Communication method, apparatus, device, storage medium, chip and product

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a communication method, device, equipment, storage medium, chip and product, and relates to the technical field of communication. The method comprises the following steps: detecting whether there is a downlink retransmission event in a data transmission process; in response to no downlink retransmission event being detected and current signal quality meeting a preset signal condition, disabling the time delay function of a packet data convergence protocol reordering timer; and in response to a downlink retransmission event being detected, determining the timing duration of the packet data convergence protocol reordering timer according to a retransmission processing duration and the configuration duration of the packet data convergence protocol reordering timer. The method shortens the data delivery delay caused by the packet data convergence protocol layer waiting for a missing data packet under the premise of ensuring the reliability of data transmission, and improves the smoothness of real-time services and user experience.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) protocol stipulates that when a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) receiver misses a data packet, a PDCP reordering timer needs to be started. If the missed data cannot be successfully retransmitted, the received downlink data can only be delivered after the PDCP reordering timer expires.

[0003] For IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) services with high real-time requirements, such as voice calls, video calls, and online games, if the PDCP reordering timer is configured to be too long, when a data packet is missed and cannot be recovered through underlying retransmission, the PDCP receiver must buffer the received data packets until the PDCP reordering timer expires before it can continue to deliver them, which affects the user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a communication method, apparatus, device, storage medium, chip, and product.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a communication method is provided, comprising: detecting whether a downlink retransmission event exists during data transmission; disabling the delay function of a PDCP reordering timer in response to the absence of the downlink retransmission event and the current signal quality meeting preset signal conditions; and determining the timing duration of the PDCP reordering timer based on the retransmission processing duration and the configured duration of the PDCP reordering timer in response to the detection of the downlink retransmission event.

[0006] Through the above steps, in scenarios with good signal quality and no retransmissions, the delay function of the PDCP reordering timer is directly disabled to immediately deliver received data, avoiding delays caused by waiting for missed data. When a retransmission event is detected, the timing duration of the PDCP reordering timer is dynamically set based on the retransmission processing duration and the configured duration, ensuring sufficient recovery time is reserved for underlying retransmissions and avoiding unnecessary data buffering due to excessively large timer values. This method, while ensuring data transmission reliability, shortens the data delivery delay caused by waiting for missed data packets at the PDCP layer, improving the smoothness of real-time services and user experience.

[0007] In some embodiments of this disclosure, determining the timing duration of the PDCP reordering timer based on the retransmission processing duration and the configured duration of the PDCP reordering timer includes: if the retransmission processing duration is less than the configured duration, then the retransmission processing duration is used as the timing duration of the PDCP reordering timer; if the retransmission processing duration is greater than or equal to the configured duration, then the configured duration is used as the timing duration of the PDCP reordering timer.

[0008] By following the steps above, it is possible to balance the underlying retransmission and recovery requirements with the upper-layer latency constraints under different network configurations, thereby optimizing the data delivery efficiency and real-time service experience of the PDCP layer.

[0009] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the method further includes: obtaining the maximum number of retransmissions for the hybrid automatic retransmission request and the round-trip time for each retransmission; and determining the retransmission processing duration based on the maximum number of retransmissions and the round-trip time for each retransmission.

[0010] By obtaining the maximum number of retransmissions for the Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARTR) and the round-trip latency of each retransmission, the retransmission processing duration is determined, enabling the PDCP layer to know the maximum recovery capability that the underlying HARTR retransmission mechanism can provide. Furthermore, by configuring a timer based on this duration, it is possible to ensure that the setting of the PDCP reordering timer matches the actual retransmission capability of the underlying HARTR, thereby improving the coordination efficiency between different layers of the protocol stack.

[0011] In some embodiments of this disclosure, disabling the delay function of the PDCP reordering timer includes at least one of the following: setting the timing duration of the PDCP reordering timer to zero; setting the timing duration of the PDCP reordering timer to the minimum value allowed by the protocol; turning off the PDCP reordering timer; and skipping the process of starting the PDCP reordering timer.

[0012] By describing the delay function of disabling the PDCP reordering timer as a functional aspect, and providing multiple implementation methods such as setting the timer duration to zero, setting it to the minimum value allowed by the protocol, disabling the timer, and skipping the startup process, it can flexibly adapt to the differentiated needs of different protocol versions and terminal implementation capabilities.

[0013] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the method further includes: measuring the received downlink reference signal to obtain a current signal quality parameter value; the current signal quality parameter value includes at least one of a reference signal received power value, a signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SNR), and a channel quality indication value; if at least one of the following conditions is met, namely, the reference signal received power value is greater than a first preset threshold, the SNR is greater than a second preset threshold, and the channel quality indication value is greater than a third preset threshold, then the current signal quality is determined to meet preset signal conditions.

[0014] The above signal quality determination method utilizes the measurement mechanism of the existing protocol stack, which is low-cost and highly compatible. It provides a reliable basis for subsequent decisions on whether to set the timer to zero, and avoids the timer being incorrectly set to zero due to signal misjudgment.

[0015] In some embodiments of this disclosure, detecting whether a downlink retransmission event exists during data transmission includes: monitoring downlink scheduling signaling on the physical downlink control channel; determining that the current transmission block is the first transmission based on the downlink scheduling signaling, and determining that the downlink retransmission event does not exist; determining that the current transmission block is a retransmission based on the downlink scheduling signaling, and determining that the downlink retransmission event exists.

[0016] By monitoring downlink scheduling signaling on the physical downlink control channel, and determining whether a downlink retransmission event exists based on whether the current transport block is the first transmission or a retransmission indicated by the scheduling signaling, the occurrence of the underlying hybrid automatic repeat request retransmission can be captured in real time and accurately.

