Communication method and system, user equipment, storage medium and product

Abstract

The invention relates to a communication method and system, user equipment, a storage medium and a product, and relates to the technical field of communication. The communication method is executed by the user equipment, and comprises the following steps: when the sidelink reference signal receiving power (SL-RSRP) of the first relay user equipment is within a first range, or the sidelink discovery reference signal receiving power (SD-RSRP) of the first relay user equipment is within a second range, the SL-RSRP of the first relay user equipment is within a first range, or the SD-RSRP of the first relay user equipment is within a second range; or under the condition that the reference signal receiving power RSRP of the resident cell of the user equipment is within a third range, considering that the user equipment meets the condition of the relay user equipment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method, system, user equipment, storage medium, and product. Background Technology

[0002] To extend network coverage, a relay technology was introduced, which allows remote user equipment to connect to network nodes via relay user equipment.

[0003] Currently, the 5G standard supports single-hop user equipment relay technology, where remote user equipment connects to network nodes through a relay user equipment. However, according to operator feedback, single-hop user equipment relay cannot fully meet the needs of deep coverage scenarios, necessitating the development of multi-hop user equipment relay technology, i.e., supporting multi-hop user equipment relay functionality. Summary of the Invention

[0004] One of the technical problems this disclosure aims to solve is: how to improve the communication quality of communication via multi-hop user equipment relay technology.

[0005] According to a first aspect of some embodiments of the present disclosure, a communication method is provided, performed by a user equipment, comprising: considering that the user equipment meets the relay user equipment conditions when the sidelink reference signal receiving power (SL-RSRP) of a first relay user equipment is within a first range, or the sidelink discovery reference signal receiving power (SD-RSRP) of the first relay user equipment is within a second range, or the reference signal receiving power (RSRP) of the user equipment's camped cell is within a third range.

[0006] In some embodiments, the communication method further includes: receiving configuration information sent by a network node, the configuration information being used to determine one or more of a first range, a second range, and a third range.

[0007] In some embodiments, the configuration information includes a first SL-RSRP threshold, a second SL-RSRP threshold, a first hysteresis parameter, and a second hysteresis parameter, or includes a first SL-RSRP threshold and a first hysteresis parameter.

[0008] In some embodiments, the upper limit of the first range is determined based on a first SL-RSRP threshold and a first hysteresis parameter.

[0009] In some embodiments, the lower limit of the first range is determined based on a second SL-RSRP threshold and a second hysteresis parameter.

[0010] In some embodiments, the upper limit of the first range is the difference between the first SL-RSRP threshold and the first hysteresis parameter.

[0011] In some embodiments, the lower limit of the first range is the sum of the second SL-RSRP threshold and the second hysteresis parameter.

[0012] In some embodiments, the configuration information includes a first SL-RSRP threshold, a second SL-RSRP threshold, a first hysteresis parameter, a second hysteresis parameter, and a first offset, or includes a first SL-RSRP threshold, a first hysteresis parameter, and a first offset.

[0013] In some embodiments, the upper limit of the first range is determined based on a first SL-RSRP threshold, a first offset, and a first hysteresis parameter.

[0014] In some embodiments, the lower limit of the first range is determined based on a second SL-RSRP threshold, a first offset, and a second hysteresis parameter.

[0015] In some embodiments, the upper limit of the first range is the difference between the first SL-RSRP threshold and the first offset and the first hysteresis parameter.

[0016] In some embodiments, the lower limit of the first range is the sum of the difference between the second SL-RSRP threshold and the first offset and the second hysteresis parameter.

[0017] In some embodiments, the configuration information includes a first SD-RSRP threshold, a second SD-RSRP threshold, a third hysteresis parameter, a fourth hysteresis parameter, or includes a first SD-RSRP threshold and a third hysteresis parameter.

[0018] In some embodiments, the upper limit of the second range is determined based on a first SD-RSRP threshold and a third hysteresis parameter.

[0019] In some embodiments, the lower limit of the second range is determined based on a second SD-RSRP threshold and a fourth hysteresis parameter.

[0020] In some embodiments, the upper limit of the second range is the difference between the first SD-RSRP threshold and the third hysteresis parameter.

[0021] In some embodiments, the lower limit of the second range is the sum of the second SD-RSRP threshold and the fourth hysteresis parameter.

[0022] In some embodiments, the configuration information includes a first SD-RSRP threshold, a second SD-RSRP threshold, a third hysteresis parameter, a fourth hysteresis parameter, and a second offset, or includes a first SD-RSRP threshold, a fourth hysteresis parameter, and a second offset.

[0023] In some embodiments, the upper limit of the second range is determined based on a first SD-RSRP threshold, a second offset, and a third hysteresis parameter.

[0024] In some embodiments, the lower limit of the second range is determined based on a second SD-RSRP threshold, a second offset, and a fourth hysteresis parameter.

[0025] In some embodiments, the upper limit of the second range is the difference between the first SD-RSRP threshold and the second offset and the third hysteresis parameter.

[0026] In some embodiments, the lower limit of the second range is the sum of the difference between the second SD-RSRP threshold and the second offset and the fourth hysteresis parameter.

[0027] In some embodiments, the configuration information includes a first RSRP threshold and a fifth hysteresis parameter.

[0028] In some embodiments, the third range is determined based on a first RSRP threshold and a fifth hysteresis parameter.

[0029] In some embodiments, the upper limit of the third range is the difference between the first RSRP threshold and the fifth hysteresis parameter.

[0030] In some embodiments, the configuration information includes a first relay threshold, a third offset, and a sixth hysteresis parameter.

[0031] In some embodiments, the third range is determined based on the first relay threshold, the sixth hysteresis parameter, and the third offset.

[0032] In some embodiments, the upper limit of the third range is the difference between the first relay threshold and the third offset and the sixth hysteresis parameter.

[0033] In some embodiments, the first relay user equipment is a first-hop relay user equipment, or a relay user equipment of a user equipment, or the first relay user equipment communicates with a network node through a second relay user equipment.

[0034] In some embodiments, the communication method further includes sending a message to a network node, the message indicating the sidelink relay discovery resources required by the user equipment.

[0035] In some embodiments, the message includes at least one of frequency band information for transmitting the sidelink discovery message and a destination identifier for the sidelink discovery message.

[0036] In some embodiments, the user equipment receives a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message or a System Information Block (SIB) 12, which contains configuration information.

[0037] According to a second aspect of some embodiments of the present disclosure, a user equipment is provided, including: an execution module configured to consider that the user equipment meets the relay user equipment conditions when the sidelink reference signal received power SL-RSRP of the first relay user equipment is in a first range, or the sidelink discovery reference signal received power SD-RSRP of the first relay user equipment is in a second range, or the reference signal received power RSRP of the user equipment's camp cell is in a third range.

[0038] According to a third aspect of some embodiments of the present disclosure, a user equipment is provided, including: a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor for storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the communication method as described above.

[0039] According to a fourth aspect of some embodiments of this disclosure, a communication system is provided, including: a user equipment as described above; and a network node.

[0040] In some embodiments, a network node is configured to send configuration information to a user equipment, the configuration information being used to determine one or more of a first range, a second range, and a third range.

[0041] According to a fifth aspect of some embodiments of the present disclosure, a computer-readable storage medium is provided having a computer program stored thereon, wherein the program, when executed by a processor, implements the communication method as described above.

[0042] According to a sixth aspect of some embodiments of the present disclosure, a computer program product is provided, including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the communication method as described above.

