Signal forwarding method and apparatus

Abstract

The present application provides a signal forwarding method and apparatus, which can solve the problem of how a relay device handles the situation when an index value indicated by a network device is not within an index value range recognizable by the relay device. The method comprises: a relay device receiving first information from a network device, a first beam field in the first information indicating a first index value, and a first time field associated with the first beam field indicating a second index value; if the first index value is not within a first range and the second index value is within a second range, not forwarding a signal on a first time resource, or using a first access link beam to forward a signal on the first time resource, the first access link beam being determined on the basis of the first index value; or if the second index value is not within the second range and the first index value is within the first range, ignoring the first time field and the first beam field, or using a second access link beam to forward a signal on a second time resource, the second time resource being determined on the basis of the second index value.

Description

Signal forwarding method and device

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China on September 28, 2023, with application number 202311286630.5 and invention name "Method and Device for Signal Forwarding", the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communications, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for signal forwarding. Background Art

[0003] With the development of wireless communication technology, beamforming technology has been widely used. Beamforming technology is used to limit the energy of transmitted signals within a specific beam direction, thereby increasing signal reception efficiency, expanding the transmission range of wireless signals, and reducing signal interference, thereby achieving higher communication efficiency and greater network capacity.

[0004] In some scenarios, the distance between network devices and terminal devices is relatively long, resulting in high path loss, which can degrade communication quality or even prevent the terminal device from communicating directly with the network device. One known method is to use relay devices to facilitate communication between network devices and terminal devices. For example, during downlink transmission, the relay device can amplify the signal received from the network device and forward it to the terminal device; during uplink transmission, the relay device can amplify the signal received from the terminal device and forward it to the network device.

[0005] Relay devices can have various forwarding resources, including periodic, aperiodic, and semi-persistent (SP) forwarding resources. Aperiodic forwarding resources can be configured by a network device for a relay device through high-layer signaling. Before each use, the network device sends an activation instruction for the aperiodic forwarding resources to the relay device, and the resources are activated only once. Aperiodic forwarding resources include the time resource for signal forwarding, the access link beam for signal forwarding, the return link beam for signal forwarding, the signal forwarding direction, and the signal amplification gain (or signal forwarding power).

[0006] Currently, in R18, downlink control information (DCI) 2_8 is used to indicate the access link beam index and time resource index, thereby indicating the access link beam and time resource corresponding to aperiodic forwarding resources. However, this does not consider how relay devices handle situations where the index indicated by DCI 2_8 is outside the index value range recognized by the relay device.

[0007] Summary of the Invention

[0008] The present application provides a signal forwarding method and apparatus, which can solve the problem of how a relay device handles the situation when the index value indicated by activation indication information of a non-periodic forwarding resource is not within the index value range recognizable by the relay device.

[0009] On the first aspect, a method for signal forwarding is provided, which can be applied to a relay device, for example, it can be executed by the relay device, or it can be executed by a component configured in the relay device (such as a chip, a chip system, etc.), or it can be implemented by a logic module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the relay device. This application does not limit this.

[0010] Exemplarily, the method includes: a relay device receives first information from a network device, the first information includes a first beam field and a first time field, the first beam field and the first time field are associated, the first beam field indicates a first index value, and the first time field indicates a second index value; if the first index value is not within the first range and the second index value is within the second range, the relay device does not forward the signal on the first time resource, or uses the first access link beam to forward the signal on the first time resource, wherein the first time resource is determined according to the second index value, and the first access link beam is determined according to the first index value or is preconfigured; or, if the second index value is not within the second range and the first index value is within the first range, the relay device ignores the first time field and the first beam field, or uses the second access link beam to forward the signal on the second time resource, wherein the second access link beam is determined according to the first index value, and the second time resource is determined according to the second index value or is preconfigured.

[0011] Based on the above technical solution, after the relay device receives the first information (activation indication information of the non-periodic forwarding resource), when the first index value indicated by the first beam field included in the first information is not within the first range (the index value range of the access link beam that the relay device can identify), or the second index value indicated by the first time field included in the first information is not within the second range (the index value range of the time resource that the relay device can identify), the relay device can determine how to forward the signal or determine whether to forward the signal. Therefore, the embodiment of the present application can solve the problem of how the relay device handles the situation when the index value indicated by the activation indication information of the non-periodic forwarding resource is not within the index value range that the relay device can identify.

[0012] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the method also includes: if the first index value is not within the first range and the second index value is not within the second range, the relay device ignores the first time field and the first beam field, or uses the first access link beam to forward the signal on the second time resource.

[0013] Based on this optional implementation method, after the relay device receives the first information, when the first index value indicated by the first beam field included in the first information is not within the first range (the index value range of the access link beam that the relay device can identify), and the second index value indicated by the first time field included in the first information is not within the second range (the index value range of the time resource that the relay device can identify), the relay device can determine how to forward the signal.

[0014] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: if the first index value is within the first range and the second index value is within the second range, then using the second access link beam to forward the signal on the first time resource.

[0015] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the index value of the first time resource is the second index value.

[0016] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the first access link beam is determined based on the first index value, including: the first access link beam is determined based on the first index value and the maximum number of access link beams used.

[0017] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the index value X of the first access link beam is new =mod(X invalid , J), where X invalid is the first index value, J is the maximum number of access link beams used, X invalid Greater than or equal to J, mod() is the remainder function.

[0018] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the first access link beam is determined based on the first index value, including: a second beam field indicating the first access link beam, the second beam field is a beam field adjacent to the first beam field, and the first information also includes the second beam field.

[0019] Exemplarily, the relay device may determine a second beam field adjacent to the first beam field indicating the first index value, and determine the first access link beam according to the index value indicated by the second beam field.

[0020] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the index value of the second access link beam is the first index value.

[0021] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the second time resource is determined based on the second index value, including: the second time resource is determined based on the second index value and the maximum number of time resources used.

[0022] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the index value Y of the second time resource is new =mod(Y invalid , I), where Y invalid is the second index value, I is the maximum number of time resources used, and Y invalid Greater than or equal to I, mod() is the remainder function.

[0023] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the second time resource is determined based on the second index value, including: a second time field indicates the second time resource, the second time field is a time field adjacent to the first time field, and the first information also includes the second time field.

[0024] Exemplarily, the relay device may determine a second time field adjacent to the first time field indicating the second index value, and determine the second time resource according to the index value indicated by the second time field.

[0025] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the first information is downlink control information, the first information includes N beam fields and N time fields, the N beam fields and the N time fields are one-to-one associated, the N beam fields include the first beam field and the second beam field, the N time fields include the first time field and the second time field, where N is a positive integer.

[0026] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the first information also includes a quantity field, and the quantity field is used to indicate the total number of the N beam fields and the N time fields, the N beam fields and the N time fields are continuous fields, and the quantity field is the field before the N beam fields and the N time fields, or the quantity field is the field after the N beam fields and the N time fields, wherein the total number of fields included in the first information 2M is greater than 2N, and M is a positive integer.

[0027] Based on this optional implementation method, when the relay device identifies the quantity field, it can determine the total number of beam fields and time fields included in the first information, which is 2N. After the relay device has parsed N beam fields and N time fields, it will no longer parse other fields, thereby saving the power consumption of the relay device; in addition, in addition to indicating the index value of the access link beam and the index value of the time resource, the first information can also indicate the number of beam fields and time fields included in the first information, thereby increasing the flexibility of dynamic indication.

[0028] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the first information also includes a quantity field, and the quantity field is used to indicate the number of the N beam fields and / or the number of the N time fields, the N beam fields are continuous fields, the N time fields are continuous fields, and the quantity field is a field between the N beam fields and the N time fields, wherein the total number of fields included in the first information 2M is greater than 2N, and M is a positive integer.

[0029] Based on this optional implementation method, when the relay device identifies the quantity field, it can determine the number N of beam fields and / or the number N of time fields included in the first information. After the relay device has parsed N beam fields and N time fields, it will no longer parse other fields, thereby saving the power consumption of the relay device; in addition, in addition to indicating the index value of the access link beam and the index value of the time resource, the first information can also indicate the number of beam fields and time fields included in the first information, thereby increasing the flexibility of dynamic indication.

[0030] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the first information also includes an invalid indication field, and the invalid indication field is used to indicate that the field after the invalid indication field does not include the beam field and the time field, and the invalid indication field is the field after the N beam fields and the N time fields, wherein the total number of fields included in the first information 2M is greater than 2N, and M is a positive integer.

[0031] Based on this optional implementation, when the relay device identifies the invalid indication field, it no longer parses other fields, thereby saving the power consumption of the relay device; in addition, the flexibility of the dynamic indication can be increased.

[0032] In conjunction with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the N beam fields and the N time fields are continuous fields. Optionally, the N beam fields and the N time fields may also be discontinuous fields.

[0033] On the second aspect, a signal forwarding method is provided, which can be applied to a relay device, for example, it can be executed by the relay device, or it can be executed by a component configured in the relay device (such as a chip, chip system, etc.), or it can be implemented by a logic module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the relay device. This application does not limit this.

[0034] Exemplarily, the method includes: a relay device receives second information from a network device, the second information includes a first beam field and a first time field, the first beam field and the first time field are associated, the first index value indicated by the first beam field is not within a first range, the first time field indicates a second index value, and the first time resource includes at least one first symbol in at least one first time slot, wherein the first time resource is determined according to the second index value; the relay device receives third information from the network device, the third information indicates using a first access link beam to forward a signal on a second time resource, and the second time resource includes at least At least one second symbol in a first time slot, the at least one first symbol and the at least one second symbol include a third symbol; the relay device uses the second access link beam to forward a signal in the third symbol, or uses the first access link beam to forward a signal, or does not forward a signal, and the second access link beam is determined according to the first index value or is preconfigured; and / or, within the at least one first symbol other than the third symbol, uses the second access link beam to forward a signal or does not forward a signal; and / or, within the at least one second symbol other than the third symbol, uses the first access link beam to forward a signal or does not forward a signal. The third symbol can be understood as a symbol where the symbol included in the first time resource conflicts with the symbol included in the second time resource. Optionally, the second index value indicated by the first time field is within the second range.

[0035] Based on the above technical solution, after the relay device receives the second information and the third information from the network device, when the first index value indicated by the first beam field included in the second information is not within the index value range of the access link beam identifiable by the relay device, and the time resources indicated by the first time field associated with the first beam field (at least one first symbol in at least one first time slot) conflict / overlap with the time resources indicated by the third information (at least one second symbol in at least one first time slot), the relay device can determine how to forward the signal or whether to forward the signal.

[0036] In combination with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the index value of the first time resource is the second index value.

[0037] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the second access link beam is determined based on the first index value, including: the second access link beam is determined based on the first index value and the maximum number of access link beams used; or, the second beam field indicates the second access link beam, the second beam field is a beam field adjacent to the first beam field, and the second information also includes the second beam field.

[0038] Exemplarily, the second beam field is a field adjacent to the first beam field and located to the left of the first beam field; or, the second beam field is a field adjacent to the first beam field and located to the right of the first beam field.

[0039] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the second access link beam is determined according to the first index value and the maximum number of access link beams used, including: the index value X of the second access link beam new ’ =mod(X invalid ’ , J), where X invalid ’ is the first index value, J is the maximum number of access link beams used, X invalid ’ Greater than or equal to J, mod() is the remainder function.

[0040] In conjunction with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the second information is activation indication information of aperiodic forwarding resources. Optionally, the third information is configuration information of periodic forwarding resources, or the third information is activation indication information of semi-persistent forwarding resources.

[0041] On the third aspect, a method for signal forwarding is provided, which can be applied to a relay device, for example, it can be executed by the relay device, or it can be executed by a component configured in the relay device (such as a chip, a chip system, etc.), or it can be implemented by a logic module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the relay device. This application does not limit this.

[0042] Exemplarily, the method includes: the relay device receives fourth information from the network device at a first moment, the fourth information indicates the use of the first access link beam on the first time resource to forward the signal, the index value of the first access link beam is within a first range, the index value of the first time resource is within a second range, the first time resource includes at least one first symbol within a first time slot, wherein the fourth information is activation indication information of the non-periodic forwarding resource; the relay device receives fifth information from the network device at a second moment, the fifth information includes a first beam field and a first time field, the first beam field and the first time field are associated, the first index value indicated by the first beam field is not within the first range, the second index value indicated by the first time field is within the second range, and the second time resource includes At least one second symbol in the first time slot, at least one first symbol and at least one second symbol include a third symbol, wherein the first moment is earlier than the second moment, the second time resource is determined according to the second index value, and the fifth information is the activation indication information of the non-periodic forwarding resource; the relay device uses the first access link beam to forward the signal in the third symbol, or uses the second access link beam to forward the signal, or does not forward the signal, and the second access link beam is determined according to the first index value or is preconfigured; and / or, in at least one first symbol except the third symbol, uses the first access link beam to forward the signal or not forward the signal; and / or, in the at least one second symbol except the third symbol, uses the second access link beam to forward the signal or not forward the signal.

[0043] Based on the above technical solution, after the relay device receives the fourth information and the fifth information from the network device, when the first index value indicated by the first beam field included in the fifth information is not within the index value range of the access link beam identifiable by the relay device, and the second time resource indicated by the first time field associated with the first beam field (at least one second symbol in the first time slot) conflicts / overlaps with the first time resource indicated by the fourth information (at least one first symbol in the first time slot), the relay device can determine how to forward the signal or whether to forward the signal.

[0044] In combination with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the index value of the second time resource is a second index value.

[0045] In combination with the third aspect, in certain implementations of the third aspect, the second access link beam is determined based on the first index value and the maximum number of access link beams used by the relay device.

[0046] In conjunction with the third aspect, in certain implementations of the third aspect, the index value X of the second access link beam is new ’ =mod(X invalid’ , J), where X invalid ’ is the first index value, J is the maximum number of access link beams used by the relay device, and X invalid ’ Greater than or equal to J, mod() is the remainder function.

[0047] In combination with the third aspect, in certain implementations of the third aspect, the second beam field indicates a second access link beam, the second beam field is a beam field adjacent to the first beam field, and the fifth information also includes the second beam field.

[0048] Exemplarily, the second beam field is a field adjacent to the first beam field and located to the left of the first beam field; or, the second beam field is a field adjacent to the first beam field and located to the right of the first beam field.

[0049] In a fourth aspect, a communication device is provided, which can be applied to the relay equipment described in the first aspect. The device includes: a transceiver unit for implementing the receiving and sending functions of the method described in the first aspect; and a processing unit for implementing processing functions such as forwarding signals of the method described in the first aspect.

[0050] In the fifth aspect, a communication device is provided, which can be applied to the relay equipment described in the second aspect. The device includes: a transceiver unit for implementing the receiving and sending functions of the method described in the second aspect; and a processing unit for implementing processing functions such as forwarding signals of the method described in the second aspect.

[0051] In the sixth aspect, a communication device is provided, which can be applied to the relay equipment described in the third aspect. The device includes: a transceiver unit for implementing the receiving and sending functions of the method described in the third aspect; and a processing unit for implementing the processing functions such as forwarding signals of the method described in the third aspect.

[0052] In the seventh aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising: a processor and an interface circuit, wherein the interface circuit is used to receive signals from other communication devices and transmit them to the processor or send signals from the processor to other communication devices, and the processor implements the method as in any possible implementation of the first to third aspects or the first to third aspects through a logic circuit or by executing code instructions.

[0053] In an eighth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, wherein the computer-readable medium stores a computer program; when the computer program runs on a computer, the method in the above-mentioned first to third aspects and any possible implementation of the first to third aspects is executed.

[0054] In a ninth aspect, a computer program product is provided, comprising a computer program, which, when executed, enables the communication method in the above-mentioned first to third aspects and any possible implementation method of the first to third aspects to be implemented.

[0055] The solutions provided in the fourth to ninth aspects are used to implement or cooperate with the methods provided in the first to third aspects, and therefore can achieve the same or corresponding beneficial effects as the first to third aspects, and will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a system architecture applicable to an embodiment of the present application.

[0057] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the access network device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0058] FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of a relay device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0059] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a terminal device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0060] Figure 5 is a structural diagram of a terminal device with multiple beam directions provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0061] FIG6 is a schematic flow chart of a base station controlling a relay device to forward a signal.

[0062] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the beam and time resources indicated by the fields included in DCI 2_8.

[0063] FIG8 is an exemplary flowchart of a signal forwarding method provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0064] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of the index values ​​indicated by the beam field and the time field included in the first information.

[0065] FIG10 is a schematic diagram showing that the 5th beam field and the 5th time field are not effective.

[0066] FIG11 is a schematic diagram showing that both the 5 beam fields and the 5 time fields are not effective.

[0067] FIG12 to FIG14 are schematic diagrams showing the effectiveness of the 5th beam field and the 5th time field.

[0068] FIG15 is another schematic diagram of the index values ​​indicated by the beam field and the time field included in the first information.

[0069] FIG16 is a schematic diagram showing that the 4th beam field and the 4th time field are not effective.

