Relay timing method, apparatus and system

Abstract

Provided in the embodiments of the present application are a relay timing method, apparatus and system, which are used for a network device to perform timing on a remote UE. The method comprises: receiving a first timing message, wherein the first timing message comprises first time information for time synchronization; and sending a second timing message, wherein the second timing message comprises the first time information, or the second timing message comprises second time information for time synchronization, and a time indicated by the second time information differs from a time indicated by the first time information by a first offset value.

Description

Relay timing method, device and system

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office on December 19, 2023, with application number 202311762363.4 and application name “Relay Timing 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 communication technology, and in particular to a relay timing method, device, and system. Background Art

[0003] Timing, also known as absolute time synchronization, keeps the clocks of devices in a communication system consistent.

[0004] Currently, fifth-generation (5G) communication systems only support air interface timing services over the air interface (hereinafter referred to as the "air interface"). Specifically, assuming that user equipment (UE) establishes a direct wireless connection (hereinafter referred to as a "direct connection") with radio access network (RAN) equipment via the air interface, the RAN equipment can provide timing for the UE.

[0005] However, when a remote UE indirectly establishes a wireless connection with a RAN device through one or more relay UEs, the RAN device can only perform timing synchronization on the relay UEs directly connected to it, but cannot perform timing synchronization on the remote UE. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The embodiments of the present application provide a relay timing method, apparatus, and system for enabling a network device to provide timing to a remote UE.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the embodiments of the present application adopt the following technical solutions:

[0008] In a first aspect, a relay timing method is provided. An apparatus for executing the relay timing method may be a first terminal device, or may be a module implemented in the first terminal device, such as a chip or chip system. The relay timing method includes: receiving a first timing message, the first timing message including first time information for time synchronization; and sending a second timing message, the second timing message including the first time information, or the second timing message including second time information for time synchronization, the time indicated by the second time information differing from the time indicated by the first time information by a first offset value.

[0009] In the relay timing method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the first terminal device acts as a relay terminal device and can forward the received first timing message. The first timing message is called the second timing message after being forwarded by the first terminal device. In one case, the second timing message may include the same time information as the first timing message, that is, the first time information; in another case, the time indicated by the second time information included in the second timing message differs from the time indicated by the first time information included in the first timing message by a first offset value. The embodiment of the present application provides a process for a relay terminal device to forward a received timing message, and therefore, it can be applied to a scenario in which a network device performs timing on a remote terminal device.

[0010] In combination with the first aspect above, in a possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving indication information, the indication information being used to indicate that the second timing message includes the first time information, or the indication information being used to indicate that the second timing message includes the second time information. In this solution, the time synchronization network element can indicate the content contained in the second timing message, that is, the time synchronization network element can configure the manner in which the first terminal device processes the received first timing message. In addition, whether the second timing message includes the first time information or the second time information can also be pre-set.

[0011] In combination with the first aspect above, in a possible implementation, the method further includes: sending a first message to a second terminal device; wherein the second terminal device is the next-hop device of the first terminal device in the downlink direction, and the first message includes third time information. In the case where the second timing message includes the first time information, the third time information and the first time information are used for time synchronization between the second terminal device and the network device, or, in the case where the second timing message includes the second time information, the third time information and the second time information are used for time synchronization between the second terminal device and the network device. Different from the delay compensation information in the air interface timing service process, the first message in this scheme can be, for example, a relay timing compensation message. The third time information in this scheme can be used to compensate for the time information included in the second timing message.

[0012] In conjunction with the first aspect above, in one possible implementation, the third time information includes at least one of the first propagation delay compensation PDC value, the second offset value, or the second PDC value; or, the third time information includes the sum of at least one of the first PDC value, the second offset value, or the second PDC value; wherein the first PDC value is the PDC value between the first terminal device and the second terminal device, the second offset value is the difference between the time when the first terminal device sends the second timing message and the time when the first terminal device receives the first timing message, and the second PDC value is the PDC value between the first terminal device and the access network device. In this solution, when the third time information includes the first PDC value and / or the second PDC value, the second terminal device can update the error budget value for receiving the timing service included in the second configuration information, the third configuration information, or the fourth configuration information based on the first PDC value and / or the second PDC value. Furthermore, the second terminal device can also determine a method for measuring the PDC value between the second terminal device and the next hop device of the second terminal device in the downlink direction based on the updated error budget value for receiving the timing service.

[0013] In conjunction with the first aspect described above, in one possible implementation, the first offset value is the sum of a third offset value and a fourth offset value; wherein the third offset value is the offset value between a radio frame sent by the first terminal device and a first radio frame received by the first terminal device after sending the radio frame, and the fourth offset value is the offset value between a frame containing the second timing message and a frame containing the first timing message. In this solution, the sum of the third offset value and the fourth offset value can be regarded as the second offset value.

[0014] With reference to the foregoing first aspect, in a possible implementation, the first offset value is the second PDC value.

[0015] With reference to the foregoing first aspect, in a possible implementation, the first offset value is the first PDC value.

[0016] In conjunction with the first aspect above, in one possible implementation, the second time information includes a reference system frame number (SFN) corresponding to the second timing message. In this solution, the SFN corresponding to the second timing message and the time indicated by the second time information can be derived from each other, thereby facilitating verification of the correctness of the time indicated by the second time information.

[0017] In combination with the first aspect above, in a possible implementation method, the indication information is included in the first configuration information of the first terminal device, and the first configuration information is used to configure the first terminal device to provide a relay timing service for the second terminal device or the remote terminal device, the second terminal device is the next hop device of the first terminal device in the downlink direction, and the remote terminal device is connected to the network device through the first terminal device. In this solution, the first terminal device can serve as a relay terminal device. Different from the timing service configuration information in the air interface timing service process or the air interface timing service configuration information, the first configuration information can be, for example, relay timing service configuration information.

[0018] In conjunction with the first aspect above, in one possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving and sending a third timing message, where the third timing message is a timing message based on at least one of the Precision Time Protocol (PTP), the General Precision Time Protocol (gPTP), or the Network Timing Protocol (NTP). In this solution, the network device can transmit the third timing message to the remote terminal device, so that the solution can be applied to scenarios using (g)PTP relay timing or NTP relay timing.

[0019] In a second aspect, a relay timing method is provided, and the device for executing the relay timing method may be a time synchronization network element, or may be a module applied to the time synchronization network element, such as a chip or a chip system. The relay timing method includes: generating indication information, the indication information is used to indicate that the second timing message sent by the first terminal device includes the first time information used for time synchronization, or the indication information is used to indicate that the second timing message includes the second time information used for time synchronization, and the time indicated by the second time information differs from the time indicated by the first time information by a first offset value; and sending the indication information to the first terminal device. In this solution, the time synchronization network element can indicate the content contained in the second timing message, that is, the time synchronization network element can configure the way in which the first terminal device processes the received first timing message.

[0020] In combination with the above-mentioned second aspect, in a possible implementation method, the indication information is included in the first configuration information of the first terminal device, and the first configuration information is used to configure the first terminal device to provide a relay timing service for the second terminal device or the remote terminal device, the second terminal device is the next-hop device of the first terminal device in the downlink direction, and the remote terminal device is connected to the network device through the first terminal device. In this solution, the first terminal device can serve as a relay terminal device. Different from the timing service configuration information in the air interface timing service process or the air interface timing service configuration information, the first configuration information can be, for example, relay timing service configuration information.

[0021] In conjunction with the second aspect above, in one possible implementation, the method further includes: generating second configuration information for the first terminal device, the second configuration information being generated based on the third configuration information of the remote terminal device and the fourth configuration information of the first terminal device, or the second configuration information being generated based on the third configuration information of the remote terminal device; wherein the remote terminal device is connected to the network device via the first terminal device, the second configuration information and the fourth configuration information include parameters for the first terminal device to accept timing services; the third configuration information includes parameters for the remote terminal device to accept timing services; and sending the second configuration information. In this solution, the time synchronization network element can select a method for generating the second configuration information based on whether the first terminal device has permission to accept timing services.

[0022] In conjunction with the second aspect above, in one possible implementation, the second configuration information is generated based on the third configuration information, and the parameters included in the second configuration information are the same as the parameters included in the third configuration information. In this solution, when the first terminal device does not have permission to receive timing services, the parameters included in the second configuration information generated by the time synchronization unit for the first terminal device may be the same as the parameters included in the third configuration information.

[0023] In combination with the above-mentioned second aspect, in a possible implementation method, the second configuration information is generated based on the third configuration information and the fourth configuration information, and the parameters included in the second configuration information satisfy at least one of the following items: the time period for the first terminal device included in the second configuration information to receive the timing service is the intersection or union of the time period for the first terminal device included in the fourth configuration information to receive the timing service and the time period for the remote terminal device included in the third configuration information to receive the timing service; the area for the first terminal device included in the second configuration information to receive the timing service is the intersection or union of the area for the first terminal device included in the fourth configuration information to receive the timing service and the area for the remote terminal device included in the third configuration information to receive the timing service; the error budget value for the timing service received by the first terminal device included in the second configuration information is the smaller or larger value of the error budget value for the first terminal device to receive the timing service included in the fourth configuration information and the error budget value for the remote terminal device to receive the timing service included in the third configuration information. In this solution, when the first terminal device has the authority to receive the timing service, the time synchronization unit may update the fourth configuration information of the first terminal device to the second configuration information according to the third configuration information.

[0024] In a third aspect, a relay timing method is provided. The apparatus executing the relay timing method may be a remote terminal device, or may be a module implemented in the remote terminal device, such as a chip or chip system. The relay timing method includes: receiving a second timing message, the second timing message including first time information for synchronization, or the second timing message including second time information for time synchronization, the time indicated by the second time information differing from the time indicated by the first time information by a first offset value; and adjusting the system time of the remote terminal device according to the time information in the second timing message.

[0025] In combination with the above-mentioned third aspect, in a possible implementation, the method also includes: receiving a first message, the first message including third time information; when the second timing message includes the first time information, the third time information and the first time information are used for time synchronization between the remote terminal device and the network device, or, when the second timing message includes the second time information, the third time information and the second time information are used for time synchronization between the remote terminal device and the network device; adjusting the system time of the remote terminal device according to the time information in the second timing message includes: using the sum of the time indicated by the time information in the second timing message and the time indicated by the third time information as the system time of the remote terminal device.

[0026] In conjunction with the third aspect above, in one possible implementation, the sum of the time indicated by the time information in the second timing message and the time indicated by the third time information is used as the system time of the remote terminal device, including: using the sum of the time indicated by the time information in the second timing message, the first PDC value, and the time indicated by the third time information as the system time of the remote terminal device; wherein the first PDC value is the PDC value between the first terminal device and the remote terminal device. In this solution, the first PDC value is generated by the remote terminal device (or the second terminal device) and is compensated on the remote terminal device (or the second terminal device) side.

[0027] In combination with the above-mentioned third aspect, in a possible implementation method, the third time information includes at least one of the first propagation delay compensation PDC value, the second offset value or the second PDC value; or, the third time information includes the sum of the first PDC value, the second offset value or at least one of the second PDC value; wherein, the first PDC value is the PDC value between the first terminal device and the second terminal device, the second offset value is the difference between the time when the first terminal device sends the second timing message and the time when the first terminal device receives the first timing message, and the second PDC value is the PDC value between the first terminal device and the access network device.

[0028] In combination with the above-mentioned third aspect, in a possible implementation method, the first offset value is the sum of the third offset value and the fourth offset value; wherein, the third offset value is the offset value between the wireless frame sent by the first terminal device and the first wireless frame received after the first terminal device sends the wireless frame, and the fourth offset value is the offset value between the frame where the second timing message is located and the frame where the first timing message is located.

[0029] With reference to the third aspect above, in a possible implementation, the first offset value is the second PDC value.

[0030] With reference to the third aspect above, in a possible implementation, the first offset value is the first PDC value.

[0031] In combination with the third aspect above, in a possible implementation manner, the second time information includes a reference system frame number SFN corresponding to the second timing message.

[0032] In combination with the above-mentioned third aspect, in a possible implementation, the method also includes: receiving a third timing message, which is a timing message based on at least one of the Precision Time Protocol PTP, the General Precision Time Protocol gPTP, or the Network Timing Protocol NTP.

[0033] Among them, the technical effects brought about by any possible implementation method of the third aspect can be referred to the technical effects brought about by the above-mentioned first aspect or different implementation methods of the first aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0034] In a fourth aspect, a communication device is provided for implementing the above method. The communication device includes modules, units, or means corresponding to the above method. The modules, units, or means can be implemented in hardware, software, or by hardware executing corresponding software implementations. The hardware or software includes one or more modules or units corresponding to the above functions.

