Communication method, device, system, and storage medium

Abstract

This application discloses a communication method, an apparatus, and a system, and a storage medium, and relates to the field of communication. The method includes: a first wireless unit (RU) receives device identifiers of m network devices transmitted by a first network device, the m network devices including a first network device, the m network devices are connected to each other, and m is an integer greater than 0. The first RU receives device identifiers of n network devices transmitted by a second RU, the second RU is connected to the n network devices, and n is an integer greater than 0. The first RU determines that the same device exists among the m network devices and the n network devices based on the m device identifiers and the n device identifiers. The first RU performs cooperative communication processing, and the cooperative communication processing is used to implement cooperative communication between the first RU and the second RU. In this application, the channel between the first RU and the second RU may be reciprocal.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202111667548.8, entitled "Communication Method, Apparatus, and System, and Storage Medium," filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on December 31, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] This application relates to the field of communications, and in particular to communications methods, devices and systems, and storage media. [Background technology]

[0003] In a multi-user multiple input multiple output (MU MIMO) service scenario, user equipment (UE) are located close to each other and each UE accesses a different radio unit (RU). Because the signals transmitted by the RUs are co-channel signals, when a first UE and a second UE are located close to each other, the first UE receives signals transmitted to the second UE by multiple RUs.

[0004] Assume that the multiple RUs include a first RU and a second RU. Due to reciprocity between the first channel and the second channel between the first RU and the second RU, the first channel includes the downlink channel of the first RU and the uplink channel of the second RU, and the second channel includes the downlink channel of the second RU and the uplink channel of the first RU, so that at the location of the first UE, the signal transmitted by the first RU to the second UE and the signal transmitted by the second RU cancel each other out. The reciprocity between the first channel and the second channel means that the latency and frequency characteristics of the first channel match those of the second channel, respectively.

[0005] To make the first channel and the second channel reciprocal, the first RU and the second RU receive a synchronization signal from the network. The first RU and the second RU perform cooperative communication with each other based on the synchronization signal received by the first RU and the second RU, and correct the first channel and the second channel based on the communication result. However, the phases and frequencies of the synchronization signals received by the first RU and the second RU are significantly different. As a result, the communication results obtained by the first RU and the second RU based on the synchronization signals received by the first RU and the second RU have large errors, making it difficult to make the first channel and the second channel reciprocal. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This application provides a communication method, an apparatus, a system, and a storage medium for making a channel between a first RU and a second RU reciprocal. The technical solutions are as follows: [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to a first aspect, this application provides a communication method. In the method, a first radio unit (RU) receives device identifiers of m network devices transmitted by a first network device, where the m network devices include the first network device and the m network devices are connected to each other, and m is an integer greater than 0. The first RU receives device identifiers of n network devices transmitted by a second RU, where the second RU is connected to the n network devices, and n is an integer greater than 0. The first RU determines that the same device exists among the m network devices and the n network devices based on the m device identifiers and the n device identifiers. The first RU performs cooperative communication processing, and the cooperative communication processing is used to implement cooperative communication between the first RU and the second RU.

[0008] A first RU is connected to m network devices, and a second RU is connected to n network devices. The first RU determines that the same device exists among the m network devices and the n network devices based on the device identifiers of the m network devices transmitted by the first network device and the device identifiers of the n network devices transmitted by the second RU. Therefore, the network device directly connected to the first RU is the same as the network device directly connected to the second RU. Alternatively, the network device directly connected to the first RU is associated with the network device directly connected to the second RU. For example, the network device directly connected to the first RU and the network device directly connected to the second RU have an upstream-downstream relationship, or the network device directly connected to the first RU and the network device directly connected to the second RU have a common upstream device. In this way, the first RU and the second RU perform cooperative communication, which may cause the channel between the first RU and the second RU to be reciprocal.

[0009] In a possible embodiment, the first RU receives time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information transmitted by the first network device. The first RU performs a channel correction process based on the time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information, and the channel correction process is used to correct the channel between the first RU and the second RU. Because the same network devices exist among the m network devices connected to the first RU and the n network devices connected to the second RU, the difference between the time synchronization information received by the first RU and the time synchronization information received by the second RU is small, and the difference between the frequency synchronization information received by the first RU and the frequency synchronization information received by the second RU is also small. In this way, the first RU performs a channel correction process based on the received time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information to improve the accuracy of the channel correction.

[0010] In another possible embodiment, the channel between the first RU and the second RU includes a first channel and a second channel, where the first channel includes a downlink channel of the first RU and an uplink channel of the second RU, and the second channel includes a downlink channel of the second RU and an uplink channel of the first RU. The first RU measures a latency difference between the transmission latency of the first channel and the transmission latency of the second channel based on the time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information. The first RU performs channel correction processing based on the latency difference. Because the difference between the time synchronization information received by the first RU and the time synchronization information received by the second RU is small and the difference between the frequency synchronization information received by the first RU and the frequency synchronization information received by the second RU is also small, the first RU measures the latency difference based on the received time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information to improve the accuracy of the latency difference measurement and the channel correction.

[0011] In other possible embodiments, the first RU compensates for the transmission latency of the first channel or the transmission latency of the second channel based on the latency difference. Alternatively, the first RU transmits the latency difference to the second RU, and the latency difference is used to compensate for the transmission latency of the first channel or the transmission latency of the second channel. In this way, multiple channel compensation schemes are provided, i.e., the channel compensation scheme is enhanced.

[0012] In another possible embodiment, the first RU suppresses noise in the time synchronization information and / or noise in the frequency synchronization information, and by suppressing noise in the two pieces of information, errors occurring in the noise in the time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information can be eliminated.

[0013] In another possible embodiment, a first RU receives time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information transmitted by a second network device via a first network device, where the second network device is an upstream device of the first network device. There are more RUs connected to the second network device than to the first network device. The first RU may use the time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information transmitted by the second network device. In this way, the number of RUs in a cooperative group can be increased.

[0014] In another possible embodiment, the first RU transmits m device identifiers to the second RU, and the second RU determines whether to engage in cooperative communication with the first RU based on the received device identifiers.

[0015] In another possible embodiment, the first network device is a fronthaul device directly connected to the first RU.

[0016] In other possible embodiments, the n network devices include a first network device, which is a fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU. Alternatively, the n network devices include a third network device, which is a fronthaul device connected to the second RU, and the first network device is an upstream device of the third network device. In this way, the network device directly connected to the first RU is the same as the network device directly connected to the second RU, or the network device directly connected to the first RU is associated with the network device directly connected to the second RU.

[0017] In another possible embodiment, the m network devices further include a second network device, where the second network device is an upstream device of the first network device, and the n network devices include a second network device, where the second network device is a fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU or an upstream device of a fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU. In this way, the network device directly connected to the first RU is associated with the network device directly connected to the second RU.

[0018] In another possible implementation, a first RU adds a second RU to a cooperative group, and the RUs in the cooperative group are configured to perform cooperative communication, such that the channels between the RUs in the cooperative group can be reciprocal.

[0019] In other possible embodiments, the manner in which the first network device transmits the m device identifiers includes a broadcast manner, and / or the manner in which the second RU transmits the n device identifiers includes a broadcast manner.

[0020] In another possible implementation, the first network device is an Ethernet switching device.

[0021] According to a second aspect, this application provides a communication method, in which a first network device transmits device identifiers of m network devices to a first radio unit (RU), where the m network devices include the first network device, where the m network devices are connected to each other, and m is an integer greater than 0. The m device identifiers are used to trigger the first RU to perform cooperative communication processing, and the cooperative communication processing is used to implement cooperative communication between the first RU and a second RU. The second RU is connected to n network devices, where n is an integer greater than 0, and the same device exists among the m network devices and the n network devices.

[0022] The first RU is connected to m network devices, and the second RU is connected to n network devices. The first network device transmits device identifiers of the m network devices to the first RU, and the first RU determines that the same device exists among the m network devices and the n network devices based on the device identifiers of the m network devices transmitted by the first network device and the device identifiers of the n network devices transmitted by the second RU. Therefore, the network device directly connected to the first RU is the same as the network device directly connected to the second RU. Alternatively, the network device directly connected to the first RU is associated with the network device directly connected to the second RU. For example, the network device directly connected to the first RU and the network device directly connected to the second RU have an upstream-downstream relationship, or the network device directly connected to the first RU and the network device directly connected to the second RU have a common upstream device. In this way, the first RU and the second RU perform cooperative communication, which may cause the channel between the first RU and the second RU to be reciprocal.

