Communication method and device

Abstract

To provide a communication method and a device that are applied to a field of a communications technique.SOLUTION: A method includes sending, by a first network device, configuration information of first communication resources to a first terminal device. The first terminal device may configure the first communication resources based on the received configuration information. The first terminal device may listen to a paging message that is broadcast by the first network device on the first communication resources and that is used to page a second terminal device, so that the first terminal device in a connected state can listen to the paging message relative to the second terminal device, and the second terminal device can establish a communication connection to the first network device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communication technologies, and more particularly to communication methods and devices. [Background technology]

[0002] With the development and improvement of communication technology, a device may provide communication services to another device. For example, in a user equipment to network (U2N) layer 2 (L2) relay system architecture, a relay terminal (relay user equipment, relay UE) may listen to a paging message of a remote terminal (remote user equipment, remote UE), so that after receiving the paging message, the remote terminal can establish a connection to a base station through the relay terminal and perform data transmission or voice transmission.

[0003] Generally, when a relay terminal is in an idle mode (IDLE) or inactive state (referred to as an INACTIVE or third state), the relay terminal may listen for a paging message broadcast by a base station on an initial bandwidth part (BWP). Further, the relay terminal decodes the remote terminal's identifier (ID) in the paging message, and the relay terminal sends the paging message to the remote terminal.

[0004] However, when the relay terminal is in a connected mode (CONNECTED), the base station activates an active BWP (active BWP) for the relay terminal, and the active BWP cannot guarantee that the relay terminal listens to the paging message broadcast by the base station on the initial BWP, so that the relay terminal cannot meet the requirement of monitoring the paging message for the remote terminal. Summary of the Invention

[0005]

[0009] An embodiment of the present application provides a communication method and apparatus. A first network device sends configuration information of a first communication resource to a first terminal device. The first terminal device can configure the first communication resource based on the received configuration information. In this way, the first terminal device can listen to a paging message broadcast by the first network device on the first communication resource and used to page a second terminal device, so that the first terminal device can listen to the paging message for the second terminal device, and the second terminal device can establish a communication connection to the first network device.

[0006] According to a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method. The communication method may be applied to a first network device or may be applied to a component (e.g., a chip, a chip system, or a processor) of the first network device. The method includes: sending configuration information of a first communication resource to a first terminal device, where the first terminal device provides a relay service to a second terminal device, and the first communication resource is used for communication between the first terminal device and the first network device in a connected state; and broadcasting a paging message used to page the second terminal device through the first communication resource. In this way, the first network device can accurately page the second terminal device through the paging message, and as a result, the first network device establishes a communication connection to the second terminal device.

[0007] In a possible implementation, the first communication resource includes a second communication resource, and the step of broadcasting a paging message used to page the second terminal device over the first communication resource includes broadcasting the paging message over the second communication resource, the second communication resource being used by the terminal device in a disconnected state to receive data. In this way, the first terminal device can receive the paging message based on the second communication resource to satisfy the requirement of the first terminal device to monitor paging messages for the second terminal device.

[0008] In a possible implementation, the first terminal device is a relay terminal device, and the second terminal device is a remote terminal device. In this way, the first terminal device can provide relay services to the second terminal device, so that the communication of the second terminal device is not limited by the area.

[0009] In a possible implementation, the first communication resource is an active bandwidth portion BWP and the second communication resource is an initial bandwidth portion BWP.

[0010] In a possible implementation, the first information is received from a first terminal device, and the first information indicates that a sidelink connection exists between the first terminal device and a second terminal device.

[0011] In a possible implementation, the first information includes identifier information of the second terminal device.

[0012] In a possible implementation, the paging message includes a paging message associated with identifier information of the second terminal device.

[0013] In a possible implementation, the identifier information of the second terminal device includes a 5G s-temporary mobile subscriber identity (5G-S-TMSI) or a full inactive radio network temporary identifier (full I-RNTI).

[0014] In a possible implementation, the disconnected state includes an idle state or a dormant state.

[0015] In a possible implementation, the identifier information of the second terminal device is sent to a second network device, the second network device being a target network device for handover of the first terminal device.

[0016] According to a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method. The communication method may be applied to a first terminal device or to a component (e.g., a chip, a chip system, or a processor) of the first terminal device. The method includes the steps of receiving configuration information of a first communication resource from a first network device, where the first terminal device provides a relay service to a second terminal device, and the first communication resource is used for communication between the first terminal device in a connected state and the first network device; configuring the first communication resource based on the configuration information; and receiving a paging message based on the first communication resource, where the paging message is used to page the second terminal device. In this way, the first terminal device in the connected state can receive the paging message of the second terminal device based on the first communication resource, so that the first terminal device can satisfy the requirement to monitor the paging message for the second terminal device, and the second terminal device can establish a communication connection to the first network device.

[0017] In a possible implementation, the first communication resource includes a second communication resource, and receiving the paging message based on the first communication resource includes receiving the paging message based on the second communication resource, the second communication resource being used by the terminal device in a disconnected state to receive data. In this way, the second terminal device can establish a communication connection to the first network device based on the paging message.

[0018] In a possible implementation, the first terminal device is a relay terminal device, and the second terminal device is a remote terminal device. In this way, the first terminal device can provide relay services to the second terminal device, so that the communication of the second terminal device is not limited by the area.

[0019] In a possible implementation, the first communication resource is an active bandwidth portion BWP and the second communication resource is an initial bandwidth portion BWP.

[0020] In a possible implementation, the method further includes a step of sending first information to the first network device, the first information indicating that a sidelink connection exists between the first terminal device and the second terminal device.

[0021] In a possible implementation, the first information is a dedicated information element.

[0022] In a possible implementation, the first information includes identifier information of the second terminal device.

[0023] In a possible implementation, the paging message includes a paging message associated with identifier information of the second terminal device.

[0024] In a possible implementation, the identifier information of the second terminal device includes a 5G s Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity 5G-S-TMSI or a full Inactive Radio Network Temporary Identifier full I-RNTI.

[0025] In a possible implementation, the method further includes a step of sending a paging message to the second terminal device or a step of sending second display information to the second terminal device, the second display information indicating that the second terminal device is being paged.

[0026] In a possible implementation, the disconnected state includes an idle state or a dormant state.

[0027] In a possible implementation, before the step of sending the first information to the first network device, the method further includes a step of establishing a sidelink connection to the second terminal device.

[0028] According to a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device. The communication device may be a first network device, or may be a chip or chip system in the first network device. The communication device may include a communication unit. If the communication device is the first network device, the communication unit may be a communication interface or interface circuit. The communication device may further include a storage unit, which may be a memory. The storage unit is configured to store instructions, so that the first network device can implement the communication method described in the first aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect. If the communication device is a chip or chip system in the first network device, the communication unit may be a communication interface (e.g., an input / output interface, a pin, or a circuit), so that the first network device can implement the communication method described in the first aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect. The storage unit may be a storage unit in the chip (eg, a register or cache) or may be a storage unit external to the chip in the first network device (eg, a read-only memory or a random access memory).

[0029] For example, the communication unit is configured to send configuration information of a first communication resource to a first terminal device, the first terminal device provides a relay service to a second terminal device, the first communication resource is used for communication between the first terminal device and a first network device in a connected state, and the communication unit is configured to broadcast a paging message used to page the second terminal device over the first communication resource.

[0030] In a possible implementation, the first communication resource includes a second communication resource, and the communication unit is specifically configured to broadcast a paging message through the second communication resource, and the second communication resource is used by the terminal device in a disconnected state to receive data.

[0031] In a possible implementation, the first terminal device is a relay terminal device and the second terminal device is a remote terminal device.

[0032] In a possible implementation, the first communication resource is an active bandwidth portion BWP and the second communication resource is an initial bandwidth portion BWP.

[0033] In a possible implementation, the communication unit is particularly configured to receive first information from a first terminal device, the first information indicating that a sidelink connection exists between the first terminal device and a second terminal device.

[0034] In a possible implementation, the first information is a dedicated information element.

[0035] In a possible implementation, the first information includes identifier information of the second terminal device.

[0036] In a possible implementation, the paging message includes a paging message associated with identifier information of the second terminal device.

[0037] In a possible implementation, the identifier information of the second terminal device includes a 5G s Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity 5G-S-TMSI or a full Inactive Radio Network Temporary Identifier full I-RNTI.

[0038] In a possible implementation, the disconnected state includes an idle state or a dormant state.

[0039] In a possible implementation, the communication unit is specifically configured to send identifier information of the second terminal device to a second network device, the second network device being a target network device for handover of the first terminal device.

