Relay discovery method, apparatus, communication device, storage medium, and communication system

Abstract

A relay discovery method, an apparatus, a communication device, a storage medium, and a communication system. The method comprises: a first relay device acquires a first quantity, wherein the first quantity is used for identifying the quantity of relay devices which are supported by a first terminal and by means of which the first terminal communicates with a second terminal. According to the method, a relay discovery method that supports multi-hop terminal-to-terminal (Users to Users, U2U) communication for models B is implemented.

Description

Relay discovery method, device, communication equipment, storage medium and communication system Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a relay discovery method, apparatus, communication equipment, storage medium, and communication system. Background Art

[0002] In a communication system, terminals can use relay discovery to determine the relay devices required for user-to-user (U2U) relay services. In related art, Model B relay discovery between terminals uses only one hop, and there is no multi-hop relay discovery method that supports Model B.

[0003] Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present disclosure provides a relay discovery method, apparatus, communication equipment, storage medium, and communication system.

[0005] According to the first aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a relay discovery method is proposed, which is executed by a first relay device. The method includes: obtaining a first number, wherein the first number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal and through which communication with the second terminal is carried out.

[0006] According to the second aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a relay discovery method is proposed, which is executed by a first terminal. The method includes: sending a first number to the first relay device, wherein the first number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal and through which communication with the second terminal is carried out.

[0007] According to the third aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a relay discovery method is proposed, which is executed by a second terminal. The method includes: obtaining a first number, wherein the first number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal and through which communication with the second terminal is carried out.

[0008] According to a fourth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a first relay device is proposed, comprising: a transceiver module for obtaining a first number, wherein the first number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by a first terminal and through which communication with a second terminal is performed.

[0009] According to the fifth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a first terminal is proposed, which includes: a transceiver module for sending a first number to a first relay device, wherein the first number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal and through which communication with a second terminal is carried out.

[0010] According to a sixth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a second terminal is proposed, comprising: a transceiver module for acquiring a first number, wherein the first number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal and through which communication with the second terminal is performed.

[0011] According to the seventh aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication device is proposed, comprising: a transceiver; a memory; and a processor, which is connected to the transceiver and the memory, respectively, and is configured to control the wireless signal reception and transmission of the transceiver by executing computer-executable instructions on the memory, and is capable of implementing any one of the methods described in the first to third aspects above.

[0012] According to an eighth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a computer storage medium is proposed, wherein the computer storage medium stores computer-executable instructions; after the computer-executable instructions are executed by a processor, the method described in any one of the first to third aspects above can be implemented.

[0013] According to the ninth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication system is proposed, including: a first relay device, a first terminal, and a second terminal, wherein the first relay device is used to execute the method described in the first aspect, the first terminal is used to execute the method described in the second aspect, and the second terminal is used to execute the method described in the third aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent and readily understood from the following description of the embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0015] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0016] 2a-2b are interactive schematic diagrams of some relay discovery methods provided by embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0017] 3a-3c are schematic flow diagrams of some relay discovery methods provided by embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0018] 4a-4d are schematic flow diagrams of some relay discovery methods provided by embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0019] 5a-5c are schematic flow charts of some relay discovery methods provided by embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0020] FIG6 is an interactive diagram of a relay discovery method provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0021] FIG7 is an example diagram of an interaction of a relay discovery method provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0022] FIG8a is a schematic structural diagram of a first relay device provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0023] FIG8b is a schematic structural diagram of a first terminal provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0024] FIG8c is a schematic structural diagram of a second terminal provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0025] FIG9a is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0026] FIG9 b is a schematic structural diagram of a chip provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The disclosed method can be used to address the technical issue of "Model B's inter-terminal relay discovery is limited to a single hop, and there is no multi-hop relay discovery method that supports Model B." Model B can utilize information from both the solicitation and response protocols. The disclosed embodiments provide a relay discovery method, apparatus, communication device, storage medium, and communication system.

[0028] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a relay discovery method, which is executed by a first relay device, and includes: obtaining a first number, wherein the first number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal and through which communication with the second terminal is carried out.

[0029] In the above embodiment, the first relay device obtains the first number to determine the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal and through which the first terminal communicates with the second terminal, thereby implementing U2U multi-hop relay discovery.

[0030] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, obtaining the first number includes: obtaining a first parameter set, where the first parameter set includes at least the first number.

[0031] In the above embodiment, the first relay device obtains the first parameter set to obtain the first number, thereby implementing U2U multi-hop relay discovery.

[0032] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method also includes: updating the first number to a second number, wherein the second number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first relay device and the first terminal for communicating with the second terminal, and the second number is less than or equal to the first number minus 1.

[0033] In the above embodiment, the first relay device updates the first number to the second number, so that the second relay device determines when to perform the relay discovery service.

[0034] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: sending a first parameter set to the second relay device and / or the second terminal, wherein the first parameter set includes the second number.

[0035] With reference to some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first parameter set is carried by a first message, and the first message is used by the first terminal to request a terminal-to-terminal U2U relay discovery process.

[0036] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first parameter set further includes at least one of the following: discovery message type; identification information of the first terminal; relay service code RSC; identification information of the second terminal.

[0037] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, sending a first parameter set to a second relay device and / or a second terminal includes: determining that a first condition is satisfied, and sending the first parameter set to the second relay device and / or the second terminal, wherein the first condition is that the RSC in the first parameter set sent by the first terminal is consistent with the RSC provided by the second relay device.

[0038] In the above embodiment, the first relay device determines that the first condition is met and sends the first data set to the second relay device and / or the second terminal, thereby improving the accuracy of the relay discovery service and expanding the service scope of the relay discovery service.

[0039] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, sending the first parameter set to the second relay device and / or the second terminal includes: determining that a second condition is met, and sending the first parameter set to the second relay device and / or the second terminal, wherein the second condition is that the first number in the first parameter set received by the first relay device is not zero.

[0040] In the above embodiment, the first relay device determines that the second condition is met and sends the first data set to the second relay device and / or the second terminal, thereby improving the accuracy of the relay discovery service and expanding the service scope of the relay discovery service.

[0041] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method also includes: receiving a second message sent by a second relay device and / or a second terminal, wherein the second message is used to assist the first terminal in determining the U2U relay, and the second message carries a first parameter set; and sending the second message to the first terminal.

[0042] In the above embodiment, the first relay device receives the second message sent by the second relay device and / or the second terminal to receive response information, laying the foundation for determining the relay device used by the relay service and expanding the service scope of the relay discovery service.

[0043] In the second aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a relay discovery method, which is executed by a first terminal and includes: sending a first number to the first relay device, wherein the first number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal and through which communication with the second terminal is carried out.

[0044] In the above embodiment, the first terminal sends the first number to the first relay device to determine the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal and through which the second terminal communicates, thereby implementing U2U multi-hop relay discovery.

[0045] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, sending the first number to the first relay device includes: sending a first parameter set to the first relay device, where the first parameter set includes at least the first number.

[0046] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the first parameter set is carried by a first message, and the first message is used by the first terminal to request a terminal-to-terminal U2U relay discovery process.

[0047] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the first parameter set further includes at least one of the following: discovery message type; identification information of the first terminal; relay service code RSC; identification information of the second terminal.

[0048] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: obtaining a second message, where the second message is used to assist the first terminal in determining the U2U relay.

[0049] In the above embodiment, the first terminal obtains the second message to receive the response information, which lays the foundation for determining the relay device used by the relay service.

[0050] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: determining one or more U2U relays for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal based on the second message.

[0051] In the above embodiment, the first terminal determines one or more U2U relays for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal based on the second message, thereby accurately determining a suitable relay device for relay service, reducing waste of communication resources.

[0052] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, determining one or more U2U relays for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal based on the second message includes: determining the first information carried in the second message, wherein the first information is used to indicate the one or more U2U relays through which the first path for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal determined by the second terminal passes; and determining the one or more U2U relays indicated by the first information as the one or more U2U relays for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal.

[0053] In the above embodiment, the first terminal determines one or more U2U relays for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal based on the first information in the second message, thereby accurately determining the appropriate relay device for relay service, reducing the waste of communication resources, and expanding the service scope of the relay discovery service.

[0054] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, determining one or more U2U relays for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal based on the second message includes: determining second information carried in the second message, wherein the second information is used to indicate one or more U2U relays through which multiple paths for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal pass; and determining one or more U2U relays through which a first path among the multiple paths passes as one or more U2U relays for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal, wherein the first path passes through the least number of U2U relays.

[0055] In the above embodiment, the first terminal determines one or more U2U relays for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal based on the second information in the second message, thereby accurately determining the appropriate relay device for relay service, reducing the waste of communication resources, and expanding the service scope of the relay discovery service.

[0056] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a relay discovery method, which is executed by a second terminal, and the method includes: obtaining a first number, wherein the first number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal and through which communication with the second terminal is carried out.

[0057] In the above embodiment, the second terminal obtains the first number to determine the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal and through which the second terminal communicates, thereby implementing U2U multi-hop relay discovery.

[0058] In combination with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, obtaining the first number includes: obtaining a first parameter set, where the first parameter set includes at least the first number.

[0059] In combination with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, obtaining the first number includes: receiving a first parameter set sent by a first relay device and / or a second relay device, wherein the first parameter set includes at least a second number, and the second number is obtained by updating the first number.

[0060] In combination with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, the first parameter set is carried by a first message, and the first message is used by the first terminal to request a terminal-to-terminal U2U relay discovery process.

[0061] In combination with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, the first parameter set further includes at least one of the following: discovery message type; identification information of the first terminal; relay service code RSC; identification information of the second terminal.

[0062] In combination with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, the method also includes: sending a second message to the first relay device and / or the second relay device, wherein the second message is used to assist the first terminal in determining the U2U relay, and the second message carries the first parameter set sent by the first relay device and / or the second relay device.

[0063] In the above embodiment, the second terminal sends the second message to the first relay device and / or the second relay device to send a response message, thereby expanding the service scope of the relay discovery service.

[0064] In combination with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, the method also includes: determining a first path based on a first parameter set sent by the first relay device and / or the second relay device, wherein the first path passes through the least U2U relay; sending a second message to the first relay device and / or the second relay device, wherein the second message is used to assist the first terminal in determining the U2U relay, and the second message carries the first parameter set corresponding to the first path.

[0065] In the above embodiment, some terminals can determine the first path based on the first parameter set sent by the first relay device and / or the second relay device, rationally utilize terminal resources, improve resource utilization of terminal devices, and expand the service scope of relay discovery service.

[0066] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a first relay device, which includes a transceiver module for obtaining a first number, wherein the first number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal and through which the first terminal communicates with the second terminal.

[0067] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a first terminal, which includes a transceiver module for sending a first number to a first relay device, wherein the first number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal and through which communication with a second terminal is performed.

[0068] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a second terminal, which includes a transceiver module for obtaining a first number, wherein the first number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal and through which communication with the second terminal is performed.