[0070] FIG17 to FIG19 are schematic diagrams showing the effectiveness of the 4th beam field and the 4th time field.

[0071] FIG20 is another schematic diagram of the index values ​​indicated by the beam field and the time field included in the first information.

[0072] 21 to 25 are another schematic diagram of the effectiveness of the 4th beam field and the 4th time field.

[0073] FIG26 is another schematic diagram of the index values ​​indicated by the beam field and the time field included in the first information.

[0074] FIG27 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between N beam fields and N time fields.

[0075] FIG28 is another schematic diagram of the positional relationship between N beam fields and N time fields.

[0076] FIG29 is a schematic diagram of 2M fields included in the first information.

[0077] 30 to 32 are diagrams of first information including a quantity field.

[0078] FIG33 is a schematic diagram of first information including an invalid indication field.

[0079] FIG34 is a schematic diagram showing a conflict in time resources indicated by multiple control information.

[0080] Figure 35 is an exemplary flowchart of another signal forwarding method provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0081] FIG36 is a schematic diagram showing a conflict between time resources indicated by the second information and the third information.

[0082] FIG37 is a schematic diagram of a symbol used to forward a signal determined by a relay device based on the second information and the third information.

[0083] FIG38 is another schematic diagram showing a conflict between time resources indicated by the second information and the third information.

[0084] FIG39 is another schematic diagram of a symbol used to forward a signal determined by a relay device based on the second information and the third information.

[0085] FIG40 is another schematic diagram showing a conflict between time resources indicated by the second information and the third information.

[0086] FIG41 is another schematic diagram of a symbol used to forward a signal determined by a relay device based on the second information and the third information.

[0087] Figure 42 is an exemplary flowchart of another signal forwarding method provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0088] Figure 43 is an exemplary flowchart of another signal forwarding method provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0089] Figure 44 is an exemplary flowchart of another signal forwarding method provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0090] Figure 45 is a structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0091] Figure 46 is a structural diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0092] Figure 47 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0093] The technical solution provided in this application will be described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0094] The technical solutions provided in this application can be applied to various communication systems, such as long term evolution (LTE) system, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, LTE time division duplex (TDD), sidelink (SL) communication system, universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), world-wide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication system, fifth generation (5G) mobile communication system or new radio access technology (NR). Among them, the 5G mobile communication system may include non-standalone (NSA) and / or standalone (SA). The technical solutions provided in this application can also be applied to future communication systems, such as sixth generation (6G) mobile communication systems. This application is not limited to this.

[0095] The access network device in this application can be a device for communicating with a terminal, or it can be a device for accessing a terminal to a wireless network. The access network device can be a node in a wireless access network. The access network device can be a base station (BS), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmission reception point (TRP), a home base station (for example, home evolved NodeB, or home Node B, HNB), a Wi-Fi access point (AP), a mobile switching center, a next-generation NodeB (gNB) in a 5G mobile communication system, a next-generation base station in a sixth-generation (6G) mobile communication system, or a base station in a future mobile communication system. The access network device can also be a module or unit that performs some of the functions of a base station, for example, a centralized unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), an RRU, or a baseband unit (BBU). The access network device can also be a device that performs base station functions in a D2D communication system, a V2X communication system, an M2M communication system, and an IoT communication system. Access network equipment can also be in a non-terrestrial network (NTN), meaning it can be deployed on a high-altitude platform or satellite. Access network equipment can be a macro base station, a micro base station, an indoor station, a relay node, or a donor node. Of course, access network equipment can also be a node in the core network.

[0096] The access network equipment provides services for the cell, and the terminal device communicates with the cell through the transmission resources (for example, frequency domain resources, or spectrum resources) allocated by the access network equipment. The cell can belong to a macro base station (for example, macro eNB or macro gNB, etc.) or a base station corresponding to a small cell. The small cells here can include: metro cells, micro cells, pico cells, femto cells, etc. These small cells have the characteristics of small coverage and low transmission power, and are suitable for providing high-speed data transmission services.

[0097] The terminal device in this application may also be referred to as user equipment (UE), access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication device, user agent or user device.

[0098] The terminal device may be a device that provides voice / data connectivity to users, such as a handheld device or vehicle-mounted device with wireless connection function. At present, some examples of terminal devices may include: mobile phones, tablet computers, computers with wireless transceiver functions (such as laptops, PDAs, etc.), mobile internet devices (MIDs), virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals in self-driving, drones, wireless terminals in remote medical care, wireless terminals in smart grids, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart cities, wireless terminals in smart homes, cellular phones, cordless phones, session initiation protocol (SIP) phones, wireless local loop (WLL) stations, personal digital assistants (PDAs), handheld devices with wireless communication functions, computing devices or other processing devices connected to wireless modems, vehicle-mounted devices, wearable devices, terminal devices in 5G networks or future evolved public land mobile communication networks (PLMNs). Mobile network, PLMN) terminal equipment, etc.

[0099] Wearable devices, also known as wearable smart devices, are a general term for wearable devices that use wearable technology to intelligently design and develop wearable devices for daily wear, such as glasses, gloves, watches, clothing, and shoes. Wearable devices are portable devices that are worn directly on the body or integrated into the user's clothing or accessories. Wearable devices are not just hardware devices, but also achieve powerful functions through software support, data interaction, and cloud interaction. In a broad sense, wearable smart devices include those that are fully functional, large in size, and can achieve full or partial functions without relying on smartphones, such as smart watches or smart glasses, as well as those that only focus on a certain type of application function and need to be used in conjunction with other devices such as smartphones, such as various smart bracelets and smart jewelry for vital sign monitoring.

[0100] Furthermore, terminal devices can also be end devices in the Internet of Things (IoT) system. IoT is a crucial component of future information technology development. Its primary technical feature is connecting objects to the Internet through communications technology, thereby enabling intelligent networks that interconnect humans and machines, and objects and things. IoT technology, for example, utilizes narrowband (NB) technology to achieve massive connectivity, deep coverage, and power-saving terminals.

[0101] In addition, terminal devices can also include sensors such as smart printers, train detectors, and gas stations. Their main functions include collecting data (part of the terminal devices), receiving control information and downlink data from access network devices, and sending electromagnetic waves to transmit uplink data to access network devices.

[0102] In the embodiments of the present application, the relay device has a signal forwarding (or reflection) function and can amplify the signal, which can be simply referred to as relaying. In addition, the relay device can also shift the carrier frequency of the signal, or can also demodulate the signal and remodulate it before forwarding it, or can also reduce the noise of the signal before forwarding it. Therefore, the relay device can perform any one or more of the following processing on the received signal before forwarding it: amplification, demodulation, frequency shifting, and noise reduction.

[0103] In addition, the relay can also be called a reflector or a reflecting surface, or the relay can also be called: an intelligent reflecting surface, a reflecting array, a reconfigurable reflecting surface (RIS), an intelligent reflecting array, a reflector, an intelligent reflector, a backscatter device, a passive device, a semi-passive device, or an ambient signal device, etc.

[0104] Relay devices can also be considered a special form of terminal device. Considering the network's ability to control relay devices, they can be categorized as either non-intelligent or intelligent relays; or alternatively, they can be categorized as uncontrolled repeaters or network controlled repeaters (NetConRepeaters or NCRs). Access network devices can control intelligent relays to perform additional performance-enhancing functions, such as relay transmit power control, relay amplification gain control, relay beam scanning control, and at least one of relay precoding control, on / off control, or uplink / downlink forwarding control.

[0105] A typical relay device has two antenna panels: one for communicating with access network equipment, known as the backhaul side; the other for communicating with end devices, known as the access side. Typically, only one antenna panel receives signals, which are then amplified and forwarded or transmitted by the other antenna panel.

[0106] Each antenna panel on a relay can consist of multiple antennas, and beams can be formed on a single antenna panel, resulting in better relay transmission performance. Considering the beam capabilities of the access side, this is further categorized as single-beam forwarding and multi-beam forwarding. If the access side of the relay has multiple beams, the relay forwarding signal must be aligned with the terminal device to achieve optimal transmission performance.

[0107] In this application, the relay device can be used in a multi-hop relay cascade communication network. It can be understood that the relay node can establish a connection with the access network device through at least one upper-level relay node and accept the control of the access network device. At this time, the upper-level relay node can be considered as a special access network device; or the relay node can establish a connection with the terminal device through at least one lower-level relay node. At this time, the lower-level relay node can be considered as a special terminal device.

[0108] In this document, relay equipment, relay, and relay node appear interchangeably, and their meanings are the same. This application does not limit the specific forms of access network equipment, relay equipment, and terminal equipment.

[0109] In order to better understand the method provided in the embodiments of the present application, the terms or concepts involved in the present application are briefly explained below.

[0110] 1. Reference signal (RS)

[0111] Depending on their function, reference signals are also called demodulation reference signals (DMRS), channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS), phase tracking reference signals (PTRS), and sounding reference signals (SRS). Reference signals are known signals used to identify external influences (e.g., spatial channels, transmitters, or receivers) on a signal during transmission. They are generally used for channel estimation, beam management, and phase noise estimation. For example, DMRS and CSI-RS are used to obtain channel information, while PTRS is used to obtain phase change information.

[0112] Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH): used to transmit DCI, including physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) scheduling allocation, scheduling authorization, and power control information. In the time domain, it occupies the first {1, 2, 3} symbols of a time slot. In the frequency domain, it can occupy the full bandwidth or be configured through parameters.

[0113] PDSCH: A channel used to transmit downlink data; time domain resource allocation is indicated by the time domain resource allocation field in the DCI, which can indicate the starting symbol and the number of consecutive symbols occupied by the PDSCH; frequency domain resource allocation is indicated by the frequency domain resource allocation field in the DCI, including the allocation method of resource block group (RBG) granularity and resource block (RB) granularity.

[0114] 2. Resource Block (RB)

[0115] A resource block, also known as a physical resource block, is the basic unit of frequency resources in a communication system based on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). A resource block is generally composed of N resource elements (RE), which can also be called a subcarrier; where N is generally 12. Several resource blocks form a resource block group (RBG), or a physical resource block group. Generally, precoding is performed in resource blocks or resource block groups, and the basic unit for transmission after precoding is also called a precoding resource block group (PRG).

[0116] 3. Layer

[0117] After scrambling and modulating one or two codewords, the modulated symbols (complex symbols) obtained are layer-mapped and then mapped to one or more transmission layers, also commonly referred to as layers. Transmission layers are typically mapped to antenna ports, and are therefore also referred to as antenna ports. Each transmission layer corresponds to a valid data stream. The number of transmission layers is called the "transmission order" or "transmission rank." The transmission rank can be changed dynamically. The number of transmission layers must be less than or equal to the minimum of the number of transmit antenna ports and the number of receive antenna ports, that is, "number of transmission layers ≤ min(number of transmit antenna ports, number of receive antenna ports)." In NR downlink communications, the number of transmission layers is generally equal to the number of antenna ports; downlink control information indicates the number of transmission layers and / or antenna ports (or, further, the number of antenna ports) used for data and DMRS transmission. In NR, antenna ports can also correspond to transmission configuration indicators (TCIs), beams, and so on. For example, one TCI corresponds to multiple antenna ports, or one beam corresponds to multiple antenna ports. In this application, for simplicity, TCI, transport layer, antenna port, and beam may be collectively referred to as the spatial domain.

[0118] 4. Beam

[0119] A beam refers to the main lobe of the radiation pattern of an antenna or antenna array, which is formed by superimposing the radiation signals of each antenna module. A beam can be understood as a spatial filter or spatial parameters. The beam used to send signals can be called a transmission beam (Tx beam), which can be a spatial domain transmit filter or spatial transmit parameters (spatial transmit parameters, spatial Tx parameters). A transmission beam can refer to the distribution of signal strength in different directions in space after the signal is transmitted by the antenna. A beam used to receive signals can be called a reception beam (Rx beam), which can be a spatial domain receive filter or spatial receive parameters (spatial receive parameters, spatial Rx parameters). A receive beam can refer to the signal strength distribution of wireless signals received from the antenna in different directions in space.

[0120] The beamforming technology can be beamforming technology or other technologies. For example, the beamforming technology can specifically be digital beamforming technology, analog beamforming technology, or hybrid digital / analog beamforming technology. This application does not limit this. Beam, spatial filter, spatial parameter, etc. are only a few possible nomenclatures listed herein. This application does not exclude the possibility of defining other terms in future protocols to express the same or similar meanings.

[0121] The characteristics of a beam can be characterized by one or more of the following directional parameters: beam index; beam type; beam azimuth; beam tilt; beam width, including beam horizontal width and beam vertical width; reference beam direction, which can include reference peak beam direction and reference beam center direction; and maximum effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) achieved in the beam peak direction.

[0122] A beam can be generated by a specific TRP. A TRP is an antenna array that includes one or more antenna elements and can be used by the network. It is located at a specific geographical location in a specific area. One TRP can correspond to one coverage area.

[0123] 5. Quasi co-location (QCL)

[0124] The quasi-co-location QCL relationship is used to indicate that multiple resources have one or more identical or similar communication characteristics. For multiple resources with a quasi-co-location relationship, the same or similar communication configuration can be adopted. Specifically, the signals corresponding to the antenna ports with a QCL relationship have the same parameters, or the parameters of one antenna port can be used to determine the parameters of another antenna port with a QCL relationship with the antenna port, or the two antenna ports have the same parameters, or the parameter difference between the two antenna ports is less than a certain threshold. The parameters may include one or more of the following: delay spread, Doppler spread, Doppler shift, average delay, average gain, and spatial reception parameters. The spatial reception parameters may include one or more of the following: angle of arrival (AOA), average AOA, AOA spread, angle of departure (AOD), average departure angle AOD, AOD spread, receiving antenna spatial correlation parameter, transmitting antenna spatial correlation parameter, transmitting beam (or transmitting beam), receiving beam, and resource identifier.

[0125] In the NR protocol, the above QCL relationship can be divided into the following four types based on different parameters:

[0126] Type A: Doppler shift, Doppler spread, average delay, delay spread;

[0127] Type B: Doppler shift, Doppler spread;

[0128] Type C: Doppler shift, average delay;

[0129] Type D: space receiving parameters.

[0130] 6. Transmission Configuration Indication (TCI) state

[0131] The TCI state can be used to indicate the QCL relationship between two reference signals. The network device can configure the TCI state list for the terminal device through higher-layer signaling (such as RRC messages) and can activate or indicate one or more TCI states through higher-layer signaling (such as medium access control element (MAC-CE)) or physical layer signaling (such as DCI).

[0132] The configuration information for a TCI state may include the identifiers of one or two reference signal resources and the associated QCL type. When the QCL relationship is configured as type A, B, or C, the terminal device can demodulate the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) or physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) according to the indication of the TCI state.

[0133] For example, when the QCL relationship is configured as type D, the terminal device can know which transmit beam the network device uses to transmit signals, and then can determine which receive beam to use to receive signals based on the beam pairing relationship determined by channel measurement.

[0134] 7. Amplification gain

[0135] The amplification gain is applicable to relay equipment and can correspond to power control. For example, the received power of the received signal is P R decibel milliwatt (dBm), the amplification gain is G decibel (dB), then the output power (transmit power) of the output signal is P T =G+P R , P T The unit is decibel milliwatt dBm. In a communication system involving a reflecting surface, the amplification gain can be corresponded to the reflection loss.

[0136] 8. On-off control

[0137] On-off control is also known as switch management (ON-OFF control). For example, it controls whether amplification or forwarding can be enabled or disabled on a relay. This can be further differentiated into upstream on-off control, downstream on-off control, forwarding on, and forwarding off.

[0138] 9. Forwarding resources: at least one of the following parameters used to define relay forwarding behavior: time resources, access link beam, backhaul link beam, amplification gain, reflection configuration matrix (for reflection surface), and forwarding resource index.

[0139] 10. Forwarding resource set: a list (or pattern) of at least one of the following parameters used to define relay forwarding behavior: time resources, access link beams, backhaul link beams, amplification gain, reflection configuration matrix (for reflection surface), forwarding resource index, forwarding resource set index. For example, one forwarding resource set corresponds to multiple forwarding resource indexes; for another example, one forwarding resource set corresponds to multiple time resources; for another example, one forwarding resource set corresponds to multiple time resource lists (or patterns), each time resource list corresponds to multiple time resources; for another example, one forwarding resource set corresponds to multiple access link beams; for another example, one forwarding resource set corresponds to multiple access link beam lists (or patterns), each access link beam list corresponds to multiple access link beams. In this application, where there is no ambiguity, the forwarding resource set may be simply referred to as a resource set or resource.

[0140] 11. Amplify and forward relay and reflective forward relay

[0141] Amplification and forwarding relay or reflection and forwarding relay cannot realize the function of assisting terminal equipment communication alone, and must rely on network equipment. The difference between the two is that the amplification and forwarding relay will perform simple radio frequency processing (such as amplification, or even noise reduction) on the received signal before forwarding it. The reflection and forwarding relay generally adopts a special reflection or transmission antenna to directly reflect or transmit the received signal to the terminal device. In the process of reflecting or transmitting the signal, there will be some signal attenuation. Amplification and forwarding, reflection and forwarding, and transmission forwarding can be collectively referred to as "forwarding". The relay in the embodiment of the present application includes amplification and forwarding relay and reflection and forwarding relay.