[0040] According to a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device. The communication device may be a first terminal device or a chip or chip system in the first terminal device. The communication device may include a processing unit and a communication unit. If the communication device is a network device, the processing unit may be a processor, and the communication unit may be a communication interface or interface circuit. The communication device may further include a storage unit, and the storage unit may be a memory. The storage unit is configured to store instructions, and the processing unit executes the instructions stored in the storage unit, so that the first terminal device can implement the communication method described in the second aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the second aspect. If the communication device is a chip or chip system in the first terminal device, the processing unit may be a processor, and the communication unit may be a communication interface. For example, the communication interface may be an input / output interface, a pin, or a circuit. The processing unit executes instructions stored in the storage unit, so that the first terminal device can implement the communication method described in the second aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the second aspect. The storage unit may be a storage unit in the chip (e.g., a register or a cache) or may be a storage unit external to the chip in the first terminal device (e.g., a read-only memory or a random access memory).

[0041] For example, the communication unit is configured to receive configuration information of a first communication resource from a first network device, the first terminal device provides a relay service to a second terminal device, the first communication resource is used for communication between the first terminal device and the first network device in a connected state, the processing unit is configured to configure the first communication resource based on the configuration information, and the communication unit is configured to receive a paging message based on the first communication resource, the paging message is used to page the second terminal device.

[0042] In a possible implementation, the first communication resource includes a second communication resource, and the communication unit is specifically configured to receive a paging message based on the second communication resource, and the second communication resource is used by the terminal device in a disconnected state to receive data.

[0043] In a possible implementation, the first terminal device is a relay terminal device and the second terminal device is a remote terminal device.

[0044] In a possible implementation, the first communication resource is an active bandwidth portion BWP and the second communication resource is an initial bandwidth portion BWP.

[0045] In a possible implementation, the communication unit is specifically configured to send first information to the first network device, the first information indicating that a sidelink connection exists between the first terminal device and the second terminal device.

[0046] In a possible implementation, the first information is a dedicated information element.

[0047] In a possible implementation, the first information includes identifier information of the second terminal device.

[0048] In a possible implementation, the paging message includes a paging message associated with identifier information of the second terminal device.

[0049] In a possible implementation, the identifier information of the second terminal device includes a 5G s Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity 5G-S-TMSI or a full Inactive Radio Network Temporary Identifier full I-RNTI.

[0050] In a possible implementation, the communication unit is specifically configured to send a paging message to the second terminal device, or the communication unit is specifically configured to send second indication information to the second terminal device, the second indication information indicating that the second terminal device is being paged.

[0051] In a possible implementation, the disconnected state includes an idle state or a dormant state.

[0052] In a possible implementation, the processing unit is specifically configured to establish a sidelink connection to the second terminal device.

[0053] According to a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program or instructions, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to perform the communication method described in any one of the implementations of the first and second aspects.

[0054] According to a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product including instructions, which, when executed on a computer, enable the computer to perform the communication method described in any one of the implementations of the first and second aspects.

[0055] According to a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, the system including any one or more of the communication devices described in the third aspect and any of the possible implementations of the third aspect, and the communication devices described in the fourth aspect and any of the possible implementations of the fourth aspect.

[0056] According to an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, the device including a processor and a storage medium, the storage medium storing instructions, the instructions, when executed by the processor, implementing the communication method described in any of the first and second aspects.

[0057] According to a ninth aspect, the present application provides a chip or chip system. The chip or chip system includes at least one processor and a communication interface, and the communication interface and the at least one processor are interconnected by a line. The at least one processor is configured to execute a computer program or instructions to perform the communication method described in any one of the implementations of the first and second aspects. The communication interface in the chip may be an input / output interface, a pin, a circuit, etc.

[0058] In a possible implementation, the chip or chip system described above in this application further includes at least one memory, which stores instructions. The memory may be a storage unit within the chip, such as a register or cache, or may be a storage unit of the chip (e.g., a read-only memory or a random access memory).

[0059] It should be understood that the second to ninth aspects of the present application correspond to the technical solutions of the first aspect of the present application, and the beneficial effects achieved by the aspects and the corresponding feasible implementations are similar, and the details will not be described again. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0060] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of device to device (D2D) communication according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of D2D discovery according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a user plane radio protocol stack for L2 evolved U2N relay according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a control plane radio protocol stack for L2 evolved U2N relay according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a U2N relay scenario according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 6] 4 is a schematic flowchart of monitoring a paging message by a relay UE according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 7] 4 is a schematic flowchart of monitoring a paging message by a relay UE according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the frequency domain range of the initial BWP and the active BWP according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 9] 1 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 10] 1 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 11] 1 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 12] 1 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 13] 1 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 14] 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 15] 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a chip according to an embodiment of the present application; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0061] In order to clearly describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, terms such as "first" and "second" are used to distinguish between the same or similar items that have essentially the same functions and effects in the embodiments of the present application. For example, the terms "first information" and "second information" are only used to distinguish between different pieces of information, and the sequence of the first information and the second information is not limited. Those skilled in the art can understand that the terms "first" and "second" do not limit the quantity and execution sequence, and the terms "first" and "second" do not necessarily mean different things.

[0062] It should be noted that in the embodiments of the present application, terms such as "example" or "for example" are used to express an example, instance, or illustration. Any embodiment or design scheme described in the present application as an "example" or "for example" should not be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or design schemes. Specifically, the use of the term "example" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concept in a concrete manner.

[0063] In the embodiments of the present application, "at least one" refers to one or more, and "multiple" refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects and indicates that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B may indicate that only A is present, that both A and B are present, and that only B is present, and A and B may be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the associated objects are in an OR relationship. "At least one of" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of a single item or multiple items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c may represent a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, and c may be one or more.

[0064] The 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) international standardization organization introduced D2D technology in its long term evolution (LTE) release (Release 12, R12) to support direct communication between two terminal devices.

[0065] R12 D2D technology is aimed at public safety, including D2D communication and D2D discovery. R12 D2D communication is aimed at public safety and can support one-to-many D2D communication. R12 D2D discovery supports simple commercial broadcasting (e.g., advertising and broadcasting).

[0066] For example, Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of D2D communication according to one embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 1, within the public safety group range, User 1 may share data or have interactive game interactions with User 2, User 3, and / or User 4 through D2D communication functions.

[0067] For example, Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of D2D discovery according to one embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 2, within the communication coverage area of a base station, a user equipment (UE) (also referred to as a terminal device or terminal) in a restaurant can send out advertisement or discount information to UEs in a nearby area through the D2D discovery function.

[0068] Furthermore, the 3GPP International Standards Organization is enhancing D2D technology in the LTE release (Release 13, R13) so that D2D technology can support one-to-one communication. To extend network coverage, D2D technology may also support U2N relay scenarios.

[0069] Furthermore, the 3GPP International Standards Organization has mentioned U2N relaying for wearable devices in the LTE release (Release 15, R15), and 3GPP R15 may support L2 relaying.

[0070] For example, Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a user plane radio protocol stack for layer 2 evolved U2N relay according to one embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 3, a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) is transparently transmitted by the L2 relay UE, and the L2 relay UE can assist the remote UE in establishing a radio resource control (RRC) connection to the base station.

[0071] In a possible implementation, the user plane radio protocol stack for the remote UE includes an internet protocol (IP) layer, a PDCP layer, a radio link control (RLC) layer, a media access control (MAC) layer, and a physical (PHY) layer.

[0072] In a possible implementation, the user plane radio protocol stack for an L2 relay UE includes an RLC layer, a MAC layer, a PHY layer, and an adaptation layer.

[0073] In a possible implementation, the user plane radio protocol stack for a base station (eNB) includes a PDCP layer, an adaptation layer, an RLC layer, a MAC layer, a PHY layer, a general packet radio service tunneling protocol user (GTP-U) layer, a user datagram protocol (UDP) / IP layer, and layer 1 (L1) / L2.

[0074] The adaptation layer is located in the LTE / new radio (NR) of the relay UE and the base station, and its purpose is to carry the remote UE's identifier and its signaling radio bearer (SRB) / data radio bearer (DRB) identifier, or to carry the remote UE's identifier and the identifier of the SL / PC5 interface between the relay UE and the remote UE during RRC message transmission or data transmission procedures.

[0075] In a possible implementation, a user plane radio protocol stack for a core network (CN) includes an IP layer, a GTP-U layer, a UDP / IP layer, and L1 / L2.

[0076] In a possible implementation, the remote UE communicates with the relay UE via a PC5 interface, and the relay UE communicates with the base station via a Uu interface. The Uu interface may be used for uplink and downlink. The base station communicates with the CN via an S1-U / S5 / S8 interface. Specifically, the S1-U / S5 / S8 interface may be used for long-distance communication between the CN and the remote UE.