[0069] In the seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a communication device, which includes: one or more processors; one or more memories for storing instructions; wherein the processor is used to call the instructions so that the communication device executes the method described in the optional implementation methods of the first, second and third aspects.

[0070] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute optional implementations of the first, second and third aspects.

[0071] In the ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a communication system, which includes: a first relay device, a first terminal, and a second terminal, wherein the first relay device is used to execute the method described in the first aspect, the first terminal is used to execute the method described in the second aspect, and the second terminal is used to execute the method described in the third aspect.

[0072] In combination with some embodiments of the ninth aspect, in some embodiments, the communication system also includes a second relay device.

[0073] It is understandable that the above-mentioned relay discovery method, first relay device, first terminal, second terminal, communication device, communication system, storage medium, program product, and computer program are all used to perform the method proposed in the embodiment of the present disclosure. Therefore, the beneficial effects that can be achieved can refer to the beneficial effects of the corresponding method and will not be repeated here.

[0074] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a relay discovery method, apparatus, communication device, storage medium, and communication system. In some embodiments, the terms relay discovery method, information processing method, communication method, etc. can be used interchangeably, and the terms information processing system, communication system, etc. can be used interchangeably.

[0075] The embodiments of the present disclosure are not exhaustive and are merely illustrative of some embodiments, and are not intended to be a specific limitation on the scope of protection of the present disclosure. In the absence of contradiction, each step in a particular embodiment can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the steps can be arbitrarily combined. For example, a solution after removing some steps in a particular embodiment can also be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the order of the steps in a particular embodiment can be arbitrarily exchanged. In addition, they can be arbitrarily combined in a particular embodiment; in addition, the embodiments can be arbitrarily combined. For example, some or all steps of different embodiments can be arbitrarily combined, and a particular embodiment can be arbitrarily combined with other embodiments.

[0076] In each embodiment of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified or provided for by logic, the terms and / or descriptions between the embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form a new embodiment based on their inherent logical relationships.

[0077] The terms used in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

[0078] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified, elements expressed in the singular, such as "a", "an", "the", "above", "said", "the", "the", etc., may mean "one and only one", or "one or more", "at least one", etc. For example, when using articles such as "a", "an", "the" in English in translation, the noun following the article may be understood as a singular expression or a plural expression.

[0079] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, “plurality” refers to two or more.

[0080] In some embodiments, the terms "at least one of", "at least one of", "at least one of", "one or more", "a plurality of", "multiple", etc. can be used interchangeably.

[0081] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, descriptions such as “at least one of A, B, C…”, “A and / or B and / or C…”, etc. include the situation where any one of A, B, C… exists alone, and also include any combination of any multiple of A, B, C…, and each situation can exist alone; for example, “at least one of A, B, C” includes the situation where A exists alone, B exists alone, C exists alone, the combination of A and B, the combination of A and C, the combination of B and C, and the combination of A, B, and C; for example, A and / or B includes the situation where A exists alone, B exists alone, and the combination of A and B.

[0082] In some embodiments, descriptions such as "in one case A, in another case B," or "in response to one case A, in response to another case B," may include the following technical solutions depending on the situation: executing A independently of B (in some embodiments, A); executing B independently of A (in some embodiments, B); selectively executing A and B (in some embodiments, selecting between A and B); and executing both A and B (in some embodiments, A and B). The same applies when there are more branches, such as A, B, and C.

[0083] The prefixes such as "first" and "second" in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only used to distinguish different description objects and do not constitute any restriction on the position, order, priority, quantity or content of the description objects. For the statement of the description object, please refer to the description in the context of the claims or embodiments, and no unnecessary restriction should be constituted due to the use of prefixes. For example, if the description object is a "field", the ordinal number before the "field" in the "first field" and the "second field" does not limit the position or order between the "fields". "First" and "second" do not limit whether the "fields" they modify are in the same message, nor do they limit the order of the "first field" and the "second field". For another example, if the description object is a "level", the ordinal number before the "level" in the "first level" and the "second level" does not limit the priority between the "levels". For another example, the number of description objects is not limited by the ordinal number and can be one or more. Taking "first device" as an example, the number of "devices" can be one or more. In addition, the objects modified by different prefixes can be the same or different. For example, if the description object is "device", then the "first device" and the "second device" can be the same device or different devices, and their types can be the same or different; for another example, if the description object is "information", then the "first information" and the "second information" can be the same information or different information, and their contents can be the same or different.

[0084] In some embodiments, “including A,” “comprising A,” “used to indicate A,” and “carrying A” can be interpreted as directly carrying A or indirectly indicating A.

[0085] In some embodiments, terms such as "in response to...", "in response to determining...", "in the case of...", "at the time of...", "when...", "if...", "if...", etc. can be used interchangeably.

[0086] In some embodiments, terms such as "greater than", "greater than or equal to", "not less than", "more than", "more than or equal to", "not less than", "higher than", "higher than or equal to", "not less than", and "above" can be replaced with each other, and terms such as "less than", "less than or equal to", "not greater than", "less than", "less than or equal to", "not more than", "lower than", "lower than or equal to", "not higher than", and "below" can be replaced with each other.

[0087] In some embodiments, devices, etc. can be interpreted as physical or virtual, and their names are not limited to the names recorded in the embodiments. Terms such as "device", "equipment", "device", "circuit", "network functional entity", "node", "function", "unit", "section", "system", "network", "chip", "chip system", "entity", and "subject" can be used interchangeably.

[0088] In some embodiments, the terms "terminal", "terminal device", "user equipment (UE)", "user terminal", "mobile station (MS)", "mobile terminal (MT)", subscriber station, mobile unit, subscriber unit, wireless unit, remote unit, mobile device, wireless device, wireless communication device, remote device, mobile subscriber station, access terminal, mobile terminal, wireless terminal, remote terminal, handset, user agent, mobile client, client and the like can be used interchangeably.

[0089] In some embodiments, the access network device, the core network device, or the network device can be replaced by a terminal. For example, the various embodiments of the present disclosure can also be applied to a structure in which the communication between the access network device, the core network device, or the network device and the terminal is replaced by communication between multiple terminals (for example, it can also be called device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X), etc.). In this case, it can also be set as a structure in which the terminal has all or part of the functions of the access network device. In addition, language such as "uplink" and "downlink" can also be replaced by language corresponding to communication between terminals (for example, "side"). For example, uplink channels, downlink channels, etc. can be replaced by side channels, and uplinks, downlinks, etc. can be replaced by side links.

[0090] In some embodiments, the terminal may be replaced by an access network device, a core network device, or a network device. In this case, the access network device, the core network device, or the network device may have a structure that has all or part of the functions of the terminal.

[0091] In some embodiments, "network" can be interpreted as devices included in the network (eg, access network equipment, core network equipment, etc.).

[0092] In some embodiments, obtaining data, information, etc. may comply with the laws and regulations of the country where the data is obtained.

[0093] In some embodiments, data, information, etc. may be obtained with the user's consent.

[0094] FIG1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG1 , a communication system 100 may include at least one of a terminal 101 and a terminal 102 .

[0095] In some embodiments, terminal 101 and terminal 102 include, for example, a mobile phone, a wearable device, an Internet of Things device, a car with communication function, a smart car, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal device in industrial control, a wireless terminal device in self-driving, a wireless terminal device in remote medical surgery, a wireless terminal device in a smart grid, a wireless terminal device in transportation safety, a wireless terminal device in a smart city, and at least one of a wireless terminal device in a smart home, but are not limited thereto.

[0096] It can be understood that the communication system described in the embodiment of the present disclosure is for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solution of the embodiment of the present disclosure, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solution proposed in the embodiment of the present disclosure. Ordinary technicians in this field can know that with the evolution of the system architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solution proposed in the embodiment of the present disclosure is also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0097] The following embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied to the communication system 100 shown in Figure 1, or a portion thereof, but are not limited thereto. The entities shown in Figure 1 are illustrative only. The communication system may include all or part of the entities shown in Figure 1, or may include other entities outside of Figure 1. The number and form of the entities may be arbitrary. The connection relationship between the entities is illustrative only. The entities may be connected or disconnected, and the connection may be in any manner, including direct or indirect, wired or wireless.

[0098] FIG2a is an interactive diagram of a relay discovery method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG2a, the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method for a communication system 100, the method comprising:

[0099] Step 2101: The first terminal 101 sends a first parameter set to the first relay device 102.

[0100] In some embodiments, the first relay device 102 may receive the first parameter set sent by the first terminal 101 .

[0101] In some embodiments, the name of the first parameter set is not limited, and it can be, for example, a "service parameter set", a "relay service parameter set", etc.

[0102] In some embodiments, the first parameter set includes at least a first number, where the first number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal and through which the first terminal communicates with the second terminal.

[0103] In some embodiments, the name of the first number is not limited, and it can be, for example, "maximum number of relay devices" or the like.

[0104] In some embodiments, the first parameter set is carried by a first message, and the first message is used by the first terminal to request a terminal-to-terminal U2U relay discovery process. In other words, the first terminal 101 can send the first message to the first relay device 102 to send the first parameter set to the first relay device 102.

[0105] In some embodiments, the first parameter set further includes at least one of the following: a discovery message type; identification information of the first terminal; a relay service code (RSC); and identification information of the second terminal. Examples of message types include voice, image, and data; and examples of identification information include a unique device identifier (UDID), an international mobile equipment identity (IMEI), and a user information ID.

[0106] In some embodiments, the relay service RSC may indicate information about a connection service provided by the relay device to the terminal. The RSCs provided by different relay devices and terminals may be the same or different, and this disclosure does not limit this.

[0107] In some embodiments, the first terminal may refer to an initiating terminal in a relay discovery service. The present disclosure does not limit the name of the first terminal, which may be, for example, an "initiating terminal," a "source terminal," or the like.

[0108] In some embodiments, the second terminal may refer to a receiving terminal in a relay discovery service. The present disclosure does not limit the name of the second terminal, which may be, for example, a "receiving terminal," a "target terminal," or the like.

[0109] For example, in some embodiments, a first terminal sends a first message to a first relay device via broadcast to request a terminal-to-terminal U2U relay discovery process. The first message carries a first parameter set, wherein the first parameter set includes a first number of 2, a message type of image message, the IMEIs of the first terminal and the second terminal, and a relay service code (RSC) for the relay service.

[0110] Step 2102: The first relay device 102 updates the first number to a second number.

[0111] In some embodiments, the first relay device 102 may update the obtained first number to a second number.

[0112] In some embodiments, the second number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal for communicating with the second terminal via the first relay device, and the second number is less than or equal to the first number minus one.

[0113] In other words, the second number can be used to identify the maximum number of relays required when the first relay device communicates with the second terminal, that is, the number of relays used when the first relay device relays with the second terminal can be less than or equal to the second number.

[0114] In some embodiments, the name of the second number is not limited, and it can be, for example, "the number of remaining relay devices" or the like.

[0115] For example, in some embodiments, the first relay device 102 receives a first parameter set sent by the first terminal 101 , and the first number included in the first parameter set is 2. The first relay device may update the first number 2 to a second number 1.