[0142] Amplify-and-forward relays typically have multiple antenna panels, some of which receive signals and others forward them. Each antenna panel can consist of multiple antennas, and beams can be formed on a single panel to achieve better relay transmission performance. Based on the beam capabilities of the access side, this is further categorized into single-beam forwarding and multi-beam forwarding; or, based on the networking configuration, single-hop forwarding and multi-hop forwarding.

[0143] A reflective forwarding relay can generally be viewed as a single antenna array, where each antenna element both receives signals and reflects or transmits them.

[0144] The amplification circuits in amplification-and-forward relays introduce noise into the amplified signal. When this noise is transmitted to the receiving end, it causes interference. In a network, if the relay amplifies the signal too much, on the one hand, the output power of the relayed signal is relatively high, which may cause interference and other negative effects. On the other hand, it may cause the relay's power amplifier to enter saturation, distorting the amplified signal and making it impossible for the receiving end to correctly demodulate it. Currently, the main method for reducing interference is to manage the relay's amplification-and-forward function, for example, by configuring the relay's amplification gain (output power) and performing switch management (on-off control).

[0145] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a system architecture applicable to an embodiment of the present application. The system architecture shown in Figure 1 includes network devices, relay devices, and terminal devices. Network devices can provide network coverage for a specific geographic area. In the embodiments of the present application, the network devices are, for example, access network devices, which include base stations.

[0146] As mentioned above, when the access network equipment and terminal devices are far apart, communication quality degrades. Therefore, relay devices are introduced to facilitate communication between the access network equipment and the terminal devices. The relay devices in Figures 1(a) and 1(b) can be the aforementioned amplify-and-forward relays, while the relay device in Figure 1(c) is the aforementioned reflector-and-forward relay.

[0147] Although not shown in Figure 1, it is understood that the access network equipment can also be connected to the core network equipment. The core network equipment may include, but is not limited to, the access and mobility management function (AMF), the session management function (SMF), the user plane function (UPF), etc. Each network element can be used to implement its own function. For example, the AMF can be used for mobility management and access management. The SMF can be used for session management, allocation and management of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses for terminal devices, selection and management of user plane functions, policy control, or termination points of charging function interfaces, as well as downlink data notification. The UPF can be used for packet routing and forwarding, or quality of service (QoS) processing of user plane data.

[0148] Access network equipment and relay devices can also be connected to the Operation Administration and Maintenance (OAM) network element. Based on the actual needs of carriers' network operations, network management tasks are generally divided into three categories: operation, administration, and maintenance, referred to as OAM. Operations primarily involve the analysis, forecasting, planning, and configuration of daily network and service operations; maintenance primarily involves day-to-day operational activities such as testing and fault management of the network and its services. OAM monitors network operational status, optimizes network connectivity and performance, improves network stability, and reduces network maintenance costs.

[0149] In order to better understand the embodiments of the present application, the structures of the access network device, relay device and terminal device and the related concepts involved are briefly explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0150] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an access network device provided in an embodiment of the present application. The access network device 200 shown in Figure 2 includes: a processor 201, a memory 202, and a signal transceiver unit 203. Among them, the memory 202 can be used to store computer programs or configuration information. The processor 201 can be used to execute the computer program stored in the memory 202, or read the configuration information stored in the memory 202. The signal transceiver unit 203 includes a transmitter 2031, a receiver 2032, and an antenna 2033. The transmitter 2031 can be used to send signals via the antenna 2033, and the receiver 2032 can be used to receive signals via the antenna 2033.

[0151] Figure 3 is a structural diagram of the relay device provided in an embodiment of the present application. The relay device 300 shown in Figure 3 includes: one or more of a controller 301, a signal amplifier 302, a signal transceiver unit 303 and a signal transceiver unit 304. The relay device 300 can be used to implement communication and signaling interaction with access network equipment and terminal equipment, signal amplification, etc. Among them, the relay control (such as the controller 301) is also called a mobile terminal (mobile terminal, MT or NCR-MT), and the other parts (such as the signal amplifier 302, the signal transceiver unit 303 and the signal transceiver unit 304) can constitute a forwarding module (forwarding, Fwd or NCR-Fwd) (also known as a wireless radio unit (radio unit, RU), or a distributed unit (distributed unit, DU), or a distributed radio unit (distributed radio unit, DRU), etc.).

[0152] The link between the forwarding module of an access network device and its connected relay device is a backhaul link, and the link between the forwarding module of a relay device and its connected terminal device is an access link. A forwarding link may include a backhaul link and an access link. In embodiments of the present application, a relay device may receive signals from an access network device via a backhaul link and forward the received signals to a terminal device via an access link. The signals received by the relay device using the backhaul link and forwarded via the access link may be reference signals, control signals, or data signals, which are not limited in this application. The relay device may also receive signals from a terminal device via an access link and forward the received signals to the access network device via a backhaul link. The signals received by the relay device using the access link and forwarded via the backhaul link may be reference signals or data signals, which are not limited in this application. In a backhaul link, the relay device may receive signals from the access network device via a backhaul-side antenna and / or transmit signals to the access network device. In an access link, the relay device may transmit signals to a terminal device via an access-side antenna and / or receive signals from a terminal device.

[0153] It should be understood that the signal transceiver unit 303 may include a transmitter 3031, a receiver 3032, and an antenna 3033, and the signal transceiver unit 304 may include a transmitter 3041, a receiver 3042, and an antenna 3043. The transmitter 3031 or 3041 may be used to transmit signals via the antenna 3033 or 3043, and the receiver 3032 or 3042 may be used to receive signals via the antenna 3033 or 3043.

[0154] In addition, when signals are transmitted between the relay device and the access network device, the relay controller and the backhaul link can have the same beam and other information, for example, the two share a common antenna. Specifically, considering that the controller (MT) and the forwarding module (Fwd) transmit and receive signals at the same time (for example, the control signal and the forwarding signal can be frequency division multiplexed), the controller and the backhaul link have the same receiving beam. If there is only a forwarding signal on a certain forwarding occasion (there is no signal transmission and reception relationship between the controller and the base station), the access network device indicates the beam information of the backhaul link. In other words, the receiving beams of the MT and Fwd backhaul links (facing the upper-level node or access network device) can have a QCL relationship, for example, QCL typeA and QCL typeD.

[0155] This application is discussed based on the assumption that the default Fwd backhaul link beam is the same as the MT beam, or has a preset QCL relationship. For example, during downlink communication, a signal transceiver unit (such as the signal transceiver unit 303) of the relay device is used to receive a signal from the access network device, and another signal transceiver unit (such as the signal transceiver unit 304) is used to forward the amplified received signal to the terminal device. In addition, the controller 301 can also communicate with the access network device or the terminal device with the help of the signal transceiver unit 303 or the signal transceiver unit 304. For example, the controller 304 communicates with the access network device through the signal transceiver unit 303 to establish a communication link and beam alignment between the relay and the access network device; it can also be used to receive configuration or indication information of the access network device, so as to facilitate the access network device to control the working time, working status, or working mode of the repeater; or it can be used to receive a trigger signal from the terminal device, so that the relay device enters the corresponding working mode as needed. For another example, the controller 301 can also determine the working state (eg, amplification factor, phase) of the signal amplifier 302 according to instruction information of the access network device or its own measurement information.

[0156] It should be understood that each unit in Figure 3 may be one or more. For example, there may be multiple signal amplifiers, each corresponding to a different polarization direction or relay wireless radio frequency channel.

[0157] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a terminal device provided in an embodiment of the present application. The terminal device 400 shown in Figure 4 includes: a processor 401, a memory 402, and a signal transceiver unit 403. Among them, the memory 402 can be used to store computer programs or configuration information. The processor 401 can be used to execute the computer program stored in the memory 402, or read the configuration information stored in the memory 402. The signal transceiver unit 403 includes a transmitter 4031, a receiver 4032, and an antenna 4033. The transmitter 4031 can be used to send signals via the antenna 4033, and the receiver 4032 can be used to receive signals via the antenna 4033.

[0158] Figure 5 is a structural diagram of a terminal device with multiple beam directions provided in an embodiment of the present application. The terminal device 500 shown in Figure 5 includes: a processor 501, a memory 502 and a signal transceiver unit 503. Among them, the memory 502 can be used to store computer programs or configuration information. The processor 501 can be used to execute the computer program stored in the memory 502, or read the configuration information stored in the memory 502. The signal transceiver unit 503 includes a transmitter 5031, a receiver 5032 and an antenna 5033. The transmitter 5031 can be used to send signals through the antenna 5033, and the receiver 5032 can be used to receive signals through the antenna 5033. If the terminal device has beam capability, for example, a high-frequency terminal device. Consider that the terminal device can be oriented in multiple directions, as shown in Figure 5, where the radiation signal of the antenna array 1 is oriented in the first direction, corresponding to the first spatial domain filtering;...; the radiation signal of the antenna array M is oriented in the Mth direction, corresponding to the Mth spatial domain filtering. It can be considered that there are M spatial domain filters, and the spatial domain filter m can refer to the digital precoding weight F in Figure 5. m =[F m,1 ;…;F m,K ], or simulated weight G m , or mixed modulus weight F m G m , m is a positive integer less than or equal to M. In other implementations, it can be considered that the spatial filtering of any L antenna arrays constitutes a spatial filtering. For example, M antenna arrays constitute a spatial filtering, specifically any one of the following: [F1; ...; F M ], [G1;…;F M ]、[F1G1;…;F M G M ].

[0159] It should be understood that the structures of the various devices illustrated in Figures 2 to 5 are merely examples and should not constitute any limitation to this application.

[0160] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present application, the following briefly introduces the technical solutions related to the embodiments of the present application.

[0161] The transmission resources for downlink signals in the new radio (NR) can be of various types, including periodic, semi-static, aperiodic, semi-persistent, and dynamically scheduled transmission resources to adapt to different application scenarios.

[0162] Periodic transmission resources, also known as semi-static transmission resources, are configured through higher-layer signaling or are always present by default. For example, periodic transmission resources can be configured through radio resource configuration (RRC) signaling. Periodic transmission resources are effective periodically. Transmission resources such as system information blocks (SIBs), synchronization signals, periodic tracking reference signals (TRSs), and CSI-RSs are periodic.

[0163] Semi-persistent transmission resources are configured through high-layer signaling. The initial state after configuration is inactive (unavailable). They need to be activated before use, and can take effect periodically after activation. They can be deactivated when not needed. Semi-persistent transmission resources can be activated or deactivated through MAC-CE. Transmission resources such as SP CSI-RS, SP SRS, downlink semi-persistent scheduling (DL SPS), and uplink semi-persistent scheduling (UL SPS) are semi-persistent. This transmission resource configuration method has relatively large advantages in configuration flexibility and signaling overhead.

[0164] Aperiodic transmission resources are configured via higher-layer signaling and require activation before each use. Once activated, they are valid only once. For example, aperiodic transmission resources must be activated via DCI. Dynamically scheduled transmission resources are typically based on the physical layer's DCI, scheduling single transmissions at the OFDM symbol or timeslot granularity. This approach offers significant advantages in terms of transmission latency.

[0165] Figure 6 is a schematic flowchart of a base station controlling a relay device to forward a signal. It should be understood that the steps and execution order illustrated in Figure 6 are merely examples. In actual implementation, some or all of the steps may be executed. Similarly, the execution order of the steps may be adjusted, and this is not limited in this embodiment of the present application. The specific steps include the following.

[0166] S601, the base station sends configuration information (or forwarding configuration information) to the relay device through RRC signaling. The configuration information is used to indicate the forwarding resources of the relay device. The configuration information includes at least one of the following: signal forwarding direction, signal forwarding time (such as time slot, OFDM symbol), access link beam for signal forwarding, return link beam for signal forwarding, signal amplification factor / signal amplification gain (or signal forwarding power), signal forwarding type, and signal forwarding priority. Among them, the signal forwarding time can be understood as the time resource for signal forwarding. Optionally, the forwarding resources of the relay device are semi-persistent or non-periodic.

[0167] S602: If the forwarding resource configuration (or forwarding configuration) of the relay device is semi-persistent, the base station may activate the configuration information through MAC-CE. Typically, semi-persistent forwarding resources are activated through MAC-CE and take effect periodically until they are deactivated or reconfigured.

[0168] S603, when the forwarding resource configuration (or forwarding configuration) of the relay device is non-periodic, the base station may activate the configuration information through DCI (or the base station indicates the forwarding time resources and access link beam through DCI).

[0169] S604, the base station sends a downlink signal to the relay device, and the relay device forwards the downlink signal to the terminal device within the time when the forwarding resource is activated (for example, after the semi-continuous forwarding configuration is activated, or after the non-periodic forwarding configuration is indicated by DCI).

[0170] In step S605, the terminal device sends an uplink signal to the relay device, and the relay device forwards the uplink signal to the base station within the time when the forwarding resource is activated (for example, after the semi-persistent forwarding configuration is activated, or after the aperiodic forwarding configuration is indicated by the DCI). Step S605 can also be performed before step S604.

[0171] Currently, the indication signaling for aperiodic forwarding resources, the indication signaling for periodic forwarding resources, and the indication signaling for semi-persistent forwarding resources have been discussed. When multiple different types of indication signaling exist simultaneously, if the indication signaling does not have a priority identifier, the priority of the indication signaling for aperiodic forwarding resources is higher than the priority of the indication signaling for semi-persistent forwarding resources, and the priority of the indication signaling for semi-persistent forwarding resources is higher than the priority of the indication signaling for periodic forwarding resources; if the indication signaling has a priority identifier, the priority of the indication signaling for aperiodic forwarding resources is lower than the priority of the indication signaling for semi-persistent forwarding resources, and the priority of the indication signaling for semi-persistent forwarding resources is higher than the priority of the indication signaling for periodic forwarding resources (or optionally, the priority of the indication signaling for semi-persistent forwarding resources is lower than the priority of the indication signaling for periodic forwarding resources). In addition, there is no conflict between the beam indications corresponding to the periodic forwarding resources, and there is no conflict between the beam indications corresponding to the semi-persistent forwarding resources; there may be conflicts between the beam indications corresponding to the aperiodic forwarding resources. When there is a conflict between the beam indications corresponding to the aperiodic forwarding resources, the latest beam indication is given a higher priority by default. It can be understood that at the time of conflict (or time slot, or forwarding resource), forwarding is performed based on the beam indicated by the high-priority indication signaling, and the low-priority indication signaling is ignored.

[0172] For non-periodic forwarding resources, the base station can pre-configure beam indices and time resource indices for the relay device via RRC signaling. The beam indices can include access link beam indices, backhaul link beam indices, and pairs of access link beam indices and backhaul link beam indices. Optionally, the beams and / or time resources can also be pre-configured for the relay device via OAM. Alternatively, the beams can also be reported by the relay device to the base station and / or other network devices.

[0173] In R18, it is determined that DCI 2_8 is used to indicate the access link beam and time resource corresponding to the non-periodic forwarding resource. The time resource here can be one or more of the time slot position, time slot offset, start and length indicator value (SLIV) within the time slot, etc. For example, the time resource can be the starting symbol and symbol length within the time slot. DCI 2_8 can simultaneously indicate M beam indices and their corresponding M time resource indices. DCI 2_8 includes a total of 2M fields, where the value of M is pre-configured by high-layer signaling such as RRC signaling, and it is stipulated that the bit length of DCI 2_8 does not exceed 128. Alternatively, the M beam indices and the M time resource indices are associated in a one-to-one mapping relationship, and M is configured by the higher-layer parameter numberofffields.

[0174] Assume that the number of non-periodic time resources configured by the network device (or used by the relay device) is 1, and the length (or number of bits, or bit width) of the field used to indicate the time resource is b. time , the number of beams is J, and the length of the beam field (or number of bits, or bit width) used to indicate the beam is b beam The length of the beam field used to indicate the beam is b beam Greater than When the beam index value indicated by DCI 2_8 is not within the first range (or exceeds the first value J', or is not less than the first value J', or exceeds the number of beams J, or is not within the index value range of the beam identifiable by the relay device); or the length b of the time field used to indicate the time resource time Greater than When DCI 2_8 indicates an index value of the time resource that is not within the second range (or not less than the second value I', or more than the number of time resources I, or not within the index value range of the time resource that can be identified by the relay device).

[0175] It should be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, the following descriptions are interchangeable: not within the first range, or exceeding the first value J', or not less than the first value J', or exceeding the number of beams J, or not within the index value range of beams identifiable by the relay device, or exceeding the index value range of access link beams identifiable by the relay device. Where J' is related to J, for example, J'=J+1.

[0176] In the embodiment of the present application, the following descriptions may be interchangeable: not within the second range, or not less than the second value I', or exceeding the configured number of time resources I, or not within the index value range of the time resources recognizable by the relay device, or exceeding the index value range of the time resources recognizable by the relay device. Wherein, I' is related to I, for example, I'=I+1.

