Communication method, apparatus and system

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of communications. Provided are a communication method, apparatus and system. The method comprises: receiving first indication information from a second network device, wherein the first indication information comprises first reference information, the first reference information is used for determining a first direction, the first direction is the orientation of a reference beam in a first beam cluster, beams in the first beam cluster satisfy a first beam relationship, and the first beam relationship is used for indicating the positional relationship between the beams in the first beam cluster; and on the basis of the first reference information, directing the reference beam in the first beam cluster to the first direction. On the basis of the solution, the direction of a reference beam in a beam cluster is indicated, such that a first network device adjusts the directions of all beams in one beam cluster on the basis of a beam relationship corresponding to the beam cluster, thereby providing conditions for a beam cluster, which consists of a relatively small number of beams, to cover a certain specific region in a service area in the form of a narrow beam.

Description

Communication method, device and system

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the China Patent Office on December 12, 2023, with application number 202311703637.2 and invention name “Communication Method, Device and System”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communications, and in particular to communication methods, devices, and systems. Background Art

[0003] Non-terrestrial networks (NTN) offer wide coverage and flexible networking, enabling seamless global network coverage. NTN can serve as a complementary technology to terrestrial networks or as a standalone communications technology, providing users with global high-speed network access.

[0004] Satellite communication systems are a crucial component of the NTN. Satellite base stations within these systems act as network-controlled repeaters (NCRs), forwarding data from ground-based base stations to user devices. Since NCR nodes only support 64 predefined beam indicators, to ensure that satellite station beam signals cover designated beam positions, satellite stations must employ omnidirectional beam coverage. This means that all 64 of the satellite station's beams cover the ground as wide beams. Because wide beams have poor signal energy concentration, access links established using these beams have low signal-to-noise ratios, reducing the quality of service for user devices. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Embodiments of the present application provide communication methods, apparatuses, and systems, which, by indicating the direction of a reference beam in a beam cluster, enable a first network device to adjust the direction of all beams in a beam cluster based on the beam relationship corresponding to the beam cluster, thereby providing conditions for covering a specific area of ​​a service area in the form of a narrow beam based on a beam cluster composed of a smaller number of beams.

[0006] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided, the method comprising: receiving first indication information from a second network device, the first indication information comprising first reference information, the first reference information being used to determine a first direction, the first direction being the orientation of a reference beam in a first beam cluster, the beams in the first beam cluster satisfying a first beam relationship, the first beam relationship being used to indicate a positional relationship between the beams of the first beam cluster; and pointing the reference beam in the first beam cluster to the first direction according to the first reference information.

[0007] For example, when the first network device is a satellite station, the second network device may be a gateway station, which may integrate some or all functions of a base station. In this case, the gateway station may be used as a base station.

[0008] For example, when the first network device is a satellite station, the second network device may also be a satellite station. The second network device may integrate some or all functions of a base station. In this case, the second network device may be used as a base station.

[0009] For example, the first network device and the second network device may both be ground base stations.

[0010] For example, the first indication information may be downlink control information (DCI), control element (CE) signaling of medium access control (MAC), or radio resource control (RRC) signaling.

[0011] For example, the reference beam may be any agreed or predefined beam in the first beam cluster.

[0012] For example, the first beam relationship may be information pre-stored in the first network device, or may be pre-configured by the second network device through control signaling.

[0013] For example, the beam widths of the beams in the first beam cluster indicated by the first beam relationship may be the same or different.

[0014] Based on the above technical solution, by indicating the direction of the reference beam in the beam cluster, the first network device can adjust the direction of all beams in a beam cluster based on the beam relationship corresponding to the beam cluster, so that the beam cluster is purposefully pointed at a specific area of ​​the service area, rather than blindly covering the entire service area in all directions. In this way, based on a beam cluster composed of a smaller number of beams, a specific area of ​​the service area can be covered in the form of a narrow beam, and then based on the adjustable direction of the beam cluster, omnidirectional coverage of the service area can be achieved. The communication link constructed based on the narrow beam helps to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the communication link between relay nodes, or between the relay node and the terminal device, thereby improving the service quality of the communication system as a whole.

[0015] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the above-mentioned first indication information also includes at least one beam identifier, which is used to indicate a beam in the first beam cluster, and data is sent and received through at least one beam in the first beam cluster.

[0016] For example, the service target of the first network device, that is, the object to which data is sent and received, may be a terminal device or another relay node.

[0017] Based on the above technical solution, at least one beam identifier is added to the first indication information to instruct the first network device to send and receive data through part or all of the beams of the first beam cluster after determining the direction of the first beam cluster, thereby increasing the flexibility of the communication method and helping to avoid providing data transmission services to areas where no terminal devices exist, causing unnecessary communication overhead, and saving energy consumption of the first network device.

[0018] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first beam cluster includes one beam, and data is sent and received through the one beam in the first beam cluster.

[0019] For example, when the first beam cluster includes one beam, the above-mentioned first indication information may include the beam identifier of the one beam; or, considering that the first beam cluster only includes one beam, the above-mentioned first indication information may not include the beam identifier of the one beam.

[0020] Based on the above technical solution, when the first beam cluster includes only one beam, the first indication information may not include the beam identifier of the one beam, thereby reducing the data volume of the first indication information and thus reducing the signaling overhead of transmitting the first indication information.

[0021] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the above-mentioned first reference information is a reference beam direction, which is used to indicate the first direction, or the above-mentioned first reference information is the coordinate value corresponding to the first reference point, or the above-mentioned first reference information is the longitude and latitude corresponding to the first reference point, or the above-mentioned first reference information is the wave position corresponding to the first reference point.

[0022] Based on the above technical solution, the direction of the reference beam in the first beam cluster can be indicated directly or indirectly, which provides a prerequisite for the first network device to adjust the first beam cluster as a whole.

[0023] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, when the first reference information is the coordinate value, longitude and latitude or wave position corresponding to the first reference point, the first reference information also includes a first coverage range, the first coverage range is the signal coverage range of the first network device, and the first reference point is located at the center of the first coverage range.

[0024] For example, the signal coverage range may be an area covered by a beam in which the first network device sends or receives data, or an area covered by a forwarded signal, or an area in which a signal is received.

[0025] For example, the first coverage range may also be sent to the first network device through other indication information.

[0026] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first coverage area is circular, and the first coverage area is represented by the radius of the first coverage area, that is, the first reference information also includes the radius of the first coverage area.

[0027] For example, when the first coverage area is circular, the first reference information may include the radius of the first coverage area, that is, the first coverage area is directly represented by the radius.

[0028] For example, the first coverage area may also have other shapes, and accordingly, the content included in the first reference information may be adaptively adjusted. For example, if the area is an ellipse, in this scenario, the first reference information may be the length of the major or minor semi-axis of the first coverage area; if the area is a rectangle, in this scenario, the first reference information may be the length and width of the first coverage area; or if the area is a square, in this scenario, the first reference information may be the side length of the first coverage area.

[0029] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, when the first reference information is a coordinate value, longitude and latitude or wave position corresponding to the first reference point, the reference beam is aligned with the first reference point.

[0030] It should be understood that while the reference beam pointing direction is adjusted, other beams in the first beam cluster will also follow, so that the first beam cluster always satisfies the first beam relationship.

[0031] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first reference information in the first indication information is represented by a first index number, and there is a mapping relationship between the first index number and the first reference information.

[0032] Based on the above technical solution, since the first index number is only an index number, it occupies fewer data bits than the directly indicated reference beam direction or the directly indicated first reference point position information, so it can effectively save the signaling overhead of transmitting the first indication information.

[0033] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first indication information further includes a first beam cluster identifier, and a mapping relationship exists between the first beam cluster identifier and the first beam relationship.

[0034] Based on the above technical solution, by defining multiple different beam cluster composition forms, this solution can instruct the first network device to dynamically adjust the beam composition of the beam cluster for different application scenarios to suit different application scenarios, which helps to increase the applicability of this solution.

[0035] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first beam relationship includes the number of beams in the first beam cluster, the beam width, and the positional relationship between the beams.

[0036] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, first capability information is sent to the second network device, where the first capability information includes at least one of the following: the maximum number of beams included in the beam cluster of the first network device, the number of array elements included in the antenna array of the first network device, the beam pointing range of the antenna array, the number of beam clusters that the first network device can send or support, the maximum number of beams that the first network device can transmit simultaneously, and the physical characteristics corresponding to each beam in the beam cluster of the first network device, where the physical characteristics include beam pointing and beam width.

[0037] Based on the above technical solution, the first network device can effectively avoid the beam cluster indicated by the first indication information of the second network device and the transmission direction corresponding to a beam in the beam cluster and other parameters from exceeding the capability range of the first network device by feeding back the first capability information to the second network device, thereby causing the control of the second network device to fail.

[0038] In a second aspect, a communication method is provided, which includes: determining first indication information, the first indication information including first reference information, the first reference information being used to determine a first direction, the first direction being the orientation of a reference beam in a first beam cluster, the beams in the first beam cluster satisfying a first beam relationship, and the first beam relationship being used to indicate a positional relationship between the beams of the first beam cluster; and sending the first indication information to a first network device.

[0039] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the above-mentioned first indication information also includes at least one beam identifier, which is used to indicate the beam in the first beam cluster, and the first indication information is used to indicate the sending and receiving of data through at least one beam in the first beam cluster.

[0040] In combination with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the first beam cluster includes one beam, and the first indication information is used to indicate that data is sent and received through one beam in the first beam cluster.

[0041] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the above-mentioned first reference information is a reference beam direction, which is used to indicate the first direction, or the above-mentioned first reference information is the coordinate value corresponding to the first reference point, or the above-mentioned first reference information is the longitude and latitude corresponding to the first reference point, or the above-mentioned first reference information is the wave position corresponding to the first reference point.

[0042] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, when the first reference information is the coordinate value, longitude and latitude or wave position corresponding to the first reference point, the first reference information also includes a first coverage range, the first coverage range is the signal coverage range of the first network device, and the first reference point is located at the center of the first coverage range.

[0043] In combination with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the first coverage range is circular, and the first coverage range is represented by a radius of the first coverage range.

[0044] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the first reference information in the above-mentioned first indication information is represented by a first index number, and there is a mapping relationship between the first index number and the first reference information.

[0045] In combination with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the first indication information further includes a first beam cluster identifier, and a mapping relationship exists between the first beam cluster identifier and the first beam relationship.

[0046] In combination with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the first beam relationship includes the number of beams in the first beam cluster, the beam width, and the positional relationship between the beams.

[0047] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, first capability information is received from a first network device, where the first capability information includes at least one of the following: the maximum number of beams included in the beam cluster of the first network device, the number of array elements included in the antenna array of the first network device, the beam pointing range of the antenna array, the number of beam clusters that the first network device can send or support, the maximum number of beams that the first network device can transmit simultaneously, and the physical characteristics corresponding to each beam in the beam cluster of the first network device, where the physical characteristics include beam pointing and beam width; based on the first capability information, first indication information is determined, and the first indication information is consistent with the first capability information.

[0048] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the first network device communicates with the third network device through the first beam cluster, and determines the coordinate value corresponding to the first reference point, the longitude and latitude corresponding to the first reference point, the wave position corresponding to the first reference point, or the first coverage range corresponding to the first reference point based on the position of the third network device; or, determines the first direction based on the spatial angle between the third network device and the first network device.

