Sidelink communication method and apparatus

Abstract

A sidelink communication method and an apparatus. A terminal device determines N RB sets or S RB sets from among RB sets where M PSFCHs are located, N and S being positive integers. When N is greater than 1, the N RB sets are continuous RB sets. When S is greater than 1, the S RB sets are discontinuous RB sets. The terminal device sends the PSFCHs on the N RB sets or S RB sets. On the basis of the possessed capability of transmitting PSFCHs on a continuous frequency domain resource unit or a discontinuous frequency domain resource unit, the terminal device determines one RB set or multiple continuous RB sets or multiple discontinuous RB sets to send the PSFCHs, and the PSFCH ultimately sent satisfies the capability possessed by the terminal device for transmitting the PSFCHs, ensuring that the terminal device efficiently sends the PSFCHs.

Description

Sideline communication method and device

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China on September 28, 2023, with application number 202311284042.8 and application name "A side communication method and device", the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0003] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a sideline communication method and device. Background Art

[0004] The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) defines sidelink (SL) communication technology, and typical application scenarios include vehicle-to-everything (V2X).

[0005] In SL communications, terminal devices can transmit feedback information via the physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH). This feedback information may include a conflict indication and acknowledgment (ACK) / negative acknowledgement (NACK) information. For example, for a PSSCH transmission, if the data transmitting terminal carries physical layer hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ)-ACK feedback enable information in the control information, the data receiving terminal will feedback the corresponding ACK / NACK information based on the PSSCH decoding result.

[0006] The current PSFCH transmission rule states that when a terminal device has M PSFCHs to transmit, it determines the final PSFCH to transmit based on the priority values ​​of the M PSFCHs. The priority value of the PSFCH is the priority value of the PSSCH corresponding to the PSFCH. However, this transmission rule does not take into account the terminal device's ability to transmit PSFCHs.

[0007] Summary of the Invention

[0008] The embodiments of the present application provide a sideline communication method and apparatus for improving the efficiency of PSFCH transmission by a terminal device.

[0009] In the first aspect, a sideline communication method is provided, which can be applied to a terminal device or a module in the terminal device. The following description will be made by taking the application of the method to the terminal device as an example. In this method, the terminal device has the ability to transmit PSFCH on continuous frequency domain resources and / or non-continuous frequency domain resources as follows: it can transmit PSFCH on continuous RB sets, but cannot transmit PSFCH on non-continuous RB sets. After determining the M PSFCHs to be sent, the terminal device determines N RB sets from the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located. N is a positive integer. When N is greater than 1, the N RB sets are continuous RB sets. After determining the N RB sets, the terminal device sends PSFCH on the N RB sets. The RB set where the M PSFCHs are located can be one or more RB sets, and the RB set where the M PSFCHs are located is a resource set composed of the one or more RB sets. The process of determining N RB sets from the RB set where the M PSFCHs are located is the process of determining a subset of the resource set. The subset may include all RB sets in the resource set, or may include part of the RB sets in the resource set.

[0010] It should be noted that M refers to the number of PSFCHs, and the number of RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located may be equal to M or less than M.

[0011] "After determining that there are M PSFCHs to be sent, the terminal device determines N RB sets from the RB sets where the M PSFCHs to be sent are located." can be replaced by: "The terminal device receives M PSSCHs, and there are M PSFCHs to be sent at the same PSFCH transmission opportunity, and determines N RB sets from the RB sets where the M PSFCHs to be sent are located."

[0012] Among them, the terminal device determines N RB sets, which can also be understood as the terminal device determines the PSFCH on the N RB sets. The PSFCH sent by the terminal device afterwards is the PSFCH on the N RB sets determined by the terminal device. That is, determining the RB set is not an optional step. The purpose of determining the RB set is to determine the PSFCH to be sent in the RB set. The terminal device can directly determine L PSFCHs among the M PSFCHs. "Determine N RB sets from the RB set where the M PSFCHs to be sent are located" can also be replaced with "The terminal device determines L PSFCHs from the M PSFCHs to be sent, and the L PSFCHs are located in the N RB sets. In this way, the terminal device can directly determine the PSFCH to be actually sent from the PSFCH to be sent.

[0013] In the above implementation method, the terminal device can find an RB set or multiple consecutive RB sets from the RB set where the M PSFCHs are located to send PSFCH based on its own ability to transmit PSFCH on continuous frequency domain resources and / or non-continuous frequency domain resources. The PSFCH finally sent meets the terminal device's ability to transmit PSFCH on continuous frequency domain resources and / or non-continuous frequency domain resources, ensuring that the terminal device can efficiently send PSFCH, and sending PSFCH within a subset of the RB set where the M PSFCHs to be sent are located, so as to increase the number of PSFCHs sent as much as possible.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the N RB sets include the RB set containing the PSFCH with the lowest priority value among the M PSFCHs. In other words, the terminal device determines L PSFCHs from the M PSFCHs based on their priorities. Furthermore, the terminal device preferentially transmits the PSFCH with the lowest priority value among the M PSFCHs.

[0015] In the above implementation, it is ensured that the PSFCH sent by the terminal device always includes the PSFCH with the smallest priority value among the M PSFCHs, ensuring that the terminal device can preferentially send the PSFCH with the highest importance (that is, the PSFCH with the smallest priority value).

[0016] In one possible implementation, after the terminal device determines N RB sets, when sending PSFCHs on the N RB sets, it can select P PSFCHs from the PSFCHs on the N RB sets, where the P PSFCHs are the first P PSFCHs in the PSFCHs on the N RB sets sorted from small to large priority values. Among them, P is not greater than the maximum number of PSFCHs sent by the terminal device, and the total power of the P PSFCHs is not greater than the maximum PSFCH send power of the terminal device. That is, the terminal device gives priority to sending PSFCHs with smaller priority values ​​from the PSFCHs on the N RB sets. After determining the P PSFCHs, the terminal device sends P PSFCHs. At this time, according to the previous description, P=L.

[0017] In the above implementation, after determining an RB set or multiple consecutive RB sets, the terminal device determines P PSFCHs from the RB set or multiple consecutive RB sets according to the priority value and sends the P PSFCHs. In other words, the terminal device sends P PSFCHs from the RB set or multiple consecutive RB sets according to the priority value, giving priority to sending PSFCHs with smaller priority values. This ensures that the terminal device can send the P PSFCHs with higher importance from the RB set or multiple consecutive RB sets. At this time, according to the previous description, P = L.

[0018] In one possible implementation, after the terminal device determines N RB sets, when sending PSFCH on the N RB sets, it can perform LBT on the N RB sets, and determine the first resource group from the RB sets on which LBT is successfully performed among the N RB sets. The first resource group consists of one RB set or multiple consecutive RB sets; thereafter, the terminal device selects P PSFCHs from the PSFCH on the first resource group, and the P PSFCHs are the first P PSFCHs in the PSFCH on the first resource group sorted in ascending order of priority value. Among them, P is not greater than the maximum number of PSFCHs sent by the terminal device, and the total power of the P PSFCHs is not greater than the maximum PSFCH send power of the terminal device. That is, the terminal device preferentially sends PSFCHs with smaller priority values ​​from the PSFCHs on the N RB sets. After determining the P PSFCHs, the terminal device sends P PSFCHs

[0019] In the above implementation method, after the terminal device determines an RB set or multiple consecutive RB sets (i.e., the first resource group) on which LBT is successfully executed, it determines P PSFCHs from the one RB set or multiple consecutive RB sets according to the priority value to ensure that the terminal device can send out the P PSFCHs with higher importance in the one RB set or multiple consecutive RB sets.

[0020] In one possible implementation, when the terminal device sends P PSFCHs, the terminal device can perform LBT on the RB set where the P PSFCHs are located, and determine the second resource group from the RB set where the LBT is successfully performed among the RB sets where the P PSFCHs are located. The second resource group consists of one RB set or multiple consecutive RB sets, and then the PSFCH on the second resource group is sent.

[0021] In the above implementation, when the terminal device sends P PSFCHs, it sends the PSFCHs on the RB set where LBT is successfully performed, ensuring that the terminal device can smoothly send the P PSFCHs with higher importance, and also ensuring that the last PSFCH sent by the terminal device is on a continuous RB set.

[0022] In one possible implementation, when the terminal device determines N RB sets from the RB set where M PSFCHs are located, the terminal device selects Q PSFCHs from the M PSFCHs, where the Q PSFCHs are the first Q PSFCHs in the M PSFCHs sorted in ascending order of priority. Q is not greater than the maximum number of PSFCHs transmitted by the terminal device, and the total power of the Q PSFCHs is not greater than the maximum PSFCH transmission power of the terminal device; then, the terminal device determines N RB sets from the RB set where the Q PSFCHs are located. This can also be replaced with: the terminal device determines L PSFCHs from the M PSFCHs to be transmitted, which may include the terminal device determining Q PSFCHs from the M PSFCHs and determining L PSFCHs from the Q PSFCHs. The L PSFCHs are located in the N RB sets in the RB set where the Q PSFCHs are located.

[0023] In the above implementation, the terminal device determines Q PSFCHs from M PSFCHs based on the principle of giving priority to sending PSFCHs with higher priorities, so the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located are not necessarily continuous. The determination of L PSFCHs from Q PSFCHs takes into account the limitation that the terminal device only sends PSFCHs on continuous RB sets. The L PSFCHs selected by the terminal device are within continuous RB sets. Furthermore, the N RB sets may include the RB set where the PSFCH with the highest priority value is located, so that the N RB sets determined by the terminal device always include the RB set where the PSFCH with higher importance is located, ensuring that the terminal device can eventually send the PSFCH with higher importance.

[0024] In one possible implementation, when the terminal device determines N RB sets from the RB sets where Q PSFCHs are located, the terminal device can perform LBT on the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located, and then determine N RB sets from the RB sets where LBT is successfully performed among the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located.

[0025] In the above implementation, the N RB sets determined by the terminal device are the RB sets on which LBT is successfully performed, ensuring that the PSFCH can be successfully sent on the N RB sets subsequently.

[0026] In one possible implementation, when a terminal device sends PSFCH on N RB sets, the terminal device can perform LBT on the N RB sets, and determine a third resource group among the RB sets on which LBT is successfully performed among the N RB sets. The third resource group consists of one RB set or multiple consecutive RB sets; thereafter, the terminal device sends PSFCH on the third resource group.

[0027] In the above implementation, the third resource group determined by the terminal device includes the RB set that successfully performs LBT among the N RB sets, ensuring that PSFCH can be successfully sent on the third resource group within the N RB sets, and also ensuring that the last sent PSFCH is on a continuous RB set.

[0028] In one possible implementation, the RB sets containing the M PSFCHs include multiple groups of RB sets, each group of RB sets includes one RB set or at least two consecutive RB sets, and the single RB set in the single group is discontinuous from all other RB sets in the RB sets containing the M PSFCHs. The N RB sets determined by the terminal device are the RB set with the largest number of RB sets among the multiple groups of RB sets.

[0029] In the above implementation, the N RB sets determined by the terminal device can include more RB sets, ensuring that the terminal device can send PSFCH on more frequency domain resources.

[0030] In one possible implementation, the RB set where the M PSFCHs are located includes multiple groups of RB sets, each group of RB sets includes one RB set or at least two consecutive RB sets, the N RB sets are the group of RB sets with the largest number of PSFCHs in the multiple groups of RB sets, and one RB set is discontinuous with the RB sets other than the one RB set in the RB set where the M PSFCHs are located.

[0031] In the above implementation, there are more PSFCHs on the N RB sets determined by the terminal device, ensuring that the terminal device can send more PSFCHs.

[0032] In one possible implementation, the RB sets containing the M PSFCHs include multiple groups of RB sets, each group of RB sets including one RB set or at least two consecutive RB sets. The single group of RB sets is discontinuous with all other RB sets in the RB sets containing the M PSFCHs. The N RB sets determined by the terminal device are the RB sets containing the largest number of PSFCHs in the multiple groups of RB sets.

[0033] In the above implementation, the N RB sets determined by the terminal device can include the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs, ensuring that the terminal device can increase the number of PSFCHs sent as much as possible.

[0034] In a possible implementation, the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located are RB sets where LBT is successfully performed, thereby ensuring that the N RB sets subsequently determined are RB sets where LBT is successfully performed, and ensuring that the terminal device can successfully send PSFCHs on the N RB sets.

[0035] In a second aspect, a sideline communication method is provided, which can be applied to a terminal device or a module applied to a terminal device. The following description will be made by taking the application of the method to a terminal device as an example. In this method, the terminal device has the ability to transmit PSFCH on continuous frequency domain resources and / or non-continuous frequency domain resources: it can transmit PSFCH on non-continuous RB sets, but cannot transmit PSFCH on continuous RB sets. The terminal device determines M PSFCHs to be sent, and determines S RB sets from the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located, where S is a positive integer, and when S is greater than 1, the S RB sets are non-continuous RB sets; after determining the S RB sets, the terminal device sends PSFCH on the S RB sets. The RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located can be one or more RB sets, and the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located are resource sets composed of the one or more RB sets. The process of determining S RB sets from the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located is the process of determining a subset of the resource set, and the subset can include all RB sets in the resource set, or can include part of the RB sets in the resource set.

[0036] Here, M refers to the number of PSFCHs, and the number of RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located may be equal to M or less than M.

[0037] In the above implementation method, the terminal device can find an RB set or multiple non-continuous RB sets from the RB sets where M PSFCHs are located to send PSFCH based on its own ability to transmit PSFCH on continuous frequency domain resources and / or non-continuous frequency domain resources. The PSFCH finally sent meets the terminal device's ability to transmit PSFCH on continuous frequency domain resources and / or non-continuous frequency domain resources, ensuring that the terminal device can efficiently send PSFCH.

[0038] In a possible implementation, the S RB sets include a first RB set, where the first RB set is the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value among the M PSFCHs is located.

[0039] In the above implementation, it is ensured that the PSFCH sent by the terminal device always includes the PSFCH with the smallest priority value among the M PSFCHs, ensuring that the terminal device can preferentially send the PSFCH with the highest importance (that is, the PSFCH with the smallest priority value).

[0040] In one possible implementation, after determining S RB sets, the terminal device selects P PSFCHs from the PSFCHs on the S RB sets when transmitting PSFCHs on the S RB sets. The P PSFCHs are the first P PSFCHs on the PSFCHs on the S RB sets sorted by priority from smallest to largest. P is not greater than the maximum number of PSFCHs that the terminal device can transmit, and the total power of the P PSFCHs is not greater than the maximum PSFCH transmit power of the terminal device. After determining the P PSFCHs, the terminal device transmits the P PSFCHs.

[0041] In the above implementation, after determining an RB set or multiple non-contiguous RB sets, the terminal device determines P PSFCHs from the RB set or multiple non-contiguous RB sets based on priority values ​​and then transmits the P PSFCHs. This ensures that the terminal device can transmit the P PSFCHs of higher importance from the RB set or multiple non-contiguous RB sets.

[0042] In one possible implementation, when a terminal device determines S RB sets from the RB sets containing M PSFCHs, it selects Q PSFCHs from the M PSFCHs, where the Q PSFCHs are the first Q PSFCHs in ascending order of priority. Q is not greater than the terminal device's maximum number of PSFCHs to be transmitted, and the total power of the Q PSFCHs is not greater than the terminal device's maximum PSFCH transmit power. The terminal device then determines S RB sets from the RB sets containing the Q PSFCHs.

[0043] In the above implementation, the S RB sets determined by the terminal device always include the RB set where the PSFCH with a higher degree of importance is located, ensuring that the terminal device can eventually send the PSFCH with a higher degree of importance.

[0044] In one possible implementation, the S RB sets include a second RB set, where the second RB set is the RB set containing the PSFCH with the lowest priority value among RB sets that are discontinuous with the first RB set. The S RB sets include the second RB set, where the second RB set is the RB set containing the PSFCH with the lowest priority value among RB sets that are discontinuous with the first RB set and the second RB set, and so on.

[0045] That is, the S RB sets include one or more non-contiguous RB sets other than the first RB set, and the one or more RB sets are the one or more non-contiguous RB sets where the first K PSFCHs are located after the priority values ​​of the PSFCHs on the RB sets that are discontinuous with the first RB set are sorted from small to large, where K is less than Q.

[0046] In the above implementation, the S RB sets determined by the terminal device always include the RB set where the PSFCH with a higher degree of importance is located, ensuring that the terminal device can eventually send the PSFCH with a higher degree of importance.

[0047] In a possible implementation, the S RB sets include an RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs among the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located.

[0048] In the above implementation, the S RB sets determined by the terminal device can include more PSFCHs, ensuring that the terminal device can send more PSFCHs.

[0049] In a possible implementation, the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located include multiple groups of RB sets, each group of RB sets includes one RB set or at least two non-contiguous RB sets, and the S RB sets are the RB sets with the largest number of PSFCHs among the multiple groups of RB sets.

[0050] In the above implementation, the S RB sets determined by the terminal device can include more RB sets, ensuring that the terminal device can send PSFCH on more frequency domain resources.

[0051] In a third aspect, a communication device is provided, which may be the terminal device mentioned in any of the methods of the first and second aspects. The communication device may include a transceiver unit and a processing unit to perform any of the first to second aspects, or any possible implementation of the first to second aspects. The transceiver unit is used to perform functions related to sending and receiving. Optionally, the communication unit includes a receiving unit and a sending unit. In one design, the transceiver unit is a communication chip, the processing unit may be one or more processors or processor cores, and the transceiver unit may be an input and output circuit or port of the communication chip.

[0052] In another design, the transceiver unit may be a transmitter and a receiver, or the communication unit may be a transmitter and a receiver.

[0053] Optionally, the communication device further includes modules that can be used to execute any one of the first to second aspects above, or execute any possible implementation of the first to second aspects.

[0054] In a fourth aspect, a communication device is provided, which may be the terminal device mentioned in any of the methods of the first and second aspects. The communication device may include a processor and a memory to perform any of the first and second aspects, or any possible implementation of the first and second aspects. Optionally, it also includes a transceiver, the memory is used to store a computer program or instruction, and the processor is used to call and run the computer program or instruction from the memory. When the processor executes the computer program or instruction in the memory, the communication device performs any of the first and second aspects, or any possible implementation of the first and second aspects.

[0055] Optionally, there are one or more processors and one or more memories.

[0056] Optionally, the memory may be integrated with the processor, or the memory may be provided separately from the processor.

[0057] Optionally, the transceiver may include a transmitter (transmitter) and a receiver (receiver).

[0058] In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided. This communication device may be the terminal device mentioned in any of the methods of the first and second aspects. The communication device may include a processor to perform any of the first and second aspects, or any possible implementation of the first and second aspects. The processor is coupled to a memory. Optionally, the communication device also includes a memory. Optionally, the communication device also includes a communication interface, and the processor is coupled to the communication interface.

[0059] In one implementation, when the communication device is the terminal device mentioned in any of the methods of the first and second aspects, the communication interface may be a transceiver or an input / output interface. Alternatively, the transceiver may be a transceiver circuit. Alternatively, the input / output interface may be an input / output circuit.