[0023] In a possible embodiment, the first network device transmits time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information to the first RU. In this manner, the first RU can perform channel correction processing based on the time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information. Because the same network devices exist among the m network devices connected to the first RU and the n network devices connected to the second RU, the difference between the time synchronization information received by the first RU and the time synchronization information received by the second RU is small, and the difference between the frequency synchronization information received by the first RU and the frequency synchronization information received by the second RU is also small. In this manner, the first RU performs channel correction processing based on the received time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information to improve channel correction accuracy.

[0024] In another possible embodiment, the first network device filters noise in the time synchronization information and / or noise in the frequency synchronization information, thereby reducing errors in the time synchronization information and frequency synchronization information.

[0025] In another possible embodiment, the first network device is a fronthaul device directly connected to the first RU.

[0026] In another possible embodiment, the m network devices further include a second network device, where the second network device is an upstream device of the first network device, and the n network devices include a second network device, where the second network device is a fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU or an upstream device of a fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU. In this way, the network device directly connected to the first RU is associated with the network device directly connected to the second RU.

[0027] In other possible embodiments, the n network devices include a first network device, where the first network device is a fronthaul device connected to the second RU. Alternatively, the n network devices include a first network device and a third network device, where the third network device is a fronthaul device connected to the second RU, and the first network device is an upstream device of the third network device. In this way, the network device directly connected to the first RU is the same as the network device directly connected to the second RU, or the network device directly connected to the first RU is associated with the network device directly connected to the second RU.

[0028] In another possible embodiment, the manner in which the first network device transmits the m device identifiers includes a broadcast manner.

[0029] According to a third aspect, the present application provides a communications device configured to perform the method of the first aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect. Specifically, the device includes a unit configured to perform the method of the first aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect.

[0030] According to a fourth aspect, the application provides a communications device configured to perform the method of the second aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the second aspect. In particular, the device includes a unit configured to perform the method of the second aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the second aspect.

[0031] According to a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communications device including at least one processor and a memory, the at least one processor being coupled to the memory and configured to read and execute instructions in the memory in order to perform the method of the first aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect.

[0032] According to a sixth aspect, the present application provides a communications device including at least one processor and a memory, the at least one processor being coupled to the memory and configured to read and execute instructions in the memory in order to perform the method of the second aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the second aspect.

[0033] According to a seventh aspect, the present application provides a computer program product, the computer program product including a computer program stored on a computer-readable storage medium, the computer program being loaded using a processor to perform the method of the first aspect, the second aspect, any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect, or any one of the possible implementations of the second aspect.

[0034] According to an eighth aspect, the application provides a computer-readable storage medium configured to store a computer program, the computer program being loaded using a processor to perform the method of the first aspect, the second aspect, any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect, or any one of the possible implementations of the second aspect.

[0035] According to a ninth aspect, the present application provides a communication system, the system comprising an apparatus according to the third aspect and an apparatus according to the fourth aspect, or the system comprising an apparatus according to the fifth aspect and an apparatus according to the sixth aspect. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0036] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of another network architecture according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of another network architecture according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 4]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of another network architecture according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of another network architecture according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 6] 1 is a flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of another network architecture according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 8] 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an RU according to one embodiment of this application. [Figure 9] 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of another communication device according to an embodiment of this application; [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of another communication device according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of another communication device according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 13] 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present application will be further described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0038] Please refer to Figure 1. One embodiment of this application provides a network architecture 100. The network architecture 100 includes a plurality of RUs. The plurality of RUs are connected to a fronthaul network.

[0039] In some embodiments, for each of the multiple RUs, the RU is connected to a network device in the fronthaul network such that the RU is connected to the fronthaul network. The multiple RUs may be in wireless communication with the UE such that the UE is connected to the network via the multiple RUs.

[0040] For example, as shown in FIG. 1 , the multiple RUs include RU 1, RU 2, and RU 3. RU 1, RU 2, and RU 3 communicate wirelessly with UE 1. Both RU 1 and RU 2 are directly connected to network device 1 in the fronthaul network, and RU 3 is directly connected to network device 2 in the fronthaul network, thereby connecting UE 1 to the network. Similarly, UE 2 and UE 3 may also communicate wirelessly with RU 1, RU 2, and RU 3, thereby connecting UE 2 and UE 3 to the network.

[0041] In some embodiments, the fronthaul network is Ethernet, and the network device directly connected to the RU is an Ethernet switching device, such as an Ethernet switch.

[0042] For any UE in network architecture 100, multiple RUs in network architecture 100 transmit signals to the UE. The UE may be close to at least one other UE. As a result, the UE may receive other signals in addition to the signals transmitted to the UE by the multiple RUs, where the other signals are signals transmitted to other UEs by the multiple RUs.

[0043] For ease of explanation, the UE will be referred to as a first UE, and the other UE will be referred to as a second UE. The multiple RUs include a first RU and a second RU. Because the first UE and the second UE are in close proximity, the first UE can receive a first signal transmitted to the first UE by the first RU and the second RU, and can also receive a second signal transmitted to the second UE by the first RU and the second RU. That is, the first RU can receive two first signals and two second signals.

[0044] Because the first and second signals are co-channel signals, if the first and second signals are not orthogonal, after the first UE receives the two first signals and the two second signals, the two second signals will cause co-channel interference with the two first signals on the first UE. If the first and second signals are orthogonal, after the first UE receives the two first signals and the two second signals, the phases of the two first signals will overlap on the first UE and the phases of the two second signals will be canceled out. In this way, co-channel interference caused by the two second signals with the two first signals is avoided.

[0045] For example, assume that UE 1 and UE 2 are close to each other, and RU 1 and RU 2 transmit signal 1 to UE 1, and RU 1 and RU 2 transmit signal 2 to UE 2, as shown in Figure 2. In addition to receiving two signals 1, UE 1 can also receive two signals 2, where signals 1 and 2 are co-channel signals. UE 2 can also receive two signals 1 in addition to receiving two signals 2.

[0046] If signal 1 and signal 2 are not orthogonal, signal 2 on UE 1 will cause co-channel interference to signal 1, and signal 1 on UE 2 will cause co-channel interference to signal 2.

[0047] When signal 1 and signal 2 are orthogonal, the peak positions of the two signals 1 are the same and the trough positions of the two signals 1 are the same on UE 1, so the phases of the two signals 1 are overlapped. As shown in Figure 2, on UE 1, the trough position of signal 2 transmitted by RU 1 is the same as the peak position of signal 2 transmitted by RU 2, and the peak position of signal 2 transmitted by RU 1 is the same as the trough position of signal 2 transmitted by RU 2. In this way, the phases of the two signals 2 are canceled out, and as a result, signal 2 does not cause co-channel interference to signal 1 on UE 1.

[0048] To make the first signal orthogonal to the second signal, the first channel and the second channel between the first RU and the second RU need to be reciprocal. The first channel includes the downlink channel of the first RU and the uplink channel of the second RU, and the second channel includes the downlink channel of the second RU and the uplink channel of the first RU. When the first channel and the second channel are reciprocal, the first signal transmitted by the first RU and the second signal transmitted by the second RU are orthogonal.

[0049] In some embodiments, the downlink channel of the first RU includes the transmission channel of the first RU, the uplink channel of the second RU includes the reception channel of the second RU, the downlink channel of the second RU includes the transmission channel of the second RU, and the uplink channel of the second RU includes the reception channel of the second RU.

[0050] To make the first channel and the second channel between the first RU and the second RU reciprocal, the first RU needs to perform cooperative communication processing, which is used to implement cooperative communication between the first RU and the second RU.

[0051] In some embodiments, the cooperative communication process includes a channel correction process, which is used to correct the first channel and the second channel between the first RU and the second RU. Specifically, the first RU and the second RU correct the first channel and the second channel between the first RU and the second RU through the channel correction process. In this way, the channels between the first RU and the second RU are reciprocal.

[0052] The first RU includes a local clock, and the second RU includes a local clock. If the local clock of the first RU and the local clock of the second RU satisfy a first specified condition, the first RU and the second RU can accurately correct the first channel and the second channel between the first RU and the second RU through a channel correction process. In this way, the first channel and the second channel are reciprocal, and the channel correction accuracy is improved. If the local clock of the first RU and the local clock of the second RU do not satisfy the first specified condition, the first RU and the second RU cannot accurately correct the first channel and the second channel between the first RU and the second RU through the channel correction process. As a result, the first channel and the second channel cannot be reciprocal.

[0053] In some embodiments, the first specified condition includes that the time difference between the current timing instant of the local clock of the first RU and the current timing instant of the local clock of the second RU is less than a specified time difference threshold. Thus, if the local clock of the first RU and the local clock of the second RU satisfy the first specified condition, the difference between the local clock of the first RU and the local clock of the second RU is small. If the local clock of the first RU and the local clock of the second RU do not satisfy the first specified condition, there is a large difference between the local clock of the first RU and the local clock of the second RU.