[0049] By way of example, the third network device may be a previous communication node of the first network device, or a subsequent communication node of the first network device.

[0050] According to a third aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising: a receiving unit for receiving first indication information from a second network device, the first indication information comprising first reference information, the first reference information being used to determine a first direction, the first direction being the orientation of a reference beam in a first beam cluster, the beams in the first beam cluster satisfying a first beam relationship, the first beam relationship being used to indicate a positional relationship between the beams of the first beam cluster; and an operating unit for pointing the reference beam in the first beam cluster to the first direction according to the first reference information.

[0051] In combination with the third aspect, in certain implementations of the third aspect, the above-mentioned first indication information also includes at least one beam identifier, wherein the beam identifier is used to indicate the beam in the first beam cluster, and the above-mentioned operation unit is also used to: send and receive data through at least one beam in the first beam cluster.

[0052] In combination with the third aspect, in certain implementations of the third aspect, the first beam cluster includes one beam, and the operating unit is further used to: send and receive data through one beam in the first beam cluster.

[0053] In combination with the third aspect, in certain implementations of the third aspect, the above-mentioned first reference information is a reference beam direction, which is used to indicate the first direction, or the above-mentioned first reference information is the coordinate value corresponding to the first reference point, or the above-mentioned first reference information is the longitude and latitude corresponding to the first reference point, or the above-mentioned first reference information is the wave position corresponding to the first reference point.

[0054] In combination with the third aspect, in certain implementations of the third aspect, when the first reference information is the coordinate value, longitude and latitude or wave position corresponding to the first reference point, the first reference information also includes a first coverage range, the first coverage range is the signal coverage range of the first network device, and the first reference point is located at the center of the first coverage range.

[0055] In combination with the third aspect, in certain implementations of the third aspect, the first coverage area is circular, and the first coverage area is represented by a radius of the first coverage area.

[0056] In combination with the third aspect, in certain implementations of the third aspect, when the first reference information is the coordinate value, longitude and latitude or wave position corresponding to the first reference point, the above-mentioned operation unit is specifically used to: align the reference beam with the first reference point.

[0057] In combination with the third aspect, in certain implementations of the third aspect, the first reference information in the above-mentioned first indication information is represented by a first index number, and there is a mapping relationship between the first index number and the first reference information.

[0058] In combination with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the first indication information further includes a first beam cluster identifier, and a mapping relationship exists between the first beam cluster identifier and the first beam relationship.

[0059] In combination with the third aspect, in certain implementations of the third aspect, the first beam relationship includes the number of beams in the first beam cluster, the beam width, and the positional relationship between the beams.

[0060] In combination with the third aspect, in certain implementations of the third aspect, the above-mentioned device also includes: a sending unit, used to send first capability information to the second network device, and the first capability information includes at least one of the following: the maximum number of beams included in the beam cluster of the first network device, the number of array elements included in the antenna array of the first network device, the beam pointing range of the antenna array, the number of beam clusters that the first network device can send or support, the maximum number of beams that the first network device can transmit simultaneously, and the physical characteristics corresponding to each beam in the beam cluster of the first network device, the physical characteristics including beam pointing and beam width.

[0061] In a fourth aspect, a communication device is provided, which includes: a determination unit for determining first indication information, the first indication information including first reference information, the first reference information being used to determine a first direction, the first direction being the orientation of a reference beam in a first beam cluster, the beams in the first beam cluster satisfying a first beam relationship, and the first beam relationship being used to indicate a positional relationship between the beams of the first beam cluster; and a sending unit for sending the first indication information to a first network device.

[0062] In combination with the fourth aspect, in certain implementations of the fourth aspect, the first indication information further includes at least one beam identifier, which is used to indicate a beam in the first beam cluster, and the first indication information is used to indicate the sending and receiving of data through at least one beam in the first beam cluster.

[0063] In combination with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the first beam cluster includes one beam, and the first indication information is used to indicate that data is sent and received through one beam in the first beam cluster.

[0064] In combination with the fourth aspect, in certain implementations of the fourth aspect, the above-mentioned first reference information is a reference beam direction, which is used to indicate the first direction, or the above-mentioned first reference information is the coordinate value corresponding to the first reference point, or the above-mentioned first reference information is the longitude and latitude corresponding to the first reference point, or the above-mentioned first reference information is the wave position corresponding to the first reference point.

[0065] In combination with the fourth aspect, in certain implementations of the fourth aspect, when the first reference information is the coordinate value, longitude and latitude or wave position corresponding to the first reference point, the first reference information also includes a first coverage range, the first coverage range is the signal coverage range of the first network device, and the first reference point is located at the center of the first coverage range.

[0066] In combination with the fourth aspect, in certain implementations of the fourth aspect, the first coverage range is circular, and the first coverage range is represented by a radius of the first coverage range.

[0067] In combination with the fourth aspect, in certain implementations of the fourth aspect, the first reference information in the above-mentioned first indication information is represented by a first index number, and there is a mapping relationship between the first index number and the first reference information.

[0068] In combination with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the first indication information further includes a first beam cluster identifier, and a mapping relationship exists between the first beam cluster identifier and the first beam relationship.

[0069] In combination with the fourth aspect, in certain implementations of the fourth aspect, the first beam relationship includes the number of beams in the first beam cluster, the beam width, and the positional relationship between the beams.

[0070] In combination with the fourth aspect, in certain implementations of the fourth aspect, the above-mentioned device also includes: a receiving unit, used to receive first capability information from the first network device, the first capability information including at least one of the following: the maximum number of beams included in the beam cluster of the first network device, the number of array elements included in the antenna array of the first network device, the beam pointing range of the antenna array, the number of beam clusters that the first network device can send or support, the maximum number of beams that the first network device can transmit simultaneously, and the physical characteristics corresponding to each beam in the beam cluster of the first network device, the physical characteristics including beam pointing and beam width; the above-mentioned determination unit is specifically used to: determine the first indication information based on the first capability information, and the first indication information is consistent with the first capability information.

[0071] In combination with the fourth aspect, in certain implementations of the fourth aspect, the first network device communicates with the third network device through the first beam cluster, and the above-mentioned determination unit is specifically used to: determine the coordinate value corresponding to the first reference point, the longitude and latitude corresponding to the first reference point, the wave position corresponding to the first reference point, or the first coverage range corresponding to the first reference point according to the position of the third network device; or, determine the first direction according to the spatial angle between the third network device and the first network device.

[0072] In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the processor and the memory are connected, wherein the memory is used to store program code, and the processor is used to call the program code to execute a method in any possible implementation mode of the method design of the first aspect or the second aspect above.

[0073] In a sixth aspect, a network device is provided, comprising a processor, wherein the processor is configured to execute program code to execute a method in any possible implementation of the method design of the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0074] In the seventh aspect, a network device is provided, comprising a processor, a memory, and a transceiver, wherein the memory is used to store computer instructions, the transceiver is used to receive a signal from the memory and send a signal to the processor, the signal including the computer instructions, and the processor is used to execute the computer instructions to execute the method in any possible implementation of the method design of the first aspect or the second aspect above.

[0075] In an eighth aspect, a network device is provided, comprising an interface circuit and a processor, wherein the interface circuit and the processor are interconnected via a line; the interface circuit is used to receive a signal and send a signal to the processor, wherein the signal includes a computer instruction, and the processor is used to execute the computer instruction to execute the method in any possible implementation manner in the method design of the first aspect or the second aspect above.

[0076] In the ninth aspect, a network device is provided, comprising an interface circuit and a logic circuit, wherein the interface circuit and the logic circuit are interconnected through a line; the interface circuit is used to receive a signal and send a signal to the logic circuit, wherein the signal includes a computer instruction, and the logic circuit is used to execute the computer instruction to execute the method in any possible implementation mode of the method design of the first aspect or the second aspect above.

[0077] In the tenth aspect, a communication system is provided, comprising a first network device and a second network device, wherein the first network device is used to execute a method in any possible implementation manner in the method design of the first aspect, and the second network device is used to execute a method in any possible implementation manner in the method design of the second aspect.

[0078] In the eleventh aspect, a chip system is provided, which is applied to an electronic device; the chip system includes one or more interface circuits and one or more processors; the interface circuit and the processor are interconnected through lines; the interface circuit is used to receive signals from the memory of the electronic device and send signals to the processor, and the signals include computer instructions stored in the memory; when the processor executes the computer instructions, the electronic device executes the method in any possible implementation of the method design of the first aspect or the second aspect above.

[0079] In the twelfth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, storing a computer program or instruction, which is used to implement the method in any possible implementation manner in the method design of the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0080] In the thirteenth aspect, a computer program product is provided. When the computer program code or instructions are executed on a computer, the computer executes a method in any possible implementation of the method design of the first aspect or the second aspect mentioned above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0081] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of an NCR node;

[0082] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a relay solution;

[0083] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a satellite communication system 300 applicable to an embodiment of the present application;

[0084] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of a relay communication system using a satellite station as an NCR node;

[0085] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of a relay communication architecture applicable to an embodiment of the present application;

[0086] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of another relay communication architecture applicable to an embodiment of the present application;

[0087] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture proposed in an embodiment of the present application;

[0088] FIG8 is a schematic diagram of another network architecture proposed in an embodiment of the present application;

[0089] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of another network architecture proposed in an embodiment of the present application;

[0090] FIG10 is a schematic diagram of another network architecture proposed in an embodiment of the present application;

[0091] FIG11 is a flow chart of a communication method 1100 proposed in an embodiment of the present application;

[0092] FIG12 is a schematic diagram of a beam pattern proposed in an embodiment of the present application;

[0093] FIG13 is a schematic diagram of the spatial angle between the first direction and the first plane proposed in an embodiment of the present application;

[0094] FIG14 is a schematic diagram of a beam pattern of a beam cluster proposed in an embodiment of the present application;

[0095] FIG15 is a schematic diagram of a communication method for multiple relay nodes proposed in an embodiment of the present application;

[0096] FIG16 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 1600 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0097] FIG17 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 1700 provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0098] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0099] To expand the ground coverage of base station signals, it is often considered to deploy multiple relay nodes on the ground to relay data sent by the base station, thereby achieving the effect of expanding the ground coverage of the base station signal. However, traditional relay nodes generally only have amplification and forwarding functions and poor controllability. To enhance the functionality of relay nodes, the solution of using NCR as relay nodes has been proposed. The network side sends corresponding control signaling to the NCR node to instruct the NCR node to forward data. Compared with traditional relay nodes that only perform amplification and forwarding functions, NCR nodes allow network-side control and have stronger spatial directionality, which helps to improve the quality of service of data forwarding.

[0100] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of an NCR node.

[0101] As shown in Figure 1, an NCR node can include two modules: NCR-mobile termination (NCR-MT) and NCR-forwarding (NCR-Fwd). The NCR-MT establishes a connection with a ground base station, such as a 5G next generation NodeB (gNB), via a control link; the NCR-Fwd connects to the ground base station via a backhaul link to forward data from the ground base station and forward the data to the user equipment (UE) via an access link.

[0102] For example, the NCR node shown in FIG1 may be a satellite station in a satellite communication system, and the ground base station shown in FIG1 may be a gateway station. The gateway station may send control signaling to the satellite station to control the satellite station to adjust the beam direction.