[0116] Step 2103: The first relay device 102 determines that the first condition is met.

[0117] In some embodiments, the first relay device 102 may determine whether the received first parameter set satisfies a first condition, so as to send the first parameter set if the first condition is satisfied.

[0118] In some embodiments, the first condition is that the RSC in the first parameter set sent by the first terminal is consistent with the RSC provided by the second relay device.

[0119] For example, in some embodiments, the first relay device can accept a first parameter set sent by the first terminal, and the RSC in the first parameter set is consistent with the RSC provided by the second relay device, indicating that the relay service expected by the first terminal is consistent with the relay service supported and provided by the second relay device, then the first relay device determines that the first condition is met.

[0120] Step 2104: The first relay device 102 determines that the second condition is met.

[0121] In some embodiments, the first relay device 102 may determine whether the received first parameter set satisfies a second condition, so as to send the first parameter set if the second condition is satisfied.

[0122] In some embodiments, the second condition is that the first number in the first parameter set received by the first relay device is not zero.

[0123] In other words, when the first number in the first parameter set received by the first relay device is zero, the first relay device no longer sends the first parameter set, that is, the first relay device abandons this piece of information.

[0124] For example, in some embodiments, the first relay device may receive a first parameter set sent by the first terminal, and the first number in the first parameter set is 1. Then, the first relay device may send the first parameter set to the second relay device and / or the second terminal.

[0125] For example, in some embodiments, the first relay device may receive a first parameter set sent by the first terminal. If the first number in the first parameter set is 0, the first relay device abandons the information and no longer sends the first parameter set to other entities.

[0126] Step 2105 : The first relay device 102 sends a first parameter set to the second relay device 104 .

[0127] In some embodiments, the first relay device 102 may send the first parameter set to the second relay device 104 when the first condition and the second condition are satisfied.

[0128] In some embodiments, the second number is included in the first parameter set.

[0129] In some embodiments, the first parameter set is carried by a first message, and the first message is used by the first terminal to request a terminal-to-terminal U2U relay discovery process.

[0130] In some embodiments, the first parameter set further includes at least one of the following: a discovery message type; identification information of the first terminal; a relay service code RSC; and identification information of the second terminal.

[0131] For example, in some embodiments, the RSC received by the first relay device is the same as the RSC supported by the second relay device, and the first number received by the first relay device is 2, then the first relay device updates the first number to the second number 1, and sends a first parameter set to the second relay device, where the first parameter set includes the second number.

[0132] Step 2106 : The second relay device 104 sends the first parameter set to the second terminal 103 .

[0133] In some embodiments, the second relay device 104 may send the first parameter set to the second terminal 103 when the first condition and the second condition are met.

[0134] In some embodiments, the second relay device may update the second number, and the updated second number is less than or equal to the second number minus one.

[0135] In some embodiments, the second relay device determines that the first condition is satisfied, ie, the RSC in the first parameter set sent by the first relay device is consistent with the RSC provided by the second terminal.

[0136] In some embodiments, the second relay device determines that the second condition is satisfied, that is, the second number sent by the first relay device and received by the second relay device is not zero.

[0137] In some embodiments, the first parameter set includes the updated second number.

[0138] In some embodiments, the first parameter set is carried by a first message, and the first message is used by the first terminal to request a terminal-to-terminal U2U relay discovery process.

[0139] In some embodiments, the first parameter set further includes at least one of the following: a discovery message type; identification information of the first terminal; a relay service code RSC; and identification information of the second terminal.

[0140] In some embodiments, the second relay device may also send the first parameter set to other relay devices, i.e., there are multiple relay devices in the terminal-to-terminal U2U relay discovery process. Each relay device will perform the relevant operations in steps 2102-2104 above before sending the first parameter to ensure that the relay discovery process can proceed stably.

[0141] For example, in some embodiments, the RSC received by the second relay device is the same as the RSC supported by the second terminal, and the second number received by the second relay device is 1, then the second relay device updates the second number to an updated second number 0, and sends a first parameter set to the second terminal, where the first parameter set includes the updated second number.

[0142] Step 2107 : The first relay device 102 sends a first parameter set to the second terminal 103 .

[0143] In some embodiments, the first relay device 102 may send the first parameter set to the second terminal 103 when the first condition and the second condition are met.

[0144] In some embodiments, the second number is included in the first parameter set.

[0145] In some embodiments, the first parameter set is carried by a first message, and the first message is used by the first terminal to request a terminal-to-terminal U2U relay discovery process.

[0146] In some embodiments, the first parameter set further includes at least one of the following: a discovery message type; identification information of the first terminal; a relay service code RSC; and identification information of the second terminal.

[0147] For example, in some embodiments, the RSC received by the first relay device is the same as the RSC supported by the second terminal, and the first number received by the first relay device is 2, then the first relay device updates the first number to the second number 1, and sends a first parameter set to the second terminal, where the first parameter set includes the second number.

[0148] Step 2108: The second terminal 103 determines a first path based on the first parameter set sent by the first relay device and / or the second relay device.

[0149] In some embodiments, the second terminal 103 has a judgment function, and the second terminal 103 can determine the first path based on the first parameter set sent by the first relay device and / or the second relay device.

[0150] In some embodiments, the first path passes through the fewest U2U relays.

[0151] In some embodiments, the second terminal may determine the first path based on the received first number and second number. For example, the second terminal may receive the first number and second number obtained via multiple paths, and determine the number of U2U relays traversed by the path by taking the difference. The second terminal may then determine the path traversed by the least number of U2U relays as the first path.

[0152] In some embodiments, the second terminal may also determine, based on the received first parameter set, the path with the highest information transmission quality among the multiple paths as the first path. The present disclosure does not limit the manner in which the second terminal determines the first path.

[0153] In some embodiments, the second terminal 103 does not have a judgment function, that is, the second terminal 103 cannot determine the path with the least U2U relays or the highest communication quality among multiple paths.

[0154] For example, if the second terminal has a judgment function, the second terminal can receive the first parameter set sent by the first relay device and the first parameter set sent by the second relay device, wherein the difference between the first number and the second number in the first parameter set sent by the first device is greater than the difference between the first number and the second number in the first parameter set sent by the second relay device, that is, the number of relay devices required to send to the second terminal via the first relay device is the least, and the second relay device can determine that the path is the first path.

[0155] Step 2109 : The second terminal 103 sends a second message to the second relay device 104 .

[0156] In some embodiments, the second terminal 103 sends a second message to the second relay device 104 to send a response message.

[0157] In some embodiments, the second message is used to assist the first terminal in determining the U2U relay, and the second message carries a first parameter set corresponding to the first path.

[0158] In some embodiments, the name of the second message is not limited, and it can be, for example, a "relay confirmation message", a "relay response message", etc.

[0159] For example, in some embodiments, the second terminal may send a second message to the second relay device, where the second message carries a first parameter set corresponding to the first path determined by the second terminal.

[0160] Step 2110 : The second relay device 104 sends a second message to the first relay device 102 .

[0161] In some embodiments, the second relay device 104 sends a second message to the first relay device 102 to send a response message.

[0162] In some embodiments, the second message is used to assist the first terminal in determining the U2U relay, and the second message carries a first parameter set corresponding to the first path.

[0163] For example, in some embodiments, the second relay device may send a second message to the first relay device, the second message carrying a first parameter set corresponding to the first path determined by the second terminal.

[0164] Step 2111 : The second terminal 103 sends a second message to the first relay device 102 .

[0165] In some embodiments, the second terminal 103 sends a second message to the first relay device 102 to send a response message.

[0166] In some embodiments, the second message is used to assist the first terminal in determining the U2U relay, and the second message carries a first parameter set corresponding to the first path.

[0167] For example, in some embodiments, the second terminal may send a second message to the first relay device, where the second message carries a first parameter set corresponding to the first path determined by the second terminal.

[0168] Step 2112 : The first relay device 102 sends a second message to the first terminal 101 .

[0169] In some embodiments, the first relay device 102 sends a second message to the first terminal 101 to send a response message.

[0170] In some embodiments, the second message is used to assist the first terminal in determining the U2U relay, and the second message carries a first parameter set corresponding to the first path.

[0171] It should be understood that, in some embodiments, the second terminal has a determination function, and the second terminal may send the second message to the first terminal only through the determined first path, so that the first terminal determines the U2U relay.

[0172] In other words, step 2109 and step 2110 may be replacement steps for step 2111, that is, in some embodiments, only step 2109, step 2110 or only step 2111 may be executed.

[0173] Step 2113: The first terminal 101 determines the first information carried in the second message.

[0174] In some embodiments, the first terminal 101 determines the first information carried in the second message to determine one or more U2U relays.

[0175] In some embodiments, the first information is used to indicate one or more U2U relays determined by the second terminal through which a first path for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal passes.

[0176] In some embodiments, the name of the first information is not limited, and it may be, for example, "relay confirmation information" or the like.

[0177] For example, in some embodiments, the first terminal may determine the first information carried in the second message sent by the first relay device to determine one or more U2U relays through which the first path for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal passes.

[0178] In step 2114 , the first terminal 101 determines the one or more U2U relays indicated by the first information as one or more U2U relays for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal.

[0179] In some embodiments, the first terminal 101 may determine one or more U2U relays in the first path indicated by the first information as one or more U2U relays for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal.

[0180] For example, in some embodiments, the second terminal determines that the path passing only through the first relay device is the first path, then the first terminal may determine the first relay device indicated by the first information as a U2U relay for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal.

[0181] The communication method according to the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps 2101 to 2114. For example, step 2101 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 2108 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, steps 2109 and 2110 may be implemented as independent embodiments, and steps 2113 and 2114 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0182] In some embodiments, steps 2109 to 2111 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0183] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined, and can be arbitrarily combined with any steps of other embodiments or other examples.

[0184] FIG2b is an interactive diagram of a relay discovery method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG2b, the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method for a communication system 100, the method comprising:

[0185] Step 2201: The first terminal 101 sends a first parameter set to the first relay device 102.

[0186] For step 2201, reference may be made to step 2101 in FIG. 2a and other related parts in the embodiment involved in FIG. 2a, which will not be described in detail here.

[0187] Step 2202: The first relay device 102 updates the first number to a second number.

[0188] For step 2202, reference may be made to step 2102 in FIG. 2a and other related parts in the embodiment involved in FIG. 2a, which will not be described in detail here.

[0189] In some embodiments, the first relay device 102 may update the obtained first number to a second number.

[0190] Step 2203: The first relay device 102 determines that the first condition is met.

[0191] For step 2203, reference may be made to step 2103 in FIG. 2a and other related parts in the embodiment involved in FIG. 2a, which will not be described in detail here.

[0192] In some embodiments, the first condition is that the RSC in the first parameter set sent by the first terminal is consistent with the RSC provided by the second relay device.

[0193] Step 2204: The first relay device 102 determines that the second condition is met.