[0177] At present, there are the following problems in the scheme for indicating the access link beam and time resource corresponding to the non-periodic forwarding resource: (1) It does not consider how the relay device handles the situation when the index value indicated by DCI 2_8 is not within the index value range recognizable by the relay device; (2) It does not discuss the situation when the number of fields (2M) included in the DCI 2_8 configured by RRC is more than the number of non-periodic resources actually required to be indicated, and the relay device needs to parse the valid field and the invalid field, and parsing the invalid field will increase the power consumption of the relay device; wherein, the valid field can be understood as the field indicating the non-periodic forwarding resource, or the field indicating the index value of the access link beam and the index value of the time resource; the invalid field can be understood as the field that does not carry the indication information or the empty field; (3) It does not consider the situation when the index value indicated by the beam field included in the activation indication information of the non-periodic resource is not within the index value range recognizable by the relay device, and the time resource indicated by the time field corresponding to the beam field is not recognizable by the relay device and other control information ((periodic)). (4) It does not consider that the relay device receives multiple activation indication information of non-periodic forwarding resources in succession. When the index value indicated by the beam field included in the latest received activation indication information is not within the index value range of the access link beam that the relay device can identify, and the time resource indicated by the time field corresponding to the beam field conflicts with the time resource indicated by the activation indication information of other non-periodic forwarding resources, the relay device should handle the problem.

[0178] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the beams and time resources indicated by the fields included in DCI 2_8. Taking the beam field indicating the access link beam as an example, the maximum number of access link beams used by the relay device is 16, and the index value range of the access link beam that the relay device can identify is 0 to 15; the maximum number of time resources used by the relay device is 32, and the index value range of the time resource that the relay device can identify is 0 to 31. It can be understood that the maximum number of time resource indications (TRI) used by the relay device is 32, and the TRI range that the relay device can identify is 0 to 31. The relay device receives DCI 2_8 in time slot 0, which indicates the beam and time resource corresponding to the non-periodic resource. The index value of the beam corresponding to time slot 8 and the index value of the time resource corresponding to time slot 7 exceed the range that the relay device can identify, while the index values ​​of the beams and time resources corresponding to other time slots do not exceed the range that the relay device can identify. Currently, when the index value range indicated by DCI 2_8 exceeds the index value range recognizable by the relay device, the problem of how the relay device handles the situation needs to be solved urgently.

[0179] To this end, an embodiment of the application provides a signal forwarding method that can solve the problem of how the relay device handles the situation when the index value indicated by the activation indication information (or DCI) of the non-periodic forwarding resource is not within the index value range recognizable by the relay device (or exceeds the number of beams J).

[0180] Figure 8 is an exemplary flow chart of a signal forwarding method 800 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The network device in the embodiment of the present application may be an access network device or a base station; the beam field is used to indicate the index value of the access link beam, and the time field is used to indicate the index value of the time resource. "xx corresponds to yy" can be understood as "xx is associated with yy". "Forward through yy on xx" can be understood as "forward using yy on xx". "Ignore xx field" can be understood as "xx field is not effective" or "do not forward (or do not send, or do not receive) on x corresponding to the xx field".

[0181] S810: The network device sends first information to the relay device. The first information includes a first beam field and a first time field. The first beam field and the first time field are corresponding / associated. The first beam field indicates a first index value, and the first time field indicates a second index value. Correspondingly, the relay device receives the first information from the network device. The first information may be activation indication information for aperiodic forwarding resources; illustratively, the first information is DCI or the aforementioned DCI 2_8.

[0182] Optionally, before the network device sends the first information to the relay device, the network device may send RRC signaling to the relay device, where the RRC signaling is used to configure the index value of the access link beam and the index value of the time resource for the relay device, and the RRC signaling may also be used to configure the bit length / number of fields of the first information for the relay device.

[0183] Optionally, OAM may also configure the index value of the access link beam, the index value of the time resource, and the bit length / number of fields of the first information for the network device and / or the relay device. Optionally, the relay device reports the index value of the access link beam, the index value of the time resource, and the bit length / number of fields of the first information to the network device.

[0184] S820: If the first index value is not within the first range and the second index value is within the second range, the relay device does not forward the signal on the first time resource, or forwards the signal on the first time resource using / using a first access link beam, where the first time resource is determined based on the second index value, and the first access link beam is determined based on the first index value or is preconfigured. Optionally, the index value of the first time resource is the second index value.

[0185] Among them, the first range can be understood as the index value range of the access link beam that can be identified by the relay device; the second range can be understood as the index value range of the time resource that can be identified by the relay device.

[0186] The first index value is not within the first range, which can be understood as the first index value indicated by the first beam field is not within the index value range of the access link beam that can be identified by the relay device, or the first index value indicated by the first beam field exceeds the index value range of the access link beam that can be identified by the relay device. The second index value is within the second range, which can be understood as the second index value indicated by the first time field is within the index value range of the time resource that can be identified by the relay device, or the second index value indicated by the first time field does not exceed the index value range of the time resource that can be identified by the relay device.

[0187] In one implementation, the first access link beam is determined based on a first index value and a maximum number of access link beams used by the relay device. Specifically, the relay device may determine an index value of the first access link beam based on the first index value and the maximum number of access link beams used by the relay device, thereby determining the first access link beam. The maximum number of access link beams used by the relay device may be pre-configured by OAM, or reported by the relay device to the network device based on its capabilities.

[0188] For example, the index value X of the first access link beam is new =mod(X invalid , J), where X invalid is the first index value, J is the maximum number of access link beams used by the relay device, and X invalid Greater than or equal to J, mod() is the remainder function. For example, the first index value X invalid =17, the index value range of the access link beam used by the relay device is 0 to 15 or 1 to 16, the maximum number of access link beams used by the relay device is J = 16, then the index value of the first access link beam is X new =mod(17,16)=1.

[0189] For example, the index value X of the first access link beam is new =mod(X invalid , J'), where X invalid is the first index value, J' is related to the number of access link beams used by the relay device, for example, J'=J, or J'=J+1. mod() is the remainder function. For example, the first index value X invalid =17, the number of access link beams used by the relay device J=16, then the index value of the first access link beam X new=mod(17, 16)=1. Further, the index J (or the J+1th index) is used to indicate a special state, for example, to indicate that relay forwarding is turned off).

[0190] Exemplarily, the first access link beam is determined by the relay device through a cyclic mapping method based on the first index value and the maximum number of access link beams used by the relay device. For example, if the first index value is 17 and the maximum number of access link beams used by the relay device is 16, the index value of the first access link beam is 1.

[0191] Exemplarily, the first access link beam is a predefined or preconfigured access link beam. If the index value indicated by a beam field included in the first information is not within the index value range of the access link beam identifiable by the relay device, the relay device may use the predefined or preconfigured access link beam to forward the signal. For example, if the predefined or preconfigured access link beam index is 0, then X invalid ≥J, X new =0.

[0192] Exemplarily, the first access link beam may be an access link beam reported in advance by the relay device to the network device. If an index value indicated by a beam field included in the first information is not within a range of index values ​​of access link beams identifiable by the relay device, the relay device may use the access link beam reported in advance to forward the signal.

[0193] In another implementation, the second beam field indicates the first access link beam, the second beam field is a beam field adjacent to the first beam field, and the first information also includes the second beam field. Specifically, the relay device may determine the second beam field adjacent to the first beam field indicating the first index value, and determine the first access link beam based on the index value indicated by the second beam field.

[0194] Exemplarily, the second beam field is a field adjacent to the first beam field and located to the left of the first beam field; or, the second beam field is a field adjacent to the first beam field and located to the right of the first beam field.

[0195] Optionally, the first information includes N beam fields and N time fields, the N beam fields and the N time fields are one-to-one corresponding / associated, the N beam fields include the above-mentioned first beam field and the above-mentioned second beam field, and the N time fields include the above-mentioned first time field, where N is a positive integer.

[0196] Optionally, if the first index value is not within the first range and the second index value is within the second range, the relay device ignores the N beam fields and N time fields included in the first information, or the relay device does not forward the signal on the N time resources indicated by the N time fields. In this embodiment of the present application, ignoring the N beam fields and N time fields included in the first information can be understood as that the N beam fields and N time fields are not effective.

[0197] The following is an example of a signal forwarding situation of a relay device when the first index value indicated by the first beam field is not within the first range and the second index value indicated by the first time field is within the second range.

[0198] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the index values ​​indicated by the beam field and time field included in the first information. Take the index value range of the access link beam that can be identified by the relay device as 0 to 15, and the index value range of the time resource that can be identified by the relay device as 0 to 31 as an example. The first information includes 5 beam fields and 5 time fields. The 1st beam field corresponds to the 1st time field, the 2nd beam field corresponds to the 2nd time field, the 3rd beam field corresponds to the 3rd time field, the 4th beam field corresponds to the 4th time field, and the 5th beam field corresponds to the 5th time field. The index value 17 indicated by the 5th beam field is not within the index value range of the access link beam that can be identified by the relay device, and the index value 2 indicated by the 5th time field is within the index value range of the time resource that can be identified by the relay device. Among them, the 5th beam field can be understood as the above-mentioned first beam field, the 5th time field can be understood as the above-mentioned first time field, the index value 17 can be understood as the above-mentioned first index value, and the index value 2 indicated by the 5th time field can be understood as the above-mentioned second index value.

[0199] In the first example, since the index value 17 indicated by the 5th beam field is not within the index value range of the access link beam recognizable by the relay device, the relay device may not forward the signal on the time resource with an index value of 2 indicated by the 5th time field corresponding to the 5th beam field. In this example, the 5th beam field and the 5th time field are not effective. Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the 5th beam field and the 5th time field being ineffective. Among them, "NULL" indicates that the field is ineffective or ignored, or not forwarded.

[0200] In the second example, because the index value 17 indicated by the fifth beam field is not within the index value range of the access link beam recognizable by the relay device, the relay device may not forward the signal on the five time resources indicated by the five time fields included in the first information, or the relay device may ignore the five time resources indicated by the five time fields included in the first information. In this example, neither the five beam fields nor the five time fields included in the first information are valid. Figure 11 is a schematic diagram showing that neither the five beam fields nor the five time fields are valid.

[0201] In the third example, since the index value 17 indicated by the 5th beam field is not within the index value range of the access link beam identifiable by the relay device, the relay device can forward the signal through the access link beam with an index value of 1 on the time resource with an index value of 2 indicated by the 5th time field. The access link beam with an index value of 1 is determined by a modulo function based on the index value 17 and the maximum number of access link beams used by the relay device, 16. In this example, the access link beam with an index value of 1 can be understood as the first access link beam mentioned above, and the 5th beam field and the 5th time field are effective. Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the effectiveness of the 5th beam field and the 5th time field.

[0202] In the fourth example, since the index value 17 indicated by the 5th beam field is not within the index value range of the access link beam identifiable by the relay device, the relay device can forward the signal through the access link beam with an index value of 2 on the time resource indicated by the 5th time field, and the access link beam with an index value of 2 is indicated by the 4th beam field adjacent to the 5th beam field. In this example, the 4th beam field can be understood as the above-mentioned second beam field, and the access link beam with an index value of 2 can be understood as the above-mentioned first access link beam, and the 5th beam field and the 5th time field are effective. Figure 13 is another schematic diagram of the effectiveness of the 5th beam field and the 5th time field.

[0203] In the fifth example, since the index value 17 indicated by the 5th beam field is not within the index value range of the access link beam identifiable by the relay device, the relay device can forward the signal through the access link beam with an index value of 0 on the time resource indicated by the 5th time field with an index value of 2. The access link beam with an index value of 0 is predefined or preconfigured. In this example, the access link beam with an index value of 0 can be understood as the first access link beam described above, and the 5th beam field and the 5th time field are effective. Figure 14 is another schematic diagram of the effectiveness of the 5th beam field and the 5th time field.

[0204] It can be understood that step S820 and step S830 are two parallel steps, and only one of the steps needs to be executed.

[0205] S830: If the second index value is not within the second range and the first index value is within the first range, the relay device ignores the first time field and the first beam field, or forwards the signal using / using a second access link beam on a second time resource, where the second access link beam is determined based on the first index value, and the second time resource is determined based on the second index value or is preconfigured. Optionally, the index value of the second access link beam is the first index value.

[0206] Among them, the second index value is not within the second range, which can be understood as the second index value indicated by the first time field is not within the index value range of the time resource identifiable by the relay device, or the second index value indicated by the first time field exceeds the index value range of the time resource identifiable by the relay device. The first index value is within the first range, which can be understood as the first index value indicated by the first beam field is within the index value range of the access link beam identifiable by the relay device, or the first index value indicated by the first beam field does not exceed the index value range of the access link beam identifiable by the relay device.

[0207] In one implementation, the second time resource is determined based on a second index value and a maximum number of time resources used by the relay device. Specifically, the relay device may determine an index value of the second time resource based on the second index value and the maximum number of time resources used by the relay device, thereby determining the second time resource. The maximum number of time resources used by the relay device may be pre-configured by the network device via signaling such as RRC.

[0208] For example, the index value Y of the second time resource new =mod(Y invalid , I), where Y invalid is the second index value, I is the maximum number of time resources used by the relay device (the number of time resources configured by the network device), and Y invalid Greater than or equal to 1, mod() is the remainder function. For example, the second index value Y invalid =40, the number of time resources configured by the relay network device I=32, then the index value of the second time resource Y new =mod(40,32)=8.

[0209] For example, the index value Y of the second time resource new =mod(Y invalid , I'), where Y invalid is the second index value, I' is related to the number of time resources I configured by the network device (or corresponding to the non-periodic forwarding configuration information), for example, I'=I, or I'=I+1. mod() is the remainder function. For example, the first index value Yinvalid =20, the number of time resources configured by the network device (or corresponding to the non-periodic forwarding configuration information) I=8, then the index value of the second time resource Y new =mod(20, 8)=4. Further, the index I (or the I+1th index) is used to indicate a special state, for example, to indicate that relay forwarding is turned off).

[0210] It should be understood that the index value of the second time resource is determined according to the indication field of the time resource. The index value needs to be further mapped to the time resource (or the time resource actually configured) configured by the network device (or corresponding to the non-periodic forwarding configuration information). The mapping rule is to map in ascending order of the index. Or the index in the indication field of the time resource is cyclically mapped to the time domain resource configured by ncr-AperiodicFwdConfig and the resource identifier configured by ncr-AperiodicFwdTimeResourceId in ascending order.

[0211] It should be understood that the second index value can be directly cyclically mapped to the time resource configured by the network device (or the time resource actually configured) (or the time resource corresponding to the aperiodic forwarding configuration information). The mapping rule is to cyclically map in ascending order of the index.

[0212] Exemplarily, the index value of the second time resource is determined by a circular mapping method based on the second index value and the number of time resources configured by the relay device network device. For example, if the second index value is 40 and the number of time resources configured by the relay device network device is I=32, then the index value of the second time resource is 8.

[0213] Exemplarily, the second time resource is a predefined or preconfigured time resource. If the index value indicated by a time field included in the first information is not within the index value range of the time resource recognizable by the relay device, the relay device may forward the signal on the predefined or preconfigured time resource.

[0214] Exemplarily, the second time resource may also be a time resource reported in advance by the relay device to the network device. If the index value indicated by a time field included in the first information is not within the index value range of the time resource recognizable by the relay device, the relay device may forward the signal on the time resource reported in advance.

[0215] In another implementation, the second time field indicates a second time resource, the second time field is a time field adjacent to the first time field, and the first information / N time fields also includes the second time field. Specifically, the relay device may determine the second time field adjacent to the first time field indicating the second index value, and determine the second time resource based on the index value indicated by the second time field.

[0216] Exemplarily, the second time field is a field adjacent to the first time field and located to the left of the first time field; or, the second time field is a field adjacent to the first time field and located to the right of the first time field.

[0217] Optionally, if the second index value is not within the second range and the first index value is within the first range, the relay device ignores the N beam fields and N time fields included in the first information.

[0218] The following is an example of signal forwarding by the relay device when the second index value indicated by the first time field is not within the second range and the first index value indicated by the first beam field is within the first range.

[0219] Figure 15 is another schematic diagram of the index values ​​indicated by the beam field and time field included in the first information. Take the index value range of the access link beam that can be identified by the relay device as 0 to 15, and the index value range of the time resource that can be identified by the relay device as 0 to 31 as an example. The first information includes 5 beam fields and 5 time fields, the 1st beam field corresponds to the 1st time field, the 2nd beam field corresponds to the 2nd time field, the 3rd beam field corresponds to the 3rd time field, the 4th beam field corresponds to the 4th time field, and the 5th beam field corresponds to the 5th time field. The index value 40 indicated by the 4th time field is not within the index value range of the time resource that can be identified by the relay device, and the index value 2 indicated by the 4th beam field is within the index value range of the access link beam that can be identified by the relay device. Among them, the 4th beam field can be understood as the above-mentioned first beam field, the 4th time field can be understood as the above-mentioned first time field, the index value 40 can be understood as the above-mentioned second index value, and the index value 2 indicated by the 4th beam field can be understood as the above-mentioned first index value.