[0043] This disclosure determines whether a user equipment (UE) meets the relay UE criteria by judging whether the SL-RSRP or SD-RSRP of the first relay UE, or by judging whether the RSRP of its own camp cell is within its respective preset range. This disclosure ensures that the signal power between relay UEs is within a preset range, thereby reducing communication interference between relay UEs. It also allows for reasonable control of the number of relay hops during the connection of remote UEs to network nodes. Therefore, this disclosure improves the communication quality of multi-hop UE relay technology.

[0044] Other features and advantages of this disclosure will become clear from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0045] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0046] Figure 1 A flowchart illustrating a communication method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0047] Figure 2 A flowchart illustrating a communication method according to other embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0048] Figure 3 A flowchart illustrating a communication method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0049] Figure 4 A flowchart illustrating a communication method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0050] Figure 5 A flowchart illustrating a communication method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0051] Figure 6 A flowchart illustrating a communication method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0052] Figure 7 A flowchart illustrating a communication method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0053] Figure 8 A flowchart illustrating a communication method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0054] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the structure of a user equipment according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0055] Figure 10 A schematic diagram of the structure of a user equipment according to other embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0056] Figure 11 A schematic diagram of the structure of a user equipment according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0057] Figure 12 A schematic diagram of the structure of a communication system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0058] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this disclosure, and not all embodiments. The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is merely illustrative and is in no way intended to limit this disclosure or its application or use. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this disclosure without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

[0059] In single-hop VIP relay scenarios, if the relay VIP is too close to the base station, its data transmission can interfere with the base station's cellular link. If the relay VIP is located at the cell edge, the communication performance of the relay link connecting remote VIPs to the base station will be relatively limited.

[0060] Similarly, in multi-hop VIP relay scenarios, if a relay VIP is too close to the previous hop relay VIP, the data transmitted by the relay VIP will interfere with the previous hop relay VIP. For example, if the second hop relay VIP is too close to the first hop relay VIP, the data transmitted by the second hop relay VIP will interfere with the first hop relay VIP.

[0061] In this disclosure, the first hop and second hop are relative to the network node side. For example, the relay link between the network node and the remote user equipment is: network node - first hop relay user equipment - second hop relay user equipment - remote user equipment. Those skilled in the art will understand that the relay user equipment in this disclosure can also be described relative to the remote user equipment side.

[0062] Based on this, this disclosure provides a communication method that can improve the communication quality of communication via multi-hop user equipment relay technology.

[0063] Figure 1 A flowchart illustrating a communication method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 1 As shown, the communication method is executed by the user equipment and includes step S102.

[0064] In step S102, if the sidelink reference signal received power SL-RSRP of the first relay user equipment is within a first range, or the sidelink discovery reference signal received power SD-RSRP of the first relay user equipment is within a second range, or the reference signal received power RSRP of the user equipment's camped cell is within a third range, then the user equipment is considered to meet the relay user equipment conditions, that is, the user equipment is determined to meet the relay user equipment conditions.

[0065] The first relay user equipment can be a first-hop relay user equipment, meaning the first relay user equipment can directly connect to the network node; or the first relay user equipment is a relay user equipment for user equipment, meaning the user equipment connects to the network node through the first relay user equipment; or the first relay user equipment communicates with the network node through a second relay user equipment, meaning the first relay user equipment can be the Nth-hop relay user equipment, where N is a positive integer. In other words, this disclosure can be applied to technologies involving any number of multi-hop relay user equipment.

[0066] The SL-RSRP of the first trunk user equipment refers to the SL-RSRP of messages received by the user equipment from the first trunk user equipment. The SD-RSRP of the first trunk user equipment refers to the SD-RSRP of discovery messages received by the user equipment from the first trunk user equipment.

[0067] When a user equipment (UE) has already established a connection with the first trunk UE, the UE determines the SL-RSRP of the first trunk UE by measuring the sidelink reference signal transmitted by the first trunk UE. When the UE has not established a connection with the first trunk UE, the UE determines the SD-RSRP of the first trunk UE by measuring the sidelink discovery signal transmitted by the first trunk UE.

[0068] When a user equipment has already established a connection with the first trunk user equipment, the user equipment can also obtain the SD-RSRP of the first trunk user equipment to determine whether the user equipment meets the trunk user equipment conditions.

[0069] In some embodiments, when the user equipment obtains the SL-RSRP and SD-RSRP of the first trunk user equipment, the SL-RSRP of the first trunk user equipment is used to determine whether the user equipment meets the trunk user equipment conditions.

[0070] If a user equipment has established a connection with a first trunk user equipment but cannot obtain the first trunk user equipment's SL-RSRP (meaning there is no unicast data transmission between the user equipment and the first trunk user equipment), the user equipment can determine whether it meets the trunk user equipment requirements by determining the first trunk user equipment's SD-RSRP.

[0071] Even if a user equipment (UE) is not connected to the first relay UE but is within the coverage area of ​​a network node, the UE can still determine whether it meets the relay UE criteria by measuring the RSRP of the cell it is camped on.

[0072] This disclosure determines whether a user equipment (UE) meets the relay user equipment (RFE) requirements by judging whether the SL-RSRP or SD-RSRP of the first relay UE, or by judging whether the RSRP of its own camp cell, is within its respective preset range. This disclosure ensures that the signal power between relay UEs is within a preset range, thereby reducing communication interference between them. It also allows for reasonable control of the number of relay hops during the connection of remote UEs to network nodes, reducing unnecessary multi-hop relays caused by remote UEs always selecting the candidate relay UE with the strongest signal strength. Therefore, this disclosure improves the communication quality of multi-hop relay technology.

[0073] In some embodiments, the communication method further includes receiving configuration information sent by a network node, the configuration information being used to determine one or more of a first range, a second range, and a third range. The network node can determine the first range, the second range, and the third range, thereby enabling overall control of relay interference while maintaining relay performance.

[0074] In some embodiments, the user equipment receives a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message or a System Information Block (SIB12), the RRC reconfiguration message or SIB12 containing configuration information.

[0075] The following describes how, when a user equipment is a potential second-hop trunk user equipment, the user equipment is determined to meet the trunk user equipment conditions based on the SL-RSRP of the first trunk user equipment and the first range, i.e., whether the user equipment can become a candidate trunk user equipment for the remote user equipment.

[0076] The configuration information includes a first SL-RSRP threshold, a second SL-RSRP threshold, a first hysteresis parameter, and a second hysteresis parameter, or includes a first SL-RSRP threshold and a first hysteresis parameter.

[0077] In some embodiments, the upper limit of the first range is determined based on a first SL-RSRP threshold and a first hysteresis parameter. The upper limit of the first range is positively correlated with the first SL-RSRP threshold and negatively correlated with the first hysteresis parameter.

[0078] In some embodiments, the lower limit of the first range is determined based on a second SL-RSRP threshold and a second hysteresis parameter. The lower limit of the first range is positively correlated with the second SL-RSRP threshold and the second hysteresis parameter.

[0079] In other words, the first range determined by the configuration information includes at least two cases: one is that the configuration information only determines the upper limit of the first range, and the other is that the configuration information determines both the upper and lower limits of the first range. That is, if the SL-RSRP of the first trunk user equipment is less than the upper limit of the first range, the user equipment is considered to meet the trunk user equipment conditions; or if the SL-RSRP of the first trunk user equipment is less than the upper limit of the first range and greater than the lower limit of the first range, the user equipment is considered to meet the trunk user equipment conditions.

[0080] When controlling only the upper limit of the SL-RSRP of the first relay user equipment to determine whether the user equipment meets the relay user equipment conditions, it is possible to control the signal power between relay user equipment, thereby reducing communication interference between relay user equipment.