[0194] For step 2204, reference may be made to step 2104 in FIG. 2a and other related parts in the embodiment involved in FIG. 2a, which will not be described in detail here.

[0195] In some embodiments, the first relay device 102 may determine whether the received first parameter set satisfies a second condition, so as to send the first parameter set if the second condition is satisfied.

[0196] In some embodiments, the second condition is that the first number in the first parameter set received by the first relay device is not zero.

[0197] Step 2205 : The first relay device 102 sends a first parameter set to the second relay device 104 .

[0198] For step 2205, reference may be made to step 2105 in FIG. 2a and other related parts in the embodiment involved in FIG. 2a, which will not be described in detail here.

[0199] In some embodiments, the first relay device 102 may send the first parameter set to the second relay device 104 when the first condition and the second condition are satisfied.

[0200] Step 2206 : The second relay device 104 sends the first parameter set to the second terminal 103 .

[0201] For step 2206, reference may be made to step 2106 in FIG. 2a and other related parts in the embodiment involved in FIG. 2a, which will not be described in detail here.

[0202] In some embodiments, the second relay device 104 may send the first parameter set to the second terminal 103 when the first condition and the second condition are met.

[0203] Step 2207 : The first relay device 102 sends a first parameter set to the second terminal 103 .

[0204] For step 2207, reference may be made to step 2107 in FIG. 2a and other related parts in the embodiment involved in FIG. 2a, which will not be described in detail here.

[0205] In some embodiments, the first relay device 102 may send the first parameter set to the second terminal 103 when the first condition and the second condition are met.

[0206] Step 2208 : The second terminal 103 sends a second message to the second relay device 104 .

[0207] In some embodiments, the second terminal 103 does not have a judgment function, that is, the second terminal 103 cannot determine the path with the least U2U relays or the highest communication quality among multiple paths.

[0208] In some embodiments, the second terminal 103 sends a second message to the second relay device 104 to send a response message.

[0209] For step 2208, reference may be made to step 2109 in FIG. 2a and other related parts in the embodiment involved in FIG. 2a, which will not be described in detail here.

[0210] Step 2209 : The second relay device 104 sends a second message to the first relay device 102 .

[0211] For step 2209, reference may be made to step 2110 in FIG. 2a and other related parts in the embodiment involved in FIG. 2a, which will not be described in detail here.

[0212] In some embodiments, the second relay device 104 sends a second message to the first relay device 102 to send a response message.

[0213] Step 2210 : The second terminal 103 sends a second message to the first relay device 102 .

[0214] For step 2210, reference may be made to step 2111 in FIG. 2a and other related parts in the embodiment involved in FIG. 2a, which will not be described in detail here.

[0215] In some embodiments, the second terminal 103 sends a second message to the first relay device 102 to send a response message.

[0216] It should be understood that, in some embodiments, the second terminal does not have a determination function, and the second terminal may send a second message to the first terminal through all paths, so that the first terminal determines the U2U relay.

[0217] In other words, in some embodiments, the above steps 2208, 2209 and 2210 may be performed simultaneously.

[0218] Step 2211 : The first relay device 102 sends a second message to the first terminal 101 .

[0219] For step 2211, reference may be made to step 2112 in FIG. 2a and other related parts in the embodiment involved in FIG. 2a, which will not be described in detail here.

[0220] In some embodiments, the first relay device 102 sends a second message to the first terminal 101 to send a response message.

[0221] It should be understood that, in some embodiments, the second terminal does not have a determination function, and the second terminal needs to send the second message to the first terminal through all transmission paths so that the first terminal determines the U2U relay.

[0222] Step 2212: The first terminal 101 determines the second information carried in the second message.

[0223] In some embodiments, the first terminal 101 determines the second information carried in the second message to determine one or more U2U relays.

[0224] In some embodiments, the second information is used to indicate one or more U2U relays through which multiple paths for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal pass.

[0225] In some embodiments, the name of the second information is not limited, and it can be, for example, "relay indication information" or the like.

[0226] For example, in some embodiments, the first terminal may determine the second information carried in the second message sent by the first relay device to determine one or more U2U relays through which the multiple paths for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal indicated by the second information pass.

[0227] In step 2213 , the first terminal 101 determines the one or more U2U relays indicated by the first information as one or more U2U relays for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal.

[0228] In some embodiments, the first terminal 101 may determine one or more U2U relays through which a first path among the multiple paths passes as one or more U2U relays for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal.

[0229] For example, in some embodiments, the first terminal determines that the path passing only through the first relay device is the first path based on the second information, then the first terminal can determine the first relay device passed by the first path as a U2U relay for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal.

[0230] The communication method according to the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps 2201 to 2213. For example, step 2201 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 2202 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, steps 2208 and 2209 may be implemented as independent embodiments, and steps 2212 and 2213 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0231] In some embodiments, steps 2208 to 2210 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0232] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined, and can be arbitrarily combined with any steps of other embodiments or other examples.

[0233] In some embodiments, the names of information, etc. are not limited to the names described in the embodiments, and terms such as "information", "message", "signal", "signaling", "report", "configuration", "indication", "instruction", "command", "channel", "parameter", "domain", "field", "symbol", "symbol", "codeword", "codebook", "codeword", "codepoint", "bit", "data", "program", and "chip" can be used interchangeably.

[0234] In some embodiments, "obtain", "get", "get", "receive", "transmit", "bidirectional transmission", "send and / or receive" can be interchangeable, and can be interpreted as receiving from other entities, obtaining from protocols, obtaining from higher layers, obtaining by self-processing, autonomous implementation, etc.

[0235] In some embodiments, terms such as "send", "transmit", "report", "download", "transmit", "bidirectional transmission", "send and / or receive" can be used interchangeably.

[0236] In some embodiments, terms such as "certain", "preset", "preset", "setting", "indicated", "a certain", "any", and "first" can be interchangeable. "Specific A", "preset A", "preset A", "setting A", "indicated A", "a certain A", "any A", and "first A" can be interpreted as A pre-specified in a protocol, etc., or as A obtained through setting, configuration, or indication, etc., or as specific A, a certain A, any A, or first A, etc., but not limited to this.

[0237] FIG3a is a flow chart of a relay discovery method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG3a, the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a relay discovery method for a first relay device 102, the method comprising:

[0238] Step 3101: Obtain a first parameter set.

[0239] For step 3101, reference may be made to step 2101 in FIG. 2a, step 2201 in FIG. 2b, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b, which will not be described in detail here.

[0240] In some embodiments, the first relay device 102 may receive the first parameter set sent by the first terminal 101 .

[0241] In some embodiments, the first parameter set includes at least a first number, where the first number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal and through which the first terminal communicates with the second terminal.

[0242] In some embodiments, step 3101 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0243] Step 3102: Update the first number to the second number.

[0244] For step 3102, reference may be made to step 2102 in FIG. 2a, step 2202 in FIG. 2b, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b, which will not be described in detail here.

[0245] In some embodiments, the first relay device 102 may update the first number to a second number. The second number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal for communicating with the second terminal via the first relay device, and the second number is less than or equal to the first number minus 1.

[0246] In some embodiments, step 3102 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0247] Step 3103: Determine whether the first condition is met.

[0248] For step 3103, reference may be made to step 2103 in FIG. 2a, step 2203 in FIG. 2b, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b, which will not be described in detail here.

[0249] In some embodiments, the first relay device 102 may determine that a first condition is satisfied. That is, the first relay device 102 may determine whether the RSC in the first parameter set sent by the first terminal is consistent with the RSC provided by the second relay device. When the RSC in the first parameter set sent by the first terminal is consistent with the RSC provided by the second relay device, the first condition is determined to be satisfied.

[0250] In some embodiments, step 3103 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0251] Step 3104: Determine whether the second condition is met.

[0252] For step 3104, reference may be made to step 2104 in FIG. 2a, step 2204 in FIG. 2b, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b, which will not be described in detail here.

[0253] In some embodiments, the first relay device 102 may determine that the second condition is satisfied. That is, the first relay device 102 may determine whether the first number in the first parameter set received by the first relay device is zero. When the first number in the first parameter set received by the first relay device is not zero, the first condition is determined to be satisfied.

[0254] In some embodiments, step 3104 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0255] Step 3105: Send the first parameter set.

[0256] For step 3105, reference may be made to steps 2105, 2106, and 2107 in FIG. 2a, steps 2205, 2206, and 2207 in FIG. 2b, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b, which will not be repeated here.

[0257] In some embodiments, the first relay device 102 may send the first parameter set to the second relay device and / or the second terminal, but is not limited thereto and may also send the second information to other entities.

[0258] In some embodiments, step 3105 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0259] Step 3106, receive the second message.

[0260] For step 3106, reference may be made to steps 2110 and 2111 of FIG. 2a, steps 2209 and 2210 of FIG. 2b, and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b, which will not be repeated here.

[0261] In some embodiments, the first relay device 102 may receive a second message sent by a second relay device and / or a second terminal, but is not limited thereto and may also receive a second message sent by other entities.

[0262] In some embodiments, step 3106 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0263] Step 3107, sending the second message.

[0264] For step 3107, reference may be made to step 2112 of FIG. 2a, step 2211 of FIG. 2b, and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b, which will not be described in detail here.

[0265] In some embodiments, the first relay device 102 may send the second message to the first terminal, but is not limited thereto and may also send the second message to other entities.

[0266] In some embodiments, step 3107 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0267] For a detailed description of steps 3101 - 3107 , please refer to the embodiments shown in FIG. 2 a and FIG. 2 b .

[0268] The communication method involved in the embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one of step 3101 and step 3107. For example, step 3101 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step 3102 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0269] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined, and can be arbitrarily combined with any steps of other embodiments or other examples.

[0270] FIG3 b is a flow chart of a relay discovery method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG3 b , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a relay discovery method for a first relay device 102, the method comprising:

[0271] Step 3201: Obtain a first parameter set.

[0272] For step 3201, reference may be made to step 2101 in FIG. 2a, step 2201 in FIG. 2b, step 3101 in FIG. 3a, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a, FIG. 2b and FIG. 3a, which will not be repeated here.

[0273] In some embodiments, the first relay device 102 may receive the first parameter set sent by the first terminal 101 .

[0274] In some embodiments, the first relay device 102 may obtain the first parameter set from a higher layer.

[0275] In some embodiments, the first relay device 102 may perform processing to obtain the first parameter set.

[0276] In some embodiments, the first parameter set includes at least a first number, where the first number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal and through which the first terminal communicates with the second terminal.

[0277] In some embodiments, step 3201 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0278] Step 3202: Update the first number to the second number.

[0279] For step 3202, reference may be made to step 2102 in FIG. 2a, step 2202 in FIG. 2b, step 3102 in FIG. 3a, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a, FIG. 2b and FIG. 3a, which will not be repeated here.

[0280] In some embodiments, the first relay device 102 may update the first number to a second number. The second number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal for communicating with the second terminal via the first relay device, and the second number is less than or equal to the first number minus 1.