[0220] In the first example, because the index value 40 indicated by the fourth time field is not within the index value range of the time resource recognizable by the relay device, the relay device can ignore the fourth time field and the fourth beam field. In this example, the fourth beam field and the fourth time field are not effective. Figure 16 is a schematic diagram showing that the fourth beam field and the fourth time field are not effective.

[0221] In the second example, since the index value 40 indicated by the 4th time field is not within the index value range of the time resource recognizable by the relay device, the relay device can ignore the 5 beam fields and 5 time fields included in the first information. In this example, none of the 5 beam fields and 5 time fields included in the first information are valid. A schematic diagram showing that none of the 5 beam fields and 5 time fields are valid is shown in Figure 11. In a more general case, if the mth field included in the first information is not within the index value range of the time resource recognizable by the relay device, the relay device can ignore the mth field, all time fields after the mth field, and all beam fields after the mth field; where m is a positive integer less than 2M.

[0222] In the third example, since the index value 40 indicated by the 4th time field is not within the index value range of the time resource recognizable by the relay device, the relay device can forward the signal on the time resource with an index value of 8 through the access link beam with an index value of 2 indicated by the 4th beam field. The time resource with an index value of 8 is determined by a modulo function based on the index value 40 and the maximum number of time resources used by the relay device (the number of time resources configured by the network device) 32. In this example, the time resource with an index value of 8 can be understood as the above-mentioned second time resource, the access link beam with an index value of 2 can be understood as the above-mentioned second access link beam, and the 4th beam field and the 4th time field are effective. Figure 17 is a schematic diagram of the effectiveness of the 4th beam field and the 4th time field.

[0223] In the fourth example, since the index value 40 indicated by the 4th time field is not within the index value range of the time resource recognizable by the relay device, the relay device can forward the signal on the time resource with an index value of 11 through the access link beam with an index value of 2 indicated by the 4th beam field. The time resource with an index value of 11 is indicated by the 3rd time field adjacent to the 4th time field. In this example, the 3rd time field can be understood as the above-mentioned second time field, and the time resource with an index value of 11 can be understood as the above-mentioned second time resource, and the 4th beam field and the 4th time field are effective. Figure 18 is another schematic diagram of the effectiveness of the 4th beam field and the 4th time field.

[0224] In the fifth example, because the index value 40 indicated by the fourth time field is not within the index value range of the time resource recognizable by the relay device, the relay device can forward the signal on the time resource with an index value of 27 using the access link beam indicated by the fourth beam field with an index value of 2. The time resource with an index value of 27 is predefined or preconfigured. In this example, the time resource with an index value of 27 can be understood as the second time resource described above, and the fourth beam field and the fourth time field are effective. Figure 19 is another schematic diagram of the effectiveness of the fourth beam field and the fourth time field.

[0225] Based on the technical solution provided by the embodiment of the present application, after the relay device receives the first information (activation indication information of the non-periodic forwarding resource), when the first index value indicated by the first beam field included in the first information is not within the first range (index value range of the access link beam recognizable by the relay device), or the second index value indicated by the first time field included in the first information is not within the second range (index value range of the time resource recognizable by the relay device), the relay device can determine how to forward the signal or determine whether to forward the signal. Therefore, the embodiment of the present application can solve the problem of how the relay device handles the situation when the index value indicated by the activation indication information of the non-periodic forwarding resource is not within the index value range recognizable by the relay device.

[0226] Optionally, if the first index value is not within the first range and the second index value is not within the second range, the relay device ignores the first time field and the first beam field, or forwards the signal through the first access link beam on the second time resource, wherein the first access link beam is determined based on the first index value or is preconfigured, and the second time resource is determined based on the second index value or is preconfigured.

[0227] It can be understood that if the first index value indicated by the first beam field is not within the index value range of the access link beam that can be identified by the relay device, and the second index value indicated by the first time field is not within the index value range of the time resource that can be identified by the relay device, then the relay device ignores the first time field and the first beam field, or forwards the signal through the first access link beam on the second time resource.

[0228] Based on this optional scheme, after the relay device receives the first information, when the first index value indicated by the first beam field included in the first information is not within the first range (the index value range of the access link beam that the relay device can identify), and the second index value indicated by the first time field included in the first information is not within the second range (the index value range of the time resource that the relay device can identify), the relay device can determine how to forward the signal.

[0229] Optionally, if the first index value is not within the first range and the second index value is not within the second range, the relay device ignores the N time resources indicated by the N time fields included in the first information.

[0230] Figure 20 is another schematic diagram of the index values ​​indicated by the beam field and time field included in the first information. Take the index value range of the access link beam that can be identified by the relay device as 0 to 15, and the index value range of the time resource that can be identified by the relay device as 0 to 31 as an example. The first information includes 5 beam fields and 5 time fields. The 1st beam field corresponds to the 1st time field, the 2nd beam field corresponds to the 2nd time field, the 3rd beam field corresponds to the 3rd time field, the 4th beam field corresponds to the 4th time field, and the 5th beam field corresponds to the 5th time field. The index value 17 indicated by the 4th beam field is not within the index value range of the access link beam that can be identified by the relay device, and the index value 40 indicated by the 4th time field is also not within the index value range of the time resource that can be identified by the relay device. Among them, the 4th beam field can be understood as the above-mentioned first beam field, the 4th time field can be understood as the above-mentioned first time field, the index value 17 can be understood as the above-mentioned first index value, and the index value 40 can be understood as the above-mentioned second index value.

[0231] The following is an example of a signal forwarding situation of a relay device when the first index value indicated by the first beam field is not within the first range and the second index value indicated by the first time field is not within the second range.

[0232] In the first example, since the index value 17 indicated by the 4th beam field is not within the index value range of the access link beam recognizable by the relay device, and the index value 40 indicated by the 4th time field is not within the index value range of the time resource recognizable by the relay device, the relay device can ignore the 4th time field and the 4th beam field. In this example, the 4th beam field and the 4th time field are not effective. A schematic diagram of the 4th beam field and the 4th time field being ineffective is shown in Figure 16.

[0233] In the second example, because the index value 17 indicated by the fourth beam field is not within the index value range of the access link beam recognizable by the relay device, and the index value 40 indicated by the fourth time field is not within the index value range of the time resource recognizable by the relay device, the relay device can ignore the five beam fields and five time fields included in the first information. In this example, none of the five beam fields and five time fields included in the first information are valid. A schematic diagram of all five beam fields and five time fields being invalid is shown in Figure 11.

[0234] In the third example, since the index value 17 indicated by the 4th beam field is not within the index value range of the access link beam that can be identified by the relay device, and the index value 40 indicated by the 4th time field is not within the index value range of the time resource that can be identified by the relay device, the relay device can forward the signal through the access link beam with an index value of 1 on the time resource with an index value of 8. The time resource with an index value of 8 is determined by a modulo function based on the index value 40 and the maximum number of time resources used by the relay device (the number of time resources configured by the network device) 32, and the access link beam with an index value of 1 is determined by a modulo function based on the index value 17 and the maximum number of access link beams used by the relay device 16. In this example, the access link beam with an index value of 1 can be understood as the above-mentioned first access link beam, the time resource with an index value of 8 can be understood as the above-mentioned second time resource, and the 4th beam field and the 4th time field are effective. Figure 21 is another schematic diagram of the effectiveness of the 4th beam field and the 4th time field.

[0235] In the fourth example, since the index value 17 indicated by the 4th beam field is not within the index value range of the access link beam identifiable by the relay device, and the index value 40 indicated by the 4th time field is not within the index value range of the time resource identifiable by the relay device, the relay device can forward the signal through the access link beam with an index value of 3 on the time resource with an index value of 8. The time resource with an index value of 8 is determined by the modulo function based on the index value 40 and the maximum number of time resources used by the relay device (the number of time resources configured by the network device) 32. The access link beam with an index value of 3 is indicated by the 3rd beam field adjacent to the 4th beam field. In this example, the access link beam with an index value of 3 can be understood as the above-mentioned first access link beam, the time resource with an index value of 8 can be understood as the above-mentioned second time resource, and the 4th beam field and the 4th time field are effective. Figure 22 is another schematic diagram of the effectiveness of the 4th beam field and the 4th time field.

[0236] In the fifth example, since the index value 17 indicated by the 4th beam field is not within the index value range of the access link beam identifiable by the relay device, and the index value 40 indicated by the 4th time field is not within the index value range of the time resource identifiable by the relay device, the relay device can forward the signal through the access link beam with an index value of 1 on the time resource with an index value of 11. The time resource with an index value of 11 is indicated by the 3rd time field adjacent to the 4th time field. The access link beam with an index value of 1 is determined by the modulo function based on the index value 17 and the maximum number of access link beams used by the relay device, 16. In this example, the access link beam with an index value of 1 can be understood as the above-mentioned first access link beam, the time resource with an index value of 11 can be understood as the above-mentioned second time resource, and the 4th beam field and the 4th time field are effective. Figure 23 is another schematic diagram of the effectiveness of the 4th beam field and the 4th time field.

[0237] In the sixth example, since the index value 17 indicated by the 4th beam field is not within the index value range of the access link beam identifiable by the relay device, and the index value 40 indicated by the 4th time field is not within the index value range of the time resource identifiable by the relay device, the relay device can forward the signal through the access link beam with an index value of 3 on the time resource with an index value of 11. The time resource with an index value of 11 is indicated by the 3rd time field adjacent to the 4th time field, and the access link beam with an index value of 3 is indicated by the 3rd beam field adjacent to the 4th beam field. In this example, the access link beam with an index value of 3 can be understood as the above-mentioned first access link beam, the time resource with an index value of 11 can be understood as the above-mentioned second time resource, and the 4th beam field and the 4th time field are effective. Figure 24 is another schematic diagram of the effectiveness of the 4th beam field and the 4th time field.

[0238] In the seventh example, since the index value 17 indicated by the 4th beam field is not within the index value range of the access link beam identifiable by the relay device, and the index value 40 indicated by the 4th time field is not within the index value range of the time resource identifiable by the relay device, the relay device can forward the signal through the access link beam with an index value of 0 on the time resource with an index value of 27. The time resource with an index value of 27 is predefined or preconfigured, and the access link beam with an index value of 0 is predefined or preconfigured. In this example, the access link beam with an index value of 0 can be understood as the above-mentioned first access link beam, and the time resource with an index value of 27 can be understood as the above-mentioned second time resource, and the 4th beam field and the 4th time field are effective. Figure 25 is another schematic diagram of the effectiveness of the 4th beam field and the 4th time field.

[0239] Optionally, if the first index value is within a first range and the second index value is within a second range, the relay device forwards the signal through the second access link beam on the first time resource, where the first time resource is determined based on the second index value and the second access link beam is determined based on the first index value. Optionally, the index value of the first time resource is the second index value and the index value of the second access link beam is the first index value.

[0240] Exemplarily, if the first index value indicated by the first beam field is within the index value range of the access link beam identifiable by the relay device, and the second index value indicated by the first time field is within the index value range of the time resource identifiable by the relay device, then the relay device forwards the signal through the second access link beam on the first time resource, wherein the index value of the first time resource is the second index value, and the index value of the second access link beam is the first index value.

[0241] Figure 26 is another schematic diagram of the index values ​​indicated by the beam field and time field included in the first information. Take the index value range of the access link beam that can be identified by the relay device as 0 to 15, and the index value range of the time resource that can be identified by the relay device as 0 to 31 as an example. The first information includes 5 beam fields and 5 time fields. The 1st beam field corresponds to the 1st time field, the 2nd beam field corresponds to the 2nd time field, the 3rd beam field corresponds to the 3rd time field, the 4th beam field corresponds to the 4th time field, and the 5th beam field corresponds to the 5th time field. The index value 17 indicated by the 5th beam field is not within the index value range of the access link beam that can be identified by the relay device, and the index value 40 indicated by the 4th time field is also not within the index value range of the time resource that can be identified by the relay device. In this case, the priority of the beam field and the time field can be constrained; when the index value indicated by the field with a higher priority is not within the range of index values ​​recognizable by the relay device, the field is still effective; when the index value indicated by the field with a lower priority is not within the range of index values ​​recognizable by the relay device, the field is not effective.

[0242] Optionally, the priority of the beam field whose index value indicated by the constraint is not within the index value range recognizable by the relay device is higher than the priority of the time field whose index value indicated is not within the index value range recognizable by the relay device. In this case, the 5th beam field is effective and the 4th time field is not effective. For example, since the index value 17 indicated by the 5th beam field is not within the index value range of the access link beam recognizable by the relay device, the relay device can determine the access link beam with an index value of 1 through the modulo function based on the index value 17 and the maximum number of access link beams used by the relay device, 16; and forward the signal through the access link beam with an index value of 1 on the time resource with an index value of 2. Since the index value 40 indicated by the 4th time field is not within the index value range of the time resource recognizable by the relay device, the relay device ignores the 4th time field and the 4th beam field. In this example, the 4th beam field and the 4th time field are not effective, and the 5th beam field and the 5th time field are effective. The schematic diagram showing that the 4th beam field and the 4th time field are not effective, and the 5th beam field and the 5th time field are effective is shown in FIG16 .

[0243] Optionally, the priority of the time field whose index value indicated by the constraint is not within the index value range recognizable by the relay device is higher than the priority of the beam field whose index value indicated is not within the index value range recognizable by the relay device. In this case, the 4th time field is effective and the 5th beam field is not effective. For example, since the index value 40 indicated by the 4th time field is not within the index value range of the time resources recognizable by the relay device, the relay device can determine the time resource with an index value of 8 through a modulo function based on the index value 40 and the maximum number of time resources used by the relay device (the number of time resources configured by the network device) 32; and forward the signal through the access link beam with an index value of 2 on the time resource with an index value of 8. Since the index value 17 indicated by the 5th beam field is not within the index value range of the access link beam recognizable by the relay device, the relay device ignores the 5th time field and the 5th beam field. In this example, the 4th beam field and the 4th time field are effective, and the 5th beam field and the 5th time field are not effective. FIG10 shows a schematic diagram in which the 4th beam field and the 4th time field are effective, and the 5th beam field and the 5th time field are not effective.

[0244] Optionally, the positional relationship between the N beam fields and the N time fields included in the first information includes the following two formats. In the first format, the N beam fields are continuous and the N time fields are continuous; Figure 27 is a schematic diagram of the positional relationship between the N beam fields and the N time fields, taking N=5 as an example. In the second format, the beam field and the time field are interleaved, with one beam field following one time field, or one time field following one beam field; Figure 28 is another schematic diagram of the positional relationship between the N beam fields and the N time fields, taking N=5 as an example.

[0245] Optionally, in the case where the positional relationship between the N beam fields and the N time fields is the first one described above, when the relay device identifies a beam field whose first indicated index value is not within the index value range recognizable by the relay device, the relay device will ignore the beam field and other beam fields following the beam field, as well as the time field corresponding to the ignored beam field. When the relay device identifies a time field whose first indicated index value is not within the index value range recognizable by the relay device, the relay device will ignore the time field and other time fields following the time field, as well as the beam field corresponding to the ignored time field.

[0246] Optionally, when the positional relationship between the N beam fields and the N time fields is the second case described above, when the relay device identifies a field whose first indicated index value is not within the index value range recognizable by the relay device, the relay device will ignore the field and other fields after the field. Taking the index value range of the access link beam recognizable by the relay device as 0 to 15, the index value range of the time resource recognizable by the relay device as 0 to 31, and the positional relationship between the N beam fields and the N time fields as shown in Figure 28, since the index value 40 indicated by the time field is not within the index value range recognizable by the relay device, the relay device ignores the time field with an index value of 40, the time field with an index value of 2, and the beam field with an index value of 17.

[0247] Since the network device or OAM will configure the total number of fields included in the first information in advance, which is 2M, the number of fields in the first information is unchanged. In some scenarios, the number of non-periodic forwarding resources dynamically indicated by the network device is less than the maximum value supported by the first information, and there will be some invalid fields in the first information. Figure 29 is a schematic diagram of the 2M fields included in the first information. The first information includes 5 beam fields and 5 time fields (10 valid fields), as well as 2M-10 invalid fields. The following describes a specific implementation method in which the relay device no longer parses other fields (invalid fields) after parsing the beam field and time field in an embodiment of the present application.

[0248] In one implementation, in addition to including N beam fields and N time fields, the first information also includes a quantity field, which is used to indicate the total number of N beam fields and N time fields. The N beam fields and N time fields are consecutive fields, and the quantity field is the field before the N beam fields and N time fields, or the quantity field is the field after the N beam fields and N time fields. The total number of fields included in the first information, 2M, is greater than 2N, and M is a positive integer. Optionally, the quantity field can also be used to indicate the number of N beam fields or the number of N time fields. In this implementation, valid fields include N beam fields, N time fields, and the quantity field. Fields other than the valid fields in the first information are invalid fields.