[0103] Currently, manufacturers of NCR node equipment usually provide a characteristic description of the access link beam for the relay transmission system before leaving the factory, such as the direction, beam width, and beam coverage range of the beam emitted by the NCR node.

[0104] In addition, the beam used by the NCR node for access link communication can support up to 64 directional indications, and the base station controlling the NCR node can only instruct the NCR node to control the beam direction and beam width of the access link forwarding signal by indicating the beam index number to the NCR node. It should be understood that the beam index number implicitly contains information such as the beam direction and beam width. After the NCR node determines the above beam-related information, it adjusts the direction and beam width of the transmitting beam, and then transparently forwards the uplink or downlink data between the base station and the terminal devices in the server covered by the beam through the backhaul link and the access link.

[0105] However, the following problems still exist for the terrestrial relay solution.

[0106] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a relay solution.

[0107] As shown in Figure 2, the source base station can establish a direct communication link with the terminal device. If the source base station and the terminal device are far apart, a ground relay solution can be adopted. This involves the source base station and multiple ground-based relay nodes establishing a communication link from the source base station to the terminal device. To further expand the base station's coverage, given the wide coverage area and flexible networking characteristics of NTN communications, an NTN-based relay solution has been proposed. This solution uses satellite stations as relay nodes to forward data.

[0108] NTN communication includes networking using drones, high-altitude platforms, satellites and other equipment to provide UEs with data transmission, voice communication and other services. For ease of description, this application uses satellites as the main equipment for NTN communication as an example.

[0109] In a satellite-based communication system, a satellite base station can function as an NCR node, forwarding data from a terrestrial base station to a user device. It should be noted that the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to terrestrial communication systems. That is, a terrestrial base station can also function as an NCR node, forwarding data from other terrestrial base stations to a user device. For ease of description, the embodiments of the present application will primarily utilize a satellite communication system as the primary application scenario.

[0110] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a satellite communication system 300 applicable to an embodiment of the present application.

[0111] The technical solution of the present application can be applied to a satellite communication system. Referring to FIG3 , a satellite communication system 300 generally consists of three parts: a space segment, a ground segment, and a user segment.

[0112] For example, satellite communication systems can be divided into three types based on the satellite's orbital altitude: geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) satellite communication systems, also known as synchronous orbit satellite communication systems; medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellite communication systems; and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communication systems. GEO satellites have an orbital altitude of 35,786 km. Their main advantages are that they can remain stationary relative to the Earth and provide a large coverage area. However, GEO satellite communication also has significant disadvantages: GEO satellite orbits are far from the Earth, resulting in high free-space propagation losses, which results in tight communication link budgets. Furthermore, to increase transmit or receive gain, satellites need to be equipped with larger antennas. GEO communication transmission latency is high, reaching a round-trip latency of around 500ms, which cannot meet the needs of low-latency services. GEO orbital resources are also relatively limited, resulting in high launch costs and an inability to provide coverage in the Earth's polar regions. MEO satellites orbit at altitudes between 2000 and 35,786 km. Their advantage is that they can achieve global coverage with a relatively small number of satellites. However, their orbital altitude is higher than that of LEO satellites, and communication transmission latency is still higher than that of LEO satellites. LEO satellites, on the other hand, orbit at altitudes between 300 and 2000 km. LEO satellites are lower than MEO and GEO orbits, offering advantages such as lower data propagation latency, reduced transmission loss, and lower launch costs. Therefore, LEO satellites can be used to construct the space segment shown in Figure 3. Of course, in some specific application scenarios, LEO satellites can be replaced with GEO or MEO satellites, or even a combination of multiple satellite types.

[0113] The ground segment generally includes a satellite tracking and control center 302, a network control center (NCC) 303, and various gateway stations 304. Gateway stations are also called gateways or ground stations. The network control center is also called the system control center (SCC). The user segment consists of various terminal devices. Terminal devices can be various mobile terminals 306, such as mobile satellite phones, or various fixed terminals 307, such as communication ground stations. In Figure 3, dotted lines represent communication signals between satellites and terminals. Solid lines represent communication signals between satellites and ground segment devices. Bidirectional arrows represent communication signals between network elements in the ground segment. In satellite communication systems, satellites can also be called satellite stations or satellite base stations. As shown in Figure 3, a satellite base station can directly transmit downlink data to a terminal device. This downlink data can be channel coded, modulated, and mapped before being transmitted to the terminal device. The terminal device can also transmit uplink data to the satellite base station. This uplink data can also be channel coded, modulated, and mapped before being transmitted to the satellite base station.

[0114] The satellite tracking and control center 302 in the ground segment maintains, monitors, and controls the satellite's orbital position and attitude, and manages the satellite's ephemeris. The network control center 303 handles user registration, identity verification, billing, and other network management functions. In some satellite mobile communication systems, the network control center 303 and satellite tracking and control center 302 are integrated into one. The gateway station 304 performs call processing, switching, and interfacing with the terrestrial communication network. The terrestrial communication network 305, a component of the ground segment of the satellite network, is responsible for switching satellite data packets to the core network and delivering them to the final terminal device. The terrestrial communication network can be the public switched telephone network (PSTN), the public land mobile network (PLMN), or other specialized networks. Different terrestrial communication networks require gateway stations with different gateway functions.

[0115] In some satellite communication systems, the space segment of the satellite communication system may be a multi-layer structure consisting of a management satellite and one or more service satellites. In a multi-layer satellite communication system, the space segment may include one or more management satellites and the service satellites managed by these management satellites. The satellites or satellite base stations mentioned in this application are not limited to management satellites or service satellites.

[0116] It should be understood that the communication methods proposed in the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to ground relays. For example, if the distance between a ground base station connected to the core network and the UE is long, or there are obstacles or other barriers between the ground base station and the UE, it may be difficult for the ground base station to transmit data to the UE, or difficult to receive data signals from the UE. Therefore, a communication link from the ground base station to the UE can be established through multiple relay base stations on the ground, thereby providing services to the UE.

[0117] The above-mentioned ground base stations, satellite stations, ground relay base stations and terminal equipment include but are not limited to using the following communication systems for communication: global system for mobile communications (GSM) system, code division multiple access (CDMA) system, wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) system, general packet radio service (GPRS), long term evolution (LTE) system, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, LTE time division duplex (TDD), universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication system, 5th generation (5G) mobile communication system, such as new radio (NR) system, and future communication systems.

[0118] In some possible scenarios, the above-mentioned ground base stations, ground relay base stations, gateway stations, and satellite stations can be collectively referred to as radio access network (RAN) nodes, which can also be referred to as access network devices, RAN entities, or access nodes.

[0119] In other possible scenarios, multiple RAN nodes can collaborate to assist terminals in achieving wireless access, with different RAN nodes implementing portions of the functions of gateways and satellite stations. For example, RAN nodes can be centralized units (CUs), distributed units (DUs), CU-control plane (CP), CU-user plane (UP), or radio units (RUs). The CU and DU can be separate or included in the same network element, such as the baseband unit (BBU). The CU and DU nodes separate the protocol layers of the gNB, centrally controlling some protocol layer functions within the CU and distributing some or all of the remaining protocol layer functions within the DUs, which are then centrally controlled by the CU. As an implementation method, the CU is deployed with the RRC layer, the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, and the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer in the protocol stack; the DU is deployed with the radio link control (RLC) layer, the media access control (MAC) layer, and the physical layer (PHY) in the protocol stack. Thus, the CU has the processing capabilities of RRC, PDCP, and SDAP. The DU has the processing capabilities of RLC, MAC, and PHY. It will be understood that the above functional division is only an example and does not constitute a limitation on the CU and DU. The RU may be included in a radio frequency device or a radio frequency unit, for example, in a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH).

[0120] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU or RU may also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in the ORAN system, CU may also be called O-CU (Open CU), DU may also be called O-DU, CU-CP may also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP may also be called O-CU-UP, and RU may also be called O-RU. For the convenience of description, this application takes CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU and RU as examples for description. Any unit of CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU and RU in this application can be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0121] The terminal device in the embodiments of the present application needs to access the mobile satellite communication network through the ground segment of the satellite communication system for mobile communication. The terminal device can refer to UE, access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication device, user agent or user device. The terminal device can also be a cellular phone, cordless phone, session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, wireless local loop (WLL) station, personal digital assistant (PDA), handheld device with wireless communication function, computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, vehicle-mounted device, wearable device, terminal device in the future 5G network or terminal device in the future evolved public land mobile network (PLMN), etc. Terminal devices represented by satellite phones and vehicle-mounted satellite communication systems can communicate directly with satellite base stations. Fixed terminals represented by ground communication stations need to be relayed by the ground station before they can communicate with the satellite. The terminal device sets and obtains the communication status by installing a wireless transceiver antenna to complete the communication.

[0122] However, when a satellite station is used as an NCR node in a relay communication system, the following problems still exist.

[0123] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of a relay communication system using satellite stations as NCR nodes.

[0124] As shown in Figure 4, the system includes three NCR nodes. Satellite NCR1 forwards gateway data to terrestrial NCR2, which in turn forwards the data to satellite NCR3, which then forwards the data to the UE. However, since satellite NCR1 and NCR3 are mobile, each of them needs to use multiple beams to cover the service area, ensuring omnidirectional coverage of the service area. This allows them to provide beam-based services to terminal devices within the service area. A service area is the area where terminal devices can access communication services. However, NCR nodes typically only support 64 predefined beam indicators. To ensure omnidirectional coverage of the service area, each of these 64 beams must be wide. These 64 wide beams can cover a considerable area, encompassing the service area. However, due to the weak overall signal strength of these wide beams, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the access link established using these 64 wide beams is low, reducing the quality of service of the communication system.

[0125] In view of this, the embodiments of the present application propose a communication method, device and system, which can cluster the beams that can be emitted by the NCR node for management and control. By indicating the transmission direction corresponding to a beam in the beam cluster, the transmission direction of each beam in the beam cluster is adjusted as a whole, and the beam cluster is focused on the service area, so that the beam cluster can cover the corresponding service area in the form of a narrow beam, thereby improving the signal-to-noise ratio of the access link and improving the service quality of the communication system.

[0126] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of a relay communication architecture applicable to an embodiment of the present application.

[0127] As shown in Figure 5 , in this architecture, network devices include satellite stations and gateway stations. Terminal devices include IoT terminals, but may also be terminals of other forms and capabilities, such as mobile phones and high-altitude aircraft, though this is not limited in this embodiment of the present application. The link between the satellite station and the terminal device is called a service link, and the link between the satellite station and the gateway station is called a feeder link.

[0128] It should be understood that the communication method proposed in the embodiment of the present application can also be applied to the multi-satellite relay communication scenario expanded based on the relay communication architecture shown in Figure 5.

[0129] The satellite station's operating modes include transparent mode and regenerative mode. When a satellite station includes a transparent forwarding relay function, it can operate in transparent mode, meaning it can implement an amplify-and-forward (AF) relay function. Upon receiving a signal, the satellite station, acting as a relay node, does not decode or encode the signal, but directly forwards it to the destination node. When a satellite station includes a regenerative forwarding or digital forwarding function, it includes a decode-and-forward (DF) relay function. Upon receiving a signal, the satellite station, acting as a relay node, decodes the signal, re-encodes the decoded result, and finally forwards it to the destination node. The destination node can be another relay node or the terminal device to be served.