[0054] In an embodiment of this application, a first RU receives first synchronization information transmitted by a network device in a fronthaul network, the first synchronization information including first time synchronization information and / or first frequency synchronization information, and the first RU synchronizes its local clock based on the first synchronization information. A second RU receives second synchronization information transmitted by a network device in the fronthaul network, the second synchronization information including second time synchronization information and / or second frequency synchronization information, and the second RU synchronizes its local clock based on the second synchronization information. The first synchronization information and the second synchronization information may be information transmitted by the same network device or may be information transmitted by two different network devices.

[0055] If the first synchronization information and the second synchronization information satisfy the second specified condition, the synchronized local clock of the first RU and the synchronized local clock of the second RU satisfy the first specified condition. If the first synchronization information and the second synchronization information do not satisfy the second specified condition, the synchronized local clock of the first RU and the synchronized local clock of the second RU do not satisfy the first specified condition.

[0056] The second specified condition includes one or more of the following conditions:

[0057] The information difference between the first synchronization information and the second synchronization information does not exceed a specified difference, or the noise in neither the first synchronization information nor the second synchronization information exceeds a specified noise threshold.

[0058] The first synchronization information includes first time synchronization information and / or first frequency synchronization information, and the second synchronization information includes second time synchronization information and / or second frequency synchronization information.

[0059] For a network device that transmits the first synchronization information, the network device includes a local clock, the first time synchronization information includes a timing point of the local clock of the network device, and the first frequency synchronization information includes an operating frequency of the local clock of the network device.

[0060] For a network device that transmits the second synchronization information, the network device includes a local clock, the second time synchronization information includes a timing point of the local clock of the network device, and the second frequency synchronization information includes an operating frequency of the local clock of the network device.

[0061] In some embodiments, the information difference between the first synchronization information and the second synchronization information includes a time difference between the first time synchronization information and the second time synchronization information and / or a frequency difference between the first frequency synchronization information and the second frequency synchronization information.

[0062] In some embodiments, the information difference between the first synchronization information and the second synchronization information not exceeding a specified difference includes the time difference between the first time synchronization information and the second time synchronization information not exceeding a specified time difference threshold and / or the frequency difference between the first frequency synchronization information and the second frequency synchronization information not exceeding a specified frequency difference threshold. Optionally, the specified time difference threshold and the specified frequency difference threshold are small. For example, the specified time difference threshold and / or the specified frequency difference threshold are zero.

[0063] In some embodiments, the noise in the first synchronization information or the second synchronization information not exceeding a specified noise threshold includes the noise in the first time synchronization information or the noise in the second time synchronization information not exceeding a first specified noise threshold and / or the noise in the first frequency synchronization information or the noise in the second frequency synchronization information not exceeding a second specified noise threshold. The first and second specified noise thresholds may or may not be equal.

[0064] See Figure 1. The network architecture 100 further includes a base station unit (BU) 101 and / or a clock source 102. The BU 101 and / or the clock source 102 transmit synchronization information to the fronthaul network. For each network device in the fronthaul network, upon receiving the synchronization information, the network device synchronizes its local clock based on the received synchronization information, generates new synchronization information based on the synchronized local clock, and transmits the new synchronization information.

[0065] In some embodiments, when the first RU and the second RU are deployed, if the first RU and the second RU are close to each other, the first RU and the second RU are connected to the same network device as much as possible, or the first RU and the second RU are connected to two related network devices, so that the first synchronization information received by the first RU and the second synchronization information received by the second RU satisfy a second specified condition.

[0066] For m network devices connected to a first RU and n network devices connected to a second RU, if the same device exists among the m network devices and the n network devices, the first RU and the second RU are connected to the same network device, or the first RU and the second RU are connected to two associated network devices, and m and n are both integers greater than 0.

[0067] In some embodiments, in some of the following cases, the same device exists among the m network devices and the n network devices.

[0068] Case 1: See Figure 3. The m network devices connected to the first RU 11 and the n network devices connected to the second RU 12 all include a first network device 13. The first network device 13 is a fronthaul device directly connected to the first RU 11 and is also a fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU 12.

[0069] Case 2: See FIG. 4. The m network devices connected to the first RU 11 include a first network device 13 and a second network device 14. The first network device 13 is a fronthaul device directly connected to the first RU 11, and the second network device 14 is an upstream device of the first network device 11. The n network devices connected to the second RU 12 include a second network device 12. The second network device 12 is a fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU 12. In Case 2, the first network device 13 is associated with the second network device 14. Optionally, the m network devices may further include a fourth network device 16, etc. The n network devices may further include a fourth network device 16, etc. The fourth network device 16 is an upstream device of the second network device 14.

[0070] Case 3: See FIG. 5. The m network devices connected to the first RU 11 include a first network device 13 and a second network device 14. The first network device 13 is a fronthaul device directly connected to the first RU 11, and the second network device 14 is an upstream device of the first network device 13. The n network devices connected to the second RU 12 include a third network device 15 and the second network device 14. The third network device 15 is a fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU 12, and the second network device 12 is also an upstream device of the third RU 15. In Case 2, the first network device 13 is associated with the third network device 15. Optionally, the m network devices may further include a fourth network device 16, etc. The n network devices may further include a fourth network device 16, etc. The fourth network device 16 is an upstream device of the second network device 14.

[0071] In the above, only Case 1 to Case 3 are listed. Certainly, there may be other cases in actual implementation, and the other cases will not be listed one by one in this specification.

[0072] In the case of a network device connected to an RU, the term "connection" in this specification includes direct connection and indirect connection. When an RU is directly connected to a network device, the network device and the RU do not need to be connected via another network device. For example, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, a first RU 11 is connected to a first network device 13 without using another network device, i.e., the first RU 11 is directly connected to the first network device 13.

[0073] When an RU is indirectly connected to a network device, the RU and the network device must be connected via one or more other network devices. For example, as shown in Figure 4 or Figure 5, the first RU 11 and the fourth network device 16 must be connected via the second network device 14, i.e., the first RU 11 is indirectly connected to the fourth network device 16.

[0074] In the case of the aforementioned upstream device, for example, the upstream device of the first network device 13, the upstream device is a network device through which a path between the first network device 13 and the BU 101 passes, or a network device through which a path between the first network device 13 and a clock source in the fronthaul network passes. Therefore, compared with the first network device 13, the upstream device of the first network device 13 is closer to the BU 102 or the clock source 102.

[0075] Optionally, the BU in the embodiments of this application includes a building baseband unit (BBU), a distribution unit (DU), and a centralized unit (CU) or other network element or device having a baseband signal processing function and / or a radio unit control and management function. The RU in the embodiments of this application is also called a radio frequency unit, and includes a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna unit (AAU), or other network element or device capable of processing radio frequency signals, intermediate frequency signals, or intermediate radio frequency signals. Of course, with the development of technology and the evolution of system architecture, networks of other standards may also appear. In this case, the BU and the RU may be classified or named in other ways. In other words, the system architecture described in the embodiments of this application is intended to more clearly explain the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, but does not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application. With the evolution of system architecture, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application may also be applicable to similar technical problems. The fronthaul network in the embodiment of this application is a transmission network configured to connect BUs and RUs.

[0076] Please refer to Fig. 6. One embodiment of the present application provides a communication method 600. The communication method 600 is applied to the network architecture 100 shown in Fig. 1 or the network architecture shown in Fig. 3, Fig. 4 or Fig. 5, and includes the following steps:

[0077] Step 601: A first network device sends device identifiers of m network devices to a first RU, where the m network devices include the first network device, and the m network devices are connected to each other, and m is an integer greater than 0.

[0078] The first RU is any RU in the above network architecture, and the m network devices are network devices connected to the first RU.

[0079] In some embodiments, the first network device is a fronthaul device directly connected to the first RU. If m is equal to 1, the m network devices are the first network device. If m is greater than 1, the m network devices further include an upstream device of the first network device.

[0080] In some embodiments, the first network device transmits, in a broadcast manner, device identifiers of the m network devices to each RU connected to the first network device.

[0081] The first network device periodically transmits the device identifiers of the m network devices, or the first network device randomly transmits the device identifiers of the m network devices, or the first network device transmits the device identifiers of the m network devices when it detects that a new RU is connected to the first network device. Certainly, there may be other ways to trigger the first network device to transmit the device identifiers of the m network devices, which will not be described one by one in this specification.

[0082] For RUs other than the first RU, the network devices connected to the other RUs also perform the operation of step 301 as the first network device. For ease of explanation, the other RUs are referred to as second RUs. For the network devices connected to the second RU, the network device sends device identifiers of n network devices to the second RU, where n is an integer greater than 0, and the n network devices include the network device, and the n network devices are connected to the second RU.