[0035] In conjunction with the fourth aspect above, in one possible implementation, the communication device includes: a sending module and a receiving module. The receiving module is configured to receive a first timing message, the first timing message including first time information used for time synchronization; and the sending module is configured to send a second timing message, the second timing message including the first time information, or the second timing message including second time information used for time synchronization, the time indicated by the second time information differing from the time indicated by the first time information by a first offset value.

[0036] In combination with the above-mentioned fourth aspect, in a possible implementation method, the receiving module is also used to receive indication information, which is used to indicate that the second timing message includes the first time information, or the indication information is used to indicate that the second timing message includes the second time information.

[0037] In combination with the above-mentioned fourth aspect, in a possible implementation method, the sending module is also used to send a first message to a second terminal device; wherein, the second terminal device is the next-hop device of the communication device in the downlink direction, and the first message includes third time information. When the second timing message includes the first time information, the third time information and the first time information are used for time synchronization between the second terminal device and the network device, or, when the second timing message includes the second time information, the third time information and the second time information are used for time synchronization between the second terminal device and the network device.

[0038] In combination with the above-mentioned fourth aspect, in a possible implementation method, the third time information includes at least one of the first propagation delay compensation PDC value, the second offset value or the second PDC value; or, the third time information includes the sum of the first PDC value, the second offset value or at least one of the second PDC value; wherein, the first PDC value is the PDC value between the communication device and the second terminal device, the second offset value is the difference between the time when the communication device sends the second timing message and the time when the communication device receives the first timing message, and the second PDC value is the PDC value between the communication device and the access network device.

[0039] In combination with the above-mentioned fourth aspect, in a possible implementation method, the first offset value is the sum of the third offset value and the fourth offset value; wherein, the third offset value is the offset value between the wireless frame sent by the communication device and the first wireless frame received after the communication device sends the wireless frame, and the fourth offset value is the offset value between the frame where the second timing message is located and the frame where the first timing message is located.

[0040] With reference to the fourth aspect above, in a possible implementation, the first offset value is the second PDC value.

[0041] With reference to the fourth aspect above, in a possible implementation, the first offset value is the first PDC value.

[0042] In combination with the fourth aspect above, in a possible implementation manner, the second time information includes a reference system frame number SFN corresponding to the second timing message.

[0043] In combination with the above-mentioned fourth aspect, in a possible implementation method, the indication information is included in the first configuration information of the communication device, and the first configuration information is used to configure the communication device to provide relay timing service for the second terminal device or the remote terminal device. The second terminal device is the next-hop device of the communication device in the downlink direction, and the remote terminal device is connected to the network device through the communication device.

[0044] In combination with the above-mentioned fourth aspect, in a possible implementation method, the receiving module is also used to receive a third timing message; the sending module is also used to send the third timing message; the third timing message is a timing message based on at least one of the Precision Time Protocol PTP, the General Precision Time Protocol gPTP, or the Network Timing Protocol NTP.

[0045] Among them, the technical effects brought about by any possible implementation method of the fourth aspect can be referred to the technical effects brought about by the above-mentioned first aspect or different implementation methods of the first aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0046] In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided for implementing the above method. The communication device includes modules, units, or means corresponding to the above method. The modules, units, or means can be implemented in hardware, software, or by hardware executing corresponding software implementations. The hardware or software includes one or more modules or units corresponding to the above functions.

[0047] In conjunction with the fifth aspect above, in one possible implementation, the communication device includes: a generating module and a sending module. The generating module is configured to generate indication information, the indication information being configured to indicate that a second timing message sent by a first terminal device includes first time information used for time synchronization, or the indication information being configured to indicate that the second timing message includes second time information used for time synchronization, and the time indicated by the second time information differs from the time indicated by the first time information by a first offset value; and the sending module is configured to send the indication information to the first terminal device.

[0048] In combination with the above-mentioned fifth aspect, in a possible implementation method, the indication information is included in the first configuration information of the first terminal device, and the first configuration information is used to configure the first terminal device to provide relay timing service for the second terminal device or the remote terminal device. The second terminal device is the next-hop device of the first terminal device in the downlink direction, and the remote terminal device is connected to the network device through the first terminal device.

[0049] In combination with the above-mentioned fifth aspect, in a possible implementation method, the generation module is also used to generate second configuration information of the first terminal device, and the second configuration information is generated based on the third configuration information of the remote terminal device and the fourth configuration information of the first terminal device, or the second configuration information is generated based on the third configuration information of the remote terminal device; wherein, the remote terminal device is connected to the network device through the first terminal device, the second configuration information and the fourth configuration information include parameters for the first terminal device to accept timing services; the third configuration information includes parameters for the remote terminal device to accept timing services; the sending module is also used to send the second configuration information.

[0050] In combination with the fifth aspect above, in a possible implementation manner, the second configuration information is generated based on the third configuration information, and the parameters included in the second configuration information are the same as the parameters included in the third configuration information.

[0051] In combination with the above-mentioned fifth aspect, in a possible implementation method, the second configuration information is generated based on the third configuration information and the fourth configuration information, and the parameters included in the second configuration information satisfy at least one of the following: the time period for the first terminal device included in the second configuration information to receive the timing service is the intersection or union of the time period for the first terminal device included in the fourth configuration information to receive the timing service and the time period for the remote terminal device included in the third configuration information to receive the timing service; the area for the first terminal device included in the second configuration information to receive the timing service is the intersection or union of the area for the first terminal device included in the fourth configuration information to receive the timing service and the area for the remote terminal device included in the third configuration information to receive the timing service; the error budget value for the timing service received by the first terminal device included in the second configuration information is the smaller or larger value of the error budget value for the first terminal device to receive the timing service included in the fourth configuration information and the error budget value for the remote terminal device to receive the timing service included in the third configuration information.

[0052] Among them, the technical effects brought about by any possible implementation method of the fifth aspect can be referred to the technical effects brought about by the above-mentioned second aspect or different implementation methods of the second aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0053] In a sixth aspect, a communication device is provided for implementing the above method. The communication device includes modules, units, or means corresponding to the above method. The modules, units, or means can be implemented in hardware, software, or by hardware executing corresponding software implementations. The hardware or software includes one or more modules or units corresponding to the above functions.

[0054] In conjunction with the sixth aspect, in one possible implementation, the communication device includes: a system time adjustment module and a receiving module. The receiving module is configured to receive a second timing message, the second timing message including first time information for synchronization, or the second timing message including second time information for time synchronization, the time indicated by the second time information differing from the time indicated by the first time information by a first offset value; and the system time adjustment module is configured to adjust the system time of the communication device according to the time information in the second timing message.

[0055] In combination with the above-mentioned sixth aspect, in a possible implementation method, the receiving module is also used to receive a first message, which includes third time information; when the second timing message includes the first time information, the third time information and the first time information are used for time synchronization between the communication device and the network device, or, when the second timing message includes the second time information, the third time information and the second time information are used for time synchronization between the communication device and the network device; the system time adjustment module is specifically used to use the sum of the time indicated by the time information in the second timing message and the time indicated by the third time information as the system time of the communication device.

[0056] In combination with the above-mentioned sixth aspect, in a possible implementation method, the system time adjustment module is specifically used to use the sum of the time indicated by the time information in the second timing message, the first PDC value and the time indicated by the third time information as the system time of the communication device; wherein, the first PDC value is the PDC value between the first terminal device and the communication device.

[0057] In combination with the above-mentioned sixth aspect, in a possible implementation method, the third time information includes at least one of the first propagation delay compensation PDC value, the second offset value or the second PDC value; or, the third time information includes the sum of the first PDC value, the second offset value or at least one of the second PDC value; wherein, the first PDC value is the PDC value between the first terminal device and the remote device, the second offset value is the difference between the time when the first terminal device sends the second timing message and the time when the first terminal device receives the first timing message, and the second PDC value is the PDC value between the first terminal device and the access network device.

[0058] In combination with the above-mentioned sixth aspect, in a possible implementation method, the first offset value is the sum of the third offset value and the fourth offset value; wherein, the third offset value is the offset value between the wireless frame sent by the first terminal device and the first wireless frame received after the first terminal device sends the wireless frame, and the fourth offset value is the offset value between the frame where the second timing message is located and the frame where the first timing message is located.

[0059] With reference to the sixth aspect above, in a possible implementation, the first offset value is the second PDC value.

[0060] With reference to the sixth aspect above, in a possible implementation, the first offset value is the first PDC value.

[0061] In combination with the sixth aspect above, in a possible implementation manner, the second time information includes a reference system frame number SFN corresponding to the second timing message.

[0062] In combination with the above-mentioned sixth aspect, in a possible implementation method, the receiving module is also used to receive a third timing message, which is a timing message based on at least one of the Precision Time Protocol PTP, the General Precision Time Protocol gPTP, or the Network Timing Protocol NTP.

[0063] Among them, the technical effects brought about by any possible implementation method of the sixth aspect can be referred to the technical effects brought about by the above-mentioned first aspect or different implementation methods of the first aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0064] In a seventh aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising: a processor; the processor is used to couple with a memory, and after reading the computer instructions stored in the memory, execute the method described in the first aspect, the second aspect or the third aspect according to the instructions.

[0065] In combination with the seventh aspect above, in a possible implementation, the communication device further includes a memory; the memory is used to store computer instructions.

[0066] In conjunction with the seventh aspect above, in one possible implementation, the communication device further includes a communication interface; the communication interface is used for the communication device to communicate with other devices. Exemplarily, the communication interface can be a transceiver, an input / output interface, an interface circuit, an output circuit, an input circuit, a pin, or related circuits.

[0067] In conjunction with the seventh aspect above, in one possible implementation, the communication device may be a chip or a chip system. When the communication device is a chip system, the communication device may be composed of a chip or may include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0068] In conjunction with the seventh aspect, in one possible implementation, when the communication device is a chip or a chip system, the communication interface may be an input / output interface, an interface circuit, an output circuit, an input circuit, a pin, or related circuits on the chip or chip system. The processor may also be embodied as a processing circuit or a logic circuit.

[0069] In an eighth aspect, a communication system is provided, comprising: a first terminal device that executes the method described in the first aspect, a time synchronization network element that executes the method described in the second aspect, and a remote terminal device that executes the method described in the third aspect.

[0070] In a ninth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, wherein instructions are stored in the computer-readable storage medium. When the computer-readable storage medium is run on a computer, the computer can execute the method described in the first, second or third aspect above.

[0071] In a tenth aspect, a computer program product comprising instructions is provided, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method described in any one of the first, second or third aspects above.

[0072] Among them, the technical effects brought about by any possible implementation method of the seventh to tenth aspects can be referred to the technical effects brought about by the different implementation methods of the above-mentioned first or second aspects, and will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0073] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the current ProSe communication architecture;

[0074] Figure 2 is a flow chart of the current air interface timing service;

[0075] Figure 3 is a second flow chart of the current air interface timing service;

[0076] Figure 4 is a flowchart of the current air interface timing service;

[0077] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of the communication system provided by this application;

[0078] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a 5G network provided in this application;

[0079] FIG7 is a structural diagram of a communication device provided by the present application;

[0080] FIG8 is a schematic diagram of a flow chart of a relay timing method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0081] FIG9 is a flowchart of a specific example of a relay timing method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0082] FIG10 is a second flow chart of a specific example of the relay timing method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0083] FIG11 is a flowchart diagram of a specific example of the relay timing method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0084] FIG12 is a second structural diagram of the communication device provided by this application;

[0085] FIG13 is a third structural diagram of the communication device provided by this application;

[0086] FIG14 is a fourth structural diagram of the communication device provided in this application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0087] In order to facilitate understanding of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, a brief introduction to the relevant technologies or terms of the present application is first given as follows.

[0088] First, proximity service (ProSe) communication.

[0089] In ProSe communication, UEs can communicate directly with each other through the proximity communications 5 (PC5) interface, so that a UE can communicate or access the network with the help of one or more other UEs when there is no wireless network coverage. For example, Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the ProSe communication architecture. When the remote UE cannot connect directly to the RAN device, it can establish a connection with the RAN device through relay UE1 and relay UE2 to access the network. Specifically, the remote UE, relay UE1 and relay UE2 can discover each other through the relay service code (RSC) that the remote UE needs to use. Afterwards, a wireless connection can be established between the remote UE and relay UE1, and between relay UE1 and relay UE2 through the PC5 interface, and a wireless connection can be established between relay UE2 and the RAN device through the air interface. Relay UE1 and relay UE2 can forward signals or data for the remote UE, so that the remote UE can indirectly access the network. Currently, ProSe communication can be applied to 5G communication systems.

[0090] Second, the configuration process of the air interface timing service.