[0081] Furthermore, by controlling both the upper and lower limits of the SL-RSRP of the first trunk user equipment to determine whether the user equipment meets the trunk user equipment conditions, communication interference between trunk user equipment can be reduced, and the communication quality of remote user equipment connecting to the network through the trunk user equipment can be improved.

[0082] In some embodiments, the upper limit of the first range is the difference between the first SL-RSRP threshold and the first hysteresis parameter.

[0083] In some embodiments, the lower limit of the first range is the sum of the second SL-RSRP threshold and the second hysteresis parameter.

[0084] Introducing a hysteresis parameter can mitigate the "ping-pong effect" caused by fluctuations in the signal received power of the first relay user equipment. The first hysteresis parameter and the second hysteresis parameter are integers or decimals. In some embodiments, at least one of the first hysteresis parameter and the second hysteresis parameter is in units of 0.5 dB; for example, the first hysteresis parameter can be expressed as a preset hysteresis parameter * 0.5 dB. The other hysteresis parameters described below are similar to the first hysteresis parameter and will not be repeated in this disclosure.

[0085] The following describes how, when a user equipment is a potential Nth-hop (N is an integer and N≥2) trunk user equipment, the user equipment is determined to meet the trunk user equipment conditions based on the SL-RSRP of the first trunk user equipment and the first range.

[0086] The configuration information includes a first SL-RSRP threshold, a second SL-RSRP threshold, a first hysteresis parameter, a second hysteresis parameter, and a first offset, or includes a first SL-RSRP threshold, a first hysteresis parameter, and a first offset.

[0087] In some embodiments, the upper limit of the first range is determined based on a first SL-RSRP threshold, a first offset, and a first hysteresis parameter. The upper limit of the first range is positively correlated with the first SL-RSRP threshold and negatively correlated with the first offset and the first hysteresis parameter.

[0088] In some embodiments, the lower limit of the first range is determined based on a second SL-RSRP threshold, a first offset, and a second hysteresis parameter. The lower limit of the first range is positively correlated with the second SL-RSRP threshold and the second hysteresis parameter, and negatively correlated with the first offset.

[0089] Similar to the case where the user equipment is a potential second-hop trunk user equipment, the first range determined by the configuration information when the user equipment is a potential Nth-hop trunk user equipment also includes at least two cases: one is that the configuration information only determines the upper limit of the first range, and the other is that the configuration information determines both the upper and lower limits of the first range.

[0090] In some embodiments, the upper limit of the first range is the difference between the first SL-RSRP threshold and the first offset and the first hysteresis parameter.

[0091] In some embodiments, the lower limit of the first range is the sum of the difference between the second SL-RSRP threshold and the first offset and the second hysteresis parameter.

[0092] Unlike the case where the user equipment is a potential second-hop trunk user equipment, the configuration information adds a first offset parameter when the user equipment is a potential Nth-hop trunk user equipment. When the first and second SL-RSRP thresholds are used to assess whether the user equipment meets the criteria for the next-hop trunk user equipment (i.e., the second-hop or two-hop trunk user equipment) of the first-hop trunk user equipment, the first offset is added to improve the reliability and accuracy of the first range used to assess whether the user equipment meets the criteria for the next-hop trunk user equipment of the Nth-hop trunk user equipment, while still using the first and second SL-RSRP thresholds to assess whether the user equipment meets the criteria for the next-hop trunk user equipment of the Nth-hop trunk user equipment.

[0093] Compared to the case where the user equipment is a potential second-hop relay user equipment, when considering the user equipment as a potential Nth-hop relay user equipment, only one offset needs to be configured. There is no need to configure the upper limit threshold and corresponding hysteresis parameters for each hop separately, and the lower limit threshold and corresponding hysteresis parameters, resulting in lower signaling overhead.

[0094] In some embodiments, the value of the first offset is related to which hop of the user equipment (UE) it is. The larger the UE's corresponding hop sequence value, the larger the first offset value, where the UE's corresponding hop sequence value indicates which hop of the UE it is. For example, the first offset value set when the UE is a fourth-hop UE is greater than the first offset value set when the UE is a third-hop UE.

[0095] In some embodiments, the first offset can be represented as a preset offset * (N-2), where N corresponds to the relay sequence value of the user equipment. The second and fourth offsets are similar to the first offset and will not be described in detail here.

[0096] Similar to the above description of determining whether a user equipment meets the trunk user equipment conditions based on the SL-RSRP and the first range of the trunk user equipment when the user equipment is a potential second-hop or Nth-hop (N is an integer and N≥2) trunk user equipment, the determination of whether a user equipment meets the trunk user equipment conditions based on the SD-RSRP and the second range of the trunk user equipment is also described separately when the user equipment is a potential second-hop and Nth-hop (N is an integer and N≥2) trunk user equipment.

[0097] In the case where the user equipment is a potential second-hop relay user equipment, the configuration information includes a first SD-RSRP threshold, a second SD-RSRP threshold, a third hysteresis parameter, a fourth hysteresis parameter, or includes a first SD-RSRP threshold and a third hysteresis parameter.

[0098] In some embodiments, the upper limit of the second range is determined based on a first SD-RSRP threshold and a third hysteresis parameter. The upper limit of the second range is positively correlated with the first SD-RSRP and negatively correlated with the third hysteresis parameter.

[0099] In some embodiments, the lower limit of the second range is determined based on a second SD-RSRP threshold and a fourth hysteresis parameter. The lower limit of the second range is positively correlated with the first SD-RSRP and the fourth hysteresis parameter.

[0100] In some embodiments, the upper limit of the second range is the difference between the first SD-RSRP threshold and the third hysteresis parameter.

[0101] In some embodiments, the lower limit of the second range is the sum of the second SD-RSRP threshold and the fourth hysteresis parameter.

[0102] When the user equipment is a potential Nth hop (N is an integer and N≥2) relay user equipment, the configuration information includes a first SD-RSRP threshold, a second SD-RSRP threshold, a third hysteresis parameter, a fourth hysteresis parameter, and a second offset, or includes a first SD-RSRP threshold, a fourth hysteresis parameter, and a second offset.

[0103] Similar to the first offset, the value of the second offset is related to which hop of the relay user equipment (UE). The higher the relay sequence value corresponding to the UE, the larger the value of the second offset.

[0104] In some embodiments, the upper limit of the second range is determined based on a first SD-RSRP threshold, a second offset, and a third hysteresis parameter. The upper limit of the second range is positively correlated with the first SD-RSRP threshold and negatively correlated with the second offset and the third hysteresis parameter.

[0105] In some embodiments, the lower limit of the second range is determined based on a second SD-RSRP threshold, a second offset, and a fourth hysteresis parameter. The lower limit of the second range is positively correlated with the second SD-RSRP threshold and the fourth hysteresis parameter, and negatively correlated with the second offset.

[0106] In some embodiments, the upper limit of the second range is the difference between the first SD-RSRP threshold and the second offset and the third hysteresis parameter.

[0107] In some embodiments, the lower limit of the second range is the sum of the difference between the second SD-RSRP threshold and the second offset and the fourth hysteresis parameter.

[0108] If a user equipment (UE) is not connected to the first relay UE but is within the coverage area of ​​a network node, the RSRP of the UE's camped cell can be used to determine whether the UE meets the requirements for a relay UE.

[0109] When assessing whether a user equipment can serve as a candidate second-hop user equipment for a remote user equipment, the configuration information includes a first RSRP threshold and a fifth hysteresis parameter.

[0110] In some embodiments, the third range is determined based on a first RSRP threshold and a fifth hysteresis parameter. The upper limit of the third range is positively correlated with the first RSRP threshold and negatively correlated with the fifth hysteresis parameter.