[0077] For example, Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a control plane radio protocol stack for layer 2 evolved U2N relay according to one embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 4, the PDCP layer and the RRC layer are transparently transmitted by the relay UE. The remote UE can establish an RRC connection to the base station with the assistance of the relay UE.

[0078] In a possible implementation, the control plane radio protocol stack for the remote UE includes a non-access stratum (NAS), an RRC layer, a PDCP layer, an RLC layer, a MAC layer, and a PHY layer.

[0079] In a possible implementation, the control plane radio protocol stack for an L2 relay UE includes an RLC layer, a MAC layer, a PHY layer, and an adaptation layer.

[0080] The adaptation layer is located in the LTE / new radio (NR) of the relay UE and the base station, and its purpose is to carry the remote UE's identifier and its signaling radio bearer (SRB) / data radio bearer (DRB) identifier, or to carry the remote UE's identifier and the identifier of the SL / PC5 interface between the relay UE and the remote UE during RRC message transmission or data transmission procedures.

[0081] In a possible implementation, the control plane radio protocol stack for a base station (eNB) includes an RRC layer, a PDCP layer, an adaptation layer, an RLC layer, a MAC layer, a PHY layer, an S1 application protocol (S1-AP) layer, a Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) layer, an IP layer, and L1 / L2.

[0082] In a possible implementation, a control plane radio protocol stack for a core network (CN) includes a NAS layer, an S1-AP layer, an SCTP layer, an IP layer, and L1 / L2.

[0083] In a possible implementation, the remote UE communicates with the relay UE via a PC5 interface, and the relay UE communicates with the base station via a Uu interface, which can be used for uplink and downlink. The base station communicates with the CN via an S1-MME interface, which is used to transmit session management (SM) and mobility management (MM) information.

[0084] As communication technologies are gradually improved and developed, D2D communication and cooperative communication between UEs are being introduced into the 5th generation new radio (5G NR) technology in the 3GPP standard. In addition to being used for public safety, D2D communication and cooperative communication between UEs in 5G NR technology are being considered to improve network system performance. Network system performance may include network coverage and capacity.

[0085] For example, Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a U2N relay scenario according to one embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 5, the scenario may include a base station, a relay UE, and a remote UE. The base station and the relay UE may communicate in any of the possible manners described above, and the relay UE and the remote UE may communicate via a sidelink (SL), etc.

[0086] In an uplink scenario, when a remote UE needs to send data to the base station, the remote UE may send the data to the relay UE, and the relay UE forwards the data received from the remote UE to the base station.

[0087] In a downlink scenario, when the base station needs to send data to the remote UE, the base station may send the data to the relay UE, and the relay UE forwards the data received from the base station to the remote UE.

[0088] It can be understood that even if the remote UE is not within the network coverage area of the base station, the network coverage area of the base station can be extended to the area of the remote UE due to cooperative communication of the relay UE to extend the network coverage area.

[0089] In a possible case, when the remote UE is in an idle or dormant state, the connection between the remote UE and the base station is disconnected, and the base station needs to send data or voice to the remote UE, the base station may find the remote UE through a paging message. After the remote UE receives the paging message, the remote UE may establish a connection to the base station with the assistance of a relay UE to perform data or voice transmission. Alternatively, after the remote UE receives the paging message, the remote UE may trigger an initial connection establishment based on the paging message.

[0090] In a U2N L2 relay communication scenario, the method of paging by a base station over the Uu interface may include CN paging and radio access network (RAN) paging.

[0091] In a possible approach, when the UE is in idle state, the paging initiated by the CN to the UE is CN paging, and the CN paging is based on a tracking area (TA).

[0092] For example, CN paging is initiated by an access and mobility management function (AMF) network element, which sends a paging message to a base station included in a tracking area identity (TAI) list. The base station finds a cell broadcast paging message associated with the base station in the TAI list, and a UE listening to the paging message checks whether the paging message contains a base station identifier (ID). If the UE has the UE ID, the UE initiates an RRC establishment request to connect to the base station. If the UE does not have the UE ID, the UE ignores the paging request.

[0093] In another possible approach, when the UE is in a dormant state, the paging initiated by the base station side is RAN paging, and the RAN paging is performed based on the RAN.

[0094] For example, RAN paging is initiated by the last serving base station before the UE switches from a connected state to a dormant state, and the UE switched to the dormant state is not recognized by the AMF network element. On the AMF network element side, the UE is still in a connected state, and the UE continues to send data to the last serving base station. The last serving base station cannot find the UE and sends a paging message to a base station included in a radio access network area code (RANAC) list, and the base station finds a cell broadcast paging message related to a base station in its RAN paging area. The UE listening to the paging message checks whether the paging message contains the base station ID. If the UE has the UE ID, the UE initiates an RRC establishment request to connect to the base station. If the UE does not have the UE ID, the UE ignores the paging request.

[0095] In this embodiment of the present application, paging in Uu technology in the time domain can be understood as a UE in idle or dormant state choosing to "wake up" at an appropriate time period to receive a paging message. The frequency domain resource occupied by the paging message is identified by a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) scrambled by a paging radio network temporary identity (P-RNTI).

[0096] In the time domain, the UE attempts to receive a paging message at a paging occasion (PO) of a paging frame (PF) in a paging cycle. The UE stays in a sleep state for another time period to reduce the UE's power consumption and extend the UE's battery life. However, the base station needs to send a paging message over the air interface at this moment so that the UE can receive the paging message at this moment.

[0097] For example, Table 1 shows the name of each parameter and the content described by each parameter. As shown in Table 1, the system frame number (SFN) indicates the current frame number to which data is sent. T is the discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle, and T may be the minimum value between a specific DRX (also referred to as a paging cycle) and a default DRX. If the UE is not configured with a specific DRX, it can use the default DRX. N is the number of PFs included in T, Ns is the number of POs included in each PF, PF_offset is the offset of the PF, and UE_ID is the result of the 5G s-temporary mobile subscriber identity (5G-S-TMSI) and a modulo 1024 operation.

[0098] [Table 1]

[0099] In a possible approach, PF is the system frame, and PF satisfies the following equation: (SFN+PF_offset) mod T=(T div N)*(UE_ID mod N)

[0100] In a possible approach, PO is indicated through an index i_s, where i_s satisfies the following equation: i_s=floor(UE_ID / N) mod Ns

[0101] mod represents the modulo operation and div represents the exact division operation.

[0102] In a possible approach, for CN paging, a specific DRX may be configured through NAS signaling, and a default DRX may be configured through an information element (IE) in system information block type 1 (SIB1), which is the default paging DRX in the paging control channel (PCCH) configuration.

[0103] In a possible approach, in case of RAN paging, a specific DRX may be configured through RRC release signaling.

[0104] It can be understood that the base station learns the ID of the UE, and the UE learns the DRX period, N, Ns, and PF_offset of the serving cell in which the UE is located. In this way, both the base station and the UE can learn the PF / PO. Therefore, the base station can broadcast a paging message at the PF / PO, and the UE can listen for the paging message at the PF / PO.

[0105] In a possible approach, the remote UE may listen for paging messages on the PO of the PF of the remote UE. For example, Figure 6 is a schematic flowchart of monitoring for paging messages by a relay UE according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0106] S601: A mobility management entity (MME) sends a paging message of a remote UE to a base station through an S1AP interface.

[0107] S602: The base station broadcasts a paging message for the remote UE over the air interface through the PF / PO of the remote UE.

[0108] S603: The relay UE listens for a paging message of the remote UE in the PF / PO of the remote UE, and sends a paging message to the remote UE through the PC5 interface if it determines that the remote UE is being paged.

[0109] In this embodiment of the present application, the relay UE receives a paging message sent by the base station, the remote UE informs the relay UE of its ID, and the relay UE learns the PF / PO of the remote UE. Therefore, the relay UE can listen to the paging message of the remote UE on the PF / PO of the remote UE, the relay UE decodes the paging message and identifies the ID of the remote UE, and the relay UE and the remote UE establish a paging channel on the short-range link. The relay UE forwards the paging message to the remote UE by using the paging channel through the PC5 interface.

[0110] In a possible approach, the relay UE may monitor the paging message in the PO of the PF of the relay UE. For example, Figure 7 is a schematic flowchart of monitoring the paging message by the relay UE according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0111] S701: The MME sends a paging message for a remote UE to the base station through the S1AP interface.

[0112] S702: The base station broadcasts a paging message of the remote UE on the air interface through the PF / PO of the relay UE.

[0113] S703: The relay UE listens to the paging message of the remote UE in the PF / PO of the relay UE, and sends a paging message to the remote UE through the PC5 interface if it determines that the remote UE is being paged.