[0091] Timing is one of the basic requirements for applying 5G communication systems in vertical industry scenarios including the Industrial Internet. Currently, the 5G communication protocol stipulates that air interface timing services are only provided on the air interface. The specific configuration process mainly includes the following steps:

[0092] Step 1: The application function (AF) may request the time sensitive communication time synchronization function (TSCTSF) network element to provide the air interface timing service for the UE through the network exposure function (NEF).

[0093] Step 2: The TSCTSF network element can verify whether it can provide air interface timing service for the UE based on the request of the AF and the subscription information of the UE.

[0094] Step 3: Based on the verification result, the TSCTSF network element can update the access and mobility management (AM) policy associated with the UE through the policy control function (PCF) network element and send the UE's AM policy to the RAN device. The UE's AM policy includes activation, modification, or deactivation of the timing service.

[0095] Step 4: The RAN device can provide the UE with corresponding air interface timing service according to the UE AM policy provided by the TSCTSF network element.

[0096] Third, the process of air-interface timing service.

[0097] For example, FIG2 shows a flow chart of an air interface timing service, comprising the following steps:

[0098] Step S201: When a wireless connection is established between a UE and a RAN device, the RAN device may send timing advance information to the UE. Correspondingly, the UE may receive the timing advance information from the RAN device to achieve uplink synchronization.

[0099] The uplink synchronization in step S201 means that the time at which data sent by different UEs to the RAN device arrives at the RAN device can be consistent. In order to distinguish it from the absolute time synchronization in the embodiment of the present application, uplink synchronization can also be called relative time synchronization.

[0100] The timing advance information in step S201 may be considered as a rough estimate of the uplink delay and / or the downlink delay.

[0101] After the wireless connection is established, the UE and RAN equipment can communicate through the established wireless connection. That is, the following steps can be performed:

[0102] Step S202: The UE may send an uplink physical layer signal, for example, a reference signal including an SRS, to the RAN device. Correspondingly, the RAN device may receive the uplink physical layer signal from the UE.

[0103] In step S203, the RAN device may send a downlink physical layer signal to the UE, for example, a reference signal including a tracking reference signal (TRS) and / or a positioning reference signal (PRS). Accordingly, the UE may receive the downlink physical layer signal from the RAN device.

[0104] The reference signal including the SRS in step S202 and the reference signal including the TRS and / or PRS in step S203 can be used by the UE to estimate the uplink delay and the downlink delay more accurately.

[0105] Step S204: The TSCTSF network element may send the UE's timing service configuration information to the RAN device. Accordingly, the RAN device may receive the UE's timing service configuration information from the TSCTSF network element. The UE's timing service configuration information may be forwarded by the PCF network element and the access and mobility management function (AMF) network element.

[0106] The UE's timing service configuration information can be used by the RAN device to select a method for performing a propagation delay compensation (PDC) process. In one possible implementation, the RAN device selects method 1, i.e., performs the following steps S205 to S207:

[0107] In step S205, the RAN device may generate delay compensation information and pre-compensate the delay compensation information in the absolute time to obtain the compensated absolute time. The delay compensation information may include the transmission delay of the radio resource control (RRC) timing message in step S206. Pre-compensation can be understood as summing the time in the delay compensation information with the absolute time.

[0108] Optionally, the RAN device may generate the delay compensation information through calculation or measurement.

[0109] In step S205, in other words, the PDC process may be performed by the RAN device. Specifically, the RAN device may add the time in the delay compensation information to the absolute time to obtain the compensated absolute time.

[0110] Step S206: The RAN device may send an RRC timing message to the UE. The RRC timing message may include the compensated absolute time. Correspondingly, the UE may receive the RRC timing message from the RAN device.

[0111] Optionally, the RRC timing message may also include other auxiliary information.

[0112] Step S207: The UE uses the compensated absolute time included in the RRC timing message as the system time, thereby ensuring that the system time of the UE and the RAN device are consistent.

[0113] For example, FIG3 shows a flowchart of another air interface timing service. The specific implementation of steps S201 to S204 can be referred to the embodiment shown in FIG2 and will not be repeated here. Unlike the embodiment shown in FIG2 , in the embodiment shown in FIG3 , the RAN device can select method 2 for executing the PDC process, i.e., executing the following steps S305 to S307:

[0114] Step S305: The RAN device may generate delay compensation information.

[0115] Optionally, the RAN device may generate the delay compensation information through calculation or measurement.

[0116] Step S306: The RAN device may send an RRC timing message to the UE. The RRC timing message may include absolute time and delay compensation information. Correspondingly, the UE may receive the RRC timing message from the RAN device.

[0117] Optionally, the RRC timing message may also include other auxiliary information.

[0118] Step S307: The UE may compensate the delay compensation information included in the RRC timing message for the absolute time included in the RRC timing message, and use the compensated absolute time as the system time.

[0119] In step S307, in other words, the PDC process can be performed by the UE, that is, the UE can perform the PDC process according to the RRC timing message. Specifically, the UE can add the time in the delay compensation information to the absolute time to obtain the compensated absolute time.

[0120] For example, FIG4 shows a flowchart of another air interface timing service. The specific implementation of steps S201 to S204 can be referred to the embodiment shown in FIG2 and will not be repeated here. Unlike the embodiments shown in FIG2 or FIG3 , in the embodiment shown in FIG4 , the RAN device can select method 3 for executing the PDC process, i.e., executing the following steps S405 and S406:

[0121] Step S405: The RAN device may send an RRC timing message to the UE. The RRC timing message may include absolute time. Correspondingly, the UE may receive the RRC timing message from the RAN device.

[0122] Optionally, the RRC timing message may also include other auxiliary information.

[0123] Step S406: The UE may generate delay compensation information, compensate the delay compensation information into the absolute time included in the RRC timing message, and use the compensated absolute time as the system time.

[0124] Optionally, the UE may generate the delay compensation information through calculation or measurement, or the UE may use the timing advance information as the delay compensation information.

[0125] In step S406, in other words, the PDC process can be performed by the UE, that is, the UE can perform the PDC process based on the delay compensation information and the RRC timing message. Specifically, the UE can add the time in the delay compensation information to the absolute time included in the RRC timing message to obtain the compensated absolute time.

[0126] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Among them, in the description of the present application, unless otherwise specified, " / " indicates that the objects associated before and after are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B can represent A or B; "and / or" in the present application is only a description of the association relationship of the associated objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. In addition, in the description of the present application, unless otherwise specified, "multiple" refers to two or more than two. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, c can be single or multiple. In addition, in order to facilitate the clear description of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, in the embodiments of the present application, words such as "first" and "second" are used to distinguish between identical or similar items with substantially the same functions and effects. Those skilled in the art will understand that words such as "first" and "second" do not limit the quantity and execution order, and words such as "first" and "second" do not necessarily limit differences. At the same time, in the embodiments of the present application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations or explanations. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of the present application should not be interpreted as being more preferred or more advantageous than other embodiments or design schemes. Specifically, the use of words such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present related concepts in a concrete way for easy understanding.

[0127] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as wireless mobile cellular network systems and ProSe communication systems. Among them, wireless mobile cellular network systems include fourth generation (4G) mobile communication systems, 5G communication systems and future communication systems, and ProSe communication systems include sidelink communication systems, vehicle to everything (V2X) communication systems, device to device (D2D) communication systems and vehicle network communication systems. The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to the process of ProSe layer 2 (Layer 2, L2) user to network (U2N) relay timing, user to user (U2U) timing or U2U relay timing.

[0128] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of the communication system 50 provided in this application. In Figure 5, the communication system 50 may include an access network device 502, a first terminal device 503 and a remote terminal device 505. Among them, the remote terminal device 505 can be connected to the access network device 502 through the first terminal device 503. The second terminal device 504 is the next-hop device of the first terminal device 503 in the downlink direction. In one possible implementation, the second terminal device 504 can be a remote terminal device 505, that is, the first terminal device 503 is directly connected to the remote terminal device 505, or the function of the second terminal device 504 can be the same as the function of the remote terminal device 505. In another possible implementation, the function of the second terminal device 504 can be the same as the function of the first terminal device 503. The first terminal device 503 can establish a wireless connection with the access network device 502 through other terminal devices (not shown in Figure 5), or the first terminal device 503 can be directly connected to the access network device 502. The remote terminal device 505 may establish a wireless connection with the second terminal device 504 through other terminal devices (not shown in FIG5 ), or the remote terminal device 505 may be directly connected to the second terminal device 504. Optionally, the communication system 50 may further include a time synchronization network element 501 .

[0129] In one possible implementation, the network device 501 is configured to send a first timing message including first time information for time synchronization to the first terminal device 503. Accordingly, the first terminal device 503 is configured to receive the first timing message from the network device 501.

[0130] When the second terminal device 504 is a remote terminal device 505, the first terminal device 503 is configured to send a second timing message to the remote terminal device 505. The second timing message includes the first time information, or the second timing message includes second time information for time synchronization, where the time indicated by the second time information differs from the time indicated by the first time information by a first offset value. Accordingly, the remote terminal device 505 is configured to receive the second timing message. The remote terminal device 505 is further configured to adjust the system time of the remote terminal device 505 based on the time information in the second timing message. The specific implementation and technical effects of this solution will be described in detail in subsequent method embodiments and are not further elaborated here.

[0131] In one possible implementation, the time synchronization network element 501 is used to generate indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate that the second timing message sent by the first terminal device 503 includes the first time information used for time synchronization, or the indication information is used to indicate that the second timing message includes the second time information used for time synchronization, and the time indicated by the second time information differs from the time indicated by the first time information by a first offset value. The time synchronization network element 501 is also used to send the indication information to the first terminal device 503. Accordingly, the first terminal device 503 is used to receive the indication information from the time synchronization network element 501. The specific implementation and technical effects of this solution will be described in detail in the subsequent method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0132] The first terminal device 503 or the second terminal device 504 in FIG. 5 may also be referred to as a relay terminal device.

[0133] Optionally, the above-mentioned communication system 50 can be applicable to the 5G network currently under discussion, and can also be applicable to other networks in the future, etc., and the embodiments of the present application do not make specific limitations on this.

[0134] Exemplarily, the communication system 50 is applicable to the 5G network shown in Figure 6. The 5G network may include: an access network (AN), a core network (CN), and may also include: a terminal.

[0135] The terminal may be one or more, such as a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, etc. A terminal may be a terminal with transceiver functions, or may be a chip or chip system provided in the terminal. The terminal may also be referred to as a UE, an access terminal, a subscriber unit (subscriber unit), a user station, a mobile station (MS), a mobile station, a remote station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a user terminal, a terminal, a wireless communication device, a user agent, or a user device. The terminal in the embodiments of the present application can be a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a tablet computer, a wireless data card, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless modem, a handheld device (handset), a laptop computer, a machine type communication (MTC) terminal, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal, an augmented reality (AR) terminal, a smart home device (for example, a refrigerator, a television, an air conditioner, an electric meter, etc.), an intelligent robot, a robotic arm, a workshop equipment, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self-driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical care, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in a smart city, a wireless terminal in a smart home, a vehicle-mounted terminal, a roadside unit with terminal function, or a wireless terminal in a smart city. The terminal device of the present application may also be an onboard module, onboard module, onboard component, onboard chip or onboard unit built into a vehicle as one or more components or units. The terminal device may also be other devices with terminal functions, for example, the terminal device may also be a device that functions as a terminal in D2D communication.

[0136] The embodiments of this application do not limit the device form factor of the terminal. The device used to implement the functions of the terminal device can be the terminal device; it can also be a device that supports the terminal device to implement the functions, such as a chip system. The device can be installed in the terminal device or used in conjunction with the terminal device. In the embodiments of this application, the chip system can be composed of chips or include chips and other discrete devices.

[0137] The AN is used to implement access-related functions, providing network access for authorized users in a specific area and determining transmission links of varying quality for user data transmission based on user level and service requirements. The AN forwards control signals and user data between the terminal and the CN. The AN may include access network equipment, also known as RAN equipment. The CN is primarily responsible for maintaining mobile network subscription data and providing terminal functions such as session management, mobility management, policy management, and security authentication. The CN primarily includes the following network elements: network slice selection function (NSSF), network exposure function (NEF), network repository function (NRF), PCF, unified data management (UDM), unified data repository (UDR), application function (AF), authentication server function (AUSF), AMF, session management function (SMF), user plane function (UPF), and TSCTSF. Among them, the TSCTSF network element supports related services for time synchronization of time-sensitive communications. Its main functions include: controlling time synchronization service requests from other network functional entities; providing time synchronization based on the precision time protocol (PTP) and time synchronization based on air interface timing to terminals or other network devices based on contract data; configuring parameters in the air interface timing process including timing service time period, area, and error budget; and monitoring the time synchronization status of network devices.