[0060] In another implementation, when the communication device is a chip or a chip system, the communication interface may be an input / output interface, an interface circuit, an output circuit, an input circuit, a pin, or related circuits on the chip or chip system. The processor may also be embodied as a processing circuit or a logic circuit.

[0061] In the sixth aspect, a computer program product is provided, which includes: a computer program (also referred to as code, or instructions), which, when executed, enables the computer to execute any one of the above-mentioned first to second aspects, or any possible implementation of the first to second aspects.

[0062] In the seventh aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, which stores a computer program (also referred to as code, or instructions). When the computer program is run on a computer, the computer executes any one of the above-mentioned first to second aspects, or executes any possible implementation of the first to second aspects.

[0063] In an eighth aspect, a chip system is provided, which may include a processor. The processor is coupled to a memory and may be used to perform any of the above-mentioned aspects from the first to the fifth aspect, or to perform any possible implementation of the first to the second aspect. Optionally, the chip system further includes a memory. The memory is used to store a computer program (also referred to as code, or instruction). The processor is used to call and run the computer program from the memory so that the device equipped with the chip system performs any of the above-mentioned aspects from the first to the second aspect, or to perform any possible implementation of the first to the second aspect.

[0064] In a ninth aspect, a processing device is provided, comprising: an interface circuit and a processing circuit. The interface circuit may include an input circuit and an output circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive signals via the input circuit and transmit signals via the output circuit, thereby implementing any of the first and second aspects above, or any possible implementation of the first and second aspects.

[0065] In a specific implementation, the processing device may be a chip, the input circuit may be an input pin, the output circuit may be an output pin, and the processing circuit may be a transistor, a gate circuit, a trigger, or various logic circuits. The input signal received by the input circuit may be, for example, but not limited to, received and input by a receiver, and the signal output by the output circuit may be, for example, but not limited to, output to and transmitted by a transmitter. The input circuit and the output circuit may be the same circuit, which functions as an input circuit and an output circuit at different times. This application does not limit the specific implementation of the processor and various circuits.

[0066] In one implementation, when the communication device is the terminal device mentioned in any one of the methods of the first and second aspects, the interface circuit may be a radio frequency processing chip in the terminal device, and the processing circuit may be a baseband processing chip in the terminal device.

[0067] In another implementation, the communication device may be a component of a terminal device, such as an integrated circuit product such as a system-on-chip (SoC) or a communication chip. The interface circuit may be an input / output interface, interface circuit, output circuit, input circuit, pin, or related circuit on the chip or chip system. The processing circuit may be a logic circuit on the chip. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0068] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0069] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of another communication system provided by the present application;

[0070] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a side communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0071] FIG4A is a schematic diagram of a side communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0072] FIG4B is a schematic diagram showing the distribution of three types of PSFCHs provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0073] FIG4C is a schematic diagram of the distribution of P PSFCHs provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0074] FIG5A is a schematic diagram of a side communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0075] FIG5B is a schematic diagram of the distribution of Q PSFCHs provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0076] FIG5C to FIG5E are schematic diagrams of a distribution of N RB sets provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0077] FIG6A is a schematic diagram of a side communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0078] FIG6B is a schematic diagram of the distribution of multiple RB sets provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0079] FIG6C is a schematic diagram of the distribution of N RB sets provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0080] FIG7A is a schematic diagram of a side communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0081] FIG7B is a schematic diagram of the distribution of multiple RB sets provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0082] FIG7C to FIG7D are schematic diagrams showing the distribution of N RB sets provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0083] FIG8 is a schematic diagram of a side communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0084] FIG9A is a schematic diagram of a side communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0085] 9B to 9C are schematic diagrams of a distribution of S RB sets provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0086] FIG10A is a schematic diagram of a side communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0087] FIG10B to FIG10C are schematic diagrams showing the distribution of Q PSFCHs according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0088] FIG10D to FIG10E are schematic diagrams showing the distribution of S RB sets provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0089] FIG11A is a schematic diagram of a side communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0090] FIG11B is a schematic diagram of the distribution of S RB sets provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0091] FIG12A is a schematic diagram of a side communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0092] FIG12B is a schematic diagram of the distribution of multiple RB sets provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0093] FIG13 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0094] FIG14 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0095] Before describing a sideline communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application, some concepts designed in the embodiment of the present application are clarified:

[0096] 1) Terminal device. In the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may refer to a complete terminal device, or a module for realizing the functions of the terminal device, such as a chip system, which may be provided in the terminal device. The terminal device includes a device that provides data connectivity to the user. For example, it may include a handheld device with wireless connection function, or a processing device connected to a wireless modem. The terminal device can communicate with the core network via the radio access network (RAN), exchange data with the RAN, or interact with the core network for voice and data. The terminal device may include user equipment (UE), wireless terminal device, mobile terminal device, device-to-device communication (D2D) terminal device, vehicle to everything (V2X) communication terminal device, smart vehicle, vehicle-to-everything system (telematics box, TBOX), machine-to-machine / machine-type communication (M2M / MTC) terminal device, and Internet of Things (IoT) terminal device. Typically, a terminal device can be a vehicle, ship, or aircraft, or a terminal-type roadside unit (RSU), or a communication module or chip built into a vehicle or RSU. One type of network device in V2X technology is the roadside unit (RSU). An RSU can be a fixed infrastructure entity supporting V2X applications and can exchange messages with other entities supporting V2X applications over the PC5 air interface. Furthermore, terminal devices may also include communication devices in future communication systems such as the Metaverse.

[0097] In the embodiments of the present application, PC5 interface communication is supported between terminal devices, i.e., transmission via a sidelink is supported. The transmission link in the PC5 interface is defined as a sidelink. Enabling SL communication in unlicensed frequency bands within a local area is an important evolutionary direction, and the corresponding protocol technologies can be collectively referred to as sidelink-unlicensed (SL-U).

[0098] As an example and not a limitation, in the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device may also be a wearable device. Wearable devices may also be referred to as wearable smart devices or smart wearable devices, etc., which are a general term for wearable devices that are intelligently designed and developed using wearable technology for daily wear, such as glasses, gloves, watches, clothing, and shoes. A wearable device is a portable device that is worn directly on the body or integrated into the user's clothes or accessories. Wearable devices are not only hardware devices, but also achieve powerful functions through software support, data interaction, and cloud interaction. Broadly speaking, wearable smart devices include those that are fully functional, large in size, and can achieve complete or partial functions without relying on smartphones, such as smart watches or smart glasses, etc., 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, smart helmets, and smart jewelry for vital sign monitoring.

[0099] The various terminal devices introduced above, if located on a vehicle, for example, placed in a vehicle or installed in a vehicle, can be considered as vehicle-mounted terminal devices, which are also called on-board units (OBUs).

[0100] In the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may further include a relay, and a road side unit (RSU) may also be regarded as the terminal device.

[0101] Under the fourth generation mobile communication technology (4G) standard, the fifth generation mobile communication technology (5G) standard, and the new radio (NR) standard, inside the terminal device, from bottom to top, it includes a physical layer, a medium access control (MAC) layer, a radio link control (RLC) layer, and a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer. In the embodiment of the present application, the layers above the physical layer can all be referred to as high layers.

[0102] In an embodiment of the present application, the physical layer can be used to measure the busy rate of a resource (such as the target resource mentioned in the embodiment of the present application). A higher layer (such as the MAC layer) above the physical layer can perform analysis of the busy rate measurement results and determine whether to cancel the resource's continuous LBT failure status. The higher layer or the physical layer can also exclude resources in a continuous LBT failure state when performing resource selection.

[0103] 2) Network equipment, which is the access equipment that the terminal device uses to access the mobile communication system wirelessly, including radio access network (RAN) equipment, such as base stations. Network equipment can also refer to equipment that communicates with terminal devices over the air interface. Network equipment may include an evolved Node B (evolved Node B) in an LTE system or long term evolution-advanced (LTE-A), which can be referred to as eNB or e-NodeB. An eNB is a device deployed in a wireless access network that meets the fourth generation (4G) standard to provide wireless communication functions for terminal devices. The network device may also be a new radio controller (NR controller), a gNode B (gNB) in a 5G system, a centralized unit, a new wireless base station, a radio frequency remote module, a micro base station (also known as a small station), a relay, a distributed unit, various forms of macro base stations, a transmission reception point (TRP), a transmission measurement function (TMF) or a transmission point (TP) or any other wireless access device. The embodiments of the present application are not limited to this. The network equipment may also include a radio network controller (RNC), a node B (NB), a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a home base station (e.g., a home evolved NodeB, or a home Node B, HNB), a base band unit (BBU) or a remote radio unit (RRU), or a wireless fidelity (Wifi) access point (AP), or a baseband pool (BBU pool) and RRU in a cloud radio access network (CRAN). The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form used by the network equipment.For example, a network device may correspond to an eNB in ​​a 4G system and to a gNB in ​​a 5G system.

[0104] In addition, the base station in the embodiment of the present application may include a centralized unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU), and multiple DUs can be centrally controlled by one CU. CU and DU can be divided according to the protocol layer functions of the wireless network they possess, for example, the functions of the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer and above protocol layers are set in the CU, and the protocol layers below the PDCP, such as the radio link control (RLC) layer and the medium access control (MAC) layer, are set in the DU. It should be noted that this division of the protocol layer is only an example, and it can also be divided in other protocol layers. The radio frequency device can be remote and not placed in the DU, or it can be integrated in the DU, or partially remote and partially integrated in the DU. The embodiment of the present application does not impose any restrictions. In addition, in some embodiments, the control plane (CP) and user plane (UP) of the CU can be separated and divided into different entities for implementation, namely the control plane CU entity (CU-CP entity) and the user plane CU entity (CU-UP entity). In this network architecture, the signaling generated by the CU can be sent to the terminal device through the DU, or the signaling generated by the UE can be sent to the CU through the DU. The DU can directly encapsulate the signaling through the protocol layer and transparently transmit it to the terminal device or CU without parsing it. In this network architecture, the CU is divided into a network device on the RAN side. In addition, the CU can also be divided as a network device on the core network (CN) side. This application does not limit this.

[0105] In different systems, CU (including CU-CP or CU-UP) or DU may have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in an open radio access network (O-RAN) system, CU may also be referred to as O-CU (open CU), DU may also be referred to as O-DU, CU-CP may also be referred to as O-CU-CP, and CU-UP may also be referred to as O-CU-UP. For the convenience of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, and DU as examples for description.

[0106] In the embodiments of the present application, the apparatus for implementing the function of the network device may be the network device, or may be a device capable of supporting the network device in implementing the function, such as a chip system, which may be installed in the network device. In the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are described by taking the network device as an example.

[0107] 3) Sidelink communication, in this application, refers to the communication between terminal devices through sidelinks.

[0108] The following describes sideline communication using V2X communication as an example.

[0109] V2X communication targets high-speed devices, typically vehicles, and is a fundamental and key technology for future applications requiring extremely high communication latency. Applications of V2X communication include smart cars, autonomous driving, and intelligent transportation systems. As shown in Figure 1, typical V2X communication scenarios include vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), and vehicle-to-network (V2N). For V2V communication, the terminal device can be a vehicle or an onboard terminal device located within the vehicle. For example, for V2P communication, the terminal device can be a vehicle or an onboard terminal device located within the vehicle, or a mobile terminal, wearable device, or other device carried by pedestrians. For V2I communication, the terminal device can be a vehicle or an onboard terminal device located within the vehicle, or infrastructure such as a RSU.

[0110] Based on V2X communication, the terminal device can send its own status information such as position and speed, or driving intention information such as turning, merging or reversing, or information triggered by periodic or non-periodic events as side traffic data to surrounding terminal devices. Similarly, the terminal device can also receive side traffic data from other terminal devices in the surrounding area. In addition, the terminal device can also forward the side traffic data it receives from other terminal devices. Exemplarily, the side traffic data and / or side traffic feedback information are carried on the PSSCH.

[0111] V2X communication can support communication scenarios with and without network coverage. In the scenario where the terminal device has network coverage as shown by numbers a and b in Figure 2, the resource allocation method when the terminal device transmits through V2X communication can adopt the network device scheduling mode. For example, the resources used by the terminal device for sidelink communication that is sent through network device scheduling can be called authorized resources or authorized frequency bands. In the scenario where the terminal device has no network coverage as shown by number c in Figure 2, or when there is network coverage but the terminal device does not adopt the network device scheduling mode, the terminal device can select resources by itself, that is, select resources for sidelink communication from the resource pool. Such resources can be called unauthorized resources or unauthorized frequency bands.

[0112] Under network coverage, the terminal device can obtain SL resource pool configuration information and / or SL bandwidth part (BWP) configuration information by receiving the system information block (SIB) of the network device or the user-level (UE-specific) radio resource control (RRC) signaling of the terminal device. The terminal device can also use pre-configured SL resource pool configuration information or SL BWP configuration information, for example, when there is no network coverage, the pre-configured SL resource pool configuration information or SL BWP configuration information can be used. The SL resource pool configuration information includes resource pool resource information, and the resource pool resource information is used to indicate the SL resource pool. The resource pool is a collection of time-frequency resources used for side communication between UEs. The resource pool may include code domain resources. The resources in the resource pool include resources used by the terminal device to send and receive at least one of the following physical channels, such as the physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH), the physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH), the sidelink discovery channel (PSDCH), and the sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH). The service types carried by the PSSCH may include unicast, multicast, and / or broadcast communication types.

[0113] In the time domain, the SL resource pool includes one or more time units. A time unit can be one or more symbols, one or more slots, one or more mini-slots, one or more subframes, or one or more frames. One or more time units can be continuous or discrete in time. It should be understood that within a resource pool, the time domain units are logically continuous.

[0114] In the frequency domain, the SL resource pool includes one or more frequency domain units, which can be a resource element (RE), several REs, a resource block (RB), several RBs, a subchannel, or several subchannels. The subchannel size, which indicates the number of contiguous RBs in the frequency domain that a subchannel includes, can be an integer such as 10, 12, 15, 20, 25, or 50.

[0115] 3GPP defines PSSCH and PSFCH for end-to-end sidelink communications. PSFCH is used to carry hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) information. If HARQ feedback is enabled, after the terminal device sending data (referred to as the data sending terminal) sends sidelink data to the terminal device receiving data (referred to as the data receiving terminal) via PSSCH, the data receiving terminal can send HARQ information to the data sending terminal based on the reception status of the sidelink data. The HARQ information includes acknowledgment (ACK) information or negative acknowledgment (NACK) information; after the data sending terminal receives the HARQ information, it can retransmit according to the HARQ information. When the data receiving terminal receives ACK information, it does not retransmit; when the data receiving terminal receives NACK information, it retransmits, so as to improve the success rate of sidelink data transmission and thereby improve the reliability of sidelink communication.

[0116] For a terminal device, each time the terminal device receives a PSSCH, the broadcast type of the PSSCH is unicast or multicast, and the HARQ of the PSSCH is enabled, the corresponding PSFCH needs to be sent on the corresponding frequency domain resources. The frequency domain resources where the PSFCH is located are determined based on the frequency domain resources where the corresponding PSSCH is located. The time domain resources where the PSFCH is located are determined based on the time domain resources where the corresponding PSSCH is located. If the terminal device receives the PSSCH in time slot n, the corresponding PSFCH is sent in time slot n+k and the first time slot after time slot n+k that includes PSFCH resources. k is the minimum value, which is configured or pre-configured by the network device.

[0117] The PSFCH time domain resources are configured at fixed time domain locations within the SL resource pool. For example, PSFCH time domain resources can be periodically configured or pre-configured within the SL resource pool. Within the SL resource pool, the PSFCH time domain resources can be uniquely determined based on the time domain resources of each PSSCH according to predefined rules. This operating mode can be applied to licensed frequency bands, intelligent transport system (ITS) frequency bands, and unlicensed frequency bands.

[0118] In unlicensed frequency bands, terminal devices need to perform a listen before talk (LBT) process before using spectrum resources. Successful LBT means that the channel is idle, that is, the resources in the current spectrum are not used by other devices or will not be interfered with by the transmissions of other devices, and the terminal device can access the channel and use the spectrum resources; LBT failure means that the channel is busy, that is, the resources in the current spectrum are used by other devices, and the terminal device cannot access the channel and cannot use the spectrum resources. In addition, there are some reasons that lead to the inability to feedback, such as the terminal device being unable to send feedback information at the current feedback opportunity due to priority reasons, power reasons or device capability limitations. One PSSCH transmission can correspond to multiple PSFCH transmission opportunities. When the terminal device fails to send PSFCH at a PSFCH transmission opportunity, the terminal device can send PSFCH at the next PSSCH transmission opportunity.

[0119] Currently, when a terminal device has M PSFCHs to be sent, the terminal device needs to select one or more PSFCHs in ascending order of the priority values ​​of the M PSFCHs, and then send the selected one or more PSFCHs. The total number of the selected one or more PSFCHs is not greater than the maximum number of PSFCHs sent by the terminal device, and the total power of the selected one or more PSFCHs is not greater than the maximum PSFCH send power of the terminal device. The maximum number of PSFCHs sent by the terminal device is the capability reported by the terminal device. The maximum PSFCH send power of the terminal device is P c,max The P c,max For preset.

[0120] Among them, the smaller the priority value of PSFCH, the higher the priority of the PSFCH. Exemplarily, the value range of the priority value is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. This application does not rely on the correspondence between priority and priority value. In this application, sending a PSFCH with a small priority value is equivalent to sending a PSFCH with a high priority. When the larger the priority value of PSFCH is, the higher the priority of PSFCH is, the PSFCH with a small priority value in this application can be replaced by a PSFCH with a large priority value.

[0121] This PSFCH transmission method does not take into account the terminal device's ability to transmit PSFCH on continuous frequency domain resources and / or non-continuous frequency domain resources. 3GPP allows terminal devices to have different capabilities for transmitting PSFCH on continuous frequency domain resources and / or non-continuous frequency domain resources in end-to-end sidelink communications. Specifically, the terminal device's ability to transmit PSFCH includes:

[0122] Capability 1: Ability to transmit PSFCH on continuous frequency domain resource units.

[0123] Capability 2: Ability to transmit PSFCH on non-contiguous frequency domain resource units.

[0124] The so-called "continuous frequency domain resource unit" refers to at least two frequency domain resource units that are connected in the frequency domain. The "non-continuous frequency domain resource unit" refers to at least two frequency domain resource units that are not connected in the frequency domain. Among them, the terminal device transmits PSFCH only on one frequency domain resource unit. This method of transmitting PSFCH can be considered as a "special" case when transmitting PSFCH on non-continuous frequency domain resource units or when transmitting PSFCH on continuous frequency domain resource units.

[0125] Among them, the frequency domain resource unit is a resource unit divided in the frequency domain. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific type of the frequency domain resource unit. The frequency domain resource unit can be a resource block set (RB set), or a carrier or subcarrier.

