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

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a relay discovery method and apparatus, a communication device, a communication system, and a storage medium. The relay discovery method is executed by a first terminal, and the relay discovery method comprises: sending a first message to a relay device and / or a second terminal, wherein the first message comprises a first relay hop count indication used for indicating a remaining allowed relay hop count of the first message, and the second terminal is a target device discovered by a relay.

Description

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

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

[0002] With the development of communication technology, relay technology has emerged. Relay technology adds one or more relay nodes between two communication nodes. The relay node is responsible for forwarding the wireless signal once or multiple times. The wireless signal can reach the target node after one or more hops.

[0003] Summary of the Invention

[0004] With the development of relay technology, more and more relay methods are available. In order to meet relay needs, new relay methods are provided.

[0005] According to a first aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a relay discovery method is provided, which is performed by a first terminal and includes:

[0006] A first message is sent to a relay device and / or a second terminal, where the first message includes: a first relay hop count indication, used to indicate the remaining allowed relay hop count of the first message; the second terminal is a target device discovered by the relay.

[0007] According to a second aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a relay discovery method is provided, which is performed by a relay device and includes:

[0008] receiving a first message sent by a previous-hop device; the previous-hop device includes a first terminal and / or a previous-hop relay device; the first terminal is a source device discovered by a relay; the first message includes a first relay hop count indication; the first relay hop count indication carries first information; the first information is used to indicate the remaining allowed relay hop count of the first message;

[0009] When the remaining allowed relay hops are greater than 0, the first information is updated to the second information; the remaining allowed relay hops indicated by the second information are 1 less than the remaining allowed relay hops indicated by the first information;

[0010] Send the first message carrying the second information.

[0011] According to a third aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a relay discovery method is provided, which is performed by a second terminal and includes:

[0012] receiving a first message sent by a previous-hop device, where the previous-hop device includes a first terminal and / or a previous-hop relay device; the first terminal is a source device discovered by relay; the first message includes a first relay hop count indication and second device information; the first relay hop count indication is used to indicate the remaining allowed relay hop count of the first message; and the second device information carries device information of a target device to be discovered by relay;

[0013] When the target device is the second terminal, a second message is sent; the second message includes a second relay hop count indication, where the second relay hop count indication is used to indicate the number of relay hops that the second message has experienced.

[0014] According to a fourth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a relay discovery method is provided, comprising:

[0015] The first terminal sends a first message to the relay device and / or the second terminal; the first message includes: a first relay hop count indication, the first relay hop count indication carrying first information; the first information is used to indicate the remaining allowed relay hop count of the first message; the second terminal is a target device discovered by the relay;

[0016] The relay device receives the first message sent by the first terminal and / or the previous hop relay device;

[0017] When the remaining allowed relay hops are greater than 0, the relay device updates the first information to second information; the remaining allowed relay hops indicated by the second information are 1 less than the remaining allowed relay hops indicated by the first information;

[0018] The relay device sends the first message carrying the second information;

[0019] The second terminal receives a first message sent by the first terminal and / or a previous-hop relay device; the first terminal is a source device discovered by the relay;

[0020] When the target device is the second terminal, the second terminal sends a second message; the second message includes a second relay hop count indication, where the second relay hop count indication is used to indicate the number of relay hops that the second message has experienced.

[0021] According to a fifth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a relay discovery device is provided, comprising:

[0022] The first sending module is configured to send a first message to the relay device and / or the second terminal, where the first message includes a first relay hop count indication for indicating an allowed relay hop count; the second terminal is a target device discovered by the relay.

[0023] According to a sixth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a relay discovery device is provided, comprising:

[0024] A first receiving module is configured to receive a first message sent by a previous-hop device; the previous-hop device includes a first terminal and / or a previous-hop relay device; the first terminal is a source device discovered by the relay; the first message includes a first relay hop count indication; the first relay hop count indication carries first information; the first information is used to indicate the remaining allowed relay hop count of the first message;

[0025] a first updating module configured to update the first information to second information when the remaining allowed relay hops is greater than 0; the remaining allowed relay hops indicated by the second information are 1 less than the remaining allowed relay hops indicated by the first information;

[0026] The second sending module is configured to send the first message carrying the second information.

[0027] According to a seventh aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a relay discovery device is provided, comprising:

[0028] a second receiving module configured to receive a first message sent by a previous-hop device, the previous-hop device including a first terminal and / or a previous-hop relay device; the first terminal being a source device discovered by relay; the first message including a first relay hop count indication and second device information; the first relay hop count indication being used to indicate the remaining allowed relay hop count of the first message; and the second device information carrying device information of a target device to be discovered by relay;

[0029] The third sending module is configured to send a second message when the target device is the second terminal; the second message includes a second relay hop count indication, and the second relay hop count indication is used to indicate the number of relay hops experienced by the second message.

[0030] According to an eighth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a relay discovery device is provided, comprising:

[0031] A first sending module is configured to send a first message from a first terminal to a relay device and / or a second terminal; the first message includes: a first relay hop count indication, the first relay hop count indication carrying first information; the first information is used to indicate the remaining allowed relay hop count of the first message; the second terminal is a target device discovered by the relay;

[0032] A first receiving module is configured to receive, as a relay device, the first message sent by the first terminal and / or the previous hop relay device;

[0033] a first updating module configured to, when the remaining allowed relay hops is greater than 0, cause the relay device to update the first information to second information; the remaining allowed relay hops indicated by the second information being 1 less than the remaining allowed relay hops indicated by the first information;

[0034] a second sending module, configured to send the first message carrying the second information to the relay device;

[0035] A second receiving module is configured to receive, for the second terminal, a first message sent by the first terminal and / or the previous hop relay device; the first terminal is a source device discovered by the relay;

[0036] The third sending module is configured to send a second message to the second terminal when the target device is the second terminal; the second message includes a second relay hop number indication, and the second relay hop number indication is used to indicate the number of relay hops experienced by the second message.

[0037] According to the ninth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication system is provided, wherein the communication system includes a relay device, a first terminal, and a second terminal; the first terminal is configured to implement the method described in any one of the first aspects, and the relay device is configured to implement the method described in any one of the second aspects; the second terminal is configured to implement the method described in any one of the third aspects.

[0038] According to a tenth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication device is provided, wherein the communication device includes:

[0039] one or more processors;

[0040] The processor is used to call instructions to enable the communication device to execute the processing methods provided by the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect and the fourth aspect.

[0041] According to the eleventh aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a storage medium is provided, wherein the storage medium stores instructions, and when the instructions are executed on a communication device, the communication device executes the processing methods provided in the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect and the fourth aspect.

[0042] The technical solution provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure configures the first message through the first terminal. The first relay hop count indication in the first message can indicate whether the first message can continue to be forwarded through the relay device and the number of forwarding times that can be forwarded through the relay device, which is conducive to realizing a U2U relay communication process that supports multi-hop, and can effectively increase the communication range of the U2U relay communication. In this way, the relay range of the relay communication is improved through multi-hop relay, and the broadcast storm of the first message can be limited.

[0043] It should be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are merely exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the embodiments of the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0045] FIG1 is a schematic diagram showing an architecture of a communication system according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0046] FIG2A is a schematic diagram showing a flow chart of a relay discovery method according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0047] FIG2B is a schematic diagram showing a flow chart of a relay discovery method according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0048] FIG2C is a schematic diagram showing a flow chart of a relay discovery method according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0049] FIG3A is a schematic diagram showing a flow chart of a relay discovery method according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0050] FIG3B is a schematic diagram showing a flow chart of a relay discovery method according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0051] FIG4A is a schematic diagram showing a flow chart of a relay discovery method according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0052] FIG4B is a schematic diagram showing a flow chart of a relay discovery method according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0053] FIG4C is a schematic diagram showing a flow chart of a relay discovery method according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0054] FIG5A is a schematic diagram showing a flow chart of a relay discovery method according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0055] FIG5B is a schematic diagram showing a flow chart of a relay discovery method according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0056] FIG5C is a schematic diagram showing a flow chart of a relay discovery method according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0057] FIG6 is a schematic diagram showing a flow chart of a relay discovery method according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0058] FIG7 is a schematic structural diagram of a first terminal according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0059] FIG8 is a schematic structural diagram of a relay device according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0060] FIG9 is a schematic structural diagram of a second terminal according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0061] FIG10 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication system according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0062] FIG11a is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0063] Fig. 11b is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an exemplary embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0064] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a relay discovery method, apparatus, communication equipment, communication system, and storage medium.

[0065] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a relay discovery method, which is performed by a first terminal and includes:

[0066] A first message is sent to a relay device and / or a second terminal, where the first message includes: a first relay hop count indication, used to indicate the remaining allowed relay hop count of the first message; the second terminal is a target device discovered by the relay.

[0067] In the above embodiment, the first relay hop count indication included in the first message is used to indicate the remaining allowed relay hop count of the first message, and can provide the relay device with information on whether the first message can be forwarded. When the remaining allowed relay hop count is multiple, the first message can be relayed and forwarded multiple times through multiple relay devices, which is conducive to realizing a U2U relay communication process that supports multi-hop, and can effectively increase the communication range of the U2U relay communication. In this way, the relay range of the relay communication is improved through multi-hop relaying, and the broadcast storm of the first message can be limited.

[0068] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first message further includes:

[0069] First device information, used to indicate the first terminal;

[0070] The second device information is used to indicate a second terminal; the second terminal is a target device discovered by the relay.

[0071] In the above embodiment, through the indication of the first terminal by the first device information, the relay device can carry the source device information of the first message during the process of forwarding the first information, and the second terminal can determine the source device of the first message based on the received first message, thereby facilitating the determination of the relay path of the first message.

[0072] Through the indication of the second terminal by the second device information, the relay device and / or the first terminal may forward the first message to the second terminal according to the second device information, so as to facilitate determination of the target device discovered by the relay.

[0073] By indicating the first device information and the second device information, relay communication between a source terminal and a target terminal in relay communication is facilitated.

[0074] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the second message includes second device information, where the second device information indicates the second terminal.

[0075] In the above embodiment, through the indication of the second terminal by the second device information, the relay device and / or the first terminal may forward the second message to the first terminal according to the second device information, so as to facilitate the first terminal to determine the relay path.

[0076] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0077] receiving a second message sent by a previous-hop device, where the previous-hop device includes a second terminal and / or a previous-hop relay device;

[0078] A relay path for relay communication is determined according to the second message.

[0079] In the above embodiment, the relay path of the second message can be determined according to the sending device of the second message, and the relay path of the second message can be used as the relay path of the relay communication.

[0080] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the second message includes a second relay hop count indication; the second relay hop count indication is used to indicate the number of relay hops that the second message has experienced.

[0081] In the above embodiment, the second relay hop count indication is used to provide the first terminal with the number of relay hops that the second message sent by the previous hop device has experienced. When the first terminal receives second messages sent by multiple different previous hop devices, it is convenient for the first terminal to determine the relay path according to the second relay hop count indication.

[0082] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, receiving the second message sent by the previous hop device includes:

[0083] Receive the second message unicasted by the previous hop device.

[0084] In the above embodiment, when the second message is a unicast message, the first terminal receives a second message, and the previous hop device sends a unicast second message to send the second message to the first terminal, thereby reducing the number of second messages sent and received, reducing signaling overhead, and saving network resources.

[0085] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, determining the relay path of the relay communication according to the second message includes:

[0086] When the second message sent by unicast is received, the relay path of the second message is determined as the relay path.

[0087] In the above embodiment, since there is only one path in the unicast transmission mode, the path of the second message sent by unicast can be determined as the relay path.

[0088] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, receiving the second message sent by the previous hop device includes:

[0089] Receive the second message broadcasted by one or more previous-hop devices.

[0090] In the above embodiment, the previous-hop device can send the second message by broadcasting. When there are multiple previous-hop devices, the first terminal can receive the second messages broadcast by multiple previous-hop devices. The first terminal can determine the relay path from the paths of the second messages received by different previous-hop devices based on actual business needs.

[0091] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, determining the relay path of the relay communication according to the second message includes at least one of the following:

[0092] When receiving the second message sent by broadcast, determining the transmission path of the received second message as the relay path;

[0093] When receiving a plurality of second messages sent by broadcast, determining the relay path according to the signal strengths of the plurality of second messages;

[0094] When a plurality of second messages sent by broadcast are received, the relay path is determined according to the number of relay hops that each of the plurality of second messages has undergone.

[0095] In the above embodiments, different methods for determining a relay path are provided. Determining a relay path based on signal strength can determine the transmission path of the second message with the strongest signal strength as the relay path, thereby improving communication quality. When determining a transmission path based on the number of relay hops the second message has undergone, a greater number of relay hops indicates a greater communication distance, thereby increasing the communication distance between the first terminal and the second terminal.

[0096] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a relay method, which is performed by a relay device and includes:

[0097] receiving a first message sent by a previous-hop device; the previous-hop device includes a first terminal and / or a previous-hop relay device; the first terminal is a source device discovered by a relay; the first message includes a first relay hop count indication; the first relay hop count indication carries first information; the first information is used to indicate the remaining allowed relay hop count of the first message;

[0098] When the remaining allowed relay hops are greater than 0, the first information is updated to the second information; the remaining allowed relay hops indicated by the second information are 1 less than the remaining allowed relay hops indicated by the first information;

[0099] Send the first message carrying the second information.