[0111] When determining whether a user equipment can serve as a candidate second-hop relay user equipment for a remote user equipment, controlling the maximum signal power of the cell where the user equipment is stationed can reduce communication interference to the first-hop relay user equipment when the user equipment becomes the second-hop relay user equipment.

[0112] In some embodiments, the upper limit of the third range is the difference between the first RSRP threshold and the fifth hysteresis parameter.

[0113] In some embodiments, when evaluating whether a user equipment can serve as a candidate second-hop user equipment for a remote user equipment, the configuration information includes a first trunk threshold, a third offset, and a sixth hysteresis parameter. The third range is determined based on the first trunk threshold, the sixth hysteresis parameter, and the third offset. The upper limit of the third range is positively correlated with the first trunk threshold and negatively correlated with the third offset and the sixth hysteresis parameter.

[0114] In some embodiments, the upper limit of the third range is the difference between the first relay threshold and the third offset and the sixth hysteresis parameter.

[0115] The first relay threshold is used to evaluate the first-hop UE to Network (U2N) relay access layer conditions or single-hop U2N relay access layer conditions (air interface (Uu) threshold). The third offset is used to evaluate the second-hop U2N relay access layer conditions or two-hop U2N relay access layer conditions. In other words, when using the RSRP of the UE's camped cell to determine whether the UE meets the relay UE conditions, the current single-hop relay UE access conditions can be referenced.

[0116] In some embodiments, when a user equipment has not established a connection with a first relay user equipment but is within the coverage area of ​​a network node, and it is being evaluated whether the user equipment can be considered as a candidate N-hop (N is an integer and N≥2) user equipment for a remote user equipment, the configuration information includes a first RSRP threshold, a fifth hysteresis parameter, and a fourth offset.

[0117] In some embodiments, the third range is determined based on a first RSRP threshold, a fifth hysteresis parameter, and a fourth offset. The upper limit of the third range is positively correlated with the first RSRP threshold and negatively correlated with the fifth hysteresis parameter and the fourth offset.

[0118] In some embodiments, the upper limit of the third range is the difference between the first RSRP threshold and the fifth hysteresis parameter and the fourth offset.

[0119] In some embodiments, when a user equipment has not established a connection with a first relay user equipment, but is within the coverage area of ​​a network node, and it is being evaluated whether the user equipment can be considered as a candidate Nth hop (N is an integer and N≥2) user equipment for a remote user equipment, the configuration information includes a first relay threshold, a third offset, a sixth hysteresis parameter, and a fourth offset.

[0120] In some embodiments, the third range is determined based on a first relay threshold, a third offset, a sixth hysteresis parameter, and a fourth offset. The upper limit of the third range is positively correlated with the first RSRP threshold and negatively correlated with the third offset, the sixth hysteresis parameter, and the fourth offset.

[0121] In some embodiments, the upper limit of the third range is the difference between the first RSRP threshold and the third offset, the sixth hysteresis parameter, and the fourth offset.

[0122] When a user equipment is deemed to meet the conditions for a relay user equipment, the user equipment performs sidelink resource allocation through mode 1 or mode 2. Mode 1 means that the network node (e.g., base station) schedules the resources for the user equipment to use for sidelink transmission, while mode 2 means that the user equipment selects its own resources for sidelink transmission from the sidelink resource pool.

[0123] In some embodiments, the communication method further includes, when the user equipment considers that the conditions for relaying user equipment are met, the user equipment sending a message to a network node, the message indicating the sidelink relay discovery resources required by the user equipment.

[0124] In some embodiments, the message includes at least one of frequency band information for transmitting the sidelink discovery message and a destination identifier for the sidelink discovery message.

[0125] This disclosure determines whether a user equipment (UE) meets the relay UE criteria by judging whether the SL-RSRP or SD-RSRP of the first relay UE, or by judging whether the RSRP of its own camp cell is within its respective preset range. This disclosure ensures that the signal power between relay UEs is within a preset range, thereby reducing communication interference between relay UEs. It also allows for reasonable control of the number of relay hops during the connection of remote UEs to network nodes. Therefore, this disclosure improves the communication quality of multi-hop UE relay technology.

[0126] The communication method of this disclosure is described below based on the interaction between network nodes and user equipment.

[0127] In the first aspect, for the scenario where the user equipment (i.e., the potential second-hop relay user equipment) has already established a connection with the first-hop relay user equipment (the first relay user equipment), i.e., the user equipment is a remote user equipment, the communication method includes the following steps 11 to 14.

[0128] Step 11: The base station sends an SIB12 or RRCReconfiguration message to the user equipment, which includes the upper threshold of the second-hop relay, the lower threshold of the second-hop relay, the seventh hysteresis parameter, the eighth hysteresis parameter, or only the upper threshold of the second-hop relay and the eighth hysteresis parameter.

[0129] The upper limit threshold for the second-hop relay is either the SL-RSRP threshold or the SD-RSRP threshold used to evaluate access layer conditions, while the lower limit threshold for the second-hop relay is either the SL-RSRP threshold or the SD-RSRP threshold used to evaluate access layer conditions.

[0130] Step 12: If the SL-RSRP of the first relay user equipment (i.e., the first-hop relay user equipment, which is directly connected to the base station) is higher than the second-hop relay lower threshold by the seventh hysteresis parameter (i.e., SL-RSRP > second-hop relay lower threshold + seventh hysteresis parameter) and lower than the second-hop relay upper threshold by the eighth hysteresis parameter (i.e., SL-RSRP < second-hop relay upper threshold - eighth hysteresis parameter), then the user equipment considers that the U2N relay threshold condition / access layer condition is met; if the SL-RSRP of the first relay user equipment is lower than the second-hop relay lower threshold or higher than the second-hop relay upper threshold, then the user equipment considers that the U2N relay threshold condition / access layer condition is not met.

[0131] Alternatively, if the SL-RSRP of the first trunk user equipment is lower than the upper limit threshold of the second hop trunk by the eighth hysteresis parameter (i.e., SL-RSRP < upper limit threshold of the second hop trunk - eighth hysteresis parameter), then the user equipment considers that the U2N trunk threshold condition / access layer condition is met; if the SL-RSRP of the trunk user equipment is higher than the upper limit threshold of the second hop trunk, then the user equipment considers that the U2N trunk threshold condition / access layer condition is not met.

[0132] The first relay user equipment is a U2N relay user equipment, and the user equipment communicates with the base station through the first relay user equipment.

[0133] Step 13: If the user equipment meets the U2N threshold conditions / access layer conditions, the user equipment performs side link resource allocation mode 1 or side link resource allocation mode 2 to allocate side link resources.

[0134] Step 14: If the user equipment meets the U2N threshold conditions / access layer conditions, the user equipment indicates to the base station the second-hop side link relay discovery resources required by the user equipment.

[0135] Secondly, for scenarios where the user equipment (i.e., the potential second-hop relay user equipment) has not yet established a connection with the first-hop relay user equipment (the first relay user equipment), i.e., the user equipment is a regular user equipment, the communication method includes the following steps 21 to 24.

[0136] Step 21: The base station sends an SIB12 or RRCReconfiguration message to the user equipment, containing a second-hop relay threshold and a ninth hysteresis parameter, or containing a relay threshold, a relay threshold offset, and a ninth hysteresis parameter. The second-hop relay threshold is the Uu threshold used to evaluate access layer conditions; the relay threshold can also be called the first-hop relay threshold.

[0137] Step 22: If the RSRP of the user equipment's primary cell or the cell where the user equipment is camped is lower than the second-hop relay threshold by the ninth hysteresis parameter (i.e., RSRP < second-hop relay threshold - ninth hysteresis parameter), then the user equipment considers the U2N relay threshold condition / access layer condition met. If the RSRP of the user equipment's primary cell or the cell where the user equipment is camped is higher than the second-hop relay threshold, then the user equipment considers the U2N relay threshold condition / access layer condition not met.