[0083] To illustrate this step, some examples are listed below.

[0084] Example 1: See Figure 3. Both m and n are equal to 1, and the first network device 13 sends the device identifier "ID13" of the first network device 13 to the first RU 11 and sends the device identifier "ID13" of the first network device 13 to the second RU 12.

[0085] Example 2: See Figure 4. The first network device 13 transmits device identifiers of m network devices to the first RU 11, where the device identifiers of the m network devices include the device identifier "ID13" of the first network device 13. Optionally, the device identifiers of the m network devices may further include the device identifier "ID14" of the second network device 14 and / or the device identifier "ID16" of the fourth network device 16. The second network device 14 transmits device identifiers of n network devices to the second RU 12, where the device identifiers of the n network devices include the device identifier "ID14" of the second network device 14. Optionally, the device identifiers of the n network devices may further include the device identifier "ID16" of the fourth network device 16.

[0086] Example 3: See Figure 5. The first network device 13 transmits device identifiers of m network devices to the first RU 11, where the device identifiers of the m network devices include the device identifier "ID13" of the first network device 13. Optionally, the device identifiers of the m network devices may further include the device identifier "ID14" of the second network device 14 and / or the device identifier "ID16" of the fourth network device 16. The third network device 15 transmits device identifiers of n network devices to the second RU 12. The device identifiers of the n network devices include the device identifier "ID15" of the third network device 15. Optionally, the device identifiers of the n network devices may further include the device identifier "ID16" of the fourth network device 16.

[0087] Example 4: See Figure 7. The first network device 13 transmits device identifiers of m network devices to the first RU 11, where the device identifiers of the m network devices include the device identifier "ID13" of the first network device 13. Optionally, the device identifiers of the m network devices may further include the device identifier "ID16" of the fourth network device 16. The third network device 15 transmits device identifiers of n network devices to the second RU 12, where the device identifiers of the n network devices include the device identifier "ID15" of the third network device 15. Optionally, the device identifiers of the n network devices may further include the device identifier "ID13" of the first network device 13 and / or the device identifier "ID16" of the fourth network device 16. The first network device 13 is an upstream device of the fourth network device 16.

[0088] Step 602: The first RU receives device identifiers of the m network devices, and sends the device identifiers of the m network devices to other RUs other than the first RU.

[0089] In some embodiments, the other RUs other than the first RU include neighboring RUs of the first RU.

[0090] In step 602, the first RU broadcasts device identifiers of the m network devices to other RUs other than the first RU.

[0091] Other RUs other than the first RU may also perform the operation of step 602 as the first RU. In other words, the other RUs may transmit the device identifier of the network device to the first RU.

[0092] For example, in the above Examples 1 to 4, the neighboring RUs of the second RU include the first RU. After receiving the device identifiers of the n network devices, the second RU broadcasts the device identifiers of the n network devices to the neighboring RUs of the second RU.

[0093] Step 603: The first RU receives the device identifiers of the n network devices sent by the second RU, and determines that the same device exists among the m network devices and the n network devices based on the device identifiers of the m network devices and the device identifiers of the n network devices.

[0094] If it is determined that the same device exists among the m network devices and the n network devices, the first RU adds the second RU to the cooperative group, and the cooperative group includes the first RU and the second RU, and then the first RU performs step 604.

[0095] In step 603, the first RU compares the device identifiers of the m network devices with the device identifiers of the n network devices. If the same device identifier exists among the device identifiers of the m network devices and the device identifiers of the n network devices, it is determined that the same device exists among the m network devices and the n network devices. If the comparison shows that the same device identifier does not exist among the device identifiers of the m network devices and the device identifiers of the n network devices, it is determined that the same device does not exist among the m network devices and the n network devices.

[0096] In some embodiments, the first RU adds a second RU to a cooperative group as follows: the first RU sets a label on the second RU, where the label identifies the cooperative group; or the first RU adds the device identifier of the second RU to a device identifier set, where the device identifier set includes device identifiers of RUs in the same cooperative group.

[0097] In addition to the second RU, the neighboring RUs of the first RU may further include other RUs. The first RU continues the operation of step 603 to add other RUs to the coordination group. RUs in the same coordination group are connected to the same network device or are connected to associated network devices.

[0098] For example, in Example 1, the device identifiers of the m network devices received by the first RU 11 include the device identifier "ID13" of the first network device 13, and the device identifiers of the n network devices received by the first RU 11 include the device identifier "ID13" of the first network device 13. The same device identifier "ID13" exists among the device identifiers of the m network devices and the device identifiers of the n network devices. Therefore, the first RU 11 adds the second RU 12 to the cooperative group.

[0099] In Example 2, assume that the device identifiers of the m network devices received by the first RU 11 include the device identifier "ID13" of the first network device 13, the device identifier "ID14" of the second network device 14, and the device identifier "ID16" of the fourth network device. Assume that the device identifiers of the n network devices received by the first RU 11 include the device identifier "ID14" of the second network device and the device identifier "ID16" of the fourth network device 16. The same device identifiers "ID14" and "ID16" exist among the device identifiers of the m network devices and the device identifiers of the n network devices. Therefore, the first RU 11 adds the second RU 12 to the cooperative group.

[0100] In Example 3, assume that the device identifiers of the m network devices received by the first RU 11 include the device identifier "ID13" of the first network device 13, the device identifier "ID14" of the second network device 14, and the device identifier "ID16" of the fourth network device. Assume that the device identifiers of the n network devices received by the first RU 11 include the device identifier "ID15" of the third network device, the device identifier "ID14" of the second network device 14, and the device identifier "ID16" of the fourth network device. The same device identifiers "ID14" and "ID16" exist among the device identifiers of the m network devices and the device identifiers of the n network devices. Therefore, the first RU 11 adds the second RU 12 to the cooperative group.

[0101] In Example 4, assume that the device identifiers of the m network devices received by the first RU 11 include the device identifier "ID13" of the first network device 13 and the device identifier "ID16" of the fourth network device. Assume that the device identifiers of the n network devices received by the first RU 11 include the device identifier "ID15" of the third network device, the device identifier "ID13" of the first network device 13, and the device identifier "ID16" of the fourth network device. The same device identifiers "ID13" and "ID16" exist among the device identifiers of the m network devices and the device identifiers of the n network devices. Therefore, the first RU 11 adds the second RU 12 to the cooperative group.

[0102] For any RU other than the first RU in the cooperative group, the RU is still referred to as the second RU, and for the second RU, the first RU performs cooperative communication processing, which is used to implement cooperative communication between the first RU and the second RU. Cooperative communication in this specification means that the first RU and the second RU cooperate to communicate with the UE. Specifically, the cooperative communication processing may be performed by the following operations of steps 604 and 605.

[0103] In some embodiments, the cooperative communication process includes a channel compensation process, such as a channel compensation process, used to compensate for the channel between the first RU and the second RU.

[0104] Step 604: The first RU receives first synchronization information sent by the first network device, where the first synchronization information includes first time synchronization information and / or first frequency synchronization information.

[0105] In some embodiments, the first time synchronization information and the first frequency synchronization information are generated by the first network device. The first network device includes a local clock, and the first network device generates the first time synchronization information and / or the first frequency synchronization information using the local clock. Optionally, the first time synchronization information includes a timing instant of the local clock. For example, the first time synchronization information includes a current timing instant of the local clock. The first frequency synchronization information includes an operating frequency of the local clock.

[0106] The first network device also receives third synchronization information sent by the upstream device of the first network device, and synchronizes a local clock of the first network device based on the third synchronization information.

[0107] During implementation, the third synchronization information includes third time synchronization information and / or third frequency synchronization information, where the third time synchronization information includes a timing instant of the clock of the upstream device and the third frequency synchronization information includes an operating frequency of the clock of the upstream device. The first network device obtains a transmission latency of the third synchronization information and performs time synchronization on the local clock of the first network device based on the transmission latency and the third synchronization information, whereby a current timing instant of the local clock of the first network device is synchronized with a current timing instant of the clock of the upstream device, and / or the first network device performs frequency synchronization on the local clock of the first network device based on the third frequency synchronization information, such that the operating frequency of the local clock of the first network device is synchronized with the operating frequency of the clock of the upstream device.

[0108] The BU or clock source of the fronthaul network transmits synchronization information to the fronthaul network. For any network device in the fronthaul network, after receiving the synchronization information, the network device synchronizes its local clock based on the synchronization information as the first network device, then generates synchronization information based on the synchronized local clock, and transmits the generated synchronization information.