[0100] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a relay method, which is performed by a second terminal and includes:

[0101] receiving a first message sent by a previous-hop device, where the previous-hop device includes a first terminal and / or a previous-hop relay device; the first terminal is a source device discovered by relay; the first message includes a first relay hop count indication and second device information; the first relay hop count indication is used to indicate the remaining allowed relay hop count of the first message; and the second device information carries device information of a target device to be discovered by relay;

[0102] When the target device is the second terminal, a second message is sent; the second message includes a second relay hop count indication, where the second relay hop count indication is used to indicate the number of relay hops that the second message has experienced.

[0103] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a relay discovery method, which includes:

[0104] The first terminal sends a first message to the relay device and / or the second terminal; the first message includes: a first relay hop count indication, the first relay hop count indication carrying first information; the first information is used to indicate the remaining allowed relay hop count of the first message; the second terminal is a target device discovered by the relay;

[0105] The relay device receives the first message sent by the first terminal and / or the previous hop relay device;

[0106] When the remaining allowed relay hops are greater than 0, the relay device updates the first information to second information; the remaining allowed relay hops indicated by the second information are 1 less than the remaining allowed relay hops indicated by the first information;

[0107] The relay device sends the first message carrying the second information;

[0108] The second terminal receives a first message sent by the first terminal and / or a previous-hop relay device; the first terminal is a source device discovered by the relay;

[0109] When the target device is the second terminal, the second terminal sends a second message; the second message includes a second relay hop count indication, where the second relay hop count indication is used to indicate the number of relay hops that the second message has experienced.

[0110] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a relay discovery device, comprising:

[0111] The first sending module is configured to send a first message to the relay device and / or the second terminal, where the first message includes a first relay hop count indication for indicating an allowed relay hop count; the second terminal is a target device discovered by the relay.

[0112] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a relay discovery device, comprising:

[0113] A first receiving module is configured to receive a first message sent by a previous-hop device; the previous-hop device includes a first terminal and / or a previous-hop relay device; the first terminal is a source device discovered by the relay; the first message includes a first relay hop count indication; the first relay hop count indication carries first information; the first information is used to indicate the remaining allowed relay hop count of the first message;

[0114] a first updating module configured to update the first information to second information when the remaining allowed relay hops is greater than 0; the remaining allowed relay hops indicated by the second information are 1 less than the remaining allowed relay hops indicated by the first information;

[0115] The second sending module is configured to send the first message carrying the second information.

[0116] In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a relay discovery device, comprising:

[0117] a second receiving module configured to receive a first message sent by a previous-hop device, the previous-hop device including a first terminal and / or a previous-hop relay device; the first terminal being a source device discovered by relay; the first message including a first relay hop count indication and second device information; the first relay hop count indication being used to indicate the remaining allowed relay hop count of the first message; and the second device information carrying device information of a target device to be discovered by relay;

[0118] The third sending module is configured to send a second message when the target device is the second terminal; the second message includes a second relay hop count indication, and the second relay hop count indication is used to indicate the number of relay hops experienced by the second message.

[0119] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a relay discovery device, comprising:

[0120] A first sending module is configured to send a first message from a first terminal to a relay device and / or a second terminal; the first message includes: a first relay hop count indication, the first relay hop count indication carrying first information; the first information is used to indicate the remaining allowed relay hop count of the first message; the second terminal is a target device discovered by the relay;

[0121] A first receiving module is configured to receive, as a relay device, the first message sent by the first terminal and / or the previous hop relay device;

[0122] a first updating module configured to, when the remaining allowed relay hops is greater than 0, cause the relay device to update the first information to second information; the remaining allowed relay hops indicated by the second information being 1 less than the remaining allowed relay hops indicated by the first information;

[0123] a second sending module, configured to send the first message carrying the second information to the relay device;

[0124] A second receiving module is configured to receive, for the second terminal, a first message sent by the first terminal and / or the previous hop relay device; the first terminal is a source device discovered by the relay;

[0125] The third sending module is configured to send a second message to the second terminal when the target device is the second terminal; the second message includes a second relay hop number indication, and the second relay hop number indication is used to indicate the number of relay hops experienced by the second message.

[0126] In the ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication system, wherein the communication system includes a relay device, a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal is configured to implement the processing method described in the optional implementation manner of the first aspect, the relay device is configured to implement the communication method described in the optional implementation manner of the second aspect, and the second terminal is configured to implement the processing method described in the optional implementation manner of the third aspect.

[0127] In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication device, the communication device comprising:

[0128] one or more processors;

[0129] The processor is used to call instructions to enable the communication device to execute the processing method described in the optional implementation manner of the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect or the fourth aspect.

[0130] In the eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a storage medium, wherein the storage medium stores instructions, which, when the instructions are executed on a communication device, enable the communication device to execute the processing method described in the optional implementation of the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect or the fourth aspect.

[0131] In the twelfth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a program product, which, when executed by a communication device, enables the communication device to execute the processing method described in the optional implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect, the third aspect or the fourth aspect.

[0132] In a thirteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the processing method described in the optional implementation of the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect, or the fourth aspect.

[0133] It is understandable that the first terminal, relay device, second terminal, relay discovery device, communication system, storage medium, program product, and computer program are all used to perform the method provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure. Therefore, the beneficial effects that can be achieved can refer to the beneficial effects of the corresponding method and will not be repeated here.

[0134] The present disclosure provides a relay discovery method, apparatus, communication device, communication system, and storage medium. In some embodiments, the terms "communication method" and "relay discovery method" are interchangeable, the terms "information indicating device" and "information processing device" and "information transmission device" are interchangeable, and the terms "communication system" and "information processing system" are interchangeable.

[0135] The embodiments of the present disclosure are not exhaustive and are merely illustrative of some embodiments, and are not intended to be a specific limitation on the scope of protection of the present disclosure. In the absence of contradiction, each step in a certain embodiment can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the steps can be arbitrarily combined. For example, a solution after removing some steps in a certain embodiment can also be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the order of the steps in a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily exchanged. In addition, the optional implementation methods in a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily combined; in addition, the embodiments can be arbitrarily combined. For example, some or all steps of different embodiments can be arbitrarily combined, and a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily combined with the optional implementation methods of other embodiments.

[0136] In each embodiment of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified or provided for by logic, the terms and / or descriptions between the embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form a new embodiment based on their inherent logical relationships.

[0137] The terms used in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

[0138] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified, elements expressed in the singular, such as "a", "an", "the", "above", "said", "the", "the", etc., may mean "one and only one", or "one or more", "at least one", etc. For example, when using articles such as "a", "an", "the" in English in translation, the noun following the article may be understood as a singular expression or a plural expression.

[0139] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, “plurality” refers to two or more.

[0140] In some embodiments, the terms "at least one," "one or more," "a plurality of," "multiple," etc. may be used interchangeably.

[0141] In some embodiments, descriptions such as "at least one of A and B," "A and / or B," "in one case A, in another case B," or "in one case A, in another case B" may include the following technical solutions depending on the situation: in some embodiments, A (A is executed independently of B); in some embodiments, B (B is executed independently of A); in some embodiments, execution is selected from A and B (A and B are selectively executed); and in some embodiments, A and B (both A and B are executed). The same applies when there are more branches such as A, B, and C.

[0142] In some embodiments, "A or B" and other descriptions may include the following technical solutions depending on the situation: in some embodiments, A (A is executed independently of B); in some embodiments, B (B is executed independently of A); in some embodiments, execution is selected from A and B (A and B are selectively executed). The above is also applicable when there are more branches such as A, B, C, etc.

[0143] The prefixes such as "first" and "second" in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only used to distinguish different description objects and do not constitute any restriction on the position, order, priority, quantity or content of the description objects. For the statement of the description object, please refer to the description in the context of the claims or embodiments, and no unnecessary restriction should be constituted due to the use of prefixes. For example, if the description object is a "field", the ordinal number before the "field" in the "first field" and the "second field" does not limit the position or order between the "fields". "First" and "second" do not limit whether the "fields" they modify are in the same message, nor do they limit the order of the "first field" and the "second field". For another example, if the description object is a "level", the ordinal number before the "level" in the "first level" and the "second level" does not limit the priority between the "levels". For another example, the number of description objects is not limited by the ordinal number and can be one or more. Taking "first device" as an example, the number of "devices" can be one or more. In addition, the objects modified by different prefixes can be the same or different. For example, if the description object is "device", then the "first device" and the "second device" can be the same device or different devices, and their types can be the same or different. For another example, if the description object is "information", then the "first reference signal" and the "second field" can be the same information or different information, and their contents can be the same or different.

[0144] In some embodiments, “including A,” “comprising A,” “used to indicate A,” and “carrying A” can be interpreted as directly carrying A or indirectly indicating A.

[0145] In some embodiments, terms such as "...", "determine...", "in the case of...", "at the time of...", "when...", "if...", "if...", etc. can be used interchangeably.

[0146] In some embodiments, terms such as "greater than", "greater than or equal to", "not less than", "more than", "more than or equal to", "not less than", "higher than", "higher than or equal to", "not less than", and "above" can be replaced with each other, and terms such as "less than", "less than or equal to", "not greater than", "less than", "less than or equal to", "not more than", "lower than", "lower than or equal to", "not higher than", and "below" can be replaced with each other.

[0147] In some embodiments, devices, etc. can be interpreted as physical or virtual, and their names are not limited to the names recorded in the embodiments. Terms such as "device", "equipment", "device", "circuit", "network element", "node", "function", "unit", "section", "system", "network", "chip", "chip system", "entity", and "subject" can be used interchangeably.

[0148] In some embodiments, "network" can be interpreted as devices included in the network (eg, access network equipment, core network equipment, etc.).

[0149] In some embodiments, the terms "access network device (AN device)", "radio access network device (RAN device)", "base station (BS)", "radio base station" "fixed station", "node", "access point", "transmission point (TP)", "reception point (RP)", "transmission / reception point (TRP)", "panel", "antenna panel", "antenna array", "cell", "macro cell", "small cell", "femto cell", "pico cell", "sector", "cell group", "serving cell", "carrier", "component carrier", "bandwidth part (BWP)" and the like may be used interchangeably.

[0150] In some embodiments, the terms "terminal", "terminal device", "user equipment (UE)", "user terminal", "mobile station (MS)", "mobile terminal (MT)", subscriber station, mobile unit, subscriber unit, wireless unit, remote unit, mobile device, wireless device, wireless communication device, remote device, mobile subscriber station, access terminal, mobile terminal, wireless terminal, remote terminal, handset, user agent, mobile client, client, etc. can be used interchangeably.

[0151] In some embodiments, the access network device, the core network device, or the network device can be replaced by a terminal. For example, the various embodiments of the present disclosure can also be applied to a structure in which the communication between the access network device, the core network device, or the network device and the terminal is replaced by communication between multiple terminals (for example, device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X), etc.). In this case, it is also possible to set the structure in which the terminal has all or part of the functions of the access network device. In addition, terms such as "uplink" and "downlink" can also be replaced by terms corresponding to communication between terminals (for example, "side"). For example, uplink channels, downlink channels, etc. can be replaced by side channels, and uplinks, downlinks, etc. can be replaced by side links.

[0152] In some embodiments, the terminal may be replaced by an access network device, a core network device, or a network device. In this case, the access network device, the core network device, or the network device may have a structure that has all or part of the functions of the terminal.

[0153] In some embodiments, obtaining data, information, etc. may comply with the laws and regulations of the country where the data is obtained.

[0154] In some embodiments, data, information, etc. may be obtained with the user's consent.

[0155] In addition, each element, each row, or each column in the table of the embodiment of the present disclosure can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the combination of any elements, any rows, and any columns can also be implemented as an independent embodiment.

[0156] FIG1 is a schematic diagram showing the architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0157] As shown in FIG1 , a communication system 100 includes a first terminal 101 , a relay device 102 , and a second terminal 103 .

[0158] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 includes, for example, a mobile phone, a wearable device, an Internet of Things device, a car with communication function, a smart car, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal device in industrial control, a wireless terminal device in self-driving, a wireless terminal device in remote medical surgery, a wireless terminal device in a smart grid, a wireless terminal device in transportation safety, a wireless terminal device in a smart city, and at least one of a wireless terminal device in a smart home, but is not limited thereto.

[0159] In some embodiments, the relay device 102 can be, for example, a node or device that accesses the terminal to a wireless network. The access network device may include an evolved NodeB (eNB), a next generation evolved NodeB (ng-eNB), a next generation NodeB (gNB), a node B (NB), a home node B (HNB), a home evolved nodeB (HeNB), a wireless backhaul device, a radio network controller (RNC), a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a base band unit (BBU), a mobile switching center, a base station in a 6G communication system, an open base station (Open RAN), a cloud base station (Cloud RAN), a base station in other communication systems, and at least one of an access node in a Wi-Fi system, but is not limited thereto.

[0160] In some embodiments, the technical solution of the present disclosure can be applied to the Open RAN architecture. In this case, the interfaces between or within the access network devices involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure can be transformed into internal interfaces of the Open RAN, and the processes and information interactions between these internal interfaces can be implemented through software or programs.

