Communication method and related apparatus

Abstract

A communication method and a related apparatus. The method comprises: a terminal device determining an uplink signal; and the terminal device sending the uplink signal to an access network device, wherein the uplink signal comprises information of at least one logic resource; information of a first logic resource comprises a first field and / or a second field, the first field is used to indicate remaining time information of data to be transmitted in the first logic resource, the second field is used to indicate a first BS table enabled for the first logic resource, a plurality of preset BS tables are configured for the first logic resource, and the first BS table is included in the preset BS tables. When the first logic resource is configured with a remaining time reporting function, the information of the first logic resource comprises the first field; and when a plurality of preset BS tables are provided, the information of the first logic resource comprises the second field. The embodiments of the present application enhance the design of uplink signals, and avoid duplication or conflict of reported information while ensuring network flexibility and configurability.

Description

Communication method and related device

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on July 29, 2023, with application number 202310949354.X and application name “Communication Methods and Related Devices”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and related devices. Background Art

[0003] In a new radio (NR) system, a terminal device can notify an access network device of the presence of uplink data to be transmitted via a buffer status report (BSR). Therefore, the access network device can allocate resources to the terminal device based on the BSR. Currently, when reporting a BSR, a terminal device can notify the access network device of the size of the data to be transmitted (or the BS interval in which it is located) by reporting the index value in the BSR table corresponding to a long BSR or a short BSR. However, the buffer status (BS) interval step size in the BSR table corresponding to the current long BSR or short BSR is large, resulting in a large error in the reported amount of data to be transmitted. Based on this, the current discussion in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Release 18 (Rel-18) proposes the introduction of a new BSR table with a smaller BS interval step size, thereby reducing the error in the reported amount of data to be transmitted. In addition, to enable access network devices to perceive the data latency consumption and data caching status on the terminal device side, 3GPP Rel-18 also proposes that the terminal device can report the remaining time of the data and the amount of data to be transmitted associated with the remaining time to the access network device.

[0004] As can be seen, in both the scenarios described above using the new BSR table and reporting the remaining time, the terminal device's data size needs to be reported. Designing separate uplink signals to report this information for these two scenarios would increase air interface resource consumption. Furthermore, if the access network device receives two different reports, misunderstandings may occur, leading to inaccurate scheduling based on the terminal device's buffer. Therefore, designing an enhanced uplink signal becomes a pressing issue.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present application provides a communication method and related devices, which enhance the design of uplink signals, support the separate use of the remaining time reporting and new BS table functions, and support the simultaneous use of the two functions, to avoid duplication or conflict of reported information, while also ensuring flexible network configuration.

[0007] In the first aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which is executed by a terminal device, which can be the terminal device itself, or a module or chip in the terminal device. In this method, the terminal device determines an uplink signal and sends the uplink signal to a network device. The uplink signal includes information of at least one logical resource, the at least one logical resource includes a first logical resource, the information of the first logical resource includes a first field and / or a second field, the first field is used to indicate the remaining time information of the data to be transmitted in the first logical resource, the second field is used to indicate the first BS table enabled by the first logical resource, the number of preset BS tables configured for the first logical resource is multiple, the first BS table is included in the preset BS table, and the first BS table includes multiple BS intervals; when the first logical resource is configured with a remaining time reporting function, the information of the first logical resource includes the first field; when the number of the preset BS tables is multiple, the information of the first logical resource includes the second field.

[0008] In the embodiment of the present application, the uplink signal may be a MACCE, an RRC message, a PDCP control PDU, or an RLC control PDU, and the logical resource may be a logical channel group, a logical channel, or a DRB, etc., which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. The design of the uplink signal is enhanced to support both the remaining time reporting and the new BS table reporting functions, as well as the simultaneous use of both functions. This avoids duplication or conflict in the reported information and ensures flexible network configuration.

[0009] In a possible design, when the first logical resource is not configured with a remaining time reporting function, the first field is a reserved field; when the number of the preset BS tables is 1, the second field is a reserved field.

[0010] In this implementation, by changing the meaning of the first and second fields, a unified MAC CE format can be used in different scenarios and configurations to express different meanings. This supports the use of both the remaining time and new BS table functions separately or simultaneously, avoiding duplication or conflicting reported information and ensuring flexible network configuration.

[0011] In one possible design, the information about the first logical resource further includes a third field and / or a fourth field, where the third field is used to indicate whether the first field exists, and the fourth field is used to indicate whether the second field exists;

[0012] When the third field indicates that the first field exists, the information of the first logical resource includes the first field; or,

[0013] When the third field indicates that the first field does not exist, the information of the first logical resource does not include the first field; or,

[0014] When the fourth field indicates that the second field exists, the information of the first logical resource includes the second field; or,

[0015] When the fourth field indicates that the second field does not exist, the information of the first logical resource does not include the second field.

[0016] In this implementation, the third and fourth fields are introduced to achieve different MAC CE content for different configurations to support different network functions. Compared to the aforementioned implementation method that changes the meaning of the first and second fields, this further reduces the number of unused fields in the MAC CE and reduces air interface resource consumption. Through the flexible combination of the third and fourth fields, the remaining time and new BS table functions can be used separately or simultaneously, avoiding duplication or conflict in reported information and ensuring flexible network configuration.

[0017] In one possible design,

[0018] When the first logical resource is configured with a remaining time reporting function, the third field indicates that the first field exists; or,

[0019] When the first logical resource is not configured with a remaining time reporting function, the third field indicates that the first field does not exist; or,

[0020] When there are multiple preset BS tables, the fourth field indicates that the second field exists; or,

[0021] When the number of the preset BS table is 1, the fourth field indicates that the second field does not exist.

[0022] In one possible design, the information about the first logical resource further includes a third field, where the third field is used to indicate whether the first field exists;

[0023] When the third field indicates that the first field does not exist, the information of the first logical resource does not include the first field, and the information of the first logical resource includes the second field.

[0024] In this implementation, when the third field indicates that the first field does not exist, a separate fourth field is not required to indicate whether the second field exists. Instead, the second field is directly included, which can further reduce useless fields and help reduce air interface resource consumption.

[0025] In one possible design, when the first logical resource is configured with a remaining time reporting function and the number of preset BS tables is one, the information of the first logical resource includes the first field and does not include the second field;

[0026] When the first logical resource is not configured with a remaining time reporting function and the number of preset BS tables is multiple, the information of the first logical resource includes the second field and does not include the first field;

[0027] When the first logical resource is configured with a remaining time reporting function and a plurality of BS tables are preset, the information of the first logical resource includes a first field and a second field.

[0028] In this implementation, multiple different formats are directly designed for a MAC CE, so the terminal device can select the corresponding format according to the network configuration. This does not require carrying additional indication information, further reducing air interface resource consumption.

[0029] In one possible design, the information of the first logical resource also includes a fifth field, and the fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the data amount to be transmitted in the first logical resource belongs, and the first BS interval is included in the first BS table.

[0030] In this implementation, the information about the first logical resource may also include a fifth field indicating the amount of data to be transmitted in the first logical resource. Upon receiving this information, the access network device can appropriately allocate resources to the terminal device for transmitting the data to be transmitted. Optionally, the fifth field may be replaced with a BS value field or BS value.

[0031] In one possible design, the first logical resource includes at least one piece of data to be transmitted, and one piece of data to be transmitted corresponds to a remaining time;

[0032] The fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the amount of data to be transmitted in the first logical resource belongs, including:

[0033] The number of the fifth field is 1, and the fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the total amount of all data to be transmitted in the first logical resource belongs; or

[0034] The number of the fifth field is 1, and the fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the amount of data to be transmitted within the minimum remaining time among the remaining time corresponding to the at least one piece of data to be transmitted belongs; or

[0035] The number of the fifth fields is 2, one of the fifth fields is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the total data amount belongs, and the other fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the data amount of the data to be transmitted within the minimum remaining time belongs; or

[0036] The number of the fifth fields is equal to the number of remaining time intervals indicated by the first field, one fifth field corresponds to one remaining time interval in the remaining time interval indicated by the first field, and one fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the amount of data to be transmitted in the remaining time in the first logical resource within the one remaining time interval belongs.

[0037] In this implementation, several possible forms of the fifth field are listed, which can be determined according to actual conditions and have high applicability.

[0038] In one possible design, the first logical resource includes at least one piece of data to be transmitted, and one piece of data to be transmitted corresponds to a remaining time;

[0039] The first field is used to indicate the remaining time information of the data to be transmitted in the first logical resource, including:

[0040] The first field is used to indicate the minimum remaining time among the remaining times corresponding to the at least one piece of data to be transmitted; or

[0041] The first field is used to indicate the remaining time interval to which the minimum remaining time among the remaining times corresponding to the at least one piece of data to be transmitted belongs; or

[0042] The first field is used to indicate the remaining time interval to which the remaining time corresponding to the at least one piece of data to be transmitted belongs.

[0043] In this implementation, several possible forms of the first field are listed, which can be determined according to actual conditions and have high applicability.

[0044] In one possible design, the second field is used to indicate a first BS table enabled by the first logical resource, including:

[0045] The second field indicates a first BS table, the first BS table is one of a plurality of preset BS tables, and the first BS intervals indicated by all fifth fields in the information of the first logical resource refer to the first BS table; or,

[0046] When the number of the fifth fields is multiple, the second field indicates multiple first BS tables, any one of the multiple first BS tables is one of the multiple preset BS tables, the number of the multiple first BS tables is equal to the number of the fifth fields, the multiple first BS tables correspond one-to-one to the multiple fifth fields, and a first BS interval reference indicated by a fifth field corresponds to a first BS table.

[0047] In this implementation, several possible forms of the second field are listed, which can be determined according to actual conditions and have high applicability.

[0048] In one possible design, an order in which the information of the at least one logical resource appears in the uplink signal is determined according to an identifier of the at least one logical resource; and / or,

[0049] The order in which the information of the at least one logical resource appears in the uplink signal is determined according to the priority of the at least one logical resource; and / or,

[0050] The order in which the information of the at least one logical resource appears in the uplink signal is determined according to the remaining time of data to be transmitted in the at least one logical resource.

[0051] In this implementation, when a MAC CE contains information about multiple LCGs, the information about each LCG can be arranged in one of the following orders:

[0052] In one possible design, the uplink signal includes an identifier of the at least one logical resource, or the uplink signal includes a bit map of the logical resources, wherein one bit in the bit map of the logical resources corresponds to one logical resource.

[0053] In this implementation method, the uplink signal can directly include the identifier of at least one logical resource, or the uplink signal can include a bit map of the logical resources. When the value of the corresponding bit is "1", it indicates that the uplink signal contains information about the corresponding logical resource. The implementation methods are diverse and the applicability is strong.

[0054] In one possible design, the uplink signal includes MACCE, RRC message, PDCP control PDU, or RLCcontrol PDU.

[0055] In one possible design, the logical resources include logical channel groups, logical channels, or DRBs.

[0056] In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which is performed by an access network device, which can be the access network device itself, or a module or chip in the access network device. In this method, the access network device receives an uplink signal from a terminal device. The uplink signal includes information about at least one logical resource, the at least one logical resource includes a first logical resource, the information about the first logical resource includes a first field and / or a second field, the first field is used to indicate the remaining time information of the data to be transmitted in the first logical resource, the second field is used to indicate the first BS table enabled by the first logical resource, the number of preset BS tables configured for the first logical resource is multiple, the first BS table is included in the preset BS table, and the first BS table includes multiple BS intervals; when the first logical resource is configured with a remaining time reporting function, the information about the first logical resource includes the first field; when the number of preset BS tables is multiple, the information about the first logical resource includes the second field.

[0057] In one possible design, when the first logical resource is not configured with a remaining time reporting function, the first field is a reserved field;

[0058] When the number of the preset BS table is 1, the second field is a reserved field.

[0059] In one possible design, the information about the first logical resource further includes a third field and / or a fourth field, where the third field is used to indicate whether the first field exists, and the fourth field is used to indicate whether the second field exists;

[0060] When the third field indicates that the first field exists, the information of the first logical resource includes the first field; or,

[0061] When the third field indicates that the first field does not exist, the information of the first logical resource does not include the first field; or,

[0062] When the fourth field indicates that the second field exists, the information of the first logical resource includes the second field; or,

[0063] When the fourth field indicates that the second field does not exist, the information of the first logical resource does not include the second field.

[0064] In one possible design, when the first logical resource is configured with a remaining time reporting function, the third field indicates that the first field exists; or,

[0065] When the first logical resource is not configured with a remaining time reporting function, the third field indicates that the first field does not exist; or,

[0066] When there are multiple preset BS tables, the fourth field indicates that the second field exists; or,

[0067] When the number of the preset BS table is 1, the fourth field indicates that the second field does not exist.

[0068] In one possible design, the information about the first logical resource further includes a third field, where the third field is used to indicate whether the first field exists;

[0069] When the third field indicates that the first field does not exist, the information of the first logical resource does not include the first field, and the information of the first logical resource includes the second field.

[0070] In one possible design, when the first logical resource is configured with a remaining time reporting function and the number of preset BS tables is one, the information of the first logical resource includes the first field and does not include the second field;

[0071] When the first logical resource is not configured with a remaining time reporting function and the number of preset BS tables is multiple, the information of the first logical resource includes the second field and does not include the first field;

[0072] When the first logical resource is configured with a remaining time reporting function and a plurality of BS tables are preset, the information of the first logical resource includes a first field and a second field.

[0073] In one possible design, the information of the first logical resource also includes a fifth field, and the fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the data amount to be transmitted in the first logical resource belongs, and the first BS interval is included in the first BS table.