[0249] Figure 30 is a schematic diagram of first information including a quantity field. In this exemplary embodiment, the quantity field is used to indicate the total number of N beam fields and N time fields, where the N beam fields and the N time fields are consecutive fields, and the quantity field is a field preceding the N beam fields and the N time fields.

[0250] Figure 31 is another schematic diagram of first information including a quantity field. In this exemplary embodiment, the quantity field is used to indicate the total number of N beam fields and N time fields, where the N beam fields and N time fields are consecutive fields, and the quantity field is a field following the N beam fields and the N time fields.

[0251] Based on this optional implementation, when the relay device identifies the quantity field, it can determine the total number of beam fields and time fields included in the first information, 2N. After the relay device parses N beam fields and N time fields, it no longer parses other fields, thereby saving power consumption of the relay device. In addition, in addition to indicating the index value of the access link beam and the index value of the time resource, the first information can also indicate the number of beam fields and time fields included in the first information, thereby increasing the flexibility of dynamic indication. In addition, the relay device can better distinguish valid fields from invalid fields based on the quantity field.

[0252] In another implementation, in addition to including N beam fields and N time fields, the first information also includes a quantity field, which is used to indicate the number of N beam fields and / or the number of N time fields. The N beam fields are consecutive fields, the N time fields are consecutive fields, and the quantity field is a field between the N beam fields and the N time fields. The total number of fields included in the first information, 2M, is greater than 2N, where M is a positive integer. In this implementation, valid fields include the N beam fields, the N time fields, and the quantity field. Fields in the first information other than the valid fields are invalid fields.

[0253] Figure 32 is another schematic diagram of first information including a quantity field. In this exemplary embodiment, the quantity field is used to indicate the number of N beam fields and / or the number of N time fields, where the N beam fields and the N time fields are consecutive fields, and the quantity field is a field between the N beam fields and the N time fields.

[0254] Based on this optional implementation, when the relay device identifies the quantity field, it can determine the number N of beam fields and / or the number N of time fields included in the first information. After the relay device parses N beam fields and N time fields, it no longer parses other fields, thereby saving power consumption of the relay device. In addition, in addition to indicating the index value of the access link beam and the index value of the time resource, the first information can also indicate the number of beam fields and time fields included in the first information, thereby increasing the flexibility of dynamic indication. In addition, the relay device can better distinguish valid fields from invalid fields based on the quantity field.

[0255] In another implementation, in addition to including N beam fields and N time fields, the first information also includes an invalid indication field, which is used to indicate that the fields following the invalid indication field do not include the beam field and the time field. The invalid indication field is the field following the N beam fields and the N time fields. The total number of fields included in the first information, 2M, is greater than 2N, where M is a positive integer. Optionally, the N beam fields and the N time fields are consecutive fields. In this implementation, valid fields include the N beam fields, the N time fields, and the invalid indication field, and fields in the first information other than the valid fields are invalid fields.

[0256] Optionally, the N beam fields and the N time fields may also be discontinuous fields, which is not limited in this application.

[0257] Figure 33 is a schematic diagram of first information including an invalid indication field. In this example, N beam fields and N time fields are continuous fields.

[0258] Exemplarily, the value of the invalid indication field may be "1" or "0". Exemplarily, the value of the invalid indication field may be the maximum number of index values ​​of access link beams that can be identified by the relay device, or the maximum number of index values ​​of time resources that can be identified by the relay device, or the maximum value of the maximum number of index values ​​of access link beams that can be identified by the relay device and the maximum number of index values ​​of time resources that can be identified by the relay device. This embodiment of the present application does not limit this.

[0259] Based on this optional implementation, when the relay device recognizes the invalid indication field, it no longer parses other fields, thereby saving power consumption of the relay device and increasing the flexibility of dynamic indication. In addition, the relay device can better distinguish valid fields from invalid fields based on the invalid indication field.

[0260] In the case of a network device controlling a relay device, when the index value indicated by the beam field included in the activation indication information of a non-periodic forwarding resource is not within the index value range of the access link beam identifiable by the relay device, and the time resource indicated by the time field corresponding to the beam field conflicts with the time resource indicated by other control information, the relay device needs to solve the problem of how to handle it. Other control information can be configuration information for periodic forwarding resources or activation indication information for semi-persistent forwarding resources.

[0261] Figure 34 is a schematic diagram illustrating a conflict between time resources indicated by multiple control information. For example, the index value range of the access link beam identifiable by the relay device is 0 to 15. Indication information 1 is activation indication information for aperiodic forwarding resources. This indication information 1 is DCI. The index value a=17 indicated by the beam field 1 included in this indication information 1 is not within the index value range of the access link beam identifiable by the relay device. The index value indicated by the time field 1 corresponding to this beam field 1 is within the index value range of the time resource identifiable by the relay device, and the time resource indicated by this time field 1 is symbols 2 to 5 of time slot 8. Indication information 2 is configuration information for periodic forwarding resources, or activation indication information for semi-persistent forwarding resources. The index value b≤15 indicated by this indication information 2 is within the index value range of the access link beam identifiable by the relay device, and the time resource indicated by this indication information 2 is symbols 0 to 12 of time slot 8. Therefore, the time resource indicated by indication information 1 and the time resource indicated by indication information 2 conflict on symbols 2 to 5 of time slot 8.

[0262] To this end, an embodiment of the present application provides another signal forwarding method, which can solve the problem of how the relay device handles the situation when the activation indication information of the non-periodic forwarding resource conflicts with the time resources indicated by other control information (configuration information of the periodic forwarding resource, or activation indication information of the semi-continuous forwarding resource).

[0263] Figure 35 is an exemplary flow chart of another signal forwarding method 3500 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The network device in the embodiment of the present application may be an access network device or a base station; the beam field is used to indicate the index value of the access link beam, and the time field is used to indicate the index value of the time resource. "xx and yy are corresponding" can be understood as "xx and yy are associated". "Forwarded through yy on (within) xx" can be understood as "forwarded using yy on (within) xx".

[0264] S3510, the network device sends second information to the relay device, and the second information includes a first beam field and a first time field, and the first beam field and the first time field are corresponding / associated. The first index value indicated by the first beam field is not within the first range. The first time field indicates a second index value, and the first time resource includes at least one first symbol in at least one first time slot, wherein the first time resource is determined based on the second index value. Correspondingly, the relay device receives the second information from the network device. Optionally, the index value of the first time resource is the second index value. The first range can be understood as the index value range of the access link beam that can be identified by the relay device.

[0265] Optionally, the second index value indicated by the first time field is within a second range. The second range can be understood as a range of index values ​​of time resources identifiable by the relay device.

[0266] Optionally, the first beam field is used to indicate the second access link beam, and the indication method can refer to other embodiments in the present application. For example, the second access link beam is determined based on the first index value or is preconfigured.

[0267] Optionally, the second information is activation indication information of the non-periodic forwarding resource. Exemplarily, the second information is DCI or the above-mentioned DCI 2_8.

[0268] Optionally, before the network device sends the second information to the relay device, the network device may send RRC signaling to the relay device. The RRC signaling is used to configure the index value of the access link beam and / or the index value of the time resource for the relay device. The RRC signaling may also be used to configure the bit length / number of fields of the second information for the relay device. Optionally, OAM may also configure the index value of the access link beam, the index value of the time resource, and the bit length / number of fields of the second information for the relay device.

[0269] S3520: The relay device receives third information from the network device, where the third information indicates that a signal is to be forwarded using the first access link beam on a second time resource, where the second time resource includes at least one second symbol in at least one first time slot, and the at least one first symbol and the at least one second symbol include a third symbol. The third symbol may be understood as a symbol where a symbol included in the first time resource conflicts with a symbol included in the second time resource (an intersection of the two groups of symbols).

[0270] Optionally, the third information is configuration information of periodic forwarding resources, or the third information is activation indication information of semi-persistent forwarding resources. Optionally, no priority flag is configured in the third information.

[0271] S3530: The relay device forwards the signal by / using the second access link beam, or forwards the signal by / using the first access link beam, or does not forward the signal within the third symbol; and / or

[0272] forwarding a signal or not forwarding a signal by / using the second access link beam in at least one first symbol except the third symbol; and / or,

[0273] In the at least one second symbol except the third symbol, a signal is forwarded or not forwarded through / using the first access link beam.

[0274] Furthermore, the network device sends instruction information to the relay device, where the instruction information is used to instruct the relay device on how to determine the forwarding behavior on the first symbol, the second symbol, or the third symbol. Specifically, the relay device determines one of the above methods based on the instruction information.

[0275] In one implementation, the second access link beam is determined based on the first index value and the maximum number of access link beams used by the relay device. Specifically, the relay device may determine the index value of the second access link beam based on the first index value and the maximum number of access link beams used by the relay device, thereby determining the second access link beam. The maximum number of access link beams used by the relay device may be pre-configured by OAM, or reported by the relay device to the network device based on its own capabilities.

[0276] Exemplarily, the index value X of the second access link beam is new ’ =mod(X invalid ’ , J), where X invalid ’ is the first index value, J is the maximum number of access link beams used by the relay device, and X invalid ’ is greater than or equal to J, and mod() is the remainder function. For example, if the first index value is 17 and the maximum number of access link beams used by the relay device is 16, then the index value of the second access link beam is 1.

[0277] Exemplarily, the second access link beam is a predefined or preconfigured access link beam. If an index value indicated by a beam field included in the second information is not within a range of index values ​​of access link beams recognizable by the relay device, the relay device may use the predefined or preconfigured access link beam to forward the signal.

[0278] Exemplarily, the second access link beam may be an access link beam reported in advance by the relay device to the network device. If an index value indicated by a beam field included in the second information is not within a range of index values ​​of access link beams identifiable by the relay device, the relay device may use the access link beam reported in advance to forward the signal.

[0279] In another implementation, the second beam field indicates the second access link beam, the second beam field is a beam field adjacent to the first beam field, and the second information further includes the second beam field.

[0280] Exemplarily, the second beam field is a field adjacent to the first beam field and located to the left of the first beam field; or, the second beam field is a field adjacent to the first beam field and located to the right of the first beam field.

[0281] Based on the technical solution provided in the embodiments of the present application, after the relay device receives the second information and the third information from the network device, when the first index value indicated by the first beam field included in the second information is not within the index value range of the access link beam identifiable by the relay device, and the time resources indicated by the first time field corresponding to the first beam field (at least one first symbol in at least one first time slot) conflict / overlap with the time resources indicated by the third information (at least one second symbol in at least one first time slot), the relay device can determine how to forward the signal or whether to forward the signal.

[0282] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present application, the signal forwarding method provided in the present application is further described below with reference to specific examples.

[0283] Scenario 1: Applicable to the situation where at least one second symbol includes at least one first symbol, and the number of symbols of the at least one second symbol is greater than the number of symbols of the at least one first symbol.

[0284] Optionally, after the relay device receives the second information and the third information, the relay device forwards the signal through the second access link beam, or forwards the signal through the first access link beam, or does not forward the signal within the third symbol; and forwards the signal through the first access link beam or does not forward the signal within at least one second symbol other than the third symbol. The second access link beam is determined based on the first index value or is preconfigured.

[0285] Exemplarily, the relay device forwards the signal via the second access link beam within the third symbol. In this example, the relay device forwards the signal according to the second information.

[0286] Exemplarily, the relay device forwards the signal via the first access link beam within the third symbol and at least one second symbol other than the third symbol. In other words, the relay device forwards the signal via the first access link beam within at least one second symbol. In this example, the relay device forwards the signal based on the third information.

[0287] Exemplarily, the relay device forwards the signal using the second access link beam in the third symbol, and forwards the signal using the first access link beam in at least one second symbol other than the third symbol. In this example, the relay device forwards the signal based on the second information in the conflicting symbol, and forwards the signal based on the third information in the other symbols.

[0288] Exemplarily, the relay device forwards the signal via the first access link beam within the third symbol. In this example, the relay device forwards the signal according to the third information within the conflicting symbol.

[0289] Exemplarily, the relay device forwards signals via the second access link beam within the third symbol, and forwards signals via the first access link beam within at least one second symbol other than the third and fourth symbols. The at least one second symbol other than the third symbol includes a fourth symbol, which can be understood as a symbol corresponding to a switching interval (guard interval). In this example, the relay device forwards signals based on the second information within the conflicting symbol (the third symbol), and forwards signals based on the third information on symbols other than the third and fourth symbols.

[0290] Exemplarily, the relay device does not forward signals within the third symbol, and forwards signals via the first access link beam within at least one second symbol other than the third symbol. In this example, the relay device does not forward signals within the third symbol, and forwards signals based on the third information within symbols other than the third symbol.

[0291] Exemplarily, the relay device does not forward signals within the third symbol and at least one second symbol other than the third symbol. In other words, the relay device does not forward signals within at least one second symbol. In this example, when the time resources indicated by the second information conflict with the time resources indicated by the third information, the relay device ignores the second and third information, or the time resources indicated by the second and third information are not valid.

[0292] Figure 36 is a schematic diagram showing a conflict in the time resources indicated by the second and third information. For example, the first time resource is symbols 2 to 5 of time slot 8, and the second time resource is symbols 0 to 12 of time slot 8. The first time resource and the second time resource conflict at symbols 2 to 5. Time slot 8 can be understood as the at least one first time slot mentioned above, symbols 2 to 5 can be understood as the at least one first symbol mentioned above, symbols 0 to 12 can be understood as the at least one second symbol mentioned above, and symbols 2 to 5 can be understood as the third symbol mentioned above. Figure 37 is a schematic diagram showing the symbols used for signal forwarding determined by the relay device based on the second and third information; the filled symbols in the figure are the symbols used for signal forwarding.

[0293] In the first example, the relay device forwards the signal using the second access link beam within symbols 2 to 5. The second access link beam is determined based on the first index value or is preconfigured. In this example, the relay device forwards the signal based on the second information. The symbols used to forward the signal are shown in Figure 37(a).

[0294] In the second example, the relay device forwards the signal using the first access link beam within symbols 0 to 12. In this example, the relay device forwards the signal based on the third information. In this example, the relay device forwards the signal based on the third information, and the symbols used to forward the signal are shown in Figure 37(b).

[0295] In the third example, the relay device forwards signals via the second access link beam within symbols 2 to 5, and forwards signals via the first access link beam within symbols 0, 1, and 6 to 12. The second access link beam is determined based on the first index value or is preconfigured. Symbols 0, 1, and 6 to 12 can be understood as at least one second symbol other than the third symbol. In this example, the relay device forwards signals based on the second information within the conflicting symbols and based on the third information within the other symbols. The symbols used to forward signals are shown in Figure 37(c).

[0296] In the fourth example, the relay device forwards the signal using the first access link beam in symbols 2 to 5. In this example, the relay device forwards the signal according to the third information in the conflicting symbols. The symbols used for forwarding the signal are shown in FIG37( d ).

[0297] In the fifth example, the relay device forwards signals through the second access link beam within symbols 2 to 5, and forwards signals through the first access link beam within symbols 0 and symbols 7 to 12. The second access link beam is determined based on the first index value or is preconfigured. Symbols 2 and 6 can be understood as the fourth symbol, and symbols 0 and symbols 7 to 12 can be understood as at least one second symbol other than the third and fourth symbols. In this example, the relay device forwards signals based on the second information within the conflicting symbols, and forwards signals based on the third information within symbols other than the third and fourth symbols. The symbols used to forward signals are shown in FIG37(e).

[0298] In the sixth example, the relay device does not forward signals in symbols 2 to 5, and forwards signals through the first access link beam in symbols 0, 1, and 6 to 12. The symbols used to forward signals are shown in FIG37(f).

[0299] In the seventh example, the relay device does not forward the signal within symbols 0 to 12. In this example, neither the time resource indicated by the second information nor the time resource indicated by the third information is effective; the symbols used for forwarding the signal are shown in FIG37(g).

[0300] Scenario 2: Applicable to the case where at least one first symbol and at least one second symbol are identical. In this scenario, the third symbol is identical to both the at least one first symbol and the at least one second symbol.

[0301] Optionally, after the relay device receives the second information and the third information, the relay device forwards the signal through the second access link beam within the third symbol (at least one first symbol or at least one second symbol), or forwards the signal through the first access link beam, or does not forward the signal.

[0302] Exemplarily, the relay device forwards the signal via a second access link beam within a third symbol (at least one first symbol or at least one second symbol), wherein the second access link beam is determined based on the first index value or is preconfigured. In this example, the relay device forwards the signal based on the second information.

[0303] Exemplarily, the relay device forwards the signal via the first access link beam within the third symbol (at least one first symbol or at least one second symbol). In this example, the relay device forwards the signal according to the third information.

[0304] Exemplarily, the relay device does not forward the signal within the third symbol (at least one first symbol or at least one second symbol). In this example, neither the time resource indicated by the second information nor the time resource indicated by the third information is effective.

