes of the processing module 1302 can be obtained through Figure 6 The processors 601 and / or 607 in the communication device 600 shown call computer execution instructions stored in the memory 604 to implement the communication.

[0192] Since the communication device 1300 provided in this embodiment can execute the above-described relay communication method, the technical effects it can achieve can be referred to the above-described method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0193] It should be noted that one or more of the above modules or units can be implemented by software, hardware, or a combination of both. When any of the above modules or units are implemented by software, the software exists as computer program instructions and is stored in memory. The processor can be used to execute the program instructions and implement the above method flow. The processor can be built into a SoC (System-on-a-Chip) or ASIC, or it can be a separate semiconductor chip. In addition to the core that executes software instructions for computation or processing, the processor may further include necessary hardware accelerators, such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), or logic circuits that implement dedicated logic operations.

[0194] When the above modules or units are implemented in hardware, the hardware can be any one or any combination of a CPU, microprocessor, digital signal processing (DSP) chip, microcontroller unit (MCU), artificial intelligence processor, ASIC, SoC, FPGA, PLD, application-specific digital circuit, hardware accelerator, or non-integrated discrete device, which can run the necessary software or perform the above method flow independently of software.

[0195] Optionally, embodiments of this application also provide a chip system, including: at least one processor and an interface, wherein the at least one processor is coupled to a memory via the interface, and when the at least one processor executes a computer program or instructions in the memory, the method in any of the above method embodiments is executed. In one possible implementation, the communication device further includes a memory. Optionally, the chip system may be composed of chips, or may include chips and other discrete devices; embodiments of this application do not specifically limit this.

[0196] In the above embodiments, implementation can be achieved, in whole or in part, through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software programs, implementation can be, in whole or in part, in the form of a computer program product. This computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the 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 containing one or more servers, data centers, etc., that can be integrated with the medium. 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 disks, SSDs), etc.

[0197] Although this application has been described herein in conjunction with various embodiments, those skilled in the art, by reviewing the accompanying drawings, disclosure, and appended claims, will understand and implement other variations of the disclosed embodiments in carrying out the claimed application. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other components or steps, and "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit can implement several functions listed in the claims. While different dependent claims may recite certain measures, this does not mean that these measures cannot be combined to produce good results.

Claims

1. A relay communication method, characterized in that, The access layer applied to the first node includes: A first message is received from a second node through a first channel; the first channel is a channel between the second node and the first node, and the first message includes the identifier of the first channel; Based on the first mapping relationship, the second channel corresponding to the first channel is determined; wherein, the first mapping relationship includes the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel, and the second channel is the channel between the first node and the third node; A second message is sent to the third node through the second channel, the second message including the identifier of the second channel.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: If the first mapping relationship does not include the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel, or if the access layer of the first node does not have the first mapping relationship, the first message is transmitted to the service layer of the first node. Obtain the second message from the service layer of the first node.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: Obtain the first mapping relationship from the service layer of the first node.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The step of obtaining the first mapping relationship from the service layer of the first node includes: When the chip containing the service layer of the first node is in a dormant state, the first mapping relationship from the service layer of the first node is obtained.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: Obtain the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel from the service layer of the first node; add the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel to the first mapping relationship.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The step of obtaining the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel from the service layer of the first node includes: If the QoS information of the service at the second node meets preset conditions, obtain the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel from the service layer of the first node; or... If the first request from the second node includes first indication information, obtain the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel from the service layer of the first node; wherein, the first request is used to request the establishment of a relay channel, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the relay channel is a high-performance relay channel.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The method further includes: Broadcast a second indication message, which indicates that the first node has the capability to receive relay services from the access layer.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The method further includes: Obtain third indication information from the service layer of the first node, or receive third indication information from the second node; wherein the third indication information is used to indicate the deletion of the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel; Remove the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel from the first mapping relationship.

9. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication device is an access layer entity, and the communication device includes: a transceiver module and a processing module; The transceiver module is used to receive a first message from a second node through a first channel; the first channel is a channel between the second node and the first node, and the first message includes an identifier of the first channel; The processing module is configured to determine the second channel corresponding to the first channel based on the first mapping relationship; wherein the first mapping relationship includes the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel, and the second channel is the channel between the first node and the third node; The transceiver module is used to send a second message to the third node through the second channel, the second message including the identifier of the second channel.

10. The communication device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The transceiver module is further configured to transmit the first message to the service layer of the first node when the first mapping relationship does not include the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel, or when the access layer of the first node does not have the first mapping relationship. Obtain the second message from the service layer of the first node.

11. The communication device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The transceiver module is also used to obtain the first mapping relationship from the service layer of the first node.

12. The communication device according to claim 11, characterized in that, The transceiver module is further configured to obtain the first mapping relationship from the service layer of the first node, including: Used to obtain the first mapping relationship from the service layer of the first node when the chip where the service layer of the first node is located is in a sleep state.

13. The communication device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The transceiver module is also used to obtain the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel from the service layer of the first node; The processing module is further configured to add the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel to the first mapping relationship.

14. The communication device according to claim 13, characterized in that, The transceiver module is further configured to obtain the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel from the service layer of the first node, including: Used to obtain the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel from the service layer of the first node when the QoS information of the service at the second node meets preset conditions; or... Used to obtain the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel from the service layer of the first node when the first request from the second node includes first indication information; wherein the first request is used to request the establishment of a relay channel, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the relay channel is a high-performance relay channel.

15. The communication device according to any one of claims 9-14, characterized in that, The transceiver module is also used to broadcast a second indication message, which indicates that the first node has the capability to receive relay services from the access layer.

16. The communication device according to any one of claims 9-15, characterized in that, The transceiver module is used to acquire third indication information from the service layer of the first node, or to receive third indication information from the second node; wherein the third indication information is used to indicate the deletion of the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel; The processing module is further configured to delete the mapping relationship between the first channel and the second channel from the first mapping relationship.

17. The communication device according to any one of claims 9-16, characterized in that, The communication device is also used to transmit Bluetooth signals or Wi-Fi signals, and at least one of the Star Flash module, Bluetooth module and Wi-Fi module shares a radio frequency (RF) unit.

18. The communication device according to any one of claims 9-17, characterized in that, The communication device is also used to transmit Bluetooth signals, but does not support the transmission of Wi-Fi signals. The Star Flash module and the Bluetooth module are located in the same subsystem of the communication device, and the subsystem and the power management module (PMU) are integrated in the communication device.

19. The communication device according to any one of claims 9-18, characterized in that, The communication device is also used to transmit Bluetooth signals or Wi-Fi signals. At least one of the Bluetooth module or Wi-Fi module and the Star Flash module coexist and communicate with each other through different antennas. The coexistence strategy is channel avoidance.

20. A communication device, characterized in that, include: A memory and a processor coupled to the memory, the memory being used to store a program, and the processor being used to execute the program stored in the memory; when the communication device is running, the processor runs the program, causing the communication device to perform the method according to any one of claims 1-8.

21. A communication system, characterized in that, The communication system includes a first node, a second node, and a third node; wherein the access layer of the first node is used to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-8.

22. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, It stores a computer program that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the method described in any one of claims 1-8.

23. A computer program product, characterized in that, The computer program product includes computer instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method described in any one of claims 1-8.

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