[0130] It should be understood that the above-mentioned AF relay method is relatively simple and can reduce the workload of the relay node, but the noise at the relay node will also be forwarded to the destination node; the above-mentioned DF relay method can avoid forwarding the noise at the relay node to the destination node, but the protocol for implementing this method is relatively complex, and the workload of the relay node is relatively high. Therefore, for different application scenarios, a satellite station with AF function or a satellite station with DF function can be used accordingly. Of course, the satellite station can also have both AF and DF functions, and the satellite station can switch between AF and DF functions in different application scenarios. For the convenience of description, the embodiments of the present application are mainly explained by taking a relay node with AF function as an example.

[0131] In some possible embodiments, when a satellite station operates in transparent transmission mode, it functions as a transparent forwarding relay node, while a gateway station functions as a base station or some base station functions. In this case, the gateway station can be considered a base station, meaning that the base station and gateway station are deployed together. Of course, the base station and gateway station can also be deployed separately. For ease of description, the transparent transmission mode discussed below uses the case where the gateway station and gNB are located together or in close proximity. When a satellite station operates in regeneration mode, it has data processing capabilities and performs base station functions or some base station functions. In this case, the satellite station can also be considered a base station. Furthermore, the base station is connected to the core network.

[0132] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of another relay communication architecture applicable to an embodiment of the present application.

[0133] As shown in Figure 6, this architecture is an air-to-ground (ATG) communication architecture. In this architecture, the network equipment includes multiple ground base stations, and the terminal equipment includes high-altitude aircraft, onboard handheld terminals, etc. As for the multiple ground base stations, ground base station 2, ground base station 3, and ground base station 4 are all NCR nodes, similar to the satellite station shown in Figure 5, and include the same functions, and are not repeated here. Ground base station 1 is connected to the core network and controls ground base stations 2, ground base station 3, and ground base station 4. For example, ground base station 1 can establish communication links with ground base station 1, ground base station 3, and ground base station 4, respectively, and send control signaling to the corresponding ground base station through each link to control each ground base station. Alternatively, ground base station 1 can establish a communication link with only one of the other three ground base stations, for example, ground base station 2, and these three ground base stations establish links for relay communication. In this case, ground base station 1 can directly send control signaling to ground base station 2 to control ground base station 2. In addition, the ground base station can send control signaling to ground base station 2, and then ground base station 2 forwards the control signaling to ground base station 3, or forwards it to ground base station 4 through ground base station 3, thereby enabling ground base station 1 to control ground base station 3 and ground base station 4. The data forwarding function of multiple ground base stations as NCR nodes is the same as that of the satellite station shown in Figure 5 above, and will not be repeated here.

[0134] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the network architecture proposed in an embodiment of the present application. The network architecture shown in Figure 7 corresponds to the relay communication system shown in Figure 4 above, that is, it is applied to the satellite-to-ground forwarding scenario. It should be understood that after the relay communication system architecture is adjusted, the corresponding network architecture also needs to be adjusted accordingly.

[0135] Referring to the network architecture 1 shown in FIG7 , data between the base station and the terminal device is transparently forwarded through three satellite-to-ground relay nodes, which are network-controlled transparent nodes (NCTN). If the NCTN2 node shown in FIG7 is replaced with a network-controlled regenerative node (NCRN), the resulting network architecture corresponds to the network architecture 2 shown in FIG8 , which is a schematic diagram of another network architecture proposed in an embodiment of the present application.

[0136] In network architecture 1 and network architecture 2, NCTN includes NCTN-mobile-termination (NCTN-MT), NCTN-distributed unit (NCTN-DU) and forwarding.

[0137] Among them, NCTN-MT is connected to the base station host DU or NCTN-DU of the NCTN-MT parent node to build a control link; it sends beam direction information corresponding to the backhaul link, control link and access link, information used to control the switch to send or receive data functions, routing related information, etc.

[0138] The NCTN-DU is used to provide access for the NCTN-MT or NCRN-MT at the next level and to build a lower-level control link.

[0139] The repeater is used to provide transparent forwarding of uplink or downlink radio frequency signals between the base station host or NCRN and the terminal device. Transparent forwarding is also called amplified forwarding.

[0140] NCRN can carry routing information through the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer. Similar to NCTN, NCRN includes NCTN-mobile-termination (NCRN-MT) and NCRN-distributed unit (NCRN-DU).

[0141] Among them, NCRN-MT is connected to the base station host DU, NCTN-DU or NCRN-DU of the NCRN-MT parent node to build a control link and a wireless backhaul link to provide digital forwarding function, which can support data forwarding of the radio link control (RLC) layer at most.

[0142] The NCRN-DU is used to provide access for the NCTN-MT, NCRN-MT or terminal equipment at the next level.

[0143] In addition, NCTN can also be constructed in another way.

[0144] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of another network architecture proposed in an embodiment of the present application.

[0145] FIG10 is a schematic diagram of another network architecture proposed in an embodiment of the present application.

[0146] Referring to the network architecture 3 shown in FIG9 and the network architecture 4 shown in FIG10 , the functions of the NCTN in these two network architectures are less than those of the NCTN in the network architecture 1 and the network architecture 2 .

[0147] In network architecture 3 and network architecture 4, NCTN includes the functions of NCTN-MT and repeater. For the introduction of these two functional modules, please refer to the above description and will not be repeated here.

[0148] For the four network architectures in Figure 7, interfaces are also required to implement communication connections between different functional modules.

[0149] Among them, for network architecture 1 and network architecture 2, connections can be established between the base station host DU and NCTN-MT, between NCTN-DU and NCTN-MT, and between the repeater and the terminal device through the Uu port; connections can be established between the base station host CU and each NCTN-DU, and between the base station host CU and the base station host DU through the F1 port; the base station and the base station host can be connected through the Xn-C port; the base station and the base station host are respectively connected to the core network through the NG port.

[0150] For network architecture 3 and network architecture 4, connections can be established between the base station host DU and NCTN-MT, between NCTN-DU and NCTN-MT, and through the Uu port; a connection can be established between the base station host CU and the base station host DU through the F1 port; the base station and the base station host can be connected through the Xn-C port; the base station and the base station host are respectively connected to the core network through the NG port.

[0151] Based on the above network architecture and the corresponding deformed and extended network architecture, this application proposes a communication method, which is as follows.

[0152] Figure 11 is a flow chart of a communication method 1100 proposed in an embodiment of the present application. This method 1100 can be applied to a first network device, which can be the NCTN or NCRN described in the aforementioned embodiments. Furthermore, the first network device can also include a network device in an ORAN system, such as a CU-UP, CU-CP, DU, or RU.

[0153] S1110: Receive first indication information from a second network device, where the first indication information includes first reference information, wherein the first reference information is used to determine a first direction, where the first direction is the orientation of a reference beam in a first beam cluster, where the beams in the first beam cluster satisfy a first beam relationship, and where the first beam relationship is used to indicate a positional relationship between the beams of the first beam cluster.

[0154] In some possible embodiments, when the first network device is a satellite station serving as an NCR node or NCTN, the second network device may be a gateway station, which may integrate some or all of the functions of a base station. In this case, the gateway station may be used as a base station. When the gateway station is functionally separated from the base station, that is, when the two are deployed separately, the first indication information may be determined by the base station and sent to the gateway station, which then forwards the first indication information to the satellite station. For ease of description, the following description will be based on the second network device being a gateway station that integrates some or all of the functions of a base station. In addition, the second network device may also include a network device in an ORAN system. For example, the first indication information is determined and sent by the CU-CP of the second network device.

[0155] In some possible embodiments, the first indication information may be RRC signaling, DCI or MAC CE signaling.

[0156] In some possible embodiments, the beam cluster described in the embodiments of the present application refers to a group of beams composed of multiple beams, and after the multiple beams in the beam cluster are projected onto the target area, the shape of the coverage area formed by the beam cluster in the target area can also be called a beam pattern, or a beam diagram, beam diagram, etc.

[0157] In some possible embodiments, the first beam relationship is used to indicate the positional relationship between the beams of the first beam cluster, and can also be understood as being used to indicate the arrangement relationship between the beams of the first beam cluster, and can also be understood as being used to indicate the spatial angle relationship between the beams of the first beam cluster, and can also be understood as being used to indicate the composition method of the beam pattern of the first beam cluster, etc. The embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0158] In some possible embodiments, when the first beam cluster includes only one beam, the content of the first beam relationship may be empty, or the first indication information may not carry the first beam relationship.

[0159] FIG12 is a schematic diagram of a beam pattern proposed in an embodiment of the present application.

[0160] As shown in FIG. 12 , the first beam cluster may include seven beams, each beam corresponding to a coverage area, and the shape of the area integrating these coverage areas corresponds to a beam pattern.

[0161] The above-mentioned first beam relationship used to indicate the positional relationship between the beams of the first beam cluster corresponds to the beam pattern obtained after projection of the first beam cluster. That is, the first beam relationship can be used to describe the geometric parameters of the beam pattern of the first beam cluster. The geometric parameters may include the number of beams in the first beam cluster, the beam width of each beam, and the arrangement of the beams.

[0162] Furthermore, the beam pattern corresponding to the beam cluster defined above can also be described by beam coverage relationships. For example, the positional relationship of each beam in the beam pattern on the ground surface can be described, and further, the coverage diameter of each beam, the distance between the beam centers, and the angular relationship between the beam centers can be described.

[0163] In some possible embodiments, the reference beam may be any pre-agreed or pre-defined beam in the first beam cluster.

[0164] In some possible embodiments, the above-mentioned first beam relationship may be information pre-stored in the first network device, or may be pre-configured by the second network device through control signaling, and the control signaling may be RRC signaling, DCI or MAC CE signaling, or configured based on an operation administration and maintenance (OAM) protocol function.

[0165] In some possible embodiments, the first beam relationship may include a beam width of each beam in the first beam cluster. The beam width may be defined as an angle between two half-power points of the beam.

[0166] For example, beam width can be used to indicate horizontal beam width or vertical beam width, where horizontal beam width refers to the angle between two directions in the horizontal direction where the radiation power drops by 3dB on both sides of the maximum radiation direction of the transmitted beam; vertical beam width refers to the angle between two directions in the vertical direction where the radiation power drops by 3dB on both sides of the maximum radiation direction of the transmitted beam.

[0167] In some possible embodiments, the beam widths of the beams of the first beam cluster may be the same or different.

[0168] In some possible embodiments, the first beam relationship may further include a positional relationship between each beam in the first beam cluster, wherein the positional relationship between each beam may be represented by an angle relationship between the beams, as shown below:

[0169] Taking the first beam cluster as an example, the angular relationship between each beam in the first beam cluster is represented by the beam pointing, or the spatial angle between the beam boresight, of each beam in the first beam cluster and the boresight of the reference beam.

[0170] As shown in Reference Figure 12, for the first beam cluster, beam 0 is selected as the reference beam, so the aiming line of beam 0 is the aiming line of the reference beam. Then, a set of information on the spatial angles between the beam aiming lines of other beams and the beam aiming line of beam 0 can be used to represent the angular relationship between each beam.