[0305] Figure 38 is another schematic diagram showing a conflict in the time resources indicated by the second and third information. For example, the first time resource is symbols 2-5 of time slot 8, and the second time resource is symbols 2-5 of time slot 8. The first time resource and the second time resource conflict on symbols 2-5. Time slot 8 can be understood as the at least one first time slot, and symbols 2-5 can be understood as the at least one first symbol, the at least one second symbol, and the third symbol. Figure 39 is another schematic diagram showing symbols determined by a relay device for forwarding signals based on the second and third information; the filled symbols in the figure are symbols used for forwarding signals.

[0306] In the first example, the relay device forwards the signal via the second access link beam in symbols 2 to 5. In this example, the relay device forwards the signal according to the second information, and the symbols used for forwarding the signal are shown in FIG39(a).

[0307] In the second example, the relay device forwards the signal via the first access link beam in symbols 2 to 5. In this example, the relay device forwards the signal according to the third information, and the symbols used for forwarding the signal are shown in FIG39( b ).

[0308] In the third example, the relay device does not forward signals in symbols 2 to 5. The symbols used for forwarding signals are shown in FIG39(c).

[0309] Scenario 3: Applicable to the situation where at least one first symbol includes at least one second symbol, and the number of symbols of the at least one first symbol is greater than the number of symbols of the at least one second symbol.

[0310] Optionally, after the relay device receives the second information and the third information, the relay device forwards the signal through the second access link beam, forwards the signal through the first access link beam, or does not forward the signal within the third symbol; and the relay device forwards the signal through the second access link beam or does not forward the signal within at least one first symbol other than the third symbol. The second access link beam is determined based on the first index value or is preconfigured.

[0311] Exemplarily, the relay device forwards the signal via the second access link beam in the third symbol. In this example, the relay device forwards the signal according to the second information in the conflicting symbol.

[0312] Exemplarily, the relay device forwards the signal via the first access link beam within the third symbol. In this example, the relay device forwards the signal according to the third information.

[0313] Exemplarily, the relay device forwards the signal via the second access link beam within the third symbol and at least one first symbol other than the third symbol. In other words, the relay device forwards the signal via the second access link beam within at least one first symbol. In this example, the relay device forwards the signal based on the second information.

[0314] Exemplarily, the relay device forwards the signal using the first access link beam in the third symbol, and forwards the signal using the second access link beam in at least one first symbol other than the third symbol. In this example, the relay device forwards the signal based on the third information in the conflicting symbol and forwards the signal based on the second information in the other symbols.

[0315] Exemplarily, the relay device forwards signals within the third symbol via the first access link beam, and forwards signals within at least one first symbol other than the third and fifth symbols via the second access link beam. The at least one first symbol other than the third symbol includes the fifth symbol, which can be understood as a symbol corresponding to a switching interval (guard interval). In this example, the relay device forwards signals within the conflicting symbols based on the third information, and forwards signals within symbols other than the third and fifth symbols based on the second information.

[0316] Exemplarily, the relay device does not forward the signal within the third symbol, and forwards the signal via the second access link beam within at least one first symbol other than the third symbol. In this example, the relay device does not forward the signal within the third symbol, and forwards the signal according to the second information within symbols other than the third symbol.

[0317] Exemplarily, the relay device does not forward signals within the third symbol and at least one first symbol other than the third symbol. In other words, the relay device does not forward signals within at least one first symbol. In this example, when the time resources indicated by the second information conflict with the time resources indicated by the third information, the relay device ignores the second and third information, or the time resources indicated by the second and third information are not valid.

[0318] Figure 40 is another schematic diagram of a conflict in the time resources indicated by the second information and the third information. For example, the first time resource is symbols 0 to 12 of time slot 8, and the second time resource is symbols 2 to 5 of time slot 8. The first time resource and the second time resource conflict on symbols 2 to 5. Time slot 8 can be understood as the at least one first time slot mentioned above, symbols 0 to 12 can be understood as the at least one first symbol mentioned above, symbols 2 to 5 can be understood as the at least one second symbol mentioned above, and symbols 2 to 5 can be understood as the third symbol mentioned above. Figure 41 is another schematic diagram of the symbols used for forwarding signals determined by the relay device based on the second information and the third information; the filled symbols in the figure are the symbols used for forwarding signals.

[0319] In the first example, the relay device forwards the signal using the second access link beam within symbols 2 to 5. The second access link beam is determined based on the first index value or is preconfigured. In this example, the relay device forwards the signal within the conflicting symbol based on the second information. The symbols used for forwarding the signal are shown in Figure 41(a).

[0320] In the second example, the relay device forwards the signal using the first access link beam within symbols 2 to 5. In this example, the relay device forwards the signal based on the third information. The symbols used for forwarding the signal are shown in FIG41( b ).

[0321] In the third example, the relay device forwards the signal using a second access link beam within symbols 0 to 12. The second access link beam is determined based on the first index value or is preconfigured. In this example, the relay device forwards the signal based on the second information. The symbols used to forward the signal are shown in FIG41( c ).

[0322] In the fourth example, the relay device forwards signals using the first access link beam in symbols 2-5 and the second access link beam in symbols 0, 1, and 6-12. In this example, the relay device forwards signals based on the third information in the conflicting symbols and on the second information in the remaining symbols. The symbols used for forwarding signals are shown in Figure 41(d).

[0323] In the fifth example, the relay device forwards signals using the first access link beam in symbols 2-5 and the second access link beam in symbols 0 and 7-12. In this example, the relay device forwards signals based on the third information in the conflicting symbols and on the second information in symbols other than the third and fifth symbols. The symbols used for forwarding signals are shown in Figure 41(e).

[0324] In the sixth example, the relay device forwards signals using the second access link beam in symbols 0, 1, and 6-12. In this example, the relay device does not forward signals in the third symbol, but forwards signals in symbols other than the third symbol based on the second information. The symbols used for forwarding signals are shown in Figure 41(f).

[0325] In the seventh example, the relay device does not forward the signal within symbols 0 to 12. In this example, neither the time resource indicated by the second information nor the time resource indicated by the third information is effective; the symbols used for forwarding the signal are shown in FIG41(g).

[0326] Optionally, the second information includes N beam fields and N time fields, the N beam fields and the N time fields are one-to-one corresponding / associated, the N beam fields include a first beam field and a second beam field, and the N time fields include a first time field, where N is a positive integer. The positional relationship between the N beam fields and the N time fields included in the second information is similar to that in Figures 27 and 28 and is not described in detail here. In addition, when the second information contains an invalid field, the specific implementation method of the relay device to distinguish between valid and invalid fields is the same as in the above embodiment and is not described in detail here.

[0327] The relay device may receive activation indication information of multiple non-periodic forwarding resources in succession. When the index value of the access link beam indicated by the beam field included in the latest received activation indication information is not within the index value range recognizable by the relay device, and the time resource indicated by the time field corresponding to the beam field conflicts with the time resource indicated by the activation indication information of other non-periodic forwarding resources, the problem of how the relay device should handle it needs to be solved urgently.

[0328] To this end, an embodiment of the present application provides another signal forwarding method, which can solve the problem of how a relay device handles a conflict in time resources indicated by activation indication information of multiple non-periodic forwarding resources.

[0329] Figure 42 is an exemplary flow chart of another signal forwarding method 4200 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The network device in the embodiment of the present application may be an access network device or a base station; the beam field is used to indicate the index value of the access link beam, and the time field is used to indicate the index value of the time resource. "xx and yy are corresponding" can be understood as "xx and yy are associated". "Forwarded through yy on (within) xx" can be understood as "forwarded using yy on (within) xx".

[0330] At S4210, the relay device receives fourth information from the network device at a first moment, the fourth information indicating that a signal is forwarded via a first access link beam on a first time resource, the index value of the first access link beam is within a first range, the index value of the first time resource is within a second range, and the first time resource includes at least one first symbol within a first time slot. The fourth information is activation indication information for a non-periodic forwarding resource. Exemplarily, the fourth information is DCI or the aforementioned DCI 2_8.

[0331] Among them, the first range can be understood as the index value range of the access link beam that can be identified by the relay device; the second range can be understood as the index value range of the time resource that can be identified by the relay device.

[0332] S4220: The relay device receives fifth information from the network device at a second moment. The fifth information includes a first beam field and a first time field. The first beam field and the first time field are corresponding / associated. The first index value indicated by the first beam field is not within the first range. The second index value indicated by the first time field is within the second range. The second time resource includes at least one second symbol within the first time slot. The at least one first symbol and the at least one second symbol include a third symbol. The first moment is earlier than the second moment. The second time resource is determined based on the second index value. The fifth information is activation indication information for aperiodic forwarding resources. The fifth information can be understood as the activation indication information for aperiodic forwarding resources most recently received by the relay device. The third symbol can be understood as a symbol where a symbol included in the first time resource conflicts with a symbol included in the second time resource. Optionally, the index value of the second time resource is the second index value. Exemplarily, the fifth information is DCI or the aforementioned DCI 2_8.

[0333] S4230: The relay device forwards the signal through the first access link beam, or forwards the signal through the second access link beam, or does not forward the signal within the third symbol, where the second access link beam is determined according to the first index value or is preconfigured; and / or

[0334] forwarding a signal or not forwarding a signal through the first access link beam in at least one first symbol except the third symbol; and / or,

[0335] In the at least one second symbol except the third symbol, a signal is forwarded or not forwarded through the second access link beam.

[0336] Based on the technical solution provided in the embodiments of the present application, after the relay device receives the fourth information and the fifth information from the network device, when the first index value indicated by the first beam field included in the fifth information is not within the index value range of the access link beam identifiable by the relay device, and the second time resource indicated by the first time field corresponding to the first beam field (at least one second symbol in the first time slot) conflicts / overlaps with the first time resource indicated by the fourth information (at least one first symbol in the first time slot), the relay device can determine how to forward the signal or whether to forward the signal.

[0337] In one implementation, the second access link beam is determined based on the first index value and the maximum number of access link beams used by the relay device. Specifically, the relay device may determine the index value of the second access link beam based on the first index value and the maximum number of access link beams used by the relay device, thereby determining the second access link beam. The maximum number of access link beams used by the relay device may be pre-configured by OAM, or reported by the relay device to the network device based on its own capabilities.

[0338] Exemplarily, the index value X of the second access link beam is new ’ =mod(X invalid ’ , J), where X invalid ’ is the first index value, J is the maximum number of access link beams used by the relay device, and X invalid ’ is greater than or equal to J, and mod() is the remainder function. For example, if the first index value is 17 and the maximum number of access link beams used by the relay device is 16, then the index value of the second access link beam is 1.

[0339] Exemplarily, the second access link beam is a predefined or preconfigured access link beam. If an index value indicated by a beam field included in the fifth information is not within a range of index values ​​of access link beams recognizable by the relay device, the relay device may use the predefined or preconfigured access link beam to forward the signal.

[0340] Exemplarily, the second access link beam may be an access link beam reported in advance by the relay device to the network device. If the index value indicated by a beam field included in the fifth information is not within the index value range of access link beams identifiable by the relay device, the relay device may use the access link beam reported in advance to forward the signal.

[0341] In another implementation, the second beam field indicates a second access link beam, the second beam field is a beam field adjacent to the first beam field, and the fifth information further includes the second beam field.

[0342] Exemplarily, the second beam field is a field adjacent to the first beam field and located to the left of the first beam field; or, the second beam field is a field adjacent to the first beam field and located to the right of the first beam field.

[0343] Optionally, the fifth information includes N beam fields and N time fields, the N beam fields and the N time fields are one-to-one corresponding / associated, the N beam fields include a first beam field and a second beam field, and the N time fields include a first time field, where N is a positive integer. The positional relationship between the N beam fields and the N time fields included in the fifth information is similar to that in Figures 27 and 28 and is not described in detail here. In addition, in the case where there is an invalid field in the fifth information, the specific implementation method of the relay device to distinguish between valid fields and invalid fields is the same as in the above embodiment and is not described in detail here.

[0344] In an uplink transmission scenario, a relay device operating in time division multiplexing (TDM) mode may need to use a backhaul link to forward signals from a terminal device and a control link to send uplink signals. When the time resources associated with the backhaul link conflict with the time resources associated with the control link, the relay device must address the issue of how to handle this. The signals forwarded using the control link include signals corresponding to at least one of the following: uplink control information (UCI), feedback information (e.g., CSI), and operation and maintenance information.

[0345] To this end, an embodiment of the present application provides another signal forwarding method, which can solve the problem of how the relay device handles the conflict when the time resources associated with the backhaul link conflict with the time resources associated with the control link.

[0346] Figure 43 is an exemplary flow chart of another signal forwarding method 4300 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The network device in the embodiment of the present application may be an access network device or a base station.

[0347] S4310: The relay device receives sixth information from the network device, where the sixth information indicates that a signal from the terminal device is forwarded using a first backhaul link on a first time resource, where the first time resource includes at least one first time slot. The sixth information may be configuration information for a periodic forwarding resource, activation indication information for an aperiodic forwarding resource, or activation indication information for a semi-persistent forwarding resource.

[0348] The sixth information is configuration information for periodic forwarding resources, which can be understood as the first time resource and first backhaul link indicated by the sixth information being periodic forwarding resources. The sixth information is activation indication information for aperiodic forwarding resources, which can be understood as the first time resource and first backhaul link indicated by the sixth information being aperiodic forwarding resources. The sixth information is activation indication information for semi-persistent forwarding resources, which can be understood as the first time resource and first backhaul link indicated by the sixth information being semi-persistent forwarding resources.

[0349] S4320: The relay device receives seventh information from the network device, where the seventh information indicates using the first control link to send an uplink signal on a second time resource, where the second time resource includes at least one first time slot.

[0350] S4330: If the sixth information is periodic forwarding resource configuration information and the sixth information has a priority identifier, the relay device forwards the signal from the terminal device according to the sixth information and ignores the seventh information; or

[0351] If the sixth information is configuration information of periodic forwarding resources, the relay device ignores the seventh information; or,

[0352] If the sixth information is activation indication information of aperiodic forwarding resources or activation indication information of semi-persistent forwarding resources, the relay device sends an uplink signal according to the seventh information and ignores the sixth information.

[0353] It should be noted that when the sixth information is the configuration information of the periodic forwarding resources and the sixth information has a priority identifier, the priority of the sixth information is higher than the seventh information; when the sixth information is the activation indication information of the non-periodic forwarding resources or the activation indication information of the semi-continuous forwarding resources, the priority of the sixth information is lower than the seventh information.

[0354] In the technical solution provided by the embodiments of the present application, when a time resource associated with the control link conflicts with a time resource associated with the backhaul link, if the backhaul link is a periodic forwarding resource, the backhaul link is used to forward the signal from the terminal device on the time resource associated with the backhaul link; if the backhaul link is an aperiodic forwarding resource or a semi-persistent forwarding resource, the control link is used to send the uplink signal on the time resource associated with the control link. This solves the problem of a relay device determining how to forward the signal when a time resource associated with the backhaul link conflicts with a time resource associated with the control link.

[0355] In the uplink transmission scenario, the relay device operating in frequency division multiplexing (FDM) mode may need to use the backhaul link to forward the signal from the terminal device and use the control link to send the uplink signal. When the time resources associated with the backhaul link conflict with the time resources associated with the control link, and the transmission power P of the backhaul link Fwd The transmission power P of the control link c-link Exceeds the preconfigured maximum transmit power P total When the relay equipment is used, the problem of how to deal with it needs to be solved urgently.

[0356] To this end, the embodiment of the present application provides another signal forwarding method, which can solve the conflict between the time resources associated with the backhaul link and the time resources associated with the control link, and the transmission power P of the backhaul link Fwd The transmission power P of the control link c-link Exceeds the preconfigured maximum transmit power P total When the relay device is connected, the problem arises: how does it handle the problem?

[0357] Figure 44 is an exemplary flow chart of another signal forwarding method 4400 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The network device in the embodiment of the present application may be an access network device or a base station.

[0358] S4410, the relay device receives eighth information from the network device, where the eighth information indicates that a signal from the terminal device is forwarded using a first backhaul link on a first time resource with a first transmission power, where the first time resource includes at least one first time slot.

[0359] The first time resource and the first backhaul link indicated by the eighth information are periodic forwarding resources. Alternatively, the first time resource and the first backhaul link indicated by the eighth information are aperiodic forwarding resources. Alternatively, the first time resource and the first backhaul link indicated by the eighth information are semi-persistent forwarding resources.

[0360] S4420: The relay device receives ninth information from the network device, where the ninth information indicates that an uplink signal is sent using a first control link on a second time resource with a second transmit power, where the second time resource includes at least one first time slot.

[0361] S4430: If the sum of the first transmit power and the second transmit power is greater than a preset threshold, and the first time resource and the first backhaul link are periodic forwarding resources, the relay device adjusts the second transmit power, and the sum of the adjusted second transmit power and the first transmit power is less than or equal to the preset threshold; or

[0362] If the sum of the first transmit power and the second transmit power is greater than a preset threshold, the first time resource and the first backhaul link are periodic forwarding resources, and the eighth information contains a priority identifier, the relay device adjusts the second transmit power, and the sum of the adjusted second transmit power and the first transmit power is less than or equal to the preset threshold; or,

[0363] If the sum of the first transmit power and the second transmit power is greater than a preset threshold, and the first time resource and the first backhaul link are non-periodic forwarding resources / semi-persistent forwarding resources, the relay device adjusts the first transmit power, and the sum of the adjusted first transmit power and the second transmit power is less than or equal to the preset threshold; wherein the preset threshold is the preconfigured maximum transmit power P total .