[0074] In one possible design, the first logical resource includes at least one piece of data to be transmitted, and one piece of data to be transmitted corresponds to a remaining time;

[0075] The fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the amount of data to be transmitted in the first logical resource belongs, including:

[0076] The number of the fifth field is 1, and the fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the total amount of all data to be transmitted in the first logical resource belongs; or

[0077] The number of the fifth field is 1, and the fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the amount of data to be transmitted within the minimum remaining time among the remaining time corresponding to the at least one piece of data to be transmitted belongs; or

[0078] The number of the fifth fields is 2, one of the fifth fields is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the total data amount belongs, and the other fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the data amount of the data to be transmitted within the minimum remaining time belongs; or

[0079] The number of the fifth fields is equal to the number of remaining time intervals indicated by the first field, one fifth field corresponds to one remaining time interval in the remaining time interval indicated by the first field, and one fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the amount of data to be transmitted in the remaining time in the first logical resource within the one remaining time interval belongs.

[0080] In one possible design, the first logical resource includes at least one piece of data to be transmitted, and one piece of data to be transmitted corresponds to a remaining time;

[0081] The first field is used to indicate the remaining time information of the data to be transmitted in the first logical resource, including:

[0082] The first field is used to indicate the minimum remaining time among the remaining times corresponding to the at least one piece of data to be transmitted; or

[0083] The first field is used to indicate the remaining time interval to which the minimum remaining time among the remaining times corresponding to the at least one piece of data to be transmitted belongs; or

[0084] The first field is used to indicate the remaining time interval to which the remaining time corresponding to the at least one piece of data to be transmitted belongs.

[0085] In one possible design, the second field is used to indicate a first BS table enabled by the first logical resource, including:

[0086] The second field indicates a first BS table, the first BS table is one of a plurality of preset BS tables, and the first BS intervals indicated by all fifth fields in the information of the first logical resource refer to the first BS table; or,

[0087] When the number of the fifth fields is multiple, the second field indicates multiple first BS tables, any one of the multiple first BS tables is one of the multiple preset BS tables, the number of the multiple first BS tables is equal to the number of the fifth fields, the multiple first BS tables correspond one-to-one to the multiple fifth fields, and a first BS interval reference indicated by a fifth field corresponds to a first BS table.

[0088] In one possible design, an order in which the information of the at least one logical resource appears in the uplink signal is determined according to an identifier of the at least one logical resource; and / or,

[0089] The order in which the information of the at least one logical resource appears in the uplink signal is determined according to the priority of the at least one logical resource; and / or,

[0090] The order in which the information of the at least one logical resource appears in the uplink signal is determined according to the remaining time of data to be transmitted in the at least one logical resource.

[0091] In one possible design, the uplink signal includes an identifier of the at least one logical resource, or the uplink signal includes a bit map of the logical resources, wherein one bit in the bit map of the logical resources corresponds to one logical resource.

[0092] In one possible design, the uplink signal includes MACCE, RRC message, PDCP control PDU, or RLCcontrol PDU.

[0093] In one possible design, the logical resources include logical channel groups, logical channels, or DRBs.

[0094] In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which may be the communication device itself, or a module, chip, or unit in the communication device. The communication device includes:

[0095] a processing unit, configured to determine an uplink signal;

[0096] a transceiver unit, configured to send the uplink signal to an access network device;

[0097] In which, the uplink signal includes information of at least one logical resource, the at least one logical resource includes a first logical resource, the information of the first logical resource includes a first field and / or a second field, the first field is used to indicate the remaining time information of the data to be transmitted in the first logical resource, the second field is used to indicate the first BS table enabled by the first logical resource, the number of preset BS tables configured for the first logical resource is multiple, the first BS table is included in the preset BS table, and the first BS table includes multiple BS intervals; when the first logical resource is configured with a remaining time reporting function, the information of the first logical resource includes the first field; when the number of the preset BS tables is multiple, the information of the first logical resource includes the second field.

[0098] In one possible design, when the first logical resource is not configured with a remaining time reporting function, the first field is a reserved field;

[0099] When the number of the preset BS table is 1, the second field is a reserved field.

[0100] In one possible design, the information about the first logical resource further includes a third field and / or a fourth field, where the third field is used to indicate whether the first field exists, and the fourth field is used to indicate whether the second field exists;

[0101] When the third field indicates that the first field exists, the information of the first logical resource includes the first field; or,

[0102] When the third field indicates that the first field does not exist, the information of the first logical resource does not include the first field; or,

[0103] When the fourth field indicates that the second field exists, the information of the first logical resource includes the second field; or,

[0104] When the fourth field indicates that the second field does not exist, the information of the first logical resource does not include the second field.

[0105] In one possible design, when the first logical resource is configured with a remaining time reporting function, the third field indicates that the first field exists; or,

[0106] When the first logical resource is not configured with a remaining time reporting function, the third field indicates that the first field does not exist; or,

[0107] When there are multiple preset BS tables, the fourth field indicates that the second field exists; or,

[0108] When the number of the preset BS table is 1, the fourth field indicates that the second field does not exist.

[0109] In one possible design, the information about the first logical resource further includes a third field, where the third field is used to indicate whether the first field exists;

[0110] When the third field indicates that the first field does not exist, the information of the first logical resource does not include the first field, and the information of the first logical resource includes the second field.

[0111] In one possible design, when the first logical resource is configured with a remaining time reporting function and the number of preset BS tables is one, the information of the first logical resource includes the first field and does not include the second field;

[0112] When the first logical resource is not configured with a remaining time reporting function and the number of preset BS tables is multiple, the information of the first logical resource includes the second field and does not include the first field;

[0113] When the first logical resource is configured with a remaining time reporting function and a plurality of BS tables are preset, the information of the first logical resource includes a first field and a second field.

[0114] In one possible design, the information of the first logical resource also includes a fifth field, and the fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the data amount to be transmitted in the first logical resource belongs, and the first BS interval is included in the first BS table.

[0115] In one possible design, the first logical resource includes at least one piece of data to be transmitted, and one piece of data to be transmitted corresponds to a remaining time;

[0116] The fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the amount of data to be transmitted in the first logical resource belongs, including:

[0117] The number of the fifth field is 1, and the fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the total amount of all data to be transmitted in the first logical resource belongs; or

[0118] The number of the fifth field is 1, and the fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the amount of data to be transmitted within the minimum remaining time among the remaining time corresponding to the at least one piece of data to be transmitted belongs; or

[0119] The number of the fifth fields is 2, one of the fifth fields is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the total data amount belongs, and the other fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the data amount of the data to be transmitted within the minimum remaining time belongs; or

[0120] The number of the fifth fields is equal to the number of remaining time intervals indicated by the first field, one fifth field corresponds to one remaining time interval in the remaining time interval indicated by the first field, and one fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the amount of data to be transmitted in the remaining time in the first logical resource within the one remaining time interval belongs.

[0121] In one possible design, the first logical resource includes at least one piece of data to be transmitted, and one piece of data to be transmitted corresponds to a remaining time;

[0122] The first field is used to indicate the remaining time information of the data to be transmitted in the first logical resource, including:

[0123] The first field is used to indicate the minimum remaining time among the remaining times corresponding to the at least one piece of data to be transmitted; or

[0124] The first field is used to indicate the remaining time interval to which the minimum remaining time among the remaining times corresponding to the at least one piece of data to be transmitted belongs; or

[0125] The first field is used to indicate the remaining time interval to which the remaining time corresponding to the at least one piece of data to be transmitted belongs.

[0126] In one possible design, the second field is used to indicate a first BS table enabled by the first logical resource, including:

[0127] The second field indicates a first BS table, the first BS table is one of a plurality of preset BS tables, and the first BS intervals indicated by all fifth fields in the information of the first logical resource refer to the first BS table; or,

[0128] When the number of the fifth fields is multiple, the second field indicates multiple first BS tables, any one of the multiple first BS tables is one of the multiple preset BS tables, the number of the multiple first BS tables is equal to the number of the fifth fields, the multiple first BS tables correspond one-to-one to the multiple fifth fields, and a first BS interval reference indicated by a fifth field corresponds to a first BS table.

[0129] In one possible design, an order in which the information of the at least one logical resource appears in the uplink signal is determined according to an identifier of the at least one logical resource; and / or,

[0130] The order in which the information of the at least one logical resource appears in the uplink signal is determined according to the priority of the at least one logical resource; and / or,

[0131] The order in which the information of the at least one logical resource appears in the uplink signal is determined according to the remaining time of data to be transmitted in the at least one logical resource.

[0132] In one possible design, the uplink signal includes an identifier of the at least one logical resource, or the uplink signal includes a bit map of the logical resources, wherein one bit in the bit map of the logical resources corresponds to one logical resource.

[0133] In one possible design, the uplink signal includes MACCE, RRC message, PDCP control PDU, or RLCcontrol PDU.

[0134] In one possible design, the logical resources include logical channel groups, logical channels, or DRBs.

[0135] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which may be the communication device itself, or a module, chip, or unit in the communication device. The communication device includes:

[0136] A transceiver unit, configured to receive uplink signals from a terminal device;

[0137] In which, the uplink signal includes information of at least one logical resource, the at least one logical resource includes a first logical resource, the information of the first logical resource includes a first field and / or a second field, the first field is used to indicate the remaining time information of the data to be transmitted in the first logical resource, the second field is used to indicate the first BS table enabled by the first logical resource, the number of preset BS tables configured for the first logical resource is multiple, the first BS table is included in the preset BS table, and the first BS table includes multiple BS intervals; when the first logical resource is configured with a remaining time reporting function, the information of the first logical resource includes the first field; when the number of the preset BS tables is multiple, the information of the first logical resource includes the second field.

[0138] In one possible design, when the first logical resource is not configured with a remaining time reporting function, the first field is a reserved field;

[0139] When the number of the preset BS table is 1, the second field is a reserved field.

[0140] In one possible design, the information about the first logical resource further includes a third field and / or a fourth field, where the third field is used to indicate whether the first field exists, and the fourth field is used to indicate whether the second field exists;

[0141] When the third field indicates that the first field exists, the information of the first logical resource includes the first field; or,

[0142] When the third field indicates that the first field does not exist, the information of the first logical resource does not include the first field; or,

[0143] When the fourth field indicates that the second field exists, the information of the first logical resource includes the second field; or,

[0144] When the fourth field indicates that the second field does not exist, the information of the first logical resource does not include the second field.

[0145] In one possible design, when the first logical resource is configured with a remaining time reporting function, the third field indicates that the first field exists; or,

[0146] When the first logical resource is not configured with a remaining time reporting function, the third field indicates that the first field does not exist; or,

[0147] When there are multiple preset BS tables, the fourth field indicates that the second field exists; or,

[0148] When the number of the preset BS table is 1, the fourth field indicates that the second field does not exist.

[0149] In one possible design, the information about the first logical resource further includes a third field, where the third field is used to indicate whether the first field exists;

[0150] When the third field indicates that the first field does not exist, the information of the first logical resource does not include the first field, and the information of the first logical resource includes the second field.

[0151] In one possible design, when the first logical resource is configured with a remaining time reporting function and the number of preset BS tables is one, the information of the first logical resource includes the first field and does not include the second field;

[0152] When the first logical resource is not configured with a remaining time reporting function and the number of preset BS tables is multiple, the information of the first logical resource includes the second field and does not include the first field;

[0153] When the first logical resource is configured with a remaining time reporting function and a plurality of BS tables are preset, the information of the first logical resource includes a first field and a second field.

[0154] In one possible design, the information of the first logical resource also includes a fifth field, and the fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the data amount to be transmitted in the first logical resource belongs, and the first BS interval is included in the first BS table.

[0155] In one possible design, the first logical resource includes at least one piece of data to be transmitted, and one piece of data to be transmitted corresponds to a remaining time;

[0156] The fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the amount of data to be transmitted in the first logical resource belongs, including:

[0157] The number of the fifth field is 1, and the fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the total amount of all data to be transmitted in the first logical resource belongs; or

[0158] The number of the fifth field is 1, and the fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the amount of data to be transmitted within the minimum remaining time among the remaining time corresponding to the at least one piece of data to be transmitted belongs; or

[0159] The number of the fifth fields is 2, one of the fifth fields is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the total data amount belongs, and the other fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the data amount of the data to be transmitted within the minimum remaining time belongs; or

[0160] The number of the fifth fields is equal to the number of remaining time intervals indicated by the first field, one fifth field corresponds to one remaining time interval in the remaining time interval indicated by the first field, and one fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the amount of data to be transmitted in the remaining time in the first logical resource within the one remaining time interval belongs.

[0161] In one possible design, the first logical resource includes at least one piece of data to be transmitted, and one piece of data to be transmitted corresponds to a remaining time;

[0162] The first field is used to indicate the remaining time information of the data to be transmitted in the first logical resource, including:

[0163] The first field is used to indicate the minimum remaining time among the remaining times corresponding to the at least one piece of data to be transmitted; or

[0164] The first field is used to indicate the remaining time interval to which the minimum remaining time among the remaining times corresponding to the at least one piece of data to be transmitted belongs; or

[0165] The first field is used to indicate the remaining time interval to which the remaining time corresponding to the at least one piece of data to be transmitted belongs.

[0166] In one possible design, the second field is used to indicate a first BS table enabled by the first logical resource, including:

[0167] The second field indicates a first BS table, the first BS table is one of a plurality of preset BS tables, and the first BS intervals indicated by all fifth fields in the information of the first logical resource refer to the first BS table; or,

[0168] When the number of the fifth fields is multiple, the second field indicates multiple first BS tables, any one of the multiple first BS tables is one of the multiple preset BS tables, the number of the multiple first BS tables is equal to the number of the fifth fields, the multiple first BS tables correspond one-to-one to the multiple fifth fields, and a first BS interval reference indicated by a fifth field corresponds to a first BS table.

[0169] In one possible design, an order in which the information of the at least one logical resource appears in the uplink signal is determined according to an identifier of the at least one logical resource; and / or,

[0170] The order in which the information of the at least one logical resource appears in the uplink signal is determined according to the priority of the at least one logical resource; and / or,

[0171] The order in which the information of the at least one logical resource appears in the uplink signal is determined according to the remaining time of data to be transmitted in the at least one logical resource.