[0138] RAN equipment, that is, access network devices can be one or more. The access network device can be a device with wireless transceiver functions, or it can be a chip or chip system provided on the device, located in the access network (AN) of the communication system, to provide access services for the terminal. For example, the access network device can be called RAN equipment, which can specifically be the next generation mobile communication system, such as 6G access network equipment, such as a 6G base station, or in the next generation mobile communication system, the access network device can also have other naming methods, which are all covered within the scope of protection of the embodiments of this application, and this application does not impose any limitations on this. Alternatively, the access network device may include 5G, such as a gNB in ​​a new radio (NR) system, or one or a group of antenna panels (including multiple antenna panels) of a base station in 5G, or a network node constituting a gNB, a transmission and reception point (TRP or TP), or a transmission measurement function (TMF), such as a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), a radio unit (RU), an RSU with base station functions, a wired access gateway, or a 5G core network element. Alternatively, the access network device may include an access point (AP) in a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system, a wireless relay node, a wireless backhaul node, various types of macro base stations, micro base stations (also known as small cells), relay stations, access points, wearable devices, vehicle-mounted devices, and the like.

[0139] Among them, the CU and DU can be set separately, or can also be included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). The RU can be included in a radio frequency device or a radio frequency unit, such as a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna unit (AAU) or a remote radio head (RRH). It can be understood that the network device can be a CU node, a DU node, or a device including a CU node and a DU node. In addition, the CU can be divided into a network device in the access network RAN, or the CU can be divided into a network device in the core network CN, and there is no limitation here.

[0140] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU or RU may also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in the ORAN system, CU may also be called O-CU (Open CU), DU may also be called O-DU, CU-CP may also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP may also be called O-CU-UP, and RU may also be called O-RU. For the convenience of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU and RU as examples for description. Any unit of CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU and RU in this application can be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0141] In Figure 6, a terminal accesses the 5G network through a RAN node. The terminal communicates with the AMF network element through the N1 interface (N1 for short). The RAN node communicates with the AMF network element through the N2 interface (N2 for short) and with the UPF network element through the N3 interface (N3 for short). The SMF network element communicates with the UPF network element through the N4 interface (N4 for short), and the UPF network element accesses the data network (DN) through the N6 interface (N6 for short). The DN network element refers to the operator network that provides data transmission services to users. Examples include the Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Service (IMS) and the Internet. The DN can be a network external to the operator or a network controlled by the operator, used to provide services to terminal devices. In addition, the network elements shown in Figure 6, such as the AUSF network element, AMF network element, SMF network element, GDMF network element, NSSF network element, NEF network element, NRF network element, PCF network element, UDM network element, UDR network element or AF network element, can interact with each other using service-based interfaces. For example, the service-based interface provided by the AUSF network element is Nausf; the service-based interface provided by the AMF network element is Namf; the service-based interface provided by the SMF network element is Nsmf; the service-based interface provided by the TSCTSF network element is Ntsctsf; the service-based interface provided by the NSSF network element is Nnssf; the service-based interface provided by the NEF network element is Nnef; the service-based interface provided by the NRF network element is Nnrf; the service-based interface provided by the PCF network element is Npcf; the service-based interface provided by the UDM network element is Nudm; the service-based interface provided by the UDR network element is Nudr; and the service-based interface provided by the AF network element is Naf.

[0142] It can be understood that the device or entity corresponding to the time synchronization network element 501 in the communication system 50 is the TSCTSF network element in the 5G network shown in Figure 6. The device or entity corresponding to the access network device 502 in the communication system 50 is the (R)AN device in the 5G network shown in Figure 6. The device or entity corresponding to the first terminal device 503, the second terminal device 504, or the remote terminal device 505 in the communication system 50 is the terminal in the 5G network shown in Figure 6.

[0143] It is understood that the communication system 50 shown in FIG5 is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the technical solutions of the present application. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, in a specific implementation, the communication system 50 may further include other network elements, and the number of network elements and terminals may be determined based on specific needs without limitation.

[0144] Optionally, each network element or device in Figure 5 of the present application (for example, the time synchronization network element 501, the access network device 502, the first terminal device 503, the second terminal device 504 or the remote terminal device 505, etc.) can also be referred to as a communication device, which can be a general device or a dedicated device. The present application does not make any specific restrictions on this.

[0145] Optionally, the relevant functions of each network element or device in Figure 5 of the present application (such as the time synchronization network element 501, the access network device 502, the first terminal device 503, the second terminal device 504, or the remote terminal device 505, etc.) can be implemented by a single device, or can be implemented by multiple devices together, or can be implemented by one or more functional modules within a single device. This application does not specifically limit this. It is understandable that the above functions can be network elements in hardware devices, software functions running on dedicated hardware, or a combination of hardware and software, or virtualized functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform).

[0146] In a specific implementation, each network element or device in FIG5 of the present application (e.g., time synchronization network element 501, access network device 502, first terminal device 503, second terminal device 504, or remote terminal device 505, etc.) can adopt the structure shown in FIG7, or include the components shown in FIG7. FIG7 is a schematic diagram of the hardware structure of a communication device applicable to the present application. The communication device 70 includes at least one processor 701 and at least one communication interface 704, which are used to implement the method provided in the present application. The communication device 70 may also include a communication line 702 and a memory 703.

[0147] The processor 701 can be a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits used to control the execution of the program of the present application.

[0148] The communication link 702 may include a path to transmit information between the above components, such as a bus.

[0149] The communication interface 704 is used to communicate with other devices or communication networks. The communication interface 704 can be any transceiver-like device, such as an Ethernet interface, a RAN interface, a wireless local area network (WLAN) interface, a transceiver, a pin, a bus, an interface circuit, or a transceiver circuit.

[0150] The memory 703 can be a read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage devices that can store static information and instructions, a random access memory (RAM) or other types of dynamic storage devices that can store information and instructions, or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, optical disc storage (including compressed optical disc, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc, Blu-ray disc, etc.), a magnetic disk storage medium or other magnetic storage device, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and can be accessed by a computer, but is not limited to this. The memory can be independent and coupled to the processor 701 via a communication line 702. The memory 703 can also be integrated with the processor 701. The memory provided in this application can generally be non-volatile.

[0151] Among them, the memory 703 is used to store computer-executable instructions involved in executing the solution provided by this application, and is controlled by the processor 701. The processor 701 is used to execute the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 703, thereby implementing the method provided by this application. Alternatively, optionally, in this application, the processor 701 may also perform the processing-related functions of the method provided below in this application, and the communication interface 704 is responsible for communicating with other devices or communication networks, which is not specifically limited in this application.

[0152] Optionally, the computer-executable instructions in this application may also be referred to as application code, which is not specifically limited in this application.

[0153] The coupling in this application is an indirect coupling or communication connection between devices, units or modules, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms, and is used for information exchange between devices, units or modules.

[0154] As an embodiment, the processor 701 may include one or more CPUs, such as CPU0 and CPU1 in FIG. 7 .

[0155] As an embodiment, the communication device 70 may include multiple processors, such as processor 701 and processor 707 in Figure 7. Each of these processors may be a single-core (single-CPU) processor or a multi-core (multi-CPU) processor. The processor herein may refer to one or more devices, circuits, and / or processing cores for processing data (e.g., computer program instructions).

[0156] As an embodiment, the communication device 70 may further include an output device 705 and / or an input device 706. The output device 705 is coupled to the processor 701 and can display information in a variety of ways. For example, the output device 705 can be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display device, a cathode ray tube (CRT) display device, or a projector. The input device 706 is coupled to the processor 701 and can receive user input in a variety of ways. For example, the input device 706 can be a mouse, a keyboard, a touch screen device, or a sensor device.

[0157] It is understandable that the composition structure shown in Figure 7 does not constitute a limitation on the communication device. In addition to the components shown in Figure 7, the communication device may include more or fewer components than shown in the figure, or combine certain components, or arrange the components differently.

[0158] FIG8 is a flow chart of a relay timing method provided in an embodiment of the present application. This relay timing method is applicable to the above-mentioned communication system and primarily involves interaction between access network equipment, a first terminal device, and a second terminal device. The second terminal device is the next-hop device of the first terminal device in the downlink direction. In particular, when a remote device is directly connected to the first terminal device, the second terminal device can be a remote terminal device. Optionally, FIG8 may also involve a time synchronization network element.

[0159] As shown in FIG8 , the relay timing method includes the following steps:

[0160] Step S801: The time synchronization network element generates indication information.

[0161] In which, the indication information is used to indicate that the second timing message sent by the first terminal device includes the first time information used for time synchronization, or the indication information is used to indicate that the second timing message includes the second time information used for time synchronization, and the time indicated by the second time information differs from the time indicated by the first time information by a first offset value.

[0162] The time information in the embodiment of the present application may be a time value, or a system frame number (SFN) or other information that can indicate time, and the embodiment of the present application does not impose any limitation on this.

[0163] The first time information in the embodiments of the present application can be used for time synchronization between the first terminal device and the network device. The first time information in the embodiments of the present application can also be used for time synchronization between other terminal devices that access the network through the first terminal device and the network device, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. The other terminal devices that access the network through the first terminal device can be, for example, a second terminal device or a remote terminal device.

[0164] Exemplarily, the network device in the embodiment of the present application may be a (R)AN device or a CN device.

[0165] The indication information in the embodiment of the present application may carry the identifier of the first terminal device and / or the identifier of the first terminal device for relay timing service, such as RSC.

[0166] Optionally, the indication information is included in first configuration information of the first terminal device, where the first configuration information is used to configure the first terminal device to provide a relay timing service for a second terminal device or a remote terminal device. In this solution, the first terminal device can function as a relay terminal device. Different from the timing service configuration information or air interface timing service configuration information in the air interface timing service process, the first configuration information can be, for example, relay timing service configuration information.

[0167] The first configuration information in the embodiment of the present application is the timing service configuration information of the first terminal device associated with the remote terminal device.

[0168] Step S802: The time synchronization network element sends indication information to the first terminal device. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the indication information from the time synchronization network element.

[0169] In this embodiment of the present application, steps S801 and S802 are optional. Through steps S801 and S802, the time synchronization network element can indicate the content of the second timing message, that is, the time synchronization network element can configure the manner in which the first terminal device processes the received first timing message. In addition, whether the second timing message includes the first time information or the second time information can also be pre-set.

[0170] Optionally, the relay timing method provided in the embodiment of the present application also includes: the time synchronization network element generates second configuration information for the first terminal device; the second configuration information is generated based on the third configuration information of the remote terminal device and the fourth configuration information of the first terminal device, or the second configuration information is generated based on the third configuration information of the remote terminal device; the second configuration information and the fourth configuration information include parameters for the first terminal device to accept timing services; the third configuration information includes parameters for the remote terminal device to accept timing services; the time synchronization network element sends the second configuration information to the access network device. Accordingly, the access network device receives the second configuration information from the time synchronization network element. In this solution, the time synchronization network element can choose a method for generating the second configuration information based on whether the first terminal device has the authority to accept timing services.

[0171] Exemplarily, the second configuration information or the fourth configuration information of the first terminal device may be the timing service configuration information or the air interface timing service configuration information of the first terminal device. The third configuration information of the remote terminal device may be the timing service configuration information or the air interface timing service configuration information of the remote terminal device.

[0172] In the embodiment of the present application, the parameters for the terminal device to receive timing services include at least one of the following: the time period for the terminal device to receive timing services, the area for the terminal device to receive timing services, or the error budget value for the timing services received by the terminal device.

[0173] Optionally, the second configuration information is generated based on the third configuration information, and the parameters included in the second configuration information are the same as the parameters included in the third configuration information. In this solution, when the first terminal device does not have permission to receive timing services, the parameters included in the second configuration information generated by the time synchronization unit for the first terminal device can be the same as the parameters included in the third configuration information.

[0174] Optionally, the second configuration information is generated based on the third configuration information and the fourth configuration information, and the parameters included in the second configuration information satisfy at least one of the following: the time period for the first terminal device to receive timing services included in the second configuration information is the intersection or union of the time period for the first terminal device to receive timing services included in the fourth configuration information and the time period for the remote terminal device to receive timing services included in the third configuration information; the area for the first terminal device to receive timing services included in the second configuration information is the intersection or union of the area for the first terminal device to receive timing services included in the fourth configuration information and the area for the remote terminal device to receive timing services included in the third configuration information; the error budget value for the timing services received by the first terminal device included in the second configuration information is the smaller or larger value of the error budget value for the first terminal device to receive timing services included in the fourth configuration information and the error budget value for the remote terminal device to receive timing services included in the third configuration information. In this solution, when the first terminal device has the authority to receive timing services, the time synchronization unit can update the fourth configuration information of the first terminal device to the second configuration information based on the third configuration information.