[0126] Based on the terminal device's reporting of the above capabilities, the terminal device's ability to transmit PSFCH on continuous frequency domain resources and / or non-continuous frequency domain resources includes:

[0127] Case 1: The PSFCH can be transmitted on continuous frequency domain resource units, but cannot be transmitted on non-contiguous frequency domain resource units.

[0128] Case 2: PSFCH can be transmitted on non-contiguous frequency domain resource units, but cannot be transmitted on contiguous frequency domain resource units.

[0129] Case 3: PSFCH can be transmitted on non-contiguous frequency domain resource units, and can also be transmitted on contiguous frequency domain resource units.

[0130] Case 4: PSFCH cannot be transmitted on non-contiguous frequency domain resource units, nor can PSFCH be transmitted on contiguous frequency domain resource units.

[0131] The above-mentioned situation 2 and situation 4 are only two possible situations. The embodiments of the present application are not limited to the existence of these two situations.

[0132] In case 1, when the terminal device sends PSFCH, it can only send PSFCH on continuous frequency domain resource units and cannot send PSFCH on non-contiguous frequency domain resource units. In other words, in case 1, the PSFCH sent by the terminal device can only be distributed on continuous frequency domain resource units.

[0133] Similarly, in case 2, when the terminal device sends PSFCH, it can only send PSFCH on non-contiguous frequency domain resource units and cannot send PSFCH on contiguous frequency domain resource units. In other words, in case 2, the PSFCH sent by the terminal device can only be distributed on non-contiguous frequency domain resource units.

[0134] In the embodiments of the present application, a sideline communication method is provided for terminal devices in case one and case two, respectively. In the sideline communication method, the terminal device can select a PSFCH to be finally transmitted from M PSFCHs to be transmitted based on the ability to transmit PSFCHs on continuous frequency domain resources and / or non-continuous frequency domain resources. This application does not limit the manner in which the terminal device selects the PSFCH to be finally transmitted from the M PSFCHs to be transmitted in case three and case four.

[0135] The following takes the frequency domain resource unit as RB set as an example to introduce the two side communication methods provided in the embodiments of the present application. It should be noted that the side communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application is also applicable to scenarios with other types of frequency domain resource units, and its execution process is similar to the execution process of the side communication method when the frequency domain resource unit is RB set. The only difference is the specific type of the frequency domain resource unit. The side communication method in the scenario of other types of frequency domain resource units will not be described here in detail. For details, please refer to the embodiments of the present application.

[0136] (I) Case 1: The terminal device can transmit PSFCH on consecutive RB sets, but cannot transmit PSFCH on non-consecutive RB sets.

[0137] As shown in FIG3 , a side communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application includes:

[0138] Step 301: The terminal device determines M PSFCHs to be sent.

[0139] As described above regarding sidelink communications, each time a terminal device receives a PSSCH, if the PSSCH is unicast or multicast and HARQ is enabled for the PSSCH, the terminal device needs to feed back a PSFCH to provide HARQ information to the terminal device that sent the PSSCH. Each time a terminal device sends a PSSCH, the terminal device receives a corresponding PSFCH to obtain the HARQ information fed back by the terminal device that received the PSSCH.

[0140] Based on this, there may be two situations in which the terminal device determines the M PSFCHs to be sent:

[0141] The first type is that the terminal device has M PSFCHs to be sent and F PSFCHs to be received.

[0142] In this case, if the terminal device supports full-duplex communication, the terminal device can send and receive simultaneously. The terminal device determines that it needs to send the M PSFCHs and receive the F PSFCHs simultaneously.

[0143] If the terminal device supports half-duplex communication, the terminal device cannot send and receive at the same time and needs to choose to send or receive. At this time, the terminal device needs to determine whether to send M PSFCHs or receive F PSFCHs. Exemplarily, the terminal device determines the PSFCH with the smallest priority value among the M PSFCHs and the F PSFCHs based on the priority values ​​of the M PSFCHs to be sent and the F PSFCHs to be received. When the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is the PSFCH to be sent, the terminal device determines that the M PSFCHs need to be sent. When the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is the PSFCH to be received, the terminal device needs to receive the F PSFCHs.

[0144] The second type is that the terminal device has M PSFCHs to be sent, but no PSFCHs to be received.

[0145] In this case, the terminal device determines that the M PSFCHs need to be sent.

[0146] Step 302: The terminal device determines N RB sets from the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located, where N is a positive integer. When N is greater than 1, the N RB sets are continuous RB sets.

[0147] Step 302 can be understood as the terminal device determining L PSFCHs from the M PSFCHs to be transmitted, wherein the L PSFCHs are in N RB sets. N is a positive integer. When N is greater than 1, the N RB sets are continuous RB sets.

[0148] Step 303: The terminal device sends PSFCH on N RB sets.

[0149] The M PSFCHs that the terminal device determines need to be sent are the M PSFCHs to be sent. However, due to the influence of the terminal device's own ability to transmit PSFCH on continuous frequency domain resources and / or non-continuous frequency domain resources (optionally, it may also be limited by the maximum number of PSFCHs sent by the terminal device and / or the maximum transmit power of the PSFCH of the terminal device), the PSFCH ultimately sent by the terminal device may be the M PSFCHs, or it may be part of the PSFCHs in the M PSFCHs. In order to determine the PSFCH to be finally sent, the terminal device executes steps 302 and 303.

[0150] Since the M PSFCHs may be distributed in the same RB set or in multiple RB sets, the terminal device first determines N RB sets in step 302. Since the terminal device can only send PSFCHs in consecutive RB sets, the N RB sets determined by the terminal device may be one RB set or multiple consecutive RB sets.

[0151] After determining N RB sets, the terminal device sends PSFCHs on the N RB sets. The terminal device may send all PSFCHs to be sent on the N RB sets, or may send part of the PSFCHs to be sent on the N RB sets.

[0152] In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, in order to clarify the process of the terminal device sending PSFCH, the terminal device sending PSFCH is divided into two steps. The first step is to determine N RB sets, and the second step is to send PSFCH on N RB sets. In fact, when sending PSFCH, the terminal device can determine L PSFCHs on one RB set or multiple consecutive RB sets (that is, N RB sets) from the RB sets where M PSFCHs are located, and then send the determined PSFCH. Therefore, in the embodiment of the present application, the step of determining N RB sets can be understood as determining L PSFCHs from M PSFCHs.

[0153] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the timing of executing the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 .

[0154] For example, after performing LBT, the terminal device may execute the embodiment shown in FIG3 for the RB set where LBT was successfully performed. In this case, the RB set where LBT was successfully performed is the RB set where the M PSFCHs are located. That is, the terminal device determines the PSFCHs to be transmitted, and the PSFCHs in the RB set where LBT was successfully performed within the RB set where the PSFCHs to be transmitted are the M PSFCHs to be transmitted.

[0155] For another example, when the terminal device executes the embodiment shown in Figure 3, after determining N RB sets, it performs LBT on the determined N RB sets, and then sends PSFCH on the RB set that successfully performs LBT among the N RB sets. However, in this method, there is a situation where the RB sets that successfully perform LBT among the N RB sets are not continuous RB sets. The terminal device can determine one RB set or continuous RB sets from the RB sets that successfully perform LBT among the N RB sets, and send PSFCH on the determined one RB set or continuous RB sets. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the method in which the terminal device determines one RB set or continuous RB sets from the RB sets that successfully perform LBT among the N RB sets, and the method in which the PSFCH is sent on the one RB set or continuous RB sets.

[0156] Using the sideline communication method shown in Figure 3, the N RB sets determined by the terminal device are one RB set or multiple continuous RB sets, which is consistent with the terminal device's ability to transmit PSFCH on continuous frequency domain resources and / or non-continuous frequency domain resources, ensuring that the terminal device efficiently realizes PSFCH transmission.

[0157] In an embodiment of the present application, the terminal device can implement the side communication method shown in Figure 3 in any of the following ways. The various ways described below are the execution methods of steps 302 to 303 in the side communication method shown in Figure 3.

[0158] Method 1, as shown in FIG4A , is a side communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application, the method comprising:

[0159] Step 401: The terminal device determines the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located from among the M RB sets where the PSFCHs are located.

[0160] In other words, the terminal device determines the PSFCH with the smallest priority value from the M PSFCHs.

[0161] Step 402: The terminal device determines N RB sets including the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located from the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located.

[0162] In other words, the terminal device determines N RB sets including the PSFCH with the smallest priority value from the M PSFCHs.

[0163] Optionally, step 401 and step 402 may be combined into one step, that is, the terminal device only executes step 402 and does not execute step 401. This is not limited here.

[0164] After determining the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located, the terminal device determines from the M RB sets where the PSFCHs are located whether an RB set continuous with the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located is included.

[0165] If the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located do not include an RB set continuous with the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located, then N is equal to 1, and the RB set determined by the terminal device is the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located.

[0166] If the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located include an RB set that is continuous with the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located, then N is greater than 1, and the terminal device determines N continuous RB sets, and the N RB sets include the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located and the RB sets that are continuous with it. If the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located include an RB set that is continuous with the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located and a continuous RB set, then the N RB sets also include an RB set that is continuous with the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located. In other words, the N RB sets are N connected RB sets, which include the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located.

[0167] To simplify the description, the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located is marked as RB set-A, the RB set continuous with RB set-A is marked as RB set-B1, the RB set continuous with RB set-B1 is marked as RB set-C1, and so on.

[0168] When the RB set containing M PSFCHs includes RB set-B1, which is continuous with RB set-A, the terminal device determines that the N continuous RB sets include RB set-A and RB set-B1. If the RB set containing M PSFCHs also includes RB set-C1, which is continuous with RB set-B1, then the N RB sets also include RB set-C1. The N RB sets ultimately determined must satisfy the following: RB sets other than the N RB sets in the RB set containing the M PSFCHs are discontinuous with any other RB set in the N RB sets. There can be more than one RB set B1. There can also be more than one RB set C1.

[0169] The following describes how the terminal device determines the N RB sets with reference to specific examples. As shown in FIG4B , a distribution diagram of M PSFCHs is provided for an embodiment of the present application. FIG4B shows three possible distributions of M PSFCHs, with M being 5. FIG4B labels these three distribution modes as distribution mode a1, distribution mode b1, and distribution mode c1. The numbers after each RB set in FIG4B are set to distinguish the various RB sets, and RB sets with connected numbers are continuous. The numbers in the rectangular box in FIG4B are the priority values ​​of the PSFCHs.

[0170] In the distribution mode a1 shown in FIG4B , the five PSFCHs are distributed on RB set-1, RB set-2, RB set-3, RB set-4, and RB set-5.

[0171] Among them, the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 is on RB set-1, the PSFCH with a priority value of 2 is on RB set-2, the PSFCH with a priority value of 3 is on RB set-3, the PSFCH with a priority value of 4 is on RB set-4, and the PSFCH with a priority value of 6 is on RB set-5.

[0172] When five PSFCHs are distributed in distribution pattern a1, the terminal device first determines the RB set containing the PSFCH with the smallest priority value, that is, RB set-1 containing the PSFCH with a priority value of 1. Since the RB set containing the five PSFCHs includes RB set-2, which is continuous with RB set-1, and also does not include an RB set that is continuous with the RB set containing the PSFCH with the smallest priority value, that is, the RB set containing the five PSFCHs includes RB set-3, which is continuous with RB set-2, the terminal device will determine five consecutive RB sets (that is, N is equal to 5), namely RB set-1, RB set-2, RB set-3, RB set-4, and RB set-5.

[0173] In the distribution mode b1 shown in Figure 4B, the five PSFCHs are distributed on RB set-1, RB set-3, RB set-4, and RB set-5, among which the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 and the PSFCH with a priority value of 2 are on RB set-1, the PSFCH with a priority value of 3 is on RB set-3, the PSFCH with a priority value of 6 is on RB set-4, and the PSFCH with a priority value of 4 is on RB set-5.

[0174] When five PSFCHs are distributed using distribution pattern b1, the terminal device first determines the RB set containing the PSFCH with the lowest priority value, that is, RB set-1 containing the PSFCH with a priority value of 1. Because the RB sets containing the five PSFCHs do not include an RB set continuous with RB set-1, the terminal device determines one RB set (that is, N is equal to 1), which is RB set-1.

[0175] In the distribution mode c1 shown in FIG4B , the five PSFCHs are distributed on RB set-1, RB set-2, RB set-4, and RB set-5, wherein the PSFCH with a priority value of 2 is on RB set-1, the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 and the PSFCH with a priority value of 3 are on RB set-2, the PSFCH with a priority value of 4 is on RB set-4, and the PSFCH with a priority value of 6 is on RB set-5.

[0176] When five PSFCHs are distributed in distribution pattern c1, the terminal device first determines the RB set containing the PSFCH with the smallest priority value, that is, determines RB set-2 containing the PSFCH with a priority value of 1. Since the RB set containing the five PSFCHs includes RB set-1, which is continuous with RB set-1, and the RB sets containing the five PSFCHs (except the RB set containing the PSFCH with the smallest priority value) do not include an RB set that is continuous with the RB set containing the PSFCH with the smallest priority value, that is, do not include an RB set that is continuous with RB set-1, then the terminal device will determine two consecutive RB sets (that is, N is equal to 2), which are RB set-1 and RB set-2.

[0177] As can be seen from the above example, when the terminal device determines that the RB sets containing the M PSFCHs include an RB set that is continuous with the RB set containing the PSFCH with the lowest priority value, the N RB sets determined by the terminal device are multiple RB sets that include the RB set containing the PSFCH with the lowest priority value and are continuous. That is, the N RB sets are multiple RB sets that are continuous, adjacent, or end-to-end.

[0178] The terminal device ensures, through step 402, that the N RB sets always include the RB set containing the PSFCH with the lowest priority value. After steps 401 and 402, the terminal device determines N RB sets from the RB sets containing the M PSFCHs. The terminal device then further determines the PSFCH to be transmitted from these N RB sets, executing step 403.

[0179] Step 403: The terminal device selects P PSFCHs from the PSFCHs on the N RB sets, where the P PSFCHs are the first P PSFCHs on the N RB sets sorted in ascending order of priority.

[0180] The terminal device sorts the PSFCHs on the N RB sets according to the priority value from small to large, and selects the first P PSFCHs from the sorted PSFCHs. In other words, the terminal device gives priority to sending high-priority PSFCHs (PSFCHs with low priority values) among the PSFCHs on the N RB sets. The P PSFCHs need to meet the maximum number of PSFCHs sent by the terminal device and / or the maximum transmit power of the PSFCHs of the terminal device. That is: P is not greater than the maximum number of PSFCHs sent by the terminal device, and the total power of the P PSFCHs is not greater than the maximum transmit power of the PSFCHs of the terminal device.

[0181] The following describes how a terminal device selects P PSFCHs using a specific example, still taking the distribution of M PSFCHs shown in FIG4B as an example.

[0182] As shown in Figure 4C, assuming that the maximum number of PSFCHs transmitted by the terminal device is 2, when 5 PSFCHs are distributed in distribution mode a1, after the terminal device determines RB set-1, RB set-2, RB set-3, RB set-4, and RB set-5, the terminal device selects 2 PSFCHs from the 5 PSFCHs on RB set-1, RB set-2, RB set-3, RB set-4, and RB set-5 in order from small to large priority values, that is, selects the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 and the PSFCH with a priority value of 2. If the total power of the 2 PSFCHs is not greater than the maximum transmit power of the terminal device, then the 2 PSFCHs are the finally selected PSFCHs (that is, P is equal to 2). If the total power of the 2 PSFCHs is greater than the maximum transmit power of the terminal device and the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 is not greater than the maximum transmit power of the terminal device, then the terminal device selects the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 (that is, P is equal to 1).

[0183] Assuming that the maximum number of PSFCHs transmitted by the terminal device is 2, when 5 PSFCHs are distributed in distribution mode b1, after the terminal device determines RB set-1, the terminal device selects 2 PSFCHs for the two PSFCHs on RB set-1 in order of priority value from small to large, that is, it selects the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 and the PSFCH with a priority value of 2. If the total power of the 2 PSFCHs is not greater than the maximum transmit power of the terminal device, then the 2 PSFCHs are the finally selected PSFCHs (that is, P is equal to 2). If the total power of the 2 PSFCHs is greater than the maximum transmit power of the terminal device and the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 is not greater than the maximum transmit power of the terminal device, then the terminal device selects the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 (that is, P is equal to 1).

[0184] Assuming that the maximum number of PSFCHs transmitted by the terminal device is 2, when 5 PSFCHs are distributed in distribution mode c1, after the terminal device determines RB set-1 and RB set-2, the terminal device selects 2 PSFCHs from the three PSFCHs on RB set-1 and RB set-2 in order of priority value from small to large, that is, it selects the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 and the PSFCH with a priority value of 2. If the total power of the 2 PSFCHs is not greater than the maximum transmit power of the terminal device, then the 2 PSFCHs are the finally selected PSFCHs (that is, P is equal to 2). If the total power of the 2 PSFCHs is greater than the maximum transmit power of the terminal device and the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 is not greater than the maximum transmit power of the terminal device, then the terminal device selects the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 (that is, P is equal to 1).

[0185] Through step 403, the terminal device determines the P PSFCHs to be finally sent from the PSFCHs on the N RB sets. Since the P PSFCHs are selected based on the priority value of the PSFCH, it is guaranteed that the P PSFCHs include one or more PSFCHs with the smallest priority value among the M PSFCHs to be sent. The terminal device can give priority to sending PSFCHs with higher importance.

[0186] When the terminal device determines P PSFCHs from the PSFCHs on N RB sets, there may be a situation where the RB sets where the determined P PSFCHs are located are not continuous RB sets. In this case, the terminal device may repeat steps 401 to 403 until the RB sets where the determined P PSFCHs are located are one RB set or continuous RB sets. The terminal device may also determine one RB set or continuous RB sets from the RB sets where the P PSFCHs are located, and send the PSFCHs on the one RB set or continuous RB sets. For another example, the terminal device may execute steps 401 to 403 for the RB set where the P PSFCHs are located (the only difference is that M in the aforementioned steps is replaced by P, and P in the aforementioned steps is replaced by another value that conforms to the maximum number of PSFCHs to be transmitted and the maximum transmit power of the PSFCH of the terminal device). For another example, the terminal device discards non-continuous RB sets in the RB sets where the P PSFCHs are located, determines one RB set or continuous RB sets in the RB sets where the P PSFCHs are located, and sends the PSFCH on the one RB set or the continuous RB sets.

[0187] Step 404: The terminal device sends the P PSFCHs.

[0188] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the timing of executing the embodiment shown in Figure 4A. For example, after executing LBT, the terminal device may execute the embodiment shown in Figure 4A for the RB set where the M PSFCHs where LBT was successfully executed are located.