[0017] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the method further includes: after detecting the downlink retransmission event, adjusting the configuration duration of the PDCP reordering timer according to the occurrence frequency of the downlink retransmission event.

[0018] By dynamically adjusting the configuration duration of the PDCP reordering timer based on the frequency of downlink retransmission events after a downlink retransmission event is detected, the configuration duration can adapt to the phased changes in signal quality, avoiding the problem of static configuration failing when signal quality changes, and enhancing the robustness and adaptability of the solution under different signal environments.

[0019] In some embodiments of this disclosure, adjusting the configuration duration of the PDCP reordering timer based on the occurrence frequency of the downlink retransmission event includes: increasing the configuration duration of the PDCP reordering timer if the occurrence frequency is higher than a preset frequency threshold; and decreasing the configuration duration of the PDCP reordering timer if the occurrence frequency is lower than the preset frequency threshold.

[0020] Through the above steps, if the retransmission frequency exceeds a preset threshold, the configured duration is increased. This expands the adjustable upper limit of the timing duration within the protocol's allowable range, providing more sufficient waiting time for retransmissions and preventing premature timeouts due to excessively short configured durations, thus avoiding unnecessary packet loss. Conversely, if the retransmission frequency falls below the preset threshold, the configured duration is decreased. This tightens the adjustable upper limit of the timing duration within the protocol's allowable range, reducing data buffering waiting time and optimizing latency performance. In this way, the configured duration of the PDCP reordering timer can adaptively adjust with changes in signal quality, indirectly controlling the timing duration value and achieving a balance between data transmission reliability and real-time performance.

[0021] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the method is applied to data transmission scenarios of real-time services. Under the condition that such services are highly sensitive to latency, it can effectively reduce the data delivery delay caused by PDCP waiting for missed data packets, improve the data transmission efficiency of real-time services, and optimize the user experience.

[0022] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a communication apparatus is provided, comprising: a detection module configured to detect whether a downlink retransmission event exists during data transmission; and a duration determination module configured to disable the delay function of a PDCP reordering timer in response to the absence of the downlink retransmission event and the current signal quality meeting preset signal conditions; and to determine the timing duration of the PDCP reordering timer based on the retransmission processing duration and the configured duration of the PDCP reordering timer in response to the detection of the downlink retransmission event.

[0023] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the duration determination module is further configured to: if the retransmission processing duration is less than the configured duration, then use the retransmission processing duration as the timing duration of the PDCP reordering timer; if the retransmission processing duration is greater than or equal to the configured duration, then use the configured duration as the timing duration of the PDCP reordering timer.

[0024] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, an electronic device is provided, characterized in that it includes: a processor; a memory for storing processor-executable instructions; wherein the processor is configured to implement the communication method described above.

[0025] According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium is provided, which, when instructions in the storage medium are executed by a processor of a mobile terminal, enables the mobile terminal to perform the communication method described above.

[0026] According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, a computer program product is provided, including a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the communication method described above.

[0027] According to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, a chip is provided, the chip including an interface circuit and a processing circuit coupled to each other, the interface circuit being used to input or output signals, and the processing circuit being used to implement the method described above.

[0028] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not intended to limit this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0029] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this disclosure.

[0030] Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating the processing of the PDCP layer when a discontinuity in downlink data packet count values ​​is detected, according to some embodiments of this disclosure.

[0031] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of a communication method shown according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 1 .

[0032] Figure 3 This is a flowchart of a communication method shown according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 2 .

[0033] Figure 4 This is a block diagram illustrating a communication device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0034] Figure 5 This is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0035] Some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail herein, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description refers to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements. Various changes, modifications, and equivalents of the methods, apparatus, and / or systems described herein will become apparent upon understanding this disclosure. For example, the order of operations described herein is merely illustrative and is not limited to those orders set forth herein, but can be changed as will become apparent upon understanding this disclosure, except for operations that must be performed in a particular order. Furthermore, for clarity and brevity, descriptions of features known in the art may be omitted.

[0036] The embodiments described below are exemplary and do not represent all embodiments consistent with this disclosure. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this disclosure as detailed in the appended claims.

[0037] It should be noted that the acquisition, storage, use, and processing of data in this disclosed technical solution comply with the relevant provisions of national laws and regulations. The various types of data obtained in this disclosed implementation, such as personal identity data, operational data, and behavioral data related to individuals, customers, and groups, have all been authorized.

[0038] Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating the processing of the PDCP layer when a discontinuity in downlink packet count values ​​is detected, according to some embodiments of this disclosure. (Refer to...) Figure 1 This includes the following steps.

[0039] In step S110, the PDCP layer receives the downlink data packet sent by the lower layer and detects that the downlink data packet count value is discontinuous.

[0040] The lower layer refers to the protocol layer responsible for the actual transmission and retransmission of data packets, which may include the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, and the physical layer.

[0041] Step S120: The PDCP layer caches the data packets after they become discontinuous.

[0042] Step S130: The PDCP layer starts the reordering timer.

[0043] In step S140, during the reordering timer operation, the PDCP layer continues to receive subsequent downlink data packets transmitted from the underlying layer.

[0044] Step S150: The PDCP layer caches the newly received data packets.

[0045] Step S160: Reordering timer times out.

[0046] In step S170, the PDCP layer resumes data delivery, delivering all cached data packets to the higher layers.

[0047] Among them, the higher layers refer to the upper-layer protocol entities that need to receive data in sequence, which may include the Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer, the Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer, and the application layer, etc.