[0172] In one possible design, the uplink signal includes an identifier of the at least one logical resource, or the uplink signal includes a bit map of the logical resources, wherein one bit in the bit map of the logical resources corresponds to one logical resource.

[0173] In one possible design, the uplink signal includes MACCE, RRC message, PDCP control PDU, or RLCcontrol PDU.

[0174] In one possible design, the logical resources include logical channel groups, logical channels, or DRBs.

[0175] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which includes a processor, and the processor is used to execute a computer program so that the communication device executes any method as described in any one of the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0176] In one possible design, the communication device may be a chip that implements the method in any one of the first aspect or the second aspect, or a device including a chip.

[0177] In one possible design, the communication device further includes a transceiver, and the processor is coupled to the transceiver.

[0178] In one possible design, the communication device further includes a memory. A processor is coupled to the memory, the memory stores a computer program, and the processor is further configured to call the computer program in the memory. Alternatively, the processor and memory may be integrated.

[0179] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which includes a processor and an interface circuit, the interface circuit being used to receive signals from other communication devices outside the communication device and transmit them to the processor or send signals from the processor to other communication devices outside the communication device, and the processor being used to implement any of the methods described in any of the first or second aspects through logic circuits or executing code instructions.

[0180] In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program or instruction. When the computer program or instruction is executed by a computer, the method as described in any one of the first aspect or the second aspect is implemented.

[0181] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product. When a computer reads and executes the computer program product, the computer executes any of the methods described in the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0182] In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a communication system, which includes a communication device for implementing the method described in any one of the first aspects above, and a communication device for implementing the method described in any one of the second aspects above.

[0183] The beneficial effects of the second to ninth aspects can be referred to the beneficial effects of the first aspect and will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0184] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system used in an embodiment of the present application;

[0185] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of the format of a short BSR or a short truncated BSR MAC CE;

[0186] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of the format of a long BSR or a long truncated BSR MAC CE;

[0187] FIG4 is a flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0188] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of a format of a MAC CE provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0189] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of another format of a MAC CE provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0190] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of another format of a MAC CE provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0191] FIG8 is a schematic diagram of another format of a MAC CE provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0192] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of another format of a MAC CE provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0193] FIG10 is a schematic diagram of another format of a MAC CE provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0194] FIG11 is a schematic diagram of another format of a MAC CE provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0195] FIG12 is a schematic diagram of another format of a MAC CE provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0196] FIG13 is a schematic diagram of another format of a MAC CE provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0197] FIG14 is a schematic structural diagram of a possible communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0198] FIG15 is a schematic structural diagram of a possible communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0199] The specific embodiments of the present application are further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0200] The terms "first" and "second" and the like in the specification, claims, and drawings of this application are used to distinguish between different objects, not to describe a particular order. Furthermore, the terms "including" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus comprising a series of steps or elements is not limited to the listed steps or elements, but may optionally include steps or elements not listed, or may optionally include other steps or elements inherent to the process, method, product, or apparatus.

[0201] References herein to "embodiments" mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments may be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor does it constitute an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive of other embodiments. It is understood, both explicitly and implicitly, by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

[0202] In this application, "at least one (item)" refers to one or more, "more than one" refers to two or more, "at least two (items)" refers to two or three and more than three, and "and / or" is used to describe the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, "A and / or B" can mean: only A exists, only B exists, and A and B exist at the same time, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following items" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single items or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b or c can mean: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c", where a, b, c can be single or multiple.

[0203] To better understand the embodiments of the present application, the following first introduces the system architecture involved in the embodiments of the present application:

[0204] Please refer to Figure 1, which is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system used in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 1, communication system 1000 includes a radio access network (RAN) 100 and a core network (CN) 200. Optionally, communication system 1000 may also include the Internet 300. RAN 100 includes at least one RAN node (such as 110a and 110b in Figure 1, collectively referred to as 110) and at least one terminal (such as 120a-120j in Figure 1, collectively referred to as 120). RAN 100 may also include other RAN nodes, such as wireless relay devices and / or wireless backhaul devices (not shown in Figure 1). Terminal 120 is wirelessly connected to RAN node 110. RAN node 110 is wirelessly or wiredly connected to core network 200. The core network devices in core network 200 and RAN node 110 in RAN 100 may be different physical devices, or they may be the same physical device that integrates core network logical functions and radio access network logical functions.

[0205] The RAN 100 may be a cellular system related to the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), such as a 4G or 5G mobile communication system, or a future-oriented evolutionary system (such as a 6G mobile communication system). The RAN 100 may also be an open access network (O-RAN or ORAN), a cloud radio access network (CRAN), or a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system. The RAN 100 may also be a communication system that integrates two or more of the above systems.

[0206] RAN node 110, sometimes also referred to as access network equipment, RAN entity, or access node, constitutes part of the communication system and facilitates wireless access for terminals. Multiple RAN nodes 110 in communication system 1000 can be of the same type or different types. In some scenarios, the roles of RAN node 110 and terminal 120 are relative. For example, network element 120i in Figure 1 can be a helicopter or drone, which can be configured as a mobile base station. For terminal 120j accessing RAN 100 via network element 120i, network element 120i is a base station; however, for base station 110a, network element 120i is a terminal. RAN node 110 and terminal 120 are sometimes referred to as communication devices. For example, base stations 110a and 110b in Figure 1 can be understood as communication devices with base station functionality, and terminals 120a-120j can be understood as communication devices with terminal functionality.

[0207] In one possible scenario, a RAN node may be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), an access point (AP), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next generation NodeB (gNB), a next generation base station in a sixth generation (6G) mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a WiFi system. A RAN node may be a macro base station (such as 110a in FIG1 ), a micro base station or an indoor station (such as 110b in FIG1 ), a relay node or a donor node, or a wireless controller in a CRAN scenario. Optionally, a RAN node may also be a server, a wearable device, a vehicle or an onboard device. For example, an access network device in vehicle to everything (V2X) technology may be a road side unit (RSU). All or part of the functions of the RAN node in this application may also be implemented by software functions running on hardware, or by virtualized functions instantiated on a platform (such as a cloud platform). The RAN node in this application may also be a logical node, a logical module or software that can implement all or part of the RAN node functions.

[0208] In another possible scenario, multiple RAN nodes collaborate to assist terminals in achieving wireless access, with different RAN nodes implementing portions of the base station's functions. For example, a RAN node can be a centralized unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), or a radio unit (RU). The CU implements the base station's radio resource control protocol and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) functions, as well as the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) functions. The DU implements the base station's radio link control layer and medium access control (MAC) layer functions, as well as some or all of the physical layer functions. For detailed descriptions of each of these protocol layers, please refer to the relevant technical specifications of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The CU and DU can be separate or included in the same network element, such as the baseband unit (BBU). The RU may be included in a radio frequency device or a radio frequency unit, for example, in a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna unit (AAU) or a remote radio head (RRH).

[0209] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU or RU may also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in the ORAN system, CU may also be called O-CU (Open CU), DU may also be called O-DU, CU-CP may also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP may also be called O-CU-UP, and RU may also be called O-RU. For the convenience of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU and RU as examples for description. Any unit of CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU and RU in this application can be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0210] A terminal may also be referred to as a terminal device, user equipment (UE), mobile station, mobile terminal, mobile equipment (ME), etc. The terminal can be widely used in various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IOT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wearable, smart transportation, smart city, etc. The terminal can be a mobile phone, tablet computer, computer with wireless transceiver function, wearable device, vehicle, drone, helicopter, airplane, ship, robot, robotic arm, smart home device, etc. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the device form of the terminal.

[0211] The core network may include one or more functional entities (also called core network elements, network elements, entities, etc.), such as network slice selection function (NSSF), network exposure function (NEF), network function repository function (NRF), policy control function (PCF), unified data management (UDM), access and mobility management function (AMF), authentication server function (AUSF), session management function (SMF), etc.

[0212] It should be noted that the above functional entity is merely a name and does not limit the entity. For example, the session management function could be replaced by "session management function entity" or another name. Furthermore, the session management function entity could correspond to an entity that includes other functions in addition to the session management function. The user plane function could also be replaced by "user plane function entity" or another name, and the user plane function entity could also correspond to an entity that includes other functions in addition to the user plane function. This is explained here in a unified manner and will not be repeated below.

[0213] It should be noted that the message names between network elements or the names of parameters in the messages in the following embodiments of the present application are only examples, and other names may be used in specific implementations. The embodiments of the present application do not make specific limitations on this.

[0214] In this application, "sending information to...(terminal)" can be understood as the destination of the information being the terminal. This can include sending information to the terminal directly or indirectly. "Receiving information from...(terminal)" can be understood as the source of the information being the terminal, which can include receiving information from the terminal directly or indirectly. The information may undergo necessary processing between the source and destination of the information, such as format changes, but the destination can understand the valid information from the source. Similar expressions in this application can be understood similarly and will not be repeated here.

[0215] It should be understood that the terminal device in the embodiments of the present application can be any of the above-mentioned devices or chips, and the specific details are not limited here. Whether as a device or a chip, the terminal device can be manufactured, sold, or used as an independent product. In this embodiment and subsequent embodiments, only the terminal device is used as an example.

[0216] It should be understood that the device used to implement the functions of the access network device in the embodiments of the present application can be the access network device itself, or it can be a device that can support the access network device to implement the functions, such as a chip system or a combination of devices or components that can implement the functions of the access network device, which can be installed in the access network device. In the embodiments of the present application, the chip system can be composed of chips, or it can include chips and other discrete devices. In this embodiment and subsequent embodiments, only the access network device is used as an example.

[0217] The following is an explanation of the relevant technical features involved in the embodiments of the present application. It should be noted that these explanations are intended to make the embodiments of the present application easier to understand and should not be regarded as limiting the scope of protection claimed by the present application.

[0218] 1. Extended reality (XR)

[0219] XR refers to various environments that combine reality and virtuality, as well as the interaction between humans and machines, generated by computing technologies and wearable devices. Specifically, it includes the following typical forms: augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR) and virtual reality (VR).

[0220] XR is one of the 5G multimedia applications currently under consideration in the industrial sector. The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Release 17 (Rel-17) modeled and analyzed XR service characteristics. XR services typically generate data frames periodically at a specific frame rate. For example, an AR service with a 60fps frame rate generates 60 frames per second, with one frame appearing approximately every 16.66ms. Each frame may be transmitted across multiple data packets.

[0221] The size of a data frame is not fixed and typically follows a truncated Gaussian distribution. The mean can be expressed as mean = R × 1e6 / F / 8, where F is the frame rate and R is the data rate. For example, if F = 60 fps and R = 20 Mbps, mean = 41.67 KBytes. The typical data frame size is between 0.5*mean and 1.5*mean.

[0222] Since there may be a delay in encoding the data frame, the arrival time of the XR data of each cycle at the air interface side may jitter. That is, the data arrival time may be earlier or later than the expected cycle time, usually fluctuating within a few milliseconds.

[0223] XR services typically have high latency requirements. For example, uplink AR services typically have a packet delay budget (PDB) of 30ms. This means the upper limit for the transmission delay between a data packet arriving at the access layer of a terminal device and reaching the N6 interface of the user plane function (UPF) is 30ms. If a data packet is not successfully transmitted within the PDB, it is considered to have timed out and lost its function.

[0224] In addition to the PDB, XR services may also consider the PDU set delay budget (PSDB). Similar to the PDB, PSDB defines the upper bound on the transmission delay of a group of packets (e.g., a PDU set). For uplink transmission, this refers to the time from the first packet in the PDU set arriving at the terminal device's access layer to the last packet arriving at the UPF's N6 interface. For downlink transmission, the opposite applies.

[0225] The network should complete data scheduling and transmission within the delay budget as much as possible to avoid data timeouts that affect the service experience.

[0226] 2. Buffer Status Report (BSR)

[0227] If the terminal device has no uplink data to send, the access network device does not need to allocate resources to the terminal device, otherwise it will cause resource waste. In NR, the terminal device can notify the access network device that there is uplink data to be transmitted through a BSR / scheduling request (SR).

[0228] Each logical channel (LCH) of a terminal device can be assigned to a logical channel group (LCG). The maximum number of LCGs that can be configured in NR is 8. In NR, a terminal device can trigger a BSR when the following events occur:

[0229] (1) Uplink data arrives on an LCH belonging to an LCG, and no LCHs in other LCGs have data to be transmitted, or the priority of this LCH is higher than the priority of all LCHs in other LCGs with data to be transmitted. The BSR triggered in this situation is called a "Regular BSR".

[0230] (2) Uplink resources are available, and the remaining padding bits are greater than or equal to the size of the BSR medium access control element (MAC CE) plus the MAC CE subheader. The BSR triggered in this situation is called a "padding BSR."

[0231] (3) The retransmission BSR timer (retxBSR-Timer) times out, and there is uplink data to be transmitted on at least one LCH included in the LCG. The BSR triggered in this situation is called a "Regular BSR."

[0232] (4) The periodic BSR timer (periodicBSR-Timer) times out; the BSR triggered in this situation is called "Periodic BSR".

[0233] When a terminal device triggers at least one BSR and it is not canceled:

[0234] (1) If there are available uplink new transmission resources and the uplink resources can accommodate the BSR MAC CE plus the MAC CE subheader size: the terminal device can generate a BSR MAC CE; if all generated BSRs are not long truncated BSRs or short truncated BSRs, the terminal device starts / restarts the periodicBSR-Timer; the terminal device starts / restarts the retxBSR-Timer.

[0235] (2) If a Regular BSR is triggered and the logicalChannelSR-DelayTimer is not running: there are no new uplink resources available, or the terminal device is configured with configured uplink grants and the Regular BSR is triggered by an LCH with the logicalChannelSR-Mask parameter set to false, or the uplink resources available for new transmission cannot meet the LCP mapping restrictions corresponding to the LCH that triggered the BSR, the terminal device triggers an SR.