[0189] For another example, when the terminal device executes the embodiment shown in Figure 4A, after determining N RB sets, it performs LBT on the N RB sets. When performing LBT, if the RB sets on which LBT is successfully performed among the N RB sets are not continuous RB sets, the terminal device may determine one RB set or multiple continuous RB sets from the RB sets on which LBT is successfully performed among the N RB sets (the one RB set or multiple continuous RB sets constitute a first resource group). For the one RB set or multiple continuous RB sets, the terminal device may select P PSFCHs from the PSFCHs on the one RB set or multiple continuous RB sets. The P PSFCHs are the first P PSFCHs among the PSFCHs on the N RB sets after the priority values ​​are sorted from small to large (that is, step 403 is performed for the one RB set or multiple continuous RB sets). Thereafter, step 404 is performed.

[0190] For another example, when executing the embodiment shown in FIG4A , the terminal device, after determining P PSFCHs, performs LBT on the RB sets where the P PSFCHs are located. When performing LBT, if the RB sets on which LBT is successfully performed in the RB sets where the P PSFCHs are located are not continuous RB sets, the terminal device may determine one or more continuous RB sets (the one or more continuous RB sets constitute a second resource group) from the RB sets on which LBT is successfully performed in the RB sets where the P PSFCHs are located, and send the PSFCHs on the one or more continuous RB sets.

[0191] In the embodiment shown in Figure 4A, the terminal device first locates the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located, and then determines N RB sets including the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located, and sends the P PSFCHs on the N RB sets. In the above manner, it can be ensured that the PSFCH finally sent by the terminal device includes the PSFCH with the highest priority. And because the number of RBsets to be sent is reduced, the number of PSFCHs that can be sent increases. And the P PSFCHs are distributed in one RB set or multiple consecutive RB sets, and the terminal device's transmission of the P PSFCHs complies with the terminal device's own ability to transmit PSFCHs on continuous frequency domain resources and / or non-continuous frequency domain resources.

[0192] Method 2: As shown in FIG5A , a side communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application includes:

[0193] Step 501: The terminal device selects Q PSFCHs from M PSFCHs, where the Q PSFCHs are the first Q PSFCHs in the M PSFCHs sorted in ascending order of priority value.

[0194] In other words, the terminal device preferentially sends the PSFCH with a smaller priority value from among the M PSFCHs.

[0195] The terminal device sorts the M PSFCHs in ascending order of priority value, and selects the first Q PSFCHs from the sorted PSFCHs. That is, the terminal device gives priority to sending PSFCHs with low priority values ​​among the M PSFCHs, and the number of PSFCHs sent is Q. The Q PSFCHs need to meet the maximum number of PSFCHs sent by the terminal device and / or the maximum transmission power of the PSFCH of the terminal device. That is: Q is not greater than the maximum number of PSFCHs sent by the terminal device, and / or the total power of the Q PSFCHs is not greater than the maximum transmission power (P c,max).

[0196] The following describes a method for a terminal device to select Q PSFCHs with reference to a specific example, still taking the distribution method of M PSFCHs shown in FIG4B as an example.

[0197] As shown in Figure 5B, assuming that the maximum number of PSFCHs transmitted by the terminal device is 3, when 5 PSFCHs are distributed in distribution mode a1, distribution mode b1 or distribution mode c1, the terminal device selects 3 PSFCHs for the 5 PSFCHs in order from small to large priority values, that is, selects PSFCH with a priority value of 1, PSFCH with a priority value of 2 and PSFCH with a priority value of 3. If the total power of the 3 PSFCHs is not greater than the maximum transmit power of the terminal device, then the 3 PSFCHs are the PSFCHs finally selected (that is, Q is equal to 3). If the total power of the 3 PSFCHs is greater than the maximum transmit power of the terminal device, and the total power of the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 and the PSFCH with a priority value of 2 is not greater than the maximum transmit power of the terminal device, then the terminal device selects the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 and the PSFCH with a priority value of 2 (that is, Q is equal to 2). If the total power of the three PSFCHs is greater than the maximum transmit power of the terminal device, and the total power of the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 and the PSFCH with a priority value of 2 is greater than the maximum transmit power of the terminal device, and the power of the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 is not greater than the maximum transmit power of the terminal device, the terminal device selects the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 (that is, Q is equal to 1).

[0198] Through step 501, the terminal device determines Q PSFCHs from M PSFCHs. Since the Q PSFCHs are selected based on the priority value of the PSFCH, it is guaranteed that the Q PSFCHs include one or more PSFCHs with the highest priority value among the M PSFCHs to be sent.

[0199] This step is performed simultaneously with step 502 described below. In this case, step 501 can also be optional. That is, the terminal device determines L PSFCHs from M PSFCHs, where the L PSFCHs are located in N RB sets. When the terminal device determines the L PSFCHs from the M PSFCHs, it first prioritizes sending the PSFCH with the lowest priority value among the M PSFCHs, and then sends the PSFCHs in consecutive RB sets. Here, the two sending actions do not refer to a temporal order, but rather define two characteristics of the sending behavior.

[0200] Step 502: The terminal device determines N RB sets from the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located.

[0201] Step 502 can also be understood as the terminal device determining the PSFCH on N RB sets. The following is only explained using the example of the terminal device determining N RB sets. In fact, the process of the terminal device determining N RB sets is essentially to determine the PSFCH located on one RB set or multiple consecutive RB sets (such as L PSFCHs on one RB set or multiple consecutive RB sets) from Q PSFCHs, where the one RB set or multiple consecutive RB sets are N RB sets.

[0202] Since the Q PSFCHs may be distributed in the same RB set or in multiple RB sets, the terminal device selects one RB set or multiple consecutive RB sets from the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located as the N RB sets in step 502 .

[0203] There are many ways for a terminal device to determine N RB sets from the RB sets where Q PSFCHs are located. The present embodiment does not limit the specific method used by the terminal device to determine N RB sets from the RB sets where Q PSFCHs are located. Two possible methods for determining N RB sets are listed below.

[0204] Determination method 1: The terminal device determines N RB sets from the RB sets containing the Q PSFCHs based on the priority values ​​of the Q PSFCHs. When N is 1, the determined RB set is the RB set containing the PSFCH with the lowest priority value among the Q PSFCHs. When N is greater than 1, the determined N RB sets are the RB set containing the PSFCH with the lowest priority value among the Q PSFCHs, or multiple consecutive RB sets. In other words, when N is 1, the determined RB set is the RB set containing the PSFCH with the lowest priority value among the M PSFCHs. When N is greater than 1, the determined N RB sets are the RB set containing the PSFCH with the lowest priority value among the M PSFCHs, or multiple consecutive RB sets. In this case, the PSFCH with the lowest priority value among the M PSFCHs can be the same as the PSFCH with the lowest priority value among the Q PSFCHs. In other words, when N is 1, the determined RB set includes the PSFCH with the lowest priority value among the M (or Q) PSFCHs. When N is greater than 1, the determined N RB sets include the PSFCH with the smallest priority value among the M (or Q) PSFCHs, and the N RB sets are multiple consecutive RB sets.

[0205] That is, the terminal device preferentially sends PSFCHs with smaller priority values, and the RB sets where the PSFCHs are sent are adjacent RB sets or one RB set (or continuous RB sets). When one of the RB sets is used, there is no PSFCH on the RB sets adjacent to the RB set, or the terminal device is limited by the maximum number of PSFCHs to be sent by the terminal device and / or the maximum transmit power of the PSFCHs of the terminal device and can only send PSFCH on this one RB set.

[0206] In this determination method, the terminal device preferentially determines the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value among the Q PSFCHs is located, and then determines from the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located whether an RB set continuous with the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located is included.

[0207] If the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located do not include an RB set continuous with the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located, then the value of N is equal to 1, and the RB set determined by the terminal device is the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located.

[0208] If the RB set where the Q PSFCHs are located includes an RB set that is continuous with the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located, then N is greater than 1, and the terminal device determines N continuous RB sets, and the N RB sets include the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located and the RB sets that are continuous with it. If the RB set where the Q PSFCHs are located includes an RB set that is continuous with the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located and a continuous RB set, then the N RB sets also include an RB set that is continuous with the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located and a continuous RB set. That is, the N RB sets are N RB sets that are connected (end to end or adjacent) and include the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located. The RB set where the Q PSFCHs are located includes multiple groups of RB sets, and each group of RB sets includes one RB set or multiple continuous RB sets. For the case where a group of RB sets includes one RB set, it means that the RB set where the Q PSFCHs are located does not include an RB set that is continuous with an RB set included in the group of RB sets, and the RB set is independently grouped. The terminal device selects a group of RB sets including the PSFCH with the smallest priority value as the N RB sets.

[0209] The following describes how a terminal device determines N RB sets with reference to a specific example, still taking the distribution of M PSFCHs shown in FIG4B as an example.

[0210] Assume that the Q PSFCHs selected by the terminal device are PSFCH with priority value 1, PSFCH with priority value 2, and PSFCH with priority value 3.

[0211] As shown in Figure 5C, when the five PSFCHs are distributed in a1 manner, the terminal device determines the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located, that is, determines the RB set-1 where the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 is located. Since the RB set where the three PSFCHs are located includes RB set-2, which is continuous with RB set-1, and also includes an RB set that is continuous with the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located, that is, the RB set where the five PSFCHs are located includes RB set-3, which is continuous with RB set-2, then the terminal device will determine three consecutive RB sets (that is, N is equal to 3), which are RB set-1, RB set-2, and RB set-3, respectively.

[0212] As shown in Figure 5C, when five PSFCHs are distributed in distribution pattern b1, the terminal device determines the RB set containing the PSFCH with the smallest priority value, that is, RB set-1 containing the PSFCH with a priority value of 1. Since the RB sets containing the three PSFCHs do not include an RB set continuous with RB set-1, the terminal device will determine one RB set (that is, N is equal to 1), which is RB set-1.

[0213] As shown in Figure 5C, when five PSFCHs are distributed in distribution pattern c1, the terminal device determines the RB set containing the PSFCH with the smallest priority value, that is, RB set-2 containing the PSFCH with a priority value of 1. Because the RB set containing the three PSFCHs includes RB set-2, which is continuous with RB set-1, the terminal device will determine two consecutive RB sets (that is, N is equal to 2), namely RB set-1 and RB set-2.

[0214] In this manner, the N RB sets determined by the terminal device will include the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value among the M PSFCHs is located.

[0215] When there is more than one PSFCH with the smallest priority value among the M PSFCHs, the N RB sets determined by the terminal device are a group of RB sets including the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value among the M PSFCHs is located and the group of RB sets (the group of RB sets includes one RB set or multiple consecutive RB sets) where the RB set is located, which has the largest number of RB sets. Alternatively, the N RB sets determined by the terminal device are a group of RB sets including the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value among the M PSFCHs is located and the group of RB sets where the RB set is located, which has the largest number of PSFCHs. Alternatively, the N RB sets determined by the terminal device are a group of RB sets including the RB set with the largest PSFCH among the M PSFCHs and the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located. Alternatively, the terminal device selects any one RB set from multiple groups of RB sets or randomly selects a group of RB sets. Each of the multiple groups of RB sets includes the PSFCH with the smallest priority value among the M PSFCHs (including the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value among the M PSFCHs is located).

[0216] Determination method 2: The terminal device may divide the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located into multiple groups of RB sets (or the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located include multiple groups of RB sets), each group of RB sets including one RB set or multiple consecutive RB sets. In the case where a group of RB sets includes one RB set, it means that the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located do not include an RB set that is consecutive to the RB set included in the group of RB sets, and the RB set is independently grouped. The terminal device selects the group of RB sets with the largest number of PSFCHs as the N RB sets.

[0217] The following describes how a terminal device determines N RB sets with reference to a specific example, still taking the distribution of M PSFCHs shown in FIG4B as an example.

[0218] As shown in FIG5D , it is assumed that the Q PSFCHs selected by the terminal device are a PSFCH with a priority value of 1, a PSFCH with a priority value of 2, and a PSFCH with a priority value of 3.

[0219] When 5 PSFCHs are distributed in distribution mode a1, since the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located are RB set-1, RB set-2, and RB set-3, respectively, RB set-1, RB set-2, and RB set-3 are continuous RB sets. Regardless of how the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located are divided, the number of PSFCHs in the RB set containing the three RB sets must be the largest. Therefore, the terminal device can directly determine that the N RB sets are RB set-1, RB set-2, and RB set-3 (N is equal to 3).

[0220] When 5 PSFCHs are distributed in distribution mode b1, the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located can be divided into two groups of RB sets, one group of RB sets includes RB set-1, and the other group of RB sets includes RB set-3. Among them, the number of PSFCHs on RB set-1 (the number is 2) is greater than the number of PSFCHs on RB set-3 (the number is 1). Then, the N RB sets determined by the terminal device are RB set-1 (N is equal to 1).

[0221] As shown in Figure 5E, it is assumed that the Q PSFCHs selected by the terminal device are PSFCH with priority value 1, PSFCH with priority value 2, PSFCH with priority value 3, PSFCH with priority value 4, and PSFCH with priority value 6.

[0222] Taking the distribution method b1 shown in Figure 4B as an example, the RB sets where the five PSFCHs are located can be divided into two groups of RB sets, one group of RB sets includes RB set-1 (marked as group 1), and the other group of RB sets includes RB set-3, RB set-4, and RB set-5 (marked as group 2). Since the RB set in group 1 includes two PSFCHs and the RB set in group 2 includes three PSFCHs, the terminal device can use the RB set included in group 2 as the N RB sets (N equals 3).

[0223] It should be noted that if the multiple groups of RB sets formed by dividing the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located include multiple groups of RB sets with the largest number of PSFCHs, that is, the multiple groups of RB sets include at least two groups of RB sets, the at least two groups of RB sets have the same number of PSFCHs and the largest number of PSFCHs. The terminal device can further select a group of RB sets where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located from the at least two groups of RB sets as the N RB sets, select a group of RB sets with the largest number of RB sets from the at least two groups of RB sets as the N RB sets, or select a group of RB sets where the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs is located as the N RB sets. Alternatively, the terminal device selects an RB set from the at least two groups of RB sets at random.

[0224] Determination method three: The RB sets containing the Q PSFCHs can be divided into multiple groups of RB sets, each group of RB sets including one RB set or multiple consecutive RB sets. When a group of RB sets includes one RB set, this means that the RB sets containing the Q PSFCHs do not include an RB set that is consecutive to the RB set included in the group of RB sets, and the RB set is grouped independently. The terminal device selects the group of RB sets with the largest number of RB sets as the N RB sets.

[0225] The following describes how a terminal device determines N RB sets with reference to a specific example, still taking the distribution of M PSFCHs shown in FIG4B as an example.

[0226] Assume that the Q PSFCHs selected by the terminal device are PSFCH with a priority value of 1, PSFCH with a priority value of 2, and PSFCH with a priority value of 3.

[0227] When 5 PSFCHs are used in distribution mode a1, since the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located are RB set-1, RB set-2, and RB set-3, respectively, RB set-1, RB set-2, and RB set-3 are continuous RB sets. Therefore, the terminal device can directly determine the N RB sets as RB set-1, RB set-2, and RB set-3 (N is equal to 3).

[0228] Assume that the Q PSFCHs selected by the terminal device are PSFCH with a priority value of 1, PSFCH with a priority value of 2, PSFCH with a priority value of 3, PSFCH with a priority value of 4, and PSFCH with a priority value of 6.

[0229] Still referring to 5E, taking the distribution mode b1 shown in Figure 4B as an example, the RB sets where the five PSFCHs are located can be divided into two groups of RB sets, one group of RB sets includes RB set-1 (marked as group 1), and the other group of RB sets includes RB set-3, RB set-4, and RB set-5 (marked as group 2). Since group 1 includes only one RB set and group 2 includes three RB sets, the terminal device can use the RB set included in group 2 as the N RB sets (N is equal to 3).

[0230] It should be noted that if the multiple groups of RB sets formed by dividing the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located include multiple groups of RB sets with the largest number of RB sets, that is, the multiple groups of RB sets include at least two groups of RB sets, and the number of RB sets of the at least two groups of RB sets is the same and the largest. The terminal device can further select a group of RB sets where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located from the at least two groups of RB sets as the N RB sets, select a group of RB sets where the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs is located from the at least two groups of RB sets as the N RB sets, or select a group of RB sets where the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs is located from the at least two groups of RB sets as the N RB sets. Alternatively, the terminal device selects one RB set at random from the at least two groups of RB sets.

[0231] Determination method 4: The terminal device determines N RB sets from the RB sets containing the Q PSFCHs. When N is 1, the determined RB set is the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs among the Q PSFCHs. When N is greater than 1, the determined N RB sets are the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs and are consecutive RB sets.

[0232] It should be noted that, when there is more than one RB set including the largest number of PSFCHs among the M PSFCHs, the N RB sets determined by the terminal device are a group of RB sets including the RB set containing the PSFCH with the smallest priority value among the M PSFCHs and the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs (the group of RB sets includes one RB set or multiple consecutive RB sets). Alternatively, the N RB sets determined by the terminal device are a group of RB sets including the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs and the group of RB sets including the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs. Alternatively, the N RB sets determined by the terminal device are a group of RB sets including the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs and the group of RB sets including the RB set with the largest number of RB sets. Alternatively, the N RB sets determined by the terminal device are a group of RB sets including the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs and the group of RB sets including the RB set with the largest number of RB sets. Alternatively, the terminal device selects one RB set from the multiple groups of RB sets or randomly selects one RB set. Any one of the multiple groups of RB sets includes the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs.

[0233] After step 501 to step 502 , the terminal device determines N RB sets. After determining the N RB sets, the terminal device may execute step 503 .

[0234] Step 503: The terminal device sends PSFCHs on N RB sets. That is, the terminal device discards the PSFCHs in the M PSFCHs except the PSFCHs in the N RB sets, and only sends the PSFCHs on the N RB sets.

[0235] Optionally, the PSFCH sent by the terminal device on N RB sets may be a PSFCH located in N RB sets among the Q PSFCHs.

[0236] Optionally, the PSFCHs transmitted by the terminal device on N RB sets include the terminal device preferentially transmitting PSFCHs with smaller priority values ​​among the PSFCHs located in N RB sets among the M PSFCHs (i.e., performing step 501 on the PSFCHs located in N RB sets among the M PSFCHs). This also satisfies the upper limit on the number of PSFCHs transmitted by the terminal device and the maximum transmit power. In this case, the number of PSFCHs transmitted may be different from Q.

[0237] Similarly, the embodiments of the present application do not limit the timing of executing the embodiment shown in FIG. 5A . For example, after executing LBT, the terminal device may execute the embodiment shown in FIG. 5A for the RB set containing the M PSFCHs for which LBT was successfully executed. That is, the terminal device determines the PSFCH to be transmitted, and the PSFCH in the RB set containing the PSFCH to be transmitted that successfully executed LBT is the PSFCH to be transmitted.