[0171] Alternatively, in the beam pattern corresponding to the first beam cluster, the center point of beam 0's coverage area corresponds to the projection of the boresight onto this range plane. Because the boresight corresponding to beam 0 is selected as the reference beam boresight, for ease of description, the center point of beam 0's coverage area is also referred to as the reference center point or reference aiming point. Based on this, the direction vectors formed between the center points of the coverage areas of each beam in the beam pattern and the center point of beam 0's coverage area can be used to represent the angular relationship between each beam.

[0172] Alternatively, in the beam pattern corresponding to the first beam cluster, the center points of the coverage ranges of each beam are connected to the center point of the coverage range of beam 0. Six directional angles are formed in the plane covered by the beam pattern. These six directional angles can also be used to represent the angular relationship between each beam.

[0173] Based on the above description of the first beam relationship, it can be known that the first beam relationship also explicitly or implicitly includes information about the number of beams in the first beam cluster.

[0174] S1120: Point the reference beam in the first beam cluster in a first direction according to the first reference information.

[0175] It should be understood that since the beams in the first beam cluster satisfy the first beam relationship, the beam width corresponding to each beam in the first beam cluster and / or the positional relationship between the beams remain unchanged. In other words, since the beams in the first beam cluster satisfy the first beam relationship, when the first network device points the reference beam in the first beam cluster in the first direction based on the first reference information, the other beams in the first beam cluster also follow suit, so that the beams in the first beam cluster always satisfy the first beam relationship.

[0176] Based on the above technical solution, by indicating the direction of the reference beam in the beam cluster, the first network device can adjust the direction of all beams in a beam cluster based on the beam relationship corresponding to the beam cluster, so that the beam cluster is purposefully pointed at a specific area of ​​the service area, rather than blindly covering the entire service area in all directions. In this way, based on a beam cluster composed of a smaller number of beams, a specific area of ​​the service area can be covered in the form of a narrow beam, and then based on the adjustable direction of the beam cluster, omnidirectional coverage of the service area can be achieved. The communication link constructed based on the narrow beam helps to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the communication link between relay nodes, or between the relay node and the terminal device, thereby improving the service quality of the communication system as a whole.

[0177] In some possible embodiments, after receiving the first indication information, the first network device may further perform the following operations:

[0178] S1131: Send and receive data through all beams in the first beam cluster.

[0179] In some possible embodiments, considering that not all terminal devices requiring service may be within the coverage of each beam in the first beam cluster, the first indication information sent by the second network device to the first network device may further include at least one beam identifier. Based on this, after receiving the first indication information, the first network device may further perform the following operations:

[0180] S1132: Send and receive data through at least one beam in the first beam cluster.

[0181] It should be understood that the first beam cluster described in method 1100 can accurately direct a cluster of beams to a specific area within the service area requiring service, thereby avoiding waste in beam coverage and enabling narrow beam coverage of the service area, thereby helping to increase the signal-to-noise ratio of the communication link between the first network device and the terminal device. Furthermore, considering that terminal devices within the service area may not be distributed throughout the entire service area, the second network device adds at least one beam identifier to the first indication information to instruct the first network device to use some or all beams in the first beam cluster after determining the direction of the first beam cluster. If the first indication information includes multiple beam identifiers for the first beam cluster, the first network device, after determining the direction of the first beam cluster, uses the multiple beams of the first beam cluster to simultaneously provide service to terminal devices distributed across multiple service areas, or to provide service to terminal devices distributed across multiple service areas sequentially in a timed manner.

[0182] In some possible embodiments, when the first beam cluster includes only one beam, data may be directly transmitted and received through one beam in the first beam cluster.

[0183] In some possible embodiments, when the first beam cluster includes one beam, the first indication information may include the beam identifier of the beam; alternatively, considering that the first beam cluster includes only one beam, the first indication information may not include the beam identifier of the beam. Taking FIG. 12 as an example, when the first beam cluster includes only beam 0, the first indication information may not include the beam identifier of beam 0. Then, after the first network device receives the first indication information, it may directly transmit and receive data through beam 0. Based on this solution, when the first beam cluster includes only one beam, the first indication information may not include the beam identifier of the beam, thereby reducing the data volume of the first indication information and thus reducing the signaling overhead of transmitting the first indication information.

[0184] In some possible embodiments, the service target of the first network device may be a terminal device or other relay node.

[0185] In some possible embodiments, the beam identifier may be a beam number used to indicate a particular beam. However, this beam number is not completely equivalent to the beam index mentioned in the preceding description. The beam index not only indicates a specific beam but also carries the beam direction and beam width. In the embodiments of the present application, the beam number used as the beam identifier may only indicate a specific beam. Of course, the first beam relationship described above can be implicitly represented by the beam index.

[0186] In some possible embodiments, assuming that the first network device communicates with the third network device through the first beam cluster, the second network device may determine the first indication information in the following manner:

[0187] According to the position of the third network device, determine the coordinate value corresponding to the first reference point, the longitude and latitude corresponding to the first reference point, the wave position corresponding to the first reference point, or the first coverage range corresponding to the first reference point; or determine the first direction according to the spatial angle between the third network device and the first network device.

[0188] In some possible embodiments, the third network device may be a previous communication node of the first network device, or a subsequent communication node of the first network device.

[0189] Based on the above technical solution, at least one beam identifier is added to the first indication information to instruct the first network device to send and receive data through part or all of the beams of the first beam cluster after determining the direction of the first beam cluster, thereby increasing the flexibility of the communication method and helping to avoid providing data transmission services to areas where no terminal devices exist, causing unnecessary communication overhead, and saving energy consumption of the first network device.

[0190] In some possible embodiments, the first reference information is a reference beam direction, which is used to indicate the first direction, or the first reference information is a coordinate value corresponding to a first reference point, or the first reference information is the longitude and latitude corresponding to the first reference point, or the first reference information is a wave position corresponding to the first reference point. The first reference point or the reference beam direction can be based on an earth coordinate system, such as an earth-centered earth-fixed (ECEF) coordinate system, or based on the network device itself as a coordinate system.

[0191] In some possible embodiments, when the first reference information is the coordinate value, longitude and latitude or wave position corresponding to the first reference point, the first reference information also includes a first coverage range, the first coverage range is the signal coverage range of the first network device, and the first reference point is located at the center of the first coverage range.

[0192] In some possible embodiments, the first coverage range may also be sent to the first network device through other indication information.

[0193] In some possible embodiments, the first coverage area is circular, and the first coverage area is represented by a radius of the first coverage area.

[0194] In some possible embodiments, when the first coverage area is circular, the first reference information may include the radius of the first coverage area, that is, the first coverage area is directly represented by the radius.

[0195] In some possible embodiments, the above-mentioned signal coverage range may be an area covered by a data beam sent or received by the first network device, or an area covered by a forwarded signal, or an area where a signal is received.

[0196] In some possible embodiments, the first coverage area may also have other shapes, and accordingly, the content included in the first reference information may be adaptively adjusted. For example, if the first coverage area is an ellipse, in this scenario, the first reference information may be the length of the major or minor semi-axis of the first coverage area; if the first coverage area is a rectangle, in this scenario, the first reference information may be the length and width of the first coverage area; or if the first coverage area is a square, in this scenario, the first reference information may be the side length of the first coverage area.

[0197] Based on the above technical solution, the direction of the reference beam in the first beam cluster can be indicated directly or indirectly, which provides a prerequisite for the first network device to adjust the first beam cluster as a whole.

[0198] In some possible embodiments, when the first reference information is the coordinate value, longitude and latitude or beam position identifier corresponding to the first reference point, the above S1120 can be implemented by the following method: aligning the reference beam with the first reference point.

[0199] For example, the reference beam also corresponds to a reference point, or aiming point, which corresponds to the aforementioned beam aiming line. Aligning the reference beam with the first reference point may involve aligning the aiming point of the reference beam with the position of the first reference point. From the perspective of the beam pattern, if the reference beam corresponds to a subregion within the beam pattern, then the aiming point of the reference beam will also be mapped to the subregion. Aligning the reference beam with the first reference point may involve aligning the aiming point mapped to the subregion corresponding to the reference beam with the first reference point.

[0200] Alternatively, still from the perspective of the beam pattern corresponding to the beam cluster, the concept of a beam pattern reference point can be introduced. The beam pattern reference point can be the center point corresponding to a beam in the beam pattern, or the aiming point mentioned in the above embodiment, or any agreed or pre-configured position point in the beam coverage area. For example, the beam can be beam 0 located at the center of the beam pattern as shown in Figure 12. Based on S1120, it can be known that the first network device needs to align the reference point of the beam pattern for forwarding signals with the first reference point. It should be understood that the definition of "alignment" mentioned above does not necessarily mean that the aiming point of the reference beam or the reference point of the beam pattern is completely aligned with the first reference point. A certain deviation between the two points can be allowed, and the two points can be considered aligned if the deviation is within the preset first deviation range.

[0201] For example, the first deviation range can be an interval of (0,5]m. Then, after performing the corresponding operation of aligning the reference beam of the first beam cluster with the first reference point, if the straight-line distance between the aiming point of the reference beam and the first reference point is within 5m, or the straight-line distance between the beam pattern reference point corresponding to the first beam cluster and the first reference point is within 5m, it can be considered that the reference beam is aligned with the first reference point.

[0202] In some possible embodiments, when the first reference information is a reference beam direction, the above S1120 may be implemented by the following method: adjusting the reference beam to point to the reference beam direction.

[0203] For example, from the perspective of the beam pattern corresponding to the beam cluster, based on the concept of the beam pattern reference point introduced above, the direction of the line connecting the beam pattern reference point and the center point of the first network device or the center point of the antenna panel of the first network device can be referred to as the reference point direction of the beam pattern. Based on S1120, it can be known that the first network device needs to point the reference point direction of the beam pattern of the forwarded signal to the reference beam direction, or the first network device needs to align the reference point direction of the beam pattern of the forwarded signal with the reference beam direction.

[0204] Referring to Figure 12, taking the center point of beam 0 as the beam pattern reference point as an example, the direction of the line connecting the center point of the first network device or the first network device antenna panel and the beam pattern reference point can be defined as the reference point direction of the beam pattern.

[0205] It should be understood that the definition of "alignment" mentioned above does not necessarily mean that the reference point direction of the beam pattern is completely aligned with the reference beam direction. A certain deviation between the two directions can be allowed. If the deviation is within the preset second deviation range, it can be considered that the direction of the reference beam is aligned with the reference beam direction in the first indication information.

[0206] For example, the second deviation range can be an interval of (0,10]°. Then, after performing the corresponding operation of adjusting the reference beam of the first beam cluster to point to the reference beam direction, if the spatial angle between the direction of the reference beam and the reference beam direction in the first indication information is within 10°, or the spatial angle between the beam pattern reference point direction corresponding to the first beam cluster and the reference beam direction in the first indication information is within 10°, then it can be considered that the direction of the reference beam is aligned with the reference beam direction.

[0207] In addition, while adjusting the reference beam pointing direction, other beams in the first beam cluster will also follow, so that the first beam cluster always satisfies the first beam relationship.

[0208] In some possible embodiments, when the first reference information is a reference beam direction, the reference beam direction may include a spatial angle between the first direction and a first plane, for example, the first plane is a plane where an antenna array for transmitting the first beam cluster is located.