[0236] 3. BSR MAC CE

[0237] When the terminal device generates a BSR MAC CE, the specific BSR MAC CE format is shown in Figures 2 and 3 below. The short BSR or short truncated BSR MAC CE shown in Figure 2 contains a 3-bit LCG ID field and a 5-bit buffer size field, where the LCG ID indicates the LCG corresponding to the Buffer Size reported later. The long BSR or long truncated BSR MAC CE shown in Figure 3 contains an 8-bit bitmap and 0 or more Buffer Size fields. For the long BSR MAC CE, the i-th bit LCGi in the bitmap indicates whether LCG i has a corresponding Buffer Size field; for the long truncated BSR MAC CE, the i-th bit LCGi in the bitmap indicates whether LCG i has data to be transmitted. In this case, the Buffer Size field corresponding to LCG i may not exist later.

[0238] The specific BSR MAC CE format selected by the terminal device for reporting depends on the type of BSR triggered, the number of LCGs to be transmitted, the size of available remaining resources, etc.

[0239] (1) For Regular BSR and Periodic BSR:

[0240] When there is more than one LCG with data to be transmitted, a long BSR is reported;

[0241] When there is only one LCG with data to be transmitted, a short BSR is reported;

[0242] (2) For Padding BSR:

[0243] ① When the padding resource is equal to the size of the short BSR plus its subheader:

[0244] When there is more than one LCG with data to be transmitted, a truncated BSR is reported;

[0245] When there is only one LCG with data to be transmitted, a short BSR is reported;

[0246] ② When the padding resource is larger than the size of the short BSR plus its subheader, and smaller than the size of the long BSR plus its subheader:

[0247] When there is more than one LCG with data to be transmitted, a long truncation BSR is reported;

[0248] When there is only one LCG with data to be transmitted, a short BSR is reported;

[0249] ③ When the padding resource is greater than or equal to the long BSR plus its sub-header size, the long BSR is reported;

[0250] The terminal device can notify the access network device of the size of the data to be transmitted (the interval in which it is located) by reporting the index value on the BSR table corresponding to the long BSR or short BSR. The BSR table corresponding to the short BSR and the short truncated BSR is shown in Table 1, and the BSR table corresponding to the long BSR and the long truncated BSR is shown in Table 2, where Index represents the index value, and the buffer status (BS) value represents the size of the data to be transmitted (the interval in which it is located), in bytes.

[0251] Table 1 BSR table corresponding to short BSR and short truncated BSR

[0252] Table 2 BSR table corresponding to long BSR and long truncated BSR

[0253] As shown in Table 1, the maximum BS interval for the BSR tables corresponding to short and truncated BSRs is defined as "greater than 150 KB." When the actual data size exceeds 150 KB, the short BSR cannot accurately reflect this. This error is too large for the data frame size of XR services, which can easily lead to resource waste or scheduling delays. In contrast, the BS interval step size for the BSR tables corresponding to long and truncated BSRs increases with increasing index values. Here, the BS interval step size is the difference between BS values ​​corresponding to adjacent index values. For example, between index values ​​172 (corresponding to approximately 0.5 KB) and 190 (corresponding to approximately 1.5 KB), the BS interval step size reaches 30 to 90 KB, making it prone to significant errors when reporting BSRs for XR services, leading to resource waste. Based on this, the current 3GPP Rel-18 discussions have agreed to introduce a new BSR table for XR services into the standard, with a smaller BS interval step size. When reporting BSR, a UE that supports the new table can determine whether to select one of the new or old BSR tables based on network configuration or other principles (such as whether the amount of data to be transmitted falls within the range of the new table), and use the BS index therein to report the corresponding BS value to the network.

[0254] In addition, to enable access network devices to be aware of data latency and data cache status in terminal devices, 3GPP Rel-18 also proposes that terminal devices can report the remaining time (remaining time) of data and the amount of data to be transmitted associated with the remaining time to the access network device. The remaining time refers to the time that data can be transmitted over the air interface, for example, the PDB or PSDB minus the time the data has been in the terminal device's cache. Generally speaking, after the remaining time expires, data may be discarded due to timeout. Therefore, by reporting the remaining time in advance, the terminal device can assist the access network device in timely data scheduling and avoid timeouts. For example, if the terminal device notifies the access network device that it has 500 bytes of data in its cache with a remaining time of 10ms and another 1000 bytes of data with a remaining time of 20ms, the access network device can first provide the terminal device with 500 bytes of transmission resources to transmit the urgent data and avoid timeouts. The access network device can then schedule the remaining 1000 bytes later, freeing up resources to serve other more urgent users.

[0255] It can be seen from this that in the above-mentioned scenarios of using the new BSR table and reporting the remaining time, it is necessary to report the amount of data to be transmitted by the terminal device. If different uplink signals are designed for these two scenarios to report information, the air interface resource consumption will increase, and if the access network device receives two different reports successively, misunderstandings may occur, resulting in inaccurate scheduling based on the terminal device cache.

[0256] Based on this, the present application proposes a communication method, which enhances the design of uplink signals and improves the applicability of uplink signals.

[0257] It should be noted that the remaining time interval described in the embodiments of the present application can also replace the description of the remaining time range, where the remaining time interval "t1~t2" can be understood as (t1,t2], or, it can also be understood as [t1,t2), or, it can also be understood as (t1,t2), or, it can also be understood as [t1,t2]. Among them, (t1,t2] is equivalent to t1<t≤t2; [t1,t2) is equivalent to t1≤t<t2; (t1,t2) is equivalent to t1<t<t2; [t1,t2] is equivalent to t1≤t≤t2. For the convenience of description, the following embodiments of the present application mainly use "t1~t2" to represent (t1,t2] as an example for schematic explanation. For example, the remaining time interval 0~10ms represents (0,10], and the remaining time interval 10~20ms represents (10,20].

[0258] In the embodiment of the present application, the preset BS table may also be replaced by an available BS table or a candidate BS table, etc., and the present application does not impose any limitation on this.

[0259] The communication method and communication device provided by this application are described in detail below:

[0260] Please refer to Figure 4, which is a flow chart of the communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 4, the communication method includes the following steps S401 to S402. The execution subject of the method shown in Figure 4 can be a terminal device and an access network device, or the execution subject of the method shown in Figure 4 can also be a chip in the terminal device and a chip in the access network device. For the convenience of description, Figure 4 mainly uses the terminal device and the access network device as an example of the execution subject of the method. It should be noted that Figure 4 is a schematic flow chart of an embodiment of the method of the present application, showing the detailed communication steps or operations of the method, but these steps or operations are only examples. The embodiment of the present application can also perform other operations or variations of the various operations in Figure 4. In addition, the various steps in Figure 4 can be executed in a different order from that presented in Figure 4, and it is possible that not all operations in Figure 4 need to be executed. Among them:

[0261] S401. The terminal device determines an uplink signal.

[0262] Here, the uplink signal may be a MAC CE, a radio resource control (RRC) message, a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) control protocol data unit (PDU) (i.e., a PDCP control PDU), or a radio link control (RLC) control PDU (i.e., an RLC control PDU), etc., and this application does not impose any restrictions on this. For ease of understanding, the following mainly uses the uplink signal being a MAC CE as an example for schematic description.

[0263] In which, the above-mentioned uplink signal includes information of at least one logical resource (or BS information described as at least one logical resource), and one logical resource includes at least one piece of data to be transmitted (i.e., one or more pieces of data to be transmitted), and one piece of data to be transmitted corresponds to a remaining time. Generally speaking, one piece of data to be transmitted may include one or more data packets. Since the information format of each logical resource is similar, for the convenience of description, the embodiment of the present application mainly takes the information design of one logical resource (hereinafter described as the first logical resource) in the at least one logical resource as an example for illustration. In which, the information of the first logical resource includes a first field and / or a second field. The first field is used to indicate the remaining time information of the data to be transmitted in the first logical resource. The second field is used to indicate the first BS table enabled by the first logical resource, and the number of preset BS tables configured for the first logical resource is multiple (i.e., two or more), and the first BS table is included in the preset BS table, and the first BS table includes multiple BS intervals. Generally speaking, when the first logical resource is configured with the remaining time reporting function, the information of the first logical resource includes a first field; when the number of preset BS tables is multiple, the information of the first logical resource includes a second field; when the first logical resource is configured with the remaining time reporting function and the number of preset BS tables is multiple, the information of the first logical resource includes a first field and a second field.

[0264] Exemplarily, when the length of the BS value field is fixed at 8 bits, the preset BS table involved in the embodiment of the present application may be a BSR table corresponding to a long BSR and a long truncated BSR, wherein when the number of preset BS tables is 1, the preset BS table may be the table shown in Table 2 above. When the number of the preset BS tables is 2, one of the two preset BS tables may be the table shown in Table 2 above, and the other preset BS table may be a new BSR table introduced in the standard for XR services, and the new table may contain 256 rows. When the number of the preset BS tables is K (K≥3), one of the K preset BS tables may be the table shown in Table 2 above, and the other (K-1) preset BS tables may be (K-1) new BSR tables introduced in the standard for XR services. For the convenience of description, the table shown in Table 2 may be described as an old table hereinafter, and one or more tables newly introduced in the standard for XR services may be referred to as new tables. Based on this, in the embodiment of the present application, "the number of preset BS tables is multiple" can also be replaced by "a new BS table is configured", and "the number of preset BS tables is 1" can also be replaced by "no new BS table is configured".

[0265] Optionally, the information of the first logical resource further includes a fifth field, where the fifth field is used to indicate a first BS interval to which the data volume of the data to be transmitted in the first logical resource belongs, and the first BS interval is included in the first BS table.

[0266] The logical resource may be a logical channel group, a logical channel, or a data radio bearer (DRB), etc., and this application does not impose any restrictions on this. In one implementation, when the logical resource is a logical resource group, the MAC CE may include a logical channel group identifier (LCG ID) to indicate which logical channel group the reported BS information comes from, or the MAC CE may include a logical channel group bitmap (LCG bitmap), wherein each bit corresponds to a logical channel group, and when the value of the corresponding bit is "1", it indicates that the MAC CE contains the BS information of the corresponding LCG. In another implementation, when the logical resource is a logical channel, the MAC CE may include a logical channel identifier (LCH ID) to indicate which logical channel the reported BS information comes from, or the MAC CE may include a logical channel bitmap (LCH bitmap), wherein each bit corresponds to a logical channel, and when the value of the corresponding bit is "1", it indicates that the MAC CE contains the BS information of the corresponding LCH. In another implementation, when the logical resource is a DRB, the MAC CE may include a DRB identifier (DRB ID) to indicate which DRB the reported BS information comes from. Alternatively, the MAC CE may include a DRB bitmap, where each bit corresponds to a DRB. When the value of the corresponding bit is "1," it indicates that the MAC CE includes the BS information of the corresponding DRB. For ease of understanding, the following description mainly uses the example of a logical resource being a logical channel group or a logical channel as an example.

[0267] Optionally, the first field in the embodiment of the present application can also be described as a remaining time indication field (remaining time indication field or remaining time indication), the second field can also be described as a BS table indication field (BS table indication field or BS table indication), and the fifth field can also be described as a BS value field or BS value.

[0268] The following describes different MAC CE design methods:

[0269] In one implementation method 1, when the first logical resource is not configured with the remaining time reporting function, the first field is a reserved field (or described as the first field is regarded as reserved bits, or the first field exists but has no meaning), and when the number of preset BS tables is 1, the second field is a reserved field (or described as the second field is regarded as reserved bits, or the second field exists but has no meaning).

[0270] For example, refer to Figure 5, which is a schematic diagram of a format of a MAC CE provided in an embodiment of the present application. Taking the uplink signal as a MAC CE and the logical resource as a logical channel group as an example, as shown in Figure 5, the MAC CE includes the following fields:

[0271] 1. Logical Channel Group Identifier (LCG ID) Field: The logical channel group identifier indicates which logical channel group information is reported by the MAC CE, for example, hereinafter referred to as LCG x. Optionally, the LCG ID field can be replaced by the LCH ID field, indicating which logical channel information is reported by the MAC CE, for example, hereinafter referred to as LCH x, or can be replaced by the DRB ID field, indicating which data radio bearer information is reported by the MAC CE, for example, DRB x.

[0272] 2. First field: When the network configures the remaining time reporting function for LCG x, this first field is used to indicate the remaining time for data to be transmitted in LCG x. When the network does not configure the remaining time reporting function for LCG x, this first field is regarded as reserved bits, and any value of this field is meaningless.

[0273] 3. Second field: When there are multiple preset BS tables, the second field is used to indicate the BS table referenced by the BS value information of LCG x; when there is only one preset BS table, the second field is regarded as reserved bits, and any value of the second field is meaningless.

[0274] 4. BS value field (also called the fifth field): The index number of the cached data amount is used to determine the amount of data to be transmitted for LCG x in the corresponding BS table based on this index number. A MAC CE contains at least one BS value field, and may contain multiple BS value fields.

[0275] 5. Reserved bit (ie, R): has no specific meaning and is used to align bytes in the MAC CE format. It does not necessarily exist.

[0276] It should be understood that the example given in Figure 5 only considers the reporting of information for one LCG. If there are multiple LCGs with BS information that needs to be reported, they can be reported in separate MAC CEs, or the information of multiple LCGs can be carried simultaneously in one MAC CE. The MAC CE format for carrying information of multiple LCGs simultaneously in one MAC CE can have multiple forms. For example, Figures 6 (a) and (b) respectively provide two possible implementations. As shown in Figure 6 (a), the MAC CE includes information of multiple LCGs, where the information of each LCG can include an LCG ID, a first field, a second field, and one or more BS value fields. As shown in Figure 6 (b), the MAC CE includes an 8-bit bitmap to indicate whether the corresponding LCG has information to report. For example, if the value of the bit of LCG 0 is "1", it means that the MAC CE contains information of LCG 0. The information corresponding to each LCG with a bit value of "1" includes the first field, the second field, and one or more BS value fields.