[0114] In a possible approach, the relay UE receives a paging message sent by the base station, the remote UE informs the relay UE of its ID, and the CN learns the connection relationship between the remote UE and the relay UE. The CN instructs the base station to broadcast the paging message of the remote UE on the PF / PO of the relay UE, so that the relay UE can listen to the paging message of the remote UE on the PF / PO of the relay UE, and the relay UE decodes the paging message and identifies the ID of the remote UE. The relay UE and the remote UE establish a paging channel on a short-range link, and the relay UE forwards the paging message to the remote UE by using the paging channel through the PC5 interface.

[0115] In this embodiment of the present application, paging in Uu technology in the frequency domain can be understood as a base station broadcasting paging messages and short messages on an initial bandwidth part (initial BWP) and broadcasting short messages in another dedicated BWP (e.g., active BWP).

[0116] For example, an initial BWP is activated for UEs in idle or dormant states. A base station may broadcast paging messages on the initial BWP, and UEs may listen to paging messages and short messages on the initial BWP to ensure that UEs in idle or dormant states are paged accurately. Another dedicated bandwidth part (BWP) is activated for UEs in connected states, and the UEs may listen to short messages but cannot listen to paging messages.

[0117] In a possible case, in a process in which a relay UE assists a remote UE in establishing a connection to a base station, an active BWP is activated for the relay UE in a connected state, and the frequency domain range of the active BWP is different from the frequency domain range of the initial BWP, so that the relay UE cannot listen to the paging message of the remote UE.

[0118] For example, Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the frequency domain ranges of the initial BWP and the active BWP according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 8, a base station (gNB) broadcasts a paging message on the initial BWP. A relay UE in a connected state is activated in the active BWP, and the frequency domain range of the initial BWP is different from the frequency domain range of the active BWP. Therefore, the relay UE in a connected state cannot listen to the paging message and cannot meet the requirement of monitoring the paging message for the remote UE.

[0119] The technique of a relay UE listening to a remote UE's paging message on a PF / PO can solve the paging problem in the time domain, but it cannot solve the paging problem in the frequency domain. The base station broadcasts the paging message on the initial BWP. As a result, only a relay UE in an idle or dormant state can listen to a remote UE's paging message, and a relay UE in a connected state cannot listen to a remote UE's paging message.

[0120] Based on this, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method and apparatus. A first network device sends configuration information of a first communication resource to a first terminal device. The first terminal device can configure the first communication resource based on the received configuration information. The first terminal device can listen to a paging message broadcast by the first network device on the first communication resource, so that the first terminal device in a connected state can listen to the paging message for a second terminal device, and the second terminal device can establish a communication connection to the first network device.

[0121] The method in the embodiment of the present application may be applied to a 5G NR U2N relay communication scenario, or may be applied to an LTE U2N relay communication scenario. Alternatively, the method may be applied to a communication scenario in which one device provides service to another device.

[0122] The first network device described in the embodiments of the present application may be an access network device connected to an evolved packet core (EPC) or a 5G generation core (NGC). For example, the first network device may be an eNB, a gNB, or an eLTE eNB.

[0123] The first terminal device described in the embodiments of the present application may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a portable notebook computer, a virtual / hybrid / augmented reality device, a navigation device, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld device with satellite communication capabilities, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, a terminal device in a 5G network, a future evolved public land mobile network (PLMN), or another future communication system, etc.

[0124] The following describes in detail how the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application solve the aforementioned technical problems through specific embodiments. The following specific embodiments may be implemented independently or combined with each other. The same or similar concepts or processes may not be described again in some embodiments.

[0125] 9 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication method may include the following steps:

[0126] S901: A first network device sends configuration information of a first communication resource to a first terminal device.

[0127] In this embodiment of the present application, the first communication resource is used for communication between the first terminal device and the first network device in a connected state.

[0128] For example, a first terminal device may receive a paging message from a first network device through a first communication resource, so that the first terminal device can assist a second terminal device in establishing a connection to the first network device. The first terminal device may be a relay terminal device, and the second terminal device may be a remote terminal device, and the first terminal device may be configured to provide a relay service for the second terminal device. The relay service may be understood as the first terminal device receiving data from the second terminal device and forwarding the data to the first network device, so that the second terminal device can send data to the first network device, and / or the first terminal device receiving data from the first network device and forwarding the data to the second terminal device, so that the first network device can send data to the second terminal device. Alternatively, the base station may send data to the second terminal device based on the first terminal device, so that the first network device can send data to the second terminal device.

[0129] In a possible implementation, the first communication resource includes a time domain resource or a frequency domain resource, where the time domain resource may include a start time, a duration, or a periodicity, and the frequency domain resource may include a start carrier or a bandwidth size.

[0130] In this embodiment of the present application, the first communication resource may be in the form of a carrier, a BWP, a resource pool, a subchannel, a subcarrier, a frame number, a subframe number, etc. It can be understood that the specific content of the form of the first communication resource may alternatively be set based on an actual application scenario, which is not particularly limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0131] In this embodiment of the present application, the configuration information of the first communication resource is used by the first terminal device to configure the first communication resource, so that the first terminal device in a connected state can communicate based on the first communication resource. For example, the configuration information of the first communication resource may include the frequency domain size of the first communication resource, the starting position of the first communication resource, etc. It can be understood that the specific content of the configuration information of the first communication resource may be set based on actual application scenarios, which is not particularly limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0132] S902: The first terminal device configures a first communication resource based on the configuration information of the first communication resource.

[0133] In this embodiment of the present application, the first terminal device may set the frequency domain range of the first communication resource based on the configuration information of the first communication resource. It can be understood that the specific range of the frequency domain range of the first communication resource may be set based on an actual application scenario. This is not particularly limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0134] S903: The first network device broadcasts a paging message used to page the second terminal device through a first communication resource.

[0135] In this embodiment of the present application, the second terminal device is in a disconnected state, and the disconnected state may include an idle state or a dormant state. For example, when the second terminal device is in a disconnected state and the communication between the second terminal device and the first network device is disconnected, the first network device may find the second terminal device through a paging message, and as a result, the first network device establishes a communication connection to the second terminal device.

[0136] In this embodiment of the present application, the first network device broadcasting a paging message through the first communication resource may be understood as the first network device broadcasting a paging message by using the first communication resource, or the first network device broadcasting a paging message on the first communication resource.

[0137] For example, after the first network device receives a paging message from the core network, or receives a paging message from an anchor base station (anchor gNB), or triggers a paging mechanism for the anchor base station, the first network device broadcasts the paging message in the bandwidth range of the first communication resource, so that the first terminal device in a connected state can continue to listen to the paging message. It can be understood that the specific implementation of the first network device broadcasting the paging message can be configured based on actual application scenarios. This is not particularly limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0138] In this embodiment of the present application, the first network device may broadcast a paging message through a PF / PO in the time domain based on the first communication resource. For example, the first network device calculates the PF / PO of the paging message of the second terminal device in the time domain based on the identifier information of the second terminal device, and the first network device broadcasts the paging message with the PF / PO of the second terminal device. The specific manner in which the first network device calculates the PF / PO is described in the above formula, and the details will not be described again in this specification. As another example, when the first network recognizes the association relationship between the first terminal device and the second terminal device, the first network device may further broadcast the paging message of the second terminal device with the PF / PO of the first terminal device.

[0139] In this embodiment of the present application, the first network device may send a paging message to the first terminal device. For example, the first network device sends an RRC message to the first terminal device, and the RRC message includes a paging message.

[0140] S904: The first terminal device receives a paging message based on the first communication resource.

[0141] In this embodiment of the present application, the first terminal device may receive a paging message based on a first communication resource in a frequency domain. For example, the first terminal device listens for a paging message within a frequency domain range of the first communication resource. It can be understood that the specific implementation of receiving the paging message by the first terminal device may be configured based on an actual application scenario. This is not particularly limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0142] In this embodiment of the present application, the first terminal device may receive a paging message through a PF / PO in the time domain based on the first communication resource. For example, the first terminal device receives identifier information of the second terminal device and calculates the PF / PO of the second terminal device. The first terminal device may listen for the paging message of the second terminal device through the PF / PO of the second terminal device. As another example, if the first network device broadcasts the paging message of the second terminal device through the PF / PO of the first terminal device, the first terminal device may listen for the paging message of the second terminal device through the PF / PO of the first terminal device. If the first terminal device parses the paging message and determines that the second network device is being paged, the first terminal device may broadcast a paging message on the PC5 interface to notify the second terminal device that the second terminal device is being paged. Alternatively, the first terminal device may notify the second terminal device that the second terminal device is being paged through a unicast message on the PC5 interface.