[0175] Step S803: The access network device sends a first timing message to the first terminal device. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the first timing message from the access network device.

[0176] For the description of the first timing message in step S803 , reference may be made to the description of the first timing message in step S801 , which will not be repeated here.

[0177] Exemplarily, the first timing message in the embodiment of the present application may be the RRC timing message in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 , FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 .

[0178] Step S804: The first terminal device sends a second timing message to the remote terminal device (or the second terminal device). Correspondingly, the remote terminal device (or the second terminal device) receives the second timing message from the first terminal device.

[0179] For the relevant description of the second timing message in step S804, reference may be made to the relevant description of the second timing message in step S801, which will not be repeated here.

[0180] In the relay timing method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the first terminal device acts as a relay terminal device and can forward the received first timing message. The first timing message is called the second timing message after being forwarded by the first terminal device. In one case, the second timing message may include the same time information as the first timing message, that is, the first time information; in another case, the time indicated by the second time information included in the second timing message differs from the time indicated by the first time information included in the first timing message by a first offset value. The embodiment of the present application provides a process for a relay terminal device to forward a received timing message, and therefore, it can be applied to a scenario in which a network device performs timing on a remote terminal device.

[0181] When the second timing message includes the first time information, the first terminal device may place the first timing message in a container and include the container in the second timing message. Alternatively, the first terminal device may obtain the first time information from the first timing message and include the first time information in the second timing message. In one possible implementation, the second timing message is the first timing message, i.e., the first terminal device does not modify the first timing message but directly forwards the first timing message.

[0182] Optionally, the relay timing method provided in the embodiment of the present application also includes: the first terminal device sends a first message to the remote terminal device (or the second terminal device); wherein the second terminal device is the next-hop device of the first terminal device in the downlink direction, and the first message includes third time information. In the case where the second timing message includes the first time information, the third time information and the first time information are used for time synchronization between the remote terminal device (or the second terminal device) and the network device, or, in the case where the second timing message includes the second time information, the third time information and the second time information are used for time synchronization between the remote terminal device (or the second terminal device) and the network device. Accordingly, the remote terminal device (or the second terminal device) receives the first message from the first terminal device. Different from the delay compensation information in the air interface timing service process, the first message can be, for example, a relay timing compensation message.

[0183] The third time information in the embodiment of the present application can be used to compensate for the time information included in the second timing message.

[0184] In an embodiment of the present application, the phrase "used for time synchronization between a remote terminal device (or a second terminal device) and a network device" may also be replaced by the phrase "used for the network device to provide time synchronization to a remote terminal device (or a second terminal device)" or "used for the network device to provide time synchronization to a remote terminal device (or a second terminal device)."

[0185] Optionally, the third time information is obtained based on at least one of a first PDC value, a second offset value, or a second PDC value. The first PDC value is the PDC value between the first terminal device and the remote terminal device (or the second terminal device); the second offset value is the difference between the time when the first terminal device sends the second timing message and the time when the first terminal device receives the first timing message; and the second PDC value is the PDC value between the first terminal device and the access network device. In this solution, there are multiple possible implementations for the content included in the third time information.

[0186] Exemplarily, the second PDC value in the embodiment of the present application may be included in the RRC timing message in the embodiments shown in Figures 2 to 4.

[0187] In the embodiment of the present application, since the first terminal device and the remote terminal device (or the second terminal device) are connected via a PC5 interface, the first PDC value may also be referred to as a PC5 PDC. Since the first terminal device and the access network device are connected via a Uu interface, the second PDC value may also be referred to as a Uu PDC.

[0188] Optionally, the third time information includes at least one of the first PDC value, the second offset value, or the second PDC value; or, the third time information includes the sum of at least one of the first PDC value, the second offset value, or the second PDC value. In this solution, when the third time information includes the first PDC value and / or the second PDC value, the second terminal device may update the error budget value for receiving the timing service included in the second configuration information, the third configuration information, or the fourth configuration information based on the first PDC value and / or the second PDC value. Furthermore, the second terminal device may also determine a method for measuring the PDC value between the second terminal device and the next-hop device of the second terminal device in the downlink direction based on the updated error budget value for receiving the timing service.

[0189] Optionally, the first offset value is a sum of at least one of the following: a sum of the third offset value and the fourth offset value, the second PDC value, or the first PDC value.

[0190] Among them, the third offset value is the offset value between the wireless frame sent by the first terminal device and the first wireless frame received after the first terminal device sends the wireless frame, and the fourth offset value is the offset value between the frame where the second timing message is located and the frame where the first timing message is located.

[0191] Optionally, the fourth offset value may satisfy the following relationship: fourth offset value=(SFN of the frame where the second timing message is located-reference SFN included in the first timing message)×length of the frame where the second timing message is located.

[0192] For example, the third offset value may be a parameter N defined in an existing protocol.TA偏移 .

[0193] The sum of the third offset value and the fourth offset value in the embodiment of the present application can be regarded as the second offset value. In one possible implementation, the parameters based on which the third time information is obtained are the complement of the parameters based on which the first offset value is obtained, and the parameters based on which the third time information is obtained and the parameters based on which the first offset value is obtained constitute the set {first PDC value, second offset value, second PDC value}.

[0194] The following lists possible correspondences between the content included in the third time information and the first offset value. The actual correspondences are not limited to the following.

[0195] Case 1: The first offset value is the sum of the third offset value and the fourth offset value.

[0196] In a possible implementation manner, the third time information may be obtained according to the first PDC value and the second PDC value.

[0197] In another possible implementation, the third time information can be obtained based on the first PDC value. This implementation is possible in a scenario combined with the embodiment shown in Figure 2 , where the second PDC value has already been pre-compensated in the first timing message. Alternatively, this implementation is possible in a scenario where the first terminal device is not directly connected to the access network device but is connected to the access network device via another relay terminal device.

[0198] Case 2: The first offset value is the second PDC value.

[0199] In a possible implementation, the third time information may be obtained according to the first PDC value and the second offset value.

[0200] In another possible implementation, the third time information may be obtained based on the second offset value. This implementation may be in a scenario where the first PDC value is generated by the remote terminal device (or the second terminal device), that is, the first PDC value will be compensated on the remote terminal device (or the second terminal device) side.

[0201] Case 3: The first offset value is the first PDC value.

[0202] In a possible implementation, the third time information may be obtained according to the second PDC value and the second offset value.

[0203] In another possible implementation, the third time information can be obtained based on the second offset value. This implementation is possible in a scenario combined with the embodiment shown in Figure 2 , where the second PDC value has been pre-compensated in the first timing message. Alternatively, this implementation is possible in a scenario where the first terminal device is not directly connected to the access network device but is connected to the access network device via another relay terminal device.

[0204] In the following situations, the first terminal device may not send the first message to the remote terminal device (or the second terminal device). The following situations are given as examples only, and actual situations are not limited to the following situations.

[0205] Case 4: The first offset value is the sum of the following three items: the sum of the third offset value and the fourth offset value, the second PDC value, and the first PDC value.

[0206] Case 5: The first offset value is the sum of the following two items: the sum of the third offset value and the fourth offset value, and the second PDC value. In addition, the first PDC value is generated by the remote terminal device (or the second terminal device).

[0207] Case 6: The first offset value is the sum of the third offset value and the fourth offset value. In addition, the first PDC value is generated by the remote terminal device (or the second terminal device), and the second PDC value has been pre-compensated in the first timing message or the first terminal device is connected to the access network device through another relay terminal device.

[0208] Optionally, the second time information includes the SFN corresponding to the second timing message. In this solution, the SFN corresponding to the second timing message and the time indicated by the second time information can be derived from each other, thereby facilitating verification of the correctness of the time indicated by the second time information.

[0209] In the embodiment of the present application, the SFN corresponding to the second timing message may be the SFN of the frame where the second timing message is located or the SFN of the frame corresponding to the second time information.

[0210] Step S805: The remote terminal device (or the second terminal device) adjusts the system time of the remote terminal device (or the second terminal device) according to the time information in the second timing message.

[0211] In an embodiment of the present application, the remote terminal device (or the second terminal device) adjusts its own system time so that the remote terminal device (or the second terminal device) can achieve time synchronization with the network device or the time source device in the network.

[0212] When the remote terminal device (or second terminal device) receives the first message, step S805 may include: taking the sum of the time indicated by the time information in the second timing message and the time indicated by the third time information as the system time of the remote terminal device (or second terminal device).

[0213] When the remote terminal device (or second terminal device) receives the first message, step S805 may further include: using the sum of the time indicated by the time information in the second timing message, the first PDC value, and the time indicated by the third time information as the system time of the remote terminal device (or second terminal device). The first PDC value is the PDC value between the first terminal device and the remote terminal device (or second terminal device). In this solution, the first PDC value is generated by the remote terminal device (or second terminal device) and compensated on the remote terminal device (or second terminal device) side.

[0214] Optionally, the relay timing method provided in an embodiment of the present application also includes: the access network device sends a third timing message to the first terminal device. The third timing message is a timing message based on at least one of the precision time protocol (PTP), the generalized PTP (gPTP), or the network time protocol (NTP). Accordingly, the first terminal device receives the third timing message from the access network device. The first terminal device sends the third timing message to the remote terminal device (or the second terminal device). Accordingly, the remote terminal device (or the second terminal device) receives the third timing message from the first terminal device. In this solution, the network device can transmit the third timing message to the remote terminal device, so that the solution can be applied to the scenario of (g)PTP relay timing or NTP relay timing.

[0215] In the (g)PTP relay timing scenario, the third timing message can be a (g)PTP timing message. The access network device can send the (g)PTP timing message to the device-side time-sensitive networking (TSN) translator (DS-TT) of the remote terminal device through the relay terminal device.

[0216] In conjunction with Figure 8, taking the time synchronization network element as the TSCTSF network element, the first terminal device as the relay UE1, and the remote terminal device (or the second terminal device) as the remote UE as an example, Figure 9 shows a flow chart of a specific example of the relay timing method provided in an embodiment of the present application, which mainly includes the following steps:

[0217] Step S901: The UDM network element may send relay timing service configuration information to the relay UE1 through the TSC TSF network element, the PCF network element, and the AMF network element. The relay timing service configuration information includes a service identifier used in ProSe discovery and / or communication, such as an RSC. Accordingly, the relay UE1 may receive the relay timing service configuration information from the UDM network element through the AMF network element, the PCF network element, and the TSC TSF network element.

[0218] In addition to step S901, in another implementation, the relay UE1 may obtain the relay timing service configuration information locally.

[0219] In step S902, the UDM network element may send relay timing service configuration information to the remote UE via the TSC TSF network element, the PCF network element, and the AMF network element. The relay timing service configuration information includes a service identifier used in ProSe discovery and / or communication, such as an RSC. Accordingly, the remote UE may receive the relay timing service configuration information from the UDM network element via the AMF network element, the PCF network element, and the TSC TSF network element.

[0220] In the case that the remote UE has accessed the network or has accessed the network before, step S902 may be performed. In another implementation, the remote UE may obtain the relay timing service configuration information locally.

[0221] In step S903, relay UE1 and the remote UE can use the service identifier in the relay timing service configuration information to perform ProSe discovery and establish a PC5 connection between relay UE1 and the remote UE. As a result, a wireless connection is established between the RAN device, relay UE1, and the remote UE, and the remote UE can access the network through relay UE1.

[0222] Step S904: The remote UE may send a relay timing service request to the TSCTSF network element through the relay UE1. The relay timing service request includes the identity information of the remote UE and the identity information of the relay UE1. Accordingly, the TSCTSF network element may receive the relay timing service request from the remote UE through the relay UE1.

[0223] Step S905 : The TSCTSF network element may perform timing service authentication on the relay UE1 and the remote UE, and generate timing service configuration information of the relay UE1 .

[0224] Exemplarily, step S905 may include the following steps:

[0225] Step S905a, the TSCTSF network element may send a timing service subscription information query request of the remote UE, and a timing service subscription information query request of the relay UE1 to the UDM network element. The timing service subscription information query request of the remote UE (or relay UE1) includes the identity information of the remote UE (or relay UE1). The timing service subscription information query request of the remote UE (or relay UE1) is used to query whether the remote UE (or relay UE1) has the authority to receive the timing service, and the timing service configuration information of the remote UE (or relay UE1). Accordingly, the UDM network element may receive the timing service subscription information query request of the remote UE from the TSCTSF network element, and the timing service subscription information query request of the relay UE1.