[0238] For another example, when the terminal device executes the embodiment shown in Figure 5A, the terminal device determines Q PSFCHs after executing step 501. The terminal device can perform LBT on the RB set where the Q PSFCHs are located. When performing LBT, if the RB sets where the LBT is successfully performed in the RB set where the Q PSFCHs are located are not continuous RB sets, the terminal device can determine N RB sets from the RB sets where the LBT is successfully performed in the RB set where the Q PSFCHs are located. The N RB sets are a group of RB sets in the RB set where the Q PSFCHs are located, the group of RB sets includes one RB set or multiple continuous RB sets, the group of RB sets includes the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located, or the group of RB sets includes the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs, or the group of RB sets is a group of RB sets with the largest number of PSFCHs in the RB set where LBT is successfully performed. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the way in which the terminal device determines a group of RB sets from the RB sets where the LBT is successfully performed in the RB set where the Q PSFCHs are located.

[0239] For another example, when the terminal device executes the embodiment shown in Figure 5A, after executing step 502, the terminal device determines N RB sets, and the terminal device performs LBT on the N RB sets. When performing LBT, if the RB sets on which LBT is successfully performed in the N RB sets are not continuous RB sets, the terminal device can determine a group of RB sets (i.e., a third resource group) from the RB sets on which LBT is successfully performed in the N RB sets. The group of RB sets includes one RB set or multiple continuous RB sets. The way in which the terminal device determines a group of RB sets from the RB sets on which LBT is successfully performed in the N RB sets is similar to the aforementioned way of determining a group of RB sets from the RB sets on which LBT is successfully performed in the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located. For details, please refer to the aforementioned description. After determining the group of RB sets, the terminal device sends the PSFCH on the group of RB sets.

[0240] In the embodiment shown in FIG5A , the terminal device first locates the RB set where the first Q PSFCHs after sorting by priority value are located, and then determines N RB sets from the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located, and sends the PSFCHs on the N RB sets. In the above manner, the PSFCHs finally sent by the terminal device are part or all of the PSFCHs among the Q PSFCHs with higher importance, and the terminal device can send out the more important PSFCHs. Moreover, part or all of the PSFCHs among the Q PSFCHs are distributed in one RB set or multiple consecutive RB sets, and the terminal device's transmission of part or all of the PSFCHs among the Q PSFCHs complies with the terminal device's own ability to transmit PSFCHs on continuous frequency domain resources and / or non-continuous frequency domain resources.

[0241] In practical applications, the RB sets containing the M PSFCHs to be transmitted can be divided into multiple groups of RB sets, each group of RB sets containing one RB set or multiple consecutive RB sets. The terminal device selects one group of RB sets as the N RB sets. The embodiments of the present application provide two sideline communication methods for determining one group of RB sets from the multiple groups of RB sets as the N RB sets, and transmitting the PSFCH on the determined N RB sets. For details, see Method 3 and Method 4.

[0242] Method 3: As shown in FIG6A , a side communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application includes:

[0243] Step 601: The terminal device divides the RB sets containing the M PSFCHs into multiple groups of RB sets, each group of RB sets containing one RB set or multiple consecutive RB sets. A group of RB sets containing one RB set means that the RB sets containing the M PSFCHs do not contain any RB sets that are consecutive to the RB set contained in the group of RB sets, and the RB set is independently grouped.

[0244] That is, the one RB set is not continuous with any other RB sets in the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located except the one RB set. RB set continuity can also be understood as RB sets being connected, adjacent, end-to-end connected, or RB set indexes being connected.

[0245] The following describes a method for a terminal device to divide the RB sets containing M PSFCHs into multiple RB sets with reference to a specific example, still taking the distribution method of M PSFCHs shown in FIG4B as an example.

[0246] 6B , when 5 PSFCHs are distributed in distribution mode b1, the terminal device divides the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located into two groups of RB sets. The first group of RB sets includes RB set-1, and the second group of RB sets includes RB set-3, RB set-4, and RB set-5.

[0247] 6B , when 5 PSFCHs are distributed in distribution mode c1, the terminal device divides the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located into two groups of RB sets. The first group of RB sets includes RB set-1 and RB set-2, and the second group of RB sets includes RB set-4 and RB set-5.

[0248] It should be noted that, in order to facilitate the subsequent rapid determination of the N RB sets, the terminal device must follow the following division criteria when dividing the RB sets containing the M PSFCHs into multiple groups of RB sets: there is no overlap between the multiple groups of RB sets, that is, no single RB set can belong to multiple groups of RB sets; and for any group of RB sets, no RB set included in that group of RB sets is continuous with any RB set other than that group of RB sets containing the M PSFCHs. Based on this division criterion, when the five PSFCHs are distributed in manner a1 as shown in Figure 4B, only one group of RB sets can be formed. In this case, there is no subsequent operation of selecting one RB set from the multiple groups of RB sets as the N RB sets.

[0249] Step 602: The terminal device selects a group of RB sets with the largest number of RB sets from multiple groups of RB sets as the N RB sets.

[0250] The terminal device compares the number of RB sets in each group of RB sets, and the group of RB sets with the largest number of RB sets is the N RB sets.

[0251] If the multiple RB sets include only one RB set with the largest number of RB sets, for ease of description, the RB set with the largest number of RB sets among the multiple RB sets is referred to as the first candidate set. The terminal device may directly use the first candidate set as the N RB sets.

[0252] The following describes how a terminal device selects N RB sets with reference to a specific example, still taking the distribution of M PSFCHs shown in FIG4B as an example.

[0253] As shown in Figure 6C , when five PSFCHs are distributed using distribution pattern b1, the terminal device divides the RB sets containing the M PSFCHs into two groups of RB sets. The first group of RB sets includes RB set-1, and the second group of RB sets includes RB set-3, RB set-4, and RB set-5. These two groups of RB sets include only one first candidate group, which is the second group of RB sets. The terminal device selects the second group of RB sets as the N RB sets.

[0254] If the multiple RB sets include multiple first candidate groups, the terminal device may select one first candidate group from the multiple first candidate groups as the N RB sets.

[0255] In the embodiment of the present application, two methods for selecting one first candidate group from the multiple first candidate groups as N RB sets are provided, which are respectively described below:

[0256] Selection method 1: The terminal device selects the first candidate group with the largest number of PSFCHs from the multiple first candidate groups as N RB sets.

[0257] The terminal device compares the number of PSFCHs in each first candidate group, and the RB set included in the first candidate group with the largest number of PSFCHs is the N RB sets.

[0258] The following describes how a terminal device selects N RB sets with reference to a specific example, still taking the distribution of M PSFCHs shown in FIG4B as an example.

[0259] Referring to Figure 6C, when 5 PSFCHs are distributed in distribution mode c1, the terminal device divides the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located into two groups of RB sets. The first group of RB sets includes RB set-1 and RB set-2, and the second group of RB sets includes RB set-4 and RB set-5. The first group of RB sets and the second group of RB sets are both first candidate groups. The terminal device needs to further compare the number of PSFCHs in the first group of RB sets and the second group of RB sets. The first group of RB sets includes two PSFCHs, namely, a PSFCH with a priority value of 1 and a PSFCH with a priority value of 2. The second group of RB sets includes three PSFCHs, namely, a PSFCH with a priority value of 3, a PSFCH with a priority value of 6, and a PSFCH with a priority value of 4. The terminal device can select the second group of RB sets as the N RB sets.

[0260] Selection method 2: The terminal device selects the first candidate group containing the PSFCH with the smallest priority value from the multiple first candidate groups as N RB sets. Here, the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is the smallest priority value among all PSFCHs in the multiple first candidate groups.

[0261] The terminal device determines the priority value of each PSFCH in the first candidate group, and the RB set included in the first candidate group where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located is the N RB sets.

[0262] The following describes how a terminal device selects N RB sets with reference to a specific example, still taking the distribution of M PSFCHs shown in FIG4B as an example.

[0263] Referring to Figure 6C, when 5 PSFCHs are distributed in distribution mode c1, the terminal device divides the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located into two groups of RB sets. The first group of RB sets includes RB set-1 and RB set-2, and the second group of RB sets includes RB set-4 and RB set-5. The first group of RB sets and the second group of RB sets are both first candidate groups. The terminal device needs to further compare the priority values ​​of the PSFCHs in the first group of RB sets and the second group of RB sets. The first group of RB sets includes two PSFCHs, namely, a PSFCH with a priority value of 1 and a PSFCH with a priority value of 2. The second group of RB sets includes three PSFCHs, namely, a PSFCH with a priority value of 3, a PSFCH with a priority value of 6, and a PSFCH with a priority value of 4. The terminal device can select the first group of RB sets as the N RB sets.

[0264] Selection method three: the terminal device selects the first candidate group including the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs from the multiple first candidate groups as the N RB sets.

[0265] The terminal device compares the number of PSFCHs in each RB set in each first candidate group and determines the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs. The first candidate group in which the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs belongs is the N RB sets.

[0266] Selection method 4: the terminal device selects any one first candidate group from the multiple first candidate groups or randomly selects one first candidate group as the N RB sets.

[0267] After steps 601 and 602 , the terminal device determines N RB sets. The terminal device can send PSFCH on the N RB sets, that is, execute step 603 .

[0268] Step 603: The terminal device sends PSFCH on N RB sets. When the terminal device sends PSFCH on N RB sets, the terminal device may send all PSFCH on the N RB sets or may send part of the PSFCH on the N RB sets.

[0269] When executing step 603, the terminal device may select P PSFCHs from the PSFCHs on the N RB sets, where the P PSFCHs are the first P PSFCHs on the N RB sets sorted in ascending order of priority value.

[0270] The terminal device sorts the PSFCHs on the N RB sets in ascending order of priority and selects the first P PSFCHs from the sorted PSFCHs. These P PSFCHs must meet the terminal device's maximum number of PSFCHs to be transmitted and its maximum transmit power. In other words, P must not exceed the terminal device's maximum number of PSFCHs to be transmitted, and the total power of these P PSFCHs must not exceed the terminal device's maximum transmit power.

[0271] After the terminal device selects P PSFCHs from the PSFCHs on the N RB sets, the terminal device sends the P PSFCHs.

[0272] When the terminal device determines P PSFCHs from the PSFCHs on N RB sets, there may be a situation where the RB set where the P PSFCHs are located is not a continuous RB set. In this case, the processing method of the terminal device can refer to the relevant description in step 403. The difference is that, in this case, the terminal device can also repeatedly execute steps 601 to 603 until the RB set where the P PSFCHs are located is one RB set or a continuous RB set. Or the terminal device can execute steps 601 to 603 for the RB set where the P PSFCHs are located (the only difference is that M in the aforementioned steps is replaced by P, and P in the aforementioned steps is replaced by another value that conforms to the maximum number of PSFCHs sent and the maximum PSFCH transmission power of the terminal device) until the RB set where the PSFCHs are located is finally determined to be one RB set or a continuous RB set.

[0273] Similarly, the embodiments of the present application do not limit the timing of executing the embodiment shown in FIG6A. For example, after executing LBT, the terminal device may execute the embodiment shown in FIG6A for the RB set where the M PSFCHs on which LBT was successfully executed are located. For another example, after executing the embodiment shown in FIG6A, the terminal device executes LBT on the determined N RB sets, and then sends PSFCH on the RB set on which LBT was successfully executed among the N RB sets. However, in this method, there is a situation where the RB sets on which LBT was successfully executed among the N RB sets are not continuous RB sets. In this case, the solution provided for the terminal device is similar to the solution provided in the aforementioned similar situation when LBT was executed on the determined N RB sets after executing the embodiment shown in FIG4A. For details, please refer to the aforementioned description and no further details will be given here.

[0274] In the embodiment shown in FIG6A , the terminal device groups the RB sets containing the M PSFCHs and uses the group of RB sets with the largest number of RB sets as N RB sets, over which the PSFCHs are transmitted. In this manner, the N RB sets determined by the terminal device include a larger number of RB sets, ensuring that the terminal device can transmit the PSFCHs on a larger number of frequency domain resource units, and that the PSFCH transmission process complies with the terminal device's own capability to transmit the PSFCHs on continuous frequency domain resources and / or non-continuous frequency domain resources.

[0275] Method 4: As shown in FIG7A , a side communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application includes:

[0276] Step 701: The terminal device divides the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located into multiple groups of RB sets, and each group of RB sets contains one RB set or multiple consecutive RB sets. The case where a group of RB sets includes one RB set means that the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located do not include an RB set that is continuous with an RB set included in the group of RB sets, and the RB set is grouped independently. That is to say, the one RB set is not continuous with the RB sets in the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located except for the one RB set. The way in which the terminal device executes step 701 is similar to the way in which the terminal device executes step 601, and the details can be found in the above description and will not be repeated here.

[0277] Step 702: The terminal device selects a group of RB sets with the largest number of PSFCHs from multiple groups of RB sets as the N RB sets.

[0278] The terminal device compares the number of PSFCHs in each RB set, and the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs is the N RB sets.

[0279] If the multiple RB sets only include the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs, for ease of explanation, the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs among the multiple RB sets is called the second candidate set, that is, the multiple RB sets include one second candidate set. The terminal device can directly use the second candidate set as the N RB sets.

[0280] The following describes how a terminal device selects N RB sets with reference to a specific example, still taking the distribution of M PSFCHs shown in FIG4B as an example.

[0281] Referring to Figure 7B, when 5 PSFCHs are distributed in distribution mode b1, the terminal device divides the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located into two groups of RB sets. The first group of RB sets includes RB set-1, and the second group of RB sets includes RB set-3, RB set-4, and RB set-5. The first group of RB sets contains two PSFCHs, namely, a PSFCH with a priority value of 1 and a PSFCH with a priority value of 2. The second group of RB sets contains three PSFCHs, namely, a PSFCH with a priority value of 3, a PSFCH with a priority value of 6, and a PSFCH with a priority value of 4. The two groups of RB sets include only one second candidate group (i.e., the second group of RB sets). The first candidate group is the second group of RB sets. The terminal device can select the second group of RB sets as the N RB sets.

[0282] Referring to Figure 7B, when 5 PSFCHs are distributed in distribution mode c1, the terminal device divides the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located into two groups of RB sets. The first group of RB sets includes RB set-1 and RB set-2, and the second group of RB sets includes RB set-4 and RB set-5. The first group of RB sets contains three PSFCHs, namely, a PSFCH with a priority value of 1, a PSFCH with a priority value of 2, and a PSFCH with a priority value of 3. The second group of RB sets contains two PSFCHs, namely, a PSFCH with a priority value of 4 and a PSFCH with a priority value of 6. The two groups of RB sets only include one second candidate group (that is, the first group of RB sets). The terminal device can select the first group of RB sets as the N RB sets.

[0283] If the multiple RB sets include multiple second candidate groups, the terminal device may select one second candidate group from the multiple second candidate groups as the N RB sets.

[0284] In the embodiment of the present application, two methods for selecting a second candidate group from the multiple second candidate groups as N RB sets are provided, which are respectively described below:

[0285] Selection method ①: The terminal device selects the second candidate group containing the PSFCH with the smallest priority value from the multiple second candidate groups as N RB sets. The comparison range of the smallest priority value here is the priority values ​​of all PSFCHs in the multiple second candidate groups.

[0286] The terminal device determines the priority value of each PSFCH in the second candidate group, and the RB set included in the second candidate group where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located is the N RB sets.

[0287] The following describes how a terminal device selects N RB sets, using a specific example. Taking the distribution of M PSFCHs shown in Figure 7C as an example, where M is 6, the 6 PSFCHs are distributed across RB set-1, RB set-2, RB set-4, and RB set-5. The PSFCH with a priority value of 2 is on RB set-1, the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 and the PSFCH with a priority value of 3 are on RB set-2, the PSFCH with a priority value of 4 and the PSFCH with a priority value of 5 are on RB set-4, and the PSFCH with a priority value of 6 is on RB set-5.

[0288] The terminal device divides the RB sets containing the M PSFCHs into two groups of RB sets. The first group of RB sets includes RB set-1 and RB set-2, and the second group of RB sets includes RB set-4 and RB set-5. The first and second groups of RB sets are both second candidate groups. The terminal device needs to further compare the priority values ​​of the PSFCHs in the first and second groups of RB sets. The first group of RB sets includes three PSFCHs, namely, a PSFCH with a priority value of 1, a PSFCH with a priority value of 2, and a PSFCH with a priority value of 3. The second group of RB sets includes three PSFCHs, namely, a PSFCH with a priority value of 4, a PSFCH with a priority value of 5, and a PSFCH with a priority value of 6. The terminal device can select the first group of RB sets as the N RB sets.

[0289] Selection method ②: The terminal device selects the second candidate group with the largest number of RB sets from the multiple second candidate groups as the N RB sets.

[0290] The terminal device compares the number of PSFCHs in each second candidate group, and the RB set included in the second candidate group with the largest number of PSFCHs is the N RB sets.

[0291] The following describes how a terminal device selects N RB sets with reference to specific examples. The distribution of M PSFCHs shown in Figure 7D is still used as an example. Where M is 6, and the 6 PSFCHs are distributed across RB set-1, RB set-2, RB set-4, RB set-5, and RB set-6. The PSFCH with a priority value of 2 is on RB set-1, the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 and the PSFCH with a priority value of 3 are on RB set-2, the PSFCH with a priority value of 4 is on RB set-4, the PSFCH with a priority value of 6 is on RB set-5, and the PSFCH with a priority value of 5 is on RB set-6.

[0292] The terminal device divides the RB sets containing the M PSFCHs into two groups of RB sets. The first group of RB sets includes RB set-1 and RB set-2, and the second group of RB sets includes RB set-4, RB set-5, and RB set-6. The first group of RB sets includes three PSFCHs, namely, a PSFCH with a priority value of 1, a PSFCH with a priority value of 2, and a PSFCH with a priority value of 3. The second group of RB sets includes three PSFCHs, namely, a PSFCH with a priority value of 4, a PSFCH with a priority value of 5, and a PSFCH with a priority value of 6. The first and second groups of RB sets are both second candidate groups. The terminal device needs to further compare the number of RB sets in the first and second groups of RB sets. The terminal device can select the second group of RB sets as the N RB sets.

[0293] Selection method ③: The terminal device selects the second candidate group where the RBset with the largest number of PSFCHs is located from the multiple second candidate groups as the N RB sets.

[0294] The terminal device compares the number of PSFCHs in each RB set in each second candidate group, and determines the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs. The first candidate group in which the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs belongs is the N RB sets.

[0295] Selection method ④: the terminal device selects any one second candidate group from the multiple second candidate groups or randomly selects one second candidate group as the N RB sets.

[0296] After steps 701 and 702 , the terminal device determines N RB sets. The terminal device can send PSFCH on the N RB sets, that is, execute step 703 .

[0297] Step 703: The terminal device sends PSFCH on N RB sets. When the terminal device sends PSFCH on N RB sets, the terminal device may send all PSFCH on the N RB sets or may send part of the PSFCH on the N RB sets.

[0298] When executing step 703, the terminal device may select P PSFCHs from the PSFCHs on the N RB sets, where the P PSFCHs are the first P PSFCHs on the N RB sets sorted in ascending order of priority value.

[0299] The terminal device sorts the PSFCHs on the N RB sets in ascending order of priority and selects the first P PSFCHs from the sorted PSFCHs. These P PSFCHs must meet the terminal device's maximum number of PSFCHs to be transmitted and its maximum transmit power. In other words, P must not exceed the terminal device's maximum number of PSFCHs to be transmitted, and the total power of these P PSFCHs must not exceed the terminal device's maximum transmit power.