[0364] At the first transmission power P Fwd With the second transmission power P c-link The sum is greater than P total In the case of, for example, if the first time resource and the first backhaul link are periodic forwarding resources, the relay device may maintain P Fwd Unchanged, based on the preset threshold P total To adjust another term, the adjusted value is recorded as P' c-link , P' c-link Satisfied: P' c-link ≤P total -P Fwd For another example, if the first time resource and the first backhaul link are non-periodic forwarding resources / semi-persistent forwarding resources, the relay device may maintain P c-link Unchanged, based on the preset threshold P total To adjust another term, the adjusted value is recorded as P' Fwd , P' Fwd Satisfied: P' Fwd ≤P total -P c-link In this way, when the relay device uses the control link and the forwarding link for uplink transmission in at least one first time slot, the sum of the uplink transmission power will not exceed the preset threshold P total .

[0365] The above describes the signal forwarding method provided in the embodiment of the present application. The following describes the execution entity for executing the above signal forwarding method.

[0366] FIG45 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device 4500 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The device 4500 can be applied to or deployed in the relay device in the method embodiment of FIG8. The communication device 4500 includes:

[0367] The transceiver unit 4510 is configured to receive first information from a network device, where the first information includes a first beam field and a first time field, where the first beam field and the first time field are associated, where the first beam field indicates a first index value, and where the first time field indicates a second index value;

[0368] The processing unit 4520 is configured to: if the first index value is not within a first range and the second index value is within a second range, not forward the signal on the first time resource, or forward the signal using a first access link beam on the first time resource, wherein the first time resource is determined according to the second index value, and the first access link beam is determined according to the first index value or is preconfigured; or

[0369] If the second index value is not within the second range and the first index value is within the first range, the first time field and the first beam field are ignored, or a second access link beam is used to forward the signal on a second time resource, wherein the second access link beam is determined based on the first index value and the second time resource is determined based on the second index value or is preconfigured.

[0370] Optionally, the processing unit 4520 is also used to ignore the first time field and the first beam field, or use the first access link beam to forward the signal on the second time resource if the first index value is not within the first range and the second index value is not within the second range.

[0371] Optionally, the processing unit 4520 is further used to, if the first index value is within the first range and the second index value is within the second range, use the second access link beam to forward the signal on the first time resource.

[0372] Optionally, the index value of the first time resource is the second index value.

[0373] Optionally, the first access link beam is determined based on the first index value, including: the first access link beam is determined based on the first index value and the maximum number of access link beams used.

[0374] Optionally, the index value X of the first access link beam new =mod(X invalid , J), where X invalid is the first index value, J is the maximum number of access link beams used, X invalid Greater than or equal to J, mod() is the remainder function.

[0375] Optionally, the first access link beam is determined based on the first index value, including: a second beam field indicating the first access link beam, the second beam field is a beam field adjacent to the first beam field, and the first information also includes the second beam field.

[0376] Optionally, the index value of the second access link beam is the first index value.

[0377] Optionally, the second time resource is determined according to the second index value, including: the second time resource is determined according to the second index value and the maximum number of time resources used.

[0378] Optionally, the index value Y of the second time resource new=mod(Y invalid , I), where Y invalid is the second index value, I is the maximum number of time resources used, and Y invalid Greater than or equal to I, mod() is the remainder function.

[0379] Optionally, the second time resource is determined based on the second index value, including: a second time field indicating the second time resource, the second time field is a time field adjacent to the first time field, and the first information also includes the second time field.

[0380] Optionally, the first information is downlink control information DCI, and the first information includes N beam fields and N time fields, the N beam fields and the N time fields are one-to-one associated, the N beam fields include the first beam field and the second beam field, and the N time fields include the first time field and the second time field, where N is a positive integer.

[0381] Optionally, the first information also includes a quantity field, where the quantity field is used to indicate the total number of the N beam fields and the N time fields, where the N beam fields and the N time fields are continuous fields, and the quantity field is the field before the N beam fields and the N time fields, or the quantity field is the field after the N beam fields and the N time fields, wherein the total number of fields included in the first information, 2M, is greater than 2N, and M is a positive integer.

[0382] Optionally, the first information also includes a quantity field, which is used to indicate the number of the N beam fields and / or the number of the N time fields, the N beam fields are continuous fields, the N time fields are continuous fields, and the quantity field is a field between the N beam fields and the N time fields, wherein the total number of fields included in the first information, 2M, is greater than 2N, and M is a positive integer.

[0383] Optionally, the first information also includes an invalid indication field, and the invalid indication field is used to indicate that the field after the invalid indication field does not include the beam field and the time field, and the invalid indication field is the field after the N beam fields and the N time fields, wherein the total number of fields included in the first information 2M is greater than 2N, and M is a positive integer.

[0384] Optionally, the N beam fields and the N time fields are continuous fields.

[0385] FIG46 is a schematic diagram of the structure of another communication device 4600 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The device 4600 can be applied to or deployed in the relay device in the method embodiment of FIG35. The communication device 4600 includes:

[0386] The transceiver unit 4610 is used to receive second information from the network device, where the second information includes a first beam field and a first time field, the first beam field and the first time field are associated, the first index value indicated by the first beam field is not within a first range, the first time field indicates a second index value, and the first time resource includes at least one first symbol in at least one first time slot, wherein the first time resource is determined based on the second index value.

[0387] The transceiver unit 4610 is also used to receive third information from the network device, where the third information indicates using the first access link beam to forward the signal on a second time resource, where the second time resource includes at least one second symbol within the at least one first time slot, and the at least one first symbol and the at least one second symbol include a third symbol.

[0388] a processing unit 4620 configured to forward a signal using a second access link beam, or forward a signal using the first access link beam, or not forward a signal within the third symbol, where the second access link beam is determined based on the first index value or is preconfigured; and / or

[0389] using the second access link beam to forward a signal or not to forward a signal within the at least one first symbol except the third symbol; and / or,

[0390] In the at least one second symbol except the third symbol, a signal is forwarded or not forwarded using the first access link beam.

[0391] Optionally, the index value of the first time resource is the second index value. The second index value indicated by the first time field is within a second range.

[0392] Optionally, the second access link beam is determined based on the first index value, including: the second access link beam is determined based on the first index value and the maximum number of access link beams used; or, a second beam field indicates the second access link beam, the second beam field is a beam field adjacent to the first beam field, and the second information also includes the second beam field.

[0393] Optionally, the second access link beam is determined according to the first index value and the maximum number of access link beams used, including: the index value X of the second access link beam new ’ =mod(X invalid ’ , J), where X invalid ’ is the first index value, J is the maximum number of access link beams used, X invalid ’ Greater than or equal to J, mod() is the remainder function.

[0394] Optionally, the second information is activation indication information of non-periodic forwarding resources.

[0395] Figure 47 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 4700 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 4700 includes a processor 4710 and an interface circuit 4720. The processor 4710 and the interface circuit 4720 are coupled to each other. It is understood that the interface circuit 4720 may be a transceiver or an input / output interface. Optionally, the communication device 4700 may also include a memory 4730 for storing instructions executed by the processor 4710, or storing input data required by the processor 4710 to execute instructions, or storing data generated after the processor 4710 executes instructions.

[0396] When the communication device 4700 is applied to a relay device, the communication device 4700 can implement the functions of the relay device in the above method embodiment. When the communication device 4700 is applied to a network device, the communication device 4700 can implement the functions of the network device in the above method embodiment.

[0397] The processor 4710 described above may be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. During implementation, each step of the above-described method embodiment may be completed by hardware integrated logic circuits within the processor or by software instructions. The processor described above may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, or discrete hardware component. The methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of this application may be implemented or executed. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. The steps of the methods disclosed in the embodiments of this application may be directly implemented and executed by a hardware decoding processor, or by a combination of hardware and software modules within the decoding processor. The software module may be located in a storage medium well-known in the art, such as random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory, or registers. The storage medium is located in a memory, and the processor reads information from the memory and, in conjunction with its hardware, completes the steps of the above-described method.

[0398] An embodiment of the present application also provides a communication system, including the relay device in the signal forwarding method provided in the embodiment of the present application, and other communication devices communicating with the relay device, network devices, and other communication devices communicating with the network devices.

[0399] The present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for implementing the method in the above method embodiment. When the computer program is executed on a computer, the computer can implement the method in the above method embodiment.

[0400] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program. When the computer program runs on a computer, the method in the above method embodiment is executed.

[0401] An embodiment of the present application also provides a chip, including a processor, wherein the processor is connected to a memory, the memory is used to store computer programs, and the processor is used to execute the computer programs stored in the memory, so that the chip executes the method in the above method embodiment.

[0402] It should be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, for a technical feature, the technical features within the technical feature are distinguished by the terms "first," "second," and "third," and there is no order of precedence or priority between the technical features described by the "first," "second," and "third." In the embodiments of the present application, "at least one" can also be described as one or more, and "a plurality" can be two, three, four, or more, and this application does not impose any limitation thereon.

[0403] In addition, the term "and / or" in this application is merely a description of the association relationship between associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can represent three situations: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. In addition, the character " / " in this article generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship; the term "at least one" in this application can mean "one" and "two or more". For example, A, B and C can represent seven situations: A exists alone, B exists alone, C exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, A and C exist at the same time, C and B exist at the same time, and A, B and C exist at the same time.

[0404] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art may use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0405] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0406] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely schematic. For example, the division of the units is merely a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0407] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of these units may be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0408] In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0409] If the functions are implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or the part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media that can store program codes, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

[0410] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present application, but the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included in the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A signal forwarding method, characterized in that: Applied to a relay device, the method comprises: Receive first information from a network device, the first information comprising a first beam field and a first time field, the first beam field and the first time field are associated, the first beam field indicates a first index value, and the first time field indicates a second index value; If the first index value is not within the first range and the second index value is within the second range, the signal is not forwarded on the first time resource, or the signal is forwarded using a first access link beam on the first time resource, wherein the first time resource is determined according to the second index value, and the first access link beam is determined according to the first index value or is preconfigured; or, If the second index value is not within the second range and the first index value is within the first range, the first time field and the first beam field are ignored, or a second access link beam is used to forward the signal on a second time resource, wherein the second access link beam is determined based on the first index value, and the second time resource is determined based on the second index value or is preconfigured.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The method further comprises: If the first index value is not within the first range and the second index value is not within the second range, ignore the first time field and the first beam field, or use the first access link beam to forward the signal on the second time resource.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The method further comprises: If the first index value is within the first range and the second index value is within the second range, the second access link beam is used to forward the signal on the first time resource.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The index value of the first time resource is the second index value.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The first access link beam is determined according to the first index value, including: The first access link beam is determined based on the first index value and a maximum number of access link beams used.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that The index value X of the first access link beam new =mod(X invalid , J), where X invalid is the first index value, J is the maximum number of access link beams used, X invalid Greater than or equal to J, mod() is the remainder function.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The first access link beam is determined according to the first index value, including: A second beam field indicates the first access link beam, the second beam field is a beam field adjacent to the first beam field, and the first information also includes the second beam field.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that The index value of the second access link beam is the first index value.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that The second time resource is determined according to the second index value, including: The second time resource is determined according to the second index value and a maximum number of used time resources.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The index value Y of the second time resource new =mod(Y invalid , I), where Y invalid is the second index value, I is the maximum number of time resources used, and Y invalid Greater than or equal to I, mod() is the remainder function.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that The second time resource is determined according to the second index value, including: The second time field indicates the second time resource, the second time field is a time field adjacent to the first time field, and the first information also includes the second time field.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that The first information is downlink control information DCI, and the first information includes N beam fields and N time fields, the N beam fields and the N time fields are one-to-one associated, the N beam fields include the first beam field and the second beam field, and the N time fields include the first time field and the second time field, wherein N is a positive integer.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The first information also includes a quantity field, and the quantity field is used to indicate the total number of the N beam fields and the N time fields, the N beam fields and the N time fields are continuous fields, and the quantity field is the field before the N beam fields and the N time fields, or the quantity field is the field after the N beam fields and the N time fields, wherein the total number of fields included in the first information 2M is greater than 2N, and M is a positive integer.

14. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The first information also includes a quantity field, which is used to indicate the number of the N beam fields and / or the number of the N time fields, the N beam fields are continuous fields, the N time fields are continuous fields, and the quantity field is a field between the N beam fields and the N time fields, wherein the total number of fields included in the first information 2M is greater than 2N, and M is a positive integer.

15. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The first information also includes an invalid indication field, and the invalid indication field is used to indicate that the field after the invalid indication field does not include the beam field and the time field, and the invalid indication field is the field after the N beam fields and the N time fields, wherein the total number of fields included in the first information 2M is greater than 2N, and M is a positive integer.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that The N beam fields and the N time fields are continuous fields.

17. A signal forwarding method, characterized in that: Applied to a relay device, the method comprises: receiving second information from a network device, the second information comprising a first beam field and a first time field, the first beam field and the first time field being associated, a first index value indicated by the first beam field being not within a first range, the first time field indicating a second index value, a first time resource comprising at least one first symbol in at least one first time slot, wherein the first time resource is determined according to the second index value; receiving third information from the network device, the third information indicating that a signal is forwarded using a first access link beam on a second time resource, the second time resource comprising at least one second symbol within the at least one first time slot, the at least one first symbol and the at least one second symbol comprising a third symbol; In the third symbol, a signal is forwarded using a second access link beam, or a signal is forwarded using the first access link beam, or a signal is not forwarded, wherein the second access link beam is determined according to the first index value or is preconfigured; and / or, In the at least one first symbol except the third symbol, use the second access link beam to forward a signal or not to forward a signal; and / or, In the at least one second symbol except the third symbol, a signal is forwarded or not forwarded using the first access link beam.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that The index value of the first time resource is the second index value.

19. The method according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that The second access link beam is determined according to the first index value, including: The second access link beam is determined according to the first index value and the maximum number of access link beams used; or, A second beam field indicates the second access link beam, the second beam field is a beam field adjacent to the first beam field, and the second information also includes the second beam field.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that The second access link beam is determined according to the first index value and a maximum number of used access link beams, including: The index value X of the second access link beam new '=mod(X invalid ', J), where X invalid ' is the first index value, J is the maximum number of access link beams used, X invalid 'Greater than or equal to J, mod() is the remainder function.

21. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 20, characterized in that The second information is activation indication information of non-periodic forwarding resources.

22. A signal forwarding method, characterized in that: Applied to a relay device, the method comprises: receiving fourth information from a network device at a first moment, the fourth information indicating that a first access link beam is used to forward a signal on a first time resource, an index value of the first access link beam is within a first range, an index value of the first time resource is within a second range, the first time resource includes at least one first symbol in a first time slot, wherein the fourth information is activation indication information of a non-periodic forwarding resource; receiving fifth information from the network device at a second moment, the fifth information including a first beam field and a first time field, the first beam field and the first time field are associated, a first index value indicated by the first beam field is not within a first range, a second index value indicated by the first time field is within the second range, a second time resource includes at least one second symbol in the first time slot, the at least one first symbol and the at least one second symbol include a third symbol, wherein the first moment is earlier than the second moment, the second time resource is determined according to the second index value, and the fifth information is activation indication information of a non-periodic forwarding resource; Within the third symbol, the first access link beam is used to forward a signal, or the second access link beam is used to forward a signal, or the signal is not forwarded, and the second access link beam is determined based on the first index value or is preconfigured; and / or, within at least one first symbol other than the third symbol, the first access link beam is used to forward a signal or not forward a signal; and / or, within at least one second symbol other than the third symbol, the second access link beam is used to forward a signal or not forward a signal.

23. The method according to claim 22, characterized in that The index value of the second time resource is the second index value.

24. The method according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that The second access link beam is determined according to the first index value, including: The second access link beam is determined based on the first index value and a maximum number of used access link beams.

25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that The index value X of the second access link beam new '=mod(X invalid ', J), where X invalid ' is the first index value, J is the maximum number of access link beams used, X invalid 'Greater than or equal to J, mod() is the remainder function.

26. The method according to any one of claims 22 to 25, characterized in that The second beam field indicates the second access link beam, the second beam field is a beam field adjacent to the first beam field, and the fifth information also includes the second beam field.

27. A communication device, characterized in that: Comprising means for performing the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16.

28. A communication device, characterized in that: Comprising means for performing the method as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 21.

29. A communication device, characterized in that: Comprising means for performing the method as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 26.

30. 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 and transmit them to the processor or send signals from the processor to other communication devices, and the processor is used to implement the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 26 through logic circuits or executing code instructions.

31. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: include: The computer readable medium stores a computer program; When the computer program is executed by a processor, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 26 is performed.

32. A computer program product, characterized in that A computer program is included which, when executed, causes the method according to any one of claims 1 to 26 to be implemented.

Images