[0226] Exemplarily, when the remote UE (or relay UE1) subscribes to the 5G-access stratum timing distribution (ASTI) timing method, or the AF network element has requested to provide timing service to the remote UE (or relay UE1), the remote UE (or relay UE1) has the right to receive the timing service.

[0227] Exemplarily, the timing service configuration information of the remote UE (or relay UE1) may include parameters for the remote UE (or relay UE1) to accept the timing service.

[0228] If the remote UE has the authority to receive the timing service, step S905b and subsequent steps are executed.

[0229] Step S905b: The UDM network element may send a remote UE's timing service subscription information query response to the TSCTSF network element. The remote UE's timing service subscription information query response includes the remote UE's timing service configuration information. The remote UE's timing service subscription information query response indicates that the remote UE is authorized to receive timing services. Accordingly, the TSCTSF network element may receive the remote UE's timing service subscription information query response from the UDM network element.

[0230] In a possible implementation, when the relay UE1 has the authority to receive the timing service, step S905c and step S905d are executed.

[0231] In step S905c, the UDM network element may send a timing service subscription information query response for relay UE1 to the TSCTSF network element. The timing service subscription information query response for relay UE1 includes the timing service configuration information for relay UE1. The timing service subscription information query response for relay UE1 indicates that relay UE1 is authorized to receive timing services. Accordingly, the TSCTSF network element may receive the timing service subscription information query response for relay UE1 from the UDM network element.

[0232] In step S905d, the TSCTSF network element may generate timing service configuration information for relay UE1. The timing service configuration information for relay UE1 in step S905d may be obtained by updating the timing service configuration information for relay UE1 in step S905c based on the timing service configuration information for the remote UE. In other words, the timing service configuration information for relay UE1 in step S905d may be generated based on the timing service configuration information for the remote UE and the timing service configuration information for relay UE1 in step S905c.

[0233] The timing service configuration information of the relay UE1 in step S905d may be an example of the second configuration information in the embodiment shown in FIG8 , the timing service configuration information of the relay UE1 in step S905c may be an example of the fourth configuration information in the embodiment shown in FIG8 , and the timing service configuration information of the remote UE may be an example of the third configuration information in the embodiment shown in FIG8 . The specific process of generating the timing service configuration information of the relay UE1 in step S905d can be referred to the relevant description in step S802 and will not be repeated here.

[0234] In another possible implementation, when the relay UE1 does not have the authority to receive the timing service, step S905e and step S905f are executed.

[0235] Step S905e, the UDM network element may send a timing service subscription information query response of the relay UE1 to the TSCTSF network element. The timing service subscription information query response of the relay UE1 is used to indicate that the relay UE1 does not have the authority to receive the timing service. Accordingly, the TSCTSF network element may receive a timing service subscription information query response of the relay UE1 from the UDM network element. The timing service subscription information query response of the relay UE1 includes indication information indicating that the relay UE1 does not have the authority to receive the timing service, or the timing service subscription information query response of the relay UE1 does not include indication information indicating that the relay UE1 has the authority to receive the timing service, or the timing service subscription information query response of the relay UE1 does not include the timing service configuration information of the relay UE1.

[0236] Step S905f: The TSCTSF network element may generate timing service configuration information of the relay UE1. The timing service configuration information of the relay UE1 may be generated based on the timing service configuration information of the remote UE.

[0237] The timing service configuration information of the relay UE1 in step S905f may be an example of the second configuration information in the embodiment shown in FIG8 , and the timing service configuration information of the remote UE may be an example of the third configuration information in the embodiment shown in FIG8 . The specific process of generating the timing service configuration information of the relay UE1 in step S905f may refer to the relevant description in step S802 and will not be repeated here.

[0238] Step S906: The TSCTSF network element may send timing service configuration information to the RAN device via the PCF network element and the AMF network element. The timing service configuration information may include the timing service configuration information of the relay UE1 and the timing service configuration information of the remote UE. Accordingly, the RAN device may receive the timing service configuration information from the TSCTSF network element via the AMF network element and the PCF network element.

[0239] In step S907, the TSCTSF network element may generate relay timing service configuration information for relay UE1. The relay timing service configuration information for relay UE1 may include indication information. In the embodiment shown in FIG9 , the indication information may be used to indicate that the second timing message sent by relay UE1 includes first time information for time synchronization. The first time information is also included in the first timing message received by relay UE1.

[0240] For the description of the relay timing service configuration information of UE1 in step S907, reference may be made to the description of the first configuration information in step S801.

[0241] Step S908: The TSCTSF network element may send the relay timing service configuration information of the relay UE1 to the relay UE1. Correspondingly, the relay UE1 may receive the relay timing service configuration information of the relay UE1 from the TSCTSF network element.

[0242] Step S909: Relay UE1 may activate the function of providing relay timing service for the remote UE.

[0243] Optionally, the functions activated by relay UE1 may include: a function of using the second PDC as part of the relay timing compensation information; a function of calculating the forwarding delay of relay UE1 in relaying the timing information for the remote UE, that is, the second offset value, and using the second offset value as part of the relay timing compensation information; and a function of measuring the first PDC value on the PC5 connection established with the remote UE.

[0244] In the embodiment of the present application, “measuring the first PDC value” may also be replaced by “calculating the first PDC value”, which is uniformly explained here and will not be repeated below.

[0245] Step S910: In response to the relay timing service request in step S904, the TSCTSF network element may send a relay timing service response to the remote UE via relay UE1. Accordingly, the remote UE may receive the relay timing service response from the TSCTSF network element via relay UE1.

[0246] The relay timing service response may be used to represent the first PDC value measurement method negotiated between the relay UE1 and the remote UE. The relay timing service response may be configured by the TSCTSF network element according to the capabilities of the relay UE1 and the remote UE.

[0247] Optional methods for measuring the first PDC value include: relay UE1 measures the first PDC value and pre-compensates the first PDC value, and then sends the pre-compensated first PDC value to the remote UE; relay UE1 measures the first PDC value and sends the first PDC value to the remote UE without pre-compensating the first PDC value; the remote UE measures the first PDC value; or, a method obtained by negotiation between relay UE1 and the remote UE.

[0248] Step S911: The RAN device may send a first timing message to the relay UE 1. Correspondingly, the relay UE 1 may receive the first timing message from the RAN device.

[0249] In step S911 , the RAN device may perform timing service for the relay UE1 according to the timing service configuration information of the relay UE1 in step S906 .

[0250] Similar to the RRC timing message in the embodiment shown in FIG3 , the first timing message in the embodiment shown in FIG9 may include absolute time and a second PDC value.

[0251] Step S912: Relay UE1 may send a second timing message to the remote UE according to the relay timing service configuration information of relay UE1 in step S908. Accordingly, the remote UE may receive the second timing message from relay UE1.

[0252] The second timing message and the first timing message both include first time information, which may be absolute time, for example.

[0253] Step S913: Based on step S910, the relay UE1 and the remote UE may negotiate a method for measuring the first PDC.

[0254] Exemplarily, the manner obtained through negotiation between the relay UE1 and the remote UE may be: the relay UE1 measures the first PDC value and sends the first PDC value to the remote UE without pre-compensating the first PDC value.

[0255] Step S914: The relay UE1 may measure the first PDC and generate a relay timing compensation message.

[0256] The relay timing compensation message may be an example of the first message in the embodiment shown in Figure 8. In the embodiment shown in Figure 9, the time information included in the relay timing compensation message may include the first PDC value, the second offset value, and the second PDC value, or the time information included in the relay timing compensation message may be the sum of the first PDC value, the second offset value, and the second PDC value.

[0257] Optionally, step S912 may be performed first and then step S914, or step S914 may be performed first and then step S912. This embodiment of the present application does not impose any limitation on this.

[0258] In step S915, the relay UE1 may send a relay timing compensation message to the remote UE. Accordingly, the remote UE may receive the relay timing compensation message from the relay UE1. The relay timing compensation message is the relay timing compensation message generated in step S914.

[0259] Step S916: The remote UE may adjust the system time of the remote terminal device according to the time information in the second timing message and the relay timing compensation message.

[0260] Optionally, step S916 may include: the remote UE uses the sum of the absolute time in the second timing message and the time information in the relay timing compensation message as the system time of the remote UE.

[0261] Optionally, the remote UE may also generate other timing results, such as second pulses, according to the time information in the second timing message and the relay timing compensation message.

[0262] When the timing service of the remote UE is deactivated or deleted, the timing service configuration information of the relay UE1 associated with the remote UE may also be deactivated or deleted.

[0263] The indication information in step S907 can be used to indicate that the second timing message includes the first time information. Furthermore, the indication information can also be used to indicate that the second timing message includes second time information. The time indicated by the second time information differs from the time indicated by the first time information by a first offset value. That is, in step S912, relay UE1 can add the absolute time in the first timing message to the first offset value to obtain the second time information.

[0264] In one possible implementation, the first offset value is the sum of the third offset value and the fourth offset value. In this implementation, the relay timing compensation message in steps S914 to S916 may include the first PDC value and the second PDC value, or the time information included in the relay timing compensation message may be the sum of the first PDC value and the second PDC value.

[0265] In another possible implementation, the first offset value is the second PDC value. In this implementation, the relay timing compensation message in steps S914 to S916 may include the first PDC value and the second offset value, or the time information included in the relay timing compensation message may be the sum of the first PDC value and the second offset value.

[0266] In another possible implementation, the first offset value is the first PDC value. In this implementation, step S914 may be performed before step S912. The relay timing compensation message in steps S914 to S916 may include the second offset value and the second PDC value, or the time information included in the relay timing compensation message may be the sum of the second offset value and the second PDC value.

[0267] In any of the above three implementations, the first timing message may include a reference SFN. The second timing message no longer includes the reference SFN in the first timing message, but may include the SFN corresponding to the second timing message.

[0268] In conjunction with Figure 9, the method for measuring the first PDC value represented by the relay timing service response is: when the remote UE measures the first PDC value, the process of the relay timing method provided in the embodiment of the present application shown in Figure 10 can be executed. Among them, the relevant descriptions of steps S901 to S909, steps S911 and S912 can be found in the relevant descriptions of the embodiment shown in Figure 9, and will not be repeated here. The following describes the steps in the embodiment shown in Figure 10 that are different from the embodiment shown in Figure 9.

[0269] Step S1010: In response to the relay timing service request in step S904, the TSCTSF network element may send a relay timing service response to the remote UE via relay UE1. The relay timing service response may be used to indicate that the remote UE measures the first PDC value. Accordingly, the remote UE may receive the relay timing service response from the TSCTSF network element via relay UE1.

[0270] Step S1013: The remote UE may send an indication message for instructing the remote UE to measure the first PDC value to the relay UE 1. Correspondingly, the relay UE 1 may receive the indication message for instructing the remote UE to measure the first PDC value from the remote UE.

[0271] Step S1014: Relay UE1 may generate a relay timing compensation message.

[0272] In the embodiment shown in FIG10 , the time information included in the relay timing compensation message may include the second offset value and the second PDC value, or the time information included in the relay timing compensation message may be the sum of the second offset value and the second PDC value.

[0273] Step S1015: Relay UE1 may send a relay timing compensation message to the remote UE. Correspondingly, the remote UE may receive the relay timing compensation message from relay UE1. The relay timing compensation message is the relay timing compensation message generated in step S1014.

[0274] Step S1016: The remote UE may measure the first PDC and adjust the system time of the remote terminal device according to the first PDC and the time information in the second timing message and the relay timing compensation message.

[0275] Specifically, the remote UE may use the sum of the time indicated by the time information in the second timing message, the first PDC value, and the time indicated by the time information in the relay timing compensation message as the system time of the remote UE.

[0276] In conjunction with Figure 9, in the scenario of multi-hop relay timing, Figure 11 shows a flowchart of another specific example of the relay timing method provided by an embodiment of the present application. Among them, the time synchronization network element can be a TSCTSF network element, the remote terminal device can be a remote UE, the first terminal device can be a relay UE1 (or relay UE2), and the second terminal device can be a relay UE2 (or remote UE). The embodiment shown in Figure 11 mainly includes the following steps:

[0277] Step S1101a: The UDM network element may send the relay timing service configuration information to the relay UE1 through the TSCTSF network element, the PCF network element, and the AMF network element. Correspondingly, the relay UE1 may receive the relay timing service configuration information from the UDM network element through the AMF network element, the PCF network element, and the TSCTSF network element.

[0278] In addition to step S1101a, in another implementation, the relay UE1 may obtain the relay timing service configuration information locally.

[0279] Step S1101b: The UDM network element may send the relay timing service configuration information to the relay UE2 through the TSCTSF network element, the PCF network element, and the AMF network element. Correspondingly, the relay UE2 may receive the relay timing service configuration information from the UDM network element through the AMF network element, the PCF network element, and the TSCTSF network element.