[0209] FIG13 is a schematic diagram of the spatial angle between the first direction and the first plane proposed in an embodiment of the present application.

[0210] In some possible embodiments, with reference to FIG13 , taking beam 2 as the reference beam as an example, the direction vector corresponding to the first direction (hereinafter referred to as the first direction) and the first plane are located in the same coordinate system, which can be the coordinate system as shown in FIG13 . The first plane is the plane where the x-axis and y-axis (xy-axis for short) of the coordinate system are located. In other words, the first plane corresponds to the plane formed by the x-axis and y-axis of the coordinate system. In addition, the coordinate system can be replaced by a coordinate system using the earth as a reference, such as the ECEF coordinate system. It should be understood that even if the first direction and the first plane are located in different coordinate systems, their spatial positions can be converted to the same coordinate system by coordinate transformation.

[0211] Based on this, referring to the coordinate system shown in FIG13 , the first direction can be indicated in the following manner: the first direction can be indicated by the direction angle and depression angle α, or by the azimuth angle and elevation angle β, where the direction angle It is used to represent the angle between the projection line of the first direction on the plane where the xy axis is located and the x-axis, the depression angle α is used to represent the angle between the first direction and the z-axis, and the elevation angle β is used to represent the angle between the first direction and the plane where the xy axis is located. It should be understood that when the reference point direction of the beam pattern corresponding to the first plane is the z-axis of the coordinate system, the depression angle α can also be used to represent the angle between the first direction and the reference point direction of the beam pattern.

[0212] Based on the above technical solution, the first direction is indicated directly or indirectly in a variety of ways, which increases the flexibility of the solution.

[0213] Similarly, the positional relationship between the beams in the first beam relationship may also be represented by the method shown in FIG. 13 .

[0214] For example, the direction of the beam line of sight of beam 0 in the first beam cluster can be used as the z-axis of the coordinate system, and the first plane is located in the plane where the xy-axis of the coordinate system is located. Then, the direction of the beam line of sight of each beam can be determined by the direction angle corresponding to the beam line of sight of each beam. and the depression angle α, or the azimuth angle The depression angle α is used to represent the angle between the beam aiming line and the z-axis, and the elevation angle β is used to represent the angle between the beam aiming line and the first plane.

[0215] As shown in Figure 13, taking beam 2 as an example, the beam line of sight pointing angle of beam 2 can be determined by the elevation angle β, the azimuth angle To describe; or, by depression angle α, direction angle To describe.

[0216] In some possible embodiments, taking the scenario shown in FIG. 13 as an example, the first beam relationship may be described in the following Table 1 or Table 2.

[0217] Table 1

[0218] Table 2

[0219] It should be understood that Tables 1 and 2 above only describe the first beam relationships for the scenario shown in Figure 13. In this scenario, the first beam cluster includes seven beams, but this example does not limit the number of beams in the first beam cluster. The number of beams in the first beam cluster can be other numbers, for example, the number of beams can be adjusted based on different application scenarios.

[0220] In some possible embodiments, the second network device may configure the first beam relationship to the first network device through RRC signaling, DCI or MAC CE signaling.

[0221] In some possible embodiments, the first reference information in the first indication information is represented by a first index number, and a mapping relationship exists between the first index number and the first reference information. For ease of description, the mapping relationship between the first index number and the first reference information is referred to as the first mapping relationship below.

[0222] In some possible embodiments, before the first network device is put into use, the first mapping relationship may be directly stored locally on the first network device, or after the first network device is put into use, the second network device may also configure the first mapping relationship to the first network device via RRC signaling, DCI, or MAC CE signaling. Thus, it can be seen that the second network device also stores the first mapping relationship.

[0223] After the first network device is configured with the first mapping relationship, the second network device can indicate the transmission direction of the reference beam in the first beam cluster of the first network device by using the first index number included in the first indication information.

[0224] When the first reference information includes the coordinate value corresponding to the first reference point, or the longitude and latitude corresponding to the first reference point, or the wave position where the first reference point is located, taking the first index number as an example, the above-mentioned first mapping relationship can be represented by the following Tables 3 to 5.

[0225] Table 3

[0226] Table 4

[0227] Table 5

[0228] From Table 5, it can be seen that a beam can cover one or more wave positions. For example, when the first index number is 0, the reference beam needs to cover wave position 3 and wave position 8 of the ground area; when the first index number is 1, the reference beam only needs to cover wave position 5 of the ground area.

[0229] In some possible embodiments, if the first network device adjusts the reference beam pointing of the first beam cluster and the reference beam cannot completely cover one or more wave positions indicated by the first indication information, the first network device or the second network device can first confirm whether the first beam cluster covers the one or more wave positions. If the first beam cluster also cannot cover the one or more wave positions, the first network device can actively increase the width of the beam in the first beam cluster, or the second network device can control the first network device to increase the width of the beam in the first beam cluster.

[0230] In the case where the first reference information is a reference beam direction, taking the first index number as an example, the above-mentioned first mapping relationship can be represented by the following Table 6 and Table 7.

[0231] Table 6

[0232] Table 7

[0233] In some possible embodiments, the second network device may indicate the first index number through RRC signaling, DCI or MAC CE signaling.

[0234] Based on the above technical solution, since the first index number is only an index number, it occupies fewer data bits than the directly indicated reference beam direction or the directly indicated first reference point position information, so it can effectively save the signaling overhead of transmitting the first indication information.

[0235] In some possible embodiments, the first indication information may further include a first beam cluster identifier, and a mapping relationship exists between the first beam cluster identifier and the first beam relationship.

[0236] In some possible embodiments, the mapping relationship between the first beam cluster identifier and the first beam relationship may belong to a second mapping relationship, where the second mapping relationship is used to indicate mapping relationships between different beam cluster identifiers and different beam relationships. For example, the second mapping relationship also includes a mapping relationship between a second beam cluster identifier and a second beam relationship, where the second beam relationship has different parameters from the first beam relationship.

[0237] In some possible embodiments, the second mapping relationship may be pre-stored in the first network device before the first network device leaves the factory, or may be pre-configured in the first network device through the second network device after the first network device is put into use.

[0238] In some possible embodiments, the second network device may configure the second mapping relationship to the first network device through RRC signaling.

[0239] FIG14 is a schematic diagram of a beam pattern of a beam cluster proposed in an embodiment of the present application.

[0240] As shown in Figure 14 , the beam pattern of each beam cluster corresponds to a beam cluster identifier, which can also be represented by an index number. Four beam patterns are pre-stored or pre-configured by the first network device. Different beam patterns can differ in at least one of the following parameters: the number of beams, the beam width, and the positional relationship between beams.

[0241] For example, beam pattern 0, beam pattern 2, and beam pattern 3 have the same number of beams, but the beam widths and positional relationships between the beams of these three beam patterns are different; beam pattern 3 and beam pattern 1 have the same beam widths, but the number of beams and positional relationships between the beams of these two beam patterns are different.

[0242] It should be understood that after the first network device receives the first indication information including the first beam cluster identifier, the first network device determines the first beam cluster according to the first beam cluster identifier and the predefined or preconfigured second mapping relationship.

[0243] Furthermore, the above example only illustrates the different beam patterns shown in FIG14 . In FIG14 , there are four beam pattern configurations, but this example does not limit the number of beam pattern configurations or the number of beam pattern configurations. The beam pattern may also be in other forms than those shown in FIG14 , and is not limited to these four forms. Furthermore, the beam patterns pre-stored or pre-configured by the first network device are not limited to four.

[0244] In some possible embodiments, the first beam cluster identifier may also be carried by a single signaling.

[0245] In some possible embodiments, the first beam cluster identifier may also correspond to the first reference information. Based on this, the first indication information received by the first network device may include only the first beam cluster identifier, or include the first beam cluster identifier and at least one beam identifier, thereby providing the first network device with an indication of the first beam cluster's direction.

[0246] It can be seen that the beam cluster identifier can instruct the first network device to adjust the composition of the beam cluster, for example, the number of beams in the beam cluster, the beam width of each beam, and the arrangement of the beams.

[0247] For example, different beam cluster compositions are suitable for different application scenarios. For example, in broadcast scenarios, the beam width of each beam in the beam cluster is larger; in scenarios where terminal devices are widely distributed, the number of beams included in the beam cluster should be larger; in scenarios where the service area has high requirements for signal quality, the beam width of each beam in the beam cluster is smaller.

[0248] Based on the above technical solution, by defining multiple different beam cluster composition forms, this solution can instruct the first network device to dynamically adjust the beam composition of the beam cluster for different application scenarios to suit different application scenarios, which helps to increase the applicability of this solution.

[0249] In some possible embodiments, the first indication information is not randomly determined by the second network device. The second network device may determine the first indication information in the following manner:

[0250] Determining first demand information, where the first demand information is used to indicate a location of a service area and a distribution of terminal devices in the service area;

[0251] A first beam relationship is obtained, where the first beam relationship is used to indicate a positional relationship between beams of the first beam cluster, and the first beam relationship is pre-stored locally or in the cloud of the second network device.

[0252] The first indication information is determined according to the first requirement information and the first beam relationship. The first indication information includes the first reference information or the first reference information and at least one beam identifier.

[0253] When the first network device supports multiple beam cluster configuration forms, the second network device may select a first beam cluster identifier from the multiple beam cluster identifiers, the first beam cluster identifier corresponding to the first beam relationship, and carry the first beam cluster identifier in the first indication information.

[0254] In some possible embodiments, the first network device may further perform the following operations:

[0255] Send first capability information to the second network device, where the first capability information includes at least one of the following: the maximum number of beams included in the beam cluster of the first network device, the number of array elements included in the antenna array of the first network device, the beam pointing range of the antenna array, the number of beam clusters that the first network device can send or support, the maximum number of beams that the first network device can transmit simultaneously, and physical characteristics corresponding to each beam in the beam cluster of the first network device, where the physical characteristics include beam pointing and beam width.

[0256] For example, in the above performance parameters, the maximum number of beams included in the beam cluster sent by the first network device can be 64 or 128, etc.; the number of beam clusters that the first network device can send or support can be 4 or 8 or 16, etc.; the maximum number of beams that the first network device can transmit simultaneously can be 1 or 2 or 4, etc.

[0257] Correspondingly, after receiving the first capability information, the second network device determines first indication information based on the first capability information, and the first indication information is consistent with the first capability information. That is, the first reference information, beam identifier, or beam cluster identifier indicated by the first indication information must satisfy the first capability information sent by the first network device. For example, if the maximum number of beams included in the beam cluster sent by the first network device is 64, then the number of beams included in the beam cluster corresponding to the beam cluster identifier in the first indication information must be less than or equal to 64.

[0258] Based on the above technical solution, the first network device can effectively avoid the beam cluster indicated by the first indication information of the second network device and the transmission direction corresponding to a beam in the beam cluster and other parameters exceeding the capability range of the first network device by feeding back the first capability information to the second network device, thereby causing the control of the second network device to fail.

[0259] In some possible embodiments, the above method 1100 may also be applied to a transmission scenario with multiple relay nodes.

[0260] FIG15 is a schematic diagram of a multi-relay node communication method proposed in an embodiment of the present application.