[0161] In some embodiments, the access network device can be composed of a centralized unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU), where the CU can also be called a control unit. The CU-DU structure can be used to split the protocol layer of the access network device, with the functions of some protocol layers centrally controlled by the CU, and the functions of the remaining part or all of the protocol layers distributed in the DU, which is centrally controlled by the CU, but is not limited to this.

[0162] In some embodiments, the second terminal 103 includes, for example, a mobile phone, a wearable device, an Internet of Things device, a car with communication function, a smart car, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal device in industrial control, a wireless terminal device in self-driving, a wireless terminal device in remote medical surgery, a wireless terminal device in a smart grid, a wireless terminal device in transportation safety, a wireless terminal device in a smart city, and at least one of a wireless terminal device in a smart home, but is not limited thereto.

[0163] It can be understood that the communication system described in the embodiment of the present disclosure is for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solution of the embodiment of the present disclosure, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solution provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure. Ordinary technicians in this field can know that with the evolution of the system architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solution provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure is also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0164] The following embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied to the communication system 100 shown in Figure 1, or a portion thereof, but are not limited thereto. The entities shown in Figure 1 are illustrative only. The communication system may include all or part of the entities shown in Figure 1, or may include other entities outside of Figure 1. The number and form of the entities may be arbitrary. The connection relationship between the entities is illustrative only. The entities may be connected or disconnected, and the connection may be in any manner, including direct or indirect, wired or wireless.

[0165] The embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), LTE-Beyond (LTE-B), SUPER 3G, IMT-Advanced, 4th generation mobile communication system (4G), 5th generation mobile communication system (5G), 5G new radio (NR), future radio access (FRA), new radio access technology (RAT), new radio (NR), new radio access (NX), future generation radio access (FX), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM (registered trademark)), CDMA2000, Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.20, Ultra-WideBand (UWB), Bluetooth (registered trademark), Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) networks, Device-to-Device (D2D) systems, Machine-to-Machine (M2M) systems, Internet of Things (IoT) systems, Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X), systems utilizing other communication methods, and next-generation systems based on and extending these methods. Furthermore, multiple systems may be combined (for example, a combination of LTE or LTE-A with 5G).

[0166] FIG2A is an interactive diagram of a relay discovery method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG2A , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a relay discovery method for a communication system 100, the method comprising:

[0167] S2101: The first terminal sends a first message.

[0168] In some embodiments, the first terminal broadcasts the first message.

[0169] In some embodiments, the first terminal sends a first message to the relay device.

[0170] In some embodiments, the first terminal sends a first message to the second terminal.

[0171] In some embodiments, the first terminal sends a first message to the relay device and the second terminal.

[0172] In some embodiments, the second terminal is a target device discovered by the relay.

[0173] In some embodiments, the first message includes a first relay hop count indication.

[0174] In some embodiments, the first relay hop count indication is used to indicate a remaining allowed number of relay hops for the first message.

[0175] The first relay hop count indication may indicate whether the first message can continue to be forwarded by the relay device.

[0176] In some embodiments, the remaining allowed relay hop count indicates the remaining number of times the first message is forwarded by a relay device. Forwarding through one relay device is one relay hop count.

[0177] In some embodiments, the first relay hop count indication may carry first information, where the first information is used to indicate the remaining allowed relay hop count of the first message.

[0178] In some embodiments, when the first terminal serves as a source device for relay communication, that is, when the first terminal serves as a source device for sending a first message, the remaining allowed relay hops indicated in the first message sent by the first terminal are the maximum allowed relay hops.

[0179] In some embodiments, the remaining allowed number of relay hops of the first message includes an AllowedHopsIndex parameter.

[0180] In some embodiments, the first relay hop count indicator may be a natural number or a positive integer. That is, the first relay hop count indicator may be a numerical value, and the cutoff value of the count may be 0 or 1. When the cutoff value of the count is 1, the minimum cutoff value is 1, indicating that the remaining allowed number of relay hops is 1, i.e., the packet can be forwarded once more through the relay device.

[0181] In some embodiments, when the cutoff value of the count is 1, the minimum value of the cutoff value is 0, indicating that the remaining allowed relay hop number is 1, that is, it can be forwarded once more through the relay device.

[0182] In some embodiments, the first information further includes: address information of layer 2, such as identification information of layer 2. The identification information of layer 2 includes but is not limited to the ID of layer 2.

[0183] Exemplarily, the first information includes: a source layer 2 identifier of a previous hop device in two adjacent hop devices. The source layer 2 identifier of the previous hop device in two adjacent hop devices is used to identify the previous hop device.

[0184] Exemplarily, the first information includes: a destination layer 2 identifier of a previous hop device in two adjacent hop devices. The destination layer 2 identifier of the previous hop device in two adjacent hop devices is used to identify a next hop device that receives the first message.

[0185] In the above embodiment, by carrying the source layer 2 identifier and destination layer 2 identifier of the previous hop device in the first information, the current relay device can establish a layer 2 connection with the previous hop device based on the destination layer 2 identifier and source layer 2 identifier of the previous hop device, so as to use the layer 2 connection for relay communication.

[0186] For example, the first information includes:

[0187] The source layer 2 identifier and destination layer 2 identifier of the n-th hop relay device.

[0188] In the above embodiment, the first information of the n-th hop first message may include the source layer 2 identifier and the destination layer 2 identifier of the n-th hop relay device. Communication between the n-th relay device and the (n+1)-th hop relay device may be established through the source layer 2 identifier and the destination layer 2 identifier of the n-th hop relay device. Communication between the n-th relay device and the (n+1)-th hop relay device may be established through the destination layer 2 identifier and the source layer 2 identifier of the n-th hop relay device.

[0189] In some embodiments, the first message further includes:

[0190] The first device information is used to indicate the first terminal.

[0191] The first device information may indicate the source device discovered by the relay, that is, the source device that sends the first message.

[0192] In some embodiments, the first device information may include identification information of the first terminal.

[0193] The identification information of the first terminal may include but is not limited to a device ID of the first terminal and / or a user information identifier (User Info ID) of the first terminal.

[0194] In some embodiments, the first message further includes:

[0195] The second device information is used to indicate the second terminal.

[0196] The second terminal may be a target terminal of the relay communication.

[0197] The second device information may carry terminal information of the second terminal.

[0198] The terminal information may include identification information of the second terminal. The identification information of the second terminal may include but is not limited to a device ID of the second terminal and / or a user information identifier (User Info ID) of the second terminal.

[0199] In some embodiments, the first message may further include: type information indicating the type of the first message.

[0200] Exemplarily, the type information may include a discovery type. For example, during relay discovery, mode A and mode B may be used for relay discovery. Mode A and mode B correspond to different discovery types.

[0201] In some embodiments, the first message may further include a relay service code (rsc). The relay service code is used to indicate a service corresponding to the relay communication.

[0202] In some embodiments, the relay discovery method further includes: the relay device receiving a first message.

[0203] In some embodiments, the relay device receives the first message.

[0204] In some embodiments, the relay device receives a first message sent by a previous-hop device, where the previous-hop device includes a first terminal and / or a previous-hop relay device.

[0205] In some embodiments, the device that sends the message to the current device is the previous hop device of the current device.

[0206] For example, the first device sends a first message to relay device 1, then the first device serves as the previous hop device of relay device 1, relay device 1 forwards the first message to relay device 2, then relay device 2 is the previous hop device of relay device 1, and relay device 2 forwards the first message to relay device 3, then relay device 2 is the previous hop device of relay device 3.

[0207] In some embodiments, the relay device receives a first message sent by the first terminal.

[0208] In some embodiments, the relay device receives a first message sent by a previous-hop relay device.

[0209] In some embodiments, the relay device receives the first message sent by the previous-hop relay device and the first message sent by the first terminal respectively.

[0210] In some embodiments, the relay device receives a first message broadcast by the first terminal.

[0211] In some embodiments, the relay device receives a first message broadcast by a previous-hop relay device.

[0212] In some embodiments, the relay device receives the first message broadcast by the first terminal and the first message broadcast by the previous-hop relay device respectively.

[0213] S2102: The relay device updates the first message.

[0214] In some embodiments, the relay device updates the first information carried in the first message to the second information.

[0215] In some embodiments, assuming that the relay device receiving the first message is the n-th hop relay device, the n-1-th hop device is the previous hop device. When the n-th hop relay device receives the first message sent by the n-1-th hop device, the n-th hop relay device generates an n-th hop first message, and the remaining allowed relay hops indicated by the n-th hop first message are 1 less than the remaining allowed relay hops indicated by the n-1-th hop first message.

[0216] Exemplarily, the n-th hop first message is added with a device identifier of the n-th hop relay device relative to the n-1-th hop first message.

[0217] Exemplarily, the n-th hop first message is a first message obtained by updating the first message sent by the (n-1)-th hop device.

[0218] In some embodiments, when the remaining allowed number of relay hops of the first message is greater than 0, the first information carried by the first relay hop indication in the first message is updated to the second information.

[0219] In some embodiments, the remaining allowed relay hops indicated by the second information are one less than the remaining allowed relay hops indicated by the first information.

[0220] Exemplarily, the first relay hop count indication is used to indicate a numerical value, and the cutoff value of the count is 1, indicating that the first message can be forwarded one more time.

[0221] For example, the first terminal acts as the source end of relay communication. The first information sent by the first terminal indicates that the remaining allowed relay hops are 5 hops. The value indicated by the first information is 5, the value indicated by the first information after passing the first hop device is 4, the value indicated by the first information after passing the second hop device is 3, the first information after passing the third hop device is 2, and the first information after passing the fourth hop device is 1. At this time, the remaining allowed relay hops are 1, and the second information after passing the fifth hop device is 0. After that, forwarding through the relay device is not allowed.

[0222] Exemplarily, the first relay hop count indication is used to indicate a numerical value, the cutoff value of the count is 0, and the indicated remaining allowed relay hop count is 1.

[0223] For example, the first terminal serves as the source end of relay communication. The first information sent by the first terminal indicates that the remaining allowed relay hops are 5 hops. The value indicated by the first information is 4. The first information after passing through one hop device can be 3, the first information after passing through the second hop device is 3, the first information after passing through the third hop device is 2, and the first information after passing through the fourth hop device is 0. At this time, the remaining allowed relay hops are 1, and one more hop can be passed.

[0224] In some embodiments, the updated first message further includes:

[0225] The third device information is used to indicate the current relay device.

[0226] The indication of the third device information can indicate that the first message has been forwarded by the relay device, thereby facilitating the second terminal to determine the path for sending the second information.

[0227] In some embodiments, the third device information may include device ID information of the relay device.

[0228] In some embodiments, the updated first message further includes:

[0229] The first device information is used to indicate the first terminal.

[0230] The first device information may indicate the source device discovered by the relay, that is, the source device that sends the first message.

[0231] In some embodiments, the first device information may include a device ID of the first terminal and / or a user information identifier (User Info ID) of the first terminal.

[0232] In some embodiments, the updated first message further includes:

[0233] The second device information is used to indicate a second terminal; the second terminal is a target device discovered by the relay.

[0234] In some embodiments, the updated first message further includes:

[0235] In some embodiments, the second device information may include a device ID of the second terminal and / or a user information identifier (User Info ID) of the second terminal.

[0236] In some embodiments, the updated first message may further include: type information indicating the type of the first message.

[0237] Exemplarily, the type information may include a discovery type. For example, during relay discovery, mode A and mode B may be used for relay discovery. Mode A and mode B correspond to different discovery types.

[0238] In some embodiments, the updated first message may further include a relay service code (rsc) for instructing the relay device to configure relay parameters.

[0239] S2103: The relay device sends the updated first message.

[0240] In some embodiments, the relay device broadcasts the updated first message.

[0241] In some embodiments, the relay device broadcasts the updated first message to the second terminal.

[0242] In some embodiments, the relay device sends the first message carrying the second information.

[0243] In some embodiments, the updated first message also includes: third device information, which is at least used to indicate the current relay device.

[0244] The third device information may indicate that the first message has passed through a relay device, that is, a relay device that has forwarded the first message.

[0245] In some embodiments, the third device information may include a device ID of the current relay device and / or a user information identifier (User Info ID) of the current relay device.

[0246] In some embodiments, the current relay device broadcasts the updated first message, that is, broadcasts the first message carrying the second information.

[0247] In some embodiments, the method further includes: the second terminal receiving the first message.

[0248] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message sent by a previous-hop device, where the previous-hop device includes the first terminal and / or a previous-hop relay device.

[0249] Exemplarily, if the second terminal receives the first message sent by the first terminal, the first terminal is the previous hop device of the second terminal. If the second terminal receives the first message sent by the relay device, the relay device that sent the first message to the second terminal is the previous hop device of the second terminal.

[0250] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives the first message sent by the first terminal.

[0251] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message sent by a previous-hop relay device.

[0252] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message broadcasted by a previous-hop device.

[0253] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message.

[0254] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message sent by a relay device.

[0255] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message sent by the first terminal.

[0256] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message sent by multiple different previous-hop relay devices. For example, the second terminal receives a first message sent by the first terminal and a first message sent by at least one relay device. For example, the second terminal receives N first messages.

[0257] S2104: The second terminal determines a relay path.