[0280] In addition to step S1101b, in another implementation, the relay UE2 may obtain the relay timing service configuration information locally.

[0281] Step S1102: The UDM network element may send relay timing service configuration information to the remote UE via the TSC TSF network element, the PCF network element, and the AMF network element. Correspondingly, the remote UE may receive the relay timing service configuration information from the UDM network element via the AMF network element, the PCF network element, and the TSC TSF network element.

[0282] In the case that the remote UE has accessed the network or has accessed the network before, step S1102 may be performed. In another implementation, the remote UE may obtain the relay timing service configuration information locally.

[0283] The relay timing service configuration information in step S1101a, step S1101b and step S1102 may include a service identifier used in ProSe discovery and / or communication, such as an RSC.

[0284] In step S1103, relay UE1, relay UE2, and the remote UE may use the service identifier in the relay timing service configuration information to perform ProSe discovery and establish a PC5 connection between relay UE1 and relay UE2, and between relay UE2 and the remote UE. Thus, the remote UE can access the network through relay UE1 and relay UE2.

[0285] Step S1104: The remote UE may send a relay timing service request to the TSCTSF network element via relay UE2 and relay UE1. The relay timing service request includes the identity information of the remote UE and the identity information of relay UE1. Accordingly, the TSCTSF network element may receive the relay timing service request from the remote UE via relay UE1 and relay UE2.

[0286] Optionally, the relay timing service request may further include identity information of the relay UE2.

[0287] Step S1105 : The TSCTSF network element may perform timing service authentication on the relay UE1 and the remote UE, and generate timing service configuration information of the relay UE1 .

[0288] For example, the specific description of step S1105 can refer to the specific description of step S905, which will not be repeated here.

[0289] Optionally, the TSCTSF network element may further perform timing service authentication on the relay UE2 and generate timing service configuration information for the relay UE2. The specific description of this step may refer to the description of the TSCTSF network element performing timing service authentication on the relay UE1 and generating timing service configuration information for the relay UE1 in step S905, which will not be repeated here.

[0290] Step S1106: The TSCTSF network element may send timing service configuration information to the RAN device via the PCF network element and the AMF network element. The timing service configuration information may include the timing service configuration information of the relay UE1 and the timing service configuration information of the remote UE. Accordingly, the RAN device may receive the timing service configuration information from the TSCTSF network element via the AMF network element and the PCF network element.

[0291] Optionally, the timing service configuration information may further include timing service configuration information of relay UE2.

[0292] In step S1107, the TSCTSF network element may generate relay timing service configuration information for relay UE1 and relay UE2. The relay timing service configuration information for relay UE1 and relay UE2 may include indication information. In the embodiment shown in FIG11 , the indication information included in the relay timing service configuration information for relay UE1 (or relay UE2) may be used to indicate that the second timing message sent by relay UE1 (or relay UE2) includes the first time information used for time synchronization. The first time information is also included in the first timing message received by relay UE1 (or relay UE2).

[0293] In step S1107, relay UE1 (or relay UE2) may be an example of the first terminal device. For the description of the relay timing service configuration information of relay UE1 (or relay UE2) in step S1107, refer to the description of the first configuration information in step S801.

[0294] Step S1108a: The TSCTSF network element may send the relay timing service configuration information of the relay UE1 to the relay UE1. Correspondingly, the relay UE1 may receive the relay timing service configuration information of the relay UE1 from the TSCTSF network element.

[0295] Step S1108b: The TSCTSF network element may send the relay timing service configuration information of the relay UE2 to the relay UE2. Correspondingly, the relay UE2 may receive the relay timing service configuration information of the relay UE2 from the TSCTSF network element.

[0296] In step S1109, relay UE1 and relay UE2 may respectively activate the function of providing relay timing service for the remote UE.

[0297] In the example where relay UE1 is the first terminal device, the second terminal device is relay UE2. The functions activated by relay UE1 may include: using the second PDC as part of the relay timing compensation information; calculating the forwarding delay, i.e., the second offset value, for relay UE1 to relay timing information for the remote UE, and using the second offset value as part of the relay timing compensation information; and measuring the first PDC value on the PC5 connection established with relay UE2.

[0298] In the example where relay UE2 is the first terminal device, and the second terminal device is the remote UE, the functions activated by relay UE2 may include: calculating a forwarding delay, i.e., a second offset value, for relaying timing information sent by relay UE2 to the remote UE, and using the second offset value as part of the relay timing compensation information; and measuring a first PDC value on a PC5 connection established with the remote UE.

[0299] Step S1110: In response to the relay timing service request in step S1104, the TSCTSF network element may send a relay timing service response to the remote UE via relay UE1 and relay UE2. Accordingly, the remote UE may receive the relay timing service response from the TSCTSF network element via relay UE2 and relay UE1.

[0300] The manner in which the relay timing service response is used to represent the measurement of the first PDC value may be a manner negotiated between relay UE1, relay UE2, and the remote UE. The manner in which the relay timing service response represents the measurement of the first PDC value may be configured by the TSCTSF network element based on the capabilities of relay UE1, relay UE2, and the remote UE.

[0301] Optional methods for measuring the first PDC value include: the first terminal device measures the first PDC value and pre-compensates the first PDC value, and then sends the pre-compensated first PDC value to the second terminal device; the first terminal device measures the first PDC value and sends the first PDC value to the second terminal device without pre-compensating the first PDC value; the second terminal device measures the first PDC value; or, a method negotiated between relay UE1, relay UE2, and a remote UE. When the first terminal device is relay UE1, the second terminal device is relay UE2; when the first terminal device is relay UE2, the second terminal device is a remote UE.

[0302] Step S1111: The RAN device may send a first timing message to the relay UE1. Correspondingly, the relay UE1 may receive the first timing message from the RAN device.

[0303] In step S911 , the RAN device may perform timing service for the relay UE1 according to the timing service configuration information of the relay UE1 in step S1106 .

[0304] Similar to the RRC timing message in the embodiment shown in FIG3 , the first timing message in the embodiment shown in FIG9 may include absolute time and a second PDC value.

[0305] The relay UE1 in step S1111 may be an example of a first terminal device.

[0306] Step S1112: Relay UE1 may send a second timing message to relay UE2 according to the relay timing service configuration information of relay UE1 in step S1108a. Correspondingly, relay UE2 may receive the second timing message from relay UE1.

[0307] The second timing message in step S1112 and the first timing message in step S1111 both include first time information, which may be absolute time, for example.

[0308] When relay UE1 is an example of the first terminal device and relay UE2 is an example of the second terminal device, the second timing message is transmitted in step S1112; when relay UE2 is an example of the first terminal device and the remote UE is an example of the second terminal device, the first timing message is transmitted in step S1112.

[0309] In step S1112a, relay UE2 may send a second timing message to the remote UE according to the relay timing service configuration information of relay UE2 in step S1108b. Accordingly, the remote UE may receive the second timing message from relay UE2.

[0310] In step S1112a, the relay UE2 may be an example of a first terminal device, and the remote UE may be an example of a second terminal device.

[0311] The second timing message in step S1112a and the first timing message in step S1112 both include first time information, which may be absolute time, for example.

[0312] Step S1113: Based on step S1110, relay UE1, relay UE2 and the remote UE may negotiate a method for measuring the first PDC.

[0313] Exemplarily, the method obtained through negotiation between relay UE1, relay UE2 and the remote UE may be: the first terminal device measures the first PDC value and sends the first PDC value to the second terminal device without pre-compensating the first PDC value.

[0314] Step S1114: Relay UE1 may measure the first PDC and generate a relay timing compensation message.

[0315] In the example of relay UE1 being the first terminal device, the second terminal device is relay UE2. The relay timing compensation message may be an example of the first message in the embodiment shown in FIG8. In step S1114, the time information included in the relay timing compensation message may include the first PDC value, the second offset value, and the second PDC value, or the time information included in the relay timing compensation message may be the sum of the first PDC value, the second offset value, and the second PDC value.

[0316] Optionally, step S1112 may be performed first and then step S1114, or step S1114 may be performed first and then step S1112. This embodiment of the present application does not impose any limitation on this.

[0317] Step S1115: Relay UE1 may send a relay timing compensation message to relay UE2. Correspondingly, relay UE2 may receive the relay timing compensation message from relay UE1. The relay timing compensation message is the relay timing compensation message generated in step S1114.

[0318] Step S1114a: Relay UE2 may measure the first PDC and generate a relay timing compensation message.

[0319] In the case where the relay UE2 is an example of the first terminal device, the second terminal device is a remote UE. The relay timing compensation message can be an example of the first message in the embodiment shown in Figure 8. The relay timing compensation message generated in step S1114a may include the following parameters, or the sum of the following parameters: the PDC value between the relay UE2 and the remote UE (i.e., the first PDC value measured in step S1114a), the difference between the time when the relay UE2 sends the second timing message in step S1112a and the time when the relay UE2 receives the first timing message in step S1112 (i.e., the second offset value), and the time indicated by the time information included in the relay timing compensation message in step S1115.

[0320] Optionally, step S1112a may be performed first and then step S1114a, or step S1114a may be performed first and then step S1112a. This embodiment of the present application does not impose any limitation on this.

[0321] In step S1115a, relay UE2 may send a relay timing compensation message to the remote UE. Correspondingly, the remote UE may receive the relay timing compensation message from relay UE2. The relay timing compensation message is the relay timing compensation message generated in step S1114a.

[0322] Step S1116: The remote UE may adjust the system time of the remote terminal device according to the time information in the received second timing message and the relay timing compensation message.

[0323] Optionally, step S1116 may include: the remote UE uses the sum of the absolute time in the second timing message and the time information in the relay timing compensation message as the system time of the remote UE.

[0324] Optionally, the remote UE may also generate other timing results, such as second pulses, according to the time information in the second timing message and the relay timing compensation message.

[0325] It is understood that in each of the above embodiments, the methods and / or steps implemented by the first terminal device may also be implemented by components (such as chips or circuits) applicable to the first terminal device or an apparatus including the first terminal device; the methods and / or steps implemented by the time synchronization network element may also be implemented by components (such as chips or circuits) applicable to the time synchronization network element or an apparatus including the time synchronization network element. The methods and / or steps implemented by the remote terminal device may also be implemented by components (such as chips or circuits) applicable to the remote terminal device or an apparatus including the remote terminal device.

[0326] It is understandable that, in order to implement the above functions, the first terminal device, the time synchronization network element or the remote terminal device includes hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the execution of each function. Those skilled in the art should easily realize that, in combination with the units and algorithm steps of each example described in the embodiments disclosed herein, the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in a hardware or computer software driven hardware manner 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 to be beyond the scope of this application.

[0327] In the embodiment of the present application, the first terminal device, the time synchronization network element or the remote terminal device can be divided into functional modules according to the above-mentioned method embodiment. For example, each functional module can be divided according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The above-mentioned integrated module can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional modules. It should be noted that the division of modules in the embodiment of the present application is schematic and is only a logical functional division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation.

[0328] For example, the first terminal device in the embodiment of the present application can be implemented in the form of a communication device 120 shown in Figure 12. The communication device 120 may include a receiving module 1201 and a sending module 1202. The communication device 120 is used to implement the functions of the first terminal device in the method embodiments shown in Figures 8 to 11 above.

[0329] Exemplarily, when the communication device 120 is used to implement the function of the first terminal device in the method embodiment shown in Figure 8: the receiving module 1201 is used to receive the first timing message; the sending module 1202 is used to send the second timing message.

[0330] For a more detailed description of the above-mentioned receiving module 1201 and sending module 1202, please refer to the relevant description of the method embodiments shown in Figures 8 to 11.

[0331] For another example, the time synchronization network element in the embodiment of the present application can be implemented in the form of a communication device 130 shown in Figure 13. The communication device 130 may include a generation module 1301 and a sending module 1302. The communication device 130 is used to implement the functions of the time synchronization network element in the method embodiments shown in Figures 8 to 11 above.

[0332] Exemplarily, when the communication device 130 is used to implement the function of the time synchronization network element in the method embodiment shown in Figure 8: the generation module 1301 is used to generate indication information; the sending module 1302 is used to send indication information to the first terminal device.

[0333] For a more detailed description of the generating module 1301 and the sending module 1302 , please refer to the relevant descriptions in the method embodiments shown in FIG. 8 to FIG. 11 .

[0334] For another example, the remote terminal device in the embodiment of the present application can be implemented in the form of a communication device 140 shown in Figure 14. The communication device 140 may include a receiving module 1401 and a system time adjustment module 1402. The communication device 140 is used to implement the functions of the remote terminal device in the method embodiments shown in Figures 8 to 11 above.