[0048] from Figure 1 As can be seen, if missed data cannot be successfully retransmitted, the PDCP layer can only continue to deliver received downlink data after the reordering timer expires. However, for services with high real-time requirements, such as IMS voice calls, video calls, and online games, the transmission latency of data packets directly affects the user experience. If the PDCP reordering timer is configured for too long, when a data packet is missed and cannot be recovered through underlying retransmission, the PDCP layer must wait for the timer to expire before resuming data delivery. This will cause additional delays in service data, leading to problems such as voice stuttering, video freezes, or delayed operation responses, severely impacting the user experience.

[0049] To address the aforementioned issues, this disclosure provides a communication method that, while ensuring data transmission reliability, reduces the data delivery delay caused by the PDCP layer waiting for missed data packets, thereby improving the smoothness of real-time services and user experience. Figure 2 This is a flowchart of a communication method shown according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 1 . Figure 2 The communication method shown is executed by a terminal, including but not limited to mobile phones, tablets, laptops, portable game consoles, e-readers, or multimedia devices with communication modules. This terminal acts as a PDCP receiver, according to... Figure 2 The steps shown control the timing duration of the PDCP reordering timer.

[0050] Step S210: Detect whether there is a downlink retransmission event during data transmission.

[0051] Downlink retransmission events refer to the retransmission operation initiated by the underlying protocol layer after a downlink data packet sent from the base station to the terminal fails to transmit. In wireless communication, downlink retransmission events include the Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) retransmission mechanism at the MAC layer and the Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) retransmission mechanism at the RLC layer.

[0052] For services with high real-time requirements, such as IMS voice calls, video calls, and online games, the Unacknowledged Mode (UM) of the Receiving Layer (RLC) is typically used. In UM mode, the RLC layer lacks an ARQ retransmission mechanism; the receiving end does not acknowledge receipt of data packets, and the sending end does not initiate retransmissions for unreceived packets. Therefore, the mechanism that allows the recovery of a missed data packet through underlying retransmission is the HARQ retransmission mechanism at the MAC layer. Based on this, detecting downlink retransmission events during data transmission refers to the terminal detecting whether the MAC layer has initiated HARQ retransmission events for downlink data packets.

[0053] Step S220: In response to the absence of a downlink retransmission event and the current signal quality meeting the preset signal conditions, the delay function of the PDCP reordering timer is disabled.

[0054] Among them, the preset signal conditions refer to the signal quality threshold value pre-configured by the system or network side. This threshold value is used to determine whether the current signal quality is stable and reliable, so that data transmission is less likely to be lost or retransmitted.

[0055] In this step, in response to the terminal not detecting a downlink retransmission event and the current signal quality being stable and reliable, the terminal disables the delay function of the PDCP reordering timer. That is, if the PDCP layer subsequently detects discontinuous downlink data packet counts, it does not start the PDCP reordering timer to wait, but instead delivers the received data packets to the higher layer. For services with high real-time requirements, such as IMS voice calls, video calls, and online games, this reduces data transmission latency, improving service smoothness and user experience.

[0056] It should be noted that if the current service adopts the RLC Acknowledged Mode (AM), then the failure to detect downlink retransmission event in step S220 means that the terminal fails to detect both the MAC layer HARQ retransmission event and the RLC layer ARQ retransmission event.

[0057] In some embodiments of this disclosure, disabling the delay function of the PDCP reordering timer may include at least one of the following: setting the timing duration of the PDCP reordering timer to zero; setting the timing duration of the PDCP reordering timer to the minimum value allowed by the protocol; turning off the PDCP reordering timer; or skipping the process of starting the PDCP reordering timer.

[0058] Setting the PDCP reordering timer's timing duration to zero means configuring the timer's timeout duration to zero, so that the timer reaches the timeout condition as soon as it starts, thus preventing any waiting delay.

[0059] Setting the PDCP reordering timer's timing duration to the minimum value allowed by the protocol means configuring the timing duration to the minimum valid value greater than or equal to zero within the range of values ​​allowed by the protocol or system configuration. This minimizes the waiting delay generated by the timer, which can be considered equivalent to no waiting delay being generated.

[0060] Disabling the PDCP reordering timer means de-enabling or disabling the timer module, thus eliminating its ability to run and keep time, thereby completely eliminating the basis for the execution of the delay function from the hardware or software level.

[0061] Skipping the process of starting the PDCP reordering timer means that when the PDCP layer detects that the count value of downlink data packets is discontinuous, it does not execute the operation of starting the timer, but directly delivers the received data packets to the higher layer, thereby bypassing the execution of the delay function at the process level.

[0062] By describing the delay function of disabling the PDCP reordering timer as a functional aspect, and providing multiple implementation methods such as setting the timer duration to zero, setting it to the minimum value allowed by the protocol, disabling the timer, and skipping the startup process, it can flexibly adapt to the differentiated needs of different protocol versions and terminal implementation capabilities.

[0063] Step S230: In response to the detection of a downlink retransmission event, determine the timing duration of the PDCP reordering timer based on the retransmission processing duration and the configured duration of the PDCP reordering timer.

[0064] The retransmission processing time refers to the time required for the MAC layer to complete a retransmission attempt for a certain downlink data packet through the HARQ retransmission mechanism.

[0065] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the method further includes: obtaining the maximum number of retransmissions of HARQ and the round-trip time of each retransmission; and determining the retransmission processing duration based on the maximum number of retransmissions and the round-trip time of each retransmission.

[0066] The terminal calculates the total time required for HARQ to complete a retransmission attempt by obtaining the maximum number of retransmissions and the round-trip delay of each retransmission. This total time is then used as the retransmission processing time for determining the timing duration of the subsequent PDCP reordering timer. Specifically, the product of the maximum number of retransmissions and the round-trip delay of each retransmission is the total time required for HARQ to complete all retransmission attempts.