[0300] After the terminal device selects P PSFCHs from the PSFCHs on the N RB sets, the terminal device sends the P PSFCHs.

[0301] Similarly, the embodiments of the present application do not limit the timing of executing the embodiment shown in FIG6A. For example, after executing LBT, the terminal device may execute the embodiment shown in FIG6A for the RB set where the M PSFCHs on which LBT was successfully executed are located. For another example, when executing the embodiment shown in FIG6A, the terminal device determines N RB sets and then executes LBT on the determined N RB sets, and then sends PSFCH on the RB set on which LBT was successfully executed among the N RB sets. However, in this method, there is a situation where the RB sets on which LBT was successfully executed among the N RB sets are not continuous RB sets. In this case, the solution provided for the terminal device is similar to the solution provided in the aforementioned similar situation when LBT is executed on the determined N RB sets after executing the embodiment shown in FIG4A. For details, please refer to the aforementioned description and no further details will be given here.

[0302] In the embodiment shown in FIG7A , the terminal device groups the RB sets containing the M PSFCHs and uses the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs as N RB sets, over which the PSFCHs are transmitted. In this manner, the N RB sets determined by the terminal device contain a relatively large number of PSFCHs, ensuring that the terminal device can transmit as many PSFCHs as possible during a single PSFCH transmission, and that the PSFCH transmission process complies with the terminal device's ability to transmit PSFCHs on continuous frequency domain resources and / or non-continuous frequency domain resources.

[0303] (2) Case 2: The terminal device can transmit PSFCH on non-contiguous RB sets, but cannot transmit PSFCH on continuous RB sets.

[0304] As shown in FIG8 , a side communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application includes:

[0305] Step 801: The terminal device determines M PSFCHs to be transmitted. The terminal device performs step 801 in a manner similar to the terminal device performs step 301. For details, please refer to the above description and will not be repeated here.

[0306] Step 802: The terminal device determines S RB sets from the RB sets where the M PSFCHs to be sent are located, where S is a positive integer. When S is greater than 1, the S RB sets are non-continuous RB sets.

[0307] Step 802 can be understood as the terminal device determining J PSFCHs from the M PSFCHs to be transmitted, wherein the J PSFCHs are located in S RB sets. When S is a positive integer and N is greater than 1, the S RB sets are non-contiguous RB sets.

[0308] Step 803: The terminal device sends PSFCH on S RB sets.

[0309] The M PSFCHs that the terminal device determines need to be sent are the M PSFCHs to be sent. However, due to the influence of the terminal device's own ability to transmit PSFCH on continuous frequency domain resources and / or non-continuous frequency domain resources (optionally, it may also be limited by the maximum number of PSFCHs sent by the terminal device or the maximum transmit power of the PSFCH of the terminal device), the PSFCHs ultimately sent by the terminal device may be the M PSFCHs, or it may be part of the PSFCHs in the M PSFCHs. In order to determine the PSFCHs that can ultimately be sent, the terminal device executes steps 802 and 803.

[0310] Since the M PSFCHs may be distributed in the same RB set or in multiple RB sets, the terminal device first determines S RB sets in step 802. Since the terminal device can only send PSFCHs in non-contiguous RB sets, the S RB sets determined by the terminal device may be one RB set or multiple non-contiguous RB sets.

[0311] After determining S RB sets, the terminal device sends PSFCHs on the S RB sets. The terminal device may send all PSFCHs to be sent on the S RB sets, or may send part of the PSFCHs to be sent on the S RB sets.

[0312] In the embodiment shown in Figure 8, in order to clarify the process of the terminal device sending PSFCH, the terminal device sending PSFCH is divided into two steps. The first step is to determine S RB sets, and the second step is to send PSFCH on the S RB sets. In fact, when sending PSFCH, the terminal device can determine J PSFCHs on one RB set or multiple non-continuous RB sets (that is, S RB sets) from the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located, and then send the determined PSFCH. Therefore, in the embodiment of the present application, the step of determining S RB sets can be understood as determining J PSFCHs from M PSFCHs.

[0313] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the timing of executing the embodiment shown in FIG8 . For example, after executing LBT, the terminal device may execute the embodiment shown in FIG8 for the RB sets where M PSFCHs are located after LBT is successfully executed. For another example, when executing the embodiment shown in FIG8 , after determining N RB sets, the terminal device executes LBT on the determined N RB sets, and then transmits the PSFCH on the RB sets where LBT is successfully executed among the N RB sets.

[0314] Using the sideline communication method shown in Figure 8, the S RB sets determined by the terminal device are one RB set or multiple non-continuous RB sets, which is consistent with the terminal device's ability to transmit PSFCH on continuous frequency domain resources and / or non-continuous frequency domain resources, ensuring that the terminal device efficiently realizes PSFCH transmission.

[0315] In an embodiment of the present application, the terminal device can implement the side communication method shown in Figure 8 in any of the following ways. The various ways described below are the execution methods of steps 802 to 803 in the side communication method shown in Figure 8.

[0316] Mode (1), as shown in FIG9A , is a side communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application, the method comprising:

[0317] Step 901: The terminal device determines the RB set containing the PSFCH with the smallest priority value from among the M RB sets containing PSFCHs. That is, the PSFCH is sent based on the principle of giving priority to the PSFCH with the smallest priority value and ensuring that the RB sets containing the PSFCHs to be sent are not continuous.

[0318] In other words, the terminal device determines the PSFCH with the smallest priority value from the M PSFCHs.

[0319] Step 902: The terminal device determines S RB sets including the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located from the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located.

[0320] In other words, the terminal device determines S RB sets including the PSFCH with the smallest priority value from the M PSFCHs.

[0321] After determining the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located, the terminal device determines whether the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located include an RB set that is discontinuous with the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located.

[0322] If the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located do not include an RB set that is discontinuous with the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located, then the S value is equal to 1, and the RB set determined by the terminal device is the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located.

[0323] If the RB set where the M PSFCHs are located includes an RB set that is discontinuous with the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located, then S is greater than 1, and the terminal device determines S non-continuous RB sets, and the S RB sets include the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located and the RB sets that are discontinuous with it. If the RB set where the M PSFCHs are located includes an RB set that is discontinuous with the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located and is still a discontinuous RB set, then the S RB sets also include an RB set that is discontinuous with the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located and is still a discontinuous RB set. In other words, the S RB sets are S non-connected RB sets, which include the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located.

[0324] To simplify the description, the RB set containing the PSFCH with the lowest priority value is labeled RB set-A, the RB set discontinuous with RB set-A is labeled RB set-B2, the RB set discontinuous with RB set-B2 is labeled RB set-C2, and so on. There can be more than one RB set B2 and more than one RB set C2.

[0325] If the RB set containing the M PSFCHs includes RB set-B2, which is discontinuous with RB set-A, the terminal device determines that the S continuous RB sets include RB set-A and RB set-B2. If the RB set containing the M PSFCHs also includes RB set-C2, which is discontinuous with RB set-B2, then the S RB sets also include RB set-C2. The S RB sets ultimately determined must satisfy the following: The RB sets in the RB set containing the M PSFCHs, excluding the S RB sets, are continuous with at least one of the S RB sets.

[0326] The following describes how a terminal device determines the S RB sets, using specific examples. Figure 9B shows a schematic diagram of the distribution of M PSFCHs according to an embodiment of the present application. Figure 9B illustrates three possible distributions of M PSFCHs, with M being 5. These two distributions are labeled distribution a2, distribution b2, and distribution c2, respectively.

[0327] In distribution mode a2 shown in Figure 9B, the five PSFCHs are distributed on RB set-1, RB set-2, RB set-3, RB set-4, and RB set-5, among which the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 is on RB set-1, the PSFCH with a priority value of 2 is on RB set-2, the PSFCH with a priority value of 3 is on RB set-3, the PSFCH with a priority value of 4 is on RB set-4, and the PSFCH with a priority value of 6 is on RB set-5.

[0328] When five PSFCHs are distributed in distribution pattern a2, the terminal device first determines the RB set containing the PSFCH with the smallest priority value, that is, RB set-1 containing the PSFCH with a priority value of 1. Since the RB set containing the five PSFCHs includes RB set-3, which is discontinuous with RB set-1, and also includes an RB set that is discontinuous with the RB set containing the PSFCH with the smallest priority value and is still discontinuous with another RB set, that is, the RB set containing the five PSFCHs includes RB set-5, which is discontinuous with RB set-3, the terminal device will determine three non-continuous RB sets (that is, S is equal to 3), namely RB set-1, RB set-3, and RB set-5.

[0329] In the distribution mode b2 shown in Figure 9B, the five PSFCHs are distributed on RB set-1 and RB set-2, among which the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 and the PSFCH with a priority value of 2 are on RB set-1, the PSFCH with a priority value of 3 is on RB set-3, the PSFCH with a priority value of 4 is on RB set-4, and the PSFCH with a priority value of 6 and the priority value are on RB set-5.

[0330] When five PSFCHs are distributed in distribution mode b2, the terminal device first determines the RB set containing the PSFCH with the lowest priority value, that is, RB set-1 containing the PSFCH with a priority value of 1. Because the RB sets containing the five PSFCHs do not include any RB sets that are discontinuous with RB set-1, the terminal device determines one RB set (that is, S is equal to 1), which is RB set-1.

[0331] In the distribution mode c2 shown in FIG9B , the five PSFCHs are distributed on RB set-1, RB set-2, and RB set-4, wherein the PSFCH with a priority value of 2 is on RB set-1, the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 and the PSFCH with a priority value of 3 are on RB set-2, and the PSFCH with a priority value of 4 and the PSFCH with a priority value of 6 are on RB set-4.

[0332] When five PSFCHs are distributed in distribution pattern c2, the terminal device first determines the RB set containing the PSFCH with the lowest priority value, that is, RB set-2 containing the PSFCH with a priority value of 1. Because the RB sets containing these five PSFCHs include RB set-4, which is discontinuous with RB set-1, and do not include any RB sets that are discontinuous with the RB set containing the PSFCH with the lowest priority value and are still discontinuous with each other, the terminal device determines two non-continuous RB sets (that is, S is equal to 2), namely RB set-2 and RB set-4.

[0333] From the above example, it can be seen that when the terminal device determines that the RB set where the M PSFCHs are located includes an RB set that is discontinuous with the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located, then the S RB sets determined by the terminal device are the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located and multiple non-continuous RB sets.

[0334] Through step 902, the terminal device ensures that the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located will always be included in the S RB sets. That is, the PSFCHs in the S RB sets are determined from the PSFCHs included in the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located, based on the principle of giving priority to sending PSFCHs with smaller priority values. After steps 901 and 902, the terminal device determines S RB sets from the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located. Optionally, the principle of giving priority to sending PSFCHs with smaller priority values ​​can also be replaced by the principle of giving priority to sending PSFCHs included in the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs. Afterwards, the terminal device further determines the PSFCH to be finally sent from the S RB sets, that is, executes step 903.

[0335] Step 903: The terminal device selects P PSFCHs from the PSFCHs on the S RB sets, where the P PSFCHs are the first P PSFCHs on the S RB sets sorted in ascending order of priority.

[0336] The terminal device sorts the PSFCHs on the S RB sets in ascending order of priority value, and selects the first P PSFCHs from the sorted PSFCHs. In other words, the terminal device preferentially sends high-priority PSFCHs (PSFCHs with low priority values) among the PSFCHs on the S RB sets. The P PSFCHs need to meet the maximum number of PSFCHs sent by the terminal device and / or the maximum transmit power of the PSFCHs of the terminal device. That is, P is not greater than the maximum number of PSFCHs sent by the terminal device, and the total power of the P PSFCHs is not greater than the maximum transmit power of the PSFCHs of the terminal device.

[0337] The following describes how a terminal device selects P PSFCHs using a specific example, still taking the distribution of M PSFCHs shown in FIG9B as an example.

[0338] Referring to FIG9C , assuming that the maximum number of PSFCHs transmitted by the terminal device is 2, when 5 PSFCHs are distributed in distribution mode a2, after the terminal device determines RB set-1, RB set-3, and RB set-5, the terminal device selects 2 PSFCHs for the three PSFCHs on RB set-1, RB set-2, and RB set-3 in order of priority value from small to large, that is, selects the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 and the PSFCH with a priority value of 3. If the total power of the 2 PSFCHs is not greater than the maximum transmit power of the terminal device, then the 2 PSFCHs are the finally selected PSFCHs (that is, P is equal to 2). If the total power of the 2 PSFCHs is greater than the maximum transmit power of the terminal device and the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 is not greater than the maximum transmit power of the terminal device, then the terminal device selects the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 (that is, P is equal to 1).

[0339] Referring to Figure 9C, assuming that the maximum number of PSFCHs transmitted by the terminal device is 2, when 5 PSFCHs are distributed in distribution mode b2, after the terminal device determines RB set-1, the terminal device selects 2 PSFCHs for the two PSFCHs on RB set-1 in order of priority value from small to large, that is, selects the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 and the PSFCH with a priority value of 2. If the total power of the 2 PSFCHs is not greater than the maximum transmit power of the terminal device, then the 2 PSFCHs are the finally selected PSFCHs (that is, P is equal to 2). If the total power of the 2 PSFCHs is greater than the maximum transmit power of the terminal device and the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 is not greater than the maximum transmit power of the terminal device, then the terminal device selects the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 (that is, P is equal to 1).

[0340] Referring to Figure 9C, assuming that the maximum number of PSFCHs transmitted by the terminal device is 2, when 5 PSFCHs are distributed in distribution mode c2, after the terminal device determines RB set-2 and RB set-4, the terminal device selects 2 PSFCHs from the four PSFCHs on RB set-2 and RB set-4 in ascending order of priority value, that is, selects the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 and the PSFCH with a priority value of 3. If the total power of the 2 PSFCHs is not greater than the maximum transmit power of the terminal device, then the 2 PSFCHs are the finally selected PSFCHs (that is, P is equal to 2). If the total power of the 2 PSFCHs is greater than the maximum transmit power of the terminal device and the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 is not greater than the maximum transmit power of the terminal device, then the terminal device selects the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 (that is, P is equal to 1).

[0341] Through step 903, the terminal device determines the P PSFCHs to be finally sent from the PSFCHs on the S RB sets. Since the P PSFCHs are selected based on the priority value of the PSFCH, it is guaranteed that the P PSFCHs include one or more PSFCHs with the smallest priority value among the M PSFCHs to be sent. The terminal device can give priority to sending PSFCHs with higher importance.

[0342] Step 904: The terminal device sends the P PSFCHs.

[0343] In the embodiment shown in FIG9A , the terminal device first locates the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located, and then determines S RB sets including the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located, and sends the P PSFCHs on the S RB sets. In the above manner, it can be ensured that the PSFCHs ultimately sent by the terminal device are the P PSFCHs with higher importance, and the more important PSFCHs can be sent first. Moreover, the P PSFCHs are distributed in one RB set or multiple non-continuous RB sets, and the terminal device's transmission of the P PSFCHs complies with the terminal device's own ability to transmit PSFCHs on continuous frequency domain resources and / or non-continuous frequency domain resources.

[0344] Method (2): As shown in FIG10A , a side communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application includes:

[0345] Step 1001: The terminal device selects Q PSFCHs from M PSFCHs, where the Q PSFCHs are the first Q PSFCHs among the M PSFCHs after priority values ​​are sorted from small to large.

[0346] In other words, the terminal device preferentially sends the PSFCH with a smaller priority value from among the M PSFCHs.

[0347] The terminal device sorts the M PSFCHs in ascending order of priority value, and selects the first Q PSFCHs from the sorted PSFCHs. That is, the terminal device gives priority to sending PSFCHs with low priority values ​​among the M PSFCHs, and the number of PSFCHs sent is Q. The Q PSFCHs need to meet the maximum number of PSFCHs sent by the terminal device and / or the maximum transmission power of the PSFCH of the terminal device. That is: P is not greater than the maximum number of PSFCHs sent by the terminal device, and / or the total power of the Q PSFCHs is not greater than the maximum transmission power (P) of the PSFCH of the terminal device. c,max ).

[0348] The following describes how a terminal device selects Q PSFCHs using a specific example, still taking the distribution of M PSFCHs shown in FIG9B as an example.

[0349] Referring to Figure 10B, assuming that the maximum number of PSFCHs transmitted by the terminal device is 3, when 5 PSFCHs are distributed in distribution mode a2, distribution mode b2 or distribution mode c2, the terminal device selects 3 PSFCHs from the 5 PSFCHs in order of priority value from small to large, that is, selects PSFCH with priority value 1, PSFCH with priority value 2 and PSFCH with priority value 3. If the total power of the 3 PSFCHs is not greater than the maximum transmission power of the terminal device, then the 3 PSFCHs are the finally selected PSFCHs (that is, Q is equal to 3). If the total power of the three PSFCHs is greater than the maximum transmit power of the terminal device, and the total power of the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 and the PSFCH with a priority value of 2 is not greater than the maximum transmit power of the terminal device, the terminal device selects the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 and the PSFCH with a priority value of 2 (that is, Q is equal to 2). If the total power of the three PSFCHs is greater than the maximum transmit power of the terminal device, and the total power of the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 and the PSFCH with a priority value of 2 is greater than the maximum transmit power of the terminal device, and the power of the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 is not greater than the maximum transmit power of the terminal device, the terminal device selects the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 (that is, Q is equal to 1).

[0350] Through step 1001, the terminal device determines Q PSFCHs from the M PSFCHs. Since the Q PSFCHs are selected according to the priority value of the PSFCH, it is guaranteed that the Q PSFCHs include one or more PSFCHs with the highest priority value among the M PSFCHs to be sent.

[0351] This step is performed simultaneously with step 1002 described below. In this case, step 1001 can also be an optional step. That is, the terminal device determines J PSFCHs from M PSFCHs, where the J PSFCHs are located in S RB sets. When the terminal device determines J PSFCHs from the M PSFCHs, it first prioritizes sending the PSFCHs with the lowest priority value among the M PSFCHs, and then sends the PSFCHs in non-contiguous RB sets. Here, the two sending actions do not refer to a temporal order, but rather define two characteristics of the sending behavior.

[0352] Step 1002: The terminal device determines S RB sets from the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located. Step 1002 can also be understood as the terminal device determining the PSFCHs on the S RB sets. The following description uses the terminal device determining the S RB sets as an example. In fact, the process of the terminal device determining the S RB sets is essentially to determine the PSFCHs located in one RB set or multiple non-contiguous RB sets (e.g., J PSFCHs on one RB set or multiple non-contiguous RB sets) from the Q PSFCHs, where the one RB set or multiple consecutive RB sets are the S RB sets.

[0353] Since the Q PSFCHs may be distributed in the same RB set or in multiple RB sets, the terminal device selects one RB set or multiple non-contiguous RB sets from the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located as the S RB sets in step 1002 .