[0143] In this embodiment of the present application, the first terminal device receives a paging message, and the first terminal device can assist the second terminal device in establishing an RRC connection to the first network device, so that the second terminal device and the first network device can communicate with each other successfully.

[0144] In conclusion, the first network device sends configuration information of the first communication resource to the first terminal device, and the first terminal device can activate the first communication resource based on the configuration information. In this way, when the first network device broadcasts a paging message through the first communication resource, the first terminal device can receive the paging message, so that the first terminal device in a connected state meets the requirement of monitoring paging messages for the second terminal device.

[0145] Based on an embodiment corresponding to Figure 9, the first communication resource includes a BWP. Figure 10 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. An example in which the first communication resource is an active BWP is used for description in this embodiment of the present application. For example, a first network device broadcasts a paging message through the active BWP, a first terminal device receives the paging message based on the active BWP, and the first terminal device sends the paging message to a second terminal device. As shown in Figure 10, the method may include the following steps:

[0146] S1001: A first terminal device establishes a sidelink connection to a second terminal device.

[0147] In this embodiment of the present application, the first terminal device may send a message to the second terminal device through a sidelink, so that the second terminal device can communicate with the first network device based on the message.

[0148] S1002: The first terminal device sends a system message of the serving cell to the second terminal device.

[0149] In this embodiment of the present application, the system message may be a public land mobile network (PLMN) ID and a tracking area code (TAC). The system message may be a PLMN ID, a TAC, and a RAN-based notification area code (RNAC), or a PLMN ID and a serving cell ID.

[0150] In an example of the present application, a first terminal device sends a system message of a serving cell to a second terminal device, or the first terminal device periodically broadcasts a system message of a serving cell to the second terminal device, so that the TAI list or RNA list of the second terminal device may include the serving cell of the first terminal device, and the first network may page the second terminal device via the first terminal device.

[0151] For example, if the second terminal device determines that the TAI list or RNA list of the second terminal device does not include the TAC, RNAC, or serving cell ID of the first terminal device, the second terminal device may trigger a tracking area updating (TAU) or a RAN-based notification area update (RNAU), so that the TAI list or RNA list of the second terminal device may include the TAC, RNAC, or serving cell ID of the first terminal device.

[0152] S1003: The first network device receives first information from the first terminal device.

[0153] In this embodiment of the present application, the first information indicates that a sidelink connection exists between the first terminal device and the second terminal device. For example, the first information may be a dedicated information element, which may be understood as dedicated signaling or dedicated information. The dedicated information element may carry information indicating that a sidelink connection exists between the first terminal device and the second terminal device.

[0154] In this embodiment of the present application, the first information may include identifier information of the second terminal device. The first information may include identifier information of the second terminal device in a disconnected state, where the disconnected state includes an idle state or a dormant state.

[0155] For example, the identifier information of the second terminal device may be a 5G Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity or a full inactive radio network temporary identifier (full I-RNTI), or the identifier information of the second terminal device may be another identifier that can be used to identify the second terminal device. In other words, the specific content of the identifier information of the second terminal device may be set based on an actual application scenario, which is not particularly limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0156] S1004: The first network device sends the configuration information of the active BWP to the first terminal device.

[0157] S1005: The first terminal device configures the active BWP based on the configuration information of the active BWP.

[0158] S1006: The first network device broadcasts a paging message used to page the second terminal device through the active BWP.

[0159] S1007: The first terminal device receives a paging message based on the active BWP.

[0160] S1008: The first terminal device sends paging information to the second terminal device.

[0161] In this embodiment of the present application, the first terminal device receives a paging message, and the first terminal device parses the paging message to identify the ID of the second terminal device, so that the first terminal device can send the paging message to the second terminal device through the PC5 interface. In this way, the second terminal device can establish an RRC connection to the first network device based on the paging message, so that the second terminal device and the first network device can communicate with each other normally.

[0162] S1009: The first network device sends identifier information of the second terminal device to the second network device.

[0163] In this embodiment of the present application, the second network device is a target network device for handover of the first terminal device. For example, after the first terminal device camps on a cell covered by the second network device, in a group handover process, the first network device can send identifier information of the second terminal device to the second network device. In this way, the second network device can learn the connection relationship between the first terminal device and the second terminal device.

[0164] In this embodiment of the present application, after a first terminal device camps on a cell covered by a second network device, the first terminal device may establish an RRC connection to the second network device, and the first terminal device may send identifier information of the second terminal device, so that the second network device may learn the connection relationship between the first terminal device and the second terminal device.

[0165] In this embodiment of the present application, for S1004 to S1007, please refer to the content conformance description of S901 to S904, and the details will not be described again here.

[0166] It should be noted that S1001 to S1003, S1008, and S1009 in this embodiment of the present application are optional steps, and one or more of the optional steps may be set based on an actual application scenario. The sequence of the steps in this embodiment of the present application may be adjusted based on an actual application scenario. This is not particularly limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0167] In conclusion, the first network device sends configuration information of the active BWP to the first terminal device, and the first terminal device sets the active BWP based on the configuration information. In this way, the first network device broadcasts a paging message through the active BWP, and the first terminal device can receive the paging message based on the active BWP. The first terminal device can send an information message to the second terminal device, so that the second terminal device establishes an RRC connection to the first network device.

[0168] In a possible implementation, the first terminal device may simultaneously activate multiple BWPs. When the first terminal device listens for a paging message for a second terminal device, the first terminal device may receive the paging message through the method in this embodiment of the present application, and the first terminal device may send the paging message to the second terminal device, so that the second terminal device may establish an RRC connection to the first network device.

[0169] Based on an embodiment corresponding to Figure 9, the first communication resource includes a BWP. Figure 11 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. This embodiment of the present application is described through an example in which the first communication resource is an active BWP. For example, a first network device broadcasts a paging message on the active BWP, a first terminal device receives the paging message on the active BWP, and the first terminal device sends second display information to a second terminal device. As shown in Figure 11, the method may include the following steps:

[0170] S1101: A first terminal device establishes a sidelink connection to a second terminal device.

[0171] S1102: The first terminal device sends a system message of the serving cell to the second terminal device.

[0172] S1103: The first network device receives first information from the first terminal device.

[0173] S1104: The first network device sends the configuration information of the active BWP to the first terminal device.

[0174] S1105: The first terminal device configures the active BWP based on the configuration information of the active BWP.

[0175] S1106: The first network device broadcasts a paging message used to page the second terminal device through the active BWP.

[0176] S1107: The first terminal device receives a paging message based on the active BWP.

[0177] S1108: The first terminal device sends second display information to the second terminal device.

[0178] In this embodiment of the present application, the second indication information indicates that the second terminal device is being paged. In this way, the second terminal device can establish an RRC connection to the first network device based on the second indication information, so that the second network device and the second terminal device can communicate with each other normally.

[0179] S1109: The first network device sends identifier information of the second terminal device to the second network device.

[0180] In this embodiment of the present application, for S1101 to S1103 and S1109, please refer to the content conformance description of S1001 to S1003 and S1009. For S1104 to S1107, please refer to the content conformance description of S901 to S904. The details will not be described again here.

[0181] It should be noted that S1101 to S1103, S1108, and S1109 in this embodiment of the present application are optional steps, and one or more of the optional steps may be set based on an actual application scenario. The sequence of the steps in this embodiment of the present application may be adjusted based on an actual application scenario. This is not particularly limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0182] In conclusion, the first network device sends configuration information of the active BWP to the first terminal device, and the first terminal device configures the active BWP based on the configuration information. In this way, the first network device broadcasts a paging message through the active BWP, and the first terminal device can receive the paging message based on the active BWP. The first terminal device can send second indication information to the second terminal device, so that the second terminal device can establish an RRC connection to the first network device based on the second indication information, and the second network device and the second terminal device can communicate with each other normally.

[0183] In a possible implementation, the first terminal device may simultaneously activate multiple BWPs. When the first terminal device listens for a paging message for a second terminal device, the first terminal device may receive the paging message through the method in this embodiment of the present application, and the first terminal device may send the paging message to the second terminal device, so that the second terminal device may establish an RRC connection to the first network device.

[0184] Based on an embodiment corresponding to FIG. 9, the first communication resource includes a BWP. FIG. 12 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. The first communication resource is an active BWP, and the second communication resource is an initial BWP, and the active BWP includes the initial BWP. Alternatively, it can be understood that the common frequency domain range of the active BWP is extended in this embodiment of the present application, so that the frequency domain range of the active BWP includes the frequency domain range of the initial BWP. The initial BWP is used as an example for explanation in this embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 12, the method may include the following steps.

[0185] S1201: A first terminal device establishes a sidelink connection to a second terminal device.

[0186] S1202: The first terminal device sends a system message of the serving cell to the second terminal device.