[0067] It's important to note that the maximum number of HARQ retransmissions is not fixed but rather a configuration parameter determined based on a combination of factors. In one possible implementation, the service quality reliability requirements of the service are a crucial factor influencing the maximum retransmission count. When reliability requirements are high, the base station will configure a larger maximum retransmission count to increase retransmission opportunities and improve the probability of successful packet transmission; conversely, when reliability requirements are low, a smaller maximum retransmission count can be configured to reduce the resource overhead associated with retransmissions. In another possible implementation, channel quality and base station resource scheduling are also important factors in adjusting the maximum retransmission count. When channel quality is good, the initial packet transmission success rate is high, and the required maximum retransmission count can be reduced accordingly; when channel quality is poor, a larger maximum retransmission count needs to be maintained to cope with frequent retransmission demands. Furthermore, different service flows may be configured with different maximum HARQ retransmission counts to meet the differentiated needs of different types of services. In this embodiment of the disclosure, the value of the maximum number of HARQ retransmissions can be determined by taking into account the above factors, and the parameter can be configured to the terminal through RRC signaling or relevant messages in the service flow establishment process. The terminal obtains the parameter and uses it for the calculation of the retransmission processing time.

[0068] By obtaining the maximum number of retransmissions of HARQ and the round-trip delay of each retransmission, the retransmission processing duration is determined, enabling the PDCP layer to know the maximum recovery capability that the underlying HARQ retransmission mechanism can provide. Furthermore, by configuring the timer based on this duration, it is possible to ensure that the setting of the PDCP reordering timer matches the actual retransmission capability of the underlying HARQ, thereby improving the coordination efficiency between different layers of the protocol stack.

[0069] In step S230, the configuration duration of the PDCP reordering timer refers to the original timing duration parameter of the pre-configured PDCP reordering timer. This configuration duration can be a reference value set by the network side according to the default scenario or general service requirements.

[0070] For real-time services using RLC UM mode, in response to the terminal detecting a HARQ retransmission event at the MAC layer, the PDCP layer may have already detected discontinuous downlink packet counts, requiring the initiation of a reordering timer to wait for the missing packets. In this case, HARQ retransmission is the means to recover the missing packets. Therefore, the duration of the PDCP reordering timer should be matched with the HARQ retransmission processing time to avoid misjudging packet loss due to premature timeout or introducing unnecessary waiting delays due to late timeout. Based on this, the terminal can determine the duration of the PDCP reordering timer according to the retransmission processing duration and the configured duration of the PDCP reordering timer.

[0071] In addition, similar to step S220, if the current service adopts the RLC AM mode, the retransmission processing time in step S230 should also take into account the ARQ retransmission time. That is, the retransmission processing time is determined based on the HARQ retransmission time and the ARQ retransmission time. For example, the retransmission processing time is the sum of the HARQ retransmission time and the ARQ retransmission time, or it can be dynamically calculated based on the actual retransmission type triggered.

[0072] Through the above steps, in scenarios with good signal quality and no retransmissions, the PDCP reordering timer is directly set to zero to immediately deliver received data, avoiding delays caused by waiting for missed data. When a retransmission event is detected, the PDCP reordering timer's duration is dynamically set based on the retransmission processing time and the configured duration, ensuring sufficient recovery time for underlying retransmissions and preventing unnecessary data buffering due to excessively large timer values. This method, while ensuring data transmission reliability, shortens the data delivery delay caused by waiting for missed data packets at the PDCP layer, improving the smoothness of real-time services and user experience.

[0073] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the communication method is applied to data transmission scenarios for real-time services.

[0074] Real-time data transmission scenarios refer to the communication environments in which service types with strict requirements for end-to-end latency of data transmission actually operate. These real-time services include, but are not limited to, IMS voice calls, video calls, and online games. Taking IMS voice calls as an example, the user's speech is collected, encoded, and encapsulated into data packets, then transmitted via a wireless network to the other end for decoding and playback. The latency of this entire process typically needs to be controlled within 200 to 300 milliseconds; otherwise, the user will perceive call desynchronization or voice stuttering. Similarly, in video calls and online games, excessive transmission latency can lead to problems such as screen freezes, audio-visual desynchronization, or delayed operation responses, disrupting the user's interactive experience. Unlike traditional non-real-time services such as web browsing and file downloads, in these scenarios, whether data packets can reach the receiving end within the specified latency is more critical than the absolute reliability of data packet transmission. Therefore, real-time data transmission scenarios require each layer of the protocol stack to avoid sacrificing latency performance by blindly waiting for missing data packets, and also to avoid unnecessary packet loss by prematurely giving up waiting.

[0075] The communication method disclosed herein is applied to data transmission scenarios for real-time services. Under the condition that such services are highly sensitive to latency, it can effectively reduce the data delivery delay caused by PDCP waiting for missed data packets, improve the data transmission efficiency of real-time services, and optimize the user experience.

[0076] In some embodiments of this disclosure, detecting whether a downlink retransmission event exists during data transmission includes: listening to downlink scheduling signaling on the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH); if the downlink scheduling signaling determines that the current transmission block is the first transmission, then it is determined that no downlink retransmission event exists; if the downlink scheduling signaling determines that the current transmission block is a retransmission, then it is determined that a downlink retransmission event exists.

[0077] In a wireless communication system, the base station sends Downlink Control Information (DCI) to the terminal via the PDCCH. This DCI includes a New Data Indicator (NDI) field that indicates whether the currently scheduled transport block is new data or a retransmission. The terminal listens to and parses the DCI on the PDCCH, reading the value of the NDI field. If the NDI field indicates that the current transport block is the first transmission, and the NDI field flips, the terminal determines that there is no HARQ retransmission event. If the NDI field indicates that the current transport block is a retransmission, and the NDI field does not flip, the terminal determines that there is a HARQ retransmission event.