[0258] In some embodiments, when the second terminal receives a first message, it determines the propagation path of the received first message as the relay path.

[0259] In some embodiments, when the second terminal receives multiple first messages, it selects a relay path based on the number of relay hops that the propagation path of each first message passes through. Exemplarily, the propagation path with the least number of relay hops is selected as the relay path.

[0260] In some embodiments, when the second terminal receives multiple first messages, it selects a relay path according to the value indicated by the first information carried by the first relay hop count indicator in each first message.

[0261] In some embodiments, when the second terminal receives multiple first messages, it selects a relay path based on the signal strength of each first message. Exemplarily, the propagation path of the first message with the greatest signal strength is selected as the relay path.

[0262] Selecting the propagation path of the first message with the largest signal strength to form a relay path can improve communication quality.

[0263] In some embodiments, when the second terminal receives multiple first messages and the source sending devices of each first message are the same, for example, the source of all first messages is the first terminal, the propagation path of one of the first messages is randomly used as the relay path.

[0264] S2105: The second terminal unicasts a second message.

[0265] In some embodiments, the second terminal unicasts the second message according to the determined relay path. Exemplarily, the second terminal sends the second message to the previous hop relay device on the determined relay path, and each hop device on the relay path sends the second message to the previous hop device until it is forwarded to the first terminal.

[0266] In some embodiments, the second terminal sends the second message after receiving the first message.

[0267] In some embodiments, the second message is a response message to the first message.

[0268] In some embodiments, when the target device discovered by the relay indicated by the second device information is the second terminal, the second terminal sends the second message.

[0269] In some embodiments, the second message includes a second relay hop count indication, where the second relay hop count indication is used to indicate the number of relay hops that the second message has undergone.

[0270] In some embodiments, the second relay hop count indication may be 0 or 1 for indicating the hop count of the relay hops that have been passed.

[0271] In some embodiments, the second message also includes: first device information, used to indicate the first terminal.

[0272] The final receiving device of the second message can be indicated by the indication of the first device information, thereby facilitating sending the second message to the first terminal.

[0273] In some embodiments, the second message also includes: second device information, indicating the target device discovered by the relay, that is, indicating the second terminal.

[0274] The indication of the second device information can indicate the source device that sends the second message, thereby facilitating the first device to determine the relay path after receiving the second message.

[0275] In some embodiments, upon receiving a first message, the second terminal unicasts a second message.

[0276] When the second terminal receives a first message, it means that a first message sent by a previous hop device is received, for example, a first message sent by a relay device is received, or a first message sent by the first terminal is received. Then, there is only one path for relaying the first message to the second terminal, and the second terminal can unicast a second message according to the path of the first message.

[0277] For example, when the second terminal receives a first message sent by the first terminal, the second terminal unicasts a second message to the first terminal.

[0278] For another example, when the second terminal receives a first message sent by a previous-hop relay device, the second terminal unicasts a second message to the previous-hop relay device.

[0279] This approach reduces the number of second messages sent by the second terminal and reduces signaling overhead.

[0280] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives N first messages and unicasts one second message, where N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2.

[0281] The second terminal can receive the second message from multiple different previous-hop devices, including receiving a first message from the first terminal and receiving a first message from multiple relay devices. If the second terminal receives a total of N first messages, the second terminal unicasts one second message. The second terminal only needs to unicast one second message to one of the previous-hop devices. This reduces the number of second messages sent by the second terminal and reduces signaling overhead.

[0282] In some embodiments, when the second terminal receives N first messages, it determines a relay path according to the signal strengths of the N first messages and unicasts the second message along the relay path.

[0283] For example, when a second terminal receives N first messages, it uses the relay path of the first message with the strongest signal strength among the N first messages as the relay path, and then unicasts the second message along this relay path. This relay path provides the best communication quality, improving communication efficiency and quality. Furthermore, unicasting the second message reduces the number of second messages sent, thereby reducing signaling overhead. Unicasting the second message also helps limit broadcast storms for the second message.

[0284] In some embodiments, a relay path is determined according to the first relay hop count indications of the N first messages, and the second message is unicasted according to the relay path.

[0285] When the second terminal receives N first messages, the second terminal may determine the minimum remaining allowed number of hops among the remaining allowed number of relay hops indicated by the first relay hop count indication, and use the relay path corresponding to the first message with the minimum remaining allowed number of hops as the relay path. A smaller minimum remaining allowed number of hops indicates a greater number of relays, a longer transmission distance for the first message, and a wider coverage range, thereby increasing the transmission distance and coverage range of the first message and effectively expanding the communication range of the U2U relay communication.

[0286] In some embodiments, the relay discovery method further includes: the relay device receiving a second message.

[0287] In some embodiments, the relay device receives the second message.

[0288] In some embodiments, the relay device receives a second message sent by a previous-hop relay device.

[0289] In some embodiments, the relay device receives a second message sent by the second terminal.

[0290] In some embodiments, the relay device receives the second message sent unicast.

[0291] In some embodiments, the relay device receives the second message unicasted by the previous-hop relay device.

[0292] In some embodiments, the relay device receives the second message sent by the second terminal via unicast.

[0293] In some embodiments, the second message includes a second relay hop count indication, the second relay hop count indication carrying third information, the third information being used to indicate the number of relay hops that the second message has undergone. The third information indicating the number of relay hops that the second message has undergone can be used by the first terminal to determine the relay path.

[0294] S2106: The relay device updates the second message.

[0295] In some embodiments, when the n-th hop relay device receives the second message sent by the n-1-th hop device, the n-th hop relay device generates an n-th hop second message, and the number of relay hops experienced indicated by the n-th hop second message is 1 more than the number of relay hops experienced indicated by the n-1-th hop second message.

[0296] Exemplarily, the n-th hop second message is added with the device identifier of the n-th hop relay device compared to the n-1-th hop second message.

[0297] Illustratively, the n-th hop second message is a second message obtained by updating the second message sent by the (n-1)-th hop device.

[0298] In some embodiments, the relay device updates the third information carried by the second relay hop count indication in the second message to the fourth information.

[0299] In some embodiments, the number of relay hops that has been experienced indicated by the fourth information is one more than the number of relay hops that has been experienced indicated by the third information.

[0300] The number of relay hops that have been experienced increases by 1, indicating that the number of relay devices that the second message has passed through increases by 1. By updating the second message, the number of relay hops that the second message has experienced is kept up to date, which facilitates determination of the relay path.

[0301] In some embodiments, the second message further includes:

[0302] The third device information is at least used to indicate the current relay device.

[0303] After the relay device forwards the second message, the relay device adds its own device information to the second message, thereby indicating that the second message has been forwarded by the relay device, which facilitates the first terminal to determine the relay path.

[0304] The indication of the third device information can indicate the relay device that the second message passes through, thereby facilitating the determination of the relay path.

[0305] S2107: The relay device unicasts the second message.

[0306] In some embodiments, the relay device unicasts the updated second message.

[0307] In some embodiments, the relay device unicasts the updated second message.

[0308] In some embodiments, the relay device sends the updated second message to the first terminal.

[0309] In some embodiments, the relay device sends the updated second message to the next-hop relay device.

[0310] In some embodiments, the relay device sends the updated second message, that is, sends the second message including the fourth information.

[0311] In some embodiments, the second message is unicasted when the second message unicasted by the previous hop device is received.

[0312] When the second message received by the relay device is sent in unicast mode, it indicates that the relay path of the second message has been determined, so the relay device sends the second message to the next hop device in the relay path of the second message in unicast mode.

[0313] By sending the second message through unicast, the number of second messages sent is reduced, and the signaling overhead is reduced.

[0314] In some embodiments, the second message is broadcasted when the second message previously broadcasted by the device is received.

[0315] In some embodiments, the updated second message also includes first device information indicating the first terminal.

[0316] In some embodiments, the updated second message further includes: second device information indicating the second terminal.

[0317] In some embodiments, the updated second message includes a second relay hop count indication, where the second relay hop count indication is used to indicate the number of relay hops that the second message has experienced.

[0318] In some embodiments, the method further includes: the first terminal receiving a second message.

[0319] In some embodiments, the first terminal receives the second message sent by unicast.

[0320] In some embodiments, the first terminal receives the second message sent by unicast by the previous hop device.

[0321] In some embodiments, the first terminal receives the second message unicasted by the previous-hop relay device.

[0322] In some embodiments, the first terminal receives the second message unicasted by the second terminal.

[0323] In some embodiments, the first terminal receives the second message sent by unicast by the previous hop device.

[0324] In some embodiments, the second message includes a second relay hop count indication, where the second relay hop count indication is used to indicate the number of relay hops that the second message has undergone.

[0325] In some embodiments, S2101 to S2105 can be implemented as independent embodiments, and S2106 to S2107 are default steps. Since the second message is sent unicast, the second terminal can directly send the second message to the first terminal without forwarding it through the relay device. In this case, there is only one transmission path for the second message, which is the relay path. Therefore, S2106 to S2107 can be omitted.

[0326] The terms "signal", "signaling", "report", "configuration", "indication", "instruction", "command", "channel", "parameter", "field", "data" and the like may be used interchangeably. In some embodiments, the term "send" may be used interchangeably with terms such as "transmit", "report", and "transmit".

[0327] FIG2B is an interactive diagram of a relay discovery method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG2B , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a relay discovery method for a communication system, the method comprising:

[0328] S2201: The first terminal sends a first message. For information in S2201, reference may be made to the corresponding content in S2101 in the embodiment shown in FIG2A .

[0329] S2202: The relay device updates the first message. For information in S2202, reference may be made to the corresponding content in S2102 in the embodiment shown in FIG2A .

[0330] S2203: The relay device sends the updated first message. For information in S2203, reference may be made to the corresponding content in S2103 in the embodiment shown in FIG2A .

[0331] In some embodiments, the relay discovery method further includes: the second terminal receives the first message.

[0332] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message sent by a previous-hop device, where the previous-hop device includes the first terminal and / or a previous-hop relay device.

[0333] Exemplarily, if the second terminal receives the first message sent by the first terminal, the first terminal is the previous hop device of the second terminal. If the second terminal receives the first message sent by the relay device, the relay device that sent the first message to the second terminal is the previous hop device of the second terminal.

[0334] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives the first message sent by the first terminal.

[0335] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message sent by a previous-hop relay device.

[0336] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message broadcasted by a previous-hop device.

[0337] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message.

[0338] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message sent by a relay device.

[0339] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message sent by the first terminal.

[0340] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message sent by multiple different previous-hop relay devices. For example, the second terminal receives a first message sent by the first terminal and a first message sent by at least one relay device. For example, the second terminal receives N first messages.

[0341] S2204: The second terminal broadcasts and sends a second message.

[0342] In some embodiments, the second terminal sends the second message after receiving the first message.

[0343] In some embodiments, the second message is a response message to the first message.

[0344] In some embodiments, when the target device discovered by the relay indicated by the second device information is the second terminal, the second terminal sends the second message.

[0345] In some embodiments, the second message includes a second relay hop count indication, where the second relay hop count indication is used to indicate the number of relay hops that the second message has undergone.

[0346] In some embodiments, the second relay hop count indication is used to indicate a starting value of the relay hop count that has been performed and starts counting from 0 or 1.

[0347] In some embodiments, the second message also includes: first device information, used to indicate the first terminal.

[0348] The final receiving device of the second message can be indicated by the indication of the first device information, thereby facilitating sending the second message to the first terminal.

[0349] In some embodiments, the second message also includes: second device information, indicating the target device discovered by the relay, that is, indicating the second terminal.

[0350] The indication of the second device information can indicate the source device that sends the second message, thereby facilitating the first device to determine the relay path after receiving the second message.

[0351] In some embodiments, upon receiving a first message, the second terminal broadcasts a second message.

[0352] When the second terminal receives a first message, it indicates that a first message sent by a previous hop device has been received. The second terminal then broadcasts a second message based on the first message. Since the second terminal receives a first message, the second message will also be received by the device that sent the first message, thereby facilitating the transmission of the second message to the first terminal and realizing the transmission of the second message.

[0353] The second message can be transmitted to the first terminal by broadcasting one second message, which reduces the number of second messages sent by the second terminal, reduces signaling overhead, and can also reduce the broadcast storm of the second message.

[0354] In some embodiments, when the second terminal receives N first messages and the source of the multiple first messages is the same terminal, the second terminal broadcasts and sends a second message.

[0355] When the second terminal receives multiple first messages, it indicates that there are multiple previous hop devices, and the first message is received from each of the multiple previous hop devices. A second message is broadcasted, and the relay devices and / or the first terminal within the second signal reception range can receive the second message.

[0356] In this way, the second terminal only needs to send one second message without sending the second message to each previous hop device respectively, thereby reducing the number of second messages sent, reducing signaling overhead, and also reducing broadcast storms of the second message.

[0357] In some embodiments, the relay discovery method further includes: the relay device receiving a second message.

[0358] In some embodiments, the relay device receives the second message.

[0359] In some embodiments, the relay device receives a second message sent by a previous-hop relay device.

[0360] In some embodiments, the relay device receives a second message sent by the second terminal.

[0361] In some embodiments, the relay device receives the second message sent by broadcast.