[0138] Alternatively, if the RSRP of the user equipment's primary cell or the cell where the user equipment is camped is lower than the sum of the relay threshold and the relay threshold offset by more than the ninth hysteresis parameter (i.e., RSRP < relay threshold + relay threshold offset - ninth hysteresis parameter), then the user equipment considers the U2N relay threshold condition / access layer condition met. If the RSRP of the user equipment's primary cell or the cell where the user equipment is camped is higher than the sum of the relay threshold and the relay threshold offset, then the user equipment considers the U2N relay threshold condition / access layer condition not met. The setting of the relay threshold and the sum of the relay threshold offset here is merely an example to indicate that the relay threshold can be used to represent the second-hop relay threshold, and does not restrict the sum of the relay threshold and the relay threshold offset from being greater than the relay threshold.

[0139] Step 23: If the user equipment meets the U2N threshold conditions / access layer conditions, the user equipment performs side link resource allocation mode 1 or side link resource allocation mode 2 to allocate side link resources.

[0140] Step 24: If the user equipment meets the U2N threshold conditions / access layer conditions, the user equipment indicates to the base station the second-hop side link relay discovery resources required by the user equipment.

[0141] Figure 2 A flowchart illustrating a communication method according to other embodiments of this disclosure is shown. For example... Figure 2 As shown, the communication method includes steps S202 to S208. Figure 2The communication method shown is for a user equipment (i.e., a potential second-hop relay user equipment) that has already established a connection with a first-hop relay user equipment (first relay user equipment).

[0142] In step S202, the user equipment (i.e., the potential second-hop relay user equipment) receives an RRCReconfiguration message or SIB12, which includes a first SL-RSRP threshold, a second SL-RSRP threshold, a first hysteresis parameter, and a second hysteresis parameter.

[0143] The first SL-RSRP threshold and the second SL-RSRP threshold are used to evaluate the two-hop U2N trunk access layer conditions or the second-hop U2N trunk access layer conditions. The first SL-RSRP threshold is the upper limit threshold of the second-hop trunk (i.e., the high threshold of the second-hop trunk), and the second SL-RSRP threshold is the lower limit threshold of the second-hop trunk (i.e., the low threshold of the second-hop trunk). The user equipment has U2N trunk capability or two-hop U2N trunk capability.

[0144] In step S204, if the SL-RSRP of the first relay user equipment (i.e., the first-hop relay user equipment, which is directly connected to the base station) is higher than the second SL-RSRP threshold by the second hysteresis parameter (i.e., SL-RSRP > second SL-RSRP threshold + second hysteresis parameter) and lower than the first SL-RSRP threshold by the first hysteresis parameter (i.e., SL-RSRP < first SL-RSRP threshold - first hysteresis parameter), then the user equipment considers that the second-hop U2N relay threshold condition / access layer condition, or the two-hop U2N relay threshold condition / access layer condition, is satisfied.

[0145] If the SL-RSRP of the first trunk user equipment is lower than the second SL-RSRP threshold or higher than the first SL-RSRP threshold, the user equipment considers that the second-hop U2N trunk threshold condition / access layer condition or the two-hop U2N trunk threshold condition / access layer condition is not met.

[0146] The first relay user equipment is a U2N relay user equipment, and the user equipment can communicate with the base station through the first relay user equipment.

[0147] In step S206, if the user equipment meets the U2N relay threshold condition / access layer condition, the user equipment performs side link resource allocation.

[0148] In step S208, if the user equipment meets the U2N relay threshold condition / access stratum condition, the user equipment sends a SidelinkUEInformationNR message to the base station, indicating the second-hop side link relay discovery resources required by the user equipment.

[0149] Figure 3 A flowchart illustrating a communication method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 3 As shown, the communication method includes steps S302 to S308. Figure 3 The communication method shown is for a user equipment (i.e., a potential second-hop relay user equipment) that has already established a connection with a first-hop relay user equipment (first relay user equipment).

[0150] In step S302, the user equipment (i.e., the potential second-hop relay user equipment) receives an RRCReconfiguration message or SIB12, which includes a first SL-RSRP threshold and a first hysteresis parameter.

[0151] The first SL-RSRP threshold is used to evaluate the two-hop U2N trunk access layer conditions or the second-hop U2N trunk access layer conditions. The first SL-RSRP threshold is the upper limit threshold of the second-hop trunk (i.e. the second-hop trunk threshold). The user equipment has U2N trunk capability or two-hop U2N trunk capability.

[0152] In step S304, if the SL-RSRP of the first relay user equipment (i.e., the first-hop relay user equipment, which is directly connected to the base station) is lower than the first SL-RSRP threshold by the first hysteresis parameter (i.e., SL-RSRP < first SL-RSRP threshold - first hysteresis parameter), then the user equipment considers that the second-hop U2N relay threshold condition / access layer condition, or the two-hop U2N relay threshold condition / access layer condition, is met.

[0153] If the SL-RSRP of the first trunk user equipment is higher than the first SL-RSRP threshold, the user equipment considers that the second hop U2N trunk threshold condition / access layer condition, or the two hop U2N trunk threshold condition / access layer condition, is not met.

[0154] The first relay user equipment is a U2N relay user equipment, and the user equipment can communicate with the base station through the first relay user equipment.

[0155] In step S306, if the user equipment meets the U2N relay threshold condition / access layer condition, the user equipment performs side link resource allocation.

[0156] In step S308, if the user equipment meets the U2N relay threshold condition / access stratum condition, the user equipment sends a SidelinkUEInformationNR message to the base station, indicating the second-hop side link relay discovery resources required by the user equipment.

[0157] Figure 4 A flowchart illustrating a communication method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. For example... Figure 4 As shown, the communication method includes steps S402 to S408. Figure 4 The communication method shown applies to a user equipment (i.e., a potential Nth-hop relay user equipment, where N is an integer and N≥2) that has already established a connection with the (N-1)th-hop relay user equipment (the first relay user equipment).

[0158] In step S404, the user equipment (i.e., the potential Nth hop relay user equipment) receives an RRCReconfiguration message or SIB12, which includes a first SL-RSRP threshold, a second SL-RSRP threshold, a first hysteresis parameter, a second hysteresis parameter, and a first offset.

[0159] The first offset is used to evaluate the conditions of the multi-hop U2N trunk access layer or the conditions of the Nth hop U2N trunk access layer. The first SL-RSRP threshold is the upper limit threshold of the second hop trunk (i.e., the high threshold of the second hop trunk), and the second SL-RSRP threshold is the lower limit threshold of the second hop trunk (i.e., the low threshold of the second hop trunk). The user equipment has U2N trunk capability or multi-hop U2N trunk capability.

[0160] In step S404, if the SL-RSRP of the first trunk user equipment is higher than the difference between the second SL-RSRP threshold and the first offset by the second hysteresis parameter (i.e., SL-RSRP > second SL-RSRP threshold - first offset + second hysteresis parameter) and lower than the difference between the first SL-RSRP threshold and the first offset by the first hysteresis parameter (i.e., SL-RSRP < first SL-RSRP threshold - first offset - first hysteresis parameter), then the user equipment considers that the multi-hop or Nth hop U2N trunk threshold condition / access layer condition is met.

[0161] If the SL-RSRP of the first trunk user equipment is lower than the difference between the second SL-RSRP threshold and the first offset, or higher than the difference between the first SL-RSRP threshold and the first offset, the user equipment considers that the Nth hop U2N trunk threshold condition / access layer condition, or the multi-hop U2N trunk threshold condition / access layer condition, is not met.