[0109] In some embodiments, the first synchronization information is generated by an upstream device of the first network device, and the first network device receives the first synchronization information transmitted by the upstream device and transmits the first synchronization information to the first RU, i.e., the first RU receives the first time synchronization information and / or the first frequency synchronization information transmitted by the upstream device of the first network device via the first network device.

[0110] Similarly, for a second RU in the same cooperative group, the second RU also receives second synchronization information transmitted by a network device connected to the second RU, where the second synchronization information includes second time synchronization information and / or second frequency synchronization information.

[0111] It should be noted that the first RU and the second RU are in the same cooperative group. In the case of a network device connected to the second RU, the first network device and the network device connected to the first RU may be the same network device, or the first network device may be associated with the network device. Therefore, the difference between the local clock of the first network device and the local clock of the network device is very small, and the local clock of the first network device is synchronized or essentially synchronized with the local clock of the network device. Therefore, the information difference between the first synchronization information transmitted by the first network device and the second synchronization information transmitted by the network device does not exceed a specified difference. Specifically, the time difference between the first time synchronization information and the second time synchronization information does not exceed a specified time difference threshold, and / or the frequency difference between the first frequency synchronization information and the second frequency synchronization information does not exceed a specified frequency difference threshold.

[0112] In some embodiments, before transmitting the first time synchronization information and / or the first frequency synchronization information, the first network device further filters noise in the first time synchronization information and / or noise in the second frequency synchronization information.

[0113] In the process of transmitting the first time synchronization information and / or the first frequency synchronization information, noise is generated in the first time synchronization information and / or the first frequency synchronization information. Therefore, after receiving the first synchronization information, the first RU suppresses the noise in the first synchronization information. That is, after receiving the first time synchronization information, the first RU suppresses the noise in the first time synchronization information and / or after receiving the first frequency synchronization information, the first RU suppresses the noise in the first frequency synchronization information.

[0114] The noise in the first time synchronization information includes error information in the first time synchronization information, and the first frequency synchronization information includes error information in the first frequency synchronization information, so that the noise in the first time synchronization information can be suppressed to remove the error information in the first time synchronization information, and the noise in the first frequency synchronization information can be suppressed to remove the error information in the first frequency synchronization information.

[0115] In some embodiments, the first RU includes an interface chip or filter, and the first RU uses the interface chip or filter to filter noise in the first time synchronization information to suppress noise in the first time synchronization information, and / or the first RU uses the interface chip or filter to filter noise in the first frequency synchronization information to suppress noise in the first frequency synchronization information.

[0116] The first network device transmits first time synchronization information and / or first frequency synchronization information using a signal. The first time synchronization information is carried on a time synchronization signal, and the first frequency synchronization information is carried on a frequency synchronization signal. The time synchronization signal includes noise of the first time synchronization information, and the frequency synchronization signal includes noise of the first frequency synchronization information. Thus, the first network device or the first RU filters the noise of the time synchronization signal to filter the noise of the first time synchronization information, and the first network device or the first RU filters the noise of the frequency synchronization signal to filter the noise of the first frequency synchronization information.

[0117] After receiving the second synchronization information, the second RU suppresses noise in the second synchronization information, i.e., after receiving the second time synchronization information, the second RU suppresses noise in the second time synchronization information, and / or after receiving the second frequency synchronization information, the second RU suppresses noise in the second frequency synchronization information.

[0118] Neither the noise in the first synchronization information obtained by suppression by the first RU nor the noise in the second synchronization information obtained by suppression by the second RU exceeds a specified noise threshold, specifically, neither the noise in the first time synchronization information nor the noise in the second time synchronization information exceeds a first specified noise threshold, and / or neither the noise in the first frequency synchronization information nor the noise in the second frequency synchronization information exceeds a second specified noise threshold.

[0119] Specifically, the information difference between the first synchronization information in the first RU and the second synchronization information in the second RU does not exceed a specified difference, and the noise in the first synchronization information in the first RU and the noise in the second synchronization information in the second RU do not exceed a specified noise threshold, i.e., the first synchronization information in the first RU and the second synchronization information in the second RU satisfy the second specified condition.

[0120] Step 605: The first RU performs a channel correction process based on the first time synchronization information and / or the first frequency synchronization information.

[0121] The channel between the first RU and the second RU includes a first channel and a second channel, the first channel includes a downlink channel of the first RU and an uplink channel of the second RU, and the second channel includes a downlink channel of the second RU and an uplink channel of the first RU.

[0122] In step 605, the first RU measures a latency difference between the transmission latency of the first channel and the transmission latency of the second channel based on the first time synchronization information and / or the first frequency synchronization information, and performs channel correction processing based on the latency difference.

[0123] In some embodiments, the first RU performs the channel correction process through the following operations at 6051 to 6057, where the operations at 6051 to 6057 are as follows:

[0124] 6051: The first RU synchronizes a local clock of the first RU based on the first time synchronization information and / or the first frequency synchronization information.

[0125] In 6051, the first RU obtains the transmission latency of the first time synchronization information, and performs time synchronization on the local clock of the first RU based on the first time synchronization information and the transmission latency of the first time synchronization information, and / or the first RU performs frequency synchronization on the local clock of the first RU based on the first frequency synchronization information.

[0126] See Figure 8. The first RU includes a comparator, a filter, a signal generator, etc. The filter is separately connected to the comparator and the signal generator, and the signal generator is further connected to the local clock of the first RU and the comparator. The signal generator is configured to generate a first frequency signal and input the first frequency signal to the local clock of the first RU. The local clock of the first RU is timed based on the first frequency signal, i.e., the first frequency signal is the operating frequency of the local clock of the first RU.

[0127] In some embodiments, the operation of the first RU to perform frequency synchronization with its local clock based on the first frequency synchronization information is as follows: a comparator receives a first frequency signal input by a signal generator, and compares the first frequency synchronization information received by the first RU with the frequency of the first frequency signal to obtain a frequency difference, where the frequency difference is the frequency difference between the first frequency synchronization information and the frequency; and the comparator inputs a second frequency signal to a filter, where the frequency of the second frequency signal is equal to the frequency difference.

[0128] The filter filters the second frequency signal to obtain a third frequency signal, and inputs the third frequency signal to the signal generator. The signal generator compensates the first frequency signal generated by the signal generator based on the third frequency signal, and inputs the compensated first frequency signal to the local clock of the first RU.

[0129] In some embodiments, the comparator includes a phase detector (PD) or the like, the filter includes a low-pass filter (LPF) or the like, and the signal generator includes a voltage controlled crystal oscillator (VCXO) or the like.

[0130] Similarly, the second RU obtains the transmission latency of the second time synchronization information, and performs time synchronization with its local clock based on the second time synchronization information and the transmission latency of the second time synchronization information, and / or the second RU performs frequency synchronization with its local clock based on the second frequency synchronization information.

[0131] The first synchronization information and the second synchronization information satisfy a second specified condition. Specifically, the time difference between the first time synchronization information and the second time synchronization information does not exceed a specified time difference threshold, and the frequency difference between the first frequency synchronization information and the second frequency synchronization information does not exceed a specified frequency difference threshold. In this way, the first RU performs frequency synchronization with its local clock based on the first frequency synchronization information, and the second RU performs frequency synchronization with its local clock based on the second frequency synchronization information, so that the frequency difference between the operating frequency of the first RU's local clock and the operating frequency of the second RU's local clock does not exceed a specified frequency difference threshold. The frequency difference between the operating frequency of the first RU's local clock and the operating frequency of the second RU's local clock is also called a frequency offset, and the frequency offset does not exceed a specified frequency difference threshold.

[0132] The first RU performs time synchronization with its local clock based on the first time synchronization information, and the second RU performs time synchronization with its local clock based on the second frequency synchronization information. In addition, the frequency offset between the local clock of the first RU and the local clock of the second RU does not exceed a specified frequency difference threshold, so the time difference between the current timing instant of the local clock of the first RU and the current timing instant of the local clock of the second RU does not exceed a specified time difference threshold. Therefore, the synchronized local clock of the first RU and the synchronized local clock of the second RU satisfy the above-mentioned first specified condition. Specifically, the time difference between the current timing instant of the local clock of the first RU and the current timing instant of the local clock of the second RU is less than the specified time difference threshold.

[0133] 6052: The first RU sends first correction information to the second RU, and obtains a first transmission time T1 from the local clock of the first RU, where the first transmission time T1 is the time when the first correction information is sent.

[0134] The first RU transmits the first correction information to the second RU via the downlink channel of the first RU.

[0135] 6053: The second RU receives the first correction information and obtains a first reception time T2 from the local clock of the second RU, where the first reception time T2 is the time when the first correction information is received.

[0136] The second RU receives the first correction information transmitted by the first RU via the uplink channel of the second RU.