[0362] In some embodiments, the relay device receives the second message broadcasted by the previous-hop relay device.

[0363] In some embodiments, the relay device receives the second message broadcasted by the second terminal.

[0364] In some embodiments, the second message includes a second relay hop count indication, the second relay hop count indication carrying third information, the third information being used to indicate the number of relay hops that the second message has undergone. The third information indicating the number of relay hops that the second message has undergone can be used by the first terminal to determine the relay path.

[0365] S2205: The relay device updates the second message. For information in S2205, reference may be made to the corresponding content in S2106 in the embodiment shown in FIG2A .

[0366] S2206: The relay device broadcasts and sends the second message.

[0367] In some embodiments, the relay device broadcasts the updated second message.

[0368] In some embodiments, the relay device sends the updated second message to the first terminal.

[0369] In some embodiments, the relay device sends the updated second message to the next-hop relay device.

[0370] In some embodiments, the relay device sends the updated second message, that is, sends the second message including the fourth information.

[0371] In some embodiments, the second message is broadcasted when the second message broadcasted by the previous hop device is received.

[0372] In some embodiments, the updated second message also includes first device information indicating the first terminal.

[0373] In some embodiments, the updated second message further includes: second device information indicating the second terminal.

[0374] In some embodiments, the updated second message includes a second relay hop count indication, where the second relay hop count indication is used to indicate the number of relay hops that the second message has experienced.

[0375] In some embodiments, the method further includes: the first terminal receiving a second message.

[0376] In some embodiments, the first terminal receives the second message sent by broadcast.

[0377] In some embodiments, the first terminal receives a second message broadcasted by a previous-hop device.

[0378] In some embodiments, the first terminal receives the second message broadcasted by the previous-hop relay device.

[0379] In some embodiments, the first terminal receives a second message broadcasted by the second terminal.

[0380] In some embodiments, the first terminal receives a second message sent by broadcast.

[0381] In some embodiments, the first terminal receives the second message broadcasted by one or more previous-hop devices. The previous-hop device may be the second terminal, the first relay device, or multiple relay devices such as the second relay device.

[0382] In some embodiments, the second message includes a second relay hop count indication, where the second relay hop count indication is used to indicate the number of relay hops that the second message has undergone.

[0383] S2207: The first terminal determines a relay path.

[0384] In some embodiments, when the first terminal receives the second message broadcasted by multiple previous-hop devices, the relay path is determined according to the signal strength of the second message.

[0385] When there are multiple second messages, the transmission connection of the second message with the strongest signal strength can be used as the relay path according to the signal strength of the second messages, which can improve communication quality and communication efficiency.

[0386] In some embodiments, when the first terminal receives multiple second messages sent by broadcast, the relay path is determined according to the number of relay hops that each second message in the multiple second messages has experienced.

[0387] The relay path of the second message that has undergone the least number of relay hops is determined to be the relay path. The smaller the number of relay hops, the smaller the delay.

[0388] In some embodiments, S2201 to S2204 can be implemented as independent embodiments, and S2205 to S2207 are default steps. Since the second message is broadcast, the second terminal can directly send the second message to the first terminal without the need for a relay device to forward the second message. Therefore, S2205 to S2207 can be omitted.

[0389] FIG2C is an interactive diagram of a relay discovery method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG2C , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a relay discovery method for a communication system, the method comprising:

[0390] S2301: The first terminal sends a first message. For information in S2301, reference may be made to the corresponding content in S2101 in the embodiment shown in FIG2A .

[0391] S2302: The relay device updates the first message. For information in S2302, reference may be made to the corresponding content in S2102 in the embodiment shown in FIG2A .

[0392] S2303: The relay device sends the updated first message. For information in S2303, reference may be made to the corresponding content in S2103 in the embodiment shown in FIG2A .

[0393] In some embodiments, the relay discovery method further includes: the second terminal receives the first message.

[0394] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message sent by a previous-hop device, where the previous-hop device includes the first terminal and / or a previous-hop relay device.

[0395] Exemplarily, if the second terminal receives the first message sent by the first terminal, the first terminal is the previous hop device of the second terminal. If the second terminal receives the first message sent by the relay device, the relay device that sent the first message to the second terminal is the previous hop device of the second terminal.

[0396] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives the first message sent by the first terminal.

[0397] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message sent by a previous-hop relay device.

[0398] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message broadcasted by a previous-hop device.

[0399] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message sent by multiple different previous-hop relay devices. For example, the second terminal receives a first message sent by the first terminal and a first message sent by at least one relay device. For example, the second terminal receives N first messages.

[0400] S2304: The second terminal broadcasts and sends N second messages.

[0401] In some embodiments, the second terminal broadcasts N second messages after receiving N first messages.

[0402] In some embodiments, the second message is a response message to the first message.

[0403] In some embodiments, the second terminal sends a second message to the relay device.

[0404] In some embodiments, the second terminal sends the second message to the first terminal.

[0405] In some embodiments, when the target device discovered by the relay indicated by the second device information is the second terminal, the second terminal sends the second message.

[0406] In some embodiments, the second message includes a second relay hop count indication, where the second relay hop count indication is used to indicate the number of relay hops that the second message has undergone.

[0407] In some embodiments, the starting hop information of the number of relay hops that have been experienced can be represented by 0 or 1.

[0408] In some embodiments, the second message also includes: first device information, used to indicate the first terminal.

[0409] The final receiving device of the second message can be indicated by the indication of the first device information, thereby facilitating sending the second message to the first terminal.

[0410] In some embodiments, the second message also includes: second device information, indicating the target device discovered by the relay, that is, indicating the second terminal.

[0411] The indication of the second device information can indicate the source device that sends the second message, thereby facilitating the first device to determine the relay path after receiving the second message.

[0412] In some embodiments, when the second terminal receives N first messages, the second terminal broadcasts and sends a corresponding second message according to each first message, and sends a total of N second messages.

[0413] When a second terminal receives multiple first messages, it indicates that there are multiple previous-hop devices, and thus each of the multiple previous-hop devices has received the first message. When a second terminal receives N first messages, it indicates that the second terminal has received the first message from N previous-hop devices. N second messages can then be sent via broadcast, so that each previous-hop device receives one second message.

[0414] In some embodiments, the relay discovery method further includes: the relay device receiving a second message.

[0415] In some embodiments, the relay device receives the second message.

[0416] In some embodiments, the relay device receives a second message sent by a previous-hop relay device.

[0417] In some embodiments, the relay device receives a second message sent by the second terminal.

[0418] In some embodiments, the relay device receives the second message sent by broadcast.

[0419] In some embodiments, the relay device receives the second message broadcasted by the previous-hop relay device.

[0420] In some embodiments, the relay device receives the second message broadcasted by the second terminal.

[0421] In some embodiments, the second message includes a second relay hop count indication, the second relay hop count indication carrying third information, the third information being used to indicate the number of relay hops that the second message has undergone. The third information indicating the number of relay hops that the second message has undergone can be used by the first terminal to determine the relay path.

[0422] S2305: The relay device updates the second message. For information in S2305, refer to the corresponding content in S2106 in the embodiment shown in FIG2A.

[0423] S2306: The relay device broadcasts and sends the second message.

[0424] In some embodiments, the relay device broadcasts the updated second message.

[0425] In some embodiments, the relay device sends the updated second message to the first terminal.

[0426] In some embodiments, the relay device sends the updated second message to the next-hop relay device.

[0427] In some embodiments, the relay device sends the updated second message, that is, sends the second message including the fourth information.

[0428] In some embodiments, the second message is broadcasted when the second message broadcasted by the previous hop device is received.

[0429] In some embodiments, the updated second message also includes first device information indicating the first terminal.

[0430] In some embodiments, the updated second message further includes: second device information indicating the second terminal.

[0431] In some embodiments, the updated second message includes a second relay hop count indication, where the second relay hop count indication is used to indicate the number of relay hops that the second message has experienced.

[0432] In some embodiments, the method further includes: the first terminal receiving a second message.

[0433] In some embodiments, the first terminal receives the second message sent by broadcast.

[0434] In some embodiments, the first terminal receives a second message broadcasted by a previous-hop device.

[0435] In some embodiments, the first terminal receives the second message broadcasted by the previous-hop relay device.

[0436] In some embodiments, the first terminal receives a second message broadcasted by the second terminal.

[0437] In some embodiments, the first terminal receives a second message broadcasted by a previous-hop device.

[0438] In some embodiments, the first terminal receives N broadcast second messages.

[0439] In some embodiments, the first terminal receives the second message broadcasted by multiple previous-hop devices. The previous-hop device may be the second terminal, the first relay device, or multiple relay devices such as the second relay device.

[0440] In some embodiments, the second message includes a second relay hop count indication, where the second relay hop count indication is used to indicate the number of relay hops that the second message has undergone.

[0441] S2307: The first terminal determines a relay path.

[0442] In some embodiments, when the first terminal receives multiple second messages sent by broadcast, such as N messages, the first terminal determines a relay path according to the signal strengths of the multiple second messages.

[0443] For example, the transmission connection of the second message with the strongest signal strength is used as the relay path, which can improve communication quality and communication efficiency.

[0444] In some embodiments, when the first terminal receives multiple second messages sent by broadcast, the relay path is determined according to the number of relay hops that each second message in the multiple second messages has experienced.

[0445] The relay path of the second message that has undergone the least number of relay hops is determined to be the relay path. The smaller the number of relay hops, the smaller the delay.

[0446] FIG3A is an interactive diagram of a relay discovery method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG3A , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a relay discovery method for a first terminal, the method comprising:

[0447] S3101: The first terminal sends a first message. For information in S3101, refer to the corresponding content of S2101 in the embodiment shown in FIG2A .

[0448] S3102: The first terminal receives the second message sent by unicast.

[0449] In some embodiments, the first terminal receives a second message sent by a previous-hop device, where the previous-hop device includes a second terminal and / or a previous-hop relay device.

[0450] In some embodiments, the first terminal receives the second message sent by unicast by the previous hop device.

[0451] In some embodiments, the first terminal receives the second message unicasted by the previous-hop relay device.

[0452] In some embodiments, the first terminal receives the second message unicasted by the second terminal.

[0453] In some embodiments, the first terminal receives the second message sent by unicast by the previous hop device.

[0454] In some embodiments, the second message includes a second relay hop count indication, where the second relay hop count indication is used to indicate the number of relay hops that the second message has undergone.

[0455] In some embodiments, the transmission path of a second message sent by unicast is the relay path.

[0456] FIG3B is an interactive diagram illustrating a method for processing beam configuration according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG3B , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a relay discovery method for a first terminal, the method comprising:

[0457] S3201: The first terminal sends a first message. For information in S3101, refer to the corresponding content of S2101 in the embodiment shown in FIG2A .

[0458] S3202: The first terminal receives the second message sent by broadcast.

[0459] In some embodiments, the first terminal receives a second message sent by a previous-hop device, where the previous-hop device includes a second terminal and / or a previous-hop relay device.

[0460] In some embodiments, the first terminal receives the second message sent by broadcast.

[0461] In some embodiments, the first terminal receives a second message broadcasted by a previous-hop device.

[0462] In some embodiments, the first terminal receives the second message broadcasted by the previous-hop relay device.

[0463] In some embodiments, the first terminal receives a second message broadcasted by the second terminal.

[0464] In some embodiments, the first terminal receives N second messages broadcasted by multiple previous-hop devices.

[0465] In some embodiments, the first terminal receives the second message broadcasted by one or more previous-hop devices. The previous-hop device may be the second terminal, the first relay device, or multiple relay devices such as the second relay device.

[0466] In some embodiments, the second message includes a second relay hop count indication, where the second relay hop count indication is used to indicate the number of relay hops that the second message has undergone.

[0467] S3203: Determine a relay path for relay communication according to the second message.

[0468] For the information of S3203, reference may be made to the corresponding content of S2207 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2B .

[0469] FIG4A is a flow chart of a relay discovery method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG4A , the present disclosure embodiment relates to a communication method, which is executed by a relay device, and the method includes:

[0470] S4101: The relay device receives the first message.

[0471] In some embodiments, the relay device receives the first message.

[0472] In some embodiments, the relay device receives a first message sent by a previous-hop device, where the previous-hop device includes a first terminal and / or a previous-hop relay device.

[0473] In some embodiments, the device that sends the message to the current device is the previous hop device of the current device.

[0474] For example, the first device sends a first message to relay device 1, then the first device serves as the previous hop device of relay device 1, relay device 1 forwards the first message to relay device 2, then relay device 2 is the previous hop device of relay device 1, and relay device 2 forwards the first message to relay device 3, then relay device 2 is the previous hop device of relay device 3.

[0475] In some embodiments, the relay device receives a first message sent by the first terminal.

[0476] In some embodiments, the relay device receives a first message sent by a previous-hop relay device.

[0477] In some embodiments, the relay device receives the first message sent by the previous-hop relay device and the first message sent by the first terminal respectively.

[0478] In some embodiments, the relay device receives a first message broadcast by the first terminal.

[0479] In some embodiments, the relay device receives a first message broadcast by a previous-hop relay device.

[0480] In some embodiments, the relay device receives the first message broadcast by the first terminal and the first message broadcast by the previous-hop relay device respectively.