[0162] The first relay user equipment is a U2N relay user equipment, and the user equipment can communicate with the base station through the first relay user equipment.

[0163] In step S406, if the user equipment meets the U2N relay threshold condition / access layer condition, the user equipment performs side link resource allocation.

[0164] In step S408, if the user equipment meets the U2N relay threshold condition / access stratum condition, the user equipment sends a SidelinkUEInformationNR message to the base station, indicating the second-hop side link relay discovery resources required by the user equipment.

[0165] Figure 5 A flowchart illustrating a communication method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. For example... Figure 5 As shown, the communication method includes steps S502 to S508. Figure 5 The communication method shown applies to a user equipment (i.e., a potential second-hop relay user equipment, denoted as the first user equipment) that has already established a connection with a first-hop relay user equipment (the first relay user equipment, denoted as the second user equipment), but the user equipment does not have the SL-RSRP measurement results of the first-hop relay user equipment; or the user equipment (the first user equipment) and the potential first-hop relay user equipment (the first relay user equipment, denoted as the second user equipment) have not yet established a connection.

[0166] In step S502, the first user equipment (i.e., the potential second-hop relay user equipment) receives an RRCReconfiguration message or SIB12, which includes a first SD-RSRP threshold, a second SD-RSRP threshold, a third hysteresis parameter, and a fourth hysteresis parameter.

[0167] The first SD-RSRP threshold and the second SD-RSRP threshold are used to evaluate the two-hop U2N trunk access layer conditions or the second-hop U2N trunk access layer conditions. The first SD-RSRP threshold is the upper limit threshold of the second-hop trunk (i.e., the high threshold of the second-hop trunk), and the second SD-RSRP threshold is the lower limit threshold of the second-hop trunk (i.e., the low threshold of the second-hop trunk). The user equipment has U2N trunk capability / two-hop U2N trunk capability.

[0168] In step S504, if the SD-RSRP of the second user equipment (i.e., the potential first-hop relay user equipment, which is directly connected to the base station) is higher than the second SD-RSRP threshold by a fourth hysteresis parameter (i.e., SD-RSRP > second SD-RSRP threshold + fourth hysteresis parameter) and lower than the first SD-RSRP threshold by a third hysteresis parameter (i.e., SD-RSRP < first SD-RSRP threshold - third hysteresis parameter), then the first user equipment considers that the second-hop U2N relay threshold condition / access layer condition, or the two-hop U2N relay threshold condition / access layer condition, is satisfied.

[0169] If the SD-RSRP of the second user equipment is lower than the second SD-RSRP threshold or higher than the first SD-RSRP threshold, the first user equipment considers that the second-hop U2N trunk threshold condition / access layer condition or the two-hop U2N trunk threshold condition / access layer condition is not met.

[0170] The second user equipment has U2N relay capability.

[0171] In step S506, if the first user equipment meets the U2N relay threshold condition / access layer condition, the first user equipment performs side link resource allocation.

[0172] In step S508, if the first user equipment meets the U2N relay threshold condition / access layer condition, the first user equipment sends a SidelinkUEInformationNR message to the base station, indicating the second-hop side link relay discovery resources required by the first user equipment.

[0173] Figure 6 A flowchart illustrating a communication method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. For example... Figure 6 As shown, the communication method includes steps S602 to S608. Figure 6 The communication method shown applies to a user equipment (i.e., a potential second-hop relay user equipment, denoted as the first user equipment) that has already established a connection with a first-hop relay user equipment (the first relay user equipment, denoted as the second user equipment), but the user equipment does not have the SL-RSRP measurement results of the first-hop relay user equipment; or the user equipment (the first user equipment) and the potential first-hop relay user equipment (the first relay user equipment, denoted as the second user equipment) have not yet established a connection.

[0174] In step S602, the first user equipment (i.e., the potential second-hop relay user equipment) receives an RRCReconfiguration message or SIB12, which includes a first SD-RSRP threshold and a third hysteresis parameter.

[0175] The first SD-RSRP threshold is used to evaluate the two-hop U2N trunk access layer conditions or the second-hop U2N trunk access layer conditions. The first SD-RSRP threshold is the upper limit threshold of the second-hop trunk (i.e., the second-hop trunk threshold). The first user equipment has U2N trunk capability / two-hop U2N trunk capability.

[0176] In step S604, if the SD-RSRP of the second user equipment (i.e., the potential first-hop relay user equipment, which is directly connected to the base station) is lower than the first SD-RSRP threshold by the third hysteresis parameter (i.e., SD-RSRP < first SD-RSRP threshold - third hysteresis parameter), then the first user equipment considers that the second-hop U2N relay threshold condition / access layer condition, or the two-hop U2N relay threshold condition / access layer condition, is satisfied.

[0177] If the SD-RSRP of the second user equipment is higher than the first SD-RSRP threshold, the first user equipment considers that the second-hop U2N trunk threshold / access layer condition, or the two-hop U2N trunk threshold / access layer condition, is not met.

[0178] The second user equipment is a U2N relay user equipment, and the first user equipment can communicate with the base station through the second user equipment.

[0179] In step S606, if the first user equipment meets the U2N relay threshold condition / access layer condition, the first user equipment performs side link resource allocation.

[0180] In step S608, if the first user equipment meets the U2N relay threshold condition / access layer condition, the first user equipment sends a SidelinkUEInformationNR message to the base station, indicating the second-hop side link relay discovery resources required by the first user equipment.

[0181] Figure 7 A flowchart illustrating a communication method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. For example... Figure 7 As shown, the communication method includes steps S702 to S708. Figure 7 The communication method shown is for a user equipment (i.e., a potential second-hop relay user equipment) that has not yet established a connection with a first-hop relay user equipment (first relay user equipment), and the user equipment is within the coverage area of ​​the base station.

[0182] In step S702, the user equipment receives an RRCReconfiguration message or SIB12, which includes a first RSRP threshold and a fifth hysteresis parameter. The first RSRP threshold is a Uu threshold used to evaluate the conditions of a two-hop U2N trunk access layer or the conditions of a second-hop U2N trunk access layer.

[0183] In step S704, if the RSRP of the primary cell or the cell where the user equipment is camped is lower than the first RSRP threshold by the fifth hysteresis parameter (i.e., RSRP < first RSRP threshold - fifth hysteresis parameter), then the user equipment considers that the second hop U2N relay threshold condition / access layer condition, or the two hop U2N relay threshold condition / access layer condition, is met.

[0184] If the RSRP of the primary cell or the cell where the user equipment is camped is higher than the first RSRP threshold, the user equipment considers that the second-hop U2N trunk threshold / access layer condition, or the two-hop U2N trunk threshold / access layer condition, is not met.

[0185] In step S706, if the user equipment meets the U2N relay threshold condition / access layer condition, the user equipment performs side link resource allocation.

[0186] In step S708, if the user equipment meets the U2N relay threshold condition / access layer condition, the user equipment sends a SidelinkUEInformationNR message to the base station, indicating the second-hop side link relay discovery resources required by the first user equipment.

[0187] Figure 8 A flowchart illustrating a communication method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. For example... Figure 8 As shown, the communication method includes steps S802 to S808. Figure 8 The communication method shown is for a user equipment (i.e., a potential second-hop relay user equipment) that has not yet established a connection with a first-hop relay user equipment (first relay user equipment), and the user equipment is within the coverage area of ​​the base station.