[0187] S1203: The first network device receives first information from the first terminal device.

[0188] S1204: The first network device sends configuration information of an active BWP to the first terminal device, where the active BWP includes an initial BWP.

[0189] In this embodiment of the present application, the initial BWP is used by a first terminal device in a disconnected state to receive data, and the disconnected state includes an idle state or a dormant state. For example, when the first terminal device is in a disconnected state, the first terminal device can receive a message from the first network device through the initial BWP, so that the first terminal device can assist the second terminal device in establishing a connection to the first network device.

[0190] In this embodiment of the present application, the frequency domain range of the active BWP includes the frequency domain range of the initial BWP. It can be understood that the specific range of the frequency domain range of the active BWP may be set based on the actual application scenario, which is not particularly limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0191] S1205: The first terminal device configures an active BWP based on the configuration information of the active BWP, where the active BWP includes an initial BWP.

[0192] S1206: The first network device broadcasts a paging message used to page the second terminal device through the initial BWP.

[0193] S1207: The first terminal device receives a paging message based on the initial BWP.

[0194] S1208: The first terminal device sends a paging message to the second terminal device.

[0195] In this embodiment of the present application, the first terminal device receives a paging message, and the first terminal device parses the paging message to identify the ID of the second terminal device, so that the first terminal device can send the paging message to the second terminal device through the PC5 interface. In this way, the second terminal device can establish an RRC connection to the first network device based on the paging message, so that the second terminal device and the first network device can communicate with each other normally.

[0196] S1209: The first network device sends identifier information of the second terminal device to the second network device.

[0197] In this embodiment of the present application, for S1201 to S1203 and S1209, please refer to the content conformance description of S1001 to S1003 and S1009. For S1204 to S1207, please refer to the content conformance description of S901 to S904. The details will not be described again here.

[0198] It should be noted that S1201 to S1203, S1208, and S1209 in this embodiment of the present application are optional steps, and one or more of the optional steps may be set based on an actual application scenario. The sequence of the steps in this embodiment of the present application may be adjusted based on an actual application scenario. This is not particularly limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0199] In conclusion, the first network device sends configuration information of the active BWP to the first terminal device, and the active BWP includes the initial BWP. In this way, the first network device can broadcast a paging message through the initial BWP, and the first terminal device can receive the paging message based on the initial BWP. The first terminal device can send an information message to the second terminal device, so that the second terminal device can establish an RRC connection to the first network device.

[0200] In a possible implementation, the first terminal device may simultaneously activate multiple BWPs. When the first terminal device listens for a paging message for a second terminal device, the first terminal device may receive the paging message through the method in this embodiment of the present application, and the first terminal device may send the paging message to the second terminal device, so that the second terminal device may establish an RRC connection to the first network device.

[0201] Based on an embodiment corresponding to FIG. 9, the first communication resource includes a BWP. FIG. 13 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. The first communication resource is an active BWP, and the second communication resource is an initial BWP, and the active BWP includes the initial BWP. Alternatively, it can be understood that the common frequency domain range of the active BWP is extended in this embodiment of the present application, so that the frequency domain range of the active BWP includes the frequency domain range of the initial BWP. The initial BWP is used as an example for explanation in this embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 13, the method may include the following steps.

[0202] S1301: A first terminal device establishes a sidelink connection to a second terminal device.

[0203] S1302: The first terminal device sends a system message of the serving cell to the second terminal device.

[0204] S1303: The first network device receives first information from the first terminal device.

[0205] S1304: The first network device sends configuration information of an active BWP to the first terminal device, where the active BWP includes an initial BWP.

[0206] S1305: The first terminal device configures an active BWP based on the configuration information of the active BWP, where the active BWP includes an initial BWP.

[0207] S1306: The first network device broadcasts a paging message used to page the second terminal device through the initial BWP.

[0208] S1307: The first terminal device receives a paging message based on the initial BWP.

[0209] S1308: The first terminal device sends second display information to the second terminal device.

[0210] In this embodiment of the present application, the second indication information indicates that the second terminal device is being paged. In this way, the second terminal device can establish an RRC connection to the first network device based on the second indication information, so that the second network device and the second terminal device can communicate with each other normally.

[0211] S1309: The first network device sends identifier information of the second terminal device to the second network device.

[0212] In this embodiment of the present application, for S1301 to S1303 and S1309, please refer to the content conformance description of S1001 to S1003 and S1009. For S1304 to S1307, please refer to the content conformance description of S901 to S904. The details will not be described again here.

[0213] It should be noted that S1301 to S1303, S1308, and S1309 in this embodiment of the present application are optional steps, and one or more of the optional steps may be set based on an actual application scenario. The sequence of the steps in this embodiment of the present application may be adjusted based on an actual application scenario. This is not particularly limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0214] In conclusion, the first network device sends configuration information of an active BWP to the first terminal device, where the active BWP includes an initial BWP. In this way, the first network device broadcasts a paging message through the initial BWP, and the first terminal device can receive the paging message based on the initial BWP. The first terminal device can send second indication information to the second terminal device, so that the second terminal device can establish an RRC connection to the first network device based on the second indication information, and the second network device and the second terminal device can communicate with each other successfully.

[0215] In a possible implementation, the first terminal device may simultaneously activate multiple BWPs. When the first terminal device listens to a paging message for a second terminal device, the first terminal device may still receive the paging message through the method in this embodiment of the present application, and the first terminal device may send the paging message to the second terminal device, so that the second terminal device can establish an RRC connection to the first network device.

[0216] The above describes a method in an embodiment of the present application with reference to Figures 9 to 13. The following describes a communication device for performing the above method provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device includes one or more modules configured to implement the method in the steps included in Figures 9 to 13, and one or more modules may correspond to the method in the steps included in Figures 9 to 13. Specifically, for each step in the method performed by the first network device in this embodiment of the present application, the first network device has a unit or module that performs each step in the method. For each step in the method performed by the first terminal device, the first terminal device has a unit or module that performs each step in the method. For example, a module that controls or processes actions of the communication device may be referred to as a processing module. A module that performs a step of processing messages or data on the communication device side may be referred to as a communication module.

[0217] The following uses an example in which functional modules are obtained through division corresponding to each function for explanation.

[0218] For example, Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device 1400 according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 14, the communication device 1400 may be a first network device or a first terminal device, or may be a chip applied to the first network device or the first terminal device. The communication device 1400 includes a processing unit 141 and a communication unit 142. The communication unit 142 is configured to support the communication device in performing an information transmitting step or an information receiving step, and the processing unit 141 is configured to support the communication device in performing an information processing step.

[0219] In a possible implementation, the communication device 1400 described in this embodiment of the present application may perform what is described in the embodiment corresponding to FIG.

[0220] In a possible embodiment, when the communications apparatus 1400 is configured to perform the actions performed by the first network device: The communication unit 142 is configured to send configuration information of the first communication resource to the first terminal device.

[0221] The communication unit 142 is further configured to broadcast, over the first communication resource, a paging message used to page the second terminal device.

[0222] In a possible embodiment, when the communications apparatus 1400 is configured to perform the operations performed by a first terminal device: The processing unit 141 is configured to configure the first communication resource based on the configuration information of the first communication resource.

[0223] The communication unit 142 is configured to receive a paging message based on the first communication resource.

[0224] In a possible implementation, the communication device 1400 described in this embodiment of the present application may perform what is described in the embodiment corresponding to FIG.

[0225] In a possible embodiment, when the communications apparatus 1400 is configured to perform the actions performed by the first network device: The communication unit 142 is configured to receive first information from a first terminal device.

[0226] The communication unit 142 is further configured to send configuration information of the active BWP to the first terminal device.

[0227] The communication unit 142 is further configured to broadcast, through the active BWP, a paging message used to page the second terminal device.

[0228] The communication unit 142 is further configured to send the identifier information of the second terminal device to the second network device.

[0229] In a possible embodiment, when the communications apparatus 1400 is configured to perform the operations performed by a first terminal device: The processing unit 141 is configured to establish a sidelink connection to the second terminal device.

[0230] The communication unit 142 is configured to send a system message of the serving cell to the second terminal device.

[0231] The processing unit 141 is further configured to configure the active BWP based on the configuration information of the active BWP.

[0232] The communication unit 142 is further configured to receive a paging message based on the active BWP.

[0233] The communication unit 142 is further configured to send paging information to the second terminal device.

[0234] In a possible implementation, the communication device 1400 described in this embodiment of the present application may perform what is described in the embodiment corresponding to FIG.

[0235] In a possible embodiment, when the communication apparatus 1400 is configured to perform an action performed by a first network device, the communication unit 142 is configured to receive first information from a first terminal device.