[0261] As shown in reference figure 15, the gateway station (or base station) sends a first indication message to NCTN1, and the first indication message can be expressed as [first reference information + beam 0 identifier]. Assuming that beam 0 is the reference beam in the first beam cluster in NCTN1, the first reference information is used to indicate the reference beam direction 1. Furthermore, the first reference information can also be the location information of NCTN2. NCTN1 adjusts the direction of beam 0 according to the first reference information, and the directions of other beams in the beam cluster to which beam 0 belongs follow. Then NCTN1 sends and receives data through beam 0 according to the beam 0 identifier, and beam 0 covers the current location of NCTN2. It can be seen that beam 0 of NCTN1 is both a reference beam and a beam used for sending and receiving data.

[0262] The gateway station also sends a second indication message to NCTN2, which can be expressed as [second reference information + beam 0 identifier]. Assuming that beam 0 is the reference beam in the second beam cluster in NCTN2, the second reference information is used to indicate the reference beam direction 2. Furthermore, the second reference information can also be the location information of NCTN3, and the location information of NCTN3 can be the ephemeris information corresponding to NCTN3. NCTN2 adjusts the direction of beam 0 according to the second reference information, and the directions of other beams in the beam cluster to which beam 0 belongs follow. Then, NCTN2 sends and receives data through beam 0 according to the beam 0 identifier, and beam 0 covers the current location of NCTN3. It can be seen that beam 0 of NCTN2 is both a reference beam and a beam used for sending and receiving data.

[0263] The gateway station also sends a third indication message to NCTN3, and the third indication message can be expressed as [third reference information + beam 1 identifier]. Assuming that beam 0 is the reference beam in the third beam cluster in NCTN3, the third reference information is used to indicate the reference beam direction 3. Furthermore, the third reference information can also be the location information of the area where the UE is located. The location information of the area can be the location information of the ground reference point. The ground reference point can be any point in the area, or the third reference information can also be the location information of the UE. NCTN3 adjusts the direction of beam 0 according to the third reference information, and the directions of other beams in the beam cluster to which beam 0 belongs follow. Then NCTN3 sends and receives data through beam 1 according to the beam 1 identifier, and beam 1 covers the current location of the terminal device in the service area. It can be seen that beam 0 of NCTN3 is the reference beam, and beam 1 of NCTN3 is the beam used for sending and receiving data.

[0264] The gateway station may transmit the second indication information to NCTN2 via the link established between NCTN1 and NCTN2, and the gateway station may transmit the third indication information to NCTN3 via the links established between NCTN1 and NCTN2 and between NCTN2 and NCTN3.

[0265] Based on the above operations, a communication link is established from the gateway to the terminal device, thereby providing corresponding communication services to the terminal device. Furthermore, method 1100 is compatible with signal beam direction indication between relay nodes and between relay nodes and terminals. The relay nodes can be either terrestrial or satellite relay nodes.

[0266] In some possible embodiments, the above-mentioned multiple indication signals may further include the following information: data forwarding direction (eg, uplink or downlink), forwarding time-frequency domain resource information, and forwarding mode (eg, transparent forwarding or regenerative forwarding).

[0267] For example, the indication information may be in the form of [reference information (reference beam direction / reference point corresponding position) + at least one beam number] + [uplink / downlink] + [forwarded time-frequency resources] + [transparent forwarding / regeneration forwarding]. The downlink direction represents forward data forwarding. As shown in Figure 15 , the data transmission direction is as follows: gNB → NCTN1 → NCTN2 → NCTN3 → UE. The uplink direction represents backward data forwarding. As shown in Figure 15 , the data transmission direction is as follows: UE → NCTN3 → NCTN2 → NCTN1 → gNB.

[0268] Based on the aforementioned embodiments, it can be known that the indication information may also include a beam cluster index to indicate the composition of the beam cluster or the form of the beam pattern, so the indication information may be in the form of [beam cluster index + reference information (reference beam direction / reference point corresponding position) + at least one beam number]. If there is a mapping relationship between the beam cluster index and the reference information, or the beam pattern corresponding to the beam cluster index has a default reference point direction of the beam pattern, the indication information may be simplified to the form of [beam cluster index + at least one beam number]. For example, when multiple beam numbers are indicated, the network device may forward the data signal to the coverage areas corresponding to the multiple beam numbers at the same time, or may forward the data signal to the coverage areas corresponding to the multiple beam numbers in sequence.

[0269] In some possible embodiments, the indication information may also be used to indicate multiple beam cluster indices to indicate the composition of multiple beam clusters or the form of a beam pattern. In this case, the indication information may be in the form of [multiple beam cluster indices + reference information (reference beam direction / reference point corresponding position) + at least one beam number]. For example, when multiple beam cluster indices are indicated, the network device may simultaneously forward data signals to the coverage areas corresponding to the multiple beam cluster indices, or sequentially forward data signals to the coverage areas corresponding to the multiple beam cluster indices.

[0270] It should be understood that the forms of indication information proposed in the above embodiments can be used in combination with each other.

[0271] In addition, the above solution takes the relay node as an example of a transparent forwarding node. This solution is also applicable to application scenarios where the relay node is a regeneration forwarding device (node), a digital forwarding device (node) or a decoding forwarding relay device.

[0272] In addition, an embodiment of the present application also provides an apparatus for implementing any of the above methods. For example, a communication apparatus is provided, which includes a unit (or means) for implementing any of the above communication methods.

[0273] FIG16 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 1600 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The device 1600 can be used in the first network device mentioned above. As shown in FIG16 , the device 1600 includes:

[0274] A receiving unit 1610 is configured to receive first indication information from a second network device, where the first indication information includes first reference information, where the first reference information is used to determine a first direction, where the first direction is a direction of a reference beam in a first beam cluster, where the beams in the first beam cluster satisfy a first beam relationship, where the first beam relationship is used to indicate a positional relationship between beams in the first beam cluster;

[0275] The operating unit 1620 is configured to point the reference beam in the first beam cluster to a first direction according to the first reference information.

[0276] In some possible embodiments, the first indication information further includes at least one beam identifier, wherein the beam identifier is used to indicate a beam in the first beam cluster, and the operation unit 1620 is further used to: send and receive data through at least one beam in the first beam cluster.

[0277] In some possible embodiments, the first beam cluster includes one beam, and the operating unit 1620 is further configured to: transmit and receive data through the one beam in the first beam cluster.

[0278] In some possible embodiments, the above-mentioned first reference information is a reference beam direction, which is used to indicate the first direction, or the above-mentioned first reference information is the coordinate value corresponding to the first reference point, or the above-mentioned first reference information is the longitude and latitude corresponding to the first reference point, or the above-mentioned first reference information is the wave position corresponding to the first reference point.

[0279] In some possible embodiments, when the first reference information is the coordinate value, longitude and latitude or wave position corresponding to the first reference point, the first reference information also includes a first coverage range, the first coverage range is the signal coverage range of the first network device, and the first reference point is located at the center of the first coverage range.

[0280] In some possible embodiments, the first coverage area is circular, and the first coverage area is represented by a radius of the first coverage area.

[0281] In some possible embodiments, when the first reference information is a coordinate value, longitude and latitude or beam position corresponding to a first reference point, the operation unit 1620 is specifically configured to align the reference beam with the first reference point.

[0282] In some possible embodiments, the first reference information in the first indication information is represented by a first index number, and there is a mapping relationship between the first index number and the first reference information.

[0283] In some possible embodiments, the first indication information further includes a first beam cluster identifier, and a mapping relationship exists between the first beam cluster identifier and the first beam relationship.

[0284] In some possible embodiments, the first beam relationship includes the number of beams in the first beam cluster, the beam width, and the positional relationship between the beams.

[0285] In some possible embodiments, the above-mentioned device 1600 also includes: a sending unit 1630, used to send first capability information to the second network device, where the first capability information includes at least one of the following: the maximum number of beams included in the beam cluster of the first network device, the number of array elements included in the antenna array of the first network device, the beam pointing range of the antenna array, the number of beam clusters that the first network device can send or support, the maximum number of beams that the first network device can transmit simultaneously, and the physical characteristics corresponding to each beam in the beam cluster of the first network device, where the physical characteristics include beam pointing and beam width.

[0286] FIG17 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 1700 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The device 1700 can be used in the second network device described above. As shown in FIG17 , the device 1700 includes:

[0287] a determining unit 1710, configured to determine first indication information, where the first indication information includes first reference information, where the first reference information is used to determine a first direction, where the first direction is a direction of a reference beam in a first beam cluster, where the beams in the first beam cluster satisfy a first beam relationship, where the first beam relationship is used to indicate a positional relationship between beams in the first beam cluster;

[0288] The sending unit 1720 is configured to send first indication information to the first network device.

[0289] In some possible embodiments, the first indication information further includes at least one beam identifier, where the beam identifier is used to indicate a beam in the first beam cluster, and the first indication information is used to indicate that data is sent and received through at least one beam in the first beam cluster.

[0290] In some possible embodiments, the first beam cluster includes one beam, and the first indication information is used to indicate that data is sent and received through one beam in the first beam cluster.

[0291] In some possible embodiments, the above-mentioned first reference information is a reference beam direction, which is used to indicate the first direction, or the above-mentioned first reference information is the coordinate value corresponding to the first reference point, or the above-mentioned first reference information is the longitude and latitude corresponding to the first reference point, or the above-mentioned first reference information is the wave position corresponding to the first reference point.

[0292] In some possible embodiments, when the first reference information is the coordinate value, longitude and latitude or wave position corresponding to the first reference point, the first reference information also includes a first coverage range, the first coverage range is the signal coverage range of the first network device, and the first reference point is located at the center of the first coverage range.

[0293] In some possible embodiments, the first coverage area is circular, and the first coverage area is represented by a radius of the first coverage area.

[0294] In some possible embodiments, the first reference information in the first indication information is represented by a first index number, and there is a mapping relationship between the first index number and the first reference information.

[0295] In some possible embodiments, the first indication information further includes a first beam cluster identifier, and a mapping relationship exists between the first beam cluster identifier and the first beam relationship.

[0296] In some possible embodiments, the first beam relationship includes the number of beams in the first beam cluster, the beam width, and the positional relationship between the beams.

[0297] In some possible embodiments, the apparatus 1700 further includes:

[0298] The receiving unit 1730 is used to receive first capability information from the first network device, where the first capability information includes at least one of the following: the maximum number of beams included in the beam cluster of the first network device, the number of array elements included in the antenna array of the first network device, the beam pointing range of the antenna array, the number of beam clusters that the first network device can send or support, the maximum number of beams that the first network device can transmit simultaneously, and the physical characteristics corresponding to each beam in the beam cluster of the first network device, where the physical characteristics include beam pointing and beam width; the above-mentioned determination unit 1710 is specifically used to: determine the first indication information based on the first capability information, and the first indication information is consistent with the first capability information.

[0299] In some possible embodiments, when the above-mentioned first network device communicates with the third network device through the first beam cluster, the above-mentioned determination unit 1710 is specifically used to: determine the coordinate value corresponding to the first reference point, the longitude and latitude corresponding to the first reference point, the wave position corresponding to the first reference point, or the first coverage range corresponding to the first reference point according to the position of the third network device; or determine the first direction according to the spatial angle between the third network device and the first network device.

[0300] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional and technical personnel can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0301] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0302] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely schematic. For example, the division of the units is merely a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0303] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of these units may be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0304] In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0305] If the functions are implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes a number of instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to perform all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application.