[0281] In some embodiments, step 3202 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0282] Step 3203: Send the first parameter set.

[0283] For step 3203, reference can be made to steps 2105, 2106, and 2107 of FIG. 2a , steps 2205, 2206, and 2207 of FIG. 2b , step 3105 of FIG. 3a , and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a , FIG. 2b , and FIG. 3a , which will not be repeated here.

[0284] In some embodiments, the first relay device 102 may send the first parameter set to the second relay device and / or the second terminal, but is not limited thereto and may also send the second information to other entities.

[0285] In some embodiments, step 3203 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0286] Step 3204, receive the second message.

[0287] For step 3204, reference may be made to steps 2110 and 2111 of FIG. 2a , steps 2209 and 2210 of FIG. 2b , step 3106 of FIG. 3a , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a , FIG. 2b and FIG. 3a , which will not be repeated here.

[0288] In some embodiments, the first relay device 102 may receive a second message sent by a second relay device and / or a second terminal, but is not limited thereto and may also receive a second message sent by other entities.

[0289] In some embodiments, step 3204 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0290] Step 3205, sending the second message.

[0291] For step 3205, reference may be made to step 2112 of FIG. 2a, step 2211 of FIG. 2b, and step 3107 of FIG. 3a. Other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a, FIG. 2b, and FIG. 3a will not be repeated here.

[0292] In some embodiments, the first relay device 102 may send the second message to the first terminal, but is not limited thereto and may also send the second message to other entities.

[0293] In some embodiments, step 3205 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0294] For a detailed description of steps 3201 - 3205 , please refer to the embodiments shown in FIG. 2 a and FIG. 2 b .

[0295] The communication method involved in the embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one of step 3201 and step 3202. For example, step 3201 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step 3202 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0296] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, and the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined and can be arbitrarily combined with other embodiments or examples.

[0297] FIG3c is a flow chart of a relay discovery method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG3c, the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a relay discovery method for a first relay device 102, the method comprising:

[0298] Step 3201: Obtain a first parameter set.

[0299] For step 3201, reference may be made to step 2101 in FIG. 2a , step 2201 in FIG. 2b , step 3101 in FIG. 3a , step 3201 in FIG. 3b , and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a , FIG. 2b , FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b , which will not be repeated here.

[0300] In some embodiments, the first relay device 102 may receive the first parameter set sent by the first terminal 101 .

[0301] In some embodiments, the first relay device 102 may obtain the first parameter set from a higher layer.

[0302] In some embodiments, the first relay device 102 may perform processing to obtain the first parameter set.

[0303] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first relay device 102 obtains a first number, where the first number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal and through which the first terminal communicates with the second terminal.

[0304] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first relay device 102 acquiring the first number includes: the first relay device 102 acquiring a first parameter set, where the first parameter set includes at least the first number.

[0305] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first relay device 102 updates the first number to a second number, wherein the second number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first relay device and the first terminal for communicating with the second terminal, and the second number is less than or equal to the first number minus 1.

[0306] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first relay device 102 sends a first parameter set to the second relay device and / or the second terminal, where the first parameter set includes the second number.

[0307] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first parameter set is carried by a first message, and the first message is used by the first terminal to request a terminal-to-terminal U2U relay discovery process.

[0308] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first parameter set further includes at least one of the following: discovery message type; identification information of the first terminal; relay service code RSC; identification information of the second terminal.

[0309] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first relay device 102 sending the first parameter set to the second relay device and / or the second terminal includes: the first relay device 102 determines that a first condition is met, and sends the first parameter set to the second relay device and / or the second terminal, wherein the first condition is that the RSC in the first parameter set sent by the first terminal is consistent with the RSC provided by the second relay device.

[0310] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first relay device 102 sending the first parameter set to the second relay device and / or the second terminal includes: the first relay device 102 determines that a second condition is met, and sends the first parameter set to the second relay device and / or the second terminal, wherein the second condition is that the first number in the first parameter set received by the first relay device is not zero.

[0311] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first relay device 102 receives a second message sent by the second relay device and / or the second terminal, wherein the second message is used to assist the first terminal in determining the U2U relay, and the second message carries the first parameter set.

[0312] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first relay device 102 sends the second message to the first terminal.

[0313] For a detailed description of step 3301 , please refer to the embodiments shown in FIG. 2 a and FIG. 2 b .

[0314] FIG4a is a flow chart of a relay discovery method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG4a , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a relay discovery method for a first terminal 101, the method comprising:

[0315] Step 4101, sending a first parameter set.

[0316] For step 4101, reference may be made to step 2101 in FIG. 2a, step 2201 in FIG. 2b, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b, which will not be described in detail here.

[0317] In some embodiments, the first terminal 101 may send the first parameter set to the first relay device 102 , but is not limited thereto and may also send the first parameter set to other entities.

[0318] In some embodiments, the first parameter set includes at least a first number, where the first number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal and through which the first terminal communicates with the second terminal.

[0319] In some embodiments, step 4101 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0320] Step 4102, obtain the second information.

[0321] For step 4102, reference may be made to step 2112 of FIG. 2a, step 2211 of FIG. 2b, and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b, which will not be described in detail here.

[0322] In some embodiments, the first terminal 101 may obtain the second information sent by the first relay device 102 , but is not limited thereto and may also obtain the second information from other entities.

[0323] In some embodiments, step 4102 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0324] Step 4103: Determine the first information carried in the second message.

[0325] For step 4103, reference may be made to step 2113 in FIG. 2a and other related parts of the embodiment involved in FIG. 2a, which will not be described in detail here.

[0326] In some embodiments, the first terminal 101 may determine the first information carried in the second message, but is not limited thereto, and may also determine the first information based on other messages.

[0327] In some embodiments, the first information is used to indicate one or more U2U relays determined by the second terminal through which a first path for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal passes.

[0328] In some embodiments, the second terminal 103 has a determination function, that is, the second terminal can determine a first path among multiple paths for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal, wherein the first path has the fewest U2U relays.

[0329] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first path may also be a path with the highest communication quality when the first terminal communicates with the second terminal. The present disclosure does not limit the method for determining the first path.

[0330] In some embodiments, step 4103 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0331] Step 4104: Determine the one or more U2U relays indicated by the first information as one or more U2U relays for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal.

[0332] For step 4104, reference may be made to step 2114 in FIG. 2a and other related parts of the embodiment involved in FIG. 2a, which will not be described in detail here.

[0333] In some embodiments, the first terminal 101 may determine the one or more U2U relays indicated by the first information as one or more U2U relays for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal.

[0334] In some embodiments, step 4104 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0335] The relay discovery method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps 4101 to 4104. For example, step 4101 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 4102 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and steps 4103+4104 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0336] In some embodiments, steps 4102 to 4104 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0337] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined, and can be arbitrarily combined with any steps of other embodiments or other examples.

[0338] FIG4 b is a flow chart of a relay discovery method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG4 b , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a relay discovery method for a first terminal 101, the method comprising:

[0339] Step 4201, sending a first parameter set.

[0340] For step 4201, reference may be made to step 2101 in FIG. 2a, step 2201 in FIG. 2b, step 4101 in FIG. 4a, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a, FIG. 2b and FIG. 4a, which will not be repeated here.

[0341] In some embodiments, the first terminal 101 may send the first parameter set to the first relay device 102 , but is not limited thereto and may also send the first parameter set to other entities.

[0342] In some embodiments, the first parameter set includes at least a first number, where the first number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal and through which the first terminal communicates with the second terminal.

[0343] In some embodiments, step 4201 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0344] Step 4202, obtain the second information.

[0345] For step 4202, reference may be made to step 2112 of FIG. 2a, step 2211 of FIG. 2b, step 4102 of FIG. 4a, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a, FIG. 2b and FIG. 4a, which will not be repeated here.

[0346] In some embodiments, the first terminal 101 may obtain the second information sent by the first relay device 102 , but is not limited thereto and may also obtain the second information from other entities.

[0347] In some embodiments, step 4202 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0348] Step 4203: Determine the second information carried in the second message.

[0349] For step 4203, reference may be made to step 2212 in FIG. 2b and other related parts of the embodiment involved in FIG. 2b, which will not be described in detail here.

[0350] In some embodiments, the first terminal 101 may determine the second information carried in the second message, but is not limited thereto, and may also determine the second information based on other messages.

[0351] In some embodiments, the second information is used to indicate one or more U2U relays through which multiple paths for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal pass.

[0352] In some embodiments, the second terminal 103 does not have a judgment function, and the second terminal cannot determine the first path among the multiple paths when the first terminal communicates with the second terminal, that is, the second terminal feeds back to the first terminal through the second information one or more U2U relays through which the multiple paths for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal pass.

[0353] In some embodiments, step 4203 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0354] Step 4204: Determine one or more U2U relays that a first path among the multiple paths passes through as one or more U2U relays for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal.

[0355] For step 4204, reference may be made to step 2213 in FIG. 2b and other related parts of the embodiment involved in FIG. 2b , which will not be described in detail here.

[0356] In some embodiments, the first terminal 101 may determine one or more U2U relays, through which a first path among the multiple paths passes, as one or more U2U relays for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal.

[0357] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first path may also be a path with the highest communication quality when the first terminal communicates with the second terminal. The present disclosure does not limit the method for determining the first path.

[0358] In some embodiments, step 4204 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0359] The relay discovery method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps 4201 to 4204. For example, step 4201 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 4202 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and steps 4203+4204 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0360] In some embodiments, steps 4202 to 4204 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0361] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined, and can be arbitrarily combined with any steps of other embodiments or other examples.

[0362] FIG4c is a flow chart of a relay discovery method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG4c, the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a relay discovery method, which is used for the first terminal 101. The method includes:

[0363] Step 4301, sending a first parameter set.

[0364] For step 4301, reference may be made to step 2101 in FIG. 2a, step 2201 in FIG. 2b, step 4101 in FIG. 4a, step 4201 in FIG. 4b, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a, FIG. 2b, FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b, which will not be repeated here.

[0365] In some embodiments, the first terminal 101 may send the first parameter set to the first relay device 102 , but is not limited thereto and may also send the first parameter set to other entities.

[0366] In some embodiments, the first parameter set includes at least a first number, where the first number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal and through which the first terminal communicates with the second terminal.

[0367] In some embodiments, step 4301 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0368] Step 4302, obtain the second information.

[0369] For step 4302, reference may be made to step 2112 of FIG. 2a, step 2211 of FIG. 2b, step 4102 of FIG. 4a, step 4202 of FIG. 4b, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a, FIG. 2b, FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b, which will not be repeated here.

[0370] In some embodiments, the first terminal 101 may obtain the second information sent by the first relay device 102 , but is not limited thereto and may also obtain the second information from other entities.

[0371] In some embodiments, step 4302 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0372] Step 4303: Determine one or more U2U relays for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal.