[0481] In some embodiments, the first message includes a first relay hop count indication, where the first relay hop count indication is used to indicate a remaining allowed number of relay hops for the first message.

[0482] In some embodiments, the first message includes second device information and the second device information includes a second terminal.

[0483] In some embodiments, the first relay hop count indication is used to indicate a remaining allowed number of relay hops for the first message.

[0484] The first relay hop count indication may indicate whether the first message can continue to be forwarded by the relay device.

[0485] In some embodiments, the first relay hop count indication may carry first information, where the first information is used to indicate the remaining allowed relay hop count of the first message.

[0486] In some embodiments, the remaining allowed relay hops of the first message indicated by the first message sent by the first terminal is the maximum allowed relay hops.

[0487] In some embodiments, the remaining allowed number of relay hops of the first message includes an AllowedHopsIndex parameter.

[0488] In some embodiments, the value indicated by the first relay hop count indicator can be a natural number or a positive integer. That is, the first relay hop count indicator indicates a value, and the cutoff value of the count can be 0 or 1. When the cutoff value of the count is 1, the minimum cutoff value is 1, indicating that the remaining allowed number of relay hops is 1, i.e., the packet can be forwarded once more through the relay device.

[0489] In some embodiments, when the cutoff value of the count is 1, the minimum value of the cutoff value is 0, indicating that the remaining allowed relay hop number is 1, that is, it can be forwarded once more through the relay device.

[0490] The first message also includes:

[0491] The first device information is used to indicate the first terminal.

[0492] The first device information may indicate the source device discovered by the relay, that is, the source device that sends the first message.

[0493] In some embodiments, the first device information may include a device ID of the first terminal and / or a user information identifier (User Info ID) of the first terminal.

[0494] In some embodiments, the first message further includes:

[0495] The second device information is used to indicate a second terminal; the second terminal is a target device discovered by the relay.

[0496] In some embodiments, the second device information may include a device ID of the second terminal and / or a user information identifier (User Info ID) of the second terminal.

[0497] In some embodiments, the first message may further include: type information indicating the type of the first message.

[0498] In some embodiments, the first message may further include a relay service code (rsc) for instructing the relay device to configure relay parameters.

[0499] S4102: The relay device updates the first message. For information in S4102, reference may be made to the corresponding content of S2102 in the embodiment shown in FIG2A .

[0500] S4103: The relay device sends the updated first message. For information in S4103, reference may be made to the corresponding content of S2103 in the embodiment shown in FIG2A .

[0501] FIG4B is a flow chart of a relay discovery method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG4B , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method, which is executed by a relay device, and the method includes:

[0502] S4201: The relay device receives the second message.

[0503] In some embodiments, the relay device receives the second message.

[0504] In some embodiments, the relay device receives a second message sent by a previous-hop relay device.

[0505] In some embodiments, the relay device receives a second message sent by the second terminal.

[0506] In some embodiments, the relay device receives the second message sent unicast.

[0507] In some embodiments, the relay device receives the second message unicasted by the previous-hop relay device.

[0508] In some embodiments, the relay device receives the second message sent by the second terminal via unicast.

[0509] In some embodiments, the second message is a response message to the first message.

[0510] In some embodiments, the second message includes second device information, and when the target device discovered by the relay indicated by the second device information is the second terminal, the second terminal sends the second message.

[0511] In some embodiments, the second message includes a second relay hop count indication, where the second relay hop count indication is used to indicate the number of relay hops that the second message has undergone.

[0512] In some embodiments, the starting hop information of the number of relay hops that have been experienced can be represented by 0 or 1.

[0513] In some embodiments, the second message also includes: first device information, used to indicate the first terminal.

[0514] The final receiving device of the second message can be indicated by the indication of the first device information, thereby facilitating sending the second message to the first terminal.

[0515] In some embodiments, the second message also includes: second device information, indicating the target device discovered by the relay, that is, indicating the second terminal.

[0516] The indication of the second device information can indicate the source device that sends the second message, thereby facilitating the first device to determine the relay path after receiving the second message.

[0517] S4202: The relay device updates the second message. For information in S4202, reference may be made to the corresponding content in S2105 in the embodiment shown in FIG2A .

[0518] S4203: The relay device sends the updated second message. For information in S4203, refer to the corresponding content of S2106 in the embodiment shown in FIG2A.

[0519] FIG4C is a flow chart of a relay discovery method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG4C , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method, which is executed by a relay device, and the method includes:

[0520] S4301: The relay device receives the second message.

[0521] In some embodiments, the relay device receives the second message sent by broadcast.

[0522] In some embodiments, the relay device receives the second message broadcasted by the previous-hop relay device.

[0523] In some embodiments, the relay device receives the second message broadcasted by the second terminal.

[0524] In some embodiments, the second message includes second device information, and when the target device discovered by the relay indicated by the second device information is the second terminal, the second terminal sends the second message.

[0525] In some embodiments, the second message includes a second relay hop count indication, where the second relay hop count indication is used to indicate the number of relay hops that the second message has undergone.

[0526] In some embodiments, the starting hop information of the number of relay hops that have been experienced can be represented by 0 or 1.

[0527] In some embodiments, the second message also includes: first device information, used to indicate the first terminal.

[0528] The final receiving device of the second message can be indicated by the indication of the first device information, thereby facilitating sending the second message to the first terminal.

[0529] In some embodiments, the second message also includes: second device information, indicating the target device discovered by the relay, that is, indicating the second terminal.

[0530] The indication of the second device information can indicate the source device that sends the second message, thereby facilitating the first device to determine the relay path after receiving the second message.

[0531] S4302: The relay device updates the second message. For information in S4302, reference may be made to the corresponding content of S2105 in the embodiment shown in FIG2A.

[0532] S4303: The relay device sends the updated second message. For information in S4203, refer to the corresponding content in S2206 in the embodiment shown in FIG2B .

[0533] FIG5A is a flow chart of a relay discovery method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG5A , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method, which is executed by a second terminal, and the method includes:

[0534] S5101: The second terminal receives the first message.

[0535] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message sent by a previous-hop device, where the previous-hop device includes the first terminal and / or a previous-hop relay device.

[0536] Exemplarily, if the second terminal receives the first message sent by the first terminal, the first terminal is the previous hop device of the second terminal. If the second terminal receives the first message sent by the relay device, the relay device that sent the first message to the second terminal is the previous hop device of the second terminal.

[0537] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives the first message sent by the first terminal.

[0538] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message sent by a previous-hop relay device.

[0539] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message broadcasted by a previous-hop device.

[0540] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message.

[0541] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message sent by a relay device.

[0542] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message sent by the first terminal.

[0543] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message sent by multiple different previous-hop relay devices. For example, the second terminal receives a first message sent by the first terminal and a first message sent by at least one relay device. For example, the second terminal receives N first messages.

[0544] In some embodiments, the first message includes a first relay hop count indication.

[0545] In some embodiments, the first relay hop count indication is used to indicate a remaining allowed number of relay hops for the first message.

[0546] The first relay hop count indication may indicate whether the first message can continue to be forwarded by the relay device.

[0547] In some embodiments, the remaining allowed relay hop count indicates the remaining number of times the first message is forwarded by a relay device. Forwarding through one relay device is one relay hop count.

[0548] In some embodiments, the first relay hop count indication may carry first information, where the first information is used to indicate the remaining allowed relay hop count of the first message.

[0549] In some embodiments, the first information is a numerical value.

[0550] In some embodiments, the remaining allowed relay hops of the first message indicated by the first message sent by the first terminal is the maximum allowed relay hops.

[0551] In some embodiments, the remaining allowed number of relay hops of the first message includes an AllowedHopsIndex parameter.

[0552] In some embodiments, the value indicated by the first relay hop count indicator may be a natural number or a positive integer. That is, the first relay hop count indicator indicates a value, and the cutoff value of the count may be 0 or 1. When the cutoff value of the count is 1, the minimum cutoff value is 1, indicating that the remaining allowed number of relay hops is 1, i.e., the packet can be forwarded once more through the relay device.

[0553] In some embodiments, when the cutoff value of the count is 1, the minimum value of the cutoff value is 0, indicating that the remaining allowed relay hop number is 1, that is, it can be forwarded once more through the relay device.

[0554] In some embodiments, the first information further includes: address information of layer 2, such as ID of layer 2.

[0555] In some embodiments, the first message further includes:

[0556] The first device information is used to indicate the first terminal.

[0557] The first device information may indicate the source device discovered by the relay, that is, the source device that sends the first message.

[0558] In some embodiments, the first device information may include a device ID of the first terminal and / or a user information identifier (User Info ID) of the first terminal.

[0559] In some embodiments, the first message further includes:

[0560] The second device information is used to indicate the second terminal.

[0561] In some embodiments, the second device information may include a device ID of the second terminal and / or a user information identifier (User Info ID) of the second terminal.

[0562] In some embodiments, the first message may further include: type information indicating the type of the first message.

[0563] In some embodiments, the first message may further include a relay service code (rsc) for instructing the relay device to configure relay parameters.

[0564] In some embodiments, the first message further includes:

[0565] The third device information is used to indicate the relay device that the first message has passed through.

[0566] The indication of the third device information can indicate that the first message has been forwarded by the relay device, thereby facilitating the second terminal to determine the path for sending the second information.

[0567] S5102: The second terminal determines a relay path. For information in S5102, reference may be made to the corresponding content in S2104 in the embodiment shown in FIG2A .

[0568] S5103: The second terminal unicasts a second message. For information in S5103, reference may be made to the corresponding content in S2105 in the embodiment shown in FIG2A .

[0569] FIG5B is a flow chart of a relay discovery method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG5B , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method, which is executed by a second terminal, and the method includes:

[0570] S5201: The second terminal receives the first message.

[0571] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message sent by a previous-hop device, where the previous-hop device includes the first terminal and / or a previous-hop relay device.

[0572] Exemplarily, if the second terminal receives the first message sent by the first terminal, the first terminal is the previous hop device of the second terminal. If the second terminal receives the first message sent by the relay device, the relay device that sent the first message to the second terminal is the previous hop device of the second terminal.

[0573] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives the first message sent by the first terminal.

[0574] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message sent by a previous-hop relay device.

[0575] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message broadcasted by a previous-hop device.

[0576] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message.

[0577] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message sent by a relay device.

[0578] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message sent by the first terminal.

[0579] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message sent by multiple different previous-hop relay devices. For example, the second terminal receives a first message sent by the first terminal and a first message sent by at least one relay device. For example, the second terminal receives N first messages.

[0580] S5202: The second terminal broadcasts a second message. For information in S5201, refer to the corresponding content in S2204 in the embodiment shown in FIG2B .

[0581] FIG5C is a flow chart of a relay discovery method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG5C , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method, which is executed by a second terminal, and the method includes:

[0582] S5301: The second terminal receives the first message.

[0583] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message sent by a previous-hop device, where the previous-hop device includes the first terminal and / or a previous-hop relay device.

[0584] Exemplarily, if the second terminal receives the first message sent by the first terminal, the first terminal is the previous hop device of the second terminal. If the second terminal receives the first message sent by the relay device, the relay device that sent the first message to the second terminal is the previous hop device of the second terminal.

[0585] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives the first message sent by the first terminal.

[0586] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message sent by a previous-hop relay device.

[0587] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message broadcasted by a previous-hop device.

[0588] In some embodiments, the second terminal receives a first message sent by multiple different previous-hop relay devices. For example, the second terminal receives a first message sent by the first terminal and a first message sent by at least one relay device. For example, the second terminal receives N first messages.

[0589] S5302: The second terminal broadcasts and sends N second messages. For information in S5301, refer to the corresponding content in S2304 in the embodiment shown in FIG2B .

[0590] FIG6 is a flow chart of a relay discovery method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG6 , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method, which is executed by a communication system, and the method includes:

[0591] Step 1: The first terminal sends a first message, including: the discovery end terminal UE-1 sends a 5G proximity service (ProSe) UE-to-UE relay discovery request message. The first message includes: a 5G ProSe user-to-user relay discovery request message, the request message including the discovery message type, its own user information ID, the relay service code (RSC), the allowed relay hop count (allowedHopsIndex), and the user information ID of the discovered terminal. The discovered terminal may be a 5G ProSe target terminal UE (UE-2). The first message may be sent using a source Layer 2 ID and a destination Layer 2 ID.

[0592] In some embodiments, allowedHopsIndex indicates the maximum number of hops for a discovery request message to be forwarded through a U2U relay.

[0593] Step 2: The 5G ProSe UE-to-UE first relay device (Relay-1) matching the RSC sends a first message, which includes a 5G ProSe UE-to-UE Relay discovery request message. The discovery request message includes a relay discovery request message, which includes a discovery message type, a user information ID of the first terminal (e.g., the discoverer 5G ProSe terminal (UE-1)), a user information ID of the second terminal (e.g., the discoverer 5G ProSe terminal (UE-2)), an RSC, allowedHopsIndex-1, and the user information ID of the discovered 5G ProSe terminal (UE-2). The first message is sent using the source Layer 2 ID and the destination Layer 2 ID. When U2U Relay-1 receives the discovery request message, it decrements the value of allowedHopsIndex by 1. If the value is not zero, U2U Relay-1 can forward the discovery request message.