[0277] Optionally, when a MAC CE contains information of multiple LCGs, the information of each LCG may be arranged according to one of the following rules:

[0278] Rule 1: Arrange according to the size of the LCG identifier, for example, arrange in MAC CE in ascending order of the LCG identifier, or arrange in MAC CE in descending order of the LCG identifier.

[0279] Rule 2: Sort by priority of LCG, for example, sort by priority from high to low. Here, the priority of LCG can be determined according to the priority of LCH contained in LCG, for example, the priority of LCG is equal to the highest priority of LCH contained in it.

[0280] Rule 3: Sort by remaining time, for example, from smallest to largest. If the LCG's BS information contains remaining time, the LCG with the smallest remaining time is sorted first. LCGs that do not contain remaining time information are sorted after all LCGs that do. If multiple LCGs have the same remaining time, they are sorted by LCG ID size or LCG priority.

[0281] It should be noted that Implementation 1 modifies the meaning of the first and second fields, allowing a unified MAC CE format to be used in different scenarios and configurations, expressing different meanings. This supports the use of both the remaining time and new BS table functions separately or simultaneously, avoiding duplication or conflicting reported information and ensuring flexible network configuration.

[0282] In one implementation manner 2, the information about the first logical resource further includes a third field and / or a fourth field. The third field is used to indicate whether the first field exists, and the fourth field is used to indicate whether the second field exists. In other words, the third field and the fourth field are two flag fields, one of which is used to indicate whether the MAC CE contains the first field, and the other flag field is used to indicate whether the MAC CE contains the second field.

[0283] In implementation method 2, when the third field indicates the presence of the first field, the information of the first logical resource includes the first field; when the third field indicates the absence of the first field, the information of the first logical resource does not include the first field. When the fourth field indicates the presence of the second field, the information of the first logical resource includes the second field; when the fourth field indicates the absence of the second field, the information of the first logical resource does not include the second field. Generally speaking, when the first logical resource is configured with the remaining time reporting function, the third field indicates the presence of the first field; when the first logical resource is not configured with the remaining time reporting function, the third field indicates the absence of the first field. When there are multiple preset BS tables, the fourth field indicates the presence of the second field; when there is only one preset BS table, the fourth field indicates the absence of the second field.

[0284] For example, refer to Figure 7, which is a schematic diagram of another format of a MAC CE provided in an embodiment of the present application. Taking the uplink signal as a MAC CE and the logical resource as a logical channel as an example, as shown in Figure 7, the MAC CE includes the following fields:

[0285] 1. Logical Channel Group Identifier (LCG ID) Field: The logical channel group identifier indicates which logical channel group information is reported by the MAC CE, for example, hereinafter referred to as LCG x. Optionally, the LCG ID field can be replaced by the LCH ID field, indicating which logical channel information is reported by the MAC CE, for example, hereinafter referred to as LCH x, or can be replaced by the DRB ID field, indicating which data radio bearer information is reported by the MAC CE, for example, DRB x.

[0286] 2. The third field is used to indicate whether the MAC CE contains a field indicating the remaining time, i.e., the first field in the figure. For example, when the third field is "1", it indicates that the first field exists; when the third field is "0", it indicates that the first field does not exist.

[0287] 3. The fourth field is used to indicate whether the MAC CE contains a field indicating the BS table, i.e., the second field in the figure. For example, when the value of the fourth field is "1", it indicates that the second field exists; when the value of the fourth field is "0", it indicates that the second field does not exist.

[0288] 4. First field: When the third field indicates that the first field exists (for example, when the third field has a value of "1"), the first field exists. The first field is used to indicate the remaining time for data to be transmitted in LCG x.

[0289] 5. Second field: When the fourth field indicates that the second field exists (for example, when the fourth field is set to "1"), the first field exists. The second field is used to indicate the BS table referenced by the BS value information of LCG x.

[0290] 6. BS value field (also called the fifth field): The index number of the cached data amount is used to determine the amount of data to be transmitted for LCG x in the corresponding BS table based on this index number. A MAC CE contains at least one BS value field, and may contain multiple BS value fields.

[0291] It should be understood that the example shown in FIG7 only considers the reporting of information for one LCG. If there are multiple LCGs with BS information that needs to be reported, they can be reported in separate MAC CEs, or the information of multiple LCGs can be carried simultaneously in a single MAC CE. The MAC CE format for carrying information of multiple LCGs simultaneously in a single MAC CE can have various forms. For example, FIG8 (a) and (b) respectively show two possible implementations. As shown in FIG8 (a), the MAC CE includes information of multiple LCGs, where the information of each LCG can include an LCG ID, a third field, a fourth field, a first field (optional), a second field (optional), and one or more BS value fields. As shown in FIG8 (b), the MAC CE includes three 8-bit bitmaps, where the 8-bit bitmap in the first row indicates whether the corresponding LCG has information to report. For example, if the value of the bit of LCG 0 is "1", it means that the MAC CE contains information of LCG 0. The 8-bit bitmap in the second row represents the third field of the corresponding LCG. If the value of the corresponding bit in the LCG in the first row is "0", the value of the corresponding third field is meaningless (or the corresponding third field is a reserved bit). For example, if the value of the bit in LCG 1 in the first row is "0", the bit in LCG 1 in the second row is meaningless. For another example, if the value of the bit in LCG 0 in the first row is "1", the bit in LCG 0 in the second row is used to indicate whether the LCG 0 information contains the first field. The 8-bit bitmap in the third row represents the fourth field of the corresponding LCG. If the value of the corresponding bit in the LCG in the first row is "0", the value of the corresponding fourth field is meaningless (or the corresponding fourth field is a reserved bit). For example, if the value of the bit in LCG 1 in the first row is "0", the bit in LCG 1 in the third row is meaningless. For another example, if the value of the bit in LCG 0 in the first row is "1", the bit in LCG 0 in the third row is used to indicate whether the LCG 0 information contains the second field. The information corresponding to the LCG with each bit value of "1" in the first row includes a first field (optional), a second field (optional) and one or more BS value fields.

[0292] Optionally, when a MAC CE includes information of multiple LCGs, the information of each LCG may be arranged according to any one of the three rules described in implementation method 1.

[0293] Optionally, in implementation 2, when the information about the first logical resource includes the third field (and does not include the fourth field), if the third field indicates that the first field does not exist, then the information about the first logical resource does not include the first field and includes the second field. That is, when the third field indicates that the first field does not exist, there is no need for a separate fourth field to indicate whether the second field exists. Instead, the second field is directly included, and the second field is used to indicate the BS table to be used. This further reduces unused fields and helps reduce air interface resource consumption.

[0294] For example, see Figure 9, which is a schematic diagram of another format of a MAC CE provided in an embodiment of the present application. Taking the uplink signal as a MAC CE and the logical resource as a logical channel as an example, the MAC CE includes a third field, and the value of the third field is "0", indicating that the first field is not included and the second field is included.

[0295] It should be noted that Implementation 2 introduces the third and fourth fields to achieve different MAC CE content in different configurations to support different network functions. Compared to Implementation 1, this further reduces the number of unused fields in the MAC CE, reducing air interface resource consumption. Flexible combinations of the third and fourth fields support the use of the remaining time and new BS table functions separately or simultaneously, avoiding duplication or conflict in reported information and ensuring flexible network configuration.

[0296] In one implementation method 3, when the first logical resource is configured with the remaining time reporting function and the number of preset BS tables is one, the information of the first logical resource includes the first field and does not include the second field. When the first logical resource is not configured with the remaining time reporting function and the number of preset BS tables is multiple, the information of the first logical resource includes the second field and does not include the first field. When the first logical resource is configured with the remaining time reporting function and the number of preset BS tables is multiple, the information of the first logical resource includes the first field and the second field.

[0297] For example, please refer to Figure 10, which is a schematic diagram of another format of a MAC CE provided in an embodiment of the present application. Taking the uplink signal as a MAC CE and the logical resource as a logical channel as an example:

[0298] As shown in Figure 10(a): When the network is configured with the remaining time reporting function and the number of preset BS tables is 1, the information of the first logical resource includes the first field and does not include the second field. It is understandable that the MAC CE may also include a BS value field (or fifth field).

[0299] As shown in Figure 10(b): when the network is not configured with the remaining time reporting function and the number of preset BS tables is multiple, the MAC CE includes the second field but does not include the first field. It is understandable that the MAC CE may also include a BS value field.

[0300] As shown in FIG10( c ), when the network is configured with the remaining time reporting function and the number of preset BS tables is multiple, the MAC CE includes the first field and the second field.

[0301] It should be understood that the example shown in FIG10 only considers the reporting of information for one LCG. If BS information for multiple LCGs needs to be reported, each LCG can be reported in a separate MAC CE. Alternatively, information for multiple LCGs can be simultaneously carried in a single MAC CE. The MAC CE format for simultaneously carrying information for multiple LCGs in a single MAC CE can have various forms. For example, (a) and (b) in FIG11 to FIG13 respectively provide two possible implementations under different network configurations.

[0302] As shown in Figure 11 (a), the information of each LCG may include an LCG ID, a first field, and one or more BS value fields. As shown in Figure 11 (b), the MAC CE includes an 8-bit bitmap, indicating whether the corresponding LCG has information to report. For example, if the value of the bit of LCG 0 is "1", it means that the MAC CE contains information about LCG 0. Among them, the information corresponding to each LCG with a bit value of "1" includes the first field and one or more BS value fields.

[0303] As shown in Figure 12 (a), the information of each LCG may include the LCG ID, the second field, and one or more BS value fields. As shown in Figure 12 (b), the MAC CE includes an 8-bit bitmap, indicating whether the corresponding LCG has information to report. For example, if the value of the bit of LCG 0 is "1", it means that the MAC CE contains information about LCG 0. Among them, the information corresponding to each LCG with a bit value of "1" includes the second field and one or more BS value fields.

[0304] As shown in Figure 13 (a), the information of each LCG may include an LCG ID, a first field, a second field, and one or more BS value fields. As shown in Figure 13 (b), the MAC CE includes an 8-bit bitmap, indicating whether the corresponding LCG has information to report. For example, if the value of the bit of LCG 0 is "1", it means that the MAC CE contains information about LCG 0. Among them, the information corresponding to each LCG with a bit value of "1" includes the first field, the second field, and one or more BS value fields.

[0305] Optionally, when a MAC CE includes information of multiple LCGs, the information of each LCG may be arranged according to any one of the three rules described in implementation method 1.

[0306] It should be noted that implementation method 3 directly designs multiple different formats for MAC CE. The terminal device selects the corresponding format according to the network configuration and does not need to carry additional indication information, further reducing air interface resource consumption.

[0307] Optionally, in the above-mentioned implementation methods 1 to 3, when uplink resources are limited / insufficient and a MAC CE containing multiple LCG information cannot be fully transmitted, the terminal device can truncate the MAC CE, that is, generate a shorter MAC CE (truncated MAC CE) to transmit information to the access network device as much as possible within the resource range. Specifically, the terminal device can follow the order of the above-mentioned multiple LCGs and use the information of the LCG as a unit. When it is found that the size of the MAC CE will exceed the size of the available transmission resources after adding the information of one more LCG, the terminal device stops adding more LCG information to the MAC CE, that is, generates a MAC CE that only contains the BS information of part of the LCG. In this case, the terminal device can carry information in the MAC CE indicating that there are some LCGs with data to be transmitted but their related BS information is not included in this MAC CE. For example, in the MAC CE formats shown in Figure 6(b), Figure 8(b), Figure 11(b), Figure 12(b) and Figure 13(b), if truncation occurs, for example, assuming that LCG 7 has data to be transmitted but the BS information cannot be included in the MAC CE, the bit corresponding to LCG 7 in the first row of the figure can still be filled with "1".

[0308] The following describes several possible forms of the first field, the second field, and the fifth field (i.e., the BS value field) involved in implementations 1 to 3 above:

[0309] As described above, the first logical resource may include at least one piece of data to be transmitted, wherein one piece of data to be transmitted corresponds to a remaining time.

[0310] (1) The first field indicates the remaining time information of the data to be transmitted in the first logical resource, which may include the following situations:

[0311] Case 1: The first field is used to indicate the minimum remaining time among the remaining times corresponding to at least one piece of data to be transmitted. That is, the first field can indicate a specific minimum remaining time value, such as 3ms, indicating that the minimum remaining time of the data in the first logical resource (such as LCG x) is 3ms.

[0312] Case 2: The first field is used to indicate the remaining time interval to which the minimum remaining time in the remaining time corresponding to at least one piece of data to be transmitted belongs. That is, the first field can indicate a certain remaining time interval, for example, the remaining time interval to which the minimum remaining time belongs. For example, assume that the network and the terminal device have pre-defined or pre-configured four remaining time intervals of 0-5ms, 5-10ms, 10-15ms, and 15-20ms, and the first field contains 2 bits. When the value of these 2 bits is "00", it indicates that the minimum remaining time of the data in the first logical resource is within the range of 0-5ms; when the value of these 2 bits is "01", it indicates that the minimum remaining time of the data in the first logical resource is within the range of 5-10ms; when the value of these 2 bits is "10", it indicates that the minimum remaining time of the data in the first logical resource is within the range of 10-15ms; and when the value of these 2 bits is "11", it indicates that the minimum remaining time of the data in the first logical resource is within the range of 15-20ms. To give another example, assume that the first field contains 4 bits, and each bit in the 4 bits corresponds to a remaining time interval. The network and the terminal device predefine or preconfigure and agree in advance that starting from the lowest bit, the four remaining time intervals correspond to 0-5ms, 5-10ms, 10-15ms, and 15-20ms in ascending order of the bits. Among them, when the value of the corresponding bit is "1", it indicates that the minimum remaining time of the data in the first logical resource is in the remaining time interval corresponding to the bit.