[0373] For step 4303, reference can be made to step 2113 of Figure 2a, step 2114 of Figure 2a, step 2212 of Figure 2b, step 2113 of Figure 2b, step 4103 of Figure 4a, step 4104 of Figure 4a, step 4203 of Figure 4b, step 4204 of Figure 4b, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figures 2a, 2b, 4a and 4b, which will not be repeated here.

[0374] In some embodiments, the second terminal has judgment capability, and the first terminal 101 can determine the first information carried in the second message, wherein the first information is used to indicate one or more U2U relays through which the first path for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal determined by the second terminal passes; and the one or more U2U relays indicated by the first information are determined as one or more U2U relays for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal.

[0375] In some embodiments, the second terminal does not have the judgment capability, and the first terminal 101 may determine the second information carried in the second message, wherein the second information is used to indicate one or more U2U relays through which multiple paths for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal pass; and determine the one or more U2U relays through which the first path among the multiple paths passes as the one or more U2U relays for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal, wherein the first path passes through the least number of U2U relays.

[0376] However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The first terminal may determine one or more U2U relays for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal based on other information.

[0377] In some embodiments, step 4303 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0378] The relay discovery method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps 4301 to 4303. For example, step 4301 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 4303 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and steps 4302+4303 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0379] In some embodiments, steps 4302 to 4303 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0380] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined, and can be arbitrarily combined with any steps of other embodiments or other examples.

[0381] FIG4 d is a flow chart of a relay discovery method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG4 d , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a relay discovery method, which is used for the first terminal 101. The method includes:

[0382] Step 4401, sending a first number.

[0383] For step 4401, reference can be made to step 2101 in FIG. 2a, step 2201 in FIG. 2b, step 4101 in FIG. 4a, step 4201 in FIG. 4b, and step 4301 in FIG. 4c. Other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a, FIG. 2b, FIG. 4a, FIG. 4b, and FIG. 4c will not be repeated here.

[0384] In some embodiments, the first terminal 101 may send the first number to the first relay device 102 , but is not limited thereto and may also send the first number to other entities.

[0385] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first terminal 101 sends a first number to the first relay device, where the first number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal and through which the first terminal communicates with the second terminal.

[0386] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first terminal 101 sending the first number to the first relay device includes: the first terminal 101 sending a first parameter set to the first relay device, where the first parameter set includes at least the first number.

[0387] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first parameter set is carried by a first message, and the first message is used by the first terminal to request a terminal-to-terminal U2U relay discovery process.

[0388] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first parameter set further includes at least one of the following: a discovery message type; identification information of the first terminal; a relay service code RSC; and identification information of the second terminal.

[0389] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first terminal 101 obtains a second message, where the second message is used to assist the first terminal in determining the U2U relay.

[0390] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first terminal 101 determines one or more U2U relays for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal based on the second message.

[0391] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first terminal 101 determines one or more U2U relays for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal based on the second message, including: the first terminal 101 determines the first information carried in the second message, wherein the first information is used to indicate the one or more U2U relays through which the first path for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal determined by the second terminal passes; the first terminal 101 determines the one or more U2U relays indicated by the first information as the one or more U2U relays for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal.

[0392] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first terminal 101 determines one or more U2U relays for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal based on the second message, including: the first terminal 101 determines the second information carried in the second message, wherein the second information is used to indicate one or more U2U relays through which multiple paths for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal pass; the first terminal 101 determines one or more U2U relays through which a first path among the multiple paths passes as one or more U2U relays for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal, wherein the first path passes through the least number of U2U relays.

[0393] For a detailed description of step 4401, please refer to the embodiments shown in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b .

[0394] FIG5a is a flow chart of a relay discovery method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG5a, the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a relay discovery method for a second terminal 103, the method comprising:

[0395] Step 5101: Obtain a first parameter set.

[0396] For step 5101, reference may be made to step 2106 of FIG. 2a, step 2107 of FIG. 2a, step 2206 of FIG. 2b, step 2207 of FIG. 2b, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b, which will not be repeated here.

[0397] In some embodiments, the second terminal 103 can receive a first parameter set sent by the first relay device and / or the second relay device, wherein the first parameter set includes at least a second number, and the second number is obtained by updating the first number, but is not limited to this. The second terminal 103 can also obtain the first parameter set from other entities.

[0398] In some embodiments, the first parameter set includes at least the first number.

[0399] In some embodiments, step 5101 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0400] Step 5102, determine the first path.

[0401] For step 5102, reference may be made to step 2108 in FIG. 2a and other related parts of the embodiment involved in FIG. 2a, which will not be described in detail here.

[0402] In some embodiments, the second terminal 103 has a judgment function, and the second terminal 103 can determine the first path based on the first parameter set sent by the first relay device and / or the second relay device, wherein the first path passes through the least U2U relays, but is not limited to this. The second terminal 103 can also determine the first path based on other information.

[0403] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first path may also be a path with the highest communication quality when the first terminal communicates with the second terminal. The present disclosure does not limit the method for determining the first path.

[0404] In some embodiments, step 5102 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0405] Step 5103, sending the second message.

[0406] For step 5103, please refer to step 2109, step 2110, step 2111, step 2208, step 2209, and step 2210 of FIG. 2a and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b, which will not be repeated here.

[0407] In some embodiments, the second terminal 103 sends a second message to the first relay device and / or the second relay device, wherein the second message is used to assist the first terminal in determining the U2U relay, and the second message carries the first parameter set sent by the first relay device and / or the second relay device, but is not limited to this. The second terminal 103 may also send a second message to others.

[0408] In some embodiments, step 5103 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0409] The relay discovery method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps 5101 to 5103. For example, step 5101 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 5103 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and steps 5102+5103 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0410] In some embodiments, step 5102 is optional and may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0411] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined, and can be arbitrarily combined with any steps of other embodiments or other examples.

[0412] FIG5b is a flow chart of a relay discovery method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG5b, the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a relay discovery method for a second terminal 103, the method comprising:

[0413] Step 5201, obtain a first parameter set.

[0414] For step 5201, reference may be made to step 2106 of FIG. 2a, step 2107 of FIG. 2a, step 2206 of FIG. 2b, step 2207 of FIG. 2b, step 5101 of FIG. 5a, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a, FIG. 2b and FIG. 5a, which will not be repeated here.

[0415] In some embodiments, the second terminal 103 can receive a first parameter set sent by the first relay device and / or the second relay device, wherein the first parameter set includes at least a second number, and the second number is obtained by updating the first number, but is not limited to this. The second terminal 103 can also obtain the first parameter set from other entities.

[0416] In some embodiments, the first parameter set includes at least the first number.

[0417] In some embodiments, step 5201 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0418] Step 5202, sending a second message.

[0419] For step 5202, reference can be made to step 2109 of Figure 2a, step 2110 of Figure 2a, step 2111 of Figure 2a, step 2208 of Figure 2b, step 2209 of Figure 2b, step 2210 of 2b, step 5103 of Figure 5a, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figures 2a, 2b and 5a, which will not be repeated here.

[0420] In some embodiments, the second terminal 103 sends a second message to the first relay device and / or the second relay device, wherein the second message is used to assist the first terminal in determining the U2U relay, and the second message carries the first parameter set sent by the first relay device and / or the second relay device, but is not limited to this. The second terminal 103 may also send a second message to others.

[0421] In some embodiments, step 5202 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0422] The relay discovery method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps 5201 and 5202. For example, step 5201 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 5202 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and steps 5201+5202 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0423] In some embodiments, step 5202 is optional and may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0424] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined, and can be arbitrarily combined with any steps of other embodiments or other examples.

[0425] FIG5c is a flow chart of a relay discovery method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG5c, the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a relay discovery method for a second terminal 103, the method comprising:

[0426] Step 5301, obtain a first number.

[0427] For step 5301, reference can be made to step 2106 of Figure 2a, step 2107 of Figure 2a, step 2206 of Figure 2b, step 2207 of Figure 2b, step 5101 of Figure 5a, step 5201 of Figure 5b, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2a, Figure 2b, Figure 5a and Figure 5b, which will not be repeated here.

[0428] In some embodiments, the second terminal 103 can receive a first parameter set sent by the first relay device and / or the second relay device to obtain a first number, wherein the first parameter set includes at least the first number, but is not limited to this. The second terminal 103 can also obtain the first number from other entities.

[0429] Optionally, in some embodiments, the second terminal 103 obtains a first number, where the first number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal and through which the first terminal communicates with the second terminal.

[0430] Optionally, in some embodiments, the second terminal 103 acquiring the first number includes: the second terminal 103 acquiring a first parameter set, wherein the first parameter set includes at least the first number.

[0431] Optionally, in some embodiments, the second terminal 103 obtains the first number including: the second terminal 103 receives a first parameter set sent by the first relay device and / or the second relay device, wherein the first parameter set includes at least the second number, and the second number is obtained by updating the first number.

[0432] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first parameter set is carried by a first message, and the first message is used by the first terminal to request a terminal-to-terminal U2U relay discovery process.

[0433] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first parameter set further includes at least one of the following: discovery message type; identification information of the first terminal; relay service code RSC; identification information of the second terminal.

[0434] Optionally, in some embodiments, the second terminal 103 sends a second message to the first relay device and / or the second relay device, wherein the second message is used to assist the first terminal in determining the U2U relay, and the second message carries the first parameter set sent by the first relay device and / or the second relay device.

[0435] Optionally, in some embodiments, the second terminal 103 determines a first path based on a first parameter set sent by the first relay device and / or the second relay device, wherein the first path passes through the least U2U relays; the second terminal 103 sends a second message to the first relay device and / or the second relay device, wherein the second message is used to assist the first terminal in determining the U2U relay, and the second message carries the first parameter set corresponding to the first path.

[0436] For a detailed description of step 5301, please refer to the embodiments shown in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b .

[0437] Figure 6 is an interactive diagram of a relay discovery method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 6, the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a relay discovery method, which includes:

[0438] Step 6101 : The first terminal 101 sends a first number to the first relay device 102 .

[0439] For optional implementations of step 6101, please refer to step 2101 of Figure 2a, step 2201 of Figure 2b, step 3101 of Figure 3a, step 3201 of Figure 3b, step 3301 of Figure 3c, step 4101 of Figure 4a, step 4201 of Figure 4b, step 4301 of Figure 4c, step 4401 of Figure 4d, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figures 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 3c, 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d, which will not be repeated here.

[0440] Step 6102 : The first relay device 102 sends to the second terminal 103 .

[0441] For optional implementations of step 6102, please refer to step 2108 of Figure 2a, step 2207 of Figure 2b, step 3105 of Figure 3a, step 3203 of Figure 3b, step 5101 of Figure 5a, step 5201 of Figure 5b, and other related parts of the embodiments involved in Figures 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 5a and 5b, which will not be repeated here.

[0442] In some embodiments, the above method may include the method described in the above embodiments of the communication system side, the first terminal side, the first relay device side, the second terminal side, etc., which will not be repeated here.

[0443] In some embodiments, the above-mentioned communication system further includes a second relay device.