[0188] In step S802, the user equipment receives an RRCReconfiguration message or SIB12, which includes a first trunk threshold, a third offset, and a sixth hysteresis parameter. The first trunk threshold is a Uu threshold used to evaluate the conditions of the first-hop U2N trunk access layer, and the third offset is used to evaluate the conditions of the second-hop U2N trunk access layer, or the conditions of both hops.

[0189] In step S804, if the RSRP of the primary cell or the cell where the user equipment is camped is lower than the difference between the first relay threshold and the third offset by the sixth hysteresis parameter (i.e., RSRP < first relay threshold - third offset - sixth hysteresis parameter), then the user equipment considers that the second hop U2N relay threshold condition / access layer condition, or the two hop U2N relay threshold condition / access layer condition is met.

[0190] If the RSRP of the primary cell or the cell where the user equipment is camped is higher than the difference between the first relay threshold and the third offset, the user equipment considers that the second-hop U2N relay threshold condition / access layer condition, or the two-hop U2N relay threshold condition / access layer condition, is not met.

[0191] In step S806, if the user equipment meets the U2N trunk threshold condition / access layer condition, the user equipment performs side link resource allocation.

[0192] In step S808, if the user equipment meets the U2N relay threshold condition / access layer condition, the user equipment sends a SidelinkUEInformationNR message to the base station, indicating the second-hop side link relay discovery resources required by the first user equipment.

[0193] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the structure of a user equipment according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. For example... Figure 9 As shown, user equipment 90 includes:

[0194] The execution module 910 is configured to consider the user equipment to meet the relay user equipment conditions when the side link reference signal received power SL-RSRP of the first relay user equipment is in the first range, or the side link discovery reference signal received power SD-RSRP of the first relay user equipment is in the second range, or the reference signal received power RSRP of the user equipment's camp cell is in the third range.

[0195] In some embodiments, the user equipment is further configured to receive configuration information sent by a network node, the configuration information being used to determine one or more of a first range, a second range, and a third range.

[0196] In some embodiments, the configuration information includes a first SL-RSRP threshold, a second SL-RSRP threshold, a first hysteresis parameter, and a second hysteresis parameter, or includes a first SL-RSRP threshold and a first hysteresis parameter.

[0197] In some embodiments, the upper limit of the first range is determined based on a first SL-RSRP threshold and a first hysteresis parameter.

[0198] In some embodiments, the lower limit of the first range is determined based on a second SL-RSRP threshold and a second hysteresis parameter.

[0199] In some embodiments, the upper limit of the first range is the difference between the first SL-RSRP threshold and the first hysteresis parameter.

[0200] In some embodiments, the lower limit of the first range is the sum of the second SL-RSRP threshold and the second hysteresis parameter.

[0201] In some embodiments, the configuration information includes a first SL-RSRP threshold, a second SL-RSRP threshold, a first hysteresis parameter, a second hysteresis parameter, and a first offset, or includes a first SL-RSRP threshold, a first hysteresis parameter, and a first offset.

[0202] In some embodiments, the upper limit of the first range is determined based on a first SL-RSRP threshold, a first offset, and a first hysteresis parameter.

[0203] In some embodiments, the lower limit of the first range is determined based on a second SL-RSRP threshold, a first offset, and a second hysteresis parameter.

[0204] In some embodiments, the upper limit of the first range is the difference between the first SL-RSRP threshold and the first offset and the first hysteresis parameter.

[0205] In some embodiments, the lower limit of the first range is the sum of the difference between the second SL-RSRP threshold and the first offset and the second hysteresis parameter.

[0206] In some embodiments, the configuration information includes a first SD-RSRP threshold, a second SD-RSRP threshold, a third hysteresis parameter, a fourth hysteresis parameter, or includes a first SD-RSRP threshold and a third hysteresis parameter.

[0207] In some embodiments, the upper limit of the second range is determined based on a first SD-RSRP threshold and a third hysteresis parameter.

[0208] In some embodiments, the lower limit of the second range is determined based on a second SD-RSRP threshold and a fourth hysteresis parameter.

[0209] In some embodiments, the upper limit of the second range is the difference between the first SD-RSRP threshold and the third hysteresis parameter.

[0210] In some embodiments, the lower limit of the second range is the sum of the second SD-RSRP threshold and the fourth hysteresis parameter.

[0211] In some embodiments, the configuration information includes a first SD-RSRP threshold, a second SD-RSRP threshold, a third hysteresis parameter, a fourth hysteresis parameter, and a second offset, or includes a first SD-RSRP threshold, a fourth hysteresis parameter, and a second offset.

[0212] In some embodiments, the upper limit of the second range is determined based on a first SD-RSRP threshold, a second offset, and a third hysteresis parameter.

[0213] In some embodiments, the lower limit of the second range is determined based on a second SD-RSRP threshold, a second offset, and a fourth hysteresis parameter.

[0214] In some embodiments, the upper limit of the second range is the difference between the first SD-RSRP threshold and the second offset and the third hysteresis parameter.

[0215] In some embodiments, the lower limit of the second range is the sum of the difference between the second SD-RSRP threshold and the second offset and the fourth hysteresis parameter.

[0216] In some embodiments, the configuration information includes a first RSRP threshold and a fifth hysteresis parameter.

[0217] In some embodiments, the third range is determined based on a first RSRP threshold and a fifth hysteresis parameter.

[0218] In some embodiments, the upper limit of the third range is the difference between the first RSRP threshold and the fifth hysteresis parameter.

[0219] In some embodiments, the configuration information includes a first relay threshold, a third offset, and a sixth hysteresis parameter.

[0220] In some embodiments, the third range is determined based on the first relay threshold, the sixth hysteresis parameter, and the third offset.

[0221] In some embodiments, the upper limit of the third range is the difference between the first relay threshold and the third offset and the sixth hysteresis parameter.

[0222] In some embodiments, the first relay user equipment is a first-hop relay user equipment, or a relay user equipment of a user equipment, or the first relay user equipment communicates with a network node through a second relay user equipment.

[0223] In some embodiments, the user equipment is also configured to send messages to network nodes indicating the sidelink relay discovery resources required by the user equipment.

[0224] In some embodiments, the message includes at least one of frequency band information for transmitting the sidelink discovery message and a destination identifier for the sidelink discovery message.

[0225] In some embodiments, the user equipment receives a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message or a System Information Block (SIB12), the RRC reconfiguration message or SIB12 containing configuration information.

[0226] The user equipment in the embodiments of this disclosure can be implemented by various computing devices or computer systems, as described below. Figure 10 as well as Figure 11 Describe it.

[0227] Figure 10 A schematic diagram of the structure of a user equipment according to other embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. For example... Figure 10As shown, the apparatus 100 of this embodiment includes a memory 1010 and a processor 1020 coupled to the memory 1010. The processor 1020 is configured to execute communication methods in any of the embodiments of this disclosure based on instructions stored in the memory 1010.

[0228] The memory 1010 may include, for example, system memory, fixed non-volatile storage media, etc. The system memory may store, for example, an operating system, application programs, a boot loader, a database, and other programs.

[0229] Figure 11 A schematic diagram of the structure of a user equipment according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. For example... Figure 11 As shown, the device 110 of this embodiment includes a memory 1110 and a processor 1120, which are similar to the memory 1010 and processor 1020, respectively. It may also include an input / output interface 1130, a network interface 1140, a storage interface 1150, etc. These interfaces 1130, 1140, 1150, and the memory 1110 and processor 1120 can be connected, for example, via a bus 1160. The input / output interface 1130 provides a connection interface for input / output devices such as a display, mouse, keyboard, and touchscreen. The network interface 1140 provides a connection interface for various networked devices, such as connecting to a database server or cloud storage server. The storage interface 1150 provides a connection interface for external storage devices such as SD cards and USB flash drives.