[0313] For example, assume that the first logical resource includes three copies of data to be transmitted (data 1 to be transmitted, data 2 to be transmitted, and data 3 to be transmitted), where the remaining time corresponding to data 1 to be transmitted is 3ms, the remaining time corresponding to data 2 to be transmitted is 7ms, and the remaining time corresponding to data 3 to be transmitted is 9ms. Therefore, the first field can be "0001", indicating that the remaining time interval of the minimum remaining time of the data in the first logical resource (i.e., 3ms) is 0 to 5ms.

[0314] For example, assume that the first logical resource includes three copies of data to be transmitted (data to be transmitted 1, data to be transmitted 2, and data to be transmitted 3), where the remaining time corresponding to data to be transmitted 1 is 3ms, the remaining time corresponding to data to be transmitted 2 is 8ms, and the remaining time corresponding to data to be transmitted 3 is 18ms. Therefore, the first field can be "0001", indicating that the remaining time interval of the minimum remaining time of the data in the first logical resource (i.e., 3ms) is 0 to 5ms.

[0315] Case 3: The first field is used to indicate the remaining time interval to which the remaining time corresponding to at least one piece of data to be transmitted belongs. That is, the first field can indicate multiple remaining time intervals. For example, the first field contains 2 bits, and it is predefined or preconfigured that the low-order bit represents the remaining time interval of 0 to 10 ms and the high-order bit represents the remaining time interval of 10 to 20 ms. When the corresponding bit is "1", it indicates that there is data in the first logical resource with a remaining time within the corresponding remaining time interval.

[0316] For example, assuming that the first logical resource includes three copies of data to be transmitted (data 1 to be transmitted, data 2 to be transmitted, and data 3 to be transmitted), where the remaining time corresponding to data 1 to be transmitted is 3ms, the remaining time corresponding to data 2 to be transmitted is 7ms, and the remaining time corresponding to data 3 to be transmitted is 9ms. Therefore, the first field can be "01", indicating that there is data in the first logical resource with a remaining time in the range of 0 to 10ms, but there is no data with a remaining time in the range of 10 to 20ms.

[0317] For another example, assume that the first logical resource includes three copies of data to be transmitted (data 1 to be transmitted, data 2 to be transmitted, and data 3 to be transmitted), where the remaining time corresponding to data 1 to be transmitted is 3ms, the remaining time corresponding to data 2 to be transmitted is 8ms, and the remaining time corresponding to data 3 to be transmitted is 18ms. Therefore, the first field can be "11", indicating that the first logical resource contains both data with a remaining time in the range of 0 to 10ms and data with a remaining time in the range of 10 to 20ms.

[0318] (2) The second field indicates the first BS table activated by the first logical resource, which may include the following situations:

[0319] Case (1): The second field indicates a first BS table, which is one of a plurality of preset BS tables. All first BS intervals indicated by the BS value fields in the information of the first logical resource refer to the first BS table.

[0320] For example, assuming that the number of preset BS tables is 2 (i.e., 1 old table and 1 new table), the second field may be only 1 bit, used to indicate whether all BS value fields related to the first logical resource in the MAC CE should be searched with reference to the new BS table or the old BS table, for example, "1" represents the new table, "0" represents the old table, or "0" represents the new table, "1" represents the old table. For ease of understanding, when the number of preset BS tables is 2, the embodiments of the present application are all illustrated by taking "1" representing the new table and "0" representing the old table as an example.

[0321] For another example, assuming that the number of preset BS tables is 3 (i.e., 1 old table and 2 new tables), the second field can have 2 bits, which are used to indicate which table / tables all BS value fields related to the first logical resource in the MAC CE should refer to. For example, "00" represents the old table, "01" represents the new table 1, and "10" represents the new table 2.

[0322] Case (2): The second field indicates multiple first BS tables, any one of the multiple first BS tables is one of multiple preset BS tables, the number of the multiple first BS tables is equal to the number of BS value fields (at this time, the number of BS value fields is multiple, for example, the number of BS value fields is equal to the number of remaining time intervals indicated by the first field), the multiple first BS tables correspond one-to-one to the multiple BS value fields, and the first BS interval indicated by a BS value field refers to a corresponding first BS table.

[0323] For example, the second field may have multiple bits, and the number of bits included in the second field is the same as the number of BS value fields that may be included in the MAC CE, and each bit corresponds to a BS value, which is used to indicate whether the BS value should be searched in the new table or the old table. For example, if it is case (2), assuming that the MAC CE includes two BS value fields (BS value 1 and BS value 2), where BS value 1 takes the value "01000000 (64)" and BS value 2 takes the value "00000111 (7)", therefore, the second field also includes 2 bits, and it is predefined or preconfigured that the low-order bit corresponds to BS value 1 and the high-order bit corresponds to BS value 2. If the value of the second field is "10", it means that the index in BS value 1 should be searched in the old table, and the index in BS value 2 should be searched in the new table.

[0324] Case (3): The second field indicates multiple first BS tables, any one of the multiple first BS tables is one of the multiple preset BS tables, the number of the multiple first BS tables is equal to the number of bits included in the first field (in this case, the first field is the above-mentioned case 3), and the multiple first BS tables correspond one-to-one to the multiple bits included in the first field. One bit represents a first BS table corresponding to the first BS interval reference indicated by the BS value field associated with a remaining time interval corresponding to the bit.

[0325] For example, the second field has multiple bits, and the number of bits included in the second field is the same as the number of bits in the first field (that is, the first field is case 3). When each bit in the first field corresponds to a remaining time interval, each bit in the second field corresponds to the BS value associated with the remaining time interval (for example, the BS value field is case ④), which is used to indicate whether it refers to the new table or the old table. If a bit in the first field is "0" (that is, indicating that there is no data for the remaining time interval), the corresponding bit in the second field is meaningless.

[0326] For example, if it is case (3), assuming that the first field in the MAC CE contains 2 bits, it is predefined or preconfigured that the low-order bit represents the remaining time interval of 0 to 10ms, and the high-order bit represents the remaining time interval of 10 to 20ms. Assuming that the first logical resource includes 3 data to be transmitted (data to be transmitted 1, data to be transmitted 2, and data to be transmitted 3), wherein the remaining time corresponding to data to be transmitted 1 is 3ms, the remaining time corresponding to data to be transmitted 2 is 7ms, and the remaining time corresponding to data to be transmitted 3 is 9ms, therefore, the first field can be "01", indicating that there is data in the first logical resource with a remaining time within the remaining time interval of 0 to 10ms, but no data with a remaining time within the interval of 10 to 20ms. Based on this, it can also be determined that the second field also includes 2 bits (this is because the number of bits included in the second field is the same as the number of bits in the first field), wherein the low-order bit in the second field corresponds to the low-order bit in the first field, and the high-order bit in the second field corresponds to the high-order bit in the first field. If the value of the second field is "10", combined with the value of the first field "01", it can be determined that the value of the high-order bit in the second field (i.e., "1" in the second field) is meaningless (this is because the value of the high-order bit in the first field is "0", indicating that there is no data in the remaining time interval of 10 to 20 ms), and the value of the low-order bit in the second field (i.e., "0" in the second field) represents the old table, which is used to indicate that the index in the BS value associated with the remaining time interval 0 to 10 ms should be searched with reference to the old table, that is, the sum of the data amounts of data 1 to be transmitted, data 2 to be transmitted, and data 3 to be transmitted should be searched with reference to the old table.

[0327] For another example, if it is case (3), assuming that the first field in the MAC CE contains 2 bits, it is predefined or preconfigured that the low-order bit represents the remaining time interval of 0 to 10ms, and the high-order bit represents the remaining time interval of 10 to 20ms. Assuming that the first logical resource includes 3 data to be transmitted (data to be transmitted 1, data to be transmitted 2, and data to be transmitted 3), wherein the remaining time corresponding to data to be transmitted 1 is 3ms, the remaining time corresponding to data to be transmitted 2 is 8ms, and the remaining time corresponding to data to be transmitted 3 is 18ms, therefore, the first field can be "11", indicating that the first logical resource contains both data with a remaining time within the remaining time interval of 0 to 10ms and data with a remaining time within the interval of 10 to 20ms. Based on this, it can also be determined that the second field also includes 2 bits (this is because the number of bits included in the second field is the same as the number of bits in the first field), wherein the low-order bit in the second field corresponds to the low-order bit in the first field, and the high-order bit in the second field corresponds to the high-order bit in the first field. If the value of the second field is "10", combined with the value of the first field "11", the value of the high-order bit in the second field (i.e., "1") can be determined, representing a new table, used to indicate that the index in the BS value associated with the remaining time interval 10 to 20 ms should be searched with reference to the new table, that is, the data size of the data 3 to be transmitted should be searched with reference to the new table; the value of the low-order bit in the second field (i.e., "0") represents the old table, used to indicate that the index in the BS value associated with the remaining time interval 0 to 10 ms should be searched with reference to the old table, that is, the sum of the data sizes of the data 1 to be transmitted and the data 2 to be transmitted should be searched with reference to the old table.

[0328] Optionally, if there is more than one new BS table (i.e., there are two or more new tables), the second field may have multiple bits to indicate the index numbers of one or more BS tables, for example, each two bits representing the index number of a BS table. Optionally, the number of BS tables that the second field can indicate is related to the number of remaining time intervals that the first field can indicate or the number of BS value fields present in the MAC CE.

[0329] (3) The BS value field indicates the first BS interval to which the amount of data to be transmitted in the first logical resource belongs, which may include the following situations:

[0330] Case ①: The number of BS value fields is 1, and the BS value field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the total amount of all data to be transmitted in the first logical resource belongs. In other words, there is only one BS value field in the MAC CE, which is used to indicate the total amount of data to be transmitted in the first logical resource.

[0331] For example, assume that the first logical resource includes three copies of data to be transmitted (data 1 to be transmitted, data 2 to be transmitted, and data 3 to be transmitted), where the data size of data 1 to be transmitted is 500Bytes, the data size of data 2 to be transmitted is 1000Bytes, and the data size of data 3 to be transmitted is 2000Bytes. If it is case ①, and Table 2 (that is, the old table) is used, then the value of the BS value field is "01011110(94)", that is, (3469,3694].

[0332] Assume that the first logical resource includes three copies of data to be transmitted (data to be transmitted 1, data to be transmitted 2 and data to be transmitted 3), among which the data size of data to be transmitted 1 is 150 bytes, the data size of data to be transmitted 2 is 300 bytes, and the data size of data to be transmitted 3 is 100 bytes. If it is case ① and Table 2 (i.e., the old table) is used, then the value of the BS value field is "01000000 (64)", i.e., (526,560].

[0333] Case ②: The number of BS value fields is 1, and the BS value field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the amount of data to be transmitted within the minimum remaining time of the remaining time corresponding to at least one piece of data to be transmitted belongs. That is, when the first field indicates the minimum remaining time or the minimum remaining time interval, there is only one BS value field in the MAC CE, which is used to indicate the amount of data to be transmitted with the least remaining time or within the minimum remaining time interval in the first logical resource.

[0334] For example, assume that the first logical resource includes three pieces of data to be transmitted (data 1, data 2, and data 3). Data 1 has a data size of 500 bytes and a remaining time of 3 ms, data 2 has a data size of 1000 bytes and a remaining time of 7 ms, and data 3 has a data size of 2000 bytes and a remaining time of 9 ms. If the situation is (2), and Table 2 (i.e., the old table) is used, the value of the BS value field is "00111111(63)", i.e., (494,526].

[0335] Assume that the first logical resource includes three copies of data to be transmitted (data to be transmitted 1, data to be transmitted 2 and data to be transmitted 3), among which the data size of data to be transmitted 1 is 150 bytes and the remaining time is 3ms, the data size of data to be transmitted 2 is 300 bytes and the remaining time is 8ms, and the data size of data to be transmitted 3 is 100 bytes and the remaining time is 18ms. If it is situation ② and Table 2 (that is, the old table) is used, then the value of the BS value field is "00101011(43)", that is, (141,150].

[0336] Case ③, the number of BS value fields is 2, one BS value field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the total data volume belongs, and the other BS value field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the data volume of the data to be transmitted within the minimum remaining time belongs. That is to say, when the first field indicates the minimum remaining time or the minimum remaining time interval, there are two BS value fields in the MAC CE, one of which indicates the amount of data to be transmitted in the first logical resource with the least remaining time or within the minimum remaining time interval, and the other indicates the amount of data to be transmitted in the first logical resource except the data within the above-mentioned minimum remaining time interval, or indicates the total amount of data to be transmitted in the first logical resource. It can be understood that in the embodiment of the present application, the amount of data to be transmitted in the minimum remaining time interval + the amount of data to be transmitted except the data within the minimum remaining time interval = the total data volume of all data to be transmitted in the first logical resource.

[0337] For example, assume that the first logical resource includes three pieces of data to be transmitted (data 1 to be transmitted, data 2 to be transmitted, and data 3 to be transmitted), where the data size of data 1 to be transmitted is 500 bytes and the remaining time is 3ms, the data size of data 2 to be transmitted is 1000 bytes and the remaining time is 7ms, and the data size of data 3 to be transmitted is 2000 bytes and the remaining time is 9ms. If it is case ③, and Table 2 (i.e., the old table) is used, then the value of one BS value field (i.e., the first BS interval to which the data size of the data to be transmitted within the minimum remaining time belongs) is "00111111(63)", i.e., (494,526]; the value of the other BS value field (i.e., the first BS interval to which the total data size belongs) is "01011110(94)", i.e., (3469,3694].