[0354] There are many ways for a terminal device to determine S RB sets from the RB sets where Q PSFCHs are located. The present embodiment does not limit the specific method used by the terminal device to determine S RB sets from the RB sets where Q PSFCHs are located. Two possible methods for determining S RB sets are listed below.

[0355] Determination method 1: The terminal device determines S RB sets from the RB sets containing the Q PSFCHs based on the priority values ​​of the Q PSFCHs. When S is equal to 1, the determined RB set is the RB set containing the PSFCH with the lowest priority value among the Q PSFCHs. When S is greater than 1, the determined S RB sets are the RB set containing the PSFCH with the lowest priority value among the Q PSFCHs, or multiple non-contiguous RB sets. In other words, when S is equal to 1, the determined RB set is the RB set containing the PSFCH with the lowest priority value among the M PSFCHs. When S is greater than 1, the determined S RB sets are the RB set containing the PSFCH with the lowest priority value among the M PSFCHs, or multiple non-contiguous RB sets. In this case, the PSFCH with the lowest priority value among the M PSFCHs can be the same as the PSFCH with the lowest priority value among the Q PSFCHs. In other words, when S is equal to 1, the determined RB set includes the PSFCH with the lowest priority value among the M (or Q) PSFCHs. When S is greater than 1, the determined S RB sets include the PSFCH with the smallest priority value among the M (or Q) PSFCHs, and the S RB sets are multiple discontinuous RB sets.

[0356] That is, the terminal device preferentially sends PSFCHs with smaller priority values, and the RB sets where the PSFCHs are sent are non-adjacent RB sets or one RB set (or discontinuous RB set). When one of the RB sets is used, there is no PSFCH on the RB sets adjacent to the RB set, or the terminal device is limited by the maximum number of PSFCHs to be sent by the terminal device and / or the maximum transmit power of the PSFCHs of the terminal device and can only send PSFCH on this one RB set.

[0357] In this determination method, the terminal device preferentially determines the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value among the Q PSFCHs is located, and then determines from the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located whether an RB set discontinuous with the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located is included.

[0358] If the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located do not include an RB set that is discontinuous with the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located, then the S value is equal to 1, and the RB set determined by the terminal device is the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located.

[0359] If the RB set where the Q PSFCHs are located includes an RB set that is discontinuous with the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located, then the S value is greater than 1, and the terminal device determines S non-continuous RB sets, and the S RB sets include the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located and the RB set that is discontinuous with it (the RB set that is discontinuous with it is marked as the second RB set-B2). If the RB set where the Q PSFCHs are located includes an RB set that is discontinuous with the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located and is still discontinuous with it (that is, it includes an RB set that is discontinuous with RB set-B2, and the RB set is marked as RB set-C2), then the S RB sets also include an RB set that is discontinuous with the RB set that is discontinuous with the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located (that is, the S RB sets also include RB set-C2).

[0360] For convenience of explanation, the RB set containing the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is referred to as the first RB set. The RB set containing the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is selected from the RB sets that are discontinuous with the RB set containing the PSFCH with the smallest priority value among the Q RB sets containing the PSFCHs, and the RB set containing the PSFCH with the smallest priority value among the RB sets that are discontinuous with the RB set containing the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is referred to as the second RB set. The S RB sets include the second RB set in addition to the first RB set. If the RB sets containing the Q PSFCHs (excluding the first RB set and the second RB set) include an RB set that is discontinuous with the second RB set, the RB set containing the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is selected from the RB sets that are discontinuous with the second RB set among the Q RB sets containing the PSFCHs, and the RB set containing the PSFCH with the smallest priority value among the RB sets that are discontinuous with the second RB set among the Q RB sets containing the PSFCHs is referred to as the third RB set. The S RB sets include the third RB set in addition to the first RB set and the second RB set. Until the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located (except the determined RB sets) do not include an RB set that is discontinuous with the previously determined RB set.

[0361] To put it another way, the S RB sets are N non-contiguous (or non-adjacent) RB sets that include the RB set containing the PSFCH with the lowest priority value. The RB sets containing the Q PSFCHs include multiple groups of RB sets, each of which includes one RB set or multiple non-contiguous RB sets. The terminal device selects the group of RB sets containing the PSFCH with the lowest priority value as the N RB sets.

[0362] The following describes how a terminal device determines S RB sets with reference to a specific example, still taking the distribution of M PSFCHs shown in FIG9B as an example.

[0363] 10C , it is assumed that the Q PSFCHs selected by the terminal device are a PSFCH with a priority value of 1, a PSFCH with a priority value of 2, and a PSFCH with a priority value of 3.

[0364] When the five PSFCHs are distributed in manner a2, the terminal device determines the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located, that is, RB set-1 where the PSFCH with a priority value of 1 is located. Since the RB set where the three PSFCHs are located includes RB set-3 which is discontinuous with RB set-1, the terminal device will determine two non-continuous RB sets (that is, S is equal to 2), which are RB set-1 and RB set-3.

[0365] When the five PSFCHs are distributed in distribution mode b2, the terminal device determines the RB set containing the PSFCH with the smallest priority value, that is, RB set-1 containing the PSFCH with a priority value of 1. Since the RB sets containing the three PSFCHs are all RB set-1, the terminal device determines one RB set (that is, S is equal to 1), which is RB set-1.

[0366] When the five PSFCHs are distributed in distribution pattern c2, the terminal device determines the RB set containing the PSFCH with the smallest priority value, that is, RB set-2 containing the PSFCH with a priority value of 1. Because the RB sets containing the three PSFCHs do not include an RB set that is discontinuous with RB set-2, the terminal device determines an RB set (that is, S is equal to 1), which is RB set-1.

[0367] When there is more than one PSFCH with the smallest priority value among the M PSFCHs, the S RB sets determined by the terminal device are a group of RB sets including the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value among the M PSFCHs is located and the group of RB sets where the RB set is located (the group of RB sets includes one RB set or multiple non-continuous RB sets) where the RB set is located, and the group of non-continuous RB sets with the largest number of PSFCHs in the group of RB sets where the RB set is located. Alternatively, the S RB sets determined by the terminal device are a group of RB sets including the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value among the M PSFCHs is located and the group of RB sets where the RB set is located, and the group of RB sets where the RB set is located, and the group of RB sets with the largest number of PSFCHs in the group of RB sets where the RB set is located. Alternatively, the S RB sets determined by the terminal device are a group of RB sets including the RB set with the largest PSFCH among the M PSFCHs and the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located. Alternatively, the terminal device selects one RB set or randomly selects one RB set from multiple groups of RB sets. Each of the multiple groups of RB sets includes the PSFCH with the smallest priority value among the M PSFCHs (including the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value among the M PSFCHs is located).

[0368] Determination method 2: The terminal device divides the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located into multiple RB sets, each RB set including one RB set or multiple non-contiguous RB sets, and selects the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs as the S RB sets.

[0369] The following describes how a terminal device determines S RB sets with reference to a specific example, still taking the distribution of M PSFCHs shown in FIG9B as an example.

[0370] Assume that the Q PSFCHs selected by the terminal device are PSFCH with a priority value of 1, PSFCH with a priority value of 2, and PSFCH with a priority value of 3.

[0371] Referring to Figure 10D , when five PSFCHs are distributed in pattern a2, since the RB sets containing the Q PSFCHs are RB set-1, RB set-2, and RB set-3, RB set-1, RB set-2, and RB set-3 can be divided into four groups of RB sets: the first group of RB sets includes RB set-1, the second group of RB sets includes RB set-3, the third group of RB sets includes RB set-2, and the fourth group of RB sets includes RB set-1 and RB set-3. The first, second, and third groups of RB sets each include one PSFCH, and only the fourth group of RB sets includes two PSFCHs. Therefore, the terminal device treats the fourth group of RB sets as S RB sets (S equals 2).

[0372] Referring to Figure 10D, when 5 PSFCHs are distributed in distribution mode b2, the RB sets where Q PSFCHs are located can be divided into two groups of RB sets, the first group of RB sets includes RB set-1, and the second group of RB sets includes RB set-2, where the number of PSFCHs on RB set-1 (the number is 3) is greater than the number of PSFCHs on RB set-2 (the number is 2), then the terminal device can determine that S RB sets are RB set-1 (S is equal to 1).

[0373] Assume that the Q PSFCHs selected by the terminal device are PSFCH with a priority value of 1, PSFCH with a priority value of 2, PSFCH with a priority value of 3, and PSFCH with a priority value of 4.

[0374] Referring to Figure 10E , taking distribution method c2 shown in Figure 9B as an example, the RB sets containing the five PSFCHs can be divided into five groups of RB sets: the first group of RB sets includes RB set-1, the second group of RB sets includes RB set-2, the third group of RB sets includes RB set-4, the fourth group of RB sets includes RB set-1 and RB set-4, and the fifth group of RB sets includes RB set-2 and RB set-4. Among them, the group with the largest number of PSFCHs is the fourth group of RB sets (including three PSFCHs). Therefore, the terminal device can use the RB sets included in the fourth group of RB sets as the S RB sets (S equals 2).

[0375] It should be noted that if the multiple groups of RB sets formed by dividing the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located include multiple groups of RB sets with the largest number of PSFCHs, that is, the multiple groups of RB sets include at least two groups of RB sets, the at least two groups of RB sets have the same number of PSFCHs and the largest number of PSFCHs. The terminal device can further select a group of RB sets where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located from the at least two groups of RB sets as the S RB sets, select a group of RB sets with the largest number of RB sets from the at least two groups of RB sets as the S RB sets, or select a group of RB sets where the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs is located as the S RB sets. Alternatively, the terminal device selects an RB set from the at least two groups of RB sets at random.

[0376] Determination method three: The RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located can be divided into multiple groups of RB sets, each group of RB sets includes one RB set or multiple non-contiguous RB sets. The terminal device selects the group of RB sets with the largest number of RB sets as the S RB sets.

[0377] It should be noted that if the multiple groups of RB sets formed by dividing the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located include multiple groups of RB sets with the largest number of RB sets, that is, the multiple groups of RB sets include at least two groups of RB sets, and the number of RB sets of the at least two groups of RB sets is the same and the largest. The terminal device can further select a group of RB sets where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located from the at least two groups of RB sets as the S RB sets, select a group of RB sets with the largest number of PSFCHs from the at least two groups of RB sets as the S RB sets, or select a group of RB sets with the largest number of PSFCHs from the at least two groups of RB sets as the S RB sets. Alternatively, the terminal device selects any one of the at least two groups of RB sets or randomly selects a group of RB sets as the S RB sets.

[0378] Determination method 4: The terminal device determines S RB sets from the RB sets containing the Q PSFCHs. When S is equal to 1, the determined RB set is the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs among the Q PSFCHs. When S is greater than 1, the determined S RB sets are the non-contiguous RB sets containing the largest number of PSFCHs.

[0379] It should be noted that, when there is more than one RB set including the largest number of PSFCHs among the M PSFCHs, the S RB sets determined by the terminal device are a group of RB sets including the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value among the M PSFCHs is located and the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs (the group of RB sets includes one RB set or multiple non-continuous RB sets). Alternatively, the S RB sets determined by the terminal device are a group of RB sets including the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs and the group of RB sets including the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs. Alternatively, the S RB sets determined by the terminal device are a group of RB sets including the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs and the group of RB sets including the RB set with the largest number of RB sets. Alternatively, the terminal device selects one RB set from multiple groups of RB sets or randomly selects one RB set. Any one of the multiple groups of RB sets includes the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs.

[0380] Step 1003: The terminal device sends PSFCH on S RB sets.

[0381] In the embodiment shown in FIG10A , the terminal device first locates the RB set where the first Q PSFCHs after sorting by priority value are located, and then determines N RB sets from the RB set where the Q PSFCHs are located, and sends the PSFCHs on the N RB sets. In the above manner, the PSFCHs finally sent by the terminal device are part or all of the PSFCHs among the Q PSFCHs with higher importance, and the terminal device can send out the more important PSFCHs. Moreover, part or all of the PSFCHs among the Q PSFCHs are distributed in one RB set or multiple non-continuous RB sets, and the terminal device's transmission of part or all of the PSFCHs among the Q PSFCHs complies with the terminal device's own ability to transmit PSFCHs on continuous frequency domain resources and / or non-continuous frequency domain resources.

[0382] Method (3): As shown in FIG11A , a sideline communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application includes:

[0383] Step 1101: The terminal device determines an RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs from among the RB sets where M PSFCHs are located.

[0384] The terminal device determines the number of PSFCHs on each RB set among the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located, and determines the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs.

[0385] Step 1102: The terminal device determines, from the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located, an RB set including the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs and S non-continuous RB sets.

[0386] After determining the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs, the terminal device determines whether the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located include an RB set that is discontinuous with the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs.

[0387] If the RB set containing the M PSFCHs does not include an RB set that is discontinuous with the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs, then the S value is equal to 1, and the RB set determined by the terminal device is the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs.

[0388] If the RB set containing M PSFCHs includes an RB set that is discontinuous with the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs, then the value of S is greater than 1, and the terminal device determines S non-continuous RB sets, which include the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs and the RB set that is discontinuous with it. If the RB set containing M PSFCHs includes an RB set that is discontinuous with the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs, then the S RB sets also include an RB set that is discontinuous with the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs.

[0389] The following describes how the terminal device determines the S RB sets with reference to a specific example, still taking the distribution of the M PSFCHs shown in FIG9B as an example.

[0390] Referring to Figure 11B , when five PSFCHs are distributed using distribution pattern b2, the terminal device first determines the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs, namely, RB set-1 (which contains three PSFCHs). Since the RB set containing the five PSFCHs does not include an RB set that is discontinuous with RB set-1, the terminal device determines a single RB set (i.e., S is equal to 1), which is RB set-1.

[0391] Referring to Figure 11B , when five PSFCHs are distributed using distribution pattern c2, the terminal device first determines the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs, namely RB set-2 and RB set-4. Because RB set-2 and RB set-4 are discontinuous, the terminal device determines two non-contiguous RB sets (i.e., S equals 2): RB set-2 and RB set-4.

[0392] It should be noted that if the RB sets containing the M PSFCHs include multiple RB sets with the largest number of PSFCHs, and these multiple RB sets with the largest number of PSFCHs are contiguous, for any RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs, a group of RB sets including the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs and including one RB set or at least two non-contiguous RB sets is determined from the RB sets containing the M PSFCHs. This will form multiple groups of RB sets, from which the group of RB sets with the largest number of PSFCHs is selected as the S RB sets; alternatively, the group of RB sets with the largest number of RB sets is selected as the S RB sets; alternatively, the group of RB sets containing the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is selected as the S RB sets; alternatively, one or a group of RB sets is selected randomly as the S RB sets.

[0393] From the above example, it can be seen that when the terminal device determines that the RB set containing M PSFCHs includes a non-contiguous RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs, the S RB sets determined by the terminal device are multiple non-contiguous RB sets containing the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs.

[0394] The terminal device ensures, through step 1102, that the S RB sets always include the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs. After steps 1101 and 1102, the terminal device determines S RB sets from the RB sets containing the M PSFCHs. The terminal device then further determines the PSFCH to be ultimately transmitted from these S RB sets, executing step 1103.

[0395] Step 1103: The terminal device selects P PSFCHs from the PSFCHs on the S RB sets, where the P PSFCHs are the first P PSFCHs on the S RB sets sorted in ascending order of priority. The terminal device executes step 1103 in a manner similar to the manner in which the terminal device executes step 903. For details, please refer to the previous description and will not be repeated here.

[0396] Step 1104: The terminal device sends the P PSFCHs.

[0397] In the embodiment shown in FIG11A , the terminal device determines the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs from the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located, and then transmits PSFCHs on the S RB sets that include the RB set. In this manner, the S RB sets determined by the terminal device include the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs, which ensures that there are more PSFCHs on the S RB sets, and ensures that the terminal device can transmit as many PSFCHs as possible during a single PSFCH transmission process, and that the PSFCH transmission process complies with the terminal device's own ability to transmit PSFCHs on continuous frequency domain resources and / or non-continuous frequency domain resources.

[0398] In practical applications, the RB sets containing the M PSFCHs to be transmitted can be divided into multiple groups of RB sets, each group of RB sets containing one RB set or at least two non-contiguous RB sets. The terminal device selects one group of RB sets as S RB sets. The embodiments of the present application provide two sideline communication methods for determining one group of RB sets from the multiple groups of RB sets as S RB sets, and transmitting the PSFCH on the determined S RB sets. For details, see Method 4.

[0399] Method (four): As shown in FIG12A , a side communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application includes:

[0400] Step 1201: The terminal device divides the RB sets where M PSFCHs are located into multiple groups of RB sets, each group of RB sets including one RB set or multiple non-contiguous RB sets.

[0401] The following describes a method for a terminal device to divide the RB sets containing M PSFCHs into multiple RB sets with reference to a specific example, still taking the distribution method of M PSFCHs shown in FIG9B as an example.

[0402] Referring to Figure 12B, when 5 PSFCHs are distributed in distribution mode a2, the terminal device divides the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located into eleven groups of RB sets. The first group of RB sets includes RB set-1, the second group of RB sets includes RB set-2, the third group of RB sets includes RB set-3, the fourth group of RB sets includes RB set-4, the fifth group of RB sets includes RB set-5, the sixth group of RB sets includes RB set-1, RB set-3 and RB set-5, the seventh group of RB sets includes RB set-1 and RB set-4, the eighth group of RB sets includes RB set-1 and RB set-3, the ninth group of RB sets includes RB set-2 and RB set-4, the tenth group of RB sets includes RB set-2 and RB set-5, and the eleventh group of RB sets includes RB set-3 and RB set-5.

[0403] 12B , when 5 PSFCHs are distributed in distribution mode b2, the terminal device divides the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located into two groups of RB sets, the first group of RB sets includes RB set-1, and the second group of RB sets includes RB set-2.

[0404] Referring to Figure 12B, when 5 PSFCHs are distributed in distribution mode c2, the terminal device divides the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located into five groups of RB sets. The first group of RB sets includes RB set-1, the second group of RB sets includes RB set-2, the third group of RB sets includes RB set-4, the fourth group of RB sets includes RB set-1 and RB set-4, and the fifth group of RB sets includes RB set-2 and RB set-4.

[0405] It should be noted that in order to cover all possible combinations of RB sets, when the terminal device divides the RB set where the M PSFCHs are located into multiple groups of RB sets, overlap is allowed between the multiple groups of RB sets formed, that is, one RB set can belong to multiple groups of RB sets; and for any group of RB sets, any RB set included in the group of RB sets and the RB sets in the RB set where the M PSFCHs are located, except for the group of RB sets, can be continuous or non-continuous.

[0406] Step 1202: The terminal device selects a group of RB sets with the largest number of PSFCHs from multiple groups of RB sets as the S RB sets.

[0407] The terminal device compares the number of PSFCHs in each RB set, and the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs is the S RB sets.

[0408] If the multiple RB sets only include the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs, for ease of explanation, the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs among the multiple RB sets is called the third candidate set, that is, the multiple RB sets include one third candidate set. The terminal device can directly use the third candidate set as the S RB sets.