[0078] In addition, the terminal can also assist in the judgment by checking the Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) field in the downlink control information. If the value of the MCS field is greater than 28, it is determined to be retransmission data; if the value of the MCS field is less than or equal to 28, it is determined to be the first transmission. Alternatively, the NDI field and the MCS field can be used together to improve the detection accuracy.

[0079] By monitoring the DCI on the physical downlink control channel, and determining whether a downlink retransmission event exists based on whether the current transport block is the first transmission or a retransmission indicated by the DCI, the occurrence of underlying HARQ retransmissions can be captured in real time and accurately.

[0080] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the method further includes: measuring the received downlink reference signal to obtain a current signal quality parameter value; the current signal quality parameter value includes at least one of the following: Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) value, Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio (SINR) and Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) value; if at least one of the following conditions is met: RSRP value is greater than a first preset threshold, SINR is greater than a second preset threshold, and CQI value is greater than a third preset threshold, then the current signal quality is determined to meet the preset signal conditions.

[0081] The terminal measures the downlink reference signal to obtain parameter values ​​such as RSRP, SINR, and CQI. These parameters are all existing measurements in the protocol stack, and the terminal can directly read them from measurement results maintained by the physical layer or higher layers. The first, second, and third preset thresholds are pre-configured to the terminal via RRC signaling, corresponding to the threshold values ​​for RSRP, SINR, and CQI, respectively. The specific value of each threshold can be independently configured according to the actual network deployment scenario and service requirements, and the three thresholds do not affect each other. After obtaining the current RSRP, SINR, and CQI measurements, the terminal compares them with the corresponding preset thresholds. If at least one of the following conditions is met: RSRP greater than the first preset threshold, SINR greater than the second preset threshold, or CQI greater than the third preset threshold, the current signal quality is considered to meet the preset signal conditions. In this case, the current signal strength and quality are considered sufficient to ensure a high success rate for downlink data packets during the initial transmission, with a low probability of data packet loss or retransmission.

[0082] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the terminal uses the existing RSRP, SINR and CQI measurement results in the protocol stack to complete the signal quality determination without introducing additional measurement or signaling interaction overhead; by comparing the measured value with a preset threshold, a judgment criterion is provided for whether to set the timing duration of the PDCP reordering timer to zero in subsequent steps, reducing the timer being incorrectly set to zero due to misjudgment of signal status.

[0083] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the timing duration of the PDCP reordering timer is determined based on the retransmission processing duration and the configured duration of the PDCP reordering timer, including: if the retransmission processing duration is less than the configured duration, the retransmission processing duration is used as the timing duration of the PDCP reordering timer; if the retransmission processing duration is greater than or equal to the configured duration, the configured duration is used as the timing duration of the PDCP reordering timer.

[0084] Among them, the retransmission processing duration refers to the time required for the MAC layer to complete a retransmission attempt for a certain downlink data packet through the HARQ retransmission mechanism. Its size depends on the product of the maximum number of HARQ retransmissions and the round-trip time of a single HARQ, reflecting the actual time window required for the underlying retransmission mechanism to complete the recovery attempt; the configuration duration refers to the original timing duration parameter of the pre-configured PDCP reordering timer, reflecting the maximum time limit allowed by the network protocol layer for the PDCP layer to wait for missing data packets.

[0085] If the retransmission processing time is less than the configured time of the PDCP reordering timer, the retransmission processing time is used as the actual timing time of the timer. Within the waiting window configured by the network, the waiting time can be precisely controlled according to the actual recovery capability of the underlying retransmission mechanism, avoiding unnecessary data caching waiting due to directly using an excessively long configured time, thereby shortening the data delivery delay.

[0086] If the retransmission processing time is greater than or equal to the configured duration of the PDCP reordering timer, the configured duration will be used as the actual timing duration of the timer. This will prevent the timeliness of data delivery from being affected by the waiting time exceeding the upper limit allowed by the network protocol, and ensure that data packets can be delivered to the upper layer in a timely manner within the delay constraints specified by the protocol.

[0087] By handling the above two scenarios, it is possible to balance the underlying retransmission and recovery requirements with the upper-layer latency constraints under different network configurations, thereby optimizing the data delivery efficiency and real-time service experience of the PDCP layer.

[0088] Figure 3 This is a flowchart of a communication method shown according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 2 . Reference Figure 3 The communication method is executed by a terminal, which acts as a PDCP receiver, and includes the following steps.

[0089] In step S310, the terminal detects whether there is a downlink retransmission event during data transmission. If yes, then proceed to step S320; otherwise, proceed to step S350.

[0090] In step S320, the terminal determines whether the configured duration of the PDCP reordering timer is greater than the HARQ retransmission processing duration. If yes, then proceed to step S330; otherwise, proceed to step S340.

[0091] Step S330: The terminal determines that the HARQ retransmission processing duration is the timing duration of the PDCP reordering timer.

[0092] Step S340: The terminal determines that the configured duration of the PDCP reordering timer is the timing duration of the PDCP reordering timer.

[0093] Step S350: If the current signal quality meets the preset signal conditions, the terminal sets the timing duration of the PDCP reordering timer to zero.

[0094] Figure 3 The method described is suitable for real-time demanding service scenarios such as IMS voice calls, video calls, and online games, which use RLC UM mode for data transmission. In these scenarios, the RLC layer lacks an ARQ retransmission mechanism. When a data packet is missed, the underlying layer recovers it using HARQ retransmission at the MAC layer. Based on this, the timing duration of the PDCP reordering timer can be determined by combining the HARQ retransmission processing time.