[0338] Assume that the first logical resource includes three pieces of data to be transmitted (data 1 to be transmitted, data 2 to be transmitted, and data 3 to be transmitted), of which the data size of data 1 to be transmitted is 150 bytes and the remaining time is 3ms, the data size of data 2 to be transmitted is 300 bytes and the remaining time is 8ms, and the data size of data 3 to be transmitted is 100 bytes and the remaining time is 18ms. If it is case ③, and Table 2 (i.e., the old table) is used, then the value of one BS value field (i.e., the first BS interval to which the data size of the data to be transmitted within the minimum remaining time belongs) is "00101011(43)", i.e., [141,150]; the value of the other BS value field (i.e., the first BS interval to which the total data size belongs) is "01000000(64)", i.e., [526,560].

[0339] Case ④: The number of BS value fields is equal to the number of remaining time intervals indicated by the first field. One BS value field corresponds to one remaining time interval in the remaining time interval indicated by the first field. One BS value field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the amount of data to be transmitted within the remaining time interval in the first logical resource belongs. That is, when the first field indicates multiple remaining time intervals (i.e., the first field is case 3), there are one or more BS value fields in the MAC CE. The number of BS value fields depends on the number of bits with a value of "1" in the first field. Each BS value field corresponds to a remaining time interval, indicating the first BS interval to which the amount of data to be transmitted within the remaining time interval in the first logical resource belongs.

[0340] For example, assuming that the first field contains 2 bits, it is predefined or preconfigured that the low-order bit represents the remaining time interval of 0 to 10ms, and the high-order bit represents the remaining time interval of 10 to 20ms; the first logical resource includes 3 copies of data to be transmitted (data to be transmitted 1, data to be transmitted 2 and data to be transmitted 3), among which the data size of data to be transmitted 1 is 500Bytes and the remaining time is 3ms, the data size of data to be transmitted 2 is 1000Bytes and the remaining time is 7ms, and the data size of data to be transmitted 3 is 2000Bytes and the remaining time is 9ms. Therefore, the first field can be "01", indicating that there is data with a remaining time in the range of 0 to 10ms in the first logical resource, but there is no data with a remaining time in the range of 10 to 20ms. Since the number of bits with the value of "1" in the first field is 1, it can be determined that the number of BS value fields is also 1, and the value of this BS value field is "01011110(94)", which means that the first BS interval to which the amount of data to be transmitted with the remaining time in the first logical resource in the range of 0 to 10ms belongs is (3469,3694].

[0341] For example, assuming that the first field contains 2 bits, it is predefined or preconfigured that the low-order bit represents the remaining time interval of 0 to 10ms, and the high-order bit represents the remaining time interval of 10 to 20ms; the first logical resource includes 3 copies of data to be transmitted (data to be transmitted 1, data to be transmitted 2 and data to be transmitted 3), among which the data size of data to be transmitted 1 is 150Bytes and the remaining time is 3ms, the data size of data to be transmitted 2 is 300Bytes and the remaining time is 8ms, and the data size of data to be transmitted 3 is 100Bytes and the remaining time is 18ms. Therefore, the first field can be "11", indicating that the first logical resource contains both data with a remaining time in the range of 0 to 10ms and data with a remaining time in the range of 10 to 20ms. Since the number of bits with the value of "1" in the first field is 2, it can be determined that the number of BS value fields is also 2, and the value of one BS value field in the two BS value fields is "00111101(61)", indicating that the first BS interval to which the amount of data to be transmitted with the remaining time in the range of 0 to 10 ms in the first logical resource belongs is (436,464]; the value of the other BS value field is "00100101(37)", indicating that the first BS interval to which the amount of data to be transmitted with the remaining time in the range of 10 to 20 ms in the first logical resource belongs is (96,103].

[0342] To better understand Implementation 1, some of the possible forms mentioned above are used as examples to illustrate the meaning of MAC CE values.

[0343] Example 1: The first field is 4 bits long and is used to explicitly indicate the minimum remaining time for LCG x data. The second field is 1 bit long and is used to indicate the BS table referenced by the BS value field. There is only one BS value field, which represents the total amount of data to be transmitted for LCG x. The first field has the value "1010", the second field has the value "1", and the BS value has the value "01000000(64)".

[0344] a) Assuming that LCG x is configured with both the new BS table and the remaining time reporting function, the first field indicates that the minimum remaining time of the data in LCG x is 10ms, and the second field indicates that the BS value refers to the new BS table. BS value indicates index 64. The data volume corresponding to index 64 in the newly defined BS table is the total amount of data to be transmitted in LCG x;

[0345] b) Assuming that LCG x is configured with a new BS table but does not have the remaining time reporting function configured, the first field is meaningless. Based on the second field and the BS value, the data volume corresponding to index number 64 in the newly defined BS table is the total amount of data to be transmitted in LCG x;

[0346] c) Assuming that LCG x is not configured with a new BS table but is configured to report the remaining time, the first field indicates that the minimum remaining time for data in LCG x is 10ms. The second field is meaningless, and the BS value defaults to the old BS table. The data volume corresponding to index number 64 in the old BS table is the total amount of data to be transmitted in LCG x.

[0347] d) Assuming that LCG x is neither configured with a new BS table nor with the remaining time reporting function, the amount of data corresponding to index number 64 found in the old BS table is the total amount of data to be transmitted in LCG x.

[0348] Example 2: The first field is 2 bits long, where the low-order bit represents the remaining time interval of 0 to 10 ms and the high-order bit represents 10 to 20 ms. The second field is 2 bits long, corresponding to the two time intervals of the first field. The number of BS value fields is related to the first field. When the first field is meaningless, there is only one BS value field. When the first field is meaningful, the number of BS value fields is equal to the number of bits with the value "1" in the first field. The first field takes the value "01", the second field takes the value "11", and the BS value takes the value "01000000(64)".

[0349] a) Assuming that LCG x is configured with both the new BS table and the remaining time reporting function, the first field indicates that there is data with a remaining time of 0-10ms in LCG x, but no data with a remaining time of 10-20ms. The low-order bit of the second field indicates that the BS value corresponding to the data with a remaining time of 0-10ms refers to the new BS table; the high-order bit is meaningless. The BS value indicates index 64. The data volume corresponding to index 64 found in the newly defined BS table is the amount of data to be transmitted in LCG x with a remaining time of 0-10ms.

[0350] b) Assuming that LCG x is configured with a new BS table but does not have the remaining time reporting function configured, the first field is meaningless. Based on the second field and the BS value, the data volume corresponding to index number 64 in the newly defined BS table is the total amount of data to be transmitted in LCG x;

[0351] c) Assuming that LCG x is not configured with a new BS table but is configured to report the remaining time, the first field indicates that there is data with a remaining time of 0 to 10 ms in LCG x, but no data with a remaining time of 10 to 20 ms. The second field is meaningless, and the BS value defaults to the old BS table. The data volume corresponding to index number 64 in the old BS table is the amount of data to be transmitted in LCG x with a remaining time of 0 to 10 ms.

[0352] d) Assuming that LCG x is neither configured with a new BS table nor with the remaining time reporting function, the amount of data corresponding to index number 64 found in the old BS table is the total amount of data to be transmitted in LCG x.

[0353] In addition, to help better understand Implementation Method 2, here are some examples of specific values ​​​​mentioned above to illustrate the meaning of MAC CE:

[0354] Example 1: The third field takes the value "1" and the fourth field takes the value "0". In this case, the MAC CE contains the first field but not the second field. Assume that the length of the first field is 2 bits, where the low-order bit represents the remaining time interval of 0 to 10ms and the high-order bit represents 10 to 20ms; the number of BS value fields is equal to the number of bits with the value "1" in the first field. The first field takes the value "01" and the BS value takes the value "01000000(64)", which means that there is data to be transmitted with a remaining time of 0 to 10ms in LCH x and there is no data with a remaining time of 10 to 20ms. By default, BS value still refers to the old BS table. The amount of data corresponding to the index number 64 found in the old BS table is the amount of data to be transmitted with a remaining time of 0 to 10ms in LCH x;

[0355] Example 2: The third field takes the value "0" and the fourth field takes the value "1". In this case, the MAC CE contains the second field but not the first field. Assume that the second field is 1 bit long and there is only one BS value field. The first field takes the value "1" and the BS value takes the value "01000000(64)". This means that the data amount corresponding to index number 64 found in the new BS table is the total amount of data to be transmitted in LCH x.

[0356] Example 3: The third field takes the value "1", and the fourth field takes the value "1". At this time, the MAC CE contains both the first field and the second field. Assume that the length of the first field is 2 bits, of which the low-order bit represents the remaining time interval of 0 to 10 ms and the high-order bit represents 10 to 20 ms; the length of the second field is 2 bits, corresponding to the two remaining time intervals of the first field respectively; the number of BS value fields is equal to the number of bits with the value "1" in the first field. The value of the first field is "01", the value of the second field is "11", and the value of BS value is "01000000 (64)". Then the first field indicates that there is data to be transmitted with a remaining time of 0 to 10 ms in LCH x and there is no data with a remaining time of 10 to 20 ms. The low-order bit of the second field represents the BS value of the interval of 0 to 10 ms. Refer to the new table, and the high-order bit is meaningless. The amount of data corresponding to the index number 64 found in the new BS table is the amount of data to be transmitted with a remaining time of 0 to 10 ms in LCH x.

[0357] S402: The terminal device sends an uplink signal to the access network device. Correspondingly, the access network device receives the uplink signal from the terminal device.

[0358] In some feasible implementations, after receiving an uplink signal from a terminal device, the access network device can determine, based on information about at least one logical resource carried in the received uplink signal, one or more of the following: the remaining time for data to be transmitted for each of the at least one logical resource, the first BS table enabled for each logical resource, and the first BS interval to which the amount of data to be transmitted for each logical resource belongs. Therefore, the access network device can schedule data in a timely manner based on this information to avoid timeouts.

[0359] It should be noted that the possible forms of the fields listed above are only used to explain the functions and meanings of the fields and do not limit this application. Furthermore, the various possible forms of the fields may be combined to form a variety of different MAC CE formats, which is not limited by this application. The lengths and combination orders of the fields shown in Figures 5 to 13 are also for illustrative purposes only and do not limit this application.

[0360] In the embodiment of the present application, a new MAC CE format is designed to support the use of both the remaining time and the new BS table functions separately, as well as the simultaneous use of both. This can avoid duplication or conflict of reported information and ensure flexible network configuration.

[0361] The communication device provided in this application will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 .

[0362] It is understood that in order to implement the functions in the above embodiments, the communication device includes hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the execution of each function. It should be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that, in combination with the units and method steps of each example described in the embodiments disclosed in this application, the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in hardware or in a manner driven by computer software depends on the specific application scenario and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0363] Figures 14 and 15 are schematic diagrams of the structures of possible communication devices provided in embodiments of the present application. These communication devices can be used to implement the functions of the terminal device or access network device in the above-mentioned method embodiments, thereby also achieving the beneficial effects of the above-mentioned method embodiments. In the embodiments of the present application, the communication device can be one of the terminal devices 120a-120j shown in Figure 1, or it can be the access network device 110a or 110b shown in Figure 1, or it can be a module (such as a chip) applied to the terminal device or access network device.

[0364] As shown in Figure 14, a communication device 1400 includes a processing unit 1410 and a transceiver unit 1420. The communication device 1400 is used to implement the functions of the terminal device or access network device in the method embodiment shown in Figure 4 above.

[0365] When the communication device 1400 is used to implement the functions of the terminal device in the method embodiment shown in FIG4 :

[0366] The processing unit 1410 is configured to determine an uplink signal;

[0367] The transceiver unit 1420 is configured to send the uplink signal to the network device;

[0368] In which, the uplink signal includes information of at least one logical resource, the at least one logical resource includes a first logical resource, the information of the first logical resource includes a first field and / or a second field, the first field is used to indicate the remaining time information of the data to be transmitted in the first logical resource, the second field is used to indicate the first cache status BS table enabled by the first logical resource, the first logical resource is configured with multiple preset BS tables, the first BS table is included in the preset BS table, and the first BS table includes multiple BS intervals; when the first logical resource is configured with a remaining time reporting function, the information of the first logical resource includes the first field; when the number of the preset BS tables is multiple, the information of the first logical resource includes the second field.

[0369] When the communication device 1400 is used to implement the functions of the access network device in the method embodiment shown in FIG4 :

[0370] The transceiver unit 1420 is configured to receive an uplink signal from a terminal device;

[0371] In which, the uplink signal includes information of at least one logical resource, the at least one logical resource includes a first logical resource, the information of the first logical resource includes a first field and / or a second field, the first field is used to indicate the remaining time information of the data to be transmitted in the first logical resource, the second field is used to indicate the first cache status BS table enabled by the first logical resource, the first logical resource is configured with multiple preset BS tables, the first BS table is included in the preset BS table, and the first BS table includes multiple BS intervals; when the first logical resource is configured with a remaining time reporting function, the information of the first logical resource includes the first field; when the number of the preset BS tables is multiple, the information of the first logical resource includes the second field.

[0372] For a more detailed description of the processing unit 1410 and the transceiver unit 1420 , reference may be made to the relevant description in the method embodiment shown in FIG. 4 .

[0373] As shown in Figure 15, communication device 1500 includes a processor 1510 and an interface circuit 1520. Processor 1510 and interface circuit 1520 are coupled to each other. It is understood that interface circuit 1520 can be a transceiver or an input / output interface. Optionally, communication device 1500 may also include a memory 1530 for storing instructions executed by processor 1510, input data required by processor 1510 to execute instructions, or data generated by processor 1510 after executing instructions.

[0374] When the communication device 1500 is used to implement the method shown in FIG. 4 , the processor 1510 is used to implement the functions of the processing unit 1410 , and the interface circuit 1520 is used to implement the functions of the transceiver unit 1420 .

[0375] When the communication device is a chip used in a terminal device, the terminal device chip implements the functions of the terminal device in the above method embodiment. The terminal device chip receives information sent to the terminal device by the access network device through other modules in the terminal device (such as a radio frequency module or antenna); or the terminal device chip sends information to other modules in the terminal device (such as a radio frequency module or antenna), and the information is sent by the terminal device to the access network device.