[0230] Figure 12 A schematic diagram of the structure of a communication system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. For example... Figure 12 As shown, the communication system 120 includes the user equipment 1210 as described above; and the network node 1220.

[0231] In some embodiments, a network node is configured to send configuration information to a user equipment, the configuration information being used to determine one or more of a first range, a second range, and a third range.

[0232] Embodiments of this disclosure also provide a computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, characterized in that the program, when executed by a processor, implements any of the aforementioned communication methods.

[0233] Embodiments of this disclosure also provide a computer program product including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform any of the foregoing communication methods.

[0234] Those skilled in the art will understand that embodiments of this disclosure can be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Therefore, this disclosure can take the form of a completely hardware embodiment, a completely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, this disclosure can take the form of a computer program product embodied on one or more computer-usable non-transitory storage media (including, but not limited to, disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, etc.) containing computer-usable program code.

[0235] This disclosure is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of this disclosure. It should be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, special-purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create a machine for implementing the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams. Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A device that provides the functions specified in one or more boxes.

[0236] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable storage medium produce an article of manufacture including instruction means, which are implemented in a process Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The function specified in one or more boxes.

[0237] These computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing equipment to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable equipment to produce a computer-implemented process, thereby providing instructions that execute on the computer or other programmable equipment for implementing the process. Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The steps of the function specified in one or more boxes.

[0238] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of this disclosure and is not intended to limit this disclosure. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this disclosure should be included within the protection scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A communication method, executed by a user equipment, comprising: If the sidelink reference signal received power (SL-RSRP) of the first relay user equipment is within a first range, or the sidelink discovery reference signal received power (SD-RSRP) of the first relay user equipment is within a second range, or the reference signal received power (RSRP) of the user equipment's camped cell is within a third range, then the user equipment is considered to meet the relay user equipment conditions.

2. The communication method according to claim 1 further includes: The system receives configuration information sent by a network node, the configuration information being used to determine one or more of the first range, the second range, and the third range.

3. The communication method according to claim 2, wherein, The configuration information includes a first SL-RSRP threshold, a second SL-RSRP threshold, a first hysteresis parameter, and a second hysteresis parameter, or includes the first SL-RSRP threshold and the first hysteresis parameter.

4. The communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The upper limit of the first range is determined based on the first SL-RSRP threshold and the first hysteresis parameter.

5. The communication method according to claim 4, wherein, The lower limit of the first range is determined based on the second SL-RSRP threshold and the second hysteresis parameter.

6. The communication method according to claim 4, wherein, The upper limit of the first range is the difference between the first SL-RSRP threshold and the first hysteresis parameter.

7. The communication method according to claim 5, wherein, The lower limit of the first range is the sum of the second SL-RSRP threshold and the second hysteresis parameter.

8. The communication method according to claim 2, wherein, The configuration information includes a first SL-RSRP threshold, a second SL-RSRP threshold, a first hysteresis parameter, a second hysteresis parameter, and a first offset, or includes the first SL-RSRP threshold, the first hysteresis parameter, and the first offset.

9. The communication method according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 8, wherein, The upper limit of the first range is determined based on the first SL-RSRP threshold, the first offset, and the first hysteresis parameter.

10. The communication method according to claim 9, wherein, The lower limit of the first range is determined based on the second SL-RSRP threshold, the first offset, and the second hysteresis parameter.

11. The communication method according to claim 9, wherein, The upper limit of the first range is the difference between the first SL-RSRP threshold and the first offset and the first hysteresis parameter.

12. The communication method according to claim 10, wherein, The lower limit of the first range is the sum of the difference between the second SL-RSRP threshold and the first offset and the second hysteresis parameter.

13. The communication method according to claim 2, wherein, The configuration information includes a first SD-RSRP threshold, a second SD-RSRP threshold, a third hysteresis parameter, and a fourth hysteresis parameter, or includes the first SD-RSRP threshold and the third hysteresis parameter.

14. The communication method according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 13, wherein, The upper limit of the second range is determined based on the first SD-RSRP threshold and the third hysteresis parameter.

15. The communication method according to claim 14, wherein, The lower limit of the second range is determined based on the second SD-RSRP threshold and the fourth hysteresis parameter.

16. The communication method according to claim 14, wherein, The upper limit of the second range is the difference between the first SD-RSRP threshold and the third hysteresis parameter.

17. The communication method according to claim 15, wherein, The lower limit of the second range is the sum of the second SD-RSRP threshold and the fourth hysteresis parameter.

18. The communication method according to claim 2, wherein, The configuration information includes a first SD-RSRP threshold, a second SD-RSRP threshold, a third hysteresis parameter, a fourth hysteresis parameter, and a second offset, or includes the first SD-RSRP threshold, the fourth hysteresis parameter, and the second offset.

19. The communication method according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 18, wherein, The upper limit of the second range is determined based on the first SD-RSRP threshold, the second offset, and the third hysteresis parameter.

20. The communication method according to claim 19, wherein, The lower limit of the second range is determined based on the second SD-RSRP threshold, the second offset, and the fourth hysteresis parameter.

21. The communication method according to claim 19, wherein, The upper limit of the second range is the difference between the first SD-RSRP threshold and the second offset and the third hysteresis parameter.

22. The communication method according to claim 20, wherein, The lower limit of the second range is the sum of the difference between the second SD-RSRP threshold and the second offset and the fourth hysteresis parameter.

23. The communication method according to claim 2, wherein, The configuration information includes a first RSRP threshold and a fifth hysteresis parameter.

24. The communication method according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 23, wherein, The third range is determined based on the first RSRP threshold and the fifth hysteresis parameter.

25. The communication method according to claim 24, wherein, The upper limit of the third range is the difference between the first RSRP threshold and the fifth hysteresis parameter.

26. The communication method according to claim 2, wherein, The configuration information includes a first relay threshold, a third offset, and a sixth hysteresis parameter.

27. The communication method according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 26, wherein, The third range is determined based on the first relay threshold, the sixth hysteresis parameter, and the third offset.

28. The communication method according to claim 27, wherein, The upper limit of the third range is the difference between the first relay threshold and the third offset and the sixth hysteresis parameter.

29. The communication method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The first relay user equipment is a first-hop relay user equipment, or a relay user equipment of the user equipment, or the first relay user equipment communicates with the network node through a second relay user equipment.

30. The communication method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: A message is sent to a network node, the message indicating the sidelink relay discovery resources required by the user equipment.

31. The communication method according to claim 30, wherein, The message includes at least one of the following: frequency band information for transmitting the sidelink discovery message and the destination identifier of the sidelink discovery message.

32. The communication method according to claim 2, wherein, The user equipment receives a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message or a System Information Block (SIB) 12, wherein the RRC reconfiguration message or SIB 12 contains the configuration information.

33. A user equipment, comprising: The execution module is configured to consider the user equipment to meet the relay user equipment conditions when the sidelink reference signal received power SL-RSRP of the first relay user equipment is within a first range, or the sidelink discovery reference signal received power SD-RSRP of the first relay user equipment is within a second range, or the reference signal received power RSRP of the user equipment's camp cell is within a third range.

34. A user equipment, comprising: processor; as well as A memory coupled to the processor is used to store instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the communication method as described in any one of claims 1 to 32.

35. A communication system, comprising: The user equipment as described in claim 33 or 34; Network node.

36. The communication system according to claim 35, wherein, The network node is configured to send configuration information to the user equipment, the configuration information being used to determine one or more of the first range, the second range, and the third range.

37. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, wherein, When the program is executed by the processor, it implements the communication method as described in any one of claims 1 to 32.

38. A computer program product comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 32.

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