[0095] The current downlink transmission status is distinguished by detecting the presence of HARQ retransmission events: When a HARQ retransmission event is detected, it indicates that the underlying layer is attempting to retransmit and recover a certain data packet. At this time, a certain waiting window needs to be reserved to wait for the retransmission of the data packet to be completed. Steps S320 to S340 are executed, and the final actual timing duration is determined according to the relationship between the HARQ retransmission processing duration and the configured duration of the PDCP reordering timer. When no HARQ retransmission event is detected, it indicates that no retransmission is required in the current downlink transmission. At this time, step S350 is used to determine whether the signal quality meets the preset signal conditions. If it does, it means that the current signal quality is stable and reliable, and the probability of data packet loss or triggering retransmission is low. The timing duration can be set to zero to eliminate unnecessary waiting delays.

[0096] The above method can adaptively determine the timing duration of the PDCP reordering timer based on the actual occurrence of retransmissions at the underlying layer and the real-time measurement results of signal quality. This ensures that HARQ retransmissions have sufficient time to complete data recovery while shortening the data delivery delay caused by the PDCP layer waiting for missed data packets. It is especially suitable for real-time service scenarios that are highly sensitive to latency.

[0097] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the method further includes: after detecting a downlink retransmission event, adjusting the configuration duration of the PDCP reordering timer according to the occurrence frequency of the downlink retransmission event.

[0098] The terminal detects a downlink retransmission event, records the time of occurrence, and counts the number of downlink retransmission events per unit time to obtain the downlink retransmission event frequency. This frequency reflects the current signal quality trend: a higher frequency indicates unstable signal quality, while a lower frequency indicates stable signal quality. The terminal uses this historical frequency as a basis for adjusting the PDCP reordering timer configuration duration. Before re-determining the PDCP reordering timer duration, the configuration duration is adaptively adjusted by referring to the frequency statistics over a recent period.

[0099] By dynamically adjusting the configuration duration of the PDCP reordering timer based on the frequency of downlink retransmission events after a downlink retransmission event is detected, the configuration duration can adapt to the phased changes in signal quality, avoiding the problem of static configuration failing when signal quality changes, and enhancing the robustness and adaptability of the solution under different signal environments.

[0100] In some embodiments of this disclosure, adjusting the configuration duration of the PDCP reordering timer according to the occurrence frequency of downlink retransmission events includes: increasing the configuration duration of the PDCP reordering timer if the occurrence frequency is higher than a preset frequency threshold; and decreasing the configuration duration of the PDCP reordering timer if the occurrence frequency is lower than the preset frequency threshold.

[0101] The preset frequency threshold is a reference value pre-configured for the terminal. The terminal compares the statistically obtained downlink retransmission event frequency with the preset frequency threshold. If the frequency is higher than the preset frequency threshold, it indicates that the current signal quality is continuously unstable, and the probability of subsequent data packets triggering retransmissions remains high. In this case, the terminal increases the configured duration by a certain step within the range allowed by the protocol. If the frequency is lower than the preset frequency threshold, it indicates that the current signal quality is continuously stable, and the probability of subsequent data packets triggering retransmissions is low. In this case, the terminal decreases the configured duration by a certain step within the range allowed by the protocol. The adjustment step size can be pre-configured or set by the terminal based on the magnitude of changes in signal quality.

[0102] Through the above steps, if the retransmission frequency exceeds a preset threshold, the configured duration is increased. This expands the adjustable upper limit of the timing duration within the protocol's allowable range, providing more sufficient waiting time for retransmissions and preventing premature timeouts due to excessively short configured durations, thus avoiding unnecessary packet loss. Conversely, if the retransmission frequency falls below the preset threshold, the configured duration is decreased. This tightens the adjustable upper limit of the timing duration within the protocol's allowable range, reducing data buffering waiting time and optimizing latency performance. In this way, the configured duration of the PDCP reordering timer can adaptively adjust with changes in signal quality, indirectly controlling the timing duration value and achieving a balance between data transmission reliability and real-time performance.

[0103] It should be noted that the above figures are merely illustrative representations of the processes included in some embodiments of the present disclosure and are not intended to be limiting. It is readily understood that the processes shown in the above figures do not indicate or limit the temporal order of these processes. Furthermore, it is readily understood that these processes may be executed synchronously or asynchronously, for example, in multiple modules.

[0104] The following are embodiments of the apparatus disclosed herein, which can be used to execute embodiments of the method disclosed herein. For details not disclosed in the apparatus embodiments of this disclosure, please refer to the embodiments of the method disclosed herein.

[0105] Figure 4 This is a block diagram illustrating a communication device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. (Refer to...) Figure 4 The communication device 400 includes a detection module 410 and a duration determination module 420.

[0106] The detection module 410 is configured to detect whether a downlink retransmission event exists during data transmission. The duration determination module 420 is configured to: disable the delay function of the PDCP reordering timer in response to the absence of a downlink retransmission event and the current signal quality meeting preset signal conditions; and determine the timing duration of the PDCP reordering timer based on the retransmission processing duration and the configured duration of the PDCP reordering timer in response to the detection of a downlink retransmission event.

[0107] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the duration determination module 420 is further configured to: if the retransmission processing duration is less than the configured duration, then use the retransmission processing duration as the timing duration of the PDCP reordering timer; if the retransmission processing duration is greater than or equal to the configured duration, then use the configured duration as the timing duration of the PDCP reordering timer.

[0108] In some embodiments of this disclosure, such as Figure 4As shown, the device 400 also includes a duration configuration module 430, which is configured to: obtain the maximum number of retransmissions of HARQ and the round-trip delay of each retransmission; and determine the retransmission processing duration based on the maximum number of retransmissions and the round-trip delay of each retransmission.