[0376] When the above-mentioned communication device is a module applied to an access network device, the access network device module implements the functions of the access network device in the above-mentioned method embodiment. The access network device module receives information from other modules in the access network device (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna), and the information is sent by the terminal device to the access network device; or, the access network device module sends information to other modules in the access network device (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna), and the information is sent by the access network device to the terminal device. The access network device module here can be a baseband chip of the access network device, or it can be a CU, DU or other module, or it can be a device under the open radio access network (O-RAN) architecture, such as an open CU, open DU and other devices.

[0377] It is understood that the processor in the embodiments of the present application may be a central processing unit (CPU), or may be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0378] The method steps in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in hardware or in software instructions that can be executed by a processor. The software instructions can be composed of corresponding software modules, and the software modules can be stored in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, erasable programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, registers, hard disk, mobile hard disk, CD-ROM or any other form of storage medium well known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. The storage medium can also be an integral part of the processor. The processor and storage medium can be located in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC can be located in an access network device or a terminal device. The processor and storage medium can also exist in the access network device or the terminal device as discrete components.

[0379] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented using software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are performed in whole or in part. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a user device, or other programmable device. The computer program or instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transferred from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer program or instructions may be transferred from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired or wireless means. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available medium may be a magnetic medium, such as a floppy disk, hard disk, or magnetic tape; an optical medium, such as a digital video disk; or a semiconductor medium, such as a solid-state drive. The computer-readable storage medium may be a volatile or nonvolatile storage medium, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile types of storage media.

[0380] In the various embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified or there is a logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships.

[0381] It is understood that the various numbers used in the embodiments of this application are merely for ease of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of this application. The order of the sequence numbers of the above-mentioned processes does not necessarily imply a specific order of execution; the order of execution of the processes should be determined by their functions and inherent logic.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: include: Determine the uplink signal; Sending the uplink signal to the access network device; The uplink signal includes information of at least one logical resource, the at least one logical resource includes a first logical resource, the information of the first logical resource includes a first field and / or a second field, the first field is used to indicate the remaining time information of the data to be transmitted in the first logical resource, the second field is used to indicate a first cache status BS table enabled by the first logical resource, the number of preset BS tables configured for the first logical resource is multiple, the first BS table is included in the preset BS table, and the first BS table includes multiple BS intervals; When the first logical resource is configured with a remaining time reporting function, the information of the first logical resource includes the first field; When the number of the preset BS tables is plural, the information of the first logical resource includes the second field.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the first logical resource is not configured with a remaining time reporting function, the first field is a reserved field.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: When the number of the preset BS table is 1, the second field is a reserved field.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The information of the first logical resource further includes a third field and / or a fourth field, the third field is used to indicate whether the first field exists, and the fourth field is used to indicate whether the second field exists; When the third field indicates that the first field exists, the information of the first logical resource includes the first field; or, When the third field indicates that the first field does not exist, the information of the first logical resource does not include the first field; or, When the fourth field indicates that the second field exists, the information of the first logical resource includes the second field; or, When the fourth field indicates that the second field does not exist, the information of the first logical resource does not include the second field.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that When the first logical resource is configured with a remaining time reporting function, the third field indicates that the first field exists; or, When the first logical resource is not configured with a remaining time reporting function, the third field indicates that the first field does not exist; or, When the number of the preset BS tables is plural, the fourth field indicates that the second field exists; or, When the number of the preset BS table is 1, the fourth field indicates that the second field does not exist.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The information of the first logical resource further includes a third field, and the third field is used to indicate whether the first field exists; When the third field indicates that the first field does not exist, the information of the first logical resource does not include the first field, and the information of the first logical resource includes the second field.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that When the first logical resource is configured with a remaining time reporting function and the number of preset BS tables is 1, the information of the first logical resource includes the first field and does not include the second field; When the first logical resource is not configured with a remaining time reporting function and the number of preset BS tables is multiple, the information of the first logical resource includes the second field and does not include the first field; When the first logical resource is configured with a remaining time reporting function and a plurality of BS tables are preset, the information of the first logical resource includes a first field and a second field.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The information of the first logical resource also includes a fifth field, and the fifth field is used to indicate a first BS interval to which a data amount of data to be transmitted in the first logical resource belongs, and the first BS interval is included in the first BS table.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The first logical resource includes at least one piece of data to be transmitted, and one piece of data to be transmitted corresponds to a remaining time; The fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the amount of data to be transmitted in the first logical resource belongs, including: The number of the fifth field is 1, and the fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the total data amount of all data to be transmitted in the first logical resource belongs; or, The number of the fifth field is 1, and the fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the amount of data to be transmitted within the minimum remaining time among the remaining time corresponding to the at least one piece of data to be transmitted belongs; or The number of the fifth fields is 2, one of the fifth fields is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the total data volume belongs, and the other fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the data volume of the data to be transmitted within the minimum remaining time belongs; or, The number of the fifth fields is equal to the number of remaining time intervals indicated by the first field, one fifth field corresponds to one remaining time interval in the remaining time interval indicated by the first field, and one fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the amount of data to be transmitted in the remaining time in the first logical resource within the one remaining time interval belongs.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The first logical resource includes at least one piece of data to be transmitted, and one piece of data to be transmitted corresponds to a remaining time; The first field is used to indicate the remaining time information of the data to be transmitted in the first logical resource, including: The first field is used to indicate the minimum remaining time among the remaining times corresponding to the at least one piece of data to be transmitted; or, The first field is used to indicate the remaining time interval to which the minimum remaining time among the remaining times corresponding to the at least one piece of data to be transmitted belongs; or The first field is used to indicate the remaining time interval to which the remaining time corresponding to the at least one piece of data to be transmitted belongs.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that: The second field is used to indicate a first BS table enabled by the first logical resource, including: The second field indicates a first BS table, the first BS table is one of a plurality of preset BS tables, and the first BS intervals indicated by all the fifth fields in the information of the first logical resource refer to the first BS table; or, When the number of the fifth fields is multiple, the second field indicates multiple first BS tables, any one of the multiple first BS tables is one of the multiple preset BS tables, the number of the multiple first BS tables is equal to the number of the fifth fields, the multiple first BS tables correspond one-to-one to the multiple fifth fields, and a first BS interval reference indicated by a fifth field corresponds to a first BS table.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that: The order in which the information of the at least one logical resource appears in the uplink signal is determined according to the identifier of the at least one logical resource; and / or, The order in which the information of the at least one logical resource appears in the uplink signal is determined according to the priority of the at least one logical resource; and / or, The order in which the information of the at least one logical resource appears in the uplink signal is determined according to the remaining time of data to be transmitted in the at least one logical resource.

13. A communication method, characterized in that: include: Receiving an uplink signal from a terminal device; The uplink signal includes information of at least one logical resource, the at least one logical resource includes a first logical resource, the information of the first logical resource includes a first field and / or a second field, the first field is used to indicate the remaining time information of the data to be transmitted in the first logical resource, the second field is used to indicate a first cache status BS table enabled by the first logical resource, the number of preset BS tables configured for the first logical resource is multiple, the first BS table is included in the preset BS table, and the first BS table includes multiple BS intervals; When the first logical resource is configured with a remaining time reporting function, the information of the first logical resource includes the first field; When the number of the preset BS tables is plural, the information of the first logical resource includes the second field.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that When the first logical resource is not configured with a remaining time reporting function, the first field is a reserved field.

15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that When the number of the preset BS table is 1, the second field is a reserved field.

16. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that The information of the first logical resource further includes a third field and / or a fourth field, the third field is used to indicate whether the first field exists, and the fourth field is used to indicate whether the second field exists; When the third field indicates that the first field exists, the information of the first logical resource includes the first field; or, When the third field indicates that the first field does not exist, the information of the first logical resource does not include the first field; or, When the fourth field indicates that the second field exists, the information of the first logical resource includes the second field; or, When the fourth field indicates that the second field does not exist, the information of the first logical resource does not include the second field.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that When the first logical resource is configured with a remaining time reporting function, the third field indicates that the first field exists; or, When the first logical resource is not configured with a remaining time reporting function, the third field indicates that the first field does not exist; or, When the number of the preset BS tables is plural, the fourth field indicates that the second field exists; or, When the number of the preset BS table is 1, the fourth field indicates that the second field does not exist.

18. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that The information of the first logical resource further includes a third field, and the third field is used to indicate whether the first field exists; When the third field indicates that the first field does not exist, the information of the first logical resource does not include the first field, and the information of the first logical resource includes the second field.

19. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that When the first logical resource is configured with a remaining time reporting function and the number of preset BS tables is 1, the information of the first logical resource includes the first field and does not include the second field; When the first logical resource is not configured with a remaining time reporting function and the number of preset BS tables is multiple, the information of the first logical resource includes the second field and does not include the first field; When the first logical resource is configured with a remaining time reporting function and a plurality of BS tables are preset, the information of the first logical resource includes a first field and a second field.

20. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 19, characterized in that: The information of the first logical resource also includes a fifth field, and the fifth field is used to indicate a first BS interval to which a data amount of data to be transmitted in the first logical resource belongs, and the first BS interval is included in the first BS table.

21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that The first logical resource includes at least one piece of data to be transmitted, and one piece of data to be transmitted corresponds to a remaining time; The fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the amount of data to be transmitted in the first logical resource belongs, including: The number of the fifth field is 1, and the fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the total data amount of all data to be transmitted in the first logical resource belongs; or, The number of the fifth field is 1, and the fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the amount of data to be transmitted within the minimum remaining time among the remaining time corresponding to the at least one piece of data to be transmitted belongs; or The number of the fifth fields is 2, one of the fifth fields is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the total data volume belongs, and the other fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the data volume of the data to be transmitted within the minimum remaining time belongs; or, The number of the fifth fields is equal to the number of remaining time intervals indicated by the first field, one fifth field corresponds to one remaining time interval in the remaining time interval indicated by the first field, and one fifth field is used to indicate the first BS interval to which the amount of data to be transmitted in the remaining time in the first logical resource within the one remaining time interval belongs.

22. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 21, characterized in that: The first logical resource includes at least one piece of data to be transmitted, and one piece of data to be transmitted corresponds to a remaining time; The first field is used to indicate the remaining time information of the data to be transmitted in the first logical resource, including: The first field is used to indicate the minimum remaining time among the remaining times corresponding to the at least one piece of data to be transmitted; or, The first field is used to indicate the remaining time interval to which the minimum remaining time among the remaining times corresponding to the at least one piece of data to be transmitted belongs; or The first field is used to indicate the remaining time interval to which the remaining time corresponding to the at least one piece of data to be transmitted belongs.

23. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 22, characterized in that: The second field is used to indicate a first BS table enabled by the first logical resource, including: The second field indicates a first BS table, the first BS table is one of a plurality of preset BS tables, and the first BS intervals indicated by all the fifth fields in the information of the first logical resource refer to the first BS table; or, When the number of the fifth fields is multiple, the second field indicates multiple first BS tables, any one of the multiple first BS tables is one of the multiple preset BS tables, the number of the multiple first BS tables is equal to the number of the fifth fields, the multiple first BS tables correspond one-to-one to the multiple fifth fields, and a first BS interval reference indicated by a fifth field corresponds to a first BS table.

24. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 23, characterized in that: The order in which the information of the at least one logical resource appears in the uplink signal is determined according to the identifier of the at least one logical resource; and / or, The order in which the information of the at least one logical resource appears in the uplink signal is determined according to the priority of the at least one logical resource; and / or, The order in which the information of the at least one logical resource appears in the uplink signal is determined according to the remaining time of data to be transmitted in the at least one logical resource.

25. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A processing unit, configured to determine an uplink signal; A transceiver unit, configured to send the uplink signal to an access network device; The uplink signal includes information of at least one logical resource, the at least one logical resource includes a first logical resource, the information of the first logical resource includes a first field and / or a second field, the first field is used to indicate the remaining time information of the data to be transmitted in the first logical resource, the second field is used to indicate a first cache status BS table enabled by the first logical resource, the number of preset BS tables configured for the first logical resource is multiple, the first BS table is included in the preset BS table, and the first BS table includes multiple BS intervals; When the first logical resource is configured with a remaining time reporting function, the information of the first logical resource includes the first field; When the number of the preset BS tables is plural, the information of the first logical resource includes the second field.

26. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A transceiver unit, used for receiving an uplink signal from a terminal device; The uplink signal includes information of at least one logical resource, the at least one logical resource includes a first logical resource, the information of the first logical resource includes a first field and / or a second field, the first field is used to indicate the remaining time information of the data to be transmitted in the first logical resource, the second field is used to indicate a first cache status BS table enabled by the first logical resource, the number of preset BS tables configured for the first logical resource is multiple, the first BS table is included in the preset BS table, and the first BS table includes multiple BS intervals; When the first logical resource is configured with a remaining time reporting function, the information of the first logical resource includes the first field; When the number of the preset BS tables is plural, the information of the first logical resource includes the second field.

27. A communication device, characterized in that: It includes a processor and an interface circuit, wherein the interface circuit is used to receive signals from other communication devices outside the communication device and transmit them to the processor or send signals from the processor to other communication devices outside the communication device, and the processor is used to implement the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 12 through a logic circuit or execute code instructions, or to implement the method as described in any one of claims 13 to 24.

28. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The storage medium stores a computer program or an instruction. When the computer program or the instruction is executed by the communication device, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12 is implemented, or the method according to any one of claims 13 to 24 is implemented.

29. A computer program product, characterized in that The method comprises a computer program code, and when the computer program code is executed on a computer, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12 is implemented, or the method according to any one of claims 13 to 24 is implemented.

30. A communication system, characterized in that: It comprises a communication device for implementing the method described in any one of claims 1 to 12, and a communication device for implementing the method described in any one of claims 13 to 24.

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