[0594] In step 3, the second relay device (e.g., a 5G ProSe UE-to-UE Relay-2 that matches the RSC) sends a 5G ProSe UE-to-UE Relay discovery request message. The 5G ProSe UE-to-UE relay discovery request message includes the discovery message type, the user information ID of the discovering 5G ProSe terminal user (UE-1), the user information ID of the discovering 5G ProSe terminal user (UE-1), the user information ID of the discovering 5G ProSe terminal user (UE-2), the RSC, allowedHopsIndex-2, and the user information ID of the discovered 5G ProSe terminal user (UE-2). It is sent using the source Layer 2 ID and destination Layer 2 ID described in Section 5.8.4. The 5G ProSe terminal user determines the destination Layer 2 ID. When U2U Relay-2 receives the discovery request message, it decrements the value of allowedHopsIndex by 1. If the value is not zero, U2U Relay-2 can forward the discovery request message.

[0595] In step 4, UE-2 can select a path based on the discovery request messages received from multiple U2U Relays by comparing the values ​​of allowedHopsIndex. For example, the transmission path with a smaller allowedHopsIndex value is selected as the relay path because the number of hops between the source UE1 and the target UE2 is smaller.

[0596] In step 5, the second terminal sends a second message, which may also be called a response message. The second message includes: the RSC value matching the discovered 5G ProSe terminal UE (UE-2) and the User Info ID of the discovered 5G ProSe terminal UE (UE-2). The second terminal sends the second message, including: sending a 5G ProSe UE-to-UE second message (including a Relay Discovery Response message) to the 5G ProSe UE-to-UE Relay-2. The second message also includes: a 5G ProSe terminal discovery response message including the type of the discovery message, RSC, the user information ID of the discovery end 5G ProSe terminal user (UE-1), responseHopsIndex, and its own user information ID, and is sent using the source Layer 2 ID and destination Layer 2 ID described in Section 5.8.4. If the discovered 5G ProSe terminal (UE-2) receives multiple UE-to-UE relay discovery request messages from different 5G ProSe UE-to-UE relays, the second terminal may choose to respond or not respond to the 5G ProSe UE-to-UE relay, for example, based on the proximity communication (PC5) signal strength of each received message. When the U2U determines to send a discovery response message to the selected U2U relay 2, the initial value of the relay hop count (responseHopsIndex) of the second message is set to 0.

[0597] Step 6: Similar to step 5, U2U Relay-2 calculates the number of relay hops experienced by the received second message (responseHopsIndex) plus 1 as a new value response hop index.

[0598] Step 7: Similar to Step 5 and Step 6, U2U Relay-1 adds 1 to the value of the relay hop count (responseHopsIndex) of the received second message as a new value, the response hop index.

[0599] In step 8, the UE may receive multiple Discovery response messages and may decide to select a path based on the number of relay hops (responseHopsIndex) of the second message. For example, a smaller value may be selected because the number of hops between the source UE1 and the target UE2 is smaller.

[0600] The present invention proposes a new U2U relay discovery that supports multiple hops. It adds the remaining allowed relay hop count (AllowedHopsIndex parameter) to the discovery request message to indicate the maximum number of hops forwarded by the U2U Relay discovery message. This parameter is used by the U2U Relay to determine whether the discovery request message can be forwarded, or / and used by the terminal UE-2 to determine the path, or used by the terminal UE-2 (the discovered party) to determine whether the first hop selects the U2U Relay. 2) Add the number of relay hops experienced by the second message to the discovery response message, such as the responsehopsindex parameter, to indicate the number of hops to which the response message is forwarded, so that the source end UE-1 can determine the path of the first hop or select the U2U relay.

[0601] In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, after step 4 is executed, step 4 is unicasting the response message. The message has only one propagation path, the relay path, and step 8 is omitted. When UE-2 broadcasts the response message, relay path selection is no longer necessary, so step 4 is omitted. However, if UE-1 receives a second message from multiple previous-hop devices, each of which has different propagation paths, UE-1 needs to select a relay path, thus requiring step 8.

[0602] The embodiments of the present disclosure also provide an apparatus for implementing any of the above methods. For example, an apparatus is provided, comprising units or modules for implementing each step performed by a terminal in any of the above methods. For another example, another apparatus is provided, comprising units or modules for implementing each step performed by a network device (e.g., an access network device or a core network device) in any of the above methods.

[0603] It should be understood that the division of the various units or modules in the above devices is merely a division of logical functions. In actual implementation, they may be fully or partially integrated into a physical entity, or they may be physically separated. In addition, the units or modules in the device may be implemented in the form of a processor calling software: for example, the device includes a processor, the processor is connected to a memory, and the memory stores instructions. The processor calls the instructions stored in the memory to implement any of the above methods or implement the functions of the various units or modules of the above devices, wherein the processor is, for example, a general-purpose processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a microprocessor, and the memory is a memory within the device or a memory outside the device. Alternatively, the units or modules in the device can be implemented in the form of hardware circuits, and the functions of some or all of the units or modules can be realized by designing the hardware circuits. The above-mentioned hardware circuits can be understood as one or more processors; for example, in one implementation, the above-mentioned hardware circuit is an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), which realizes the functions of some or all of the above units or modules by designing the logical relationship of the components in the circuit; for example, in another implementation, the above-mentioned hardware circuit can be realized by a programmable logic device (PLD). Taking a field programmable gate array (FPGA) as an example, it can include a large number of logic gate circuits, and the connection relationship between the logic gate circuits is configured by configuring the configuration file, thereby realizing the functions of some or all of the above units or modules. All units or modules of the above devices can be realized in the form of software called by the processor, or in the form of hardware circuits, or in part by the form of software called by the processor, and the rest by hardware circuits.

[0604] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, a processor is a circuit with signal processing capabilities. In one implementation, the processor can be a circuit with instruction reading and execution capabilities, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a graphics processing unit (GPU) (which can be understood as a microprocessor), or a digital signal processor (DSP). In another implementation, the processor can implement certain functions through the logical relationship of a hardware circuit. The logical relationship of the above-mentioned hardware circuit is fixed or reconfigurable. For example, the processor is a hardware circuit implemented by an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a programmable logic device (PLD), such as an FPGA. In a reconfigurable hardware circuit, the process of the processor loading a configuration document to implement the hardware circuit configuration can be understood as the process of the processor loading instructions to implement the functions of some or all of the above units or modules. In addition, it can also be a hardware circuit designed for artificial intelligence, which can be understood as an ASIC, such as a neural network processing unit (NPU), a tensor processing unit (TPU), a deep learning processing unit (DPU), etc.

[0605] FIG7 is a schematic structural diagram of a relay discovery device provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the relay discovery device includes a first terminal and includes:

[0606] The first sending module 701 is configured to send a first message to a relay device and / or a second terminal, where the first message includes a first relay hop count indication for indicating an allowed relay hop count; the second terminal is a target device discovered by the relay.

[0607] Optionally, the first message further includes:

[0608] First device information, used to indicate the first terminal;

[0609] The second device information is used to indicate the second terminal.

[0610] Optionally, the device further comprises:

[0611] A third receiving module is configured to receive a second message sent by a previous hop device, where the previous hop device includes a second terminal and / or a previous hop relay device;

[0612] The determination module is configured to determine a relay path for relay communication according to the second message.

[0613] Optionally, the second message includes second device information, where the second device information indicates the second terminal.

[0614] Optionally, the second message includes a second relay hop count indication; the second relay hop count indication is used to indicate the number of relay hops that the second message has experienced.

[0615] Optionally, the third receiving module is configured to receive the second message unicast sent by the previous hop device.

[0616] Optionally, the determination module is configured to determine the transmission path of the second message as the relay path when receiving the second message sent by unicast.

[0617] Optionally, the third receiving module is configured to receive the second message broadcasted by one or more previous-hop devices.

[0618] Optionally, the first determining module is configured to do at least one of the following:

[0619] When receiving the second message sent by broadcast, determining the transmission path of the received second message as the relay path;

[0620] When receiving a plurality of second messages sent by broadcast, determining the relay path according to the signal strengths of the plurality of second messages;

[0621] When a plurality of second messages sent by broadcast are received, the relay path is determined according to the number of relay hops that each of the plurality of second messages has undergone.

[0622] FIG8 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a relay discovery device provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the relay discovery device includes a relay device. The relay discovery device includes:

[0623] The first receiving module 801 is configured to receive a first message sent by a previous-hop device; the previous-hop device includes a first terminal and / or a previous-hop relay device; the first terminal is a source device discovered by a relay; the first message includes a first relay hop count indication; the first relay hop count indication carries first information; the first information is used to indicate the remaining allowed relay hop count of the first message;

[0624] A first updating module 802 is configured to update the first information to second information when the remaining allowed relay hops is greater than 0; the remaining allowed relay hops indicated by the second information are 1 less than the remaining allowed relay hops indicated by the first information;

[0625] The second sending module 803 is configured to send the first message carrying the second information.

[0626] Optionally, the first message further includes:

[0627] First device information, used to indicate the first terminal;

[0628] The second device information is used to indicate a second terminal; the second terminal is a target device discovered by the relay.

[0629] Optionally, the first message further includes:

[0630] The third device information is at least used to indicate the current relay device.

[0631] Optionally, the device further comprises:

[0632] The sending stop module is configured to stop sending the first message when the remaining allowed relay hops indicated by the first information is 0.

[0633] Optionally, the device further comprises:

[0634] a fourth receiving module configured to receive a second message sent by a previous-hop device; the previous-hop device includes a second terminal and / or a previous-hop relay device; the second message includes a second relay hop count indication, the second relay hop count indication carries third information; the third information is used to indicate the number of relay hops experienced by the second message;

[0635] A second updating module is configured to update the third information to fourth information; the number of relay hops experienced indicated by the fourth information is one more than the number of relay hops experienced indicated by the third information;

[0636] The fourth sending module is configured to send the second message carrying the fourth information.

[0637] Optionally, the fourth sending module is configured to:

[0638] unicast sending the second message upon receiving the second message unicast sent by the previous hop device;

[0639] or,

[0640] The second message is broadcasted upon receiving the second message broadcasted by the previous device.

[0641] Optionally, the second message further includes: third device information, at least used to indicate the current relay device.

[0642] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a relay discovery device provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the relay discovery device includes a second terminal. The relay discovery device includes:

[0643] The second receiving module 901 is configured to receive a first message sent by a previous-hop device, where the previous-hop device includes a first terminal and / or a previous-hop relay device; the first terminal is a source device discovered by relay; the first message includes a first relay hop count indicator and second device information; the first relay hop count indicator is used to indicate the remaining allowed relay hops of the first message; the second device information carries device information of a target device to be discovered by relay;

[0644] The third sending module 902 is configured to send a second message when the target device is the second terminal; the second message includes a second relay hop count indication, and the second relay hop count indication is used to indicate the number of relay hops experienced by the second message.

[0645] Optionally, the third sending module 902 is configured to do at least one of the following:

[0646] When receiving one of the first messages, broadcast or unicast one of the second messages;

[0647] When N first messages are received, broadcast one second message;

[0648] When N first messages are received, N second messages are broadcasted;

[0649] When N first messages are received, unicast sending one second message;

[0650] The N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2.

[0651] Optionally, the third sending module 902 is configured to:

[0652] determining a relay path according to the signal strengths of the N first messages and / or the first relay hop count indication of the first message;

[0653] The second message is unicasted according to the relay path.

[0654] Optionally, the second message further includes:

[0655] The first device information is used to indicate the first terminal.

[0656] Optionally, the second message further includes:

[0657] The second device information is used to indicate the second terminal.

[0658] FIG10 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a relay discovery device provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure. The communication system includes a communication system, and the relay discovery device includes:

[0659] The first sending module 1001 is configured to send a first message from a first terminal to a relay device and / or a second terminal; the first message includes: a first relay hop count indication, the first relay hop count indication carrying first information; the first information is used to indicate the remaining allowed relay hop count of the first message; the second terminal is a target device discovered by the relay;

[0660] The first receiving module 1002 is configured to receive, as a relay device, the first message sent by the first terminal and / or the previous hop relay device;

[0661] The first updating module 1003 is configured such that when the remaining allowed relay hops is greater than 0, the relay device updates the first information to second information; the remaining allowed relay hops indicated by the second information are 1 less than the remaining allowed relay hops indicated by the first information;

[0662] A second sending module 1004 is configured to send the first message carrying the second information to the relay device;

[0663] The second receiving module 1005 is configured to receive, as the second terminal, a first message sent by the first terminal and / or the previous hop relay device; the first terminal is a source device discovered by the relay;

[0664] The third sending module 1006 is configured to send a second message to the second terminal when the target device is the second terminal; the second message includes a second relay hop count indication, and the second relay hop count indication is used to indicate the number of relay hops experienced by the second message.

[0665] Optionally, the relay discovery device further includes:

[0666] A third receiving module is configured to receive, as the relay device, the second message sent by the second terminal and / or the previous hop relay device;

[0667] A second updating module is configured to update the third information to fourth information for the relay device; the number of relay hops experienced indicated by the fourth information is one more than the number of relay hops experienced indicated by the third information;

[0668] a fourth sending module, configured to send the second message carrying the fourth information to the relay device;

[0669] A fourth receiving module is configured to receive, by the first terminal, a second message sent by the second terminal and / or the previous hop relay device;

[0670] The determination module is configured to determine a relay path for relay communication according to the second message.