[0236] The communication unit 142 is further configured to send configuration information of the active BWP to the first terminal device.

[0237] The communication unit 142 is further configured to broadcast, through the active BWP, a paging message used to page the second terminal device.

[0238] The communication unit 142 is further configured to send the identifier information of the second terminal device to the second network device.

[0239] In a possible embodiment, when the communications apparatus 1400 is configured to perform the operations performed by a first terminal device: The processing unit 141 is configured to establish a sidelink connection to the second terminal device.

[0240] The communication unit 142 is configured to send a system message of the serving cell to the second terminal device.

[0241] The processing unit 141 is further configured to configure the active BWP based on the configuration information of the active BWP.

[0242] The communication unit 142 is further configured to receive a paging message based on the active BWP.

[0243] The communication unit 142 is further configured to send the second display information to a second terminal device.

[0244] In a possible implementation, the communication device 1400 described in this embodiment of the present application may perform what is described in the embodiment corresponding to FIG.

[0245] In a possible embodiment, when the communications apparatus 1400 is configured to perform the actions performed by the first network device: The communication unit 142 is configured to receive first information from a first terminal device.

[0246] The communication unit 142 is further configured to send configuration information of the active BWP to the first terminal device, where the active BWP includes the initial BWP.

[0247] The communication unit 142 is further configured to broadcast a paging message used to page the second terminal device through the initial BWP.

[0248] The communication unit 142 is further configured to send the identifier information of the second terminal device to the second network device.

[0249] In a possible embodiment, when the communications apparatus 1400 is configured to perform the operations performed by a first terminal device: The processing unit 141 is configured to establish a sidelink connection to the second terminal device.

[0250] The communication unit 142 is configured to send a system message of the serving cell to the second terminal device.

[0251] The processing unit 141 is further configured to configure the active BWP based on the configuration information of the active BWP, where the active BWP includes the initial BWP.

[0252] The communication unit 142 is further configured to receive a paging message based on the initial BWP.

[0253] The communication unit 142 is further configured to send a paging message to the second terminal device.

[0254] In a possible implementation, the communication device 1400 described in this embodiment of the present application may perform what is described in the embodiment corresponding to FIG.

[0255] In a possible embodiment, when the communications apparatus 1400 is configured to perform the actions performed by the first network device: The communication unit 142 is configured to receive first information from a first terminal device.

[0256] The communication unit 142 is further configured to send configuration information of the active BWP to the first terminal device, where the active BWP includes the initial BWP.

[0257] The communication unit 142 is further configured to broadcast a paging message used to page the second terminal device through the initial BWP.

[0258] The communication unit 142 is further configured to send the identifier information of the second terminal device to the second network device.

[0259] In a possible embodiment, when the communications apparatus 1400 is configured to perform the operations performed by a first terminal device:

[0260] The processing unit 141 is configured to establish a sidelink connection to the second terminal device.

[0261] The communication unit 142 is configured to send a system message of the serving cell to the second terminal device.

[0262] The processing unit 141 is further configured to configure the active BWP based on the configuration information of the active BWP, where the active BWP includes the initial BWP.

[0263] The communication unit 142 is further configured to receive a paging message based on the initial BWP.

[0264] The communication unit 142 is further configured to send the second display information to a second terminal device.

[0265] It should be noted that the above is an example in which the communication device 1400 performs some operations of a first terminal device or a first network device. It may be understood that the communication unit 142 and the processing unit 141 are further configured to perform other processing steps, receiving steps, or transmitting steps or other processing operations, receiving operations, or transmitting operations performed by the first terminal device or the first network device in the above method embodiments. Details will not be described again here.

[0266] In a possible embodiment, the communication device 1400 may further include a storage unit 143. The processing unit 141, the communication unit 142 and the storage unit 143 are connected by a communication line.

[0267] The storage unit 143 may include one or more memories, which may be devices within one or more devices or circuits configured to store programs or data.

[0268] The storage unit 143 may exist independently and be connected to the processing unit 141 of the communication device by a communication line, or the storage unit 143 may be integrated into the processing unit.

[0269] The communication apparatus may be used in a communication device, circuit, hardware component, or chip.

[0270] For example, the communication device may be a chip or a chip system in the first network device or the first terminal device in an embodiment of the present application, and the communication unit 142 may be an input interface or an output interface, a pin, a circuit, etc.

[0271] For example, the storage unit 143 may store computer-executable instructions of a method performed by the first network device or the first terminal device, such that the processing unit 141 performs the method performed by the first network device or the first terminal device in the aforementioned embodiments. The storage unit 143 may be a register, a cache, a RAM, etc., and the storage unit 143 may be integrated with the processing unit 141. The storage unit 143 may be a ROM or another type of static storage device capable of storing static information and instructions, and the storage unit 143 may be separate from the processing unit 141.

[0272] For example, Figure 15 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a chip 150 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Chip 150 includes one or more (including two) processors 1510 and a communication interface 1530.

[0273] In some implementations, memory 1540 stores the following elements: executable modules or data structures, a subset thereof, or an extended set thereof:

[0274] In this embodiment of the application, memory 1540 may include read-only memory and random access memory and may provide instructions and data to processor 1510. A portion of memory 1540 may further include non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM).

[0275] In this embodiment of the present application, the processor 1510 may control the first transmitting chip, the second transmitting chip, or the processing chip to perform corresponding operations by calling operation instructions (the operation instructions may be stored in an operating system) stored in the memory 1540. The processor 1510 may be referred to as a central processing unit (CPU).

[0276] In this embodiment of the present application, the memory 1540, the communication interface 1530, and the memory 1540 are coupled together by a bus system 1520. In addition to a data bus, the bus system 1520 may further include a power bus, a control bus, a status signal bus, etc. For ease of explanation, the various buses are labeled as the bus system 1520 in FIG.

[0277] The methods described in the foregoing embodiments of the present application may be applied to or implemented by the processor 1510. The processor 1510 may be an integrated circuit chip and have signal processing capabilities. In the implementation process, the steps of the foregoing methods may be completed through instructions in the form of integrated logic circuits of hardware or software in the processor 1510. The processor 1510 may be a general-purpose processor (e.g., a microprocessor or conventional processor), a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or another programmable logic device, discrete gate, transistor logic device, or discrete hardware component. The processor 1510 may implement or execute the methods, steps, and logical block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0278] The steps of the methods disclosed with reference to the embodiments of the present application may be performed and completed directly by a hardware decoding processor, or may be performed and completed through a combination of hardware modules and software modules in the decoding processor. The software modules may be located in a mature storage medium in the field, such as a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, an electrically erasable programmable memory, or a register. The storage medium is located in the memory 1540. The processor 1510 reads information in the memory 1540 and completes the steps of the aforementioned method in combination with the hardware of the processor 1510.

[0279] In a possible implementation, the communication interface 1530 is configured to perform the receiving and transmitting steps of the first network device or the first terminal device in the embodiments shown in Figures 9 to 13. The processor 1510 is configured to perform the processing steps of the first network device or the first terminal device in the embodiments shown in Figures 9 to 13.

[0280] In the foregoing embodiments, the instructions stored in the memory and executed by the processor may be implemented in the form of a computer program product, which may be pre-written into the memory or downloaded in the form of software and installed into the memory.

[0281] A computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded into a computer and executed, all or part of the procedures or functions according to the embodiments of the present application are generated. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or another programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions may be transmitted from a website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, radio, or microwave) means. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium capable of being stored by a computer, or a data storage device, such as a server or data center, integrated with one or more available media. For example, the usable media may include magnetic media (e.g., floppy disks, hard disks, or magnetic tapes), optical media (e.g., digital versatile discs (DVDs)), or semiconductor media (e.g., solid state disks (SSDs)).

[0282] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium. All or part of the methods described in the above embodiments may be implemented through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. If the method is implemented through software, the functions may be stored in or transmitted over a computer-readable medium as one or more instructions or codes. The computer-readable medium may include computer storage media and communication media, and may include any medium that can transfer a computer program from one place to another. The storage medium may be any target medium accessible by a computer.

[0283] In possible designs, the computer-readable medium may include a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), RAM, ROM, EEPROM, or another optical disc memory. The computer-readable medium may also include magnetic disk storage or another magnetic disk storage device. Furthermore, any connection may be properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if software is transmitted from a website, server, or another remote source using coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair cable, DSL, or wireless technology (e.g., infrared, radio, and microwave), the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair cable, DSL, or wireless technology (e.g., infrared, radio, and microwave) are included within the definition of the medium. Disks and optical discs, as used herein, include optical discs (CDs), laser discs, digital versatile discs (DVDs), floppy disks, and Blu-ray discs; disks generally reproduce data by magnetic means, while optical discs reproduce data optically by using a laser. Combinations of the above are also intended to be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

[0284] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product. All or part of the methods described in the above embodiments can be implemented through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. If the method is implemented through software, all or part of the implementation can be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the above computer program instructions are loaded into a computer and executed, all or part of the procedures or functions described in the above method embodiments are produced. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a base station, a terminal, or another programmable device.