[0137] 6054: The second RU transmits second correction information to the first RU.

[0138] The second RU transmits second correction information via the uplink channel of the second RU.

[0139] In 6054, the second RU obtains a second transmission time T3 from the second RU's local clock, where the second transmission time T3 is the time at which the second RU transmits the second correction information.

[0140] In some embodiments, the second correction information includes the first reception time T2 and the second transmission time T3, or the second RU transmits the first reception time T2 and the second transmission time T3 to the first RU.

[0141] 6055: The first RU receives the second correction information and obtains the second reception time T4, the first reception time T2, and the second transmission time T3, where the second reception time T4 is the time when the second correction information is received.

[0142] In 6055, upon receiving the second correction information, the first RU obtains a second reception time T4 from its local clock. The second correction information includes the first reception time T2 and the second transmission time T3. The first RU obtains the first reception time T2 and the second transmission time T3 from the second correction information. Alternatively, the first RU receives the first reception time T2 and the second transmission time T3 transmitted by the second RU.

[0143] 6056: The first RU obtains a latency difference between the transmission latency of the first channel and the transmission latency of the second channel based on T1, T2, T3, and T4.

[0144] The transmission latency of the first channel is equal to T2-T1, the transmission latency of the second channel is equal to T4-T3, and the latency difference between the transmission latency of the first channel and the transmission latency of the second channel is equal to (T2-T1)-(T4-T3).

[0145] Because the time difference between the current timing instant of the local clock of the first RU and the current timing instant of the local clock of the second RU is less than the specified time difference threshold, the obtained T1, T2, T3, and T4 are accurate, improving the accuracy of obtaining the latency difference and improving the accuracy of channel correction.

[0146] 6057: The first RU performs channel correction processing based on the latency difference.

[0147] In some embodiments, the first RU compensates for the transmission latency of the first channel or the transmission latency of the second channel based on the latency difference, thereby performing channel correction processing for the first channel and the second channel, such that the transmission latency of the first channel is equal to the transmission latency of the second channel. In this manner, the first channel and the second channel are reciprocal.

[0148] In some embodiments, a first RU transmits a latency difference to a second RU, and the second RU compensates for the transmission latency of the first channel or the transmission latency of the second channel based on the latency difference, thereby performing channel correction processing for the first channel and the second channel, such that the transmission latency of the first channel is equal to the transmission latency of the second channel. In this way, the first channel and the second channel are reciprocal.

[0149] The first RU completes the channel correction process, and the first RU and the second RU communicate with the first UE, and the first RU and the second RU communicate with the second UE. In addition to receiving signals transmitted to the first UE by the first RU and the second RU, the first UE can also receive signals transmitted to the second UE by the first RU and the second RU. However, at the first UE, the signals transmitted to the second UE by the first RU and the second RU are canceled out. Similarly, in addition to receiving signals transmitted to the second UE by the first RU and the second RU, the second UE can also receive signals transmitted to the first UE by the first RU and the second RU. However, at the second UE, the signals transmitted to the first UE by the first RU and the second RU are canceled out. In this way, the first RU and the second RU can communicate cooperatively with the UE.

[0150] In this embodiment of the present application, a first RU is connected to m network devices, and a second RU is connected to n network devices. The first RU determines that the same device exists among the m network devices and the n network devices based on the device identifiers of the m network devices transmitted by the first network device and the device identifiers of the n network devices transmitted by the second RU. If it is determined that the same device exists among the m network devices and the n network devices, it is determined that the network device directly connected to the first RU is the same as the network device directly connected to the second RU, or that the network device directly connected to the first RU is associated with the network device directly connected to the second RU. For example, the network device directly connected to the first RU and the network device directly connected to the second RU have an upstream-downstream relationship, or the network device directly connected to the first RU and the network device directly connected to the second RU have the same upstream device. In this way, the first RU ensures that the first synchronization information received by the first RU and the second synchronization information received by the second RU satisfy the second specified condition described above. The first RU synchronizes its local clock based on the first synchronization information, and the second RU synchronizes its local clock based on the second synchronization information, so that the difference between the local clock of the first RU and the local clock of the second RU is small, close to 0. In this way, the first RU and the second RU perform cooperative communication, i.e., the first RU and the second RU perform channel correction to improve channel correction accuracy, so that the channels between the first RU and the second RU are reciprocal.

[0151] Please refer to Figure 9. One embodiment of the present application provides a communication device 900. The device 900 is located on an RU in any one of the aforementioned embodiments, for example, on RU 1, RU 2, or RU 3 in the network architecture shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2, or on the first RU or the second RU in the embodiment shown in Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5, Figure 6, or Figure 7. The device 900 includes: a receiving unit 901, configured to receive device identifiers of m network devices sent by a first network device, the m network devices including the first network device, the m network devices being connected to each other, and m being an integer greater than 0; The receiving unit 901 is further configured to receive device identifiers of n network devices sent by a second RU, where the second RU is connected to the n network devices, and n is an integer greater than 0; A processing unit 902 configured to determine, based on the m device identifiers and the n device identifiers, that a same device exists among the m network devices and the n network devices, The processing unit 902 is further configured to perform cooperative communication processing, which is used to implement cooperative communication between the apparatus 900 and a second RU. Includes.

[0152] Optionally, for detailed implementation process of the receiving unit 901 receiving m device identifiers and n device identifiers, please refer to the relevant content of steps 601 to 603 of method 600 shown in FIG. 6, and the details will not be repeated here.

[0153] Optionally, for detailed implementation process of the processing unit 902 determining the same device and performing cooperative communication processing, please refer to the relevant content of steps 604 and 605 of the method 600 shown in FIG. 6, and the details will not be repeated here.

[0154] Optionally, the receiving unit 901 is further configured to receive time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information sent by the first network device.

[0155] The processing unit 902 is configured to perform a channel correction process based on the time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information, where the channel correction process is used to correct the channel between the apparatus 900 and the second RU.

[0156] Optionally, for detailed implementation process of the receiving unit 901 receiving time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information, please refer to the relevant content of step 604 of method 600 shown in FIG. 6, and the details will not be repeated here.

[0157] Optionally, for a detailed implementation process of the processing unit 902 performing the channel correction process, please refer to the relevant content of step 605 of the method 600 shown in FIG. 6, and the details will not be repeated here.

[0158] Optionally, the channel between device 900 and the second RU includes a first channel and a second channel, the first channel includes a downlink channel of device 900 and an uplink channel of the second RU, and the second channel includes a downlink channel of the second RU and an uplink channel of device 900.

[0159] The processing unit 902 is configured to measure a latency difference between a transmission latency of the first channel and a transmission latency of the second channel based on the time synchronization information and / or the frequency synchronization information, and perform a channel correction process based on the latency difference.

[0160] Optionally, for a detailed implementation process of the processing unit 902 measuring the latency difference, please refer to the relevant contents of steps 6051 to 6056 of the method 600 shown in FIG. 6, and the details will not be repeated here.

[0161] Optionally, the processing unit 902 is configured to compensate for the transmission latency of the first channel or the transmission latency of the second channel based on the latency difference.

[0162] Optionally, for detailed implementation process of the processing unit 902 compensating for the transmission latency of the first channel or the transmission latency of the second channel, please refer to the relevant content of step 6057 of method 600 shown in FIG. 6, and the details will not be repeated here.

[0163] Optionally, the apparatus 900 further includes a sending unit 903 .

[0164] The transmitting unit 903 is configured to transmit the latency difference to the second RU, where the latency difference is used to compensate for the transmission latency of the first channel or the transmission latency of the second channel.

[0165] Optionally, the processing unit 902 is further configured to suppress noise in the time synchronization information and / or noise in the frequency synchronization information.

[0166] Optionally, for a detailed implementation process of the processing unit 902 suppressing noise, please refer to the relevant content of step 604 of the method 600 shown in FIG. 6, and the details will not be repeated here.

[0167] Optionally, the receiving unit 901 is configured to receive time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information transmitted by a second network device via a first network device, where the second network device is an upstream device of the first network device.

[0168] Optionally, for detailed implementation process of the receiving unit 901 receiving time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information, please refer to the relevant content of step 604 of method 600 shown in FIG. 6, and the details will not be repeated here.

[0169] Optionally, the first network device is a fronthaul device directly connected to the apparatus 900.

[0170] Optionally, the n network devices include a first network device, and the first network device is a fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU; or The n network devices include a third network device, where the third network device is a fronthaul device connected to the second RU, and the first network device is an upstream device of the third network device.

[0171] Optionally, the m network devices further include a second network device, where the second network device is an upstream device of the first network device, and the n network devices include a second network device, where the second network device is a fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU or an upstream device of a fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU.