[0306] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present application, but the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included in the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: For a first network device, the method comprises: receiving first indication information from a second network device, where the first indication information includes first reference information, where the first reference information is used to determine a first direction, where the first direction is a direction of a reference beam in a first beam cluster, where the beams in the first beam cluster satisfy a first beam relationship, and where the first beam relationship is used to indicate a positional relationship between beams in the first beam cluster; According to the first reference information, the reference beam in the first beam cluster is directed to the first direction.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first indication information further includes at least one beam identifier, where the beam identifier is used to indicate a beam in the first beam cluster. The method further includes: Data is sent and received via at least one beam in the first beam cluster.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The first beam cluster includes one beam, and the method further includes: Data is sent and received via one beam in the first beam cluster.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The first reference information is a reference beam direction, which is used to indicate the first direction, or the first reference information is a coordinate value corresponding to a first reference point, or the first reference information is the longitude and latitude corresponding to the first reference point, or the first reference information is the wave position corresponding to the first reference point.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that When the first reference information is the coordinate value, longitude and latitude or wave position corresponding to the first reference point, the first reference information also includes a first coverage range, the first coverage range is the signal coverage range of the first network device, and the first reference point is located at the center of the first coverage range.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that The first coverage area is circular, and the first coverage area is represented by a radius of the first coverage area.

7. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that In a case where the first reference information is a coordinate value, longitude and latitude, or beam position corresponding to the first reference point, directing the reference beam in the first beam cluster to the first direction according to the first reference information includes: The reference beam is directed toward the first reference point.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that The first reference information in the first indication information is represented by a first index number, and there is a mapping relationship between the first index number and the first reference information.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that The first indication information also includes a first beam cluster identifier, and there is a mapping relationship between the first beam cluster identifier and the first beam relationship.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that The first beam relationship includes the number of beams in the first beam cluster, the beam width, and the positional relationship between the beams.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that The method further comprises: Send first capability information to the second network device, where the first capability information includes at least one of the following: the maximum number of beams included in the beam cluster of the first network device, the number of array elements included in the antenna array of the first network device, the beam pointing range of the antenna array, the number of beam clusters that the first network device can send or support, the maximum number of beams that the first network device can transmit simultaneously, and physical characteristics corresponding to each beam in the beam cluster of the first network device, wherein the physical characteristics include beam pointing and beam width.

12. A communication method, characterized in that: For a second network device, the method comprises: Determine first indication information, where the first indication information includes first reference information, where the first reference information is used to determine a first direction, where the first direction is a direction of a reference beam in a first beam cluster, where the beams in the first beam cluster satisfy a first beam relationship, and where the first beam relationship is used to indicate a positional relationship between beams in the first beam cluster; The first indication information is sent to the first network device.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The first indication information further includes at least one beam identifier, where the beam identifier is used to indicate a beam in the first beam cluster, and the first indication information is used to indicate that data is sent and received through at least one beam in the first beam cluster.

14. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The first beam cluster includes one beam, and the first indication information is used to indicate that data is sent and received through one beam in the first beam cluster.

15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that The first reference information is a reference beam direction, which is used to indicate the first direction, or the first reference information is a coordinate value corresponding to a first reference point, or the first reference information is the longitude and latitude corresponding to the first reference point, or the first reference information is the wave position corresponding to the first reference point.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that When the first reference information is the coordinate value, longitude and latitude or wave position corresponding to the first reference point, the first reference information also includes a first coverage range, the first coverage range is the signal coverage range of the first network device, and the first reference point is located at the center of the first coverage range.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that The first coverage area is circular, and the first coverage area is represented by a radius of the first coverage area.

18. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 17, characterized in that The first reference information in the first indication information is represented by a first index number, and there is a mapping relationship between the first index number and the first reference information.

19. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 18, characterized in that The first indication information also includes a first beam cluster identifier, and there is a mapping relationship between the first beam cluster identifier and the first beam relationship.

20. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 19, characterized in that The first beam relationship includes the number of beams in the first beam cluster, the beam width, and the positional relationship between the beams.

21. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 20, characterized in that The method further comprises: receiving first capability information from the first network device, the first capability information including at least one of the following: a maximum number of beams included in a beam cluster of the first network device, a number of array elements included in an antenna array of the first network device, a beam pointing range of the antenna array, a number of beam clusters that the first network device can send or support, a maximum number of beams that the first network device can simultaneously transmit, and a physical feature corresponding to each beam in a beam cluster of the first network device, the physical feature including a beam pointing and a beam width, wherein determining the first indication information includes: The first indication information is determined according to the first capability information, and the first indication information is consistent with the first capability information.

22. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that The first network device communicates with a third network device through the first beam cluster, and the determining the first indication information includes: determining, according to the position of the third network device, a coordinate value corresponding to the first reference point, a longitude and latitude corresponding to the first reference point, a wave position corresponding to the first reference point, or a first coverage range corresponding to the first reference point; or The first direction is determined according to a spatial angle between the third network device and the first network device.

23. A communication device, characterized in that: For a first network device, the apparatus comprises: a receiving unit, configured to receive first indication information from a second network device, the first indication information including first reference information, the first reference information being used to determine a first direction, the first direction being an orientation of a reference beam in a first beam cluster, the beams in the first beam cluster satisfying a first beam relationship, the first beam relationship being used to indicate a positional relationship between beams in the first beam cluster; An operating unit is configured to point the reference beam in the first beam cluster to the first direction according to the first reference information.

24. The device according to claim 23, characterized in that The first indication information further includes at least one beam identifier, where the beam identifier is used to indicate a beam in the first beam cluster, and the operation unit is further used to: Data is sent and received via at least one beam in the first beam cluster.

25. The device according to claim 23, characterized in that The first beam cluster includes one beam, and the operating unit is further used for: Data is sent and received via one beam in the first beam cluster.

26. The device according to any one of claims 23 to 25, characterized in that The first reference information is a reference beam direction, which is used to indicate the first direction, or the first reference information is a coordinate value corresponding to a first reference point, or the first reference information is the longitude and latitude corresponding to the first reference point, or the first reference information is the wave position corresponding to the first reference point.

27. The device according to claim 26, characterized in that When the first reference information is the coordinate value, longitude and latitude or wave position corresponding to the first reference point, the first reference information also includes a first coverage range, the first coverage range is the signal coverage range of the first network device, and the first reference point is located at the center of the first coverage range.

28. The device according to claim 27, characterized in that The first coverage area is circular, and the first coverage area is represented by a radius of the first coverage area.

29. The device according to any one of claims 26 to 28, characterized in that In a case where the first reference information is a coordinate value, longitude and latitude, or wave position corresponding to the first reference point, the operating unit is specifically configured to: The reference beam is directed toward the first reference point.

30. The device according to any one of claims 23 to 29, characterized in that The first reference information in the first indication information is represented by a first index number, and there is a mapping relationship between the first index number and the first reference information.

31. The device according to any one of claims 23 to 30, characterized in that The first indication information also includes a first beam cluster identifier, and there is a mapping relationship between the first beam cluster identifier and the first beam relationship.

32. The device according to any one of claims 23 to 31, characterized in that The first beam relationship includes the number of beams in the first beam cluster, the beam width, and the positional relationship between the beams.

33. The device according to any one of claims 23 to 32, characterized in that The device also includes: A sending unit is used to send first capability information to the second network device, where the first capability information includes at least one of the following: the maximum number of beams included in the beam cluster of the first network device, the number of array elements included in the antenna array of the first network device, the beam pointing range of the antenna array, the number of beam clusters that the first network device can send or support, the maximum number of beams that the first network device can transmit simultaneously, and physical characteristics corresponding to each beam in the beam cluster of the first network device, wherein the physical characteristics include beam pointing and beam width.

34. A communication device, characterized in that: For a second network device, the apparatus comprises: a determining unit, configured to determine first indication information, where the first indication information includes first reference information, where the first reference information is used to determine a first direction, where the first direction is a direction of a reference beam in a first beam cluster, where the beams in the first beam cluster satisfy a first beam relationship, and where the first beam relationship is used to indicate a positional relationship between beams in the first beam cluster; A sending unit is used to send the first indication information to the first network device.

35. The device according to claim 34, characterized in that The first indication information further includes at least one beam identifier, where the beam identifier is used to indicate a beam in the first beam cluster, and the first indication information is used to indicate that data is sent and received through at least one beam in the first beam cluster.

36. The device according to claim 34, characterized in that The first beam cluster includes one beam, and the first indication information is used to indicate that data is sent and received through one beam in the first beam cluster.

37. The device according to any one of claims 34 to 36, characterized in that The first reference information is a reference beam direction, which is used to indicate the first direction, or the first reference information is a coordinate value corresponding to a first reference point, or the first reference information is the longitude and latitude corresponding to the first reference point, or the first reference information is the wave position corresponding to the first reference point.

38. The device according to claim 37, characterized in that When the first reference information is the coordinate value, longitude and latitude or wave position corresponding to the first reference point, the first reference information also includes a first coverage range, the first coverage range is the signal coverage range of the first network device, and the first reference point is located at the center of the first coverage range.

39. The device according to claim 38, characterized in that The first coverage area is circular, and the first coverage area is represented by a radius of the first coverage area.

40. The device according to any one of claims 34 to 39, characterized in that The first reference information in the first indication information is represented by a first index number, and there is a mapping relationship between the first index number and the first reference information.

41. The device according to any one of claims 34 to 40, characterized in that The first indication information also includes a first beam cluster identifier, and there is a mapping relationship between the first beam cluster identifier and the first beam relationship.

42. The device according to any one of claims 34 to 41, characterized in that The first beam relationship includes the number of beams in the first beam cluster, the beam width, and the positional relationship between the beams.

43. The device according to any one of claims 34 to 42, characterized in that The device also includes: a receiving unit, configured to receive first capability information from the first network device, where the first capability information includes at least one of the following: a maximum number of beams included in a beam cluster of the first network device, a number of array elements included in an antenna array of the first network device, a beam pointing range of the antenna array, a number of beam clusters that the first network device can send or support, a maximum number of beams that the first network device can simultaneously transmit, and a physical feature corresponding to each beam in a beam cluster of the first network device, where the physical feature includes a beam pointing and a beam width; The determining unit is specifically configured to determine the first indication information according to the first capability information, wherein the first indication information is consistent with the first capability information.

44. The device according to any one of claims 37 to 39, characterized in that The first network device communicates with a third network device through the first beam cluster, and the determining unit is specifically configured to: determining, according to the position of the third network device, a coordinate value corresponding to the first reference point, a longitude and latitude corresponding to the first reference point, a wave position corresponding to the first reference point, or a first coverage range corresponding to the first reference point; or The first direction is determined according to a spatial angle between the third network device and the first network device.

45. A communication device, characterized in that: include: Memory, for storing computer instructions; A processor, configured to execute computer instructions stored in the memory so that the apparatus performs the method according to any one of claims 1 to 22.

46. ​​A chip, characterized in that: Comprising a processor for executing the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 22.

47. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that The computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions, and when the instructions are executed on a computer, the device executes the method according to any one of claims 1 to 22.

48. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product comprises a computer program or instructions, and when the computer program or instructions are executed by a computer, the device performs the method according to any one of claims 1 to 22.

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