[0671] Figure 11a is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device 8100 provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure. Communication device 8100 can be a network device (e.g., an access network device or a core network device), a terminal (e.g., a user device), a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports a network device implementing any of the above methods, or a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports a terminal implementing any of the above communication methods. Communication device 8100 can be used to implement the communication methods described in the above method embodiments. For details, please refer to the description of the above method embodiments.

[0672] As shown in Figure 11a, the communication device 8100 includes one or more processors 8101. The processor 8101 can be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, for example, a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processing unit can be used to control the communication device (such as a base station, baseband chip, terminal device, terminal device chip, DU or CU, etc.), execute programs, and process program data. The processor 8101 is used to call instructions to enable the communication device 8100 to execute any of the above communication methods.

[0673] In some embodiments, the communication device 8100 further includes one or more memories 8102 for storing instructions. Optionally, all or part of the memories 8102 may be located outside the communication device 8100.

[0674] In some embodiments, the communication device 8100 further includes one or more transceivers 8103. When the communication device 8100 includes one or more transceivers 8103, the communication steps such as sending and receiving in the above method are performed by the transceiver 8103, and the other steps are performed by the processor 8101.

[0675] In some embodiments, a transceiver may include a receiver and a transmitter, which may be separate or integrated. Optionally, the terms transceiver, transceiver unit, transceiver, and transceiver circuit may be used interchangeably; the terms transmitter, transmitting unit, transmitter, and transmitting circuit may be used interchangeably; and the terms receiver, receiving unit, receiver, and receiving circuit may be used interchangeably.

[0676] Optionally, the communication device 8100 further includes one or more interface circuits 8104, which are connected to the memory 8102. The interface circuits 8104 can be used to receive signals from the memory 8102 or other devices, and can be used to send signals to the memory 8102 or other devices. For example, the interface circuits 8104 can read instructions stored in the memory 8102 and send the instructions to the processor 8101.

[0677] The communication device 8100 described in the above embodiment may be a network device or a terminal, but the scope of the communication device 8100 described in the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the structure of the communication device 8100 may not be limited to FIG. 11 a. The communication device may be an independent device or may be part of a larger device. For example, the communication device may be: (1) an independent integrated circuit IC, or a chip, or a chip system or subsystem; (2) a collection of one or more ICs, optionally, the above IC collection may also include a storage component for storing data or programs; (3) an ASIC, such as a modem; (4) a module that can be embedded in other devices; (5) a receiver, a terminal device, an intelligent terminal device, a cellular phone, a wireless device, a handheld device, a mobile unit, an in-vehicle device, a network device, a cloud device, an artificial intelligence device, etc.; (6) others, etc.

[0678] FIG11 b is a schematic diagram of the structure of a chip 8200 provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure. If the communication device 8100 can be a chip or a chip system, please refer to the schematic diagram of the structure of the chip 8200 shown in FIG11 b, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0679] The chip 8200 includes one or more processors 8201 , and the processor 8201 is used to call instructions so that the chip 8200 executes any of the above communication methods.

[0680] In some embodiments, chip 8200 further includes one or more interface circuits 8202, which are connected to memory 8203. Interface circuit 8202 can be used to receive signals from memory 8203 or other devices, and can be used to send signals to memory 8203 or other devices. For example, interface circuit 8202 can read instructions stored in memory 8203 and send the instructions to processor 8201. Optionally, the terms interface circuit, interface, transceiver pin, and transceiver are interchangeable.

[0681] In some embodiments, the chip 8200 further includes one or more memories 8203 for storing instructions. Alternatively, all or part of the memories 8203 may be outside the chip 8200.

[0682] The present disclosure also provides a storage medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed on the communication device 8100, causes the communication device 8100 to execute any of the above methods. Optionally, the storage medium is an electronic storage medium. Optionally, the storage medium is a computer-readable storage medium, but may also be a storage medium readable by other devices. Optionally, the storage medium may be a non-transitory storage medium, but may also be a transient storage medium.

[0683] The present disclosure further provides a program product, which, when executed by the communication device 8100, enables the communication device 8100 to perform any of the above communication methods. Optionally, the program product is a computer program product.

[0684] The present disclosure also provides a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute any one of the above communication methods.

[0685] Other embodiments of the present invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and practicing the invention disclosed herein. This disclosure is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention that follow from the general principles of the invention and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The description and examples are to be considered as exemplary only, with the true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.

[0686] It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the exact construction described above and shown in the drawings, and that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope thereof. The scope of the present invention is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A relay discovery method, wherein: The method is executed by the first terminal and includes: A first message is sent to a relay device and / or a second terminal, wherein the first message includes: a first relay hop count indication, which is used to indicate the remaining allowed relay hop count of the first message; and the second terminal is a target device discovered by the relay.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The first message also includes: First device information, used to indicate the first terminal; The second device information is used to indicate the second terminal.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The method further comprises: receiving a second message sent by a previous-hop device, where the previous-hop device includes a second terminal and / or a previous-hop relay device; A relay path for relay communication is determined according to the second message.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein: The second message includes second device information, where the second device information indicates the second terminal.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein: The second message includes a second relay hop count indication; the second relay hop count indication is used to indicate the number of relay hops that the second message has gone through.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein: The receiving a second message sent by the previous hop device includes: Receive the second message sent by unicast from the previous hop device.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein: The determining a relay path of relay communication according to the second message includes: When the second message sent by unicast is received, the transmission path of the second message is determined as the relay path.

8. The method according to claim 3, wherein: The receiving a second message sent by the previous hop device includes: The second message broadcasted by one or more previous-hop devices is received.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein: The determining of the relay path of the relay communication according to the second message includes at least one of the following: When receiving a second message sent by broadcast, determining a transmission path of the received second message as the relay path; When receiving a plurality of the second messages sent by broadcast, determining the relay path according to the signal strengths of the plurality of the second messages; When a plurality of the second messages sent by broadcast are received, the relay path is determined according to the number of relay hops that each of the plurality of the second messages has undergone.

10. A relay discovery method, wherein: Executed by the relay device, including: Receive a first message sent by a previous hop device; the previous hop device includes a first terminal and / or a previous hop relay device; the first terminal is a source device discovered by a relay; the first message includes a first relay hop count indication; the first relay hop count indication carries first information; the first information is used to indicate the remaining allowed relay hop count of the first message; When the remaining allowed relay hops are greater than 0, the first information is updated to the second information; the remaining allowed relay hops indicated by the second information are 1 less than the remaining allowed relay hops indicated by the first information; Send the first message carrying the second information.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein: The first message also includes: First device information, used to indicate the first terminal; The second device information is used to indicate a second terminal; the second terminal is a target device discovered by the relay.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein: The first message also includes: The third device information is at least used to indicate the current relay device.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein: The method further comprises: When the remaining allowed relay hops indicated by the first information is 0, stop sending the first message.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein: The method further comprises: receiving a second message sent by a previous hop device; the previous hop device includes a second terminal and / or a previous hop relay device; the second message includes a second relay hop count indication, the second relay hop count indication carries third information; the third information is used to indicate the number of relay hops experienced by the second message; The third information is updated to the fourth information; the number of relay hops that have been experienced indicated by the fourth information is 1 more than the number of relay hops that have been experienced indicated by the third information; Send the second message carrying the fourth information.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein: The sending the second message carrying the fourth information includes: Unicast sending the second message when receiving the second message unicast sent by the previous hop device; or, The second message is broadcasted upon receiving the second message broadcasted by the previous device.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein: The second message also includes: The third device information is at least used to indicate the current relay device.

17. A relay discovery method, wherein: Executed by the second terminal, including: Receive a first message sent by a previous hop device, where the previous hop device includes a first terminal and / or a previous hop relay device; the first terminal is a source device discovered by a relay; the first message includes a first relay hop count indication and second device information; the first relay hop count indication is used to indicate the remaining allowed relay hop count of the first message; the second device information carries device information of a target device to be discovered by a relay; When the target device is the second terminal, a second message is sent; the second message includes a second relay hop count indication, and the second relay hop count indication is used to indicate the number of relay hops that the second message has experienced.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein: When the target device is the second terminal, sending the second message includes at least one of the following: When receiving one of the first messages, broadcast or unicast one of the second messages; When N first messages are received, broadcast and send one second message; When N first messages are received, broadcast and send N second messages; When N first messages are received, unicast sending one second message; The N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein: The unicast sending of one second message when N first messages are received includes: Determine a relay path according to signal strengths of N first messages and / or a first relay hop count indication of the first message; The second message is unicast sent according to the relay path.

20. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein: The second message also includes: The first device information is used to indicate the first terminal.

21. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein: The second message also includes: The second device information is used to indicate the second terminal.

22. A relay discovery method, wherein: include: The first terminal sends a first message to the relay device and / or the second terminal; The first message includes: a first relay hop count indication, where the first relay hop count indication carries first information; The first information is used to indicate the remaining allowed relay hop count of the first message; the second terminal is a target device discovered by the relay; The relay device receives the first message sent by the first terminal and / or the previous hop relay device; When the remaining allowed relay hop number is greater than 0, the relay device updates the first information to second information; the remaining allowed relay hop number indicated by the second information is 1 less than the remaining allowed relay hop number indicated by the first information; The relay device sends the first message carrying the second information; The second terminal receives a first message sent by the first terminal and / or a previous hop relay device; the first terminal is a source device discovered by the relay; When the target device is the second terminal, the second terminal sends a second message; the second message includes a second relay hop count indication, and the second relay hop count indication is used to indicate the number of relay hops that the second message has experienced.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein: The method further comprises: The relay device receives the second message sent by the second terminal and / or the previous hop relay device; The relay device updates the third information to fourth information; the number of relay hops experienced indicated by the fourth information is one more than the number of relay hops experienced indicated by the third information; The relay device sends the second message carrying the fourth information; The first terminal receives a second message sent by the second terminal and / or the previous hop relay device; A relay path for relay communication is determined according to the second message.

24. A relay discovery device, wherein: include: The first sending module is configured to send a first message to a relay device and / or a second terminal, wherein the first message includes a first relay hop count indication for indicating an allowed relay hop count; the second terminal is a target device discovered by the relay.

25. A relay discovery device, wherein: include: A first receiving module is configured to receive a first message sent by a previous hop device; The previous hop device includes a first terminal and / or a previous hop relay device; The first terminal is a source device discovered by a relay; the first message includes a first relay hop count indication; The first relay hop count indication carries first information; the first information is used to indicate the remaining allowed relay hop count of the first message; A first updating module is configured to update the first information to second information when the remaining allowed relay hop count is greater than 0; The remaining allowed relay hop number indicated by the second information is less than the remaining allowed relay hop number indicated by the first information by 1; The second sending module is configured to send the first message carrying the second information.

26. A relay discovery device, wherein: include: A second receiving module is configured to receive a first message sent by a previous hop device, where the previous hop device includes a first terminal and / or a previous hop relay device; The first terminal is a source device discovered by relay; the first message includes a first relay hop count indication and second device information; the first relay hop count indication is used to indicate the remaining allowed relay hop count of the first message; the second device information carries device information of a target device to be discovered by relay; The third sending module is configured to send a second message when the target device is the second terminal; the second message includes a second relay hop count indication, and the second relay hop count indication is used to indicate the number of relay hops that the second message has experienced.

27. A relay discovery device, wherein: include: A first sending module, configured to send a first message from the first terminal to the relay device and / or the second terminal; The first message includes: a first relay hop count indication, the first relay hop count indication carrying first information; the first information is used to indicate the remaining allowed relay hop count of the first message; the second terminal is a target device discovered by the relay; A first receiving module, configured to receive, as a relay device, the first message sent by the first terminal and / or the previous hop relay device; A first updating module is configured such that when the remaining allowed relay hops are greater than 0, the relay device updates the first information to second information; the remaining allowed relay hops indicated by the second information are 1 less than the remaining allowed relay hops indicated by the first information; A second sending module, configured to send the first message carrying the second information to the relay device; A second receiving module is configured to receive, as the second terminal, a first message sent by the first terminal and / or a previous hop relay device; the first terminal is a source device discovered by the relay; The third sending module is configured to send a second message to the second terminal when the target device is the second terminal; the second message includes a second relay hop number indication, and the second relay hop number indication is used to indicate the number of relay hops experienced by the second message.

28. A communication system, wherein: The communication system includes a relay device, a first terminal and a second terminal; the relay device is configured to implement the method described in any one of claims 10 to 16, the first terminal is configured to implement the method described in any one of claims 1 to 9, and the second terminal is configured to implement the method described in any one of claims 17 to 21.

29. A communication device, wherein: The communication device comprises: one or more processors; The processor is used to call instructions so that the communication device executes the processing method described in claims 1 to 9, any one of claims 10 to 16, any one of claims 17 to 21, and claim 22 or 23.

30. A storage medium, wherein: The storage medium stores instructions, and when the instructions are executed on the communication device, the communication device executes the processing method described in any one of claims 1 to 9, any one of claims 10 to 16, any one of claims 17 to 21, and claim 22 or 23.

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