[0444] Figure 7 is an interactive diagram of a relay discovery method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 7, the relay discovery method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes:

[0445] Step 7101: Perform service authorization / parameter configuration on UE1, U2U relay device 1, U2U relay device 2, and UE2.

[0446] Optionally, in some embodiments, a policy control function (PCF) network element may perform service authorization / parameter configuration for UE1, U2U relay device 1, U2U relay device 2, and UE2, and the performed service authorization / parameter configuration includes a multi-hop index, where the multi-hop index may be the maximum number of multi-hops supported by the relay service.

[0447] In step 7102 , UE1 sends a relay discovery request message to U2U relay device 1 .

[0448] Optionally, in some embodiments, UE1 sends relay discovery request information to U2U relay device 1 .

[0449] Optionally, in some embodiments, the relay discovery request information includes a multi-hop index, a discovery message type of UE2, a user information ID of UE1, a multi-hop index, an RSC, and a user information ID of UE2.

[0450] Optionally, in some embodiments, UE1 may send relay discovery request information to the U2U relay device 1 through the source Layer 2 ID and the target Layer 2 ID.

[0451] Step 7103 : U2U relay device 1 sends a relay discovery request message to U2U relay device 2 .

[0452] Optionally, in some embodiments, the U2U relay device 1 sends relay discovery request information to the U2U relay device 2 .

[0453] Optionally, in some embodiments, the U2U relay device 1 may subtract one from the received multi-hop index to update the multi-hop index.

[0454] Optionally, in some embodiments, the relay discovery request information includes the updated multi-hop index, the discovery message type of UE2, the user information ID of UE1, the multi-hop index, the RSC and the user information ID of UE2.

[0455] Optionally, in some embodiments, the U2U relay device 1 may send relay discovery request information to the U2U relay device 2 using the source layer 2 ID and the target layer 2 ID.

[0456] Optionally, in some embodiments, when the multi-hop index received by the U2U relay device 1 is 0, the message is discarded.

[0457] Step 7104 : U2U relay device 1 sends a relay discovery request message to UE2 .

[0458] Optionally, in some embodiments, the U2U relay device 1 sends relay discovery request information to the UE 2 .

[0459] Optionally, in some embodiments, the U2U relay device 1 may subtract one from the received multi-hop index to update the multi-hop index.

[0460] Optionally, in some embodiments, the relay discovery request information includes the updated multi-hop index, the discovery message type of UE2, the user information ID of UE1, the multi-hop index, the RSC and the user information ID of UE2.

[0461] Optionally, in some embodiments, the U2U relay device 1 may send relay discovery request information to the UE 2 via the source layer 2 ID and the target layer 2 ID.

[0462] Optionally, in some embodiments, when the multi-hop index received by the U2U relay device 1 is 0, the message is discarded.

[0463] Step 7105 : U2U relay device 2 sends a relay discovery request message to UE2 .

[0464] Optionally, in some embodiments, the U2U relay device 2 sends relay discovery request information to the UE 2 .

[0465] Optionally, in some embodiments, the RSC value in the relay discovery request information sent by the U2U relay device 2 is the same as the RSC value supported by the UE.

[0466] Optionally, in some embodiments, the U2U relay device 2 may subtract one from the received multi-hop index to update the multi-hop index. In other words, the updated multi-hop index differs from the multi-hop index sent by UE1 by 2.

[0467] Optionally, in some embodiments, the relay discovery request information includes the updated multi-hop index, the discovery message type of UE2, the user information ID of UE1, the multi-hop index, the RSC and the user information ID of UE2.

[0468] Optionally, in some embodiments, the U2U relay device 2 may send relay discovery request information to the UE 2 via the source layer 2 ID and the target layer 2 ID.

[0469] Optionally, in some embodiments, when the multi-hop index received by the U2U relay device 2 is 0, the message is discarded.

[0470] In step 7106 , UE2 sends a relay discovery response message to U2U relay device 2 .

[0471] Optionally, in some embodiments, UE2 sends relay discovery response information to U2U relay device 2 in response to the relay discovery request information sent by relay device 2.

[0472] Optionally, in some embodiments, the relay discovery response information includes the discovery message type of UE2, the user information ID of UE1, the multi-hop index, the RSC and the user information ID of UE2.

[0473] Optionally, in some embodiments, when UE2 receives relay discovery request information sent by multiple relay devices, UE2 may choose to respond or not respond.

[0474] Optionally, in some embodiments, when UE2 receives multiple discovery request information from the same UE1 through different relay devices, UE2 may determine a path with the least number of jumps based on a multi-hop index to respond to the request information of the path.

[0475] Optionally, in some embodiments, UE2 may send relay discovery request information to UE2 via the source layer 2 ID and the target layer 2 ID.

[0476] In step 7107 , U2U relay device 2 sends a relay discovery response message to U2U relay device 1 .

[0477] Optionally, in some embodiments, the U2U relay device 2 sends relay discovery response information to the U2U relay device 1 .

[0478] Optionally, in some embodiments, the relay discovery response information includes the discovery message type of UE2, the user information ID of UE1, the multi-hop index, the RSC and the user information ID of UE2.

[0479] Optionally, in some embodiments, the U2U relay device 2 may send relay discovery request information to the UE 2 via the source layer 2 ID and the target layer 2 ID.

[0480] In step 7108 , UE2 sends a relay discovery response message to U2U relay device 1 .

[0481] Optionally, in some embodiments, UE2 sends relay discovery response information to U2U relay device 1 in response to the relay discovery request information sent by relay device 1.

[0482] Optionally, in some embodiments, the relay discovery response information includes the discovery message type of UE2, the user information ID of UE1, the multi-hop index, the RSC and the user information ID of UE2.

[0483] Optionally, in some embodiments, when UE2 receives relay discovery request information sent by multiple relay devices, UE2 may choose to respond or not respond.

[0484] Optionally, in some embodiments, when UE2 receives multiple discovery request information from the same UE1 through different relay devices, UE2 may determine a path with the least number of jumps based on a multi-hop index to respond to the request information of the path.

[0485] Optionally, in some embodiments, UE2 may send relay discovery request information to U2U relay device 2 via a source layer 2 ID and a target layer 2 ID.

[0486] Step 7109 : U2U relay device 1 sends relay discovery response information to UE1 .

[0487] Optionally, in some embodiments, the U2U relay device 1 sends relay discovery response information to the UE 1 .

[0488] Optionally, in some embodiments, the relay discovery response information includes the discovery message type of UE2, the user information ID of UE1, the multi-hop index, the RSC and the user information ID of UE2.

[0489] Optionally, in some embodiments, the U2U relay device 1 may send relay discovery request information to the UE 1 via the source layer 2 ID and the target layer 2 ID.

[0490] The relay discovery method involved in the embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps 7101 to 7109. For example, step 7101 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 7104 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and steps 7102+7105 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0491] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined, and can be arbitrarily combined with any steps of other embodiments or other examples.

[0492] The embodiments of the present disclosure further provide an apparatus for implementing any of the above methods. For example, an apparatus is provided that includes units or modules for implementing each step performed by a terminal in any of the above methods. For another example, another apparatus is provided that includes units or modules for implementing each step performed by a relay device in any of the above methods.

[0493] It should be understood that the division of the various units or modules in the above device is merely a division of logical functions. In actual implementation, they may be fully or partially integrated into a physical entity, or they may be physically separated. In addition, the units or modules in the device may be implemented in the form of a processor calling software: for example, the device includes a processor, the processor is connected to a memory, and the memory stores instructions. The processor calls the instructions stored in the memory to implement any of the above methods or implement the functions of the various units or modules of the above device, wherein the processor is, for example, a general-purpose processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a microprocessor, and the memory is a memory within the device or a memory outside the device. Alternatively, the units or modules in the device can be implemented in the form of hardware circuits, and the functions of some or all of the units or modules can be realized by designing the hardware circuits. The above-mentioned hardware circuits can be understood as one or more processors; for example, in one implementation, the above-mentioned hardware circuit is an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), which realizes the functions of some or all of the above units or modules by designing the logical relationship of the components in the circuit; for example, in another implementation, the above-mentioned hardware circuit can be realized by a programmable logic device (PLD). Taking a field programmable gate array (FPGA) as an example, it can include a large number of logic gate circuits, and the connection relationship between the logic gate circuits is configured by configuring the configuration file, thereby realizing the functions of some or all of the above units or modules. All units or modules of the above devices can be realized in the form of software called by the processor, or in the form of hardware circuits, or in part by the form of software called by the processor, and the rest by hardware circuits.

[0494] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor is a circuit with signal processing capabilities. In one implementation, the processor can be a circuit with instruction reading and execution capabilities, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a graphics processing unit (GPU) (which can be understood as a microprocessor), or a digital signal processor (DSP); in another implementation, the processor can implement certain functions through the logical relationship of a hardware circuit, and the logical relationship of the above-mentioned hardware circuit is fixed or reconfigurable, such as a hardware circuit implemented by a processor as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a programmable logic device (PLD), such as an FPGA. In a reconfigurable hardware circuit, the process of the processor loading a configuration document to implement the hardware circuit configuration can be understood as the process of the processor loading instructions to implement the functions of some or all of the above units or modules. In addition, it can also be a hardware circuit designed for artificial intelligence, which can be understood as ASIC, such as a neural network processing unit (NPU), a tensor processing unit (TPU), a deep learning processing unit (DPU), etc.

[0495] Figure 8a is a schematic structural diagram of the first relay device 8100 proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 8a, the first relay device includes: a transceiver module 8101. In some embodiments, the above-mentioned transceiver module is used to obtain a first number, wherein the first number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal and through which communication with the second terminal is carried out. Optionally, the above-mentioned transceiver module is used to execute at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving performed by the first relay device 102 in any of the above methods (for example, step 2105, step 2107, step 2110, step 2111, step 2205, step 2207, step 2209, step 2210, but not limited to this), which will not be repeated here. Optionally, in some embodiments, the first network function entity further includes a processing module 8102, which is used to execute other steps (for example, step 2102, step 2103, step 2104, step 2202, step 2203, step 2104, but not limited to this) performed by the first relay device 102 in any of the above methods, which are not repeated here.

[0496] Figure 8b is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first terminal 8200 proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 8b, the first terminal includes: a transceiver module 8201. In some embodiments, the transceiver module is used to send a first number to the first relay device, wherein the first number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal and through which communication with the second terminal is carried out. Optionally, the transceiver module is used to perform at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving performed by the first terminal 101 in any of the above methods (for example, step 2101, step 21201, but not limited thereto), which are not repeated here. Optionally, in some embodiments, the first terminal further includes a processing module 8202, which is used to perform at least one of the other steps (for example, steps 2113, 2114, 2212, 2213, but not limited thereto) performed by the first terminal 101 in any of the above methods, which are not repeated here.