[0109] In some embodiments of this disclosure, disabling the delay function of the PDCP reordering timer includes at least one of the following: setting the timing duration of the PDCP reordering timer to zero; setting the timing duration of the PDCP reordering timer to the minimum value allowed by the protocol; turning off the PDCP reordering timer; or skipping the process of starting the PDCP reordering timer.

[0110] In some embodiments of this disclosure, such as Figure 4 As shown, the device 400 also includes a signal detection module 440, configured to: measure the received downlink reference signal to obtain a current signal quality parameter value; the current signal quality parameter value includes at least one of the following: reference signal received power value, signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio, and channel quality indication value; if at least one of the following is satisfied: reference signal received power value is greater than a first preset threshold, signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio is greater than a second preset threshold, and channel quality indication value is greater than a third preset threshold, then the current signal quality is determined to meet the preset signal conditions.

[0111] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the detection module 410 is further configured to: monitor downlink scheduling signaling on the physical downlink control channel; determine that the current transmission block is the first transmission based on the downlink scheduling signaling and determine that there is no downlink retransmission event; determine that the current transmission block is a retransmission based on the downlink scheduling signaling and determine that there is a downlink retransmission event.

[0112] In some embodiments of this disclosure, such as Figure 4 As shown, the device 400 also includes an adjustment module 450, which is configured to adjust the configuration duration of the PDCP reordering timer according to the occurrence frequency of the downlink retransmission event after detecting the downlink retransmission event.

[0113] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the adjustment module 450 is further configured to: increase the configuration duration of the PDCP reordering timer if the occurrence frequency is higher than a preset frequency threshold; and decrease the configuration duration of the PDCP reordering timer if the occurrence frequency is lower than the preset frequency threshold.

[0114] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the communication device 400 is applied to data transmission scenarios for real-time services.

[0115] Regarding the apparatus in the above embodiments, the specific manner in which each module performs its operation has been described in detail in the embodiments of the method, and will not be elaborated upon here.

[0116] Figure 5 This is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. (Refer to...) Figure 5 The device 500 may include one or more of the following components: processing component 502, memory 504, power supply component 506, multimedia component 508, audio component 510, input / output (I / O) interface 512, sensor component 514, and communication component 516.

[0117] Processing component 502 typically controls the overall operation of device 500, such as operations associated with display, telephone calls, data communication, camera operation, and recording. Processing component 502 may include one or more processors 518 to execute instructions to perform all or part of the steps of the methods described above. Furthermore, processing component 502 may include one or more modules to facilitate interaction between processing component 502 and other components. For example, processing component 502 may include a multimedia module to facilitate interaction between multimedia component 508 and processing component 502.

[0118] Memory 504 is configured to store various types of data to support the operation of device 500. Examples of this data include instructions for any application or method operating on device 500, contact data, phonebook data, messages, pictures, videos, etc. Memory 504 can be implemented by any type of volatile or non-volatile storage device or a combination thereof, such as static random access memory (SRAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), read-only memory (ROM), magnetic storage, flash memory, magnetic disk, or optical disk.

[0119] Power supply component 506 provides power to various components of device 500. Power supply component 506 may include a power management system, one or more power supplies, and other components associated with generating, managing, and distributing power to device 500.

[0120] Multimedia component 508 includes a screen that provides an output interface between the device 500 and the user. In some embodiments, the screen may include a liquid crystal display (LCD) and a touch panel (TP). If the screen includes a touch panel, the screen may be implemented as a touchscreen to receive input signals from the user. The touch panel includes one or more touch sensors to sense touches, swipes, and gestures on the touch panel. The touch sensors may sense not only the boundaries of the touch or swipe action but also the duration and pressure associated with the touch or swipe operation. In some embodiments, multimedia component 508 includes a front-facing camera and / or a rear-facing camera. When the device 500 is in an operating mode, such as a shooting mode or a video mode, the front-facing camera and / or the rear-facing camera may receive external multimedia data. Each front-facing camera and rear-facing camera may be a fixed optical lens system or have focal length and optical zoom capabilities.

[0121] Audio component 510 is configured to output and / or input audio signals. For example, audio component 510 includes a microphone (MIC) configured to receive external audio signals when device 500 is in an operating mode, such as call mode, recording mode, and voice recognition mode. The received audio signals may be further stored in memory 504 or transmitted via communication component 516. In some embodiments, audio component 510 also includes a speaker for outputting audio signals.

[0122] I / O interface 512 provides an interface between processing component 502 and peripheral interface modules, such as keyboards, click wheels, buttons, etc. These buttons may include, but are not limited to, home buttons, volume buttons, power buttons, and lock buttons.

[0123] Sensor assembly 514 includes one or more sensors for providing status assessments of various aspects of device 500. For example, sensor assembly 514 may detect the on / off state of device 500, the relative positioning of components such as the display and keypad of device 500, changes in the position of device 500 or its components, the presence or absence of user contact with device 500, the orientation or acceleration / deceleration of device 500, and temperature changes of device 500. Sensor assembly 514 may include a proximity sensor configured to detect the presence of nearby objects without any physical contact. Sensor assembly 514 may include a voice sensor configured to acquire voice data. Sensor assembly 514 may also include a light sensor, such as a CMOS or CCD image sensor, for use in imaging applications. In some embodiments, sensor assembly 514 may also include a heart rate sensor, blood pressure sensor, acceleration sensor, magnetic sensor, pressure sensor, or temperature sensor.