[0285] The objectives, technical solutions, and beneficial effects of the present invention are further described in detail in the above specific implementations. It should be understood that the above content is only a specific implementation of the present invention and is not intended to limit the protection scope of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made based on the technical solutions of the present invention shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. 1. A communication method applied to a first network device, the method comprising: sending configuration information of a first communication resource to a first terminal device, the first terminal device providing a relay service to a second terminal device, and the first communication resource being used for communication between the first terminal device and the first network device in a connected state; broadcasting a paging message over the first communication resource, the paging message being used to page the second terminal device; A communication method, including:

2. The first communication resource includes a second communication resource, and the step of broadcasting a paging message used to page the second terminal device over the first communication resource includes: broadcasting the paging message over the second communication resource, the second communication resource being used to receive data by terminal devices in a disconnected state; 10. The method of claim 1, comprising:

3. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first terminal device is a relay terminal device and the second terminal device is a remote terminal device.

4. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first communications resource is an active bandwidth portion BWP and the second communications resource is an initial bandwidth portion BWP.

5. The method comprises: receiving first information from the first terminal device, the first information indicating that a sidelink connection exists between the first terminal device and the second terminal device; The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising:

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first information is a dedicated information element.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the first information includes identifier information of the second terminal device.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the paging message includes a paging message associated with the identifier information of the second terminal device.

9. 9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the identifier information of the second terminal device comprises a 5G s Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity 5G-S-TMSI or a full Inactive Radio Network Temporary Identifier full I-RNTI.

10. The method of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the disconnected state comprises an idle state or a dormant state.

11. The method comprises: sending the identifier information of the second terminal device to a second network device, the second network device being a target network device for handover of the first terminal device; The method of any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising:

12. 1. A communication method applied to a first terminal device, the method comprising: receiving configuration information of a first communication resource from a first network device, the first terminal device providing a relay service to a second terminal device, and the first communication resource being used for communication between the first terminal device and the first network device in a connected state; configuring the first communications resource based on the configuration information; receiving a paging message based on the first communication resource, the paging message being used to page the second terminal device; A communication method, including:

13. the first communication resource includes a second communication resource, and the step of receiving a paging message based on the first communication resource includes: receiving the paging message based on the second communication resource, the second communication resource being used to receive data by a terminal device in a disconnected state; 13. The method of claim 12, comprising:

14. 14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the first terminal device is an intermediate terminal device and the second terminal device is a remote terminal device.

15. 15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the first communications resource is an active bandwidth portion BWP and the second communications resource is an initial bandwidth portion BWP.

16. The method comprises: sending first information to the first network device, the first information indicating that a sidelink connection exists between the first terminal device and the second terminal device; 16. The method of any one of claims 12 to 15, further comprising:

17. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first information is a dedicated information element.

18. 18. The method of claim 16 or 17, wherein the first information includes identifier information of the second terminal device.

19. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the paging message includes a paging message associated with the identifier information of the second terminal device.

20. 20. The method of claim 18 or 19, wherein the identifier information of the second terminal device includes a 5G s Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity 5G-S-TMSI or a full Inactive Radio Network Temporary Identifier full I-RNTI.

21. The method comprises: sending the paging message to the second terminal device; or sending second indication information to the second terminal device, the second indication information indicating that the second terminal device is being paged; 21. The method of any one of claims 12 to 20, further comprising:

22. 22. The method of any one of claims 12 to 21, wherein the disconnected state comprises an idle state or a dormant state.

23. Prior to the step of sending first information to the first network device, the method further comprises: establishing a sidelink connection to the second terminal device; 23. The method of any one of claims 16 to 22, further comprising:

24. A communication apparatus for use with a first network device, the apparatus comprising: a communication unit; The communication unit is configured to send configuration information of a first communication resource to a first terminal device, the first terminal device providing a relay service to a second terminal device, and the first communication resource is used for communication between the first terminal device and the first network device in a connected state; The communication unit is configured to broadcast, over the first communication resource, a paging message used to page the second terminal device.

25. 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the first communication resource includes a second communication resource, the communication unit is specifically configured to broadcast the paging message through the second communication resource, and the second communication resource is used to receive data by a terminal device in a disconnected state.

26. 26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the first terminal device is a relay terminal device and the second terminal device is a remote terminal device.

27. 27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the first communications resource is an active bandwidth portion BWP and the second communications resource is an initial bandwidth portion BWP.

28. 28. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the communication unit is specifically configured to receive first information from the first terminal device, the first information indicating that a sidelink connection exists between the first terminal device and the second terminal device.

29. 30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the first information is a dedicated information element.

30. 29. The apparatus of claim 27 or 28, wherein the first information includes identifier information of the second terminal device.

31. 31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the paging message includes a paging message associated with the identifier information of the second terminal device.

32. 32. The apparatus of claim 30 or 31, wherein the identifier information of the second terminal device comprises a 5G s Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity 5G-S-TMSI or a full Inactive Radio Network Temporary Identifier full I-RNTI.

33. 33. The device of any one of claims 24 to 32, wherein the disconnected state comprises an idle state or a dormant state.

34. 34. The apparatus according to any one of claims 24 to 33, wherein the communication unit is specifically configured to send the identifier information of the second terminal device to a second network device, the second network device being a target network device for handover of the first terminal device.

35. A communication apparatus adapted for a first terminal device, the apparatus comprising: a communication unit and a processing unit; The communication unit is configured to receive configuration information of a first communication resource from a first network device, the first terminal device providing a relay service to a second terminal device, and the first communication resource is used for communication between the first terminal device and the first network device in a connected state; the processing unit is configured to configure the first communications resource based on the configuration information; The communication unit is configured to receive a paging message based on the first communication resource, the paging message being used to page the second terminal device.

36. 36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the first communication resource includes a second communication resource, the communication unit is specifically configured to receive the paging message based on the second communication resource, and the second communication resource is used to receive data by a terminal device in a disconnected state.

37. 37. The apparatus of claim 35 or 36, wherein the first terminal device is a relay terminal device and the second terminal device is a remote terminal device.

38. 38. The apparatus of any one of claims 35 to 37, wherein the first communications resource is an active bandwidth portion BWP and the second communications resource is an initial bandwidth portion BWP.

39. 39. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the communication unit is specifically configured to send first information to the first network device, the first information indicating that a sidelink connection exists between the first terminal device and the second terminal device.

40. 40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the first information is a dedicated information element.

41. 41. The apparatus of claim 39 or 40, wherein the first information includes identifier information of the second terminal device.

42. 42. The method of claim 41, wherein the paging message includes a paging message associated with the identifier information of the second terminal device.

43. 43. The apparatus of claim 41 or 42, wherein the identifier information of the second terminal device includes a 5G s Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity 5G-S-TMSI or a full Inactive Radio Network Temporary Identifier full I-RNTI.

44. the communication unit is specifically configured to send the paging message to the second terminal device; or 44. The apparatus of any one of claims 35 to 43, wherein the communication unit is specifically configured to send second indication information to the second terminal device, the second indication information indicating that the second terminal device is being paged.

45. 45. The device of any one of claims 35 to 44, wherein the disconnected state comprises an idle state or a dormant state.

46. 46. The apparatus of any one of claims 39 to 45, wherein the processing unit is specifically configured to establish a sidelink connection to the second terminal device.

47. A communication device comprising: a processor and a communication interface; A communication device, wherein the communication interface is configured to perform message sending and message receiving operations in the communication method of any one of claims 1 to 11, and the processor executes instructions to perform processing or control operations in the communication method of any one of claims 1 to 11.

48. A communication device comprising: a processor and a communication interface; 24. A communication device, wherein the communication interface is configured to perform message sending and message receiving operations in the communication method of any one of claims 12 to 23, and wherein the processor executes instructions to perform processing or control operations in the communication method of any one of claims 12 to 23.

49. 24. A chip comprising at least one processor and a communication interface, the communication interface coupled to the at least one processor, the at least one processor configured to execute computer programs or instructions to implement the communication method of any one of claims 1 to 11 or to implement the communication method of any one of claims 12 to 23.

50. 24. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed, implement the communication method of any one of claims 1 to 11 or the communication method of any one of claims 12 to 23.

51. A communication system, said communication system comprising at least one of a communication device according to any one of claims 24 to 34 and a communication device according to any one of claims 35 to 46.

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