[0409] The following describes how a terminal device selects S RB sets with reference to a specific example, still taking the distribution of M PSFCHs shown in FIG9B as an example.

[0410] When 5 PSFCHs are distributed in distribution mode a2, the terminal device divides the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located into eleven groups of RB sets, and the eleven groups of RB sets include only one third candidate group, which is the sixth group of RB sets. The terminal device will select the sixth group of RB sets as the S RB sets.

[0411] If the multiple RB sets include multiple third candidate groups, the terminal device may select one third candidate group from the multiple third candidate groups as the S RB sets.

[0412] In the embodiment of the present application, two methods are provided for selecting a third candidate group from the multiple first candidate groups as the S RB sets, which are respectively described below:

[0413] Selection method 1: The terminal device selects the third candidate group with the largest number of RB sets from the multiple third candidate groups as S RB sets.

[0414] The terminal device compares the number of RB sets in each third candidate group, and the RB sets included in the third candidate group with the largest number of RB sets are the S RB sets.

[0415] Selection method 2: The terminal device selects the third candidate group containing the PSFCH with the smallest priority value from the multiple first candidate groups as S RB sets. The comparison range of the smallest priority value here is the priority values ​​of all PSFCHs in the multiple third candidate groups.

[0416] The terminal device determines the priority value of each PSFCH in the third candidate group, and the RB set included in the third candidate group where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value is located is the S RB sets.

[0417] Selection method three: the terminal device selects the third candidate group including the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs from the multiple third candidate groups as the N RB sets.

[0418] The terminal device compares the number of PSFCHs in each RB set in each third candidate group and determines the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs. The third candidate group in which the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs belongs is the S RB sets.

[0419] Selection method 4: the terminal device selects any one third candidate group from the multiple third candidate groups or randomly selects one third candidate group as the N RB sets.

[0420] After steps 1201 to 1202 , the terminal device determines S RB sets, and the terminal device can send PSFCH on the S RB sets, that is, execute step 1203 .

[0421] Step 1203: The terminal device sends PSFCH on S RB sets. When the terminal device sends PSFCH on S RB sets, the terminal device may send all PSFCH on the S RB sets or may send part of the PSFCH on the S RB sets.

[0422] When executing step 1203, the terminal device may select P PSFCHs from the PSFCHs on the S RB sets, where the P PSFCHs are the first P PSFCHs on the S RB sets sorted in ascending order of priority value.

[0423] The terminal device sorts the PSFCHs on the S RB sets in ascending order of priority and selects the first P PSFCHs from the sorted PSFCHs. These P PSFCHs must meet the terminal device's maximum number of PSFCHs to be transmitted and its maximum transmit power. In other words, P must not exceed the terminal device's maximum number of PSFCHs to be transmitted, and the total power of these P PSFCHs must not exceed the terminal device's maximum transmit power.

[0424] After the terminal device selects P PSFCHs from the PSFCHs on the S RB sets, the terminal device sends the P PSFCHs.

[0425] In the embodiment shown in FIG12A , the terminal device groups the RB sets containing the M PSFCHs and uses the RB sets with the largest number of PSFCHs as S RB sets, on which the PSFCHs are transmitted. In this manner, the N RB sets determined by the terminal device have a relatively large number of PSFCHs, ensuring that the terminal device can transmit as many PSFCHs as possible during a single PSFCH transmission, and that the PSFCH transmission process complies with the terminal device's ability to transmit PSFCHs on continuous frequency domain resources and / or non-continuous frequency domain resources.

[0426] The fourth method is merely an example. In the fourth method, the terminal device selects the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs as the S RB sets when executing step 1202. As a possible implementation, the terminal device may also select the RB set with the largest number of RB sets from among multiple RB sets as the S RB sets.

[0427] In addition, the embodiments of the present application do not limit the timing of executing the embodiments shown in Figures 9A, 10A, 11A, and 12A. For example, after executing LBT, the terminal device may execute the embodiments shown in Figures 9A, 10A, 11A, or 12A for the RB sets where the M PSFCHs on which LBT was successfully executed are located. For another example, when executing the embodiments shown in Figures 9A, 10A, 11A, or 12A, after determining N RB sets, the terminal device executes LBT on the determined N RB sets, and then sends PSFCH on the RB set on which LBT was successfully executed among the N RB sets.

[0428] It is understood that in order to implement the functions in the above embodiments, the terminal device includes hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the execution of each function. Those skilled in the art should readily appreciate that, in combination with the units and method steps of each example described in the embodiments disclosed in this application, this application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in hardware or in a manner driven by computer software depends on the specific application scenario and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0429] Figures 13 and 14 are schematic diagrams of the structures of possible communication devices provided in embodiments of the present application. These communication devices can be used to implement the functions of the terminal device in the above-mentioned method embodiments, thereby also achieving the beneficial effects of the above-mentioned method embodiments. In the embodiments of the present application, the communication device can be a terminal device as shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2, or a module (such as a chip) of the terminal device as shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2.

[0430] As shown in Figure 13, the communication device 1300 includes a processing unit 1310 and a transceiver unit 1320. The communication device 1300 can be used to implement the functions of the terminal device in the method embodiments shown in Figures 3, 4A, 5A, 6A, and 7A.

[0431] When communication device 1300 is used to implement the functions of a terminal device in the method embodiments shown in Figures 3, 4A, 5A, 6A, and 7A: processing unit 1301 is configured to: determine M PSFCHs to be transmitted, determine N RB sets from the RB sets containing the M PSFCHs, where N is a positive integer and, when N is greater than 1, the N RB sets are contiguous RB sets; and transmit the PSFCHs on the N RB sets via transceiver unit 1320.

[0432] In a possible implementation manner, the N RB sets include the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value among the M PSFCHs is located.

[0433] In one possible implementation, when the communication device 1300 is used to implement the functions of the terminal device in the method embodiments shown in Figures 3, 4A, 5A, 6A, and 7A, the processing unit 1310 is specifically configured to:

[0434] P PSFCHs are selected from the PSFCHs on the N RB sets, where the P PSFCHs are the first P PSFCHs on the N RB sets sorted in ascending order of priority.

[0435] In one possible implementation, when the communication device 1300 is used to implement the functions of the terminal device in the method embodiments shown in Figures 3, 4A, 5A, 6A, and 7A, the processing unit 1310 is specifically configured to:

[0436] Perform LBT on N RB sets, and determine a first resource group from among the N RB sets on which LBT is successfully performed, where the first resource group consists of one RB set or multiple consecutive RB sets.

[0437] P PSFCHs are selected from the PSFCHs on the first resource group, where the P PSFCHs are first P PSFCHs on the first resource group sorted in ascending order of priority values.

[0438] In one possible implementation, when the communication device 1300 is used to implement the functions of the terminal device in the method embodiments shown in Figures 3, 4A, 5A, 6A, and 7A, the processing unit 1310 is specifically configured to:

[0439] LBT is performed on the RB sets where the P PSFCHs are located, and a second resource group is determined from the RB sets where LBT is successfully performed among the RB sets where the P PSFCHs are located. The second resource group consists of one RB set or multiple consecutive RB sets. The PSFCH on the second resource group is sent through the transceiver unit 1320.

[0440] In one possible embodiment, when the communication device 1300 is used to implement the functions of the terminal device in the method embodiments shown in Figures 3, 4A, 5A, 6A, and 7A, the processing unit 1301 is used to: select Q PSFCHs from M PSFCHs, where the Q PSFCHs are the first Q PSFCHs in the M PSFCHs after the priority values ​​are sorted from small to large, and determine N RB sets from the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located.

[0441] In one possible implementation, when the communication device 1300 is used to implement the functions of the terminal device in the method embodiments shown in Figures 3, 4A, 5A, 6A, and 7A, the processing unit 1301 is used to: perform LBT on the RB sets where Q PSFCHs are located, and determine N RB sets from the RB sets where LBT is successfully performed in the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located.

[0442] In one possible implementation, when communication apparatus 1300 is used to implement the functions of a terminal device in the method embodiments shown in Figures 3, 4A, 5A, 6A, and 7A, processing unit 1301 is configured to: perform LBT on N RB sets, determine a third resource group from among the N RB sets for which LBT is successfully performed, the third resource group consisting of one RB set or multiple consecutive RB sets, and transmit, via transceiver unit 1320, a PSFCH on the third resource group.

[0443] In a possible implementation, the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located include multiple groups of RB sets, each group of RB sets includes one RB set or at least two consecutive RB sets, the N RB sets are a group of RB sets with the largest number of RB sets in the multiple groups of RB sets, and one RB set is discontinuous with all RB sets in the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located except for one RB set.

[0444] In a possible implementation, the RB set where the M PSFCHs are located includes multiple groups of RB sets, each group of RB sets includes one RB set or at least two consecutive RB sets, the N RB sets are the group of RB sets with the largest number of PSFCHs in the multiple groups of RB sets, and one RB set is discontinuous with all RB sets in the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located except for one RB set.

[0445] In a possible implementation manner, the RB set where the M PSFCHs are located is the RB set where LBT is successfully performed.

[0446] As shown in Figure 13, the communication device 1300 includes a processing unit 1310 and a transceiver unit 1320. The communication device 1300 can be used to implement the functions of the terminal device in the method embodiments shown in Figures 8, 9A, 10A, 11A, and 12A.

[0447] When communication apparatus 1300 is used to implement the functions of a terminal device in the method embodiments shown in Figures 8, 9A, 10A, 11A, and 12A: processing unit 1301 is configured to: determine M PSFCHs to be transmitted, determine S RB sets from the RB sets containing the M PSFCHs, where S is a positive integer; when S is greater than 1, the S RB sets are non-contiguous RB sets; and transmit the PSFCHs via transceiver unit 1320 over the S RB sets.

[0448] In a possible implementation manner, the S RB sets include a first RB set, and the first RB set is the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value among the M PSFCHs is located.

[0449] In one possible implementation, when the communication device 1300 is used to implement the functions of the terminal device in the method embodiments shown in Figures 8, 9A, 10A, 11A, and 12A, the processing unit 1301 is configured to: select P PSFCHs from the PSFCHs on the S RB sets, where the P PSFCHs are the first P PSFCHs on the S RB sets sorted in ascending order of priority value. The P PSFCHs are transmitted via the transceiver unit 1320.

[0450] In one possible embodiment, when the communication device 1300 is used to implement the functions of the terminal device in the method embodiments shown in Figures 8, 9A, 10A, 11A, and 12A, the processing unit 1301 is used to: select Q PSFCHs from M PSFCHs, where the Q PSFCHs are the first Q PSFCHs in the M PSFCHs after the priority values ​​are sorted from small to large; and determine S RB sets from the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located.

[0451] In a possible implementation manner, the S RB sets include a second RB set, and the second RB set is an RB set where a PSFCH with the smallest priority value among RB sets that are discontinuous with the first RB set is located.

[0452] In a possible implementation manner, the S RB sets include an RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs among the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located.

[0453] In a possible implementation, the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located include multiple groups of RB sets, each group of RB sets includes one RB set or at least two non-contiguous RB sets, and the S RB sets are the RB sets with the largest number of PSFCHs among the multiple groups of RB sets.

[0454] As shown in Figure 14, communication device 1400 includes a processor 1410 and an interface circuit 1420. Processor 1410 and interface circuit 1420 are coupled to each other. It is understood that interface circuit 1420 can be a transceiver or an input / output interface. Optionally, communication device 1400 may also include a memory 1430 for storing instructions executed by processor 1410, input data required by processor 1410 to execute instructions, or data generated after processor 1410 executes instructions.

[0455] When the communication device 1400 is used to implement the method as shown above, the processor 1410 is used to implement the functions of the above-mentioned processing unit 1310, and the interface circuit 1420 is used to implement the functions of the above-mentioned transceiver unit 1320.

[0456] When the above-mentioned communication device is a chip applied to a terminal, the terminal chip implements the function of the terminal device in the above-mentioned method embodiment. The terminal chip receives information from other devices (such as a terminal device or a network device), which can be understood as the information being first received by other modules in the terminal (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna) and then sent to the terminal chip by these modules. The terminal chip sends information to other devices (such as a terminal device or a network device), which can be understood as the information being first sent to other modules in the terminal (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna) and then sent to other devices (such as a terminal device or a network device) by these modules.

[0457] In this application, when entity A sends information to entity B, A may send it directly to B or indirectly to B through other entities. Similarly, when entity B receives information from entity A, entity B may directly receive the information sent by entity A or indirectly receive the information sent by entity A through other entities.

[0458] It is understood that the processor in the embodiments of the present application may be a central processing unit (CPU), or may be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0459] The method steps in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in hardware or in software instructions that can be executed by a processor. The software instructions can be composed of corresponding software modules, and the software modules can be stored in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, erasable programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, registers, hard disk, mobile hard disk, CD-ROM or any other form of storage medium well known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. The storage medium can also be an integral part of the processor. The processor and storage medium can be located in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC can be located in a terminal. The processor and storage medium can also exist in the terminal as discrete components.

[0460] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented using software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented in the form of a computer program product. A computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions of the embodiments of the present application are performed. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a user device, or other programmable device. The computer program or instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transferred from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer program or instructions may be transferred from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired or wireless means. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available media may be magnetic media, such as floppy disks, hard disks, or magnetic tapes; optical media, such as digital video disks; or semiconductor media, such as solid-state drives. The computer-readable storage medium may be a volatile or nonvolatile storage medium, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile types of storage media.

[0461] In the various embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified or there is a logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships.

[0462] In this application, "at least one" means one or more, and "more" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. In the text description of this application, the character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship; in the formula of this application, the character " / " indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in a "division" relationship. "Including at least one of A, B and C" can mean: including A; including B; including C; including A and B; including A and C; including B and C; including A, B and C.

[0463] It is understood that the various numbers involved in the embodiments of the present application (such as the digital numbers "first", "second", etc.) are only for the convenience of description and are not used to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. The size of the sequence number of each process above (such as the step number in the method embodiment) does not mean the order of execution. The execution order of each step may be different from the steps provided in the embodiments of the present application. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic. The steps in the various embodiments provided in the present application can be used as optional steps. Several possible implementation methods are given in the embodiments of the present application. In actual applications, some steps in the above embodiments may not be executed.

Claims

1. A side communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Determine M physical side feedback channels PSFCH to be sent; Determine N RB sets from the resource block sets RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located, where N is a positive integer, and when N is greater than 1, the N RB sets are continuous RB sets; The PSFCH is sent on the N RB sets.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The N RB sets include the RB set where the PSFCH with the smallest priority value among the M PSFCHs is located.

3. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that: Sending the PSFCH on the N RB sets includes: Select P PSFCHs from the PSFCHs on the N RB sets, where the P PSFCHs are first P PSFCHs on the N RB sets sorted in ascending order of priority values; The P PSFCHs are sent.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The selecting P PSFCHs from the PSFCHs on the N RB sets includes: Performing listen-before-talk LBT on the N RB sets, and determining a first resource group from among the RB sets on which the LBT is successfully performed among the N RB sets, where the first resource group consists of one RB set or a plurality of consecutive RB sets; Select P PSFCHs from the PSFCHs on the first resource group, where the P PSFCHs are first P PSFCHs on the first resource group sorted in ascending order of priority values.

5. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The sending the P PSFCHs comprises: Perform LBT on the RB sets where the P PSFCHs are located, and determine a second resource group from the RB sets where the LBT is successfully performed among the RB sets where the P PSFCHs are located, where the second resource group consists of one RB set or multiple consecutive RB sets; Send the PSFCH on the second resource group.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that: The determining N RB sets from the resource block sets RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located includes: Select Q PSFCHs from the M PSFCHs, where the Q PSFCHs are first Q PSFCHs whose priority values ​​are sorted from small to large among the M PSFCHs; The N RB sets are determined from the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that The determining the N RB sets from the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located includes: LBT is performed on the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located, and the N RB sets are determined from the RB sets where LBT is successfully performed among the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located.

8. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that The sending of the PSFCH on the N RB sets includes: Performing LBT on the N RB sets, and determining a third resource group from among the RB sets on which LBT is successfully performed among the N RB sets, where the third resource group consists of one RB set or a plurality of consecutive RB sets; The PSFCH on the third resource group is transmitted.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located include multiple groups of RB sets, each group of RB sets includes one RB set or at least two consecutive RB sets, the N RB sets are a group of RB sets with the largest number of RB sets among the multiple groups of RB sets, and the one RB set is not continuous with the RB sets other than the one RB set among the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located include multiple groups of RB sets, each group of RB sets includes one RB set or at least two consecutive RB sets, the N RB sets are a group of RB sets with the largest number of PSFCHs among the multiple groups of RB sets, and the one RB set is not continuous with the RB sets other than the one RB set among the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The RB set where the M PSFCHs are located is the RB set on which LBT is successfully performed.

12. A side communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Determine M physical side feedback channels PSFCH to be sent; Determine S RB sets from the resource block sets RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located, where S is a positive integer, and when S is greater than 1, the S RB sets are non-continuous RB sets; The PSFCH is sent on the S RB sets.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The S RB sets include a first RB set, where the first RB set is the RB set where a PSFCH having the smallest priority value among the M PSFCHs is located.

14. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 13, characterized in that: The sending the PSFCH on the S RB sets includes: Select P PSFCHs from the PSFCHs on the S RB sets, where the P PSFCHs are first P PSFCHs on the S RB sets sorted in ascending order of priority values; The P PSFCHs are sent.

15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 13, characterized in that: The determining S RB sets from the resource block sets RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located includes: Select Q PSFCHs from the M PSFCHs, where the Q PSFCHs are first Q PSFCHs whose priority values ​​are sorted from small to large among the M PSFCHs; The S RB sets are determined from the RB sets where the Q PSFCHs are located.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that The S RB sets include a second RB set, where the second RB set is an RB set where a PSFCH with a smallest priority value among RB sets that are discontinuous with the first RB set is located, wherein S is an integer greater than or equal to 2.

17. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that: The S RB sets include the RB set with the largest number of PSFCHs among the RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located.

18. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that: The RB sets where the M PSFCHs are located include multiple groups of RB sets, each group of RB sets includes one RB set or at least two non-continuous RB sets, and the S RB sets are a group of RB sets with the largest number of PSFCHs on the multiple groups of RB sets.

19. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises a processor, wherein the processor is used to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11 or to implement the method according to any one of claims 12 to 18 through a logic circuit or executing a code instruction.

20. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises a module for executing the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, and a module for executing the method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 18.

21. A chip system, characterized in that: It includes a processor, which is used to execute a computer-executable program so that a device equipped with the chip system executes the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 11, or executes the method as described in any one of claims 12 to 18.

22. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The storage medium stores a computer program or an instruction. When the computer program or the instruction is executed by the communication device, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11 or the method according to any one of claims 12 to 18 is implemented.

23. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product stores a computer program, wherein the computer program includes program instructions, and when the program instructions are executed by a computer, the computer executes the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, or the method according to any one of claims 12 to 18.

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