[0172] Optionally, the processing unit 902 is further configured to add a second RU to the cooperative group, where the RUs in the cooperative group are configured to perform cooperative communication.

[0173] Optionally, for a detailed implementation process of the processing unit 902 adding the second RU to the cooperative group, please refer to the relevant content of step 603 of the method 600 shown in FIG. 6, and the details will not be repeated here.

[0174] Optionally, the manner in which the first network device transmits the m device identifiers includes a broadcast manner, and / or the manner in which the second RU transmits the n device identifiers includes a broadcast manner.

[0175] In this embodiment of the present application, a device is connected to m network devices, and a second RU is connected to n network devices. The processing unit determines that the same device exists among the m network devices and the n network devices based on the device identifiers of the m network devices transmitted by the first network device and the device identifiers of the n network devices transmitted by the second RU. Therefore, the network device directly connected to the device is the same as the network device directly connected to the second RU, or the network device directly connected to the device is associated with the network device directly connected to the second RU. The processing unit performs cooperative communication with the second RU. In this way, the channel between the device and the second RU can be reciprocal.

[0176] Please refer to Fig. 10. One embodiment of the present application provides a communication device 1000. The device 1000 is deployed on a network device in any one of the aforementioned embodiments, for example, deployed on a network device (e.g., network device 1, network device 2, ...) in the network architecture shown in Fig. 1 or Fig. 2, or deployed on a first network device, a second network device, or a third network device in the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5, Fig. 6, or Fig. 7. The device 1000 includes: and a transmitting unit 1001 configured to transmit device identifiers of the m network devices to a first radio unit RU, wherein the m network devices include apparatus 1000, wherein the m network devices are connected to each other, m is an integer greater than 0, the m device identifiers are used to trigger the first RU to perform a cooperative communication process, the cooperative communication process is used to implement cooperative communication between the first RU and a second RU, the second RU is connected to n network devices, n is an integer greater than 0, and the same device exists among the m network devices and the n network devices.

[0177] Optionally, for a detailed implementation process of the sending unit 1001 sending the device identifiers of the m network devices, please refer to the relevant content of step 601 of the method 600 shown in FIG. 6, and the details will not be repeated here.

[0178] Optionally, the sending unit 1001 is further configured to send time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information to the first RU.

[0179] Optionally, for detailed implementation process of the transmitting unit 1001 transmitting time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information, please refer to the relevant content of step 604 of method 600 shown in FIG. 6, and the details will not be repeated here.

[0180] Optionally, the apparatus 1000 further includes a processing unit 1002 .

[0181] The processing unit 1002 is configured to filter noise in the time synchronization information and / or noise in the frequency synchronization information.

[0182] Optionally, for a detailed implementation process of the processing unit 1002 filtering noise, please refer to the relevant content of step 604 of the method 600 shown in FIG. 6, and the details will not be repeated here.

[0183] Optionally, the apparatus 1000 is a fronthaul device connected to the first RU.

[0184] Optionally, the m network devices further include a second network device, which is an upstream device of the apparatus 1000. The n network devices include a second network device, which is a fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU, or an upstream device of a fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU.

[0185] Optionally, the n network devices include apparatus 1000, where the apparatus is a fronthaul device connected to the second RU; or The n network devices include the device 1000 and a third network device, the third network device is a fronthaul device connected to the second RU, and the device 1000 is an upstream device of the third network device.

[0186] Optionally, the manner in which the sending unit 1001 sends the m device identifiers includes a broadcast manner.

[0187] In this embodiment of the present application, a first RU is connected to m network devices, and a second RU is connected to n network devices. The transceiver unit transmits device identifiers of the m network devices to the first RU, so that the first RU determines that the same device exists among the m network devices and the n network devices based on the device identifiers of the m network devices transmitted by the transceiver unit and the device identifiers of the n network devices transmitted by the second RU. Therefore, the network device directly connected to the first RU is the same as the network device directly connected to the second RU, or the network device directly connected to the first RU is associated with the network device directly connected to the second RU. In this way, the first RU and the second RU perform cooperative communication, so that the channel between the first RU and the second RU can be reciprocal.

[0188] Please refer to Figure 11. One embodiment of this application provides a schematic diagram of a communication device 1100. The device 1100 may be an RU in any of the aforementioned embodiments. For example, the device 1100 may be RU 1, RU 2, or RU 3 in the network architecture shown in Figure 1 or 2, or the first RU or second RU in the embodiments shown in Figure 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7. The device 1100 includes at least one processor 1101, an internal connection 1102, a memory 1103, and at least one transceiver 1104.

[0189] The apparatus 1100 is a hardware-structured apparatus and may be configured to implement the functional modules in the apparatus 900 shown in Fig. 9. For example, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the processing unit 902 in the apparatus 900 shown in Fig. 9 may be implemented by at least one processor 1101 by calling codes in a memory 1103, and the receiving unit 901 and the transmitting unit 903 in the apparatus 900 shown in Fig. 9 may be implemented by a transceiver 1104.

[0190] Optionally, the apparatus 1100 may be further configured to perform the functions of an RU (e.g., a first RU) in any of the foregoing embodiments.

[0191] Optionally, the processor 1101 may be a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a network processor (NP), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits configured to control program execution of the solutions of this application.

[0192] The internal connection 1102 may include paths for transmitting information between the aforementioned components. Optionally, the internal connection 1102 is a board, a bus, or the like.

[0193] The transceiver 1104 is configured to communicate with other devices or communication networks.

[0194] The memory 1103 may be, but is not limited to, read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage devices capable of storing static information and instructions, random access memory (RAM) or other types of dynamic storage devices capable of storing information and instructions, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other disk storage devices, optical disk storage devices (including compact discs, laser discs, optical discs, digital versatile discs, Blu-ray discs, etc.), magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium capable of carrying or storing expected program code in the form of instructions or data structures and accessible by a computer. The memory may exist independently or be connected to the processor via a bus. The memory and the processor may be integrated.

[0195] The memory 1103 is configured to store application program code for implementing the solution in this application, and the processor 1101 controls the execution of the application program code. The processor 1101 is configured to execute the application program code stored in the memory 1103 and to cooperate with at least one transceiver 1104 to enable the device 1100 to perform the functions of the methods in this patent.

[0196] In a specific implementation, in one embodiment, the processor 1101 may include one or more CPUs, for example, CPU 0 and CPU 1 in FIG.

[0197] In a specific implementation, in one embodiment, apparatus 1100 may include multiple processors, such as processor 1101 and processor 1107 of FIG. 11. Each of these processors may be a single-CPU processor or a multi-CPU processor. A processor, in this context, may be one or more devices, circuits, and / or processing cores configured to process data (e.g., computer program instructions).

[0198] Please refer to Figure 12. One embodiment of this application provides a schematic diagram of a communication device 1200. The device 1200 may be a network device of any of the aforementioned embodiments. For example, the device 1200 may be a network device (e.g., network device 1, network device 2, ...) in the network architecture shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2, or the first network device, second network device, or third network device in the embodiments shown in Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5, Figure 6, or Figure 7, etc. The device 1200 includes at least one processor 1201, an internal connection 1202, a memory 1203, and at least one transceiver 1204.

[0199] The apparatus 1200 is a hardware-structured apparatus and may be configured to implement the functional modules in the apparatus 1000 shown in Fig. 10. For example, those skilled in the art can understand that the processing unit 1002 in the apparatus 1000 shown in Fig. 10 may be implemented by at least one processor 1201 by calling codes in a memory 1203, and the transmitting unit 1001 in the apparatus 1000 shown in Fig. 10 may be implemented by a transceiver 1204.

[0200] Optionally, the apparatus 1200 may be further configured to perform the functions of a network device (eg, a first network device) in any of the aforementioned embodiments.

[0201] Optionally, the processor 1201 may be a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a network processor (NP), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits configured to control program execution of the solutions of this application.

[0202] The internal connection 1202 may include paths for transmitting information between the aforementioned components. Optionally, the internal connection 1202 is a board, a bus, or the like.

[0203] The transceiver 1204 is configured to communicate with other devices or communication networks.

[0204] The memory 1203 may be, but is not limited to, read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage capable of storing static information and instructions, random access memory (RAM) or other types of dynamic storage capable of storing information and instructions, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other disk storage, optical disk storage (including compact discs, laser discs, optical discs, digital versatile discs, Blu-ray discs, etc.), magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium capable of carrying or storing expected program code in the form of instructions or data structures and accessible by a computer. The memory may exist independently or be connected to the processor via a bus. The memory and the processor may be integrated.

[0205] The memory 1203 is configured to store application program code for implementing the solution in this application, and the processor 1201 controls the execution of the application program code. The processor 1201 is configured to execute the application program code stored in the memory 1203 and cooperate with at least one transceiver 1204 to enable the device 1200 to perform the functions of the methods in this patent.