[0124] Communication component 516 is configured to facilitate wired or wireless communication between device 500 and other devices. Device 500 can access wireless networks based on communication standards, such as WiFi, 3G, 4G, 5G, other communication standards, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments of this disclosure, communication component 516 receives broadcast signals or broadcast-related information from an external broadcast management system via a broadcast channel. In some embodiments of this disclosure, communication component 516 further includes a near-field communication (NFC) module to facilitate short-range communication. For example, the NFC module may be implemented based on radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, Infrared Data Association (IrDA) technology, ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, Bluetooth (BT) technology, and other technologies.

[0125] In some embodiments of this disclosure, device 500 may be implemented by one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, or other electronic components to perform the methods described above.

[0126] In some embodiments of this disclosure, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions is also provided, such as a memory 504 including instructions that can be executed by a processor 518 of device 500 to perform the above-described method. For example, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium may be a ROM, random access memory (RAM), CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, and optical data storage device, etc.

[0127] A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, when the instructions in the storage medium are executed by the processor of a mobile terminal, enables the mobile terminal to perform the communication method of the above embodiments.

[0128] In some embodiments of this disclosure, a chip is also provided, including an interface circuit and a processing circuit coupled to each other. The interface circuit is used to input or output signals, and the processing circuit is used to implement the communication method of the above embodiments.

[0129] Other embodiments of this disclosure will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this disclosure that follow the general principles of this disclosure and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The specification and embodiments are to be considered exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of this disclosure are indicated by the following claims.

[0130] It should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the precise structures described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of this disclosure is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, include: Detect whether downlink retransmission events occur during data transmission; In response to the absence of the downlink retransmission event and the current signal quality meeting the preset signal conditions, the delay function of the packet data aggregation protocol reordering timer is disabled; In response to the detection of the downlink retransmission event, the timing duration of the packet data aggregation protocol reordering timer is determined based on the retransmission processing duration and the configured duration of the packet data aggregation protocol reordering timer.

2. The communication method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of determining the timing duration of the packet data aggregation protocol reordering timer based on the retransmission processing duration and the configured duration of the packet data aggregation protocol reordering timer includes: If the retransmission processing duration is less than the configured duration, then the retransmission processing duration shall be used as the timing duration of the packet data aggregation protocol reordering timer. If the retransmission processing duration is greater than or equal to the configured duration, then the configured duration is used as the timing duration of the packet data aggregation protocol reordering timer.

3. The communication method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Also includes: Get the maximum number of retransmissions for a hybrid automatic repeat request and the round-trip time for each retransmission; The retransmission processing time is determined based on the maximum number of retransmissions and the round-trip delay of each retransmission.

4. The communication method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The delay function for disabling the packet data aggregation protocol reordering timer includes at least one of the following: Set the duration of the packet data aggregation protocol reordering timer to zero; Set the timing duration of the packet data aggregation protocol reordering timer to the minimum value allowed by the protocol; Turn off the packet data aggregation protocol reordering timer; Skip the process of starting the packet data aggregation protocol reordering timer.

5. The communication method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: The received downlink reference signal is measured to obtain the current signal quality parameter value; the current signal quality parameter value includes at least one of the following: reference signal received power value, signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio, and channel quality indication value; If at least one of the following conditions is met: the reference signal received power value is greater than a first preset threshold, the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio is greater than a second preset threshold, and the channel quality indication value is greater than a third preset threshold, then the current signal quality is determined to meet the preset signal conditions.

6. The communication method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The detection of whether a downlink retransmission event exists during data transmission includes: Listen to downlink scheduling signaling on the physical downlink control channel; Based on the downlink scheduling signaling, it is determined that the current transmission block is the first transmission, and it is determined that there is no downlink retransmission event. Based on the downlink scheduling signaling, it is determined that the current transmission block is a retransmission, and the existence of the downlink retransmission event is confirmed.

7. The communication method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: After detecting the downlink retransmission event, the configuration duration of the packet data aggregation protocol reordering timer is adjusted according to the frequency of occurrence of the downlink retransmission event.

8. The communication method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The step of adjusting the configuration duration of the packet data aggregation protocol reordering timer based on the occurrence frequency of the downlink retransmission event includes: If the occurrence frequency is higher than the preset frequency threshold, the configuration duration of the packet data aggregation protocol reordering timer is increased; If the occurrence frequency is lower than the preset frequency threshold, the configuration duration of the packet data aggregation protocol reordering timer is reduced.

9. The communication method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method is applied to data transmission scenarios for real-time services.

10. A communication device, characterized in that, include: The detection module is configured to detect whether downlink retransmission events exist during data transmission; The duration determination module is configured to disable the delay function of the packet data aggregation protocol reordering timer in response to the absence of the downlink retransmission event and the current signal quality meeting the preset signal conditions; and to determine the timing duration of the packet data aggregation protocol reordering timer in response to the detection of the downlink retransmission event, based on the retransmission processing duration and the configured duration of the packet data aggregation protocol reordering timer.

11. The communication device according to claim 10, characterized in that, The duration determination module is also configured to: If the retransmission processing duration is less than the configured duration, then the retransmission processing duration shall be used as the timing duration of the packet data aggregation protocol reordering timer. If the retransmission processing duration is greater than or equal to the configured duration, then the configured duration is used as the timing duration of the packet data aggregation protocol reordering timer.

12. An electronic device, characterized in that, include: processor; Memory used to store processor-executable instructions; The processor is configured to implement the steps of the communication method according to any one of claims 1-9.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, wherein instructions in the storage medium, when executed by a processor of an electronic device, enable the electronic device to perform the steps of the communication method of any one of claims 1-9.

14. A chip, characterized in that, The chip includes an interface circuit and a processing circuit that are coupled to each other. The interface circuit is used to input or output signals, and the processing circuit is used to implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 9.

15. A computer program product, comprising a computer program, characterized in that, When the computer program is executed by a processor, it implements the steps of the communication method according to any one of claims 1-9.

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