[0335] Exemplarily, when the communication device 140 is used to implement the function of the remote terminal device in the method embodiment shown in Figure 8: the receiving module 1401 is used to receive the second timing message; the system time adjustment module 1402 is used to adjust the system time of the communication device according to the time information in the second timing message.

[0336] For a more detailed description of the receiving module 1401 and the system time adjustment module 1402 , reference may be made to the relevant descriptions in the method embodiments shown in FIG. 8 to FIG. 11 .

[0337] In this embodiment, the communication device 120, the communication device 130, or the communication device 140 is presented in the form of functional modules divided in an integrated manner. The "module" here can refer to a specific ASIC, circuit, processor and memory that executes one or more software or firmware programs, integrated logic circuit, and / or other devices that can provide the above functions.

[0338] In a simple embodiment, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the communication device 120 may take the form of the communication device 70 shown in FIG. 7 .

[0339] For example, the processor 701 and / or the processor 707 in the communication device 70 shown in FIG7 can cause the communication device 20 to execute the relay timing method in the above-mentioned method embodiment by calling the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 703. Specifically, some functions / implementation processes of the receiving module 1201 and the sending module 1202 in FIG12 can be implemented by a communication module connected via the communication interface 704 in FIG7.

[0340] In a simple embodiment, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the communication device 130 may take the form of the communication device 70 shown in FIG. 7 .

[0341] For example, the processor 701 and / or the processor 707 in the communication device 70 shown in FIG7 can call the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 703 to enable the communication device 70 to execute the relay timing method in the above-mentioned method embodiment. Specifically, part of the functions / implementation process of the generation module 1301 in FIG13 can be implemented by the processor 701 and / or the processor 707 in the communication device 70 shown in FIG7 calling the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 703. Part of the functions / implementation process of the sending module 1302 in FIG13 can be implemented by a communication module connected via the communication interface 704 in FIG7.

[0342] In a simple embodiment, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the communication device 140 may take the form of the communication device 70 shown in FIG. 7 .

[0343] For example, the processor 701 and / or the processor 707 in the communication device 70 shown in FIG7 can call computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 703 to enable the communication device 70 to execute the relay timing method in the above-mentioned method embodiment. Specifically, some functions / implementation processes of the receiving module 1401 in FIG14 can be implemented by a communication module connected via the communication interface 704 in FIG7. Some functions / implementation processes of the system time adjustment module 1402 in FIG14 can be implemented by the processor 701 and / or the processor 707 in the communication device 70 shown in FIG7 calling computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 703.

[0344] Since the communication device 120, the communication device 130 and the communication device 140 provided in this embodiment can execute the above-mentioned relay timing method, the technical effects that can be obtained can refer to the above-mentioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0345] It should be noted that one or more of the above modules or units can be implemented by software, hardware, or a combination of the two. When any of the above modules or units is implemented by software, the software exists in the form of computer program instructions and is stored in a memory, and a processor can be used to execute the program instructions and implement the above method flow. The processor can be built into an SoC (system on chip) or an ASIC, or it can be an independent semiconductor chip. In addition to the core used to execute software instructions to perform calculations or processing within the processor, it can further include necessary hardware accelerators, such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a PLD (programmable logic device), or a logic circuit that implements dedicated logic operations.

[0346] When the above modules or units are implemented in hardware, the hardware can be any one or any combination of a CPU, a microprocessor, a digital signal processing (DSP) chip, a microcontroller unit (MCU), an artificial intelligence processor, an ASIC, a SoC, an FPGA, a PLD, a dedicated digital circuit, a hardware accelerator or a non-integrated discrete device, which can run the necessary software or not rely on the software to execute the above method flow.

[0347] Optionally, an embodiment of the present application further provides a chip system, comprising: at least one processor and an interface, wherein the at least one processor is coupled to a memory via the interface, and when the at least one processor executes a computer program or instruction in the memory, the method in any of the above method embodiments is executed. In one possible implementation, the communication device also includes a memory. Optionally, the chip system can be composed of a chip, or can include a chip and other discrete devices, which is not specifically limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0348] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using a software program, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are generated. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer instructions may be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via a wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) method. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more media integrated therein. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (eg, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (eg, a DVD), or a semiconductor medium (eg, a solid state disk (SSD)).

[0349] Although the present application is described herein in conjunction with various embodiments, in the process of implementing the claimed application, those skilled in the art can understand and implement other changes to the disclosed embodiments by reviewing the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other components or steps, and "a" or "an" does not exclude multiple situations. A single processor or other unit can implement several functions listed in the claims. Certain measures are recorded in different dependent claims, but this does not mean that these measures cannot be combined to produce good results.

[0350] Although the present application has been described with reference to specific features and embodiments thereof, it is apparent that various modifications and combinations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Accordingly, this specification and the drawings are merely illustrative of the present application as defined by the appended claims and are deemed to cover any and all modifications, variations, combinations or equivalents within the scope of the present application. Obviously, those skilled in the art may make various modifications and variations to the present application without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Thus, the present application is intended to include such modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A relay timing method, applied to a first terminal device, characterized in that: The method comprises: Receiving a first timing message, wherein the first timing message includes first time information for time synchronization; A second timing message is sent, where the second timing message includes the first time information, or the second timing message includes second time information used for time synchronization, and the time indicated by the second time information differs from the time indicated by the first time information by a first offset value.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The method further comprises: Receive indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate that the second timing message includes the first time information, or the indication information is used to indicate that the second timing message includes the second time information.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The method further comprises: Sending a first message to a second terminal device; wherein the second terminal device is a next-hop device of the first terminal device in the downlink direction, and the first message includes third time information, In the case where the second timing message includes the first time information, the third time information and the first time information are used for time synchronization between the second terminal device and the network device, or, In the case where the second timing message includes the second time information, the third time information and the second time information are used for time synchronization between the second terminal device and the network device.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that: The third time information includes at least one of the first propagation delay compensation PDC value, the second offset value, or the second PDC value; or, the third time information includes a sum of at least one of the first PDC value, the second offset value, or the second PDC value; Among them, the first PDC value is the PDC value between the first terminal device and the second terminal device, the second offset value is the difference between the time when the first terminal device sends the second timing message and the time when the first terminal device receives the first timing message, and the second PDC value is the PDC value between the first terminal device and the access network device.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The first offset value is the sum of the third offset value and the fourth offset value; Among them, the third offset value is the offset value between the wireless frame sent by the first terminal device and the first wireless frame received after the first terminal device sends the wireless frame, and the fourth offset value is the offset value between the frame where the second timing message is located and the frame where the first timing message is located.

6. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The first offset value is the second PDC value.

7. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The first offset value is the first PDC value.

8. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that: The second time information includes a reference system frame number SFN corresponding to the second timing message.

9. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that: The indication information is included in the first configuration information of the first terminal device, and the first configuration information is used to configure the first terminal device to provide relay timing service for the second terminal device or the remote terminal device, the second terminal device is the next hop device of the first terminal device in the downlink direction, and the remote terminal device is connected to the network device through the first terminal device.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The method further comprises: A third timing message is received and sent, where the third timing message is a timing message based on at least one of the Precision Time Protocol (PTP), the General Precision Time Protocol (gPTP), or the Network Timing Protocol (NTP).

11. A relay timing method, characterized in that: include: Generate indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate that the second timing message sent by the first terminal device includes the first time information used for time synchronization, or the indication information is used to indicate that the second timing message includes the second time information used for time synchronization, and the time indicated by the second time information differs from the time indicated by the first time information by a first offset value; Send the indication information to the first terminal device.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The indication information is included in the first configuration information of the first terminal device, and the first configuration information is used to configure the first terminal device to provide relay timing service for the second terminal device or the remote terminal device, the second terminal device is the next hop device of the first terminal device in the downlink direction, and the remote terminal device is connected to the network device through the first terminal device.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that: The method further comprises: Generate second configuration information of the first terminal device, where the second configuration information is generated based on the third configuration information of the remote terminal device and the fourth configuration information of the first terminal device, or the second configuration information is generated based on the third configuration information of the remote terminal device; The remote terminal device is connected to the network device through the first terminal device, the second configuration information and the fourth configuration information include parameters for the first terminal device to accept timing services; the third configuration information includes parameters for the remote terminal device to accept timing services; Send the second configuration information.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that The second configuration information is generated according to the third configuration information, and parameters included in the second configuration information are the same as parameters included in the third configuration information.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The second configuration information is generated according to the third configuration information and the fourth configuration information, and the parameters included in the second configuration information satisfy at least one of the following: The time period for the first terminal device to receive the timing service included in the second configuration information is the intersection or union of the time period for the first terminal device to receive the timing service included in the fourth configuration information and the time period for the remote terminal device to receive the timing service included in the third configuration information; The area where the first terminal device receives timing service included in the second configuration information is the intersection or union of the area where the first terminal device receives timing service included in the fourth configuration information and the area where the remote terminal device receives timing service included in the third configuration information; The error budget value for the timing service received by the first terminal device included in the second configuration information is a smaller or larger value between the error budget value for the timing service received by the first terminal device included in the fourth configuration information and the error budget value for the timing service received by the remote terminal device included in the third configuration information.

16. A relay timing method, applied to a remote terminal device, characterized in that: The method comprises: receiving a second timing message, where the second timing message includes first time information used for synchronization, or the second timing message includes second time information used for time synchronization, and the time indicated by the second time information differs from the time indicated by the first time information by a first offset value; Adjust the system time of the remote terminal device according to the time information in the second timing message.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that The method further comprises: receiving a first message, wherein the first message includes third time information; In the case where the second timing message includes the first time information, the third time information and the first time information are used for time synchronization between the remote terminal device and the network device, or, In the case where the second timing message includes the second time information, the third time information and the second time information are used for time synchronization between the remote terminal device and the network device; The step of adjusting the system time of the remote terminal device according to the time information in the second timing message includes: The sum of the time indicated by the time information in the second timing message and the time indicated by the third time information is used as the system time of the remote terminal equipment.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that The taking the sum of the time indicated by the time information in the second timing message and the time indicated by the third time information as the system time of the remote terminal device includes: The sum of the time indicated by the time information in the second timing message, the first PDC value and the time indicated by the third time information is used as the system time of the remote terminal device; wherein the first PDC value is the PDC value between the first terminal device and the remote terminal device.

19. The method according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that The third time information includes at least one of the first propagation delay compensation PDC value, the second offset value, or the second PDC value; or, the third time information includes a sum of at least one of the first PDC value, the second offset value, or the second PDC value; Among them, the first PDC value is the PDC value between the first terminal device and the remote device, the second offset value is the difference between the time when the first terminal device sends the second timing message and the time when the first terminal device receives the first timing message, and the second PDC value is the PDC value between the first terminal device and the access network device.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that The first offset value is the sum of the third offset value and the fourth offset value; Among them, the third offset value is the offset value between the wireless frame sent by the first terminal device and the first wireless frame received after the first terminal device sends the wireless frame, and the fourth offset value is the offset value between the frame where the second timing message is located and the frame where the first timing message is located.

21. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that The first offset value is the second PDC value.

22. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that The first offset value is the first PDC value.

23. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 22, characterized in that: The second time information includes a reference system frame number SFN corresponding to the second timing message.

24. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 23, characterized in that: The method further comprises: A third timing message is received, where the third timing message is a timing message based on at least one of the Precision Time Protocol (PTP), the General Precision Time Protocol (gPTP), or the Network Timing Protocol (NTP).

25. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device includes: a module or unit for implementing the method described in any one of claims 1-10; or a module or unit for implementing the method described in any one of claims 11-15; or a module or unit for implementing the method described in any one of claims 16-24.

26. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A memory and a processor coupled to the memory, the memory being used to store a program, and the processor being used to execute the program stored in the memory; when the communication device is running, the processor runs the program, so that the communication device executes the method described in any one of claims 1 to 10; or, the communication device executes the method described in any one of claims 11 to 15; or, the communication device executes the method described in any one of claims 16 to 24.

27. A communication system, characterized in that: The communication system includes a first terminal device, a time synchronization network element and a remote terminal device; wherein the first terminal device is used to execute the method as described in any one of claims 1-10, the time synchronization network element is used to execute the method as described in any one of claims 11-15, and the remote terminal device is used to execute the method as described in any one of claims 16-24.

28. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: A computer program is stored thereon, which, when executed by a computer, enables the computer to execute the method described in any one of claims 1 to 10; or, when executed by a computer, enables the computer to execute the method described in any one of claims 11 to 15; or, when executed by a computer, enables the computer to execute the method described in any one of claims 16 to 24.

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