[0206] In a specific implementation, in one embodiment, processor 1201 may include one or more CPUs, for example, CPU 0 and CPU 1 in FIG.

[0207] In a specific implementation, in one embodiment, apparatus 1200 may include multiple processors, such as processor 1201 and processor 1207 of FIG. 12. Each of these processors may be a single-CPU processor or a multi-CPU processor. A processor, in this context, may be one or more devices, circuits, and / or processing cores configured to process data (e.g., computer program instructions).

[0208] Please refer to Figure 13. One embodiment of the present application provides a communication system 1300. The system 1300 includes the device 900 shown in Figure 9 and the device 1000 shown in Figure 10. Alternatively, the system 1300 includes the device 1100 shown in Figure 11 and the device 1200 shown in Figure 12.

[0209] Optionally, the device 900 shown in FIG. 9 or the device 1100 shown in FIG. 11 is the first RU 1301, and the device 1000 shown in FIG. 10 or the device 1200 shown in FIG.

[0210] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, all or part of the steps of the embodiments may be implemented by hardware or a program instructing related hardware. The program may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. The storage medium may include a read-only memory, a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

[0211] The foregoing description is only an optional embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Any modification, equivalent replacement, or improvement made without departing from the spirit and principle of this application shall fall within the protection scope of this application. [Explanation of symbols]

[0212] 1 Network devices, signals 2 Network devices, signals 11 Network Devices 12 Network Devices 13 First Network Device 14 Secondary Network Device 15 Third Network Device 16 The Fourth Network Device 100 Network Architecture 101 BU 102 Clock Source 600 Communication Methods 900 Communication Equipment 901 receiving unit 902 Processing Unit 903 Transmitting Unit 1000 Communication Equipment 1001 Transmitting Unit 1002 Processing Unit 1100 Communication equipment 1101 processor 1102 Internal Connection 1103 Memory 1104 Transceiver 1107 processor 1200 Communication Equipment 1201 processor 1202 Internal Connection 1203 memory 1204 transceiver 1207 processor 1300 Communication Systems 1302 Network Devices

Claims

1. A computer-implemented communication method for a first radio unit (RU), the method comprising: receiving, by the first RU, device identifiers of m network devices transmitted by a first network device, wherein the m network devices include the first network device, the m network devices are connected to each other, and the m network devices are included in a fronthaul network, and m is an integer greater than 0; receiving, by the first RU, device identifiers of n network devices transmitted by a second RU, where the second RU is connected to the n network devices included in the fronthaul network, and n is an integer greater than 0; determining, by the first RU, that the same device exists among the m network devices and the n network devices based on the m device identifiers and the n device identifiers; In response to determining that the same device exists, adding, by the first RU, the second RU to a cooperation group that includes the first RU; performing, by the first RU, a cooperative communication process, the cooperative communication process being used to implement cooperative communication between the first RU and the second RU in the same cooperative group; A communication method, including:

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of receiving, by the first RU, first synchronization information transmitted by the first network device.

3. The cooperative communication processing synchronizing, by the first RU, a local clock of the first RU based on the first synchronization information; and transmitting, by the first RU, first correction information to the second RU based on the first synchronization information.

4. The first synchronization information includes time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information, The step of performing cooperative communication processing by the first RU includes: synchronizing, by the first RU, the local clock of the first RU based on the time synchronization information and / or the frequency synchronization information; Compensating for a latency difference between the first RU and the second RU; 4. The method of claim 3, comprising:

5. the channel between the first RU and the second RU includes a first channel and a second channel, the first channel includes a downlink channel of the first RU and an uplink channel of the second RU, and the second channel includes a downlink channel of the second RU and an uplink channel of the first RU; The step of synchronizing, by the first RU, the local clock of the first RU based on the time synchronization information and / or the frequency synchronization information includes: transmitting, by the first RU, the first correction information to the second RU via the downlink channel of the first RU; acquiring a first transmission time T1 when the first RU transmits the first correction information; receiving, by the first RU, second correction information from the second RU via the uplink channel of the second RU, the second correction information including a first reception time T2 when the second RU receives the first correction information and a second transmission time T3 when the second RU transmits the second correction information; acquiring, by the first RU, a second reception time T4 when the second correction information is received; measuring, by the first RU, a latency difference between a transmission latency of the first channel and a transmission latency of the second channel based on the first transmission time T1, the first reception time T2, the second transmission time T3, and the second reception time T4; compensating, by the first RU, for the transmission latency of the first channel or the transmission latency of the second channel based on the latency difference; 5. The method of claim 4, comprising:

6. The step of compensating, by the first RU, for the transmission latency of the first channel or the transmission latency of the second channel based on the latency difference, includes: compensating, by the first RU, for the transmission latency of the first channel or the transmission latency of the second channel based on the latency difference; transmitting, by the first RU, the latency difference to the second RU, wherein the latency difference is used by the second RU to compensate for the transmission latency of the first channel or the transmission latency of the second channel; 6. The method of claim 5, comprising:

7. Before the step of synchronizing, by the first RU, the local clock of the first RU based on the time synchronization information and / or the frequency synchronization information, the method includes: suppressing, by the first RU, noise in the time synchronization information and / or noise in the frequency synchronization information; 7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

8. The step of receiving, by the first RU, time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information transmitted by the first network device includes: receiving, by the first RU, the time synchronization information and / or the frequency synchronization information transmitted by a second network device via the first network device, the second network device being an upstream device of the first network device; 7. The method of any one of claims 4 to 6, comprising:

9. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network device is a fronthaul device directly connected to the first RU.

10. the n network devices include the first network device, and the first network device is a fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU; or the n network devices include a third network device, the third network device is a fronthaul device connected to the second RU, and the first network device is an upstream device of the third network device; The method of claim 9.

11. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the m network devices further include the second network device, and the second network device is the upstream device of the first network device; and the n network devices include the second network device, and the second network device is a fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU or an upstream device of a fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU.

12. A step of transmitting the m device identifiers by the first RU to one or more RUs other than the first RU, wherein an RU among the one or more RUs receiving the m device identifiers transmits the m device identifiers to the one or more RUs other than the first RU; and / or transmitting, by the second RU, the n device identifiers to the one or more RUs other than the second RU, wherein a RU among the one or more RUs that receives the n device identifiers transmits the n device identifiers to the one or more RUs other than the second RU; 7. The method of any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising:

13. A communication method executed by a computer of a first network device, the method comprising: sending, by the first network device, device identifiers of m network devices to a first radio unit (RU), wherein the m network devices include the first network device, the m network devices are connected to each other, and the m network devices are included in a fronthaul network, m is an integer greater than 0, the m device identifiers are used to trigger the first RU to perform a cooperative communication process, the cooperative communication process is used to implement cooperative communication between the first RU and a second RU, the second RU is connected to n network devices included in the fronthaul network, n is an integer greater than 0, and the same device exists among the m network devices and the n network devices; transmitting, by the first network device, first synchronization information to the first RU, wherein the first RU synchronizes a local clock of the first RU based on the first synchronization information, and transmits first correction information based on the first synchronization information to the second RU; A communication method, including:

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first synchronization information includes time synchronization information and / or frequency synchronization information.

15. Before the step of transmitting, by the first network device, the first synchronization information to the first RU, the method further comprises: filtering, by the first network device, noise in the time synchronization information and / or noise in the frequency synchronization information; 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

16. 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the first network device is a fronthaul device connected to the first RU.

17. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the m network devices further include a second network device, the second network device being an upstream device of the first network device, and the n network devices include the second network device, the second network device being a fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU or an upstream device of a fronthaul device directly connected to the second RU.

18. the n network devices include the first network device, and the first network device is a fronthaul device connected to the second RU; or the n network devices include the first network device and a third network device, the third network device is a fronthaul device connected to the second RU, and the first network device is an upstream device of the third network device; 17. The method of claim 16.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the manner in which the first network device transmits the m device identifiers comprises a broadcast manner.

20. 16. A communications device comprising at least one processor, the at least one processor coupled to a memory and configured to read and execute instructions in the memory to perform a method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 or any one of claims 13 to 15.

21. 16. A communication system comprising a first radio unit (RU) and a first network device, wherein the first RU is configured to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 6, and the first network device is configured to perform the method of any one of claims 13 to 15.

22. 16. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, the computer program, when executed by a computer, performing the method of any one of claims 1 to 6 or any one of claims 13 to 15.

23. A communication device comprising a unit configured to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 6 or any one of claims 13 to 15.

24. 16. A computer program, when executed on a processor, that enables the processor to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 6 or any one of claims 13 to 15.

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