[0497] Figure 8c is a schematic diagram of the structure of a second terminal 8300 proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 8c, the second terminal includes a transceiver module 8301. In some embodiments, the transceiver module is used to obtain a first number, where the first number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal and through which communication with the second terminal is carried out. Optionally, the transceiver module is used to perform at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving performed by the second terminal 103 in any of the above methods (for example, step 2106, step 2107, step 2109, step 2111, step 2206, step 2207, step 2208, and step 2210, but not limited thereto), which are not further described here. Optionally, in some embodiments, the second terminal further includes a processing module 8302, which is used to perform at least one of the other steps (for example, step 2108, but not limited thereto) performed by the second terminal 1021 in any of the above methods, which are not further described here.

[0498] As shown in Figure 9a, the communication device 9100 includes one or more processors 9101. The processor 9101 can be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, for example, a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processing unit can be used to control the communication device (such as a base station, baseband chip, terminal device, terminal device chip, DU or CU, etc.), execute programs, and process program data. The processor 9101 is used to call instructions to enable the communication device 9100 to perform any of the above methods.

[0499] In some embodiments, the communication device 9100 further includes one or more memories 9102 for storing instructions. Optionally, all or part of the memories 9102 may be located outside the communication device 9100.

[0500] In some embodiments, the communication device 9100 further includes one or more transceivers 9103. When the communication device 9100 includes one or more transceivers 9103, the communication steps such as sending and receiving in the above method are performed by the transceiver 9103, and the other steps are performed by the processor 9101.

[0501] In some embodiments, a transceiver may include a receiver and a transmitter, which may be separate or integrated. Optionally, the terms transceiver, transceiver unit, transceiver, and transceiver circuit may be used interchangeably; the terms transmitter, transmitting unit, transmitter, and transmitting circuit may be used interchangeably; and the terms receiver, receiving unit, receiver, and receiving circuit may be used interchangeably.

[0502] Optionally, the communication device 9100 further includes one or more interface circuits 9104, which are connected to the memory 9102. The interface circuits 9104 can be used to receive signals from the memory 9102 or other devices, and can be used to send signals to the memory 9102 or other devices. For example, the interface circuits 9104 can read instructions stored in the memory 9102 and send the instructions to the processor 9101.

[0503] The communication device 9100 described in the above embodiment may be a network device or a terminal, but the scope of the communication device 9100 described in the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the structure of the communication device 9100 may not be limited by FIG. 9a. The communication device may be an independent device or may be part of a larger device. For example, the communication device may be: 1) an independent integrated circuit IC, or a chip, or a chip system or subsystem; (2) a collection of one or more ICs, optionally, the above IC collection may also include a storage component for storing data or programs; (3) an ASIC, such as a modem; (4) a module that can be embedded in other devices; (5) a receiver, a terminal device, an intelligent terminal device, a cellular phone, a wireless device, a handheld device, a mobile unit, an in-vehicle device, a network device, a cloud device, an artificial intelligence device, etc.; (6) others, etc.

[0504] FIG9b is a schematic diagram of the structure of a chip 9200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. If the communication device 9100 can be a chip or a chip system, reference can be made to the schematic diagram of the structure of the chip 9200 shown in FIG9b , but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0505] The chip 9200 includes one or more processors 9201, and the processor 9201 is used to call instructions so that the chip 9200 executes any of the above methods.

[0506] In some embodiments, chip 9200 further includes one or more interface circuits 9202, which are connected to memory 9203. Interface circuits 9202 can be used to receive signals from memory 9203 or other devices, and can be used to send signals to memory 9203 or other devices. For example, interface circuit 9202 can read instructions stored in memory 9203 and send the instructions to processor 9201. Optionally, the terms interface circuit, interface, transceiver pin, and transceiver are interchangeable.

[0507] In some embodiments, the chip 9200 further includes one or more memories 9203 for storing instructions. Alternatively, all or part of the memories 9203 may be located outside the chip 9200.

[0508] The present disclosure also proposes a storage medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed on the communication device 9100, causes the communication device 9100 to execute any of the above methods. Optionally, the storage medium is an electronic storage medium. Optionally, the storage medium is a computer-readable storage medium, but is not limited thereto and may also be a storage medium readable by other devices. Optionally, the storage medium may be a non-transitory storage medium, but is not limited thereto and may also be a temporary storage medium.

[0509] The present disclosure also provides a program product, which, when executed by the communication device 9100, enables the communication device 9100 to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, the program product is a computer program product.

[0510] The present disclosure also proposes a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform any one of the above methods.

[0511] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs. When the computer program is loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present disclosure are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer program can be transmitted from one website, computer, server or data center to another website, computer, server or data center via a wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) method. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more available media integrated therein. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (eg, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (eg, a high-density digital video disc (DVD)), or a semiconductor medium (eg, a solid state disk (SSD)).

[0512] The correspondences shown in the tables of the present disclosure can be configured or predefined. The values ​​of the information in each table are merely examples and can be configured to other values, which are not limited by the present disclosure. When configuring the correspondences between information and parameters, it is not necessarily required to configure all the correspondences shown in each table. For example, in the tables of the present disclosure, the correspondences shown in certain rows may not be configured. For another example, appropriate deformation adjustments can be made based on the above tables, such as splitting, merging, etc. The names of the parameters shown in the titles of the above tables may also adopt other names that can be understood by the communication device, and the values ​​or representations of the parameters may also adopt other values ​​or representations that can be understood by the communication device. When implementing the above tables, other data structures may also be used, such as arrays, queues, containers, stacks, linear lists, pointers, linked lists, trees, graphs, structures, classes, heaps, hash tables or hash tables, etc.

[0513] The predefined in the present disclosure may be understood as defined, predefined, stored, pre-stored, pre-negotiated, pre-configured, solidified, or pre-burned.

[0514] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professionals and technicians can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this disclosure.

[0515] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0516] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present disclosure, but the scope of protection of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this disclosure should be included in the scope of protection of the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present disclosure should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A relay discovery method, characterized in that: The method is performed by a first relay device, and the method includes: Get the first number, The first number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal and through which the first terminal communicates with the second terminal.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The obtaining of the first number comprises: Get the first parameter set, The first parameter set includes at least the first number.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The method further comprises: updating the first number to a second number, The second number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal for communicating with the second terminal via the first relay device, and the second number is less than or equal to the first number minus 1.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first parameter set is sent to a second relay device and / or the second terminal, wherein the first parameter set includes the second number.

5. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that The first parameter set is carried by a first message, and the first message is used by the first terminal to request a terminal-to-terminal U2U relay discovery process.

6. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that The first parameter set also includes at least one of the following: Discovery message type; identification information of the first terminal; Relay service code RSC; The identification information of the second terminal.

7. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The sending the first parameter set to the second relay device and / or the second terminal includes: determining that a first condition is satisfied, sending the first parameter set to a second relay device and / or the second terminal, The first condition is that the RSC in the first parameter set sent by the first terminal is consistent with the RSC provided by the second relay device.

8. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that: The sending the first parameter set to the second relay device and / or the second terminal includes: determining that a second condition is satisfied, sending the first parameter set to a second relay device and / or the second terminal, The second condition is that the first number in the first parameter set received by the first relay device is not zero.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that The method further comprises: receiving a second message sent by the second relay device and / or the second terminal, wherein the second message is used to assist the first terminal in determining the U2U relay, and the second message carries the first parameter set; Sending the second message to the first terminal.

10. A relay discovery method, characterized in that: The method is performed by a first terminal, and includes: sending a first number to a first relay device, The first number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal and through which the first terminal communicates with the second terminal.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The sending the first number to the first relay device comprises: sending a first parameter set to the first relay device, The first parameter set includes at least the first number.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The first parameter set is carried by a first message, and the first message is used by the first terminal to request a terminal-to-terminal U2U relay discovery process.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that: The first parameter set also includes at least one of the following: Discovery message type; identification information of the first terminal; Relay service code RSC; The identification information of the second terminal.

14. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that The method further comprises: A second message is obtained, where the second message is used to assist the first terminal in determining the U2U relay.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The method further comprises: Based on the second message, one or more U2U relays for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal are determined.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that The determining, based on the second message, one or more U2U relays for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal includes: Determine first information carried in the second message, wherein the first information is used to indicate one or more U2U relays through which a first path for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal, determined by the second terminal, passes; The one or more U2U relays indicated by the first information are determined as one or more U2U relays for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal.

17. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that The determining, based on the second message, one or more U2U relays for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal includes: Determine second information carried in the second message, wherein the second information is used to indicate one or more U2U relays through which multiple paths for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal pass; One or more U2U relays passed by a first path among the multiple paths are determined as one or more U2U relays for communication between the first terminal and the second terminal, wherein the number of U2U relays passed by the first path is the least.

18. A relay discovery method, characterized in that: The method is performed by a second terminal, and the method includes: Get the first number, The first number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal and through which the first terminal communicates with the second terminal.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that The obtaining of the first number comprises: Get the first parameter set, The first parameter set includes at least the first number.

20. The method according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that The obtaining of the first number comprises: receiving a first parameter set sent by the first relay device and / or the second relay device, The first parameter set includes at least a second number, and the second number is obtained by updating the first number.

21. The method according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that The first parameter set is carried by a first message, and the first message is used by the first terminal to request a terminal-to-terminal U2U relay discovery process.

22. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 21, characterized in that The first parameter set also includes at least one of the following: Discovery message type; identification information of the first terminal; Relay service code RSC; The identification information of the second terminal.

23. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 22, characterized in that The method further comprises: A second message is sent to the first relay device and / or the second relay device, wherein the second message is used to assist the first terminal in determining the U2U relay, and the second message carries a first parameter set sent by the first relay device and / or the second relay device.

24. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 22, characterized in that The method further comprises: Determine a first path based on a first parameter set sent by the first relay device and / or the second relay device, wherein the first path passes through the least number of U2U relays; A second message is sent to the first relay device and / or the second relay device, wherein the second message is used to assist the first terminal in determining the U2U relay, and the second message carries a first parameter set corresponding to the first path.

25. A first relay device, characterized in that: include: A transceiver module, configured to obtain a first number, The first number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal and through which the first terminal communicates with the second terminal.

26. A first terminal, characterized in that: include: a transceiver module, configured to send a first number to a first relay device, The first number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal and through which the first terminal communicates with the second terminal.

27. A second terminal, characterized in that: include: A transceiver module, configured to obtain a first number, The first number is used to identify the number of relay devices supported by the first terminal and through which the first terminal communicates with the second terminal.

28. A communication device, wherein: include: Transceiver; Memory; A processor is connected to the transceiver and the memory, respectively, and is configured to control the wireless signal reception and transmission of the transceiver by executing computer executable instructions on the memory, and can implement the method described in any one of claims 1-24.

29. A computer storage medium, wherein: The computer storage medium stores computer executable instructions; after the computer executable instructions are executed by the processor, the method described in any one of claims 1 to 24 can be implemented.

30. A communication system, characterized in that: The system comprises a first relay device, a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein: The first relay device is configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9; The first terminal is configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 10 to 17; The second terminal is configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 18 to 24.

31. The communication system according to claim 30, characterized in that The communication system also includes a second relay device.

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